Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第24部分

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Norman　felt　slightly　uneasy。　〃What're　they　doing　here？〃　
〃I　don't　know。　What　do　shrimps　do；　anyway？　Do　they　migrate？〃
〃Damned　if　I　know；〃　Barnes　said。　〃I　always　buy　'em　frozen。　My　wife　hates　to　peel　'em。〃
Norman　remained　uneasy；　though　he　could　not　say　why。　He　could　clearly　see　now　that　the　bottom　was　covered　in　shrimps；　they　were　everywhere。　Why　should　it　bother　him？
Norman　moved　away　from　the　window；　hoping　his　sense　of　vague　uneasiness　would　go　away　if　he　looked　at　something　else。　But　it　didn't　go　away；　it　just　stayed　there…a　small　tense　knot　in　the　pit　of　his　stomach。　He　didn't　like　the　feeling　at　all。

HARRY

〃Harry。〃
〃Oh；　hi；　Norman。　I　heard　the　excitement。　Lot　of　shrimps　outside；　is　that　it？〃
Harry　sat　on　his　bunk；　with　the　paper　printout　of　numbers　on　his　knees。　He　had　a　pencil　and　pad；　and　the　page　was　covered　with　calculations；　scratchouts；　symbols；　arrows。
〃Harry；〃　Norman　said；　〃what's　going　on？〃
〃Damned　if　I　know。〃
〃I'm　just　wondering　why　we　should　suddenly　be　finding　life　down　here…the　squid；　the　shrimps…when　before　there　was　nothing。　Ever。〃
〃Oh；　that。　I　think　that's　pretty　clear。〃
〃Yes？〃
〃Sure。　What's　different　between　then　and　now？〃
〃You've　been　inside　the　sphere。〃
〃No；　no。　I　mean；　what's　different　in　the　outside　environment？〃
Norman　frowned。　He　didn't　grasp　what　Harry　was　driving　at。
〃Well；　just　look　outside；〃　Harry　said。　〃What　could　you　see　before　that　you　can't　see　now？〃
〃The　grid？〃
〃Uh…huh。　The　grid　and　the　divers。　Lot　of　activity…and　a　lot　of　electricity。　I　think　it　scared　off　the　normal　fauna　of　the　area。　This　is　the　South　Pacific；　you　know；　it　ought　to　be　teeming　with　life。〃
〃And　now　that　the　divers　are　gone；　the　animals　are　back？〃
〃That's　my　guess。〃
〃That's　all　there　is　to　it？〃　Norman　said；　frowning。
〃Why　are　you　asking　me？〃　Harry　said。　〃Ask　Beth；　she'll　give　you　a　definitive　answer。　But　I　know　animals　are　sensitive　to　all　kinds　of　stimuli　we　don't　notice。　You　can't　run　God　knows　how　many　million　volts　through　underwater　cables；　to　light　a　half…mile　grid　in　an　environment　that　has　never　seen　light　before；　and　not　expect　to　have　an　effect。〃
＇＇154＇＇　Something　about　this　argument　tickled　the　back　of　Norman's　mind。　He　knew　something；　something　pertinent。　But　he　couldn't　get　it。
〃Harry。〃
　〃Yes；　Norman。　You　look　a　little　worried。　You　know；　this　substitution　code　is　really　a　bitch。　I'll　tell　you　the　truth；　I'm　not　sure　I'll　be　able　to　crack　it。　You　see；　the　problem　is；　if　it　is　a　letter　substitution；　you　will　need　two　digits　to　describe　a　single　letter；　because　there　are　twenty…six　letters　in　the　alphabet；　assuming　no　punctuation…which　may　or　may　not　be　included　here　as　well。　So　when　I　see　a　two　next　to　a　three；　I　don't　know　if　it　is　letter　two　followed　by　letter　three；　or　just　letter　twenty…three。　It's　taking　a　long　time　to　work　through　the　permutations。　You　see　what　I　mean？〃
