Chapter 6 chapter Five

The gigantic Hyckley spacecraft is powered by three main engines, each capable of propelling the spacecraft through space at 1.4g.Due to careful mechanical considerations, the three engines rarely run at full power at the same time; usually only two engines run with half the kinetic energy, and the third engine is used for maintenance or repair. Of course, the latter situation rarely happens .One of the great things about being powered by rare substances is that you never run out of fuel.Not only will it not be used up, but on the contrary, rare substances are endless.Ordinary matter is transformed into the latter once it enters a cloud of rarer matter.This is not to say that if a tiny particle of a rare substance falls on the surface of the earth, the whole earth will become a rare substance. It's not that simple.In fact, rare substances repel ordinary substances. In order to overcome this repulsion, the molecules of ordinary substances must be heated to transform into rare substances, and at the same time generate huge energy.However, it is inevitable that this transformation will occur in the drive system of the Heckley spacecraft.As a result, the longer the spacecraft travels, the more "fuel" it accumulates.The rare matter inside each Heckley engine is now six times as large as it was when it started.These rare substances are very heavy, and it takes more energy to accelerate or decelerate such a volume of rare substances, which in turn means that their volume will continue to expand, and the expansion rate will be faster and faster.What is used to satisfy this need is the inexhaustible and inexhaustible ordinary matter in the universe.Every time the spacecraft stops, it inhales asteroids, gas clouds, or stellar winds as reserves.Each molecule of this substance will add another molecule to the rare substance of the ship, and for centuries the Hekri have understood that they should dispose of some excess of the rare substance as quickly as possible...but this stuff is valuable, Hekri Reluctant to give them up is the same reason that a miser will still hold on to the gold bars in his hand when he falls into the water.However, they won't last long.

The next morning, the team members assembled to prepare for work.At this time, they felt two short-term changes in the course of the spacecraft, and they felt like a slight earthquake under their feet.This is where the navigators make small adjustments to the flight path as the craft slows down closer to its parked orbit around Earth.That means their journey is coming to an end.Everyone talked excitedly, except Sandy. Instructor Qing Taiqi Luo staggered towards them, he glanced at Sandy and asked, "What's wrong with him?" The team members knew what he meant without guessing. They had already noticed that Sandy was sullen. "It's because of Marsala Toque," said Aubier hurriedly, "she's about to undergo a medical examination."

"Sandy didn't want her to end her life because she couldn't pass," Helen also said. Polly finally said bitterly: "He doesn't want her to die, he likes her more than us." Qing Taiqi Luo stuck out his tongue in disapproval. "It's good that everyone cares about each other." He said to Sandy, "But Marsala-Toke is getting older, she's lived 12 12 days of 18×12"—that's about 50 years old on Earth—"so Now every 12 12-days, she's going to have a checkup—that's the rule, Lasander." "I know that," said Sandy, frowning.

"She'll probably pass," said Qingtaiqi Luo. "I've passed the final physical examination five times myself. Many Haikeli people even pass eight or nine times, such as the elders." "The veterans can always pass the test." Tan Ya interjected. "They don't always get through," Qing Taiqi Luo corrected her, "but they usually do. After all, they are the elders, that's all." "Marsala didn't think she'd pass," Sandy said. "I could see it." The instructor nodded. "That's the truth, isn't it? There's nothing to be sad about. This kind of thing will be our turn sooner or later, otherwise, there will be too many people on the spaceship, and everyone will have to play. If the old and weak don't die, how can we Can more eggs be taken out of the freezer to reproduce the new generation?"

"Where are we people who don't die?" Polly said sharply. "You just don't use your brain, Sandy." The instructor reprimanded her: "Of course he has used his brain. Even if Lasander is not a Haikeli, he is still a creature with advanced intelligence. He knows that Marsala has many eggs stored in the freezer, and some of them will hatch sooner or later. She revived in them at the time. And he knew it was the Senators who made these decisions. He wouldn't question the Senators, would he, Lysander?" Lysander was so frightened that he quickly replied: "Oh, no! Of course not, it's just..." He bit his lip. "Someone as valuable as Marsala may be an exception."

"It's up to the elders to decide, isn't it?" the instructor said kindly. Sandy knew it, so he shrugged.The argument, which had been going on since they woke up in the morning, had worn him out. "We're going to be late at work," he said, without answering Tych Law's question. Qing Taiqi Luo saw that he changed the subject, so he didn't pursue it further. "Well," he said, "that's why I'm here this morning. What are you going to do this morning?" "Take care of the carnivores, Ching Taich Law," said Bolton respectfully. "Husik is going to have a calf."

