Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第12部分

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　girders。
Beth　said；　〃It's　like　being　in　an　oil　refinery。〃　She　shone　her　light　on　one　steel　beam。　Stenciled　was　〃AVR…09。〃　All　the　stenciling　was　in　English。
〃Most　of　what　you　see　is　structural；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Cross…stress　bracing　for　the　outer　hull。　Gives　tremendous　support　along　all　axes。　The　ship　is　very　ruggedly　built；　as　we　suspected。　Designed　to　take　extraordinary　stresses。　There's　probably　another　hull　further　in。〃　Norman　was　reminded　that　Barnes　had　once　been　an　aeronautical　engineer。
〃Not　only　that；〃　Harry　said；　shining　his　light　on　the　outer　hull。　〃Look　at　this…a　layer　of　lead。〃
〃Radiation　shield？〃
〃Must　be。　It's　six　inches　thick。〃
〃So　this　ship　was　built　to　handle　a　lot　of　radiation。〃
〃A　hell　of　a　lot；〃　Harry　said。
There　was　a　haze　in　the　ship；　and　a　faintly　oily　feel　to　the　air。　The　metal　girders　seemed　to　be　coated　in　oil；　but　when　Norman　touched　them；　the　oil　didn't　e　off　on　his　fingers。　He　realized　that　the　metal　itself　had　an　unusual　texture：　it　was　slick　and　slightly　soft　to　the　touch；　almost　rubbery。
〃Interesting；〃　Ted　said。　〃Some　kind　of　new　material。　We　associate　strength　with　hardness；　but　this　metal…if　it　is　metal…is　both　strong　and　soft。　Materials　technology　has　obviously　advanced　since　our　day。〃
〃Obviously；〃　Harry　said。
〃Well；　it　makes　sense；〃　Ted　said。　〃If　you　think　of　America　fifty　years　ago　as　pared　with　today；　one　of　the　biggest　changes　is　the　great　variety　of　plastics　and　ceramics　we　have　now　that　were　not　even　imagined　back　then。　。。。〃　Ted　continued　to　talk；　his　voice　echoing　in　the　cavernous　darkness。　＇＇74＇＇　But　Norman　could　hear　the　tension　in　his　voice。　Ted's　whistling　in　the　dark；　he　thought。
They　moved　deeper　into　the　ship。　Norman　felt　dizzy　to　be　so　high　in　the　gloom。　They　came　to　a　branchpoint　in　the　catwalk。　It　was　hard　to　see　with　all　the　pipes　and　struts…like　being　in　a　forest　of　metal。
〃Which　way？〃
Barnes　had　a　wrist　pass；　it　glowed　green。　〃Go　right。〃　They　followed　the　network　of　catwalks　for　ten　minutes　more。　Gradually　Norman　could　see　that　Barnes　was　right：　there　was　a　central　cylinder　constructed　within　the　outer　cylinder；　and　held　away　from　it　by　a　dense　arrangement　of　girders　and　supports。　A　spacecraft　within　a　spacecraft。
〃Why　would　they　build　the　ship　like　this？〃
〃You'd　have　to　ask　them。〃
〃The　reasons　must　have　been　pelling；〃　Barnes　said。　〃The　power　requirements　for　a　double　hull；　with　so　much　lead　shielding　。。。　hard　to　imagine　the　engine　you'd　need　to　make　something　this　big　fly。〃
After　three　or　four　minutes；　they　arrived　at　the　door　on　the　inner　hull。　It　looked　like　the　outer　door。
〃Breathers　back　on？〃
〃I　don't　know。　Can　we　risk　it？〃
Without　waiting；　Beth　flipped　up　the　panel　of　buttons；　pressed　〃OPEN；〃　and　the　door　rumbled　open。　More　darkness　beyond。　They　stepped　through。　Norman　felt　softness　underfoot；　he　shined　his　light　down　on　beige　carpeting。
