The sphere did not open。
〃Open up；〃 he said aloud。 The sphere did not open。
Of course he knew that wouldn't work； because Ted had tried it for hours。 When Harry and Beth went in； they hadn't said anything。 They just did something in their minds。
He closed his eyes； focused his attention； and thought； Open up。
He opened his eyes and looked at the sphere。 It was still closed。
I am ready for you to open up； he thought。 I am ready now。
Nothing happened。 The sphere did not open。
Norman hadn't considered the possibility that he would be unable to open the sphere。 After all； two others had already done it。 How had they managed it？
Harry； with his logical brain； had been the first to figure it out。 But Harry had only figured it out after he had seen Beth's tape。 So Harry had discovered a clue in the tape； an important clue。
Beth had also reviewed the tape； watching it again and again； until she finally figured it out； too。 Something in the tape 。。。
Too bad he didn't have the tape here； Norman thought。 But he had seen it often； he could probably reconstruct it； play it back in his mind。 How did it go？ In his mind he saw the images： Beth and Tina talking。 Beth eating cake。 Then ＇＇331＇＇ Tina had said something about the tapes being stored in the submarine。 And Beth said something back。 Then Tina had moved away； out of the picture； but she had said； 〃Do you think they'll ever get the sphere open？〃
And Beth said； 〃Maybe。 I don't know。〃 And the sphere had opened at that moment。
Why？
〃Do you think they'll ever get the sphere open？〃 Tina had asked。 And in response to such a question； Beth must have imagined the sphere open； must have seen an image of the open sphere in her mind
Ther