Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第54部分

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〃Because　it's　literally　a　sort　of　mirror　for　us；〃　Norman　said。
〃Speaking　of　which；　there's　another　possibility；〃　Harry　said。　〃It　may　not　be　alien　at　all。　It　may　be　man…made。〃　That　took　Norman　pletely　by　surprise。　Harry　explained。
〃Consider；〃　Harry　said。　〃A　ship　from　our　own　future　went　through　a　black　hole；　into　another　universe；　or　another　part　＇＇364＇＇　of　our　universe。　We　cannot　imagine　what　would　happen　as　a　result　of　that。　But　suppose　there　were　some　major　distortion　of　time。　Suppose　that　ship；　which　left　with　a　human　crew　in　the　year　2043；　actually　has　been　in　transit　for　thousands　and　thousands　of　years。　Couldn't　the　human　crew　have　invented　it　during　that　time？〃
〃I　don't　think　that's　likely；〃　Beth　said。
〃Well；　let's　consider　for　a　moment；　Beth；〃　Harry　said　gently。　Norman　noticed　that　Harry　wasn't　arrogant　any　more。　They　were　all　in　this　together；　Norman　thought；　and　they　were　working　together　in　a　way　they　never　had　before。　All　the　time　underwater　they　had　been　at　odds；　but　now　they　functioned　smoothly　together；　coordinated。　A　team。
〃There　is　a　real　problem　about　the　future；〃　Harry　was　saying；　〃and　we　don't　admit　it。　We　assume　we　can　see　into　the　future　better　than　we　really　can。　Leonardo　da　Vinci　tried　to　make　a　helicopter　five　hundred　years　ago；　and　Jules　Verne　predicted　a　submarine　a　hundred　years　ago。　From　instances　like　that；　we　tend　to　believe　that　the　future　is　predictable　in　a　way　that　it　really　isn't。　Because　neither　Leonardo　nor　Jules　Verne　could　ever　have　imagined；　say；　a　puter。　The　very　concept　of　a　puter　implies　too　much　knowledge　that　was　simply　inconceivable　at　the　time　those　men　were　alive。　It　was；　if　you　will；　information　that　came　out　of　nowhere；　later　on。
〃And　we're　no　wiser；　sitting　here　now。　We　couldn't　have　guessed　that　men　would　send　a　ship　through　a　black　hole…we　didn't　even　suspect　the　existence　of　black　holes　until　a　few　years　ago…and　we　certainly　can't　guess　what　men　might　acplish　thousands　of　years　in　the　future。〃　〃Assuming　the　sphere　was　made　by　men。〃
〃Yes。　Assuming　that。〃
〃And　if　it　wasn't？　If　it's　really　a　sphere　from　an　alien　civilization？　Are　we　justified　in　erasing　all　human　knowledge　of　this　alien　life？〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　Harry　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃If　we　decide　to　forget　the　sphere　。。。〃
〃Then　it'll　be　gone；〃　Norman　said。
Beth　stared　at　the　table。　〃I　wish　we　could　ask　someone；〃　she　said　finally。
＇＇365＇＇　〃There　isn't　anybody　to　ask；〃　Norman　said。
〃But　can　we　really　forget　it？〃　Beth　said。　〃Will　it　work？〃
There　was　a　long　silence。
〃Yes；〃　Harry　said；　finally。　〃There's　no　question　about　it。　And　I　think　we　already　have　evidence　that　we　will　forget　about　it。　That　solves　a　logical　problem　that　bothered　me　from　the　beginning；　when　we　first　explored　the　ship。　Because　something　very　important　was　missing　from　that　ship。〃
〃Yes？　What？〃
〃Any　sign　that　the　builders　of　the　ship　already　knew　travel　through　a　black　hole　was　possible。〃
〃I　don't　follow　you；〃　Norman　said。
〃Well；〃　Harry　said；　〃the　three　of　us　have　already　seen　a　spaceship　that　has　been　through　a　black　hole。　We've　walked　through　it。　So　we　know　that　such　travel　is　possible。〃
〃Yes　。。。〃
〃Yet；　fifty　years　from　now；　men　are　going　to　build　that　ship　in　a　very　tentative；　experimental　way；　with　apparently　no　knowledge　that　the　ship　has　already　been　found；　fifty　years　in　their　past。　There　is　no　sign　on　the　ship　that　the　builders　already　know　of　its　existence　in　the　past。〃
〃Maybe　it's　one　of　those　time　paradoxes；〃　Beth　said。　〃You　know；　how　you　can't　go　back　and　meet　yourself　in　the　past。　。。。〃
Harry　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　think　it's　a　paradox；〃　he　said。　〃I　think　that　all　knowledge　of　that　ship　is　going　to　be　lost。〃
