/* source: http://ah-sandbox.wikidot.com/component:collapsible-sidebar-x1 */ #top-bar .open-menu a { position: fixed; bottom: 0.5em; left: 0.5em; z-index: 15; font-family: san-serif; font-size: 30px; font-weight: 700; width: 30px; height: 30px; line-height: 0.9em; text-align: center; border: 0.2em solid #888 !important; background-color: #fff !important; border-radius: 3em; color: #888 !important; text-decoration: none!important; } @media (min-width: 768px) { .mobile-top-bar { display: block; } .mobile-top-bar li { display: none; } #main-content { max-width: 708px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0; transition: max-width 0.2s ease-in-out; } #side-bar { display: block; position: fixed; top: 0; left: -25em; width: 17em; height: 100%; background-color: rgb(184, 134, 134); overflow-y: auto; z-index: 10; padding: 1em 1em 0 1em; -webkit-transition: left 0.5s ease-in-out 0.1s; -moz-transition: left 0.5s ease-in-out 0.1s; -ms-transition: left 0.5s ease-in-out 0.1s; -o-transition: left 0.5s ease-in-out 0.1s; transition: left 0.5s ease-in-out 0.1s; } #side-bar:after { content: ""; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 0; height: 100%; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); } #side-bar:target { display: block; left: 0; width: 17em; margin: 0; border: 1px solid #dedede; z-index: 10; } #side-bar:target + #main-content { left: 0; } #side-bar:target .close-menu { display: block; position: fixed; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0; left: 0; background: rgba(0,0,0,0.3) 1px 1px repeat; z-index: -1; } }
:root { --timeScale: 1; --timeDelay: 0s; } /* Converting middle divider from box-shadow to ::before pseudo-element */ .anom-bar > .bottom-box { box-shadow: none!important; } .anom-bar > .bottom-box::before { position: absolute; content: " "; width: 100%; height: 0.5rem; background-color: rgb(var(--black-monochrome, 12, 12, 12)); transform: translateY(-0.74rem); } /* DIVIDER */ .anom-bar > .bottom-box::before { animation-name: divider; animation-duration: calc(0.74s * var(--timeScale)); animation-delay: calc(0.1s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.32,.38,.39,.94); animation-fill-mode: backwards; } /* CLASSIFIED LEVEL BARS */ div.top-center-box > * { animation-name: bar; animation-duration: calc(0.45s * var(--timeScale)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: ease-out; animation-fill-mode: backwards; } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(1) { animation-delay: calc(0.2s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(2) { animation-delay: calc(0.32s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(3) { animation-delay: calc(0.45s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(4) { animation-delay: calc(0.61s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(5) { animation-delay: calc(0.75s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(6) { animation-delay: calc(0.95s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } /* TOP TEXT */ div.top-left-box, div.top-right-box { clip-path: polygon( 0% -50%, 150% -50%, 150% 100%, 0% 100%); } div.top-left-box > *, div.top-right-box > * { position: relative; animation-name: bottomup; animation-duration: calc(0.65s * var(--timeScale)); animation-delay: calc(0.5s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: ease-out; animation-fill-mode: backwards; } /*-----------------------------------*/ /*-----------------------------------*/ /* CONTAINMENT, DISRUPTION, RISK CLASSES */ div.text-part > * { clip-path: polygon( 0% 0%, 100% 0%, 100% 100%, 0% 100%); animation-name: expand2; animation-duration: calc(0.5s * var(--timeScale)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.12,.41,.27,.99); animation-fill-mode: backwards; } div.text-part > :nth-child(1) { animation-name: