Sphere

by Michael Crichton

I AM ENJOYING TO MANIFEST FOR YOU NORMAN. AND ALSO FOR YOU HARRY. “Thank you, Jerry.” I AM ENJOYING YOUR MANIFESTATIONS ALSO. “Our manifestations?” Norman said, glancing at Harry. Apparently Jerry thought that the people on the habitat were manifesting something in return. Jerry seemed to consider it an exchange of some kind. YES I AM ENJOYING YOUR MANIFESTATIONS ALSO. “Tell us about our manifestations, Jerry,” Norman said. THE MANIFESTATIONS ARE SMALL AND THEY DO NOT EXTEND BEYOND YOUR ENTITIES BUT THE MANIFESTATIONS ARE NEW FOR ME. THEY ARE HAPPY FOR ME. “What’s he talking about?” Harry said. YOUR MANIFESTATIONS HARRY. “What manifestations, for Christ’s sake?” “Don’t get mad,” Norman warned. “Stay calm.” I AM LIKING THAT ONE HARRY. DO AN OTHER. Norman thought: Is he reading emotions? Does he regard our emotions as manifestations? But that didn’t make sense. Jerry couldn’t read their minds; they’d already determined that. Maybe he’d better check again. Jerry, he thought, can you hear me? I AM LIKING HARRY. HIS MANIFESTATIONS ARE RED. THEY ARE WITFUL. “Witful?” WITFUL = FULL OF WIT? “I see,” Harry said. “He thinks we’re funny.” FUNNY = FULL OF FUN? “Not exactly,” Norman said. “We entities have the concept of …” He trailed off. How was he going to explain “funny”? What was a joke, anyway? “We entities have the concept of a situation which causes discomfort and we call this situation humorous.” HUME OR US? “No. One word.” Norman spelled it for him. I SEE. YOUR MANIFESTATIONS...