ps: The title is wrong, and I can't change it, I'm really stupid.

Chapter 123 "Caged Bird" finale.

……

With this hardcover copy of "Caged Bird",

The more editor-in-chief Tao looked at it, the more carefully he saw that Wu Mu, the protagonist of the article, had figured out a lot of mysteries at night and spied some truths about the starry sky.

I felt a little numb in my scalp again, and I paused for a long time before continuing to read.

In this paragraph,

The main character, Wu Mu, reveals the contradiction between the previous 'observer civilization' and the current behavior.

A relatively subtle expression of a possibility...... The night is so bright that there is never only one star.

If an electromagnetic signal is sent, this 0.7 petabyte of data is not an 'observer civilization'.

If there really is an observer civilization outside the curtain of the solar system, then what is going on in human beings today may be the opposite.

Human beings are not moving forward in desperation following the path planned for human civilization by the 'observer civilization'.

Rather, it is ignorant and fearless detached from the path that the 'civilization of the observer' has given to mankind...... Because the current path is not planned for humanity by the 'civilization of observers'.

“…… It turns out that we are not ants walking along the sugar water to write the 'word', but we are being affected by something else next to us and are ...... out of the group."

The protagonist Wu Mu muttered to himself under the starry sky,

But it shocked the reader who was immersed in it, and a feeling of tingling went straight to the ends of his hair.

Set up for the author's subtle plot...... also for the plot itself.

Unexpected, but reasonable, unexpected, but in retrospect, it is very reasonable.

And the plot,

And here, it's going on.

After understanding some truths, where do we go from here?

Although he figured out some things, he also presented greater despair in front of human civilization in the book.

……

“…… Wu Mu looked at the stars shining in the dark night, and after standing for a long time, he took down the birdcage on the branch and took the feathered bird back to the dormitory.

I just don't know if there were a few tiny ants that trampled to death along the way. ”

After this period.

Wu Mu naturally reported this information.

At the end of the report, he ended with what seemed to be a joke, but no one who saw the report could laugh.

“…… Later, I thought that if the turtle in the mud didn't have beautiful lines on its shell, it would have been used to make soup. It's being watched. ”

This passage echoes the little story he reported in the report earlier,

also revealed some of Wu Mu's despair from the words.

Further down,

is after the report is submitted,

A secret conversation between Wu Mu and the head of state further reveals the truth that Wu Mu saw.

“…… Professor Wu, do you think there really is an 'observer civilization' outside the solar system? ”

"I don't know, but since the observer civilization says there is, then there is, and since there is, there should be a lot of them."

"What is the Observer civilization observing us from outside the curtain?"

“…… Maybe it's collecting the differences between different civilizations, or maybe it's an experiment that takes a long time for us...... It is possible that samples of civilizations with different histories and cultures are valuable for this powerful civilization...... We are caged birds, how can we understand our greatest value? ”

"But probably, no matter what, it is contradictory to the 'observer civilization' that sent the data. So with a high probability, if there is really an observer civilization outside the curtain, it is not the same as the 'observer civilization' that sent data? ”

“…… So Professor Wu, what is the purpose of this 'observer civilization' that sends electromagnetic signals now? Why this 'gift'? ”

“…… Führer, what would happen if we had colonized beyond the galaxy and received this message? ”

“…… Will ignore it, or follow the place where the message came from...... Because we've broken through the galaxy and haven't seen the curtain. ”

"If we hadn't given birth to science and had enough sophisticated receiving instruments, what would have happened when this information came?"

“…… Naturally, it is not receivable. ”

“…… What kind of civilization does it need to be equipped with the technology that receives this information? ”

“…… Science has been born and has developed to a certain extent, but it is still far from touching the boundaries of the galaxy where civilization is located. ”

“…… Yes, such a civilization, a civilization that has not been in contact with other alien civilizations, after receiving such a complete system of scientific and technological gifts...... Our science, our thoughts, seem to be moving in a self-appointed direction. ”

“…… This is probably not a gift, but a thinking weapon, those words for us or to other civilizations, two tests, gifts of complete technology, probably part of the weapon. ”

“…… Maybe after the coverage of science and technology, we have no other possibility, maybe this system of knowledge from theoretical science to science and technology eventually points to the 'observer civilization that sends signals' itself, but the scientific ideological system is exactly the same as it, and how can the civilization that is already lagging behind it have the possibility of surpassing it.

