Chapter 6 Chapter 6 The Planet Wearing a Crown

Byron Farrier waited uneasily in an outbuilding on the palace grounds, feeling, for the first time in his life, dispiritedly like a country bumpkin. The Widemos Mansion where he lived since he was a child was so magnificent in his eyes, but now that he thinks about it, it has an uncivilized and barbaric color.Its crooked lines, its gold and silver inlaid decorations, its grotesque towers, its elaborate "false windows"—it chilled him to think of them. However, the architecture here - the architecture here is very different. The palace courtyard of Rhodia was neither a gaudy heap built by petty lords of pastoral kingdoms, nor an unabashed portrayal of a dying planet.They are monuments to the height of the Hinriad Dynasty.

The buildings here are majestic and peaceful.The lines are horizontal and vertical, pointing directly to the center of each building, but they are not as delicate as the spire.Although the shapes of these buildings are slightly clumsy, they are still majestic and majestic, which makes people puzzled at first glance.They are reserved, reserved, and stand proudly. This is true of each building, as well as the entire complex.The large-scale Central Palace is the climax of this architectural symphony.The masculine architecture of Rhodia has lost the last trace of man-made chisel.Even the "false window," an impractical elegant decoration in a building with artificial lighting and ventilation, has simply been done away with.And, for some reason, there was no apparent loss in doing so.

Looking as far as the eye can see, between the heaven and the earth, there is only an abstract geometric figure - straight lines and planes. When Major Tyronn left the inner room, he stopped by his side for a while. "I'll see you now," he said. Byron nodded.After a while, a tall man in a scarlet uniform stood in front of him with a click.It struck Byron that truly powerful people don't need to show off their appearance.They like blue and gray uniforms.He bit his lip as he recalled the red tape of ranch life, and its futility. "Byron Melain?" asked the Rhodian guard.Byron stood up and followed him.

A shiny monorail bus deftly levitates on a red metal monorail with the help of antimagnetic force.Byron had never seen such a car.Before getting into the car, he stopped and looked. A small passenger car that can seat up to five or six people is swaying in the wind.It was like a crystal teardrop, reflecting the radiance of the golden Rhodian sun.The monorail is very thin, barely thicker than a cable, and it lies under the car, but it does not touch the car.Byron bent down and could see the blue sky from the entire gap between the car and the track.As he watched, an upward gust of wind lifted the passenger car a full inch above the track, as if it was desperate to fly away, to break free from the invisible grip that held it. force field.Then, the passenger car fluttered back to the track, getting closer and closer, but it never touched the track.

"Go there," said the guard behind him impatiently.Byron stepped up the two gangway steps and entered the carriage. The gangway left enough length for the guards who came up later, and then, it went up smoothly and silently, retracted into the carriage, and no gap could be seen from the exterior of the bus. From the outside, Byron began to see that the opacity of the carriages was an illusion.Once inside, he found himself sitting in a transparent glass blister.As soon as the small controller is pulled out, the bus immediately rises into the air.It climbs towering mountains with ease and beats the whizzing atmosphere with speed.In the blink of an eye, Byron had already passed the apex of the arched track, overlooking the panorama of the palace courtyard.

The buildings are magnificent and monolithic, (were they not designed as a kind of spectacle from the air?) intertwined with golden copper wires, and elegant blister coaches resting on one or two of them The copper wire flew by. He felt himself speeding forward.Finally, the bus stopped firmly.The entire journey takes less than two minutes. The door opened before him.After he entered, the door closed quickly behind him.The small room was empty, not even a single person was there.Right now, no one is urging him, but he doesn't feel comfortable about it.He had no illusions in his mind.Others had been forcing him to act since that ill-fated night.

Jondee had brought him to the ship, and Commissioner Tyrone had brought him here, each step making him more desperate. Byron knew very well that the Tyranids had not been deceived.It's not that easy to fool them.That commissioner may have spoken to the earth consul.He may have hypercommunicated with Earth, or, may have obtained his retinal pattern.These are routine and accidental oversights are unlikely. He remembered Jondy's analysis of things, some of which might still be correct.The Tyranids would not simply kill him just to make another martyr.However, Xinrik was their puppet, and he had as much right to execute him as they did.That way, he would die at the hands of one of his kind while the Tyranids simply looked on contemptuously.

Byron clenched his fists.He was tall and strong, but unarmed.Those who would come to trouble him would be armed with high-powered bombardment guns and particle-beam neuroflashes.He found that he was fighting against the water. Hearing the slight opening of the door, he turned quickly to the left.The man who came in was armed and in uniform, but there was a girl with him.He settled down a little.The one who came with him was only a girl, and in normal times, he might have taken a closer look at this girl.Because, she is worthy of attention.However, at this moment, she is just a girl. Together they came toward him and stopped six feet away.His eyes were fixed on the bombardment gun in the guard's hand.

