Chapter 52 52. The Last Dawn

Morgan spent only five minutes in total at the Basic station—no time for polite conversation, nor did he want to waste the precious oxygen that had gone so far to get here.He shook hands with everyone, and then got into the cockpit of the "Spider". How pleasant it was to be able to breathe again without a mask; even more pleasant was the realization that the expedition had been successfully completed and that he would be back on Earth in less than three hours.To be honest, after all his efforts to climb the orbital tower, he really didn't want to be at the mercy of gravity again;In this way, he finally released the docking lock, and when he began to move downward, he experienced a few more seconds of weightlessness.

When the speed indicator reached three hundred kilometers per hour, the automatic braking system kicked in; and Morgan felt his weight again.The battery, which had been roughly drained, was now being recharged, but it was probably so damaged that it had to be thrown away. Suddenly, an ominous association appeared in Morgan's mind—he couldn't help but think of his overstretched body.However, pride and stubbornness still prevented him from getting in touch with the doctor.He would not take such measures unless Cora gave another warning. Now, Cora was silent as Morgan raced down through the dark night sky.Morgan basked in a sense of utter serenity as he put the Spider on autopilot while he concentrated on admiring the view of the night sky.It is very rare to see such a vast panorama from a spaceship, and few people can view the stars under such incomparable conditions.The aurora has been completely extinguished, the searchlights have been turned off, and now nothing can compete with the brightness of the constellations.

Yes, there is nothing anymore - except the stars created by man.Almost directly overhead, the signal light of the Ashoka space station was shining, and it was always hovering over Hindustan, only a few hundred kilometers away from the space orbital tower system.Slightly closer to the east is "Confucius", and a little below is "Kamehameha", while shining in the high sky in the west are "Golden Jie" and "Imhotep".These are only some of the brightest landmarks scattered over the equator; there are dozens of other man-made stars much brighter than Sirius, which are like a cosmic necklace of the earth.How amazed the astronomer of yore would have been if he had seen this celestial necklace; Falling—how should man be puzzled while the stars with which man is familiar go on their eternal course? !

Looking at the diamond necklace hanging in the sky, Morgan saw something more magnificent in his imagination.It took very little imagination, and these artificially created stars became the lamps on a grand bridge... The fantasy became more and more grotesque.What is the name of the bridge over which the heroes of Scandinavian mythology cross when they pass from our world to the next?He could not recall it any more, and yet what a dream it was!Undoubtedly, there were other forms of life in the universe long before humans appeared!Maybe they also tried in vain to build a bridge to the paradise of their own world?Morgan thought of the majestic and magnificent rings of Saturn, as well as the transparent arches of Neptune and Uranus... Although he knew very well that there had never been a trace of life on these planets, he still had a kind of feeling that made him feel Funny thought--their halos, or arches, are all but remnants of some ancient bridge.

He longed for sleep, but his imagination took hold of the thought like a dog looking for a stool to feed and let go.In fact, this idea is not absurd - and it is not even his original invention.The size of some synchronous space stations has reached tens of kilometers, and many space stations are connected by various cables that occupy a large part of the space orbit. All these space stations are connected, and a ring around the earth is formed in this way. , this project is technically much simpler than building a space orbital tower, and much less material is required for it. However, this is not a ring but a wheel.This orbital tower—is but the first spoke.Other space-orbital towers (four? six? twelve?) will then be built at regular intervals along the equator.When all these space track towers are connected with each other on the space track in the future, there will no longer be the stability problem that makes the architects of the single space track tower a headache.Africa, South America, Giber Island, Indonesia, all these areas, if required.can provide a suitable site for the construction of the earth's terminal station, because one day the space orbit tower will be able to withstand the strongest hurricanes due to improved materials; It's impossible on the mountain.Had the construction started in a hundred years, perhaps the monks would not have been driven from Sri Konda at all...  

While Morgan was indulging in fantasy, a crimson Xiaoyue in the dawn light had unknowingly risen in the east.Morgan concentrated his eyesight, intent on appreciating the marvelous scenery that no one had seen in the old days——.Although the moonlight is bright enough to see many details of this night land, none of the cities of the second home of mankind can be seen today. Only two hundred kilometers remained - less than an hour's journey.You can sleep peacefully - because the "Spider" is equipped with an automatic landing procedure, it can complete the landing without disturbing Morgan's sound sleep...

However, Morgan still woke up from a deep sleep: at first it was the pain that made him bid farewell to the dreamland, and then it was Cora. "You don't move," it said calmly. "I have radioed the 'ambulance' vehicle. It is now on its way to the landing site." It's funny.But Morgan knew in his heart that it shouldn't be made fun of.It is simply doing its duty.He had no sense of panic; though the pain in his chest was terrible, it didn't take away his ability to think.He tried to focus on suppressing the pain, which resulted in a significant reduction in pain.

Warren asked Morgan to speak, but the voice sounded distant and incomprehensible.Morgan felt alarmed in his friend's voice, and wanted very much to comfort him, but he had no strength left to think about that or any other question.Now he could not hear the other person's voice: a faint but continuous roar drowned out all other voices.Although Morgan knew that the roaring sound only existed in his brain or ears, he still felt as if he was standing next to a huge waterfall... The roar became deeper, weaker, and more pleasant.Finally, Morgan recognized what it was.How pleasant it was to hear again, in the utter stillness of the universe, the sound of the fountain falling back into the pool, which he remembered so well from his first visit to Jacques Cala!

Gravity is pulling Morgan back home.It is this same invisible hand, which has been outstretched since ancient times, that determines the trajectory of the "Fountain of Paradise".He had created something, however, which gravity could no longer have at its will, so long as man had not lost his wits and the desire to preserve it. The stars were beginning to dim—much faster than they normally would.How strange! ——Although daytime has almost arrived, the surroundings are still immersed in darkness.The fountains are falling towards the earth, and their sound is getting weaker... weaker... weaker...

Then another voice rang out, but Vannerva Morgan didn't hear it. A short shrill signal was mixed with the call, and Cora yelled against the glowing morning glow: Please help! This is Cora's warning signal! whoever hears me, Please come here quickly! Please help! Cora continued to cry when the sun had risen and its first rays warmed over the once sacred mountaintop.In the distance below, the shadow of Sri Konda was suddenly reflected in the clouds, its almost ideal cone still immaculate despite all the operations that humans had performed on it. There are no pilgrims here now, who might otherwise feast their eyes on the eternal symbol that floats on the brow of the waking earth.But in a few centuries' time, when millions of people are traveling safely and comfortably on the way to the stars, they will surely see it.

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