Chapter 171 - Sol Two Hundred and Eighty-Three, Our Eyes (2/2)

“That there once existed such a species. They had all the best qualities in the Universe. They loved life, freedom, and peace. They were moral people, rich with curiosity and empathy. They were willing to sacrifice their lives for more sublime goals. Among them were geniuses, great people, believers, and heroes.”

Tang Yue’s voice turned soft and ethereal as though he was reciting a poetic song.

“Such a species once existed as well. They had all the worst qualities in the Universe. They ostracized one another, engaged in civil wars, and belittled the value of life. They were immoral people, short-sighted and filled with lies. Their hands were covered with blood and would harm others for their own interests. Among them were idiots, devils, criminals, and cowards,” Tang Yue continued.

“They were very complex, very great.”

Tomcat fell silent.

“It’s too long. I can’t remember that.”

“Then tell them: ET scum, this was once human territory!”

“What if I don’t bump into them?”

“Then tell it to the Universe.”

Tang Yue sat in his chair, looking up as he stretched his limbs.

“Only now do I realize why the first homo sapien walked out of the African continent on a warm, starlit night two hundred thousand years ago.”

“Why?”

“Because it wished to tell the Universe that we were once here,” Tang Yue replied. “All development of civilization ultimately wishes to leave their footprints in this river of time, to prove that they once existed. Perhaps it would become the final question that all civilizations have to face near the end.”

“How do you know that the first homo sapien walked out of Africa on a warm, starlit night?”

“Because I see it.” Tang Yue closed his eyes as his lips pursed into a faint smile. “It jumped across shallow rivers, its eyes as resplendent as the stars in the sky.”

Tomcat didn’t believe that Tang Yue really could see homo sapiens from two hundred thousand years ago. As for jumping across shallow rivers, that was probably Tang Yue’s own imagination.

“Do you know, Tomcat? In these two hundred thousand years… Compared to the homo sapien, there are many things about me that are different from it. It ate raw meat and drank blood, draped itself in animal hide, holding wooden clubs, and living in the savanna or forests. As for me, I’m wearing a spacesuit with a computer beside me, sitting in a scientific research station on Mars… But there is still one thing that’s identical,” Tang Yue said. “That’s our eyes.”

Tomcat was taken aback.

Tang Yue’s words had shocked it.

After two hundred thousand long years, the eyes of humans had never experienced any changes.

“Even though the path was filled with twists and turns, with obstacles in the way, we are forever looking forward.” Tang Yue kept speaking. “It’s forever filled with hope and brightness, as well as an infinite curiosity towards this world.”

Tomcat followed Tang Yue’s train of thought. If that first homo sapien who had stepped out of Africa really jumped over shallow rivers on a dark, star-filled night, running towards the vast and endless world two hundred thousand years ago, then would it see another pair of eyes a hundred million kilometers away at the end of time when it did its jump towards the future?

Tomcat looked up.

“What do you plan on doing in the next thirty days?”

“Make every second count and finish all the unfinished work.” Tang Yue opened his eyes and said, “Before the comet hits, I want to finish the history of humans entering the space age. That way, if some creatures were to receive our radio transmissions, they will be able to see our history and not think of us as savages that didn’t even manage to step off our home planet.”

Tang Yue and Tomcat sat in the Hab, waiting for the night to pass and for the sun to rise.

“Tang Yue, Mr. Cat? Good morning.” Mai Dong had come online. “You are up early today.”