〃Harry。〃
〃Yes；　Norman。〃
〃What　happened　inside　the　sphere？〃
〃Is　that　what　you're　worried　about？〃　Harry　asked。
〃What　makes　you　think　I'm　worried　about　anything？〃　Norman　asked。
〃Your　face；〃　Harry　said。　〃That's　what　makes　me　think　you're　worried。〃
〃Maybe　I　am；〃　Norman　said。　〃But　about　this　sphere。。。〃
〃You　know；　I've　been　thinking　a　lot　about　that　sphere。〃
〃And？〃
〃It's　quite　amazing。　I　really　don't　remember　what　happened。〃
〃Harry。〃
　〃I　feel　fine…I　feel　better　all　the　time；　honest　to　God；　my　energy's　back；　headache's　gone…and　earlier　I　remembered　everything　about　that　sphere　and　what　was　inside　it。　But　every　minute　that　passes；　it　seems　to　fade。　You　know；　the　way　a　dream　fades？　You　remember　it　when　you　wake　up；　but　an　hour　later；　it's　gone？〃
〃Harry。〃
　〃I　remember　that　it　was　wonderful；　and　beautiful。　Something　about　lights；　swirling　lights。　But　that's　all。〃
〃How　did　you　get　the　door　to　open？〃
＇＇155＇＇　〃Oh；　that。　It　was　very　clear　at　the　time；　I　remember　I　had　worked　it　all　out；　I　knew　exactly　what　to　do。〃
〃What　did　you　do？〃
〃I'm　sure　it　will　e　back　to　me。〃
〃You　don't　remember　how　you　opened　the　door？〃
〃No。　I　just　remember　this　sudden　insight；　this　certainty；　about　how　it　was　done。　But　I　can't　remember　the　details。　Why；　does　somebody　else　want　to　go　in？　Ted；　probably。〃
〃I'm　sure　Ted　would　like　to　go　in…〃
〃…I　don't　know　if　that's　a　good　idea。　Frankly；　I　don't　think　Ted　should　do　it。　Think　how　boring　he'll　be　with　his　speeches；　after　he　es　out。　'I　visited　an　alien　sphere'　by　Ted　Fielding。　We'd　never　hear　the　end　of　it。〃
And　he　giggled。
Ted　is　right；　Norman　thought。　He's　definitely　manic。　There　was　a　speedy；　overly　cheerful　quality　to　Harry。　His　characteristic　slow　sarcasm　was　gone；　replaced　by　a　sunny；　open；　very　quick　manner。　And　a　kind　of　laughing　indifference　to　everything；　an　imbalance　in　his　sense　of　what　was　important。　He　had　said　he　couldn't　crack　the　code。　He　had　said　he　couldn't　remember　what　happened　inside　the　sphere；　or　how　he　had　opened　it。　And　he　didn't　seem　to　think　it　mattered。
〃Harry；　when　you　first　came　out　of　the　sphere；　you　seemed　worried。〃
〃Did　I？　Had　a　brutal　headache；　I　remember　that。〃
〃You　kept　saying　we　should　go　to　the　surface。〃
〃Did　I？〃
〃Yes。　Why　was　that？〃
〃God　only　knows。　I　was　so　confused。〃
〃You　also　said　it　was　dangerous　for　us　to　stay　here。〃　Harry　smiled。
〃Norman；　you　can't　take　that　too　seriously。　I　didn't　know　if　I　was　ing　or　going。〃
〃Harry；　we　need　you　to　remember　these　things。　If　things　start　to　e　back　to　you；　will　you　tell　me？〃
〃Oh　sure；　Norman。　Absolutely。　You　can　count　on　me；　I'll　tell　you　right　away。〃

