Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第13部分

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〃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　that　recorder；　too。　In　fact；　I　would　say　it　is　crucial。〃
Norman　was　looking　at　the　console；　lifting　up　a　keyboard　panel。　〃Look　here；〃　he　said。　〃I　found　a　date。〃
They　clustered　around。　There　was　a　stamp　in　the　plastic　beneath　the　keyboard。　〃Intel　Inc。　Made　in　U。S。A。　Serial　No：　98004077　8/5/43。〃
〃August　5；　2043？〃
〃Looks　like　it。〃
〃So　we're　walking　through　a　ship　fifty…odd　years　before　it's　going　to　be　built。　。。。〃
〃This　is　giving　me　a　headache。〃
〃Look　here。〃　Beth　had　moved　forward　from　the　console　deck；　into　what　looked　like　living　quarters。　There　were　twenty　bunk　beds。
〃Crew　of　twenty？　If　it　took　three　people　to　fly　it；　what　were　the　other　seventeen　for？〃
＇＇80＇＇　Nobody　had　an　answer　to　that。
Next；　they　entered　a　large　kitchen；　a　toilet；　living　quarters。　Everything　was　new　and　sleekly　designed；　but　recognizable　for　what　it　was。
〃You　know；　Hal；　this　is　a　lot　more　fortable　than　DH…8。〃
〃Yes；　maybe　we　should　move　in　here。〃
〃Absolutely　not；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We're　studying　this　ship；　not　living　in　it。　We've　got　a　lot　more　work　to　do　before　we　even　begin　to　know　what　this　is　all　about。〃
〃It'd　be　more　efficient　to　live　here　while　we　explore　it。〃
〃I　don't　want　to　live　here；〃　Harry　said。　〃It　gives　me　the　creeps。〃
〃Me　too；〃　Beth　said。
They　had　been　aboard　the　ship　for　an　hour　now；　and　Norman's　feet　hurt。　That　was　another　thing　he　hadn't　anticipated：　while　exploring　a　large　spacecraft　from　the　future；　your　feet　could　begin　to　hurt。
But　Barnes　continued　on。


Leaving　the　crew　quarters；　they　entered　a　vast　area　of　narrow　walkways　set　out　between　great　sealed　partments　that　stretched　ahead　as　far　as　they　could　see。　The　partments　turned　out　to　be　storage　bays　of　immense　size。　They　opened　one　bay　and　found　it　was　filled　with　heavy　plastic　containers；　which　looked　rather　like　the　loading　containers　of　contemporary　airliners；　except　many　times　larger。　They　opened　one　container。
〃No　kidding；〃　Barnes　said；　peering　inside。　〃What　is　it？〃
〃Food。〃
The　food　was　wrapped　in　layers　of　lead　foil　and　plastic；　like　NASA　rations。　Ted　picked　one　up。　〃Food　from　the　future！〃　he　said；　and　smacked　his　lips。
〃You　going　to　eat　that？〃　Harry　said。
〃Absolutely；〃　Ted　said。　〃You　know；　I　once　had　a　bottle　of　Dom　Pérignon　1897；　but　this　will　be　the　first　time　I've　ever　had　anything　to　eat　from　the　future；　from　2043。〃
＇＇81＇＇　〃It's　also　three　hundred　years　old；〃　Harry　said。
〃Maybe　you'll　want　to　film　this；〃　Ted　said　to　Edmunds。　〃Me　eating。〃
Edmunds　dutifully　put　the　camera　to　her　eye；　flicked　on　the　light。
〃Let's　not　do　that　now；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　have　other　things　to　acplish。〃
〃This　is　human　interest；〃　Ted　said。　〃Not　now；〃　Barnes　said　firmly。
