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ould　be　almost　as　thick　as　a　liquid。　Heliox　is　lighter；　but　it's　far　denser　than　what　we're　used　to。　You　don't　realize　it；　but　it's　tiring　just　to　breathe；　to　move　your　lungs。〃
〃But　you　aren't　tired。〃
〃Oh；　I'm　used　to　it。　I've　been　in　saturated　environments　before。〃
〃Is　that　right？　Where？〃
〃I　really　can't　say；　Dr。　Johnson。〃
〃Navy　operations？〃
She　smiled。　〃I'm　not　supposed　to　talk　about　it。〃
〃Is　that　your　inscrutable　smile？〃
〃I　hope　so；　sir。　But　don't　you　think　you　ought　to　try　and　sleep？〃
He　nodded。　〃Probably。〃
Norman　considered　going　to　sleep；　but　the　prospect　of　his　damp　bunk　was　unappealing。　Instead　he　went　down　to　the　galley；　hoping　to　find　one　of　Rose　Levy's　desserts。　Levy　was　＇＇116＇＇　not　there；　but　there　was　some　coconut　cake　under　a　plastic　dome。　He　found　a　plate；　cut　a　slice；　and　took　it　over　to　one　of　the　portholes。　But　it　was　black　outside　the　porthole；　the　grid　lights　were　turned　off；　the　divers　gone。　He　saw　lights　in　the　portholes　of　DH…7；　the　divers'　habitat；　located　a　few　dozen　yards　away。　The　divers　must　be　getting　ready　to　go　back　to　the　surface。　Or　perhaps　they　had　already　gone。
In　the　porthole；　he　saw　his　own　face　reflected。　The　face　looked　tired；　and　old。　〃This　is　no　place　for　a　fifty…three…year…old　man；〃　he　said；　watching　his　reflection。
As　he　looked　out；　he　saw　some　moving　lights　in　the　distance；　then　a　flash　of　yellow。　One　of　the　minisubs　pulled　up　under　a　cylinder　at　DH…7。　Moments　later；　a　second　sub　arrived；　to　dock　alongside　it。　The　lights　on　the　first　sub　went　out。　After　a　short　time；　the　second　sub　pulled　away；　into　the　black　water。　The　first　sub　was　left　behind。
What's　going　on；　he　wondered；　but　he　was　aware　he　didn't　really　care。　He　was　too　tired。　He　was　more　interested　in　what　the　cake　would　taste　like；　and　looked　down。　The　cake　was　eaten。　Only　a　few　crumbs　remained。
Tired；　he　thought。　Very　tired。　He　put　his　feet　up　on　the　coffee　table　and　put　his　head　back　against　the　cool　padding　of　the　wall。
He　must　have　fallen　asleep　for　a　while；　because　he　awoke　disoriented；　in　darkness。　He　sat　up　and　immediately　the　lights　came　on。　He　saw　he　was　still　in　the　galley。
Barnes　had　warned　him　about　that；　the　way　the　habitat　adjusted　to　the　presence　of　people。　Apparently　the　motion　sensors　stopped　registering　you　if　you　fell　asleep；　and　automatically　shut　off　the　room　lights。　Then　when　you　awoke；　and　moved；　the　lights　came　back。　He　wondered　if　the　lights　would　stay　on　if　you　snored。　Who　had　designed　all　this？　he　wondered。　Had　the　engineers　and　designers　working　on　the　Navy　habitat　taken　snoring　into　account？　Was　there　a　snore　sensor？　More　cake。
He　got　up　and　walked　across　to　the　galley　kitchen。　Several　pieces　of　cake　were　now　missing。　Had　he　eaten　them？　He　wasn't　sure；　couldn't　remember。
〃Lot　of　videotapes；〃　Beth　said。　Norman　turned　around。
＇＇117＇＇　〃Yes；〃　Tina　said。　〃We　are　recording　everything　that　goes　on　in　this　habitat　as　well　as　the　other　ship。　It'll　be　a　lot　of　material。〃
There　was　a　monitor　mounted　just　above　his　head。　It　showed　Beth　and　Tina；　upstairs　at　the　munications　console。　They　were　eating　cake。
Aha；　he　thought。　So　that　was　where　the　cake　had　gone。　〃Every　twelve　hours　the　tapes　are　transferred　to　the　submarine；〃　Tina　said。
〃What　for？〃　Beth　said。
〃That's　so；　if　anything　happens　down　here；　the　submarine　will　automatically　go　to　the　surface。〃
〃Oh；　great；〃　Beth　said。　〃I　won't　think　about　that　too　much。　Where　is　Dr。　Fielding　now？〃
Tina　said；　〃He　gave　up　on　the　sphere；　and　went　into　the　main　flight　deck　with　Edmunds。〃
