Chapter 6 Chapter Six

Kylaritan said: "We have made all the arrangements for your investigation of the mysterious tunnel. Dr. Schelling, in an hour, you will come down from the hotel where you are staying, and there will be a car waiting at the door." "Okay," Schelling said, "see you in an hour." The chubby psychologist put down the phone and looked solemnly at himself in the mirror opposite the bed. The face in the mirror looked troubled, and seemed a little thin and haggard.He pulled his cheeks with his hands to see if they were still the same.Yes, it hasn't changed at all, it's still the familiar fat face, not a single ounce of flesh has been lost.But haggard can never be hidden.

Xie Lin didn't sleep well last night... He barely closed his eyes, and he still doesn't feel sleepy... He only ate a little food yesterday, and now he doesn't even feel hungry at all.The idea of ​​going downstairs to have breakfast never crossed his mind, and he didn't feel hungry at all, which was incompatible with his gluttonous nature. Didn't he know that this melancholy mood was the result of yesterday's conversation with some of Kylaritan's unfortunate patients?Or is it simply a fear of walking through mysterious tunnels? It is true that the conversation with the three patients was quite laborious.He has been in clinical practice for a long time, and it is clear that during his time with the teachers at Salo University, he has undercut the professional indifference that rehabilitation medical workers have towards patients: neither overcome by sentimentality nor pitied shaken.Xie Lin was surprised by this, how could he become so soft-hearted and sympathetic?

The first patient... Harim the dock porter... looked quite solid, but fifteen minutes of travel through dark and mysterious tunnels had made him so, just one more memory trauma. Incoherent, hysterical.This is really worrying. The two patients who visited in the afternoon were in worse condition. Justin 190, a primary school teacher, despite her cute and intelligent black eyes, is extremely fragile.She did not cry for only a short time.He spoke clearly at first, but became incoherent after a few words. High school athlete Chim Millett '97, obviously a perfect athlete... Sherin couldn't forget yesterday afternoon when he opened the curtains and the boy reacted to the sunlight.As soon as the curtains were drawn and the light of Onas came in from the west, all the handsome boy could do was to keep saying "dark...dark..." under the bed.

Darkness... terrible darkness... At this moment, Xie Lin's face was full of sadness, and these two words were always in his mind.The next step is his turn to enter the mysterious tunnel. Of course, he could refuse it outright.It wasn't part of his contract with the Joel City Council.He could have taken another effective measure without risking his own life. But he kept thinking about the tunnel in his heart.Professional vanity... if that was the only motivation... was driving him towards the mouth of the tunnel.The purpose of his coming here is to study the condition of the victims, help them recover as soon as possible, and prevent similar tragedies from happening again.If you don't visit the site in person, how can you explain everything that happened in the tunnel?He had to go or he would be charged with malfeasance.

Nor did he want anyone here in Jolle, even those he didn't know, to accuse him of cowardice. He remembered the sentence that was ridiculed when he was a child: "Fat coward! Fat coward!" At that time, he didn't want to climb a tree because he was too fat and uncoordinated, so he couldn't climb it at all.But he still bears the reputation of a coward. But not all fat people are timid, and Schelling understood that.He was satisfied that he was a clear-headed and sound-minded person, and he didn't want anyone to make any wrong assumptions because of his timid appearance.

Furthermore, less than one in 10 people who entered the mysterious tunnel came out with symptoms of emotional confusion.It can be concluded that the victim was emotionally vulnerable in some way, while he himself was a sane and emotionally stable person.He encouraged himself not to be afraid of anything. Not afraid of... anything... anything... He repeated these words to himself until his emotions stabilized. Even so, Schelling looked uncharacteristically less cheerful than usual as he descended the stairs to wait for his bus. Kylaritan and Chubero were already downstairs, and a striking woman named Varita 312 introduced herself to Schelling.She is one of the tunnel designers.

Schelling warmly shook hands with them one by one with a smile on his face. "It's a nice day to go to the amusement park," Schelling said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. Kylaritan looked at him strangely. "Glad you feel that way. Did you sleep well, Dr. Schelling?" "Very well, thanks. . . as expected, I should say, especially after watching those unfortunates yesterday." "But yesterday you were not optimistic about the patient's recovery?" asked the lawyer Chubello. "I am." Schelling's answer was somewhat ambiguous.

The car moves smoothly along the street. "It takes about twenty minutes to get to the Centennial Fair," Kylaritan said. "The Fair is very busy...every day...but we've roped off a large part of the play area so we don't get overwhelmed." Excuse me. You know, the tunnels have been closed since the trouble was all over the place." "Are you talking about dead people?" "We didn't open the mystery tunnel after the accident," Chubello said, "but you have to know that we considered closing it earlier. The problem is the judgment of the nature of the victims in the tunnel." , a real injury, or an occasional bout of hysteria."