Their　flashlights　crisscrossed　the　room；　revealing　a　large；　contoured　beige　console　with　three　high…backed；　padded　seats。　The　room　was　clearly　built　for　human　beings。
〃Must　be　the　bridge　or　the　cockpit。〃
But　the　curved　consoles　were　pletely　blank。　There　was　no　instrumentation　of　any　kind。　And　the　seats　were　empty。　They　swung　their　beams　back　and　forth　in　the　darkness。　〃Looks　like　a　mockup；　rather　than　the　real　thing。〃
〃It　can't　be　a　mockup。〃
〃Well；　it　looks　like　one。〃
Norman　ran　his　hand　over　the　smooth　contours　of　the　console。　It　was　nicely　molded；　pleasant　to　feel。　Norman　＇＇75＇＇　pressed　the　surface；　felt　it　bend　to　his　touch。　Rubbery　again。　〃Another　new　material。〃
Norman's　flashlight　showed　a　few　artifacts。　Taped　to　the　far　end　of　the　console　was　a　handmarked　sign　on　a　three…by…five　filing　card：　It　said；　〃GO　BABY　GO！〃　Nearby　was　a　small　plastic　statuette　of　a　cute　animal　that　looked　like　a　purple　squirrel。　The　base　said；　〃Lucky　Lemontina。〃　Whatever　that　meant。
〃These　seats　leather？〃
〃Looks　like　it。〃
〃Where　are　the　damned　controls？〃
Norman　continued　to　poke　at　the　blank　console；　and　suddenly　the　beige　console　surface　took　on　depth；　and　appeared　to　contain　instruments；　screens。　All　the　instrumentation　was　somehow　within　the　surface　of　the　console；　like　an　optical　illusion；　or　a　hologram。　Norman　read　the　lettering　above　the　instruments：　〃Pos　Thrusters〃　。。。　〃F3　Piston　Booster〃　。。。　〃Glider〃　。。。　〃Sieves〃　。。。
〃More　new　technology；〃　Ted　said。　〃Reminiscent　of　liquid　crystals；　but　far　superior。　Some　kind　of　advanced　optoelectronics。〃
Suddenly　all　the　console　screens　glowed　red；　and　there　was　a　beeping　sound。　Startled；　Norman　jumped　back；　the　control　panel　was　ing　to　life。
〃Watch　it；　everybody！〃
A　single　bright　lightning　flash　of　intense　white　light　filled　the　room；　leaving　a　harsh　afterimage。
〃Oh　God　。。。〃
Another　flash…and　another…and　then　the　ceiling　lights　came　on；　evenly　illuminating　the　room。　Norman　saw　startled；　frightened　faces。　He　sighed；　exhaling　slowly。　〃Jesus　。。。〃
〃How　the　hell　did　that　happen？〃　Barnes　said。　
〃It　was　me；〃　Beth　said。　〃I　pushed　this　button。〃
〃Let's　not　go　around　pushing　buttons；　if　you　don't　mind；〃　Barnes　said　irritably。
〃It　was　marked　'ROOM　LIGHTS。'　It　seemed　an　appropriate　thing　to　do。〃
〃Let's　try　to　stay　together　on　this；〃　Barnes　said。
＇＇76＇＇　〃Well；　Jesus；　Hat…〃
〃Just　don't　push　any　more　buttons；　Beth！〃
They　were　moving　around　the　cabin；　looking　at　the　instrument　panel；　at　the　chairs。　All　of　them；　that　is；　all　except　for　Harry。　He　stood　very　still　in　the　middle　of　the　room；　not　moving；　and　said；　〃Anybody　see　a　date　anywhere？〃
〃No　date。〃
〃There's　got　to　be　a　date；〃　Harry　said；　suddenly　tense。　〃And　we've　got　to　find　it。　Because　this　is　definitely　an　American　spaceship　from　the　future。〃
