Chapter 5
"Come on, young man," Weimar beckoned to me. Soon, a deck of cards was brought out, and we gathered around the table to pass the time. Mr. Oury sat behind Weimar, watching him play cards, his face devoid of any emotion, presenting a standard lawyer's demeanor. During the game, Oury stepped out two or three times, but he quickly returned, resuming his old position.
"Are you testing me?" Professor Ma rubbed his hands together, "Let me think... Yes, it is Mr. Ford."
"Trust me." Professor Ma concluded the conversation with a smile
"Then eat quickly," Professor Ma said with tolerance, "Come to the gym in a while, I will wait for you." After saying this, Professor Ma gently closed the door
Thank you, thank you, very good I said somewhat embarrassedly
In the early hours, I returned to my room, where Professor Ma had long since fallen asleep. I tried to climb into bed quietly, covering myself with the blanket, yet I felt no inclination to sleep. I lay there wide awake, staring at the ceiling. The curtains were not drawn, and the starry sky outside was far more beautiful than what one could see on Earth, with mysterious and distant stars filling the sky. The image that kept flashing before my eyes was that of Miss Kelly's slightly melancholic face. I never expected that this seemingly fragile yet strong-willed woman would leave such a profound impression on me.
Captain Decree let out a sound but did not speak further, clearly unwilling to respond. His cigarette had yet to be lit. Mr. Weimar entered, followed closely by his ever-present lawyer, Mr. Ouli, but Miss Chris was nowhere to be seen. Mr. Weimar was in high spirits; as soon as he entered, he said, "Professor Ma, do you enjoy playing cards? You should know that Captain Decree is a master at cards; perhaps we could play a few rounds."
No, I am fine... I just..." He rubbed his forehead, seemingly struggling to make a decision, "I just wanted to apologize to him; I was a bit out of line last night.
"By the way, after dinner, if there is nothing else, would you like to have tea with me?" Weima politely inquired
"Why?" I asked in surprise
"Mr. Weima, you flatter me," Captain Keli said with a smile. "The true expert is Mr. Weima; he has nearly won all my salary."
No, in fact, it is quite a disgraceful matter. I also informed Professor Ma about the conversation I overheard in the corridor on the first day
I said, somewhat startled yet endearingly, "If you don't mind my poor card skills."
I was taken aback, looking at Professor Ma, I concealed my surprise and said, "Oh, I am looking for Mr. Ford"
Weimar smiled and nodded, then left, and we sat down again
It is indeed strange; Miss Kelly cannot be described as approachable, possibly due to her status, although technically she is impeccable
"Yes, the gym here is really nice, but unfortunately the treadmill is broken," Professor Ma said. "Would you like to play a game of ball with me?"
Perhaps..." Professor Ma said, "Let's talk when we see Ford; you will find that I am someone who is very willing to accept others' apologies.
Is it not a problem?
"How was the conversation last night?" Decree turned to me and asked with a smile
What do you plan to do in the future? I asked
Miss Kelly smiled apologetically. "I know that there are good people on Mars as well. By the way, Captain Leifeng, what is your perspective on Mars and Earth? If one day, Mars and Earth were to come into conflict, would you resolutely take up arms and stand on the side of Mars, or would you continue to be a protester?"
"Are you looking for someone?" Professor Ma suddenly raised his head and asked
Ford paused for a moment, shook his head, and said, "Perhaps in the evening..." As he spoke, he opened the door. At that moment, he suddenly uttered a perplexing remark: "It would be better to write him a letter."
Mr. Keli looked at Miss Kelly for a moment, then stood up and said: "Fortunately, it was just a computer error that activated the afterburner for only two seconds. The management warning computer detected the anomaly and has already shut down the afterburner."
Captain Dickery nodded, and it was evident that he was somewhat dissatisfied; however, he ultimately did not express his frustration. After giving a few more instructions, he turned and left. I glanced at Miss Kelly, who had not looked at me at all, merely sitting in her seat, somewhat lost in thought. I quietly sighed and followed Captain Dickery's back as we returned to the lounge. As the door opened, all the eyes inside turned towards us.
