Exiles from the future

Novel translation

Yao was published in King of Science Fiction in June 2009. This article is selected from the short stories of Marion Zimmer Bradley (1930- 1999), an American science fiction writer. Marion Zimmer Bradley Yao Renjie translated "When I was born, a very strange thing happened." Cary kenned told me. He paused, refilled his glass and looked at me curiously with a pair of young blue eyes. I looked back as casually as I could, wondering why he suddenly decided to trust me. I have known Carey Kennedy for several weeks. We met in the most casual circumstances; We chatted in the lobby of the hotel, had a cup of coffee in his favorite restaurant and a few beers in the box of the bar. He is very clever, and I like chatting with him. But until now, these conversations are just superficial and ordinary words. Today, he seems to start talking about his private affairs. Carey told me everything before I could ask. For example, he is the son of a famous experimental physicist. He came to Chicago to look for his father who mysteriously disappeared a week ago. Strangely, young Kenned doesn't seem to be worried about his father's present situation at all. But I'm glad to see that his indifference is gradually disappearing. As I said, there is an easy-going temperament in Kerry Kennedy, which also puzzles me. I don't know why, although he is as excited as a young man, his mood doesn't match his age. "Well," I vaguely told him, "childhood memories often make very normal things look weird. Is that so? " The way Carey looked at me became more straightforward at the moment. "Mr. Gray, have you read science fiction?" "I'm afraid I haven't read much," I told him. "At least, I only read one once in a while." Carey looks a little depressed. "Oh-so, do you know the famous concept of time travel in science fiction?" "I know a little." I drank my wine and hoped that the hostess would bring us another bottle of wine. "I believe that time travel should be related to some amazing paradoxes. Now I think of the man who went back to the past and killed his grandfather. " Carey showed an expression of disgust. "It's just a layman's cliche at best!" "Ha ha, I am a layman." I said kindly. The arrogant attitude of young people always arouses my pity, not makes me feel offended. I don't think young Kennedy will be over nineteen, maybe twenty. "Young man, don't tell me that you invented the time machine now!" "Lord, no!" Carey laughed and denied it, so I had to laugh along. "No, it's just that the idea of time travel appeals to me. I don't quite believe that time travel will bring any paradox. " He paused, his eyes still fixed on my face. "Listen, Mr. Gray, I think-would you mind listening to me say something very strange? I'm not drunk, but I have every reason to believe you. You see, I really know you. " I'm not surprised. In fact, I'm ready to hear him say that. I grinned and gave Carey a stiff smile. "I don't mind. Go on, "I told him. "I am interested in it." I leaned back in my chair, ready to listen to Carey's strange words. Look, I know what he's going to say. Ryan Kenny sat in the secret room with his head in his hands. "Oh, my God-"he said to himself over and over again. There are too many unpredictable risks in this matter. Although he has been teaching Carla how to resist all possible accidents for the past three years, he may still fail. If only he could get rid of the psychological barrier. However, this is undoubtedly the most dangerous thing. Sometimes, despite many humanitarian teachings, Ryan Kenney still thinks the old treatment measures are safer. It is certainly much better to put the murderer to death and lock the mentally ill in a secret room than to exile them in this terrible new way. Ryan Kenny knows that he prefers straightforward death. Two or three times, he even thought about cutting his pulse with a razor before exile. But once he wears a razor on his right wrist, his previous teaching has a strong influence on him, and even the word "suicide" can make him tremble and fall into an uncontrollable mental state. Kenny sadly believes that the cause of this tragedy lies in the paradox that civilization has become too advanced. There was a time when people thought that crossing into the past would interfere with the historical framework and even change the future. But this is just an obvious mistake, because in this year-AD 2543, for example, the whole past has happened, and the present moment itself already contains the whole past, including all attempts of all time travelers to change history from ancient times to the present. Kenny shuddered at the thought that all his actions had happened in the past. He, Ryan Kenny, has died once in the past history-600 years ago. Time travel-the most perfect and merciful way to exile criminals! He has heard various arguments put forward by sophists. Extreme egoism is obviously not suitable for living in the civilized and prosperous 26 th century. For their happiness, they should be exiled to those times that adapt to the life of these egoists. Many criminals were exiled to California on 1849. As a result, they crossed into an era when murder was not a crime, but a social need. In those days, murder was a respectable thing for gentlemen. Enthusiastic religious believers were exiled to the "first dark age", where they would not interfere with today's peaceful prosperity; Too radical atheists were exiled to the 23 rd century. Ken stood up and started pacing in the secret room. It was actually a cell, although it didn't look like it. Through the wide window, you can see the open harbor, and the decoration of this secret room is extremely luxurious. However, he knew that if he dared to step out of the door, he would be immediately attacked by powerful hypnotic gas. He tried once, and the result was almost disastrous. This is his last hour in the 26th century. /kloc-in 0/5 minutes, he will be sent to some year in the 20th century. When he was arrested by the police while trying to copy the legendary atomic isotope, his rashness foretold his fate. He won't remember how to go back to the future. He was only allowed to keep all the teachings he had received-all the knowledge and memories-with one important exception. Kenny will never remember that he is from the future for the rest of his life. In the past three weeks, he has been held in this secret room, and the radiation clues have gradually affected his brain, and his brain can't resist this slow attack on his thinking. His brain has begun to blur, and he knows that time is running out. He took a deep breath and heard footsteps and whistles in the corridor, indicating that the switch of hypnotic gas had been temporarily turned off. He stopped. The