Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第21部分

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〃A　flock　of　fireflies？〃
〃Something　like　that。〃　The　tape　ran　out。　The　screen　went　dark。
Ted　said；　〃That's　it？〃
〃I'm　afraid　so；　Dr。　Fielding。〃
〃Poor　Harry；〃　Ted　said　mournfully。
Of　all　the　group；　Ted　was　the　most　visibly　upset　about　Harry。　He　kept　staring　at　the　closed　sphere　on　the　monitor；　saying；　〃How　did　he　do　that？〃　Then　he　would　add；　〃I　hope　he's　all　right。〃
He　repeated　it　so　often　that　finally　Beth　said；　〃I　think　we　know　your　feelings；　Ted。〃
〃I'm　seriously　concerned　about　him。〃
〃I　am；　too。　We　all　are。〃
〃You　think　I'm　jealous；　Beth？　Is　that　what　you're　saying？〃
＇＇133＇＇　〃Why　would　anyone　think　that；　Ted？〃
Norman　changed　the　subject。　It　was　crucial　to　avoid　confrontations　among　group　members。　He　asked　Ted　about　his　analysis　of　the　flight　data　aboard　the　spaceship。
〃It's　very　interesting；〃　Ted　said；　warming　to　his　subject。　〃My　detailed　examination　of　the　earliest　flight…data　images；〃　he　said；　〃convinced　me　that　they　show　three　planets…Uranus；　Neptune；　and　Pluto…and　the　sun；　very　small　in　the　background。　Therefore；　the　pictures　are　taken　from　some　point　beyond　the　orbit　of　Pluto。　This　suggests　that　the　black　hole　is　not　far　beyond　our　own　solar　system。〃
〃Is　that　possible？〃　Norman　said。
〃Oh　sure。　In　fact；　for　the　last　ten　years　some　astrophysicists　have　suspected　that　there's　a　black　hole…not　a　large　one；　but　a　black　hole　just　outside　our　solar　system。〃
〃I　hadn't　heard　that。〃
〃Oh　yes。　In　fact；　some　of　us　have　argued　that；　if　it　was　small　enough；　in　a　few　years　we　could　go　out　and　capture　the　black　hole；　bring　it　back；　park　it　in　Earth　orbit；　and　use　the　energy　it　generates　to　power　the　entire　planet。〃
Barnes　smiled。　〃Black…hole　cowboys？〃
〃In　theory；　there's　no　reason　it　couldn't　be　done。　Then　just　think：　the　entire　planet　would　be　free　of　its　dependency　on　fossil　fuels。　。。。　The　whole　history　of　mankind　would　be　changed。〃
Barnes　said；　〃Probably　make　a　hell　of　a　weapon；　too。〃
〃Even　a　very　tiny　black　hole　would　be　a　little　too　powerful　to　use　as　a　weapon。〃
〃So　you　think　this　ship　went　out　to　capture　a　black　hole？〃
〃I　doubt　it；〃　Ted　said。　〃The　ship　is　so　strongly　made；　so　shielded　against　radiation；　that　I　suspect　it　was　intended　to　go　through　a　black　hole。　And　it　did。〃
〃And　that's　why　the　ship　went　back　in　time？〃　Norman　said。
〃I'm　not　sure；〃　Ted　said。　〃You　see；　a　black　hole　really　is　the　edge　of　the　universe。　What　happens　there　isn't　clear　to　anybody　now　alive。　But　what　some　people　think　is　that　you　don't　go　through　the　hole；　you　sort　of　skip　into　it；　like　a　＇＇134＇＇　pebble　skipping　over　water；　and　you　get　bounced　into　a　different　time　or　space　or　universe。〃
〃So　the　ship　got　bounced？〃
〃Yes。　Possibly　more　than　once。　And　when　it　bounced　back　here；　it　undershot　and　arrived　a　few　hundred　years　before　it　left。〃
