Chapter 8 Eight occupations

George Brown always spoke with such a strong sense of desire that he could hardly restrain himself.He muttered excitedly: "Tomorrow is May 1st. Ah! Olympic Day." George turned over on the bed and looked away from the bedposts to look at his roommate. He couldn't help thinking: Aren't you excited?Don't you have any thoughts on this matter? It had been a year and a half since George had lived in this room, and the long, narrow face had grown thinner, and the Commander's figure had grown slimmer, but the blue eyes were as bright as ever, and only through George's tightly clenched only to realize that he seemed to be imprisoned in a cage.

George's companion put down the book for a while, and took the opportunity to adjust the light of the long hanging lamp near the chair.This man is Henry, a Nigerian.Dark skin and strong body appear very stable, and very calm. In Henry's view, George Tipan's Olympic Day just now had nothing to do with him, and he said lightly: "I know about it, George." At some critical moments, George is always impatient and tolerant, but patience and tolerance can't be too much!George thought that at such a moment it was impossible to sit in the room like a purple-black wooden statue, expressionless.

George wondered if it would be like this if he lived here for another ten years!But he quickly denied it: "No, I would never want to do that." Then he said to Henry defiantly: "I think you must have forgotten the meaning of May." Henry didn't back down, he said. "I know the meaning of May very well. It means nothing. You must have forgotten that. May has no special meaning to you, George." Henry paused for a moment, and added: "It doesn't make sense to me, Henry." George asked puzzledly: "Spaceships are about to carry people. In June, tens of thousands of spaceships will take millions of men and women to all over the world. Isn't that meaningless?"

"No point. What will you do when you hear the news, George!" Leigh said coldly.Then he used his fingers to flip through the book page by page, looking for those incomprehensible sections, while his mouth was trembling.Seeing Henry like this, George was a little angry. "Damn it!" George yelled loudly. "You can do worse things to piss me off! Scoundrel." George was so excited that he didn't really want to be caught in such a lonely anger. He didn't want to be the only person full of resentment, and he didn't want him to commit suicide slowly by himself.

In the first few weeks, when the universe seemed a little husk of chaos but light, a low voice echoed above his head, life was so good!Life was still good when Henry approached George's little circle of life and brought him into this worthless life.But, now... "Henry is old, at least thirty years old." George thought uneasily: Will I be like that in another twelve years? Because George was afraid that all this would come true, he yelled at Henry, "Aren't you going to put down this dreadful book?" Henry turned a page and read a few sentences, then raised his curly-haired head and asked, "What did you say?"

"I ask you, what's the use of reading this book?" George took a step forward and snorted in a disdainful tone: "It's electronics again." He snatched the book from Henry's hand and threw it on the on the ground. Henry stood up slowly, bent down to pick up the book, and without any anger, straightened the wrinkled pages one by one. Henry said to George: "It's the satisfaction of curiosity. I can read a little today, and maybe I can read more tomorrow. You can succeed in this way." "Success, what success? Is this what you are satisfied with in life? You must be sixty-five years old when everyone admits that you are a quarter of an electronics expert!"

"Maybe I'm only thirty-five," Henry replied. "But who will need you then! What use are you for? Where are you going?" "No one needs it, and indeed no one needs me. I don't want to go anywhere else, so I just stay here and continue reading other books." "So, are you satisfied with this? Let me ask you, you dragged me to class, forced me to read and memorize these boring things, for what purpose? These don't satisfy me at all." "What good is it to you to deny your satisfaction?" "It will mean that I withdraw from this comedy. I will act as you did before you came into my life. I will force them to..."

Henry put down the book in his hand, and when George was exhausted, he asked him, "What are you going to do? George!" "To correct a wrongful trial, a conspiracy to frame someone else. I'll take that Antonelli and force him to admit that he..." Henry shook his head and said, "Everybody comes here thinking everything is wrong here, but I think you've gotten past that stage." "Please don't call it a phase," George visibly irritated. "I'm in a fact! I told you..." "Yes, you did tell me. But you should know in the back of your mind that no one misses anything when it comes to you."

"That's because no one is forcing them to admit their mistakes. Good! I'm going to force them." It was Olympic Day that made George like this and changed everything.George felt his old temper relapse and couldn't stop it.He was almost in danger of losing his memory.George said: "I'm going to be a computer programmer, I'm totally qualified for it. I'm done today, I don't care about the results of their analysis! "George banged on the mattress, they were wrong, they must be wrong." "Analysts can't get it wrong." "It must be wrong, don't you doubt my intelligence?"

"Intelligence has nothing to do with it. Hasn't that been told to you? Is there anything you don't understand?" George went to his bed and lay down, staring impatiently at the ceiling and said, "Henry, what kind of person did you ever want to be?" "I don't have a clear aspiration. I wanted to be a hydroponics operator." "Can you do it?" "I wasn't sure at the time." George had never asked Henry about his personal aspirations before.Now, he feels strange, do people who have no ambitions hope to be solved here.Alas, hydroponic agribusiness operators!He continued to ask Henry: "Did you think you would realize this wish?"