expand1; } div.text-part > :nth-child(1) { animation-delay: calc(0.6s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.text-part > :nth-child(2) { animation-delay: calc(0.75s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.text-part > :nth-child(3) { animation-delay: calc(0.86s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.main-class::before, div.main-class::after { animation-name: iconslide; animation-duration: calc(0.45s * var(--timeScale)); animation-delay: calc(0.8s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.12,.41,.27,.99); animation-fill-mode: backwards; } /* BOTTOM TEXT */ div.main-class > *, div.disrupt-class > *, div.risk-class > * { white-space: nowrap; animation-name: flowIn; animation-duration: calc(0.42s * var(--timeScale)); animation-delay: calc(0.75s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: ease-out; animation-fill-mode: backwards; } /*-----------------------------------*/ /*-----------------------------------*/ /* DIAMOND */ div.arrows { animation-name: arrowspin; animation-duration: calc(0.7s * var(--timeScale)); animation-delay: calc(0.6s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.12,.41,.27,.99); animation-fill-mode: backwards; } div.quadrants > * { animation-name: fade; animation-duration: calc(0.3s * var(--timeScale)); animation-delay: calc(1.4s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.12,.41,.27,.99); animation-fill-mode: backwards; } div.top-icon, div.right-icon, div.left-icon, div.bottom-icon { animation-name: nodegrow; animation-duration: calc(0.4s * var(--timeScale)); animation-delay: calc(1.4s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.12,.41,.27,.99); animation-fill-mode: backwards; } div.diamond-part { clip-path: polygon( -10% 0.37%, 120% 0.37%, 120% 100%, -10% 100%); animation-name: diamondBorder; animation-duration: calc(0.8s * var(--timeScale)); animation-delay: calc(0.5s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); animation-iteration-count: 1; animation-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.32,.38,.39,.94); animation-fill-mode: backwards; will-change: box-shadow; } /* MOBILE QUERY */ @media (max-width: 480px ) { .anom-bar > .bottom-box::before { display:none; } .anom-bar > .bottom-box { box-shadow: 0 -0.5rem 0 0 rgb(var(--black-monochrome, 12, 12, 12))!important; } div.top-center-box > * { animation-name: bar-mobile; animation-duration: calc(0.9s * var(--timeScale)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(1) { animation-delay: calc(0.1s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(2) { animation-delay: calc(0.2s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(3) { animation-delay: calc(0.3s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(4) { animation-delay: calc(0.4s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(5) { animation-delay: calc(0.5s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } div.top-center-box > :nth-child(6) { animation-delay: calc(0.6s * var(--timeScale) + var(--timeDelay)); } } /*--- Motion Accessibility ---*/ @media screen and (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { div.anom-bar-container { --timeScale: 0!important; } } /*-------------------------*/ @keyframes divider { from { max-width: 0%; } to { max-width: 100%; } } @keyframes bar { from { max-width: 0%; } to { max-width: 100%; } } @keyframes bar-mobile { from { max-height: 0%; } to { max-height: 100%; } } @keyframes bottomup { from { top: 100px; } to { top: 0; } } @keyframes expand1 { from { opacity: 0; clip-path: inset(0 calc(100% - 0.75rem) 0 0); } to { opacity: 1; clip-path: inset(0); } } @keyframes iconslide { from { opacity: 0; transform: translateX(-5rem); } to { opacity: 1; transform: translateX(0); } } @keyframes expand2 { from { opacity: 0; width: 1%; } to { opacity: 1; width: calc(100% - 0.25rem); } } @keyframes fade { from { opacity: 0; } to { opacity: 1; } } @keyframes flowIn { from { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(20px); } to { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); } } @keyframes arrowspin { from { clip-path: circle(0%); transform: rotate(135deg); } to { clip-path: circle(75%); transform: rotate(0deg); } } @keyframes nodegrow { from { transform: scale(0);} to { transform: scale(1);} } @keyframes diamondBorder { from { box-shadow: -0.5rem -20rem 0 0 rgb(var(--black-monochrome, 12, 12, 12)); } to { box-shadow: -0.5rem 0 0 0 rgb(var(--black-monochrome, 12, 12, 12)); } }
/* BLANKSTYLE CSS [2021 Wikidot Theme] By Placeholder McD and HarryBlank Based on: Paperstack Theme by EstrellaYoshte Penumbra Theme by EstrellaYoshte Edited by iti119 for SCP-JP */ @import url('https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Montserrat:ital,wght@0,800;1,800&display=swap'); #page-content { font-size: 0.8rem; } #main-content { top: -1.6rem; padding: 0.2em; } div#container-wrap { background-image: none; } div#header { background-image: none; } #header h1, #header h2 { margin-left: 0; float: none; text-align: center; } #header h2 { margin-top: 0.5rem; } #header h1 span, #header h2 span { font-size: 0; display: none;} #header h1 a::before, #header h2::before { color: #000; letter-spacing: 1px; font-family: 'Montserrat', verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif !important; text-shadow: none; } #header h1 a::before { content: var(--header-title, "R\0026 C SITE-43"); font-weight: 400; font-size: 1.3em; } #header h2::before { content: var(--header-subtitle, "SUBVERTING COMMON PRACTICE"); font-weight: 700; font-size: 1.2em; } @media (max-width: 707px) { #header h1 a::before { font-size: 1.6em; } } #login-status, #login-status a { color: #333333; } #page-title { display: none; } #footer, #footer a { background: transparent; color: #333333; } #search-top-box-input, #search-top-box-input:hover, #search-top-box-input:focus, #search-top-box-form input[type=submit], #search-top-box-form input[type=submit]:hover, #search-top-box-form input[type=submit]:focus { border: none; background: #333333; box-shadow: none; border-radius: 0px; color: #efefef; } #search-top-box input.empty { color: #999999; } #search-top-box { top: 2.3rem !important; right: 8px; } #top-bar { display: flex; justify-content: center; right: 0; top: 7.9rem; } #top-bar, #top-bar a { color: #333333; } h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6 { font-family: 'Montserrat', verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000; letter-spacing: 1px; } h1 { font-size: 2em; } h2 { font-size: 1.45em; } div#extra-div-1 { height: 160px; width: 100%; top: 0; position: absolute; background: url('http://scp-jp-storage.wdfiles.com/local--files/file:5722815-45-51f1/43Head.png'); background-size: contain; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 50% 50%; z-index: -1; } @media (max-width: 707px) { div#extra-div-1 { top: 15px; } } body { background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, #e0e0e0, #e0e0e0 90px, #e0e0e0 90px, #ffffff 200px, #ffffff 200px, #ffffff 100%); background-repeat: no-repeat; } :root { --timeScale: 1.5; --timeDelay: 1.5s; --posX: calc(50% - 358px - 13rem); --fnLinger: 1s; } #page-content hr { background-color: #000; } #page-content tr th { padding: 6px; border: #000 1px solid; } #page-content tr td { padding: 12px; border: #000 1px solid; line-height: 1.4; } #page-content .sidebox tr td, #page-content .sidebox tr th { padding: 0.35em; } #side-bar { border-right: 1px solid #333; background: #DDD; } #side-bar .side-block { border: 1px solid #333; border-radius: 0; box-shadow: none; background-color: #FDF6D7; } #top-bar div.open-menu a { border: 1px solid #333 !important; border-radius: 0; box-shadow: none; } @media (max-width: 767px) { #side-bar:target { border: 1px black; box-shadow: none; } } #page-content .creditRate{ margin: unset; margin-bottom: 4px; } #page-content .rate-box-with-credit-button { background-color: #ffffff; border: solid 1px #000; box-shadow: none; border-radius: 0; } #page-content .rate-box-with-credit-button .fa-info { border: none; color: #333333; } #page-content .rate-box-with-credit-button .fa-info:hover { background: #333333; color: #ffffff; } .rate-box-with-credit-button .cancel { border: solid 1px #ffffff; } /* ---- PAGE RATING ---- */ .page-rate-widget-box { box-shadow: none; border: solid 1px #000; margin: unset; margin-bottom: 4px; border-radius: 0; } div.page-rate-widget-box .rate-points { background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; border: none; border-radius: 0; } .page-rate-widget-box .rateup, .page-rate-widget-box .ratedown { background-color: #ffffff; border-top: none; border-bottom: none; } .page-rate-widget-box .rateup a, .page-rate-widget-box .ratedown a { background: transparent; color: #333333; } .page-rate-widget-box .rateup a:hover, .page-rate-widget-box .ratedown a:hover { background: #333333; color: #ffffff; } .page-rate-widget-box .cancel { background: transparent; background-color: #ffffff; border: none; border-radius: 0; } .page-rate-widget-box .cancel a { color: #333333; } .page-rate-widget-box .cancel a:hover { background: #333333; color: #ffffff; border-radius: 0; } #page-content .rate-box-with-credit-button .page-rate-widget-box { border: none; } .anchor { position: sticky; height: 0; top: 0; } .sidebox { padding: .14rem; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 8px; width: calc((100vw - 870px)/2); max-height: calc(100vh - 18rem); position: absolute; top: 0; left: 103.5%; z-index: 5; overflow: auto; box-sizing: border-box; } @media (max-width: 1290px) { .sidebox { display: none; visibility: hidden; } } .scp-image-block { box-shadow: none; } /* ---- YUI TAB BASE ---- */ .yui-navset .yui-nav a,.yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-nav a{background-color:inherit;background-image:inherit}.yui-navset .yui-nav a:hover,.yui-navset .yui-nav a:focus{background:inherit;text-decoration:inherit}.yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a,.yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a:focus,.yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a:hover{color:inherit;background:inherit}.yui-navset .yui-nav,.yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-nav{border-color:inherit}.yui-navset li{line-height:inherit} /* ---- YUI TAB CUSTOMIZATION ----*/ .yui-navset .yui-nav, .yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-nav{ display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; width: calc(100% - .125rem); margin: 0 auto; border-color: #333333; box-shadow: none; } .yui-navset .yui-nav a, /* ---- Link Modifier ---- */ .yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-nav a{ color: #333333; /* ---- Tab Background Colour | [UNSELECTED] ---- */ background-color: #efefef; border: unset; box-shadow: none; box-shadow: none; } .yui-navset .yui-nav a:hover, .yui-navset .yui-nav a:focus{ color: #ffffff; /* ---- Tab Background Colour | [HOVER] ---- */ background-color: #333333; } .yui-navset .yui-nav li, /* ---- Listitem Modifier ---- */ .yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-nav li{ position: relative; display: flex; flex-grow: 2; max-width: 100%; margin: 0; padding: 0; color: #ffffff; background-color: #ffffff; border-color: transparent; box-shadow: none; } .yui-navset .yui-nav li a, .yui-navset-top .yui-nav li a, .yui-navset-bottom .yui-nav li a{ display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; width: 100%; } .yui-navset .yui-nav li em{ border: unset; } .yui-navset .yui-nav a em, .yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-nav a em{ padding: .35em .75em; text-overflow: ellipsis; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap; } .