Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第19部分 (第4/7頁)

ure　it　out。

When　Davies　explained　it；　they　all　agreed　it　was　a　clever　＇＇122＇＇　idea；　and　a　perfect　message　for　extraterrestrials　to　send。　But　the　fact　remained　that　none　of　them　had　been　able　to　figure　out　this　perfect　message。

One　of　the　people　who　had　tried　to　figure　it　out；　and　had　failed；　was　Ted。

〃Well；　we　didn't　try　very　hard；〃　Ted　said。　〃There　was　a　lot　going　on　at　the　conference。　And　we　didn't　have　you　there；　Harry。〃

〃You　just　wanted　a　free　trip　to　Rome；〃　Harry　said。

Beth　said；　〃Is　it　my　imagination；　or　have　the　door　markingschanged？〃

Norman　looked。　At　first　glance；　the　deep　grooves　appeared　the　same；　but　perhaps　the　pattern　was　different。　If　so；　the　change　was　subtle。

〃We　can　pare　it　with　old　videotapes；〃　Barnes　said。　〃It　looks　the　same　to　me；〃　Ted　said。　〃Anyway；　it's　metal。　I　doubt　it　could　change。〃

〃What　we　call　metal　is　just　a　liquid　that　flows　slowly　at　room　temperature；〃　Harry　said。　〃It's　possible　that　this　metal　is　changing。〃

〃I　doubt　it；〃　Ted　said。

Barnes　said；　〃You　guys　are　supposed　to　be　the　experts。　We　know　this　thing　can　open。　It's　been　open　already。　How　do　we　get　it　open　again？〃

〃We're　trying；　Hal。〃

〃It　doesn't　look　like　you're　doing　anything。〃

From　time　to　time；　they　glanced　at　Harry；　but　Harry　just　stood　there；　looking　at　the　sphere；　his　hand　on　his　chin；　tapping　his　lower　lip　thoughtfully　with　his　finger。

〃Harry？〃

Harry　said　nothing。

Ted　went　up　and　slapped　the　sphere　with　the　flat　of　his　hand。　It　made　a　dull　sound；　but　nothing　happened。　Ted　pounded　the　sphere　with　his　fist；　then　he　winced　and　rubbed　his　hand。

〃I　don't　think　we　can　force　our　way　in。　I　think　it　has　to　let　you　in；〃　Norman　said。　Nobody　said　anything　after　that。　〃My　h