第一小说网

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第27部分（第3页）

HELLO。　HOW　ARE　YOU？　I　AM　FINE。　WHAT　IS　YOUR　NAME？　MY　NAME　IS　JERRY。

THE　FIRST　EXCHANGE

〃Well；〃　Ted　said　finally。　〃this　is　not　what　I　expected　at　all。〃

〃It　looks　childish；〃　Beth　said。　〃Like　something　out　＇＇183＇＇　of　those　old　See　Spot　run　readers　for　kids。〃

〃Thats　exactly　what　it　looks　like。〃

〃Maybe　you　translated　it　wrong；〃　Barnes　said。

〃Certainly　not；〃　Harry　said。

〃Well；　this　alien　sounds　like　an　idiot；〃　Barnes　said。

〃I　doubt　very　much　that　he　is；〃　Ted　said。

〃You　would　doubt　it；〃　Barnes　said。　〃A　stupid　alien　would　blow　your　whole　theory。　But　its　something　to　consider；　isnt　it？　A　stupid　alien。　They　must　have　them。〃

〃I　doubt；〃　Ted　said；　〃that　anyone　in　mand　of　such　high　technology　as　that　sphere　is　stupid。〃

〃Then　you　havent　noticed　all　the　ninnies　driving　cars　back　home；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Jesus；　after　all　this　effort：　How　are　you？　I　am　fine。　Jesus。〃

Norman　said；　〃I　dont　feel　that　this　message　implies　a　lack　of　intelligence；　Hal。〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　Harry　said。　〃I　think　the　message　is　very　smart。〃

〃Im　listening；〃　Barnes　said。

〃The　content　certainly　appears　childish；〃　Harry　said。　〃But　when　you　think　about　it；　its　highly　logical。　A　simple　message　is　unambiguous；　friendly；　and　not　frightening。　It　makes　a　lot　of　sense　to　send　such　a　message。　I　think　hes　approaching　us　in　the　simple　way　that　we　might　approach　a　dog。　You　know；　hold　out　your　hand；　let　it　sniff；　get　used　to　you。〃

〃Youre　saying　hes　treating　us　like　dogs？〃　Barnes　said。

Norman　thought：　Barnes　is　in　over　his　head。　Hes　irritable　because　hes　frightened；　he　feels　inadequate。　Or　perhaps　he　feels　hes　exceeding　his　authority。

〃No；　Hal；〃　Ted　said。　〃Hes　just　starting　at　a　simple　level。〃

〃Well；　its　simple；　all　right；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Jesus　Christ；　we　contact　an　alien　from　outer　space；　and　he　says　his　name　is　Jerry。〃

〃Lets　not　jump　to　conclusions；　Hal。〃

〃Maybe　he　has　a　last　name；〃　Barnes　said　hopefully。　〃I　mean；　my　report　to　CincPac　is　going　to　say　one　person　died　on　a　deepsat　expedition　to　meet　an　alien　named　Jerry？　It　could　sound　better。　Anything　but　Jerry；〃　Barnes　said。　〃Can　we　ask　him？〃

＇＇184＇＇　〃Ask　him　what？〃　Harry　said。

〃His　full　name。〃

Ted　said；　〃I　personally　feel　we　should　have　much　more　substantive　conversations…〃

〃…Id　like　the　fu