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected, /* ---- Selection Modifier ---- */ .yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-nav .selected{ flex-grow: 2; margin: 0; padding: 0; /* ---- Tab Background Colour | [SELECTED] ---- */ background-color: #333333; } .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a, .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a em{ border: none; } .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a{ width: 100%; color: #ffffff; } .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a:focus, .yui-navset .yui-nav .selected a:active{ color: #ffffff; background-color: #333333; } .yui-navset .yui-content { background-color: #ffffff; box-shadow: none; } .yui-navset .yui-content, .yui-navset .yui-navset-top .yui-content{ padding: .5em; border: 1px solid #333; box-sizing: border-box; } /*---- SCROLLBAR ----*/ ::-webkit-scrollbar { width: 10px; } ::-webkit-scrollbar-track { background: #FFF; border-left: 1px solid #333; } ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb { background: #CCC; border: #333 1px solid; } ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover { background: #EEE; } /*---- CENTER IMAGES ON MOBILE courtesy of EstrellaYoshte and PeppersGhost ----*/ .imagediv { float: right; margin: 15px } @media (max-width: 540px) { .imagediv { float: none; text-align:center; margin: auto; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { .scp-image-block.block-right{ float: none; margin: 10px auto; } } /*---- ACS-COLORED TABLE DIVS ----*/ #page-content .table1 tr th, #page-content .table1 .scp-image-block .scp-image-caption { background-color: #D7EFE7; } #page-content .table2 tr th, #page-content .table2 .scp-image-block .scp-image-caption { background-color: #D8ECF4; } #page-content .table3 tr th, #page-content .table3 .scp-image-block .scp-image-caption { background-color: #FDF6D7; } #page-content .table4 tr th, #page-content .table4 .scp-image-block .scp-image-caption { background-color: #FFDABF; } #page-content .table5 tr th, #page-content .table5 .scp-image-block .scp-image-caption { background-color: #F5D8E0; } #page-content .table6 tr th, #page-content .table6 .scp-image-block .scp-image-caption { background-color: rgba(146, 0, 255, 0.2); } .tableb .wiki-content-table { border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 2px; } .tableb .scp-image-block { border: none; } .tableb .scp-image-block img { border: #000 1px solid; box-sizing: border-box; } .tableb .scp-image-block .scp-image-caption { margin-top: 2px; border: #000 1px solid; box-sizing: border-box; } .top-left-box > .item { display: none; } /* ---- WORDS NO LONGER BROKEN, THE CROQUEMBOUCHE HAS SPOKEN ---- */ span, a { word-break: normal !important } .avatar-hover { display: none !important; } #breadcrumbs, .pseudocrumbs { text-align: center; padding-top: 10px; } #main-content .page-tags span { max-width: 100%; } /* -- FANCY THINGS from Woedenaz's Dustjacket Theme -- */ #page-content .fancyhr hr { border-top: 2vw solid transparent; background-color: rgba(var(--bright-accent), 0); height: 0; box-sizing: border-box; border-image-source: url('http://scp-jp-storage.wdfiles.com/local--files/file:5722815-46-ec6z/wl_hr.png'); border-image-repeat: round round; background: none; border-image-slice: 80 500 80 500 fill; border-image-width: 10em 80em 10em 80em; } #page-content .fancyborder { box-sizing: border-box; border: 2vw solid rgba(0,0,0,0.5); border-image: url('http://scp-jp-storage.wdfiles.com/local--files/file:5722815-47-mqmb/wl_border.png') 