Chapter 53
TheTsinghuaUycampusinBeijingissohugeariver,calledtheWanquan,runsthroughit.TheuyislocatedihWestofBeijing,inHaidiandistriearthefamedSummerPalace.AformerimperialgardenoftheQingDynasty,TsinghuaUyboastsseveralformerpaladmanystrikingpagodas.Theonlywaytoeffectivelygetaroundthecampus,ifyouweren’tdriving,wasbybicycleorbyrentingatwo-wheeltransporterattheuy’ssedgate.CaldwellandMeiLinstoodattheWestGateasuystudentswhizzedinandoutofthecampusontheirbikes.Afewofthemoreathletieswereoric-poweredskateboards.
MeiLinsuggestedthattheyehecampusonfoot.Shefiguredtheywouldlookmoreliketouriststhatway.Tsinghuawasohetry’sleadingeducationalinstitutionsanditreceiveditsfairshareofvisitors.They’dboughttheusualtouristparaphernaliahehotel,adisposabledigitalcameraandanaugmentedrealitysystemboughtfromastreetvendor,aftersomeprotractedhaggling,outsideahugemulti-storeyputermall.TheARsystemwassolelyforCaldwell’sbe.MeiLinhadassuredhimthatshekhecampuslayoutreasonablywell.Thesystemsistedofapairofcheapplasticdisplayglassesandasmallunitthatclippeduntoabelt.Acartoon-characterscribedescribedthevariousbuildingsastheyheadedtowardsthelibrary.CaldwellreedthelibrarysystemwouldberelativelyeasytohadthattherewasagoodcethatVickyZhaLinhadanatoem.MeiLinagreed.
“TsinghuaUywasfoundedin1911asapreparatoryschoolforesestudentswhomthegoverplaosendtotiheireducationatuiesiedStates.TheuycampusissituatedonreviouslyusedtobeQingdynastyroyalgardehenameQingHuaderivedfromQingHuaYuan,whichmeansQingGardens,”thescribeexplainedinasqueakyputerizedvoice.
Astheywalkedtowardsthemainadministrativebuildingsofthesprawlingcampus,ssofinformationwereoverlaidontheARunit’sglasseswiththecartoonscribe’squirkyvoiceoverdescribingthebuildingssomeerfluously.ItoorlyputtogetherARunitbutCaldwellfoundtheinformationandhistoricalperspectivesomewhathelpful.
Thescribestoppedtheatrically,turofaceCaldwell,brokeoutintoitscartoongrinandtinued:
“Thtaremostlyfacultyresidences,anurseryschoolandaarysostofthesdteologybuildingsarejustafewminutesahead.”
Thescribeskippedmerrilyalongthepavement,itshatbobbingupanddown.TheARunitlayingbackpre-renderedanimation.Therewasnothingautonomousaboutthescribe’sas.Itjustcycledthroughaseriesofbehaviors,mixingandmatgthemacctosomerandomalgorithmicroutine.CaldwellswitchedtheAIunitoffastheygotclosertothelibrary.
“Problem,”Caldwellsaidpensively.
“Yes?”
“Hoingtogaiothelibrary?”
“Goodquestion,”MeiLinsaid.“Ihaveanalumnicard.Iamnotsurewhetherit’sstillvalidthough.”
“Thatmeansyouhavetogoin.”
“Correct.Ihavetogoinalone.IfIrecallcorrectly,thepubliccataloguesearchterminalsjustrequireaswipeofthecard.”
“OK,I’llpokearoundoutsidewhileyouseewhatyougetinthelibrary.IrethethingtolookforisWangLin’sborrowingatinfo.Itjustmightlisthisdormroomoreventhelocationofthelab.”
“IwouldhavegonefLin’srecordsbutwouldn’tnecessarilyhavethoughtofthelibraryfirst.Theyareboundtohaveanaddressforhim.”
“Yup.”Caldwellsmiled.
Theyarrivedinfrontoftheoldlibrary,anabrown-brickbuildingwithahugemarbleplaqueonthefrontsayingTsinghuaUyLibraryinsimplifiedesecharacters.MeiLindisappearedthroughthemaindoorswhileCaldwellidledhefrontlawntryingtolookasthoughheressedwiththebrickarchitecture.AbunchofstudentswalkedoutofthelibrarysizingCaldwellup.Theyweretryingtofigureoutwhetherhewasastudentoraprofessor.CaldwellidledaroundoutsidethinkingaboutthestudentWangLinandtheversationthey’dhadontheBBS.FifteenmierMeiLinemergedfromthelibrary.Thelookinhereyessuggestedshe’dhitpaydirt.
