第40部分(第4/7 頁)

ed　lots　of　ideas　of　what　the　sphere　from　another　civilization　might　be。　Ted　thought　it　was　a　trophy　or　a　message…he　saw　it　as　a　present。　Harry　thought　it　had　something　inside…he　saw　it　as　a　container。　But　I　wonder　if　it　might　be　a　mine。〃

〃You　mean；　an　explosive？〃

〃Not　exactly…but　a　defense；　or　a　test。　An　alien　civilization　could　strew　these　things　around　the　galaxy；　and　any　intelligence　that　picks　them　up　would　get　to　experience　the　power　of　the　sphere。　Which　is　that　whatever　you　think　es　true。　If　you　think　positive　thoughts；　you　get　delicious　shrimp　for　dinner。　If　you　think　negative　thoughts；　you　get　monsters　trying　to　kill　you。　Same　process；　just　a　matter　of　content。〃

〃So；　the　same　way　a　land　mine　blows　up　if　you　step　on　it；　this　sphere　destroys　people　if　they　have　negative　thoughts？〃

〃Or；〃　he　said；　〃if　they　simply　aren't　in　control　of　their　consciousness。　Because；　if　you're　in　control　of　your　consciousness；　the　sphere　would　have　no　particular　effect。　If　you're　not　in　control；　it　gets　rid　of　you。〃

〃How　can　you　control　a　negative　thought？〃　Beth　said。　She　seemed　suddenly　very　agitated。　〃How　can　you　say　to　someone；　'Don't　think　of　a　giant　squid'？　The　minute　you　say　that；　＇＇272＇＇　they　automatically　think　of　the　squid　in　the　course　of　trying　not　to　think　of　it。〃

〃It's　possible　to　control　your　thoughts；〃　Norman　said。　〃Maybe　for　a　yogi　or　something。〃

〃For　anybody；〃　Norman　said。　〃It's　possible　to　deflect　your　attention　from　undesirable　thoughts。　How　do　people　quit　smoking？　How　do　any　of　us　ever　change　our　minds　about　anything？　By　controlling　our　thoughts。〃

〃I　still　don't　see　why　Harry　is　doing　this。〃

〃Remember　your　idea　that　the　sphere　might　strike　us　below　the　belt？〃　Norman　said。　〃The　way　the　AIDS　virus　strikes　o