He　opened　a　second　storage　container；　and　a　third。　They　all　contained　food。　They　moved　to　the　next　storage　bay　and　opened　more　containers。
〃It's　all　food。　Nothing　but　food。〃
The　ship　had　traveled　with　an　enormous　amount　of　food。　Even　allowing　for　a　crew　of　twenty；　it　was　enough　food　for　a　voyage　of　several　years。
They　were　getting　very　tired；　it　was　a　relief　when　Beth　found　a　button；　said；　〃I　wonder　what　this　does…〃
Barnes　said；　〃Beth…〃
And　the　walkway　began　to　move；　rubber　tread　rolling　forward　with　a　slight　hum。
〃Beth；　I　want　you　to　stop　pushing　every　damn　button　you　see。〃
But　nobody　else　objected。　It　was　a　relief　to　ride　the　walkway　past　dozens　of　identical　storage　bays。　Finally　they　came　to　a　new　section；　much　farther　forward。　Norman　guessed　by　now　they　were　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　the　crew　partment　in　the　back。　That　meant　they　were　roughly　in　the　middle　of　the　huge　ship。
And　here　they　found　a　room　with　life…support　equipment；　and　twenty　hanging　spacesuits。
〃Bingo；〃　Ted　said。　〃It's　finally　clear。　This　ship　is　intended　to　travel　to　the　stars。〃
The　others　murmured；　excited　by　the　possibility。　Suddenly　it　all　made　sense：　the　great　size；　the　vastness　of　the　ship；　the　plexity　of　the　control　consoles。　。。。
〃Oh；　for　Christ's　sake；〃　Harry　said。　〃It　can't　have　been　made　to　travel　to　the　stars。　This　is　obviously　a　conventional　spacecraft；　although　very　large。　And　at　conventional　speeds；　＇＇82＇＇　the　nearest　star　is　two　hundred　and　fifty　years　away。〃
〃Maybe　they　had　new　technology。〃
〃Where　is　it？　There's　no　evidence　of　new　technology。〃
〃Well；　maybe　it's…〃
〃Face　the　facts；　Ted；〃　Harry　said。　〃Even　with　this　huge　size；　the　ship　is　only　provisioned　for　a　few　years：　fifteen　or　twenty　years；　at　most。　How　far　could　it　go　in　that　time？　Barely　out　of　the　solar　system；　right？〃
Ted　nodded　glumly。　〃It's　true。　It　took　the　Voyager　spacecraft　five　years　to　reach　Jupiter；　nine　years　to　reach　Uranus。　In　fifteen　years　。。。　Maybe　they　were　going　to　Pluto。〃
〃Why　would　anyone　want　to　go　to　Pluto？〃
〃We　don't　know　yet；　but…〃
The　radios　squawked。　The　voice　of　Tina　Chan　said；　〃Captain　Barnes；　surface　wants　you　for　a　secure　encrypted　munication；　sir。〃
〃Okay；〃　Barnes　said。　〃It's　time　to　go　back；　anyway。〃　They　headed　back；　through　the　vast　ship；　to　the　main　entrance。

SPACE　AND　TIME

They　were　sitting　in　the　lounge　of　DH…8；　watching　the　divers　work　on　the　grid。　Barnes　was　in　the　next　cylinder；　talking　to　the　surface。　Levy　was　cooking　lunch；　or　dinner…a　meal；　anyway。　They　were　all　getting　confused　about　what　the　Navy　people　called　〃surface　time。〃
〃Surface　time　doesn't　matter　down　here；〃　Edmunds　said；　in　her　precise　librarian's　voice。　〃Day　or　night；　it　just　doesn't　make　any　difference。　You　get　used　to　it。〃
They　nodded　vaguely。　Everyone　was　tired；　Norman　saw。　The　strain；　the　tension　of　the　exploration；　had　taken　its　toll。
