Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Heading West
The model island moves gently on the water of the Pacific Ocean.It's that time of year when the sea really lives up to its name. For 24 hours, Sebastian Zorno and his partners have become so used to the steady movement of the machine island that they don't even realize that they are sailing.The power of hundreds of screw propellers driven by 10 million horsepower on the machine island is very powerful.Even so, the vibrations they produce are so small that you can hardly feel them when walking across the metal island.The billion-dollar city with its solid foundation did not tremble in the slightest.You know, the monstrous waves that even the most powerful armored ships in the Navy have to be at the mercy of Machine Island.In residential buildings, there are neither fixed tables nor swing-proof lamps.What's the use of doing that?Even houses in Paris, London and New York are no more firmly connected to their foundations than here!A few weeks after the Isle of Machines was moored in the Madeleine Bay, a meeting of the Model Island Celebrity Council was called under the chairmanship of the company chairman.At the meeting, the one-year travel plan of Machine Island to the main islands in the East Pacific was determined.The air there is clean and rich in ozone.This is a substance produced when oxygen and air are discharged and is extremely reactive.This is not available in ordinary oxygen.Since the machine island can move freely, it must be fully utilized.It can go west or east as it pleases.If you are happy today, go to the coast of the United States; if you are happy tomorrow, go to the east coast of Asia.You can go wherever you like on the model island, and enjoy all kinds of fun from the colorful sailing.Leaving the Pacific Ocean around Cape Horn or the Cape of Good Hope for the Atlantic Ocean or the Indian Ocean is a piece of cake for it, simply by heading in the right direction.Believe me, neither the tide nor the storm will prevent it from achieving its purpose.
But at present, the question is not at all whether to go across those distant oceans, Machine Island has no such plan at all.Because the "Pearl of the Pacific" will not find there all the benefits offered by the innumerable islands in the Pacific Ocean.The stage of the Pacific Ocean is wide enough to allow it to gallop freely.Machine Island can travel the entire Pacific Ocean from one archipelago to another.Animals have a sixth sense that can determine the direction, and it can take the animal to the place where it must go due to the needs of survival.Although the machine island does not have the intuition unique to animals, its movement is firmly grasped by a pair of reliable hands.These hands securely controlled the course of progress according to a long-discussed and agreed-upon plan.Hitherto there had never been a disagreement on the route between the inhabitants of the starboard and port quarters.Right now, it is heading west toward the Hawaiian Islands in accordance with the resolution.It was about 1,200 leagues from where the "quartet" came to the island to their destination.If driving at low speed, it will take a month to complete this distance.According to the plan, the machine island will stay there for a few days until it thinks it is more appropriate to stop at other islands in the southern hemisphere before leaving.
On the second day of that memorable day, the "Quartet" left the Carmel Hotel and settled down in a suite of rooms reserved for them in the Entertainment City.This room is very comfortable and extremely luxuriously furnished.1st Avenue is outside the window.Sebastian Zorno, Frascolin, Pancina, and Yvernay each lived in a room, and the living room in the middle was shared.In the center of the building in the entertainment city is a garden with luxuriant trees and glistening water in the fountain. The dense green shade and fresh flowing water are just for them to relax and rest.On one side of the courtyard is the museum of Billion City, and on the other side is the concert hall.This concert hall is where these artists from Paris will perform on stage.They will have the great honor of replacing the record players and theatre-broadcasters with their performances.There was a table for them in the dining room, two, three times a day, ... as many times as they wanted, and the head waiter would never bring them that dreaded bill again.
This morning they were all assembled in the living room, and were going down to lunch in a few minutes.At this moment Pansina asked:
"Hey, let me tell you, all you violin players, what do you think of the things we have encountered right now?"
"A dream," said Yvernay, "a dream that leads us to a million-a-year contract!"
"However, this is indeed true," Frascolin continued. "If you don't believe me, look through your pockets, and you will take out a quarter of a million."
"Who knows how it will end? . . . I expect it will turn out badly!" cried Sebastian Zorno.He is the kind of person who will criticize even if others give him great benefits as long as he is not willing.
"Besides, what about our luggage?" he went on.
Indeed, the luggage must have been shipped to Santiago.There was no way for the luggage to come back, and it was impossible for them to get there.well!Those were very useful: a few suitcases, some underwear, toiletries, a change of clothes, and a show dress for their public appearance on stage!
