Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第7部分

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He　found　Levine　hanging　off　the　port　railing。　Levine　came　＇＇38＇＇　from　the　oceanographic　institute　at　Woods　Hole；　Massachusetts。　His　hand　was　damp　when　Norman　shook　it。　Levine　looked　extremely　ill　at　ease；　and　finally　admitted　that　he　was　seasick。
〃Seasick？　A　marine　biologist？〃　Norman　said。
〃I　work　in　the　laboratory；〃　he　said。　〃At　home。　On　land。　Where　things　don't　move　all　the　time。　Why　are　you　smiling？〃
〃Sorry；〃　Norman　said。
〃You　think　it's　funny；　a　seasick　marine　biologist？〃
〃Incongruous；　I　guess。〃
〃A　lot　of　us　get　seasick；〃　Levine　said。　He　stared　out　at　the　sea。　〃Look　out　there；〃　he　said。　〃Thousands　of　miles　of　flat。　Nothing。〃
〃The　ocean。〃
〃It　gives　me　the　creeps；〃　Levine　said。


〃So？〃　Barnes　said；　back　in　his　office。　〃What　do　you　think？〃
〃Of　what？〃
〃Of　the　team；　for　Christ's　sake。〃
〃It's　the　team　I　chose；　six　years　later。　Basically　a　good　group；　certainly　very　able。〃
〃I　want　to　know　who　will　crack。〃
〃Why　should　anybody　crack？〃　Norman　said。　He　was　looking　at　Barnes；　noticing　the　thin　line　of　sweat　on　his　upper　lip。　The　mander　was　under　a　lot　of　pressure　himself。
〃A　thousand　feet　down？〃　Barnes　said。　〃Living　and　working　in　a　cramped　habitat？　Listen；　it's　not　like　I'm　going　in　with　military　divers　who　have　been　trained　and　who　have　themselves　under　control。　I'm　taking　a　bunch　of　scientists；　for　God's　sake。　I　want　to　make　sure　they　all　have　a　clean　bill　of　health。　I　want　to　make　sure　nobody's　going　to　crack。〃
〃I　don't　know　if　you　are　aware　of　this；　Captain；　but　psychologists　can't　predict　that　very　accurately。　Who　will　crack。〃
〃Even　when　it's　from　fear？〃
〃Whatever　it's　from。〃
Barnes　frowned。　〃I　thought　fear　was　your　specialty。〃
＇＇39＇＇　〃Anxiety　is　one　of　my　research　interests　and　I　can　tell　you　who；　on　the　basis　of　personality　profiles；　is　likely　to　suffer　acute　anxiety　in　a　stress　situation。　But　I　can't　predict　who'll　crack　under　that　stress　and　who　won't。〃
〃Then　what　good　are　you？〃　Barnes　said　irritably。　He　sighed。　〃I'm　sorry。　Don't　you　just　want　to　interview　them；　or　give　them　some　tests？〃
〃There　aren't　any　tests；〃　Norman　said。　〃At　least；　none　that　work。〃
Barnes　sighed　again。　〃What　about　Levine？〃
〃He's　seasick。〃
〃There　isn't　any　motion　underwater；　that　won't　be　a　problem。　But　what　about　him；　personally？〃
〃I'd　be　concerned；〃　Norman　said。
〃Duly　noted。　What　about　Harry　Adams？　He's　arrogant。〃
〃Yes；〃　Norman　said。　〃But　that's　probably　desirable。〃　Studies　had　shown　that　the　people　who　were　most　successful　at　handling　pressure　were　people　others　didn't　like…individuals　who　were　described　as　arrogant；　cocksure；　irritating。
〃Maybe　so；〃　Barnes　said。　〃But　what　about　his　famous　research　paper？　Harry　was　one　of　the　biggest　supporters　of　SETI　a　few　years　back。　Now　that　we've　found　something；　he's　suddenly　very　negative。　You　remember　his　paper？〃
Norman　didn't；　and　was　about　to　say　so　when　an　ensign　came　in。　〃Captain　Barnes；　here　is　the　visual　upgrade　you　wanted。〃
〃Okay；〃　Barnes　said。　He　squinted　at　a　photograph；　put　it　down。　〃What　about　the　weather？〃
〃No　change；　sir。　Satellite　reports　are　confirming　we　have　forty…eight　plus…minus　twelve　on　site；　sir。〃
〃Hell；〃　Barnes　said。
〃Trouble？〃　Norman　asked。
〃The　weather's　going　bad　on　us；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　may　have　to　clear　out　our　surface　support。〃
〃Does　that　mean　you'll　cancel　going　down　there？〃
〃No；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　go　tomorrow；　as　planned。〃
〃Why　does　Harry　think　this　thing　is　not　a　spacecraft？〃　Norman　asked。
＇＇40＇＇　Barnes　frowned；　pushed　papers　on　his　desk。　〃Let　me　tell　you　something；〃　he　said。　〃Harry's　a　theoretician。　And　theories　are　just　that…theories。　I　deal　in　the　hard　facts。　The　fact　is；　we've　got　something　damn　old　and　damn　strange　down　there。　I　want　to　know　what　it　is。〃
〃But　if　it's　not　an　alien　spacecraft；　what　is　it？〃
〃Let's　just　wait　until　we　get　down　there；　shall　we？〃　Barnes　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃The　second　habitat　should　be　anchored　on　the　sea　floor　by　now。　We'll　begin　moving　you　down　in　fifteen　hours。　Between　now　and　then；　we've　all　got　a　lot　to　do。〃