THE　LABORATORY

〃No；〃　Beth　said。　〃none　of　it　makes　sense。　First　of　all；　in　areas　where　fish　haven't　encountered　human　beings　before；　they　tend　to　ignore　humans　unless　they　are　hunted。　The　Navy　divers　didn't　hunt　the　fish。　Second；　if　the　divers　stirred　up　the　bottom；　that'd　actually　release　nutrients　and　attract　more　animals。　Third；　many　species　of　animals　are　attracted　to　electrical　currents。　So；　if　anything；　the　shrimps　and　other　animals　should've　been　drawn　here　earlier　by　the　electricity。　Not　now；　with　the　power　off。〃
She　was　examining　the　shrimps　under　the　low…power　scanning　microscope。　〃How　does　he　seem？〃
〃Harry？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃I　don't　know。〃　
〃Is　he　okay？〃
〃I　don't　know。　I　think　so。〃
Still　looking　through　the　microscope　lens；　she　said；　〃Did　he　tell　you　anything　about　what　happened　inside　the　sphere？〃
〃Not　yet。〃
She　adjusted　the　microscope；　shook　her　head。　〃I'll　be　damned。〃
〃What　is　it？〃　Norman　said。　
〃Extra　dorsal　plating。〃　
〃Meaning？〃
〃It's　another　new　species；〃　she　said。
Norman　said；　〃Shrimpus　bethus？　You're　making　discoveries　hand　over　fist　down　here；　Beth。〃
〃Uh…huh　。。。　I　checked　the　sea　fans；　too；　because　they　seemed　to　have　an　unusual　radial　growth　pattern。　They're　a　new　species　as　well。〃
〃That's　great；　Beth。〃
She　turned；　looked　at　him。　〃No。　Not　great。　Weird。〃　She　clicked　on　a　high…intensity　light；　cut　open　one　of　the　shrimps　with　a　scalpel。　〃I　thought　so。〃
〃What　is　it？〃
＇＇157＇＇　〃Norman；〃　she　said；　〃we　didn't　see　any　life　down　here　for　days…and　suddenly　in　the　last　few　hours　we　find　three　new　species？　It's　not　normal。〃
〃We　don't　know　what's　normal　at　one　thousand　feet。〃
〃I'm　telling　you。　It's　not　normal。〃
〃But；　Beth；　you　said　yourself　that　we　simply　hadn't　noticed　the　sea　fans　before。　And　the　squid　and　the　shrimps…can't　they　be　migrating；　passing　through　this　area；　something　like　that？　Barnes　says　they've　never　had　trained　scientists　living　this　deep　at　one　site　on　the　ocean　floor　before。　Maybe　these　migrations　are　normal；　and　we　just　don't　know　they　occur。〃
〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Beth　said。　〃When　I　went　out　to　get　these　shrimps；　I　felt　their　behavior　was　atypical。　For　one　thing；　they　were　too　close　together。　Shrimps　on　the　bottom　maintain　a　characteristic　distance　from　one　another；　about　four　feet。　These　were　packed　close。　In　addition；　they　moved　as　if　they　were　feeding；　but　there's　nothing　to　feed　on　down　here。〃
〃Nothing　that　we　know　of。〃
〃Well；　these　shrimps　can't　have　been　feeding。〃　She　pointed　to　the　cut　animal　on　the　lab　bench。　〃They　haven't　got　a　stomach。〃
〃Are　you　kidding？〃
〃Look　for　yourself。〃
Norman　looked；　but　the　dissected　shrimp　didn't　mean　much　to　him。　It　was　just　a　mass　of　pink　flesh。　It　was　cut　on　a　ragged　diagonal；　not　cleanly。　She's　tired；　he　thought。　She's　not　working　efficiently。　We　need　sleep。　We　need　to　get　out　of　here。