"No, no, I'm not the same here." "However, I think you're content here, indeed, that you're so happy, and you love it, and you can't go anywhere else," said George wryly. Henry didn't say a word, got up and made his own bed, and said, "Forget it! Joe you're in a terrible situation, you're beating yourself up for not acknowledging your reality George, you go to bed! End in your sleep everything." George clenched his teeth and said, "No, I won't do it." "But I'm going to do it." Henry pronounced the syllable seriously.George felt great shame about this, and he turned his head away, dismissing Henry. For the better part of eighteen years, George had been steadfast in his pursuit of one goal, and that was to be a computer programmer.George was all the more insistent on this goal because those around him spoke of spaceflight, cryogenics, automatic control of transportation, and best practices. George and others often have heated debates about the pros and cons of the industry, and why not because the "Education Festival" is coming soon, which is the biggest goal of their lives.The Education Day was coming towards them step by step, as fixed as a calendar—the first day of November after his eighteenth birthday.As the day passed, various topics arose.Like talking about career choices, the virtues of someone's wife and children, what happened to someone in space water polo, and what happened to someone on Olympic Day... The theme that attracted people before the "Education Festival" was the "Education Festival" itself. "What are you going to do? Can you do it? Hey! Don't think so beautifully, just look at this record, the quota has been reduced, what else is there to choose?" It was logistics, supermechanics, transportation and communication; or gravity, especially gravity-so these attractive industries did not interfere with George, and of course the school welcomed him very much.Still, George had heard about the fate of an emerging technology.Every year, a batch of new engines with new styles and new performances are very popular.As a result, many find that they have fallen behind the times and have been replaced by newcomers with new education.For example, the first group of people who settled down to do menial work has gone by boat to those uncultivated remote forests.Year after year, century after century, no matter what, there will always be a need for computer programmers.This need has not yet reached such a height that there has not yet been a large pump-and-dump market for computer programmers, but it will surely develop steadily with the birth of the new world and the decline of the old world. George often argued with the dumpy Trevor Young on this matter, and although they were the best of friends, they argued sharply and often with red faces and thick necks.Of course, the result of the debate was that neither side could convince the other. However, Trevor Young had a father who was a metallurgist who served in outer space worlds, and his grandfather was also a metallurgist.He himself also hopes to inherit the family business and become a formal metallurgist, because he is convinced that there is no more honorable profession in the world. "There's metal everywhere," he said, "and it's perfectly possible to contribute to the smelting and building industries, and all a programmer has to do is sit at a coding machine all day and feed a mile-long dumb machine." Material." George knew to be practical when he was sixteen, so he said to him casually, "There'll be a million metallurgists working with you!" "Because it's a good job, a fantastic job." "But you will be squeezed out, Dumpty! You will always be left behind, for any world will arrange its own metallurgists. The market for the development of advanced technology on Earth is not yet so large, and the first thing to do is to satisfy What is more important is their small world. Do you know what percentage of the qualified metallurgists trained can be assigned to work in the first-class world? As far as I know, it is 13.3%. You have to understand, this means So you have seven or eight chances to be sent to the world that is still an ocean, and of course you may be sent back to the ball, there is a 2.3 percent chance here." Trevor Young was a little proud. He said: "There is no shame in going back to work on Earth! We need metallurgists on Earth. Good thing!" His grandfather was a metallurgist on Earth. Trevor Young pressed his fingers to his upper lip, where only he could imagine the mustache.George certainly knew about Trevor Young's grandfather, and genuinely considered his ancestor's place on earth. George said mildly: "Of course no intellectual is to be ashamed of. But it's always something to be proud of to be able to work in the first-class world, isn't it? Now you're taking a