When the library opened at 9 o 'clock in the morning, there were already seven or eight people waiting at the door. They were all white-haired old people. Today was Monday, unlike the weekend when many parents would bring their children to the city library to read. Generally, only retired people would come to the library on weekdays.
Outside the library was a busy world while inside the library, there was only silence and the sound of books being flipped could be heard.
At 10 o 'clock, more people came to the library.
Tang Mo sat in front of the computer and helped punch in one by one. His left hand kept entering the book number on the keyboard while his right hand pressed the mouse to confirm. After doing all this, he looked up. "The last book has been borrowed for almost a month. Haven't you finished reading it yet?"
In front of him was a middle-aged woman dressed in plain clothes. She smiled and shook her head. "No, my son reads slowly. Does it matter if I don't return the book for a month? "
Tang Mo replied, "One month is free. After that, there will be a daily borrowing fee of 10 cents." He paused before adding, "If the book is lost, the original price must be compensated. This book is 82 yuan."
The woman's expression changed. "So expensive … Okay, I will go home today and let the brat read the book." Then she turned and left.
Tang Mo watched as the woman strode away, his handsome face not showing much expression. He took the next person's library card and swiped it.
"Haven't finished reading it? I think he lost the book. "A clear female voice was heard.
Tang Mo swiped the card and said, "Maybe."
There was a trace of disdain in the female voice. "The library card is 50 yuan and the book is 82 yuan. I don't think he will come to us again. "
"I also don't think he will come again." Director Wang, who was in charge of the reception, came over and patted Tang Mo's shoulder. "Xiao Tang, go and see what that huckster is doing. I just saw him go to the corner. That is a surveillance blind spot. Don't let anything happen to him. "
Tang Mo nodded gently and walked to the corner.
The Suzhou City Library was located in the city centre and had three floors. The third floor was mostly filled with books on humanities and history. Tang Mo walked from the service desk to the southeast corner, passing through more than 30 bookshelves before finding the huckster.
In November, Suzhou was already a bit chilly. The cold wind howled outside the window, shaking the windows and causing them to make banging sounds. The sunlight shone through the window, making people feel warm. The huckster was sitting cross-legged on the ground by the window with five or six books beside him. He didn't look at any of them as his hands were in his hair, making his messy hair even worse.
Tang Mo pursed his lips and walked over to pick up the book. "Mr. Chen, we have tables and chairs in the library. You can read over there."
"Read a book … read a book … read what book …"
Tang Mo looked at the brick book he had just picked up. "The Secret of the Mayan Civilization's Disappearance?"
The huckster suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes staring in horror. "Do you know the secret of the disappearance of the Mayan civilization?"
Tang Mo's lips curved. "I don't know. Do you know?"
"I know, of course I know." The huckster got up and said, "They have offended the Manifester of God. The Guruhan they believe in is a false god and not the Manifester of God at all. They have offended God so they are all dead. God is only one and eternal. Those who offend God must die! "
Tang Mo had heard these words countless times and didn't take them to heart. The library was open to the public and had seen too many strange things. This huckster might be strange but he wasn't mentally ill. He could only be said to be a fanatical religious person and couldn't be turned away.
Tang Mo casually asked, "Where is the real God?"
The huckster's expression suddenly froze.
Tang Mo smiled and turned to walk away with the pile of books.
He had asked the huckster this question many times. The huckster often came to the library to read books a year ago. He talked all day long and would find a seat to divine the auspicious position every day. But once the staff asked him the question 'who is God?', he would shut up like a wilted cabbage and leave the library after a while.
Tang Mo held the books and turned to leave. The moment he turned his head, he heard a low and mysterious voice behind him. "God is there."
Tang Mo's footsteps stopped.
He turned to look.
The huckster stood by the window and pointed to the black tower suspended over the city. He smiled and said, "God is coming."
Tang Mo, "…"
As long as you are happy.
The bus that Tang Mo took home from work every day passed through the city center. He sat by the window and listened to music with headphones. Just as a song ended, the sound of two female high school students discussing in the car entered his ears.
"Black tower! I will take a picture. "
"You are still taking a picture? What is there to take a picture of? No one wants to look at it now. "
"Just take a picture. Post it in your circle of friends. The title is a day trip to the black tower."
