Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第8部分

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een　more　than　eighteen；　younger　than　his　son；　Tim。
〃Ready　to　go；　sir？〃　the　pilot　said。
〃Sure；〃　Norman　said。　He　was　as　ready　as　he　would　ever　be。
Up　close；　the　sub　did　not　look　like　a　toy。　It　was　incredibly　massive　and　strong。　Norman　saw　a　single　porthole　of　curved　acrylic。　It　was　held　in　place　by　bolts　as　big　as　his　fist。　He　touched　them；　tentatively。
The　pilot　smiled。　〃Want　to　kick　the　tires；　sir？〃
〃No；　I'll　trust　you。〃
〃Ladder's　this　way；　sir。〃
Norman　climbed　the　narrow　rungs　to　the　top　of　the　sub；　and　saw　the　small　circular　hatch　opening。　He　hesitated。
〃Sit　on　the　edge　here；〃　the　pilot　said；　〃and　drop　your　legs　in；　then　follow　it　down。　You　may　have　to　squeeze　your　shoulders　together　a　bit　and　suck　in　your　。。。　That's　it；　sir。〃　Norman　wriggled　through　the　tight　hatch　into　an　interior　so　low　he　could　not　stand。　The　sub　was　crammed　with　dials　and　machinery。　Ted　was　already　aboard；　hunched　in　the　back；　grinning　like　a　kid。　〃Isn't　this　fantastic？〃
Norman　envied　his　easy　enthusiasm；　he　felt　cramped　and　a　little　nervous。　Above　him；　the　pilot　clanged　the　heavy　hatch　＇＇48＇＇　shut　and　dropped　down　to　take　the　controls。　〃Everybody　okay？〃
They　nodded。
〃Sorry　about　the　view；〃　the　pilot　said；　glancing　over　his　shoulders。　〃You　gentlemen　are　mostly　going　to　be　seeing　my　hindquarters。　Let's　get　started。　Mozart　okay？〃　He　pressed　a　tape　deck　and　smiled。　〃We've　got　thirteen　minutes'　descent　to　the　bottom；　music　makes　it　a　little　easier。　If　you　don't　like　Mozart；　we　can　offer　you　something　else。〃
〃Mozart's　fine；〃　Norman　said。
〃Mozart's　wonderful；〃　Ted　said。　〃Sublime。〃
〃Very　good；　gentlemen。〃　The　submarine　hissed。　There　was　squawking　on　the　radio。　The　pilot　spoke　softly　into　a　headset。　A　scuba　diver　appeared　at　the　porthole；　waved。　The　pilot　waved　back。
There　was　a　sloshing　sound；　then　a　deep　rumble；　and　they　started　down。
〃As　you　see；　the　whole　sled　goes　under；〃　the　pilot　explained。　〃The　sub's　not　stable　on　the　surface；　so　we　sled　her　up　and　down。　We'll　leave　the　sled　at　about　a　hundred　feet　or　so。
Through　the　porthole；　they　saw　the　diver　standing　on　the　deck；　the　water　now　waist…deep。　Then　the　water　covered　the　porthole。　Bubbles　came　out　of　the　diver's　scuba。
〃We're　under；〃　the　pilot　said。　He　adjusted　valves　above　his　head　and　they　heard　the　hiss　of　air；　startlingly　loud。　More　gurgling。　The　light　in　the　submarine　from　the　porthole　was　a　beautiful　blue。
〃Lovely；〃　Ted　said。
〃We'll　leave　the　sled　now；〃　the　pilot　said。　Motors　rumbled　and　the　sub　moved　forward；　the　diver　slipping　off　to　one　side。　Now　there　was　nothing　to　be　seen　through　the　porthole　but　undifferentiated　blue　water。　The　pilot　said　something　on　the　radio；　and　turned　up　the　Mozart。
〃Just　sit　back；　gentlemen；〃　he　said。　〃Descending　eighty　feet　a　minute。〃
