Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第17部分

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〃In　any　case；　our　robot　spacecraft；　according　to　whatever　built…in　criteria　it　has；　decides　that　this　sphere　is　interesting。　It　automatically　grabs　the　sphere　in　its　big　claw　hand　here；　draws　it　inside　the　ship；　and　brings　it　home。〃
〃Except　in　going　home　it　goes　too　far；　it　goes　into　the　past。〃
〃Its　past；〃　Harry　said。　〃Our　present。〃
〃Right。〃
Barnes　snorted　impatiently。　〃Fine；　so　this　spacecraft　goes　out　and　picks　up　a　silver　alien　sphere　and　brings　it　back。　Get　to　the　point：　what　is　this　sphere？〃
Harry　walked　forward　to　the　sphere；　pressed　his　ear　against　the　metal；　and　rapped　it　with　his　knuckles。　He　touched　the　grooves；　his　hands　disappearing　in　the　deep　indentations。　The　sphere　was　so　highly　polished　Norman　could　see　Harry's　face；　distorted；　in　the　curve　of　the　metal。　〃Yes。　＇＇107＇＇　As　I　suspected。　These　cabalistic　markings；　as　you　call　them；　are　not　decorative　at　all。　They　have　another　purpose　entirely；　to　conceal　a　small　break　in　the　surface　of　the　sphere。　Thus　they　represent　a　door。〃　Harry　stepped　back。
〃What　is　the　sphere？〃
〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　think；〃　Harry　said。　〃I　think　this　sphere　is　a　hollow　container；　I　think　there's　something　inside；　and　I　think　it　scares　the　hell　out　of　me。〃

