Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

sand ten

sand ten

The bug only knows that there are people in this car, but it doesn't know how many people are here.

If we sacrifice a few slaves to feed him, and then stay quietly, will the worm think: what I just ate is all, there is no one here, and I can leave.

Will it be like this?

But doing so would mean sacrificing many lives.And although the slaves dare not rebel against their master, it doesn't mean they dare not rebel against me.If we fight in the caravan, the violent vibrations will trigger the bug's desire to attack.it may

It feels like the caravan is a living animal, not a cave or a rock.

No, I can't do that.

Violet dismissed the idea—not out of pity, but because it was impractical.However, once this cruel thought appeared in her heart, it would germinate and take root.This is the first time, but definitely not the last time.

Violet decided to take a different approach.She picked up a shoe and threw it into the distance. She wanted to see if the bugs would react to it.

The shoe went through a parabola and landed in the sand, and then everything was business as usual.

Are the shoes too light?she thought.I'll try something heavier again.

"Little gentleman," she said to Ariehus, "do me a favor, please?"

Erikus held the dagger and said, "Please, ma'am, as long as you won't let me kill bugs."

He couldn't be allowed to keep holding the knife.Violet naturally took the knife from him, and the innocent boy didn't realize what it represented, so he returned it to Violet.He just sighed: "This thing is so beautiful, where did it come from?"

"The gift of the Lord of Seven Colors." Violet thought she was not lying, "The Lord of Seven Colors chose me."

The boy said excitedly: "That is really a miracle, lucky lady. Can you lead us out of here?"

Violet looked into his blue eyes and thought: He doesn't hold a grudge against me.

I betrayed him just now, but he didn't hold grudges against me.Violet felt ashamed.

This boy is different from others, he is not a slave, he is a human being, a kind child, Violet thought, I can't betray him anymore, I will take him out of this desert.

Violet said: "Wait a minute, I'll go get a piece of clothing."

Violet looked at the slaves.Some slaves were naked, while others wore loose white robes.The clothes will help them block the sun so they don't get sunburned.She was in need of a white robe like this.

"Who would take off their clothes for me?" she asked those people.

No one answered, and the slave's expression was numb, as if he was dead.

"Who can give me my clothes? I need help." Violet asked again, but she was still ignored.

Damn slaves, she thought to herself, are these guys numbed by torture, or are they insensitive?

The blade of the dagger was reflecting light, and Violet said to herself in her heart, Lord Seven Colors has chosen me, and the weapon represents cruelty, killing and determination.Mercy won't keep me alive in the desert.

She walked up to a thin girl and she said, "I need your clothes, take them off."

"No." The girl whispered.She looked about ten years old, dark and thin, and if it weren't for the branding on her face, Violet could only tell her gender.

"I need your clothes to save everyone."

"I'm going to burn without this," she said.

"Then please sacrifice for us, little sister." Violet said to her in a gentle tone, and at the same time pressed the dagger to her throat.

The girl trembled with fright, she cried and asked, "Why me?"

"Why me?" Violet smiled and said, "I used to ask myself this question every day, but I stopped asking it too much. It's meaningless. Destiny is nothingness. The world is chaos. God There is no basis for rewarding and punishing a person. Girl, if you insist on asking this question, then I will answer you: because you are unlucky! Well, take off your clothes and don't force me to do it."

The girl took off her top.It was not surprising that nakedness was common among slaves.

Arihes looked at her from behind and said, "Ma'am, you are really amazing."

Violet didn't know if he was complimenting or being sarcastic, but it didn't matter which. "Gentleman, put some sand in this, not too much but not too little."

"How much is that?" the boy asked.

Violet said, "Make the weight just right for you and throw it."

"it is good."

Eriks squatted beside the caravan, carefully wrapping the sand in his clothes.The girl who lost her shirt looked at Violet blankly, and she asked, "Can I get my clothes back? I'm going to be burnt."

Violet didn't answer her.

No more, Violet thought, not only the clothes, but also your life.I can't take everyone, if I can escape, the most I can take is Ariheth.

To live is to suffer, and it is better to die early, she is full of such evil thoughts in her heart.