“Incrediblyeasyhack,thelibrarysystemhasaronicworkspace,wherestudentsloginahebookstheyhaveborrowed,returndates,e-bookdownloadsandbookreendations.Thatistieddirectlyintothestudentdirectoryserverthatholdstherecordsforeachstudent.”
“Excellent.”
“Onlyproblemis,therearethreeWangLinsintheputerscedepartment.Allofthemarepostgraduatestudents.Twoliveiudentdormitories,ohejuniorfacultyresidences.Ihadalookattheirphotos.It’sdifficulttotellwhielookslikeaheyalllookkindofgeeky.”
“I’dgowiththejuniorfacultyresidene.ThisWangLinissupposedlyoneofProfessorYaés.He’sboundtohaveafewperkssuchasfacultylodgings.”
“Iseethelogicofthat.Whereto?”MeiLinasked.
“HowaboutwepaytheDepartmentofputerSdTeologybuildingavisit?Takealookatthism’scoursetimetable.Whoknows,WangLinmayhavedecidedtoattendclasstoday,”Caldwellsaidwithagrin.
TheyarrivedattheDepartmentofputerSdTeologybuildingafterabrisktenminutewalk.Itwasagraycreteandglassbuildingshapedlikeagiantmicro-chiplyingfaceup.Numerousanterudedfromtheroof.Caldwellspottedatleasteightsatellitedishesanddatabroadcastingtransponders.
“Looksliketheplace.”
Theywalkedintothemaiheentiresideofonewallwascoveredwithahugeeleioticeboardshowingthedifferentclasses.Itlookedeverybitasplexasthedeparturesdisplayataionalairport.
“There’salecturehtnowattheZhuRongjiLectureTheateronartificialintelligence,”Caldwellsaid,pointingatthedisplay,whichwascrammedwithsomuformationthatitwasalmostunintelligible.
“ArtificialIntelligenceIII.Soundslikeapostgraduatedegreecourse.ItookAIIandAIIIinmythirdandfourthyearhere.AtanyrateIknowwheretheZhuRongjiLectureTheatreis.Thisway.”
CaldwellfollowedMeiLindowntlesscorridorsanddoorswithtransparentplasticflapsthatgaveyouagoodacademicslapinthebackasyouwentthrough.BythetimetheygottotheZhuRongjiLectureTheater,Caldwellwastotallylost.Theyslippedintothetheaterthroughthebackdoorandtooksomeemptyseatsattheback.Afewstudentslookedroundtoseewhattheotionwasaboutbutquicklyrefocusedtheirattentionontheproceedings.
ThelecturetheatrewasmassivelikeaGreekamphitheater.Theprofessorwassofardowninthebowelsofthetheater,theroomslopeddownwardsatasteepahathewasablotoage.GianttelevisionssmagnifiedhispresehebeofthoseatthebackashepacedarouageexpoundingobscureAItheories.Hehadwhitehairsleekedbackawayfromapromiforeheadandalargebulbousnose.Youcouldseetheporesinhishemagnifiedimage.Caldwellreedfromtheliverspotsonhisbonyhandsthatherobablypushiy.
Theprofessoingonabouthowtraditionalceptsofartificialintelligencewereundergoingamajoroverhaulasnewideasonwhatstitutesmaeintelligencedeveloped.ItwasdifficulttobelievethatprobablyjustafewhuersfromthisroomanotherprofessorhadiedanAIthatposedathreattocyberspace.HadWangLinbeenlyinginavaioimpressVickiZhao?CaldwellhadahereeylookinggirlwithruddycheekssittingtoCaldwell’sright.HeleanedoverandwhisperedtoherinMandarin.
“WhieisLiJihatworkswithProfessorYao?”
“Didn’tyouhearaboutit?ProfessorYaoisdeadandLiJinhasdonearuhepolicearelookingforhim,”shewhispered.Caldwellwastakenabackbythecasualwayinwhichthestudentdeliveredthisinformationbutshelookedlikethegossipytype.SothestudentLiJinwasontherun.Caldwelltinuedhisquestioning.
