Chapter 10 Chapter Nine
When Hasan saw the big box floating on the sea through the telescope, he was extremely puzzled.He loves sailing and has spent a lot of time on the sea. He naturally knows that all kinds of strange things can happen on the sea, but where such a big box comes from and what is inside are extremely inconceivable.
He was glad that only two people knew about the matter, one was his cronies, and he could keep him a secret (Hassan did this, and he did it successfully, and the secret was kept until something strange happened, and it was revealed come out).He immediately transported the container to his villa, intending to open it.It was expected that Hasan failed to open the container, because later, in Yun Sifeng's factory, the most advanced laser equipment would also be used, and there would also be masters like the Gobi Desert to personally preside over it. , to open it, the method used by Hasan is naturally far inferior.
However, in addition to being eager to know what was inside the container, Hasan also used a very efficient X-ray perspective instrument, but naturally, there was no result.
Half a month later, Hassan already knew that the thing picked up from the sea was unusual, and that it came from the so-called "Bermuda Triangle" area that has always been mysterious.Inside this container, it can be anything.
He wanted to find Boss Bai several times, and he also wanted to contact me through Boss Bai—this is why he agreed to it when he heard that Boss Bai was willing to send me to accompany him to "tell stories" as a bet.Because he had many questions in his mind and was about to ask me.It's a pity that Hasan and Boss Bai are both very competitive. If the two old people disagree, they will have a big argument. Hasan is afraid that Boss Bai will laugh at him and say that he picked up some rags from the sea and used them as treasures, so he decided to He held back and didn't say anything.
However, he himself has been spending time studying the container. After a month, he has exhausted all methods and still cannot open the container. He is anxious and curious at the same time, which almost makes him restless today.
The container has been kept in the cellar of his villa. That night, he came back from a banquet feeling a little drunk. At the banquet, he refused the teasing of a blonde and blue-eyed stunner, and felt a little bit embarrassed. insult...
In short, he was in a very unhappy and lonely situation. As soon as he returned to the villa, he naturally came to the cellar, stood in front of the container, stared at it, became more and more irritable, and turned around. I saw an iron rod not far away.
That kind of iron rod with a flat end is used to pry things open, just as I first tried to use this primitive tool to open the container, and Hassan also used this iron rod to try to open the door of the container. If the prying was unsuccessful, the iron rod was put aside.
Hassan picked up the iron rod, rushed to the container, yelled loudly, and after shouting, he hit the container with the iron rod vigorously, and the sound of metal knocking echoed in the cellar.
What Hassan yelled at that time were all meaningless words, such as "what kind of monster are you", "no matter what is in you, I must find out" and so on.
He couldn't remember how long he yelled and how many times he knocked.After he put the container in the cellar, he ordered that no one in the villa should come to the cellar.In addition, the sound insulation equipment in the cellar is very good, so Hassan is messing around in the cellar, and the dozen or so servants in the villa don't know it.
After all, Hassan is not young anymore. After tossing around for a while, he felt tired, and the alcohol passed away. He held the iron rod, panting, still staring at the container, and wanted to learn how to learn the iron rod again. Knock a few times—from this point, we can also know the character of the old man Hasan.
And at this moment, he suddenly heard some voices coming from inside the container.
At that time, Hasan was not sure that the sound came from the container, because the sound he made when he knocked on the container was deafening, now he calmed down and his hearing was not so sensitive.
He stayed for a while, until he heard a sound again, like the sound of something turning, Hasan really sobered up, and involuntarily took a step back.
He was narrating the story to us. When he said this, he still had lingering fears. He stretched out his hand to wipe his face and asked, "I was very scared at that time. Guess what I thought of first?"
Everyone couldn't answer, and there was silence for about a minute. I was about to urge him to stop wasting time, but Bai Su asked in a probing tone: "In the myth, is there a bottle that imprisons a huge demon?"
Hasan immediately shouted: "Exactly! What I thought was that a huge monster would come out of that big box!"
It is easy to understand Hassan's state of mind at that time: for more than a month, he had been fantasizing about what was in the container all day long. At the beginning, he naturally thought about it in an ordinary way.Since the container was shaped like a large meat freezer, he even imagined that it was full of frozen food.
As he couldn't open the container with all his efforts, his imagination of what was inside the container naturally became more and more bizarre, and he finally thought of what kind of monster might be inside the container.
At this time, as soon as he heard the sound, he thought of the living creature, which was very reasonable.
When Hassan was narrating, he was a little embarrassed: "Is it true that the more nervous people are, the less they can concentrate, and they prefer to think wildly? I was standing still at that time, and what I was thinking in my mind was all miscellaneous, It's not something that should be on your mind at this moment."
At that time, what Hasan thought of was, what kind of monster came out of that container?Is it because he was imprisoned in that container for too long, and when he came out, he was full of hatred, what about the vengeful demon who wanted to destroy everything?Or a subdued genie, like Aladdin's lamp, who can do anything for his master?
When Hasan was thinking wildly, for about three minutes, the sound inside the container stopped again.
After all, Hassan has been around the world for a long time. At this moment, he has already settled down.He shouted at the container: "Whether it's a monster or a monster, come out!"
At this time, he shouted like this, of course, the greater effect was to strengthen his courage, while shouting, he stepped forward, swung the iron rod in his hand, and then threw it forward again.
But at this moment, he froze suddenly, because he saw that the door of the container, which he couldn't open with all his efforts, was slowly opening.After opening about 20 centimeters, it stopped for a while, as if some living thing inside had to take a good look at the situation outside before deciding on the next move.
At this time, Hasan's heart almost jumped out of his mouth.
The door was only 20 centimeters open, and he couldn't see what was in the container at all. He had always had a heart attack. Afterwards, he was surprised that his heart didn't overwhelm and die at that time!
Fortunately, the pause was not too long, and in about three seconds, the door opened suddenly, and Hasan saw a person, stepped out a little bit evasively.
As soon as the man stepped out and raised his head, he saw Hasan, and Hasan also saw him, and the two met face to face, and the man's movements became concentrated—it was a strange posture in which the body was half straight, As for Hasan, he swung the iron rod high, as if he wanted to smash forward.
