第9部分(第1/7 頁)

ncredibly　destructive　to　the　human　body　if　exposed　to　too　much　of　it。　Oxygen　under　pressure　is　toxic…with　a　vengeance。　So　we　cut　down　the　amount　of　oxygen　you　breathe。　You　breathe　twenty…one　percent　oxygen　at　the　surface。　Down　here；　you　breathe　two　percent　oxygen。　But　you　won't　notice　any　difference…〃

A　voice　over　a　loudspeaker　said；　〃We're　starting　to　pressurize　you　now。〃

〃Who's　that？〃　Norman　said。

〃Barnes；〃　the　voice　said。　But　it　didn't　sound　like　Barnes。　It　sounded　gritty　and　artificial。

〃It　must　be　the　talker；〃　Ted　said；　and　then　laughed。　His　＇＇54＇＇　voice　was　noticeably　higher…pitched。　〃It's　the　helium；　Norman。　They're　pressurizing　us　with　helium。〃

〃You　sound　like　Donald　Duck；〃　Norman　said；　and　he　laughed；　too。　His　own　voice　sounded　squeaky；　like　a　cartoon　character's。

〃Speak　for　yourself；　Mickey；〃　Ted　squeaked。

〃I　taut　I　taw　a　puddy　tat；〃　Norman　said。　They　were　both　laughing；　hearing　their　voices。

〃Knock　it　off；　you　guys；〃　Barnes　said　over　the　inter。　〃This　is　serious。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　Captain；〃　Ted　said；　but　by　now　his　voice　was　so　high…pitched　it　was　almost　unintelligible；　and　they　fell　into　laughter　again；　their　tinny　voices　like　those　of　schoolgirls　reverberating　inside　the　steel　cylinder。

Helium　made　their　voices　high　and　squeaky。　But　it　also　had　other　effects。

〃Getting　chilled；　boys？〃　Barnes　said。

They　were　indeed　getting　colder。　He　saw　Ted　shivering；　felt　goosebumps　on　his　own　legs。　It　felt　as　if　a　wind　were　blowing　across　their　bodies…except　there　wasn't　any　wind。　The　lightness　of　the　helium　increased　evaporation；　made　them　cold。

Across　the　cylinder；　Ted　said　something；　but　Norman　couldn't　understand　Ted　at　all　any　more；　his　voice　was　too　high…pitched　to　be　prehensible。