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1、TheTerminalExperimentbyRobertJ.SawyerInthelastanalysis,itisourconceptionofdeathwhichdecidesouranswerstoallthequestionslifeputstous.—DagHammarskjold(1905-1961)UnitedNationsSecretaryGeneralPROLOGUEDECEMBER2011WhatroomisDetectivePhiloin?"askedPeterHobson,atall,thinmanofforty-two,wi
2、thhairanequalmixtureofblackandgray.Thesquatnursebehindthedeskhadbeenabsorbedinwhatevershe'dbeenreading.Shelookedup."Pardon?""DetectiveSandraPhilo,"saidPeter."Whatroomisshein?""Four-twelve,"saidthenurse."Butherdoctorhasorderedthatonlyimmediatefamilymembersshouldvisit."Peterbegand
3、ownthecorridor.Thenursecamearoundfrombehindthedeskandgavechase."Youcan'tgointhere,"shesaidfirmly.Peterturnedbrieflytolookather."Ihavetoseeher."Thenursemaneuveredinfrontofhim."She'sincriticalcondition.""I'mPeterHobson.I'madoctor.""Iknowwhoyouare,Mr.Hobson.Ialsoknowyou'renotamedic
4、aldoctor.""I'montheBoardofDirectorsofNorthYorkGeneral.""Fine.Gooverthereandbullysomeone,then.You'renotraisinghavoconmyward."Peterexhalednoisily."Look,it'samatteroflifeanddeaththatIseeMs.Philo.""EverythingintheICUisamatteroflifeanddeath,Mr.Hobson.Ms.Philoissleeping,andI'llnothave
5、herdisturbed."Peterpushedahead."I'llcallsecurity,"saidthenurse,tryingtokeephervoicelowsoasnottoalarmthepatients.Peterdidn'tlookback."Fine,"hesnapped,hislonglegscarryinghimquicklydownthecorridor.Thenursewaddledtowardherdeskandpickedupthephone.Peterfound412andenteredwithoutknockin
6、g.SandrawashookeduptoanEKG;itwasn'taHobsonunit,butPeterhadnotroublereadingitsdisplay.Adripbagofsalinewasonapolebesideherbed.Sandraopenedhereyes.Itseemedtotakeamomentforthemtofocus."You!"sheexclaimedatlast,hervoicerawandthin—theeffectsofthebeamer.Peterclosedthedoor."I'veonlygotaf
7、ewmoments.They'vealreadycalledsecuritytocomeandtakemeaway."EverywordwasastruggleforSandra."Youtried...tohaveme...killed,"shesaid."No,"saidPeter."Isweartoyouthatwasn'tmydoing."Sandramanagedaweakshout,toofainttobeheardthroughthecloseddoor."Nurse!"Peterlookedatthewoman.Whenhe'dfirs
8、tmether,onlyafewweeksago,she'dbeenahealthythirt