Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第53部分 (第4/7頁)

gh　he　didn't　remember　it　happening。

On　the　table　in　front　of　him；　someone　had　scratched　〃U。S。N。　SUCKS〃　into　the　surface。　Norman　ran　his　fingers　over　the　grooves；　and　remembered　the　grooves　in　the　silver　sphere。　But　he　and　Harry　and　Beth　were　in　the　hands　of　the　Navy　now。

And　he　thought：　What　are　we　going　to　tell　them？

〃What　are　we　going　to　tell　them？〃　Beth　said。

It　was　several　hours　later；　Beth　and　Harry　had　awakened；　and　now　they　were　all　sitting　around　the　scarred　metal　table。　None　of　them　had　made　any　attempt　to　talk　to　the　crew　outside。　It　was；　Norman　thought；　as　if　they　shared　an　unspoken　agreement　to　remain　in　isolation　a　while　longer。

〃I　think　we'll　have　to　tell　them　everything；〃　Harry　said。

〃I　don't　think　we　should；〃　Norman　said。　He　was　surprised　by　the　strength　of　his　conviction；　the　firmness　of　his　own　voice。

〃I　agree；〃　Beth　said。　〃I'm　not　sure　the　world　is　ready　for　that　sphere。　I　certainly　wasn't。〃

＇＇361＇＇　She　gave　Norman　a　sheepish　look。　He　put　his　hand　on　her　shoulder。

〃That's　fine；〃　Harry　said。　〃But　look　at　it　from　the　standpoint　of　the　Navy。　The　Navy　has　mounted　a　large　and　expensive　operation；　six　people　have　died；　and　two　habitats　have　been　destroyed。　They're　going　to　want　answers…and　they're　going　to　keep　asking　until　they　get　them。〃

〃We　can　refuse　to　talk；〃　Beth　said。

〃That　won't　make　any　difference；〃　Harry　said。　〃Remember；　the　Navy　has　all　the　tapes。〃

〃That's　right；　the　tapes；〃　Norman　said。　He　had　forgotten　about　the　videotapes　they　had　brought　up　in　the　submarine。　Dozens　of　tapes；　documenting　everything　that　had　happened　in　the　habitat　during　their　time　underwater。　Documenting　the　squid；　the　deaths；　the　sphere。　Documenting　everything。

〃We　should　have　destroye