Norman　felt　the　rumble　of　the　electric　motors；　but　there　was　no　real　sense　of　motion。　All　that　happened　was　that　it　got　darker　and　darker。
＇＇49＇＇　〃You　know；〃　Ted　said；　〃we're　really　quite　lucky　about　this　site。　Most　parts　of　the　Pacific　are　so　deep　we'd　never　be　able　to　visit　it　in　person。〃　He　explained　that　the　vast　Pacific　Ocean；　which　amounted　to　half　the　total　surface　area　of　the　Earth；　had　an　average　depth　of　two　miles。　〃There　are　only　a　few　places　where　it　is　less。　One　is　the　relatively　small　rectangle　bounded　by　Samoa；　New　Zealand；　Australia；　and　New　Guinea；　which　is　actually　a　great　undersea　plain；　like　the　plains　of　the　American　West；　except　it's　at　an　average　depth　of　two　thousand　feet。　That's　what　we　are　doing　now；　descending　to　that　plain。〃
Ted　spoke　rapidly。　Was　he　nervous？　Norman　couldn't　tell：　he　was　feeling　his　own　heart　pound。　Now　it　was　quite　dark　outside；　the　instruments　glowed　green。　The　pilot　flicked　on　red　interior　lights。
Their　descent　continued。　〃Four　hundred　feet。〃　The　submarine　lurched；　then　eased　forward。　〃This　is　the　river。〃
〃What　river？〃　Norman　said。
〃Sir；　we　are　in　a　current　of　different　salinity　and　temperature；　it　behaves　like　a　river　inside　the　ocean。　We　traditionally　stop　about　here；　sir；　the　sub　sticks　in　the　river；　takes　us　for　a　little　ride。〃
〃Oh　yes；〃　Ted　said；　reaching　into　his　pocket。　Ted　handed　the　pilot　a　ten…dollar　bill。
Norman　glanced　questioningly　at　Ted。
〃Didn't　they　mention　that　to　you？　Old　tradition。　You　always　pay　the　pilot　on　your　way　down；　for　good　luck。〃
〃I　can　use　some　luck；〃　Norman　said。　He　fumbled　in　his　pocket；　found　a　five…dollar　bill；　thought　better　of　it；　took　out　a　twenty　instead。
〃Thank　you；　gentlemen；　and　have　a　good　bottom　stay；　both　of　you；〃　the　pilot　said。
The　electric　motors　cut　back　in。
The　descent　continued。　The　water　was　dark。　〃Five　hundred　feet；〃　he　said。　〃Halfway　there。〃
The　submarine　creaked　loudly；　then　made　several　explosive　pops。　Norman　was　startled。
〃That's　normal　pressure　adjustment；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃No　problem。〃
＇＇50＇＇　〃Uh…huh；〃　Norman　said。　He　wiped　sweat　on　his　shirtsleeve。　It　seemed　that　the　interior　of　the　submarine　was　now　much　smaller；　the　walls　closer　to　his　face。
〃Actually；〃　Ted　said；　〃if　I　remember；　this　particular　region　of　the　Pacific　is　called　the　Lau　Basin；　isn't　that　right？〃
〃That's　right；　sir；　the　Lau　Basin。〃
〃It's　a　plateau　between　two　undersea　ridges；　the　South　Fiji　or　Lau　Ridge　to　the　west；　and　the　Tonga　Ridge　to　the　east。〃
〃That's　correct；　Dr。　Fielding。〃
Norman　glanced　at　the　instruments。　They　were　covered　with　moisture。　The　pilot　had　to　rub　the　dials　with　a　cloth　to　read　them。　Was　the　sub　leaking？　No；　he　thought。　Just　condensation。　The　interior　of　the　submarine　was　growing　colder。　Take　it　easy；　he　told　himself。
〃Eight　hundred　feet；〃　the　pilot　said。　It　was　now　pletely　black　outside。
