d snakes；〃 Beth said。
Beth stopped the tape； turned to Norman。 〃Seems like a long time ago； doesn't it。〃
〃I was just thinking that；〃 Norman said。
〃Does this mean we're living life to the fullest？〃
〃I think it means we're in mortal peril；〃 Norman said。 〃Why are you so interested in this tape？〃
〃Because I have nothing better to do； and if I don't keep ＇＇217＇＇ busy I'm going to start screaming and make one of those traditional feminine scenes。 You've already seen me do it once； Norman。〃
〃Have I？ I don't remember any scene。〃
〃Thank you；〃 she said。
Norman noticed a blanket on a couch in the corner of her lab。 And Beth had unclipped one of the workbench lamps and mounted it on the wall above the blankets。 〃You sleeping here now？〃
〃Yeah； I like it here。 Up at the top of the cylinder…I feel like the queen of the underworld。〃 She smiled。 〃Sort of like a tree house when you were a kid。 Did you ever have a tree house when you were a kid？〃
〃No；〃 Norman said； 〃I never did。〃
〃Neither did I；〃 Beth said。 〃But it's what I imagine it would be； if I had。〃
〃Looks very cozy； Beth。〃
〃You think I'm cracking up？〃
〃No。 I just said it looks cozy。〃
〃You can tell me if you think I'm cracking up。〃
〃I think you're fine； Beth。 What about Tina？ You've seen her injury？〃
〃Yes。〃 Beth frowned。 〃And I've seen these。〃 She gestured to some white eggs in a glass container on the lab bench。
〃More eggs？〃
〃They were clinging to Tina's suit when she came back in。 Her injury is consistent with these eggs。 Also the smell： you remember the smell when we pulled her back in？〃
Norman remembered very well。 Tina had smelled strongly of ammonia。 It was almost as if she'd been doused i