"Of course," Schelling said, his voice a little dry. "The city council won't let such a profitable business close without a good reason. Unless a group of tourists fell off the tour bus and died." The atmosphere in the car became tense. After a while, Kylaritan said: "The tunnel is not only a place to make profits, but also a place that everyone who attends the fair yearns for. Dr. Schelling, as far as I know, thousands of people are turned away every day. outside the door." "The first day of tunneling had the insanity of Harim's family. Is something so obvious that people are going to be chasing it?"

"That particular reason, Doctor," Chubello replied. "yes?" "Forgive me for playing tricks in front of you," the lawyer flattered. "I want to remind you that being scared when playing games is a charm. People are born with three fears: fear of high sounds, fear of falling and fear of the dark. It is With these three fears, they play obsessively many absurd games for thrills: they pounce on people to hiss, ride a roller coaster to get emotional changes. So it is not difficult to see why people are flocking to the mysterious tunnel .They come out of the dark, panting, trembling, half-dead with fright. Still, they keep paying to go in. The fact that the few people who walk out of the tunnel in terror only adds to the charm of the tunnel.”

"Most people think they're strong enough to withstand the intimidation that other people are subjected to, isn't that true?" "Quite right, Doctor." "What about the dead people who were frightened to death instead of high tension when they came out? Even so, the bosses of the expo would not consider closing the tunnel. It is conceivable that once the news of the dead people is spread, the number of customers who come to play will plummet.” "Oh, it's the opposite." Chubero said with a smile, with a smug look, "that psychological mechanism is still at work, even stronger than before. People with bad hearts want to enter the tunnel because they want to Risk your life...why should you be surprised by what happened to them? The whole thing was discussed in depth at the council and it was finally decided to have a doctor in the office by the front door and everyone who went in had to go through the Physical examination before letting them board the open-top tour bus. This move has greatly increased the box office rate!" "In that case," Schelling retorted, "why is the tunnel closed now? According to what you said, business is booming now! The queue for visitors has moved from Choller to Kunaba, and the crowd in front has moved slightly. , The crowd behind immediately rushed up like a tide." "Dr. Schelling!" "Yo, since death doesn't frighten people, why are the tunnels still closed?" "It's about the insurance money," Chubello said. "Ah, of course." "Despite the creepy word 'dead' you just used, the actual death toll was a small number...I think three or five. The families of the dead have received adequate compensation and the cases have been closed .The problem we have at the end is not the number of people who died, but those who are still alive and suffering. It turns out that some people are going to spend a lot of time in the hospital. . . It is a constant cost, a market Long-term payouts to finances and insurance companies." "I understand," Xie Lin said, with dissatisfaction in his words, "when a person dies, it's a one-shot deal. Pay some money to keep the family members alive, and the matter will be over. If they stay in the hospital for several years and months, The cost will be prohibitively high for you." "It may sound harsh," Chubello said, "but it's an important issue that the council has to consider." "Dr. Schelling seemed a little agitated this morning," Kylaritan told the lawyer, "probably annoyed at the thought of tunneling." "Not at all," said Schelling immediately. "Of course, you understand that you don't have to go..." "It is necessary," Schelling said. There was silence in the car.With a serious face, Schelling watched the ever-changing scenery outside the window. The strange trees with horny scales on their bark, the flower bushes full of strange rust-colored flowers, and the tall and thin buildings with pointed peaks, all of them were from Schelling's. before the eyes.In this part of the north, Schelling had never traveled so far.Everything here is so unpleasant, especially those glib and cynical people are incompatible.He thought to himself, wishing he could return to Salo immediately. But first and foremost...the mysterious tunnel... The Choller Centennial Expo is distributed in a large park area to the east of the city, which is a small city in itself, full of characteristics and spectacular.Schelling was estimating when suddenly he saw fountains, arcades, and towers of pink and turquoise glistening in hard plastic of various colors.The huge exhibition halls display treasures, industrial exhibits and the latest scientific wonders sent from the provinces of Kalgesh.Everywhere he went, there were beautiful and novel things that interested him.Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of people wander this elegantly lit boulevard. Schelling had always heard people say that the Choller Centennial Exposition was one of the wonders of the world, and what I saw lived up to its reputation.Without privileges, it's hard to get this visit.This period lasts for three years, and the exposition to commemorate the birth of this city will only come once every 100 years. It is said that this time is the largest among the five centennial expositions that have been held.Indeed, he felt an overpowering thrill that he had not had for a long time, that he had felt long ago, when walking on the manicured lawn.He hopes to visit here on his own later in the week. But as the car rounded the edge of the fair and brought them to the back entrance of the entertainment area, the thought died instantly.Here, as Kylaritan said, large areas were roped off, and as with Chubero and Kylaritan, the sullen crowd looked annoyed toward the roped area.Varita 312 led him towards the mysterious tunnel.Sherin could hear their angry grunts, a low growl that made him uneasy, even a little frightened. Only then did he realize that the lawyer was telling the complete truth.People were outraged because the tunnels were closed. They're jealous, Schelling thought.They knew we were going into the tunnel and wanted to go in, regardless of what was going on there. "Let's go in from here," Varita said. The front of the tunnel is a massive pyramidal structure, where the faces meet to form a singular and dizzying spire.In the center of the tower is a six-sided entrance, and the intersections of each side are painted with scarlet and golden paint, making the six sides more prominent. The gate had been sealed with thick wooden strips. Varita took out the key, opened a small door on the left side of the tower, and they walked in. Everything inside is more ordinary than imagined.Schelling saw a row of metal railings, apparently used to control the queue.Behind the railing was a platform like that of a railway station, on which a string of small convertibles were parked.After the convertible is... darkness. Chubello said: "Doctor, if you don't mind, please sign here first." Xie Lin looked at the page handed over by the lawyer. It was full of words, densely packed, blurred, and dazzling. "what is this?" "Charter, standard document." "Sign, of course." Xie Lin signed his name briskly with a swipe of the pen without even looking at the content. Not afraid, he told himself, not afraid of anything. Varita312 handed him a small device. "It's a dropout switch," she explained. "The full drive lasts fifteen minutes, but if you've learned what you want to know...or start to feel uncomfortable...you just hit this green switch , the lights will come on. The convertible will quickly reach the end of the tunnel and turn back to the station where it started.” "Thanks," Schelling said, "I don't think I need to." "But you should have it, just in case." "My plan is to experience the whole thing," he told her, a little proud of his showing off. But you have to be bold and careful in doing things, he reminded himself.Although the dropout switch is not intended to be used, it would be ill-advised not to include it. Even just in case. He strode onto the platform.Kylaritan and Chubello stared at him closely, as if trying to see through him.He could almost hear what they were thinking: the big fat fool was going to be a softie inside.Oh, let them think so. Varita walks away.Apparently, she was going to the tunneling mechanism. Yes, she was in place, standing in the control room overhanging to the right, signaling that everything was ready. "Doctor, are you going to get in the car..." Kylaritan said. "Of course, definitely." Less than one tenth were harmed.These people are emotionally unstable and have a natural fear of the dark.I'm not that kind of person, I'm an emotionally stable person. He got into the car.Seat belts are required.It took him a lot of effort to adjust the seat belt to the size of his waist and put it on.The convertible slides forward slowly, very slowly. Darkness awaits him. Less than a tenth, less than a tenth. He knew what dark-phobia was all about.He was convinced that this knowledge would protect him from any harm.Although human beings are instinctively afraid of the dark, this does not mean that the absence of light will cause harm to human beings. What is it that does the harm?That, Schelling understood, was a human reaction to darkness.The way to deal with it is to stay calm.Darkness is just darkness, a change in the external environment.We hate darkness because we live in a place where there is no darkness, where there are six suns that always shine.At any time, there are four suns shining.Usually three are in the sky, and there's never been a case where two or less suns are in the sky...not to mention, any one of them can shine enough light to ward off the darkness. no light... Darkness has fallen... dark! Schelling had driven into the tunnel.The last ray of light had disappeared behind him, and what Xie Lin saw was a vast black world.There was nothing ahead: nothingness.black hole?abyss?The boundless black zone?He sat in the car and stumbled forward to exercise. He felt sweat pouring out, drenching his whole body. His knees began to shake.The forehead swelled violently.He raised his hand to his face, but couldn't see anything. dropout switch...dropout switch...dropout... Can't see it, can't see it all. He sat upright, his back was stiff, he showed no expression, his eyes were wide open, staring at the black world of nothingness that was shuttling, moving forward step by step.In the depths of his soul, primordial fear began to boil, puffing up.He tried his best to control himself and try to remain calm. The sun was still shining outside the tunnel, he told himself. This is temporary.Fourteen minutes and thirty seconds later, you can return to the light. Fourteen minutes and twenty seconds. Fourteen minutes and ten seconds. Fourteen points... However, is the car moving?He couldn't tell.Maybe not moving.The convertible engine has no sound and no data to refer to.What if you are trapped?He was puzzled.Sitting here in the dark, unable to tell me where, what happened, or how much time has passed?Fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, half an hour?Until it's more than my