When they saw this, Kirton, Lansie, Sean and Lu Hua almost held their breath, and they continued to look down tremblingly-

(p.74) Mars heard me ask, and walked out of his thoughts, barely squeezing out a smile: "Lapet, are you interested in this?" ”

I nodded, "I wonder how you know if the things you see in your dreams are happening in the present or the future?" ”

Mars said: "Lapet, I'm afraid I can't tell you concretely. There are some things that are not as easy to express as teaching someone how to ride a horse. The fact that I was dreaming of the future was in itself a very strange, illusory, and inconceivable phenomenon, and I didn't even understand what it was. I can only tell you - because after all, I have so many years of experience, although I have not yet reached the point where I can foresee whatever I want, but I have gradually figured out the law of this 'dream prophecy'. To put it simply, every time I have a dream now, I can clearly perceive it in the dream—what year and where it happened. And when I wake up, I can clearly remember the contents of the dream so that I can record it in time. Also, let me tell you one more peculiar thing - it seems that the exact time I slept had a lot to do with the year of the dream prophecy. ”

"Ah, that's amazing!" I exclaimed.

Mars? Bart said with some smugness: "You know, this is something that even Nostradamus can't do - he told me that he can predict all kinds of disasters that will happen in the future world, but many times he can't know the specific year, month and day of the event, and can only calculate a vague time period." I think the reason for this is probably that Nostradamus can predict everything, but I can only predict things like 'catastrophe', so I can be more accurate and correct in this regard than he is. In fact, in my conversations with him, I had already discovered that he had made some false predictions about some major catastrophe to come—at least in timing—and of course I didn't tell him, because I didn't want to reveal my secret. ”

I became more curious and asked, "Mars, can you tell me?" What will the world look like in a few hundred years? And what kind of big things will happen in the world in the future? ”

Mars? A confused look appeared on Bart's face, and his eyes were looking straight ahead, as if his gaze could travel through time and see the future directly. He said: "Lapet, it is difficult for me to describe to you in simple words what the world of the future will look like. Because I've never seen anything strange before, and I don't know what to call it. All I know is that the people of the future will hardly ride horses and carriages, but will ride in a kind of iron box with wheels, which can be driven without horses pulling the cart, and can run quickly into the distance...... The architecture of the future is also strange, with people almost always living in tall towers. Ah, by the way, I've seen a huge, iron-skinned snake in a futuristic world that seems to crawl along two iron rods. Not only are people not afraid of this giant snake, but they are also competing to burrow into its belly......"

I listened to this Mars with great interest? Bart introduced me to the world of the future, as if I was in a wonderful fairy tale. I couldn't understand what he was saying, but I was yearning for the world he was describing. We talked in the garden for four hours that afternoon. I have to admit that it was the most memorable afternoon of my life.

(p.77) Mars has not been a visitor to my house for two months. I thought he was too busy in the palace, but to my surprise, when I saw him again, he showed a rather panicked feeling, as if he had caused some kind of disaster.

I was the only one in the family that day. When Mars entered, he didn't even have time to sit down, so he panted and said to me, "Lapet, the day has finally come...... Actually, I had already arrived, but when it actually came, I still ...... I was so scared that I didn't know what to do...... I wanted to come and talk to you. ”

From my acquaintance with Mars? I've never seen Bart look so panicked since that day — it made me realize that something bad must be happening. I first forced myself to calm down and sat down with Mars, and after pouring him a cup of coffee, I asked, "What's wrong, Mars?" Don't be nervous, speak slowly. ”

Mars looked horrified and said, "Do you remember the last time I told you about that?" I told you that day I saw one thing that was about to happen in the future...... And this thing, now I know exactly that it will happen tomorrow! ”

My mind raced for a moment with countless fantasies about all sorts of terrible catastrophes, which made me nervously ask, "What is it, Mars?" ”

He stared at me and said, "The king is going to summon Nostradamus to the palace tomorrow." ”

Apparently my imagination was not enough for me to understand what he meant by this, and asked, "Does this have anything to do with you, Mars?" ”

"Oh......" he said, shaking his head bitterly, "the king will speak to Nostradamus himself. Moreover, he would ask Nostradamus a very stupid and sensitive question. Worse still, Nostradamus's answer was even more stupid! He actually ...... Tell the truth to the king! The king would have been scared stupid—but the problem is, it ended up hurting me! ”

I was completely confused by his inexplicable words, and I asked, "Mars, can you make it clear?" What questions would the king ask Nostradamus? ”

Mars? Bart's face suddenly turned pale, and he shook his head again and again: "No, no, I must not say this, this matter is related to the king's ...... Believe me, Lapet, I won't tell you this not only for my sake, but also for you—if you knew the secret, you would be killed! ”

I was so frightened that I thought of my husband and son, and I quickly said, "Forget it, Mars, don't tell me about it!" ”

Mars let out a breath and said, "Of course, I will think about it for you, I will not say the specific content of this matter, you can rest assured." But I still hope you can help me with the staff, what will I do when this happens tomorrow? ”

"You just said that after the king asked Nostradamus a question, Nostradamus told him the truth, and the king was frightened—but I still don't understand, what does it have to do with you?"

