Chapter 17 Chapter Sixteen

"Manuel!" It was pitch black, and I was awakened in fear, not knowing which direction was up. "Manuel!" The cry came again, "Wake up!" I woke up a bit and realized that this was the signal to wake me up.I recall lying flat on my back on a table in the government complex hospital, my eyes fixed on a light above it, my ears listening to a sound as a dose of medicine was injected into my vein.But that seemed like a hundred years ago, and I seemed to have been through endless nightmares, unbearable stress and pain. Now I know why I don't know which way is up - I'm free falling in the middle of nowhere.

What's wrong?Had Mike left out a decimal point, or had he just been a child and made a joke without even realizing it meant destruction?Why am I still alive after so much pain?Am I still alive?Have I become a ghost, is this what a ghost feels like?Lonely, lost, not knowing where you are? "Wake up, Manuel! Wake up, Manuel!" "Shut up!" I growled loudly, "Shut up your stinking mouth!" The signal is still going on, I ignore it.Where is the switch for the display light?The pain of three gravitational accelerations from the moon did not actually last a hundred years, no, far from it, that was just my feeling.Eighty-two seconds—but it was tough enough, because I could feel every millisecond of pain.Then, I found out that those stupid guys didn't have my left arm attached.For some stupid reason, in preparation for undressing, they removed it, and I was full of "don't worry, sleep well" pills, so couldn't protest.No one told them to reinstall it.This is great, the damn switch is on my left, and the left sleeve of the pressurized suit is empty.

Then, it took me what seemed like ten years to finally untie my body with one right hand.Then I floated in the dark for another twenty years, finally found my protective frame again, figured out which end was up, and based on this, I started to grope for the position of the switch.The area of ​​the cabin shall not exceed two square meters.But in free fall and endless darkness, the two squares were even larger than the old dome. Finally found it, so there was light. (Don't ask me why the "coffin" doesn't have several lighting systems that are always on. Maybe it's a habit. With the lighting system, of course there needs to be a switch, right? The time to build this "coffin" is only two days. At least the switch still works, so instead of complaining, I should be thankful.)

Once there is light, this boundless cube immediately shrinks greatly, shrinking into a real claustrophobic space.I looked at the professor. Obviously, he was dead.It's still easy to die, the professor is really lucky, I envy him.Still had to check his pulse and breathing to see if he wasn't lucky enough to have his last breath left. Unexpectedly, I encountered another obstacle.And not just because I'm one-armed.The grain was air-dried and depressurized as usual before loading.But this chamber should be pressurized—well, nothing special, just fill it with air.We wore pressurized suits and had no problem breathing for two days.But even in the best pressurized suit, air is always more comfortable than a vacuum.And, supposedly, I should be able to do something to the person I rescue.but I can not.I didn't have to open the helmet to know that the canister wasn't airtight.I felt it through the pressurized suit as soon as I woke up.Oh, we have drugs for the professor, heart stimulants and stuff, that can be injected into him through the pressurized suit.But how can I check his heart and breathing?His pressurized suit was cheap, sold only to Lunarians who rarely left the downtown area, and had no readout.

His mouth was open and his eyes were staring blankly.He was dead, so I judged.There was no need to check his heart, he had already killed himself.I still wanted to check his throat for a pulse, but his helmet blocked it. They put a program clock in it, the kind that works best.The clock shows that it has been more than forty-four hours since I left the moon. According to the plan, we will enter the earth's resident orbit in three hours.After two weeks of orbiting, that is, in just over three hours, we will enter the landing process-unless the ground control center in Pune changes its mind temporarily and is ready to keep us in orbit.I told myself it shouldn't be possible.The grain should not be left in the vacuum for too long, or it will swell or burst, which not only reduces the value, but also bursts the little jar like a watermelon.Wonderful, isn't it?Why do they have to put more grain in it?Wouldn't it be better to put in a pile of stones that are not afraid of a vacuum?

