Chapter 21 Chapter 19 Dislocation of Time

light. This is not natural light.Cao Cang saw clearly that the light came from lamps.In this vast space filled with seawater, there is a platform a hundred meters ahead.Cao Cang could see the platform clearly because the light came from there. In the surrounding water, unknown biological activities are more frequent. Cao Cang knew that in this environment, he and Lao Song were more dangerous than before.Cao Cang could already clearly sense that the water around him was shaking, and the danger was very close. Cao Cang pointed his gun around nervously, but without any direction. "What should we do now?" Cao Cang asked Lao Song.Lao Song didn't answer Cao Cang, he just struggled to walk in the water and walked towards the platform.

Cao Cang could only follow Lao Song. Suddenly, less than one meter in front of Cao Cang, a person's body suddenly emerged from the water.Before Cao Cang could shoot, his leg was hooked by something and pulled violently.Cao Cang fell into the water, several arms ruthlessly pressed Cao Cang's body under the water.Cao Cang was caught off guard and drank a few mouthfuls of sea water. Cao Cang decisively twisted off the arms that were holding him down. Cao Cang could feel that they were human arms.Those weird humans with dislocated arms let go of Cao Cang in unbearable pain.They didn't expect Cao Cang's movements to be so swift.At this time, the water surface near Cao Cang was churning even more than before.Cao Cang didn't know if he could resist their attack again.

Cao Cang felt something rushing from behind, he quickly turned around and tried his best to lift up the human-like creature.The monster left the water, screaming in panic, and swaying its limbs.Cao Cang discovered that this strange creature was also a mutated human being, but his appearance was different from the upper-level mutants, and he retained more human characteristics. Cao Cang ruthlessly threw the mutant far away.The other mutants dare not approach Cao Cang for the time being.They were relatively timid, having suffered from Cao Cang continuously, they dared not approach for a while.

But Lao Song was not so lucky.Several mutants all entangled Lao Song's body and began to bite.Lao Song still insisted on walking towards the platform, seeing that he was about to fail, and was about to be dragged into the sea by these mutants. Cao Cang couldn't help but shoot and hit a mutant on Lao Song's shoulder.The sound of gunfire echoed continuously in this enclosed space.These mutants were so frightened that they sank into the water. Lao Song seemed to have gone mad, he almost ran towards the platform. Cao Cang didn't understand why Lao Song became like this, he didn't care about the danger around him, and walked forward with his own will.

Lao Song suddenly shouted: "Xiao Ding, are you there?" Only then did Cao Cang realize that Lao Song was looking for his teammates, who entered the tanker during the experiment in Lop Nur.Although it was difficult for Cao Cang to accept this matter intellectually, judging from Lao Song's performance, he did not lie. "Xiao Ding, Ding Li, I know you are here. I saw your water bottle and hung it on it. I will never forget it." Lao Song held up a thing in his hand, Cao Cang saw this It's a military kettle, the kind I often use on the battlefield. Cao Cang thought in his heart, in such a dangerous environment, Lao Song's teammate surnamed Ding must have already become the prey of these mutants, so there is no waiting for him.

Cao Cang also ran quickly and caught up with Lao Song. The mutants hiding in the sea water began to attack them again.The way they entangle Lao Song and Cao Cang is very simple, that is, they keep climbing on them.At the same time, there were people holding onto Cao Cang's thighs underwater. Cao Cang's ear was bitten by a mutant, and Cao Cang was in severe pain. He calmly groped for the lower jaw of the mouth, twisted it off forcefully, and then hit the mutant on Lao Song's back hard on the back of the head. punch.But this still didn't get him and Lao Song out of the woods.There are more and more mutants underwater, Cao Cang and Lao Song can't continue to move.

"Xiao Ding." Lao Song shouted hoarsely, "Do you still remember me? Are you here?" "Your teammates are already dead." Cao Cang shouted. "No way!" Lao Song shouted, "Xiao Ding! You said you would wait for me, and wait for me to find water for you." Cao Cang knew that he was doomed, and he was implicated by Lao Song, a lunatic, because of an agreement Lao Song had made with his teammates during the experiment in Lop Nur, and he followed him to this ghostly place, almost risking his life. Suddenly, there was a shadow shaking on the platform, and then there was a metal knocking sound.

