Chapter 7 Chapter Seven Chatting with the Madman

As for Alvadan, he only cared about enjoying his vacation to the fullest.His airship, the Ophiuchus, would not be delivered for at least another month, which meant that he had a month of pastime to do whatever he wanted. So, six days after arriving at Mount Everest, Bel Alvadan bid farewell to his hosts and flew directly from Mount Everest to the most populous place on Earth on Earth Airlift's largest stratojet plane. Chicago. As for why he ditched the private speedboat provided by Ennias and traveled by commercial airliner, the answer is actually very simple. He did it on purpose.This is based on the legitimate curiosity of a stranger and archaeologist - what is life like for ordinary inhabitants of a planet like Earth?

Also, there is another reason. Alvadan was from the Sirius sector, which everyone knew had the strongest anti-Earth bias in the entire galaxy.However, he always likes to think that he has never been involved in this vice.As a scientist, especially as an archaeologist, he would never allow him to have that mentality.Of course, it is inevitable that he is used to it and imagines the earthlings as some types of cartoon characters.Even today, he still thinks "earthling" is an ugly term.Even so, he has no real prejudices. At least, he didn't think so himself.For example, if a person on Earth wishes to join his archaeological team or work for him personally, and his training and ability are qualified, then he will not refuse.However, the premise is that there is indeed a job offer.Moreover, other members of the archaeological team should not pay too much attention, which is difficult.Usually, the team members will unanimously object, so what can he do?

He continued to ponder the question.Dining with an Earthling, of course he wouldn't mind.It's even okay to share a sleeper berth if necessary - assuming that Earthling is clean enough and in good health.In fact, he would treat Earthlings no differently in any way, he thought.But one thing is undeniable, that is, he will always realize that people on earth are people on earth, and he himself has nothing to do.It is the inevitable result of a childhood steeped in an atmosphere of paranoia that is so pure and complete that it is almost imperceptible but takes root in you.Only when you leave that society and look back and reflect on it can you truly see its essence.

But here, he had the opportunity to test himself.He was sitting in an airplane surrounded by earthlings, and he felt 100 percent natural—almost 100 percent.Well, just a little guilty. Aivadan looked at the faces of the fellow passengers, each face was very ordinary, and there was nothing special about it.They should be different, these earthlings, but if he accidentally encountered them in a crowd, would he have a way to distinguish them from ordinary people?He thought he couldn't do it.The appearance of women is not ugly... His eyebrows were suddenly knotted. Of course, even tolerance should have clear boundaries. For example, intermarriage is unimaginable.

In his eyes, the plane was just an imperfect little toy.It is of course a nuclear-powered vehicle, but the use of nuclear energy is simply too inefficient.For example, the shielding of the powertrain is not done well.Alvardan suddenly thought that if stray gamma rays or high-density neutrons appeared in the atmosphere, although ordinary people would think it was serious, people on earth might not feel that deeply. At this time, the landscape outside the window caught his attention.Looking down from the fuchsia stratopause, the Earth presents an incredible view.He could see vast, misty landmass below (scattered clouds reflecting the sun, so the line of sight was not clear), and he could see it was the unique orange red of the desert.The blurred line between day and night fell behind them, away from the speeding stratospheric plane.And in the night, there is the glint of light from the radioactive zone.

He suddenly heard the laughter of many people, so he turned his attention away from the window.The laughter seemed to surround an elderly couple—both plump and smiling. Alvadan elbowed the passenger sitting next to him: "What's going on?" The person sitting next to him stopped laughing and said to him: "They have been married for forty years and are going on their 'big tour'." "Grand tour?" "You know, just go around the earth." The old gentleman is eloquently talking about his experiences and impressions.Occasionally his wife would interject and carefully correct some unimportant detail, and both were in a good mood.Every word they said, the people around them listened extremely attentively.Evadan couldn't help but feel that the people on Earth are also very warm and humane, no different from people from all corners of the galaxy.

