第27部分(第7/7 頁)

's　approaching　us　in　the　simple　way　that　we　might　approach　a　dog。　You　know；　hold　out　your　hand；　let　it　sniff；　get　used　to　you。〃

〃You're　saying　he's　treating　us　like　dogs？〃　Barnes　said。

Norman　thought：　Barnes　is　in　over　his　head。　He's　irritable　because　he's　frightened；　he　feels　inadequate。　Or　perhaps　he　feels　he's　exceeding　his　authority。

〃No；　Hal；〃　Ted　said。　〃He's　just　starting　at　a　simple　level。〃

〃Well；　it's　simple；　all　right；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Jesus　Christ；　we　contact　an　alien　from　outer　space；　and　he　says　his　name　is　Jerry。〃

〃Let's　not　jump　to　conclusions；　Hal。〃

〃Maybe　he　has　a　last　name；〃　Barnes　said　hopefully。　〃I　mean；　my　report　to　CincPac　is　going　to　say　one　person　died　on　a　deepsat　expedition　to　meet　an　alien　named　Jerry？　It　could　sound　better。　Anything　but　Jerry；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Can　we　ask　him？〃

＇＇184＇＇　〃Ask　him　what？〃　Harry　said。

〃His　full　name。〃

Ted　said；　〃I　personally　feel　we　should　have　much　more　substantive　conversations…〃

〃…I'd　like　the　fu