On Another Earth

By Kevin W. Lynn

By chance, Tom, a young man from California, meets Coker, the spaceship captain from Ponlenia, an advanced civilization a million light-years away. Coker invites Tom to visit Ponlenia. During a one-year trip, Tom learned a lot of modern knowledge from computers. When they temporarily stay on another terrestrial planet, Edia, Tom follows Coker to do things and meets a young man named Hanson, who looks a lot like Tom. The two young men have a very happy chat. Tom leaves for a while, and Coker takes Hanson away. Tom has to stay in Hanson's factory. With the help of his best friend Peter, "Hanson" starts his new life on another earth, Edia. The whole story is a thrilling twist, especially how Hanson step-by-step came out of an ordinary employee and technician to become the factory director of the technical department. With the help of his girlfriend Marla, Hanson makes very important improvements in his factory and successfully brings the product to the market. The best plot of this book is that Hanson finally got in touch with Captain Coker. At a critical moment, Hanson helps the entire galaxy get rid of an extreme natural disaster.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781684983667

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On Another Earth

Kevin W. Lynn

Copyright © 2022 Kevin W. Lynn

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2022

ISBN 978-1-68498-365-0 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68498-366-7 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Lucky Tom

1

From an Unexpected Discovery

2

The Process of a Change

3

A Close Distance

4

Marla's Family Story

5

Before the Trip

6

A Mysterious Information

The Legend of Yehliu Lake

7

Happy Peter

8

The Hope of Lake Bank

9

The Door to an Unknown Place

10

A Lake Village

11

The Veil of Yehliu Lake

12

A New Sight

Looking for Sarah

13

A Happy Trip

14

Hoff's Factory

15

A Distant Blue Planet

16

A New World

17

Looking for Trace

18

The Story of Mila

Beyond the Time

19

Before the Disaster

20

A Closed World

21

Hard path to escape

22

The Turning Point

23

Bid Farewell

24

over the sky

About the Author

Part I

Lucky Tom

1

From an Unexpected Discovery

Bang. Tom's head hits the corner of the machine again. And this time, the force of the impact is so strong that Tom has to sit down and rub his head. It seems that the narrow space between the machines is very difficult for Tom's big body. And he always forgets the last time he bumped his head in the same place. Tom raises his head and looks at that part of the machine. The design is too bad. This part seems to be deliberately designed to cause Tom in trouble. Looking at that part, Tom suddenly feels funny. There is too much happening during this period, like hitting his head on the machine again, that he doesn't even have time to think about whether it should or shouldn't happen to him.

Tom clearly remembers that after drinking a cup of coffee in a café in the Bay Area, he met a stranger. Later, he realized that he was Captain Coker, and he wanted to ask something. Tom thought he was so kind and introduced him to all the details Coker wanted to know. Even Tom said that he might voluntarily help Coker find the destination he wants to go. Coker was surprised to find that there were such enthusiastic people on this planet to help others and asked him if he wanted to make a long trip with him.

Tom answers without hesitation, Yes, of course.

Does your family need to agree? Coker asks, because he judges that Tom is only eighteen years old. If your parents don't allow you to travel long distances.

Don't worry about this, Tom says. I just graduated from high school, and I temporarily work in a cotton machine factory to make money for college. And my parents never worry about my safety, because I have been a lucky boy ever since I was a kid.

Okay, Coker says, if you believe this will not be a problem, I will take you to a very great place. You will never regret it.

Tom believes that there are too many similar characteristics that make Captain Coker to be his best friend. Coker is a smart and kind person. After the trip began, he tells Tom a lot about the universe. From what Coker told him, Tom learns that Coker is the captain of the spacecraft from Ponlenia, which is a planet with five thousand years of advanced civilization. The knowledge and information deeply shock Tom. As Coker told him, not only does he feel no regrets about the trip but he also thinks that the trip is the most worthwhile thing for him, and he makes the right decision. Even in order to avoid wasting time, Coker also develops a comprehensive plan for Tom to study modern space and spacecraft.

So this trip has become a very exciting learning process for Tom. During the nearly one-year journey, Tom has made great progress in space. Tom's understanding and hard work have left a deep impression on Coker, so Coker even often takes Tom to the cockpit and teaches him how to operate the spacecraft.

