直升机朝南经过了二个多小时的飞行，已经到达了这次旅行的终点。从空中看尼古拉斯岛，它像是两颗互相依偎的碌宝石，镶嵌在万倾波涛之中。

Chapter 28 The Tunnel of Life（A）

The helicopter which after more than two hours of flight to south had reached the end of the trip. It sees Nicholas island from the air, what is like two green gems of snuggling each other, to inlay in the waves of surge billow.

飞机缓缓降落在尼古拉斯南岛的山脚下，这里山清水秀，林木葱郁，空气清新，阳光普照。埃米莉随着其他乘客跳下飞机,来到宿舍楼。透过乔伊宿舍的窗户，可以看见不远之处的白色建筑物，那里便是贝特·道格拉斯公司所标榜的“生命隧道”。埃米莉把信号转发器放置在窗户附近，将天线隐蔽在窗外，准备在她进入大楼以后，将信号通过卫星传给克拉克。这时敲门的声音响了，埃米莉连忙用窗帘挡住了这只首饰盒。

The plane slowly landed in the south island of Nicholas at the foot of the mountain, where is picturesque scenery, lush vegetation, fresh air and sunshine. Emily as other passengers jumped down from the plane, and came to a dormitory building. Through the window of Joy’s apartment, not far away the white building can be seen, there is The Tunnel of Life which it is flaunted by the Bethe Douglas company. Emily placed signal repeater near the window, hidden the antenna outside the fenster, and would prepare to pass the signal of via satellite to Clark when after she to be into the building. When the voice ringing of to knock on the door, Emily hurriedly warded off jewelry box with curtains.

敲门的是戈夫。

“你能解释一下吗？”他指的是蓝宝石项链。

“对不起，我昨天感冒了，”埃米莉带着鼻音说，“这根项链我早就有了，是我哥哥送给我的生日礼物。”她按照刚才想好的主意对戈夫说。

It was the Gove knocking at the door.

‘Can you explain it?’ He was referring to the sapphire necklace.

‘I'm sorry, I was caught a cold yesterday,’ Emily said in a nasal, ‘this necklace I had already got, is the birthday present that sent by my brother.’ It followed her the idea that she just had considered to say to the Gove.

“哦，我以为是其他什么人给你的。”

“你以为我另外还有一个男朋友？”

“对不起，我多心了，听我说乔伊，我们结婚吧？”

“结婚？我……好吧！我正在考虑这件事。”

“你昨天不是告诉我，你已经考虑好了吗？”

“啊，是的，我是说正在考虑时间问题，是不是再过一两个星期？”

‘Ah，I thought that is what other people give you.’

‘You think I have another boyfriend?’

‘I’m sorry, I sweat it, listen to me, Joy, let us marry?’

‘Marry? I... all right! I'm just thinking about this matter.’

‘Yesterday you told to me that you had considered,didn’t it?"

"Ah, yes, I mean which it is the matter of time, whether another day after one or two weeks?"

“那太好了，不过现在这么忙，我担心谢尔曼博士能不能把度蜜月的假期给我们。”

“是的，这件事到时候再说吧！不过现在我想单独呆一会儿，你不介意吧？”

“好吧。”戈夫有些没趣地走出房间，他感到有点儿不对劲。乔伊不像往常那么热情，变得冷冰冰的，好像换了一个人。

‘That's great, but busy now. I'm afraid Dr Sherman whether gives us a honeymoon vacation or not.’

‘Yes, this is when the time comes to say again, but I want to stay alone for a while now, don't you mind?’

‘OK.’ Some boring in Gove which was out of the room, he felt a bit wrong. Joy is not as warm as usual to become cold, and it looks like to change as another.