The two confronted each other like this for only a few seconds, but both sides must have felt that it was very long.Hasan was extremely frightened, but what appeared was not a big monster, but a person (although it was extremely strange that a person suddenly came out of such a container, but a person came out, it was better than a monster good), always lessened his shock.
After he calmed down a bit, although he hadn't changed his frozen posture, at least he could look at that person.That person seems to be in his twenties, his appearance and stature are very ordinary, not conspicuous, such a person will not attract any special attention when mixed with many people, and even for a while, it is impossible to distinguish him Is it Asian or African!
This person has a pair of extremely flexible eyes, at first he didn't move, but immediately, his eyeballs started to move around, and when they came into contact with his eyes, they felt dazzled.
The clothes on the man, at first glance, are nothing special, similar to the overalls of ordinary workers, but with a few thick and bulging pockets.
After looking at the man and assuming that he was not some monster, Hassan asked, "Who are you?"
At this time, the man's gaze stayed on the iron rod in Hasan's hand. He slowly stood up straight, pointed at the iron rod, and asked in a rather rough voice: "Is this a piece of cake?" A welcoming ceremony?"
At this moment, Hasan's suspicion reached the extreme, he subconsciously waved the iron rod in his hand, and then shouted: "Get out of the way!"
While drinking, he rushed forward, the man gave way to the side, Hassan came to the container, pushed open the half-open door with an iron bar, and then he saw After arriving at another half-opened oval door, after he opened the oval door with an iron handle, what he saw was exactly the same as what we saw after we finally opened the container in the factory building. .
He stared at everything he saw in a daze—that was the inevitable reaction of anyone who saw the situation inside the container.
He didn't know how long he had been in a daze. Of course, during that time, he also had a lot of imagination. He was quick in thinking, but it was difficult to make a hypothesis. He turned around and saw that the man was still in place, looking , at least not looking hostile, so he settled down again.
(In many situations between people, it is necessary to determine whether the other party is hostile before acting.)
(Not only between people, but also between people and many creatures. It is really a sad phenomenon.)
Hassan first asked: "You... have been here for more than a month, have you been here?"
The man repeated, "More than a month? I was inside—"
When he said this, he suddenly smiled wryly, then hurried forward again, passed Hasan in a sudden, and sat on the seat again, but did not close the door, so Hasan could clearly see everything.
After the man sat down, he looked directly at the silver-gray screen divided into nine grids in front of him, with an anxious and nervous expression.
He kept pressing the button on the armrest of the chair with both hands incomparably swiftly, no less than seventy or eighty times.Hassan noticed that there were at least a hundred buttons on the armrest of the chair, and he didn't know why the man didn't even look at them, but he could press them so skillfully without making mistakes.
When he pressed the first button, an image appeared on the nine-grid silver-gray screen. Hasan was a little embarrassed to peek at it at first, but the man obviously didn't pay attention to Hasan, just stared at it. Hassan also leaned closer to look.What exactly he saw, until now, when he told us what happened, he still couldn't tell, he just told the truth.
Hassan's narration is: "I saw several different pictures, but I didn't know what those pictures represented. There were two or three pictures, like ripples, and some were incomparably gorgeous and changing colors— —The colors are so dazzling, the changing colors must be conveying some information, but I can't understand it. The middle one is densely packed with words, which seem to be words, um...it should be words, but I Outside the door, it's far away, and I'm too embarrassed to get too close to see it, so I don't know what it is. There are also one or two pictures, which are simply messy and incomprehensible."
In short, the time was not short. The man sat on the chair for at least ten minutes. During these ten minutes, he pressed the button almost constantly, and the nine pictures were constantly changing, but Hasan didn't know what to do at all. can not read it.
Then, the man froze for a while, then turned his head, his expression was still quite anxious. As soon as he turned his head, he froze for a while, as if he only discovered the existence of Hasan at this moment.
He asked anxiously, "You... found me on the sea?"
Hassan's answer was very cautious: "I found this container on the sea."
The man jumped down and reached in front of Hasan, and as soon as he stretched out his hand, he took Hasan's hand.
His hands were cold, Hassan even shivered because of it, and the man asked again: "Many people know?"
Hasan hurriedly said: "Not many, there is only one other person, he... is very good at keeping secrets."
The man seemed somewhat relieved, let go of Hasan's hand, and turned around.Hassan has a wealth of life experience. He saw that this strange person was in a situation worthy of anxiety, so he asked, "What do you need help with?"
The man hurriedly said: "Yes! Yes! I will never forget that you helped me, and I will never forget."
Hassan smiled proudly: "You made a mistake, and I will never expect your reward."
The man seemed quite surprised by what Mr. Hasan said, he looked at Hasan for a while, and then said: "The first thing I want you to help is, don't tell anyone that you have seen me, remember, No one can tell."
Under the circumstances at the time, the man's request was naturally not too much, so he nodded and agreed without any consideration.
When Hassan was talking about his experience, he paused for a moment, took a sip of his wine, and looked a little sad.
Those who listened to his narration knew why he was sad, because he had promised that person that he would never mention to anyone that he had seen such a person, but now, he has confessed to many of us.
He breaks his word - he must not break his word often, that's why he feels bad.
I comforted him: "Mr. Hassan, as the saying goes, one moment, another moment, the situation is different, there must be something... weird about that person, that's why you decided to tell us everything."
After hearing what I said, Hassan nodded again and again: "Yes, this person is simply extremely weird—you see, who is he? What is his origin? Where did he come from?"
I said: "You are too impatient, you haven't finished everything about that person, how can we judge?"
Hasan smiled wryly: "There is nothing more to say."
At that time, none of us knew what Hassan meant by "there is nothing more to say." We saw that he was going to continue, so we didn't ask.
It turned out that after the man asked Hasan to agree to his request, he said, "Please tell me where the way out is, I have something urgent to do."
Hassan pointed to the stairs leading to the hall. The man moved very quickly and hurried towards the stairs. He jumped up the stairs again before turning around and pointing to the container. Said: "You can keep this thing temporarily, but never let others know."
Seeing that this person left as soon as he said it, Hasan couldn't help feeling anxious and took a few steps: "Wait a minute, what is this thing? What's its use?"