〃This　is　very　exciting；〃　Ted　said。　〃Have　you　ever　done　anything　like　this　before；　Norman？〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。
〃Me；　neither；〃　Ted　said。　〃What　a　thrill。〃　Norman　wished　he　would　shut　up。
〃You　know；〃　Ted　said；　〃when　we　open　this　alien　craft　up　and　make　our　first　contact　with　another　form　of　life；　it's　going　to　be　a　great　moment　in　the　history　of　our　species　on　Earth。　I've　been　wondering　about　what　we　should　say。〃
〃Say？〃
〃You　know；　what　words。　At　the　threshold；　with　the　cameras　rolling。〃
〃Will　there　be　cameras？〃
〃Oh；　I'm　sure　there'll　be　all　sorts　of　documentation。　It's　only　proper；　considering。　So　we　need　something　to　say；　a　memorable　phrase。　I　was　thinking　of　〃This　is　a　momentous　moment　in　human　history。'　〃
〃Momentous　moment？〃　Norman　said；　frowning。
〃You're　right；〃　Ted　said。　〃Awkward；　I　agree。　Maybe　'A　turning　point　in　human　history'？〃
Norman　shook　his　head。
〃How　about　'A　crossroads　in　the　evolution　of　the　human　species'？〃
＇＇51＇＇　〃Can　evolution　have　a　crossroads？〃
〃I　don't　see　why　not；〃　Ted　said。
〃Well；　a　crossroads　is　a　crossing　of　roads。　Is　evolution　a　road？　I　thought　it　wasn't；　I　thought　evolution　was　undirected。〃
〃You're　being　too　literal；〃　Ted　said。
〃Reading　the　bottom；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Nine　hundred　feet。〃　He　slowed　the　descent。　They　heard　the　intermittent　ping　of　sonar。
Ted　said；　〃　'A　new　threshold　in　the　evolution　of　the　human　species'？〃
〃Sure。　Think　it　will　be？〃
〃Will　be　what？〃
〃A　new　threshold。〃
〃Why　not？〃　Ted　said。
〃What　if　we　open　it　up　and　it's　just　a　lot　of　rusted　junk　inside；　and　nothing　valuable　or　enlightening　at　all？〃
〃Good　point；〃　Ted　said。
〃Nine　hundred　fifty　feet。　Exterior　lights　are　on；〃　the　pilot　said。
Through　the　porthole　they　saw　white　flecks。　The　pilot　explained　this　was　suspended　matter　in　the　water。
〃Visual　contact。　I　have　bottom。〃
〃Oh；　let's　see！〃　Ted　said。　The　pilot　obligingly　shifted　to　one　side　and　they　looked。
Norman　saw　a　flat；　dead；　dull…brown　plain　stretching　away　to　the　limit　of　the　lights。　Blackness　beyond。
〃Not　much　to　look　at　right　here；　I'm　afraid；〃　the　pilot　said。
〃Surprisingly　dreary；〃　Ted　said；　without　a　trace　of　disappointment。　〃I　would　have　expected　more　life。〃
〃Well；　it's　pretty　cold。　Water　temperature　is；　ah；　thirty…six　degrees　Fahrenheit。〃
〃Almost　freezing；〃　Ted　said。
〃Yes；　sir。　Let's　see　if　we　can　find　your　new　home。〃
The　motors　rumbled。　Muddy　sediment　churned　up　in　front　of　the　porthole。　The　sub　turned；　moved　across　the　bottom。　For　several　minutes　they　saw　only　the　brown　landscape。
Then　lights。　〃There　we　are。〃
＇＇52＇＇　A　vast　underwater　array　of　lights；　arranged　in　a　rectangular　pattern。
〃That's　the　grid；〃　the　pilot　said。
The　submarine　planed　up；　and　glided　smoothly　over　the　illuminated　grid；　which　extended　into　the　distance　for　half　a　mile。　Through　the　porthole；　they　saw　divers　standing　on　the　bottom；　working　within　the　grid　structure。　The　divers　waved　to　the　passing　sub。　The　pilot　honked　a　toy　horn。
