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〃Did you speak？〃
No。
How are we municating？ he wonders。
The way everything municates with everything else。
Which way is that？
Why do you ask if you already know the answer？
But I don't know the answer。
The foam moves him gently； peacefully； but he receives no answer for a time。 He wonders if he is alone again。
Are you there？
Yes。
I thought you had gone away。
There is nowhere to go。
Do you mean you are imprisoned inside this sphere？
No。
Will you answer a question？ Who are you？
I am not a who。
Are you God？
God is a word。
I mean； are you a higher being； or a higher consciousness？
Higher than what？
Higher than me； I suppose。
How high are you？
Pretty low。 At least； I imagine so。
Well； then； that's your trouble。
Riding in the foam； he is disturbed by the possibility that God is making fun of him。 He thinks； Are you making a joke？
＇＇333＇＇ Why do you ask if you already know the answer？
Am I talking to God？
You are not talking at all。
You take what I say very literally。 Is this because you are from another planet？
No。
Are you from another planet？
No。
Are you from another civilization？
No。
Where are you from？
Why do you ask if you already know the answer？
In another time； he thinks； he would be irritated by this repetitive answer； but now he feels no emotions。 There are no judgments。 He is simply receiving information； a response。 He thinks； But this sphere es from another civilization。
Yes。
And maybe from another time。
Yes。
And aren't you a part of this sphere？
I am now。
So； where are you from？
Why do you ask if you already know the answer？
The foam gently shifts him； rocking him soothingly。
Are you still there？
Yes。 There is nowhere to go。
I'm afraid I am not very knowledgeable about religion。 I am a psychologist。 I deal with how people think。 In my training； I never learned much about religion。
Oh； I see。
Psychology doesn't have much to do with religion。
Of course。
So you agree？
I agree with you。
That's reassuring。
I don't see why。
Who is I？
Who indeed？
＇＇334＇＇ He rocks in the foam； feeling a deep peace despite the difficulties of this conversation。
I am troubled； he thinks。
Tell me。
I am troubled because you sound like Jerry。
That is to be expected。
But Jerry was really Harry。
Yes。
So are you Harry； too？
No。 Of course not。
Who are you？
I am not a who。
Then why do you sound like Jerry or Harry？
Because we spring from the same source。
I don't understand。
When you look in the mirror； who do you see？
I see myself。
I see。
Isn't that right？
It's up to you。
I don't understand。
What you see is up to you。
I already know that。 Everybody knows that。 That is a psychological truism； a cliché。
I see。
Are you an alien intelligence？
Are you an alien intelligence？
I find you difficult to talk to。 Will you give me the power？
What power？
The power you gave to Harry and Beth。 The power to make things happen by imagination。 Will you give it to me？
No。
Why not？
Because you already have it。
I don't feel as if I have it。
I know。
Then how is it that I have the power？
How did you get in here？
I imagined the door opening。
＇＇335＇＇ Yes。
Rocking in the foam； waiting for a further response； but there is no response； there is only gentle movement in the foam； a peaceful timelessness； and a drowsy sensation。
After a passage of time； he thinks； I am sorry； but I wish you would just explain and stop speaking in riddles。
On your planet you have an animal called a bear。 It is a large animal； sometimes larger than you； and it is clever and has ingenuity； and it has a brain as large as yours。 But the bear differs from you in one important way。 It cannot perform the activity you call imagining。 It cannot make mental images of how reality might be。 It cannot envision what you call the past and what you call the future。 This special ability of imagination is what has made your…species as great as it is。 Nothing else。 It is not your ape…nature； not your tool…using nature； not language or your violence or your caring for young or your social groupings。 It is none of these things； which are all found in other animals。 Your greatness lies in imagination。
The ability to imagine is the largest part of what you call intelligence。 You think the ability to imagine is merely a useful step on the way to solving a problem or making something happen。 But imagining it is what makes it happen。
