死亡之海：寒冷星球上探索与挑战.pdfVIP

SeaofDeath

by

NealAsher

Solaytheygarmentedintorpidlight,

Underthepallofatransparentnight,

Likesolemnapparitionslull’dsublime,

Toeverlastingrest,-andwiththemTime

Slept,ashesleepsuponthesilentface

Ofadarkdialinasunsce.

–Hood.

Tosayitiscoldistoseriouslyunderstatethematter.Theinsideoftheshuttleisat

minusfiftycentigradebecauseofwhatJapcalls‘materialtolerances’.

“Thesecoldsuitswe’rewearing-take’emabovezeroandthey’llupnext

timeyouuse’emoutside,”hetoldme.

“Yeah,”Isaid.“TwocenturiesagoI’dhavebelievedyou,butthingshavemoved

onsincethen.”

“Economicsain’t,”washisreply.

Iamcarefulnottorespondtohissarcasm.

Thelandingiswithoutmishap,butIamsurprisedwhenthesideoftheshuttle

opensstraightdownontothesurfaceofthenetOrbus.

“Nopointmaintaininganentrancetunnel,”saysJapoverthecom.

Idon’tmind.ItisformomentslikethisthatItravel,anditismomentslikethis

thatfundmytravel.IwalkoutwithCO2snowcrunchingunderfootandtheclarity

ofstarlitskyaboveyounormallyonlygetininterstellarspace.Igazeacrossland

likearctictundrawithitsfrozenlakesandhoaredboulders.Inthefrozenlakes

trappedfairielightsflickerrainbowcolours.

“What’sthat?”Iask.

“Waterice,belowone-fiftyitturnstocomplexiceandwhenitheatsupand

changesbackitfluoresces.TalktoDurenifyouwantthechem