第49部分(第1/7 頁)

He　jumped　back　into　the　water。

0500　HOURS

The　sphere　gleamed　in　the　light。　Norman　saw　himself　reflected　in　its　perfectly　polished　surface；　then　saw　his　image　break　up；　fragmented　on　the　convolutions；　as　he　moved　around　to　the　back。

To　the　door。

It　looked　like　a　mouth；　he　thought。　Like　the　maw　of　some　primitive　creature；　about　to　eat　him。　Confronted　by　the　sphere；　seeing　once　again　the　alien；　unhuman　pattern　of　the　convolutions；　he　felt　his　intention　dissolve。　He　was　suddenly　afraid。　He　didn't　think　he　could　go　through　with　it。

Don't　be　silly；　he　told　himself。　Harry　did　it。　And　Beth　did　it。　They　survived。

He　examined　the　convolutions；　as　if　for　reassurance。　But　there　wasn't　any　reassurance　to　be　obtained。　Just　curved　grooves　in　the　metal；　reflecting　back　the　light。

Okay；　he　thought　finally。　I'll　do　it。　I've　e　this　far；　I've　survived　everything　so　far。　I　might　as　well　do　it。

Go　ahead　and　open　up。

But　the　sphere　did　not　open。　It　remained　exactly　as　it　was；　a　gleaming；　polished；　perfect　shape。

What　was　the　purpose　of　the　thing？　He　wished　he　understood　its　purpose。

He　thought　of　Dr。　Stein　again。　What　was　Stein's　favorite　＇＇330＇＇　line？　〃Understanding　is　a　delaying　tactic。〃　Stein　used　to　get　angry　about　that。　When　the　graduate　students　would　intellectualize；　going　on　and　on　about　patients　and　their　problems；　he　would　interrupt　in　annoyance；　〃Who　cares？　Who　cares　whether　we　understand　the　psychodynamics　in　this　case？　Do　you　want　to　understand　how　to　swim；　or　do　you　want　to　jump　in　and　start　swimming？　Only　people　who　are　afraid　of　the　water　want　to　understand　it。　Other　people　jump　in　and　get　wet。〃

Okay；　Norman　thought。　Let's　get　wet。

He　turned　to　face　the　sphere；　and　thought；　Open　up。