"No one will like it. Hey, the boy sitting by the window is so handsome. You might as well take a picture of him. There will be a lot of people who will like it. Maybe you can become an internet celebrity. Call it … Bus Little Brother! Hurry up and take a picture. "
The next song started and Tang Mo raised his right hand to cover his face. He turned to look out the window and ignored the two girls. He raised his gaze slightly, looking at the giant black tower floating above Suzhou.
Among the tall buildings of the city, a giant black tower stood tall in mid-air. The tower was in the shape of a quadrangle, similar to the Egyptian pyramids. However, it wasn't gold, it was black. Its base spanned across the entire center of Suzhou, almost covering the entire city under its scope. The cold moonlight passed through the black tower and shone on the ground without any obstruction.
Half a year ago, the tower suddenly appeared in the city center of Suzhou. Tang Mo had just arrived at the library to work and left in a hurry in the morning. He didn't watch the news and once he went to the street, all of Suzhou exploded.
The bus was gone and he couldn't even stop a taxi.
All the cars were crazily heading to the city center. Tang Mo was still a bit sleepy and couldn't figure out the situation. He looked up and saw the huge black tower.
All the sleepiness disappeared at this moment.
Tang Mo almost thought that it was 2012 and the end of the world was coming.
How could there be such a big thing?
He didn't see it when he got off work last night. How could it suddenly appear there?
At first, Tang Mo wondered if this was a national construction. During that time, the Internet often praised the country's infrastructure for being very good. An overpass could be built in one night, which made foreigners envious. It wasn't until he finally took a taxi to the city center and looked up in the crowd. The tower was completely suspended in the air!
Completely suspended! It was at least 100 metres from the ground!
How could humans build castles in the air?
The big LED screen in the city center was playing the news. "At 8 o 'clock in the morning Beijing time, 1,021 black towers appeared over major cities and oceans in China. It is reported that at the same time, the black towers appeared on a large scale around the world. Please don't panic. The country has set up a relevant department to investigate the black tower incident. We invited Professor Luo of the Department of Physics at Peking University to explain the black tower incident to us. We are now connected to Professor Luo … "
World! World! End! Day!
Everyone panicked. Tang Mo couldn't go to work for two days. Countless people fled to the countryside, the further away from the black tower the better. However, the country maintained social operations very well. Three days later, Tang Mo received a notice to go back to work. Another week later, many people saw that there was no movement from the black tower and returned.
It wasn't until six months later that the black towers had become tourist attractions.
A few months ago, people in white research suits would come to the black tower every day and move some large instruments. It was unknown what they were checking. Now they would only check once every three days and the shops near the black tower had resumed operation.
Tang Mo supported his chin with one hand and stared calmly at the black tower. The bus turned a corner, leaving the black tower behind and it could no longer be seen.
In the evening, Tang Mo casually ate a meal. Then he turned on the computer and logged into QQ. A chat box popped up.
[Victor: Sorry, I have been very busy recently. I might not have time to play together.]
Tang Mo looked at the chat record. He sent a message last week and only replied today. It seemed that he was really busy.
[Mo Tang: It doesn't matter. We will play together in the future when we have time.]
After sending the message, Tang Mo opened the bridge software. Who knew that Victor would be online this time and soon got a reply.
[Victor: Let's play a game. I just happen to have some time.]
[Mo Tang: Okay [smiling face]]
Tang Mo invited Victor into the room and the game soon began.
Tang Mo had been playing bridge for five years. In his freshman year, he had a roommate who was very addicted to bridge. He said that it was a game that tested IQ and was very pretentious. He pulled Tang Mo into the pit. However, less than a month later, the roommate went to play other things while Tang Mo quietly continued to play bridge for five years.
Halfway through the game, Tang Mo found an opportunity to make a deal. His eyes flashed and he hadn't played a card when he saw Victor suddenly play a K of clubs. Tang Mo's heart froze. Once Victor's card was played, it killed his chance to seal the deal.
Did Victor make a mistake?
Bridge was a 2v2 game. Tang Mo met Victor online a year ago and the two of them had a tacit understanding. Victor's card skills were no worse than Tang Mo's. However, Victor had been very busy in the past six months and hadn't played in the past two months. It wasn't impossible for him to be rusty.
Tang Mo looked at the numbers on both sides and suddenly realized. "Does he want a grand slam?"
Tang Mo's lips curved into a faint smile as he calmly played a card.
Half an hour later, the game was over and Tang Mo opened QQ.
[Mo Tang: GJ, it is as good as before.]
[Victor: GJ.]
