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or。〃
〃So　do　we；〃　Harry　said。
〃We　do？〃　Beth　and　Norman　said　together。
But　Barnes　wasn't　listening。　〃And　the　ship　seems　to　have　picked　up　something　on　its　travels。〃
〃Picked　up　something？　What　is　it？〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　Barnes　said。　〃But　it's　something　alien。〃

　〃SOMETHING　ALIEN〃

The　moving　walkway　carried　them　past　endless　large　cargo　bays。　They　were　going　forward；　to　join　Barnes　and　Ted　and　Edmunds。　And　to　see　their　alien　discovery。
〃Why　would　anyone　send　a　spaceship　through　a　black　hole？〃　Beth　asked。
〃Because　of　gravity；〃　Harry　said。　〃You　see；　black　holes　have　so　much　gravity　they　distort　space　and　time　incredibly。　You　remember　how　Ted　was　saying　that　planets　and　stars　make　dents　in　the　fabric　of　space…time？　Well；　black　holes　make　tears　in　the　fabric。　And　some　people　think　it's　possible　to　fly　through　those　tears；　into　another　universe；　or　another　part　of　our　universe。　Or　to　another　time。〃
〃Another　time！〃
〃That's　the　idea；〃　Harry　said。
〃Are　you　people　ing？〃　Barnes's　tinny　voice；　on　the　monitor。
〃In　transit　now；〃　Beth　said；　glowering　at　the　screen。　〃He　can't　see　you；〃　Norman　said。
〃I　don't　care。〃
They　rode　past　more　cargo　areas。　Harry　said；　〃I　can't　wait　to　see　Ted's　face　when　we　tell　him。〃
Finally　they　reached　the　end　of　the　walkway。　They　passed　through　a　midsection　of　struts　and　girders；　and　entered　a　large　forward　room　which　they　had　previously　seen　on　the　monitor。　With　ceilings　nearly　a　hundred　feet　high；　it　was　enormous。
You　could　put　a　six…story　building　in　this　room；　Norman　thought。　Looking　up；　he　saw　a　hazy　mist　or　fog。
〃What's　that？〃
〃That's　a　cloud；〃　Barnes　said；　shaking　his　head。　〃The　room　is　so　big　it　apparently　has　its　own　weather。　Maybe　it　even　rains　in　here　sometimes。〃
The　room　was　filled　with　machinery　on　an　immense　scale。　At　first　glance；　it　looked　like　oversized　earth…moving　machinery；　except　it　was　brightly　painted　in　primary　colors；　＇＇103＇＇　glistening　with　oil。　Then　Norman　began　to　notice　individual　features。　There　were　giant　claw　hands；　enormously　powerful　arms；　moving　gear　wheels。　And　an　array　of　buckets　and　receptacles。
He　realized　suddenly　he　was　looking　at　something　very　similar　to　the　grippers　and　claws　mounted　on　the　front　end　of　the　Charon　V　submersible　he　had　ridden　down　on　the　day　before。　Was　it　the　day　before？　Or　was　it　still　the　same　day？　Which　day？　Was　this　July　4？　How　long　had　they　been　down　here？
〃If　you　look　carefully；〃　Barnes　was　saying；　〃you　can　see　that　some　of　these　devices　appear　to　be　large…scale　weapons。　Others；　like　that　long　extensor　arm；　the　various　attachments　to　pick　things　up；　in　effect　make　this　ship　a　gigantic　robot。〃
〃A　robot　。。。〃
〃No　kidding；〃　Beth　said。
〃I　guess　it　would　have　been　appropriate　for　a　robot　to　open　it　after　all；〃　Ted　said　thoughtfully。　〃Maybe　even　fitting。〃
〃Snug　fitting；〃　Beth　said。
〃Pipe　fitting；〃　Norman　said。
〃Sort　of　robot…to…robot；　you　mean？〃　Harry　said。　〃Sort　of　a　meeting　of　the　threads　and　treads？〃
〃Hey；〃　Ted　said。　〃I　don't　make　fun　of　your　ments　even　when　they're　stupid。〃
〃I　wasn't　aware　they　ever　were；〃　Harry　said。
〃You　say　foolish　things　sometimes。　Thoughtless。〃
〃Children；〃　Barnes　said；　〃can　we　get　back　to　the　business　at　hand？〃
〃Point　it　out　the　next　time；　Ted。〃
〃I　will。〃
〃I'll　be　glad　to　know　when　I　say　something　foolish。〃
〃No　problem。〃
〃Something　you　consider　foolish。〃
〃Tell　you　what；〃　Barnes　said　to　Norman；　〃when　we　go　back　to　the　surface；　let's　leave　these　two　down　here。〃
〃Surely　you　can't　think　of　going　back　now；〃　Ted　said。
〃We've　already　voted。〃
