Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第18部分

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〃That's　right。〃
〃Well；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Let's　consider　worst　cases。　＇＇113＇＇　What's　the　worst　case　for　what　we　might　find？〃
Beth　said；　〃I　think　that's　clear。　Irrespective　of　whether　it's　a　multidimensional　creature　or　a　virus　or　whatever；　irrespective　of　whether　it　shares　our　morals　or　has　no　morals　at　all；　the　worst　case　is　that　it　hits　us　below　the　belt。〃
〃Meaning？〃
〃Meaning　that　it　behaves　in　a　way　that　interferes　with　our　basic　life　mechanisms。　A　good　example　is　the　AIDS　virus。　The　reason　why　AIDS　is　so　dangerous　is　not　that　it's　new。　We　get　new　viruses　every　year…every　week。　And　all　viruses　work　in　the　same　way：　they　attack　cells　and　convert　the　machinery　of　the　cells　to　make　more　viruses。　What　makes　the　AIDS　virus　dangerous　is；　it　attacks　the　specific　cells　that　we　use　to　defend　against　viruses。　AIDS　interferes　with　our　basic　defense　mechanism。　And　we　have　no　defense　against　it。〃
〃Well；〃　Barnes　said；　〃if　this　sphere　contains　a　creature　that　interferes　with　our　basic　mechanisms…what　would　that　creature　be　like？〃
〃It　could　breathe　in　air　and　exhale　cyanide　gas；〃　Beth　said。　〃It　could　excrete　radioactive　waste；〃　Harry　said。
〃It　could　disrupt　our　brain　waves；〃　Norman　said。　〃Interfere　with　our　ability　to　think。〃
〃Or；〃　Beth　said；　〃it　might　merely　disrupt　cardiac　conduction。　Stop　our　hearts　from　beating。〃
〃It　might　produce　a　sound　vibration　that　would　resonate　in　our　skeletal　system　and　shatter　our　bones；〃　Harry　said。　He　smiled　at　the　others。　〃I　rather　like　that　one。〃
〃Clever；〃　Beth　said。　〃But；　as　usual；　we're　only　thinking　of　ourselves。　The　creature　might　do　nothing　directly　harmful　to　us　at　all。〃
〃Ah；〃　Barnes　said。
〃It　might　simply　exhale　a　toxin　that　kills　chloroplasts；　so　that　plants　could　no　longer　convert　sunlight。　Then　all　the　plants　on　Earth　would　die…and　consequently　all　life　on　Earth　would　die。〃
〃Ah；〃　Barnes　said。　
〃You　see；〃　Norman　said；　〃at　first　I　thought　the　Anthropomorphic　Problem…the　fact　that　we　can　only　conceive　of　extraterrestrial　life　as　basically　human…I　thought　it　was　＇＇114＇＇　a　failure　of　imagination。　Man　is　man；　all　he　knows　is　man；　and　all　he　can　think　of　is　what　he　knows。　Yet；　as　you　can　see；　that's　not　true。　We　can　think　of　plenty　of　other　things。　But　we　don't。　So　there　must　be　another　reason　why　we　only　conceive　of　extraterrestrials　as　humans。　And　I　think　the　answer　is　that　we　are；　in　reality；　terribly　frail　animals。　And　we　don't　like　to　be　reminded　of　how　frail　we　are…how　delicate　the　balances　are　inside　our　own　bodies；　how　short　our　stay　on　Earth；　and　how　easily　it　is　ended。　So　we　imagine　other　life　forms　as　being　like　us；　so　we　don't　have　to　think　of　the　real　threat…the　terrifying　threat…they　may　represent；　without　ever　intending　to。〃
There　was　a　silence。
〃Of　course；　we　mustn't　forget　another　possibility；〃　Bames　said。　〃It　may　be　that　the　sphere　contains　some　extraordinary　benefit　to　us。　Some　wondrous　new　knowledge；　some　astonishing　new　idea　or　new　technology　which　will　improve　the　condition　of　mankind　beyond　our　wildest　dreams。〃
〃Although　the　chances　are；〃　Harry　said；　〃that　there　won't　be　any　new　idea　that　is　useful　to　us。〃
〃Why？〃　Barnes　said。
〃Well；　let's　say　that　the　aliens　are　a　thousand　years　ahead　of　us；　just　as　we　are　relative　to；　say；　medieval　Europe。　Suppose　you　went　back　to　medieval　Europe　with　a　television　set？　There　wouldn't　be　any　place　to　plug　it　in。〃
Barnes　stared　from　one　to　another　for　a　long　time。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　said。　〃This　is　too　great　a　responsibility　for　me。　I　can't　make　the　decision　to　open　it　up。　I　have　to　call　Washington　on　this。〃
〃Ted　won't　be　happy；〃　Harry　said。
〃The　hell　with　Ted；〃　Barnes　said。　〃I'm　going　to　give　this　to　the　President。　Until　we　hear　from　him；　I　don't　want　anybody　trying　to　open　that　sphere。〃