Then, someone asked, "When is your 60th birthday?" "About a month later," was the short and cheerful answer, "the sixteenth of November." "Very well," said the man just now, "I hope you have a nice day. My father's sixty-year-old had a goddamn downpour that I've never seen since. I went with him--you know, one likes company on a day like this--and he complained as he went, we were driving a convertible two-wheeler, you know, we were both soaked 'I'll tell you,' I said, 'what's your complaint, father? I've got to go back.'"

There was a burst of laughter in the cabin, and the old couple also laughed together with everyone without any scruples.However, an obvious and uneasy doubt arose in Avadan's heart, which made him fall into a state of terror. He said to the passenger next to him: "This sixty limit, this topic they talk about, I think they mean euthanasia. I mean, when you turn sixtieth birthday, you will be sent to another world, right wrong?" However, Avadan's voice became smaller and smaller, because the man next to him swallowed the last few laughs abruptly, turned his head suddenly, and stared at him suspiciously for a long time.At last the man said, "Well, what do you think it means?"

Aivadan made a vague gesture and smiled foolishly.He had heard of this custom a long time ago, but it was only an academic issue, recorded in books, and discussed in scientific papers.But now he finally has a personal feeling and realizes that it is really used on living people.According to this custom, all these men, women, old and children around can only live to be sixty years old. The man next to him was still staring at him: "Hey, man, where did you come from? In your hometown city, don't they know the sixty limit?" "We call it 'the hour,'" said Alvadan weakly. "That's where I come from." He stretched out his right thumb and swung it hard behind his shoulder.After another fifteen seconds, the other party withdrew his questioning sharp gaze.

Alvardan pursed his lips suddenly.These people are really suspicious, at least, this characteristic of comic characters is real. The old gentleman started talking again. "She's coming with me," he said, nodding to the kind old woman. "She's due about three months later than I am, but she doesn't think there's any point in waiting, and we'd rather go together." Better. Isn't it, my fat lady?" "Oh, that's right." She giggled happily. "Our children are all married and have their own families. I will only be a burden to them. Besides, I can't enjoy the old man anymore. The rest of the time, so we decided to go on the road together."

