快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

〃I　doubt　if　he　is。　At　least；　not　consciously。〃　Norman　had　been　thinking　about　this。　〃Let's　assume；〃　he　said；　〃that　something　happened　to　Harry　when　he　went　inside　the　sphere…he　acquired　some　kind　of　power　while　in　the　sphere。〃
〃Like　what？〃
〃The　power　to　make　things　happen　just　by　thinking　of　them。　The　power　to　make　his　thoughts　real。〃
Beth　frowned。　〃Make　his　thoughts　real　。。。〃
〃It's　not　so　strange；〃　he　said。　〃Just　think：　if　you　were　a　sculptor；　first　you　would　get　an　idea；　and　then　you　would　carve　it　in　stone　or　wood；　to　make　it　real。　The　idea　es　first；　then　the　execution　follows；　with　some　added　effort　to　create　a　reality　that　reflects　your　prior　thoughts。　That's　the　way　the　world　works　for　us。　We　imagine　something；　and　then　we　try　to　make　it　happen。　Sometimes　the　way　we　make　it　happen　is　unconscious…like　the　guy　who　just　happens　to　go　home　unexpectedly　at　lunchtime　and　catches　his　wife　in　bed　with　another　man。　He　doesn't　consciously　plan　it。　It　just　sort　of　happens　by　itself。〃
〃Or　the　wife　who　catches　the　husband　in　bed　with　another　woman；〃　Beth　said。
〃Yes；　of　course。　The　point　is；　we　manage　to　make　things　happen　all　the　time　without　thinking　about　them　too　much。　I　don't　think　of　every　word　when　I　talk　to　you。　I　just　intend　to　say　something　and　it　es　out　okay。〃
〃Yes　。。。〃
〃So　we　can　make　plicated　creations　like　sentences　without　effort。　But　we　can't　make　other　plicated　＇＇271＇＇　creations　like　sculptures　without　effort。　We　believe　we　have　to　do　something　besides　simply　have　an　idea。〃
〃And　we　do；〃　Beth　said。
〃Well；　Harry　doesn't。　Harry's　gone　one　step　further。　He　doesn't　have　to　carve　the　statue　any　more。　He　just　gets　the　idea；　and　things　happen　by　themselves。　He　manifests　things。〃
〃Harry　imagines　a　frightening　squid；　and　suddenly　we　have　a　frightening　squid　outside　our　window？〃
〃Exactly。　And　when　he　loses　consciousness；　the　squid　disappears。〃
〃And　he　got　this　power　from　the　sphere？〃
〃Yes。〃
Beth　frowned。　〃Why　is　he　doing　this？　Is　he　trying　to　kill　us？〃
Norman　shook　his　head。　〃No。　I　think　he's　in　over　his　head。〃
〃How　do　you　mean？〃
〃Well；〃　Norman　said；　〃we've　considered　lots　of　ideas　of　what　the　sphere　from　another　civilization　might　be。　Ted　thought　it　was　a　trophy　or　a　message…he　saw　it　as　a　present。　Harry　thought　it　had　something　inside…he　saw　it　as　a　container。　But　I　wonder　if　it　might　be　a　mine。〃
〃You　mean；　an　explosive？〃
〃Not　exactly…but　a　defense；　or　a　test。　An　alien　civilization　could　strew　these　things　around　the　galaxy；　and　any　intelligence　that　picks　them　up　would　get　to　experience　the　power　of　the　sphere。　Which　is　that　whatever　you　think　es　true。　If　you　think　positive　thoughts；　you　get　delicious　shrimp　for　dinner。　If　you　think　negative　thoughts；　you　get　monsters　trying　to　kill　you。　Same　process；　just　a　matter　of　content。〃
〃So；　the　same　way　a　land　mine　blows　up　if　you　step　on　it；　this　sphere　destroys　people　if　they　have　negative　thoughts？〃
〃Or；〃　he　said；　〃if　they　simply　aren't　in　control　of　their　consciousness。　Because；　if　you're　in　control　of　your　consciousness；　the　sphere　would　have　no　particular　effect。　If　you're　not　in　control；　it　gets　rid　of　you。〃