〃You　mean；　we　are　going　to　forget　it。〃
〃Yes；〃　Harry　said。　〃And；　frankly；　I　think　it's　a　much　better　solution。　For　a　long　time　while　we　were　down　there；　I　assumed　none　of　us　would　ever　get　back　alive。　That　was　the　only　explanation　I　could　think　of。　That's　why　I　wanted　to　make　out　my　will。〃
〃But　if　we　decide　to　forget　。。。〃
〃Exactly；〃　Harry　said。　〃If　we　decide　to　forget；　that　will　produce　the　same　result。〃
〃The　knowledge　will　be　gone　forever；〃　Norman　said　quietly。　He　found　himself　hesitating。　Now　that　they　had　arrived　at　this　moment；　he　was　strangely　reluctant　to　proceed。　He　ran　＇＇366＇＇　his　fingertips　over　the　scarred　table；　touching　the　surface；　as　if　it　might　provide　an　answer。
In　a　sense；　he　thought；　all　we　consist　of　is　memories。　Our　personalities　are　constructed　from　memories；　our　lives　are　organized　around　memories；　our　cultures　are　built　upon　the　foundation　of　shared　memories　that　we　call　history　and　science。　But　now；　to　give　up　a　memory；　to　give　up　knowledge；　to　give　up　the　past　。。。
〃It's　not　easy；〃　Harry　said；　shaking　his　head。
〃No；〃　Norman　said。　〃It's　not。〃　In　fact　he　found　it　so　difficult　he　wondered　if　he　was　experiencing　a　human　characteristic　as　fundamental　as　sexual　desire。　He　simply　could　not　give　up　this　knowledge。　The　information　seemed　so　important　to　him；　the　implications　so　fascinating。　。。。　His　entire　being　rebelled　against　the　idea　of　forgetting。
〃Well；〃　Harry　said；　〃I　think　we　have　to　do　it；　anyway。〃
〃I　was　thinking　of　Ted；〃　Beth　said。　〃And　Barnes；　and　the　others。　We're　the　only　ones　who　know　how　they　really　died。　What　they　gave　their　lives　for。　And　if　we　forget　。。。〃
〃When　we　forget；〃　Norman　said　firmly。
〃She　has　a　point；〃　Harry　said。　〃If　we　forget；　how　do　we　handle　all　the　details？　All　the　loose　ends？〃
〃I　don't　think　that's　a　problem；〃　Norman　said。　〃The　unconscious　has　tremendous　creative　powers；　as　we've　seen。　The　details　will　be　taken　care　of　unconsciously。　It's　like　the　way　we　get　dressed　in　the　morning。　When　we　dress；　we　don't　necessarily　think　of　every　detail；　the　belt　and　the　socks　and　so　on。　We　just　make　a　basic　overall　decision　about　how　we　want　to　look；　and　then　we　get　dressed。〃
〃Even　so；〃　Harry　said。　〃We　still　better　make　the　overall　decision；　because　we　all　have　the　power；　and　if　we　imagine　different　stories；　we'll　get　confusion。〃
〃All　right；〃　Norman　said。　〃Let's　agree　on　what　happened。　Why　did　we　e　here？〃
〃I　thought　it　was　going　to　be　an　airplane　crash。〃
〃Me；　too。〃
〃Okay；　suppose　it　was　an　airplane　crash。〃
〃Fine。　And　what　happened？〃
＇＇367＇＇　〃The　Navy　sent　some　people　down　to　investigate　the　crash；　and　a　problem　developed…〃
〃…Wait　a　minute；　what　problem？〃
〃The　squid？〃
〃No。　Better　a　technical　problem。〃
〃Something　to　do　with　the　storm？〃
〃Life…support　systems　failed　during　the　storm？〃
〃Yes；　good。　Life…support　systems　failed　during　the　storm。〃
〃And　several　people　died　as　a　result？〃
〃Wait　a　minute。　Let's　not　go　so　fast。　What　made　the　lifesupport　systems　fail？〃
Beth　said；　〃The　habitat　developed　a　leak；　and　sea　water　corrupted　the　scrubber　canisters　in　B　Cyl；　releasing　a　toxic　gas。〃
〃Could　that　have　happened？〃　Norman　said。
〃Yes；　easily。〃
〃And　several　people　died　as　a　result　of　that　accident。〃
〃Okay。〃
〃But　we　survived。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Why？〃　Norman　said。
〃We　were　in　the　other　habitat？〃
Norman　shook　his　head。　〃The　other　habitat　was　destroyed；　too。
〃Maybe　it　was　destroyed　later；　with　the　explosives。〃
〃Too　plicated；〃　Norman　said。　〃Let's　keep　it　simple。　It　was　an　accident　which　happened　suddenly　and　unexpectedly。　The　habitat　sprang　a　leak　and　the　scrubbers　failed；　and　as　a　result　most　of　the　people　died；　but　we　didn't　because…〃
〃We　were　in　the　sub？〃
〃Okay；〃　Norman　said。　〃We　were　in　the　sub　when　the　systems　failed；　so　we　survived　and　the　others　didn't。〃
〃Why　were　we　in　the　sub？〃
