Dow and Carbon-Based Monkey Breeding Guidelines

Chapter 598 The Fisherman and the Goldfish
Weiss put the coin away.He handed it to the waiting caretaker, instructing him to do some basic checks.The analysis results came down quickly, it was just an ordinary platinum tin product.

He recognized these things, although he had never had the chance to use them.In the now-defunct Celestial system, his and Foo's erstwhile homeland, these tiny discs had been exchanged by primitives.He had seen similar objects with Foo in the central memorial at the center of the galaxy—but that was when they were still in their early days.

"You stole it from the memorial?" he asked Foo.

"It's not stealing," Foo replied.

There was a strange and contented smile on the prisoner's face, as if they were back in the days when they went to the memorial hall together.But he still hasn't explained where the coin came from, or how he deftly evaded searches and carried it to the last moments of his life.

Weiss should have been annoyed by the caretaker's failure, but he wasn't.You know, what a cunning and combative man Foo was before he lost his mind!He even wondered how the committee could catch him so easily, as if Foo had offered to stand trial--of course it was morally right, but what villain would admit that he deserved to be executed?Almost all spiritualists are cursing or yelling nonsense before they are uploaded, which they believe in: process and intention are more important than results, because after all, the results cannot be changed.Retaining dignity and benevolence in the face of inescapable extinction is the only way to make them immortal.

There are at least a thousand formal research papers, and hundreds of scholarly debates to refute these empty words.Weiss' duties have nothing to do with any of this, though.He spent most of his life on the long journey of the fleet.A long time ago, he dealt more with dead objects, the energy storms caused by the activities of the stars, or black holes and magnetic vortices.He watched over the flagship, making sure everyone was safe.To that end, his work is probably no different than it was before.But of course, he still preferred his old job.He wouldn't be where he is today if his old friend, Bei, hadn't put him on the committee.

That's something to be grateful for.If he wasn't here, he might be on an outlying dropship, trying in vain to delay the squeeze.Disaster relief and refugee transfer.Or run some doomed experiment until the last moment.What a meaningless sacrifice compared with his important responsibilities today!

Weiss got the coin back from the watchman.He held it in his palm and squeezed it, feeling some absurd sadness.This is what The Last Spiritualism sneaks up on.Foo no doubt took a lot of thought to make it happen.The last weapon.Just like the reaction of religious believers when the big squeeze came: they neither evacuated nor resisted, but prayed for a miracle.But of course that doesn't make sense either.Even if their voices could be heard by something - Wes didn't even believe that - what would be interested in saving them?If there had been a will that cared about their fate like a father, the Great Crunch would never have happened in the first place.

What left him a bit of pride in his grief was that Foo didn't believe in salvation from God either.His old friend, the prisoner who fell into madness and paranoia, took another delusional path.Those who are unwilling to act turn to a god who follows the concept of morality and order, but Foo believes that the world belongs to animal and primitive chaos, and they must fight and conquer, just like hunters use traps to game with cunning beasts.That is of course contrary to the facts and reason, but at least, this is a kind of struggle with people as the initiative, and it is a noble quality that Foo has not forgotten in his madness.Wes is proud of his old friend.

He held the coins and sat motionless.Foo seemed to be a little more sober now.Those charcoal-gray eyes swiveled, surveying everything in the room.As the last spiritualist, he had no doubt heard many rumors about the Sixth Convolution Dilation Analysis Chamber.But unlike the others, there was no fear or anger on his face, just a calm, thoughtful expression.

"So, this is here." He pleaded with Weiss, "This is where you disposed of Omar, Wen, and Zeke? This is what we call the House of Death?"

"It's just a technical workshop." Weiss said coldly.This is of course a layman's answer, but as an executive member, he doesn't need to know the technical details.

"What an understatement." Foo said with emotion.

"This is a fact."

"Facts can be incomplete," said Foo. "There are very few names you and I can name, my friend. How many bodies have you annihilated in all the convolution analysis chambers? I guess at least As many as three medium-sized cities... No, I'm sure there are at least that many. Before Zeke was arrested, he bet me that there were at least ten colonies. I don't want to believe it, Wes. Even if all verbal Count people who have sympathized with us, you can't find so many spiritualists. But neither me nor Zeke's opinion counts, my friend, as you say, the strength of facts is irrefutable Yes. Only you can tell me how many people were sent into the blue house. Can you give me a sincere answer? Wes, of all the people who have lived in and out of this house, I only trust your words."

He spoke so earnestly, but Wes's only answer was silence.After a while, Foo finally closed his eyes in pain.

"I appreciate your answer," he said.

Wes remained silent.It wasn't until the guards started looking at each other, worrying about missing the time to start the upload, that he finally spoke in that rude and indifferent tone.

"Compared with what we are about to lose," he said, "what we have lost in the past is not important. If there is no trade-off, what we will lose is all..."

"Then why is this part of the list missing?" asked Foo, "and you dare say that everyone who was sent to the Blue House deserved what they did? Your colleagues—I mean your current colleagues, The torture done by the arrestees, all the destructive neurological testing, and - don't ask me where I got this from, I've never had a chance to betray anyone - what do you guys do with what's left after the upload is over? Those autopsies And cutting is also a necessary link? Is the man who sneaked into the recycling bin to play with his flesh and blood necessary? Didn't your subordinates make jokes about the 'red room'? They stood in the red room, stepped on Posing on those rotten objects, leaving a special image memorial, so that history can be remembered in the future-haven't you confiscated several such information records? Haven't you seen those who are complacent about the power to kill? Only a primitive sacrificial ceremony can be so revelry, Wes, your people are obsessed with this thing, they like to show off this ability, that's why I say this. You call this a technology experiment, it's true. I call it a blood sacrifice , this is exactly what you dreamed of fantasy."

Weiss's face froze for a moment in surprise.Foo said something he hadn't expected, something the prisoner wasn't supposed to know.Instead of feeling guilty about it, he moved his arm slightly.

"Who told you?" he asked Foo quietly.

"I'm about to fall into the red room, old friend," said Foo. "Why should I reveal the name of the seer? To make him or her as unhappy as I am?"

"Recycle bin accidents are classified."

"The truth is not hidden forever."

"Yes. Just like a leaker can't hide it. Even if you don't want to say its name—we'll know when your mind is uploaded."

"Don't you feel guilty about it at all? Even a little?"

"Those who violated discipline have already been punished." Weiss replied succinctly, "There are violators in any collective action. That does not affect the correctness of the cause itself."

"I hope you do know what is right."

"Yes. Getting more people into the future. It's more important than how people die with dignity."

Foo looked into his face silently for a few seconds, then turned his gaze to his palm.The round coin is still in the palm of Weiss.

"I sincerely hope your wish will come true, too," he said at last. "Let us all have it! If the universe had an infinite will, I would give anything for two wishes. Just two wishes!"

"One can only do one thing at a time, Foo," Weiss said. "Focus on the goal, don't be greedy."

At that moment, they seemed to go back in time.It really looked like the kind of joke they used to make.But the time after that is completely blurred.Wes couldn't remember what he said to the prisoner, it was all meaningless words.The blue light of the sound wave analyzer flickered, like the footsteps of the universe shattering.These are the steps of death indeed—he thought distraughtly.The pain gnawed at the peace and stability in his heart.Twice he asked Foo to make him repent, but the other party did not do anything to his retention.The final moment came in a flicker of chaotic blue light.He stood up slowly, and retreated away from the uploading platform, as if he was going to retreat all the way into the black hole of the universe.

"Time's up," he said, "start uploading."

(End of this chapter)