〃But　that　was　before　we　found　the　object。〃
〃Where　is　the　object？〃　Harry　said。
〃Over　here；　Harry；〃　Ted　said；　with　a　wicked　grin。　〃Let's　＇＇104＇＇　see　what　your　fabled　powers　of　deduction　make　of　this。〃　They　walked　deeper　into　the　room；　moving　among　the　giant　hands　and　claws。　And　they　saw；　nestled　in　the　padded　claw　of　one　hand；　a　large；　perfectly　polished　silver　sphere　about　thirty　feet　in　diameter。　The　sphere　had　no　markings　or　features　of　any　kind。
They　moved　around　the　sphere；　seeing　themselves　reflected　in　the　polished　metal。　Norman　noticed　an　odd　shifting　iridescence；　faint　rainbow　hues　of　blue　and　red；　gleaming　in　the　metal。
〃It　looks　like　an　oversized　ball　bearing；〃　Harry　said。
〃Keep　walking；　smart　guy。〃
On　the　far　side；　they　discovered　a　series　of　deep；　convoluted　grooves；　cut　in　an　intricate　pattern　into　the　surface　of　the　sphere。　The　pattern　was　arresting；　though　Norman　could　not　immediately　say　why。　The　pattern　wasn't　geometric。　And　it　wasn't　amorphous　or　organic；　either。　It　was　hard　to　say　what　it　was。　Norman　had　never　seen　anything　like　it；　and　as　he　continued　to　look　at　it　he　felt　increasingly　certain　this　was　a　pattern　never　found　on　Earth。　Never　created　by　any　man。　Never　conceived　by　a　human　imagination。
Ted　and　Barnes　were　right。　He　felt　sure　of　it。
This　sphere　was　something　alien。

PRIORITIES

〃Huh；〃　harry　said；　after　staring　in　silence　for　a　long　time。
〃I'm　sure　you'll　want　to　get　back　to　us　on　this；〃　Ted　said。　〃About　where　it　came　from；　and　so　on。〃
〃Actually；　I　know　where　it　came　from。〃　And　he　told　Ted　about　the　star　record；　and　the　black　hole。
〃Actually；〃　Ted　said；　〃I　suspected　that　this　ship　was　made　＇＇105＇＇　to　travel　through　a　black　hole　for　some　time。〃
〃Did　you？　What　was　your　first　clue？〃
〃The　heavy　radiation　shielding。〃
Harry　nodded。　〃That's　true。　You　probably　guessed　the　significance　of　that　before　I　did。〃　He　smiled。　〃But　you　didn't　tell　anybody。〃
〃Hey；〃　Ted　said；　〃there's　no　question　about　it。　I　was　the　one　who　proposed　the　black　hole　first。〃
〃You　did？〃
〃Yes。　No　question　at　all。　Remember；　in　the　conference　room？　I　was　explaining　to　Norman　about　space…time；　and　I　started　to　do　the　calculations　for　the　black　hole；　and　then　you　joined　in。　Norman；　you　remember　that？　I　proposed　it　first。〃　Norman　said；　〃That's　true；　you　had　the　idea。〃
Harry　grinned。　〃I　didn't　feel　that　was　a　proposal。　I　thought　it　was　more　like　a　guess。〃
〃Or　a　speculation。　Harry；〃　Ted　said；　〃you　are　rewriting　history。　There　are　witnesses。〃
〃Since　you're　so　far　ahead　of　everybody　else；〃　Harry　said；　〃how　about　telling　us　your　proposals　for　the　nature　of　this　object？〃
〃With　pleasure；〃　Ted　said。　〃This　object　is　a　burnished　sphere　approximately　ten　meters　in　diameter；　not　solid；　and　posed　of　a　dense　metal　alloy　of　an　as…yet…unknown　nature。　The　cabalistic　markings　on　this　side…〃
〃…These　grooves　are　what　you're　calling　cabalistic？〃　
〃…Do　you　mind　if　I　finish？　The　cabalistic　markings　on　this　side　clearly　suggest　artistic　or　religious　ornamentation；　evoking　a　ceremonial　quality。　This　indicates　the　object　has　significance　to　whoever　made　it。〃
〃I　think　we　can　be　sure　that's　true。〃
〃Personally；　I　believe　that　this　sphere　is　intended　as　a　form　of　contact　with　us；　visitors　from　another　star；　another　solar　system。　It　is；　if　you　will；　a　greeting；　a　message；　or　a　trophy。　A　proof　that　a　higher　form　of　life　exists　in　the　universe。〃
〃All　well　and　good　and　beside　the　point；〃　Harry　said。　〃What　does　it　do？〃
〃I'm　not　sure　it　does　anything。　I　think　it　just　is。　It　is　what　it　is。
＇＇106＇＇　〃Very　Zen。〃
〃Well；　what's　your　idea？〃