After we land in Ponlenia, Coker says, I will send you to the training center for further system training. You are very smart and a hard worker. I believe you will make great progress in the future.

The sudden order changes everything. They are almost reaching the destination, completely changing Tom's life. Before they arrive in Ponlenia, Captain Coker is instructed to go to Edia to handle the science project. So they change directions and fly directly to Edia. Because Edia is a moderately developed planet, its state is very similar to that of Earth, and it can be called the cousin of Earth in the universe. What's more surprising is that not only is the development level of this planet like that of Earth but the people and languages are also similar. So as soon as they land, Captain Coker suggests that Tom follows him to see another Earth for a short visit. Although Tom is very smart, he always acts on impulse. He thinks this is a good opportunity for him to increase his knowledge.

They land in Pilias, a large city in Swellan, a medium-modern country. Once they land, Tom instinctively feels that he has returned to Earth, because most of the words on the street are similar to English and there is no need for a dictionary. Tom might guess what they really mean. He tries to say something to people passing by. To his surprise, he finds that others might understand what he is talking about. Coker sees that Tom is so keen to communicate with locals. He suggests that Tom could stay in the park to continue the communication. He tells Tom that he might spend an hour communicating. Then Coker will take him the rest of the journey. Tom is really satisfied with Coker's arrangement. He wants to use this time to learn more about another Earth.

Tom talks with the two ladies.

Hi, someone is greeting him. Your hat is so unique. I like it.

Thank you, Tom says, looking at the guy, and is surprised to find that in this world, there is another Tom—tall, strong, and with a handsome face. I'm Tom. What's your name?

Obviously, when he finds a similar face, this guy is also surprised. I'm Hanson. Nice to meet you, Tom.

It's nice to meet you too, Hanson, Tom says. Let's sit there. I want to talk to you.

Good idea, Hanson says. How long have you been in this country?

Certainly, Hanson finds that Tom's language has some accent and even some words he has never heard before. But don't worry, I will help you correct it.

Thank you very much, Tom says. I only came here for an hour. Tell me something about you. What are you doing?

I'm a new cotton machine assembler. Look at that factory. I just worked here for a few days, Hanson says. I like my job, and I only have one friend there, Peter. Look! That short boy standing at the gate of the factory is him. I will introduce him to you later.

Thank you, Tom says. Just now, you said that my red hat is very special, but your blue hat is actually very fashionable.

This is a gift from Peter, Hanson says. We can change our hats temporarily and see if Peter can tell who is.

Good idea, Tom says while changing his hat.

Tom really likes Hanson because he has many similar characteristics. The two look at other people's smiling faces, and Tom feels very happy, so he lets Hanson stay there. He goes to a nearby store to get two cups of coffee, because Captain Coker has given him some cash to buy something simple and told him, an hour later, he will take him back to the spaceship directly.

Perhaps happiness has come so easily but also easy to lose. As soon as Tom returns to the park with two cups of coffee, he finds that the bench is empty and Hanson is not there. He thinks maybe Hanson has gone to the bathroom or other places temporarily. So he sits down and waits for him. About ten minutes later, Hanson still does not appear. Tom is a little worried, and he then looks at his watch and is surprised to find that it was thirteen minutes later than the time Coker promised to pick him back to the spaceship. According to his experience, Captain Coker always follows his schedule. And Tom suddenly feels that he is hammered on the head. Coker may have picked up the wrong Tom and taken him away, because Hanson and he have a similar face and he is also wearing a red hat. With this in mind, Tom's sweat quickly slips from his forehead. What to do next? The bright sky quickly turns into hell. Tom knows very well that at the speed of that spacecraft, the spacecraft has already passed through another solar system, and it is impossible to come back to pick him up. Eventually, he finds that Captain Coker is exactly like him. Two of them even have the biggest weakness—negligence.

While Tom is worried what to do next, suddenly, someone calls him. Hanson, what are you doing here?

Instinctively, Tom turns his head to look for Hanson, and then he soon realizes that someone is calling him. Because the other Hanson has gone, so he looks at the person who has called him, and he finds that this is the short boy, Peter.

I'm just looking for a new friend, Tom answers, but he has disappeared now.