computer programmer course, and, only the first-class The world only needs a group of programmers, because there is an electronic computer market. In addition, the program is becoming more and more complicated, and the average person is almost unable to do it. Therefore, they need many programmers far beyond what their population can provide. One programmer out of a million people. The world needs twenty programmers, and they only have ten million people, because five to ten programmers have to be pulled from the earth to make up for it. Right? You know how many last year Are computer programmers qualified to work on a type of planetary world? I tell you, there is only one. If you are a programmer, you are a natural candidate. Yes, sir." Trevor Young frowned, and said to George: "If that's the case, only one of a million people can achieve the goal, then why do you think it will be your turn?" George replied earnestly, "I'm going to have faith in that." What George is doing now has never told anyone, including Trevor Young and his own father and mother.He didn't feel any worry about this, but believed in it with full confidence.Like most eight-year-olds, he hoped that "School day . . . would come—" "Learning Day" is the prelude to "Education Day". Of course, every "learning day" is different.No matter how you look at it, he still has many characteristics of his childhood.When an eight-year-old child is making progress, many "miracles" will occur.Yesterday you could not read a book, and after a night you can read.This is how things happened until ten years later, when "Education Day" came, George still remembered the scene of "Learning Day" very clearly.It was a gloomy, rainy day in September (September is 'Study Day', November is 'Education Day', May is Olympic Day, they make up 'Cradle Brain' for each of these days), and George Dressed up under the lamp, and his parents were more excited. His father was a skilled fitter, working on Earth. This incident shamed George, although everyone knew it. Was it, on Earth Most people who were born and raised will stay on the earth as a matter of course. There are farmers, miners, and technicians on the earth... and the outer space world only needs some highly modernized, highly professional Professionals, out of the 8 billion people on Earth, only a very small number can be transported to other planets every year. Therefore, ordinary men and women are unlikely to be one of them. And how every man and woman wishes their children to be chosen!That's what Blunt Senna is.It was clear that George was not only exceptionally bright, but also had a remarkable memory, and he was a wonderful boy who did not fail in whatever he set his mind to. Even if Qiao Tai can't work in the outer space world in the end, then his parents will definitely seek the next opportunity for their grandson.The distant future is the greatest comfort to their hearts. Of course, "Learning Day" can't explain more problems, but after all, it is the only opportunity to receive education.Every parent on earth does this. When the children come home, they must listen carefully to the tone and intonation of their children's reading, and pay attention to those words that are particularly prone to mispronunciation. Then analyze the possible future of the children.Almost all families, starting from the "Learning Day", have a hope for their children, because through the "Learning Day", the children will be able to learn to use three-syllable words. George felt vaguely the great expectations his parents had for him.If there was any apprehension in George's young mind on the drizzly morning, when he came home from his reading his father's hopes were strengthened. The children meet in a spacious house in the town education hall.All over the earth, in thousands of halls of education, there are many children together.George was disturbed by the gloomy atmosphere of the hall, by the overwrought looks of the other children, by the repulsive ornate costumes. George looked very dull, repeating what the other kids were doing.I also found that these children were just stepping on the floor like acting.However, he also joined in unfamiliarly. Trevor Young, who lived next door, still had the long boyish hair and a reddish mustache on his chin that told him he had grown up. Trevor Young said to Joe solemnly, "I bet you're freaking out." "I don't!" replied George, leaning towards Trevoryan in a friendly voice, and whispering, "I tell you, my family found a large sheet of printed matter in a locker in my room, waiting for me to return. I'll read this to you when I get home, okay?" At this time, George behaved very well. His parents warned him many times not to grab his pockets, pull his ears, touch his nose, or put his hands in his pockets, which ruled out the