第18部分(第1/7 頁)

〃That's　right。〃

〃Well；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Let's　consider　worst　cases。　＇＇113＇＇　What's　the　worst　case　for　what　we　might　find？〃

Beth　said；　〃I　think　that's　clear。　Irrespective　of　whether　it's　a　multidimensional　creature　or　a　virus　or　whatever；　irrespective　of　whether　it　shares　our　morals　or　has　no　morals　at　all；　the　worst　case　is　that　it　hits　us　below　the　belt。〃

〃Meaning？〃

〃Meaning　that　it　behaves　in　a　way　that　interferes　with　our　basic　life　mechanisms。　A　good　example　is　the　AIDS　virus。　The　reason　why　AIDS　is　so　dangerous　is　not　that　it's　new。　We　get　new　viruses　every　year…every　week。　And　all　viruses　work　in　the　same　way：　they　attack　cells　and　convert　the　machinery　of　the　cells　to　make　more　viruses。　What　makes　the　AIDS　virus　dangerous　is；　it　attacks　the　specific　cells　that　we　use　to　defend　against　viruses。　AIDS　interferes　with　our　basic　defense　mechanism。　And　we　have　no　defense　against　it。〃

〃Well；〃　Barnes　said；　〃if　this　sphere　contains　a　creature　that　interferes　with　our　basic　mechanisms…what　would　that　creature　be　like？〃

〃It　could　breathe　in　air　and　exhale　cyanide　gas；〃　Beth　said。　〃It　could　excrete　radioactive　waste；〃　Harry　said。

〃It　could　disrupt　our　brain　waves；〃　Norman　said。　〃Interfere　with　our　ability　to　think。〃

〃Or；〃　Beth　said；　〃it　might　merely　disrupt　cardiac　conduction。　Stop　our　hearts　from　beating。〃

〃It　might　produce　a　sound　vibration　that　would　resonate　in　our　skeletal　system　and　shatter　our　bones；〃　Harry　said。　He　smiled　at　the　others。　〃I　rather　like　that　one。〃

〃Clever；〃　Beth　said。　〃But；　as　usual；　we're　only　thinking　of　ourselves。　The　creature　might　do　nothing　directly　harmful　to　us　at　all。〃

〃Ah；〃　Barnes　said。

〃It　might　simply　exhale　a　toxin　that　kills　chloroplasts；　so　that　plants