Chapter 9 Chapter 9 End of document

Everyone on board was exhausted, and the wooden boat moved very slowly. After the boat sailed for two days, everyone drank water carefully and caught fresh fish.The dilapidated wooden boat was about to sink, but with the hard work of everyone, it finally made it to the vicinity of the small island. After everyone boarded the pier on the island, the wooden boat began to seep, and it seemed that it would sink within a day at most. Cao Cang came to the island for the third time. There is still the fourth batch of remnants who entered the different sea on the island. Cao Cang asked the Soviet soldiers, and the soldiers replied that Remus led them to the island and fought with the army on the island, except for the sporadic people who fled into the woods , and the others were shot dead.

Now Cao Cang and the others have an advantage in numbers, so there is no need to worry about the fourth batch of pursuers posing a threat to them. "Now, what should we do?" Cao Cang said. Cao Cang's meaning is obvious. Now everyone has to think about how to return to Earth. "The number of pocket watches delivered is limited." Joshua said, "Only four or five people can be sent back at most." "Can't we all be sent back?" "You can try it." Joshua said, "It depends on who is lucky." "lucky?" "The extra people, no one knows what space they will be pulled into during the process of space displacement... This is random." Joshua said.

Cao Cang saw Lao Song's face was ashen. "Then let's discuss it tomorrow," Cao Cang said. Cao Cang has been thinking about one thing, why Miller didn't give him his pocket watch before he died.At that time, the situation was urgent, so Cao Cang didn't ask. Now that Cao Cang realizes Miller's intentions, he only wants Cao Cang to go back. Miller has no confidence in the others.They don't have Cao Cang's psychological quality, and when they return to Earth, they are likely to change their positions.What's more, everyone has their own plans: Soviet soldiers are only performing national missions; Lao Song's behavior is weird; Ximei has long harbored grudges against Cao Cang; Ya, it's a member of the Freemasonry at all...

Miller couldn't trust them at all. Miller didn't dare to take risks. He wanted to achieve his goal and didn't allow any uncertain factors to exist.Because if something goes wrong, there is no chance to remedy it. Cao Cang was considering whether to quietly leave the crowd, go to the bottom of the volcano alone, and return to Earth.Cao Cang hesitated for a moment, and then made up his mind. When everyone was sleeping at night, he left everyone behind, took his pocket watch, and returned to Earth through the device. There are still buildings on the island that have not collapsed, and there are living supplies.Everyone found out the food, got it hastily and ate it.In the evening, everyone rested separately.Cao Cang didn't need to sleep, and sat alone outside the building, waiting for everyone to fall asleep before going to the installation.

This is not considered abandoning them, Cao Cang said to himself, I will come back, no, we will come back. Cao Cang made up his mind, took out his pocket watch, looked at it, and walked towards the volcano. Cao Cang was thinking about how to leave, but he forgot that there was another person who didn't need to sleep.Dr. Jian stood in the middle of the road, and Cao Cang looked at her for a while. "What will you do when you go back?" Dr. Jane asked. "Continue to complete this task." Cao Cang said, "Human beings must immigrate to another sea." Dr. Jian sighed: "It seems that you will not change your mind. But have you thought about the human beings left on Earth, most of them."

"If you don't believe me." Cao Cang said, "You can come with me." "I'm not leaving." Dr. Jian said, holding the pocket watch that the second batch entered the different sea. Cao Cang didn't know what to do. Dr. Jian was capable of going back, but she gave up. "What will you do?" Dr. Jane asked. "Miller said." Cao Cang said, "Humans will abandon that intelligent creature, but that path must continue." Three more people came into the room. They are Lao Song, Xi Mei and Joshua. "I'm right," Joshua said. "He's going to leave us."

Cao Cang had nothing to say, knowing that he couldn't leave now. Several people stalemate for a while, Dr. Jian said: "Let him go." Joshua wanted to say something, but seeing this situation, he couldn't change anything.Ximei and Lao Song are both Chinese, so it is impossible to target Cao Cang. "Or, let's leave the Soviet soldiers behind." Joshua was still grasping at the last hope, "Two pocket watches are enough for us all to go back." "We won't go back." Dr. Jian pointed to Ximei and Lao Song and said, "We have discussed it, and you can't go back either."

Seeing that Dr. Jian did not object to his return to Earth, Cao Cang couldn't help but feel a little guilty about his thoughts.Now that everyone has expressed their views, there is no need for Cao Cang to leave in a hurry. He would rather stay a little longer and ask Dr. Jian and others what they think. Everyone went back to the house, and they were speechless for a while. After sitting for a long time, Ximei suddenly said to Cao Cang, "Are you really not a descendant of the Cao family, but an imposter?" Knowing that his identity was no longer a secret, Cao Cang replied frankly: "Yes, I am not Cao Cang, I am a soldier, my surname is Wu, and it is an arrangement made by the state to replace Cao Cang in this mission. "

"What happened to the real Cao Cang?" Ximei continued to ask. "Dead." Cao Cang replied, "When I saw him, he died. There is no one else alive in his family." "You killed him?" "Well, if he doesn't commit suicide, he will probably do so." Cao Cang said hesitantly, "It is also possible to imprison him, which is no different from killing him. His health is very poor, and he would not live for a few days. " Sister Sister let out a long sigh. "Does the Cao family have any relationship with you?" Cao Cang asked. "Of course, there is not only an origin, but also a deep one," Ximei said.

Cao Cang thought of Ximei's face when she learned that she was a descendant of the Cao family with a pocket watch, and he vaguely understood that there must be a story between the Cao family and Ximei's family. Seeing the doubts on Cao Cang's face, Xi Mei said to Cao Cang, "We are not from the mainland, but have been living in the vast ocean. In the late Warring States Period in China, we carried memories and legends, and of course the book "Water Road Book" has reached the coast of China." It seems that the ancestors of the "Dan people" were probably residents of the sporadic islands in the Pacific Ocean.

