第17部分(第1/7 页)

〃In　any　case；　our　robot　spacecraft；　according　to　whatever　built…in　criteria　it　has；　decides　that　this　sphere　is　interesting。　It　automatically　grabs　the　sphere　in　its　big　claw　hand　here；　draws　it　inside　the　ship；　and　brings　it　home。〃

〃Except　in　going　home　it　goes　too　far；　it　goes　into　the　past。〃

〃Its　past；〃　Harry　said。　〃Our　present。〃

〃Right。〃

Barnes　snorted　impatiently。　〃Fine；　so　this　spacecraft　goes　out　and　picks　up　a　silver　alien　sphere　and　brings　it　back。　Get　to　the　point：　what　is　this　sphere？〃

Harry　walked　forward　to　the　sphere；　pressed　his　ear　against　the　metal；　and　rapped　it　with　his　knuckles。　He　touched　the　grooves；　his　hands　disappearing　in　the　deep　indentations。　The　sphere　was　so　highly　polished　Norman　could　see　Harry's　face；　distorted；　in　the　curve　of　the　metal。　〃Yes。　＇＇107＇＇　As　I　suspected。　These　cabalistic　markings；　as　you　call　them；　are　not　decorative　at　all。　They　have　another　purpose　entirely；　to　conceal　a　small　break　in　the　surface　of　the　sphere。　Thus　they　represent　a　door。〃　Harry　stepped　back。

〃What　is　the　sphere？〃

〃I'll　tell　you　what　I　think；〃　Harry　said。　〃I　think　this　sphere　is　a　hollow　container；　I　think　there's　something　inside；　and　I　think　it　scares　the　hell　out　of　me。〃

FIRST　EVALUATION

〃No；　Mr。　Secretary；〃　Barnes　said　into　the　phone。　〃We're　pretty　sure　it　is　an　alien　artifact。　There　doesn't　seem　to　be　any　question　about　that。〃

He　glanced　at　Norman；　sitting　across　the　room。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Very　damn　exciting。〃

They　were　back　in　the　habitat；　and　Barnes　had　immediately　called　Washington。　He　was　trying　to　delay　their　return　to　the　surface。

〃Not　yet；　we　haven't　opened　it。　Well；　we　haven't　been　able　to　open　it。　The　door　is　a　weird　shape　and　it's　very　finely　m