Perhaps, as the 'Observer Civilization' sends at the end of the message, if we meet in the stars one day. Then presumably human civilization will become its vassal. ”

“…… But these presumably all have the same characteristics, which are killing the uniqueness of our civilization. This is contrary to the observer civilization that really exists outside the curtain. ”

The Führer was silent.

Wu Mu was equally silent.

In fact, a group of scientists, physicists, and professors have naturally thought about this possibility.

But because of the observer civilization outside the curtain, there is no choice, if this is the route planned for humanity by the real observer civilization,

Even if it kills the future of mankind, it can only go on.

It's just that now, Wu Mu's conjectures and inferences have marked the civilization that sent the data with the civilization of the observer mentioned in the data.

So people are faced with a choice.

is to continue to follow the current complete scientific and technological route forward, but it is possible that it will be slapped to death because of the 'ant outlier'.

Or choose to try to maintain the obscure uniqueness of human civilization, just like the pattern on the body of a caged bird, 'for others to see' to avoid being slapped to death.

“…… The weak face the strong, and even the requirements of the strong need to be speculated and guessed. ”

The long silence between Wu Mu and the Führer ended with the Führer's words.

It's a deep despair,

Humans are caged birds, and it's best to show off their beautiful feathers.

In fact, there is never a choice but to be manipulated.

It's just a matter of seeing what kind of choices can make human civilization survive the present and avoid a crisis that may be close at hand.

"Professor Wu Mu, what do you think we should do?"

"I don't know...... It's just that the observer civilization is closer to us. ”

Wu Mu raised his head, his eyes full of confusion.

Neither the civilization that sent the electromagnetic signal nor the civilization that observed it outside the curtain really appeared in front of humans.

Just showing some traces makes human civilization so desperate.

"I see, Professor Wu......"

Finally, the Führer nodded, and the two ended this secret conversation.

……

"Hey......"

Looking at the plot in the article, it seems that despair spreads from the book to the reader Editor-in-Chief Tao.

Editor-in-Chief Tao looked at it and sighed.

The civilization in the book has been in despair since it received electromagnetic wave data.

It is probably that the human civilization in the book finally got a glimpse of the existence of the 'cage' around it.

After a pause, Editor-in-Chief Tao calmed down again.

And some more expectations,

As desperate as possible,

But since the protagonist can figure out the real status quo of human beings at night,

Saved humanity from a crisis that was close at hand because it was out of orbit.

Is it possible to find another brilliant way to break free from the cage of human civilization?

But the plot continues,

But once again, it was beyond the expectations of the editor-in-chief Tao.

After the end of the secret conversation with the Führer,

The protagonist Wu Mu returned to teach at the university again, and a few days passed so ordinary.

It's just a lot more silent than usual.

A few days later, on the campus road of Capital University, Wu Mu met a professor from the School of Physics, who had been depressed because his controlled nuclear fusion research route had lost its value, and went out to travel and relax.

The professor was very happy at this time,

He told Wu Mu that the state had set up a new project team and decided to continue to do controlled fusion research from other routes.

The state said to these professors that although we have controlled nuclear fusion technology gifted by alien civilizations, we cannot leave behind our own.

You can't pin your own science and technology system on the science and technology gifted by alien civilizations, you have to have your own independent science and technology route, even if it has no practical significance, you must master it.

And a large part of the productivity gains in recent years have been smashed into this matter.

The physicist in the field of controlled nuclear fusion is amazed by the state's approach.

said that he had long felt that he should not follow the scientific and technological route given by the observer civilization as before.

There must be something of one's own to have new possibilities, otherwise human beings are observer civilization or human civilization?

Wu Mu was silent about the professor's words,

Although human civilization has deviated from the path of civilization planning that sends electromagnetic wave data,

But only on the other designated path.

In the end, Wu Mu didn't say anything and left.

The physicist felt a little strange, but he didn't bother too much with Wu Mu's reaction,

Just go about your own business.

And Wu Mu,

Feeling the changes around him because of the conversation he had with the Führer,

Step by step, I walked back home.

The surroundings have been very lively, only Wu Mu is silent.

In the end, Wu Mu returned to his residence.

Standing by the window, looking at the birds in the cage hanging from the window,

After watching it for a long time,

The bird naturally didn't know what Wu Mu was thinking,

Maybe it's a little strange, from time to time he turned his head sideways and looked at Wu Mu,

From time to time, he lowered his head and pecked in the bowl of feed in the cage.

“…… Caged bird, when will you know that your greatest value is not to be seen, but to fly freely? ”

Wu Mu finally opened the cage,

Threw this beautiful bird out.