＇＇83＇＇　Beth　had　already　drifted　off　to　sleep；　feet　up　on　the　coffee　table；　her　muscular　arms　folded　across　her　chest。
Outside　the　window；　three　small　submarines　had　e　down　and　were　hovering　over　the　grid。　Several　divers　were　clustered　around；　others　were　heading　back　to　the　divers'　habitat；　DH…7。
〃Looks　like　something's　up；〃　Harry　said。　〃Something　to　do　with　Barnes's　call？〃
〃Could　be。〃　Harry　was　still　preoccupied；　distracted。　〃Where's　Tina　Chan？〃
〃She　must　be　with　Barnes。　Why？〃
〃I　need　to　talk　to　her。〃
〃What　about？〃　Ted　said。
〃It's　personal；〃　Harry　said。
Ted　raised　his　eyebrows　but　said　nothing　more。　Harry　left；　going　into　D　Cyl。　Norman　and　Ted　were　alone。
〃He's　a　strange　fellow；〃　Ted　said。
〃Is　he？〃
〃You　know　he　is；　Norman。　Arrogant；　too。　Probably　because　he's　black。　pensating；　don't　you　think？〃
〃I　don't　know。〃
〃I'd　say　he　has　a　chip　on　his　shoulder；〃　Ted　said。　〃He　seems　to　resent　everything　about　this　expedition。〃　He　sighed。　〃Of　course；　mathematicians　are　all　strange。　He's　probably　got　no　sort　of　life　at　all；　I　mean　a　private　life；　women　and　so　forth。　Did　I　tell　you　I　married　again？〃
〃I　read　it　somewhere；〃　Norman　said。
〃She's　a　television　reporter；〃　Ted　said。　〃Wonderful　woman。〃　He　smiled。　〃When　we　got　married；　she　gave　me　this　Corvette。　Beautiful　'58　Corvette；　as　a　wedding　present。　You　know　that　nice　fire…engine　red　color　they　had　in　the　fifties？　That　color。〃　Ted　paced　around　the　room；　glanced　over　at　Beth。　〃I　just　think　this　is　all　unbelievably　exciting。　I　couldn't　possibly　sleep。〃
Norman　nodded。　It　was　interesting　how　different　they　all　were；　he　thought。　Ted；　eternally　optimistic；　with　the　bubbling　enthusiasm　of　a　child。　Harry；　with　the　cold；　critical　demeanor；　the　icy　mind；　the　unblinking　eye。　Beth；　not　so　intellectual　or　so　cerebral。　At　once　more　physical　and　more　＇＇84＇＇　emotional。　That　was　why；　though　they　were　all　exhausted；　only　Beth　could　sleep。
〃Say；　Norman；〃　Ted　said。　〃I　thought　you　said　this　was　going　to　be　scary。〃
〃I　thought　it　would　be；〃　Norman　said。
〃Well；〃　Ted　said。　〃Of　all　the　people　who　could　be　wrong　about　this　expedition；　I'm　glad　it　was　you。〃
〃I　am；　too。〃
〃Although　I　can't　imagine　why　you　would　select　a　man　like　Harry　Adams　for　this　team。　Not　that　he　isn't　distinguished；　but　。。。〃
Norman　didn't　want　to　talk　about　Harry。　〃Ted；　remember　back　on　the　ship；　when　you　said　space　and　time　are　aspects　of　the　same　thing？〃
〃Space…time；　yes。〃
〃I've　never　really　understood　that。〃
〃Why？　It's　quite　straightforward。〃
〃You　can　explain　it　to　me？〃
〃Sure。〃
〃In　English？〃　Norman　said。
〃You　mean；　explain　it　without　mathematics？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well；　I'll　try。〃　Ted　frowned；　but　Norman　knew　he　was　pleased；　Ted　loved　to　lecture。　He　paused　for　a　moment；　then　said；　〃Okay。　Let's　see　where　we　need　to　begin。　You're　familiar　with　the　idea　that　gravity　is　just　geometry？〃