〃How　can　you　control　a　negative　thought？〃　Beth　said。　She　seemed　suddenly　very　agitated。　〃How　can　you　say　to　someone；　'Don't　think　of　a　giant　squid'？　The　minute　you　say　that；　＇＇272＇＇　they　automatically　think　of　the　squid　in　the　course　of　trying　not　to　think　of　it。〃
〃It's　possible　to　control　your　thoughts；〃　Norman　said。　〃Maybe　for　a　yogi　or　something。〃
〃For　anybody；〃　Norman　said。　〃It's　possible　to　deflect　your　attention　from　undesirable　thoughts。　How　do　people　quit　smoking？　How　do　any　of　us　ever　change　our　minds　about　anything？　By　controlling　our　thoughts。〃
〃I　still　don't　see　why　Harry　is　doing　this。〃
〃Remember　your　idea　that　the　sphere　might　strike　us　below　the　belt？〃　Norman　said。　〃The　way　the　AIDS　virus　strikes　our　immune　system　below　the　belt？　AIDS　hits　us　at　a　level　we　aren't　prepared　to　deal　with。　So；　in　a　sense；　does　the　sphere。　Because　we　believe　that　we　can　think　whatever　we　want；　without　consequence。　'Sticks　and　stones　can　break　my　bones；　but　names　can　never　hurt　me。'　We　have　sayings　like　that；　which　emphasize　the　point。　But　now　suddenly　a　name　is　as　real　as　a　stick；　and　it　can　hurt　us　in　the　same　way。　Our　thoughts　get　manifested…what　a　wonderful　thing…except　that　all　our　thoughts　get　manifested；　the　good　ones　and　the　bad　ones。　And　we　simply　aren't　prepared　to　control　our　thoughts。　We've　never　had　to　do　it　before。〃
〃When　I　was　a　child；〃　Beth　said；　〃I　was　angry　with　my　mother；　and　when　she　got　cancer；　I　was　terribly　guilty。　。。。〃
〃Yes；〃　Norman　said。　〃Children　think　this　way。　Children　all　believe　that　their　thoughts　have　power。　But　we　patiently　teach　them　that　they're　wrong　to　think　that。　Of　course；〃　he　said；　〃there　has　always　been　another　tradition　of　belief　about　thoughts。　The　Bible　says　not　to　covet　your　neighbor's　wife；　which　we　interpret　to　mean　that　the　act　of　adultery　is　forbidden。　But　that's　not　really　what　the　Bible　is　saying。　The　Bible　is　saying　that　the　thought　of　adultery　is　as　forbidden　as　the　act　itself。〃
〃And　Harry？〃
〃Do　you　know　anything　about　Jungian　psychology？〃
Beth　said；　〃That　stuff　has　never　struck　me　as　relevant。〃
〃Well；　it's　relevant　now；〃　Norman　said。　He　explained。　〃Jung　broke　with　Freud　early　in　this　century；　and　developed　＇＇273＇＇　his　own　psychology。　Jung　suspected　there　was　an　underlying　structure　to　the　human　psyche　that　was　reflected　in　an　underlying　similarity　to　our　myths　and　archetypes。　One　of　his　ideas　was　that　everybody　had　a　dark　side　to　his　personality；　which　be　called　the　'shadow。'　The　shadow　contained　all　the　unacknowledged　personality　aspects…the　hateful　parts；　the　sadistic　parts；　all　that。　Jung　thought　people　had　the　obligation　to　bee　acquainted　with　their　shadow　side。　But　very　few　people　do。　We　all　prefer　to　think　we're　nice　guys　and　we　don't　ever　have　the　desire　to　kill　and　maim　and　rape　and　pillage。〃
〃Yes　。。。〃
〃As　Jung　saw　it；　if　you　didn't　acknowledge　your　shadow　side；　it　would　rule　you。〃
〃So　we're　seeing　Harry's　shadow　side？〃
〃In　a　sense；　yes。　Harry　needs　to　present　himself　as　Mr。　Arrogant　Know…It…All　Black　Man；〃　Norman　said。
〃He　certainly　does。〃
