Chapter 31 Section IX

Despite Nicole's assurances that everything in New Eden is exactly as she describes it in the video, Admiral McMillan refuses to allow the Pinta's passengers and crew into Ramane's new home until he can ascertain that there is no danger.After detailed discussions with NASA officials on Earth, he sent an advance force led by Dmitry Ulanov into Rama to collect information. The important medical officer of the "Pinta", the stern Dutchman Dahl van Roth, became the most important member of the advance team.Kenji Watanabe and two other soldiers from the first reconnaissance team also joined Ulanov's advance team.

The tasks that doctors need to accomplish are simple and clear.He was to scrutinize the Walkerfields to see if they were real, and his second task was to analyze all the robots and classify them for their inanimate attributes.Although Katie Walkerfield was a little uncooperative and made some sarcastic remarks, everything went well. Following Richard's suggestion, an Einstein robot dissected a Lincoln robot, taking a close look at how its most complex subroutines worked.Ulanov's deputy commander was impressed by the complex structure of the robot. Two days later, passengers began to enter Rama from the "Pinta", and many robots helped humans carry cargo.How to settle these people? Almost all of the 300 passengers on the "Pinta" wanted to live in Southeast Village, because the Walkerfield family made their home there, and this decision had a major impact on the future of the residential area.Only Max and a few farmers moved directly into the farming area north of New Eden.

The Watanabes moved into a cottage down the hall from Richard and Nicole's house.Kenji and Nicole get along very well from the beginning, laying a good foundation for their growing friendship later on. On the first night Kenji and Nai moved into their new house, the Walkerfield family invited them to dinner. After dinner, Nicole said, "Go sit in the living room. It's more comfortable there. The Lincoln robot will clear the table and do the dishes." The Watanabes got up and followed Richard across the dining room to the other end of the aisle.The Walkerfield children politely let Nai and Kenji go first.

It was already the fifth day after the "Pinta" reconnaissance team entered Rama for the first time. "Five magical days," Kenji thought as he sat in the living room. "It was an extraordinary dinner. It was an amazing experience for this family." After everyone was seated, Nye said to Richard and Nicole, "Your story is so shocking, I have so many questions, but I don't know where to start. I am intrigued by the creature you call the Eagle Man, and he Was it one of the ETs who built Nord and Rama?" "No," Nicol replied, "Hawk is also a robot, at least that's what he told us, and we have no reason not to believe him. The Nord intelligent rulers made him and communicated with us through him."

"Who actually made Nord?" "This is obviously a third-level information content." Richard said with a smile. Kenji Kazuna smiled knowingly.During the meal, Richard and Nicole had already told them about Eagleman's information hierarchy system. Kenji asked while thinking: "Can we think of it this way: These advanced intelligent creatures can create robots, and robots can create machines that are smarter than us?" "Can we discuss something a little more prosaic?" Katie chimed in. "Like, where are the people my age? I haven't met any other residents between the ages of twelve and twenty-five!"

"Most of the young people are on the 'Nina'," Kenji replied, "and will be here in three weeks. The passengers on the 'Pinta' are handpicked, and our first ship is here to scout The authenticity of the video." "What's authenticity?" Katie asked. "Credibility and accuracy," said Nicole. "That was one of your grandfather's favorite words. Your grandfather always advocated that young people should listen to grown-ups without interfering. Tonight we have another meeting with Do Bian and his wife discussed a lot of things, can you four go out and have fun?"

"I want to go out and look at the lights," Ben said. "Come with me, Ellie?" Ellie stood up and took Ben's hand.They both said good night to everyone politely.Katie said to Patrick, "Let's see if we can find something new and exciting. Good night, Mr. Watanabe, Mrs. Watanabe. We'll be back in two hours, Mom." Katie went out.Nicole shook her head and explained to the guests: "Since the arrival of the 'Pinta', Katie has been so excited that she can hardly sleep at night, trying to talk to everyone." The Lincoln robot finished cleaning the kitchen and was standing friendly by the door. "Would you like something to drink?" Nicole asked Kenji and Nai, beckoning the robot to bring some drinks. "The drinks here are not as good as the fresh juices you bring from the earth, but the Lincoln robot can mix some interesting ones." Synthetic drink."

Kenji shook his head and said, "That's good. We've been talking about your adventures all night, and you must have some questions for us. After all, it's been 45 years since you left Earth." "Forty-five years?" thought Nicole. "Is it possible? Genevieve is almost sixty years old?" Nicole still vividly remembers the last time she saw her father and Genevieve; Pierre and Genevieve came to Paris airport to see Nicole off, the daughter hugged her tightly.When the final boarding announcement came, Genevieve had to let go of her mother.She looked at her mother with pride and admiration, with tears in her eyes, unable to say anything. "During these 45 years, my father died, and Genevieve became an old woman, probably a grandmother. During this long period of time, I was in time and space, in a kingdom of miracles. Roaming."