“Ohreally?Whywouldherunaway?Thatwouldsuggesthedidsomethingwrong,”heprompted.
“Youbet.TheNanoteologyResearchbuildingiscrawlingwithPLAtypes.Nostudentisallowedtogoanywherehebuildinguheyhaveaspecialpass.It’sasurprisetheyhaven’ttakenWangLininforquestioning.”
“Ohyeah,WangLihatguyinthejeanjacketthreerowsahead,right?”Caldwellasked,randomlyselegamalestudent.MeiLinjustlookedathimbemused.Sheseemedimpressedwithhissocialengineeringskills.
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”thegirlhissed,givingCaldwellasidelongglance.“WangLinisthatskinnyguyintheredjumperfiverowsdown.Idon’tknowwhyheevenbothersattendiures.Heknowsthisstuffianyways.”
“Iamsureyoudotoo,”Caldwellsaid.Thegirlgavehimastrangelookasthoughhehadjusttriedtohitonherandturotrateoure.Shehadlostiintheirlittleversation.CaldwellturoMeiLinandtoldherwhichstudentwasWangLin.Hewasalanky-lookingfellowwithushoulder-lengthhairandhunchedshoulders.TheycouldonlyseeafraofhisfawheretheyweresittingbutCaldwellwascertaintheywouldn’tlosehiminacrowd.Hewaswearingdisposableblackplasticglasseswithverythises.Thisarentevenfromadistandthatredjumper.
Tenmier,thelecturewasover.WangLinwalkeddowntothelecturepodiumandhadabriefchatwiththelecturer.Onthemonitors,CaldwellandMeiLingotagoodlookathisface.Thestudentlookedscared.ThenWangLinheadedbackuptowardsthebackoftheauditorium.Thelecturergathereduphisteagmaterialsanddisappearedoutofthedooratthefront.WangLinwalkedrightpastthem.HelookednothingliketheavatarCaldwellhadseenhimuseoudentBBS.Helookedlikethekindofkidwhowasalwayslettingothersknowhowbrillianthewas.Helookedarrogaoday,hewasscared.Thatmuchwasobvious.CaldwellandMeiLinfollowedhimoutoftheZhuRongjiLectureTheater.
***
Likemanysuper-intelligentstudents,WangLin’sbodylanguagewasalloutofkilter.Hehadtheshufflinggaitofakidwhospenttoomuchtimereadingbooksandtoolittletimeonathleticactivities.Hisskinaleandfromthedepthsofhisthivexlenseshiseyesdartedarardingotherstudentshepassedwithsuspi.Withtheprofessor’sdeathandLiJin’smysteriousdisappearance,WangLinprobablysuspectedthathewasonsomePLAhitlist.Heseemedtobetheirguyalright.CaldwellandMeiLiarespectabledistanceasWangLilynavigatedthemyriadcorridorsoftheDepartmentofputerSdTeologybuilding.
WangLiedthebuildingthroughasmallsidedoor.Helookedbehindhimsuddenly.CaldwellandMeiLindartedintoasmallrecessinanearbydoorway.Thestudentsedthecorridorsbehindhimthenthedoorsslammedshut.WangLinwaswalkingupthepathtowardsthejuniorfacultyresidences,awayfromtheacademicbuilding.ItlookedlikehewasnotgoingtogivethemanyleadsonthisAI.Hepickedupspeed.Caldwellcouldswearthatthestudentwasmumblingtohimself.PerhapshewasstillberatinghimselfforhislackofjudgmentoudentBBS?
AgirlwalkedstraightpastWangLin,aclusterofbooksclutchedtoherchest.Shedidn’tevengivehimasedglance.WangLinstopped,turnedaroundandgawkedafterthegirl.Caldwellcouldn’tbelievehiseyes.ItwasVickyZhao,thegirlwhoseloginCaldwellhadusedoudentBBS.Herhairwasdifferentbuthereizedherfromthephotooe.CaldwellstoppedMeiLinaeobehavingadiscussionwithher.Thegirlwalkedpastthemafewsedslater.Shewasverypretty,eveerlookingthanthedigitalphotographoe.
