博炮作文网

第47部分（第2页）

〃Sure；　Norman。　Of　course。〃

He　looked　at　the　video　recorder　next　to　the　monitor。　He　remembered　how　Beth　had　used　this　recorder　to　play　the　same　tape；　again　and　again；　the　tape　in　which　the　sphere　had　opened　by　itself。　That　tape　was　now　lying　on　the　counter　beside　the　recorder。　He　pushed　the　tape　into　the　slot；　clicked　the　recorder　on。　Why　bother　to　look　at　it　now？　he　thought。　Youre　just　delaying。　Youre　wasting　time。

The　screen　flickered；　and　he　waited　for　the　familiar　image　of　Beth　eating　cake；　her　back　to　the　monitor。　But　this　was　a　different　tape。　This　was　a　direct　monitor　feed　showing　the　sphere。　The　gleaming　sphere；　just　sitting　there。

He　watched　for　a　few　seconds；　but　nothing　happened。　The　sphere　was　immobile；　as　always。　Polished；　perfect；　immobile。　He　watched　a　while　longer；　but　there　was　nothing　to　see。

〃Norman；　if　I　open　the　hatch　now；　will　you　e　down　quietly？〃

〃Yes；　Beth。〃

He　sighed；　sat　back　in　the　chair。　How　long　would　he　be　unconscious？　A　little　less　than　six　hours。　It　would　be　okay。　But　in　any　case；　Beth　was　right；　he　had　to　give　himself　up。　〃Norman；　why　are　you　watching　that　tape？〃

He　looked　around　quickly。　Was　there　a　video　camera　in　the　room　allowing　her　to　see　him？　Yes：　high　up　in　the　ceiling；　next　to　the　upper　hatch。

〃Why　are　you　watching　that　tape；　Norman？〃

〃It　was　here。〃

〃Who　said　you　could　watch　that　tape？〃

＇＇320＇＇　〃Nobody；〃　Norman　said。　〃It　was　just　here。〃

〃Turn　the　tape　off；　Norman。　Turn　it　off　now。〃

She　didnt　sound　so　calm　any　more。　〃Whats　the　matter；　Beth？〃

〃Turn　that　damned　tape　off；　Norman！〃

He　was　about　to　ask　her　why；　but　then　he　saw　Beth　enter　the　video　image；　stand　next　to　the　sphere。　Beth　closed　her　eyes　and　clenched　her　fists。　The　convoluted　grooves　of　the　sphere　parted；　revealing　blackness。　And　as　he　watched；　Beth　stepped　inside　the　sphere。

And　the　door　of　the　sphere　closed　behind　her。

〃You　goddamned　men；〃　Beth　said　in　a　tight；　angry　voice。　〃Youre　all　the　same；　you　cant　leave　well　enough　alone；　none　of　you。〃

〃You　lied　to　me；　Beth。〃

〃Why　did　you　watch　that　tape？　I　begged　you　not　to　watch　that　tape。　It　could　only　hurt　you　to　watch　that　tape；　Norman。〃　She　wasnt　angry　any　more；　now　she　was　pleading；　near　tears。　She　was　undergoing　rapid　emotional　shifts。　Unstable；　unpredictable。

And　she　was　in　control　of　the　habitat。

〃Beth。〃

〃Im　sorry；　Norman。　I　cant　trust　you　any　more。〃

〃Beth。〃

〃Im　turning　you　off；　Norman。　Im　not　going　to　listen　to…〃

〃……Beth；　wait…〃

〃…you　any　more。　I　know　how　dangerous　you　are。　I　saw　what　you　did　to　Harry。　How　you　twisted　the　facts　so　that　it　was　Harrys　fault。　Oh　yes；　it　was　Harrys　fault；　by　the　time　you　got　through。　And　now　you　want　to　make　it　Beths　fault；　dont　you？　Well；　let　me　tell　you；　Norman；　you　wont　be　able　to　do　it；　because　I　have　shut　you　off；　Norman。　I　cant　hear　your　soft；　convincing　words。　I　cant　hear　your　manipulation。　So　dont　waste　your　breath；　Norman。〃