Zero and Other Fictions (16 page)

Xi De rolled over. Feeling a hard, metallic object under his neck made him break off his crazy thoughts. It was that small silver idol on a chain.

He lifted it and stroked the idol and thought of the word “Christian.” The old history professor had once mentioned the religion in class, saying that it had had the greatest influence of any religion in the history of human civilization. At its zenith, it counted half of the world's population among its faithful. It was hard to believe that humanity could worship something so amorphous. And even so, Christianity was unable to relieve the afflictions of humankind. By the end of the twentieth century and the commencement of the third industrial revolution, its partial opposition to science and progress were its downfall.

I can't think about this anymore.
Xi De got out of bed and poured himself a glass of water. It was already two in the morning. He stood spacing out for a while in front of the clock. Then, under a sudden impulse, he dressed, opened the door, and stepped out into the quiet hall and its gentle light. He continued on past tightly shut doors to the elevator, where he pushed the button.

Xi De saw his face in the elevator mirror. It was a pale, haggard face, hair disheveled, eyes dull and empty, like those of a drunkard returning from a bar. But the bar was closed, as were all the other entertainment establishments in the building. Perhaps he could leave the building and go to some other street to find the same sort of place.

The elevator door opened and Xi De walked toward the main entrance, his footsteps resounding against the shiny floor. Seeing himself reflected in the metallic wall gave him the sensation that someone was watching and waiting in the corner. He quickened his pace and left the Resource Building.

It was a crisp autumn evening with a slight breeze. Both hands thrust in his pockets, Xi De looked ahead at the empty street. In the bluish light of the street lamps, the skyscrapers in the shadows became dark and menacing. Xi De lacked the courage to cross the avenue, which was broad enough for twenty cars to drive side by side. So instead, he continued down the sidewalk with no destination in mind.

At an intersection, a police car pulled up and stopped beside him. A policeman stepped out of the car and in an amiable manner asked:

“Sir, what are you doing walking alone here so late at night?”

“I couldn't sleep.”

“Can I check your ID?”

Xi De stretched out his hand.

“AH5481,” the policeman said to the other. He turned to Xi De and saluted.

“I'm sorry, but this is standard procedure.”

In a few minutes, the policeman in the car said, “Everything is in order with AH5481.”

After having been hassled, Xi De felt his mind clearer as the police car drove away. He continued on until he found himself standing beside a canal.

Sitting on the embankment, he gazed at the stars twinkling on the water's surface.

As the days passed, Xi De developed a habit of going for a walk at midnight. Several days a week he would sit on the embankment for an hour or two, mulling over complicated issues.

Finally, one day the director summoned him to his office.

“Xi De, over the last two or three months, we have discovered that you cannot keep your mind on your work,” said the director, examining him.

“I'm sorry, Director, but I have been troubled by a number of things recently.”

“I have found myself in the same situation. Furthermore, I believe that anyone who returns from their first vacation is bound to be a bit absentminded. This is to be expected and tolerated. But we have noticed that your absentmindedness has extended well beyond a week and has lasted three months now.”

“I know, but …”

“In principle, we allow the individual to work things out in his own way in such cases. We refer to this as a transitional period in the maturation of character. But your case is beyond the norm, so we have no choice but to help you.” The director paused, heaved a sigh, and said, “The computer indicates that a change of work environment is in order for you.”

17

The Third Industrial City was situated beside a lake in the central part of the island and was under the jurisdiction of the Industrial Board of the Tenth Regional Committee. The city had a population of two hundred thousand and produced mainly textiles, steel, and plastics, and had several other kinds of light industry.

The City Administrative Building was twenty stories tall and stood facing the enchanting lake. Xi De's office was on the twelfth floor. It was a branch office of the Resource Analysis Bureau with only a dozen or so employees. The principal work of the office was to collect the production statistics from every industry in the city, do the preliminary review, and then send them to headquarters in Central City.

Xi De was the only employee in the branch office who was a graduate of the Central Superior Academy. On account of this, his colleagues were eventually able to accept this taciturn young man who seemed to be wrapped up in his own thoughts all day long.

The difference between Xi De's office and that of headquarters was like night and day: there were no young female assistants, no coffee, no automatically adjusting color walls. Even the work computers seemed lifeless. Fortunately, his office window looked out on an inexhaustible beauty of lake and mountains. Most of the time, Xi De stood at his window, staring blankly at the scenery. With his high-level training, the tasks in the branch office were easy to perform. Soon, several colleagues came to consult with him on a number of small professional matters. Xi De's patience and smile quickly earned him their friendship. For those from the secondary academies in a branch that couldn't compare with Central City, the greatest success in life was to work at headquarters. The dissatisfaction and fatigue that resulted from the boring work and the scorn and hostility among high-level managers were rarely encountered here. Xi De's arrival no doubt left them stunned. For this reason, both sides were initially at a loss. Even the chief of the branch, normally such a jovial heavy-set person, watched every move he made with great suspicion.

One day, the stout fellow appeared at Xi De's office.

“Xi De,” he said, cautiously observing Xi De's expression. When he finally realized he harbored not the slightest hostility, he relaxed a bit. “We're having drinks at my house this evening. You're welcome to join us.”

“Thank you, Chief,” Xi De replied warmly. “I'll be there.”

That night at the cocktail party was the first time Xi De became aware of the lively, straightforward lifestyle in the city. He observed everything going on around him with a good deal of curiosity: unbridled conversation, casual attire, flowing spirits, shouting, and rivalries for women. The stout chief brought a stunning woman over to Xi De.