Norman　watched　the　monitor。　Tina　had　stepped　out　of　view。　Beth　sat　with　her　back　to　the　monitor；　eating　the　cake。　On　the　monitor　behind　Beth；　he　could　clearly　see　the　gleaming　sphere。　Monitors　showing　monitors；　he　thought。　The　Navy　people　who　eventually　review　this　stuff　are　going　to　go　crazy。　Tina　said；　〃Do　you　think　they'll　ever　get　the　sphere　open？〃　Beth　chewed　her　cake。　〃Maybe；〃　she　said。　〃I　don't　know。〃　And　to　Norman's　horror；　he　saw　on　the　monitor　behind　Beth　that　the　door　of　the　sphere　was　sliding　silently　open；　revealing　blackness　inside。

OPEN

They　must　have　thought　he　was　crazy；　running　through　the　lock　to　D　Cylinder　and　stumbling　up　the　narrow　stairs　to　the　upper　level；　shouting；　〃It's　open！　It's　open！〃
He　came　to　the　munications　console　just　as　Beth　was　＇＇118＇＇　wiping　the　last　crumbs　of　coconut　from　her　lips。　She　set　down　her　fork。
〃What's　open？〃
〃The　sphere！〃
Beth　spun　in　her　chair。　Tina　ran　over　from　the　bank　of　VCR's。　They　both　looked　at　the　monitor　behind　Beth。　There　was　an　awkward　silence。
〃Looks　closed　to　me；　Norman。〃
〃It　was　open。　I　saw　it。〃　He　told　them　about　watching　in　the　galley；　on　the　monitor。　〃It　was　just　a　few　seconds　ago；　and　the　sphere　definitely　opened。　It　must　have　closed　again　while　I　was　on　my　way　here。〃
〃Are　you　sure？〃
〃That's　a　pretty　small　monitor　in　the　galley。　。。。〃
〃I　saw　it；〃　Norman　said。　〃Replay　it；　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃
〃Good　idea；〃　Tina　said；　and　she　went　to　the　recorders　to　play　the　tape　back。
Norman　was　breathing　heavily；　trying　to　catch　his　breath。　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　exerted　himself　in　the　dense　atmosphere；　and　he　felt　the　effects　strongly。　DH…8　was　not　a　good　place　to　get　excited；　he　decided。
Beth　was　watching　him。　〃You　okay；　Norman？〃
〃I'm　fine。　I　tell　you；　I　saw　it。　It　opened。　Tina？〃
〃It'll　take　me　a　second　here。〃
Harry　walked　in；　yawning。　〃Beds　in　this　place　are　great；　aren't　they？〃　he　said。　〃Like　sleeping　in　a　bag　of　wet　rice。　Sort　of　bination　bed　and　cold　shower。〃　He　sighed。　〃It'll　break　my　heart　to　leave。〃
Beth　said；　〃Norman　thinks　the　sphere　opened。〃
〃When？〃　he　said；　yawning　again。
〃Just　a　few　seconds　ago。〃
Harry　nodded　thoughtfully。　〃Interesting；　interesting。　I　see　it's　closed　now。〃
〃We're　rewinding　the　videotapes；　to　look　again。〃
〃Uh…huh。　Is　there　any　more　of　that　cake？〃
Harry　seems　very　cool；　Norman　thought。　This　is　a　major　piece　of　news　and　he　doesn't　seem　excited　at　all。　Why　was　＇＇119＇＇　that？　Didn't　Harry　believe　it；　either？　Was　he　still　sleepy；　not　fully　awake？　Or　was　there　something　else？
〃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；〃　Beth　said。　〃Slimy；　cold；　disgusting　things。〃
〃Ah；　Beth；〃　Harry　said；　watching　the　monitor。　〃Got　snake　envy？〃
Onscreen；　Beth　was　saying；　〃If　I　were　a　Martian　who　came　to　Earth　and　I　stumbled　upon　a　snake…a　funny；　cold；　wiggling；　tube…like　life…I　wouldn't　know　what　to　think　of　it。　But　the　chance　that　I　would　stumble　on　a　poisonous　snake　is　very　small。　Less　than　one　percent　of　snakes　are　poisonous。　So；　as　a　Martian；　I　wouldn't　be　in　danger　from　my　discovery　of　snakes；　I'd　just　be　perplexed。　That's　what's　likely　to　happen　with　us。　We'll　be　perplexed。〃
Onscreen；　Beth　was　saying；　〃Anyway；　I　don't　think　we'll　ever　get　the　sphere　open；　no。〃
Tina：　〃I　hope　not。〃
Behind　her　on　the　monitor；　the　sphere　closed。
〃Huh！〃　Harry　said。　〃How　long　was　it　open　all　together？〃　〃Thirty…three　point　four　seconds；〃　Tina　said。
They　stopped　the　tape。　Tina　said；　〃Anybody　want　to　see　it　again？〃　She　looked　pale。
〃Not　right　now；〃　Harry　said。　He　drummed　his　fingers　on　the　arm　of　his　chair；　stared　off；　thinking。
