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墨書 Inktalez
I stared at him in shock for about ten seconds before suddenly shouting, "We're archaeologists! How much do you expect us to understand about this high-tech stuff? What good are we here for? Why not invite an expert in this field?" Looking back now, my initial reaction was correct; the unknown is the most terrifying, especially when it involves our area of expertise. My fear stemmed from the fact that we were entangled in this secret, rather than the secret itself. In those days, knowing the true secret or being involved in it came with immense pressure and unpredictable risks. Even those who were privy to the secret could disappear for a long time.
Song Guilong looked at me calmly, unfazed by my sudden outburst, showing no signs of panic or guilt. "This time, four people were urgently called in, all members of the team that discovered the Four Kings Beast Bronze Square Ding. You were specifically requested by Captain Zhou." He patted my shoulder and continued, "We spent five years locating the origin of the Four Kings Beast Bronze Square Ding. Unfortunately, we didn't find anything more valuable. However, I do have something related to that alloy. As for relics similar to the Four Kings Beast Bronze Square Ding, we have indeed discovered a few. Based on isotopic dating, this site predates the Zhou and Shang dynasties; it should be from the early Pre-Qin period."
The conversation shifted back to archaeology and cultural relics authentication, returning to my familiar territory and lifting my spirits slightly. However, Song Guilong's words completely overturned my understanding of archaeology and time, causing me to question everything.
Song Guilong waved his hand, interrupting my attempt to speak. "I know what you're thinking; we've already questioned everything you want to challenge. But whether you believe it or not, the facts are laid out before us. Now, you'll see the specifics on-site. I'll give you an overview of our work division and progress.
Before you arrived, this archaeology team—if it can still be called that—had seven members. The leader is Professor Zhou; Xiao Guolin and I are deputy leaders. Since the formation of this archaeology team until the discovery of this site, there has been no personnel change to prevent leaks. The site is located next to the largest Yadan landform in Lop Nur; excavation has been quite challenging. Each of us is responsible for a test pit, and so far, we haven't managed to organize a single one properly. Based on analyses from the excavated test pits, we've identified several more valuable ones for excavation.
Including you, we've expanded our team by four members. I know you lack experience in desert archaeology; you don't need to worry about that. The specific excavation work will be handled by military engineers; your main responsibility will be to protect cultural relics on-site and confirm the location of the site. Also, you won't be assigned a new test pit; you'll take over one that I've been working on—it'll be simpler but also riskier. We all face danger; I trust you won't shy away from it. I'm going to start a new test pit myself, so I won't be able to assist you directly, but the engineers working on your test pit are very experienced and will support your work.
You're right; outside of archaeology, we're like blind men—especially when it comes to new technologies and materials. Therefore, aside from our archaeology team, there's another research team composed of experts in materials science, physics, and engineering working alongside us. They won't participate in excavation until they see what this site looks like; at least not until then will they go down into test pits. Their current task is to sift through the sand we excavate for possible clues. In fact, they're worse off than we are."
At this point, Song Guilong seemed to remember something and chuckled awkwardly.
After listening to Song Guilong's introduction, I fell into a profound silence—no frustration or shock or fear—just pure silence. Because I knew that knowing this secret meant I was destined to be involved; any negative emotions would not help me at all—it was better just to accept it quietly. No wonder there were no clauses in the confidentiality agreement prohibiting questions or visits; if you were to join this team, you had to know these secrets; otherwise, work couldn't proceed. But what then? This job would eventually come to an end; would I return to my normal work and life afterward?
My thoughts remained scattered like flashes of images flickering through my mind. Song Guilong didn't say anything further either; even the roar of the helicopter blades seemed muted.
The heavy thud as the helicopter landed jolted me awake from my stupor. The aircraft had stopped amidst a vast expanse of towering wind-eroded hills. The swirling yellow sand kicked up by the rotor blades made it hard to open my eyes. Song Guilong handed me a pair of goggles before jumping out through the hatch. I followed his blurry figure outside. He stopped in front of a dusty yellow military jeep; as soon as I reached him, he grabbed me and shoved me inside before jumping in himself—the vehicle roared to life.
I took off the goggles and spat out some sand while exclaiming, "This damn wind makes it impossible to talk! How am I supposed to eat?"
"You'll get used to it," Song Guilong teased. "Here's a tip: when you're eating, don't chew too hard, because there will be sand in every bite of your food."
I thought this was true. The thought of the hellish life ahead made me shake my head helplessly. Outside the car window, a Military Truck drove toward the helicopter, apparently to transport that piece of equipment.
The Military Jeep quickly drove out of the yellow dust cloud stirred up by the propeller. Around us were various shapes of wind-eroded hills: spindle-shaped, conical, pyramid-like, Yurt-shaped, and camel-shaped. Each one was tall and filled with a sense of age. The surface was made up of coarse and fine gravel, but it was very flat. The Military Jeep sped over it, and I could hear the tires making a different sound from driving on the road—a scratching noise as they rubbed against the ground, and the loud clanging sound of gravel hitting the fenders. Yet the vehicle did not jolt; it was much smoother than I had imagined.
This Yadan Landform had no roads or any signposts. The driver was a young soldier who navigated solely by memory, weaving through the hills. While I wasn't completely directionally challenged, I doubted my brain could handle remembering such a complex route.
The setting sun frequently appeared in my view, allowing me to determine that we were heading west. At the same time, the blinding sunlight made it impossible for me to look directly ahead, much like the unclear future that lay before me.
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