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第9部分（第1页）

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　wont　notice　any　difference…〃

A　voice　over　a　loudspeaker　said；　〃Were　starting　to　pressurize　you　now。〃

〃Whos　that？〃　Norman　said。

〃Barnes；〃　the　voice　said。　But　it　didnt　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。　〃Its　the　helium；　Norman。　Theyre　pressurizing　us　with　helium。〃

〃You　sound　like　Donald　Duck；〃　Norman　said；　and　he　laughed；　too。　His　own　voice　sounded　squeaky；　like　a　cartoon　characters。

〃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　wasnt　any　wind。　The　lightness　of　the　helium　increased　evaporation；　made　them　cold。

Across　the　cylinder；　Ted　said　something；　but　Norman　couldnt　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。　〃Youll　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　dont　you　guys　pay　attention　to　briefings？〃　Barnes　said。　〃Thats　exactly　what　they　do。　Youll　have　to　wear　a　talker　all　the　time　youre　down　here。　At　least；　if　you　want　anybody　to　understand　you。　Still　cold？〃

〃Yes；〃　Ted　said。

〃Well；　hang　on；　youre　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

〃Youre　the　last　to　arrive；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　just　have　time　for　a　quick　tour　before　we　open　the　spacecraft。〃

〃Youre　ready　to　open　it　now？〃　Ted　asked。　〃Wonderful。　Ive　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。〃

〃Therell　be　time　to　consider　that；〃　Barnes　said；　with　an　odd　glance　at　Ted。　〃Ill　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。

〃Thats　correct；〃　Barnes　said。

＇＇56＇＇　〃Then　well　be　going　outside？〃　Norman　said；　feeling　a　twinge　of　alarm。

〃Eventually；　yes。　Dont　worry　about　it　now。　Still　cold？〃

They　were；　Barnes　had　them　change　into　tight…fitting　jumpsuits　of　clinging　blue　polyester。　Ted　frowned。　〃Dont　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　youll　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；　240110。　Hydrogen…and…oxygen…driven　fuel　cells。　LSS　monitors。　Liquid　processor；　runs　on　silver…zinc　batteries。　And　thats　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。

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