Nicole's heart is deeply moved by the memory of the past, making it difficult for her to calm down.She took a deep breath and exited the room to stabilize her emotions.When she returned to reality, the room was silent. "Are you okay?" Kenji asked sensitively.Nicole looked into the big gentle eyes of her new friend, nodded and thought: "This man is very curious, I can trust him. He also talked to my daughter Geno Viève many years ago Woolen cloth." "We talked with other passengers on the 'Pinta', and learned about the general situation of the earth over the years." Nicole said after a while, "Before, we knew nothing about the outside world except our home .You told us a lot the first night after you arrived, but Richard and I were concerned about the details you hadn't told us."

Kenji said: "One very important thing I didn't mention in my first conversation with you is that your daughter Geno Viève looks too much like her father. I think you remember King Henry's look Yiyi's face. Geno Viève grew up with a very thin face, more and more like him...Here, look at these, I managed to find two pictures in the database that I had taken during the interview in Beauvais photos, I was there for three days." Looking at the photo of Genevieve, Nicole felt very sad, tears streaming down her cheeks.She tremblingly held the photo of Genevieve and her son-in-law Louis Gaston, calling her daughter's name: "Oh, Genevieve! How I miss you! How I want to hug you! "

Nicole rested her head on Richard's shoulder, and Richard stroked her gently. "She looks like His Royal Highness," Richard said softly, "but I think she looks more like her mother." "Gene Viève is quite polite." Kenji added, "I am surprised by this. She suffered a lot in the public opinion riots in 2238. She answered my questions patiently. I would like to put What she said in my interview was included in my book The Newton Story, but my editor discouraged me." "How many other living 'Newton' astronauts?" Richard asked.The conversation was still going on, but Nicole was still staring at the two pictures. "Only Sabatini, Tabori, and Hiroshi Yamanaka." Kenji replied, "Dr. David Brown suffered a severe stroke and died in distress six months later, I think in 2208. 2214 Admiral Hellman died of cancer; Elena Tugyeva suffered a nervous breakdown and committed suicide in 2211, suffering from a 'return-to-Earth' syndrome common to 21st-century astronauts." Nicole was still struggling in the vortex of emotion, and there was a moment of silence in the room.Nicole said: "I only told Richard and the boys three months ago that Henry was Gene Viève's father. On earth, only my father knew the truth. Henry may have guessed, but dare not Definitely. Now I realize I should have told my family..." Nicole's voice choked up and tears welled up in her eyes.She wiped her eyes with the tissue Nai handed her and said, "I'm sorry, I don't want to do this. The photo brings back so many memories, I'm so sad..." "Nicole was always a strong role model when we were at Rama 2 and Nord," Richard said. "She was as strong as a rock. No matter what happened, no matter how weird things happened, she stood Unflappable, never panicked. The kids, Michael and I were very dependent on her. We had a hard time watching her..." "Enough!" Nicole wiped away her tears and put the photo aside. "Let's move on to something else. Talk about the 'Newton' astronauts, especially Frances Sabatini. She got what she wanted fame and fortune?" "Yes, quite rich," Kenji replied, "her heyday was in the 2000s, before I was born. She is still famous now, and recently accepted a proposal to rebuild a living station on Mars." TV interview." Nicole leaned forward: "I didn't tell you at dinner, I'm sure Frances and Brown poisoned Posov. She left us in the abyss of New York on purpose. This woman has no conscience at all. " Kenji was silent for a while and continued: "In 2208, Dr. Brown was occasionally lucid before his death. Once, he accepted an interview with a magazine and admitted that he was responsible for Posov's death. Frances said your disappearance had something to do with it. Frances said Brown was talking nonsense, a sick man with a feverish head. She sued the magazine and closed the matter without going to court. The magazine fired the reporter, And apologize to Frances." "Frances always wins in the end," said Nicole indignantly. "I almost re-reported this three years ago," Kenji said. "I was gathering information for my book. Twenty-five years later, all the information related to the 'Newton' was released, and everyone You can check them all. I found your public computer directory, including Henry's relevant information. After connecting all the details, I believe that what Dr. Brown said in the report is true." "What about the future?" "I went to interview Frances at her palace, but shortly after that interview I dismissed the idea of ​​writing the book..." Kenji paused, thinking, "Should I go any further? Frances Sabatini is the most beautiful 70-year-old woman I've ever seen. She's amazing, mesmerizing, and terrifying." .I spent a pleasant evening in her palace. Later, the editor persuaded me to give up writing this book, and I agreed." Kenji looked at his beloved wife and said to himself: " No! Not now, not here, I can't say." Richard was almost asleep when he heard his wife calling him softly, "I'm sorry, Richard." "Well, what's the matter, dear?" he said. "I'm sorry," Nicole said again, moving closer to Richard. "I should have told you about Henry years ago. Are you still mad at me?" "I've never been angry," said Richard, "just surprised, not angry. It's always been a mystery, but you have your reasons. Besides, it's on Earth, a whole different kind of thing." life. If we met for the first time, you tell me this, maybe I would mind, jealous, but not now." Nicole kissed him and said, "I love you, Richard Walkerfield." "I love you too," he replied.