〃No。〃
〃Curvature　of　space　and　time？〃
〃Not　really；　no。〃
〃Uh。　Einstein's　general　relativity？〃
〃Sorry；〃　Norman　said。
〃Never　mind；〃　Ted　said。　There　was　a　bowl　of　fruit　on　the　table。　Ted　emptied　the　bowl；　setting　the　fruit　on　the　table。
〃Okay。　This　table　is　space。　Nice；　flat　space。〃
〃Okay；〃　Norman　said。
Ted　began　to　position　the　pieces　of　fruit。　〃This　orange　is　the　sun。　And　these　are　the　planets；　which　move　in　circles　around　the　sun。　So　we　have　the　solar　system　on　this　table。〃
〃Okay。〃
＇＇85＇＇　〃Fine；〃　Ted　said。　〃Now；　the　sun〃…he　pointed　to　the　orange　in　the　center　of　the　table…〃is　very　large；　so　it　has　a　lot　of　gravity。〃
〃Right。〃
Ted　gave　Norman　a　ball　bearing。　〃This　is　a　spaceship。　I　want　you　to　send　it　through　the　solar　system；　so　it　passes　very　close　to　the　sun。　Okay？〃
Norman　took　the　ball　bearing　and　rolled　it　so　it　passed　close　to　the　orange。　〃Okay。〃
〃You　notice　that　your　ball　rolled　straight　across　the　flat　table。〃
〃Right。〃
〃But　in　real　life；　what　would　happen　to　your　spacecraft　when　it　passed　near　the　sun？〃
〃It　would　get　sucked　into　the　sun。〃
〃Yes。　We　say　it　would　'fall　into'　the　sun。　The　spacecraft　would　curve　inward　from　a　straight　line　and　hit　the　sun。　But　your　spacecraft　didn't。〃
〃No。
〃So　we　know　that　the　flat　table　is　wrong；〃　Ted　said。　〃Real　space　can't　be　flat　like　the　table。〃
〃It　can't？〃
〃No；〃　Ted　said。
He　took　the　empty　bowl　and　set　the　orange　in　the　bottom。　〃Now　roll　your　ball　straight　across　past　the　sun。〃
Norman　flicked　the　ball　bearing　into　the　bowl。　The　ball　curved；　and　spiraled　down　the　inside　of　the　bowl　until　it　hit　the　orange。
〃Okay；〃　Ted　said。　〃The　spacecraft　hit　the　sun；　just　like　it　would　in　real　life。〃
〃But　if　I　gave　it　enough　speed；〃　Norman　said；　〃it'd　go　right　past　it。　It'd　roll　down　and　up　the　far　side　of　the　bowl　and　out　again。〃
〃Correct；〃　Ted　said。　〃Also　like　real　life。　If　the　spacecraft　has　enough　velocity；　it　will　escape　the　gravitational　field　of　the　sun。〃
〃Right。〃
〃So；〃　Ted　said；　〃what　we　are　showing　is　that　a　spacecraft　passing　the　sun　in　real　life　behaves　as　if　it　were　entering　a　＇＇86＇＇　curved　region　of　space　around　the　sun。　Space　around　the　sun　is　curved　like　this　bowl。〃
〃Okay　。。。〃
〃And　if　your　ball　had　the　right　speed；　it　wouldn't　escape　from　the　bowl；　but　instead　would　just　spiral　around　endlessly　inside　the　rim　of　the　bowl。　And　that's　what　the　planets　are　doing。　They　are　endlessly　spiraling　inside　the　bowl　created　by　the　sun。〃
He　put　the　orange　back　on　the　table。　〃In　reality；　you　should　imagine　the　table　is　made　out　of　rubber　and　the　planets　are　all　making　dents　in　the　rubber　as　they　sit　there。　That's　what　space　is　really　like。　Real　space　is　curved…and　the　curvature　changes　with　the　amount　of　gravity。〃
〃Yes。。。〃
〃So；〃　Ted　said；　〃space　is　curved　by　gravity。〃
〃Okay。〃
〃And　that　means　that　you　can　think　of　gravity　a