〃So；　if　he's　afraid　to　be　down　here　in　this　habitat…and　who　isn't？…then　he　can't　admit　his　fears。　But　he　has　the　fears　anyway；　whether　he　admits　them　or　not。　And　so　his　shadow　side　justifies　the　fears…creating　things　that　prove　his　fears　to　be　valid。〃
〃The　squid　exists　to　justify　his　fears？〃
〃Something　like　that；　yes。〃
〃I　don't　know；〃　Beth　said。　She　leaned　back　and　turned　her　head　up；　and　her　high　cheekbones　caught　the　light。　She　looked　almost　like　a　model；　elegant　and　handsome　and　strong。　〃I'm　a　zoologist；　Norman。　I　want　to　touch　things　and　hold　them　in　my　hands　and　see　that　they're　real。　All　these　theories　about　manifestations；　they　just　。。。　They're　so　。。。　psychological。〃
〃The　world　of　the　mind　is　just　as　real；　and　follows　rules　just　as　rigorous；　as　the　world　of　external　reality；〃　Norman　said。
〃Yes；　I'm　sure　you're　right；　but　。。。〃　She　shrugged。　〃It　isn't　very　satisfying　to　me。〃
〃You　know　everything　that　has　happened　since　we　got　down　here；〃　Norman　said。　〃Tell　me　another　hypothesis　that　explains　it　all。〃
＇＇274＇＇　〃I　can't；〃　she　admitted。　〃I've　been　trying；　all　the　time　you've　been　talking。　I　can't。〃　She　folded　the　paper　in　her　hands　and　considered　it　for　a　while。　〃You　know；　Norman；　I　think　you've　made　a　brilliant　series　of　deductions。　Absolutely　brilliant。　I'm　seeing　you　in　a　whole　different　light。〃
Norman　smiled　with　pleasure。　For　most　of　the　time　he　had　been　down　in　the　habitat；　he'd　felt　like　a　fifth　wheel；　an　unnecessary　person　in　this　group。　Now　someone　was　acknowledging　his　contribution；　and　he　was　pleased。　〃Thank　you；　Beth。〃
She　looked　at　him；　her　large　eyes　liquid　and　soft。　〃You're　a　very　attractive　man；　Norman。　I　don't　think　I　ever　really　noticed　before。〃　Absently；　she　touched　her　breast；　beneath　the　clinging　jumpsuit。　Her　hands　pressed　the　fabric；　outlining　the　hard　nipples。　She　suddenly　stood　and　hugged　him；　her　body　close　to　him。　〃We　have　to　stay　together　on　this；〃　she　said。　〃We　have　to　stay　close；　you　and　I〃
〃Yes；　we　do。〃
〃Because；　if　what　you　are　saying　is　true；　then　Harry　is　a　very　dangerous　man。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Just　the　fact　that　he　is　walking　around；　fully　conscious；　makes　him　dangerous。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃What　are　we　going　to　do　about　him？〃
〃Hey；　you　guys；〃　Harry　said；　ing　up　the　stairs。　〃Is　this　a　private　party？　Or　can　anybody　join　in？〃
〃Sure；〃　Norman　said；　〃e　on　up；　Harry；〃　and　he　moved　away　from　Beth。
〃Was　I　interrupting　something？〃　Harry　said。
〃No；　no。〃
〃I　don't　want　to　get　in　the　way　of　anybody's　sex　life。〃
〃Oh；　Harry；〃　Beth　said。　She　sat　at　the　lab　bench；　moving　away　from　Norman。
〃Well；　you　two　sure　look　all　charged　up　about　something。〃
〃Do　we？〃　Norman　said。
〃Yeah；　especially　Beth。　I　think　she　gets　more　beautiful　every　day　she's　down　here。〃
〃I've　noticed　that；　too；〃　Norman　said；　smiling。
＇＇275＇＇　〃I'll　bet　you　have。　A　woman　in　love。　Lucky　you。〃　Harry　turned　to　Beth。　〃Why　are　you　staring　at　me　like　that？〃
〃I'm　not　staring；〃　Beth　said。
〃You　are；　too。〃
〃Harry；　I'm　not　staring。〃
〃I　can　tell　when　someone　is　staring　at　me；　for　Christ's　sake。〃
Norman　said；　〃Harry…〃