〃And　on　one　of　its　bounces；　it　picked　up　that？〃　Beth　said；　pointing　to　the　monitor。
They　looked。　The　sphere　was　still　closed。　But　lying　next　to　it；　sprawled　on　the　deck　in　an　awkward　pose；　was　Harry　Adams。
For　a　moment　they　thought　he　was　dead。　Then　Harry　lifted　his　head　and　moaned。


THE　SUBJECT

Norman　wrote　in　his　notebook：　Subject　is　a　thirty…year…old　black　mathematician　who　has　spent　three　hours　inside　a　sphere　of　unknown　origin。　On　recovery　from　the　sphere　was　stuporous　and　unresponsive；　he　did　not　know　his　name；　where　he　was；　or　what　year　it　was。　Brought　back　to　habitat；　slept　for　one　half…hour　then　awoke　abruptly　plaining　of　headache。
〃Oh　God。〃
Harry　was　sitting　in　his　bunk；　holding　his　head　in　his　hands；　groaning。
〃Hurt？〃　Norman　asked。
〃Brutal。　Pounding。〃
〃Anything　else？〃
〃Thirsty。　God。〃　He　licked　his　lips。　〃Really　thirsty。〃
Extreme　thirst；　Norman　wrote。
Rose　Levy；　the　cook；　showed　up　with　a　glass　of　lemonade。　＇＇135＇＇　Norman　handed　the　glass　to　Harry；　who　drank　it　in　a　single　gulp；　passed　it　back。
〃More。〃
〃Better　bring　a　pitcher；〃　Norman　said。　Levy　went　off。　Norman　turned　to　Harry；　still　holding　his　head；　still　groaning；　and　said；　〃I　have　a　question　for　you。〃
〃What？〃
〃What's　your　name？〃
〃Norman；　I　don't　need　to　be　psychoanalyzed　right　now。〃
〃Just　tell　me　your　name。〃
〃Harry　Adams；　for　Christ's　sake。　What's　the　matter　with　you？　Oh；　my　head。〃
〃You　didn't　remember　before；〃　Norman　said。　〃When　we　found　you。〃
〃When　you　found　me？〃　he　asked。　He　seemed　confused　again。
Norman　nodded。　〃Do　you　remember　when　we　found　you？〃
〃It　must　have　been　。。。　outside。〃
〃Outside？〃
Harry　looked　up；　suddenly　furious；　eyes　glowing　with　rage。　〃Outside　the　sphere；　you　goddamn　idiot！　What　do　you　think　I'm　talking　about？〃
〃Take　it　easy；　Harry。〃
〃Your　questions　are　driving　me　crazy！〃
〃Okay；　okay。　Take　it　easy。〃
Emotionally　labile。　Rage　and　irritability。　Norman　made　more　notes。
〃Do　you　have　to　make　so　much　noise？〃　
Norman　looked　up；　puzzled。
〃Your　pen；〃　Harry　said。　〃It　sounds　like　Niagara　Falls。〃　
Norman　stopped　writing。　It　must　be　a　migraine；　or　something　like　migraine。　Harry　was　holding　his　head　in　his　hands　delicately；　as　if　it　were　made　of　glass。
〃Why　can't　I　have　any　aspirin；　for　Christ's　sake？〃
〃We　don't　want　to　give　you　anything　for　a　while；　in　case　you've　hurt　yourself。　We　need　to　know　where　the　pain　is。〃
〃The　pain；　Norman；　is　in　my　head。　It's　in　my　goddamn　head！　Now；　why　won't　you　give　me　any　aspirin？〃
＇＇136＇＇　〃Barnes　said　not　to。〃
〃Is　Barnes　still　here？〃
〃We're　all　still　here。〃
Harry　looked　up　slowly。　〃But　you　were　supposed　to　go　to　the　surface。〃
〃I　know。〃
〃Why　didn't　you　go？〃
〃The　weather　went　bad；　and　they　couldn't　send　the　subs。〃
〃Well；　you　should　go。　You　shouldn't　be　here；　Norman。〃　
Levy　arrived　with　more　lemonade。　Harry　looked　at　her　as　he　drank。
