Chapter 250 - Sol Three Hundred and Forty-Two, It is Home (2/2)

“Tang Yue…” Tomcat softly said. “Best of luck.”

It shouted in a hollow manner before using its final strength to push Tang Yue up. With its strength, Tang Yue climbed into the hatch and tumbled to the side. He lay on the spacecraft’s floor, panting.

Tang Yue lay here, his limbs seemingly detached from his brain. Upon sensing that the environment around him was habitable, the Radiant Armor quickly activated the circulation system. Surprisingly, the air here was breathable and the temperature was a comfortable 25°C.

The circulation system injected air into Radiant Armor and the nearly suffocating Tang Yue finally recovered some of his strength. He struggled to get up and crawled over, reaching out for the hatch.

The furry paw was still holding onto the accommodation ladder.

“Tomcat… I’ll… I’ll pull you up… We’ll go… go together…”

Tang Yue grabbed the paw and pulled it up.

Tang Yue was stunned.

It was only a broken arm.

..

Tang Yue weakly slumped on the floor and before he fell unconscious, he saw the dark hurricane beneath him turn brownish-red. It was only at that moment that he realized that he was rising. After he had boarded the spacecraft, it had silently and rapidly raised its altitude. It flew extremely stably and quietly without any noises or vibrations. It had risen at a uniform speed, giving Tang Yue the impression that he had been stationary.

The air gradually thinned. Likewise for the sandstorm. The sunlight gradually penetrated the sandstorm, effusing a faint brownish-red light.

The spacecraft tore through the hurricane and atmosphere with Tang Yue aboard. He had his eyes half-open when bright sunlight suddenly shone on his face. He had finally seen sunlight again. The sun was rising from the ends of the clouds. It felt like the first ray of sunlight shining on his face after a train left a long tunnel, bringing along with the leaf shadows in the woods.

Tang Yue looked down. The dark brown sandstorm was churning like a boiling pot of soup. The distance between them was widening, and soon, the ground no longer looked flat. It gradually turned into a massive arc and the sand and the atmosphere was just a thin layer that encompassed that arc. Right on the heels of that, they slowly converged in Tang Yue’s eyes as he saw the distant horizon—it was a fiery-red planet. Tang Yue could once again take its entirety into his eyes.

On the 342nd sol of being stranded on this alien planet, Tang Yue once again saw it in its entirety.

It was a beautiful but cruel red planet.

The planet where he lived, hated, felt pain, and escaped.

Mars!

Mars!

Tang Yue struggled to turn his body as he faced the sky where the stars were resplendent.

He hugged the cat’s paw and photo frame tightly in his chest. He opened his mouth, wishing to say something, but his parched throat couldn’t make a sound. Tang Yue’s lips were cracked as blood trickled into his mouth. Tears welled and streamed down into the corners of his eyes.

Tang Yue closed his eyes.

If I must die,

Please bury me,

Under the starry sky.

Ask not where I’m from,

For it is immensely far.

Ask not where I’m headed to,

For ahead is infinitely far.

Do not feel sad, do not weep.

There will come a day,

When spring winds blow,

When withered trees bloom.

Come visit me,

Come that day,

A Halcyon spreads its wings above my grave,

Scattering sunlight upon me.

Come that day,

Please take my eyes,

And cross the galactic rivers,

Till the end of the Universe,

Where a faint blue dot lies.

Put to rest my soul

Herein where I lie.

If you wish to ask,

Where this is?

Vast lands without ends I see,

I shall say,

It is home.