I'm sorry about that, Peter says. Why has your voice changed a little?

I don't know for sure, Tom says. Maybe just now I bought something at the store and my head hit a corner, and it even makes me forget some things. I am so worried about it. Luckily, I met you, Peter. Can you help me if I forget something or make some mistake while I'm speaking?

No problem, Peter says. Even though we have only known each other for several days, I really like you.

Tom, no, actually he is now Hanson, rubs his head and thinks all the fun after becoming a fitter in this cotton machine factory. One thing is really unexpected for him, and he merely thinks that the funniest thing in this world is in order to change his route, from a cotton machine factory in Earth, followed the Captain Coker traveled million light-years distance, and then by a series of mistakes, eventually, he is one more time back to his original position as a fitter to a cotton machine assembly line. The difference is that before he left Earth, he had worked the assembly line for almost half a year and that real Hanson only worked there for a few days. Even though the type of the machine is different, the principle is similar. Hanson is very smart, so in just merely one week, he can operate the work very skillfully and he is even more skilled than several foremen. The supervisor is very surprised and suggests soon to promote him to a good position and wage. With the help from his best friend Peter, Hanson soon absorbs into this new Earth.

Now, two months have passed, and Hanson is not worried about surviving. He starts to think about what to do next. Although Hanson is nearly twenty years old, he does things always by impulse and often makes mistakes due to his negligence. But, on the other hand, Hanson is not only smart but he has features and he believes that rarely there is someone else like him. He has a very clear plan to do anything, especially at his age. While meeting the obstacles, most will select to quit the plan and choose another to start again. But Hanson is different. He is used to considering a new route to achieve the goal he has set up for himself. For example, before meeting Captain Coker, he lacked money to enter his favorite college, so he temporarily went to the factory to plan making money for one year for the future college tuition. In other words, he needs to reach his own goal, no matter how difficult it is to achieve. However, sometimes there is actually a difference between the plan and reality. Like this time, he believes that he may survive on this planet, but his goal is to get top education and become a real useful engineer or scientist. It is a joke to achieve Earth's goal from another planet. Considering this point, Hanson slightly shakes his head. It looks like he needs to design a new road to achieve it. Even though Edia is described to be another Earth, but by Hanson's observation, it is more advanced than the current Earth for about thirty to fifty years. Just like cars and buses running on the street, there is a rare car driven by a driver, almost totally automatic driving. But the political situation, on the other hand, is far more complicated than Earth. Almost every two or three years, there is a war occurring in the world.

Hanson.

While Hanson is thinking, there is someone calling him—a beautiful girl, Marla, who is looking like the person coming from Asia.

Hanson, the manager Boson asks you go to his office.

Thank you, Marla, Hanson answers. He still feels a little worried about the fact that he is not real Hanson, but there is nowhere for him to go. I will be there soon.

On the way to the manager's office, Hanson quickly thinks about what's going on. By this period of time observation, he is pretty sure that there shouldn't be a big problem, because he didn't make any big mistake and also did not release any information that seems not fitting to the real Hanson. After the manager asks the question to him, he will make a correct response. He starts knocking the door of the office.

Come in, the assistant says. Directly go to the office. Boson is waiting for you.

Thanks, Hanson says and walks into the office.

Hi, Hanson, come on in. Have a seat, Boson asks. Even though you came to this factory only a couple of weeks, but I have heard people say that you have skills for assembling the cotton machine. I was just wondering whether you have ever any experiences at the cotton machine, because you know, this is a very rare career and seldom people engaged on this business. Following my experiences, like this career, without two or three years' experience, it is hard for anyone to act a major role in the career. So tell me the reason for you to quickly play skilled fitter on the assembly line.

Almost at that moment, Hanson just wants to tell the truth—that he is not the real Hanson and merely because of a series of mistakes that he has to play the role of Hanson. But this time, he eventually, for the first time, successfully controls his impulse.

No, before I came to this country, with the help of my relatives, I had a chance to work in a similar cotton machine factory for a while. So, if you ask me, the reason why I seem to have experience for the assembly line, I just guess this is just the reason to explain the experiences.

Great, Boson says. One more thing. I heard that you often hit your head on the machine. I checked your health inspection list, and I found there is a mistake. You are myopic. Maybe it is hard for you to take an assembly line job.

