Sphere (深海圆疑) 原版小说-第2章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ts；　then　MSS；　Mission　Support　and　Supply；　and　OSRV's　in　the　center。〃
〃OSRV's？〃
〃Oceanographic　Survey　and　Research　Vessels。〃　The　pilot　pointed　to　the　white　ships。　〃John　Hawes　to　port；　and　William　Arthur　to　starboard。　We'll　put　down　on　the　Hawes。〃　The　pilot　circled　the　formation　of　ships。　Norman　could　see　launches　running　back　and　forth　between　the　ships；　leaving　small　white　wakes　against　the　deep　blue　of　the　water。
〃All　this　for　an　airplane　crash？〃　Norman　said。
〃Hey；〃　the　pilot　grinned。　〃I　never　mentioned　a　crash。　Check　your　seat　belt　if　you　would；　sir。　We're　about　to　land。〃

BARNES

The　red　bull's…eye　grew　larger；　and　slid　beneath　them　as　the　helicopter　touched　down。　Norman　fumbled　with　his　seat　belt　buckle　as　a　uniformed　Navy　man　ran　up　and　opened　the　door。
〃Dr。　Johnson？　Norman　Johnson？〃　
〃That's　right。〃
〃Have　any　baggage；　sir？〃
〃Just　this。〃　Norman　reached　back；　pulled　out　his　day　case。　The　officer　took　it。
〃Any　scientific　instruments；　anything　like　that？〃　
〃No。　That's　it。〃
〃This　way；　sir。　Keep　your　head　down；　follow　me；　and　don't　go　aft；　sir。〃
＇＇7＇＇　Norman　stepped　out；　ducking　beneath　the　blades。　He　followed　the　officer　off　the　helipad　and　down　a　narrow　stairs。　The　metal　handrail　was　hot　to　the　touch。　Behind　him；　the　helicopter　lifted　off；　the　pilot　giving　him　a　final　wave。　Once　the　helicopter　had　gone；　the　Pacific　air　felt　still　and　brutally　hot。
〃Good　trip；　sir？〃
〃Fine。〃
〃Need　to　go；　sir？〃
〃I've　just　arrived；〃　Norman　said。
〃No；　I　mean：　do　you　need　to　use　the　head；　sir。〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said。
〃Good。　Don't　use　the　heads；　they're　all　backed　up。〃
〃All　right。〃
〃Plumbing's　been　screwed　up　since　last　night。　We're　working　on　the　problem　and　hope　to　have　it　solved　soon。〃　He　peered　at　Norman。　〃We　have　a　lot　of　women　on　board　at　the　moment；　sir。〃
〃I　see；〃　Norman　said。
〃There's　a　chemical　john　if　you　need　it；　sir。〃
〃I'm　okay；　thanks。〃
〃In　that　case；　Captain　Barnes　wants　to　see　you　at　once；　sir。〃
〃I'd　like　to　call　my　family。〃
〃You　can　mention　that　to　Captain　Barnes；　sir。〃
They　ducked　through　a　door；　moving　out　of　the　hot　sun　into　a　fluorescent…lit　hallway。　It　was　much　cooler。　〃Air　conditioning　hasn't　gone　out　lately；〃　the　officer　said。　〃At　least　that's　something。〃
〃Does　the　air　conditioning　go　out　often？〃
〃Only　when　it's　hot。〃
Through　another　door；　and　into　a　large　workroom：　metal　walls；　racks　of　tools；　acetylene　torches　spraying　sparks　as　workmen　hunched　over　metal　pontoons　and　pieces　of　intricate　machinery；　cables　snaking　over　the　floor。　〃We　do　ROV　repairs　here；〃　the　officer　said；　shouting　over　the　din。　〃Most　of　the　heavy　work　is　done　on　the　tenders。　We　just　do　some　of　the　electronics　here。　We　go　this　way；　sir。〃
Through　another　door；　down　another　corridor；　and　into　a　wide；　low…ceilinged　room　crammed　with　video　monitors。　A　＇＇8＇＇　half…dozen　technicians　sat　in　shadowy　half…darkness　before　the　color　screens。　Norman　paused　to　look。
〃This　is　where　we　monitor　the　ROV's；〃　the　officer　said。　〃We've　got　three　or　four　robots　down　on　the　bottom　at　any　given　time。　Plus　the　MSB's　and　the　FD's；　of　course。〃