In fact, they don't have to worry about it at all. After 48 hours, the semi-new clothes of the four artists will be replaced by some new ones, and they will not need to pay.You know, their new suit is worth 1,500 francs, and their leather boots are 500 francs.
Callistus Membal was delighted to have managed the delicate business so deftly.He wanted the "quartet" to be happy with everything, and never ask for anything.It is impossible to imagine a more attentive steward.He has a room in the entertainment city, because he is the general manager of various departments here.Similarly, the company did not treat him badly, and paid him enough to enable him to be so generous and generous.How much it is, let's not say it.
There are several reading-rooms and game-rooms in the Casino; however, baccarat, thirty-forty, roulette, poker, and other games of chance are strictly prohibited.There is also a smoking room here, which plays the role of sending cigarettes directly to each household.The smoke on offer is burnt from tobacco by a recently established company.There are many burners installed on a central facility, where the tobacco is burned. After the smoke is purified and nicotine removed, it is distributed through some pipes to a length of special amber. The smoker only needs to put his mouth on the amber. That's it.In addition, there is a counter to record the daily consumption.
Music fans in Billion City can come to this entertainment city to revel in the music from afar - a "Quartet" concert will be added soon.In addition, there are also artworks collected by Yibiancheng.For those who like to draw, the museum has a large collection of ancient and modern paintings.They can enjoy many famous paintings and representative works of various genres purchased by hundreds of millions of cities, such as those of Italian genre, Dutch genre, German genre, and French genre, all of which even Paris, London, Munich, Rome , Florence's museums are also eager to get a masterpiece.Among these artistic treasures can be seen the masterpieces of many ancient masters, such as: Raphael, Vinci, Giorgione, Correget, Dominican, Ribera, Murillo, Ruydal, Rembert Long, Rubens, Quipp, Fran Hals, Hobbema, Van Dyck, Erbein, etc., of course, there are many modern famous paintings, including: Fragonel, Ingres , Delacroix, Sheffel, Cabba, De La Roche, Renault, Couture, Messonnier, Miller, Rousseau, Jules Dubrey, Brascassa, Makar, Turner , Troyon, Corot, Daubigny, Baudry, Beaune, Carolus Durand, Jules Lefevere, Voron, Breton, Binet, Jorn, Cabanel Representative work by et al.In order to ensure that these art treasures can last forever, they are all placed in glass boxes that have been de-aired in advance.It should be noted that there are not many impressionist, sentimental and futuristic works in the gallery.But there is no doubt that it will not be long before such works will fill the halls of art museums, because the model island will eventually be unable to escape the plague of decadence.The gallery also has some extremely valuable statues and marble statues by great artists, both ancient and modern.These statues are placed in several courtyards of the entertainment city.Thanks to the pleasant climate on the island, neither rain nor heavy fog, the group sculptures, full-length statues, and busts can be placed outdoors safely without being ravaged by the years.
However, even if these masterpieces are often visited, it is hard to conclude that the billionaires in the billionaire city have a strong interest in these works of art, and their art appreciation has been greatly improved.
Also note that there are more art lovers on the starboard side than on the port side.Also, when it comes to buying a great work of art, the whole town is in unanimous agreement.And then they'll snatch it from all the characters, from all the Chaucherian characters of the Old and New Worlds, at prohibitively high prices.
The most visited places in the entertainment city are several reading rooms, where there are European and American newspapers and magazines.They are all brought regularly from the Bay of Madeleine by the steamer of the model island.After these newspapers and magazines have been browsed and read again and again by everyone, the magazines are sent to the bookshelves of the library.Now there are thousands of books neatly arranged on the bookshelves.The necessary classification and cataloging work is performed by a librarian who earns $25,000 a year.He may be the most leisurely worker on the island.There are also some audiobooks in the library.This kind of book does not need to be read, just press a button, and you can hear a pleasant reading voice, just like Mr. Racine's "Feder".
As for the "local" papers, they were edited, written, and printed in the workshops of the Entertainment City under the direction of two editors.There are two newspapers on the model island, one is the "Starboard News" issued in the starboard area, and the other is the "New Herald" for the residents of the port area.What is published in the newspaper are social miscellaneous news, the arrival of tankers, marine information, chance encounters on the voyage, the price list of the food market concerned by the business district, the latitude and longitude position of the model island every day, the resolutions of the island’s celebrity council, and the island’s governor’s announcement. decrees, and births, marriages, and (rarely of course) death revelations.Besides, neither theft nor murder had ever occurred on Model Island, so the courts were of little use only in dealing with civil cases and personal disputes.There have never been articles in the newspapers about centenarians, because here, longevity is no longer just a patent enjoyed by a few people.
