Chapter 12 Chapter 11 Advanced Creatures Combining Animals and Plants

Shanxiang lives in the suburbs, in a large garden of about six acres, with rows of greenhouses.Looking at those greenhouses, I couldn't help feeling a little creepy, staring at him for a while, Shanxiang was a little annoyed: "What are you doing?" I said: "I don't know, maybe I want to see if you have a dark green color on your face when you are extremely frightened or angry." Shan Xiang snorted, and I asked again: "Do you have the habit of standing still in the greenhouse and letting the light of the mercury lamp shine on you?" Shan Xiang was even more annoyed: "You are crazy, what on earth are you trying to say?"

I sighed, I really don't even know what I want to say.Of course Shan Xiang was not one of Berlioz and the others, because he didn't come from the orphanage. His residence is also similar to a greenhouse, with large glass on the top, a kind of parasitic vines hanging down from the high shelf, people walking in, like walking into a primeval forest, have to separate these vines with both hands to move forward smoothly. After finally finding a chair to sit down, Shan Xiang opened a cabinet.To be honest, in my life, I have never seen a cabinet that can be so chaotic and all-encompassing: there is a full set of extremely expensive photography equipment, but beside a micro-focus lens, there is a large bottle of Chemical liquid fertilizer.Next to a set of gardening tools is a series of microscope slides.The high-magnification microscope is under a bag of unknown plants.

It is rare for Shanxiang to be able to quickly find what he was looking for among so many miscellaneous things. He took out a cassette and wiped it on the case with his hands (considering the cleanliness of his hands, It just gets dirtier and dirtier), and then he found a small tape recorder: "You go and listen to it yourself, I still have something to do." I took what he gave me: "Thank you." He stared: "Thank me for what?" I hurriedly said: "On behalf of Bai Su, I thank you. I think she will definitely accept your proposal and name the new orchid you cultivated after her."

When Shan Xiang heard it, he seemed very happy, and rubbed his hands again and again: "I knew you didn't understand anything, and your wife knows more than you." I waved my hand to signal him to do his work, and he also walked away immediately.I stuffed the tape into the tape recorder and listened to the conversation between Dabao and Shanxiang. The conversation between the two of them was quite long, about 70 minutes, and I listened very attentively.What Shan Xiang said was right, Dabao's knowledge of botany was almost at the level of an expert. After listening to this long conversation, I was greatly shocked and extremely important.Therefore, I choose its main part to describe.

What I want to declare is: I want to listen to the tape because I want to know more about Dabao.Because Wei Dabao and Berlioz, Vince, Lian Neng, and Okun mysteriously disappeared, it would be good to get some more information about them in any way. After listening to the conversation between Dabao and Shanxiang, I actually didn't get any information.But the important part of the conversation I recorded made me figure out their secrets. Although it was just imagination, it solved many mysteries. It is a strange and inexplicable imagination. The first part of the conversation was the exchange of pleasantries between the two parties, and there was no need to describe it. Then, the one-sided scholar lost his temper, and he cut straight to the point: "I'm sorry, I'm busy, please explain why you're here."

Dabao: "Dr. Xiang—" Shan Xiang: "My surname is Shan, Dr. Shan!" Dabao: "Dr. Shan, I am very moved by your research on plant sensations. You have proved through experiments that sensations are produced by the induction of the nervous system. Do you think that plants have nervous systems, just like animals?" Single phase: "Currently, I only have a vague idea, and I don't have any facts to prove it." Dabao: "Dr. Shan, we all know that the origin of life has no distinction between plants and animals!" Single-phase: "The origin you mentioned goes back to when? If it is a single-celled organism——"

Dabao: "No, I mean, the earliest origin." Monophasic: "Well, then, on Earth, when organisms first appeared? Like proteins, cells?" Dabao: "Yes, that's what I mean." Single phase: "Regarding this aspect, the current research is not sure. What is the source of life? They all hold their own opinions. There are scientific claims, religious claims, and myths and legends... Even if the so-called scientific Even the above statement cannot be justified. It is said that all the creatures on the earth today are evolved, at least I can't imagine how a single-celled creature can evolve into a human being."

