Chapter 5 chapter Five

That night, I made my fourth and final lookout of the day from the room, and for the first time in my life noticed something unusual.I can't tell what the situation is, just a vague feeling, a mix of smells and sounds, a feeling of reaching a large group of people.I was very worried, and I watched for a long time on the instrument, but in the end I still didn't get more information. Then I started thinking about what I should do. The Watchman is trained from a young age to sound the alarm quickly, and the alarm must be sounded when he feels the Earth is threatened.Should I report Earth Guardian now?I've had four alarms, each false positive; and every lookout who blundered and caused unnecessary fuss had his status greatly compromised: one contributed his brain to the memory bank, one became a eunuch and was humiliated , one who smashed his own apparatus and joined the ranks of the incompetent, and another, who tried in vain to continue his old trade, only to find himself ridiculed by all his peers.I don't think it makes sense to laugh at a person who raised the alarm by mistake. Isn't it better to send an alarm too quickly than not to send it?However, this is the rule of our group, and I have to abide by it.

After weighing again and again, I decided that I was not very sure of calling the police. I thought again of Gorman's hint.Maybe I was influenced by him, he joked that the invasion was coming. I can't sound the alarm.I dare not affect my status by acting blindly.I don't trust how I feel during mood swings. I did not sound the alarm. I was a little excited and irritable. After turning off the observation equipment, I fell asleep in a daze. As soon as I woke up in the morning, I went straight to the window, expecting to find an intruder in the street.But everything remains the same: the gray winter mist fills the courtyard, sleepy attendants drive listless eunuchs away.I made my first lookout with apprehension, and to my relief, I didn't have the strange feeling I had the night before, although I've always believed that my instincts are better at night than during the day.

After breakfast, I went out to the yard.Gorman and Afluela were there.She seemed tired and lost, and spending the night with the Prince seemed to take a lot of her energy, but I didn't say anything.Looking down at a wall decorated with glowing shells of molluscs, the haughty Gorman said to me, "Is your lookout alright?" "fine." "How's your day?" "Let's go to Rome," I said. "Are you going? Afluela? Gorman?" "Of course," he said, and she nodded slightly; and we went out, like tourists, to see this magnificent city.

Gorman is like a guide, explaining Rome's complicated history, not at all like someone who has never been here.Along the way, we walked along the winding streets, and Gorman explained to us like a historian wherever we went.Buildings that are thousands of years old can be seen everywhere on the street.Power stations with cupolas from the Second Age, the Colosseum, where men and beasts fought like jungle animals long ago.From the ruins of this eerie building, Gorman tells us the bloody story of what happened here in the distant past. "They fought each other," he said, "naked, and there was a large crowd. Men challenged with their bare hands a beast they called a lion, a long-haired cat with a huge head. When the lion lay in a pool of blood , the victor asks the Roman prince for pardon for the crime for which he was sent to this Colosseum. If he behaves well, the prince makes a gesture and he is set free." Gore Mann also demonstrates the gesture for us: thumbs up, shaking the right shoulder several times quickly.

"But if this person shows the slightest cowardice, or if the lion dies heroically, the prince will make another gesture, and this person will be killed by another wild beast." Gorman also demonstrated this gesture: make a fist , stretched out the middle finger upwards, and made a short and powerful upward movement. "How do you know this?" Afluela asked, but Gorman pretended not to hear. We also saw a row of fusion iron towers built in the third era to absorb energy from the center of the earth. Although they are now rusty, they are still functioning.We see the shattered stump of a climate-control tower from the Second Era, still a very tall pillar, at least as tall as twenty men.On a hill stood the marble remnants of the First Age, like clumps of dead flowers pale in winter.Entering the inner city, we saw a row of dense defensive horns, ready to gather the power of the holy will at any time to resist the invaders.At a fair, we find some aliens haggling with farmers for antique scraps they dug up.

Gorman strode over and bought some too.We pass a butcher shop for alien visitors from far away, where you can buy anything from quasi-creatures to ice cubes of passion.We had lunch in a small restaurant by the River Tever, where no one would expect much service.At Gorman's insistence, we ate a pile of soft bread-like things and drank a sour rice wine, both local specialties. We then walked through a vaulted street full of small vendors hawking alien wares, pricey African trinkets and local bargains.Out of this street, there is an open-air square with a boat-shaped fountain and a section of dilapidated stone steps behind it, extending to a place full of gravel and weeds.Gorman beckoned, we got into this dim place, and soon arrived in front of a gorgeous palace, which looked like a building from the second era or even the first era, standing silently on a green hillside.

