Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第9部分

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ncredibly　destructive　to　the　human　body　if　exposed　to　too　much　of　it。　Oxygen　under　pressure　is　toxic…with　a　vengeance。　So　we　cut　down　the　amount　of　oxygen　you　breathe。　You　breathe　twenty…one　percent　oxygen　at　the　surface。　Down　here；　you　breathe　two　percent　oxygen。　But　you　won't　notice　any　difference…〃
A　voice　over　a　loudspeaker　said；　〃We're　starting　to　pressurize　you　now。〃
〃Who's　that？〃　Norman　said。
〃Barnes；〃　the　voice　said。　But　it　didn't　sound　like　Barnes。　It　sounded　gritty　and　artificial。
〃It　must　be　the　talker；〃　Ted　said；　and　then　laughed。　His　＇＇54＇＇　voice　was　noticeably　higher…pitched。　〃It's　the　helium；　Norman。　They're　pressurizing　us　with　helium。〃
〃You　sound　like　Donald　Duck；〃　Norman　said；　and　he　laughed；　too。　His　own　voice　sounded　squeaky；　like　a　cartoon　character's。
〃Speak　for　yourself；　Mickey；〃　Ted　squeaked。
〃I　taut　I　taw　a　puddy　tat；〃　Norman　said。　They　were　both　laughing；　hearing　their　voices。
〃Knock　it　off；　you　guys；〃　Barnes　said　over　the　inter。　〃This　is　serious。〃
〃Yes；　sir；　Captain；〃　Ted　said；　but　by　now　his　voice　was　so　high…pitched　it　was　almost　unintelligible；　and　they　fell　into　laughter　again；　their　tinny　voices　like　those　of　schoolgirls　reverberating　inside　the　steel　cylinder。
Helium　made　their　voices　high　and　squeaky。　But　it　also　had　other　effects。
〃Getting　chilled；　boys？〃　Barnes　said。
They　were　indeed　getting　colder。　He　saw　Ted　shivering；　felt　goosebumps　on　his　own　legs。　It　felt　as　if　a　wind　were　blowing　across　their　bodies…except　there　wasn't　any　wind。　The　lightness　of　the　helium　increased　evaporation；　made　them　cold。
Across　the　cylinder；　Ted　said　something；　but　Norman　couldn't　understand　Ted　at　all　any　more；　his　voice　was　too　high…pitched　to　be　prehensible。　It　was　just　a　thin　squeal。
〃Sounds　like　a　couple　of　rats　in　there　now；〃　Barnes　said；　with　satisfaction。
Ted　rolled　his　eyes　toward　the　loudspeaker　and　squeaked　something。
〃If　you　want　to　talk；　get　a　talker；〃　Barnes　said。　〃You'll　find　them　in　the　locker　under　the　seat。〃
Norman　found　a　metal　locker；　clicked　it　open。　The　metal　squealed　loudly；　like　chalk　on　a　blackboard。　All　the　sounds　in　the　chamber　were　high…pitched。　Inside　the　locker　he　saw　two　black　plastic　pads　with　neck　straps。
〃Just　slip　them　over　your　neck。　Put　the　pad　at　the　base　of　your　throat。〃
〃Okay；〃　Ted　said；　and　then　blinked　in　surprise。　His　voice　sounded　slightly　rough；　but　otherwise　normal。
＇＇55＇＇　〃These　things　must　change　the　vocal…cord　frequencies；〃　Norman　said。
〃Why　don't　you　guys　pay　attention　to　briefings？〃　Barnes　said。　〃That's　exactly　what　they　do。　You'll　have　to　wear　a　talker　all　the　time　you're　down　here。　At　least；　if　you　want　anybody　to　understand　you。　Still　cold？〃
〃Yes；〃　Ted　said。
〃Well；　hang　on；　you're　almost　fully　pressurized　now。〃　Then　there　was　another　hiss；　and　a　side　door　slid　open。　Barnes　stood　there；　with　light　jackets　over　his　arm。　〃Wele　to　DH…8；〃　he　said。

DH…8

〃You're　the　last　to　arrive；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　just　have　time　for　a　quick　tour　before　we　open　the　spacecraft。〃
〃You're　ready　to　open　it　now？〃　Ted　asked。　〃Wonderful。　I've　just　been　talking　about　this　with　Norman。　This　is　such　a　great　moment；　our　first　contact　with　alien　life；　we　ought　to　prepare　a　little　speech　for　when　we　open　it　up。〃
〃There'll　be　time　to　consider　that；〃　Barnes　said；　with　an　odd　glance　at　Ted。　〃I'll　show　you　the　habitat　first。　This　way。〃　He　explained　that　the　DH…8　habitat　consisted　of　five　large　cylinders；　designated　A　to　E。　〃Cyl　A　is　the　airlock；　where　we　are　now。〃　He　led　them　into　an　adjacent　changing　room。　Heavy　cloth　suits　hung　limply　on　the　wall；　alongside　yellow　sculpted　helmets　of　the　sort　Norman　had　seen　the　divers　wearing。　The　helmets　had　a　futuristic　look。　Norman　tapped　one　with　his　knuckles。　It　was　plastic；　and　surprisingly　light。　He　saw　〃JOHNSON〃　stenciled　above　one　faceplate。