spirit can handle, and then... Good thing I had the dropout switch in hand. But what if it fails?What if the light doesn't turn on when you press it down? I see, might as well give it a try and see... Fatty is cowardly!Fat coward! No!No!Don't touch it!Once the lights are turned on, they cannot be turned off again.Never use the dropout switch, or they'll know...they'll all know... Fat people are timid, fat people are cowards... Suddenly, something amazing happened: he threw the cutout switch into the darkness.There was a slight thump as it hit the ground, and then deathly silence again.He was empty-handed and frightening. dark…… dark…… Infinite darkness.He fell into a bottomless abyss.Sinking... sinking... sinking continuously, sinking into the bottomless darkness, the darkness that swallows everything... Take a deep breath and stay calm! What if the brain is permanently damaged? Stay calm, he told himself, and you'll be fine.Eleven minutes at most, maybe only six or seven minutes.The sun is shining outside.Persist for six or seven minutes, and there will be no more darkness.Even if you live to be a thousand years old, there will be no more darkness. dark…… oh my god the darkness... calm down!calm down!Schelling, you are a very stable person.You are very sane.Waking up in the dark, going out will still be awake. Tick, tick, tick.With each passing second, the exit gets closer.Wouldn't it be the other way around?There is no end to walking.I will be stuck here forever.Tick, tick, tick.am i movingFive minutes, five seconds?Or is it still the first minute? Tick, tick. Why don't you let me out?Don't they know how much I suffer here? They don't want you out.They won't let you out.They will…… Suddenly, his forehead seemed to be stabbed by something, and there was a burst of severe pain in his head. what's going on? light! Is it bright?Yes.That's right. Thank God!It's light!Thanks to all possible gods! He's gone all the way through the tunnel and is heading back to the station!It must be, yes, that's right.His frightened, thunderous heartbeat began to return to normal.The eyes that have been adjusted to normal vision can already recognize familiar objects, such as the pillars of the house, the platform, the small window of the control room... Cubelo and Kylaritan are watching him. At this point, he was ashamed of his cowardice.Take heart, Schelling, it's not as bad as it seems, really.You're normal, you're not slumped under the car, sobbing, God bless you.It's kind of frightening and frightening, but it doesn't destroy you... Actually, you can handle it... "Let's go. Hold out your hand, Doctor. Get up... get up..." They dragged him to his feet and helped him out of the car.Schelling took a deep breath to keep himself calm.Then he wiped the sweat that was dripping from his forehead with his hands. "That little dropout switch," he muttered, "I think I dropped it somewhere..." "Are you all right, Doctor?" Kylaritan asked. "How did it feel?" Schelling staggered a few steps.The dean immediately grabbed his arm and held him steady.Schelling pushed his hand away, however, not wanting them to think he had been so embarrassed during the fifteen short minutes in the tunnel. But he couldn't deny that he had been affected.No matter how he concealed it, he couldn't hide this fact.To himself is even more self-deception. At this moment, he understood that no force in the world could allow him to go through that tunnel again. "Doctor, how do you feel?" "I...very...good..." He said word by word. "He said he was fine," said the lawyer, "let him go and let him go." "His legs were shaking," Kylaritan said. "He was going to fall." "No," said Schelling, "it won't. I tell you, I'm fine!" He staggered, and staggered again, and when he steadied himself, he took another staggering step.Pores all over the body are sweating.He turned his head and looked back, and saw the tunnel gaping wide, making people shudder with fear.Turning his head, he shrugged his shoulders high, as if he could cover his face in this way. "Doctor, you..." Kylaritan said vaguely. There is no need to install it anymore, and it is useless.It's foolish, vain, stubborn, worthless bullshit.Let them think cowards, and think what they will.Let's consider those fifteen minutes the nightmare of a lifetime.The effect of the tunnel on him was still deepening, and getting deeper. "This thing...is powerful," he said. "It's very strong, and it's very scary." "But you're mostly fine, aren't you?" the lawyer went on. "A little trembling, yes. But who wouldn't go down a tunnel this deep? But you're mostly fine. As we know, just a little bit." , then a little bit, it is possible for anyone who suffers any harm..." "No!" said Schelling.The lawyer in front of him had a ferocious face, like a demon, like a decorative head of a smiling monster.Schelling resented it.He thought that as long as he told the truth, he could drive out this demon.Talk to the devil, no strategy required. "It is impossible for people to enter the tunnel without taking risks. I am absolutely sure of this. Even a strong-willed person will suffer great harm, and a weak-willed person is simply vulnerable. If the tunnel is opened again, in less than half a year, The mental hospitals in four provinces will be full." "On the contrary, doctor..." "Don't tell me 'on the contrary'! Have you ever been in a tunnel, Cubelo? No, I think so. But I have. You are paying for my authoritative conclusion. Now I will I can tell you: Tunnels are deadly and contrary to human nature. Human beings cannot bear the darkness, as long as there is a sun in the sky, even if there is a sun, this will never change. Let the tunnels be closed forever, Chubero! While you Sane, shut it! Shut it!"