"We brought some information about Yihai, which made our identities special. The living environment of Yihai has been passed down in our family's memory. We have been looking for it, but there has been no result." Cao Cang thought that at that time, Yihai had been completely separated from the earth, and it was difficult to find Ximei's ancestors.Putting aside some accidental factors to enter the different sea, they should no longer be able to find the location of the different sea on the ocean. Ximei continued: "Our ancestors revealed the information of Yihai to the ruler at that time, and gained trust. The ruler provided us with support, built a big ship, and let us go to find Yihai. The condition is to follow a group of people , with the ruler’s mission, let the sea become their territory. If successful, our people will be allowed to live on land, and they promised us a piece of territory by the sea, and let us live ashore.” What Ximei said is already very brief. Cao Cang generally knows some history of the pre-Qin and early Han dynasties. Those generations of emperors all believed in alchemy by sorcerers and were keen to find overseas fairy mountains.From this point of view, Ximei's statement is not groundless. "Your ancestors didn't succeed," Cao Cang said. "We almost succeeded." Ximei said, "The empires on the mainland sent us many alchemists. Among them, the leaders can use an instrument to enter the place we mentioned." "The instrument used by the warlock is this pocket watch." Knowing what Ximei was going to say, Cao Cang took the pocket watch in his hand. It is obvious that the ancestors of the "Dan Clan" knew the sea route, but could not enter the different sea; the owner of the pocket watch could enter the different sea, but did not know the sea route.This is also the cooperation of the two forces.After so many years, the way humans enter the alien sea has not fundamentally changed. There is no need for Ximei to explain the following things. It must be that when the two forces were close to success, a battle broke out.As for the reason, of course it is very simple. It must be that the emperor back then had no sincerity to cooperate at all.This can be deduced from the experience of the "Dan Clan" from ancient times to the present. "The Cao family is the family with the pocket watch." Ximei said bitterly, "Our ancestors were defeated by the soldiers he led. As a result, no one could reach their destination." Cao Cang said to Ximei: "There is also a possibility that the ancestors of the Cao family didn't want to carry out the emperor's plan at all." "Anyway." Ximei said, "Our family hated that treacherous warlock, but after the chaos in the Central Plains, he was never found again." "So until two thousand years later, when you saw this pocket watch appearing in my hand, you remained hostile to me." Cao Cang smiled wryly, "If I am not an imposter, you will definitely try to deal with me." "After all, you saved my life." Ximei said, "I also know that you are the key to this plan. I have been hesitant to die with you." Time can dilute everything, and so is the hatred of the "Dan Clan".These ancient memories have become very indifferent in Ximei's generation.Ximei stood on the opposite side of Cao Cang several times, but in the end she gave up.Cao Cang knew that since Ximei said these words, she would no longer have any hostility towards him. After Ximei finished speaking, she sat aside, thinking about her thoughts. Lao Song heard the conversation between Cao Cang and Xi Mei very clearly.Now Lao Song said: "I don't want to go back anymore. I will stay here. No matter what the different seas become or how difficult the living environment is, I will stay. Even if you lead other humans over, I will not leave. I don't want to go back and let them send me to some sinister experiment again. I don't want to be a guinea pig again." The three of them spoke Chinese, which Joshua and Dr. Jian could not understand, but judging from their expressions, Dr. Jian should understand these things. Cao Cang said: "I should go. Time is short. I have a lot of things to do when I go back." No more talking, everyone, together with Cao Cang, walked to the seaside on the other side of the island, using the power of the pocket watch, walked from the tunnel formed by the gravity change of seawater to the metal foundation of the island, and then entered the metal building.Follow the spiral pit to the installation hall. Cao Cang picked up the pocket watch, ready to turn on the device. Dr. Jian suddenly approached Cao Cang and said to him, "Are you sure that you will defeat that force when you go back?" "No." Cao Cang replied honestly, "But I will do my best." Dr. Jian said to Cao Cang: "I'll wait for you for two years. If you succeed, you must come back. Two years later, if you don't show up in Yihai, I will go back too." "Will you go back and help me?" Cao Cang said, "If I can't succeed, it's useless for you to come." "No, when I arrive on Earth, I will take you back to the different sea, and then we will destroy this device." Dr. Jian said, "You also know that the pocket watch will not continue to be held by you." "Why are you doing this?" Cao Cang said. "You never abandoned us." Dr. Jian