possibility of George making a fool of himself. "My dad doesn't worry about me at all," Trevor Young said, putting his hands in his pockets. Trevjan Senna had been a metallurgist in Deboria for nearly seven years. Although he retired and returned to Earth, he still enjoyed great honor in this region.Due to the overpopulation of the Earth, they objected to the return and settlement of those who went to work in outer space worlds, but still a few returned.Because a person living on the earth usually spends less money, but in "Deboria", even a not-so-rich annual salary is a very great income from the perspective of the earth.Besides, there will always be those who find it more intoxicating to brag about their unusual experiences in front of their childhood friends and neighbors than to speak in front of the rest of the universe. That's how Trevor Young Senna explained his actions.If he still works in "Deboria", then his children will also stay there - a spaceship world.He came back to Earth, and his child could go anywhere, even to "Novian".The pudgy Trevor Young has long seized on this, and even before "Study Day" the content of his conversation has never left the vague assumption that his family will eventually be built in "Novian" superior. George was oppressed by a certain thought, and he found it very unpleasant to compare other people's lofty prospects with his own empty goals.So he immediately dropped some kind of challenging defense, saying: "My father is not worried about me, he hopes to hear me read aloud, because he believes that I can read well, and thinks that you will all Mispronounced." 'I can't read it wrong.Someone will read it to me at 'Novian'. " "That's because you're a mute!" "So how do I live in 'Novian'?" Step by step George picked up the argument and went on: "Who said you'd go to Novian? I'll bet you ain't going anywhere." "I'm not a fitter, like your father," said stout Trevor, blushing. "Take that back, you dumb!" George shot back immediately. "Take it back first!" Of course, Trevor Young did not back down.They stood almost nose to nose, but they didn't fight, they just wanted to vent their dissatisfaction in this strange place.Now, now that George had clenched his hand into a fist and held it out in front of Trevor Young, the question of where Trevor Young's hand should be was temporarily settled. At this time, the other children were very excited and gathered around them to watch the movement. Suddenly, a beautiful woman's voice came on the radio, and the fight died down.George forgot his troubles, and he forgot Trevor Young. "Children," said the broadcast, "we're going to call your names. If you're called, please go to the man on the other side of the wall. Do you see him? He's wearing a red uniform so he's easy to find." Yes. Girls are on the right and boys are on the left. Attention everyone, the man in red is not far from you—" George saw the person he was looking for at a glance, so he waited for his name to be called.George was never introduced to a man of knowledge, although for a while George wished his name to be known.This group of children are all thin, and now they have a leader in a red uniform.When he heard the name "George Blunt," a sense of joy at Trevor Young's standing where he hadn't been called outweighed consolation when George left his spot and looked back at him. Trevor Young said, "Hey! My pudgy, maybe they don't want you." But the joy soon wore off.He walked into the hallway with the strange children in a row. Everyone stared at each other with wide eyes and spoke in a low voice: "Don't push!" "Notice!" Hardly any other sounds are heard now.Each of them received a small card and asked them to keep it. George looked at the card carefully, and found that the card was full of black marks of various sizes, and the words on the card were illegible.How can we recognize these words?There was nothing he could do. A man came by and asked George to take off his clothes and join the other boys. All the new clothes were taken off, and the four eight-year-old boys stood there looking very small, mostly trembling from embarrassment. Doctors came and examined them with strange instruments and drew blood.One took their little card away and made other marks on it with a black pen.At this time, the children lined up in neat lines again.George looked at the marks there, and they were no easier to understand than the original ones. When the children heard the order to put on their clothes, they got dressed all at once, and sat on small chairs one by one, waiting for further inspection.The names started again, and this time it was George who was called a third. George entered a large room filled with strange instruments with push buttons and glass dials.There was a desk in the corner of the room, and behind the