"Go, go, go......"

Wu Mu muttered.

Just don't know if this bird that flew away will survive outside the cage?

Or be caught again and put in a cage.

Wu Mu held the empty birdcage, lay down on the bay window, and fell asleep.

Outside the window, I don't know when the wind and rain will come.

……

The whole "Caged Bird" ends here.

Wu Mu, the protagonist of the book, did not turn the tide again.

It was unexpected by the editor-in-chief Tao, a reader, but when you think about it, it is so reasonable.

For a powerful civilization beyond the curtain of the solar system, human civilization can't even see or perceive,

What can be done...... And the current human civilization in the book, not to mention breaking free from this 'birdcage', can't even touch the edge of the 'birdcage'.

From the beginning, it was a story of despair.

The ending is not a tragedy anymore, at least for the individuals in the current human civilization in the book.

Even despair is in the distant future.

It's just that some of the human civilization in the book has been tossing and turning for a long time.

And Editor-in-Chief Tao looked at this ending and felt a little uncomfortable.

But I feel that this author wrote such an ending well, or that the whole book ends here.

Although it does not have the thrilling climax of 'enlightenment' in the night, it takes the whole book to another level.

It may be that this unhappy ending reminds people of this book for a long time - after all, tragedy is more memorable.

Editor-in-chief Tao felt that he was afraid that he would be able to think of this book again after a long time.

At least after reading it now, many of the plots in the book are still echoing in his mind.

Throughout the book,

The existence of two extraterrestrial civilizations,

The civilization of the observer who may be outside the curtain, and the civilization that sends electromagnetic signals,

None of them actually appeared, but various traces revealed their existence.

But it is such an existence that also brings despair to the human civilization and the protagonist in the book.

And after reading the whole story,

Editor-in-chief Tao also seems to understand why this science fiction book is called a caged bird.

From the beginning,

Alien Civilization's Description of Human Civilization – 'You Are Caged Birds'

And then to the words of the protagonist in the finale - 'Caged bird, when will you understand that your greatest value is to soar freely and not to be watched.' ’

For the alien civilization that sends electromagnetic wave signals, the human civilization on the earth is a caged bird,

And for the observer civilization outside the curtain of the solar system, the human civilization of the solar system is also a caged bird.

No matter what is the greatest value of human beings to alien civilizations that cast a wide net and send electromagnetic wave signals,

Or is it the value of human civilization to the observer civilization that may exist outside the solar system,

The answer has already been preset for human civilization...... And the human civilization in the book is like a caged bird with no choice.

Even if you know what your value is, you can only give the answers that others preset.

Thinking about this,

Editor-in-chief Tao watched the whole "Caged Bird" and some uncomfortable emotions gradually faded,

Immediately after, I became a little more excited.

This is a good one, this is a good science fiction!

It's a pity...... It is not published by its own publishing house.

How did such a good book end up in the publishing house of the old money guy,

What shit luck...... Luckily, my publisher also publishes a lot of good ......

"Seven Days of Hell" and "Shepherd Boy Seeking Immortals" ...... Well, there are more books published by the old money guy's publishing house.

Well...... It's as if both books are by the same author...... By the way, I remember that this author seems to have a book called "Mortal Cultivation of Immortals" in his hand that has not been published.

Or maybe it was published for him......

Editor-in-chief Tao pondered,

But for the time being, this matter has been put on hold.

First touched the mobile phone and called the old money of Huating Publishing House,

The phone is connected,

Immediately afterwards, there was the voice of old money showing off his excitement,

"Lao Tao, I've finished reading the book, it's well written, haha......"

"It's not you who wrote it, what are you talking about?"

"It's not me who wrote it, it's published by my publishing house, what the editor does, is to pick up the relics of Bei Hai and discern the pearls. My publishing house published this book, and that is because I have a good eye, and I don't want to be sorry for you. ”

"Phew, it's so good to write this book, even a blind person can see it, and you need to be discerning, it's really shameless."

“…… I ask you, this book is so well written, have you ever thought about giving a science fiction award? ”

"I've thought about it, but didn't the Galaxy Awards just be evaluated some time ago, so I have to wait for next year."

"Aren't there any foreign ones, such as the Hugo Award or something?"

"Old Tao, are you serious?"

“…… It's just that the Hugo Award or something can't be reached, aren't there other awards...... There are other awards in the country as well. ”

“…… Also. Yes, it should be considered. ”