Thinking about these questions, I felt thirsty, so I took half a sip with the spout in my mouth.Just half a mouthful.I don't want to fill my bladder at six g's. (In fact, the pressurized suit is equipped with an excretion catheter, so there is no need to worry, but I didn't know it at the time.) There is less and less time left.The original arrangement was that I should give the professor some medicine at this time, so that he could withstand the acceleration of gravity.After leaving the residence orbit, inject him with cardiac stimulants.I don't think it would do him any harm to give him some medicine at this moment—it's impossible to do him any harm, given his condition.

I injected him with the first dose and spent several minutes struggling to sit back on the brace and fasten the straps—with one hand.It's a damn shame I don't know the name of my great friend, or I'd have to give him a good damn. In only 3.26×107 microseconds, ten gravitational accelerations will bring us into the residence orbit around the earth.But it feels like the time is longer, ten times the acceleration of gravity is sixty times what my pile of meat can bear, so it's thirty-three seconds. After doping the professor, I hesitated for a full three hours (which felt like a long time) whether I should also give myself a dose so I could land smoothly?In the end I gave up.The drugs injected into me during ejection took away a minute and a half of pain, but gave me two days of boredom and a century of nightmares.If the last few minutes were going to be my last, I decided to experience it.No matter how horrible the experience was, it was my own after all, and I wouldn't throw it away.

What a horrible experience.Six gravitas doesn't feel better than ten, it feels worse.It doesn't feel easy at four gravity either.Then rushed even harder.Then, suddenly, for just a few seconds, we were in free fall again.Immediately after, it started splashing headfirst. The splashdown wasn't "gentle" at all, as we strapped it to the cage, not the bumper.But don't think Mike has realized this.We dove headfirst into the water, got out, splashed down again, and entered what Earthlings call "floating."In fact, this is too far from "floating": a standard gravity, multiplied by six, what kind of floating method do you call me?It felt weird, really weird.Mike assured us that the sunlight would be fine and that there would be no radiation hazards in this iron cage.But he was never too interested in the climate of the Indian Ocean region of the planet, nor did he study it enough.In his view, it is only necessary to know whether the local climate allows the cargo to land.He took it for granted that as long as the cargo landed, we'd be fine—I would have thought the same thing.

There should be nothing in my stomach.So I sucked on some liquid food - it was so bad that if you tasted it, you would run away and avoid it.That's when our jar swung and flipped over and got this stuff in my hair, eyes, and even my nose.This is the so-called "seasickness" by the people on earth. Such a terrible thing (there are too many such things), but they are used to it and take it for granted.We'll be pulled into port by barge, and it's going to be a long time. Another problem besides the seasickness: I'm also running out of air bottles.Under normal circumstances, it can last for twelve hours, but I was unconscious for most of the travel time and had no strenuous exercise at all, so the air is enough to last for fifty hours.But add in the hours of being dragged into port, and that's not enough air.By the time the barge finally got hold of us, I'd be in a daze, not knowing how to get out.

Fortunately we were salvaged.There was a jolt, and then stopped.I was up and down inside.In one gravity, this pose is not good at all, it is impossible: a) untie one's belt; b) come out of this bracket; C) Loosen the butterfly nuts securing the sledgehammer to the bulkhead; d) use a sledgehammer to break the cover blocking the escape hatch; e) climb out; f) Finally had to drag out an old professor in a pressurized suit. I couldn't even make the first step, I was on my head, unconscious. Fortunately, this is a pre-arranged emergency rescue.Stu LaJoie had been informed before we left.He was called again shortly before we landed.

