mc.theandromedastrein-第19节

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k　in　your　key；　and　call　it　off。〃
　
　　　〃Oh；〃　Hall　said；　in　a　quiet　voice。
　
　　　11。　Decontamination
　
　　　A　BELL　RANG　SOMEWHERE　ON　THE　LEVEL；　STONE　glanced　up　at　the　wall　clock。　It　was　late。　He　began　the　formal　briefing；　talking　rapidly；　pacing　up　and　down　the　room；　hands　moving　constantly。
　
　　　〃As　you　know；〃　he　said；　〃we　are　on　the　top　level　of　a　five…story　underground　structure。　According　to　protocol　it　will　take　us　nearly　twenty…four　hours　to　descend　through　the　sterilization　and　decontamination　procedures　to　the　lowest　level。　Therefore　we　must　begin　immediately。　The　capsule　is　already　on　its　way。〃
　
　　　He　pressed　a　button　on　a　console　at　the　head　of　the　table；　and　a　television　screen　glowed　to　life；　showing　the　coneshaped　satellite　in　a　plastic　bag；　making　its　descent。　It　was　being　cradled　by　mechanical　hands。
　
　　　〃The　central　core　of　this　circular　building；〃　Stone　said；　〃contains　elevators　and　service　units　plumbing；　wiring；　that　sort　of　thing。　That　is　where　you　see　the　capsule　now。　It　will　be　deposited　shortly　in　a　maximum…sterilization　assembly　on　the　lowest　level。〃
　
　　　He　went　on　to　explain　that　he　had　brought　back　two　other　surprises　from　Piedmont。　The　screen　shifted　to　show　Peter　Jackson；　lying　on　a　litter；　with　intravenous　lines　running　into　both　arms。
　
　　　〃This　man　apparently　survived　the　night。　He　was　the　one　walking　around　when　the　planes　flew　over；　and　he　was　still　alive　this　morning。〃　
　
　　　〃What's　his　status　now？〃
　
　　　〃Uncertain；〃　Stone　said。　〃He　is　unconscious；　and　he　was　vomiting　blood　earlier　today。　We've　started　intravenous　dextrose　to　keep　him　fed　and　hydrated　until　we　can　get　down　to　the　bottom。〃
　
　　　Stone　flicked　a　button　and　the　screen　showed　the　baby。　It　was　howling；　strapped　down　to　a　tiny　bed。　An　intravenous　bottle　was　running　into　a　vein　in　the　scalp。
　
　　　〃This　little　fellow　also　survived　last　night；〃　Stone　said。　〃So　we　brought　him　along。　We　couldn't　really　leave　him；　since　a　Directive　7…12　was　being　called。　The　town　is　now　destroyed　by　a　nuclear　blast。　Besides；　he　and　Jackson　are　living　clues　which　may　help　us　unravel　this　mess。〃
　
　　　Then；　for　the　benefit　of　Hall　and　Leavitt；　the　two　men　disclosed　what　they　had　seen　and　learned　at　Piedmont。　They　reviewed　the　findings　of　rapid　death；　the　bizarre　suicides；　the　clotted　arteries　and　the　lack　of　bleeding。
　
　　　Hall　listened　in　astonishment。　Leavitt　sat　shaking　his　head。
　
　　　When　they　were　through；　Stone　said；　〃Questions？〃
　　　〃None　that　won't　keep；〃　Leavitt　said。
　　　〃Then　let's　get　started；〃　Stone　said。
　
　　　***
　
　　　They　began　at　a　door；　which　said　in　plain　white　letters：　TO　LEVEL　II　It　was　an　innocuous；　straightforward；　almost　mundane　sign。　Hall　had　expected　something　more　perhaps　a　stern　guard　with　a　machine　gun；　or　a　sentry　to　check　passes。　But　there　was　nothing；　and　he　noticed　that　no　one　had　badges；　or　clearance　cards　of　any　kind。
　
　　　He　mentioned　this　to　Stone。　〃Yes；〃　Stone　said。　〃We　decided　against　badges　early　on。　They　are　easily　contaminated　and　difficult　to　sterilize；　usually　they　are　plastic　and　high…heat　sterilization　melts　them。〃
