Chapter 15 Chapter Fourteen

The nascent nation was brimming with patriotic fervor that held the nation together as a whole. What's wrong with me?All the words from the history textbooks were moved out. To be honest, the preparations for the revolution were pretty solid, but when it really started, it came too fast, like a gust of wind.All of a sudden, everything is in our hands, but we are not ready for anything, and there are a thousand things to do. Although the government on the moon has been overthrown, the real ruler of the moon, the earth government, is still alive and well.All they have to do is send a landing ship full of troops to the moon, put a cruiser into orbit, and within a week or two, they can get back to the moon with little effort.We are nothing but a mob at best, not their opponents at all.

The new catapult has been tested, but the number of stone missiles ready to fire is so small that I can count it on the fingers of a slap—and it's left-handed.Also, catapults are no match for spaceships, nor against armies.We had a plan to fight the spaceship, but it was just a plan at the time.Moon City, Singapore has hundreds of cheap laser guns stockpiled (Chinese engineers are really smart), but not many people have been trained to use these weapons. Also, past governments have been useful in some ways, such as buying ice and grain, and selling air, water, and energy.In more than a dozen key areas, the government either owns property or has control.No matter what the future holds, the wheels will eventually turn.The destruction of the government office in Yuecheng was probably done hastily, because the files and records were destroyed.This is my opinion.But the professor believes that the moon people—all moon people—need an object to be hated and destroyed in the revolution, and the Moon City Office is precisely such an object hated by the public, and relatively speaking, it is of the least value.

Luckily the comms are controlled by Mike, which means we basically control everything. From the very beginning, the professor imposed controls on news reports between the earth and the moon, asking Mike to censor information and create fake news.This state of affairs will continue until we figure out what to tell Earth.He also added one that cut off the government complex from the rest of the moon.As a result, the Richardson Observatory in the complex and its associated laboratories such as the Pierce Radio Telescope and the Lunar Physics Station were also isolated.This presents a problem: Earth scientists often come to the moon, and their stays can last as long as six months after working out in a centrifuge.The vast majority of Earthlings currently on the Moon are scientists, with only a handful of tourists—thirty-four.There must be a way to deal with this group of people. As for now, it is enough to prohibit them from communicating with the earth.

For now, calls to government complexes have been cut.Even after traffic resumed, Mike did not allow the tube pods to stop at any tube stations near the building.Traffic resumed quickly, as soon as Finn Nelson and his gang had done their dirty work. The Warden didn't die in the end, and we didn't intend to kill him in the first place. Here's what the professor thinks: as long as the Warden is alive, he can be killed at any time; but if he's dead, he can't be resurrected when we need him.So our plan is to keep him half-dead, just by taking him and his guards out of combat.We broke in as soon as Mike got his oxygen back on.

Mike calculated that with the fans running at full speed, it would take more than four minutes to bring the oxygen in the room down to near zero.So we plan to pump out the oxygen for five minutes, and then supply oxygen for the next five minutes, so that the people inside are hypoxic.Then we knocked down the door to the lower level, and at the same time Mike flooded the room with pure oxygen to restore normal air.Doing so shouldn't kill anyone, but it's enough to stun the people inside, as thoroughly as anesthetized.We're just worried about some people inside wearing pressurized suits, or all wearing pressurized suits, in which case the attacking side will be in danger.Even so, it probably doesn't matter much—the lack of oxygen is so subtle that you might not realize you're lacking it until you pass out.Newcomers to the moon like this best.

So the Warden survived, and so did his three women.But the Warden, while still alive, is of little use.The brain was hypoxic for a long time and became a vegetative state.Although the guards were younger than him, none of them survived, and the cause of death was hypoxic neck necrosis. No one was hurt elsewhere in the government complex.As soon as the lights came on and the oxygen was restored, everything was fine, including the six rapist-murderers who were being held in the barracks. Fern thought it was too cheap to shoot them, so he himself was the judge, and his team served as a jury, delivering the verdict—the prisoner was stripped, his hamstrings and tendons cut, and handed over to the women of the Government Complex.

I don't want to think about what happened next, but don't expect them to be like Maria.Lyons survived the long ordeal like that.Women are strange creatures—lovely, kind, gentle, and crueler than we are. Let me talk about those hapless informers. Wyoh was already ready, murderous, to kill them all.When it was time to clean them up, she lost her appetite. I thought the professor would allow her to let them go, but he shook his head: "No, my dear Wyoh, although I strongly oppose the use of violence, there are only two ways to deal with the enemy: either kill him or turn him into a Friends. Any other way between the two is to sow the seeds of disaster for the future. If you betray a friend once, there will definitely be a second time. There is still a long way ahead of us. On this road, the informer is Dangerous. They must be exterminated, and publicly executed, for others to learn from."