For political news outside the island, cables sunk in the depths of the Pacific Ocean are used to transmit daily telephone calls from the Bay of Madeleine.In this way, no matter what happens in the world, as long as the residents of the billion city are interested, they can know in time.One thing to add here: The Starboard News and the New Herald are not against each other.So far, they have been living peacefully, but who can guarantee that the current situation of polite exchange of views will last forever?In terms of religion, since Christians and Catholics are very tolerant and accommodating, they can live in peace on the model island.In the future, if nasty politics get involved, if some people fall into a business addiction again, if issues of self-interest and self-esteem get entangled... Seriously, who knows what will happen.
In addition to these two newspapers on the island, there are also some monthly and weekly newspapers that publish articles from outside the island. and France's successors, as well as other critical commentaries; there are also some illustrated magazines, as for the pamphlets of only twelve pages devoted to daily social activities such as club news, theater introductions, and street news, etc. counted.These newspapers and magazines have only one purpose, which is to provide people with a moment of entertainment both spiritually and even materially.Yes, it does include material enjoyment!Because some newspapers are printed on edible paper, the ink used is made of chocolate.After reading this kind of newspaper, it can be eaten as breakfast.Some can stop diarrhea, while others act as a mild catharsis.All these edible publications are very easy to digest. The Quartet found the invention both endearing and functional.
"This is digestible reading!" Yvernay aptly remarked.
"And it's a nutritious reading of literature!" Pansina continued, "Cakes and literature are combined together, plus exercise music, and now it's a complete match!"
Now, people will naturally think, what financial resources does the machine island rely on to maintain the living conditions of such high welfare for the residents?You know, there is no city in Europe and the United States that can match the welfare of this city.Calculated based on the funds allocated to each department and the wages paid to the most ordinary staff, the island's income must reach an astronomical figure.
So, the four artists asked the steward about this.He replied:
"People here don't talk about business. We have neither a chamber of commerce, nor a stock exchange, nor industry. In terms of commerce, there are only some things that are necessary to meet the needs of the island. We never hold public events like the 1893 Chicago International Expositions and trade fairs like the Paris International Exposition of 1900. Never! There is no such thing as a single-minded pursuit of commercial activity here, and we don't issue the call 'forward' at all, unless it is just to drive our 'Pearl of the Pacific' forward Therefore, the source of income for maintaining all the necessary expenses of the model island is not earned from business, but from the customs! Yes! The customs tax allows us to meet all the needs in the budget."
"What's the budget?" asked Frascolin.
"A total of 20 million dollars, my good friend!"
"That's 100 million francs, and for a city of 10,000 people!" exclaimed the second violinist.
"You're right, dear Frascolan, the money comes purely from customs duties. We don't have a market tax, because the local produce is hardly worth anything, so to speak! So, the tax is all from the starboard area and the two ports in the port area. This also tells you why our consumption here is so expensive. In fact, this kind of expensive is relative, because in your opinion, such a high price is the same as everyone here. commensurate with their wealth."
At this moment, Callistus Membal was at his best again, and he bragged about his city, his island, like a fragment of a planet dropped from the sky into the Pacific Ocean, inhabited by some If there is no real happiness in the water Eden, where the gods are reclusive, then there will be no place for happiness in the world anymore!He looked like he was running around the rivers and lakes to show off his tricks, boasting like a lotus flower, as if to say:
"Come in, gentlemen! Come in, ladies!...Please go through the ticket gates!...There are not many seats!...The performance is about to begin!...Please hurry up and buy tickets..."
Indeed, seats are scarce and tickets are expensive!Ah!The manager is playing a game of throwing "millions"!In fact, in this billion-dollar city, a million is just an ordinary unit of calculation.The steward's words poured out like a waterfall, during which he made various gestures feverishly as if signaling.Listening to his grand speeches, the "Quartet" gradually learned about the various public sector departments of the government.First of all, the school implements free and compulsory education.The work of the school is carried out by a few teachers who are paid as much as the minister.There people learn some modern and defunct languages, history, geography, physics, mathematics, etc., and according to Callistus Membal, the conditions are better than in any university or school in the old continent. .In fact, students study very easily, and they don't have to pay attention to the public courses at all.If the current generation still has some superficial knowledge learned in American universities, then the education of the next generation must not be as high as their annuities.This is a flaw, and perhaps in the long run, they will only suffer and suffer in the process of self-isolation from human beings.