〃They　can　hear　that？〃
〃Oh　sure。　Water's　a　great　conductor。〃
〃My　God；〃　Ted　said。
Directly　ahead　the　giant　titanium　fin　rose　sharply　above　the　ocean　floor。　Norman　was　pletely　unprepared　for　its　dimension；　as　the　submarine　moved　to　port；　the　fin　blocked　their　entire　field　of　view　for　nearly　a　minute。　The　metal　was　dull　gray　and；　except　for　small　white　speckles　of　marine　growth；　entirely　unmarked。
〃There　isn't　any　corrosion；〃　Ted　said。
〃No；　sir；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Everybody's　mentioned　that。　They　think　it's　because　it's　a　metal…plastic　alloy；　but　I　don't　think　anybody　is　quite　sure。〃
The　fin　slipped　away　to　the　stern；　the　submarine　again　turned。　Directly　ahead；　more　lights；　arranged　in　vertical　rows。　Norman　saw　a　single　cylinder　of　yellow…painted　steel；　and　bright　portholes。　Next　to　it　was　a　low　metal　dome。
〃That's　DH…7；　the　divers'　habitat；　to　port；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃It's　pretty　utilitarian。　You　guys　are　in　DH…8；　which　is　much　nicer；　believe　me。〃
He　turned　starboard；　and　after　a　momentary　blackness；　they　saw　another　set　of　lights。　ing　closer；　Norman　counted　five　different　cylinders；　some　vertical；　some　horizontal；　interconnected　in　a　plex　way。
〃There　you　are。　DH…8；　your　home　away　from　home；〃　the　pilot　said。　〃Give　me　a　minute　to　dock。〃


Metal　clanged　against　metal；　there　was　a　sharp　jolt；　and　then　the　motors　cut　off。　Silence。　Hissing　air。　The　＇＇53＇＇　pilot　scrambled　to　open　the　hatch；　and　surprisingly　cold　air　washed　down　on　them。
〃Airlock's　open；　gentlemen；〃　he　said；　stepping　aside。　Norman　looked　up　through　the　lock。　He　saw　banks　of　red　lights　above。　He　climbed　up　through　the　submarine；　and　into　a　round　steel　cylinder　approximately　eight　feet　in　diameter。　On　all　sides　there　were　handholds；　a　narrow　metal　bench；　the　glowing　heat　lamps　overhead；　though　they　didn't　seem　to　do　much　good。
Ted　climbed　up　and　sat　on　the　bench　opposite　him。　They　were　so　close　their　knees　touched。　Below　their　feet；　the　pilot　closed　the　hatch。　They　watched　the　wheel　spin。　They　heard　a　clank　as　the　submarine　disengaged；　then　the　whirr　of　motors　as　it　moved　away。
Then　nothing。
〃What　happens　now？〃　Norman　said。
〃They　pressurize　us；〃　Ted　said。　〃Switch　us　over　to　exotic…gas　atmosphere。　We　can't　breathe　air　down　here。〃
〃Why　not？〃　Norman　said。　Now　that　he　was　down　here；　staring　at　the　cold　steel　walls　of　the　cylinder；　he　wished　he　had　stayed　awake　for　the　briefing。
〃Because；〃　Ted　said；　〃the　atmosphere　of　the　Earth　is　deadly。　You　don't　realize　it；　but　oxygen　is　a　corrosive　gas。　It's　in　the　same　chemical　family　as　chlorine　and　fluorine；　and　hydrofluoric　acid　is　the　most　corrosive　acid　known。　The　same　quality　of　oxygen　that　makes　a　half…eaten　apple　turn　brown；　or　makes　iron　rust；　is　incredibly　destructive　to　the　human　body　if　exposed　to　too　much　of　it。　Oxygen　under　pressure　is　toxic