〃You're　still　here；　too？〃
〃Yes；　Dr。　Adams。〃
〃How　many　people　are　down　here；　all　together？〃
Levy　said；　〃There　are　nine　of　us；　sir。〃
〃Jesus。〃　He　passed　the　glass　back。　Levy　refilled　it。　〃You　should　all　go。　You　should　leave。〃
〃Harry；〃　Norman　said。　〃We　can't　go。〃
〃You　have　to　go。〃
Norman　sat　on　the　bunk　opposite　Harry　and　watched　as　Harry　drank。　Harry　was　demonstrating　a　rather　typical　manifestation　of　shock：　the　agitation；　the　irritability；　the　nervous；　manic　flow　of　ideas；　the　unexplained　fears　for　the　safety　of　others…it　was　all　characteristic　of　shocked　victims　of　severe　accidents；　such　as　major　auto　crashes　or　airplane　crashes。　Given　an　intense　event；　the　brain　struggled　to　assimilate；　to　make　sense；　to　reassemble　the　mental　world　even　as　the　physical　world　was　shattered　around　it。　The　brain　went　into　a　kind　of　overdrive；　hastily　trying　to　reassemble　things；　to　get　things　right；　to　re…establish　equilibrium。　Yet　it　was　fundamentally　a　confused　period　of　wheel…spinning。
You　just　had　to　wait　it　out。
Harry　finished　the　lemonade；　handed　the　glass　back。　
〃More？〃　Levy　asked。
〃No；　that's　good。　Headache's　better。〃
Perhaps　it　was　dehydration　after　all；　Norman　thought。　But　why　would　Harry　be　dehydrated　after　three　hours　in　the　sphere？
〃Harry　。。。　？〃
＇＇137＇＇　〃Tell　me　something。　Do　I　look　different；　Norman？〃
〃No。〃
〃I　look　the　same　to　you？〃
〃Yes。　I'd　say　so。〃
〃Are　you　sure？〃　Harry　said。　He　jumped　up；　went　to　a　mirror　mounted　on　the　wall。　He　peered　at　his　face。
〃How　do　you　think　you　look？〃　Norman　said。
〃I　don't　know。　Different。〃
〃Different　how？〃
〃I　don't　know！〃　。。。　He　pounded　the　padded　wall　next　to　the　mirror。　The　mirror　image　vibrated。　He　turned　away；　sat　down　on　the　bunk　again。　He　sighed。　〃Just　different。〃
〃Harry。。。〃
〃What？〃
〃Do　you　remember　what　happened？〃
〃Of　course。〃
〃What　happened？〃
〃I　went　inside。〃
He　waited；　but　Harry　said　nothing　further。　He　just　stared　at　the　carpeted　floor。
〃Do　you　remember　opening　the　door？〃　Harry　said　nothing。
〃How　did　you　open　the　door；　Harry？〃
Harry　looked　up　at　Norman。　〃You　were　all　supposed　to　leave。　To　go　back　to　the　surface。　You　weren't　supposed　to　stay。
〃How　did　you　open　the　door；　Harry？〃
There　was　a　long　silence。　〃I　opened　it。〃　He　sat　up　straight；　his　hands　at　his　sides。　He　seemed　to　be　remembering；　reliving　it。
〃And　then？〃
〃I　went　inside。〃
〃And　what　happened　inside？〃
〃It　was　beautiful。　。。。〃
〃What　was　beautiful？〃
〃The　foam；〃　Harry　said。　And　then　he　fell　silent　again；　staring　vacantly　into　space。
〃The　foam？〃　Norman　prompted。
〃The　sea。　The　foam。　Beautiful　。。。〃
＇＇138＇＇　Was　he　talking　about　the　lights？　Norman　wondered。　The　swirling　pattern　of　lights？
〃What　was　beautiful；　Harry？〃
〃Now；　don't　kid　me；〃　Harry　said。　〃Promise　you　won't　kid　me。〃
〃I　won't　kid　you。〃
〃You　think　I　look　the　same？〃
〃Yes；　I　do。〃
〃You　don't　think　I've　changed　at　all？〃
〃No。　Not　that　I　can　see。　Do　you　think　you've　changed？〃