When I woke up, people were leaning over and staring at me, but I lost consciousness again. When I woke up for the second time, I was already on a hospital bed, lying flat, feeling tight in my chest—weak and extremely heavy.Not sick, just tired, bruised, hungry and thirsty.There is only a clear plastic curtain hanging on the bed, which means that I have no problem breathing. Immediately, people surrounded him on both sides.A thin, wide-eyed Indian nurse stood on one side, and Stu Lajoie on the other.He smiled at me and said, "Dude! How do you feel?" "Oh...I'm fine. But, oops! What an awful way to travel!" "The professor just said it was the only way. That old thing has tough bones." "Wait, did the professor just say that? But the professor is dead." "No, it's just not doing well. We put him on an air bed, under 24-hour supervision, and you'd have no idea how many instrument cords were attached to him. But he's still alive and working. Still, He has no memory of the trip at all. He said he had no idea. He fell asleep in one hospital and woke up in another. I was trying to get a spaceship to take you all, but He said no. I thought he was wrong, but he was right—the way the publicity works is amazing!" I said slowly, "You said the professor 'refused' to let you send a ship?" "Chairman Selene, I should say, declined. Didn't you see the correspondence, Manny?" "No." It's too late to fight Mike now, "the past few days have been too busy." "That's right! I'm very busy here too. I can't even remember when I last went to bed." "Listen to the way you talk like you're a moonman." "I'm a Moonman, Manny, and never doubt that. Don't stare at me, Miss Nurse." Stu picked her up and spun her around in a circle - just by this action, I knew he was not a real moonman.But the nurse wasn't offended. "Go somewhere else, honey, and I'll give you your patient back - alive and kicking - in a few minutes." After sending her away, he closed the door and returned to the bed, "But Adam is right, this method not only has a good publicity effect, but is also very safe." "I agree with publicity, let alone 'safety'." "Safe, my God. It's a good thing that they didn't shoot at you. You know, they have a good two hours to know your exact position, and you are a real target during that time. But they can't decide what to do." How to do it, they don't have a corresponding policy. They don't even dare to let you land as planned. The news is all about you. I have prepared some tendentious reports in advance, and then wait. Now they dare not touch you , you are popular heroes. If I had sent a spaceship to pick you up... I don't know. We may have been ordered to go into residence orbit, and then you two - and myself, may have been Arrested. No captain wants to risk a missile attack, no matter how much money he receives. Pudding is good or bad, man. Now I will give you the basics. You are all citizens of Chad now, in this That's all I can do in a short amount of time. Also, Chad has already recognized the moon. I pay a small sum of money for a prime minister, two generals, some tribal chiefs, and a finance minister, and that's it. This is urgent work. I haven't got your diplomatic immunity yet, but I hope to get it before you leave the hospital. At the moment they don't dare." (Lajoie also used the irregular English used by the people on the moon here. A lot of irregular English is used in this book, such as omitting the subject, incomplete sentence structure, etc. If the translation is done like this, readers may be confused Cloud. Therefore, it can only supplement the sentence elements that the author deliberately omitted—thus losing part of the language flavor of the original text.) "Arresting you, they don't know what you've done. They have guards outside, but only to 'protect' you - which is a good thing, otherwise reporters would be scrambling to put microphones in front of you." "It's still not clear what we did? - I think they should know, isn't it over if we say we are illegal immigrants?" "No, not even that. Manny, you were never a prisoner to the moon, one of your grandfathers was African, and you're Pan-African, no problem. As for Professor de la Pazza, we've made up He got a document proving he was naturalized as a Chadian forty years ago. Just wait until the ink dries. You're not even in India illegally. They know you're in the pod, but let you land anyway. Not only that, but a controlling officer was kind enough to stamp your entry passport - not too expensive a charge. Also, the Professor's banishment is legally void as the government that banished him no longer exists. A competent tribunal is already looking at this matter - and it's cost a fortune to do that." The nurse came back, throwing a tantrum like a mother cat. "Lord Stuart - you must put my patient to rest!" "Right away, dear." "You are 'Lord Stuart'?" "It should