　
　　　The　four　men　passed　through　the　door；　which　clanged　shut　heavily　and　sealed　with　a　hissing　sound。　It　was　airtight。　Hall　faced　a　tiled　room；　empty　except　for　a　hamper　marked　I　'clothing。〃　He　unzipped　his　jumpsuit　and　dropped　it　into　the　hamper；　there　was　a　brief　flash　of　light　as　it　was　incinerated。
　
　　　Then；　looking　back；　he　saw　that　on　the　door　through　which　he　had　e　was　a　sign：　〃Return　to　Level　I　is　NOT　Possible　Through　this　Access。〃
　
　　　He　shrugged。　The　other　men　were　already　moving　through　the　second　door；　marked　simply　EXIT。　He　followed　them　and　stepped　into　clouds　of　steam。　The　odor　was　peculiar；　a　faint　woodsy　smell　that　he　guessed　was　scented　disinfectant。　He　sat　down　on　a　bench　and　relaxed；　allowing　the　steam　to　envelop　him。　It　was　easy　enough　to　understand　the　purpose　of　the　steam　room：　the　heat　opened　the　pores；　and　the　steam　would　be　inhaled　into　the　lungs。
　
　　　The　four　men　waited；　saying　little；　until　their　bodies　were　coated　with　a　sheen　of　moisture；　and　then　walked　into　the　next　room。
　
　　　Leavitt　said　to　Hall；　〃What　do　you　think　of　this？〃
　　　〃It's　like　a　goddam　Roman　bath；〃　Hall　said。
　
　　　The　next　room　contained　a　shallow　tub　（〃Immerse　Feet　ONLY〃）　and　a　shower。　（〃Do　not　swallow　shower　solution。　Avoid　undue　exposure　to　eyes　and　mucous　membranes。〃）　It　was　all　very　intimidating。　He　tried　to　guess　what　the　solutions　were　by　smell；　but　failed；　the　shower　was　slippery；　though；　which　meant　it　was　alkaline。　He　asked　Leavitt　about　this；　and　Leavitt　said　the　solution　was　alpha　chlorophin　at　pH　7。7。　Leavitt　said　that　whenever　possible；　acidic　and　alkaline　solutions　were　alternated。
　
　　　〃When　you　think　about　it；〃　Leavitt　said；　〃we've　faced　up　to　quite　a　planning　problem　here。　How　to　disinfect　the　human　body　one　of　the　dirtiest　things　in　the　known　universe　without　killing　the　person　at　the　same　time。　Interesting。
　
　　　He　wandered　off。　Dripping　wet　from　the　shower；　Hall　looked　around　for　a　towel　but　found　none。　He　entered　the　next　room　and　blowers　turned　on　from　the　ceiling　in　a　rush　of　hot　air。　From　the　sides　of　the　room；　UV　lights　clicked　on；　bathing　the　room　in　an　intense　purple　light。　He　stood　there　until　a　buzzer　sounded；　and　the　dryers　turned　off。　His　skin　tingled　slightly　as　he　entered　the　last　room；　which　contained　clothing。　They　were　not　jumpsuits；　but　rather　like　surgical　uniforms　light…yellow；　a　loose…fitting　top　with　a　V…neck　and　short　sleeves；　elastic　banded　pants；　low　rubber…soled　shoes；　quite　fortable；　like　ballet　slippers。
　
　　　The　cloth　was　soft；　some　kind　of　synthetic。　He　dressed　and　stepped　with　the　others　through　a　door　marked　EXIT　TO　LEVEL　II。　He　entered　the　elevator　and　waited　as　it　descended。
　
　　　Hall　emerged　to　find　himself　in　a　corridor。　The　was　here　were　painted　yellow；　not　red　as　they　had　been　on　Level　I。　The　people　wore　yellow　uniforms。　A　nurse　by　the　elevator　said；　〃The　time　is　2：47　p。m。；　gentlemen。　You　may　continue　your　descent　in　one　hour。〃　
　