Wyooh said, "Professor, you once said that if you sentenced a man to death, you would kill him yourself. Would you do that now?" "Yes, and no. Dear lady, I have their blood on my hands, and their deaths are my responsibility. But I have a better way, enough to drive the souls of future informers." "I reserve my opinion for now," Mike said, "I want to hear what the professor has to say "I think you've already analyzed it, Mike. " The professor replied, "Dear regret, if it is possible, I will definitely not refuse. But there is no way to make my jujube the same-everyone knows Adam through the voice. It is for this reason that Mike Make his voice unforgettable."

We wondered if it would be possible for the professor to change into his clothes and speak on the TV, and have Mike transcribe the professor's words into Adam's voice.But this proposal was immediately rejected.Too many people knew the Professor, everyone had heard him speak, and his voice and way of speaking couldn't quite match Adam's.Then someone asked if I could be Adam—Mike and I both had baritone voices, and not many people knew my voice on the phone, let alone on TV. I categorically reject this proposal.Even if they know that I am the chairman's assistant, others will be surprised.People would never believe that I was number one.

I said, "We can find a compromise. Adam has always been a mystery, and we'll let him continue to exist that way. Show up on TV in a mask, have the professor provide the body, and Mike provide the voice." The professor shook his head: "At the most critical moment of the revolution, the leaders wear masks and dare not show their true colors. I can't think of any way to damage the confidence of the people more than this. No, Manny." We also suggested to find an actor.At that time there were no professional actors on the Moon, but there were many great amateur performers in the Lunar Resident Actors' Association and the New Bolshevik Theater Association.

"No," said the professor, "even if we can find an actor with leadership qualities, what if he plans to become Napoleon, a dictator? Besides, we can't wait any longer. No later than tomorrow morning, Adam must start Handle business." "In that case," I said, "you've practically solved the problem. We've got to use Mike, but never put him on TV, only on the radio. Gotta find an excuse to keep Adam out anyway." "I think that's the only way to go," said the professor. "Man, my oldest old friend," Mike said, "Why do you say I can't be seen?" "Didn't you listen to us?" I said, "Mike, we have to put Adam's face and body on TV. You have a body - but it's just tons of metal. You don't have a face - what a lucky guy Oh, no need to shave." "Why can't I show my face? I don't have vocal cords, but am I talking? I can show my face the same way." I froze there, speechless for a while.I stared at the TV screen we installed when we rented the room, and saw pulse waves, electrons chasing each other.For Mike, the whole world is all kinds of electrical impulses, sent, received or flashed from within him. I yelled at Mike, "That's impossible." "Why is it impossible?" "Because you can't! You can pronounce it brilliantly because it takes a few thousand judgments a second to crawl for you. But it takes a thousand judgments a second to build a TV image." Thousands of judgments. Mike, I know you are very fast, so fast that I can't imagine. But it will never be that fast!" Mike said softly: "Man, do you want to make a bet?" Wyooh said angrily, "It's OK if Mike says it's okay. Manny, don't talk that way." (Wyooh thinks electrons are about the size and shape of a small pea.) "Mike," I said slowly, "I'm not going to bet you. Well, do you want to try it? Shall I turn on the TV for you?" "I can drive it myself," he replied. "Can you guarantee that it's the one here? This show must not be on any other TV." He was a little impatient: "I'm not that stupid, look at me now. I admit, doing so will consume almost all my resources." We waited quietly.The screen showed a neutral gray with faint scan lines.The screen went black again, and then a dim light appeared in the middle, which gradually condensed into an oval cloud shape, one part bright and the other dark.This is not a face, just like