said, "I don't want you to be under house arrest forever in your next life...if you fail." The device has been turned on, and Cao Cang stands next to the device.Blue electric sparks began to "snap" on the device. Joshua said to Cao Cang, "Do you believe me?" It was difficult for Cao Cang to answer, Joshua's identity was too special. "I'm going to let you know something, but you have to trust me," Joshua said. "Sorry, I can't trust you just yet." "Forget it then." Joshua took a step back and stood outside the range of the device. Cao Cang picked up the pocket watch and watched the blue arc on the device connect with the pocket watch.Everything before Cao Cang's eyes began to blur, and the space began to distort.The things Cao Cang saw slowly changed their shape again, and the dimension was increasing.Based on his vision, Cao Cang felt that he was standing in the depths of the universe on the one hand, and on the other hand was a bystander, watching everything in front of him from an incomparably far away place. Suddenly the pocket watch in Cao Cang's hand was snatched away, and the dimension returned to three-dimensional.Cao Cang saw Joshua standing in front of him. He was holding the pocket watch in his hand and fiddled with it with his fingers. Joshua has not given up until now, he wants to grab the pocket watch and go back by himself. Cao Cang quickly grabbed Joshua's wrist, and then hit Joshua on the bridge of the nose with his fist.Joshua fell to the ground, unable to snatch the pocket watch and left by himself. Lao Song and Dr. Jian pulled Joshua away. Cao Cang stood next to the device again.Cao Cang suddenly discovered that he actually had an inseparable feeling for them. After all, they had experienced so many thrilling things together, and they had established a friendship deep in their hearts. But on this parting occasion, Joshua made trouble like this, which made the atmosphere awkward. Cao Cang had nothing to say. Watching the device start, he was once again elevated to a high dimension by the power of the device and pocket watch. "I'm back." Cao Cang thought to himself.Everything in front of him began to change, and the colorful lights shone in front of Cao Cang. When Cao Cang entered the alien sea from the earth, he was always struggling in the huge whirlpool, his life was hanging by a thread, and he was facing the threat of death at any time.And at that time, he didn't know that he was infiltrating into another space, so that for a long time after entering the different sea, he thought he was on the ocean of the earth. The current situation is completely opposite, Cao Cang is consciously leaving the space where Yi Hai is.The information Cao Cang got in Yihai made him fully understand the relationship between Yihai and the earth.Cao Cang knew that he had started the process of traveling through space by relying on the power of his pocket watch.This feeling is very weird, as if everything is still, and there is a dazzling light in front of my eyes.Cao Cang's vision disappeared immediately. Although his eyes could see light, he couldn't see any details clearly.Then Cao Cang suddenly found that his body no longer felt anything.Cao Cang couldn't detect where his hands and feet were on his body. Now only his thoughts and consciousness could prove his existence.A huge sense of nothingness filled every cell of the body. No one has experienced an environment where time does not exist. If there is an environment where time does not exist, it should be now.The space of the universe is huge and boundless, but people's perception of space can still perceive that they exist in such a space. It's different now, Cao Cang's consciousness is completely alone in an illusory environment, which has no concept of space at all.This moment is very long, but it seems to be very short, and it cannot be defined by the scale of time at all.Maybe the universe after increasing the dimension has a higher measure. Cao Cang understands that he will never know what kind of scale it is. Human beings are products of three-dimensional space. From all physiological angles, they can only perceive things in the three-dimensional world, and of course they cannot detect the four-dimensional scale. Cao Cang's eyes suddenly became brighter, and the familiar feeling came back. The feeling of being in a normal space made Cao Cang suddenly regain all his senses.First and foremost is vision. Cao Cang saw forests, grasslands, and mountains.After leaving the earth for almost two years, Cao Cang finally came back. Cao Cang looked around and found that he was standing on a meadow, not far from a vast forest.Cao Cang breathed the air, looking blankly at the environment his body was in.Cao Cang's first feeling was that the pressure of the air was too great, and he couldn't breathe smoothly. Where on earth is this place? The huge pressure made Cao Cang's ears keep producing hallucinations. The sound of "buzzing" is very clear. The air was so fresh, it was so fresh. Cao Cang raised his feet and walked on the grass, and saw that the trees were growing lush, the grass on the ground was very soft, and the long grass leaves were very dense. Unknown flowers bloomed on the grass, and Cao Cang walked towards the woods. The