Ah, it would be like this!Could it be that the residents of this artificial island do not travel to other places?They never visit overseas countries, don't they go to those metropolises in Europe?There are so many historical and cultural relics in the world, why don't they want to travel around?Of course not!Some of them had been out of town by some kind of curiosity.However, they were exhausted by being tossed in those places, and most of them felt bored; cold.You must know that in Billion City, people never catch a cold!Therefore, those daredevils who had had the idea of leaving the island hastily, had to hurry back to their island without waiting.Did they benefit in any way from these trips?Not at all!As an old Greek adage goes, "When you leave, you crate as many as you come back," and we can add: how many will remain in the future.
It stands to reason that the model island's reputation should attract a large number of out-of-towners to visit, but Callistus Membal believes that there will never be too many people.Although since the Eiffel Tower occupies the eighth wonder of the world, the Model Island should be the ninth wonder of the world - or so some say.Besides, they don't want too many foreigners coming, although the revolving doors of the two ports could have become a new source of income for the island.Most of the people who came to the island last year were Americans, with few or no people from other countries.However, there have been a few Englishmen.Their trouser legs are always rolled up so they are instantly recognizable, which they explain is because it rains a lot in London.At the beginning, Great Britain was very disapproving of the construction of such a model island.From their point of view, it hindered sea traffic, so if the island disappeared, they must have smiled.As for the Germans, they would come only indifferently, because if they were allowed to gain a foothold on the island, they would soon turn Billion City into a new Chicago.Given that the French do not belong to the aggressive ethnic groups in Europe, the French are the most favored and welcomed by companies among foreigners.But has there been a single Frenchman on the model island so far?
"That's impossible," Pancina said.
"We're not that rich yet," Frascolan added.
"If you mean the French who live on pensions, maybe there are none here." The manager replied, "If you want to talk about the staff, that's not necessarily the case."
"That is to say, there are our compatriots in the city of billions?" Yvernay asked.
"There is one."
"Who is this lucky guy?"
"Mr. Athanaz Doremy."
"What is this Mr. Atanaz Doremy doing here?" asked Pencina aloud.
"He is a dance and etiquette teacher, and the government department pays him a fairly generous salary. I won't say how much he pays for private lessons."
"This kind of class is only taught by the French!" "His Royal Highness" agreed.
By this time, the "Quartet" had a good idea of the public life of Model Island.The only thing to do now is to indulge in all the pleasures of this voyage to the west of the Pacific Ocean.If the orientation of the island had not been changed frequently by Simcoyer's command, so that the sun seemed to rise sometimes from one side and sometimes from the other, then Sebastian Zorno and his companions I thought they were stepping on hard ground.Twice in the ensuing fortnight terrible gales struck the island, for the Pacific Ocean is often violently violent, despite its name of "Taiping".The ferocious waves of the sea slammed into the metal island viciously, and the huge waves set off covered the island like swallowing the reefs on the coast.However, under the impact of the stormy sea, the model island did not even shake in the slightest.Before it, the roar of the ocean lost its former power.Human ingenuity ultimately overcomes the challenges of nature.
Half a month has passed, and the first chamber music concert is scheduled to be held on June 11, and neon lights have been used to sign the performance along several major avenues.Needless to say, the performers had previously met with the island governor and the entire city government.Celes Picktaff gave them the warmest welcome.All the island papers mentioned the success of the Quartet's tour of the United States of America, and warmly congratulated the Steward for their assistance, though in a somewhat imperious manner, which was known.What a pleasure it is to be able to listen to these artists perform famous works face to face!Especially for those who understand music, it is really enjoyable!
Given the huge sums Entertainment City paid to contract the four Parisians, it should be imagined that their concerts would not be free.In fact, it is much more than that, the city government also expects to make a lot of money from it, just like those theater managers in the United States who hire female singers to sing, each bar or even each note is $1!Ordinarily, people would have to pay to hear a concert from the theater box or record player at the Casino, and tonight!So of course it pays, and it pays much more than it used to.The ticket price is the same, $200 for a soft seat, or 1,000 francs.Even so, Callistus Membal said with confidence that the concert hall would be full.