The monster that entangled Cao Cang and Lao Song gave up their attack and sank into the water without a sound. Lao Song began to laugh happily: "Xiao Ding, Xiao Ding, I know you will wait for me." Cao Cang now has a little faith in Lao Song. In this environment, anything is possible.It seemed that Lao Song's teammate really survived in this environment and was still waiting for him. The two struggled to walk in the water, getting closer and closer to the platform. "Why are you so sure that Xiao Ding is still here waiting for you?" Cao Cang asked intermittently. "She said she would wait for me." Lao Song said, "I also promised her that I must help her find water."

"Did you team up to kill other teammates?" Cao Cang asked, "Who is he to you?" "I have already agreed with her that after the experiment in Lop Nur, we will get married, and then..." Lao Song has completely changed now, his tone is very brisk, and his voice is trembling. Now Cao Cang knew that Xiao Ding was a woman, and also Lao Song's lover.Indeed, only such a relationship can trust each other and deal with others together. Now Cao Cang kept thinking in his head: when Lao Song and Ding Li encountered many strange scenes in the Lop Nur experiment, they trusted and relied on each other and worked together to survive.At that time, the two must have suffered a severe lack of water. Maybe Xiao Ding was already unable to move due to dehydration. After they saw the tanker, Lao Song went to find water.

"Didn't Ding Li enter here on her own initiative?" Cao Cang asked Lao Song. Lao Song said: "I found the water, took the kettle, and when I ran back, I saw her enter the inside of the oil tank... I just hesitated, just for a moment... I have been regretting it for so many years, I You shouldn't have hesitated like that." "How can you be sure this tanker won't disappear while you're looking for water?" "Because I got the water as quickly as possible," Lao Song said. "Why are you so sure you can get water?" Lao Song didn't answer, but just snorted hard.