Dabao: "You don't believe in the theory of evolution?" Single-phase (sigh): "Well, the theory of evolution is just a scientific concept, a hypothesis, and the process is completely unknown. You just mentioned a protein form, which is just a form, why suddenly There will be life, there is no way to explain it, everything is just assumed." Dabao: "Let's make sure that human beings are one of the advanced creatures on Earth—" Single phase: "There should be no doubt about this." Dabao: "The advanced organisms on the earth evolved from the lowest life form."

Monophasic: "I'm a scientist, and I admit it." Dabao (with hesitation in his voice): "Then, why does evolution only follow one path? For example, when humans evolve, why is there only one kind of person and no other kind?" Single phase: "I don't understand what you mean." Dabao: "I mean, why has no one ever thought that evolution can proceed in two or more ways? Why is there only one evolutionary process instead of two, or more?" Single-phase: "I still don't understand what you mean. The process of evolution, according to what is known and speculated today, is formed according to various factors such as environment and survival. Since there is only one living environment on the earth, there is naturally only one evolutionary program of organisms. kind."

Dabao: "This kind of statement is actually not correct." Monophasic: "Oh? You have new insights?" Dabao: "I dare not say that I have new insights, but I just want to explain that many creatures on the earth suddenly disappeared during the evolution process, such as dinosaurs." Single phase: "That's because the earth's environment has changed." Dabao: "Yes, the environment on the earth is constantly changing, so the evolutionary program is constantly changing, and there is more than one." Uniphasic: "You and I seem to be discussing logical issues rather than biological issues."