"Listen to me, Lapet, the matter is that the king was very dissatisfied with Nostradamus's answer, but he could not blame him, for it was the king himself who demanded that Nostradamus must tell the truth. The result was that the king was terrified and frightened by the answer, but he had nowhere to vent his displeasure and anger—in this case, he thought of me, and after Nostradamus had left, he summoned me into the temple and demanded that I recount him—but, damn it! I know that what Nostradamus said is absolutely true! In fact, I knew the answer to the question long before he did, but I didn't say it because the king didn't ask me. Now, because of Nostradamus, the king has finally asked me this question, and how shall I answer him, Lapet? ”

I cautiously and tentatively replied, "What about you...... Tell the king the truth? Isn't that okay? ”

"Ah...... No! Mars exclaimed in excitement, "Lapet, you don't understand the importance of this answer to the king!" Do you think he really wants someone to tell him about the future at this time, and then tell him the facts he doesn't want to hear? You're wrong, Lapet. The king summoned me to him less than twenty minutes after Nostradamus had left, just to hear me say something comforting, and if I told him the truth at this time, he would be furious and angry, and would have ordered me to be sent to the gallows in a fit of rage! ”

At this, Mars's voice choked, and he said with a sad expression, "If I die, my wife and children who live on my money in the palace...... They will live on the streets, and their fate will be extremely tragic......"

I was very sad when I saw him sad, and naturally I wanted to think of some way to help him. I pondered what he had just said, and said to him, "Mars, since you have foreseen all this, and know that if you tell the truth to the king, you will be killed—then do not tell him the truth!" You yourself say that the king just wants to hear something comforting from you, so wouldn't it be better if you could make up some nice words to fool him? ”

As soon as these words came out, even I was shocked that I was instigating the royal astrologer to deceive the king. Mars slowly raised his head, looked at me and said, "Lapet, how could I not have thought of such a thing as you said?" However, I also knew in my heart that if I did this, I would save my life and gain the king's favor. But I will also be punished in a few years' time, and I will end up in disrepute and despair. ”

I was puzzled and asked, "Why?" ”

Mars sighed bitterly, "Because time will tell." Many years later, people will finally find out that Nostradamus is right, and that I have lied—and that they will think that I am not telling the truth, but that I am not capable of telling the truth—well, I am afraid that my reputation will be ruined in this matter for the rest of my life. ”

I advised him, "Didn't you say that the outcome of the matter would be tested in years?" So why should you worry about it for so long? ”

Mars said in thought: "But this 'several years' are not a few decades away, it is not long...... How can I not be worried? ”

After we were silent for a while, I said to him, "Mars, are you thinking about the choice between life and reputation?" You know, your life isn't all yours, you have to live for your wife and children – if I were you, you would have to make a choice. ”

Mars looked up at me, and after a long time, he nodded slowly and said, "Lapet, you're right. I know what I'm going to do – thank you, every time I come to see you, you always share my sorrows and give me the right advice. You are truly a rare friend of mine. ”

(86 pages) ...... I vividly remember when I was 65 years old. One morning, my husband and I sat at the table eating bread and peanut porridge with cheese. A sharp knock on the door brought a man in his forties to us. I immediately recognized, it was Mars? Barth's youngest son, when he came in, bowed politely to us, and said to us with a sad look that his father was dying, and that when he was dying, he wanted to see me one last time.

My heart trembled, and with it my right hand, which had almost all of the small spoon on the table. Without saying a word, I put down what I was holding and stood up, and with the support and company of my husband, I walked out of the door with the comer, and got into a carriage parked at the door.