Cao Cang realized that Lao Song didn't necessarily have to go somewhere to find water. It was very likely that he killed someone and took the water. And that Xiao Ding must not be an idle person, the person who can survive in that environment is by no means an ordinary weak woman. Now Lao Song's attention is focused on the big platform in front of him, and he doesn't pay attention to Cao Cang. Cao Cang also wanted to see what that little Ding looked like, and he still had a lot of questions, maybe after seeing Ding Li, he could figure it out. Cao Cang and Lao Song finally reached the edge of the platform. Oil lamps are lit on the platform, which are containers made of iron sheets with wicks sticking out for lighting.The fuel in the tin container should be the oil collected by humans here. There are a few people sitting on the platform, their features are closer to human beings.In other words, they are human beings.These people don't wear any clothes except for their bodies, their skin is wrinkled badly, and their hairs are gray and white. Other than that, they are no different from human beings.Judging from their habit of lighting lamps, they are not blind either. Lao Song quickly looked at these people, he was looking for Xiao Ding. But Cao Cang couldn't tell that among these few people, there was no woman under the age of forty. Cao Cang could see clearly that there were seven people here, all of them were old people, so old that they couldn't tell how old they were.Their faces, like their bodies, are loose and deeply wrinkled. "Xiao Ding, you still didn't wait for me..." Lao Song also found that these people were all old people, and said helplessly, "You still didn't persevere." "I've been waiting for you here." One of the old people said. Cao Cang and Lao Song couldn't believe their eyes, the elderly woman who answered Lao Song was actually Xiao Ding! The environment here is so dangerous, and the harsh environment makes people age very quickly. "You are not Xiao Ding." Lao Song refused to admit it, "Xiao Ding is only twenty-eight years old now, how could he be so old." "I've been waiting for you for more than sixty years," said the old woman, "you're still here, even though you're so late." "You are not!" Lao Song shouted, "I took part in this damn experiment again just to find you...how did you become like this...you are not Xiaoding." Cao Cang's brain also began to be confused. Lao Song joined Lop Nur two or three years ago, and this old woman who claimed to be Xiaoding said that it had been more than 60 years. The old woman picked up something from her side, and Cao Cang saw it. It was an enamel water cup with red characters on it: XX Geological Survey Brigade. The enamel on the surface of the enamel water cup has peeled off badly, and the handwriting has become mottled. Lao Song remained motionless, the old woman slowly crawled up to Lao Song, and handed the enamel water cup to Lao Song. Lao Song picked up the enamel water cup and looked at it carefully.He instinctively took two steps back, just looking at the water glass. Old Song shouted to the old woman: "Is Xiaoding dead? You lied to me with her belongings!" "You said that when we go back, you will divorce your wife." The old woman stammered, "Has the organization agreed to your divorce?" Cao Cang has completely believed that this old woman is Ding Li. The relationship between her and Lao Song is not allowed in the society. Such a secret matter will not be known to a third person. "Leave." Old Song said, "I left before I came." Lao Song also began to accept this fact. On the one hand, it has been two or three years, and on the other hand, it has been more than sixty years.Cao Cang could not find a reasonable explanation.However, at least Cao Cang knew that he and Lao Song were safe for the time being. The weird human beings in this lower class should be Xiao Ding—the offspring of Lao Ding's generation.Seeing Lao Song's desperate expression, Cao Cang couldn't help feeling pity for Lao Song.This infatuated person did not hesitate to overcome his fear and participated in this experiment again for such a personal reason.But the ending now is so ridiculous. Both Cao Cang and Lao Song climbed onto the platform. Ding Li said to Lao Song: "I thought you would be the same as me, but I didn't expect that in our respective worlds, time passes differently..." "You proved your inference with the facts." Lao Song said. Lao Song and Ding Li began to recount the past: In 1981, Lao Song stood out in his geological survey unit and was selected by the unit to be sent to the exploration team in Lop Nur.And Ding Li was graduating from the Physics Department of XX University at that time, and by chance, she was assigned to Lao Song together. What happened next was similar to what Lao Song had said before. They encountered various bizarre and dangerous situations in Lop Nur.Lao Song just concealed the matter about Ding Li before. Lao Song and Ding Li broke up on this oil tanker that inexplicably appeared in the desert.Later, Lao Song finally waited for the surrounding search and rescue personnel.And the oil tanker Ding Li was on disappeared because of the shock in the space. Like Bermuda, Lop Nur is an ocean eye on the earth. Ding Li explained the term Haiyan, using a lot of technical terms that Cao Cang couldn't understand.But Cao Cang still understood roughly that there are many sea eyes on the earth.The sea eye is a place where the state of space