This is the gift of your species and this is the danger； because you do not choose to control your imaginings。 You imagine wonderful things and you imagine terrible things； and you take no responsibility for the choice。 You say you have inside you both the power of good and the power of evil； the angel and the devil； but in truth you have just one thing inside you…the ability to imagine。
I hope you enjoyed this speech； which I plan to give at the next meeting of the American Association of Psychologists and Social Workers； which is meeting in Houston in March。 I feel it will be quite well received。
What？ he thinks； startled。
Who did you think you were talking to？ God？
Who is this？ he thinks。
You； of course。
But you are somebody different from me； separate。 You are not me； he thinks。
＇＇336＇＇ Yes l am。 You imagined me。
Tell me more。
There is no more。
His cheek rested on cold metal。 He rolled onto his back and looked at the polished surface of the sphere； curving above him。 The convolutions of the door had changed again。
Norman got to his feet。 He felt relaxed and at peace； as if he had been sleeping a long time。 He felt as if he had had a wonderful dream。 He remembered everything quite clearly。
He moved through the ship； back to the flight deck； and then down the hallway with the ultraviolet lights to the room with all the tubes on the wall。
The tubes were filled。 There was a crewman in each one。 Just as he thought： Beth had manifested a single crewman…a solitary woman…as a way of warning them。 Now Norman was in charge； and he found the room full。
Not bad； he thought。
He looked at the room and thought： Gone； one at a time。 One by one； the crew members in the tubes vanished before his eyes； until they were all gone。
Back； one at a time。
The crew members popped back in the tubes； materializing on demand。
All men。
The women were changed into men。
All women。
They all became women。
He had the power。
0200 HOURS
〃Norman。〃
Beth's voice over the loudspeakers； hissing through the empty spacecraft。
〃Where are you； Norman？ I know you're there somewhere。 I can feel you； Norman。〃
Norman was moving through the kitchen； past the empty cans of Coke on the counter； then through the heavy door and into the flight deck。 He saw Beth's face on all the console screens； Beth seeming to see him； the image repeated a dozen times。
〃Norman。 I know where you've been。 You've been inside the sphere； haven't you； Norman？〃
He pressed the consoles with the flat of his hand； trying to turn off the screens。 He couldn't do it； the images remained。
〃Norman。 Answer me； Norman。〃
He moved past the flight deck； going toward the airlock。 〃It won't do you any good； Norman。 I'm in charge now。 Do you hear me； Norman？〃
In the airlock； he heard a click as his helmet ring locked； the air from the tanks was cool and dry。 He listened to the even sound of his own breathing。
〃Norman。〃 Beth； on the inter in his helmet。 〃Why don't you speak to me； Norman？ Are you afraid； Norman？〃 The repetition of his name irritated him。 He pressed the buttons to open the airlock。 Water began to flood in from the floor； rising swiftly。
〃Oh； there you are； Norman。 I see you now。〃 And she began to laugh； a high； cackling laugh。
Norman turned around； saw the video camera mounted on the robot； still inside the airlock。 He shoved the camera； spinning it away。
〃That won't do any good； Norman。〃
He was back outside the spacecraft； standing by the air lock。 The Tevac explosives； rows of glowing red dots； ＇＇338＇＇ extended away in erratic lines； like an airplane runway laid out by some demented engineer。
〃Norman？ Why don't you answer me； Norman？〃
Beth was unstable； erratic。 He could hear it in her voice。 He had to deprive her of her weapons； to turn off the explosives； if he could。
Off； he thought。 Let's have the explosives off and disarmed。
All the red lights immediately went off。
Not bad； he thought； with a burst of pleasure。 A moment later； the red lights blinked back on。
〃You can't do it； Norman；〃 Beth said； laughing。 〃Not to me。 I can fight you。〃
He knew she was right。 They were having an argument； a test of wills； turning the explosives on and off。 And the argument couldn't ever be resolved。 Not that way。 He would have to do something more direct。
He moved toward the nearest of the Tevac explosives。 Up close； the cone was larger than he had thought； four feet high； with a red light at the top。
〃I can see you； Norman。 I see what you're doing。〃
There was writing on the cone； yellow letters stenciled on the gray surface。 Norman bent to read it。 His faceplate was slightly fogged； but he could still make out the words。