FIRST　EVALUATION

〃No；　Mr。　Secretary；〃　Barnes　said　into　the　phone。　〃We're　pretty　sure　it　is　an　alien　artifact。　There　doesn't　seem　to　be　any　question　about　that。〃
He　glanced　at　Norman；　sitting　across　the　room。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Very　damn　exciting。〃
They　were　back　in　the　habitat；　and　Barnes　had　immediately　called　Washington。　He　was　trying　to　delay　their　return　to　the　surface。
〃Not　yet；　we　haven't　opened　it。　Well；　we　haven't　been　able　to　open　it。　The　door　is　a　weird　shape　and　it's　very　finely　milled。　。。。　No；　you　couldn't　wedge　anything　in　the　crack。〃　He　looked　at　Norman；　rolled　his　eyes。
〃No；　we　tried　that；　too。　There　don't　seem　to　be　any　exterior　controls。　No；　no　message　on　the　outside。　No；　no　labels　either。　All　it　is；　is　a　highly　polished　sphere　with　some　convoluted　grooves　on　one　side。　What？　Blast　it　open？〃
Norman　turned　away。　He　was　in　D　Cylinder；　in　the　munications　section　run　by　Tina　Chan。　She　was　adjusting　a　dozen　monitors　with　her　usual　calm。　Norman　said；　〃You　seem　like　the　most　relaxed　person　here。〃
She　smiled。　〃Just　inscrutable；　sir。〃
〃Is　that　it？〃
＇＇108＇＇　〃It　must　be；　sir；〃　she　said；　adjusting　the　vertical　gain　on　one　rolling　monitor。　The　screen　showed　the　polished　sphere。　〃Because　I　feel　my　heart　pounding；　sir。　What　do　you　think　is　inside　that　thing？〃
〃I　haven't　any　idea；〃　Norman　said。
〃Do　you　think　there's　an　alien　inside？　You　know；　some　kind　of　a　living　creature？〃
〃Maybe。〃
〃And　we're　trying　to　open　it　up？　Maybe　we　shouldn't　let　it　out；　whatever　is　in　there。〃
〃Aren't　you　curious？〃　Norman　said。
〃Not　that　curious；　sir。〃
〃I　don't　see　how　blasting　would　work；〃　Barnes　was　saying　on　the　phone。　〃Yes；　we　have　SMTMP's；　yes。　Oh；　different　sizes。　But　I　don't　think　we　can　blast　the　sucker　open。　No。　Well；　if　you　saw　it；　you'd　understand。　The　thing　is　perfectly　made。　Perfect。〃
Tina　adjusted　a　second　monitor。　They　had　two　views　of　the　sphere；　and　soon　there　would　be　a　third。　Edmunds　was　setting　up　cameras　to　watch　the　sphere。　That　had　been　one　of　Harry's　suggestions。　Harry　had　said；　〃Monitor　it。　Maybe　it　does　something　from　time　to　time；　has　some　activity。〃
On　the　screen；　he　saw　the　network　of　wires　that　had　been　attached　to　the　sphere。　They　had　a　full　array　of　passive　sensors：　sound；　and　the　full　electromagnetic　spectrum　from　infrared　to　gamma　and　X…rays。　The　readouts　on　the　sensors　were　displayed　on　a　bank　of　instruments　to　the　left。
Harry　came　in。　〃Getting　anything　yet？〃
Tina　shook　her　head。　〃So　far；　nothing。〃　
〃Has　Ted　e　back？〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。　〃Ted's　still　there。〃
Ted　had　remained　behind　in　the　cargo　bay；　ostensibly　to　help　Edmunds　set　up　the　cameras。　But　in　fact　they　knew　he　would　try　to　open　the　sphere。　They　saw　Ted　now　on　the　second　monitor；　probing　the　grooves；　touching；　pushing。　
Harry　smiled。　〃He　hasn't　got　a　prayer。〃
Norman　said；　〃Harry；　remember　when　we　were　in　the　flight　deck；　and　you　said　you　wanted　to　make　out　your　will　because　something　was　missing？〃
＇＇109＇＇　〃Oh；　that；〃　Harry　said。　〃Forget　it。　That's　irrelevant　now。〃
Barnes　was　saying；　〃No；　Mr。　Secretary；　raising　it　to　the　surface　would　be　just　about　impossible…well；　sir；　it　is　presently　located　inside　a　cargo　bay　half　a　mile　inside　the　ship；　and　the　ship　is　buried　under　thirty　feet　of　coral；　and　the　sphere　itself　is　a　good　thirty　feet　across；　it's　the　size　of　a　small　house。　。。。
〃I　just　wonder　what's　in　the　house；〃　Tina　said。
On　the　monitor；　Ted　kicked　the　sphere　in　frustration。
〃Not　a　prayer；〃　Harry　said　again。　〃He'll　never　get　it　open。〃
Beth　came　in。　〃How　are　we　going　to　open　it？〃
Harry　said；　〃How？〃　Harry　stared　thoughtfully　at　the　sphere；　gleaming　on　the　monitor。　There　was　a　long　silence。　〃Maybe　we　can't。〃
〃We　can't　open　it？　You　mean　not　ever？〃
〃That's　one　possibility。〃
Norman　laughed。　〃Ted　would　kill　himself。〃
Barnes　was　saying；　〃Well；　Mr。　Secretary；　if　you　wanted　to　mit　the　necessary　Navy　resources　to　do　a　full…scale　salvage　from　one　thousand　feet；　we　might　be　able　to　undertake　it　starting　six　months　from　now；　when　we　were　assured　of　a　month　of　good　surface　weather　in　this　region。　Yes　。。。　it's　winter　in　the　South　Pacific　now。　Yes。〃
Beth　said；　〃I　can　see　it　now。　At　great　expense；　the　Navy　brings　a　mysterious　alien　sphere　to　the　surface。　It　is　transported　to　a　top…secret　government　installation　in　Omaha。　Experts　from　every　branch　e　and　try　to　open　it。　Nobody　can。〃
〃Like　Excalibur；〃　Norman　said。
Beth　said；　〃As　time　goes　by；　they　try　stronger　and　stronger　methods。　Eventually　they　try　to　blow　it　open　with　a　small　nuclear　device。　And　still　nothing。　Finally；　nobody　has　any　more　ideas。　The　sphere　sits　there。　Decades　go　by。　The　sphere　is　never　opened。〃　She　shook　her　head。　〃One　great　frustration　for　mankind　。。。〃
Norman　said　to　Harry；　〃Do　you　really　think　that'd　happen？　That　we'd　never　get　it　open？〃
Harry　said；　〃Never　is　a　long　time。〃
〃No；　sir；〃　Barnes　was　saying；　〃given　this　new　＇＇110＇＇　development；　we'll　stay　down　to　the　last　minute。　Weather　topside　is　holding…at　least　six　more　hours；　yes；　sir；　from　the　Metsat　reports…well；　I　have　to　rely　on　that　judgment。　Yes；　sir。　Hourly；　yes；　sir。〃
He　hung　up；　turned　to　the　group。　〃Okay。　We　have　authorization　to　stay　down　six　to　twelve　hours　more；　as　long　as　the　weather　holds。　Let's　try　to　open　that　sphere　in　the　time　remaining。〃
〃Ted's　working　on　it　now；〃　Harry　said。
On　the　video　monitor；　they　saw　Ted　Fielding　slap　the　polished　sphere　with　his　hand　and　shout；　〃Open！　Open　Sesame！　Open　up；　you　son　of　a　bitch！〃
The　sphere　did　not　respond。