Thus, all the passengers seemed to start counting their remaining days at the same time.This involved a formula for converting months to days, and several couples had disputes over it. A short man in tight clothes with a resolute expression said in a passionate tone: "I just have twelve years, three months and four days left. Twelve years, three months and four days, not much. A day is not less." Someone added a reasonable footnote to this sentence: "If you die early, it will be a different matter." "Nonsense," the man retorted immediately. "I have no intention of dying early. Do I look like the kind of person who will die early? I have twelve years, three months and four days to live, and no one here has the guts to deny that." A little." He looked really excited. There was a thin young man who was originally smoking a high-end long cigarette. At this time, he held the cigarette in his hand and said in a gloomy tone: "It's really good to be able to count the days so clearly, but many people live past themselves. time limit." "Ah, that's true." Another person agreed, and everyone nodded, and a fresh air of indignation suddenly emerged. "However," the young man puffed and flicked off the ash with exaggerated movements, "I can't see a man, or woman, trying to live past his sixtieth birthday until the next Parliament Day." There is nothing to object to, especially if they have something to explain clearly. But some despicable and shameless parasites actually want to live until the next census day, consuming the food of the next generation for nothing..." Regarding this kind of thing, he There seems to be a stomach full of complaints. Alvardan interjected softly, "Isn't everyone's age registered? They can't live much longer after their birthday, right?" Silence ensued, with some scoffing at the silly idealistic remark.Finally, someone finally spoke again. As if trying to end the topic, the person said in a diplomatic way: "Anyway, I don't think there is any point in living beyond the sixty limit." "Of course it doesn't make sense if you're a farmer," retorted another booming voice. "You'd be crazy if you didn't want to end your life after half a century in the fields. But those administrators, And what about businessmen?" In the end, the old gentleman bravely put forward his opinion (this discussion was triggered by the 40th anniversary of his marriage), perhaps because his 60th birthday is approaching, and he has no worries, so he has the courage that he usually does not have. . "That," he said, "depends on who you know." He blinked slyly and pointedly. "I know a man who turned sixty after the '81 census and was not caught until the '82 census. He was sixty-nine when he hit the road! Think about it !" "How did he do that?" "He has so much money, and his younger brother is a member of the Ancient Order. As long as you have these two conditions, there is nothing you can't do." Everyone agrees. "I'll tell you," said the smoking young man with excitement, "I had an uncle who lived a year longer, just a year. He's the kind of selfish guy who doesn't want to go to another world, you know. Right. He really cares about our family... I didn't know it at the time, get it, otherwise I would report him, believe me. Because when a person's time comes, he should go on the road, and that's the only way for the next generation Fair enough. Anyway, he got caught in the end, and then I got unlucky right away. Brotherhood came to me and my brother, wondering why we didn't report him. I said, I didn't know anything about this, my family They were all kept in the dark. I also said that we hadn't seen him for ten years, and my old man also supported my statement. But we were still fined five hundred points, which is the result of no one taking care of you." The disturbed expression on Aivardan's face became more and more obvious.Are these people crazy?To see death in this way, and to hate relatives and friends who escaped death.Could he, inadvertently, be on a special flight to transport the mentally ill to an asylum (or euthanasia)?Or, is this what people on Earth look like? The man sitting next to him still had a bad look at him, and his voice broke into Avadan's thoughts: "Hey, man, where is 'there'?" "what?" "I said, where are you from? You said 'from there', what did 'there' mean? Hey?" Aiwadan found that everyone's eyes were now focused on him, and every pair of eyes suddenly showed suspicion.Did they think they were part of the Order of the Ancients?Did he ask that question like a ruse by an undercover man? Therefore, he suddenly answered the other party's question with a frank attitude: "I don't come from anywhere on the earth, I am Bel Avardan from the Sirius Star Region Byron star. What is your name?" , he stretched out his right hand. As soon as he said this, it was like dropping a miniature nuclear bomb in the cabin. Silent horror immediately appeared on every face, and then quickly turned into an expression of anger, hatred, and hostility.The person next to him stood up stiffly and pushed into another set of seats, while the two people who had been sitting there squeezed together to make room for him. Everyone's faces turned away one by one, and everyone turned their shoulders or backs to him.For a moment, Alvadan felt angry.Earthlings treat him like this!Earthlings!He extended a hand of friendship to them, and he, a resident of the Sirius sector, condescended to make an offer to them, but they flatly refused. Then, he barely let go of his tense emotions.Deep-rooted prejudice is obviously not one-way, and hatred breeds hatred! He felt that someone was sitting next to him again, so he turned his head and said in an angry tone, "What's the matter?" It was the smoking young man who came, and as he spoke, he lit another cigarette. "Hi," he said, "my name is Curran...don't let those idiots get you down." "Nobody pissed me off," Alvardan said impatiently.He didn't have a good impression of the person next to him, and he wasn't in the mood to show his affection to a person on Earth now. But Ke Lun was not good at observing words and