[full-time master] short story

Like young people, both of them are used to going to Herbsttag every day.These people who have become cruisers and have not yet become cruisers are discussing vigorously and enthusiastically those distant stars that only exist in observation, those deep spaces that can only be reached after several surface jumps, and those possible hidden under the light of stars. Planets, as well as rare mineral resources, never tire.After the upsurge of large-scale development passed away, people have become accustomed to living in settlements and no longer long for the glory of the other side.But there are always people who think differently.Some of them have prominent family backgrounds, and some have outstanding achievements. It can be said that most of them have a guaranteed future in their settlements, but they resolutely devote themselves to the unfathomable exploration of the starry sky, determined to engrave their names on the stars. .

At that time, Zhang Jiale didn't think about whether all this seemed crazy.He's not good at this way of thinking: jumping out of the moment and making decisions from a completely different dimension-no, most of the time he just follows his intuition.Such as walking into Herbsttag, such as choosing to board the same boat as Sun Zheping.All of this is so natural, he never even thought that there would be other choices in life.

That day they leaned together on the Herbsttag bench, sinking in a swirl of cigarettes, alcohol and conversation.Others seemed to avoid them intentionally or unintentionally, leaving them undisturbed silence.At that time, they were quite familiar with each other, knowing the age of each other's contact with the spaceship and the positions they are good at on the starship, knowing the gestures and tastes of each other's knives and forks, and knowing the meaning of every tiny expression.This is far beyond the usual category of friends, but at that time Zhang Jiale only vaguely felt that this might be unusual.He sat on the bench that had been worn smooth by countless people, and caressed aimlessly with his fingers the cold outer wall of the thick glass with condensation, but at the same time he was clearly aware of the other person beside him. The presence.Their legs are squeezed together because the seats are a bit cramped.Sun Zheping's body temperature was higher than his, which could be clearly felt in this situation.If you ask him why he is like this, Sun Zheping will probably say "people from asteroids..." Men are not good at explaining their own affairs, and this is a universal excuse.He was aware of Sun Zheping's solid leg muscles, those parts covered by clothes, he was aware of that slight personal aura, even if he didn't look at Sun Zheping, he could trace the other person's face in his mind, and that It was a strange look of tenderness and pride intertwined.The string between them was stretched to the limit, as if it would break in the next moment, but it was so tough that it would never break no matter what.

What the hell am I thinking?

Zhang Jiale asked himself so much that he missed the first half of Sun Zheping's sentence.

……How about it?

what?

He felt a little guilty, turned his body outside, and turned to look at his friend.

I'm telling you, Sun Zheping obviously didn't notice what he was thinking during the brief distraction. —Would you like to come to our ship?

Zhang Jiale froze for a moment.

Years later he would think of this moment and realize that his life was at a crossroads.But people often don't realize it at that particular moment.Or, even if you realize it, it won't make a difference.

He would still give the same answer.

They will still be on the same boat, sailing to the same star field, dreaming of the same planet.If they had been given more time perhaps it would have been clearer, perhaps they would have kissed each other in the glow of a distant nebula, knowing that something between them was certain whether they had found that planet or not; Under the gray sky of the city of tomorrow, they locked a hummingbird called love in each other's chests, let it flap its wings frantically and beat the heart, and regarded that patience as a necessary test in life .

Many years later, Zhang Jiale overlooked himself at that time from his memory.He looked at the boy he no longer knew with a proud smile, and punched his friend on the shoulder.

Is that even a question?

4.

Four years after Sun Zheping disappeared, Zhang Jiale finally found the planet that only existed in theoretical calculations.A probe ship is released from the starship.He volunteered to join the ranks of the first batch of landing: this is not suitable for him, he is old as the chief mate, and he has a lot of things to take care of, if there is any danger, it will cause losses to the continued voyage of the starship.But he insisted on it.Once Zhang Jiale stubbornly wants to do something, it is rare that he can't do it.

They sink below the atmosphere.White clouds obscured their view, and now they could not see the full extent of the planet - but the water vapor was a good sign, like the dove that brought back the olive branch told them that there was water on the ground.Everyone held their breath after passing through the clouds.

