Chapter 8 chapter eight

The inn of the palace was deserted.The eunuchs and squires have fled, and the guardians of the earth, the eunuchs, and the rulers have probably all died honorably in battle.The historian Basil, together with his colleagues, is also missing.I went back to the room, washed up, cleared my head, ate something, packed my simple luggage, and waved goodbye to the luxury I only enjoyed for one night.It is a pity that my stay in Rome was too short, but fortunately I had an excellent guide, Gorman, who benefited me a lot. Now I am ready to leave Rome. It would not be wise to stay in Rome.The thinking helmet in the room didn't respond to my request. Now I don't know how serious our failure is, but one thing is clear, Rome has changed hands, and I hope to get out of here as soon as possible.I considered going to Jerusalem, which was the suggestion given to me by the tall historian when we entered the city, but after thinking about it, I chose the route going west, to Paris, because the road was short and the historian's Headquarters are located there.

My former profession no longer existed, and on the first morning of the Earth's conquest, I had a sudden and strong urge to go to historians and ask them about the splendid history of our planet. At noon, I left the hotel.I went to the temple first, the door was still open, and there were beggars lying here and there, some unconscious, some still sleeping, and some already dead. Judging from their appearance, they were panic-stricken and Killing each other in frenzy.In the chapel, an indexer crouched despondently next to the skull interrogator, and as soon as I walked in he said, "It's not working. The brain isn't responding at all."

"How is the Prince Roman?" "Dead. The intruder hit him in the air." "There's a trapeze next to him. Do you know how she is?" "I don't know. Maybe he died too." "What about Rome?" "It's fallen. Invaders everywhere." "massacre?" "Not even muggers," said the Indexer. "They were very nice. They just took us over." "Just in Rome, or is it the same everywhere?" The indexer shrugged and began to rock back and forth rhythmically, and I left him and continued towards the palace.The prince's bedroom was unguarded, and I went in alone, and was amazed at the sumptuous hangings, draperies, furnishings, and furniture inside.I went from room to room, and finally came to the prince's bedroom. The sheets were woven from the muscles of an alien bivalves, and the two shells were opened wide, like yawning. The texture of the sheets was so soft that I Caressing, and thinking of the Prince sleeping on it, and Afluela, I would have burst into tears if I was young.

I left the palace, walked slowly across the square, and started my trip to Paris. At this moment, I caught my first glimpse of our conqueror.An alien car drove to the side of the square, and a dozen people walked out.They were still human, tall and broad, thick-chested, like Gormans, only their strangely long arms indicated that they were from another planet.Their skin is very strange, if I can get close to them, I can see that their eyes, noses, lips are not human at all.Oblivious to me, they strode across the plaza, looking curious, their brisk gait reminding me immediately of the way Gorman walked.They entered the palace without swagger or aggressiveness.

It's for sightseeing again.Once again, Rome reveals her timeless charm to alien visitors. I ignored our new master and continued on towards the outskirts of Rome.My heart is like the severe winter, a desolation.I don't know: am I sad that Rome has fallen, or am I mourning the loss of Afluela?Or is it three times in a row that I haven't done a lookout now, and I'm already addicted and can't get over the pain of withdrawal?I feel like these are the causes of my pain, especially the last one. Not a single person entering the city could be seen on the road, perhaps hiding in fear of Rome's new masters.Occasionally a few alien vehicles drove past me, but no one bothered me.In the evening, I arrived at the west gate, the city gate was not closed, and I could see the hill outside, which was full of towering trees.When I went out of the city gate, I found a pilgrim not far away, also walking slowly towards the outside of the city.

I quickly caught up with him. I wondered how he staggered, for in spite of his thick brown robes he could still be seen as a strong young man, with broad shoulders and a straight waist, but he hesitated as he walked. Yu and Trembling Weiwei looked like old men.As I walked beside him, I looked up at his visor and realized what was going on: it turned out that there was an additional reflector on the bronze visor worn by the pilgrims, which was used to warn the blind to avoid obstacles and dangers. reflectors of objects.Sensing someone beside him, he said, "I'm blind, please don't bother me."