woods looked very interesting, and the woods exuded a fragrant smell, which made Cao Cang feel refreshed.This smell is still constantly changing, the fragrant smell immediately becomes rich, then changes from rich to light, and then changes to a strange smell.It doesn't smell good, but after smelling it for a long time, after the smell disappeared, Cao Cang felt lost again. Cao Cang's head became dizzy.When he reached the edge of the woods, he found that his consciousness was drifting, and his hands and feet were limp.Cao Cang held a tree beside him with his hands. The surface of that tree was unusually soft, without that kind of dry and hard bark.A gust of fresh wind blew, and Cao Cang's consciousness was slightly awakened. Cao Cang has always been vigilant, which is his habit.After returning to Earth, Cao Cang had a faint feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't explain it. Now Cao Cang has discovered the biggest strangeness in this environment. No animals, no animals at all!There are no living things in such a dense flora.There were no tiny insects on the blades of grass, no butterflies or bees near the flowers, no birds in the air, let alone large reptiles and mammals.There are no gaps in the branches, and no spider webs. The plants here are not the ones Cao Cang is familiar with. Cao Cang understands that the plants here, Cao Cang has never seen on earth. Cao Cang's head became more dizzy and he could no longer think.Cao Cang was thinking about what happened to his body.Cao Cang began to cough, his facial muscles twitched violently, and then his chest began to hurt. This is a symptom of oxygen poisoning!Cao Cang realized it. Yes, oxygen can also poison people. In an environment where the pressure exceeds ordinary atmospheric pressure, high concentrations of oxygen can be fatal to people.This is the knowledge Cao Cang gained during his diving training at the base. What exactly is this place? An inexplicable feeling came from the palm of the hand that was supporting the tree trunk, and Cao Cang felt much better.The nerves in Cao Cang's arm felt a comfortable itching and numbness, and a feeling of peace of mind came from the nerves, which was very comfortable. These trees are not the trees on the earth, there are no such trees on the earth. Cao Cang gradually figured it out, this is not the earth. Cao Cang's other hand glowed incandescently, and he almost forgot that the pocket watch was still in his hand.The white light became brighter and brighter, and Cao Cang returned to that illusory dimension without space and time. Cao Cang remembered that Joshua had tampered with the pocket watch. There was a strange light flashing from the pocket watch in his hand, which enveloped Cao Cang's body.A pocket watch is originally a machine that travels through space. It can function in this high-dimensional environment. Now the shape of the pocket watch has also changed, but Cao Cang can't tell what shape the pocket watch has become.This is a change Cao Cang has never seen before.This is the true physical shape of a pocket watch.A pocket watch is originally an object in four-dimensional space. The shape of this machine in three-dimensional space is the appearance of a pocket watch. Its real shape can only be reflected in the current high-dimensional space. When Cao Cang understood this, he was already standing in the flames. But Cao Cang didn't feel uncomfortable. He could see clearly that the energy field generated by the pocket watch retained the air and pressure of the world just now, and isolated himself from the flames. Cao Cang saw the flame transform into various geometric shapes, flashing in front of Cao Cang.Cao Cang had seen these figures before, and Cao Cang suddenly remembered, isn't this the picture on the petroglyph in the depths of the seabed in the different sea. Cao Cang further thought that the forests just now, like the geometric shapes in front of him, are actually the manifestations of intelligent creatures.They are all living beings, just in different manifestations. Those trees are a highly intelligent form of plant life.And the geometric shape in the flames in front of him is undoubtedly a form of life, and it is the form of intelligent life.Intelligent life is not limited to a specific form of existence, it can be a plant, or even an ion state! Joshua didn't have any malice, he adjusted his pocket watch on purpose so that Cao Cang could see it. Why did he do this? A few seconds later, Cao Cang was taken away from this world of flames by his pocket watch.According to the scenes seen on the rock paintings, Cao Cang thought that he might be taken to a world of wind by his pocket watch.Those worlds are the last few petroglyphs, and of course they are the worlds where intelligent life still retains memories. Sure enough, Cao Cang was immediately taken into a world full of gas, full of turbulent currents.But the pocket watch's energy field can withstand the effects of these powerful hurricanes. This is a colorful world, all gas, no water, no solid, clouds of various colors are churning violently like waves, and lightning and thunderstorms can be seen in the distance. This is the petroglyphic world of Wind, a planet made entirely of gas.Since