Dabao: "Actually, one becomes two, and two become one. Humans don't know what the earth's previous environment was like, and of course they don't know anything about the biological evolution process at that time." Single-phase: "You mean, there may be another kind of creature on earth that develops into a higher-level creature according to another evolutionary program?" Dabao: "Yes, as advanced as humans today." Single phase: "Theoretically speaking, it is not impossible, but even if there are such advanced creatures, they must have become extinct due to changes in the environment and cannot survive." Dabao: "That's not necessarily true. In biology, there are many examples that prove that organisms have a strong ability to adapt to the environment. Organisms can survive drastic changes in the environment, such as Wengrong snails in molluscs, hemlock hemlock in plants, There is a special name for this kind of creature, which is called—” Single-phase: "I know, it's called a 'living fossil'." Dabao: "Yes, living fossils. Those are examples of low-level organisms. Low-level organisms can survive drastic changes in the environment, and there are remnants. If they are advanced organisms, they have stronger adaptability to the environment, then Wouldn't it be easier to survive?" Shan-phase (with a startled voice): "You found a living dinosaur?" Dabao: "Dinosaurs? What is that! Dinosaurs have never been advanced creatures, they are just reptiles!" Shan Xiang: "Then I really don't understand what you mean." Dabao (after hesitating for quite a long time): "I mean, another kind of person, a kind of person who evolved through a different procedure from the current earthlings!" Monophasic (extremely confused voice): "Forgive me, I really don't understand, I really can't imagine that advanced organisms can be formed through 'another' evolutionary process, I really don't understand." (I had the same reaction as Shan Xiang: I don’t understand at all!) (Dabao tossed and turned, studying the process of the evolution of creatures from primitive forms to advanced life, and kept trying to prove that there is another evolutionary program that can form another advanced creature. What is his purpose?) (If I were single phase, I must have asked him what his purpose was, but single phase obviously never thought of this, and just kept discussing with him whether there is such a possibility.) (I'm really anxious!) Dabao: "I'm sorry, maybe I wasn't specific enough, let me be more specific, um, I... how should I say it... (Long silence) Maybe, I should say, the original state of life, in the In the process of evolution, it has been transformed into two types of plants and animals, this is the current known situation, will there be another type, which is basically a combination of plants and animals?" Shan Xiang: "I've never heard of it, and I never even thought of the possibility." Dabao: "Now please think about it, is it possible!" Monophasic (quite long silence): "Can't say no." Dabao (excited tone): "Your guess is——" Single phase: "My guess is that when the earth was in chaos, there were no living things, neither animals nor plants. Later, gradually, for unknown reasons, primitive forms of life appeared—" Dabao: "Yes, fit and save" Single-phase: "This kind of life form that just appeared does not matter whether it is a plant or an animal. It is just a form of life. It gradually evolves. I don't know how long it took before it evolved into the original organism and became two branches. One One is a plant, one is an animal—” Dabao: "Yes, plants and animals each have their own different life forms, and each develops according to its own characteristics." Single-phase: "Back to the question you just raised, when the form of life prompts the original to be divided into two branches, of course there may be a third branch in theory, and the form of the third branch is unknown, but since the existing life divided into plants and animals, then, the greatest possibility of the third branch is naturally the mixed province of animals and plants.” Dabao (voice is extremely excited): "It has the advantages of both animals and plants." Shan Xiang: "No one can determine this point. Maybe there is no such advanced creature. If there is, they should be better able to adapt to the environment. They should be the spirits of all things on the earth today, and the masters of the earth." Dabao (voice suddenly turned bitter): "Not necessarily, maybe they can't adapt to the environment instead." Monophasic: "It's unimaginable." Dabao: "It's entirely conceivable, for example...for example...this kind of people don't have the idea of ​​harming others at all...they are a mixture of animals and plants, when have you ever seen a plant Tree, to hurt another tree? When they meet people who evolved from pure animals, they will definitely not be able to survive. Under fair competition, they may have an advantage, but under the aggressiveness, cruelty, and selfishness of animals, This type of people is like a completely undefended city facing a powerful attack from the latest weapons, and there is no room for resistance.” Shanxiang (laughed after staying for a while): "You seem to be talking about the truth. We are getting further and further away from the topic. It seems that the original purpose of your coming to see me was to discuss the feelings of plants and discuss the relationship between plants. Not having a nervous system." Dabao: "It's not off topic, it's related to what we're discussing. Plants and animals