"It is said that this is the center of the world," Gorman announced. "There is also a place called the center of the world in Jerusalem. It is marked on the map." "The earth is round," Afluela asked, "where does the center come from?" Gorman smiled.We entered the temple, and in the cold darkness stood a large jeweled globe, illuminated by a light from within. "This is your world," Gorman said solemnly. "Wow!" exclaimed Afluela. "It's got it all! It's got it all!" The craftsmanship of the globe is quite superb.The contours and elevations of the land are harmonious and natural, the ocean looks like a clear pool, the arid desert makes people feel thirsty at the first sight, and the city seems to be full of vitality.I saw above them the plates of the continents, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and wide oceans, and the golden land bridge over which, not so long ago, I crossed it on foot with great difficulty.Afluela rushed forward, pointing at Rome, Egypt for a while, Jerusalem, and Paris for a while.She gently patted the high mountain area in northern India, and said softly: "I was born here. It is snow-covered all the year round, and the mountains are so high that you can touch the moon. This is the kingdom of flying people." Her fingers pointed to the far east in the west. The region slipped away and fell on Egypt through the terrible desert of Arabia. "This is where I flew, at night, of course. When I was no longer a little girl, we had to fly, and here I was. A hundred times I thought I was going to die. Here, In the desert, the flying sand got into my throat and hindered my flight. I was thrown to the ground and lay naked on the hot sand for several days. Another flying man found me, and he fell down. He took pity on me and took me to the sky. In the air, I regained my strength and flew with him to Egypt. While flying over the ocean, he died. Although he was young and strong, the fire of his life suddenly It went out and fell into the sea. I also flew down to stay with him. The sea water was still hot at night. I floated and floated. In the morning, I saw living stones growing in the water like trees. He Floating on the surface of the water with wings spread, fishes of all colors swam up and pecked at his flesh, so I left him and let him rest there. I flew into the sky and flew all the way to Egypt, a man was terrified , then I met you, Watchman." She smiled shyly at me. "Show us where you were when you were young, Watcher."

I suddenly felt my knees stiffen, and I struggled to walk to the other side of the globe.Afluela followed me, and Gorman stayed behind, as if he wasn't interested at all.I pointed to two long strips of islands emerging from the ocean—the last vestiges of the Old World. "Here," I said, pointing to the island where my home is in the west, "is where I was born." "So far!" cried Afluela. "And a long time ago," I said, "sometimes it seems to me in the middle of the Second Era." "No! That's impossible!" But she stared at me, as if thinking that I might really be thousands of years old.

I smiled and touched her smooth cheek. "I just think that's it," I said. "When did you leave your hometown?" "When I was twice your age," I said, "I got here first." I pointed to the islands to the east. "Twelve years as a lookout in Pallas, and then the divine will directed me to cross the sea to Africa, and so I did. Through those hot countries, I went as far as Egypt, where I met a little flying man " I was silent, looking at the island that used to be my hometown for a long time, a young and strong me appeared in my mind, climbing the green mountains, swimming in the cold ocean, looking out on the white sandy beach where the waves beat, It doesn't look like it is now, haggard and weak.

I was lost in the remembrance of the past, Afluela had left me, went to Gorman and said, "It's your turn. Tell me where you came from, ugly man!" Gorman shrugged. "That place isn't up here." "impossible!" "Really?" he asked back. She kept pressing him, but he avoided it.We returned to the streets of Rome through the side entrance. I was very tired, but Afluela was hungry and wanted to see Rome in one afternoon.We continued on through the labyrinth of streets, past the stately quarters of eunuchs and merchants, down to the squalid quarters of servants and vendors in the catacombs, where clowns and musicians lived, where wizards sold their A store that makes people doubtful.A fat sorceress invites us in to buy truths they've acquired in a fugue state.Afluela urges us to go in, but Gorman shakes his head, and I laugh it off and move on.Now we are at the edge of a park near the center of the city.The citizens of Rome showed a remarkable vigor in their walks, which is rarely seen in the hot Egypt.We joined the team.