cannot be kept stable. In other words, the sea eye can allow things on the earth to enter unknown spaces, such as - different seas. The most obvious sea eyes on the earth now are Lop Nur and Bermuda.They are controlled by China and the United States respectively, but the news is strictly blocked from the outside world. The nuclear explosion experiments in the 1960s further strengthened the spatial instability of Lop Nur.This is why the country has conducted numerous surveys on Lop Nur. However, Ding Li, the oil tanker, went to another unknown space before entering the different sea. The power of nature is far beyond human imagination, and the direction is also random. The place where the oil tanker Ding Li entered after Lop Nur is not suitable for human survival.The atmosphere and ozone layer in that world are very thin, and the radiation of sunlight is very strong. The impact of cosmic rays on humans is far greater than that of the alien sea and the earth, so that humans cannot survive in the sun. Ding Li's oil tanker encountered a fishing boat, which was very large, and there were more than a thousand smuggled refugees on board.These hapless refugees, floating in the sea, were also brought unconsciously to this space that does not belong to the earth. What happened next was almost the same as Lao Song's speculation. For decades, these refugees, including Ding Li, have killed each other on tankers every day.The humans on the ship gradually differentiated. Humans who could not adapt to the seawater occupied the upper layer of the oil tank; humans who evolved slower stayed in the lower layer. Under the dangerous environment, the human body evolved rapidly, and after two or three generations, the mutants at the upper level became what they are now. The human beings in the lower layer kept their own memory and accumulated some crude oil for the lighting of the lower layer.And those human beings on the upper level have been living in a closed and dark environment, their human nature gradually disappears, and they return to the nature of animals. This truth is very simple to say, but in fact it is difficult for people to accept. Ding Li and Lao Song once analyzed the phenomenon in Lop Nur.At that time, Ding Li had already guessed that the time in different dimensions would be different.It now appears that this inference is correct. "Then what do you eat?" Lao Song asked, "It is impossible to rely on the corpses of the same kind as food." "The ship was seriously damaged in the shock of space." Ding Li said, "We were lucky. There was a hole in the hull. We were able to seal the hole and go out to search for it when needed." Food." "But what leaks in here is sea water." Cao Cang said. "Of course it's sea water." Ding Li said. Cao Cang understood that the vibration of space is extended.My own experiment of entering the different sea this time has affected Ding Li's tanker.They also just entered the different sea, but they are passive and unconscious. "As for why the people on the upper floor survived and didn't starve to death," Ding Li said, "After we came down, we never went up again. I think they also found the source of food." seaweed.Cao Cang thought of the seaweed that spread from the sea to the deck of the tanker.The human beings at the upper level must rely on these seaweeds for food and barely survive.Plants like seaweed must have passed through certain gaps on the tanker and grew inside the tanker, providing food for the mutants on the upper floors. Of course, the amount of seaweed is very rare, which also determines the evolution of the upper mutants into very ferocious and terrifying creatures. However, no matter whether it is the upper-level or the lower-level human beings, because of the strong external light radiation, they dare not be exposed to the sun anymore, but hide in the dark space.After a long time, even if they arrived in a different sea, they couldn't adapt to the strong sunlight anymore. Lao Song said to Ding Li: "It seems that your research direction is completely correct. The space of the universe is not only infinite vertically, but also infinite horizontally." The horizontality that Lao Song mentioned refers to countless parallel spaces. Every space has an earth, a sun...a solar system, a galaxy...even a universe. After all, Ding Li and Lao Song are highly educated professionals. Even in this environment, they still can't forget to discuss the topic of experiments.They are scientists and have spent their lives fighting for it.If it weren't for such spiritual support, Ding Li would have given up the courage to survive long ago, and Lao Song would have chosen a more peaceful life. Ding Li and Lao Song kept talking, while the others who were with Ding Li remained silent and did not speak.After such a long and cruel life, they have no interest in anything, including where they are.None of this mattered to them. Under the deep wrinkles on their faces, there was deep helplessness. "That gap," Cao Cang knew that it would be inappropriate to bother Ding Li and Lao Song now, but he still wanted to ask, "Can you let me and Lao Song go out?" "Yes." Ding Li replied without hesitation, "But it will have to wait until night." Cao Cang stopped asking. In the following time, Ding Li and Lao Song stopped discussing topics related to the experiment.The content of their conversation shifted to the personal.Cao Cang heard that Lao Song had a wife, but because of his work, it was difficult