Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第12部分 (第3/7頁)

ant　to　feel。　Norman　＇＇75＇＇　pressed　the　surface；　felt　it　bend　to　his　touch。　Rubbery　again。　〃Another　new　material。〃

Norman's　flashlight　showed　a　few　artifacts。　Taped　to　the　far　end　of　the　console　was　a　handmarked　sign　on　a　three…by…five　filing　card：　It　said；　〃GO　BABY　GO！〃　Nearby　was　a　small　plastic　statuette　of　a　cute　animal　that　looked　like　a　purple　squirrel。　The　base　said；　〃Lucky　Lemontina。〃　Whatever　that　meant。

〃These　seats　leather？〃

〃Looks　like　it。〃

〃Where　are　the　damned　controls？〃

Norman　continued　to　poke　at　the　blank　console；　and　suddenly　the　beige　console　surface　took　on　depth；　and　appeared　to　contain　instruments；　screens。　All　the　instrumentation　was　somehow　within　the　surface　of　the　console；　like　an　optical　illusion；　or　a　hologram。　Norman　read　the　lettering　above　the　instruments：　〃Pos　Thrusters〃　。。。　〃F3　Piston　Booster〃　。。。　〃Glider〃　。。。　〃Sieves〃　。。。

〃More　new　technology；〃　Ted　said。　〃Reminiscent　of　liquid　crystals；　but　far　superior。　Some　kind　of　advanced　optoelectronics。〃

Suddenly　all　the　console　screens　glowed　red；　and　there　was　a　beeping　sound。　Startled；　Norman　jumped　back；　the　control　panel　was　ing　to　life。

〃Watch　it；　everybody！〃

A　single　bright　lightning　flash　of　intense　white　light　filled　the　room；　leaving　a　harsh　afterimage。

〃Oh　God　。。。〃

Another　flash…and　another…and　then　the　ceiling　lights　came　on；　evenly　illuminating　the　room。　Norman　saw　startled；　frightened　faces。　He　sighed；　exhaling　slowly。　〃Jesus　。。。〃

〃How　the　hell　did　that　happen？〃　Barnes　said。

〃It　was　me；〃　Beth　said。　〃I　pushed　this　button。〃

〃Let's　not　go　around　pushing　buttons；　if　you　don't　mind；〃　Barnes　said　irritably。

〃It　was　marked　'ROOM　LIGHTS。'　It　seemed　an　appropriate　thing　to　do。〃

〃Let'