这里有两座白色的建筑物，一幢还在进行建造，一幢已经完工。在这幢已完工的大楼的底层，一堵隔墙将其分为两个独立的部分，分别称为I号和II号“生命隧道”系统。每个系统只有两个入口，其中在前面的是一个双开门的玻璃大门，客户和一部分现场工作人员从这里进出；另一个在系统的后面，是一扇不起眼的小门，专供系统内部的操作人员进出。而在这座白色建筑物的楼上，则有两层冷藏仓库，至于做什么用的呢？公司对此讳莫如深。

There were two white buildings that a built was constructing still and another one had completed. In this construction which accomplished, ground floor was divided into two separate parts by a wall, intitule the 1# and 2# system of The Tunnel of Life. Each system has only two entrances, one in the front is the glass of double doors, customer and a part of the field work personnel in and out from here, another one in the back of the system is humble and **all, it is for internal operating personnel of system in and out. While in upstairs of the white building, there are two layers of refrigerated warehouse, as to what to do? The company was secret.

下午，“乔伊”和她的同事们进入了前面的玻璃大门，几名工作人员正在整理现场，做着开始工作前的准备。这儿就是“生命隧道”系统的正面大厅，场面宏伟壮观。系统操纵台安置在一个高出地面两英尺的平台上。在操纵台的后方，设置着一排围栏。那些金色的栏柱大约每四英尺远一个，由深红色的丝绳自然地连接起来，在两英尺高的空中划出了若干个优美的弧线。在操纵台的前面是一张装了轮子的手术台，安放在两条根细铁轨之上。那铁轨向前延伸，一直达到前方圆顶隧洞的深处。那隧洞又深又黑，这也许是主人特意设计的，为的是给那些来访的客人留出想象的空间。

In the afternoon, "Joy" and her colleagues were into the glass door at front, several workers were clearing up the site and prepared before start working. Here is the system of The Tunnel of life on the front of the hall, scene spectacular. System control console set over two feet tall on the ground in a platform. In the rear of the console there is a fence. The golden pillars of column install apart about every four feet to take one that linked by deep red of silk rope naturally, and on two feet in the air to form a number of beautiful arc. In front of the console there is the operating table of installed wheels, it placed above two lines of thin iron rail. The tracks were extension forward, reached the depths of the dome tunnel ahead. The tunnel is deep and dark, what perhaps this is the master specially designed, in order to give the visitor to set aside the imagination.

在准备办公室里，一名护士将文件夹交给戈夫·巴克。

戈夫说：“今天下午，我们将执行第三十六号合同。”

按照以往的惯例，由戈夫负责正面大厅的“前台”，由托比·赖特负责系统内部的“后台”，乔伊和另外一位助理作为后备，根据现场的需要，协助他们俩人的工作。

In the office that it is for some things to prepare, a nurse took a folder to Gove Barker.

Gove said: ‘This afternoon we will enforce the contract of No. 36.’

In according to past practice, Gove was responsible for the front hall of the "front desk", Toby Wright was safe for internal system of the "background", Joy and another assistant as a backup, pursuant the needs of the scene, to help them to work.

“如果没有什么问题，我们就进入岗位吧！”戈夫说。

托比·赖特带着两名工作人员走出大厅，朝系统的后部走去，他们穿过铁栅栏消失在走廊的拐角处。

戈夫走出准备办公室，登上操纵台，埃米莉站在他的旁边。这时候凡是埃米莉看得到的，远在拿骚的克拉克也能看到。蓝宝石项链和那些相关的设备正在发挥着它们的巨大威力。

‘If no problem, we will enter the job!’ Mr.Gove said.

Toby Wright was taking two workers out of the hall, and walked back toward the system, after they disappeared through the iron fence at the corner of the corridor.

Gove out of the office of as preparation, mounted control console, Emily standing beside him. At that time, what Emily to see Clark can also be seen in Nassau. Sapphire necklace and the related equipment are working to execute their power.