“Allow me to introduce you. This is Lian Lian; she works in statistics. Lian Lian, this is Xi De, a graduate of the Central Superior Academy.”

“Wow!” replied Lian Lian, startled. “That's really something.”

They departed together after the cocktail party ended.

“I live in the singles dorm of the Bureau of Statistics,” said Lian Lian, pointing ahead. “It's a ten-minute walk in that direction.”

Other than the occasional passing police car, not another car was seen on the street. All administrative dorms were concentrated within a twenty-minute walk.

“You're alone?”

“I have no parents,” she replied. “They worked at the hydrogen plant in the Second Industrial City, but they were killed in an accident. What about you?”

“My parents live in an agricultural city.”

After a short distance, Lian Lian took his hand and sat with him on an iron bench beside the road.

“It's a beautiful night,” she said. “There are quite a few people out for strolls.”

Xi De grew quiet. This place was totally unlike Central City, which was so cold and forbidding. Couples and groups of chatting young people sat under the bright streetlights. There was scarcely ever anyone on the streets of Central City after dark; everyone was busy with their own affairs in their own little spaces. The night's activities were on the television screens courtesy of Central Television: all you had to do was get comfortable on the sofa and you could participate in any sort of game or televised discussion. If you felt like taking a break or drinking, the rooftop garden or ground-floor bar could be reached by elevator. But here, owing to a lack of electronic equipment, most people spent their time with other people.

“Xi De, can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead.”

“How did you end up here?”

“I had some problems with my job efficiency.”

Xi De's frankness left her a bit embarrassed.

“I've never been to Central City, but I hear that it's paradise.”

“Perhaps.” Xi De shrugged his shoulders.

“I hear you can get anything you want there,” she added.

This time, Xi De did not answer. They stood up and headed toward Lian Lian's place.

It was a square, orderly apartment complex. At the door, she asked:

“Would you like to come up and sit a while?”

“Thanks,” said Xi De, “but it's late.”

It was a month before Xi De received another invitation from her. That night he slept with her.

“Xi De, am I good?” asked Lian Lian, lying next to him.

“Yes,” replied Xi De gloomily. A moment before he had been thinking about Zhen in Situmare.

“Compared with the girls of Central City?”

“I don't know.”

“I don't believe you,” said Lian Lian, becoming pettish. “I don't believe you, I don't believe you.”

“Really, I don't know.”

“I hear the girls there are like snakes and they take drugs.”

“Says who?”

“The people in my office. They say that high-ranking cadres have access to aphrodisiacs.”

“How do they know?”

“They heard it from other people.”

Xi De was somewhat surprised. There were so many rumors about Central City here. Many of his co-workers had asked him about them but had always been skeptical about his answers. The cadres in industrial cities were only allowed to visit Central City on official business. It was difficult to get permission to visit family there.

“They said you were sent here as punishment for some offense and that sooner or later you'll be sent back. Right?”

“I don't know.”

“I'd really like to go to Central City.”

“Why?”

“I'm bored here,” sighed Lian Lian, turning her naked back to Xi De. “It's always the same old thing; I really want to get out of here.…”

18

Three months passed before Xi De was allowed to leave the Administrative District and go to the Steel Factory District due to computer problems there. The memory had become corrupted, and he was ordered to go and oversee repairs.

At the entrance to the factory district, Xi De showed his pass. Then he was escorted to the security office, where a middle-aged man in blue work clothes was waiting for him.

“Hello, Mr. Xi. I am the assistant director of the production statistics office. Welcome.”

They took their seats in a small electric cart.

“Security here is very strict,” observed Xi De.

“Something happened recently,” replied the assistant director.

Xi De didn't pursue the matter. The cart passed among a number of tall buildings, from some of which ear-splitting banging was heard, from some of which fiery light was seen.

The cart slowed in front of a burned-out building where a group of people were gesticulating.

“Look at that,” said the assistant director. “They've been at it again.”

“Who?”

“The Defend the Earth Army.”

“Defend the Earth Army,” Xi De said, astonished. “What's that?”

“You've never heard of them?” he asked incredulously. “How can you people in administration not know?”

“I'm new here.”

“No wonder. The Defend the Earth Army is probably composed of a bunch of workers with mental problems. Their favorite thing to do is burn down buildings. At least they don't hurt people.”

“Why did they choose such a strange name?”

“Who knows?”

At a building covered in gray sheet metal, they got out of the cart.

“They'll never be able to burn this building,” said the assistant director in the elevator.

When the elevator door opened, they stepped into the statistics office.

It was a big, bustling office, with many people moving to and fro; the walls were covered with charts and graphs. Instruments for analysis, fax machines, and computers were everywhere. Each and every machine emitted its own sound. The air was filled with an atmosphere of anxiety and efficiency. A woman stood up from a table where an electric typewriter sat—she was the assistant to the assistant director. She proceeded to lead the way.

Three or four people were standing around the computer that was having problems.

“The guy from administration is here,” said the assistant director. “How's it coming?”

“More than one place has been corrupted,” replied one of them, without lifting his head.

“Before the office closes,” said the assistant director, “I'll contact administration and ask them to let you stay another day. You can sleep at my place.”

Dusk fell quickly. With the others getting off work, they left the statistics office.

“The residential district is next to the factory. It's only a ten-minute walk from here,” said the assistant director. “You'd better not show that pass so as to avoid trouble with security.”