"Oh," the instructor pondered, "then, I'm afraid there may not be enough manpower for today's work. I bring a new instruction from the elders." As soon as the team members heard this, they immediately became interested and raised their bodies slightly with their hind legs.The instructor watched them kindly. "You know," he said, "that yesterday Aubier's rut ​​came suddenly, and our meeting with the senators was interrupted." "We already know that." Polly said sharply, staring at Aubie. "The elders are aware that if this happens after you have landed on Earth, it will increase the risk of the mission. What if you are engaged in an important negotiation and Bolton or Demetrius go into rut ?”

Polly gasped. "Oh, Qing Taiqi Luo! Didn't you say that you want to give them some medicine to prevent them from entering estrus?" "No, of course not." The instructor said kindly, crossing his legs together. "On the contrary, the elders instructed us to advance the male estrus and end it as soon as possible. In this way, it will take another 6 to 12 12 days before this problem will reappear." "Really?" Bolton called. "You mean right now?" The whole team was boiling, and suddenly Polly remembered something. "But Obie just finished!"

"Yes," Qingtaiqi Luo replied, "of course we don't want him to come again, otherwise, one of you may not get enough sperm. You don't want the eggs to be fertilized, do you? So Aubie is free today." gone." Obiye became dejected, and all the female team members showed terrified expressions.Tanya asked nervously: "But, there are only two men left, and three women..." "We've thought of that," said the instructor generously, "so I'll join you myself. Let's try it out." Amidst the cheers, Obiye whimpered, "Then what should I do?"

"Of course the normal work is done, and Lassander. Listen to me, Lassander, if a man gets in a bad mood for no reason, it's good to stay with the animals and do the work. I'm still a 'cut I found this method to be very comforting when I was in S'." If genetic laboratories are filled with all kinds of bad smells, the pens of carnivorous animals are really stinky.Sandy felt no comfort at all.On the way to the Husik corral, they had to pass some covered pools filled with tiksiq, some rolling on the ground, some mating and some eating, which was not only a sight to behold. Uncomfortable, almost unbearable (what are they eating now—whom? And in a few days, they have something in their mouths to chew?).When they passed by, Sandy saw that some crew members were respectfully putting the corpses of the two Hekleys into the livestock enclosure—this was today's "harvest", so he quickly turned his eyes away.