〃Just　hold　it　there；　Dr。　Johnson。〃　Norman　stood　naked；　felt　two　metal　calipers　pinch　the　back　of　his　arms；　just　above　the　elbow。　〃Just　a　bit　。。。　that's　fine。　Now　you　can　get　into　the　tank。〃
The　young　medical　corpsman　stepped　aside；　and　Norman　climbed　the　steps　to　the　metal　tank；　which　looked　like　a　military　version　of　a　Jacuzzi。　The　tank　was　filled　to　the　top　with　water。　As　he　lowered　his　body　into　the　water；　it　spilled　over　the　sides。
〃What's　all　this　for？〃　Norman　asked。
〃I'm　sorry；　Dr。　Johnson。　If　you　would　pletely　immerse　yourself　。。。〃
〃What？〃
〃Just　for　a　moment；　sir　。。。〃
Norman　took　a　breath；　ducked　under　the　water；　came　back　up。
〃That's　fine；　you　can　get　out　now；〃　the　corpsman　said；　handing　him　a　towel。
〃What's　all　this　for？〃　he　asked　again；　climbing　down　the　ladder。
〃Total　body　adipose　content；〃　the　corpsman　said。　〃We　have　to　know　it；　to　calculate　your　sat　stats。〃
〃My　sat　stats？〃
〃Your　saturation　statistics。〃　The　corpsman　marked　points　on　his　clipboard。
〃Oh　dear；〃　he　said。　〃You're　off　the　graph。〃
＇＇41＇＇　〃Why　is　that？〃
〃Do　you　get　much　exercise；　Dr。　Johnson？〃
〃Some。〃　He　was　feeling　defensive　now。　And　the　towel　was　too　small　to　wrap　around　his　waist。　Why　did　the　Navy　use　such　small　towels？
〃Do　you　drink？〃
〃Some。〃　He　was　feeling　distinctly　defensive。　No　question　about　it。
〃May　I　ask　when　you　last　consumed　an　alcoholic　beverage；　sir？〃
〃I　don't　know。　Two；　three　days　ago。〃　He　was　having　trouble　thinking　back　to　San　Diego。　It　seemed　so　far　away。　〃Why？〃
〃That's　fine；　Dr。　Johnson。　Any　trouble　with　joints；　hips　or　knees？〃
〃No；　why？〃
〃Episodes　of　syncope；　faintness　or　blackouts？〃　
〃No　。。。〃
〃If　you　would　just　sit　over　here；　sir。〃　The　corpsman　pointed　to　a　stool；　next　to　an　electronic　device　on　the　wall。　〃I'd　really　like　some　answers；〃　Norman　said。
〃Just　stare　at　the　green　dot；　both　eyes　wide　open。　。。。〃
He　felt　a　brief　blast　of　air　on　both　eyes；　and　blinked　instinctively。　A　printed　strip　of　paper　clicked　out。　The　corpsman　tore　it　off；　glanced　at　it。
〃That's　fine；　Dr。　Johnson。　If　you　would　e　this　way　。。。〃　〃I'd　like　some　information　from　you；〃　Norman　said。　〃I'd　like　to　know　what's　going　on。〃
〃I　understand；　sir；　but　I　have　to　finish　your　workup　in　time　for　your　next　briefing　at　seventeen　hundred　hours。〃


