Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第23部分 (第6/7頁)

　analyzed　data；　I've　e　to　some　interesting　conclusions。　But　never　anything　fundamental。　This　expedition　is　my　chance　to　really　do　something。　To　really　。。。　get　my　name　in　the　books。〃

Norman　now　had　a　different　sense　of　Ted's　enthusiasm　and　energy；　that　relentlessly　juvenile　manner。　Ted　wasn't　emotionally　retarded；　he　was　driven。　And　he　clung　to　his　youth　out　of　a　sense　that　time　was　slipping　by　and　he　hadn't　yet　acplished　anything。　It　wasn't　obnoxious。　It　was　sad。

＇＇151＇＇　〃Well；〃　Norman　said；　〃the　expedition　isn't　finished　yet。〃

〃No；〃　Ted　said；　suddenly　brightening。　〃You're　right。　You're　absolutely　right。　There　are　more；　wonderful　experiences　awaiting　us。　I　just　know　there　are。　And　they'll　e；　won't　they。〃

〃Yes；　Ted；〃　Norman　said。　〃They'll　e。〃

BETH

〃Damn　it；　nothing　works！〃　She　waved　a　hand　to　her　laboratory　bench。　〃Not　a　single　one　of　the　chemicals　or　reagents　here　is　worth　a　damn！〃

〃What've　you　tried？〃　Barnes　said　calmly。　〃Zenker…Formalin；　H　and　E；　the　other　stains。　Proteolytic　extractions；　enzyme　breaks。　You　name　it。　None　of　it　works。　You　know　what　I　think；　I　think　that　whoever　stocked　this　lab　did　it　with　outdated　ingredients。〃

〃No；〃　Barnes　said；　〃it's　the　atmosphere。〃

He　explained　that　their　environment　contained　only　2　percent　oxygen；　1　percent　carbon　dioxide；　but　no　nitrogen　at　all。　〃Chemical　reactions　are　unpredictable；〃　he　said。　〃You　ought　to　take　a　look　at　Levy's　recipe　book　sometime。　It's　like　nothing　you've　ever　seen　in　your　life。　The　food　looks　normal　when　she's　finished；　but　she　sure　doesn't　make　it　the　normal　way。〃

〃And　the　lab？〃

〃The　lab　was　stocked　without　knowing　the　working　depth　we　would　be　at。　If　we　were　shallower；　we'd　be　breathing　pressed　air；　and　all　your　chemical　reaction