desk sat a man whose eyes were fixed on the paper in front of him. He asked, "Who is George Blunt?" "I am, sir!" replied George in a trembling voice.He had waited so long to come to this place and all the decorations of this place made him daunting, how he wished it would be over as soon as possible. At this moment, the person sitting behind the desk said: "This is Dr. Gerouart. George, how are you?" The doctor said this without looking at George, and repeated this sentence several times. "I'm fine," George said. "Are you afraid, George!" "No—sir!" Even George could hear the panic in his own voice. "That's very well," went on the doctor; "there is nothing here to frighten you. Let us see your card! It says that your father was Peter, a fitter, and your mother was Mary, It's a home technician. Right? "Yes, sir." "Your birthday is February 13th, and you had an ear infection about a year ago, didn't you?" "Yes, sir." "And you know how I know all this?" "It's all written on the card, sir." "very good!" The doctor looked at George for the first time and smiled. You can see that he smiled so much that his teeth were showing. The doctor looked younger than George's father.So George's timidity disappeared immediately, and the doctor handed the card to George: "Do you know what everything written on it means, George." Although George knew that he didn't understand, he was still excited about it. It seemed that as long as he could understand the card, he could know his own fate. However, the card was right in front of him, so he had no choice but to return the card to the doctor: "No, I don't know, sir." "Why not?" George suddenly felt that the doctor's nerves were a little out of order, didn't he know why?George said, "Sir, I can't read the words." "Would you like to read, then, dear George!" "Of course." "Why? George." George was a little dumbfounded at this moment, because no one had ever asked him such a question before.He didn't know how to answer for a while. "I don't know, sir." "Knowledge will guide you through life, and even after 'education day', you need as much knowledge as you need. The cards will teach you, the books will teach you, and the TV will; the field will tell You have a lot of useful and interesting knowledge. If you can't read the cards, it sucks. Do you understand?" "Yes, sir, I see." "Are you afraid, George." "No, I'm not afraid." "Okay, so I'll tell you what we're going to do first. I'm going to put some wire over your eyes and let it discharge, but it won't hurt you. Then I flip a switch and it'll buzz Humming. It's weird and tickles you, but it won't hurt you. If you feel pain, tell me right away and I'll turn the switch off. I repeat, it won't hurt you. Okay?" George nodded, swallowing with some difficulty. "are you ready?" George nodded again. He closed his eyes while the doctor was busy fiddling with him.George's parents had also explained it, they said that it would never hurt anyone to be electrified like this.However, some older children around George, only about ten or twelve years old, threatened the eight-year-olds as they waited for the "school day": "Be careful with the needles in the doctor's hands." The speech is even more vivid, making people have to believe: "The doctor will open your head and use a sharp knife to deal with you." And more terrifying details like this. George would never believe the words of the older children, but he did have similar nightmares.Now he closed his eyes, terrified.Now he didn't feel metal on his temples, the hum seemed far, far away from him.In addition, only the sound of his own blood flowing was ringing in his ears, he seemed to be in a big cave; he slowly opened his eyes and looked at everything around him. With the doctor's back facing him, a long strip of paper was sent out from an instrument, with wavy lines embossed on it, which was purple in color.The doctor tore off a piece from the top and sent it to another machine. This was repeated several times, and each time a thin piece of paper was sent out of the machine, and the doctor looked at it.At last the doctor turned to George, frowning oddly. After the buzz passed, George held his breath and asked the doctor, "Is it over?" "Yes," the doctor replied, still frowning. "Can I read now?" George asked. Now he doesn't feel any strange feeling anymore. The doctor said, "What?" and laughed suddenly, and said, "Everything is going well. George, you'll be able to read in fifteen minutes. Now we'll use another instrument, but this time May be longer. I'm going to cover your whole head and when I flip the switch you won't see or hear anything for a while, but still it won't hurt you. To reassure you , I will give you a small switch, hold it in your hand, if you feel pain, just flip the button, and everything will be over. Okay?" In