〃I　don't　know。　Maybe。　I…maybe。〃
〃Did　something　happen　in　the　sphere　to　change　you？〃
〃You　don't　understand　about　the　sphere。〃
〃Then　explain　it　to　me；〃　Norman　said。
〃Nothing　happened　in　the　sphere。〃
〃You　were　in　the　sphere　for　three　hours。　。。。〃
'Nothing　happened。　Nothing　ever　happens　inside　the　sphere。　It's　always　the　same；　inside　the　sphere。〃
〃What's　always　the　same？　The　foam？〃
〃The　foam　is　always　different。　The　sphere　is　always　the　same。〃
〃I　don't　understand；〃　Norman　said。
〃I　know　you　don't；〃　Harry　said。　He　shook　his　head。　〃What　can　I　do？〃
〃Tell　me　some　more。〃
〃There　isn't　any　more。〃
〃Then　tell　me　again。〃
〃It　won't　help；〃　Harry　said。　〃Do　you　think　you'll　be　leaving　soon？〃
〃Barnes　says　not　for　several　days。〃
〃I　think　you　should　leave　soon。　Talk　to　the　others。　Convince　them。　Make　them　leave。〃
〃Why；　Harry？〃
〃I　can't　be…I　don't　know。〃
Harry　rubbed　his　eyes　and　lay　back　on　the　bed。　〃You'll　have　to　excuse　me；〃　he　said；　〃but　I'm　very　tired。　Maybe　we　can　continue　this　some　other　time。　Talk　to　the　others；　Norman。　Get　them　to　leave。　It's　。。。　dangerous　to　stay　here。〃　And　he　lay　down　in　the　bunk　and　closed　his　eyes。


CHANGES

〃He's　sleeping；〃　Norman　told　them。　〃He's　in　shock。　He's　confused。　But　he　seems　basically　intact。〃
〃What　did　he　tell　you；〃　Ted　said；　〃about　what　happened　in　there？〃
〃He's　quite　confused；〃　Norman　said；　〃but　he's　recovering。　When　we　first　found　him；　he　didn't　even　remember　his　name。　Now　he　does。　He　remembers　my　name；　he　remembers　where　he　is。　He　remembers　he　went　into　the　sphere。　I　think　he　remembers　what　happened　inside　the　sphere；　too。　He　just　isn't　telling。〃
〃Great；〃　Ted　said。
〃He　mentioned　the　sea；　and　the　foam。　But　I　wasn't　clear　what　he　meant　by　that。〃
〃Look　outside；〃　Tina　said；　pointing　to　the　portholes。　Norman　had　an　immediate　impression　of　lights…thousands　of　lights　filling　the　blackness　of　the　ocean…and　his　first　response　was　unreasoning　terror：　the　lights　in　the　sphere　were　ing　out　to　get　them。　But　then　he　saw　each　of　the　lights　had　a　shape；　and　were　moving；　wriggling。
They　pressed　their　faces　to　the　portholes；　looked。　〃Squid；〃　Beth　said　finally。　〃Bioluminescent　squid。〃
〃Thousands　of　them。〃
〃More；〃　she　said。　〃I'd　guess　at　least　half　a　million；　all　around　the　habitat。〃
〃Beautiful。〃
〃The　size　of　the　school　is　amazing；〃　Ted　said。　〃Impressive；　but　not　really　unusual；〃　Beth　said。　〃The　fecundity　of　the　sea　is　very　great　pared　with　the　land。　The　sea　is　where　life　began；　and　where　intense　petition　among　animals　first　appeared。　One　response　to　petition　is　to　produce　enormous　numbers　of　offspring。　Many　sea　animals　do　that。　In　fact；　we　tend　to　think　that　animals　came　out　onto　the　land　as　a　positive　step　forward　in　the　evolution　of　life。　But　the　truth　is；　the　first　creatures　were　really　driven　out　of　the　ocean。　They　were　just　trying　to　get　away　from