be 'Earl', and I can call myself a Marquis vaguely. The nobles who came from a famous family also helped in this matter. There are quite a few people who are not allowed to serve the nobles, and they are very unhappy. " He patted her buttocks lightly as he walked.She didn't scream, just wiggled her ass.She was already smiling as she approached me.If Stu returns to the moon one day, these habitual actions must be changed. She asked me how I was feeling.I told her I was fine, just a little hungry. "Miss Nurse, did you see some prosthetic arms in our luggage?" She said she saw it. I feel a lot better after putting on the number six arm. For this trip I chose the six, the two and the social arm, which I think should be enough.The second arm probably landed in the government complex in a hurry, I hope someone will take care of it.Number six is ​​the most useful all-around arm, and with that and the social arm, I think I should be able to handle everything. Two days later, we left the hospital for Agra to present our credentials to the United Nations. My situation is not optimistic, and not just because I am in high gravity.But I am fine in a wheelchair, as long as it is not in public, I can still walk a few steps crookedly.The problem was that I had a terrible sore throat, but fortunately I took medicine, otherwise it would have turned into pneumonia.I still have diarrhea, and the skin disease on my hands has spread to my feet—I have come to a place full of disease and torture—the earth.We moonlings never know how lucky we are: we live in a small quarantine zone with few pests and germs, and if there are, they are immediately vacuumed out.Unfortunately, we have very little immune function.Before we came to Earth, we had never heard of the word "venereal disease", and we thought that the ice miners' feet on the moon were frozen and it was a "cold". There are other reasons for my unhappiness. Stu has brought us a message from Adam Selene.The professor and I read the letter secretly, even from Stu.The letter said that the chances of victory in the revolution were getting smaller and smaller, even less than one percent.I figured what's the point of this crazy adventure if we're making the whole situation worse?Does Mike really know what the chances of success are?No matter how many facts he has, I don't think he can figure it out. But the professor didn't seem worried. He talked and laughed happily with a group of reporters, kept smiling for the camera, and issued a statement saying that he had full confidence in the United Nations and believed that our just demands would be recognized.At the same time, he thanked the "Friends of Free Moon" for their sincere help. They reported the real situation of our weak but strong nation to everyone—Friends of Free Moon refers to Stu Company, a professional public opinion company, plus Thousands of people who make a living signing petitions, and a stack of Singapore monthly coupons. They took pictures of me too, and I tried to keep smiling, but pointed to my throat and declined the interview with a hoarse voice. In Agra, we stayed in a luxury suite in a hotel.This hotel used to be a maharajah's palace. (It still belongs to him now, even though India is a socialist country.) The interviews and photoshoots continue. I hardly dared to leave the wheelchair an inch, even sitting on the toilet.I had to obey the professor's orders and never be photographed in an upright position.The same goes for the professor himself, either in bed or on a stretcher—bed bath, bed potty, everything.Not only because of age, but also because it's safer and easier for lunar people-there's also a photo effect problem.Dimpled, debonair, and convincingly charismatic, his pictures appear endlessly on thousands of television screens. But his charisma did not get us anywhere in Agra.The professor was taken into the office of the president of the United Nations, and I was dragged along. As Ambassador to the United Nations and future Senator of the Moon, the Professor tries to present his credentials - but is pushed to the Secretary General.In the secretary's office, we were given ten minutes to negotiate with an assistant secretary who kept sucking his teeth.He said he could accept our credentials "without prejudice or implication of commitment." Credentials are sent to the Credentials Committee - they will discuss the discussion. I fidgeted while the professor read Keats.The catapult pods carrying food continued to reach Mumbai. In a way, sending food to Mumbai was fine with me.We were up before dawn before leaving Mumbai for Agra.The whole city started to wake up and we were taken outdoors.We lunar people each have our own hole, whether it's a cozy home built long ago like the Davis Tunnel, or a den hewn out of the rock, having a place to live won't be a problem, and it won't be for centuries. . But