The man said "Ah", and when Hasan said those few words, he rushed up a few more stairs, it seemed that he was in a hurry, and then he turned around: "I'm sorry, this thing is right. You are very unfamiliar with it, it has too many functions, and I can’t finish it all at once. You must pay attention to the many buttons on the handle of the chair. You must not press them randomly. Once you press them, they will change unexpectedly. or whoever pushes the button, causing great harm."
Hasan screamed strangely: "You left such a thing and left, but you told me not to touch it. How can I bear it?"
Hearing Hasan's protest, the man was actually very reasonable. He turned his head and thought for a while: "Then I'd better close the door. You will never be able to open the door anyway, so you won't press it out of curiosity."
As he spoke, he walked down quickly.This time, Hassan didn't let him go, and when he passed by, Hassan grabbed him tightly with both hands and shouted, "No way! I'll die even more if you close the door! You have to tell me everything before you can agree." Walk!"
The man sighed: "To be honest, old man, it is impossible for you to know everything. There is not enough time."
Hassan knew what the man meant, that he was old and there was not enough time for him to understand everything!It can also be seen from this that everything contained in this thing is extremely complicated, which makes his heart itchy even more.
I believe that he is a person who is more curious than me-this can be seen from the fact that he likes to listen to various stories so much.For a person with strong curiosity, under such circumstances, if he is not allowed to know a little about the secret of the container, he is afraid that he will be tortured to death by curiosity.
The man obviously understood his feelings, and said: "Okay, I won't close the door, but you must listen to me."
Hasan nodded again and again, the man thought for a while, then pointed to two buttons with two small dots on them, and said, "Sit on the chair and press these two buttons."
Hasan asked anxiously, "What will happen?"
The man said: "The two doors will close automatically, you are on the seat, your heartbeat stops, your breathing stops—"
Hassan was taken aback and opened his mouth wide, unable to speak.The man laughed, reached out his hand on his shoulder, and patted him lightly: "Don't be afraid, that's not a state of death, but a state of stillness. This state is very beneficial to your health."
Hasan hesitated: "How can I wake up?"
The man let out an "oh" and pointed to another button: "Press it once, it means a stage...well, it's a day."
After he said that, he strengthened his tone: "All you can move is a total of three buttons, and the rest must not be moved."
Hassan was still not satisfied: "If you move, what will happen?"
The man, a little annoyed at Hassan's constant pestering, said loudly, "Anything will happen."
He seemed extremely anxious, and as soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and rushed up the stairs. Hassan hurriedly followed behind, and called again: "If the door is closed, how do you open it?"
The man said: "You are inside, the door will open as soon as you pull it."
Hassan followed behind him, and when he got up the stairs, he was out of breath. After the man went up the stairs, he paused for a while, and Hassan pointed to a door: "Go over there, to the hall."
The man walked in hastily, and Hasan tried his best to follow him, only to see that the man stopped for a while when he reached the hall, and looked around.The hall of the Hasan Villa was naturally extremely luxurious, but the man looked at it and didn't express anything special, so he hurriedly walked towards the gate.
There happened to be a servant by the gate. Seeing such a person approaching, the master hurriedly followed behind, too surprised to speak.The man came to the door, and when the servant tried to stop him when he wanted to open the door, the man reprimanded angrily.Hasan hurriedly said, "Open the door. Excuse me, when will you be back?"
The servant hurriedly opened the door, and the man stepped out without looking back, but he finally answered Hasan's question: "Maybe. Remember all my instructions."
Hasan didn't have time to agree, he chased out in a panic, chased out the gate, and the man had long since disappeared.
Hassan stood at the door for a long while, and then returned to the cellar. He almost didn't think about it, and sat on the seat. As soon as he sat on it, the door closed automatically. A very soft, extremely comfortable light.
Hassan really wanted to press any button and see what would happen, but after much deliberation, he never dared.
So, he just pressed the two buttons according to the man's instructions, and then pressed the other button once.
On the nine screens in front of him, nothing changed, but the chair turned automatically, facing the nine screens in front of him, within ten seconds at most, he only felt extremely comfortable, naturally, closed his eyes. When the eyes are closed, it is like a very tired person who has no worries and goes to sleep, and suddenly loses consciousness in a very comfortable situation.
Mr. Hassan's narration stopped here again.
Then, Hassan emphasized: "It was an extremely comfortable feeling, really comfortable and peaceful. I tried it many times later, and it was the same every time. That kind of peaceful feeling makes people feel that even if they never wake up , died, this is the best way to die!"
Gobi asked: "You pressed that switch once...you woke up after a day?"
Hassan nodded.At that time, he did not know that when he woke up, a full twenty-four hours had passed.When he woke up again, he just felt refreshed, pushed open the door, and jumped down—although he was over seventy years old and in good health, but jumping around like this was not There were also times when he hadn't experienced it for more than ten years, and even he himself couldn't help being stunned.
And when he left the cellar and saw every servant was extremely anxious, he realized that he had been in the cellar for a full twenty-four hours, and the servants were afraid to go in to look for him, and they were afraid of accidents, so they were anxious. Inexplicable!
Hassan was extremely excited—he had no idea what was going on, but he was sure that he had an adventure.
This adventure, which happened in his later years, has greater significance: after several consecutive "rests" in the container (the longest one was seven days), he felt not only psychologically happy, but also physically happy. His health has improved a lot, not only that, but also his mood has a tendency to rejuvenate—he later drove to see the bright red sports car of Boss Bai, which was newly bought after his mood returned to youth, otherwise, It's hard to imagine how he can still drive such a car at the age of eighty!
Hassan is not only "resting" in the container, but is still researching the functions of other buttons in the container.But Hasan didn't dare to disobey the man's warning before he left. He didn't even dare to reach out and caress those buttons, for fear that a wrong hand would cause a catastrophe.
Naturally, he didn't dare to mention this matter to anyone - during this period, he visited Boss Bai four times and wanted to tell Boss Bai about this matter each time, but he dared not disobey that person's orders.
His idea was that the matter must be told to Boss Bai, but he would wait until the man came back. The man said "There is something urgent to do", but after he left, he disappeared like a yellow crane, and there was no news. They are all waiting for him to appear, and have ordered all the servants, as soon as that person appears, treat him as himself!
