Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第41部分 (第2/7頁)

changed　glances；　and　went　downstairs　to　look。

The　console　screen　was　slowly　printing　out　letter　groups。

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〃Is　that　Jerry？〃　Norman　asked。

〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Harry　said。　〃I　don't　think　he　would　go　back　to　code。〃

〃Is　it　a　code？〃

〃I　would　say　so；　definitely。〃

〃Why　is　it　so　slow？〃　Beth　said。　A　new　letter　was　added　every　few　seconds　in　a　steady；　rhythmic　way。

〃I　don't　know；〃　Harry　said。　〃Where　is　it　ing　from？〃

Harry　frowned。　〃I　don't　know；　but　the　transmission　speed　is　the　most　interesting　characteristic。　The　slowness。　Interesting。〃

＇＇276＇＇　Norman　and　Beth　waited　for　him　to　figure　it　out。　Norman　thought：　How　can　we　ever　get　along　without　Harry？　We　need　him。　He　is　both　the　most　important　intelligence　down　here；　and　the　most　dangerous。　But　we　need　him。

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〃Interesting；〃　Harry　said。　〃The　letters　are　ing　about　every　five　seconds。　So　I　think　it's　safe　to　say　that　we　know　where　it's　ing　from。　Wisconsin。〃

Norman　could　not　have　been　more　surprised。　〃Wisconsin？〃

〃Yeah。　This　is　a　Navy　transmission。　It　may　or　may　not　be　directed　to　us；　but　it　is　ing　from　Wisconsin。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？〃

〃Because　that's　the　only　place　in　the　world　it　could　be　ing　from；〃　Harry　said。　〃You　know　about　ELF？　No？　Well；　it's　like　this。　You　can　send　radio　waves　through　the　air；　and；　as　you　know；　they　travel　pretty　well。　But　you　can't　send　radio　far　through　water。　Water　is　a　bad　medium；　so　you　need　an　incredibly　powerful　signal　to　go　even　a　short　distance。〃

〃Yes　。。。〃

〃But　the　ability　to　penetrate　is　a　function　of　wavelength。　An　ordinary　radio　wave　is　short…shortwave　radio；　all　of　that。　The　length　of　the　waves　are　tiny；　thousands　or　millions