[Mo Tang: [smiling face]]
Victor didn't answer for a long time. Tang Mo guessed that he was busy and didn't speak again. He opened a bridge game. Once he finished, he saw a message from Victor. [I remember you once said that there is a black tower next to your work?]
[Mo Tang: Yes, it is about 200 metres away. What's wrong?]
[Victor: Go there less recently. There might be some problems.]
Seeing this sentence, Tang Mo suddenly remembered this morning when the huckster pointed to the black tower and vowed that 'God is coming.' Victor and the huckster …
Tang Mo couldn't help laughing for a long time before sending a message back. [I didn't expect you to be in the 'dangerous black tower faction'? However, I work nearby and can't go there less.]
Victor didn't force it. He said a few more words before suddenly saying that he was busy. The two of them said goodbye and went offline.
The next day, the huckster didn't come to work. Director Wang was surprised and pulled Tang Mo over. "The huckster didn't come today? I saw him clock in even more frequently than I did. Did something happen to him that he didn't come? "
Tang Mo replied, "Maybe there is something at home."
Director Wang waved his hand. "Hey, it is better if he doesn't come. Otherwise, I will have to find someone to look after him. Xiao Tang, Xiao Zhao, you have to work hard today. Find time to sort out the G-category books. "
Sorting out books was something librarians had to do every day. This position wasn't as leisurely as outsiders thought. Xiao Zhao was going on a blind date in the evening. The little girl looked at Tang Mo and Tang Mo said, "You go back first. I will do it alone."
Xiao Zhao said gratefully, "Thank you, Tang Mo. I will help you work overtime next time."
Tang Mo nodded gently and didn't say anything.
After working overtime until 10 o 'clock in the evening, Tang Mo left the library and took the last bus.
There were very few people on the last bus. Apart from the driver, there was only Tang Mo and a middle-aged uncle. The uncle was sitting in a chair and sleeping. Tang Mo's cell phone was out of battery and he looked out the window with a bored expression.
Many shopping malls in the city center were closed at this time. The November night was very cold and there were few people on the street. The moonlight shone down coldly. Tang Mo looked at the flashing neon signs. The bus turned a corner and the huge black tower suddenly entered his line of sight.
After looking at it for half a year, Tang Mo, like many people, had no interest in the tower. He just looked calmly.
Suddenly, he saw a small bug. It might be a bird but it was too far away to see clearly. Under the moonlight, this small black thing flashed in the air and flew towards the black tower. Tang Mo watched carelessly as the little thing flew to the side of the black tower and foolishly continued to fly forward, heading towards the black tower.
Then it seemed to hit something and suddenly fell to the ground.
Tang Mo watched as the bus turned another corner and the black tower disappeared behind him.
The name of the next stop was heard. Tang Mo placed his left hand on the window and thought about what to eat tonight. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he quickly turned his head. His whole body leaned against the window, wanting to see the black tower again. However, the bus had already gone far and it was impossible to see the black tower behind him.
Tang Mo's heart was beating so fast that it was about to jump out of his throat. After a long time, he calmed his heart.
"… It should be a mistake, right? The black tower is a phantom caused by optical pollution and doesn't have a physical body. "
This was the current mainstream view of society. Many people didn't believe it but at least the black tower didn't have any physical body. It could only be seen and couldn't be touched.
Tang Mo closed his eyes, wanting to forget the scene just now. However, the scene kept replaying in his mind and he couldn't forget it until he went to bed at night. It caused him to suffer from insomnia until he fell asleep in the middle of the night.
The next day, it was already 7: 30 in the morning. Tang Mo seized the time to get up and brush his teeth. He had to catch the 8 o 'clock bus. He quickly put on his clothes, picked up his backpack and left. The moment his hand touched the door handle, a sweet and smooth music was suddenly heard.
Jingle jingle, jingle jingle, jingle jingle jingle …
Tang Mo turned his head with astonishment and didn't find the source of the sound in the room. The song 'Jingle Bells' kept ringing. There were no lyrics but everyone knew what song it was.
Tang Mo listened carefully to the sound and couldn't find the source. It seemed to be coming from all directions.
The next moment, Tang Mo's body froze. He ran to the window at a speed he had never seen before and looked at the black tower in the centre of Suzhou. He saw the giant tower shining with a colourful light that constantly changed with the tone of the nursery rhyme. Once the last note fell, the colourful light disappeared and everything became silent again.
A child-like voice was heard. It had the unique high tone of a child, sharp and loud.
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