the middle of the room； the spray can in hand。 〃Not as pretty as it was；〃 she said。
〃Will it hold？〃
〃Sure； but I guarantee you： we can't survive another one of those attacks。〃
〃What about the electronics。 They working？〃
〃I haven't checked； but it should be okay。 It's all waterproofed。〃
Norman nodded。 〃Any sign of Captain Barnes？〃 He looked at the bloody handprint on the wall。
〃No； sir。 No sign of the Captain at all。〃 Fletcher followed his eyes to the wall。 〃I'll clean the place up in a minute； sir。〃
〃Where's Tina？〃 Norman asked。
〃Resting。 In E Cyl。〃
Norman nodded。 〃E Cyl any drier than this？〃
〃Yes；〃 Fletcher said。 〃It's a funny thing。 There was ＇＇215＇＇ nobody in E Cyl during the attack； and it stayed pletely dry。〃
〃Any word from Jerry？〃
〃No contact； sir； no。〃
Norman flicked on one of the puter consoles。
〃Jerry； are you there？〃
The screen remained blank。
〃Jerry？〃
He waited a moment； then turned the console off。
Tina said； 〃look at it now。〃 She sat up； and drew the blanket back to expose her left leg。
The injury was much worse than when they had heard her screaming and had run through the habitat and pulled her up through the A Cyl hatch。 Now； running diagonally down her leg was a series of saucer…shaped welts； the center of each puffed and purple。 〃It's swollen a lot in the last hour；〃 Tina said。
Norman examined the injuries。 Fine tooth…marks ringed swollen areas。 〃Do you remember what it felt like？〃 he said。 〃It felt awful；〃 Tina said。 〃It felt sticky； you know； like sticky glue or something。 And then each one of these round places burned。 Very strong。〃
〃And what could you see？ Of the creature itself。〃 〃Just…it was a long fl