Zhang Fan followed Su Muran out of the living quarters, arrived at the universal docking module, and then walked forward.
"Where did everyone else go?" Zhang Fan, who had been following Su Mu, couldn't help but ask.
"You've been to the rear compartment of the 'Firebird,' haven't you?" Su Muran asked Zhang Fan in return.
"I've been there..."
“Then you should have noticed the signs of a fight behind us.” Su Muran said to Zhang Fan as they walked forward. “I told you before that ‘Firebird’ split into two ‘countries’ and they even went to war. Do you remember?”
"I remember." Zhang Fan nodded. That was the last time he communicated with Su Muran, so of course he remembered it clearly.
"I can tell you everything that happens here now. This is a world more magical than any myth you've ever heard."
"When we discovered that Earth had been hit by an asteroid, Firebird was thrown into chaos and division. Jones, Josh, Andre, Bob, and Hannah were the rationalists. They believed that there was no point in continuing to return to Earth. Even if there were human survivors, Firebird would not be able to land. Therefore, they believed that the best option now was to return to Mars."
“Puganov, Hans, Harris, and Sena belong to the sentimental group. They believe that they must keep moving forward no matter what. Earth is their home, their families are there, and there is no point in returning to Mars.”
Zhang Fan had little communication with the other astronauts on "Firebird" before. He usually distinguished them according to their respective roles on "Firebird".
Captain Jones, Vice-Captain Josh, Navigator Andre, Pilot Bob, and Communicator Hannah—these five people typically work and operate around the forward command cockpit.
The four men—mechanical engineer Puganov, maintenance worker Hans, mechanic Harris, and Sena—usually operated around the rear electromechanical power compartment.
Su Muran is the youngest astronaut besides Zhang Fan, and her main job is to take good care of Zhang Fan, this "cargo".
Of course, each person's job is not fixed; they will help each other and take on other jobs such as cook or doctor.
"And what about you?" Zhang Fan asked. "Professor Su, which side do you think we should go to?"
“I abstain,” Su Muran replied. “Emotionally, of course I want to go back to Earth, but we would likely starve to death in Earth’s orbit. So rationally, we should go back to Mars, but what’s the point of living on Mars? It’s better to die in Earth’s orbit. So I abstain.”
"So, they're going back to Mars?" Zhang Fan said. "Jones, Josh, Andrei, Bob, and Hannah—the rationalists have 5 votes for going back to Mars; Puganov, Hans, Harris, and Sena—the emotionalists only have 4 votes for going back to Earth. Besides, Captain Jones is also a rationalist."
“You’re wrong.” Su Muran shook her head. “The principle of majority rule does not apply here.”
"Where did it end up?"
“We didn’t go anywhere.” Su Muran wanted to laugh for some reason. “During such precious time, ‘Firebird’ remained stuck in place.”
"Stalemate?"
“That’s right.” Su Muran nodded. “The rationalists control the cockpit, and the emotionalists control the engine room. Neither will give in to the other, so the result is that they can’t go anywhere, haha…”
“What happened next was even funnier.” Su Muran said as she opened the door of the rest cabin, “The two factions, which were divided, banded together internally, but became increasingly distrustful of each other externally, gradually evolving into a form similar to hostile countries, where even their interactions with each other had to follow so-called international conventions.”
"I think they've all gone mad." Su Muran pointed to the flag hanging on the rest pod. "Do you know what that is?"
“I was just about to ask you that.” From the moment Zhang Fan entered “Firebird,” he had been very concerned about these religious-like items.
“This is a religion founded by rationalists.” Su Muran’s expression was somewhat gloomy. “People often say that the end of science is theology. Now I understand what that means. Once science loses the restraint of humanity, it becomes very deformed.”
"And what is that?" Zhang Fan pointed to the "altar" on the conference table in the middle of the rest cabin.
"The altar," Su Muran replied.
"An altar?" Zhang Fan was stunned. He thought Su Muran would name something else, but who knew it really was an altar?
"As you can see, it is an altar."
What is being worshipped?
"people."
"A person?" Zhang Fan was taken aback again. "Professor Su, I'm not referring to anyone using the altar..."
“I think you’ve misunderstood me.” Su Muran looked earnestly into Zhang Fan’s eyes. “What I meant was that the ‘sacrifice’ is a person.”
"A person? A sacrifice?" Zhang Fan's eyes widened in horror. "Who?"
"Jones".
"Why?" Zhang Fan stared wide-eyed, still not quite understanding.
“As you know, the captain of the Firebirds has his own private lounge and room. Later, others discovered food in it, but Jones didn’t tell anyone,” Su Muran said indifferently. “In the post-apocalyptic Firebirds, hoarding food is a serious crime. While others are eating previously discarded garbage, you’re eating sausages and bread. That alone is enough to warrant the death penalty.”
"He's dead? And his body was dumped in space?"
“No, no, no.” Su Muran shook her head. “How could they possibly discard protein? The ‘Firebird’s’ food supply is so scarce…”
"protein?"
Zhang Fan felt a chill creeping up his back.
“In the first month after the asteroid struck Earth, the food supply was already exhausted,” Su Muran continued. “No one wanted to go into hibernation. I did, but I didn’t dare.”
"Why?"
“Because I don’t want to become a piece of protein that can be manipulated on a chopping board.” Su Muran looked at Zhang Fan, licked her lips and said, “This kind of thing is addictive. The first to lose their rationality are actually the rationalists. They launch a surprise attack on the emotionalists.”
"The result of war is mutual destruction, but there are also benefits, namely fewer people and more food, which can sustain us for a while longer. Hahaha, that's hilarious."
"Under these circumstances, the two factions finally reached an agreement to return to Mars... Why... why did you go so far away? You idiot! What's with that look you're giving me?"
"You... Professor Su, Teacher Su..." Zhang Fan stammered, looking trembling. "How did you get through those two months? I didn't mean anything by it, I was just worried that you weren't eating enough."
"Tch! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!" Su Muran rolled her eyes at Zhang Fan. "I remain neutral and don't get involved in the affairs of either of them. If you want to know how I got through those two months, I have to thank our Chinese food culture."
"What's the meaning?"
"There is houttuynia cordata in the research cabin. People from Sichuan think houttuynia cordata is delicious, refreshing, sweet and crisp. People who like it will eat it as a snack, add a little soy sauce and light soy sauce to make a cold dish, and eat it in various ways. But foreigners think this food is like rotten fish innards, plus a little toilet disinfectant smell, and they can't eat it."
“I’m a Sichuan girl.” Su Muran glared at Zhang Fan. “And preserved eggs, foreigners call them ‘devil’s eggs’ or ‘eggs that have been sitting for at least a century,’ which is completely unacceptable.”
"So I was lucky enough to survive until hibernation thanks to these unique foods."
"Why do you need to go into hibernation?" Zhang Fan asked curiously, relieved.
"Because even the houttuynia cordata and preserved eggs are all gone, and if I don't go into hibernation, I will starve to death."
"Besides you, who else was left on the 'Firebird' at that time?"
“Bob,” Su Muran said frankly, “their survival rules will inevitably leave only one person alive in the end. Bob is a boxer, which gives him an advantage.”
Where is he now?
"I don't know, so I'll go with you to check now."
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