the pocket watch can bring Cao Cang here, it also shows from the side that intelligent civilization can also be produced in this environment. Cao Cang stayed in this world for less than a minute, and was taken away by his pocket watch again.But this time there was no such process of entering a high dimension, Cao Cang immediately found that he was floating in a vast ocean. Water world? Judging from the current process, Joshua did not intend to kill Cao Cang, he just wanted Cao Cang to see the existence of these worlds. The shielding function of the pocket watch disappeared, and Cao Cang began to swim. It seems that the pocket watch can function according to the environment. When it is in an environment that is completely suitable for the human body, the pocket watch will give up the protection of the human body. When a wave hit, Cao Cang choked on water, and the bitter taste spread in Cao Cang's mouth.A thought flashed through Cao Cang's mind like lightning - Joshua let him enter those worlds to let him understand that the kind of intelligent life, the life that keeps immigrating in space, did not abandon those worlds.The civilizations of those worlds still exist and have not been destroyed because of the departure of intelligent life. Joshua was conveying an intention to Cao Cang that the Freemasonry's influence into the alien sea was not at the cost of human sacrifice on Earth. It is their instinct to move forward to any space they may reach, but they have not given up on the world they have already occupied.They changed their life forms according to the environments of different worlds, but they did not abandon them. Yes, why do we have to use that narrow concept to look at the development of civilization, and enter the next space, there must be many ways to avoid the destruction of the original world. Maybe the situation on the earth is quite special, which made them have resistance, which is why they came to such a situation. Thinking to himself, Cao Cang continued to swim in the water, and he waited for the pocket watch to take him into the next space until he was brought back to Earth. Cao Cang stayed in the water for a long time.The cold water made Cao Cang more and more awake. That’s right, the beings who entered those alien space worlds just now are showing Cao Cang the information of their existence: that tree can secrete various smells, this is their way of communication , and is very mature, it is a kind of high-level information exchange; the geometric shapes in those flames are also the same, but Cao Cang can't understand; as for the gas planet, Cao Cang didn't understand it, but this can only show that it is him Did not see the clues, does not mean there is no. Cao Cang waited, what kind of life would show him information in this water world. Cao Cang tried to dive underwater, but the sea was pitch black and he couldn't see anything.Now the surface of the sea is also dark, with no light.Cao Cang looked up, the sky was also dark, and he couldn't see any clues. Cao Cang's body was already used to the underwater environment, but now he found that his ability was disappearing.Cao Cang floats on the water surface, and needs to use the swing of his limbs to maintain it.If you dive underwater, your body cannot get oxygen from the water either.The green algae gene on my body must have degenerated, and it should have degenerated after entering this environment, and the degraded speed is very fast, just like the initial fusion, it is impossible for Cao Cang to adapt. Cao Cang kept looking at the pocket watch, thinking about when the pocket watch would bring him into the next world. After several hours passed, Cao Cang's physical strength was gradually overdrawn, and his body also felt cold.The pocket watch never glowed again and seemed to be closed. Cao Cang was thinking about what happened to the accident. Suddenly Cao Cang heard a sound, coming from the distant sky, it was the sound of "chug chug chug". Cao Cang's head suddenly came to his senses, no wonder the pocket watch no longer took him to continue to penetrate into other parallel spaces. It turned out that he had already reached the destination set by the device and the pocket watch - the earth. Now Cao Cang has returned to the earth, he really came back, and just like entering the different sea, he is also on the ocean. Now the thing that is making a huge roar above his head is a military helicopter, and the helicopter is looking for him.This is very obvious, the circular beam of light is floating on the sea surface, and it is all around Cao Cang.The beam of light moved very regularly, and it seemed that it would soon hit the surface of the sea where Cao Cang was. The waves on the ocean are continuous and chaotic. In this case, it is difficult for the helicopter to find Cao Cang.However, from the lights emitted from various places on the plane, Cao Cang could roughly see the direction and shape of the plane. Cao Cang didn't make a sound. From the shape of the helicopter, he could see that it was a helicopter with a special shape. It was more like an ordinary fixed-wing aircraft, but this aircraft could hover in the sky, of course it was a helicopter.When Cao Cang entered Yihai, China did not have this kind