Sphere (深海圓疑) 原版小說

第12部分 (第6/7頁)

said。　〃Look　at　this　leather　on　these　seats。　It's　brand…new。〃

〃Maybe　it　was　a　new　ship。〃

＇＇78＇＇　〃No；　I　mean　really　brand…new。　This　leather　doesn't　show　any　scratches；　any　cuts；　any　coffee…cup　spills　or　stains。　There　is　nothing　to　suggest　that　these　seats　have　ever　been　sat　in。〃　〃Maybe　there　wasn't　any　crew。〃

〃Why　would　you　have　seats　if　there　wasn't　any　crew？〃

〃Maybe　they　took　the　crew　out　at　the　last　minute。　It　seems　they　were　worried　about　radiation。　The　inner　hull's　leadshielded；　too。〃

〃Why　should　there　be　radiation　associated　with　time　travel？〃

〃I　know；〃　Ted　said。　〃Maybe　the　ship　got　launched　by　accident。　Maybe　the　ship　was　on　the　launch　pad　and　somebody　pressed　the　button　before　the　crew　got　aboard　so　the　ship　took　off　empty。〃

〃You　mean；　oops；　wrong　button？〃

〃That'd　be　a　hell　of　a　mistake；〃　Norman　said。

Barnes　shook　his　head。　〃I'm　not　buying　it。　For　one　thing；　a　ship　this　big　could　never　be　launched　from　Earth。　It　had　to　be　built　and　assembled　in　orbit；　and　launched　from　space。〃

〃What　do　you　make　of　this？〃　Beth　said；　pointing　to　another　console　near　the　rear　of　the　flight　deck。　There　was　a　fourth　chair；　drawn　up　close　to　the　console。

The　leather　was　wrapped　around　a　human　form。

〃No　kidding。。。〃

〃There's　a　man　in　there？〃

〃Let's　have　a　look。〃　Beth　pushed　the　armrest　buttons。　The　chair　whirred　back　from　the　console　and　unwrapped　itself。　They　saw　a　man；　staring　forward；　his　eyes　open。

〃My　God；　after　all　these　years；　perfectly　preserved；〃　Ted　said。

〃You　would　expect　that；〃　Harry　said。　〃Considering　he's　a　mannequin。〃

〃But　he's　so　lifelike…〃

〃Give　our　descendants　some　credit　for　advances；〃　Harry　said。　〃They're　half　a　century　ahead　of　us。〃　He　pushed　t