No　one　else　said　anything；　they　just　waited　patiently　for　Harry。　Norman　realized　how　much　the　group　deferred　to　him。　Harry　is　the　person　who　figures　things　out　for　us；　Norman　thought。　We　need　him；　rely　on　him。
〃Okay；〃　Harry　said　at　last。　〃No　conclusions　are　possible。　We　have　insufficient　data。　The　question　is　whether　the　sphere　was　responding　to　something　in　its　immediate　environment；　or　whether　it　just　opened；　for　reasons　of　its　own。　Where's　Ted？〃
〃Ted　left　the　sphere　and　went　to　the　flight　deck。〃
〃Ted's　back；〃　Ted　said；　grinning　broadly。　〃And　I　have　some　real　news。〃
〃So　do　we；〃　Beth　said。　
〃It　can　wait；〃　Ted　said。
〃But…〃
〃…I　know　where　this　ship　went；〃　Ted　said　excitedly。　〃I've　been　analyzing　the　flight　data　summaries　on　the　flight　deck；　＇＇121＇＇　looking　at　the　star　fields；　and　I　know　where　the　black　hole　is　located。〃
〃Ted；〃　Beth　said；　〃the　sphere　opened。〃
〃It　did？　When？〃
〃A　few　minutes　ago。　Then　it　closed　again。〃
〃What　did　the　monitors　show？〃
〃No　biological　hazard。　It　seems　to　be　safe。〃
Ted　looked　at　the　screen。　〃Then　what　the　hell　are　we　doing　here？〃
Barnes　came　in。　〃Two…hour　rest　period　is　over。　Everybody　ready　to　go　back　to　the　ship　for　a　last　look？〃
〃That's　putting　it　mildly；〃　Harry　said。


The　sphere　was　polished；　silent；　closed。　They　stood　around　it　and　stared　at　themselves；　distorted　in　reflection。　Nobody　spoke。　They　just　walked　around　it。
Finally　Ted　said；　〃I　feel　like　this　is　an　IQ　test；　and　I'm　flunking。〃
〃You　mean　like　the　Davies　Message？〃　Harry　said。
〃Oh　that；〃　Ted　said。
Norman　knew　about　the　Davies　Message。　It　was　one　of　the　episodes　that　the　SETI　promoters　wished　to　forget。　In　1979；　there　had　been　a　large　meeting　in　Rome　of　the　scientists　involved　in　the　Search　for　Extraterrestrial　Intelligence。　Basically；　SETI　called　for　a　radio　astronomy　search　of　the　heavens。　Now　the　scientists　were　trying　to　decide　what　sort　of　message　to　search　for。
Emerson　Davies；　a　physicist　from　Cambridge；　England；　devised　a　message　based　on　fixed　physical　constants；　such　as　the　wavelength　of　emitted　hydrogen；　which　were　presumably　the　same　throughout　the　universe。　He　arranged　these　constants　in　a　binary　pictorial　form。
Because　Davies　thought　this　would　be　exactly　the　kind　of　message　an　alien　intelligence　might　send；　he　figured　it　would　be　easy　for　the　SETI　people　to　figure　out。　He　distributed　his　picture　to　everybody　at　the　conference。
Nobody　could　figure　it　out。
When　Davies　explained　it；　they　all　agreed　it　was　a　clever　＇＇122＇＇　idea；　and　a　perfect　message　for　extraterrestrials　to　send。　But　the　fact　remained　that　none　of　them　had　been　able　to　figure　out　this　perfect　message。
One　of　the　people　who　had　tried　to　figure　it　out；　and　had　failed；　was　Ted。
〃Well；　we　didn't　try　very　hard；〃　Ted　said。　〃There　was　a　lot　going　on　at　the　conference。　And　we　didn't　have　you　there；　Harry。〃
〃You　just　wanted　a　free　trip　to　Rome；〃　Harry　said。
Beth　said；　〃Is　it　my　imagination；　or　have　the　door　markingschanged？〃
Norman　looked。　At　first　glance；　the　deep　grooves　appeared　the　same；　but　perhaps　the　pattern　was　different。　If　so；　the　change　was　subtle。
〃We　can　pare　it　with　old　videotapes；〃　Barnes　said。　〃It　looks　the　same　to　me；〃　Ted　said。　〃Anyway；　it's　metal。　I　doubt　it　could　change。〃
〃What　we　call　metal　is　just　a　liquid　that　flows　slowly　at　room　temperature；〃　Harry　said。　〃It's　possible　that　this　metal　is　changing。〃
〃I　doubt　it；〃　Ted　said。
Barnes　said；　〃You　guys　are　supposed　to　be　the　experts。　We　know　this　thing　can　open。　It's　been　open　already。　How　do　we　get　it　open　again？〃
〃We're　trying；　Hal。〃
〃It　doesn't　look　like　you're　doing　anything。〃
From　time　to　time；　they　glanced　at　Harry；　but　Harry　just