Mumbai is packed like a hive.I was told that millions of people here are homeless and can only find a place to shelter on the main road.Every family has the right to apply for a designated area two meters long and one meter wide to sleep in front of a certain store (this right can be passed down from generation to generation through wills).The whole family, including mother, father, children and even the grandmother, slept in that area.If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it was real.At dawn, the roads, sidewalks and even bridges in Mumbai were filled with people tightly wrapped in blankets.What do they do?Where do you work?How are you eating? (It seems that they don't eat at all, and they are so thin that they can't even count their ribs.) I believe in such a simple arithmetic problem: we can't transport down one compartment of grain continuously, we can only transport one compartment of grain down, and then transport A batch of goods back.If not, I might admit defeat on the spot, honestly send food down, and never ask for anything in return.But... there is no such thing as a free lunch, whether in Mumbai or the moon. In the end, we were arranged to meet with a "committee of inquiry" - which is not what the professor asked for. The professor held a public hearing in Parliament and the whole process was videotaped.But the only camera at the meeting was also turned off.Fortunately, it is not completely sealed. I have a small recorder, but no video recorder. It only took the professor two minutes to discover that the members of that committee were actually all important figures of the lunar government and their lackeys.In any case, this is always an opportunity to negotiate.The professor negotiated with them as if they had a right to recognize the independence and freedom of the moon and were happy to do so.And they seem to treat us like naughty kids and criminals waiting to be sentenced.They had the professor give an opening statement first.Apart from the embellishments and pleasantries, the main meaning is that the moon is in fact a sovereign country with a government recognized by everyone. It is hoped that the parliament can return to their private lives as soon as possible after enacting the constitution.The reason we are asking here is that these facts will be legally recognized so that the moon will have a legitimate place in the human parliament and a member of the United Nations. The professor's statement was so thorough and reasonable that they could not dispute it at all. I mentioned in the second chapter that "the lunar government is not on the moon, it is on the earth".That is to say, the institution that really governs the moon is on the earth, and although the guardian and his institution stationed on the moon are sometimes called the lunar government, they are actually just an agency of the lunar government on the earth.As for which lunar government is specifically referred to in the article, it can only be judged from the context that his "interim president" is a computer, and the "cabinet" refers to Wyoh, Finn, Comrade Clayton, Terrence Sheehan, "Lunar Pravda" Editor-in-Chief, plus Wolfgang Korsakov, Chairman of Moon House Corporation and President of Moon Bank Singapore.But Wyoh is currently the only person on the moon who knows that "Adam" is actually a computer.I think she was very nervous when she knew this. Adam can only appear on the screen and can't meet everyone directly, which does make people feel a little awkward.We did our best to attribute this oddity to a security issue, we sent him to the government office in Moon City and detonated a small bomb.After this "assassination," even comrades who had complained about Adam's inability to move around strongly demanded that Adam must never take any more risks—and the editorial supported this statement. As the professor made his presentation, I wondered what these arrogant guys would think if they knew that our so-called "president" was really just a bunch of software owned by the government? But they just sat indifferently, unmoved by the professor's high profile.But the professor still stood upright, speaking into the microphone with enthusiasm.Considering that he doesn't use the manuscript, and even his audience can't see it, this is perhaps the professor's best performance ever. Then they started to refute us.The gentleman from Argentina objected to the reference to "former warden" in the professor's statement, saying that title had been dropped half a century ago.He insisted on changing that, changing the title to "Lunar Colony Appointed Protector of the Lunar Government," arguing that any other wording would be demeaning to the Lunar Government. The professor asked for an excuse, and the "Honorable Chairman" agreed. The professor modestly said that since the government is free to call its employees whatever