He was right, all the seats were fully booked.There are only 100 seats in the comfortable and elegant lobby of the Casino.Seriously, I wonder how much more money I could make if I put them up for auction!But that would be contrary to the customary practice of the model island.Here, everything of commodity value, be it a luxury or a necessity, had its price listed in advance on a market price list.If this precaution were not taken, there would be a great possibility of a monopoly due to the vast fortunes of some persons, which had better be avoided as early as possible.In fact, if the millionaires on the starboard side come to the concert because they love music, it is likely that the dignitaries on the port side come only because it would be too cheap not to do so.
When Sebastien Zorno, Pancina, Yvernay and Frascolin appeared before audiences in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore, they could say without exaggeration: A family property of several million!So tonight, if they don't count the value of the audience in billions, it will be behind the reality.Think about it!James Tanken, Nate Coverly and their families were prominently seated in the front row of padded seats.As for the many music lovers sitting in other seats, although their fortunes are not in the billions, as Pansina correctly observed, their "money pockets" are also bulging.
"Come on!" the head of the "Quartet" greeted, and it was time to take the stage.
So they went up, not as excited as they had been anywhere else, not even as excited as when they faced the Parisians.Parisians may not have as much money in their pockets as here, but they are more artistic.
It should be said that Sebastian Zorno, Yvernay, Frascolin and Pancina are very well dressed, although they have not yet had lessons with their compatriots Doremy: 25 francs a piece White tie for 50 francs, pearl gloves for 50 francs, shirt for 70 francs, leather boots for 180 francs, vest for 200 francs, black trousers for 500 francs, black dress for 1500 francs - of course , useless they cost a penny.They were warmly received, and the whole hall applauded, very enthusiastically from the starboard quarters, and more modestly from the port quarters, which was entirely due to the difference in temperament.
A total of four pieces will be played in this concert.Under the personal supervision of the steward, the well-stocked library of the entertainment city provided them with sheet music.The four tracks are:
String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat, Mendelssohn Op. 12;
String Quartet No. 2 in F major, Haydn Op. 16;
String Quartet No. 2 in E-flat, Beethoven, Op. 74;
String Quartet No. 5 in F major, Mozart Op. 10.
Suspended over 5,000 feet deep in the Pacific Ocean, set foot on this floating island, in this hall full of billionaires, some musicians played amazingly.They were a well-deserved success, especially with fans of Starboard.Now it was time to see what the steward looked like on this unforgettable evening: he was so wild with joy, it was as if he had just played two violins, a viola and a cello at the same time.What a start for the kings of ensembles, and especially for their theater owners!
It is necessary to note that not only the hall was full of seats, but even the entertainment city was crowded with audiences.In fact, there are enough people who neither get sofa seats nor extra seats, not to mention those who are discouraged by the high ticket price.The space occupied by each of these off-site audiences has been squeezed into a small and small space, and there is really only a foothold left.They can only listen to the music played in it from a distance, as if it came from a record player box or a telephone receiver.However, the enthusiasm of their applause did not weaken.
After the show, Sebastian Zorno, Yvernay, Frascolin and Pancina burst into thunderous cheers when they appeared on the platform of the left hall of the Entertainment City.The 1st Avenue was brightly lit, and the electric moons hanging high above the venue cast a bright light. Those who shone with faint light must be jealous to death.
On the sidewalk opposite the entertainment city, a little closer to the side of the road, a couple caught Yvernay's attention.The man was standing there, and the woman was holding the man's arm.The man is of medium height, elegant, serious and even melancholic, and may be about 50 years old.The lady looked a few years younger than the man, tall, with a haughty expression, and a few strands of frosty hair that had been bleached by the years were exposed under the hat.
Yvernay was moved by their reserved manner, and pointing to them, he asked Callistes Monbal:
"Who are those two?"
"These two?" replied the steward, curling his lips slightly contemptuously, "Ah! . . . They're big music fans."
"Why didn't they reserve a seat in the lobby of the entertainment city?"
"Obviously because it's too expensive for them."
"Oh? How much money do they have?"
"So-so, about 200,000 francs a year."
"Hmph!" Pancina said contemptuously, "Who are these two poor ghosts?"
"The King and Queen of Marekari."
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