The girl said to the guard, "I'll talk to him first, Lieutenant." She turned to look at him, a small wrinkle between her brows."Are you the one who learned of the plot to assassinate the Governor?" she said. "I've heard that I'm going to see the governor himself," Byron said. "It's impossible. If you have something to say, let me know. If your message is credible and useful, you're in for a treat." "Can I ask, who are you? How do I know that you have the right to represent the governor of Rhodia?" The girl seemed a little annoyed. "I am his daughter. Please answer my question, are you from outside this galaxy?"

"I come from the earth." Byron paused, and then added: "My dear lady." This addition pleased her. "What is that place?" "It's a small planet in the Sirius sector, my dear lady." "What's your name?" "Byron Melain, my dear lady." She gazed at him thoughtfully. "From Earth? Can you pilot a spaceship?" Byron almost laughed, she was testing him.She was well aware that space travel was a forbidden science on a planet controlled by the Tyranids. He said, "Yes, my dear lady." If they let him live that long, he could prove it by examination.The science of spaceflight is not forbidden on earth, not to mention that a person can learn a lot in four years.

She said, "Well, then. What about that 'assassination plot' you speak of?" He suddenly made up his mind.If it was only against the guards alone, he might not dare to do this.But there was a girl here, and, if she hadn't lied, if she was really the governor's daughter, she might be able to say a few words for him. He said: "There is no assassination plot at all, my lord." The girl froze.She turned impatiently and said to the person accompanying her: "Lieutenant, can you talk to him next? Ask him to tell the truth." Byron took a step forward, but was coldly pushed back by the guard with a bomber gun.He said eagerly: "Wait a minute, my dear lady. Please listen to me! This is the only way I can see the governor. Do you understand?" Facing her gradually leaving back, he raised his voice and shouted loudly: "Then, at least you have to tell Your Excellency the Governor that I am Byron Farrier and I am here to ask for asylum, okay?" It was the only slender straw he could grasp.The ancient feudal customs gradually lost their strength with the passage of time, even before the arrival of the Tyranids.Today, this custom has become a relic of history.However, today there is no other way. She turned around, her eyebrows arched. "You are now asking for noble treatment. Before the twinkling of an eye, your name was Melain." A new voice came out of nowhere. "True, but the name you said later was your real name. You are Byron Farrier, my man. Yes, you must be Farrier. With your looks, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that." wrong." A small, smiling man stood at the door.His two piercing eyes were set far apart from each other.He looked Byron up and down sharply with an air of interest.He raised his thin face, looked up at Byron, and said to her, "You don't know him, Artemisia?" Artemisia hurried to him and said impatiently, "Uncle Jill, what are you doing here?" "Consider my interests, Artemisia. Remember, should there be any assassination, I will be the most likely of the Shinriads to inherit the throne." Gilbret O Shinriad Blink meaningfully, and then add: "Hey, let Mr. Lieutenant go, there is no danger here." She ignored it and said, "Did you turn on the phone again?" "Exactly. Do you want to deprive me of my right to enjoy myself? It's a pleasure to listen to the talking machine quietly." "If they catch you, you'll be miserable." "Danger is part of the game, my dear, and it's the funnest part of it. After all, the Tyranids have never spared their efforts to monitor the palace. It's hard to hide anything from them. Well, let's get down to business, you don't want to Introduce me?" "No, I'm not going to introduce you," she rebuffed bluntly, "it's none of your business here." "Well, let me introduce you. When I heard his name, I stopped listening and walked in." He passed Artemisia and walked up to Byron, with a detached look. Smiling at him.Then he said, "Yes, this is indeed Byron Farrier." "I have just said so," said Byron.Most of his attention was still on the lieutenant.Because the lieutenant still held the bombardment gun tightly in his hand, ready to fire at any time. "However, you didn't add that you were the son of the Wildmoss rancher." "I was about to say it, but you interrupted. Anyway, you've got the facts now. Obviously, I have to get rid of the Tyranids, which is why I can't tell them my real name. "Byron stopped and did not continue.He felt that the time had come, and that if the next step was not his immediate arrest, he would have a small chance. Artemisia said, "Understood. This is indeed a matter for the Governor. So, you guarantee that there is no such conspiracy?" "Certainly not, my dear lady." "Very well. Uncle Jill, will you stay here with Mr. Farrier? Will you come with me, Mr. Lieutenant?" Byron felt exhausted.He wanted to sit down very much, but Gilbret made no such gesture.He was still there examining Byron with an air almost