are two types of organisms, and the mixed body of plants and animals may be a third type. If it can be proved that plants have a nervous system, then , hybrid creatures of animals and plants are more likely." Shan Xiang: "Well, you can say that." Dabao: "Dr. Shan, if according to your imagination, if—I said if—there are such advanced creatures, what should their appearance be like?" Single Phase: "You stumped me, I'm just a scientist, not a visionary!" Dabao: "Think about it with your scientist's mind." Single-phase: "Then, it should be the same as humans evolved from animals, at least in appearance, because the appearance of humans evolved entirely to adapt to the environment of life on earth. Perhaps, they are different from humans, and what they breathe out is Oxygen, what is inhaled is carbon dioxide, haha." Dabao: "That's nothing funny." Single phase (still laughing): "There is such a second type of person? Why isn't that funny?" Dabao: "Thank you, Dr. Shan, I get a lot of things I want to know from you." Shan Xiang: "You're welcome, actually, even I myself don't know what I gave you." Dabao: "Really, you are too kind, you have given me a lot..." The tape ends with a polite conversation between the two of them. After I finished listening to the tape, I stayed there for an unknown amount of time.My daze was caused by a great shock. The question raised by Dabao in the dialogue, to Shanxiang or others, is just a hypothesis with extremely rich imagination.It is a well-known fact that organisms are divided into two types: plants and animals in the process of evolution, but Dabao proposed that there may be another type: a mixture of animals and plants! Dabao put forward this hypothesis: a kind of advanced organism, which has the characteristics of both animals and plants. If it was a few days ago, before I had a deep understanding of the situation of Dabao, Vince, Berlioz, and Lennon, I heard such a hypothesis, I just think that this hypothesis can be established in theory . Now I feel an inexplicable shock, and I feel that something that can never be imagined is the existence of a fact. I stayed there for a long time before suddenly shouting: "Single-phase! Single-phase!" After calling a few times, Shan Xiang hurried over.It must be that my cry was filled with a strange fear, so that Shanxiang thought that something terrible had happened, and he ran over in panic, then a little annoyed: "What's the name of the ghost? It will scare people to death. " I saw him, reached out, and grabbed his arm: "Single-phase, tell me, there will really be a kind of advanced creature, as you said, that looks like a human, and is suitable for another branch in the biological evolution program, animals and "The Combiner of Plants" Shan Xiang pointed at me and laughed "hehe".Although at that time, I didn't feel funny at all. Shanxiang smiled and pointed to my forehead: "That's just an imagination, in fact there is no such thing!" I opened my eyes wide: "How do you know?" Shan Xiang still smiled: "If there is, where is it?" At this time, my thoughts were extremely chaotic, and all kinds of thoughts came one after another, and I couldn't grasp a center at all.Amid the one-sided laughter and his obviously mocking eyes, I suddenly called out, "That's Dabao!" (Dabao is, he refuses to do that simple chemical experiment, because what he inhales is carbon dioxide and what he exhales is oxygen!) (Oxygen is blown into the lime water, and the lime water will not turn white. Dabao knows this, so he refuses to do this simple experiment no matter what.) (Although, even if the lime water does not turn white after he blows, no one will think that he is half a plant, but he is afraid of revealing his identity.) (Dabao and the others knew their identities from the beginning to the end, so they tried their best to cover them up, and they didn't want people to know that they were the second type of people. Captain Mackey must have known, so they designed to snatch them from the detention center , and took it somewhere. Although Captain Mackey knew their secret, he knew that no one would believe it if he told it, so he didn’t say a word.) Many mysteries were almost solved in an instant, and naturally there are still many things I don't understand, such as where are they now?How do they survive?Why do they all appear at the door of the orphanage? But at least among those unknowable mysteries, I can be sure of one thing. They, the second type of people formed by the combination of half animal and half plant, must not only be the five people I have seen, there must be many more. After I said "Dabao is", because I thought of so many things in an instant, my spirit was extremely excited, and the expression on my face was also extremely weird. I looked at me alone, and I didn't know what to do for a while That's good. After quite a while, I let out a long breath. It was only at this moment that Shan Xiang said: "God, how are you? Looking at your situation just now, it seems that there are more than 800 ghosts competing to pinch your neck. What did you just say? Dabao is this Kind of person? What do you mean?" I know that it would take too much time to explain everything to Shanxiang, and even if I told him, he might not believe it, so I patted his cheek: "Forget it, I'm talking nonsense. I hope you can cultivate more new ideas." I am also interested in linking my name with the plants.” Shanxiang hummed: "That's a kind of honor, and many people can't get it even if they want it." I hurriedly said: "Yes, yes. I want to borrow this tape and listen carefully again." Shan Xiang said: "Yes." I took out the tape, impatiently about to leave, Shan Xiang suddenly said: "By the way, there is one thing that I almost forgot, my younger brother said he wanted to find you a while ago." I was surprised, Shanxiang's younger brother is called Shansi.The names of these two brothers are extremely weird, but compared to their names and their behavior, they are not weird.And among the two brothers, Shan Si's behavior is far more weird than his elder brother Shan Xiang. If Shan Si finds me for something, it must be very interesting.But I was eager to tell Bai Su about my discovery, and I really didn't have time to care about other things. After being stunned for a moment, I just said casually: "Okay, please contact me." Shanxiang snorted, "Where can I find this guy? He's really weird." Shan Xiang actually has the qualifications to call him a weirdo, I held back my laughter: "If he really needs me, he will definitely contact me." I put away the tape, and used the "obstacle race" technique to jump over many debris piled up on the ground and run out.Shanxiang called something behind me again, but I didn't hear it at all. When I got home, I yelled as soon as I entered the door: "Su, come and listen." Bai Su walked down the stairs, but I had already jumped up the stairs, grabbed her, and pulled her up again. When I reached the study, I played the tape. As soon as Bai Su heard Dabao's voice, " "Ah!" with a loud voice: "Dabao!" I was so excited that I gasped: "Yes, it was a conversation between him and Shanxiang. You will only know how important this tape is if you listen carefully." Bai Su glanced at me and began to listen attentively. When the tape was playing, I kept walking back and forth. Several times, I wanted to express my insights and tell Bai Su that I had solved many mysteries and thought of Dabao and his real identity.But I held back and didn't say it. Because, I want to see if Bai Su will lead to the same conclusion as me after listening to that tape. After the tape was played, I looked at Bai Su: "During their conversation, what did you find?" Bai Su let out a long breath first, and then immediately said: "God, Dabao...they are this other kind of people." I thought Bai Su wouldn't think of it so quickly, but she thought of it all at once, which made me speechless for a while. Bai Su said: "You didn't think of it?" I couldn't wait to say everything I thought of, and Bai Su agreed with most of them, but there was a little difference. As a result of the discussion between the two of us, we finally had a little outline of the whole matter. It all started with a plane crash.During the flight, Captain Mackey must have discovered something extremely weird happened to his colleagues (the combination of half animal and half plant, such monsters, who knows what strange things they will do), so Terrified, he demanded an emergency landing. After the emergency landing, Markie and I got drunk in the bar the night before, knowing that no one would believe what he said, so he didn't say a word.That's why, as soon as he saw me, he desperately asked me "what did they say?"And he felt desperate and still didn't want to talk about his experience. During this period, Qi Shiyu was a tragic figure. He wanted to rescue Ma Ji, but before he could act, Dabao and the others preempted him. Qi Shiyu couldn't think about it for a while, so he committed suicide. As for Dabao and the others, they tried their best to conceal their identities, and they were very successful. They all "went back" without a trace. There are still many subsections, although they are still mysteries, but as long as they are affirmed that they are another kind of people, the whole weird and inexplicable thing can have a clear concept. Now the most important thing is: where did they go back?How many are there?How long have they been on earth?Listening to Dabao's conversation, it seems that they existed much earlier than the people on Earth.Because they couldn't compete with the all-animal Earthlings, they became less and less.People on Earth know nothing about the existence of the second type of human beings on Earth. They always thought that there were only two types of creatures on Earth, plants and animals. They never thought that there might be a mixture of animals and plants. Bai Su said: "Until now, everything is just our speculation. If we really want to know what kind of people they are, we have to meet them." I smiled bitterly, spread my hands, and said, "Where can I find them?" Bai Su said: "South America." I was stunned for a moment, wondering why Bai Su proposed to go to South America alone in such a vast area of ​​the world.But I was just stunned for a very short time, and I immediately understood why Bai Su had such a proposal, I said: "Well, Dabao told the old teacher that he went to South America, that's why you thought of South America." America?" Bai Su said: "One of the reasons." When she talked about this, she took a deep breath: "You think, if we affirm that they are another kind of people, a combination of animals and plants, and advanced creatures evolved through another evolutionary program, then Of course it didn't happen overnight—" I said, "Of course, it will take at least tens of millions of years." Bai Su said: "And they have always lived on the earth, and there must always be a certain place to live. I think, in terms of the characteristics of their plants, there is no more suitable than