小说园

第14部分（第3页）

But　Norman　was　looking　at　Barnes。　Barnes　wasnt　upset。　He　wants　to　leave；　he　thought。　Hes　looking　for　an　excuse　to　leave；　and　were　providing　his　excuse。

〃Meantime；〃　Barnes　said；　〃we　can　make　one　and　perhaps　even　two　more　trips　to　the　ship。　Well　rest　for　the　next　two　hours；　and　then　go　back。　Thats　all　for　now。〃

＇＇91＇＇　〃I　have　more　Id　like　to　say…〃

〃Thats　all；　Ted。　The　votes　been　taken。　Get　some　rest。〃　As　they　headed　toward　their　bunks；　Barnes　said；　〃Beth；　Id　like　a　word　with　you；　please。〃

〃What　about？〃

〃Beth；　when　we　go　back　to　the　ship；　I　dont　want　you　pushing　every　button　you　e　across。〃

〃All　I　did　was　turn　on　the　lights；　Hal。〃

〃Yes；　but　you　didnt　know　that　when　you…〃

〃…Sure　I　did。　The　button　said　ROOM　LIGHTS。　It　was　pretty　clear。〃

As　they　moved　off；　they　heard　Beth　say；　〃Im　not　one　of　your　little　Navy　people　you　can　order　around；　Hal…〃　and　then　Barnes　said　something　else；　and　the　voices　faded。

〃Damn　it；〃　Ted　said。　He　kicked　one　of　the　iron　walls；　it　rang　hollowly。　They　passed　into　C　Cylinder；　on　their　way　to　the　bunks。　〃I　cant　believe　you　people　want　to　leave；〃　Ted　said。　〃This　is　such　an　exciting　discovery。　How　can　you　walk　away　from　it？　Especially　you；　Harry。　The　mathematical　possibilities　alone！　The　theory　of　the　black　hole…〃

〃…Ill　tell　you　why；〃　Harry　said。　〃I　want　to　go　because　Barnes　wants　to　go。〃

〃Barnes　doesnt　want　to　go；〃　Ted　said。　〃Why；　he　put　it　to　a　vote…〃

〃…I　know　what　he　did。　But　Barnes　doesnt　want　to　look　as　if　hes　made　the　wrong　decision　in　the　eyes　of　his　superiors；　or　as　if　hes　backing　down。　So　he　let　us　decide。　But　Im　telling　you；　Barnes　wants　to　go。〃

Norman　was　surprised：　the　cliché　image　of　mathematicians　was　that　they　had　their　heads　in　the　clouds；　were　absent…minded；　inattentive。　But　Harry　was　astute；　he　didnt　miss　a　thing。

〃Why　would　Barnes　want　to　go？〃　Ted　said。

〃I　think　its　clear；〃　Harry　said。　〃Because　of　the　storm　on　the　surface。〃

〃The　storm　isnt　here　yet；〃　Ted　said。

〃No；〃　Harry　said。　〃And　when　it　es；　we　dont　know　how　long　it　will　last。〃

〃Barnes　said　twenty…four　to　forty…eight　hours…〃

＇＇92＇＇　〃Neither　Barnes　nor　anyone　else　can　predict　how　long　the　storm　will　last；〃　Harry　said。　〃What　if　it　lasts　five　days？〃

〃We　can　hold　out　that　long。　We　have　air　and　supplies　for　five　days。　Whatre　you　so　worried　about？〃

〃Im　not　worried；〃　Harry　said。　〃But　I　think　Barnes　is　worried。〃

〃Nothing　will　go　wrong；　for　Christs　sake；〃　Ted　said。　〃I　think　we　should　stay。〃　And　then　there　was　a　squishing　sound。　They　looked　down　at　the　all…weather　carpeting　at　their　feet。　The　carpet　was　dark；　soaked。

〃Whats　that？〃

〃Id　say　it　was　water；〃　Harry　said。

〃Salt　water？〃　Ted　said；　bending　over；　touching　the　damp　spot。　He　licked　his　finger。　〃Doesnt　taste　salty。〃

From　above　them；　a　voice　said；　〃Thats　because　its　urine。〃　Looking　up；　they　saw　Teeny　Fletcher　standing　on　a　platform　among　a　network　of　pipes　near　the　curved　top　of　the　cylinder。　〃Everythings　under　control；　gentlemen。　Just　a　small　leak　in　the　liquid　waste　disposal　pipe　that　goes　to　the　H2O　recycler。〃

〃Liquid　waste？〃　Ted　was　shaking　his　head。

〃Just　a　small　leak；〃　Fletcher　said。　〃No　problem；　sir。〃　She　sprayed　one　of　the　pipes　with　white　foam　from　a　spray　canister。　The　foam　sputtered　and　hardened　on　the　pipe。　〃We　just　urethane　the　suckers　when　we　get　them。　Makes　a　perfect　seal。

〃How　often　do　you　get　these　leaks？〃　Harry　said。

〃Liquid　waste？〃　Ted　said　again。

〃Hard　to　say；　Dr。　Adams。　But　dont　worry。　Really。〃

〃I　feel　sick；〃　Ted　said。

Harry　slapped　him　on　the　back。　〃e　on；　it　wont　kill　you。　Lets　get　some　sleep。〃

〃I　think　Im　going　to　throw　up。〃

They　went　into　the　sleeping　chamber。　Ted　immediately　ran　off　to　the　showers；　they　heard　him　coughing　and　gagging。

〃Poor　Ted；〃　Harry　said；　shaking　his　head。

＇＇93＇＇　Norman　said；　〃Whats　all　this　business　about　a　black　hole；　anyway？〃

〃A　black　hole；〃　Harry　said；　〃is　a　dead；　pressed　star。　Basica