later years, George learned that this small switch was all for show and its only purpose was to gain your trust.But George didn't believe it anyway, even though he didn't flip the button himself. A round helmet with a smooth hollow interior was placed on George's head, as if three or four hands were grasping his head, and he felt something go into his head.He didn't feel pain, but felt a pressure gradually disappearing. When the doctor spoke, a vague voice sounded in George's ear: "Is everything all right, George." However, he never heard any warning words, only felt a thick fog surrounding him.Now George lost his senses, disconnected from reality, and even the universe didn't feel like it existed.He was alone, and the low voices in the empty corner were telling him something, telling him—telling him that George was trying to hear and understand the low voices, but there was always a thick fog disturbing him. Later, when the helmet was removed, and the doctor's voice rang in his ears, he found that the light was so bright that it hurt his eyes. The doctor said, "Here is your card. What's on it?" George stared at his card, almost screaming out of joy.Those marks were no longer unfamiliar symbols, they could now be spelled one by one into words, and these words whispered in his ear through a voice, which could now be clearly heard.As George watched the marks, he could hear the low voice reading.How strange! "George, what does it say?" "It says--it says--that George Blunt was born on February 13th, Peter 6492..." George paused. "You can read, George," said the doctor. "We can finish what we've just done." "Really? Will I still forget?" "Of course not," said the doctor, leaning against the table, shaking his head. "Now you can go home. From this day on, George regained his wit and intelligence. When he read to his father, his father was so happy that With tears in his eyes, he hurriedly told his relatives and friends the good news. George walked around the town, reading the captions on every picture he could see.He wondered why he didn't understand these meanings in the past!He tried to convince himself that he couldn't read aloud.However, it is impossible.For he can read everything he can find, without exception. At eighteen, George was rather dark and of medium height, but taller because of his thinness.Trevor Young was not an inch shorter than he was, and because of his stout build he was called "Pumpty," which was a fitting nickname.In the past year, Trefe Young has been a little nervous, and anyone who calls him "chunky" will be retaliated against.Trevor Young didn't like his formal name even more, so he was called by his last name, Trevor Young, or any sweet variation of "Treve Young," It seems that this can be used to prove that he has entered adulthood.You see he has grown sideburns and stiff, short sideburns.Now Trevor Young looks excited, he's sweating. George found him amusing.George is no longer called "Jiang Yijian", but "George". They were together again in the same hall they had been in ten years ago, and the vague dreams of the past seemed to suddenly become reality.For the first few minutes, George was amazed to find that everything here was smaller and cramped than he remembered, in fact because he had grown up. The crowds gathered here are now smaller than in childhood, and they are all men, and the women will be allocated on another day.Trevor Young said, leaning over, "It's weird how they keep people waiting." "Bureaucracy," George sneered at him, "is inevitable." "What made you so tolerant and tolerant?" Trevor Young asked. "Because I have nothing to worry about," George replied triumphantly. "Oh, bro, you're annoying me, I hope you end up being an official fertilizer spreader, so I can see your frown." Trevor Young scanned the surrounding crowd with melancholy eyes. At this time, George also looked around everyone.It's not quite what they were when they were kids.The situation gradually changed. Some graduates had received notices, but Blunt and Trevor Young's names were still under the distribution list, which they knew very well. The young people came out of the education room one by one, frowning, feeling very disturbed. They were discussing the distribution situation with their clothes and luggage in their hands.When everyone came out, they were surrounded by a group of people who became smaller and smaller, and everyone asked in one go: "How about it?" "How does it feel?" "What did they assign you to do?" "Do you feel strange?" And all the answers are often vague. George forced himself not to join the group because that would only raise blood pressure and not do any good.As the saying goes, "Stable as Mount Tai", this occupies the most favorable position.Even so, you can feel your palms getting cold, and it's