600 round; border-image-width: 6; padding: 2vw; } /*---- Localization for JP ----*/ /* Rate Module */ #page-content div.page-rate-widget-box .rate-points { font-family: verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 0.8rem; } .creditRate .page-rate-widget-box .cancel a { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; height: 16px; padding: 2px 5px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; } .creditRate .page-rate-widget-box .cancel a:hover { color: #ffffff; } /* Credit Module */ #page-content .creditRate.creditModule .rate-box-with-credit-button { border: none 0; } #page-content .creditRate.creditModule .rate-box-with-credit-button .page-rate-widget-box { border: solid 1px #000; margin-bottom: 0; } .creditRate.creditModule .rate-box-with-credit-button .creditButton { display: inline-flex; width: 20px; height: 18px; background: #ffffff; border-color: #000; border-radius: 0; box-shadow: none; } .creditRate.creditModule .rate-box-with-credit-button .creditButton a { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; width: 20px; height: 16px; } /* Info Module */ .creditRate:not(.creditModule) .rate-box-with-credit-button .creditButton { width: auto; background: none; border: none 0; border-radius: 0; box-shadow: none; } .creditRate:not(.creditModule) .rate-box-with-credit-button .creditButton p a { display: inline-flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; height: 16px; padding: 0; } /* Side Bar */ #side-bar { display: grid; grid-template-areas: "a" "a" "a" "a" "red" "blue" "b" "b"; } #side-bar .side-block[style="background-color: #a7dba2;"] { background: #D7EFE7 !important; } #side-bar .side-block[style="background-color: #e5e5ff;"] { background: #D8ECF4 !important; grid-area: blue; } #side-bar .side-block[style="background-color: #fff0f0;"] { background: #F5D8E0 !important; grid-area: red; } #side-bar .side-block[style="background-color: #f0f0f0;"] { background: #FFFFFF !important; } @media (max-width: 767px) { #side-bar:target { display: grid; width: 19em; } } @media (min-width: 768px) { #side-bar:target { display: grid; width: 19em; border: none 0; border-right: solid 1px #333; } #side-bar:target .close-menu { margin-left: 21em; opacity: 0; } } #side-bar hr { margin-top: 0; }
数 -Numerus-
壁に手を当てて支えにしながら、だだっ広い八角形の収蔵室をよろめき歩く。配線に足を取られて転ぶ。
身体を起こし、配線をその大本まで辿っていく。シリンダーが歪み、凹んだ油圧プレス機。機械類が室内に散乱し、一定間隔で設置された頭上のビーコンに照らし出されている。手頃な工具、化合物、レーザーカッター。整理整頓が下手な子供の部屋の玩具のように、擦り減って散らかっている。部屋の中心には、疵一つない縞瑪瑙。
椅子にへたり込み、クルリと机に向き直る。日誌の写真コピー、歴史的な報告、宝石の図面で埋め尽くされた書類がフォルダーから零れ出す。
一つのフォルダーの上に手紙が乗っている。
それを開けるのはもう百回目だ。
イヴェット、
君がこれを読む頃には、僕は記憶処理を受けて、頭文字が“S.C.P.”のレストランで働いているだろう。意外な結末でないのは分かっている。けれども、どうか僕が君を、君の将来を強く心配しているのに気付いてほしい。
あれは罠だ。そこには何も無い。僕は全盛期をあれのために浪費してしまった。君にはまだ猶予が残っている。賢く時間を使ってもらいたい。
Q.
「いいえ」 と呟く。 「そんなはずが無いわ!」
“Pluto計画 - Thaumiel提言”のラベルが貼られたファイル、上に手紙が置かれていたそれを開いて書類をめくる。徐々に複雑になってゆく“鍵”の図式がファイルに詰まっている。全てのデザインは試験された。全てのデザインは“機能性無し”の引出しにしまい込まれた。書類の一部にはQのサインも見える。 Q. ハック、サイト-10。
引出しを開けて1本の鍵を取り出し、書類のデザインと見比べる。次の鍵も既に試された。その次も。まだ試されていないデザインを見つけようと夢中で漁り始める。再確認し、再々確認し、勢いよく引出しを閉める。頭を手で抱え込む。「何かがあるはず。何かが」 そう口に出す。指の隙間から、ランプの下に置かれた1枚の書類に目を止める。
例の最終ページの写真コピーだ。何世紀も前にエドウィン・ヤングの手記に描かれた、宝石に嵌め込まれている鍵の絵。宝石を“荒廃した”寺院で発見したエドウィン・ヤング。単純な鍵による解放を約束したエドウィン・ヤング。自分が見た物を証明する必要が無かったエドウィン・ヤング。
書類をひったくり、丸めてデスクから払い落とす。金属に頭を叩き付け、室内に大きな反響音が響く中で、すすり泣く。自分とかつての研究仲間たちの写真に涙が落ちて、手書きの“ミールスキ、ハック、スティムソン - 2007年”が少し滲む。
「畜生、Q、あんたは正しかった。何もかも正しかった」
振り向いて立ち上がり、宝石が乗せられた台座にもたれかかる。宝石は触れると暖かい。
宝石を部屋の向こうの壁に投げ付け、その場に崩れ落ち、膝を抱えて丸くなる。
Qは最初の一週間でカフェテリアの悪意ある討論者たちの正体を知った。彼は1km離れた場所からでも嵐の訪れを察知できた。それが無限の影響範囲を持つ実体に立ち向かう助けになるとは誰にも言い切れない。逆に、スティムソンは出会ったほぼ全ての者を信頼した。彼の運命は確定した。他にサイト-10の存在を知る人間などいるはずがない。O5なら知っているだろうか。O5の居場所などいったい誰が-
カチャ。
苦労して顔を向けると、錠が砕けているのが見える。細やかな破片が降り注ぎ、床の上に落ち着く。束の間、ガスと光の雲が広がり、空気中へと消えてゆく。宝石の残骸の上に、華やかな黄金の鍵がある。
「あり得ない」 そう言って、鍵を拾う。鍵は触れると暖かい。
カチャ。 音が頭上で反響する。大地がほどけ始める。