After a while the boy finished packing the beanbag, and Violet asked him to fasten the beanbag so that it could be thrown out.The boy was dexterous. He used the original sleeve of the robe and his own half sleeve to bind the sandbag. It was a sandbag about the size of a watermelon, and it was heavy.

Violet said: "You take this and stand on top of the caravan, and then throw it as far as you can, and use this to attract the sandworm's attention."

"Ok."

The boy climbed onto the caravan swiftly, and he held up the sandbags with both hands to accumulate energy.It was already afternoon, the sun slanted down, and the boy's shadow fell on the sand, very high and long.

He lifted the sandbag over his head, posed like an ancient human statue, and threw the sandbag with all his strength.Violet looked at him and thought to herself: He is not thin but thin. If he is fed and grows up properly, he will definitely become a strong and powerful man.

The sandbag fell on the sand with a bang.The sound was loud enough to attract the sandworm's attention.

However, after waiting for a few minutes, everything remained calm.

Um?Why is there no movement at all?Could it be that the sandworm is gone?Sand outside the Violet Caravan, sand being sand, nothing fancy.But not far away, those camels were still lying on their stomachs, motionless, which indicated that the sandworms were probably still here.

"Keep waiting," she said.

To continue to wait means to continue to be scorched by the sun.Both Violet and Ariheth were at their limit. She looked at the camels opposite and found that almost every camel had a water bag hanging from its saddle belt.She needs this.

The girl whose clothes were snatched by her just now had already suffered from heat stroke, and a large piece of her body was roasted to a red color, and she was unconscious in the car.Violet glanced at her and thought: I can't save her.Not all slaves in this carload can survive, someone has to be sacrificed.

Life is equal, I am not that great, I will not sacrifice myself to save a slave.What's more, even if I sacrifice myself, these idiots can't survive.

My life is more precious than a slave, she thought.

Violet simply stopped looking, she continued to observe the camels.

sand eleven

sand eleven

Obviously these camels know more about the habits of sandworms than people.If the camel moves, the sandworm may have left.

She glanced at the sun, and there seemed to be two hours before dusk.After dusk comes the merciless night.The desert at night may be more terrifying than during the day.It is hot during the day and extremely cold at night, and there are wolves at night.She had to find a way to leave this night.

Sweat evaporated on the neck, and the fine sand adhered to a layer of yellow mud on the skin.Arihes couldn't wait any longer, he said to himself: "Did the bug go away?"

"If the camel doesn't move, we won't move," said Violet.

Ariheth asked, "Do you think the camel knows where the sandworm is going?"

"Maybe." Violet was also uncertain, "If the camel moves but is not attacked, it proves that the sandworm has really left."

The boy asked, "Maybe the camels are waiting for us to go first? Isn't it impossible? After all, these camels look so smart. Would you like to try?"

Well, it's not impossible, Violet thought to herself.We can't just wait like this, someone has to take the risk.

Violet pointed the dagger at the slaves.Seeing this sharp knife, those numb faces finally showed some expression.

"The sandworm may be gone, which of you would like to go down and try?" she asked the slave.

Arihes tugged at her sleeve from behind and said, "Ma'am, isn't this bad?"

Violet glanced at him and said, "You hypocritical little gentleman. You were the one who brought up this matter, why did you go back on your word when it came time to do it?"

"I mean... I just said the sandworm might be gone." Blushing boyishly, he said, "And, I mean... I'll be the first one down! I'm a man, I'll do this thing."

"No." Violet refused him, "Your life and mine are more precious than these slaves. We can do many meaningful things while we are alive, but they can only waste water and food.

The boy lowered his head and said nothing, Violet reached out and stroked the top of his head, and said, "If I could, I wouldn't do it either. But we have no choice now. Kindness can't help you survive, and all animals that can survive in the desert Fierce and cunning."

"You're right," the boy whispered.

"These words are only applicable in the desert, if we can find... find an oasis in this life. I still hope you can forget what I just said." Violet didn't know what nonsense she was talking about, she was sunburned Dizzy, confused about my logic, confused about whether I am a good person or a bad person.

"Okay, who of you wants to go down!" Violet said to those people.