looking at the clouds in the sky from the earth, it has a vague meaning of face. It becomes a little clearer and reminds me of cell membranes.A blurred face. Suddenly, the image is sharp.We saw "Adam Selene."It is a photo of a mature man, still, not moving, and there is no background behind it, There is only one face that seems to have been cut from a print.But to me, it's Adam Selene and it can't be anything else. At this moment, he smiled, moved his lips and jaw, and licked his lips with his tongue. The movement was so fast that I jumped. "How do I look?" he asked. "Adam," said Wyoh, "the hair shouldn't be so curly, it should be parted in the middle. You look like you've got a wig on, darling." Mike changed it. "Is this better?" "Not so bad. But why don't you have dimples? I think you should show your dimples when you smile, like the professor does." Mike, oh no, it should be said that Adam smiled again.This time he has dimples. "Wyoh, what should I wear?" "Are you in your office?" "I'm in the office. Tonight, I must be." The background turns gray, then in focus, turns color.A calendar hung on the wall behind him, showing the date: Tuesday, May 19, 2076.The clock also shows the correct time.A box of coffee sits at his elbow, and on the desk is a family photo, two men, one woman, and four children.There was still sound in the background, a din from the old Dome, a little louder than usual.I vaguely heard shouts and distant singing: Simon's arrangement of the Marseillaise. Jinwala's voice came from the screen: "Sir?" Adam turned his head, "I'm busy now, Albert." He patiently instructed, "Except for the branch office calls, I will not answer anything else, and you will handle everything." Turning around, he said, "Okay, Wyoh, Any other suggestions? Professor, what do you think? Man, my friend, can I pass?" I rubbed my eyes, "Mike, can you cook?" "Of course I would, but I don't have to. I have a wife." "Adam," Wyoh said, "how do you look so refreshed after a hard day's work?" "I don't get tired of small things." He looked at the professor. "Professor, if images are okay, let's discuss what I'm going to say tomorrow. I think we'll broadcast it on all eight hundred news broadcast channels first." The news will be broadcast continuously throughout the night, and all branches must be notified." We talked about it for the rest of the night. I asked for coffee twice and Mike Adam said he'd like a box of drinks too.While I was ordering a sandwich, he told Jinvara to bring him something too. I saw the profile of Albert Kinwala, a typical Arab, polite but slightly mocking.I didn't know what he looked like before.When we ate, Mike ate too, sometimes talking non-stop with food in his mouth. I asked Mike how he did it (I'm in this business after all). Mike told me that once the image was created, most of the process was automated, and he just had to focus on the facial expressions. I quickly forgot that it was a fake face, all I knew was that it was Mike Adam talking to us on TV.This is much more convenient than using the phone. At three in the morning, we finally agreed on a decision. Mike rehearsed the speech, the professor made some additions, Mike made some revisions, and finally we decided to take a break, and even Mike Adam was yawning—and Mike actually spent the night tending to the moon's affairs: Monitor communications to and from Earth, continue to isolate government buildings, and listen to large numbers of phone calls. The professor and I shared a queen-sized bed, Wyoh curled up on the couch, and I turned out the light.We were finally able to unload our burdens and get a good night's sleep. Over breakfast, Adam Selene speaks to Free Moon. He is gentle, strong, warm, and convincing. "Citizens, friends, and comrades of the Free Moon—let me introduce myself. I am Adam Selene, Chairman of the Free Moon Council. The Moon is free at last, and we are free at last. That so-called government has been overthrown. I am interim head of our own new government - the emergency committee. "Soon, you will have a government of your own choice. The speed at which the government is established depends on you." Adam smiled slightly and made a gesture of asking for help, "During this period, with your help, I will do