〃Let's　review　what　we　know；〃　Harry　said；　〃as　opposed　to　what　we　imagine　in　a　flight　of　fancy。　This　is　a　spacecraft　from　the　future；　built　with　all　sorts　of　materials　and　technology　we　haven't　developed　yet；　although　we　are　about　to　develop　them。　This　ship　was　sent　by　our　descendants　through　a　black　hole　and　into　another　universe；　or　another　part　of　our　universe。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃This　spacecraft　is　unmanned；　but　equipped　with　robot　arms　which　are　clearly　designed　to　pick　up　things　that　it　finds。　So　we　can　think　of　this　ship　as　a　huge　version　of　the　unmanned　Mariner　spacecraft　that　we　sent　in　the　1970s　to　Mars；　to　look　for　life　there。　This　spacecraft　from　the　future　is　much　bigger；　and　more　plicated；　but　it's　essentially　the　same　sort　of　machine。　It's　a　probe。〃
〃Yes　。。。
〃So　the　probe　goes　into　another　universe；　where　it　es　upon　this　sphere。　Presumably　it　finds　the　sphere　floating　in　space。　Or　perhaps　the　sphere　is　sent　out　to　meet　the　spacecraft。〃
〃Right；〃　Ted　said。　〃Sent　out　to　meet　it。　As　an　emissary。　That's　what　I　think。〃
〃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　milled。　。。。　No；　you　couldn't　wedge　anything　in　the　crack。〃　He　looked　at　Norman；　rolled　his　eyes。
〃No；　we　tried　that；　too。　There　don't　seem　to　be　any　exterior　controls。　No；　no　message　on　the　outside。　No；　no　labels　either。　All　it　is；　is　a　highly　polished　sphere　with　some　convoluted　grooves　on　one　side。　What？　Blast　it　open？〃
Norman　turned　away。　He　was　in　D　Cylinder；　in　the　munications　section　run　by　Tina　Chan。　She　was　adjusting　a　dozen　monitors　with　her　usual　calm。　Norman　said；　〃You　seem　like　the　most　relaxed　person　here。〃
She　smiled。　〃Just　inscrutable；　sir。〃
〃Is　that　it？〃
＇＇108＇＇　〃It　must　be；　sir；〃　she　said；　adjusting　the　vertical　gain　on　one　rolling　monitor。　The　screen　showed　the　polished　sphere。　〃Because　I　feel　my　heart　pounding；　sir。　What　do　you　think　is　inside　that　thing？〃
〃I　haven't　any　idea；〃　Norman　said。
〃Do　you　think　there's　an　alien　inside？　You　know；　some　kind　of　a　living　creature？〃
〃Maybe。〃
〃And　we're　trying　to　open　it　up？　Maybe　we　shouldn't　let　it　out；　whatever　is　in　there。〃
〃Aren't　you　curious？〃　Norman　said。
〃Not　that　curious；　sir。〃
〃I　don't　see　how　blasting　would　work；〃　Barnes　was　saying　on　the　phone。　〃Yes；　we　have　SMTMP's；　yes。　Oh；　different　sizes。　But　I　don't　think　we　can　blast　the　sucker　open。　No。　Well；　if　you　saw　it；　you'd　understand。　The　thing　is　perfectly　made。　Perfect。〃
Tina　adjusted　a　second　monitor。　They　had　two　views　of　the　sphere；　and　soon　there　would　be　a　third。　Edmunds　was　setting　up　cameras　to　watch　the　sphere。　That　had　been　one　of　Harry's　suggestions。　Harry　had　said；　〃Monitor　it。　Maybe　it　does　something　from　time　to　time；　has　some　activity。〃
On　the　screen；　he　saw　the　network　of　wires　that　had　been　attached　to　the　sphere。　They　had　a　full　array　of　passive　sensors：　sound；　and　the　full　electromagnetic　spectrum　from　infrared　to　gamma　and　X…rays。　The　readouts　on　the　sensors　were　displayed　on　a　bank　of　instruments　to　the　left。
Harry　came　in。　〃Getting　anything　yet？〃
Tina　shook　her　head。　〃So　far；　nothing。〃　
〃Has　Ted　e　back？〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。　〃Ted's　still　there。〃
Ted　had　remained　behind　in　the　cargo　bay；　ostensibly　to　help　Edmunds　set　up　the　cameras。　But　in　fact　they　knew　he　would　try　to　open　the　sphere。　They　saw　Ted　now　on　the　second　monitor；　probing　the　grooves；　touching；　pushing。　
Harry　smiled。　〃He　hasn't　got　a　prayer。〃
Norman　said；　〃Harry；　remember　when　we　were　in　the　flight　deck；　and　you　said　you　wanted　to　make　out　your　will　because　something　was　missing？〃
＇＇109＇＇　〃Oh；　that；〃　Harry　said。　〃Forget　it。　That's　irrelevant　now