Hassan also did a lot of other work. He took many photos of the inside and outside of the container. Considering his status, he naturally knew many insightful people. Whenever he had the opportunity, he would take those photos. for people to see.
But the people who saw it expressed the same opinions, and they couldn't tell the reason.The most common comments were "Looks like a small submarine", or "Looks like a space capsule".
When Hassan asked his doctor friend whether a person could be in a still state without breathing or heartbeat, most of the answers he got were laughing.Some explained to him that it is possible for a person to be in a "hibernation" state that some creatures often have under certain circumstances, but it is absolutely impossible to completely stop the heartbeat and breathing!
None of these answers satisfied Hasan, but since that person no longer appeared, Hasan had no special solution to think of.
He also did a job: he invited three outstanding portrait painters to draw the appearance of the person who suddenly appeared in the container according to his description, and then, through his relationship, investigated this People's origins, but there is no result at all.
Later, I learned that Xiao Guo's detective agency also accepted the commission, and Hasan offered a very high reward.According to Xiao Guo, there are more than 3,000 of his connoisseurs who have accepted the same commission all over the world!
When he went to see Boss Bai for the fifth time, the "bet" happened.
When Hasan said this, everyone who listened was very nervous.The result of that bet is known to everyone, but no one knows what happened—including Hasan, the person involved!
I gave Hasan another glass of wine, and Hasan drank it dry and cleared his throat: "Boss Bai made a bet with me that he would find me on the boat, and I immediately thought of that container, although before, I only rested there at most After seven days, but the man said that you can stay in there for as long as you want, and it’s not a problem if you want to come to 80 days... Do you all know my next move?"
Bai Su and I just nodded, because what he did next was all known because of the captain's offer, and the captain only offered it after being bribed, which is not very honorable.
Hassan tilted his head and thought for a while: "I left the deck and entered the steam room. Only the captain knew my whereabouts. When I entered the container, no one saw me. Since I already have I have experienced many times of 'resting', so I don't think it's a big deal. I just think it's funny to think of the horrified look of Boss Bai when I suddenly appeared after 80 days, and I believe that 80 days of long-term rest must be beneficial My health is in great shape."
Having said this, Hasan paused again, licked his lips, and I took the opportunity to ask, "Did you do something wrong?"
Hassan's expression was horrified, he obviously did something wrong, because when we opened the container, he was not in it, and he appeared again later, he once disappeared!
After a while, Hassan said: "I can't remember exactly. Eighty days, I have to press that button eighty times. I have to count very carefully, neither more nor less at once. During that process Among them, it is very likely that I pressed the nearby buttons by mistake-you have all seen that the buttons are very densely arranged, I am old after all, and my fingers are not so... flexible!"
Everyone held their breath. Hasan's explanation was very acceptable.Hassan would not intentionally press other buttons, naturally there is only the possibility of accidentally touching other buttons.
I waved my hand vigorously to signal him not to talk about the process, the important thing is what happened after he pressed the wrong button!
Several people have raised this issue.Hassan's expression was confused, and he stretched out his hand to stroke his face: "For me, nothing happened. As usual, I entered a still state in a very comfortable situation, and then woke up... when When I woke up and saw you... that was the most amazing moment of my life!"
The Gobi Desert shouted in unison: "But when we just opened the container, you were not in it at all! When we saw you suddenly appear, it was also the most surprising moment in our lives!"
Hassan shook his head: "I don't know where I have been. Where can I go in that sealed container? If I go, how can I come back all of a sudden?"
The expression of the Gobi Desert is very serious: "There is an idea, a device that can decompose people into molecules and emit them, and then restore them in another device."
Hasan laughed out loud: "My little friend, don't scare me!"
Desert shook his head: "This possibility is unlikely. If he has been dissolved into molecules and gathered together again, then he should know where he was launched!"
Gobi retorted: "If he was decomposed in a static state, he would have no consciousness at all, and he would not know where he had been."
Desert shook his head: "I would rather assume that after he pressed the wrong button, some kind of device in the container made him invisible, so we couldn't see him when we opened the container!"
It is very interesting to listen to the debate in the Gobi Desert, because their imagination is very rich and they have enough knowledge.As soon as I heard the desert say this, I couldn't help but let out a low cry of "ah".
Because when the container was opened for the first time, we only saw that there was no one inside, and we didn't reach out to explore it. If Hassan was an invisible person at that time, it is of course very possible.
Hasan was a little bit ironic: "You two children, don't think I'm so amazing, I just don't know what went wrong, I don't know... what happened, I see...don't pursue it!"
Although he had seen the world, what he was discussing at this time was a strange incident related to him, and he himself didn't know what happened, so naturally he was not very happy.
I comforted him: "Mr. Hassan, you are safe now, at most, don't touch that thing in the future, and there will be no more trouble."
Hasan showed a very reluctant expression again, I naturally knew that it was impossible to tell him not to touch that thing!
For a moment, everyone fell silent, and Gobi walked back and forth a few steps: "The man said, the buttons on this thing... have so many functions that you don't have time to learn them all?"
Hassan nodded: "He said that, but I'm not convinced. How do I know I can't live to be a hundred and twenty years old?"
Gobi rubbed his hands together and looked at the desert. Both of them had an itchy look on their faces. They asked Hasan again: "We are both interested in all novel designs and have a lot of experience. Can we Give that thing to us for research?"
Hassan didn't wait for them to finish, and shouted: "Of course not, that thing doesn't belong to me. They just put it here for a while. How can I make my own decision?"
Hasan used this reason to refuse, which was the best thing, and Gobi tried again: "Can you study with us?"
The desert hurriedly said: "Research with us, for you, there are advantages and no disadvantages!"
At this time, I was already full of curiosity about that thing, so I said: "We can study together, and it will be done in this factory, because all the necessary equipment can be provided here! If it is not here, it is impossible to put the container Open it."
The Gobi Desert stared directly at Hasan: "If we hadn't opened the container, you might never know where you were floating. Not only would you never come back, but you would also be scattered into hundreds of billions of pieces forever..."
When Gobi said this, he not only insisted on his "molecular decomposition" theory, but also had a very gloomy expression, which surprised Hasan.Bai Su also interjected at this time: "Not only can there be good research conditions here, but also a very comfortable living environment. It's a pity that I can't participate!"
