第19部分(第1/7 页)

〃Here　we　go；〃　Tina　said。

The　monitor　showed　jagged　lines；　and　then　resolved。　On　the　screen；　Tina　was　saying；　〃…hours　the　tapes　are　transferred　to　the　submarine。〃

Beth：　〃What　for？〃

Tina：　〃That's　so；　if　anything　happens　down　here；　the　submarine　will　automatically　go　to　the　surface。〃

Beth：　〃Oh；　great。　I　won't　think　about　that　too　much。　Where　is　Dr。　Fielding　now？〃

Tina：　〃He　gave　up　on　the　sphere；　and　went　into　the　main　flight　deck　with　Edmunds。〃

On　the　screen；　Tina　stepped　out　of　view。　Beth　remained　alone　in　the　chair；　eating　the　cake；　her　back　to　the　monitor。

Onscreen；　Tina　was　saying；　〃Do　you　think　they'll　ever　get　the　sphere　open？〃

Beth　ate　her　cake。　〃Maybe；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　know。〃

There　was　a　short　pause；　and　then　on　the　monitor　behind　Beth；　the　door　of　the　sphere　slid　open。

〃Hey！　It　did　open！〃

〃Keep　the　tape　running！〃

Onscreen；　Beth　didn't　notice　the　monitor。　Tina；　still　somewhere　offscreen；　said；　〃It　scares　me。〃

Beth：　〃I　don't　think　there's　a　reason　to　be　scared。〃

Tina：　〃It's　the　unknown。〃

〃Sure；〃　Beth　said；　〃but　an　unknown　thing　is　not　likely　to　be　dangerous　or　frightening。　It's　most　likely　to　be　just　inexplicable。〃

〃I　don't　know　how　you　can　say　that。〃

〃You　afraid　of　snakes？〃　Beth　said；　onscreen。

All　during　this　conversation；　the　sphere　remained　open。

Watching；　Harry　said；　〃Too　bad　we　can't　see　inside　it。〃

〃I　may　be　able　to　help　that；〃　Tina　said。　〃I'll　do　some　image…intensification　work　with　the　puter。〃

〃It　almost　looks　like　there　are　little　lights；〃　Harry　said。　〃Little　moving　lights　inside　the　sphere　。。。〃

Onscreen；　Tina　came　back　into　view。　〃Snakes　don't　bother　me。〃

＇＇120＇＇　〃Well；　I　can't　stand　snakes