669小说网

第10部分（第3页）

Whirring；　the　robot　claw　extended　out　toward　the　panel。　But　the　claw　was　clumsy；　it　scraped　against　the　metal；　leaving　a　series　of　gleaming　scratches。　But　the　panel　remained　closed。

〃Ridiculous；〃　Ted　said。　〃Its　like　watching　a　baby。〃

The　claw　continued　to　scratch　at　the　panel。

〃We　should　be　doing　this　ourselves；〃　Ted　said。

〃Use　suction；〃　Barnes　said。

Another　arm　extended　out；　with　a　rubber　sucker。　〃Ah；　the　plumbers　friend；〃　Ted　said　disdainfully。

As　they　watched；　the　sucker　attached　to　the　panel；　flattened。　Then；　with　a　click；　the　panel　lifted　open。

〃At　last！〃

〃I　cant　see。　。。。〃

The　view　inside　the　panel　was　blurred；　out　of　focus。　They　could　distinguish　what　appeared　to　be　a　series　of　colored　round　metal　protrusions；　red；　yellow；　and　blue。　There　were　also　intricate　black…and…white　symbols　above　the　knobs。

〃Look；〃　Ted　said；　〃red；　blue；　yellow。　Primary　colors。　This　is　a　very　big　break。〃

〃Why？〃　Norman　said。

〃Because　it　suggests　that　the　aliens　have　the　same　sensory　equipment　that　we　do…they　may　see　the　universe　the　same　＇＇65＇＇　way；　visually；　in　the　same　colors；　utilizing　the　same　part　of　the　electromagnetic　spectrum。　Thats　going　to　help　immeasurably　in　making　contact　with　them。　And　those　black…and…white　markings　。。。　that　must　be　some　of　their　writing！　Can　you　imagine！　Alien　writing！〃　He　smiled　enthusiastically。　〃This　is　a　great　moment；〃　he　said。　〃I　feel　truly　privileged　to　be　here。〃

〃Focus；〃　Barnes　called。　〃Focusing　now；　sir。〃

The　image　became　even　more　blurred。　〃No；　the　other　way。〃

〃Yes　Sir。　Focusing　now。〃

The　image　changed；　slowly　resolved　into　sharp　focus。　〃Uh…oh；〃　Ted　said；　staring　at　the　screen。

They　now　saw　that　the　blurred　knobs　were　actually　three　colored　buttons：　yellow；　red；　and　blue。　The　buttons　were　each　an　inch　in　diameter　and　had　knurled　or　machined　edges。　The　symbols　above　the　buttons　resolved　sharply　into　a　series　of　neatly　stenciled　labels。

From　left　to　right　the　labels　read：　〃Emergency　Ready；〃　〃Emergency　Lock；〃　and　〃Emergency　Open。〃

In　English。

There　was　a　moment　of　stunned　silence。　And　then；　very　softly；　Harry　Adams　began　to　laugh。

THE　SPACECRAFT

〃Thats　English；〃　Ted　said；　staring　at　the　screen。　〃Written　English。〃

〃Yeah；〃　Harry　said。　〃Sure　is。〃

〃Whats　going　on？〃　Ted　said。　〃Is　this　some　kind　of　joke？〃

〃No；〃　Harry　said。　He　was　calm；　oddly　detached。

＇＇66＇＇　〃How　could　this　spacecraft　be　three　hundred　years　old；　and　carry　instructions　in　modem　English？〃

〃Think　about　it；〃　Harry　said。

Ted　frowned。　〃Maybe；〃　he　said；　〃this　alien　spacecraft　is　somehow　presenting　itself　to　us　in　a　way　that　will　make　us　fortable。〃

〃Think　about　it　some　more；〃　Harry　said。

There　was　a　short　silence。　〃Well；　if　it　is　an　alien　spacecraft…〃

〃Its　not　an　alien　spacecraft；〃　Harry　said。

There　was　another　silence。　Then　Ted　said；　〃Well；　why　dont　you　just　tell　us　all　what　it　is；　since　youre　so　sure　of　yourself！〃

〃All　right；〃　Harry　said。　〃Its　an　American　spacecraft。〃

〃An　American　spacecraft？　Half　a　mile　long？　Made　with　technology　we　dont　have　yet？　And　buried　for　three　hund