〃The　external　appearance　is　perfect；　except　for　an　extra　dorsal　fan　at　the　tail；〃　she　said。　〃But　internally；　it's　all　screwed　up。　There's　no　way　for　these　animals　to　be　alive。　No　stomach。　No　reproductive　apparatus。　This　animal　is　like　a　bad　imitation　of　a　shrimp。〃
〃Yet　the　shrimps　are　alive；〃　Norman　said。
〃Yeah；〃　she　said。　〃They　are。〃　She　seemed　unhappy　about　it。
〃And　the　squid　were　perfectly　normal　inside。　。。。〃
＇＇158＇＇　〃Actually；　they　weren't。　When　I　dissected　one；　I　found　that　it　lacked　several　important　structures。　There's　a　nerve　bundle　called　the　stellate　ganglion　that　wasn't　there。〃
〃Well　。。。〃
〃And　there　were　no　gills；　Norman。　Squid　possess　a　long　gill　structure　for　gas　exchange。　This　one　didn't　have　one。　The　squid　had　no　way　to　breathe；　Norman。〃
〃It　must　have　had　a　way　to　breathe。〃
〃I'm　telling　you；　it　didn't。　We're　seeing　impossible　animals　down　here。　All　of　a　sudden；　impossible　animals。〃
She　turned　away　from　the　high…intensity　lamp；　and　he　saw　that　she　was　close　to　tears。　Her　hands　were　shaking；　she　quickly　dropped　them　into　her　lap。　〃You're　really　worried；〃　he　said。
〃Aren't　you？〃　She　searched　his　face。　〃Norman；〃　she　said；　〃all　this　started　when　Harry　came　out　of　the　sphere；　didn't　it？〃
〃I　guess　it　did。〃
〃Harry　came　out　of　the　sphere；　and　now　we　have　impossible　sea　life。　。。。　I　don't　like　it。　I　wish　we　could　get　out　of　here。　I　really　do。〃　Her　lower　lip　was　trembling。
He　gave　her　a　hug　and　said　gently；　〃We　can't　get　out　of　here。〃
〃I　know；〃　she　said。　She　hugged　him　back；　and　began　to　cry；　pushing　her　face　into　his　shoulder。
〃It's　all　right。　。。。〃
〃I　hate　it　when　I　get　this　way；〃　she　said。　〃I　hate　this　feeling。〃
〃I　know。　。。。。。　。
'And　I　hate　this　place。　I　hate　everything　about　it。　I　hate　Barnes　and　I　hate　Ted's　lectures　and　I　hate　Levy's　stupid　desserts。　I　wish　I　wasn't　here。〃
〃I　know。　。。。〃
She　sniffled　for　a　moment；　then　abruptly　pushed　him　away　with　her　strong　arms。　She　turned　away；　wiped　her　eyes。　〃I'm　all　right；〃　she　said。　〃Thanks。〃
〃Sure；〃　he　said。
She　remained　turned　away；　her　back　to　him。　〃Where's　the　＇＇159＇＇　damn　Kleenex？〃　She　found　one；　blew　her　nose。　〃You　won't　say　anything　to　the　others。　。。。〃
〃Of　course　not。〃
A　bell　rang；　startling　her。　〃Jesus；　what's　that？〃
〃I　think　it's　dinner；〃　Norman　said。

DINNER

〃I　don't　know　how　you　can　eat　those　things；〃　Harry　said；　pointing　to　the　squid。
〃They're　delicious；〃　Norman　said。　〃Sautéed　squid。〃　As　soon　as　he　had　sat　at　the　table；　he　became　aware　of　how　hungry　he　was。　And　eating　made　him　feel　better；　there　was　a　reassuring　normalcy　about　sitting　at　a　table；　with　a　knife　and　fork　in　his　hands。　It　was　almost　possible　to　forget　where　he　was。
〃I　especially　like　them　fried；〃　Tina　said。
〃Fried　calamari；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Wonderful。　My　favorite。〃
〃I　like　them　fried；　too；〃　Edmunds；　the　archivist；　said。　She　sat　primly；　very　erect；　eating　her　food　precisely。　Norman　noticed　that　she　put　her　knife　down　between　bites。
〃Why　aren't　these　fried？〃　Norman　said。
〃We　can't　deep…fry　down　here；〃　Barnes　said。　〃The　hot　oil　forms　a　suspensi