I hurriedly said, "You—"
Bai Su smiled: "I have to leave at least for a while. Dad doesn't have a phone, so I have to tell him in person. Because of an accident, it seems that he lost the bet, but he didn't!"
When Hasan heard this, he yelled: "No, he didn't find me within eighty days!" Bai Su smiled: "We have already found this container within seventy days. If you were inside , you lose! You are not in the container or on the boat at all, and you have violated the rules of betting!"
When she spoke up to this point, she paused for a while, and then said slowly: "Generally speaking, if you make a foul, you will lose!"
Hasan still wanted to refute, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say, and rolled his eyes in anxiety.
I smoothed things over with my words: "Mr. Hassan didn't foul on purpose!"
It seemed that I was helping Hasan, speaking for him, and excused him, but my words were very insidious. If Hasan didn't notice it for a while, he would be fooled.
Sure enough, although Hasan has rich experience in life, under such circumstances, it is unavoidable that "Dan Lao will get into it" (he has been tricked, or has the meaning of Tao), and he immediately said: "Yes, I am not Intentional foul!"
The tacit understanding between Bai Su and me is so good, she immediately said: "Whether it's intentional or unintentional, it's always a violation, isn't it?"
Asking Bai Su such a question, Hasan suddenly realized that I was not trying to excuse him, but that I wanted to say the word foul through his own mouth!
He glared at me fiercely and remained silent. I smiled and said, "Mr. Hassan, you are able to talk and drink with us at this time. I think it has something to do with the door of the container being opened. If it weren't for this You don’t know what kind of situation you’re in, that’s more terrifying than death!”
How can Hasan speak against many of us? He waved his hand angrily: "Okay! Okay! Right here, let's study together!"
As soon as Hasan agreed, everyone was very happy, and the Gobi Desert was ecstatic, howling and jumping high.
Bai Su said: "There is one thing that Mr. Hasan must do immediately - call back quickly to see if that person has appeared before! More than three months have passed!"
Hasan was reminded by Bai Su's words, so he quickly asked for a phone call and called back to the villa. The manager's answer was disappointing, not only did the person never show up, nor did he contact him in any way!
Hasan also ordered to contact him as soon as he got any information about that person. It seems that Hasan plans to live in this factory for a long time.
Bai Su said again: "I didn't pour cold water on it. The source of this container is very strange. Your research may not yield any results at all. I'm afraid we still have to wait for that person to appear!"