〃…I　just　want　to　know　why　you　two　are　looking　at　me　like　that。　You're　looking　at　me　like　I'm　a　criminal　or　something。〃
〃Don't　get　paranoid；　Harry。〃
〃Huddling　up　here；　whispering　。。。〃
〃We　weren't　whispering。〃
〃You　were。〃　Harry　looked　around　the　room。　〃So　it's　two　white　people　and　one　black　person　now；　is　that　it？〃
〃Oh；　Harry　。。。〃
〃I'm　not　stupid；　you　know。　Something's　going　on　between　you。　I　can　tell。〃
〃Harry；〃　Norman　said；　〃nothing　is　going　on。〃
And　then　they　heard　a　low　insistent　beeping；　from　the　munications　console　downstairs。　They　exchanged　glances；　and　went　downstairs　to　look。


The　console　screen　was　slowly　printing　out　letter　groups。
CQX　VDX　MOP　IM
〃Is　that　Jerry？〃　Norman　asked。
〃I　don't　think　so；〃　Harry　said。　〃I　don't　think　he　would　go　back　to　code。〃
〃Is　it　a　code？〃
〃I　would　say　so；　definitely。〃
〃Why　is　it　so　slow？〃　Beth　said。　A　new　letter　was　added　every　few　seconds　in　a　steady；　rhythmic　way。
〃I　don't　know；〃　Harry　said。　〃Where　is　it　ing　from？〃
Harry　frowned。　〃I　don't　know；　but　the　transmission　speed　is　the　most　interesting　characteristic。　The　slowness。　Interesting。〃
＇＇276＇＇　Norman　and　Beth　waited　for　him　to　figure　it　out。　Norman　thought：　How　can　we　ever　get　along　without　Harry？　We　need　him。　He　is　both　the　most　important　intelligence　down　here；　and　the　most　dangerous。　But　we　need　him。
CQX　VDX　MOP　LKI　XXC　VRW　TGK　PIU　YQA
〃Interesting；〃　Harry　said。　〃The　letters　are　ing　about　every　five　seconds。　So　I　think　it's　safe　to　say　that　we　know　where　it's　ing　from。　Wisconsin。〃
Norman　could　not　have　been　more　surprised。　〃Wisconsin？〃
〃Yeah。　This　is　a　Navy　transmission。　It　may　or　may　not　be　directed　to　us；　but　it　is　ing　from　Wisconsin。〃
〃How　do　you　know　that？〃
〃Because　that's　the　only　place　in　the　world　it　could　be　ing　from；〃　Harry　said。　〃You　know　about　ELF？　No？　Well；　it's　like　this。　You　can　send　radio　waves　through　the　air；　and；　as　you　know；　they　travel　pretty　well。　But　you　can't　send　radio　far　through　water。　Water　is　a　bad　medium；　so　you　need　an　incredibly　powerful　signal　to　go　even　a　short　distance。〃
〃Yes　。。。〃
〃But　the　ability　to　penetrate　is　a　function　of　wavelength。　An　ordinary　radio　wave　is　short…shortwave　radio；　all　of　that。　The　length　of　the　waves　are　tiny；　thousands　or　millions　of　little　waves　to　an　inch。　But　you　can　also　make　ELF；　extremely　low…frequency　waves；　which　are　long…each　individual　wave　is　maybe　twenty　feet　long。　And　those　waves；　once　generated；　will　go　a　very　great　distance；　thousands　of　miles；　through　water；　no　problem。　The　only　trouble　is　that；　since　the　waves　are　long；　they're　also　slow。　That's　why　we're　getting　one　character　every　five　seconds。　The　Navy　needed　a　way　to　municate　with　their　submarines　underwater；　so　they　built　a　big　ELF　antenna　in　Wisconsin　to　send　these　long　waves。　And　that's　what　we're　getting。〃
〃And　the　code？〃
〃It　must　be　a　pression　code…three…letter　groupings　which　stand　for　a　long　section　of　predefined　message。　So　it　won't　take　so　long　to　send　a　message。　Because　if　you　sent　a　plain　text　message；　it　would　literally　take　hours。〃
CQX　VDX　MOP　LKI　XXC　VRW　TGK　PIU　YQA　IYT
＇＇277＇＇　EEQ　FVC　ZNB　TMK　EXE　MMN　OPW　GEW
Th