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第17部分（第1页）

〃In　any　case；　our　robot　spacecraft；　according　to　whatever　built…in　criteria　it　has；　decides　that　this　sphere　is　interesting。　It　automatically　grabs　the　sphere　in　its　big　claw　hand　here；　draws　it　inside　the　ship；　and　brings　it　home。〃

〃Except　in　going　home　it　goes　too　far；　it　goes　into　the　past。〃

〃Its　past；〃　Harry　said。　〃Our　present。〃

〃Right。〃

Barnes　snorted　impatiently。　〃Fine；　so　this　spacecraft　goes　out　and　picks　up　a　silver　alien　sphere　and　brings　it　back。　Get　to　the　point：　what　is　this　sphere？〃

Harry　walked　forward　to　the　sphere；　pressed　his　ear　against　the　metal；　and　rapped　it　with　his　knuckles。　He　touched　the　grooves；　his　hands　disappearing　in　the　deep　indentations。　The　sphere　was　so　highly　polished　Norman　could　see　Harrys　face；　distorted；　in　the　curve　of　the　metal。　〃Yes。　＇＇107＇＇　As　I　suspected。　These　cabalistic　markings；　as　you　call　them；　are　not　decorative　at　all。　They　have　another　purpose　entirely；　to　conceal　a　small　break　in　the　surface　of　the　sphere。　Thus　they　represent　a　door。〃　Harry　stepped　back。

〃What　is　the　sphere？〃

〃Ill　tell　you　what　I　think；〃　Harry　said。　〃I　think　this　sphere　is　a　hollow　container；　I　think　theres　something　inside；　and　I　think　it　scares　the　hell　out　of　me。〃

FIRST　EVALUATION

〃No；　Mr。　Secretary；〃　Barnes　said　into　the　phone。　〃Were　pretty　sure　it　is　an　alien　artifact。　There　doesnt　seem　to　be　any　question　about　that。〃

He　glanced　at　Norman；　sitting　across　the　room。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Very　damn　exciting。〃

They　were　back　in　the　habitat；　and　Barnes　had　immediately　called　Washington。　He　was　trying　to　delay　their　return　to　the　surface。

〃Not　yet；　we　havent　opened　it。　Well；　we　havent　been　able　to　open　it。　The　door　is　a　weird　shape　and　its　very　finely　milled。　。。。　No；　you　couldnt　wedge　anything　in　the　crack。〃　He　looked　at　Norman；　rolled　his　eyes。

〃No；　we　tried　that；　too。　There　dont　seem　to　be　any　exterior　controls。　No；　no　message　on　the　outside。　No；　no　labels　either。　All　it　is；　is　a　highly　polished　sphere　with　some　convoluted　grooves　on　one　side。　What？　Blast　it　open？〃

Norman　turned　away。　He　was　in　D　Cylinder；　in　the　munications　section　run　by　Tina　Chan。　She　was　adjusting　a　dozen　monitors　with　her　usual　calm。　Norman　said；　〃You　seem　like　the　most　relaxed　person　here。〃

She　smiled。　〃Just　inscrutable；　sir。〃

〃Is　that　it？〃

＇＇108＇＇　〃It　must　be；　sir；〃　she　said；　adjusting　the　vertical　gain　on　one　rolling　monitor。　The　screen　showed　the　polished　sphere。　〃Because　I　feel　my　heart　pounding；　sir。　What　do　you　think　is　inside　that　thing？〃

〃I　havent　any　idea；〃　Norman　said。

〃Do　you　think　theres　an　alien　inside？　You　know；　some　kind　of　a　living　creature？〃

〃Maybe。〃

〃And　were　trying　to　open　it　up？　Maybe　we　shouldnt　let　it　out；　whatever　is　in　there。〃

〃Arent　you　curious？〃　Norman　said。

〃Not　that　curious；　sir。〃

〃I　dont　see　how　blasting　would　work；〃　Barnes　was　saying　on　the　phone。　〃Yes；　we　have　SMTMPs；　yes。　Oh；　different　sizes。　But　I　dont　think　we　can　blast　the　sucker　open。　No。　Well；　if　you　saw　it；　youd　understand。　The　thing　is　perfectly　made。　Perfect。〃

Tina　adjusted　a　second　monitor。　They　had　two　views　of　the　sphere；　and　soon　there　would　be　a　third。　Edmunds　was　setting　up　cameras　to　watch　the　sphere。　That　had　been　one　of　Harrys　suggestions。　Harry　had　said；　〃Monitor　it。　Maybe　it　does　something　from　time　to　time；　has　some　activity。〃

On　the　screen；　he　saw　the　network　of　wires　that　had　been　attached　to　the　sphere。　They　had　a　full　array　of　passive　sensors：　sound；　and　the　full　electromagnetic　spectrum　from　infrared　to　gamma　and　X…rays。　The　readouts　on　the　sensors　were　displayed　on　a　bank　of　instruments　to　the　left。

Harry　came　in。　〃Getting　anything　yet？〃

Tina　shook　her　head。　〃So　far；　nothing。〃

〃Has　Ted　e　back？〃

〃No；〃　Norman　said。　〃Teds　still　there。〃

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