funny how new tensions pick up as the years go by. For example, highly professional professionals, they will be accompanied by their wives (or husbands) to go to other outer space worlds, there.It is very important that the ratio of male to female is well balanced.However, if you are going to work in the first-class world, which girl will reject you?George didn't have a girl he wanted, and he didn't want to think about it, at least not yet.When he becomes a programmer, he can add the title of qualified computer programmer in front of his name. At that time, he can make his ideal choice like a sultan entering the harem.The idea was driving him, though George contrived to get rid of it, because he wanted to calm himself down. 特雷弗扬在咕哝着：“这算什么名堂呢？起初他们说'假如你态度和缓，悠闲目在，就是最合适的了'，然后他们又让你经受这些使你不能忍受的遭遇和一些莫名其妙的倒霉过程。” “可能就是这个意思。你看他们首先把孩子们和成年男子区别开来，别着急，特雷弗扬。”乔治嘲弄他说。 “住口”特雷弗扬喊了一声。 终于轮到了乔治，没有大声叫他的名字，而是在公告牌的显示仪上以发光的字母出现。乔治向特雷弗扬挥手告别。特雷弗扬对他说“别慌，不要被他们难住了。”当乔治跨进考试房间时，他感到很高兴从未有过的真正高兴。 坐在书桌后面的人间：“你是乔治·布朗特吗？”就在这问话的一刹那间，乔治的头脑中出现了十年前另一个人的清楚形象，也问过乔治同样的问题。而且，这一个人和从前的那个人几乎差不多，于是乎乔治又好象回到了八岁时的光景，就象刚开始踏入学习日一样。这个人现在抬起头来了，如果仔细地观察他的脸部，又和记忆中的那个人的脸又不完全相符合。你看他的鼻子是球茎状的，头发稀少，而且细得象绒毛，下巴肥嘟嘟地垂了下来，就象快要掉下来似的。 坐在书桌后的人不耐烦地又问：“怎么啦？” 乔治很快地清楚过来对那个人说：“我是乔治·布朗特，先生。” “好，我是安东尼利医生，我们将会很快地熟悉起来。”他说完话又凝视着一些细长的卡片，面容严肃地把它举得凑近灯光。乔治这时暗暗地在想，在思索着。他感到有点迷惑不解，因为他清楚记得上次那个医生（已记不起名字了）也象现在这样凝视过同样的卡片。难道这是真的同样卡片吗？上次那个医生曾皱起眉头，而现在这个医生似乎是有点发怒。 于是，乔治心中的高兴劲已经差不多消失光了。 安东尼利医生打开摆在自己面前的文件夹，并且小心地把手中的卡片放在一边，说：“这里说你想当一个计算机程序员。” “是的，医生。”乔治回答。 “现在仍然这样想吗？” “是的，先生”程序员是个责任重大，要求相当严格的工作，你觉得能胜任吗？”医生接着说。 “能，先生。”乔治回答。 “许多毕业前的学生没有对自己的职业提出任何特殊的要求，我相信他们是因为害怕自己会陷入不利的地位。” “我以为是对的，先生。” “那么，你就不怕吗？” “我想，我还是诚实为好，先生。” 安东尼利医生点了点头，但脸上却没有流露出任何使人宽慰的表情。他又问：“你为什么要想当个程序员呢？” “因为正如你所说的那样，这是一项责任重大，严格的工作，先生。这不但是一项重要的工作，而且也是一项令人激动的工作，我十分喜爱它，愿意干这一项工作。” 安东尼利医生把手边的文件推开，把眼睛盯着乔治，说：“你为什么喜欢它呢？你认为这样做，你就可以被第一流世界争着要吗？” 乔治敏感地意识到，这可能是要扰乱他的思路，因此，必须保持平静和真诚的态度。 乔治回答说：“是的，我认为当一个程序员可以有一个很好的机会到外太空世界去，先生。但是即使我被留在地球上，我仍然喜欢干这一工作。”乔治想，这是千真万确的实话，一点也没有撒谎。 “很好，你怎么知道这一点的呢？”医生问。 乔治微笑了，他说：“我读过一些关于程序员的书籍，先生。” “你已经看过那些资料吗？”现在医生真正感到惊奇了。而乔治对此却感到十分高兴。 “我买了一本有关这方面知识的书，先生，我读过了，并且一直在钻研它。” “一本关于计算机程序员的书吗？” "Yes, sir." “但是你不可能读懂它。” “是的，开始我读不懂。后来我又搞来了数学和电子学方面的参考书，我尽自己的努力去阅读，去搞懂它。虽然我仍然懂得不多，但已足够激励起我对这一工作的兴趣，而且使我坚定了自己的信心，我能够胜任这一工作。” 不过，连乔治的父母亲也从来没有发现他的书本藏在哪里，也不知道乔治为什么要长时间呆在自己的房间里，当然也就不知道自己的儿子是怎样用牺牲睡眠时间的办法换来一些别的什么东西。 医生拉了一下下巴下面那块下垂的皮肉，然后说：“你这样干的目的是什么呢？孩子。” “我想证明，我对这项工作是感兴趣的，先生。”乔治说。 “你一定明白，兴趣对你是毫无意义的。你可以被一门学科所吸引，然而，如果你的头脑更能胜任别的工作，那么你就得改行。你是知道这个道理的吧！” “有人告诉过我这一点。”乔治谨慎地回答。 “那么，你就相信它吧！这些道理是完全正确的。” 乔治默不作声。 安东尼利医生接着说：“或许你相信这样的一种说法，以为学习了一些学科的有关知识，就能使头脑转向某一方面。这就象一个怀孕的妇女，以为只要坚持每天听大量的音乐就可以使腹中的婴儿成为一个作曲家的理论同样荒谬。你相信那些东西吗？” 乔治脸红了，不过他内心是同意这些理论的。由于他一直强迫自己的思想朝着所希望的方向想，并且确信会有一个良好的开端，乔治绝大部分信心可以说是建筑在这个基础上的。 “我从来不——”乔治立即发现自己讲不下去了。 “唉，那都是不真实的。年轻人，你的头脑的型式生来就是固定的，它可以因受到一次沉重的打击而毁坏脑细胞，或者因为一根血管皮裂出现肿块，或者受到一种重要的感染而改变。当然，每次都是越改越坏，但是它决不会受你的一种特殊思想的影响而改变。” 医生凝见着乔治，然后问：“谁叫你这样干的呢？” 现在乔治彻底地心慌意乱起来，“没有任何人叫我这样干。医生，完全是我自己的主意。” “在你刚开始的时候有谁知道你这样干吗？” “没有任何人知道，医生，我没打算做坏事呀。” “谁说你做坏事了，我说得是无用的是，你为什么要一个人保守秘密？”医生紧接着问。 “我，我怕他们会嘲笑我。”突然想起最近和特雷弗扬的一次交谈，幸亏他刚想谈这件事时，立即遭到了特雷弗扬的白眼，故只好守口如瓶，才未泄露秘密安东尼利医生愁眉不展地从一个位置移到另一个位置，看了看那些卡片就扔在桌子上，然后说：“让我再为你做一次分析，因为从原先的分析中我没有得出任何有进展性的结论。”现在，金属线又插进了乔治的太阳穴，嗡嗡之声又响了起来，十年前的情景又记忆犹新了。乔治的手粘糊糊全是冷汗，他的心剧烈地跳动着。well!乔治懊悔起来，他不该把自己的秘密阅读情况告诉这位医生。他咒骂自己，都是那些该死的虚荣心所造成的不幸。原来想显示一下自己所富有的进取心和积极性，谁知反而暴露了自己的愚昧无知，以致引起了医生的敌意。他猜想医生是憎恨野心勃勃和自作聪敏的人的。现在乔治已经到了一个如此紧张不安的地步，医生的再一次分析也不会有任何积极意义的结果。 当金属线从太阳穴上取走时，乔治还没有感觉到。医生的眼睛不停地看着他，这才使他意识到金属线被拿走了。乔治竭尽全力想控制自己，现在想当一个程序员的抱负完全抛弃了，就在这短短的十分钟里，一切志向都化为乌有。 乔治忧郁地问：“我想结论是否定的吧！” “否定什么？”医生反问道。 “否定我当程序员，是不是？”乔治追问了一下。医生擦了擦自己的鼻子说：“你可以拿你的衣服和一切属你的东西到十五（丙）房刚去了，你的档案会在那里等你，那里还会有我为你写的报告。” 乔治非常惊奇地间：“我不是已经受过教育了吗？我想这是——”安东尼利医生看看书桌说：“一切会给你解释的，你按照我说的去做吧！”乔治感到一阵恐慌，他们不能告诉自己的是什么呢？难道乔治只适合当体力劳动者！他们决定训练他去从事体力劳动，并使他适应它。他突然肯定了这一点，差一点要尖叫起来，但又不得不尽力克制自己的感情。乔治瞒珊地回到他曾经在那里等待过的地方。 可是，特雷弗扬早已离开了那里，对此他倒感到高兴，因为这可以说明他能镇定得足以意识到周围环境中所发生的一切。事实上留下来的人很少。那极个别的几个人看上去好象要间他什么问题似的，由于他们的名字排在名单的最后，大概因为等得太久的缘故，都显得很疲倦了，没有一个人想开口。乔治想，你们有什么资格当技术员呢？ 而我又为什么要当一个体力劳动者呢！现在要让他当一个体力劳动者是确定无疑的了。 有一个穿红色制服的向导，领着乔治沿着喧闹的走廊走去，走廊的两边有一排排隔开的房间，里面可以容纳一群群人，一边是两间，另一边有五间。发动机的技工、建筑工程师、农学家——这里有成百种可以列举出来的职业。而乔治这时候最痛恨的是：统计学家、会计……他恨他们，因为他们只知道自己有很好的学识，但却不知道自己的命运，而乔治却仍然一无所有，并且还得面对某种严重的官僚作风他被带进了十五（丙）房间，他独自一个人留在空洞洞的房间里。 顿时，乔治的精神振奋起来，他猜想，假如这里果真是体力劳动者这一等级的房间，那么早就应该有一打一打的年轻人在了。这时，隔壁房间的一扇门拉了开来，一个上了年纪的自发老人走了出来。老人微笑着，露出了整齐的牙齿，很明显那些都是假牙，但是老人的脸仍然是红润的，没有皱纹，说话的声音也很响亮。老人说：“晚上好，乔治我们这个部门到现在为止仅仅只有你一个人。”“只有一个吗？” 乔治茫然地问。 “不，成千个在地球上。当然，是成千个人，你决不会感到孤独的“我不明白，先生，我的等级是什么？正在发生什么事？”乔治气愤地说。 “别着急，孩子，你没问题。对任何人都可能发生这类事情。” 人伸出了手，乔治机械地握住了它，它是温暖的。老人也紧握着乔治的手说：“坐下，孩子，我是山姆·叶连夫德。”乔治不耐烦地点了点头“我希望知道的是究竟发生了什么事？先生。” “当然，首先你不可能是一个计算机程序员。乔台，我想你大概已经猜到这一点了。” “是的，我猜到了，”乔治抱怨地继续说，“那么，我将成为什么呢？” “需要向你说清楚的就是这一点，乔治。”老人暂停了一下，然后小心他说，“你什么也不是。” “什么？”乔治吃惊了。 “什么也不是。” “这是什么意思？为什么你们不能分配我一个职业呢？” “对不起，在这件事情上，我们没有选择的余地。乔治，这是由你的大脑结构所决定的。”听了这话，乔治的脸色变得灰黄，他的眼睛都鼓了出来：“难道我的头脑有毛病吗？” “关于你的头脑是有些问题，在涉及到你的职业级别时，我认为你可以称它为毛病。” "Why is that?" 叶连夫德耸了耸肩膀说：“我相信你知道地球上是怎样实行它的教育计划的，乔治。