在这个操作台上有一台二十英寸的高清晰彩色显示器，还有几十只各种仪表，以及为数不多的开关和按钮，那些开关和按钮是使用彩色塑料制成的。戈夫曾经告诉过乔伊，操纵台里面有一台性能强大的电脑主机。在操纵台的一侧，还有两台辅助电脑，监控着系统边缘设备的正常运转。

戈夫从容地打开系统总开关，那个黑色手柄被旋转了九十度。操纵台上黄色的指示灯亮了起来，一些仪表也开始了工作。

On the stage of operation with a 20 inches high-definition color displayer, there are dozens of all kinds of instruments, as well as a few switches and buttons, the switch and button are made with color plastic. Gove had told Joy, in the console with a computer host that is powerful. In the side of the control board, there are two auxiliary computers that to monitor the system of edge devices to work normally.

Gove opened the main switch of system leisurely, and the black controller was rotated ninety degrees. The yellow lamp was lit up on stage of manipulation, and some instruments also started the work.

“系统进入自动检测状态。”电脑的喇叭响了，这是一个会说话的家伙，音色单调的声音吓了埃米莉一跳。

操纵台的主显示屏同时也打出了一排文字：“系统进入自动检测状态。”

六十秒钟以后，电脑报告：“系统经检测正常。”

‘System into automatic detection’. Computer speakers rang, this is a talking guy, sound of monotonous voice startled Emily.

Main display screen of console at the same time, it showed a line of words: ‘system into automatic detection.’

Sixty seconds later, computer report: ‘system through test normal.’

戈夫拿起一只红色的电话听筒，这是系统内部的直通热线，接电话的是托比·赖特。

“准备好了吗？”戈夫问。

“是的，准备好了。”托比答道。

Gove picked up a red phone in the receiver that this is within the system of the through hotline，after it was Toby Wright to answer the phone.

‘Is it ready?’ Gove asked.

‘Yes, ready.’ Toby replied.

“皮夹克怎么样？”

“领来了，她看起来很不错。”

“请注意，”戈夫嘱咐道，“最近一批HP蛋白酶经测试只有正常值的百分之七十，你可以考虑酌情增加药量。”

‘How is leather jacket?’

‘It is there, she seems very nice.’

‘Note,’ Mr Gove said, ‘a recent batch of HP protease is only seventy percent of the normal value by test, and you can consider to take increase quantity.’

“是的，我打算每份使用一点五个安瓿，你看如何？”

“我想可以。还有什么问题吗？”

“没有。”

“再见！”

‘Yes, I'm going to use of one point five ampoule for each case, how do you think?’

‘I think so. Are there any questions yet?’

‘No.’

‘Good-bye!’

埃米莉伸着耳朵听着他们的对话。她想，这种HP蛋白酶大约是某种可以溶解HP的东西。至于它的使用方法，她必须在以后的侦察中弄清楚。

第三十六号合同的当事人是一位昔日的女影星，如今年近九十，人老美色衰，漫长的岁月几乎让人把她忘却了。她的也上了年纪的儿子、儿媳妇，以及孙子、孙媳妇和曾孙女伴她同行。同时在现场露面的，还有女影星的几位老朋友。

Emily stretched out ear listen to their conversations. She thought, this kind of HP protease is about something can dissolve the HP. As for its usage, she must make certain in the later reconnaissance.

The contract No. 36 of the party is a former actress who now nearly ninety years to be old and woman’s beauty declined, long years almost to let people forget her. Her son who also the elderly one, daughter-in-law, and grandson, grandson's wife and great-granddaughter accompanied with her together. Appearances on the scene at the same time, there also were a few old friends of actress.

戈夫自信地向客人们介绍着“生命隧道”的神力，精妙之处，忍不住眉飞色舞，指天画地。来宾们被请到操纵台后侧的栏杆外面。女影星热泪盈眶，与她自己的亲人拥抱告别，依依不舍，这并不是在演戏，而是真实感情的流露。她的曾孙女问道：“曾奶奶，您还会回来吗？”

“当然，孩子！”

Gove was confidently introduced the The Tunnel of Life of divine power to guests, and it was ingenious, after he couldn't help enraptured and dancing with him hands and feet. The guests were invited to console of the after side where outside the fence. The eyes of actress brimmed with tears, and she embraced as the farewell to her relatives and friends reluctantly, it's not an act, but the true feelings to show. Her great-granddaughter asked: ‘Great-grandma, will you come back yet?’