for Lao Song to take care of his family. The relationship between him and his wife was not good. At work, he and Ding Li gradually attracted each other and came together.But under the general background at that time, divorce was not easy, Lao Song could only develop an underground relationship with Ding Li. The two of them are now talking about some private matters back then.Although Lao Song was not considered young, Cao Cang still couldn't help feeling absurd when he saw Lao Song and a dying old woman babbling about these trivial matters. Night fell at last.Ding Li used simple syllables that Cao Cang could not understand to communicate with the mutants in the water.Then he pointed to a corner in the dark depths and said to Lao Song, "They will take you out from there." "Aren't you going with us?" Lao Song asked suspiciously. "I'm not leaving." Ding Li smiled wryly, her wrinkled face looked extremely vicissitudes. Lao Song was stunned. Ding Li approached Lao Song and Cao Cang, and said in a low voice, "You just mentioned that you have a submarine?" "Yes." Lao Song said, "I will take you to that submarine now." But Ding Li said: "Go out and sink this tanker." Lao Song firmly disagreed. "Promise me." Ding Li said, "Let's end it." Lao Song stood for a long time, and finally nodded slowly. The mutant led Lao Song and Cao Cang to that dark corner.Several mutants used a wrench to slowly loosen the bolts on a steel plate, and then forcefully lifted a corner of the steel plate, allowing seawater to pour in.A gap gradually opened, and the upper part of this gap was already close to the sea surface, so although the flow rate of the seawater poured in was fierce, it could barely let Lao Song and Cao Cang get out. Lao Song and Cao Cang swam to the surface of the sea. They looked at the people inside the tanker and closed the gaps that had been loosened from the steel plates. Cao Cang and Lao Song swam to a distance of more than ten meters from the tanker. Cao Cang saw Ivan standing on the edge of the tanker's deck, so he began to shout to Ivan desperately. It was already night, and the sea was pitch black. Ivan couldn't see Cao Cang and Lao Song on the sea, but he heard shouts.Valoja next to Ivan took out a flare gun and fired in the direction of Cao Cang and Lao Song, and the sea was suddenly bright. Ivan was surprised when he saw Cao Cang and Lao Song on the tanker.He shouted to Cao Cang: "You guys support me a little longer." Then he ran to the other side of the tanker.A few minutes later, the small boat equipped with the scientific research ship quickly rowed over from the side of the tanker's bow.Professor Pang and Joshua stood on the boat. Professor Pang pulled Cao Cang and Lao Song into the boat. "Aren't you on the tanker?" Professor Pang asked, "Why did you jump into the sea?" "We escaped from under the tanker." Cao Cang replied eagerly, "Hurry up and tell the people on the tanker to come down immediately and don't enter the tanker's interior." "What did you see?" Professor Pang asked alertly. "There are very aggressive people on the tanker," Cao Cang said. Joshua immediately drove the boat to the hanging ladder next to the tanker.The four of them hurriedly climbed up without caring about much.Ivan and Valodya were waiting for them on the deck of the tanker. "Alan and Karin went in. They found the passage for you to go in." Ivan said to Cao Cang, "They went in to find you, and we are guarding on the deck." "How long have you been in?" "ten minutes." "Find them quickly, they are very dangerous." Cao Cang said to Professor Pang, "You wait here, Ivan and I will go there." Cao Cang asked Valoja for a flare gun, and hurried to the cockpit with Ivan. Cao Cang walked to the passage and climbed in again without hesitation.When climbing, I heard a "squeak" sound inside.Cao Cang knew that Karin and Allen were in danger now. Cao Cang and Ivan jumped into the oil tank. Without delay, Cao Cang immediately fired a signal flare into the dark space inside. The entire space was filled with the dazzling light of signal flares. The mutants in the tanker were stimulated by the light and lost their ability to move, lying on the ground convulsing and struggling. There are such weird human beings everywhere on the ground. Cao Cang saw Karin and Allen not far ahead.Cao Cang was very clear about the situation they encountered just now.Fortunately, they still have mobility.The two took advantage of this opportunity to run back quickly, but it was still a bit inconvenient to move. Karin was limping and seemed to be injured. When Ivan saw the mutants in front of him, he couldn't help saying, "God, what kind of animals are these?" "They are human beings." Cao Cang replied coldly. The light of the signal flare disappeared, and Cao Cang heard Karin shouting, knowing that he was attacked again.Cao Cang quickly sent another signal flare.Under the incandescent light, I saw a mutant hugging Karin's thigh fiercely, biting desperately.However, after being stimulated by the strong light, the mutant let go of Karin, and rolled on the ground again. The four finally escaped from the passage.Walking to the deck, Cao Cang observed carefully and found that both Karin and Allen were injured, and they were not serious.Many places on their bodies were bloody. Cao Cang said to everyone: "Let's go back to the scientific research ship quickly, and I will tell you the origin of these monsters after we go back." The six people on the tanker