the South American virgin forest." I frowned: "Not necessarily, the primeval forests in Africa are the same, and there are countless plants in the vast ocean." Bai Su smiled wryly: "We have to identify a target first, otherwise, we will never find them." I smiled wryly: "So what if I'm sure about South America? South America is so big, and the virgin forest in the Amazon River Basin alone is a blank space on the map. How to find them?" Bai Su glared at me: "Who said we need to find them in every small river? Try to make them come to see us." I was taken aback, and then I patted myself hard on the forehead: "Yes, it's really stupid. They are afraid that their secret will be exposed, that's why they took Captain Mackey away. They let us go, yes Because they think we don't know at all, and this can lead them out." Bai Su said: "You didn't understand until now, it's really belated." I laughed and said, "No, no wonder Huang Tang and Shan Xiang all said that Wesley is a useless guy, only his wife is smart, sensible, and—" Bai Su interrupted my words: "Okay, glib!" Of course I am not an oily person, but thinking that the biggest secrets of these people have been gradually revealed, and the truth is coming to the stage where the truth is fully revealed, I am naturally very relaxed. I waved my hand: "Go and prepare your luggage." It didn't take much time to prepare the luggage. By the afternoon of the third day, Bai Su and I had already arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As soon as we arrived, we published the first full-page advertisement on one of the most popular local newspapers.This ad was designed by me.In the eyes of outsiders, it is completely inexplicable and does not know what it is. But I believe that the second type of people like Berlioz will understand after reading it. There are two paintings in the ad that appear to be the work of an Impressionist painter, also my creation.One is a big tree and a person, with half of each overlapping.The other one is a plant cell and an animal cell, half of which also overlap. Then, there is the text.The text is very simple: "Mr. Berlioz, Dabao, Aukun, Wen Sizhu. We know everything about you. Please look at those two paintings. You should know that there is nothing to keep. Please contact us as soon as possible. .” The signature behind the text is "Wesley, Bai Su", and after the name, there is a note: "The first type of person". People who read such an advertisement naturally don’t know what they are talking about, but as long as any one of the five Berlioz sees it, they will definitely understand, and they will definitely come out and contact us. The ad ran for three days. During these three days, Bai Su and I had nothing to do except basking in the sun by the swimming pool, just waiting, waiting for someone to come to us. Three days passed, and I felt extremely impatient. Although Bai Su's patience was better than mine, I could see that she was actually very anxious in her heart.In the evening, I said: "It seems that our wording should be stricter." Bai Su nodded in agreement, I drew up a new advertisement overnight, and published it the next day, this time, the picture of the advertisement remained unchanged, and the words and sentences were as follows: "The captain is here with you, if the matter is made public, it will attract the attention of the whole world. When human beings know that there are more than one kind of people living on the earth, the consequences for you will not be good, it is better to contact us as soon as possible.” The ad was effective that day.Bai Su and I were still by the swimming pool of the hotel, when an obese man with an old hat constantly rolled up in his hands came to us.It seems that this man is a local aborigine, and his life is probably very poor. As soon as he came to our side, he tried his best to force a smile on his face, and then bent over: "Sir, someone wants me to convey a few words." As soon as I saw someone approaching me, my spirits lifted, and I hurriedly said, "Say it, say it!" The man said: "The person who entrusted me said that his name is... Piao Piao Piao Piao is stubborn... Stubborn..." As he spoke, he scratched his head vigorously, as if he couldn't remember the other party's name.Bai Su hurriedly said: "Stubborn Dabao." The man became happy, grinning, showing his yellow teeth, and said: "Yes, yes, Dabao. Mr. Dabao said, please go to Palataka, where he will meet you. " I was taken aback for a moment: "Parataka, what is that place?" The native took out an envelope: "There is a map in it. Mr. Dabao said that although it is a little far away, the two of you will definitely be able to find it." I took the envelope, still hesitating in my heart, Bai Su had already left, I didn't know what Bai Su was doing, I just saw her come to the bar cabinet by the pool, and said a few words to the bartender. Then, a voice came from the loudspeaker: "Mr. Dabao, please contact the Wesleys immediately. If you don't want to show up, you can call them. They know you must be nearby. If you don't contact them, they will There will be a way to make you appear." As soon as I heard such a broadcast, I couldn't help applauding, gave the native a banknote, and came to the bar cabinet. Bai Su's approach was very clever, since the natives were sent by Dabao to meet us, of course Dabao is nearby, maybe in this hotel. So, if you don't force him to come out to meet at this time, when will you wait?It would be much better to force him to meet now than to go to some Palataka.