实际上任何人都可以汲取任何知识，而我们只是尽可能做到在职业分配上，某种脑型同某种职业所需要的某种知识相一致。” “是的，我懂了。”乔治点点头。 “不过，偶尔也会碰到一个年轻人，他的头脑不适合接受任何添加的知识。” “那么，你以为我是不能被教育的人了。” “我是这样认为的。” “但是，我要说明，这是大小看人了。我理解力很强，我能够明白——”乔治无可奈何地把四周打量了一下，似乎想方设法寻找一些办法来证明他有一个很起作用的脑子。 “请不要误会我的意思，”叶连夫德说，“你是理解力很强的人，关于这一点是毫无疑问的。你的理解力超过了一般水平。不要误解我的意思。”叶连夫德继续解释说：“毫无疑问你是聪敏的，甚至比一般人更聪敏。不幸的是，你不能控制自己的头脑（使它多增加些额外知识或者不加任何知识）。其实，到这儿来的都是些聪敏人。” “你以为我甚至做一个普通劳动者的资格也没有吗？”乔治忍不住地喊了出来。不过他又觉得做一个劳动者也比现在的情况来得好些乔治说：“难道做一个劳动者还要什么条件吗？” “可不要轻视普通劳动者，年轻人。任何工作都需要知识，你以为当一个劳动者就不要生产技能吗？劳动者也要经过挑选，他们还需要有健康的体魄。你不属于这个类型，乔治，抛开这个念头吧！”叶连夫德笑着开导乔治。乔治虽然意识到自己的身体不大健壮，气恼他说：“我从来没有听说过一个人可以没有职业。” “是不大多。”叶连夫德也承认这一点，“但我们可以保护这些儿” “保护他们吗？”乔治有点发慌了，他感到一阵说不出的惊恐。 “对，你将被送到一颗行星上保护起来，等你离开那里时，我们已经往你的头脑里填满了知识。” 叶连夫德笑了起来，这是一种充满爱怜的微笑，它使乔治觉得自己是属于他的了，而又觉得失去了一切自由。乔治问：“你的意思是说我将被送进监狱吗？” “当然不是，你将和你的同伴们在一起。”叶连夫德尽量用话安慰他但乔治却象听到一声响雷在耳边轰鸣。叶连夫德又说：“你需要享受特殊的待遇，我们会尽可能地照顾你的。”乔治不禁地发抖起来，而且大声啼哭。叶连夫德在走到房间的另一头，低着头似乎在沉乔治努力抑制着自己痛苦的抽泣，他想起了自己的父亲母亲以及朋友们，甚至想到了特雷弗扬，更多的想起自己所蒙受的耻辱，他倔强地说：“可是，我已经学会了阅读。” “凡是有头脑的人都能学会阅读，我们从来没有发现有过例外而我们的任务倒是专门研究例外。乔治，当你学习阅读时，我们已经注意着你头脑的类型。当然你的头脑的特色早已由医生写了报告叶连夫德这样回答他。 “那么，你就不能试着教育教育我吗？而你还根本没有试过呢乔治对此是感到气愤的。 “法律禁止我们剥夺你的学习权。乔治，现在这样做对你并没不好，我们会向你家里作些适当解释，使他们不至于因此惊慌不安在你将要去的地方，你可以得到一些特权。我们会给你书看，你可学习那些你愿意学的东西。”叶连夫德仍然不停地解释着。 乔治沉默不语，突然他的脑子里闪出了一个顽固的念头：“那他……” “什么？”叶连夫德问道。 “是安东尼利那个狗东西坑害了我。” “不，乔治，你完全搞错了。” “别对我说这些。”乔治显然陷入了狂怒，“那个无耻的杂种，把我出卖了，因为他知道我太聪敏了，对他有所妨碍，我已经读了那么多书，而且正为着我的理想在奋斗。够了，你想得到些什么好处吗？休想！我要离开这儿，我要到处去揭发你的诬陷鬼计……”乔治大声头叫着。 叶连夫德摇了摇头，轻轻地按了一下电钮，立刻走进两个人来他们分别站在乔治的左右两侧，把他的手臂扭到身后，其中一个人在他的右肘部打了一针，催眠药注射进他的血液。他立即感到浑身无力，脑袋低垂了下来，膝盖也软了，只有靠那两个人架着，才能勉强地挺直身体正象他们所说的那样，他们尽力照顾乔治，待遇确实是非常好，也非常仁慈。但这种方式，乔治总是觉得自己成了一只生病的小猫似的，受到人们的怜悯。 他们告诉乔治应该做起来，应该对生活产生兴趣。并且还告诉他，大多数来到这里的人，开始时都采取这种绝望的态度。希望乔治下要这样，还是振作精神。可是，乔治根本就不愿意听这些话。后来，叶连夫德特地来看他，告诉乔治，他们已经通知乔治的父母：乔治已经离开，进行特别分配。 “那么，父母亲已经知道——”乔治轻声问。 叶连夫德立即向乔治保证说：“我们没有把详细情况告诉他们。” 最初，乔治拒绝吃东西，他们只好通过静脉注射的办法来供给营养，把尖尖的针刺入乔治的手臂，并且派专人看管着乔治。后来，亨利搬进他的房间和乔治同住，乔治这种倔强的态度却换来了这个更糟的结果。 有一天，在百无聊赖之中，乔治要求找本书来看看。亨利是经常看书的，听了乔治的请求后，宽厚地微笑着。这倒使乔治马上想收回刚才的请求，因为他绝对不希望使他们感到某种满意。虽然乔治没有指定书名，亨利给他带来一本化学书，书很厚很厚，字却很小，里面言许多图片。这是给青少年看的书，乔治气恼地把书对着墙壁扔去，他扔得很重。原来他觉得，他在人们的眼里永远是一个青少年似的，一个永远需要接受教育的人，不过，还有一些特殊的书籍是专门为乔治准备的。他满腔愤怒地躺在床上一动也不动，只是呆呆地看着天花板。一个小时过去了，乔治还是气呼呼的。终于他还是把书捡起，开始阅读。 乔治只用一个星期就看完了这本厚书，然后要求亨利替他再换一本。 “你希望我把第一本书再拿给你吗？”亨利问。乔治大力光火，这本书中的一切他都看懂了，为什么亨利还要这样问他？但亨利却对乔治说：“好好回想一下你所看过的东西吧！必须记住它。书是需要反复阅读的呀！” 就在这一天，乔治同意跟亨利一同去观光。他跟在亨利后面，用一种不满的目光看着周围的一切。这个地方绝对不是监狱，因为这里没有围墙，没有锁门的大锁，也没有任何看守人员。可是，再仔细看看又象一个监狱，因为住在这里的所有人都没有自由，不能外出活动。乔治看到许多其他人都跟他一样，这毕竟是一种莫大的安慰现在他相信，原来世界上并不是他一个人受到了伤害。他问亨利：“这里一共有多少人？”“二百零五个，乔治，世界上类似这样的地方还不止一个。” 当乔治走过时，两边的人都盯着他看，无论他走到那里，都是一样。当他走到健身房边，绕过了网球场，刚要走进图书馆时，那里又有一群人好奇地盯着他看， 乔治竭力避开了他们的视线。其实，这些人并不比乔治好多少，他们有什么权利这样看他，这些人大多数在二十岁左右。 乔治突然问亨利：“年龄稍大一些的人要干什么呢？” 亨利说：“这个地方是专门给年青人待的。”然而，亨利猛然觉察到乔治的话中还有另一种含义，他若有所思地摇摇头说：“这里没有什么可以使你向往的东西，不过为年龄较大的人准备了专门房间。” “谁去呢？”乔治又追问了一句，他实在太想知道这些了，他是多么怕失去这个了解情况的好机会啊！ “你可能去，当你再长大一些，你会发现自己和一些男女在同一房间。”亨利回答他。 顿时，乔治十分激动起来：“也有女人吗？” “当然有，你以为女人就可以免除这类事情吗？” 乔治怀着激动的心情，以极大的兴趣考虑这个问题，他感到非常激动，不由想起了那天在等待分配时所想到的东西———然而，他迫使自己不去追忆那些。 亨利在一个房间的门口停住了，那里有一架闭路式电视机在播放，还有一架台式计算机，有五、六个人围在电视机旁。亨利告诉乔治：“这就是教室。” “是什么？”乔台惊奇地问。 “年青人在这里接受教育的地方。”哈利又补充了一句，“当然这里不是采用传统的教育方法。” “你的意思是他们正在把一点一点的知识塞进脑袋里去。”乔治说。 “是的，这是一个古时候每个人都得用的方法。” 自从乔治来到这里以后，他们经常告诉乔治许多东西。但他想不通，这样做有什么用处呢？难道这就意味着在整个世界上的人都吃熟食，而却让他一个吃生食，而且还要让他感到满意？于是他说：“为什么他们想一遍又一遍的积累知识呢？” “为了消磨时间，乔治，还因为他们是好奇的。” “他们这样做有什么好处吗？” “这样可以使他们愉快些。” 乔治考虑着这个不解的问题，慢慢地入睡了。到了第二天，他向亨利提出：“可以让我到教室里去吗？在那里我可能会取得一些进展。” 亨利满腔热情地答应了乔治这个要求：“当然行。” 时间一天一天流逝，乔治的怨恨与日俱增。他对许多问题想不通，为什么有些人一遍又一遍地要他搞懂那些知识？为什么必须反复阅读同一本书呢？对于数学公式之间的联系为什么就不能马上弄懂呢？在他看来，其他地方的人不一定都是如此。 天长地久，乔治决定放弃这种学习。，于是他整整一个星期没有去上课。后来，他又回去听课，看电视，不过也是“做一天和尚，撞一天钟”，混日子罢了。最后，乔治在院子里得到一个工作，他的任务是浇灌各种蔬菜和打扫卫生。就是这样的工作，据说还使他升了一级。 但乔治可不是那样好愚弄的人。本来，这个地方应该，而且可以达到很高的机械化程度，可是，现在却搞得如此糟糕。他们是故意把这些艰苦的劳动留给年青人干的，以便使年青人产生错觉，以为这类工作是值得花时间的，是有益的。乔治一下子就识破了这个阴谋，当然他不会如此受人摆弄。 他们付了一小笔工资给这些年青人，让其自由地去购买一些奢侈品，或者把钱积蓄起来留到年老时亨用。乔治也把这些钱放在一个瓶子里，而瓶子则放在一个小房间的架子上，不过乔治一点也没有考虑过自己到底积蓄了多少钱，他也不想去关心这件事。 乔治已经到了交朋友的年龄，但他却没有一个真正的朋友。他现在已经不再考虑自己被分配到这里来工作的理由，因此乔治可以一连好几个星期不再梦到安东尼利的那个丑恶样子：那粗俗的鼻子，垂肉的头颈，还有那总是用斜视的眼光看别人的讨厌相。就是他把乔治推进了火坑。等到乔治一觉醒来时，一切都已经完了。只有亨利拼命地拖他去干那些他不愿意干的事。 二月里的一个下雪天，亨利对乔治说：“多么令人惊奇的事啊！我看，你已经适应了这里的一切。” 这天正好是二月十三日，乔治记得非常清楚，因为这是他十九岁的生日。 三月又过，囚月方尽，不久五月又来了。五月唤醒了乔治埋藏在内心深处的感情。不，他并不适应这里的一切。以前度过的所有五月，对乔治来都是悄悄地从他身边流逝而过的，而现在乔治却是精神萎靡地毫无颈头地躺在床上，这年的五月和以往的任何五月都不尽相同。 乔治知道，在地球上所有地方都要举行奥林匹克节，年青人可以参加他们喜爱的技能比赛，以争取优异成绩而觅得在其它新世界中有一个好的工作岗位。在那里到处都是节日的气氛，激动人心的义论，来自遥远的外太空世界的新的广告吸引着许许多多年青人，成为鼓舞人们上进的动力，还有胜利时的光荣，失败时的刺激……所有这一切都是美好的，有趣的。围绕着这一崇高主题，从儿童时代起乔治就编织了多少美妙的梦，而现在——从乔治的声音里流露出不可克制的强烈欲望，以至根本无法忍耐，他说：“明天就是五月一日，奥林匹克节来了。正是这个原因，导致了他和亨利第一次争吵，他大大地对着亨利发了一通牢骚。亨利目不转睛地盯着乔治看，然后说了一句：“一个安抚心灵的地方。 " 乔治脸红了，安抚心灵！他根本不想听，仍然用不变的调子说：“我准备离开这里。” 很明显，说这句话是一时冲动，但当他讲出这句话以后，倒使他第一次明确“走”这个念头。 正埋头看书的亨利惊奇地抬起头来：“什么？” 乔治知道现在他应该说些什么了，他叫嚷着：“我要离开这里。” “那是可笑的，坐下吧！乔治，冷静些！” “哦，不，我告诉你，我之所以到这里来完全是由于被人坑害了。就是那个安东尼利，他讨厌我。谁允许他们用留在卡片上一些怪符号来决定一个人的终身。”乔治愤愤他说。 “那么，你还回来吗？”亨利问。 “留在那里，直到问题解决为止。我要去找安东尼利算账，狠狠地揍他。我要迫使他承认这些事实。” 乔治沉重地喘着气，但感到异常兴奋。奥林匹克月来临了，不能让它白白地过去。这将是他最后一