of helicopter.This is not the plane of the motherland!Cao Cang instinctively avoided the light from the helicopter searching the sea surface. The helicopter searched patiently and slowly.If Cao Cang hadn't taken the initiative to avoid him, he would have been discovered long ago. The helicopter flew slowly in the air above Cao Cang with a radius of several hundred meters.After more than ten minutes, the plane suddenly became very bright, and a searchlight on the lower part of the plane was turned on, illuminating a very large sea area. At the same time, Cao Cang could clearly see the English signs on the plane.It was indeed a U.S. Navy aircraft. (Judging from the description in the notes, it is likely to be an American V-22 "Osprey" twin-engine tilt-rotor aircraft, which was manufactured in 1988 and made its first flight in 1989.) Cao Cang carefully hid himself in the surging waves, thinking in his heart that it must be some specific attributes on the pocket watch that exposed his position to the monitoring equipment systems of the earth's military powers.The first thing to look for him now is this weird-shaped helicopter from the United States, because the military power of the United States is too strong, with countless military bases and the most advanced weapons and equipment around the world. Cao Cang thought in his heart that since the Americans could know his location, the motherland would know it too, but he had to wait. The helicopter was still hovering above, not giving up its search efforts.It seems that this kind of aircraft has super endurance and will not leave for a while. Cao Cang thought for a while, and slowly swam out of the search range of the plane.An hour later, Cao Cang swam a distance of more than a thousand meters and saw that he had left the helicopter behind, but the helicopter seemed to realize something and flew slowly towards Cao Cang's position, and the direction was completely correct! Cao Cang knew that his position had been precisely locked, and he couldn't get rid of tracking at all.Cao Cang held the pocket watch in his hand, knowing in his heart that it was this special machine that exposed his whereabouts. Cao Cang remembered that before entering the different sea, the metal material scientist in China had promised him that this pocket watch could avoid X-ray detection , it seems he was wrong.Pocket watches must have other forms of physical properties, Americans must understand.The reason why Americans didn't say anything about pocket watches before the experiment is because pocket watches are required for this task.Now they are using their knowledge of the physical properties of pocket watches to find pocket watches.Yes, the second time the Americans entered the alien sea experiment, the pocket watch was carried by Karin's uncle. They had seen this pocket watch and had done in-depth research. The feeling on Cao Cang's body began to become strange again, which was the experience gained from the experience in Yihai. There's something coming from the bottom of the sea. Cao Cang didn't even need to think carefully to understand what was coming from the bottom of the sea.According to Cao Cang's keen sense of body touch, he can feel more than one. A submarine patrolling nearby must have also been summoned. But the submarine on the bottom of the sea did not come to the surface to search.And after a while, the feeling under the sea disappeared without a trace. Cao Cang now only knows that he must continue to hide, not expose, never expose. Time passed minute by minute.Now Cao Cang's biggest difficulty is not physical overdraft, but how to deal with the current situation. The helicopter's searchlights were already close to where Cao Cang was.And the helicopter has been hoisted with ropes, and a mass of things fell from the helicopter, fell on the sea, and expanded rapidly. This is an inflatable lifeboat.Then several people slid down the rope, and they quickly climbed into the lifeboat.Under the illumination of the searchlights, Cao Cang could see clearly that these heavily armed special forces were using the searchlights in their hands to illuminate the dark sea around them. Seeing the lifeboat sailing towards them in a straight line, they had accurately found Cao Cang's position. Cao Cang was shocked.As a scout, exposing one's position is the most dangerous thing. What shocked Cao Cang even more happened. A person suddenly emerged from the water and grabbed him severely.There are already frogmen under the sea. Frogmen are well equipped and well trained.They were skilled in underwater fighting, but Cao Cang was caught off guard and fell into a disadvantage. Fortunately, the purpose of the frogman was to capture Cao Cang, and he had no intention of killing Cao Cang.This gave Cao Cang an opportunity to take advantage of.Cao Cang saw the right opportunity and fought back fiercely.The two were fighting on the surface of the sea. The frogman seemed to have lost his patience. He hooked Cao Cang's neck and then dived down. Cao Cang was pulled several meters below the seabed. The green algae gene in Cao Cang's body became functional again in an extremely urgent situation and became flexible.Cao Cang pulled out the frogman's oxygen tube, and the frogman