my best Of course, we may make mistakes, and I hope you will forgive me. Comrades, if you have not told your friends and neighbors who you are, now is the time. Lunar residents, your comrades and your neighbors will tell you What to do, I hope you can obey them. Only in this way, I can quit soon, and everyone's life will return to normal as soon as possible. This will be a new normal life, without the high pressure of the government, without the supervision of the Warden, and without Troops are stationed here, no permits are required, and there are no searches and arbitrary arrests. "There has to be a transition period before all of this happens. Please go back to work and get on with your normal lives. The same goes for those who work for the government. Go back to work, get paid, and we will decide what jobs are needed and what jobs are available to us. What jobs have to be modified after you have been freed. Until then, your jobs remain the same. New citizens of the Moon, condemned and exiled here on Earth—you are free, you The prison term is over, but in the meantime I want you to keep working. You are not forced - the days of coercion are over, this is just a hope for you. Of course, you can choose to leave the government building and go anywhere …Tube rail service to and from the government will resume shortly. But before you exercise your new freedoms and go to town, think twice: There is no such thing as a free lunch. Where you are now, life is relatively affluent, and the food may not have a lot of variety. But it was hot after all, and, served on time. "In order to temporarily assume the necessary functions of the government that no longer exists, I have asked the general manager of the Moon House Company to serve you, and this company will temporarily perform the government functions. They will start to analyze how to eliminate the original government's autocracy rule, and I can absorb its useful parts for my use. So, please help them. "Among us are a group of residents from the earth. Hello! Scientists, tourists, and other earthlings, you have witnessed a rare event - the birth of a nation. Birth means blood and pain. These us It has been through and we hope the bloodshed is now over. We will not inconvenience you unnecessarily and your flight home will be arranged as soon as possible. You are also welcome to stay and more than welcome to become residents here But for now, I beg you to stay out of the corridors to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and injury. I hope you will be patient with us and I will ask our residents to be patient with you as well. From Earth working in observatories or elsewhere Scientists please carry on with your work and leave us alone. That way you may not even notice the chaos we are going through as we build a new nation. One more thing - I am sorry that we are temporarily interfering with you and the planet The right to communicate, we have to, censorship will be abolished soon - and we hate it as much as you do." Adam added another request: "Don't come to see me, comrades, if you must find me, just call me. You can also write to me, and we will not ignore your letters. I don't have avatar skills, yesterday I didn't sleep all night, and I probably won't sleep much tonight. I don't have time to attend the conference, speak, shake hands, meet delegations, I have to sit at my desk and work - so I can get my work done and get it done as quickly as possible Hand it over to you." He grinned, "It's as hard to see me as it is to see Simon the Joker." The entire speech lasted fifteen minutes, and the gist was: get back to work, be patient, and give us time. Those scientists barely gave us time—I should have expected it, and it was a miscalculation on my part. All communication with Earth is done through Mike.But those cunning scientists have enough electronics to fill a warehouse.After deciding to do so, they assembled a device that could contact Earth in a few hours. Our rescue is a tourist who thinks the moon should be set free, and he manages to call Adam Selene. The call went to one of our group of lesbians selected from the C and D classes. After that televised address, half of the moonies called Adam Selene regardless of Mike's