Infinite Nightmares

"How many is ’a lot’? And how many different kinds are there in total?" Zhang Wenda continued to probe.

But in response to this question, 2826 simply shook his head. "I don’t know. Not all Thought Waves are as vast as Thought Wave One or Thought Wave Two. It’s possible that new Thought Waves are constantly being born while others disappear."

’Thought Wave... Thought Wave...’ Zhang Wenda mulled over the new term. With 2826’s explanation, a corner of this bizarre world was finally unveiled to him.

Thinking back on everything he had experienced, Zhang Wenda began to form a basic understanding of the explanation he’d been given. ’It seems this world isn’t just strange when it comes to time, but space as well.’

He recalled how, under Old Ding’s influence, he had called the subterranean creatures the Youth Palace. He also remembered that once people grew up, they could no longer see the Youth Palace.

’It seems the reason they can’t be seen is because of a change in the Thought Wave itself.’

"Then besides the children’s world and the adults’ world, what other Thought Waves are there? Does the Internet World count?" Zhang Wenda asked 2826.

"It does."

With his brow furrowed, Zhang Wenda stroked his chin. The concept of a Thought Wave was a bit abstract, but he was starting to grasp it by connecting it to his own experiences.

Seeing that Zhang Wenda had no more questions, 2826 continued on his own. "A Thought Wave isn’t just a change in sensory perception. It can also produce objects unique to it, or even generate its own distinct rules. For instance... the moon."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda immediately turned to look at the other man’s hand. He suddenly recalled what the man had said before: if the sun is too hot, just go at night.

’That would be impossible in the normal world, but what if you were inside a very special Thought Wave?’

’What if there’s a Thought Wave where the sun becomes the moon at night? And what if that moon could be harvested?’

Zhang Wenda could hardly imagine what kind of lunatics would form a Thought Wave based on such a belief.

thanked Wang Daniu, whose treatment was now complete, then walked over and pushed open the window. "Now do you understand how difficult the Third Line’s mission is?"

"With so many people, there are always those who want to exploit the gaps between Thought Waves for their own gain, or drag others into a Thought Wave they’ve created to forcibly assimilate them. There are so, so many incidents... I could talk for three days and three nights and still not cover them all."

"The Third Line’s mission is to ensure the boundaries between Thought Waves remain clear, and to protect everyone so they can live peacefully in the Thought Wave that’s right for them."

As he said this, he reached out and touched the Yellow Core on his hand. "This is why we have the ability to jump between Thought Waves."

No one had ever told him any of this before, and Zhang Wenda found himself completely engrossed. "Keep going! What else? You just said Thought Waves are man-made? Who made them? What was the world like before?"

turned around and looked at Zhang Wenda seriously. "That’s classified."

The word nearly made Zhang Wenda choke. "Classified again? Is that all you can say?"

"I’m answering your questions. I’ll tell you what I’m permitted to." Even though Zhang Wenda had saved his life and helped him immensely, 2826’s attitude remained perfectly composed.

"As for the rest of my questions, I’ll sort them out when I get back and ask you then. For now, I just have one question." Zhang Wenda walked up to him and held out his right hand. "Are we friends now?"

said nothing, simply extending his bandaged hand and giving it a firm shake.

Just then, Zhang Wenda heard the rapid WHIR of propellers from outside the window. Someone was here.

He went to the window and looked up. A plane with a menacing, sharp-toothed maw painted on its nose was approaching from the sky. Three digits were written on the side of the fuselage: "507".

The drone-head saw the plane as well and spoke. "Let me reintroduce myself. I am Thought Wave Explorer 2826, of the Third Line’s Bureau 507."

"How is that any different from what you already told me?" Seeing the plane, Zhang Wenda finally let his guard down completely.

Then, 2826 advised, "You’d better hide your emitter. It’ll be hard to explain if anyone else sees it."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda shoved the flashlight into an enamel mug. "Wow, a rare display of humanity? I thought a guy like you would report it for sure."

"My mission is infiltration, which doesn’t include reporting leaked Third Line items." Then 2826 added, "You really helped us a great deal this time. And in doing so, you saved a lot of people. Thank you."

"Spare me the flattery. Just don’t screw me over next time, alright? That plane looks dangerous, you could’ve given me a heads-up," Zhang Wenda said, eyeing the plane’s menacing maw.

2826, however, looked baffled. "A heads-up for what? Have you never flown before? Don’t you know planes have mouths and like to eat meat? Even if you’ve never been on a plane, haven’t you ever seen one on TV?"

The questions left Zhang Wenda speechless. It’s not like he could just admit he wasn’t from around here.

As the plane descended, 2826 dragged his injured body toward the door, "I’m going to go debrief with them. Once that’s done, we’ll get you out of here."

’Finally, I can leave,’ Zhang Wenda thought, letting out a sigh of relief. He turned to Wang Daniu, who was sitting with one leg crossed over the other. "I’m leaving, sir. What about you? Are you sure you’re not coming back? You’re really going to stay here in the past?"

Wang Daniu shook his head firmly. "Nah, forget it. Look at how that agent is dressed. Kids these days dress so bizarrely. If I say anything, they call me old-fashioned. This old man just can’t get used to it. I’m good here. It’s quiet and I’m my own master. It’s nice."

Although Zhang Wenda felt that staying all alone in the past was no different from waiting to die, he wasn’t going to interfere since it was what the old man wanted.

Upon seeing the drone-head by the plane waving him over, Zhang Wenda headed for the door.

As he reached the doorway, he asked Wang Daniu curiously, "By the way, sir, how did you manage to collapse that dam all by yourself?"

"What, am I an idiot? You think I dug it out by hand? I found the leftover dynamite from when the reservoir was first built and just blew the thing up."

"Haha! Sir, you’re incredible. I’m off. Maybe we’ll meet again someday."

There wasn’t much to say about the journey back. Zhang Wenda was blindfolded for the trip and saw nothing. Not long after he returned to his own time, the Yellow Core was depleted, and he collapsed back into Thought Wave One.

The low-slung bungalows, the gray concrete buildings, and the familiar flying-saucer-shaped water tower—they had all returned.

"That’s for touching me! That’s for touching me!" an enraged Song Jianguo yelled, forcefully pounding a bruise onto Zhang Wenda.

"Are you done yet? Knock it off!" Zhang Wenda shoved her away and looked at 2826. "Sorry you had to see that. She’s just an ill-mannered brat."

"About that favor you asked for—it can’t be today. I have to go back and write my report." Clearly, 2826 hadn’t forgotten Zhang Wenda’s request.