couldn't hold on.The situation turned, and now Cao Cang had the upper hand, and the frogmen began to struggle. Just as Cao Cang got rid of the entanglement of this frogman, another frogman approached Cao Cang and hugged Cao Cang's legs, causing Cao Cang to sink.Then another frogman came over and grabbed Cao Cang's thigh. Cao Cang thought helplessly, could he really be a prisoner? Suddenly the frogman in front of Cao Cang shook his body, let go of Cao Cang, and then his body twitched continuously, shaking in the sea water.Cao Cang has now sunk more than ten meters into the bottom of the sea, and there is actually a faint light in the sea at this depth. Cao Cang looked down, feeling terrified.In the sea below, more than a dozen submarine searchlights were shining.A searchlight represents a frogman. These dozen or so frogmen are not in one group, they are confronting each other. Relying on the weak light, Cao Cang saw that the frogman in front of him was still twitching, and a long pole similar to a bow and arrow emerged from his chest—he was under a fatal attack. Next, the frogman who hugged his body unfolded, and another frogman cut his throat with a dagger.Another frogman who was entangled with Cao Cang also took out his dagger to fight, but he was attacked immediately, his body stiffened quickly, and he sank to the bottom of the sea. The frogmen on the bottom of the sea began to attack each other with their own weapons. Cao Cang found that the battle was one-sided. The reason was simple. The frogmen who had the upper hand had more advanced weapons.Not only do they have regular spearguns and daggers, but they also have a more powerful weapon, which is similar to rifles on land, with very high shooting accuracy, and what they shoot is not spearguns, but bullets, which are very fast , making the other party irresistible. The frogman with a dagger approached Cao Cang.Cao Cang was about to fight him, the frogman waved his hand, then gave a thumbs up and shook it upwards.This is the most basic gesture in diving—surfacing. Your enemy's enemy is your friend. The frogman had no malice, he supported Cao Cang's armpit, and quickly floated up. Cao Cang felt much more at ease, this is his comrade in arms, he came to welcome his comrade in arms.They came much sooner than expected. The frogman and Cao Cang floated to the surface of the sea together. The frogman opened his mask.The downward light from the helicopter not far away allowed Cao Cang to see the frogman's face clearly.In fact, Cao Cang had already expected the result, it was a Chinese face. Cao Cang had a lot to ask, but the frogman didn't give him any chance. "I don't know you, and I don't know why you are here." The frogman said eagerly, "The submarine I'm in has been cruising in this sea area for half a month, until an hour ago, I got an order to carry out the mission!" The frogman took out a waterproof sealed bag from the equipment on his body, took out two things from it, and handed them to Cao Cang. "The superior said that this thing is very important to you." The frogman said, "You will use it after seeing it." Cao Cang carefully held one of the objects in his hand. It was a flat round metal object with a hidden button. Cao Cang pressed it immediately, and the object split into two.Cao Cang understood that it was a lead box, similar in shape to a pocket watch.曹沧连忙把怀表放入盒子内部，然后把盒子阖上。盒子做得很精巧，跟怀表的形状极其吻合。 怀表的放射属性，完全被铅盒屏蔽。现在任何人都无法跟踪怀表。 蛙人没有任何好奇，把另一个东西也递给曹沧。曹沧见过这东西，老杨死前给他看过。这是一个小型的信号发射器，频率是单一并且保密的，能够和附近的同等频率的设备保持联系。当初老杨在异海，就是靠这种仪器和台风级潜艇取得联系。 “我们的潜艇不能和他们发起冲突。”蛙人说道，“他们好像也是这个想法，双方都有默契——不能开火。到底是什么原因？” 曹沧说道：“你没有权限问这个问题。” 蛙人愣了一下，按动了身上的一个按钮。曹沧明白，这是任务完成后发出的信号。 “十分钟后，美国负责监测这片海域的间谍卫星会失效。你很重要，国家不惜动用这种还在研发过程中的激光武器——专门针对军事卫星的领先技术。”蛙人说道。 “让卫星变成瞎子的武器？”曹沧惊讶地问道，“我们已经有了这么高的军事技术吗？现在是哪一年？” “1993年。”蛙人说道，“你真奇怪，来历不明，连什么时间都不知道。” 异海和地球是两个平行空间，时间并不同步。曹沧现在印证了老庞的推测。 “我接下来该做什么？”曹沧问道。 “坚持下去。”蛙人回答，“你不能登上我们的潜艇，这样太显眼。” "What should I do?" “会有一艘民用的船只来营救你，国际法对民用的船只有利，这样才有时间考虑下一步行动。”蛙人说道，“我们已经联系上了最近的一艘民用船只，他们一个星期前从雅加达出发，现在接到命令正在全速向这里行驶。” "where is this place?" “印度洋，南纬4°21′、东经63°14′。”蛙人飞快地说道，“你再坚持一天就行……能坚持吗？” “能。”曹沧说道。 蛙人飞快地从身上又解下一个密封袋：“这是补给。” 曹沧打开一看，是高热量的管状食品和一把信号枪。 空中的直升机现在果然开始在空中无目的地飞行，他们搜索的范围距离曹沧越来越远，看来怀表一旦被铅盒屏蔽，他们就失去了目标。 十分钟一晃就过去了。蛙人抬起手腕，看了看时间，说道：“我走了。你尽量离开这片海域。我们会拖住他们的潜艇。” 天空中的直升机开始没有目的地盘旋，飞行的半径越来越大，最后终于放弃，向着远处的夜空飞去。 蛙人说了，十分钟一到，负责监测这片海域的敌对国军事卫星就会变成瞎子。他们什么都查不到，可是曹沧能和祖国派出接应的民用船只取得联系。 蛙人和曹沧握了握手，又整理好潜水设备，潜入海底。 现在曹沧要做的就是在海洋上漫无目的的游泳，等着那艘接应他的船只。 曹沧不停地在海面上游泳，只要离开这片海域，美国人找到他的机会就越小。整整游了一夜，天亮时分，曹沧精疲力竭地浮在海面上。 曹沧完全没有想到回到地球后的形势也是这么艰险，比进入异海并不轻松半分。 这里是赤道附近，太阳升起后，曹沧的体温能够保持住，而且蛙人交给他的补给食品热量很高，曹沧暂时性命无忧。 现在要躲避的就是美方的各种军舰和搜寻的飞机。天空中有几架无人侦察机掠过，飞得很低。这样的搜寻不会有什么结果，但是他们没有放弃。 整整一天过去，到了傍晚时分，一个黑点从海平面上慢慢显露出来。曹沧把那个小型的信号发射器放在手上举起来，仿佛这样能增加信号的强度似的。这是曹沧在激动的情绪下，下意识的举动。 那个黑点越来越近，已经能够看清楚是一艘货轮，而且他们行驶的方向也很明确，就是曹沧的方位。 货轮距离曹沧只有几百米了，其标识是“金川号”。 货轮的观测塔上有人正在用望远镜搜索海面，甲板上的栏杆后，排列站着水手，这些水手都在张望。 曹沧不再犹豫，掏出信号枪，扣动扳机。 甲板上的水手发出一阵欢呼。几个人在甲板上慌张地跑动，挂在船舷的救生船，通过挂索被放下来。 这就是祖国的迎接方式。 曹沧被接到“金川号”的甲板上，身上裹着一张毛毯。有人递过来一杯热腾腾的咖啡。 四周的人群都敬慕地看着曹沧，曹沧内心非常激动，毕竟回到了同胞身边，现在不再有惊心动魄的任务等着他了，不再有人钩心斗角，不再需要谨慎提防。所有人的表现，都透露着一个信息：欢迎回来。 曹沧实在是没力气站起来，他伸展四肢，躺在甲板上。 众人都在嘈杂地说话。 一个身穿制服的人走来，对众人说道：“大家不要吵了，他需要休息。” 于是曹沧被抬到担架上，送入一个宽敞的舱室。曹沧疲惫到了极点，睡了过去。 过了很久，曹沧醒了过来，心里想着，自己已经有多久没有睡觉了，自从在异海登上米勒的船只，好像就没有真正睡过觉。 想到这里，曹沧突然意识到什么，连忙向自己的胸口看去，皮肤已经恢复了黄色，绿藻的基因真的消失了。 