第13部分(第2/7 页)

　they　entered　a　vast　area　of　narrow　walkways　set　out　between　great　sealed　partments　that　stretched　ahead　as　far　as　they　could　see。　The　partments　turned　out　to　be　storage　bays　of　immense　size。　They　opened　one　bay　and　found　it　was　filled　with　heavy　plastic　containers；　which　looked　rather　like　the　loading　containers　of　contemporary　airliners；　except　many　times　larger。　They　opened　one　container。

〃No　kidding；〃　Barnes　said；　peering　inside。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃Food。〃

The　food　was　wrapped　in　layers　of　lead　foil　and　plastic；　like　NASA　rations。　Ted　picked　one　up。　〃Food　from　the　future！〃　he　said；　and　smacked　his　lips。

〃You　going　to　eat　that？〃　Harry　said。

〃Absolutely；〃　Ted　said。　〃You　know；　I　once　had　a　bottle　of　Dom　Pérignon　1897；　but　this　will　be　the　first　time　I've　ever　had　anything　to　eat　from　the　future；　from　2043。〃

＇＇81＇＇　〃It's　also　three　hundred　years　old；〃　Harry　said。

〃Maybe　you'll　want　to　film　this；〃　Ted　said　to　Edmunds。　〃Me　eating。〃

Edmunds　dutifully　put　the　camera　to　her　eye；　flicked　on　the　light。

〃Let's　not　do　that　now；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　have　other　things　to　acplish。〃

〃This　is　human　interest；〃　Ted　said。　〃Not　now；〃　Barnes　said　firmly。

He　opened　a　second　storage　container；　and　a　third。　They　all　contained　food。　They　moved　to　the　next　storage　bay　and　opened　more　containers。

〃It's　all　food。　Nothing　but　food。〃

The　ship　had　traveled　with　an　enormous　amount　of　food。　Even　allowing　for　a　crew　of　twenty；　it　was　enough　food　for　a　voyage　of　several　years。

They　were　getting　very　tired；　it　was　a　relief　when　Beth　found　a　button；　said；　〃I　wonder　what　this　does…〃

Barnes　said；　〃Beth…〃

And　the　walkway　began　to　move；　rubber　tread　rolling　forward　with　a　slight　hum。

〃Beth；　I　want　y