climbed down one by one, boarded the boat, and returned to the scientific research ship.Remus and others gathered around.Several other people hurriedly bandaged Karin and Alan.Fortunately, they were all flesh wounds, not life-threatening. Cao Cang was hesitating whether to tell everything about the tanker. Lao Song was still silent, he hadn't gotten rid of the emotion just now. Professor Pang looked at Lao Song and asked, "What did you see?" Old Song narrowed his eyes and said, "I saw Ding Li." "Who?" Professor Pang's eyes widened, "Didn't she disappear in Lop Nur?" "She used herself to prove her point of view." Lao Song said, "Her deduction is correct. The reason why our experiment failed in Lop Nur is that we cannot locate those multiple spaces." Cao Cang is now completely sure that Professor Pang is the top leader of the Lop Nur experiment.Both Ding Li and Lao Song are his subordinates. It seems that now it is not necessary to decide whether to disclose the situation on the tanker. Professor Pang has this authority. Next, Professor Pang asked Lao Song to truthfully tell the story of Cao Cang and his encounters on the tanker and the process of meeting his old teammate Ding Li. In the end, Lao Song also expressed Ding Li's request: to sink the tanker. Remus was silent for a while, and said to everyone: "I don't agree with this. As long as we don't enter the tanker, the creatures on the tanker will not threaten us." Karin said quickly: "I suggest finding a way to capture a mutant and bring them back. Their research value is very high." Professor Pang weighed it for a long time, and said to Remus: "I think it's better to take a compromise, don't go up, and don't sink the tanker." Not many people participated in the discussion.In the end, Remus decided to adopt Professor Pang's proposal. Standing on the scientific research ship, Cao Cang looked at the huge oil tanker like an extremely huge monster, which was about to move not far from the scientific research ship along with the waves.The scientific research ship gradually drifted away, and hundreds of unmanned ships slowly dispersed on the sea. It seems that these ships were all brought here at the same time by mysterious natural forces, and now they are slowly spreading out with the fluctuations of the sea water. The people on board, except for the Soviet soldiers, were basically scientists.Even soldiers like Ivan and Remus have received higher education.Ivan said: "It seems that our entry into the different sea has increased the magnitude of the space shock. These ships of unknown origin are the best proof." What Ivan said showed his understanding of physics.How could a captain commanding a nuclear submarine be unfamiliar with physics. Karin told the Americans what Ivan said. "An increase of this magnitude," Joseph said, "the impact on the planet is hard to estimate." When Joseph finished speaking, the others looked at him suspiciously. The expressions of Professor Pang and Ivan were relatively calm. "The impact on the earth..." Cao Cang asked Sister Zhou, "What kind of impact?" Without waiting for sister Zhou to translate, Professor Pang took the initiative to say to Cao Cang: "The objects on the earth enter the alien sea by using a certain point in the geomagnetism, that is, the sea eye..." Cao Cang heard Ding Li explain the term: sea eye, a passage leading to another dimension.But only then did Cao Cang know that the sea eye was originally related to the earth's geomagnetism. "When human beings use the power of geomagnetism to send objects to different seas, there will be two major effects. One is to disturb the earth's own geomagnetism..." "What are the consequences of affecting the geomagnetism?" Cao Cang is not a scientist after all, he only received short-term training. Professor Pang said to Cao Cang: "Listen to the Americans, they know more than us. Xiao Zhou, tell us what the Americans say." What Joseph said now is consistent with Professor Pang's theoretical analysis. Sister Zhou and Karin both quietly translated Joseph's words. "The earth's core is a liquid metal. This has been verified in geology. However, the liquid metal in the center of the earth is not stable inside, but in motion. This produces a magnetic field around the earth. The earth's The magnetic field protects the Earth from cosmic rays. All life on Earth develops under this umbrella. In addition, the Earth's magnetic field also allows animals to orient themselves, including humans...” "The magnetic field of the earth can also allow us to enter the alien sea..." Allen said a wisecrack, trying to ease everyone's nervousness, but it backfired.Joseph's next words made everyone more nervous. It turned out that the impact of entering the different sea on the earth is not so easy. "Entering the different sea, this experiment is not a problem for us." Joseph said, "Reducing the shock caused by entering the different sea is the most difficult problem to solve in the experiment." Cao Cang already knew this theory, but he had no chance to understand it clearly. Joseph continued to say: "The quality of the material we designed to enter the different sea has been carefully calculated, but you have changed this data." Joseph said, pointing to Remus and Ivan.Karin told the Soviets what Joseph meant. Professor Pang and Ivan looked calm and unmoved.It seems that they understand this truth, and they are very clear.But under the circumstances at that time, they had to make this choice.