‘Of course, children!’

最后的时刻已经到了，戈夫请那位女影星更衣，两名护士陪同她进入了一间更衣室。片刻，那老人出来了。她光着脚，一条白色的布单包裹着她胸部以下的部分。护士们将她扶上手术台车。在躺下之前，她最后向人们做了一个告别的飞吻。手持镇静剂注射器的护士站在一旁，只等她躺下去便开始注射。

两名护士站在手术台对侧，抓住她的双手、双脚，用手术台的固定皮带捆住。她的头也被一副曲线夹夹住，不能随便活动。

The last moment has arrived, the Gove was please that actress to change clothes, accompanied by two nurses she entered a locker room. For a moment, the old man was to out. She was barefoot, wrapped in a white sheet to part on her chest and below. The nurses helped her get on the surgical cart. Before lying down, she finally made a farewell kiss with hands to people. A nurse stood a side who holding a sedative syringe, as soon as the actress lie down and began to injection.

Two nurses stood at both sides of the surgical cart, held of her hands and feet, with fixed belt of operating table tied up. Her head couldn't shake, and it was caught by curve clamp.

“注意，不要太紧，松紧要适度。”戈夫站在操纵台上，手持无绳麦克风，提醒那些操作者。

一切准备完毕，护士们开始用酒精棉球在她的脚心处，头面部耳朵附近进行消毒。

一名男医生打开一个金属盒，里面全是专供针灸使用的银制细针。当他取出银针用酒精擦拭时，那女影星睁大了眼睛看着他手中三英寸长的细针。

‘Pay attention to, don't be too tight, elastic moderation.’ Gove was standing in control on the stage to hold wireless microphone in a hand, reminding to the operator.

All ready, the nurses started to use alcohol cotton balls disinfected in her foot, head facial and close to the ear.

A male doctor opened a metal box, and there were silver needles which for use acupuncture. When he took silver needle with alcohol to wipe, the actress was wide open her eyes looked to the needle which at his hand about three inches long.

“别担心夫人，”那男医生说，“这种针刺入肌肉既不很痛，也不会出血。”也许是镇静剂的作用，那女影星闭上了自己的眼睛，不再关心针的问题。

男医生用两根细针分别刺入了她两边耳廓的下面，又取出两根一英寸的银针刺入颌下。当他在老人的脚心处寻找穴位时，那老人感到奇痒难耐，忍不住“嘿，嘿，嘿！”地笑起来。她的双脚滑稽地躲来躲去，逃避着那位男医生的双手，这引起看客的兴趣，使得紧张的氛围有所放松。所有的三对银针都已经刺入了预定的穴道。这时，那位医生展开了手术台上的一束彩色电线，这些彩色电线经过电缆直通电脑主机，每根电线的头上都焊接着一个金属夹。他把这些彩色电线分别夹在那些银针的柄部，红色的夹在脚心的针上，兰色的，黄色的分别夹在耳边和颌下。当他把这些工作处理完了之后，便向戈夫做了一个“OK”的手势。

‘Don't worry, madam,’ the male doctor said, ‘the needle into the muscle is not very painful, also won't bleed.’ Perhaps a sedative effect, the actress closed her eyes, no longer concerned the problem of about the needle.

Male doctors use two fine needles pierced her respectively under both sides of the auricle, and removed the two needles of an inch long into the jaws. When he was in arch place of the feet of the old man to find acupuncture points, the old man felt itching, could not help ‘hey, hey, hey!’ to laugh. Her feet comically evaded both two sides, to escape the male doctor's hands, which it caused the interest of viewers, and made tense atmosphere of the locale a little relief. All three pairs of silver needles had been pierced acupuncture points. At this moment, the doctor unfolded of the electric wires that with color in the operating table, the current leads which the head of each wire welding with a metal clip to through the cable across to the computer host. He took the colored wires to clip on the handle of silver needles respectively, the red to clip of the needles on the arch of the feet, blue, yellow, to the ear and jaws. When he was done after the work, then he made a gesture of "OK" to the Gove.