Norman　lay　on　his　back；　and　technicians　stuck　needles　in　both　arms；　and　another　in　his　leg　at　the　groin。　He　yelled　in　sudden　pain。
〃That's　the　worst　of　it；　sir；〃　the　corpsman　said；　packing　the　syringes　in　ice。　〃If　you　will　just　press　this　cotton　against　it；　here　。。。〃

*　*　*
＇＇42＇＇　There　was　a　clip　over　his　nostrils；　a　mouthpiece　between　his　teeth。
〃This　is　to　measure　your　CO2〃　the　corpsman　said。　〃Just　exhale。　That's　right。　Big　breath；　now　exhale。　。。。〃
Norman　exhaled。　He　watched　a　rubber　diaphragm　inflate；　pushing　a　needle　up　a　scale。
〃Try　it　again；　sir。　I'm　sure　you　can　do　better　than　that。〃　Norman　didn't　think　he　could；　but　he　tried　again　anyway。　Another　corpsman　entered　the　room；　with　a　sheet　of　paper　covered　with　figures。　〃Here　are　his　BC's；〃　he　said。
The　first　corpsman　frowned。　〃Has　Barnes　seen　this？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And　what'd　he　say？〃
〃He　said　it　was　okay。　He　said　to　continue。〃
〃Okay；　fine。　He's　the　boss。〃　The　first　corpsman　turned　back　to　Norman。　〃Let's　try　one　more　big　breath；　Dr。　Johnson；　if　you　would。　。。。〃


Metal　calipers　touched　his　chin　and　his　forehead。　A　tape　went　around　his　head。　Now　the　calipers　measured　from　his　ear　to　his　chin。
〃What's　this　for？〃　Norman　said。　
〃Fitting　you　with　a　helmet；　sir。〃
〃Shouldn't　I　be　trying　one　on？〃
〃This　is　the　way　we　do　it；　sir。〃


Dinner　was　macaroni　and　cheese；　burned　underneath。　Norman　pushed　it　aside　after　a　few　bites。
The　corpsman　appeared　at　his　door。　〃Time　for　the　seventeen…hundred…hours　briefing；　sir。〃
〃I'm　not　going　anywhere；〃　Norman　said；　〃until　I　get　some　answers。　What　the　hell　is　all　this　you're　doing　to　me？〃
〃Routine　deepsat　workup；　sir。　Navy　regs　require　it　before　you　go　down。〃
〃And　why　am　I　off　the　graph？〃
〃Sorry；　sir？〃
〃You　said　I　was　off　the　graph。〃
〃Oh；　that。　You're　a　bit　heavier　than　the　Navy　tables　figure　for；　sir。〃
〃Is　there　a　problem　about　my　weight？〃
〃Shouldn't　be；　no；　sir。〃
〃And　the　other　tests；　what　did　they　show？〃
〃Sir；　you　are　in　very　good　health　for　your　age　and　lifestyle。〃
〃And　what　about　going　down　there？〃　Norman　asked；　half　hoping　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　go。
〃Down　there？　I've　talked　with　Captain　Barnes。　Shouldn't　be　any　problem　at　all；　sir。　If　you'll　just　e　this　way　to　the　briefing；　sir　。。。〃