〃We　going　to　wear　these？〃　Norman　asked。　
〃That's　correct；〃　Barnes　said。
＇＇56＇＇　〃Then　we'll　be　going　outside？〃　Norman　said；　feeling　a　twinge　of　alarm。
〃Eventually；　yes。　Don't　worry　about　it　now。　Still　cold？〃　
They　were；　Barnes　had　them　change　into　tight…fitting　jumpsuits　of　clinging　blue　polyester。　Ted　frowned。　〃Don't　you　think　these　look　a　little　silly？〃
〃They　may　not　be　the　height　of　fashion；〃　Barnes　said；　〃but　they　prevent　heat　loss　from　helium。〃
〃The　color　is　unflattering；〃　Ted　said。
〃Screw　the　color；〃　Barnes　said。　He　handed　them　light…weight　jackets。　Norman　felt　something　heavy　in　one　pocket；　and　pulled　out　a　battery　pack。
〃The　jackets　are　wired　and　electrically　heated；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Like　an　electric　blanket；　which　is　what　you'll　use　for　sleeping。　Follow　me。〃
They　went　on　to　Cyl　B；　which　housed　power　and　life…support　systems。　At　first　glance；　it　looked　like　a　large　boiler　room；　all　multicolored　pipes　and　utilitarian　fittings。　〃This　is　where　we　generate　all　of　our　heat；　power；　and　air；〃　Barnes　said。　He　pointed　out　the　features：　〃Closed…cycle　IC　generator；　240/110。　Hydrogen…and…oxygen…driven　fuel　cells。　LSS　monitors。　Liquid　processor；　runs　on　silver…zinc　batteries。　And　that's　Chief　Petty　Officer　Fletcher。　Teeny　Fletcher。〃　Norman　saw　a　big…boned　figure；　working　back　among　the　pipes　with　a　heavy　wrench。　The　figure　turned；　Alice　Fletcher　gave　them　a　grin；　waved　a　greasy　hand。
〃She　seems　to　know　what　she's　doing；〃　Ted　said；　approvingly。
〃She　does；〃　Barnes　said。　〃But　all　the　major　support　systems　are　redundant。　Fletcher　is　just　our　final　redundancy。　Actually；　you'll　find　the　entire　habitat　is　self…regulating。〃
He　clipped　heavy　badges　onto　the　jumpsuits。　〃Wear　these　at　all　times；　even　though　they're　just　a　precaution：　the　alarms　trigger　automatically　if　life…support　conditions　go　below　optimum。　But　that　won't　happen。　There　are　sensors　in　each　room　of　the　habitat。　You'll　get　used　to　the　fact　that　the　environment　continually　adjusts　to　your　presence。　Lights　will　go　on　and　off；　heat　lamps　will　turn　on　and　off；　and　air　vents　will　hiss　to　keep　track　of　things。　It's　all　automatic；　don't　sweat　it。　＇＇57＇＇　Every　single　major　system　is　redundant。　We　can　lose　power；　we　can　lose　air；　we　can　lose　water　entirely；　and　we　will　be　fine　for　a　hundred　and　thirty　hours。〃
One　hundred　and　thirty　hours　didn't　sound　very　long　to　Norman。　He　did　the　calculation　in　his　head：　five　days。　Five　days　didn't　seem　very　long；　either。
They　went　into　the　next　cylinder；　the　lights　clicking　on　as　they　entered。　Cylinder　C　contained　living　quarters：　bunks；　toilets；　showers　（〃plenty　of　hot　water；　you'll　find〃）。　Barnes　showed　them　around　proudly；　as　if　it　were　a　hotel。
The　living　quarters　were　heavily　insulated：　carpeted　deck；　walls　and　ceilings　all　covered　in　soft　padded　foam；　which　made　the　interior　appear　like　an　overstuffed　couch。　But；　despite　the　bright　colors　and　the　evident　care　in　decoration；　Norman　still　found　it　cramped　and　dreary。　The　portholes　were　tiny；　and　they　revealed　only　the　blackness　of　the　ocean　outside。　And　wherever　the　padding　ended；　he　saw　heavy　bolts　and　heavy　steel　plating；　a　reminder　of　where　they　really　were。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　inside　a　large　iron　lung…and；　he　thought；　that　isn't　so　far　wrong。
They　ducked　through　narrow　bulkheads　into　D　Cyl：　a　small　laboratory　with　benches　and　microscopes　on　the　top　level；　a　pact　electronics　unit　on　the　level　below。
〃This　is　Tina　Chan；〃　Barnes　said；　introducing　a　very　still　woman。　They　all　shook　hands。　Norman　thought　that　Tina　Chan　was　almost　unnaturally　calm；　until　he　realized　she　was　one　of　those　people　who　almost　never　blinked　their　eyes。