request.There were pleas and nosy minds telling Adam how to proceed.There are all kinds of things. An overzealous comrade at the phone company redirected these calls to me.After taking over a hundred calls, we created this buffer group. Fortunately, the lesbian who received that important call was clear enough to know that the call could not be dismissed with the usual reassurance.She called me. A few minutes later, Finn Nelson and I, along with a group of enthusiastic comrades armed with weapons, headed for the laboratory area in the iron cabin. The person who informed us dared not give his name, only told us where the transmitter was. We caught those scientists trying to send a message.Fortunately, Fern's action was quick, so they saved their lives and were able to breathe.The people who went with us had itchy hands and almost pulled the trigger.But we don't want to kill the chickens for the monkeys to see. Fen and I discussed it on the way and we can't kill them. It's not easy to scare scientists, they don't like it, so you have to find other ways to deal with them.I kicked the launcher to pieces and ordered their director to gather everyone in the cafeteria and call for a roll call—by a phone.Then I called Mike and asked him for the list. I said to the director, "Doctor, you said they were all here, but we couldn't find so-and-so"—I called seven people's names—"Tell them to come here immediately." The few earthlings who are not here, the director just informed them, but they refused because they didn't want to stop what they were doing-typical scientists. Everyone was there, the Moonmen on one side of the room, the Earthmen on the other.I have spoken. I said to the Earthlings: "We try to treat you as guests, but three of you have managed, and perhaps have succeeded, to send a message to Earth." I turned to the Director: "Doctor, I can do a general search: dormitories , surface buildings, all laboratories, searched everywhere, and destroyed all equipment that could be used to send intelligence. I am in the electronics business myself and know which circuit components can be converted into launch devices. If I say, I put All the equipment that might be used to transmit information was destroyed, and I was not very smart and didn't want to take risks, so I destroyed all the things I didn't understand, what would the result be?" Look at him, you'd think it was his own son I was going to kill.He was pale. "In that case, all research would have to be interrupted... destroying priceless data... what a waste. Oh, I don't know how much it can be converted into, let's say 500 million dollars." "I think so too. Instead of destroying them, I can confiscate all the equipment. If you have any equipment left in your hands, you can make up and use it." "That's about as bad as destroying them. You have to understand, sir, that if an experiment is interrupted—" "I know. I figured out a way. It's easier than moving things - it's easy to lose a few things when moving around. It's easier to do this: we take you to the government complex and arrange where you live. Didn't there used to be cavalry barracks? But doing so would also ruin your experiment. By the way, where are you from, Doctor?" "Princeton University in New Jersey." "So you've been here five months and must have been working out with weights. Doctor, if we do that, you'll never go back to Princeton. If we transfer you from here, we'll put You lock up, you can’t find exercise equipment. If this emergency goes on for any length of time, you’re going to be a moon man, whether you like it or not. And so are the other scientists on your staff.” An arrogant guy who sent someone to call twice stepped forward, "You can't do this, it's against the law!" "What law, sir? The law in your country?" I turned. "Fern, show him the law." Fern stepped forward, put the muzzle of the gun on the man's belly button, and started to depress the trigger with his thumb—without the safety, which I could see from where I was standing. "Don't kill him, Fern!" I said. "If you don't believe me, I'll kill this man myself. Be careful with each other. Another break will kill your chances of getting home and your research." .Doctor, I advise you to think of a way to make your subordinates