No, Hanson says with apparent worry. I'm not myopic. I remember I was a little sick when I got the health inspection.

Don't worry about it, Boson says with a smile. I just suggest you may change to another job if you feel inconvenienced about your current position.

No, thank you, sir, Hanson says. I can fit my job, as you have observed. With practice and with my personal experience, I will quickly adequate the role at the position.

I know you can do it, Boson says with satisfaction. If you have any questions, you may tell your supervisor.

Yes.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Hanson walks out of the manager's office. He really values his current position, and he knows if he is unlucky enough and loses his job, it is hard for him to immediately find another job because he totally does not belong to this world and this country. And it will become a big problem where he goes to sleep tonight.

Hanson. Still that Asian-like girl Marla asks, Looks like everything is fine, right?

Thank you, Marla, Hanson says. He knows that Marla is working at the business office, and she knows the leaders of the factory very well. Not a big deal. I just explained how I got so much experience from my original job.

Great, Marla says. She is a very smart girl, and from the sign that Boson directly talks with Hanson, she can judge out that the management is beginning to appreciate this young man and perhaps also there is a good opportunity for herself. After dinner, I will take you to the main street. I find you probably had not gone out of the factory since you entered the job.

Sure, thank you.

Since the supervisor asks Hanson to discuss a new producing plan, so Peter takes Hanson's food from the cafeteria to their apartment. Hanson is sharing same unit with Peter, and both of them feel it is a little favor for them, because they always feel that there are so many topics needed to make an interesting chat. Now, Peter finds this is a good chance to talk, because this week, there are too many things happening. While Peter is anxious to wait for Hanson, he knows that Hanson and his supervisor are similar people. As soon as they plunge into the discussion, they often forget about other necessary things they need to do. Before Peter gives up waiting, Hanson comes back from the assembly line.

Thank you for waiting, Hanson says. You know, this time the supervisor is really happy with my suggestion about improving the way to assemble the new machine.

I am so proud of you, Peter says. But sit down. Enjoy your dinner first. I promise this dinner food can be described as delicious.

Really? Hanson is so moved. I need to express my appreciation to you first. You are always taking care of me so much.

Don't mention it, Peter says. You are my best friend. Taking care of each other is something we should do.

Thank you, Hanson says. Actually these dishes you took from the cafeteria are real delicacies. I even believe that the cafeteria also makes such good food. By the way, I have some questions I like to ask you.

Yes, please, Peter answers. Last time you told me that you hit your head somewhere and lost certain memories. But do not worry about it. In fact, by communicating with you, I find you are very smart, just a very few information and events you have forgotten. And this is a piece of cake for me to help you.

My first question is, Hanson asks, why are there so many wars happening between the middle and poor backward countries, and whether this war may affect these countries?

Good question, Peter says. You know, in this planet, there are four to five countries that are real powerful countries. They are owning different powerful weapons, and each type of these weapons may soon destroy this world. These powerful countries know it very well. So even one may often make some tiny mistakes, but they never make a big wrong decision and make the planet be destroyed at the moment. But different middle and poor backward countries belong to different groups which support different powerful countries. So sometimes the powerful countries do not directly join the war, instead the members of their group join the war to represent their interest.

Thank you. I got it, Hanson says. Another question is, currently whether the business of our factory is affected by the complicated circumstances?

Well, Peter says. Actually the continuing war has brought the negative effect to almost all the economic aspects, especially the effect on the business, which is associated with agriculture. Just like I have told you, apart from certain very strong powerful countries, most agriculture businesses are more likely producing from the backward and medium developing countries, like our factory products are more likely to provide to these markets. So the effect from the war apparently had a bad effect on our product. Fortunately, our factory's products are pretty unique, so even some top countries in the world like to use our products. In other words, our production does not have heavy effects from the war, which will impact our current production.

That is awesome, Hanson says. I just hope that one day, there are other powerful people to help us end the bad conditions.

By the way, Peter says. We have communicated for over two months. I just find that starting a few days ago, you have changed so much. I remember that you seemed not to like to say so much with others. But now, totally you have changed. Everyone believes you are an outgoing person, quite different from the original impression which they got from you.