it likes, he accepts the change, and he has no intention of compromising the dignity of any UN representative...but judging from the way this institution is run - still the previous institution, Previous Ways of Working - Citizens of the Free Moon Nation may prefer to continue to identify with past titles. As soon as he finished speaking, six people spoke at once.One objected to the use of the word "Moon" and many more objected to the use of "Free Moon State" - which should have been "Moon".Earth's moon, one of Earth's satellites, United Nations possessions, like Antarctica—the whole thing was a farce. I'd love to agree with that last point. The chairman asked the representatives of gentlemen from North America to abide by the order and to speak with the chairman's consent. But the other party retorted, wondering if the chairman understands that the last statement of the declarant actually shows that the so-called existing regime is trying to interfere with the original prisoner exile system? The professor cleverly retorted: "Chairman, I myself was once an exile, and now the moon is my beloved home. My comrade, Honorable Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Colonel O'Kelly Davis" - that is me ——"Although born on the moon, he is proud of the fine tradition left by his four grandparents in exile. You who exiled to the moon have made the moon strong. You poor and unfortunate people here can still go to the moon Come up, we welcome them. There is plenty of space on the moon, about forty million square kilometers, larger than all of Africa—nearly empty. Also, because of our unique way of life, what we occupy is not Not 'regions', but 'cubes'. We can't imagine a day when the moon will turn away weary homeless people." The chairman said: "Warning the declarant not to make a speech. This chairman believes that your words mean that the team you represent agrees to accept prisoners as before." "No, sir." "What? Please explain." "Once an immigrant sets foot on the land of the moon, no matter what his past is, he is a free man, and he can go wherever he wants." "Really? Then he can climb into another ship and come back here? I admit, I am very puzzled by your willingness to accept their expressions... But we don't want them. This is what we humans can't save." the way of the medicine men, or they would have to be put to death." (I can probably tell him a few things and he won't be so nonsense after listening. As for the "incorrigible", if they are really incorrigible, they will be wiped out faster on the moon than on the earth A lot. When I was very young, they sent a bandit leader, I think it was from Los Angeles. He took a gang of lackeys-his bodyguards, and he wanted to conquer the moon. It is said that he occupied the earth somewhere One of the prisons. None of them survived two weeks, and the bandit leader didn’t make the moon a barracks because he wouldn’t listen when he was taught to wear a pressurized suit.) "As far as we are concerned, there is no way to prevent them from going home, sir," replied the professor, "but they may consider that if they come back, the police on your earth may make trouble for them. Besides, I have never heard of it." Does anyone who goes to the moon have enough money to buy a return ticket. It's not a problem at all. The boat is yours, the moon has no boats - let me add that I regret that the boat to the moon has been canceled this month I'm not complaining that you're forcing me and my comrades to accept—" the professor paused with a smile—"a very informal way of traveling, I just hope that doesn't represent your policy. The moon has nothing to do with you Conflict of interest, your fleet is welcome. We are in peaceful coexistence and hope to maintain it. You should also note that the planned food pods have all arrived on Earth on time." (Professors always have a talent for changing the subject) Next, they waste their time arguing over little things.The North American meddler wanted to know what was going on with "Proctor," he hastily corrected, "Protector Senator Hobart."The professor replied that he had suffered a stroke (for him the effect of the coup was exactly the equivalent of a stroke) and that he could no longer perform his duties.However, he is in good health and receives regular health care.The professor added that he had suspected for some time that the old gentleman was not in good health, because he had been very indiscreet during the past year... especially the constant violation of the rights of free citizens, including those who were not exiles. It's not hard to make up a story.When those busy scientists sent word of our coup down to Earth, they reported that the Warden was dead... yet Mike kept him alive and impersonated him to work.When the Earth government asked the Warden for a report on this rumor, Mike consulted with the professor, and