Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第26部分 (第2/7頁)

ingers。　〃Good　idea！〃　He　went　to　the　keyboard。

〃There's　an　obvious　first　step；〃　Harry　said。　〃We　just　send　the　original　message　back。　We'll　start　with　the　first　grouping；　beginning　with　the　double　zeroes。〃

〃I　want　it　made　clear；〃　Ted　said；　〃that　the　suggestion　to　attempt　munication　with　the　alien　originated　with　me。〃

〃It's　clear；　Ted；〃　Barnes　said。

〃Harry？〃　Ted　said。

〃Yes；　Ted；〃　Harry　said。　〃Don't　worry；　it's　your　idea。〃

Sitting　at　the　keyboard；　Harry　typed：

00032125252632

The　numbers　appeared　on　the　screen。　There　was　a　pause。　They　listened　to　the　hum　of　the　air　fans；　the　distant　thump　of　the　diesel　generator。　They　all　watched　the　screen。

Nothing　happened。

The　screen　went　blank；　and　then　printed　out：

0001132121051808012232

Norman　felt　the　hair　rise　on　the　back　of　his　neck。

It　was　just　a　series　of　numbers　on　a　puter　screen；　but　it　still　gave　him　a　chill。　Standing　beside　him；　Tina　shivered。　〃He　answered　us。〃

〃Fabulous；〃　Ted　said。

〃I'll　try　the　second　grouping　now；〃　Harry　said。　He　seemed　calm；　but　his　fingers　kept　making　mistakes　at　the　keyboard。　It　took　a　few　moments　before　he　was　able　to　type：

032629

The　reply　immediately　came　back：

0015260805180810213

〃Well；〃　Harry　said；　〃looks　like　we　just　opened　our　line　of　munication。〃

＇＇170＇＇　〃Yes；〃　Beth　said。　〃Too　bad　we　don't　understand　what　we're　saying　to　each　other。〃

〃Presumably　it　knows　what　it's　saying；〃　Ted　said。　〃But　we're　still　in　the　dark。〃

〃Maybe　we　can　get　it　to　explain　itself。〃

Impatiently；　Barnes　said；　〃What　is　this　it　you　keep　referring　to？〃

Harry　sighed；　and　pushed　his　glasses　up　on　his　nose。　〃I　think　there's　no　doubt　about　that。　It；〃　Harry　said；　〃is　so