In fact, the current impression about me is correct, Hanson says. I had to admit that the first impression is not real me, because the nervous and excited feeling entering a new factory profoundly modified the first impression, but by the time for our further communicating, I believe you will get a comprehensive impression about me.

Fantastic, Peter says. I have another question about you. I find you have a very strange feature. You can analyze the complicated issue in a very short time and even you can deduce the possible route as a solution. I cannot believe it, but it is true, because just two months I have known you and the ability you had at the time is totally different. Why can you change so much in such a period?

The second question is relatively simple than the first one, Hanson says. Like you said, before I came here, I have gotten an opportunity to learn a great knowledge, and all this knowledge has the same characteristic in common that encourages me to think things by a new way to analyze the result first, and even though sometimes such result is just a mimic result, but the purpose is to help us soon to find the real fast route to the goal. Like just now, the supervisor discusses the issue for a new plan. If we only use the old way to analyze, probably, we will still be sitting at the conference room to deduce.

I'm so surprised by your answer, Peter says. Looks like there are so many things we need to discuss later. Whatever the impression you give me today, I just find you have some views that I have never heard before. Even though the new impression has strongly modified my original impression to you, but actually, I really like this new one.

I should thank you, Hanson says. If I haven't gotten the help from you in the first week, I couldn't have gained such confidence in the future. You are really my best friend with a great help. Suddenly, there is a knock on the front door, and Peter soon opens the door. Then he finds that Marla is standing in front of the door. Looking at Marla, Hanson soon remembers that she invited him to go shopping.

Hi, Marla, Hanson says. We will go shopping immediately. Do you mind Peter going with us? Just now we had a really interesting talk. Hanson knows that Peter has a good impression on Marla.

No problem, Marla says. Let's go. I suggest that we first go to the market to buy some clothes since I notice that you rarely have a chance to buy such items.

Good idea, Peter says. We really need to buy some clothes because of the summer season.

First time going to the market deeply shocks Hanson. He has experience going to the market, but that was just two years ago. He is following his family to visit his relatives in Mexico, and he knows that in the market, you may bargain the price with the seller and you may even exchange other goods with the same seller.

Look at the pants counter. There are so many kinds of pants, Marla says. Both of you may choose some of your favorable pants. Later I will help you to bargain with the seller.

Thank you, Marla, Hanson says. You are really helpful. Could you please help me choose the style and fashion. I just choose the color. I think by this way we may save a lot of time.

Good idea, Marla says. I would like to help you guys to choose the style and fashion. The color you will choose by yourself. While Marla and Peter are busily choosing the pants, Hanson carefully observes this market, and he finds that even the whole planet is more advanced than Earth by about thirty years, like this country, there are still a lot of aspects that are not entering modern civilization.

Tom, suddenly someone calls him. Hanson is so surprised there is someone calling him this name.

Looking up, Hanson finds a pretty girl standing in front of another clothes counter and shaking her hand to him. He immediately remembered she is Misa, that café's cashier, and that day, he went to the shop to buy coffee. This was the first time Misa saw Tom, so she asked his name and also gave her name to Tom.

Sorry, I think it is a mistake, Hanson says and looks at Marla and Peter. Actually I am Hanson. Tom is my new friend. He has gone with his boss. He has told me about you. But don't worry, Tom promised to contact me later.

Thank you, Hanson, Misa says. You and Tom are very similar. It is hard for me to distinguish who is who. And what are you doing now?

My friends accompany me to choose certain clothes from this market, Hanson says. And how about you?

My brother manages a T-shirt counter nearby, Misa says. I hope you go to the café again, even though you are not Tom.

Yes, of course, Hanson says. It is a good idea to go to the café, and I believe it is where we get to know more friends. See you.

It is really interesting, Marla says. You come here just a couple of weeks. And now there is someone who may greet you at the street.

You are kidding, Hanson says. This is simply a mistake. I believe that everyone has experiences of being mistaken by others. But anyway, knowing more friends, especially for Peter and me, is a good thing.

I think so, Peter says. I just hope that one day your friend will be back.

Guys, Marla says. Today, we have done a good shopping. Now, the time is a little early, so do you guys want to go to the opposite barbecue to drink and eat something?