It was not a pilgrim's voice, strong and stern and haughty. I replied, "I'm not going to trouble anyone. I'm a lookout, and our career ended last night." "Many careers ended last night, Watchman." "But the Pilgrims don't." "Yes," he said, "the Pilgrims will not end." "where are you going?" "Leave Rome." "No definite destination?" "No," said the pilgrim, "I have no purpose, I shall wander about." "Perhaps we can wander together," I said, for it was said that traveling with pilgrims would bring good luck, and besides, without Afluela and Gorman, I was traveling alone. "I'm going to Paris, would you like to go?"

"Other places are fine," he said bitterly. "Well, I'll go to Paris with you. But what can a lookout do in Paris?" "A lookout is no use anywhere. I came to Paris to apprentice to a historian." "Oh..." he said, "I belong to the Society of Historians too, but only as an honorary member." "Earth has fallen, and I want to learn more about Earth's glorious history." "You mean the whole earth has fallen, not just Rome?" "I think so," I said. "Oh—," he said, "oh—!" He said nothing more and we moved on.I extended my arm to him, and he stopped stumbling, but walked with the brisk steps of a young man.Sometimes, too, he grunted or sighed.I asked him how the Pilgrims were doing, and he either talked about him or didn't say anything at all.After we walked for an hour, when we reached the forest area, he suddenly said, "This mask hurts me, can you straighten me up?"

As he spoke, he took off the mask, and I held my breath in surprise, because pilgrims are not allowed to show their faces.Did he forget that I am not blind?After removing the mask, he said, "You're not going to like this face." The bronze lattice visor slid from his forehead, and the first thing I saw was a pair of newly blinded eyes, holes so large that they couldn't have been gouged out with a scalpel, only with fingers.Then came the pointy regal nose, and finally the tight lips characteristic of a Roman prince. "Your Majesty!" I couldn't help shouting. There were still traces of blood flow on his cheeks, and there was ointment around the holes in his eyes.I thought, he didn't hurt at all, because the green ointment relieved his pain, but I suddenly felt heartache.

"Stop calling me Your Majesty," he said. "Help me with this mask!" He handed me the mask tremblingly. "The rim of the hood was probably stretched out, pressing down on my cheeks. Here—here—" I quickly adjusted him to avoid seeing his horrible face again. He put the mask back on. "I'm a pilgrim now. Leave me alone if you like, Watcher. Or help me to Paris; and if I'm restored to the throne some day, I'll do you no wrong." "I won't ignore you," I told him. We move on silently.I don't know how to talk to such a person.A trip to Paris will be dull, and I am now his guide.I think of Gorman, who really kept his word.I thought of Afluela, too, and more than a hundred times I had come close to asking the beleaguered prince how his concubine was doing last night, but I couldn't find out.

Evening was coming, but the golden-red sun was still hanging in the west, shining on us. Suddenly, a shadow flew over our heads, and I stopped suddenly with a surprised sound in my throat. Afluela soars through the air, her skin reflecting the colors of the setting sun, her wings stretched to their fullest, reflecting the rainbow light.She was as tall as a hundred men now and rising, and I was but a speck in the bush to her. "What is the matter?" asked the Prince, "what do you see?" "nothing." "Tell me what you saw!" I can't lie to him. "I saw a flying man, Your Majesty. A very slender little girl, flying very high." "Then it must be night by now." "No," I said, "the sun's still on the horizon." "How is that possible? She only has Nightwing. Flying the solar wind now will throw her back to the ground." I hesitated to speak.I couldn't explain to him how Afluela flew during the day, even though she only had nightwings.Not to mention that there was the intruder Gorman next to the flying man. Although he had no wings, he flew very easily. His arms were on her thin shoulders to support her, helping her balance her body and resist the pressure of the solar wind.I can't say that his nemesis is flying through the air with his last concubine at this time. "Is it true?" he asked again. "How does she fly during the day?" "I don't know," I said, "I think it's a mystery. There are so many things I don't understand these days." He fell silent again.I wanted to call out to Afluela, but I knew she couldn't hear me.I led the blind Roman prince towards the sunset, towards Paris.The figures of Afluela and Gorman were clearly visible in the setting sun. Finally, they flew farther and farther and disappeared from my field of vision.