expressions. He took a long drag on his cigarette, then stretched out the cigarette from the armrest of the seat, and flicked the ash onto the aisle. "Country bumpkins!" he whispered contemptuously, "just a bunch of peasants...they lack the view of the Milky Way. Don't be as knowledgeable as them...you can be friends with me, my philosophy of life is different. Comparing your heart to your heart, everyone has it The right to live, I always say this. I have no prejudice against outsiders, as long as they are nice to me, I will be nice to them. What's the difference, it's not their choice for them to be outsiders, just like I am a human being on earth Nothing to do. Don't you think I'm right?" He patted Alvardan's wrist affectionately. Aivadan nodded, and was patted by the man, making him feel like a caterpillar crawled on his body.It had nothing to do with his birthplace, and it was not a pleasant thing to deal with a man who resented the missed opportunity of not delivering his uncle to his death himself. Ke Lun leaned back in the chair and said, "Are you going to Chicago? What did you say your name was? Abadan?" "Alvardan. Yes, I'm going to Chicago." "That's my hometown, the best goddamn city on earth. Long stay?" "Maybe, I haven't made a plan yet." "Hmmm... hey, I hope you don't blame me for saying this, I've been keeping an eye on your shirt. Mind if I take a closer look? Sirius sector products, huh?" "Yes, that's right." "This is the best material, and you can't find this kind of stuff on earth... Hey, brother, you should have a shirt like this in your suitcase, right? If you want to sell it, I will buy it from you, It's so chic to wear." Aivadan shook his head vigorously: "I'm sorry, but I didn't bring too many clothes, and I plan to buy some more along the way on Earth." "I'll pay you fifty." After a moment of silence, Ke Lun added with a hint of resentment, "That's a good price." "A very good price," said Alvardan, "but, as I told you, I have no spare shirts to sell." "Okay..." Ke Lun shrugged, "You're going to spend a lot of time on Earth, aren't you?" "Maybe." "What do you do?" The archaeologist finally let the anger in his heart surface: "Listen, Mr. Curran, if you don't mind, I'm a little tired and want to take a nap. Do you think it's okay?" Ke Lun frowned: "What's wrong with you? Don't you people think that people should be civilized? I'm just asking you a question politely, there's no need to bite off my ears." The conversation, which had been going on in a subdued voice, suddenly turned into something almost yelling.Many hostile faces turned to Avardan, and he pursed his lips tightly. He brought it on, he thought angrily.If he had kept his distance in the first place; if he hadn't tried to flaunt his tolerance, hadn't forced it on people he didn't want, he wouldn't have gotten into this trouble. So, he said in a steady tone: "Mr. Curran, I didn't ask you to accompany me, and I didn't behave uncivilized. I repeat, I am a little tired and want to take a rest. I think this sentence is nothing Something is wrong." "Listen to me," the young man stood up, threw away the cigarette with a rough motion, and pointed a finger at the other party, "don't take me for a dog, or something. You hateful outsiders , come here with a nice talk and an outsider's eye, thinking you have the right to trample on us. We don't have to do that, get it. If you don't like this place, you can go back to your hometown. You just have to A few more words, and I will give you a good meal. Do you think I'm afraid you won't succeed?" Alvadan turned his head away and stared out of the window intently. Ke Lun didn't say anything else, and quietly returned to his original seat.There were lively conversations sounding from all over the cabin, but Avadan turned a deaf ear to it.He felt—instead of seeing—a lot of stern, malevolent glances on him.Finally, those gazes faded away, like everything. For the rest of the journey, he remained alone and silent. It was a great feeling to land at the Chicago airport.When he was still in the sky, Alvadan smiled knowingly when he saw the "best damn city on earth" at first sight.He found that due to the appearance of this city, the dignified and unfriendly atmosphere in the cabin suddenly improved a lot. He directed the porters to unload the luggage and transfer it to a two-wheeled taxi.In a taxi, at least he will be the only passenger.So, just be careful not to have unnecessary conversations with the driver, and it's almost impossible for him to get in trouble. "State Guesthouse." He told the driver his destination, and they were on their way. In this way, Alvadan came to Chicago for the first time.On this day, Joseph Schwartz escaped from the Institute of Nuclear Energy. Ke Lun showed a half-smile expression, looking at the back of Ai Fadan going away.Then he took out his little notebook, and while he smoked a cigarette, he carefully studied the records in it.In spite of the "uncle's story" (which he had used often and with great success in the past), he hadn't gleaned much from the passenger.Actually, the old guy did say something, complaining about someone living his life and blaming him for having a "connection" with the Order of the Ancients.Just these few words, the crime of slandering the brotherhood of brothers can be established.However, anyway, the old man's 60th birthday is only a month away, so it's useless to write down his name. But this outsider is completely different.He looked at this article with a happy mood: "Bel Avadan, Sirius Star Region Byron Star—very curious about the sixty limit—his own affairs are tight-lipped—October 12th, at 11:00 a.m. Chicago time Point, fly to Chicago on a commercial flight—very anti-Earth leanings." This time, he may have something really important to gain.It is really a boring job to find some small characters who speak out and make rebellious remarks indiscriminately.However, something like today is the best compensation. Within half an hour, the Fellowship of Brothers would have his report.Thinking of this, he walked out of the airport at a leisurely pace.