Mars lives in a slum on the outskirts of eastern Paris, not only because of financial constraints, but also because of the harassment he has in the downtown area. But even so, from time to time, the children in the slum smashed the windows of his house with small stones, or gathered at his door and shouted "Come out, big liar!" Then laughed and scattered. In fact, Mars has been called that since Henry II's unexpected death and Mars was kicked out of the palace by the new king. The title "Great Liar" has replaced his name. It seems that people have a sense of pleasure in striking at those who have been abandoned by the court. In the more than 10 years since Mars left the palace, I used to visit him from time to time at first, but when I encountered this situation many times, when Mars and I were drinking tea and chatting at his house, someone outside deliberately opened his throat and introduced someone sarcastically, "You know? The man who lives here is the one who used to make the king the most happy, and if any of you want to learn how to make sycophants, go in and visit him! "—I'm always embarrassed. And Mars, though he kept his mouth shut and didn't say a word, I could feel how much pain and resentment he felt in his heart. For this reason, I rarely visited him afterwards. And he didn't come to my door once after losing power, and I guess he didn't want to cause me trouble and trouble.

The carriage drove on the muddy and rotten roads of the suburbs, and the bumps of the body were as violent as the ups and downs in my heart. I remember knowing Mars from thirty years ago? Bart is now - his whole life journey from being admired to being downcast to this point is very sad. All of this seems to have stemmed from the decision he made when he approached me more than 20 years ago to discuss "that matter". In fact, after all these years, I had already guessed what Mars would not tell me about it anyway—I had already guessed it on the day I learned of the unexpected death of King Henry II, but neither I nor Mars ever mentioned it again. Once, I tentatively said to him, "Mars, you know, I can write a book for you. In the book, I'm going to write the whole story of that incident, including why you did it — so that the world can do you justice. But he said quietly, "It's no use, Lapet, it's been so long." If you write it now, people will not think it is an afterthought, but it will attract more ridicule. I tried to persuade him again, but he stared ahead with burning eyes and said in a deep voice, "From the moment I made that decision, I knew what was going on my path." Now I don't regret it, and the fate I have chosen should be borne by myself. I had nothing to say, but I felt sad in my heart.

My thoughts stopped as the carriage stopped. We got out of the car and walked into the shabby, cramped slum of Mars. I saw Mars lying on the bed at a glance? Bart. His eyes were sunken, his eyes were cloudy, his cheekbones were high, his face was wrinkled, and his hands were full of green tendons. At a glance, it is dying. I was supported by my husband and walked over tremblingly. Mars's sons and daughters got out of the way and let me sit down at their father's bedside.

"Mars." I held his dry hand and controlled my emotions. "I'm coming."

His head seemed to be unable to turn anymore, so only his eyes turned to look at me, indicating that he knew of my presence.

I realized that Mars's time was running out, so I said to him, "Mars, if you have anything to say to me, just say it." ”

He opened his mouth with great difficulty and asked me a question:

"Lapet...... You said before that you could write a book for me...... You're still ...... Would you like to? ”

I don't know why, but when I heard him ask, my tears fell all at once. Almost instantly, I felt the grief and grievances that he had been suppressing in my heart for more than ten years. I also immediately understood that his previous pretense of being open was all pretending. It was only at the last moment of his life that he spoke out what was really in his heart. It occurred to me that he was a man who valued his reputation as much as his life! I choked up and said to him, "Yes, Mars, I do." I'll write everything out in a book. ”

With a look of relief on his face, Mars said the following to me with his last breath:

"Lapet, I still have ...... One last wish. I put the things I saw in my dreams in my life...... It's all recorded. These things are right next to you right now...... in that box. Can you take it ...... Take it for publication. If no one wants to...... If you publish these things, you have to at least ...... them Print a lot of copies. But...... I don't want these ignorant people to ...... See what I've written. I don't want to ...... after death It has become their joke and made my ...... Shame on the family! Therefore...... I used a ...... that they couldn't understand way to write. Even if someone sees it...... I won't understand either. So, Lapet, you put the book...... Once printed, just keep them in one place...... Keep it and you're good to go. If the people of the Hereafter ...... I can find these books and ...... If you interpret the meaning, it will be clear...... My worth. Lapet...... This is me...... The last wish, you must ...... Promise me. Even if it's a few centuries later...... I also want people to understand...... I have been wronged. Promise me...... Lapet! ”

With tears in my eyes, I nodded solemnly, "I promise you, Mars." I'll do what you say. ”

Mars gave me one last look, slowly closing his eyes, and his hand holding my hand finally drooped weakly.

In the winter of 1572, the royal astrologer Mars? Bart passed away with grief and grievances. Fortunately, after he was gone, I did everything I could to fulfill his last wish—to pay tribute to one of the most important friends of my life, along with these current words. And I, Mars? The only friend Bart had in his life.