behave." I turned to the Lunarians. "Comrades, let them be quiet. Set up your own security system. Don't be lulled by their words, every Earthling is watching. If you have to kill someone, don't hesitate." I turned to the director, "Doctor, every moonman can go anywhere at any time, even to your bedroom. As far as security is concerned, your former assistant is now your leader. If he's going to stare at you or something else Anyone going to the bathroom, don't fight, he might get nervous and shoot." I turned to the Moonman again, "Safety first, each of you is working for some Earthman - spy on him! You take turns Stay on duty and don't miss anything. Keep an eye on them so they don't even try to sneak a mousetrap, let alone send an intel. If security duties interfere with your work, don't worry, you'll be paid. " I saw someone grinning.Back then, lab assistants were the best job a Lunarian could get—but they had to work for Earthlings, who looked down on us, and even those Earthlings who put on a virtuous demeanor really looked down on us in their bones. That's it. When I answered the phone, I was going to kill the disobedient ones.But the professor and Mike cleared my head: Our plan does not allow for unnecessary violence between us and the planet. We placed "ears" - multi-frequency sensitive receivers - around the experimental area, because even the best directional devices bleed a small amount of signal. Mike monitored the transmissions under the guise of the Warden, and Mike also imitated the voice of the Warden to communicate with the Earth government. Knowing that our cooperation would greatly benefit his longevity, the deputy administrator became very reasonable. Chief Engineer McIntyre also continued to do his old job.He's a real moon man, not a born scab, given the chance. The leaders and assistants in other departments are also fine, and life continues as before. We are too busy to take apart the government system and leave only the parts that work for us. A dozen people came forward claiming to be Simon the Joker, who debunked them with a rude short poem and distributed pictures on the front pages of The Luna, Luna Pravda and The Gong . Wyoh took off her makeup, returned to her original blond hair and blue eyes, went to see Greg at the new catapult site, and then spent ten days returning to her hometown in Moon City, Singapore, and brought the one who had always wanted to go there. anna.Wyoh needed to rest, and the professor urged her to go on vacation, saying that she could also contact us by phone while there, although our party contact with Yuecheng, Singapore was very necessary. I took over Wyoh's hooligans while she was on vacation, with Slim and Hazel as my assistants, and they were smart enough to be completely trusted.When Slim found out that I was Comrade Bock (his own party title begins with G) and that he saw "Adam Selene" every day, he was filled with awe.Of course, he has many other advantages and is a good partner.Hazel is curvy now, and it can't be all thanks to Mom's good food, she's of puberty.Slim is eager to change Hazel's name to Stone, as long as she agrees to be adopted.For the present, he enthusiastically joins our spirited red-haired girl in party work. But not all are so positive.There are many people who just say nothing.There are also many who think that once we take out the Peacekeeper Heavy Cavalry and arrest the Warden, the struggle will be over.Others, resentful at knowing they were at the bottom of the party, wanted to elect a new body that would put them in the leadership.Adam had received countless calls asking for this, and he just listened, agreed, assured them that their services would not be in vain, that the election wouldn't be too long—and then referred them to the professor or me.We've also tried to get some of these ambitious people to do some of the work, but I don't recall any of them getting anything done. The work is endless, but no one wants to do it.Well, it can't be said that there are none at all, but there are indeed not many people.Some of the most active volunteers worked anonymously, and the Party never knew who they were.But in general, Moon people, inside or outside the party, have little interest in "patriotic" work