DANGER … TEVAC EXPLOSIVES
U。S。N。 CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION USE ONLY
DEFAULT DETONATE SEQUENCE 20：00
CONSULT MANUAL USN/VV/512…A
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY
DANGER…TEVAC EXPLOSIVES
There was still more writing beneath that； but it was smaller； and he couldn't make it out。
〃Norman！ What're you doing with my explosives； Norman？〃
Norman didn't answer her。 He looked at the wiring。 One thin cable ran into the base of the cone； and a second cable ran out。 The second cable went along the muddy bottom to ＇＇339＇＇ the next cone； where there were again just two cables…one in； and one out。
〃Get away from there； Norman。 You're making me nervous。
One cable in； and one cable out。
Beth had wired the cones together in series； like Christmas…tree bulbs！ By pulling out a single cable； Norman would disconnect the entire line of explosives。 He reached forward and gripped the cable in his gloved hand。
〃Norman！ Don't touch that wire； Norman！〃
〃Take it easy； Beth。〃
His fingers closed around the cable。 He felt the soft plastic coating； gripped it tightly。
〃Norman； if you pull that cable you'll set off the explosives。 I swear to you…it'll blow you and me and Harry and everything to hell； Norman。〃
He didn't think it was true。 Beth was lying。 Beth was out of control and she was dangerous and she was lying to him again。
He drew his hand back。 He felt the tension in the cable。
〃Don't do it； Norman。 。。。
The cable was now taut in his hand。 〃I'm going to shut you down； Beth。〃
〃For God's sake； Norman。 Believe me； will you？ You'll kill us all！〃
Still he hesitated。 Could she be telling the truth？ Did she know about wiring explosives？ He looked at the big gray cone at his feet； reaching up to his waist。 What would it feel like if it exploded？ Would he feel anything at all？
〃The hell with it；〃 he said aloud。
He pulled the cable out of the cone。
The shriek of the alarm； ringing inside his helmet； made him jump。 There was a small liquid…crystal display at the top of his faceplate blinking rapidly： 〃EMERGENCY〃。。。 〃EMERGENCY〃。。。
〃Oh； Norman。 God damn it。 Now you've done it。〃
He barely heard her voice over the alarm。 The red cone ＇＇340＇＇ lights were blinking； all down the length of the spacecraft。 He braced himself for the explosion。
But then the alarm was interrupted by a deep； resonant male voice that said； 〃Your attention； please。 Your attention； please。 All construction personnel clear the blast area immediately。 Tevac explosives are now activated。 The countdown will begin 。。。 now。 Mark twenty； and counting。〃
On the cone； a red display flashed 20：00。 Then it began counting backward： 19：59 。。。 19：58 。。。
The same display was repeated on the crystal display at the top of his helmet。
It took him a moment to put it together； to understand。 Staring at the cone； he read the yellow lettering once again： U。S。N。 CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION USE ONLY。
Of course！ Tevac explosives weren't weapons； they were made for construction and demolition。 They had built…in safety timers…a programmed twenty…minute delay before they went off； to allow workers to get away。
Twenty minutes to get away； he thought。 That would give him plenty of time。
Norman turned； and began striding quickly toward DH…7 and the submarine。
0140 HOURS
He walked evenly； steadily。 He felt no strain。 His breath came easily。 He was fortable in his suit。 All systems working smoothly。
He was leaving。 〃Norman； please 。。。〃 Now Beth was pleading with him； another erratic shift of ＇＇341＇＇ mood。 Norman ignored her。 He continued on toward the submarine。 The deep recorded voice said； 〃Your attention； please。 All Navy personnel clear the blast area。 Nineteen minutes and counting。〃
Norman felt an enormous sense of purposefulness； of power。 He had no illusions any more。 He had no questions。 He knew what he had to do。
He had to save himself。
〃I don't believe you're doing this； Norman。 I don't believe you're abandoning us。〃
Believe it； he thought。 After all； what choice did he have？ Beth was out of control and dangerous。 It was too late to save her now…in fact； it was crazy to go anywhere near her。 Beth was homicidal。 She'd already tried to kill him once； and had nearly succeeded。
And Harry had been drugged for thirteen hours； by now he was probably clinically dead； brain…dead。 There was no reason for No