As for the reason, we are all tacitly aware of it
"For an old man, what I see is a lady full of concerns," said Professor Ma
Miss Kelly's expression was slightly dim as she said, "Because I am an Earthling, the Martian fleet rejected my service request"
"Good morning, not good afternoon," Professor Ma greeted with a beaming smile. Professor Ma was dressed in sportswear, looking quite youthful.
"I thought Professor Ma was in the room," Ford said
Time passed quickly, and the hands of the clock had already pointed to 9:30 PM. After several rounds, we were almost at a stalemate. It was evident that Professor Ma's card skills were exceptionally high, on par with Mr. Weimar. Just as we were shuffling the cards, the spaceship suddenly shook noticeably, and we all looked up, gazing out the window.
I did not see him today either," Weima said, "Perhaps he is still in the laboratory.
You see," I said in a flustered manner, "I haven't eaten yet"
"Please go ahead," Professor Ma said
However, to my knowledge, the best destination for graduates of the Mars Military Aviation Academy is the Starfleet, and very few go directly to civilian enterprises as pilots
"Alright, we have already said enough bad things behind others' backs, mhetushu.com. " Professor Ma said as he stood up. "However, if you wish to pursue Miss Kelly, I believe there is still a chance."
I do not know, perhaps it is due to Ford's eccentric personality
"Are you also a planetaryist?" Miss Kelly's expression suddenly changed as she said, "Do Martians all feel superior to others?"
No, he went to the gym; you can go there to find him
However, I was soon shaken awake by a hand. When I opened my eyes in a daze, I found the room brightly lit, and Professor Ma, dressed in pajamas, was shaking my shoulder. To my surprise, Captain Decre stood behind him, wearing his uniform
No, no. I said hastily, "In fact, I am an anti-discrimination advocate. When I was young, despite my family's opposition, I went to university on Earth by myself and even participated in several large-scale student protests.
I hope you do not feel constrained here; if there is anything inconvenient, just find Miss Chris
I heard that Miss Kelly is planning to resign, I asked
"Alright." Professor Ma nodded
"Why?" I asked in surprise
I quickly put on my clothes and was contemplating whether to shave when a knock sounded at the door
I thought his work was completed, I said
I am sorry," Miss Kelly said softly, "there will be no next time
I quickly got up, feeling a bit dizzy. I called to order some food, and it seemed there would be no bill. The waiter was very quick, and soon there was a knock at the door. I hastily threw on my pajamas, jumped out of bed barefoot, and bounced to the door. To my surprise, it was Professor Ma.
"It's just like flying in an airplane," I consoled, "in the universe, we may also encounter turbulence similar to that in the atmosphere. Of course, such situations are extremely rare; perhaps it's just a small meteorite that bumped into us"
Throughout the afternoon, I played tennis with Professor Ma. For a man in his fifties, Professor Ma's physical fitness is undoubtedly excellent. After playing several sets in a row, we were both exhausted and sat down to rest. I informed Professor Ma about the Ford matter. Wiping the sweat from his brow, Professor Ma was momentarily at a loss for words
Thank you very much for your generous hospitality Professor Ma said This has already made us quite uneasy
The next day, when I woke up, I found it was already noon. To be honest, in the vastness of space, there is essentially no concept of time; the sun no longer winds our internal biological clocks. To some extent, time feels frozen and still, with only the eternal night visible. What we refer to as time is merely a derivative of humanity's extension along the coordinates of Earth. Moreover, we have added Mars to the mix, along with two planets whose rotation and revolution differ, which can be quite perplexing. Thus, people have adopted the convention that when they land on a planet, they use that planet's standard time. In other words, what we call time is just a derivative of humanity's extension along the coordinates of Earth. Furthermore, with the addition of Mars and the two confusing planets, people have followed the same practice: using the standard time of whichever planet they land on. Currently, we operate on Earth time, but as soon as the spacecraft lands, we immediately switch to Martian time. However, to maintain consistency with Earth calendars, Martian time remains a muddled account to this day. Humanity truly is adorably foolish.