〃THE　ANTHROPOMORPHIC　PROBLEM〃

〃Seriously；〃　Norman　said；　〃I　think　somebody　has　to　ask　the　question：　should　we　consider　not　opening　it　up？〃
〃Why？〃　Barnes　said。　〃Listen；　I　just　got　off　the　phone…〃　
〃…I　know；〃　Norman　said。　〃But　maybe　we　should　think　twice　about　this。〃　Out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　saw　Tina　nodding　vigorously。　Harry　looked　skeptical。　Beth　rubbed　her　eyes；　sleepy。
〃Are　you　afraid；　or　do　you　have　a　substantive　argument？〃　Barnes　said。
〃I　have　the　feeling；〃　Harry　said；　〃that　Norman's　about　to　quote　from　his　own　work。〃
〃Well；　yes；〃　Norman　admitted。　〃I　did　put　this　in　my　report。〃
In　his　report；　he　had　called　it　〃the　Anthropomorphic　Problem。〃　Basically；　the　problem　was　that　everybody　who　had　ever　thought　or　written　about　extraterrestrial　life　＇＇111＇＇　imagined　that　life　as　essentially　human。　Even　if　the　extraterrestrial　life　didn't　look　human…if　it　was　a　reptile；　or　a　big　insect；　or　an　intelligent　crystal…it　still　acted　in　a　human　way。　〃You're　talking　about　the　movies；〃　Barnes　said。
〃I'm　talking　about　research　papers；　too。　Every　conception　of　extraterrestrial　life；　whether　by　a　movie　maker　or　a　university　professor；　has　been　basically　human…assuming　human　values；　human　understanding；　human　ways　of　approaching　a　humanly　understandable　universe。　And　generally　a　human　appearance…two　eyes；　a　nose；　a　mouth；　and　so　on。〃
〃So？〃
〃So；〃　Norman　said；　〃that's　obviously　nonsense。　For　one　thing；　there's　enough　variation　in　human　behavior　to　make　understanding　just　within　our　own　species　very　troublesome。　The　differences　between；　say；　Americans　and　Japanese　are　very　great。　Americans　and　Japanese　don't　really　look　at　the　world　the　same　way　at　all。〃
〃Yes；　yes；〃　Barnes　said　impatiently。　〃We　all　know　the　Japanese　are　different…〃
〃…And　when　you　e　to　a　new　life　form；　the　differences　may　be　literally　inprehensible。　The　values　and　ethics　of　this　new　form　of　life　may　be　utterly　different。〃
〃You　mean　it　may　not　believe　in　the　sanctity　of　life；　or　'Thou　shalt　not　kill；'　〃　Barnes　said；　still　impatient。
〃No；〃　Norman　said。　〃I　mean　that　this　creature　may　not　be　able　to　be　killed；　and　so　it　may　have　no　concept　of　killing　in　the　first　place。〃
Barnes　stopped。　〃This　creature　may　not　be　able　to　be　killed？〃
Norman　nodded。　〃As　someone　once　said；　you　can't　break　the　arms　of　a　creature　that　has　no　arms。〃
〃It　can't　be　killed？　You　mean　it's　immortal？〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　Norman　said。　〃That's　the　point。〃
〃I　mean；　Jesus；　a　thing　that　couldn't　be　killed；〃　Barnes　said。　〃How　would　we　kill　it？〃　He　bit　his　lip。　〃I　wouldn't　like　to　open　that　sphere　and　release　a　thing　that　couldn't　be　killed。〃
Harry　laughed。　〃No　promotions　for　that　one；　Hal。〃　Barnes　looked　at　the　monitors；　showing　several　views　of　＇＇112＇＇　the　polished　sphere。　Finally　he　said；　〃No；　that's　ridiculous。　No　living　thing　is　immortal。　Am　I　right；　Beth？〃
〃Actually；　no；〃　Beth　said。　〃You　could　argue　that　certain　living　creatures　on　our　own　planet　are　immortal。　For　example；　single…celled　organisms　like　bacteria　and　yeasts　are　apparently　capable　of　living　indefinitely。〃
〃Yeasts。〃　Barnes　snorted。　〃We're　not　talking　about　yeasts。〃
〃And　to　all　intents　and　purposes　a　virus　could　be　considered　immortal。〃
〃A　virus？〃　Barnes　sat　down　in　a　chair。　He　hadn't　considered　a　virus。　〃But　how　likely　is　it；　really？　Harry？〃
〃I　think；〃　Harry　said；　〃that　the　possibilities　go　far　beyond　what　we've　mentioned　so　far。　We've　only　considered　threedimensional　creatures；　of　the　kind　that　exist　in　our　threedimensional　universe…or；　to　be　more　precise；　the　universe　that　we　perceive　as　having　three　dimensions。　Some　people　think　our　universe　has　nine　or　eleven　dimensions。〃
Barnes　looked　tired。
〃Except　the　other　six　dimensions　are　very　small；　so　we　don't　notice　them。〃
Barnes　rubbed　his　eyes。
〃Therefore　this　creature；〃　Harry　continued；　〃may　be　multidimensional；　so　that　it　literally　does　not　exist…at　least　not　entirely…in　our　usual　three　dimensions。　To　take　the　simplest　case；　if　it　were　a　four…dimensional　creature；　we　would　only　see　part　of　it　at　any　time；　because　most　of　the　creature　would　exist　in　the　fourth　dimension。　That　would　obviously　make　it　difficult　to　kill。　And　if　it　were　a　five…dimensional　creature…〃
〃…Just　a　minute。　Why　haven't　any　of　you　mentioned　this　before？〃
〃We　thought　you　knew；〃　Harry　said。
〃Knew　about　five…dimensional　creatures　that　can't　be　killed？　Nobody　said　a　word　to　me。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Opening　this　sphere　could　be　incredibly　dangerous。〃
〃It　could；　yes。〃
〃What　we　have　here　is；　we　have　Pandora's　box。〃
〃That's　right。〃
〃Well；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Let's　consider　worst　cases。　＇＇113＇＇　What's　the　worst　case　for　what　we　might　find？〃
Beth　sa