Norman　heard　the　crackle　and　hiss　of　radio　munications；　soft　fragments　of　words　he　couldn't　make　out。　On　one　screen　he　saw　a　diver　walking　on　the　bottom。　The　diver　was　standing　in　harsh　artificial　light；　wearing　a　kind　of　suit　Norman　had　never　seen；　heavy　blue　cloth　and　a　brightyellow　helmet　sculpted　in　an　odd　shape。
Norman　pointed　to　the　screen。　〃How　deep　is　he？〃
〃I　don't　know。　Thousand；　twelve　hundred　feet；　something　like　that。〃
〃And　what　have　they　found？〃
〃So　far；　just　the　big　titanium　fin。〃　The　officer　glanced　around。　〃It　doesn't　read　on　any　monitors　now。　Bill；　can　you　show　Dr。　Johnson　here　the　fin？〃
〃Sorry；　sir；〃　the　technician　said。　〃Present　MainOps　is　working　north　of　there；　in　quadrant　seven。〃
〃Ah。　Quad　seven's　almost　half　a　mile　away　from　the　fin；〃　the　officer　said　to　Norman。　〃Too　bad：　it's　a　hell　of　a　thing　to　see。　But　you'll　see　it　later；　I'm　sure。　This　way　to　Captain　Barnes。〃
They　walked　for　a　moment　down　the　corridor；　then　the　officer　said；　〃Do　you　know　the　Captain；　sir？〃
〃No；　why？〃
〃Just　wondered。　He's　been　very　eager　to　see　you。　Calling　up　the　　techs　every　hour；　to　find　out　when　you're　arriving。〃
〃No；〃　Norman　said；　〃I've　never　met　him。〃
〃Very　nice　man。〃
〃I'　m　sure。〃
The　officer　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　〃You　know；　they　have　a　saying　about　the　Captain；〃　he　said。
〃Oh？　What's　that？〃
〃They　say　his　bite　is　worse　than　his　bark。〃

*　*　*
＇＇9＇＇　Through　another　door；　which　was　marked　〃Project　mander〃　and　had　beneath　that　a　sliding　plate　that　said　〃Capt。　Harold　C。　Barnes；　USN。〃　The　officer　stepped　aside；　and　Norman　entered　a　paneled　stateroom。　A　burly　man　in　shirtsleeves　stood　up　from　behind　a　stack　of　files。
Captain　Barnes　was　one　of　those　trim　military　men　who　made　Norman　feel　fat　and　inadequate。　In　his　middle　forties；　Hal　Barnes　had　erect　military　bearing；　an　alert　expression；　short　hair；　a　flat　gut；　and　a　politician's　firm　handshake。
〃Wele　aboard　the　Hawes；　Dr。　Johnson。　How're　you　feeling？〃
〃Tired；〃　Norman　said。
〃I'm　sure；　I'm　sure。　You　came　from　San　Diego？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃So　it's　fifteen　hours；　give　or　take。　Like　to　have　a　rest？〃
〃I'd　like　to　know　what's　going　on；〃　Norman　said。
〃Perfectly　understandable。〃　Barnes　nodded。　〃What'd　they　tell　you？〃
〃Who？〃
〃The　men　who　picked　you　up　in　San　Diego；　the　men　who　flew　you　out　here；　the　men　in　Guam。　Whatever。〃
〃They　didn't　tell　me　anything。〃
〃And　did　you　see　any　reporters；　any　press？〃
〃No；　nothing　like　that。〃
Barnes　smiled。　〃Good。　I'm　glad　to　hear　it。〃　He　waved　Norman　to　a　seat。　Norman　sat　gratefully。　〃How　about　some　coffee？〃　Barnes　said；　moving　to　a　coffee　maker　behind　his　desk；　and　then　the　lights　went　out。　The　room　was　dark　except　for　the　light　that　streamed　in　from　a　side　porthole。
〃God　damn　it！〃　Barnes　said。　〃Not　again。　Emerson！　Emerson！〃
An　ensign　came　in　a　side　door。　〃Sir！　Working　on　it；　Captain。〃
〃What　was　it　this　time？〃
〃Blew　out　in　ROV　Bay　2；　sir。〃
〃I　thought　we　added　extra　lines　to　Bay　2。〃
〃Apparently　they　overloaded　anyway；　sir。〃
〃I　want　this　fixed　now；　Emerson！〃
〃We　hope　to　have　it　solved　soon；　sir。〃