The planet is green.It is not the green caused by minerals, but the layered, bit by bit, green with life.This is a planet with life.

Everyone was still in a dream when they set foot on the land.The atmosphere here is still not suitable for human breathing, but the temperature and gravity are within an acceptable range. It is conceivable that this planet has great potential to become a new settlement.The young voyagers gazed at the land in awe, a planet that a voyager would never have discovered in his entire life—perhaps this was the most proud moment of their lives.And Zhang Jiale also looked at all this greedily: the deep blue river, the rose quartz colored sky, countless unknown plants growing densely, raising their branches and leaves high to embrace the warm light of the United Stars.He even had the urge to take off his protective clothing and embrace the land, even if the price he paid was death.

You see finally found, the planet we were talking about.

At the same time as this thought arose, he was suddenly and truly aware of the void that existed in his chest, even though he had long since healed from that separation.Under this rosy sky, he clearly remembered the city that was always shrouded in clouds, and the smell of the lingering rain seeped into the circulation system of the protective suit from the long memory.He thought of Sun Zheping's hedgehog-like short hair, close-fitting ear pinnae (he wore earphones for too long when working on the ship), raised cheekbones, slightly wrinkled brows, and overly serious eyes.He remembered that the last time he walked into Herbsttag alone, he didn't meet a single acquaintance, only the bartender at the bar nodded to him and asked the customer if you have been here before?

Zhang Jiale didn't answer him, but just ordered a martini.While waiting, he asked, why is the store called this name?

have no idea.It has changed owners several times but the name has stuck.It is said to be a poem from long ago.

What kind of poem?

Zhang Jiale asked casually.

do not know.

The wine was served.As he sat there, he heard coins being dropped into the machine and old music blaring over the whispered conversations.He lightly raised his glass to the air, drained the wine in one gulp, and left Herbsttag forever.

He once imagined such a situation with Sun Zheping.Maybe one day, they will separate because of some unfathomable force.Maybe they will set foot on different starships and search for different planets at the two ends of the universe that cannot communicate with each other.But maybe one day (say, ten years from now), they will meet again in Herbsttag.At that time, they were still young, and they still had the possibility to grow taller. Aging and death were far away from them, so they could easily talk about this kind of topic-will you still recognize me at a glance after ten years?

about ok.But it's best not to separate.

Zhang Jiale led the young cruisers to collect samples of soil, plants, water and air, and carefully packed them all into a vacuum isolation box.They need to go back, send all this to the laboratory, and then start the next step of the detection plan.The moment the airship took off was in the evening, and the stars sinking into the horizon instantly dyed the light pink sky into fiery red.They flew up against the light until they returned to the cold universe.

After returning to the starship, Zhang Jiale avoided the congratulatory crowd.He returned to his cabin tiredly, letting sleep overwhelm him.At the bottom of the dream he saw Herbsttag again, the fine rain was beating on the floor-to-ceiling windows, everything in it was still the same, even Sun Zheping was sitting in their old seat and said to him:

It's been ten years.not coming back?

He woke up suddenly.

not going back?

Go back, go back to the isolated island built yesterday, where he threw his only youth and love once.To not go back is to give up all of this completely, to give up searching, to give up reminiscence, and to give up the possibility of embracing completeness again.He'd driven himself far enough now, yet something was still hanging at the base of his ribs, calling to him from under the gray sky, waiting for him.Perhaps there, where everything has not changed, there is no concept of existence or non-existence, anything is possible and everything will happen while waiting, as long as you turn your head when the doorbell rings, you will see that person push the door open and walk in.

Zhang Jiale stood up, left his cabin and walked towards the upper deck of the starship.Through the portholes there they could see the gigantic planet rotating silently below them.There, countless plants waited with them for the day to come again, waiting for the beginning of another cycle.

Zhang Jiale pressed his forehead against the cold glass.From the dim light of the starship, he saw his own reflection, completely different from the youth many years ago.If he steps into Her