〃What's　it　doing　here？〃　Norman　asked。　〃Damned　if　I　know；〃　Harry　said。　He　shrugged。　Norman　frowned。
〃What's　wrong；　Harry？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Sure？〃
〃Yeah；　sure。〃
Norman　thought：　He's　figured　out　something；　and　it　bothers　him。　But　he's　not　saying　what　it　is。
Ted　said；　〃So　this　is　what　a　time…travel　machine　looks　like。
〃I　don't　know；〃　Barnes　said。　〃If　you　ask　me；　this　instrument　panel　looks　like　it's　for　flying；　and　this　room　looks　like　a　flight　deck。〃
Norman　thought　so；　too：　everything　about　the　room　reminded　him　of　an　airplane　cockpit。　The　three　chairs　for　pilot；　copilot；　navigator。　The　layout　of　the　instrumentation。　This　was　a　machine　that　flew；　he　was　sure　of　it。　Yet　something　was　odd。　。。。
He　slipped　into　one　of　the　contoured　chairs。　The　soft　leather…like　material　was　almost　too　fortable。　He　heard　a　gurgling：　water　inside？
〃I　hope　you're　not　going　to　fly　this　sucker；〃　Ted　laughed。
〃No；　no。〃
〃What's　that　whirring　noise？〃
The　chair　gripped　him。　Norman　had　an　instant　of　panic；　feeling　the　chair　move　all　around　his　body；　squeezing　his　shoulders；　wrapping　around　his　hips。　The　leather　padding　slid　around　his　head；　covering　his　ears；　drawing　down　over　＇＇77＇＇　his　forehead。　He　was　sinking　deeper；　disappearing　inside　the　chair　itself；　being　swallowed　up　by　it。
〃Oh　God　。。。〃
And　then　the　chair　snapped　forward；　pulling　up　tight　before　the　control　console。　And　the　whirring　stopped。　Then　nothing。
〃I　think；〃　Beth　said；　〃that　the　chair　thinks　you　are　going　to　fly　it。〃
〃Umm；〃　Norman　said；　trying　to　control　his　breathing；　his　racing　pulse；　〃I　wonder　how　I　get　out？〃
The　only　part　of　his　body　still　free　were　his　hands。　He　moved　his　fingers；　felt　a　panel　of　buttons　on　the　arms　of　the　chair。　He　pressed　one。
The　chair　slid　back；　opened　like　a　soft　clam；　released　him。　Norman　climbed　out；　and　looked　back　at　the　imprint　of　his　body；　slowly　disappearing　as　the　chair　whirred　and　adjusted　itself。
Harry　poked　one　of　the　leather　pads　experimentally；　heard　the　gurgle。　〃Water…filled。〃
〃Makes　perfect　sense；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Water's　not　pressible。　You　can　withstand　enormous　G…forces　sitting　in　a　chair　like　this。〃
〃And　the　ship　itself　is　built　to　take　great　strains；〃　Ted　said。　〃Maybe　time　travel　is　strenuous？　Structurally　strenuous？〃
〃Maybe。〃　Norman　was　doubtful。　〃But　I　think　Barnes　is　right…this　is　a　machine　that　flew。〃
〃Perhaps　it　just　looks　that　way；〃　Ted　said。　〃After　all；　we　know　how　to　travel　in　space；　but　we　don't　know　how　to　travel　in　time。　We　know　that　space　and　time　are　really　aspects　of　the　same　thing；　space…time。　Perhaps　you're　required　to　fly　in　time　just　the　way　you　fly　in　space。　Maybe　time　travel　and　space　travel　are　more　similar　than　we　think　now。〃
〃Aren't　we　forgetting　something？〃　Beth　said。　〃Where　is　everybody？　If　people　flew　this　thing　in　either　time　or　space；　where　are　they？〃
〃Probably　somewhere　else　on　the　ship。〃