Barnes　called　for　a　two…hour　rest　period；　and　Harry　went　to　his　quarters　to　sleep。　Beth　announced　that　she　was　going　off　to　sleep；　too；　but　she　remained　at　the　monitor　station　with　Tina　Chan　and　Norman。　Chan's　station　had　＇＇115＇＇　fortable　chairs　with　high　backs；　and　Beth　swiveled　in　the　chair；　swinging　her　legs　back　and　forth。　She　played　with　her　hair；　making　little　ringlets　by　her　ear；　and　she　stared　into　space。
Tired；　Norman　thought。　We're　all　tired。　He　watched　Tina；　who　moved　smoothly　and　continuously；　adjusting　the　monitors；　checking　the　sensor　inputs；　changing　the　videotapes　on　the　bank　of　VCR's；　tense；　alert。　Because　Edmunds　was　in　the　spaceship　with　Ted；　Tina　had　to　look　after　the　recording　units　as　well　as　her　own　munications　console。　The　Navy　woman　didn't　seem　to　be　as　tired　as　they　were；　but；　then；　she　hadn't　been　inside　the　spaceship。　To　her；　that　spaceship　was　something　she　saw　on　the　monitors；　a　TV　show；　an　abstraction。　Tina　hadn't　been　confronted　face…to…face　with　the　reality　of　the　new　environment；　the　exhausting　mental　struggle　to　understand　what　was　going　on；　what　it　all　meant。
〃You　look　tired；　sir；〃　Tina　said。
〃Yes。　We're　all　tired。〃
〃It's　the　atmosphere；〃　she　said。　〃Breathing　the　heliox。〃　So　much　for　psychological　explanations；　Norman　thought。　Tina　said；　〃The　density　of　the　air　down　here　has　a　real　effect。　We're　at　thirty　atmospheres。　If　we　were　breathing　regular　air　at　this　pressure；　it　would　be　almost　as　thick　as　a　liquid。　Heliox　is　lighter；　but　it's　far　denser　than　what　we're　used　to。　You　don't　realize　it；　but　it's　tiring　just　to　breathe；　to　move　your　lungs。〃
〃But　you　aren't　tired。〃
〃Oh；　I'm　used　to　it。　I've　been　in　saturated　environments　before。〃
〃Is　that　right？　Where？〃
〃I　really　can't　say；　Dr。　Johnson。〃
〃Navy　operations？〃
She　smiled。　〃I'm　not　supposed　to　talk　about　it。〃
〃Is　that　your　inscrutable　smile？〃
〃I　hope　so；　sir。　But　don't　you　think　you　ought　to　try　and　sleep？〃
He　nodded。　〃Probably。〃
Norman　considered　going　to　sleep；　but　the　prospect　of　his　damp　bunk　was　unappealing。　Instead　he　went　down　to　the　galley；　hoping　to　find　one　of　Rose　Levy's　desserts。　Levy　was　＇＇116＇＇　not　there；　but　there　was　some　coconut　cake　under　a　plastic　dome。　He　found　a　plate；　cut　a　slice；　and　took　it　over　to　one　of　the　portholes。　But　it　was　black　outside　the　porthole；　the　grid　lights　were　turned　off；　the　divers　gone。　He　saw　lights　in　the　portholes　of　DH…7；　the　divers'　habitat；　located　a　few　dozen　yards　away。　The　divers　must　be　getting　ready　to　go　back　to　the　surface。　Or　perhaps　they　had　already　gone。
In　the　porthole；　he　saw　his　own　face　reflected。　The　face　looked　tired；　and　old。　〃This　is　no　place　for　a　fifty…three…year…old　man；〃　he　said；　watching　his　reflection。
As　he　looked　out；　he　saw　some　moving　lights　in　the　distance；　then　a　flash　of　yellow。　One　of　the　minisubs　pulled　up　under　a　cylinder　at　DH…7。　Moments　later；　a　second　sub　arrived；　to　dock　alongside　it。　The　lights　on　the　first　sub　went　out。　After　a　short　time；　the　second　sub　pulled　away；　into　the　black　water。　The　first　sub　was　left　behind。
What's　going　on；　he　wondered；　but　he　was　aware　he　didn't　really　care。　He　was　too　tired。　He　was　more　interested　in　what　the　cake　would　taste　like；　and　looked　down。　The　cake　was　eaten。　Only　a　few　crumbs　remained。
Tired；　he　thought。　Very　tired。　He　put　his　feet　up　on　the　coffee　table　and　put　his　head　back　against　the　cool　padding　of　the　wall。
He　must　have　fallen　asleep　for　a　while；　because　he　awoke　disoriented；　in　darkness。　He　sat　up　and　immediately　the　lights　came　on。　He　saw　he　was　still　in　the　galley。