The expressions of the two people in the Gobi Desert were very dissatisfied: "Even if it is something from aliens, we can still research a trick!"
When the two of them said this, they looked at Hassan again, and Hassan knew what they meant: "That person... doesn't look like an alien at all!"
On the contrary, I very much supported Bai Su's opinion, but at this time, everyone was excited and gearing up, so I naturally couldn't pour cold water on it, so I didn't say anything.
白素说走就走，这就要告辞，厂长忙吩咐准备车子，我陪她到门口去等车，白素沉声道：“不论研究工作如何进行，都不要乱按那容器的任何掣钮，真的什么事都可能发生，那……是一只大魔术箱，不知是属于什么人所有的，不可冒失！”
白素说得十分认真，我轻轻亲了她一下：“你说话越来越像一个诗人了！”
白素笑了一下，一个工厂职员驾了一辆性能极佳的跑车来白素上了车，一面向我挥着手，一面已呼啸而去。
等到车子看不见了，我才回转身，已看到所有人都涌了出来，我知道他们急于回到车房去，就先把白素刚才临走时所说的话，重复了一遍。
戈壁笑道：“当然，要不然乱按掣钮，忽然之间身体不见了一半，那倒十分糟糕。”
沙漠缩了缩肩：“岂止十分糟糕，简直糟糕之极了！”
我笑：“那也得看是如何只剩下一半，是只剩上一半，还是下一半，左一半，还是右一半！”
几句话说得众人骇然失笑，技工领班失声道：“人要是只剩了一半，那算是什么？”
一时之间，大家都静了约有好几秒钟，想是各人对这种不可测的情形，都有不寒而栗之感——这自然也是后来在各方面的研究工作之中，始终没有人敢去乱按掣钮的缘故，一直到后来，白老大出现，才被打破——那是后话，先表过就算。
还未曾到达厂房，各人就已经商量好研究的步骤，决定第一步，先找出这东西的能量来源和性质来。这一点十分重要，若是弄清楚了这一点，对这东西的来龙去脉，就可以有一定的了解。
展开工作之后，详细的经过，自然不必细表，有许多程序，连我也不是很明白，所以我只是旁观，而更多的时间，花在观望那容器的内部一切装置上，尤其是那许多按钮，和上面的图案。
我知道那些图案式的符号，一定每一个都有独特的意义，可是却无法知道它的真正意义，就像是看到了不认识的文字一样，根本无从猜测。
三天之后，第一项研究项目宣告失败。
因为用尽了方法，也找不出这容器的能源来源——知道一定在这容器之中，可是无法把容器拆开来，自然也不容易寻找。
戈壁的推测是：“可能是极小型而又高效力的核动能装置，又保护得十分周密，所以探测不出。”
哈山在一旁听了，用上海话咕饿了一句：“讲之等于匆讲！”（讲了等于不讲）。
在过去的三天中，大家都休息不多，而且人人眉心都打着结，一直到这时戈壁宣布放弃，我才提出了一个比较戏剧性的提议，我指着那座椅：“至少有三个按钮是可以动的，动了之后，不会有什么坏结果，人会在二十四小时之中，像是熟睡一样，而且睡醒了之后，神清气定！”
哈山点头：“我试过许多次，确然如此。”
我指了指自己的鼻尖：“让我去试一试——放两具闭路电视进去，看看我在静止状态之中是什么样子的，会不会有可能成为隐形，或者消失！”
我的提议，立时得到了所有人的同意，戈壁沙漠连连打自己的头，说怎么没有想到，显然他们也十分想试一下“静止”的滋味。
我笑着说：“不要紧，看来我们有的是时间，每人可以轮上一天，人人不落空。”
很快就找来了闭路电视摄影机，连结上了大型的彩色荧幕，哈山一再向我指出那三枚按钮，和按动它们的次序。
我坐上了那座椅，按下了那三个按钮，正如哈山所说的那样，亮起了一片柔和之极的光芒，门也自动关上。我还想欠过身子去推门，看看是不是推得开，可是我的身子根本没有动过（事后看录影带肯定的），刹那之间，我只觉得身子酥麻得舒服无比，一种懒洋洋的感觉袭上心头，眼睛闭了起来（看录影带的过程，只有三秒钟），已经睡着了。
这一觉睡得畅美之极，一觉睡醒，自然而然伸了一个懒腰，门也打了开来，我一跃而下，看到所有人都在，但是他们的神情，又都闷不可言。
哈山大大打了一个阿欠：“二十四小时，你连动都没有动过，像个死人一样！”
他一面说，一面指着电视录影彩屏，我自然也知道了人人神情并不兴奋的原因！二十四小时看着一个睡着了的人，自然闷不堪言！
接着，戈壁沙漠都要试，就又过了两天，在戈壁沙漠进人那容器，门关上之后，看到荧屏上的情形，就像是他们都沉沉熟睡一样。
一共过去了五天，对那容器的研究，可以说一点进展也没有。那天，沙漠才“醒”了过来，大声道：“睡得真舒服，真是不知人间是何乡，一辈子没有睡得那样酣畅过，舒服极了！”
工厂方面的人听了，也都想试，就在这时，一阵豪迈的“呵呵”笑声，传了过来，循声看去，白发白眉白须的白老大在前，白素在后，一起走了起来。
白老大一进来，哈山就迎了上去。两人各自伸出手来，指着对方。白老大先开口：“哈山，谁也没输，谁也没赢——你别生气！”
哈山一听，心中高兴，脸色也好看了许多：“出了点意外，谁也不必负责。”
白老大向戈壁沙漠一瞪眼——白素显然已详细向他说起过在这里的人，所以他早已知道各人的身分，这才一下子就望向他们两人的。
戈壁沙漠一见白老大这等威势阵仗，自然也根本不必介绍，就知道他是何方神圣了，立时十分恭敬地站着，白老大笑：“有了什么结果？”
我抢着回答：“什么结果也没有，倒是我们三个人都轮流试了一下'静'的味道，那是极酣畅的熟睡，要不要试一试？”
白老大一口答应：“好！”
他对那容器，像是十分熟悉，说着，已大踏步向前，跨了出去。
这时候，真的要佩服白素，一则，是她精细过人，二则，或者是她最了解自老大的性格，白老大才向前走出了两步，她就从后面赶上来，一把拉住了白老大：“爹，我知道你想干什么！”
白老大呆了一呆，没有出声，在这方面，我的反应比较慢，我道：“还能干什么，自然是试一试彻底休息的那种特别感受！”
白素狠狠瞪了我一眼：“才不！我知道他想干什么！他想进去之后，乱接那些扭掣！”
我吓了一大跳，所有人都吓了一大跳，白老大却反倒哈哈大笑了起来：“你倒真能知道我的心意！”
白素急叫：“爹，会闯祸的！”