〃We　were　transferring　the　tapes　according　to　the　schedule。〃
〃And　what　about　the　tapes？〃　Harry　said。　〃What　will　they　show？〃
〃The　tapes　will　confirm　our　story；〃　Norman　said。　〃Everything　will　be　consistent　with　the　story；　including　the　Navy　＇＇368＇＇　people　who　sent　us　down　in　the　first　place；　and　including　us；　too…we　won't　remember　anything　but　this　story。〃
〃And　we　won't　have　the　power　any　more？〃　Beth　said；　frowning。
〃No；〃　Norman　said。　〃Not　any　more。〃
〃Okay；〃　Harry　said。
Beth　seemed　to　think　about　it　longer；　biting　her　lip。　But　finally　she　nodded。　〃Okay。〃
Norman　took　a　deep　breath；　and　looked　at　Beth　and　Harry。　〃Are　we　ready　to　forget　the　sphere；　and　the　fact　that　we　once　had　the　power　to　make　things　happen　by　thinking　them？〃
They　nodded。
Beth　became　suddenly　agitated；　twisting　in　her　chair。　〃But　how　do　we　do　it；　exactly？〃
〃We　just　do　it；〃　Norman　said。　〃Close　your　eyes　and　tell　yourself　to　forget　it。〃
Beth　said；　〃But　are　you　sure　we　should　do　it？　Really　sure？〃　She　was　still　agitated；　moving　nervously。
〃Yes；　Beth。　You　just　。。。　give　up　the　power。〃
〃Then　we　have　to　do　it　all　together；〃　she　said。　〃At　the　same　time。〃
〃Okay；〃　Harry　said。　〃On　the　count　of　three。〃
They　closed　their　eyes。
〃One　。。。〃
With　his　eyes　closed；　Norman　thought；　People　always　forget　that　they　have　power；　anyway。
〃Two　。。。〃Harry　said。
And　then　Norman　focused　his　mind。　With　a　sudden　intensity　he　saw　the　sphere　again；　shining　like　a　star；　perfect　and　polished；　and　he　thought：　I　want　to　forget　I　ever　saw　the　sphere。
And　in　his　mind's　eye；　the　sphere　vanished。


〃Three；〃　Harry　said。
〃Three　what？〃　Norman　said。　His　eyes　ached　and　burned。　He　rubbed　them　with　his　thumb　and　forefinger；　then　opened　them。　Beth　and　Harry　were　sitting　around　the　table　in　the　＇＇369＇＇　depression　chamber　with　him。　They　all　looked　tired　and　depressed。　But　that　was　to　be　expected；　he　thought；　considering　what　they　had　all　been　through。
〃Three　what？〃　Norman　said　again。
〃Oh；〃　Harry　said；　〃I　was　just　thinking　out　loud。　Only　three　of　us　left。〃
Beth　sighed。　Norman　saw　tears　in　her　eyes。　She　fumbled　in　her　pocket　for　a　Kleenex；　blew　her　nose。
〃You　can't　blame　yourselves；〃　Norman　said。　〃It　was　an　accident。　There　was　nothing　we　could　do　about　it。〃
〃I　know；〃　Harry　said。　〃But　those　people　suffocating；　while　we　were　in　the　submarine　。。。　I　keep　hearing　the　screams。　。。。　God；　I　wish　it　had　never　happened。〃
There　was　a　silence。　Beth　blew　her　nose　again。
Norman　wished　it　had　never　happened；　too。　But　wishing　wasn't　going　to　make　a　difference　now。
〃We　can't　change　what　happened；〃　Norman　said。　〃We　can　only　learn　to　accept　it。〃
〃I　know；〃　Beth　said。
〃I've　had　a　lot　of　experience　with　accident　trauma；〃　he　said。　〃You　simply　have　to　keep　telling　yourself　that　you　have　no　reason　to　be　guilty。　What　happened　happened…some　people　died；　and　you　were　spared。　It　isn't　anybody's　fault。　It's　just　one　of　those　things。　It　was　an　accident。〃
〃I　know　that；〃　Harry　said；　〃but　I　still　feel　bad。〃
〃Keep　telling　yourself　it's　just　one　of　those　things；〃　Norman　said。　〃Keep　reminding　yourself　of　that。〃　He　got　up　from　the　table。　They　ought　to　eat；　he　thought。　They　ought　to　have　food。　〃I'm　going　to　ask　for　food。〃
〃I'm　not　hungry；〃　Beth　said。
〃I　know　that；　but　we　should　eat　anyway。〃
Norman　walked　to　the　porthole。　The　attentive　Navy　crew　saw　him　at　once；　pressed　the　radio　inter。　〃Do　anything　for　you；　Dr。　Johnson？〃
〃Yes；〃　Norman　said。　〃We　need　some　food。〃
〃Right　away；　sir。〃
Norman　saw　the　sympathy　on　the　faces　of　the　Navy　crew。　These　senior　men　understood　what　a　shock　it　must　be　for　the　three　survivors。
＇＇370＇＇　〃Dr。　Johnson？　Are　your　people　ready　to　talk　to　somebody　now？〃
〃Talk？〃
〃Yes；　sir。　The　intelligence　experts　have　been　reviewing　the　videotapes　from　the　submarine；　and　they　have　some　questions　for　you。〃
〃What　about？〃　Norman　asked；　without　much　interest。　〃Well；　when　you　were　transferred