Good idea, Peter cheerfully responds. I like barbecue, especially we can make a good chat during the drinking.

Since Marla knows barbecue very well, she introduces certain kinds of barbecues, which may fit Hanson and Peter. Unexpectedly, Hanson and Peter soon find that barbecue food is pretty fit to their taste, and even Peter adds certain other barbecue dishes.

Thank you, Marla, Hanson says. It is a real delicacy. I like it. Do you often come here to enjoy this food?

Yes, I do, Marla says. You know, also, I'm an immigrant too, and this restaurant is managed by other immigrants from my homeland. So you can see, I know this restaurant very well.

How many years have you moved here? Peter asks. Did your whole family move here together?

I have moved here over five years and graduated from local college, Marla says. Also, I moved here with my family.

The immigrants play a great role in lots of countries, and even in some planets, Hanson says. I heard that even on this planet, we have at least two planets that have built the bases for the immigrants. Is it true?

Yes, it is, Marla says. Unfortunately, so far, only thousands of scientists and workers are living there, and they belong to several advanced countries. They are independent enough to build the explore bases there. And in fact, these scientists and workers cannot be described to be immigrants, merely be described to the people to explore.

Thank you, Marla. You really know about this planet, but it looks like making a real migration to outer space is actually a long-distant road.

You know, Peter says. I am really concerned about this subject, just like we talked at dinner time. There are so many things happening around us, not only war but also there are so many natural disasters that happen almost every year.

No wonder Captain Coker calls this planet another Earth. The features are very similar, Hanson thinks. Why do you not immigrate to several top advanced countries? I just guess the conditions there will be far better than this country. Right?

Yes, you are right, Marla says. However, the cost to move into such a country is very high. My family cannot afford such expenses, and also, the time to immigrate to those countries will take a long time. So, considering all the conditions, temporarily moving here is good for our whole family.

Good strategy, Peter says. Choosing an adequate objective is a very good choice. By the way, after you moved here, have you ever regretted your family's decision?

No, Marla answers with confidence. Even so far, we are still proud of our decision, because after our family immigrated, our original country experienced war, and a great number of people lost their lives. I value our immigrating decision.

Your family made a good decision, Hanson says. Guys, how do you feel about this beer? I just heard people saying that without beer, the barbecue will lose its major taste, right?

Good, Peter says. It is so lucky. This beer does not contain alcohol, so do not worry about getting drunk.

You know, Marla says. Delicious barbecue, tasty beer, and plus the chat between the good friends. So I just suggest we may often hold such activities.

Perfect, Hanson says. Today is the best day after working at this factory. Cheers to all my friends.

Cheers!

Before going to bed, Hanson is sitting alone at a bench in front of the apartment. Peter knows that sometimes Hanson likes to think by himself, so he goes to sleep first. Looking at the stars in the sky, Hanson suddenly feels a little lonely and melancholy. He rarely has such feelings, although he fully knows this is an unhealthy feeling.

Although he is still without reaching twenty, Hanson is a very happy person, and apart from certain weaknesses like hitting his head so often, he has no big weak point. Both Captain Coker and his own negligence made him have to stay on another Earth. Now even though he has begun acquiring the salaries and set up his new friends' circle, but compared with his real target, Hanson knows this is only 1 percent work that he has finished and a real obstacle is obviously at the later road.

Remembering the things he has done, Hanson slightly sighs. These fourteen months for him is just like a roller coaster, from a just-graduated high school teenager to suddenly meeting Captain Coker. Both of them soon become good friends, and after one-year space trip, Hanson learned about over five thousand years of very useful knowledge. The most valuable experience he got is that by the fast study, Hanson can clearly know the difference between the five thousand years later people's thought and current Earth and another Earth—Edia. And the way he got from the journey greatly improved his abilities, especially on the certain technical or comprehensive issue analysis. So the supervisor and manager were so surprised that this young boy almost immediately became a professional technician.

