（外文电子版资料）Niven, Larry - Eye of an Octopus.doc

EYE OF AN OCTOPUS By Larry Niven It was a well. Henry Bedrosian and Christopher Luden bent over the lip peering down into the jet darkness. Their balloon-tired motorcycle lay forgotten on the talcum sand, fine pink sand that stretched endlessly ,,away to the flat horizon, borrowing its color from the sky. The sky was the color of blood. It might have been a flaming Kansas sunset, but the tiny sun was still at the zenith. The translucent hewn stone of the well-mouth stood like a blasphemy in the poisonous wilderness that was Mars. It stood four feet above the sand, roughly circular perhaps three yards across. The weathered stones were upright blocks, a foot tall by five inches wide by perhaps a foot thick. Whatever the material of those stones they seemed to glow with a faintly blue inner light. Its so human! said Henry Bedrosian. His voice held a touch of bewildered frustration echoed by his dark chisel-nosed face. Chris Luden knew what he meant. Its natural. A wells like a lever or a wheel. There arent many changes you can make because its too simple. Did you notice the shape of the bricks? Yes. Odd. But they could still be man made. In this air? Breathing nitric oxide drinking red fuming nitric acid? But- Chris drew a deep breath. Why complain? Its life, Harry! Weve discovered intelligent life! Weve got to tell Abe. Right. But it was a long moment before either moved. They stood leaning over the well vivid green pressure suits against pink sand and dark red horizon peering down into the blur of darkness at the bottom Then they turned and mounted the Marsmobile. The landing vehicle stood like an upright steel ballpoint pen. Its bottom half was three spreading legs, a restarting solid rocket, and a spacious cargo hold two-thirds empty now. The upper half was the return-to-orbit stage. Far away across the crescent dunes was a white patch, the jettisoned drag chute. The Marsmobile, a glorified two-seater motorcycle with big round tires and a number of special modifica