door suddenly opened and a jailer entered the secret room. Behind him is-"Kara!" Ken almost cried, went up to him, grabbed his wife's arm and grabbed her rudely. Carla leaned against her husband and sobbed softly, "Ryan, Ryan, it won't be long-"The jailer looked sympathetic. "Kenny," he said, "you can be alone with your wife for 20 minutes without being watched." The jailer gently closed the door of the secret room. Ken led Carla to sit down. She tried to stop her tears, opened her eyes in horror and looked at her husband. "Ryan, honey, I think you might-""Kara, be quiet." He whispered, "They may be eavesdropping. Please remember everything I told you. You can't be sent for another year. You already know what to do. " "I will find you." Carla promised her husband. "Let's not discuss this for the time being," Ken said softly. "We don't have much time. Greg promised that he would take care of you until-I know. He was always kind to me when you were locked up here. " 20 minutes doesn't feel long. The jailer pretended not to notice the scene when Kara pressed on Kenny to say goodbye to him. Ryan gently wiped the tears from his wife's eyes. "Kara, 1945." He whispered goodbye to his wife. "Honey, this is a date." This is Carla's last words when she walked out of the secret room behind the jailer. In his last remaining time, before he was hypnotized again, Kenny desperately sorted out what little knowledge he had about the 20th century in his mind. Now, his brain feels dark, as if there is a pressure falling from the sky, just like someone wrapped his brain with impenetrable cotton wool. He vaguely knew that when he woke up again, his prison would no longer exist. However, for the rest of his life, he is still locked in a prison-that prison is trapped in his brain, which can make him never tell the truth. "-of course, the psychological disorder assumed here will contain a rule that it is forbidden to marry people in the past." Carey Kenned said, "Letting these time exiles have children will naturally bring many difficult troubles. But if the man I'm talking about from the future finds out that his arranged wife was exiled to the past with him, then there is no psychological obstacle to prevent him from marrying her. " He stopped and looked straight at me. "What will happen to this person?" My cup is empty. I motioned to the waitress, but Kenned shook his head. "Thank you, I'm full." So, I paid for the drinks. "Kenned, shall we walk back to the hotel together?" I said, "Young man, you have told a very interesting theory. If it is modified, it will be a good science fiction plot. Are you a writer? Of course, what happened to that man-"We walked into the bright sunshine in downtown Chicago together"-will be the climax of your story. " I'll arrange it like this. "Ken Ned agreed. We crossed the street under the noisy Chicago light rail and stood in front of Marshall-Field Department Store. Carey lit a cigar. "Do you smoke? "He asked me. I shook my head. "No, thank you. You said you had every reason to believe me, young man. What is the reason? "He stared at me curiously." I thought you knew, Mr. Gray. Unlike me, you were not born in the 20th century. But you're just like dad and Carla. You are also a time exile, do you remember? ""I know you can't give any answer; Because psychological barriers are at work. But you don't have to deny it. This is what my father told me. He let me read science fiction. Then he asked me to ask him some leading questions-just answer yes or no. "Young Kennedy paused." I don't have a mental disorder. Dad wants to help me find a way to travel in time. He came to Chicago and then disappeared. But I'm on the right track now. I was right. I think dad somehow returned to the future. "Although I knew what he was going to say next, I swallowed hard." A very strange thing happened when you were born. "I said," you have brought unpredictable tension to the whole time frame. This kind of thing should not have happened in the first place, because-"I began to falter," psychological barriers would prevent time exiles from marrying anyone in the past. "Carey Kenned looked at me intently." Psychological disorder is hard to talk about, right? Dad never sends that word. "I nodded and didn't make any noise. We walked up the steps of the hotel together. "Come to my room. "I hurriedly said," we can discuss this matter. You see, Carey-that's what I call you-Kenny used to be my good friend. " "I wonder," Carey said, "whether Dad got married in the 26th century." "He has a home." Carey, eyes wide open, Mr. Dogley. Is he okay? "I'm sorry to shake my head. The elevator attendant took us to the fourth floor. I can't help wondering if he is also a time exile. I wonder how much time the exiles have in Chicago. Whenever they want to tell the truth, psychological barriers tightly clamp their lips, making them speechless, and a sullen heart is hidden under the disguised expression. I wonder how many men and women live such a life full of lies. Day after day, these poor people are exiled from their future world to this era, and they die alone and become victims of fate. This punishment is really more terrible than the death penalty. No wonder they will use all means to escape this terrible fate. We went into the guest room and I closed the door. Carey stared at the time machine in the dark corner of the room. At the same time, I went to the table and picked up the shiny CD. I walked straight to Carey. "Your father left this for you," I told him. Please take a closer look. "He eagerly took the CD, eyes full of excitement, he immediately realized that this item came from the 26th century. He died immediately ... I hate my job, time travel, and the chain of events, which makes me a tool to promote so-called "justice." I stepped into the time machine, which will take me back to the 26th century. Cary Kenned told the truth. A very strange thing happened when he was born. Just like an extra electron bombards an unstable isotope, it destroys the logical chain that maintains the time frame. His birth triggered a chain reaction. For me, this chain reaction ended a week before the year 2556. At that time, Kenna and Kara returned to the 26th century and died at the hands of frightened jailers. I have been sentenced to time exile, but I have been pardoned. I will be given a light sentence and relieved of my post. This is a dirty job, and I hate it, because Kenny and Carla are my good friends. But I don't have the opportunity to choose freely. Any punishment is better than time exile. Any punishment, any sin. In addition, it is necessary. You know, it is against the laws of nature to let children be born before their parents are born. [1] Kenner and Kennaird are similar in pronunciation.