〃Well； what's your idea？〃
〃Let's review what we know；〃 Harry said； 〃as opposed to what we imagine in a flight of fancy。 This is a spacecraft from the future； built with all sorts of materials and technology we haven't developed yet； although we are about to develop them。 This ship was sent by our descendants through a black hole and into another universe； or another part of our universe。〃
〃Yes。〃
〃This spacecraft is unmanned； but equipped with robot arms which are clearly designed to pick up things that it finds。 So we can think of this ship as a huge version of the unmanned Mariner spacecraft that we sent in the 1970s to Mars； to look for life there。 This spacecraft from the future is much bigger； and more plicated； but it's essentially the same sort of machine。 It's a probe。〃
〃Yes 。。。
〃So the probe goes into another universe； where it es upon this sphere。 Presumably it finds the sphere floating in space。 Or perhaps the sphere is sent out to meet the spacecraft。〃
〃Right；〃 Ted said。 〃Sent out to meet it。 As an emissary。 That's what I think。〃
〃In any case； our robot spacecraft； according to whatever built…in criteria it has； decides that this sphere is interesting。 It automatically grabs the sphere in its big claw hand here； draws it inside the ship； and brings it home。〃
〃Except in going home it goes too far； it goes into the past。〃
〃Its past；〃 Harry said。 〃Our present。〃
〃Right。〃
Barnes snorted impatiently。 〃Fine； so this spacecraft goes out and picks up a silver alien sphere and brings it back。 Get to the point： what is this sphere？〃
Harry walked forward to the sphere； pressed his ear against the metal； and rapped it with his knuckles。 He touched the grooves； his hands disappearing in the deep indentations。 The sphere was so highly polished Norman could see Harry's face； distorted； in the curve of the metal。 〃Yes。 ＇＇107＇＇ As I suspected。 These cabalistic markings； as you call them； are not decorative at all。 They have another purpose entirely； to conceal a small break in the surface of the sphere。 Thus they represent a door。〃 Harry stepped back。
〃What is the sphere？〃
〃I'll tell you what I think；〃 Harry said。 〃I think this sphere is a hollow container； I think there's something inside； and I think it scares the hell out of me。〃
FIRST EVALUATION
〃No； Mr。 Secretary；〃 Barnes said into the phone。 〃We're pretty sure it is an alien artifact。 There doesn't seem to be any question about that。〃
He glanced at Norman； sitting across the room。 〃Yes； sir；〃 Barnes said。 〃Very damn exciting。〃
They were back in the habitat； and Barnes had immediately called Washington。 He was trying to delay their return to the surface。
〃Not yet； we haven't opened it。 Well； we haven't been able to open it。 The door is a weird shape and it's very finely milled。 。。。 No； you couldn't wedge anything in the crack。〃 He looked at Norman； rolled his eyes。
〃No； we tried that； too。 There don't seem to be any exterior controls。 No； no message on the outside。 No； no labels either。 All it is； is a highly polished sphere with some convoluted grooves on one side。 What？ Blast it open？〃
Norman turned away。 He was in D Cylinder； in the munications section run by Tina Chan。 She was adjusting a dozen monitors with her usual calm。 Norman said； 〃You seem like the most relaxed person here。〃
She smiled。 〃Just inscrutable； sir。〃
〃Is that it？〃
＇＇108＇＇ 〃It must be； sir；〃 she said； adjusting the vertical gain on one rolling monitor。 The screen showed the polished sphere。 〃Because I feel my heart pounding； sir。 What do you think is inside that thing？〃
〃I haven't any idea；〃 Norman said。
〃Do you think there's an alien inside？ You know； some kind of a living creature？〃
〃Maybe。〃
〃And we're trying to open it up？ Maybe we shouldn't let it out； whatever is in there。〃
〃Aren't you curious？〃 Norman said。
〃Not that curious； sir。〃
〃I don't see how blasting would work；〃 Barnes was saying on the phone。 〃Yes； we have SMTMP's； yes。 Oh； different sizes。 But I don't think we can blast the sucker open。 No。 Well； if you saw it； you'd understand。 The thing is perfectly made。 Perfect。〃
Tina adjusted a second monitor。 They had two views of the sphere； and soon there would be a third。 Edmunds was setting up cameras to watch the sphere。 That had been one of Harry's suggestions。 Harry had said； 〃Monitor it。 Maybe it does something from time to time； has some activity。〃
On the screen； he saw the network of wires that had been attached to the sphere。 They had a full array of passive sensors： sound； and the full electromagnetic spectrum from infrared to gamma and X…rays。 The readouts on the sensors were displayed on a bank of instruments to the left。
Harry came in。 〃Getting anything yet？〃
Tina shook her head。 〃So far； nothing。〃
〃Has Ted e back？〃
〃No；〃 Norman said。 〃Ted's still there。〃
Ted had remained behind in the cargo bay； ostensibly to help Edmunds set up the cameras。 But in fact they knew he would try to open the sphere。 They saw Ted now on the second monitor； probing the grooves； touching； pushing。
Harry smiled。 〃He hasn't got a prayer。〃
Norman said； 〃Harry； remember when we were in the flight deck； and you said you wanted to make out your will because something was missing？〃
＇＇109＇＇ 〃Oh； that；〃 Harry said。 〃Forget it。 That's irrelevant now。〃
Barnes was saying； 〃No； Mr。 Secretary； raising it to the surface would be just about impossible…well； sir； it is presently located inside a cargo bay half a mile inside the ship； and the ship is buried under thirty feet of coral； and the sphere itself is a good thirty feet across； it's the size of a small house。 。。。
〃I just wonder what's in the house；〃 Tina said。
On the monitor； Ted kicked the sphere in frustration。
〃Not a prayer；〃 Harry said again。 〃He'll never get it open。〃
Beth came in。 〃How are we going to open it？〃
Harry said； 〃How？〃 Harry stared thoughtfully at the sphere； gleaming on the monitor。 There was a long silence。 〃Maybe we can't。〃
〃We can't open it？ You mean not ever？〃
〃That's one possibility。〃
Norman laughed。 〃Ted would kill himself。〃
Barnes was saying； 〃Well； Mr。 Secretary； if you wanted to mit the necessary Navy resources to do a full…scale salvage from one thousand feet； we might be able to undertake it starting six months from now； when we were assured of a month of good surface weather in this region。 Yes 。。。 it's winter in the South Pacific now。 Yes。〃
Beth said； 〃I can see it now。 At great expense； the Navy brings a mysterious alien sphere to the surface。 It is transported to a top…secret government installation in Omaha。 Experts from every branch e and try to open it。 Nobody can。〃
〃Like Excalibur；〃 Norman said。
Beth said； 〃As time goes by； they try stronger and stronger methods。 Eventually they try to blow it open with a small nuclear device。 And still nothing。 Finally； nobody has any more ideas。 The sphere sits there。 Decades go by。 The sphere is never opened。〃 She shook her head。 〃One great frustration for mankind 。。。〃
Norman said to Harry； 〃Do you really think that'd happen？ That we'd never get it open？〃
Harry said； 〃Never is a long time。〃
〃No； sir；〃 Barnes was saying； 〃given this new ＇＇110＇＇ development； we'll stay down to the last minute。 Weather topside is holding…at least six more hour