〃Be　nice　to　Tina；〃　Barnes　was　saying。　〃She's　our　only　link　to　the　outside…she　runs　the　　ops；　and　the　sensor　systems　as　well。　In　fact；　all　the　electronics。〃
Tina　Chan　was　surrounded　by　the　bulkiest　monitors　Norman　had　ever　seen。　They　looked　like　TV　sets　from　the　1950s。　Barnes　explained　that　certain　equipment　didn't　do　well　in　the　helium　atmosphere；　including　TV　tubes。　In　the　early　days　of　undersea　habitats；　the　tubes　had　to　be　replaced　daily。　Now　they　were　elaborately　coated　and　shielded；　hence　their　bulk。
Next　to　Chan　was　another　woman；　Jane　Edmunds；　whom　Barnes　introduced　as　the　unit　archivist。
〃What's　a　unit　archivist？〃　Ted　asked　her。
＇＇58＇＇　〃Petty　Officer　First　Class；　Data　Processing；　sir；〃　she　said　formally。　Jane　Edmunds　wore　spectacles　and　stood　stiffly。　She　reminded　Norman　of　a　librarian。
〃Data　Processing　。。。〃　Ted　said。
〃My　mission　is　to　keep　all　the　digital　recordings；　visual　materials；　and　videotapes；　sir。　Every　aspect　of　this　historic　moment　is　being　recorded；　and　I　keep　everything　neatly　filed。〃　Norman　thought：　She　is　a　librarian。
〃Oh；　excellent；〃　Ted　said。　〃I'm　glad　to　hear　it。　Film　or　tape？〃
〃Tape；　sir。〃
〃I　know　my　way　around　a　video　camera；〃　Ted　said；　with　a　smile。　〃What're　you　putting　it　down　on；　half…inch　or　threequarter？〃
〃Sir；　we　use　a　datascan　image　equivalent　of　two　thousand　pixels　per　side…biased　frame；　each　pixel　carrying　a　twelvetone　gray　scale。〃
〃Oh；〃　Ted　said。
〃It's　a　bit　better　than　mercial　systems　you　may　be　familiar　with；　sir。〃
〃I　see；〃　Ted　said。　But　he　recovered　smoothly；　and　chatted　with　Edmunds　for　a　while　about　technical　matters。
〃Ted　seems　awfully　interested　in　how　we're　going　to　record　this；〃　Barnes　said；　looking　uneasy。
〃Yes；　he　seems　to　be。〃　Norman　wondered　why　that　troubled　Barnes。　Was　Barnes　worried　about　the　visual　record？　Or　did　he　think　Ted　would　try　to　hog　the　show？　Would　Ted　try　to　hog　the　show？　Did　Barnes　have　any　worries　about　having　this　appear　to　be　a　civilian　operation？
〃No；　the　exterior　lights　are　a　hundred…fifty…watt　quartz　halogen；〃　Edmunds　was　saying。　〃We're　recording　at　equivalent　of　half　a　million　ASA；　so　that's　ample。　The　real　problem　is　backscatter。　We're　constantly　fighting　it。〃
Norman　said；　〃I　notice　your　support　team　is　all　women。〃
〃Yes；〃　Barnes　said。　〃All　the　deep…diving　studies　show　that　women　are　superior　for　submerged　operations。　They're　physically　smaller　and　consume　less　nutrients　and　air；　they　have　better　social　skills　and　tolerate　close　quarters　better；　and　they　are　physiologically　tougher　and　have　better　endurance。
＇＇59＇＇　The　fact　is；　the　Navy　long　ago　recognized　that　all　their　submariners　should　be　female。〃　He　laughed。　〃But　just　try　to　implement　that　one。〃　He　glanced　at　his　watch。　〃We'd　better　move　on。　Ted？〃
They　went　on。　The　final　cylinder；　E　Cyl；　was　more　spacious　than　the　others。　There　were　magazines；　a　television；　and　a　large　lounge；　and　on　the　deck　below　was　an　efficient　mess　and　a　kitchen。　Seaman　Rose　Levy；　the　cook；　was　a　redfaced　woman　with　a　Southern　accent；　standing　beneath　giant　suction　fans。　She　asked　Norman　whether　he　had　any　favorite　desserts。
〃Desserts？〃
〃Yes　sir；　Dr。　Johnson。　I　like　to　make　everybody's　favorite　dessert；　if　I　can。　What　about　you；　you　have　a　favorite；　Dr。　Fielding？〃
〃Key　lime　pie；〃　Ted　said。　〃I　love　key　lime　pie。〃
〃Can　do；　sir；〃　Levy　said；　with　a　big　smile。　She　turned　back　to　Norman。　〃I　haven't　heard　yours　yet；　Dr。　Johnson。〃
〃Strawberry　shortcake。〃
〃Easy。　Got　some　nice　New　Zealand　strawberries　ing　down　on　the　last　sub　shuttle。　Maybe　you'd　like　that　shortcake　tonight？〃
〃Why　not；　Rose；〃　Barnes　said　heartily。
Norman　looked　out　the　black　porthole　window。　From　the　portholes　of　D　Cyl；　he　could　see　the　rectangular　illuminated　grid　that　extended　across　the　bottom；　following　the　half…mile…long　buried　spacecraft。　Divers；　illuminated　like　fireflies；　moved　over　the　glowing　grid　surface。
Norman　thought：　I　am　a　thousan