ant to feel。 Norman ＇＇75＇＇ pressed the surface； felt it bend to his touch。 Rubbery again。 〃Another new material。〃
Norman's flashlight showed a few artifacts。 Taped to the far end of the console was a handmarked sign on a three…by…five filing card： It said； 〃GO BABY GO！〃 Nearby was a small plastic statuette of a cute animal that looked like a purple squirrel。 The base said； 〃Lucky Lemontina。〃 Whatever that meant。
〃These seats leather？〃
〃Looks like it。〃
〃Where are the damned controls？〃
Norman continued to poke at the blank console； and suddenly the beige console surface took on depth； and appeared to contain instruments； screens。 All the instrumentation was somehow within the surface of the console； like an optical illusion； or a hologram。 Norman read the lettering above the instruments： 〃Pos Thrusters〃 。。。 〃F3 Piston Booster〃 。。。 〃Glider〃 。。。 〃Sieves〃 。。。
〃More new technology；〃 Ted said。 〃Reminiscent of liquid crystals； but far superior。 Some kind of advanced optoelectronics。〃
Suddenly all the console screens glowed red； and there was a beeping sound。 Startled； Norman jumped back； the control panel was ing to life。
〃Watch it； everybody！〃
A single bright lightning flash of intense white light filled the room； leaving a harsh afterimage。
〃Oh God 。。。〃
Another flash…and another…and then the ceiling lights came on； evenly illuminating the room。 Norman saw startled； frightened faces。 He sighed； exhaling slowly。 〃Jesus 。。。〃
〃How the hell did that happen？〃 Barnes said。
〃It was me；〃 Beth said。 〃I pushed this button。〃
〃Let's not go around pushing buttons； if you don't mind；〃 Barnes said irritably。
〃It was marked 'ROOM LIGHTS。' It seemed an appropriate thing to do。〃
〃Let'