白老大豪气干云：“闯什么祸！大不了是我消失，死掉，你们怕死不敢试，我不怕，我来试！”
白素顿足：“只怕不死不活，人失去了一半！”
白老大呆了一呆，神情古怪之极，想是想到了人失去了一半之后大是糟糕的情形。
可是随即，他又坚持：“总要试一试，我看不会有什么大不了的情形，不然，那人一回来，显得我们无能之至，哈山也曾经按错了钮，还不是一根毛也没少？”
大家都不出声，老实说，人人都感到可以试一试，但是由于结果会发生什么事全然不可测，所以也没有人敢出声表示同意。
我知道白老大一定会针对我，所以已经转过头去，可是他还是大声叫了我的名字：“你应该同意我的做法，事实上，我以为你早做了！”
我立即道：“老婆叫我别那么做，所以我没有做！”
这个回答，十分巧妙，白老大大笑：“好，好在我没有了这种人际关系，不必听话了！”
接下来，他的动作之出人意外，是真正出人意料，全然没有人料得到，而他的动作，又快捷绝伦，所以只好由得他行为得逞！
他好端端地在说着话，陡然抬腿，一脚踢出，却是踢向白素！
那一脚去势之快，足见白老大在武学上的造诣，老而弥坚，白素发出了一下惊呼声，身子向后闪，白老大的那一脚，还是没有踢中她，可是她由于身子急闪，也退出了好几步。
这就是白老大的目的，他一逼开了白素，立时一耸身，已经退到了那容器之前，只要一转身，就可以进人那容器之中！
这一下变化，突兀之极，令得人人震惊。大家都知道白老大准备以身犯险，不计一切后果，要去按动那些按钮，看看会发生什么事，也人人都知道这样做十分危险，因为我们对这个容器，一无所知！
当白素阻止她父亲行动时，谁都以为就算白老大不愿意，总也可以有一阵子商量，谁知道白老大说干就于，竟然发动得如此之快！
这时，只有我离白老大最近，若是我立即发动，相信可以阻上一阻，可是我却犹豫了一下，因为我知道我一出手，必然会和蓄足了势子的白老大交上手，我总不成真的和白老大打起来！
在这种时候，姜是老的辣，哈山陡然用上海话叫：“有些话我没对他们讲，你一定要听！”
哈山一叫，白老大怔了一怔——白老大以为自己在白素处已经知道了一切，哈山的话，正好打中了他的心坎，所以他怔了一怔，而哈山要争取的，也就是这一刻。白素在后退之后，已经站定，这时，她又陡然向前，扑了过来。
他不是扑向白老大，而是扑向我，我也立时知道了她的用意——她离白老大很远，不能一下扑过去，所以她先扑向我，我双手一伸，在她来到了我身前之际，双手在她的腰际一托，一个转身，借力把她向白老大处一送，这一下，去势更快，白素身形飘飘，倏起倏落，已经在白老大和那容器之间，落了下来，阻止了白老大进人那容器。
白老大知道又要多费一番周折了，他竟不回头看白素，只是盯着哈山，喝：“什么话你没有对人说？”
哈山的喉间，发出了“格”地一声响，向容器指了一指：“从那容器中走出来的那个人，是上海人！”
听得哈山那样说法的人，神情都啼笑皆非，怪异莫名，白老大问哼了一声，哈山急急分辨：“他讲上海话，一口上海话！”
白素阻在那容器和白老大之间，已几次发力，想把白老大推开一点，可是白老大伟岸的身体，却一动也不动，我在这时，也已经靠近了容器，白老大想凭使蛮而以身犯险，自然没有那么容易了。
我摇头：“他说上海话，不能代表他是上海人，他可能是通过语言传译仪，在你那里，学会了上海话的！”
哈山急得顿脚：“他是上海人，他叫刘根生，他是小刀会的！”
哈山叫了三句话，前两句还不希奇，最后一句，别人听不懂，我，白老大和白素，自然知道。小刀会是清末的一个帮会组织，势力十分庞大，而且曾有过行动，占领上海地区，也有称之为“起义”的。这段历史，相当冷门，不是对上海近代史有兴趣的，大多不知。
一个小刀会的会员（或头目），会在这样的一个容器之中走出来，而这个容器，在我们这群现代人的心目之中，被认为不属于地球，来自外星！
而且，一个小刀会的会员，一百多年前的人，又怎么懂得操纵那么复杂的按钮？
白老大最先发难，他喝：“你别插科打诨了！”
哈山叫：“真的，他一直用上海话和我交谈，最后他说了几遍：这些按钮，一碰也不能碰！”
哈山又特别用上海话，重复了两次“一碰也不能碰”！
上海话有些发音很特别，“一碰也不能碰”的“碰”字，上海话念作“朋”字音，听起来也就格外引人注意，叫人印象深刻。
哈山的神情十分紧张，讲话的时候，五官一起在动，他喘了几口气，才又道：“他说了，绝不能碰！你要是碰了，害你自己不要紧，害了别人怎么说？”
他讲完了之后，盯着白老大，而且一步一步走近来。白老大冷冷地道：“讲完了没有？连这点险都不肯冒，都像你们这样，人类还会有什么进步？”
白素在白老大的背后，柔声道：“爹，别固执了，对自己不懂的东西，不要乱来。”
白老大皱起了眉，脸色十分难看，一时之间，人人都不出声，等待着他的决定。过了好一会，他才道：“那我们能做什么？等那个小刀会会员回来？哈哈！”
他笑了几下，指着哈山：“他可能回上海去了，小刀会当年在海上活动，就抢掠了不少财宝，后来又占领了上海一年多，可能有一笔大宝藏，在等他拿，你们慢慢等，他会回来的！”
白老大说着，用力一挥手，摆出一副“再也不理睬你们”的姿态，大踏步向外走去，白素忙跟了出去，并且向我使了一个眼色。
我也跟出去，到了外面，白老大转过身来，十分恼怒：“为什么要阻止我！”
白素十分冷静地回答：“因为不知道会发生什么事！”
白老大双眉耸动：“哈山老儿按错了掣，还不是什么事也没有！”
白素着急：“可是将近一百天之久，他根本不知道自己在什么地方，也不知道自己是死是活！”
白老大望了白素半晌，又望向我，“哼”地一声：“你们年纪轻，不懂，人到了我这个年纪，根本没有什么可怕的事了！”
白素也表示了她十分强烈的不满：“世界上不止你一个人！”
白老大问哼：“那东西会炸开来？”
白素沉声：“不知道，就是因为不知道，所以才不能轻举妄动！”
白老大表现了一个老人的执拗（和儿童一样），十分恼怒，发出了极度不满的闷哼声，恰好这时，哈山走了出来，白老大似乎觉得我们还不够资格作他发脾气的对象，一见哈山，立时爆发，他指着哈山就骂：“和你这种人做朋友，真是倒了十七八代的霉，不声不响得了这样稀奇的物事，半个屁都没有放过！我看这东西留着给你当棺材，再好不过！”
我很少看到白老大这样“无理取闹”的情形，一面皱着眉，自然不敢说什么。
哈山的神情苦恼，显然他也有点自知理亏，他道：“我也是没有办法，人家千叮万嘱，我有什么办法？”
白老大大吼：“你要朋友不要？”
哈山怒：“不要就不要，谁和你再胡闹下去？”
白老大一下子就冲到了哈山的面前，一伸手，用手指戮向哈山的额头，哈山居然不逃，我吃了一惊，想把白老大拉开去，白素向我作了一个手势阻止我。
白老大的声音十分响亮：“你好好想一想，你躲进去的时候，按了那几个掣钮！”
哈山叫起来：“那是我错手按的，怎么能记得起？”
白老大喝：“想！”
哈山吞了一口口水：“可是我不能肯定，如果我记错了的话——”
