第9部分(第4/7 页)

etcher　gave　them　a　grin；　waved　a　greasy　hand。

〃She　seems　to　know　what　she's　doing；〃　Ted　said；　approvingly。

〃She　does；〃　Barnes　said。　〃But　all　the　major　support　systems　are　redundant。　Fletcher　is　just　our　final　redundancy。　Actually；　you'll　find　the　entire　habitat　is　self…regulating。〃

He　clipped　heavy　badges　onto　the　jumpsuits。　〃Wear　these　at　all　times；　even　though　they're　just　a　precaution：　the　alarms　trigger　automatically　if　life…support　conditions　go　below　optimum。　But　that　won't　happen。　There　are　sensors　in　each　room　of　the　habitat。　You'll　get　used　to　the　fact　that　the　environment　continually　adjusts　to　your　presence。　Lights　will　go　on　and　off；　heat　lamps　will　turn　on　and　off；　and　air　vents　will　hiss　to　keep　track　of　things。　It's　all　automatic；　don't　sweat　it。　＇＇57＇＇　Every　single　major　system　is　redundant。　We　can　lose　power；　we　can　lose　air；　we　can　lose　water　entirely；　and　we　will　be　fine　for　a　hundred　and　thirty　hours。〃

One　hundred　and　thirty　hours　didn't　sound　very　long　to　Norman。　He　did　the　calculation　in　his　head：　five　days。　Five　days　didn't　seem　very　long；　either。

They　went　into　the　next　cylinder；　the　lights　clicking　on　as　they　entered。　Cylinder　C　contained　living　quarters：　bunks；　toilets；　showers　（〃plenty　of　hot　water；　you'll　find〃）。　Barnes　showed　them　around　proudly；　as　if　it　were　a　hotel。

The　living　quarters　were　heavily　insulated：　carpeted　deck；　walls　and　ceilings　all　covered　in　soft　padded　foam；　which　made　the　interior　appear　like　an　overstuffed　couch。　But；　despite　the　bright　colors　and　the　evident　care　in　decoration；　Norman　still　found　it　cramped　and　dreary。　The　portholes　were　tiny；　and　they　revealed　only　the　blackness　of　the　ocean　outside。　And　wherever　the　padding　ended；　he　saw　heavy　bolts　and　heavy　steel　plating；　a