〃I'm　not　so　sure；〃　Harry　said。　〃Look　at　this　leather　on　these　seats。　It's　brand…new。〃
〃Maybe　it　was　a　new　ship。〃
＇＇78＇＇　〃No；　I　mean　really　brand…new。　This　leather　doesn't　show　any　scratches；　any　cuts；　any　coffee…cup　spills　or　stains。　There　is　nothing　to　suggest　that　these　seats　have　ever　been　sat　in。〃　〃Maybe　there　wasn't　any　crew。〃
〃Why　would　you　have　seats　if　there　wasn't　any　crew？〃
〃Maybe　they　took　the　crew　out　at　the　last　minute。　It　seems　they　were　worried　about　radiation。　The　inner　hull's　leadshielded；　too。〃
〃Why　should　there　be　radiation　associated　with　time　travel？〃
〃I　know；〃　Ted　said。　〃Maybe　the　ship　got　launched　by　accident。　Maybe　the　ship　was　on　the　launch　pad　and　somebody　pressed　the　button　before　the　crew　got　aboard　so　the　ship　took　off　empty。〃
〃You　mean；　oops；　wrong　button？〃
〃That'd　be　a　hell　of　a　mistake；〃　Norman　said。
Barnes　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　not　buying　it。　For　one　thing；　a　ship　this　big　could　never　be　launched　from　Earth。　It　had　to　be　built　and　assembled　in　orbit；　and　launched　from　space。〃
〃What　do　you　make　of　this？〃　Beth　said；　pointing　to　another　console　near　the　rear　of　the　flight　deck。　There　was　a　fourth　chair；　drawn　up　close　to　the　console。
The　leather　was　wrapped　around　a　human　form。
〃No　kidding。。。〃
〃There's　a　man　in　there？〃
〃Let's　have　a　look。〃　Beth　pushed　the　armrest　buttons。　The　chair　whirred　back　from　the　console　and　unwrapped　itself。　They　saw　a　man；　staring　forward；　his　eyes　open。
〃My　God；　after　all　these　years；　perfectly　preserved；〃　Ted　said。
〃You　would　expect　that；〃　Harry　said。　〃Considering　he's　a　mannequin。〃
〃But　he's　so　lifelike…〃
〃Give　our　descendants　some　credit　for　advances；〃　Harry　said。　〃They're　half　a　century　ahead　of　us。〃　He　pushed　the　mannequin　forward；　exposing　an　umbilicus　running　out　the　back；　at　the　base　of　the　hips。
〃Wires　。。。〃
〃Not　wires；〃　Ted　said。　〃Glass。　Optical　cables。　This　whole　＇＇79＇＇　ship　uses　optical　technology；　and　not　electronics。〃
〃In　any　case；　it's　one　mystery　solved；〃　Harry　said；　looking　at　the　dummy。　〃Obviously　this　craft　was　built　to　be　a　manned　ship；　but　it　was　sent　out　unmanned。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Probably　the　intended　voyage　was　too　dangerous。　They　sent　an　unmanned　vessel　first；　before　they　sent　a　manned　vessel。〃
Beth　said；　〃And　where　did　they　send　it？〃
〃With　time　travel；　you　don't　send　it　to　a　where。　You　send　it　to　a　when。〃
〃Okay。　Then　to　when　did　they　send　it？〃
Harry　shrugged。　〃No　information　yet；〃　he　said。
That　diffidence　again；　Norman　thought。　What　was　Harry　really　thinking？
〃Well；　this　craft　is　half　a　mile　long；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　have　a　lot　more　to　see。〃
〃I　wonder　if　they　had　a　flight　recorder；〃　Norman　said。
〃You　mean　like　a　mercial　airliner？〃
〃Yes。　Something　to　record　the　activity　of　the　ship　on　its　voyage。〃
〃They　must　have；〃　Harry　said。　〃Trace　the　dummy　cable　back；　you're　sure　to　find　it。　I'd　like　to　see