第23部分(第5/7 頁)

？0618082132？

？29033005？　？1822？　？04261013？　？0830162137？

？1604？　？08301621？　？1822？　？033013130432？

？00032125252632？　？0326294；　？301321？　？04261037？

？18？　？3016？　？0618082132？　？29033005？　？1822？

？04261013？　？0830162137？　？1604？　？08301621？

？1822？　？033013130432？　？00032125252632？

？032629？　？301321？　？04261037？　？18？　？3016？

＇＇150＇＇　〃Yes？〃　Norman　said。

〃Don't　tell　me　you　don't　see　the　pattern；〃

Ted　said。　〃I　don't　see　the　pattern；〃　Norman　said。

〃Squint　at　it；〃　Ted　said。

Norman　squinted。　〃Sorry。〃

〃But　it　is　obviously　a　picture　of　the　creature；〃　Ted　said。　〃Look；　that's　the　vertical　torso；　three　legs；　two　arms。　There's　no　head；　so　presumably　the　creature's　head　is　located　within　the　torso　itself。　Surely　you　see　that；　Norman。〃

〃Ted　。。。〃

〃For　once；　Harry　has　missed　the　point　entirely！　The　message　is　not　only　a　picture；　it's　a　self…portrait！〃

〃Ted　。。。〃

Ted　sat　back。　He　sighed。　〃You're　going　to　tell　me　I'm　trying　too　hard。〃

〃I　don't　want　to　dampen　your　enthusiasm；〃　Norman　said。

〃But　you　don't　see　the　alien？〃

〃Not　really；　no。〃

〃Hell。〃　Ted　tossed　the　papers　aside。　〃I　hate　that　son　of　a　bitch。　He's　so　arrogant；　he　makes　me　so　mad。　。。。　And　on　top　of　that；　he's　young！〃

〃You're　forty；〃　Norman　said。　〃I　wouldn't　exactly　call　that　over　the　hill。〃

〃For　physics；　it　is；〃　Ted　said。　〃Biologists　can　sometimes　do　important　work　late　in　life。　Darwin　was　fifty　when　he　published　the　Origin　of　Species。　And　chemists　sometimes　do　good　work　when　they're　older。　But　in　physics；　if　you　haven't　done　it　by　thirty…five；　the　chances　are；　you　never　will。〃

〃But　Ted；　you're　respected　in　your　field。〃

Ted　shook　his　head。　〃I've　never　done　fundamental　work。　I've