；〃 Beth said。 〃Slimy； cold； disgusting things。〃
〃Ah； Beth；〃 Harry said； watching the monitor。 〃Got snake envy？〃
Onscreen； Beth was saying； 〃If I were a Martian who came to Earth and I stumbled upon a snake…a funny； cold； wiggling； tube…like life…I wouldn't know what to think of it。 But the chance that I would stumble on a poisonous snake is very small。 Less than one percent of snakes are poisonous。 So； as a Martian； I wouldn't be in danger from my discovery of snakes； I'd just be perplexed。 That's what's likely to happen with us。 We'll be perplexed。〃
Onscreen； Beth was saying； 〃Anyway； I don't think we'll ever get the sphere open； no。〃
Tina： 〃I hope not。〃
Behind her on the monitor； the sphere closed。
〃Huh！〃 Harry said。 〃How long was it open all together？〃 〃Thirty…three point four seconds；〃 Tina said。
They stopped the tape。 Tina said； 〃Anybody want to see it again？〃 She looked pale。
〃Not right now；〃 Harry said。 He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair； stared off； thinking。
No one else said anything； they just waited patiently for Harry。 Norman realized how much the group deferred to him。 Harry is the person who figures things out for us； Norman thought。 We need him； rely on him。
〃Okay；〃 Harry said at last。 〃No conclusions are possible。 We have insufficient data。 The question is whether the sphere was responding to something in its immediate environment； or whether it just opened； for reasons of its own。 Where's Ted？〃
〃Ted left the sphere and went to the flight deck。〃
〃Ted's back；〃 Ted said； grinning broadly。 〃And I have some real news。〃
〃So do we；〃 Beth said。
〃It can wait；〃 Ted said。
〃But…〃
〃…I know where this ship went；〃 Ted said excitedly。 〃I've been a