Good afternoon, Professor Ma, have you gone to exercise? I asked
"Don't worry, I'll go take a look; there shouldn't be any problem." Di Keli stood up, put down the cards in his hand, and walked out.
"Just like the secret love affairs depicted in literary novels, two young lovers, who are secretly in love, suddenly get into a fierce argument for some unknown reason, and you happen to witness it; it is quite thrilling." Professor Ma looked at me with a particularly intriguing expression, as if he were observing something fascinating.
I did not speak, but I looked at Professor Ma with a certain admiration; it was evident that his powers of observation were exceptionally keen. Last night, he must have noticed the slight redness on the right side of Ford's face, which was a mark left by a slap.
Rest assured, the design of the spacecraft's protective hull is capable of withstanding impacts, and there are a series of measures in place, so there is no problem. How about this, I will go take a look as well
"Do you think that woman is Miss Kelly?" Professor Ma asked
Please do not reject me, as there is truly nothing to pass the time in this monotonous flying life
After the completion of this flight mission, this spacecraft will be resold, and my contract will also expire
I haven't thought it through yet," Miss Kelly said indifferently, "in any case, I don't want to continue working for the company on Mars.
After dinner, we arrived at the lounge. Just like yesterday, green tea was brewed in front of Professor Ma, clearly at his special request. The lounge was empty, and the two of us chatted casually. After about twenty minutes, the door opened, and Captain Decker was the first to enter, nodding in our direction. He then took out a cigarette, paused for a moment, and asked, "Do you mind?" The lounge was empty, and the two of us chatted casually. After about twenty minutes, the door opened, and Captain Decker was the first to enter, nodding in our direction. He then took out a cigarette, paused for a moment, and asked, "Do you mind?"
The door has closed, leaving me alone. Writing a letter? Why should I still write a letter of apology? I do not understand; perhaps scientists are all a bit eccentric.
My face flushed for a moment. "It seems that nothing can be hidden from you, Professor Ma. To be honest, I am waiting for someone else." Thus, I briefly explained to Professor Ma about my time with Miss Kelly last night.
"This is Mr. Ford," said Captain Decker, standing behind Professor Ma.
Ford hesitated for a moment, appearing as if he wanted to say something but held back, suggesting that he had something on his mind
Professor Ma smiled, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said slowly: "I see a person sitting across from me who is visibly anxious. Clearly, his agitation has caused him to lose interest in dinner. I do not believe that the person causing this agitation is Mr. Ford. If I remember correctly, Mr. Ford is supposed to be looking for me; why would he make you so anxious to look at the books?"
I thought you knew. I looked at Professor Ma
Professor Ma glanced at me, smiled, and continued his dinner. Throughout the evening, we did not see Ford enter the dining hall for a meal; perhaps his dining hall was his own laboratory. Additionally, apart from Ford, I was also looking for another person, who never appeared, leaving me somewhat unsettled.
I had a delightful conversation with Miss Kelly, to the extent that I lost track of time, only realizing it when the third pilot came to take over. We were discussing issues related to scientific vessels, and Miss Kelly's eloquence was remarkable, concise and captivating. Later, the topic unconsciously shifted to Weimar Enterprises, the prevalent Lock disease on Mars, and the relationship between Earth and Mars. It was then that I learned Miss Kelly was also from Earth, having been hired as a pilot by Weimar Enterprises due to her outstanding performance at the Mars Military Aviation Academy. Subsequently, the conversation again unknowingly turned to Weimar Enterprises, the Lock disease on Mars, and the connection between Earth and Mars, and I realized that Miss Kelly was indeed from Earth, having been recruited as a pilot by Weimar Enterprises for her exceptional achievements at the Mars Military Aviation Academy.
