Chapter 59 Chapter 59 The Dream of Destiny

Nicole stretched out her arms and touched Richard and a water bottle hanging on the shelf behind her.She squirmed in her seat, looked around, and said, "It's crowded here." "Yes, it's crowded," Richard replied distractedly, his attention focused on the screen in front of the pilot's seat.He typed some commands and waited for the computer to answer.His brows furrowed when he saw the last data that appeared. "I think, I have to bundle up these items again to make room for an extra 14 kilograms." Nicole sighed, turned around in the seat, and looked at the shelves, "I hope we can finish the work within seven days. be saved."

Richard didn't answer.When he saw a number appear on the screen again, he complained in a low voice: "Damn it." "What's the matter?" Nicole asked. "There's a problem here," said Richard. "The navigation system's preset payload is too low... If we change the data, it may not be possible to restructure the navigation data. It may take several hours to prevent problems on the road. reset." "But you said there was enough fuel for us." "Fuel, yes, enough. However, the navigation data is calculated at less than 100 kilograms, which happens to be O'Toole's weight plus his supplies."

Nicole saw the anxiety in Richard's brow. "If nothing breaks down, we'll be fine. But the dinghy has never been used in these conditions," he said. Through the front window they saw General O'Toole coming across the cargo hold.He was holding a small thing in his hand, and at first glance, it turned out to be "TB", Richard's little robot. "I almost forgot to give it to you." O'Toole said after Richard thanked him repeatedly.The Walkerfield astronaut greeted him with joy like a child. "I thought I'd never see them again!" exclaimed Richard excitedly. "Before the science module left, I passed your room. Taburi was packing your things. He asked me to save this special little robot so that..."

"Thank you, thank you, Gallows," Richard said. "It means something very special to me, Michael." There was a twinkle in his eye.He turned on the "TB": "Do you know Shakespeare's sonnets?" "If I remember correctly, this was Kathleen's particular favorite. I think the first line went like this: 'In me you can see the years...'" "In me you can see the years, As if the leaves had withered and turned yellow, In the cold wind, on the trembling branches, Hang a few fallen leaves, and add a few wisps of melancholy. On the ruins of the ruins sighing the glory of the past,

A few orioles were singing again. In me you see the merciless evening, Reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun in the west..." "TB" had a soft female voice that surprised both Nicole and O'Toole.These beautiful verses moved O'Toole deeply, and he could not help but burst into tears.Nicole squeezed O'Toole's hand sadly and tightly. "You didn't tell Michael that you found a problem with the boat's navigation system," Nicole said.She and Richard lay side by side in a small cabin in the military cabin. "No." Richard replied calmly. "He believes we will return safely. I don't want to worry him."

Nicole reached out and touched Richard's body. "We can stay here, darling . . . so at least Michael can be saved." He turned over to face her.Even in the dark, she could clearly feel that he was watching her.He said: "I've thought about it, but he'll never accept it... I'd even like you to go back in the dinghy alone. Would you like to?" "No." Nicole replied after thinking for a while, "I don't want to, I want to go with you, unless..." "Unless what?" "Unless the success rate is really low. If only one of us can be rescued, and there is no possibility of two of us surviving, then there is no point..."

"I can't give you an exact estimate," said Richard, "but I don't think it makes much of a difference. My knowledge of boats probably offsets the extra weight. Comparing the two options, multiply the It's better to go in the boat than to stay here." "You're absolutely sure the missile was fired, aren't you?" "Yes, for sure. Nothing else matters. I'll bet a plan has been in place to prevent accidents from the time Rama turned back toward Earth." They fell silent.Nicole squeezed her eyes shut, but could not sleep.They had decided to rest for 6 hours in order to preserve their energy for the upcoming arduous voyage.However, Nicole's mind could not be quiet, and the scene of General O'Toole being engulfed by the fireball of the nuclear explosion kept appearing.

"He's a wonderful man," said Nicole softly, not knowing if Richard was still awake. "Yes, he is a very good person." Richard also said softly, "I envy his inner strength. I can't imagine that I would give up my life for others as willingly as he did." Stop After a moment, he added, "I think it's because of his firm belief. He doesn't see death as the end of life, but a new beginning." Nicole thought to herself: "I admire him too. I could give my life to my daughter, and maybe Richard and this unborn child. But in O'Toole's heart, everyone may be One of his extended family."

At this time Richard was also very disturbed. He didn't insist on letting Nicole go alone. Was it selfish?Can he really be sure that his driving skills can make up for the extra weight?He tried to put these questions aside and think about other things. After a moment's silence, Nicole said again softly, "You haven't said any more about the boy." "I haven't had time to pay attention to what's going to happen to him or her," Richard replied. "I think I'm a little slow... You know, I'm very happy, I just want to wait until we're all saved. Think seriously about being a father again." He turned and gave Nicole a kiss. "Now, darling, I hope you don't think I'm too callous. I'm going to try to sleep. Before we get rescued , there must have been a long time..."

"Yes," she said, "I'm sorry." Another picture came to her mind: a cute baby. "I'd like to know if he's smart, if he has blue eyes like Richard's and those long, slender fingers?" In the dimly lit room, Nicole sat up.The taste of managua was still in her mouth.She was awakened by a strange tapping.Nicole saw the gray Aiyun bird bowing its neck to her.In the dark, its cherry red collar stands out. "Come," it begged, "you must come with us." She followed Ai Yunniao into the corridor, turned right and left the shaft.The other Ai Yunniao stood quietly against the wall, watching her carefully, and then followed the gray Ai Yunniao to the depths of the corridor.

After a few minutes, the corridor widened and became a hall.On the far wall, a single small lamp was on, otherwise the room would have been pitch black.Others were here too, but Nicole couldn't see them clearly.Now, through the shadow of a small lamp, Nicole caught a glimpse of their moving silhouettes. Just as Nicole was about to say something, Gray Bird interrupted her: "Shh, they'll be here soon." Nicole heard a sound from the room across the way, like a cart running over a dirt path.As the sound approached, the iyunbirds surrounded Nicole and clung to her.After a while, a fire appeared in front of him. A coffin lay across a burning cart.Nicole gasped nervously.Her mother, dressed in a rich green robe, lay on the coffin.In the light of the fire, Nicole saw the others in the room.Richard held a two-year-old dark-skinned girl in his hand and smiled at her.General O'Toole knelt next to the fire and prayed.Behind him were all kinds of creatures, two or three of which turned out to be eight-legged spiders. The flames began to lick the coffin and the mother's body.Mom rose slowly and turned towards Nicole as her face began to change.The face of the mother has become that of the grandfather, but the body is still the mother's. "Ronata," he said clearly, "must heed the instructions of the prophecy. The blood of Sirofer shall be scattered throughout the universe, and upon the stars. Put all this behind, and Ronata shall travel with her. .Go, now, to save these strange visitors and Ronata's children."