like a doctor examining a patient. "The rancher's son! How interesting!" Byron had no intention of continuing the conversation.He was weary of the deliberate monosyllabic words and careful diction.He said gruffly, "Yes, I am a rancher's son, as I was born. Can I help you in any other way?" Gilbret didn't care.He smiled heartily, but there were more wrinkles on that thin face.He said, "Perhaps you will satisfy my curiosity. Are you really here to claim asylum? To come here to claim?" "I would like to discuss the matter with the Governor, sir." "Well, don't think about it before it's too late, young man. You'll find that you can't do much with the governor. Why don't you think about why you have to deal with his daughter now? If you think about it, it's Very interesting." "Do you think everything is interesting?" "Why not? It's a very interesting approach to life. 'Interesting,' is the only adjective that fits. Look at the universe, young man. If you can't find some fun in it, you You might as well wipe your neck, because there are so few good things in there. Oh, by the way, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm the cousin of the governor of Rhodia." Byron said flatly, "Congratulations." Gilbrecht shrugged. "That's right. It's nothing special. Because, after all, there's no way to expect any assassination, so it's very likely that I'll be like this in my life." "Unless you encourage someone else to kill you." "My dear sir, you have a good sense of humor! You have to get used to the fact that no one takes me seriously. My words are nothing more than cynical confessions. Don't you think that the position of governor these days is With everything? You wouldn't believe that Hinrik has always been what he is today. He's never been a great man with great foresight. And it's getting worse and worse every year, more and more unbearable. Oh, look at me! I forgot, you never even saw him. But you will see him! I heard him coming. When he talks to you, remember, He's the ruler of the largest kingdom in the Pan-Nebula Empire. Interesting to think about." Xinrik's demeanor was majestic and his expression was calm.For Byron's courteous bow, he returned the salute in a moderate way, and he asked a little bluntly: "Sir, what business do you come to see us for?" Artemisia stood beside her father, and Byron noticed, with a little surprise, that she turned out to be quite lovely.He said: "Your Excellency, I have come in the name of my father. You should know that his execution was unjust." Hinrique turned away. "I don't know your father well. He's been to Rhodia once or twice." He paused, his voice trembling. "You look a lot like him. Yes, a lot. But, you know, he was tried. At least, I think he was tried and sentenced to justice. I don't really know the details." "Indeed, sir. However, I want to know the details. I am sure that my father is by no means a traitor." Hinrik hastily interrupted him and said: "As his son, it is of course understandable that you defend your father's honor. But, really, it is indeed difficult to discuss such a national matter at present. In fact, it is not decent. Why do you Why don't you go to see Aratap?" "I don't know him, sir." "Aratap! The Commissioner! The Tyranid Commissioner!" "I have seen him, and he sent me here. You must know that I dare not let the Tyranids..." Hinrique, however, froze.He raised his hand to his lips in confusion, as if trying to suppress its trembling, but inadvertently said, "You mean, Aratap sent you here?" "I felt compelled to tell him..." "No need to repeat what you told him. I know," said Hinrich. "I can't help you with anything, Rancher—oh—Mr. Farrier. I have no business alone. You must go ——Atta, don't pull me. How can I concentrate when you are so distracting?——Consult with the Supreme Executive Council. Gilbret! Would you like to help take care of Mr. Farrier, please? I'm going to see what can be done. I'm going to consult with the Supreme Executive Council. You know, this is the form of law, very important, very important." He turned around and walked away muttering words. Artemisia paused for a moment, touching Byron's sleeve. "Wait a minute. Is it true that you say you can pilot a spaceship?" "It's absolutely true," Byron said.He smiled at him.And she, after hesitating for a while, also responded with a sweet smile. "Gilbret," she said, "I have a few words to say to you in a moment." She leaves in a hurry.Byron watched her until Gilbret tugged at his sleeve. "I suppose you must be hungry, and perhaps thirsty. Would you like a bath?" Gilbret asked. "The days must be taken care of, am I right?" "Thanks, that's right," Byron said.The nervousness had almost completely dissipated.For a moment, he felt relieved and comfortable.She was really cute, very cute. Hinrique, however, was not having it easy.He returned to his room, full of thoughts, and the scenes that happened just now flashed through his mind.Although he tried his best not to think about it, he still couldn't escape the unavoidable conclusion: this is a trap!It must be a trap that Aratap sent him! He put his head in his hands to calm his beating heart.So, he understood what he should do.