then, Mike realistically imitated the old voice of the Warden to communicate directly with the earth, trying to deny, confirm, and confuse every detail.Then we announced the revolution.After that, Warden was nowhere to be found on Earth, not even the computer-imitated voice.Three days later, we declared our independence. The North American wondered why they believed that?The professor showed the most holy smile and spread his hands: "Gentlemen from North America, you can go to the moon, visit the Hobart MP in his hospital bed, and see him in person. In fact, we welcome earth citizens to visit the moon at any time, go to Watch whatever you want. We hope to be friends with you and live in peace, we will not hide anything. My only regret is that transportation is not available in my country yet, and we must ask for your help on this point .” The Chinese representative looked at the professor thoughtfully. He didn't say a word, but listened carefully. The chairman did not announce the suspension of the hearing until one o'clock in the afternoon.They gave us a room to rest and brought our lunch. I wanted to speak, but the professor shook his head, looked around the room, pointed to his ear lightly, and I closed my mouth. The professor started to doze off, and I rolled out of my wheelchair and started to sleep too, and here on Earth we sleep as much as we can, and that's good for us.But just not enough sleep. They didn't get us back until four in the afternoon.The committee members have all sat down. Breaking from his own convention against speeches, the chairman delivered a long speech in a tone of mourning rather than anger. He begins by reminding us that the Lunar Government is a non-political trusteeship that takes up its sacred duty to ensure that Earth's satellite—the Moon, as some call it—is never used for military purposes.He tells us that the lunar government has defended this sacred duty for more than a century.The old government went, a new government came in, and the Covenant was changed and changed—in fact, the Moon Government is older than the United Nations.It has taken its original license from ancient international institutions and has remained true to its mandate, through wars, riots and realignments, to exist consistently. (What kind of news is that? But you can see the purpose of his gradual momentum.) "The lunar government cannot abdicate its responsibilities." He told us solemnly, "however, if the inhabitants of the moon reach a certain political maturity, it is not impossible to enjoy a certain degree of autonomy, and there are no insurmountable obstacles. We can accept it through discussion, but a lot depends on your performance, I should say, on the performance of all moon colonists. However, there have been riots on the moon and the destruction of lunar properties. This is absolutely not allowed .” I waited for him to mention the ninety dead peacekeepers.But he didn't.I'll never be a politician, I'll never be as high as this one. "Destroyed property must be compensated," he continued, "promises must be fulfilled. If your institution, your so-called 'Parliament' can guarantee these, then this so-called 'Parliament' can act as an agent of the government during this period." Domestic affairs. Indeed, we believe that a stable local government can perform many of the duties of a protector during this period, and you may even send a non-voting representative to the United Nations. However, you must win us over by your own performance this acknowledgment. "However, one thing must be made clear. The moon, the principal satellite of the earth, is the common property of all earthlings according to the law of nature. It does not belong to the few people who happen to live there for historical reasons. As for the moon belonging to the earth, the lunar government The sacred trusteeship assumed is, and must always be, paramount." ("—historical reasons"? Hey, I don't think the professor would agree with that, I think he'd say—no, I can never guess what the professor would say. Here's what he said.) After a few seconds of silence, the professor said, "Dear Chairman, whose turn is it to be exiled now?" "What did you say?" "Have you thought about exiling one of you to the moon to serve as Warden now? The former deputy of the Warden of the Moon will not take the job." It's true, he'd prefer to be alive," he said now Still working because we asked him to. If you still think we are not an independent nation, then you must send a new Warden." "protector!" “监守长官！我们不要玩文字游戏了。当然，如果我们知道他是谁，我们会很高兴地称他为'大使'，我们会和他一起工作。但你们没有必要让他带一群持有武器的恶棍一起来……强奸和杀戮我们的妇女！” “秩序！秩序！陈述人请遵守秩序。” “不是我不守秩序，尊敬的主席，强奸和杀戮是最污秽的。但那是历史，而我们必须面对将来。你将要放逐谁呢？” 教授吃力地用肘部撑起自己，我突然警觉起来。 “你们都知道，先生，那必然是一次单程旅行。我出生在这里，你们都知道我付出了多大的努力才回到——哪怕是暂时地回到这个剥夺我权利的星球，我们是被地球遗弃的——” 他突然倒下了，我从椅子上站起来想拉住他，但我也倒下了。我看到了他朝我使的眼色，但这也不完全是演戏。在地球上站起来时心脏将承受巨大的作用力，强大的重力场攫住了我，把我击倒在地。