Hanson analyzes the issue and can quickly grasp the key point by advanced analysis. But Hanson fully knows he cannot tell the truth about how he came to this planet and how he replaced the real Hanson. He remembers that Captain Coker had told him that this period of the development for Earth or for Edia is the same, the most dangerous period. If the people and countries know about five thousand years of modern technology, the war may happen because no one in this world can allow such advanced technology be acquired by the other country. So the result is quite clear. Considering this point, Hanson suddenly realizes that in the next step at his current job, he should follow his experiences he got from these two months, hardworking and creative contribution, and he will never release any knowledge about the five thousand years of advanced civilization, which will bring far more harm. As soon as he thinks about it, he soon feels a little relaxed. Suddenly he feels one hand lightly touch his shoulder.

2

The Process of a Change

Hanson is so surprised since the time is almost 9:00 p.m. Looking up, he finds that it is Marla.

Sorry, I disturbed you, Marla says. I just see you sitting alone so late, so if you have some unpleasant thing, just tell me, and maybe I can help you to find a solution.

Thank you, Marla, Hanson says. Actually, I have not any unpleasant thing around me, but I just think about the road for future. You know everyone will sooner or later face the same question. Even though someone may pretend to see nothing, but in the end, still he or she will face it.

You are so sensitive, Marla says and sits down near Hanson. Through two months communicating, I find you are very special, not just from your innovation at assembly line but also you seem to have so much idea hiding in your mind. So I'm just wondering, you seem to be changing a lot. Because do you remember, two months ago when you first entered this factory, I happened to be assigned to temporarily take care of the new employees. And I had a talk with you. I clearly remember you told me that your goal is just to spend three years becoming an excellent assembly line worker. I have a deep impression since you told me your goal was so serious. But merely two months later, you have changed completely if you do not work at this factory every day, and without being absent sometimes, I almost believe that in this world, there are two totally different Hanson's existing.

You are scaring me, Hanson says. Maybe, I just think, everyone may find I have a weakness. Negligence often makes me hit my head so frequently, and this is probably the reason for me changing a lot.

You are kidding, Marla says with a smile. It's the first time I see you may make a joke. But tell me the truth, do you prepare to stay here for a long-term progress?

Before I answer you, Hanson says, can you please tell me your real feeling? Which one do you really appreciate, the original Hanson or the current one?

Of course, Marla says, I like the current Hanson, not only an honest and creative person but also based on a basic reason that even though just two months' experience, various signs provide that you are never confined to any exact project, right?

Yes, you are right, Hanson says. In fact, as soon as I find I may fit this circumstance, I almost immediately changed my mind to the future plan, even though I know that there are so many obstacles existing between a good goal and reality. But I still want to pursue my goal, and step-by-step, I'm fully sure I may achieve my goal. Whether I will stay at this factory or not, I think the time I have worked here is too short, so I can make a decision at least one year later.

Thank you for your explanation, Marla says. But another question I think maybe you can answer directly is whether you may live in this city for a long time?

Your second question is easy to answer, Hanson says. Because this place has so many advantage, and plus, it has developed into peaceful and quickly developed city, so I like here. Apparently, I will select this city as my first selection for my future.

Great, Marla says. I just wait for these words, you know, that I think even though you are very smart but since you are so young, I think you will look for chance to get a high-level education. And there are so many colleges around this city, and some of them even set certain part-time education programs, which are very flexible. So if you eventually select one major which you like, I will help you during the process.

Thank you very much, Hanson says with satisfaction. I'm so happy that I may get your help, apart from Peter. I am fully sure you will help me in various aspects.

The time is almost ten, Marla says. We need to go to sleep early. Tomorrow morning, we may go to lake park to take a short trip. Do you like it?

Yes, of course, Hanson says and stands up. Suddenly, Marla hugs him. Hanson is only nearly twenty years old, and he hasn't any such experiences with a girl, apart from normal work and study. He rarely has a chance to communicate with women, especially with young girls. On the other hand, Hanson thinks it is maybe an effect from his family that almost all the members of his family are married late. So, from his own subconscious, he believes that it is a longtime late thing for him. But just from human beings' instinct, at his current age, a certain reaction is just natural. And then suddenly hugged by a pretty girl soon makes Hanson rise to the top of happiness, and this is the feeling he has never owned before. As a response, he also hugs Marla. Except the sense of happiness, he thinks nothing, only the girl who hugs him. And gradually, Hanson finds he is just staying at the top of happiness, and he hopes to keep this feeling forever. Then he feels that he almost lost control.