Barnes　had　warned　him　about　that；　the　way　the　habitat　adjusted　to　the　presence　of　people。　Apparently　the　motion　sensors　stopped　registering　you　if　you　fell　asleep；　and　automatically　shut　off　the　room　lights。　Then　when　you　awoke；　and　moved；　the　lights　came　back。　He　wondered　if　the　lights　would　stay　on　if　you　snored。　Who　had　designed　all　this？　he　wondered。　Had　the　engineers　and　designers　working　on　the　Navy　habitat　taken　snoring　into　account？　Was　there　a　snore　sensor？　More　cake。
He　got　up　and　walked　across　to　the　galley　kitchen。　Several　pieces　of　cake　were　now　missing。　Had　he　eaten　them？　He　wasn't　sure；　couldn't　remember。
〃Lot　of　videotapes；〃　Beth　said。　Norman　turned　around。
＇＇117＇＇　〃Yes；〃　Tina　said。　〃We　are　recording　everything　that　goes　on　in　this　habitat　as　well　as　the　other　ship。　It'll　be　a　lot　of　material。〃
There　was　a　monitor　mounted　just　above　his　head。　It　showed　Beth　and　Tina；　upstairs　at　the　munications　console。　They　were　eating　cake。
Aha；　he　thought。　So　that　was　where　the　cake　had　gone。　〃Every　twelve　hours　the　tapes　are　transferred　to　the　submarine；〃　Tina　said。
〃What　for？〃　Beth　said。
〃That's　so；　if　anything　happens　down　here；　the　submarine　will　automatically　go　to　the　surface。〃
〃Oh；　great；〃　Beth　said。　〃I　won't　think　about　that　too　much。　Where　is　Dr。　Fielding　now？〃
Tina　said；　〃He　gave　up　on　the　sphere；　and　went　into　the　main　flight　deck　with　Edmunds。〃
Norman　watched　the　monitor。　Tina　had　stepped　out　of　view。　Beth　sat　with　her　back　to　the　monitor；　eating　the　cake。　On　the　monitor　behind　Beth；　he　could　clearly　see　the　gleaming　sphere。　Monitors　showing　monitors；　he　thought。　The　Navy　people　who　eventually　review　this　stuff　are　going　to　go　crazy。　Tina　said；　〃Do　you　think　they'll　ever　get　the　sphere　open？〃　Beth　chewed　her　cake。　〃Maybe；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　know。〃　And　to　Norman's　horror；　he　saw　on　the　monitor　behind　Beth　that　the　door　of　the　sphere　was　sliding　silently　open；　revealing　blackness　inside。

OPEN

They　must　have　thought　he　was　crazy；　running　through　the　lock　to　D　Cylinder　and　stumbling　up　the　narrow　stairs　to　the　upper　level；　shouting；　〃It's　open！　It's　open！〃
He　came　to　the　munications　console　just　as　Beth　was　＇＇118＇＇　wiping　the　last　crumbs　of　coconut　from　her　lips。　She　set　down　her　fork。
〃What's　open？〃
〃The　sphere！〃
Beth　spun　in　her　chair。　Tina　ran　over　from　the　bank　of　VCR's。　They　both　looked　at　the　monitor　behind　Beth。　There　was　an　awkward　silence。
〃Looks　closed　to　me；　Norman。〃
〃It　was　open。　I　saw　it。〃　He　told　them　about　watching　in　the　galley；　on　the　monitor。　〃It　was　just　a　few　seconds　ago；　and　the　sphere　definitely　opened。　It　must　have　closed　again　while　I　was　on　my　way　here。〃
〃Are　you　sure？〃
〃That's　a　pretty　small　monitor　in　the　galley。　。。。〃
〃I　saw　it；〃　Norman　said。　〃Replay　it；　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃
〃Good　idea；〃　Tina　said；　and　she　went　to　the　recorders　to　play　the　tape　back。
Norman　was　breathing　heavily；　trying　to　catch　his　breath。　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　exerted　himself　in　the　dense　atmosphere；　and　he　felt　the　effects　strongly。　DH…8　was　not　a　good　place　to　get　excited；　he　decided。
Beth　was　watching　him。　〃You　okay；　Norman？〃
〃I'm　fine。　I　tell　you；　I　saw　it。　It　opened。　Tina？〃
〃It'll　take　me　a　second　here。〃
Harry　walked　in；　yawning。　〃Beds　in　this　place　are　great；　aren't　they？〃　he　said。　〃Like　sleeping　in　a　bag　of　wet　rice。　Sort　of　bination　bed　and　cold　shower。〃　He　sighed。　〃It'll　break　my　heart　to　leave。〃
Beth　said；　〃Norman　thinks　the　sphere　opened。〃
〃When？〃　he　said；　yawning　again。
〃Just　a　few　seconds　ago。〃
Harry　nodded　thoughtfully。　〃Interesting；　interesting。　I　see　it's　closed　now。〃
〃We're　rewinding　the　videotapes；　to　look　again。〃
〃Uh…huh。　Is　there　any　more　of　that　cake？〃
Harry　seems　very　cool；　Norman　thought。　This　is　a　major　piece　of　news　and　he　doesn't　seem　excited　at　all。　Why　was　＇＇119＇＇　that？　Didn't　Harry　believe　it；　either？　Was　he　still　sleepy；　not　fully　awake？　Or　was　there　something　else？
〃Here　we　go；〃　Tina　said。
The　monitor　showed　jagged　lines；　and　then　resolved。　On　the　screen；　Tina　was　saying；