"It's nothing," said Weimar
Do you not find her to be quite an enchanting lady
"There are still some follow-up tasks," Weima said, "which are merely trivial finishing touches. I believe Ford is organizing the DNA map for the documents to be used at the public release on Mars"
"You are too kind," Professor Ma said
The subsequent card game felt somewhat dull, as if everyone's mood had been affected. Therefore, soon after, Weima suggested ending the game. When going to bed, Professor Ma inquired about my situation, and I comforted him with a few words before quickly falling asleep. Throughout the night, I slept rather poorly; I was unsure if it was due to that unexpected incident. Tossing and turning, I only fell into a deep sleep when the luminous clock indicated two o'clock in the morning
When I arrived at the cockpit, I saw that it was already filled with busy crew members. Captain Decker was seated in the captain's chair, reviewing something, while all the instrument displays were activated, with streams of light flowing, dazzling to the eyes. Before I could say anything, the cockpit door opened again, and this time Miss Kelly entered.
"What do you think just happened?" Professor Ma asked quietly
"It's nothing, just a small misunderstanding," said De Keli with a smile
"Scientists are truly admirable," Professor Ma said
Oh? Professor Ma looked at me with curiosity, "Are you speculating?"
"Please come in, the door is open," I called out
What happened? I asked vaguely
Mr. Ford unexpectedly entered, looking somewhat fatigued, possibly a result of overexertion from last night
Who?" I suddenly jumped up and shouted loudly
A person with a strong will, yet unfortunately, their body is disabled I said quietly
It is truly unfortunate, I said sympathetically
"You have perplexed me," I said candidly. "Mars is my homeland. If it needs defending, I will certainly put down my placard and take up a gun. However, I hope such a conflict will never occur, for we are all human, and in this lonely universe, we are the only ones with blood of the same color."
"Are you feeling unwell, Mr. Ford?" I asked with concern
"That makes sense." Professor Ma looked at me with a smile. "So who is that man then?"
It is indeed a strange matter for Earthlings to apply to the Martian Military Academy I said, shrugging my shoulders
However, what troubles me is another matter. I said, "Miss Kelly may already have someone she cares for."
You can speak to him in person, I said
"Wake up," Professor Ma said softly, his expression very serious. "I need your help now; someone has died."
Miss Kelly nodded. After a while, she suddenly said: "This is my last flight mission"
Similarly, the Earth Fleet does not recognize the qualifications from the Mars Military Aviation Academy. Fortunately, Miss Chris lent a helping hand, which allowed me to find a job to make a living
Weimar leaned his wheelchair back and said, "Please forgive me, I need to use the restroom." As he spoke, he slowly turned his wheelchair and left the room. Ouli sat there, looking somewhat tense, and suddenly stood up as well, saying nothing, and hurriedly ran out.
Yes, because she ran towards the cockpit, and at that time the cockpit door was closed. I do not believe that just anyone could open it
Everyone burst into laughter
Then I can rest assured said Weimar, who was clearly somewhat worried, letting out a sigh of relief
"What has happened?" Miss Kelly asked anxiously. Captain Dickery turned around to look at her, "I was just about to ask you, Miss Kelly, where were you just now?"
In the evening, Professor Ma and I were dining in the restaurant, but we did not see Mr. Ford appear. As I looked around, I noticed Captain Decker at the adjacent table, along with uniformed crew members, and Captain Decker greeted us. After a while, Mr. Weimar, in a wheelchair, also entered the restaurant, followed by lawyer O'Reilly and Miss Chris. Upon seeing us, Mr. Weimar immediately came over with a smile, and Professor Ma and I stood up. After a while, Mr. Weimar, in a wheelchair, also entered the restaurant, followed by lawyer O'Reilly and Miss Chris. Upon seeing us, Mr. Weimar immediately came over with a smile, and Professor Ma and I stood up.
Miss Kelly's face was somewhat pale; after a while, she finally said: "I am sorry"
"Why haven't I seen Mr. Ford?" I couldn't help but ask
"It is my honor," Professor Ma said
Professor Ma said, "I hope my meager salary won't be entirely taken by you. If possible, I would like to play against the young captain. Captain Lei Feng, do you also play cards?"
What is your opinion? Professor Ma asked
Professor Ma listened quietly and smiled gently, saying: "The Miss Kelly you mentioned happens to be someone I met as well, just this morning, while you were sound asleep. In the dining room, Captain Decker introduced me to a petite second officer, a very charming woman. No wonder you are so captivated by her."