＇＇10＇＇　The　door　closed；　Barnes　sat　back　in　his　chair。　Norman　heard　the　voice　in　the　darkness。　〃It's　not　really　their　fault；〃　he　said。　〃These　ships　weren't　built　for　the　kind　of　power　loads　we　put　on　them　now；　and…ah；　there　we　are。〃　The　lights　came　back　on。　Barnes　smiled。　〃Did　you　say　you　wanted　coffee；　Dr。　Johnson？〃
〃Black　is　fine；〃　Norman　said。
Barnes　poured　him　a　mug。　〃Anyway；　I'm　relieved　you　didn't　talk　to　anybody。　In　my　job；　Dr。　Johnson；　security　is　the　biggest　worry。　Especially　on　a　thing　like　this。　If　word　gets　out　about　this　site；　we'll　have　all　kinds　of　problems。　And　so　many　people　are　involved　now。　。。。　Hell；　CincPac　didn't　even　want　to　give　me　destroyers　until　I　started　talking　about　Soviet　submarine　reconnaissance。　The　next　thing；　I　get　four；　then　eight　destroyers。〃
〃Soviet　submarine　reconnaissance？〃　Norman　asked。　〃That's　what　I　told　them　in　Honolulu。〃　Barnes　grinned。　〃Part　of　the　game；　to　get　what　you　need　for　an　operation　like　this。　You've　got　to　know　how　to　requisition　equipment　in　the　modern　Navy。　But　of　course　the　Soviets　won't　e　around。〃
〃They　won't？〃　Norman　felt　he　had　somehow　missed　the　assumptions　that　lay　behind　the　conversation；　and　was　trying　to　catch　up。
〃It's　very　unlikely。　Oh；　they　know　we're　here。　They'll　have　spotted　us　with　their　satellites　at　least　two　days　ago；　but　we're　putting　out　a　steady　stream　of　decodable　messages　about　our　Search　and　Rescue　exercises　in　the　South　Pacific。　S　and　R　drill　represents　a　low　priority　for　them；　even　though　they　undoubtedly　figure　a　plane　went　down　and　we're　recovering　for　real。　They　may　even　suspect　that　we're　trying　to　recover　nuclear　warheads；　like　we　did　off　of　Spain　in　'68。　But　they'll　leave　us　alone…because　politically　they　don't　want　to　be　implicated　in　our　nuclear　problems。　They　know　we　have　troubles　with　New　Zealand　these　days。〃
〃Is　that　what　all　this　is？〃　Norman　said。　〃Nuclear　warheads？〃
〃No；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Thank　God。　Anything　nuclear；　somebody　in　the　White　House　always　feels　duty…bound　to　announce　it。　But　we've　kept　this　one　away　from　the　White　＇＇11＇＇　House　staff。　In　fact；　we　bypass　the　JCS　on　this。　All　briefings　go　straight　from　the　Defense　Secretary　to　the　President；　personally。〃　He　rapped　his　knuckles　on　the　desk。　〃So　far；　so　good。　And　you're　the　last　to　arrive。　Now　that　you're　here；　we'll　shut　this　thing　down　tight。　Nothing　in；　nothing　out。〃
Norman　still　couldn't　put　it　together。　〃If　nuclear　warheads　aren't　involved　in　the　crash；〃　he　said；　〃why　the　secrecy？〃
〃Well；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　don't　have　all　the　facts　yet。〃
〃The　crash　occurred　in　the　ocean？〃
〃Yes。　More　or　less　directly　beneath　us　as　we　sit　here。〃
〃Then　there　can't　be　any　survivors。〃
〃Survivors？〃　Barnes　looked　surprised。　〃No；　I　wouldn't　think　so。〃
〃Then　why　was　I　called　here？〃
Barnes　looked　blank。
〃Well；〃　Norman　explained；　〃I'm　usually　called　to　crash　sites　when　there　are　survivors。　That's　why　they　put　a　psychologist　on　the　team；　to　deal　with　the　acute　traumatic　problems　of　surviving　passengers；　or　sometimes　the　relatives　of　surviving　passengers。　Their　feelings；　and　their　fears；　and　their　recurring　nightmares。　People　who　survive　a　crash　often　experience　all　sorts　of　guilt　and　anxiety；　c