The knife was shining coldly, and the mirror-like blade reflected the terrified faces of the slaves.Slaves look at me, I look at you, tugging, pushing and shoving, shrinking back one by one,

"Hurry up! We're running out of time," Violet urged.

At this time an old man spoke.

"Noble lady," he looked at Violet—or at the knife in Violet's hand, "you should choose those who are sure to die, such as..." His eyes flicked down, where his eyes fell , lying a girl unconscious from heatstroke.

Why is it her again?Violet bit her lip, "No." Violet said, "She has already sacrificed once, it's your turn."

The old man stood up, he was very thin, but taller than Violet imagined. "Ma'am, it's good that you have a knife. But there are many of us. None of us want to die, and if you force us men, we will fight you hard."

Violet got annoyed and said, "You are just a bunch of thin and weak slaves."

Another man stood up, he was shorter than the old man, but fatter than the old man. "You're not much better, you tattooed bed slave," he said to Violet.

"Ma'am, step back." Ariheth stopped in front of Violet.

Violet thought to herself: I am not afraid of them if they fight, but if there is any movement, the sandworm may change its judgment and attack us.In the end, no one can survive.

Violet looked at the girl on the ground, her shriveled chest was heaving, and every breath was exhausted, as if she wanted to stretch her ribs.Those few ribs were covered with dry skin, and the ribs were like fishbone.

Violet thought to herself: What is her life all about?Are you born to suffer?Didn't Lord Seven Colors think of going to save her?

"Don't pity her," said the old man. "If there is no water, I think she will live for at most one more day. Sooner or later she will die. It is better to let her do something meaningful. In case... in case the sandworm leaves, she will die." can survive."

Old treacherous generation, Zi Luo scolded in her heart.

"Help her up," Violet ordered.

When their survival rights are guaranteed, the slaves are willing to obey the orders of the sword-wielder.They helped the unnamed girl up, slapped her on the back, and pinched her face.After a while the girl coughed heavily and opened her eyes.

"Huh?" She looked around in horror.

Violet said to her, "Can you go?"

"Can I have my clothes back?" she asked Violet.

Taking a person's clothes and taking a person's life are two different things, Violet must be more ruthless.It is not easy to be cruel--Violet's heart was once as sweet as honey and as soft as cheese. She must use fire to forge her heart and keep her soul from suffering so that she can become a vicious villain.

Some people fall in beautiful desires, while others can only rot in painful torment.

Violet said to her, "Son, would you like some water?"

"Water?" The girl's eyes lit up, "Water! Water! Do you have any water for me?"

Violet pointed to the opposite side: "Did you see the camel on the other side?"

The girl said, "I see."

"Did you see the camel's saddlebag?"

"I saw it."

"There's water there, go." Violet turned her gaze away after saying this.

She looked out across the empty desert, and behind her she heard the girl's excited cry, "Water! Water! Water!" she said as she ran out of the caravan.Violet heard the sound of her bare feet stepping on the sand, the moaning of her being burned, the sound of her crying and laughing, and the sobbing of Ariheth...

If the little girl can really reach the camel, I will give her the cleanest water and the best food, and then I will take her to escape, and I will put her in a good family, so that she can live a good life For the rest of my life——Violet swears in her heart, I will definitely do this.

"Water, water, water..." The girl's voice was hoarse as if there was sand in her throat.

"No! Run!" Ariel Hess shouted.

Then, Violet heard the sound of the ground shaking.

It's over.She closes her eyes.

Violet escaped from reality, and there was darkness under her eyes, but her ears could not be closed—the loud sound of cracking the sand, the screams of girls, the screams of slaves, and the terrible muffled sound of flesh and blood being crushed, all this Everything is telling her what happened.

By the time she made up her mind to look back, the desert had returned to calm.Smoke-like sand floated in the air, and the sun shone hazyly on the smoke screen; the girl disappeared, and there were many large pits on the ground.There is a little bit of imperceptible bright red blood on the sand, like a little azalea blooming in the yellow sand.When the wind blew, the yellow sand submerged it, so there was no trace of the child in the world.

I should ask her what's her name, Violet sighed, forget it, it's pointless to ask.

I'm a stupid, mean, hypocritical woman, she thought.

"The worms ate her, lady," said Ariehus to Violet.

"I know."