白老大豪气干云，扬声大笑：“大不了再错手一次，我看不会有什么大不了的后果！”
说来说去，他还是要进那容器去，而且决不肯照已知可以叫人休息的按钮休息，他至少要像哈山一样，在里面过上八九十天！
若干时日之后，我和白素讨论，都觉得白老大之所以要坚持如此，主要还是为了争胜心——哈山有过那种经历，他就也要有！
心理学家常说，老人的心理，返老还童，和儿童心理相仿，看来有点道理。
白素知道没有办法，只好低叹了一声，哈山在认真地想着，手指也在动，过了几分钟，他抬起头来，点了点头，转身又走向厂房，我们又都跟了进去。
工厂方面的人，都在交头接耳，我们一进去，都静了下来。白老大大踏步走向那容器，在那座椅之上，坐了下来，向哈山招手，哈山走了过去，在那些按钮上，指指点点，期期艾艾地说着。
白素站在我的身边，神情紧张之极，我低声道：“他说得对，他这个年纪，没有什么可怕的了！”
白素狠狠瞪了我一眼，我思绪也十分紊乱，根本没有话可说，白老大又招手叫总工程师前去，检查那两具电视摄录仪。
厂方人员活跃起来，调节着电视荧光屏，准备白老大一按钮之后，仔细察看会起什么变化。
哈山和白老大说了几分钟，就后退了两步，白老大转过头来，向望着他的人笑了一下，就伸手去按钮掣，他才按下了两个，椭圆形的门先关上，接着，外面那一层，长方形的门也关上。
这时候，已经不能直接看到白老大了，只能在两幅荧光屏上看到他，他的神态很安详，仍然不断在按钮上按着！看来是根据哈山的记忆在按动，不一会，看到在那个“舱”中的九幅银屏上，都有不规则的线条闪动，白老大正在聚精会神地看着，可是他显然不明白那是什么意思，因为他一片疑惑。
等到他不再去按那些按钮时，银屏上的线条消失。我想，所有人都盯着荧光屏在看，想着白老大在那容器之中，有什么变化，所以，没有人注意别的事情，要不是在我身边的哈山，忽然发出了十分感情的声音，我也绝不会回头去看他（我连哈山是什么时候来到了我身边的都不知道），我一回头，看到哈山面色煞白，满头大汗，口中喃喃地在念：“别乱按，谢谢侬，别乱按！拜拜侬！保佑我没记错！”
我也由于紧张，而有一种抽搐感，白老大这个老人，任性之极，他在接了哈山记得曾接过的那些钮掣之后，若是觉得不过瘾，再乱按几个，会闯出什么祸来，谁也不能预料！
白老大停下了手，忽然之间，瞪大了眼，现出了惊讶之极的神情来，但那只是极短时间内的事，接着，他就闭了眼睛，神态安洋之极，睡着了——进入了“休息状态”之中。
一进人了“休息状态”，他和我们每一个进人这种状态的人看来一模一样，过了约莫有五分钟之久，我首先打破沉寂，尖声道：“我们过二十四小时就会醒来，他难道要八十天，或是更久才会醒！”
我一面说，一面向哈山望去，哈山正在抹汗，满面都湿，他吸了一口气：“应该是这样！”
我又向白素望去，白素连望也不望向我，只是盯着荧光屏在看，神情关切之极！
天地良心，我不是不关心白老大，但是要我面对一切不动的白老大八十天，那当真无趣之极，我宁愿讲八十天故事给哈山听了！
可是我这时却又找不出什么推托的言词来，只好踱来踱去。
过了两个小时，我已经忍无可忍，我向厂长提议：“可不可以把电视画面转接到我们住所的电视机上去？那里，至少环境舒服一些！”
厂长连声：“当然可以，太简单了。”
转接电视自然是十分简单的事，可是坐在柔软舒适的沙发上，面对一动不动的白老大，那种闷气法，也可想而知。到了当晚午夜，我已唉声叹气，坐立不安，白素叹了一口声：“爹在那容器中要超过八十天，随时都可以有意外，我必然尽可能注视他！”
我说得委婉：“工厂方面，哈山，他们都在注视！”
白素说了一个无可反驳的理由：“我是他的女儿！”
我吐了吐舌头，说不出什么来，而且，也没有再打退堂鼓的道理，我劝白素去休息，我们轮流注视白老大会发生什么变化。
一连过了三天，都什么事也没有发生过。
在“休息状态”之中，人体的新陈代谢，缓慢得几乎接近停止，像是根本不用呼吸，这种情形，奇特之至，无可解释。
第四天，哈山反手横着腰，走来找我，我望了他半晌，他忙道：“我不是不肯说，而是事情很怪，说出来，你们会接受，工厂的那些人，一定当我是神经病！”他压低了声音，苦笑：“那个人说他的名字是刘根生，是小刀会领导人刘丽川的侄子，在小刀会地位十分高，不是普通人！”
白素在这时候，问了一句十分关键性的话：“他走的时候，可有说交代些什么？”
哈山苦笑：“他只说，事情一办完就回来，可是一点也没有说什么事，什么地方去办，什么时候回来！”我十分恼怒，把一句话分成了两半，只讲了下一半：“你不会问他吗？”
哈山垂下了头：“我问了，他哈哈大笑，用一柄小刀的刀柄敲着我的头，说我不会相信的，不论他说什么，我都不会相信的！他年轻力壮，我有什么方法可以阻止得了他，请你告诉我！”
我和白素互望着，也觉得无法太苛责哈山。
可是这个刘根生若是一直不再出现，这个谜，也就一直不能解开来！
又过去了十来天，闷真是闷到了极点，值得安慰的是，看来白老大的情形十分好。
我想起在尼泊尔，多年之前，白素曾守候了六年之久，等候我从人类原来居住的星球上回来，我再不耐烦，也要等下去。
白素后来，看出我的心意，她反倒道：“你性格生成不耐烦急躁，就让我一个人在这里好了。”
我没有出声，只是耸了耸肩，结果，又过了七八天，那天晚上，哈山又来了，他道：“我明天要离开几天，再回去，有点事。”
我一听，现出羡慕之极的神色来，可是看哈山的样子，一直望着在荧光屏中看起来，十分安详的白老大，反倒有点依依不舍，看来他不是很想离开，十分想弄明白他曾有一段时间失踪，是到什么地方去了。
这时候，我心头狂跳，想到了一个念头，可是又不敢提出来，脸上的神情，只怕古怪之极。
白素在这时，笑了一下：“哈山先生，如果你不想离开，有什么事，交给卫斯理去代办，我想他能够脱离苦海，必然会尽心尽力！”
我大喜过望，那正是我想到了而又不敢提出的念头，白素真是知夫莫若妻之极矣！
我兴奋得搓着手，望向哈山，哈山真不失为老奸巨猾的生意人，他竟然提出来，竖起五只手指：“欠我五个故事！”
我发出一声闷吼，几乎没有张口把他的五只手指，一口咬它下来！一定是我的神情十分凶狠，哈山竟然不由自主，后退了一步，一只一只，缩回了手指，可是还剩下了一根手指的时候，却说什么也不肯收回去了！
我盯了他半晌，只好屈服：“我，欠你一个故事，你准备离开去做什么？”
哈山道：“开几个重要的业务会议，报告早就准备好了，你照读就是，也一定会得到董事会的通过，很轻松，你可以住在我的别墅中，我这就去安排！”
他转身走了出去，我在白素的身后，轻轻搂住了白素，白素轻拍着我的手背，笑：“再叫你在这里闷下去，只怕会把你闷成了植物人！”
我抬起脚来：“真的，每天，我都怕脚底下，会生出根来！”
当晚喝酒听音乐，也就特别怡神，第二天一早，一辆豪华房车驶到厂门