戈夫按动了一个绿色的开关。

电脑开始发出了声响：“这里是生命隧道系统，请输入密码，这里是生命隧道系统，请输入密码。”

Gove pressed a green switch.

Start computer sent out a sound: ‘This is the system of The Tunnel of Life, please enter the password, here is the system of The Tunnel of Life, please enter the password.’

戈夫敲击键盘，输入了一组字符串。

“密码相符，请继续。”电脑的密码识别系统向戈夫开了绿灯。

“我是戈夫·巴克。”

Gove stroked on the keyboard, inputting a group of the characteristic strings.

‘Password is consistent, please continue.’ Computer password recognition system to Gove a green light.

‘I'm Gove barker.’

“音调特征相符，请继续。”电脑的语音识别系统也向戈夫开了绿灯。

“进入自动程序控制！”戈夫命令道。

“是！先生，进入自动程序控制。”

‘Tone characteristics united, please continue.’ Computer sound of recognition system also gave the green light to Gove.

‘In the process of the automatic control!’ Gove ordered.

‘Yes Sir! Into the program of automatic control.

操纵台上的黄色指示灯开始闪动，倒计时也随即开始了：“十、九、八、七、六、五、四、三、二、一、零。”该指示灯变成了绿色。那躺着的老人，双腿一阵抽搐，红色电线上已经加上了电压，真让人担心她是否受得了。戈夫这时非常自信，他知道，这位夫人大脑里的感觉思维中枢已被关闭，以后不论碰见什么，她都不会作声了。

Yellow lights started flashing which on the stage of operation, the countdown also immediately began: ‘Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, zero.’ The light turned into green. The old man who had lain, her legs a burst of convulsion, red wire had been added to the voltage, it really made people worry about whether she could bear or not. Gove was confident at this moment, he knew, for feeling and thinking of the lady’s brain center which it had been closed, later no matter what meet, she will be quiet.

手术台车开始顺着轨道向圆顶隧洞移去，隧洞口的一圈绿色彩灯闪动着和谐的柔光。

手术台进入隧洞之后，隧洞深处开始发出阵阵微弱的紫色闪光。一缕白烟袅袅，慢慢充斥大厅，这时人们闻到了一丝玫瑰香味，排气扇随即开始工作。手术台进入了隧洞的深处，从外面已经看不清，人们把注意力转移到正在向前移动的电缆。

The surgical cart began to move down on the track to the dome tunnel, the green lights that round the tunnel mouth it was flashing a harmonious soft light.

When the table was into the tunnel, deep of tunnel started to give out with a weak flash as purple. A wisp of white **oke curled up, and it filled in the hall slowly, after at this moment people **elled a rose fragrance, and exhaust fan began to work immediately. Table into the depths of the tunnel, it already couldn't see from the outside, people turned their attention to the cable was moving forward.

“手术台到达指定位置。”根据程序控制的进度，电脑开始用文字和语音同时进行报告。……“输入询问信号”……“记录意识阀数据”……“输入询问信号”……“记录触发数据”……“打开感觉数据域”……“输入询问信号”……“记录反应数据”……“打开思维数据域”……“输入询问信号”……“记录反应数据”……“打开记忆数据域”……“输入询问信号”……“记录反应数据”……

‘Table arrived of the specified location.’ Based on the progress of the program control, computer began to use text and voice to report at the same time. ...... ‘Input signal for asking’... ‘Record consciousness valve data’...... ‘Input signal for asking’... ‘Record data of trigger’...... ‘Open the sense data fields’... ‘Input signal for asking’... ‘Record response data’...... ‘Open mind of data domain’... ‘Input signal for asking’... ‘Record response data’...... ‘Open the domain of memory data’... ‘Input signal for asking’... ‘Record response data’......