"Look there!" cried Afluela. "It's so bright!" She pointed to a huge glowing curved building, which contained some things left over from ancient Rome; I set up a pergola with my hands, looked around, and found a weathered wall and a group of people inside."That's 'Mouth of Truth,'" Gorman said. "What?" Afluela asked. "Let's go and have a look." A group of people were walking in, and we followed behind, and soon reached the entrance inside.We stand on the threshold and gaze into this eternal place.I don't understand why these relics are under such special protection. I asked Gorman, whose knowledge is extremely profound, which can be compared with historians.He replied: "Because this is a place of absolute truth, where everyone's words are completely consistent with the facts." "I still don't get it," Afluela said. "It's impossible to lie here," Gorman told her. "What other relic could be worthy of such protection?" He stepped across the entrance, and as the threshold darkened, I hurried to follow. Afluela hesitated, and it took a long time to step in.There was another pause on the threshold, as if the wind at the junction connecting the great world outside and the small universe inside blocked her way. The Mouth of Truth is housed in a compartment.The line marking the boundary continued here, and a serious-looking indexer directed the flow of people to the shrine.It didn't take long for the three of us to enter, standing in front of a vicious monster.It is a relief with a mottled wall behind it.The monster's mouth was opened wide, and inside was a large, eerie, dark hole.Gorman nodded, inspecting the monster, seemingly pleased to find that it was exactly as he had imagined it to be. "What are we here for?" Afluela asked. Gorman said, "Watchman, put your right hand in the Mouth of Truth." I frowned, but did it anyway. "Now," Gorman said, "one of us asks a question, and you have to answer. If you don't tell the truth, the Mouth of Truth will close and cut off your hand." "No!" cried Afluela. I looked uneasily at the stone mouth that surrounded my wrist.A lookout without hands is like a person without a skill.In the Second Era, people could have artificial hands that were more dexterous than real ones, but that era is long, long gone.It is difficult to buy such a sophisticated thing on earth now. "How is this possible?" I asked. "Divine Providence is especially efficacious in this respect," Gorman replied. "It makes a strict distinction between true and false. Behind this wall lie three wizards through whom the Divine Will manifests, and they three control the Mouth of Truth. Are you afraid of the Divine Will, Watcher?" "I'm afraid of my own mouth." "Be brave. Don't lie before this wall. Don't lose a hand." "Come on," I said, "who's going to ask questions?" "I'll do it," Gorman said. "Tell me, lookout: honestly, do you think it's wise to spend your life on the lookout?" I was silent for a long time, looking at the big mouth, thinking hard. At last I said: "To devote one's life to the vigilance of one's fellow man is perhaps the noblest purpose of a man." "Careful!" Gorman exclaimed, warning me. "I'm not done yet," I said. "Go on." "But if the vigilant enemy is imaginary, then this life will be wasted; if the enemy does not come, but to be complacent about being on the lookout for a long time, it is stupid and sinful. My life is wasted." The big mouth didn't move. I took my hand out and stared at it as if it had just grown from my wrist.I suddenly felt several epochs older.Afluela's eyes widened and her hands were on her lips, as if stunned by what I had just said.My words froze in the air, in front of this hideous statue. "You're honest," Gorman said, "but you don't take yourself too seriously. You're too hasty in your evaluation of yourself, lookout." "I told the truth to save my hand," I said. "Will you let me lie?" He smiled and said to Afluela, "Now it's your turn." Little Flying Man was obviously very scared, she walked up to Da Zui, tremblingly put her slender hands on the cold stone slab.I was ready to rush up and free her from the demon's jaws any moment. "Who's going to ask her?" I asked. "Me," Gorman said. The wings under Afluela's clothes moved slightly.She was pale, her nostrils flapped, her upper lip rubbed her lower lip.She leaned against the wall limply, staring at her hands in horror.The people outside the room were looking at us, their faces couldn't be seen clearly, but their pursed lips showed that they were getting impatient, that we had been in front of the big mouth for too long.But we couldn't hear what they said.It was warm and damp here, with a strong musty smell, like that of an old well. Gorman said slowly: "Last night, you offered your body to the prince. Before that, you promised that you belonged to Gorman the Ugly, even though such a union is forbidden by law. Further on , you are the spouse of a flying man, but he is dead. You may have other men too, but I have never heard of it, but that is irrelevant to the question I am asking. Tell me, Afluela: Which of these three makes you happiest, who most evokes your deepest emotions, who would you most choose to be your spouse, if you had to choose?" I want to protest that the ugly man asks three questions in one go, it's not fair, he obviously took advantage.But before I could speak, Afluela replied without hesitation, putting his hand deeply into his big mouth: "The prince gave me happiness that I have never experienced before, but he is indifferent and cruel, I despise him; I love my flying man most, but he is too weak, and I don't want a mate who is weak; and you, Gorman, though still strange to me now, I don't know your body and soul, we The gap between them still exists, but it's the people I want to be with in the future." She stuck her hand out of her big mouth. "Well said!" said Gorman, clearly shocked by her words, but also encouraged. "In a hurry, uh, you're suddenly very eloquent. Now it's time for me to try my luck." He approached Dazui.I said, "You have already asked two questions in succession, why don't you ask the third question in one go?" "No," he said.He made an indifferent gesture with his other hand. "You two add up, let's ask a question together." Afluela and I discussed it, and she quickly thought of a question that I just wanted to ask, so I agreed to ask her. She said: "We were standing in front of the globe and I told you to point to your birthplace and you said it was weird. Now tell me: you are just a globetrotter Ugly?" He replied, "I'm not." It can be said that his words only answered half of the question, which is not enough.He put his hand in his big mouth and continued: "I don't tell you where I was born, because I was not born on the earth, but on another planet, but I can't tell you. Although I am not good-looking, but Not what you call ugly, because I'm a disguise, and in my country I'm another. I've lived here for ten years." "What is your purpose on earth?" I asked. "I only have one question to answer," Gorman said, and then he laughed again. "But I still answer you: I came to Earth to shoulder the heavy responsibility of military reconnaissance and prepare for our invasion. You have been watching this for so long, and you don't believe that such a day will come, but all this will happen in a few hours. It will come upon you." "Lies!" I roared, "a bunch of lies!" Gorman laughed, and his hand came back from the mouth, intact and unharmed.