　　　They　went　to　a　small　room　marked　INTERIM　CONFINEMENT。　It　contained　a　half…dozen　couches　with　plastic　disposable　covers　over　them。
　
　　　Stone　said；　〃Better　relax。　Sleep　if　you　can。　We'll　need　all　the　rest　we　can　get　before　Level　V。　〃　He　walked　over　to　Hall。　〃How　did　you　find　the　decontamination　procedure？〃
　　　〃Interesting；〃　Hall　said。　〃You　could　sell　it　to　the　Swedes　and　make　a　fortune。　But　somehow　I　expected　something　more　rigorous。〃　
　　　〃Just　wait；〃　Stone　said。　〃It　gets　tougher　as　you　go。　Physicals　on　Levels　III　and　IV。　Afterward　there　will　be　a　brief　conference。〃　
　
　　　Then　Stone　lay　down　on　one　of　the　couches　and　fell　instantly　asleep。　It　was　a　trick　he　had　learned　years　before；　when　he　had　been　conducting　experiments　around　the　clock。　He　learned　to　squeeze　in　an　hour　here；　two　hours　there。　He　found　it　useful。
　
　　　***
　
　　　The　second　decontamination　procedure　was　similar　to　the　first。　Hall's　yellow　clothing；　though　he　had　worn　it　just　an　hour；　was　incinerated。
　
　　　〃Isn't　that　rather　wasteful？〃　he　asked　Burton。
　　　Burton　shrugged。　〃It's　paper。〃
　　　〃Paper？　That　cloth？〃
　　　Burton　shook　his　head。　〃Not　cloth。　Paper。　New　process。〃
　
　　　They　stepped　into　the　first　total…immersion　pool。　Instructions　on　the　wall　told　Hall　to　keep　his　eyes　open　under　water。　Total　immersion；　he　soon　discovered；　was　guaranteed　by　the　simple　device　of　making　the　connection　between　the　first　room　and　the　second　an　underwater　passage。　Swimming　through；　he　felt　a　slight　burning　of　his　eyes；　but　nothing　bad。
　
　　　The　second　room　contained　a　row　of　six　boxes；　glass…walled；　looking　rather　like　telephone　booths。　Hall　approached　one　and　saw　a　sign　that　said；　〃Enter　and　close　both　eyes。　Hold　arms　slightly　away　from　body　and　stand　with　feet　one　foot　apart。　Do　not　open　eyes　until　buzzer　sounds。　BLINDNESS　MAY　RESULT　FROM　EXPOSURE　TO　LONG…WAVE　RADIATION。〃　
　
　　　He　followed　the　directions　and　felt　a　kind　of　cold　heat　on　his　body。　It　lasted　perhaps　five　minutes；　and　then　he　heard　the　buzzer　and　opened　his　eyes。　His　body　was　dry。　He　followed　the　others　to　a　corridor；　consisting　of　four　showers。　Walking　down　the　corridor；　he　passed　beneath　each　shower　in　turn。　At　the　end；　he　found　blowers；　which　dried　him；　and　then　clothing。　This　time　the　clothing　was　white。
　
　　　They　dressed；　and　took　the　elevator　down　to　Level　III。
　
　　　***
　
　　　There　were　four　nurses　waiting　for　them；　one　took　Hall　to　an　examining　room。　It　turned　out　to　be　a　two…hour　physical　examination；　given　not　by　a　machine　but　by　a　blank…faced；　thorough　young　man。　Hall　was　annoyed；　and　thought　to　himself　that　he　preferred　the　machine。
　
　　　The　doctor　did　everything；　including　a　plete　history　birth；　education；　travel；　family　history；　past　hospitalizations　and　illnesses。　And　an　equally　plete　physical。　Hall　became　angry；　it　was　all　so　damned　unnecessary。　But　the　doctor　shrugged　and　kept　saying；　〃It's　routine。〃
　
　　　After　two　hours；　he　rejoined　the　others；　and　proceeded　to　Level　IV。
　
　　　***
　
　　　Four　total…immersion　baths；　three　sequences　of　ultraviolet　and　infrared　light；　two　of　ultrasonic　vibrations；　and　then　something　quite　asto