第9部分(第2/7 页)

　It　was　just　a　thin　squeal。

〃Sounds　like　a　couple　of　rats　in　there　now；〃　Barnes　said；　with　satisfaction。

Ted　rolled　his　eyes　toward　the　loudspeaker　and　squeaked　something。

〃If　you　want　to　talk；　get　a　talker；〃　Barnes　said。　〃You'll　find　them　in　the　locker　under　the　seat。〃

Norman　found　a　metal　locker；　clicked　it　open。　The　metal　squealed　loudly；　like　chalk　on　a　blackboard。　All　the　sounds　in　the　chamber　were　high…pitched。　Inside　the　locker　he　saw　two　black　plastic　pads　with　neck　straps。

〃Just　slip　them　over　your　neck。　Put　the　pad　at　the　base　of　your　throat。〃

〃Okay；〃　Ted　said；　and　then　blinked　in　surprise。　His　voice　sounded　slightly　rough；　but　otherwise　normal。

＇＇55＇＇　〃These　things　must　change　the　vocal…cord　frequencies；〃　Norman　said。

〃Why　don't　you　guys　pay　attention　to　briefings？〃　Barnes　said。　〃That's　exactly　what　they　do。　You'll　have　to　wear　a　talker　all　the　time　you're　down　here。　At　least；　if　you　want　anybody　to　understand　you。　Still　cold？〃

〃Yes；〃　Ted　said。

〃Well；　hang　on；　you're　almost　fully　pressurized　now。〃　Then　there　was　another　hiss；　and　a　side　door　slid　open。　Barnes　stood　there；　with　light　jackets　over　his　arm。　〃Wele　to　DH…8；〃　he　said。

DH…8

〃You're　the　last　to　arrive；〃　Barnes　said。　〃We　just　have　time　for　a　quick　tour　before　we　open　the　spacecraft。〃

〃You're　ready　to　open　it　now？〃　Ted　asked。　〃Wonderful。　I've　just　been　talking　about　this　with　Norman。　This　is　such　a　great　moment；　our　first　contact　with　alien　life；　we　ought　to　prepare　a　little　speech　for　when　we　open　it　up。〃

〃There'll　be　time　to　consider　that；〃　Barnes　said；　with　an　odd　glance　at　Ted。　〃I'll　show　you　the　habitat　first。　This　way。〃　He　explained　that　the　DH…8　habitat　consisted　of　five　large　cylinders；　designated