The　others　were　sitting　around　in　the　briefing　room；　with　Styrofoam　cups　of　coffee。　Norman　felt　glad　to　see　them。　He　dropped　into　a　chair　next　to　Harry。　〃Jesus；　did　you　have　the　damn　physical？〃
〃Yeah；〃　he　said。　〃Had　it　yesterday。〃
〃They　stuck　me　in　the　leg　with　this　long　needle；〃　Norman　said。
〃Really？　They　didn't　do　that　to　me。〃
〃And　how　about　breathing　with　that　clip　on　your　nose？〃
〃I　didn't　do　that；　either；〃　Harry　said。　〃Sounds　like　you　got　some　special　treatment；　Norman。〃
Norman　was　thinking　the　same　thing；　and　he　didn't　like　the　implications。　He　felt　suddenly　tired。
〃All　right；　men；　we've　got　a　lot　to　cover　and　just　three　hours　to　do　it；〃　a　brisk　man　said；　turning　off　the　lights　as　he　came　into　the　room。　Norman　hadn't　even　gotten　a　good　look　at　him。　Now　it　was　just　a　voice　in　the　dark。　〃As　you　know；　Dalton's　law　governs　partial　pressures　of　mixed　gases；　or；　as　represented　here　in　algebraic　form　。。。〃
The　first　of　the　graphs　flashed　up。

PPa　=　Ptot　x　％　Vola

＇＇44＇＇　〃Now　let's　review　how　calculation　of　the　partial　pressure　might　be　done　in　atmospheres　absolute；　which　is　the　most　mon　procedure　we　employ…〃
The　words　were　meaningless　to　Norman。　He　tried　to　pay　attention；　but　as　the　graphs　continued　and　the　voice　droned　on；　his　eyes　grew　heavier　and　he　fell　asleep。
〃…be　taken　down　in　the　submarine　and　once　in　the　habitat　module　you　will　be　pressurized　to　thirty…three　atmospheres。　At　that　time　you　will　be　switched　over　to　mixed　gases；　since　it　is　not　possible　to　breathe　Earth　atmosphere　beyond　eighteen　atmospheres…〃
Norman　stopped　listening。　These　technical　details　only　filled　him　with　dread。　He　went　back　to　sleep；　awakening　only　intermittently。
〃…since　oxygen　toxicity　only　occurs　when　the　PO2　exceeds　point　7　ATA　for　prolonged　periods…
〃…nitrogen　narcosis；　in　which　nitrogen　behaves　like　an　anesthetic；　will　occur　in　mixed…gas　atmospheres　if　partial　pressures　exceeds　1。5　ATA　in　the　DDS…
〃…demand　open　circuit　is　generally　preferable；　but　you　will　be　using　semiclosed　circuit　with　inspired　fluctuations　of　608　to　760　millimeters…〃
He　went　back　to　sleep。
When　it　was　over；　they　walked　back　to　their　rooms。　〃Did　I　miss　anything？〃　Norman　said。
〃Not　really。〃　Harry　shrugged。　〃Just　a　lot　of　physics。〃
In　his　tiny　gray　room；　Norman　got　into　bed。　The　glowing　wall　clock　said　2300。　It　took　him　a　while　to　figure　out　that　that　was　11：00　p。m。　In　nine　more　hours；　he　thought；　I　will　begin　the　descent。
Then　he　slept。



THE　DEEP

DESCENT

In　the　morning　light；　the　submarine　Charon　V　bobbed　on　the　surface；　riding　on　a　pontoon　platform。　Bright　yellow；　it　looked　like　a　child's　bathtub　toy　sitting　on　a　deck　of　oildrums。
A　rubber　Zodiac　launch　took　Norman　over；　and　he　climbed　onto　the　platform；　shook　hands　with　the　pilot；　who　could　not　have　been　more　than　eighteen；　younger　than　his　son；　Tim。
〃Re