unless the pay is high.A guy who claimed to be a party member (not really) stopped me at the Fortune Hotel, where our headquarters is located, and asked me to sign a contract to buy 50,000 badges to be awarded to the "old revolutionaries" who worked underground before Victory.He gets a "little profit" out of it (I estimate a 400 percent profit), and I get an easy money, which benefits everyone. I turned him down bluntly, so he threatened me with sabotage and going to Adam Selene to report on me—"He's a good friend of mine, you'll see!" That's the "help" we get, and what we need is something else.Our new catapult requires a lot of steel.The professor asked me, does it have to be covered with a layer of steel on the big rocks thrown to the earth?I had to tell him that induction fields don't work on pure stone.There was also a need to remove Mike's ballistic radar from the old site while installing a Doppler radar at the new site.We expect the old site to be attacked from space. We called for volunteers, but only two of those who came were useful.What we need are a few hundred mechanics willing to do the hard work in pressurized suits.Finally had to pay to hire someone. All we had on hand was the Moon House Company, so we mortgaged the company to Moon City Bank of Singapore.Very tight.No time to steal money like in the past, most of the money has been transferred to Earth for Stu.Thanks to Rich Moses Morris, a true comrade-in-arms, who co-signed many bills and backed their circulation - eventually went bankrupt and made a living as a small tailor shop in Moon City, Singapore.That's all for later. After the coup, the exchange rate between government bonds and Singapore monthly bonds fell from three to one to seventeen to one.But Mike was still paid in government vouchers, and executive branch employees began to protest violently. Something that relies on electronic components to work (that is, almost everything. A hydrogen bomb with its electronic system destroyed is no longer a bomb. A vat of lithium and tritium that just crashes and doesn't work at all. A ship with no eyes His spaceship wasn't a battleship either, it was just an abandoned ship. It's easy to say, but it's not.Those laser drills weren't designed to hit targets a thousand kilometers away, not even a kilometer, they were designed to deal with rocks under the nose.We also can't build mounts for them any time soon so that they can be precisely aimed.Against a target flying at about two kilometers per second, the gunner must have the guts to keep firing until the last few seconds. But these are already our best gear.So we organized two units, the 1st and 2nd Regiment of the Free Moon Defense Volunteer Army.The reason why there are two forces is to make them compete with each other.The first regiment consisted of older men, while the second regiment consisted of young but enthusiastic fighters. Although the name is "Volunteer Army", they are still hired, and they have to be issued Singapore monthly coupons.In this way, we can only use government vouchers to buy ice. Fortunately, the ice market is strictly controlled by the government, and government vouchers like waste paper can still be used. Most importantly, we want to make people understand the inevitability of war.Adam Selene delivered a televised speech, warning everyone that the earth government will definitely try to restore the former autocracy, and we only have a short time to prepare. The newspapers quoted him, published their own stories — we did a lot of work in recruiting journalists before the coup.The media has urged people to carry their own pressurized suits with them at all times and to always check their home pressure alarms.We have also organized volunteer civil defense groups in various districts. There are often moonquakes here, so a rule has been formed long ago. The sealing cooperatives in each region have always had sealing members on call. Whenever there is a leak, even if it is only silicone and glass wool, they have to go out and plug it up immediately.In the Davis Tunnel, we have people checking the seals every day. Now we've recruited several hundred emergency sealers, mostly hooligans.To train them, we did some drills where they had to wear pressurized