Sandy shuddered all over.But what made him feel relieved was that fortunately this time he and Aubier were not sent to work in this place full of bones and Tichthick.They didn't have to clean the Husik pens either, because the four female team members had already made a nest for them some time ago.Now is the time to draw bone marrow from the pups. "Hey," the keeper grinned at Sandy, "you take the cubs out, oh, don't worry," she comforted him kindly, "their mother won't hurt you. Just let them smell you first Just pet them. Give me the cubs, one at a time." Lysander walked to the nearest corral and looked down.He had done this job before, but he still felt uneasy. His approach didn't make Husik flinch, it just gazed up at him with gentle eyes, its front paws protecting the two cubs pressed tightly to its chest, they were suckling with gusto. "Don't waste time," the breeder called impatiently. "Which one to take first?" Lysander asked. "Whatever! Hurry up, okay? I've got 40 to deal with, and then all the milking." Lasander took a deep breath and reached under mother Husik's belly, where four other cubs, eyes still open, squirmed and waited anxiously for a feed.He picked up one at random, a trembling little thing the size of his head.As soon as it felt his hand take it, it purred and gasped restlessly.He carried it to the breeder. "Turn it over," she ordered, picking up what looked like a huge syringe, with a handle shaped to the shape of her hand, with a dial and a button.She checked the dial, then waited impatiently for Lysander to hold down the squirming Husik.She grasped the cub's head with one hand, lightly but steadily, as she used the needle to find the point where the top of the spine joined the neck. "Did you see that Earth movie that was on last night?" she asked, without stopping.Sandy shook her head, wishing she would continue. "It's called The Bridge Far Away, and it's all about war and no peace at all. Oh, Lasander, you've got to be careful on Earth..." She grunted with satisfaction. "Found it," she said, with a slight, barely audible poof when the button was pulled down.The Husik cub screamed horribly, his body stiffened, and then slowly stretched out. "Next one." The breeder ordered. Aubie and he took turns cuddling the cubs that needed bone marrow, and he looked as sullen as Sandy, but that didn't make Lysander any better.Of course, they were both unhappy for different things.Aubier was just sulking, thinking of what was going on in their own cabin, and he couldn't join in.All Sandy could think about was Marsala. But the cubs are so cute they don't look like they've been harmed at all by the marrow pumping.They were sent back to their mother, curled up in Sandy's arms, and mother Husik took them with good humor.These were smaller and whiter than some Husiks of other breeds that Sandy had previously tended.Geneticists have been improving the Husik breed to produce new textures and flavors.Husiks, however, have a cheerful disposition that allows them to survive until the last moment to lick the butcher's fingers. Even Aubie was mesmerized by the cubs.He teased them with a finger as he carried them back to the corral, giggling as the little ones sucked his finger.By the time they had processed 40, the first 1/12th day had passed.Obiye sat down with Sandy to eat cakes and soup, he shed tears happily, and hummed along with the ubiquitous music on Heckley's spaceship, he had already forgotten his sorrow. But Lasander was still annoyed, and he pushed the cake away. "Eat, Sandy," Aubier urged anxiously, "Are you still feeling sorry for Marsala?" "I'm not hungry." "You're still feeling sorry for her," Aubie noticed, "but Tai Qi Luo has already explained it to you." "I know." Aubie ate quietly for a while, listening absentmindedly to the background music, which was a Heckley piece, which was different from the Earth music they recorded and played in their own cabin.Earth music, such as waltzes, poctas, and marches, are all rhythmic tunes with a certain rhythm, while the dance music and marching music of the Haikeli people have no rhythm.Obiye remembered his own sadness and cried out. "You think I'm feeling okay? They're all having fun in the cabin over there, and I'm here with you." "You've had a good time," Sandy said. "Oh, I'm sorry, Obier, I guess I just don't like marrow pumping for Husik pups." "What's the matter, Sandy? You've done this job before." "I didn't like it in the first place," Lasander confessed. "But we have to do it," said Aubier plausibly. "It's for their own good, you understand? It keeps them from getting too smart." Lasander blinked. "What do you mean 'too smart'?" "Oh, it's too smart," Obier said vaguely, "If they grow up to have some kind of rudimentary intelligence, can you imagine how terrible it is for them? They will know how to live Just to be slaughtered and eaten." "They can't be that smart!" "It's possible if we don't drain their marrow," said Aubier proudly. "But—but—but it's wrong to kill intelligent beings, isn't it?" "They have no intelligence, that's why their bone marrow was taken out." "But you just said that if we don't take out their bone marrow, they may have intelligence. There should be a better way! Can't gene splicing experts rule out the possibility of them having intelligence from the gene arrangement?" "Oh, Lasander," Aubier sighed, "do you think they haven't considered it? They've been trying, but it always affects the taste of the meat." When Aubie and Sandy procrastinated back to their cabins one after the other, it was almost time for the main meal at noon.The rest of the squad was happily playing a game of intense chaos that they thought was touch football. "How is it?" Obiye asked jealously. "Whoa," Tanya cried, and as she spoke Polly lunged at her, knocking the ball of rags out of her hands. "Oh, it's really awesome, Obiye, think about it! I'm paired with Qing Taiqi Luo, you've never seen so many eggs!" "I bet I saw more eggs last time," said Aubier hurriedly.But resentment was meaningless, so he slumped down on his two strong hind legs, leaped up, and crossed the room towards Polly, who quickly got out of the way with the ball. "Want to play together, Sandy?" Helen called after her. Sandy shook her head. "No, thanks." No one was surprised, everyone knew he wouldn't take part in a sport that involved physical contact with the Heckleys, especially as they waited hungry for lunch, which made their natural competitiveness even more difficult. strong. Sandy went straight to his workshop and sat down.He didn't watch a movie, didn't open his locker to see pictures of his mother, and didn't even daydream about landing on Earth - the Earth was so close to him, and in front of him were countless Earth women and their twins. The pairing's bright prospects are almost certain.He just sat there, staring straight ahead, imagining Marsala's body being bitten by Tikisik.The game was over, and the dining car arrived, and everyone was clamoring and salivating over.Sandy still sat still. The last Heckley who had entered the fainting time also fell crookedly, and Sandy sighed, stood up, and searched for the remaining food. In fact, there are many left.The largest piece of roast had been torn open, but there were still many scattered bits of meat. Sandy picked up a small piece of meat and held it to his mouth, then stopped to look again. This roast is made from the flesh of Husik pups and is relatively tender. Sandy hesitated for a while, and finally ate it.As he chewed, he walked slowly back to his workshop, where he played an Earth musical with beautiful scantily clad teenage girls.