看来寄生生命不是每种环境都能适应。 曹沧想了一会儿，觉得自己还没有睡好，然后又闭上眼睛，再次入睡。这一次，他睡的时间更长。 整个睡眠的过程，没有任何人打扰，曹沧睡得非常舒适。 这一觉睡醒，曹沧的精力完全恢复。他刚刚从床铺上坐起来，舱门就打开了，一个水手端着食物走进来。 食物是典型的中国饭菜——米饭和榨菜肉丝，还有一碗紫菜汤。曹沧毫不客气，狼吞虎咽。 有多长时间没吃过家乡菜了，曹沧想，有两年了吧。在异海的时候，还以为自己永远吃不上了。 那个穿着制服的人也走进来，看着曹沧吃饭，并不打扰。等曹沧吃完，他才开口说道：“我是船长周道德，你可以叫我老周。欢迎你登上'金川号'。”说到这里，老周迟疑了一会儿，曹沧知道他在犹豫，该不该问自己的姓名。 曹沧站立起来，郑重地说道：“叫我小吴。” （从这一刻开始，笔记的作者不再以曹沧称呼自己，而是改为小吴，书写的人称也回到了第一人称。） 老周说道：“小吴，我知道你肩负着国家的重大使命，希望你在不透露机密的情况下，尽量告诉我你的情况，我会做出相应的营救措施。” 我点点头，想了一会儿说道：“我执行了一项任务，执行任务的地点必须保密。现在我要回到祖国，只有回到祖国之后，我的任务才算成功。” “这项任务一定很重要。”老周说道，“我看得出来。” “美国人？”我问道。 “是的。”老周回答我，“现在距离我们十几海里，有一艘美方的军舰一直在跟着我们，已经有五十个小时了。你是刺探他们航母的情报人员吗？” 我说道：“不是。” 老周不再追问。他说过，我可以不向他吐露任务相关的机密。 老周迟疑了一会儿，说道：“看来我们要讨论一件事情。” “尽快让我回国。” “现在我们正向着波斯湾前进——这也是我们的原定航线。”老周说道，“我打算返航，从马六甲回到中国南海。” 我想起美国海军在那片海域投入的力量，对老周说道：“他们不会让我们回去的，回去就是自投罗网。” “什么时候，我们才有自己的航母编队。”老周苦笑道，“如果我们继续前行，到达阿曼湾，距离他们的基地更加近了。” “我们慢慢想办法。”我说道，“更加艰难的环境，我都挺过来了，不差这最后一步。” “现在，我们的优势在于我们在公海上，美国人不敢对我们采取军事行动。”老周说道，“他们不敢违反国际公约。” “他们怕的不是这个。”我说道，“他们怕的是把这件事闹大。” 老周说道：“你如果要出去，就换上我们船员的工作服。” 我点头，穿上老周递过来的橘黄色工作服，然后和老周一起走到甲板上。 甲板上的所有工作人员，全部穿着橘黄色的工作服。我走在货轮上，开始熟悉环境。几个船员向我恭敬地打招呼，立即被老周制止：“我已经开会向你们警告过了，不要把小吴区别对待，小吴是个维修工，和你们一样，只是个普通船员，不要再对他好奇。” 我指着船体上堆得如高山，却又十分整齐的集装箱，对问老周说道：“船上装的什么货物？” “普通的民用物资。”老周回答，“我们的小商品在中东很畅销。” “什么是小商品？”我好奇地问道，这对我来说是个新鲜词。 “就是每天都需要的生活用品。”老周的语气有点诧异，“肥皂、牙膏、毛巾，或者扑克牌、鞋袜、内衣裤，高档点儿的有彩电、冰箱。” “是我们国家制造的吗？”我好奇地问道，“我们国家在把这些东西卖给外国人？” 老周是个周游世界的老船长，到这个时候，也掩饰不住他的惊愕：“这有什么问题？” “这些东西，难道国家在计划供应之外，还有富余卖给他国？”我说道，“彩电和冰箱这么昂贵的商品，我们自己够用吗？” “你从另一个世界来的吗？”老周说道，“你不知道我们国家一年要挣多少外汇。现在早就不是商品匮乏的年代，彩电、冰箱已经是每一个家庭的必备用品，就算是空调和电脑，也不新鲜了。” “我们国家富裕了，和西方国家一样？”我说道，“等等，你刚才说什么，我们国家在挣外汇、储备外汇？” “是的。过几年，我们就可以和日本一样，用美元在世界上购买我们中国人想要的任何东西。” “买我们想要的任何东西……”我想到，国家在储备外汇，并且是美元。 老周说道：“你离开祖国很久了吧，而且执行任务的地方很闭塞，是在某个小岛上进行军方实验吗？” 我岔开话题问道：“现在世界上什么东西最值钱、最抢手？” “值钱的东西多了。”老周笑道，“看来我猜中了，你一定是与世隔绝了很久。现在世界上最抢手的商品，就是石油，这东西，都快和黄金一样贵了。” “和黄金一样贵了。”这句话，让我内心一震。 “黄金——石油——黄金。” 进入异海需要大量的黄金，而石油在世界经济中有着举足轻重的地位。 我暂时无法想通这些细节，但是我知道，地球上的大国，都已经在做最大的努力。老庞和米勒的说法真的很靠近真相：世界大国，都没放弃努力，而且加大了行动的脚步，他们在动用一切方法收集黄金，祖国也正在这么做。 “船长。”远处一个站在甲板上的船员对老周喊道，“有指示。” 老周匆匆地向船长室走去。 我则继续在货轮上行走，身体一侧是巨大如楼层一样堆积的集装箱，另一侧是茫茫大海。我看向海洋远处，果然，一艘军舰和货轮保持着相同的速度，并与货轮保持着几千米的距离。 我知道他们是冲我来的，不过这是公海，他们不可能冒着异海秘密被公布的危险，强行使用武力，登上“金川号”搜查我。 他们已经失去了对怀表的定位，不敢轻举妄动。 “金川号”上的所有人都对我很好奇，只不过他们都已经被叮嘱过，不能对我太热情——这么做是为了掩护我。我在船上很自由，和旁人短短数语的交流，也很普通，他们都极力抑制激动的情绪。 船上的人都是普通的海员，一辈子过着枯燥、单调的生活，因为我的到来，让他们的工作发生了巨大的改变。他们已经能够感觉到，我的身份非比寻常。 每个人都有英雄情结，都有参与重大事件的渴望。无疑，我让他们获得了这种满足感。这种关系到国家利益的重大事件，会让他们最大限度地保护我。 我继续漫无目的走着。一个船员走到我面前，说道：“小吴，船长让你马上去船长室。” 我知道老周一定接受了来自国家的命令，便马上跟随船员向船长室走去。 进了船长室，老周一脸的严肃，对我说道：“小吴，你猜对了。”美国给国家施加压力，逼迫我们返航。 “他们一定在返航的路线上部署了什么。”我说道，“所以他们逼着我们返航。” “不。”老周说道，“他们这么做，估计只是想拖延时间。我们继续前行，很快就到港。如果我们返航，在海上的时间就会很长。” “他们害怕我们靠岸。”我说道，“一旦我们进港，无论被监视得多严密，我都会有办法上岸离开。把我限制在船上最好的办法，就是让'金川号'失踪在海洋上。” “不过，我们国家已经通过交涉拒绝了美国的要求，我们继续按照原定航线前行。” “他们这么做，出乎常理。”我说道，“他们应该不会把跟我有关的事情，放到国际外交事务上大肆宣扬。他们绝不会……” “他们找到了一个理由。”老周打断我，“他们指控我们的船上有国际贸易禁止的化学药品——制造化学武器的原料，目的地是伊朗！” “这果然是个最佳的选择。”我不禁佩服起他们的应变能力。 我国也尽量隐瞒我执行任务的真相，他们利用了这点，所以马上捏造一个借口。这个借口太合理了，他们一定会想方设法上船来搜查，来找我，还有那块怀表。在他们上船之前，会有很多国际法相关的程序要走，可是他们不在乎，只要在搜查之前“金川号”不靠岸就行。 “我能和上级联系吗？”我说道，“我能不能告诉上级，如果对方的态度强硬，我们能不能用扩大事态的方式来给对方施加压力。” “不行。”老周断然拒绝，“上级要求我，不能让任何人吐露这个事件的相关信息。他们决定了，通过外交手段来解决。” “好吧。”我说道，“既然这样，我服从。” 接下来两天里，“金川号”上每天都有消息传来，国家正在同美国交涉，两个大国在角力。美国大造舆论，一口咬定船上有违禁化学原料。祖国知道这是对方故意诬陷，意在别处。 一直靠在附近的军舰对“金川号”没有攻击的意图，始终跟随着我们。 有几次我都在想，自己是不是该偷偷潜入海水中，再另寻出路。不过这个设想随即被自己否定。现在我身体里的绿藻基因已经完全消失，已经不可能适应海洋生活了，如果独自一人漂浮在茫茫大海里，支撑不了多久就会死掉。 并且，一定有潜艇无声无息潜在几十米、甚至几百米的水下。“金川号”不是军用船只，无法用声呐探测到潜艇的存在。不过潜水艇的存在是基本可以肯定的。 美国人用先进的军事装备，对付“金川号”这么一艘民用船只，不用违禁品的理由从国际舆论上造势，还真的没有更加合适的办法解释他们的作为。 我每天都和老周一起分析国家和美国的交涉。现在美国看到“金川号”仍旧继续航行，并不返航，便提出了更加过分的要求，其目的性更强了。 “他们要求登船。”老周对我说道。 “他们等不及了。” “不过我方的交涉人员已经断然拒绝。”老周说道，“我们还有时间想个出路。” “你们无法伪造我的身份，”我说道，“你们已经在新加坡和雅加达停靠并卸货。你和船上的人员一定有当地的入境和检疫记录，我是多出来的一个人。他们在搜索过整个船体后，只需要清点人数就行了。” 我说道到这里，看到老周的脸色很奇怪。难道他有解决的办法？ “上级有过指示，我可以根据情况作出任何决定……只要是对你有利的决定。”老周冷冷地说道。 我隐隐知道老周的意思了。 “海员是个高危职业。”老周说道，“从雅加达出港后，我们也许会有船员生病去世，或者在工作中不慎落海……也许在岸上忘记返船了也有可能……” 我笑起来，老周有临战的决心，却没有一个军人的素质。 “你这样做是绝对行不通的。”我说道，“首先我不会让一个无辜的船员白白送死。” “这个由我安排，你不需要多想。” “你这么做，就是在替他们帮忙找到我。”我说道，“你为了维持船上人员的平衡，不惜用一个船员的意外失踪或者死亡来掩护我的身份。可是你想过没有，这么做，刚好让他们用最快的途径找到我。” “对啊。”老周拍了一下脑袋，“我急昏头了，这不是帮倒忙吗？” 我说道：“先拖着吧，反正他们暂时不能登船。” 老周安排人，在船上尽可能地寻找我能躲避的地方，比如把某个集装箱的货物掏出一部分，让我躲进去，或者把我安排在美国人想不到的船舱下部。 这些也是徒劳的，如果美国人登船，一定会用先进的仪器，探寻我的存在。这种仪器不是什么新鲜玩意，我在越南战场上就用过，用来寻找在地下坑洞里躲避的敌人。当然这种仪器也广泛用于地震、矿难等灾害后的搜救任务。 又过了两天，我看到老周的头发已经全白了，我第一次看到他的时候，他的头发有一半是黑的——他的压力很大。 “现在形势对我们非常不利。”几日之后，老周和我单独在一起的时候，谨慎地说道，“我尝试着向附近的港口请求靠岸，都被拒绝。他们不允许一艘载有违禁化学原料的船只靠港。” “他们就是要我们一直停留在大海上。”我说道，“当'金川号'上的补给全部耗尽后，他们可以通过人道主义援助的途径，登上'金川号'。” “看来他们对你志在必得。”老周说道，“如果真的到了那一天，我们怎么做？” “如果实在是无法让我离开，我只能作出最后的选择。”我说道，“你安排几个政治上完全靠得住的年轻人，一定要有很强的记忆力。” “你不能吐露跟你任务相关的秘密。”老周说道。 “这些秘密对国家很重要。”我说道，“我会把内容分开告诉他们，让他们每人记住一部分。在回国之前，禁止他们相互交谈，也不能让他们和旁人交谈。必要的话，软禁起来也可以。” “既然我找出这几个人，就相信他们的政治觉悟，”老周说道，“他们一定是绝对忠诚于国家的人选。” “死人不会说话。”我说道，“到时候，还可以利用船员死亡的借口，对他们发动舆论攻势。到那个时候，他们也没有必要将一个死人的身份公开，这样做，对他们也没有好处。” “我现在有点明白，为什么国家如此重视你了。”老周说道，“你的口气如同是在讨论他人的生死，好像跟你无关似的。你这样的人，执行的任务一定不一般。” “我已经死过无数次了。”我说道，“一个死里逃生的人，会异常珍惜自己的性命，可是我没那么好运，当无数次面临生死关头之后，特别是看到身边的战友一个个死去，对生死就不那么看重了。” 五天之后，“金川号”抛锚。 形势对“金川号”非常不利。美国方面已经完全控制了局势。现在他们要等的就是祖国的妥协。现在国际舆论一边倒，既然中方不承认“金川号”装载有违禁化学原料，为了表明清白，就应该坦然接受美方的调查。 “什么时候，我们国家的海军能在大西洋上要求登上美国的轮船检查啊。”老周的口气已经带了一点埋怨，“也许你要做的工作，就是让我们国家有那么一天。” “不。”我说道，“我的任务比这个更重要。” “金川号”上的食品逐渐匮乏。船员们的配给开始被严格控制，但是没有人抱怨是我的原因，大家的怨气都发在美国人身上。脾气暴躁的老船员已经开始破口大骂。饮用水虽然尚能维持，可是没有多余的水洗澡。已经有船员生病，船员的士气低落。 老周接到了一个电话，来自一直尾随我们的那艘美方军舰。 “不需要。”老周用英语斩钉截铁地拒绝。