suits when they were on duty, just without the helmets on. They did a great job, but some idiots made fun of them as "guys pretending to be soldiers", "Adam's minions", etc. At one point, a seal team was training how to use a makeshift airlock if it was destroyed.There was this idiot standing there, laughing loudly at them. The civil defense team continued to train, assembled the temporary airtight gate, put on the helmet and tested its performance.The performance is very good.Once they're out, grab the joking guy and throw him through the makeshift airlock into the zero-pressure zone. Since then, those idiots dare not talk nonsense. The professor thinks we should give the Wanshi a gentle warning not to kill them all the time. I object.I can't think of a better way to educate that kind of person.In the eyes of decent people, some bullshit guys should be damned. My opinion was accepted by everyone. 但最让我们头痛的还是那些自封的“政治家”。 我说过没有，月球人是不管政治的？如果管政治意味着要做点什么的话，他们确实是不管政治的。但如果两个月球人在一块儿喝啤酒，他们会不高谈阔论、对时局发表一番自己的高见吗？我估计，这时候不谈政治的事儿还从来没有过呢。 前面提到过，那些自封的政治家总想让亚当·塞勒涅听取他们的意见。但教授自有对付他们的方法，他们每个人都被邀请去参加在月城社区会堂召开的“自由月球组建特别会议”，开完后并不休会，不把事情办妥当他们是不会罢休的。于是去各地轮流开会，一周在月城，一周在新利恩，一周在新加坡月城，然后又是月城，周而复始开下去。所有会议都跟我们保持图像联系，先由教授主持，亚当·塞勒涅通过电视向他们致词，鼓励他们把工作搞好——“历史注视着你们”。 我听了几场会议，然后质问教授，老天在上，他到底在搞什么名堂？“你以前不是说过你什么政府都不想要吗？你听听，让他们开始发言后，这帮家伙都说了些什么？” 他笑了，露出深深的酒窝。“你烦什么，曼尼尔？” 烦我的事多了。我拼着老命想把重型钻机和那些能把它们当炮使的人集中起来，那些懒汉却整个下午都在讨论移民。有人想彻底阻止移民，有人想对移民征收足以为政府提供足够资金的高额税收，（一百个月球人中，九十九个都是被人硬逼着来到这块荒凉的大石头上的！）有人提议按民族人口比例限制移民数量，（不知道他们准备怎样安排我？）也有人提议只让女性移民，直到男女比例为五十比五十。 这个提议引起一个斯堪的纳维亚人喊道：“说得对，朋友！让他们给我们送些妓女来！成千上万的妓女！告诉你们，我全包了！” 这是整个下午听到的最明智的话。 还有一次，他们在时间问题上争执不休。格林威治时间与月球没有一点联系。我们现在在地下生活，有没有联系完全无关紧要。你要觉得重要，那就请给我找出一个按格林威治时间安排生活、睡两周再工作两周的月球人吧。现在的月历的确不适合我们的新陈代谢。他们敦促我们把每月改为二十八天（而不是二十九天十二小时四十四分钟二点七八秒），把日子变长，即增加每天的小时、分钟和秒数，这样每半月正好两周。 确实，这个修改从很多方面来讲都是必要的。可以控制我们什么时候去表层，为什么去，在那里要待多长时间。但负面后果呢？先不提这样一来会导致我们跟我们惟一的邻居的联系不正常，那帮让人心烦的真空脑壳老兄有没有想过这对科学和设计上的每一个重要数据会产生什么后果？作为一个电子技师，我只能打哆嗦。难道要我们扔掉所有的书、表格和仪器，一切重新开始？我知道我的一些祖先就是这样做的，他们把旧的英制单位转化成米千克秒等公制单位，但换了新单位后，计算更方便了。想想以前怎么换算：十四英寸等于一英尺，若干英尺（数目不规整）等于一英里，若干盎司等于一英磅。God! 做些改变是可以理解的——但为什么要想尽办法来制造混乱呢？ 有人想让议会定下月球的语言，然后对每个讲地球英语或其他语言的人处以罚款。哦，我的天！ 我在《月球报》上看到了征税建议。每个“纳税人”必须缴纳四种税：一种累进税，专门对付那些想延长自家隧道的人；人头税（每人付相同款额）；所得税（我倒真想瞧瞧别人怎么计算我们戴维斯家的收入，还有那些想从姆姆嘴里打听家庭收入情况的家伙会落个什么下场）；还有一种“空气税”（不用交款，而是用其他东西代替）。 没想到“自由月球”竟然也要交税了。以前从没收过税，不一样过吗？买东西的时候当然得付钱，其他时候凭什么掏腰包？还有一次，一些自命不凡的家伙提出有严重呼吸道疾病或身体有臭味的人应处以死刑。待在管铁舱，受臭味侵扰，确实值得同情。但这种人不多，即便有了，大多数人都知道自己治。至于长期患病者或无法治愈者，反正他们不可能把自己的毛病传到下一代。瞧瞧月球女人选丈夫是多么挑剔就知道了。 有个女人（这种人大多是男人，但女人中也有蠢材）想把许多事定为永久法律，都是人家的私事，多得足以拉出一张单子来，比如：取消一妻多夫制；禁止离婚；禁止“非婚配偶之间发生不正当关系”（得琢磨一下才能明白这是什么意思）；禁止喝比四度啤酒更烈的饮料；在周六只做礼拜，禁止做其他任何事；（亲爱的女士，难道要停止对空气、温度和压力的管理？停止电话和管铁舱？）长长一个单子列出要求禁用的一大批药；稍短的另一个单子列出必须由“注册医师”处方才能配给的药品。什么叫“注册医师”，我去找的那位医生的门外订着“开业医生”的牌子——顺带还管帮人下注，所以我才去找他。小姐，你难道不知道，月球上没有一家医学院（我说的是那个时候）。她甚至想让赌博也变成非法行为。就算不准月球人掷骰子，他们变着法也会找到一个可以掷的地方，哪怕那儿的骰子全都灌了铅。 我气的倒不是她那些单子开列出的她所痛心疾首的事物，因为她肯定疯了，疯得跟电子人一样。我气的是竟然有人同意她的禁律。人类内心深处总有一种潜伏的渴望，希望阻止别人做他们想做的事。这是我们心里的阴暗面，还没从树上爬下来时就有了，学会直立行走以后也没把这毛病改掉。他们中没有一个会说：“请把这条列为法律，这样就可以迫使我不做我知道不该做的事。”不，同志，他们要列入法律的通常是这种事：他们讨厌看到自个儿的邻居做的事。禁止这些事“是为了他们好”，而不是因为提出者觉得自己受了伤害。 听他们开会，我都快觉得不该推翻讨厌鬼莫蒂了。他和他的女人们深居简出，从来不告诫我们该怎么过自个儿的小日子。 但教授一点也不生气，照样微笑着，说：“曼尼尔，你真觉得那一伙白痴会通过什么法律吗？” “不是你让他们、敦促他们这么干的吗？” “亲爱的曼尼尔，我只是把所有的傻子集中在一起。我了解那帮傻子，我听他们发表高见已经好几年了。在挑选这次会议的成员时我很慎重，选出的都是天生的糊涂蛋，肯定会吵得不可开交。选举主席时，我迫使他们选出了一个傻瓜，犹豫不决、毫无办事能力、认为每件事都”需要进一步研究研究“。我现在基本上不担心，只要人数超过六个，别想在任何事情上达成一致。三个人会好一些。如果是一个人能办成的事，一个人做是最理想的。所以，历史上一切议会完成的大事，其实都归功于少数能统治其他人的强者。别担心，孩子，这个特别会议成就不了任何事……即便他们在极度疲劳的情况下通过一些条文，也会因为其中自相矛盾之处太多而最终被否决。这段时间内，他们在办他们的大事，不会来干扰我们。再说，以后我们还会有用得到他们的地方。” “我记得你说过他们成就不了任何事。” “他们确实成就不了任何事。但有一个人会写下宣言——个死人。等拖到深更半夜、大家极度疲劳时，他们会鼓掌通过那份宣言的。” “这个人是谁？你不会指迈克吧？” “不，不！迈克远比那些发牢骚的家伙有活力。那个死人是托马斯·杰斐逊-一第一个理性无政府主义者。他的思想缺乏体系，但文章实在写得太漂亮了，几乎掩饰了他的缺陷。但最后还是被后人发现了他的疏漏之处。这一点，我希望我们能避免。遣词造句方面，我没本事改进他的文章，只是稍加改写，让它适应月球和２１世纪。” “听说过这个人。他解放了奴隶，是吗？” “也许可以说努力过但失败了。好了，不提这个了，防御工作进展得如何？下一班船开到以后应该怎么继续保持一切依旧的假象，我是实在想不出办法了。” “到那时我们还来不及准备好。” “迈克说我们必须准备好。” 我们到底还是没来得及，不过船也没有再来，永远不来了。那些受监视的科学家以机智战胜了我和月球人。他们在最大的反射镜焦点处安放了一个装置，月球助手们听信了他们的瞎话，认为这个装置真是用于天文学观察，是射电望远镜里的一个新发明。我也上当了。其实这是一种超波，由射电望远镜发射出去之后，再由排列得很好的一系列反射镜反射回地球。非常像早期的托马斯·杰斐逊（１７４３～１８２６），美国第三任总统（１８０２～１８０９），《独立宣言》主要起草人．民主共和党创建者。 雷达，望远镜有金属格栅和隔热膜保护，不会散射，我埋伏在四周的“耳朵”因此什么都没听不到。 他们把消息传回去了，是他们自己的版本，详详细细。我们最初知道这件事是因为地球政府给监守长官发来信息，要求他否认这个骗局，找出散布假消息的人，制止这件事。 而我们发给他们的是一份独立宣言。 “２０７６年７月４日，我们的议会宣布——” awesome!