WangLinshookhishead,turnedaroundawalking.Hearrivedatthejuniorfacultyresidencebuilding,anondescriptfive-storeyblockofcrete,anddisappearedinside.MeiLinandCaldwellmadetheirwaytothesideofthebuilding.
“Shouldwegoin?”Caldwellasked.
“Notsure.Theytakebreakingintouyresidencesveryseriouslyhere.Notworththerisk.”
Therewasasmallpatchoflawnohersideofthepath.AfewstudentsweresittingaroundpeeringintobooksorPDAs.CaldwellandMeiLinsatdownasafedistanthemandwaited.Theydidn’thavetowaitlong.Afewmier,WangLinemergedoutofthejuniorfacultyresidence.Hehadgedhisclothesandhadamedium-sizedbackpagingaroundhisshoulder.MeiLinandCaldwelllookedateachother.Whatthehellwasgoingon?
***
WangLinwaswalkingringinhisstep,likeahighschoolstudentwhohadjustfoundoutthathe’dscoredstraightA’sinhisuyentranceexams.Orwasheinahurryforanaltogetherdifferentreason.
“Something’sgoingdown.Iwon’tbesurprisedifbackatthelecturetheaterWangLinjusttoldhisprofessorthathewoendingclassforawhile,”Caldwellobserved.
“Youthinkso?”MeiLinasked,inawaythatsuggestedshehadarrivedatthesameclusionjustafewmomentsearlier.
“Ifeelitinmybones.Heisprobablygoingtodoaruoo.”
TheyfollowedWangLinallthewayback.Thistime,however,WangLinwalkedstraightpasttheDepartmentofputerSdTeologybuilding.Hedisappearedintoasmallgardenwithastohandaclusterofleaflesstrees.Attheotherendofthegardenstoodagleamingwhitemonsterofabuilding.Atthetopofthebuildingwasashinysilversignthatreflectedthesunlight.Itread:NanoteologyReseartre.Thereleof4x4Mitsubishielectricsparkedinfrontofthebuilding.Twoathletic-lookingesemeandinginfrontofthebuilding’smaindoorssmoking.WangLinstoppedattheedgeofthegarden.Hewasgthejoint.
“Webettermovebackabit,”MeiLinsuggested.
“Why?”
“TheNanoteologyReseartrehousesseveralofTsinghua’sStateKeyInstitutes.WhenIwasanundergraduatehereIheardaboutthembutdidn’treallyknowwhattheydidihisparticularbuildingwasoftenfrequentedbyofficialsfromthegoverhekindthatworedarkglasseseveherewasnosuntospeakof.”
“What’saStateKeyInstitute?Soundsvaguelyfamiliar.Ringssomekindofabell.”
“Theyareinstitutesthatductresearch,usuallytopsecret,injunwiththeNewagoverheygetfundingfromboththeuyaionalResearchcil.SometimestheyarefundeddirectlybythePeople’sLiberationArmy.”
“IfIrecallcorrectly,ProfessorYaoheadedseveralsustitutesandductedresearchworkforthePLA,right.”
“Yes.Andifwegetcaughthereitcouldbesomeserioustrouble.”
“Look,”Caldwellsaid,pointingtowardsthefrontofthebuilding.
TwomendressedinPLAuniformemergedfromthebuilding.Eaeushingwhatlookedlikeasmalldarkgrayrefrigeratoronatrolley.Ohemwascarryingasilvermetalcasesimilartothoseusedtoholdexpensivecameraorvideorecequipment.
“Theyaremovingservers.Don’thavetobeagenius...”MeiLinstartedtosay.
“Youthinkthat’sit?TheAI?”
“Positive.ThatistheAI.Andthecasemustholdthequantumprocessor.”
“Whatmakesyousosure?”
“Thoseguysarearmed.Ifthatwasordinaryputerequipment,whyalltheguns?”
ThetwoPLAmenwhohadbeenstandingoutsidegotbehindthewheelsofthe4x4s.Theothertwoloadedtheserversintothebackofthevehiclesandclimbedin.Aclusterofidenticalgreentravelingbagswasclearlyvisibleatthebackofthevehicle.WangLinturnedroundandstartedrunningtowardswheretheywerestanding.MeiLinandCaldwellretreatedoutofsightbehihetrees.WangLinranstraightpastthemwithaworriedlookonhisface.
“Headbacktothegatesandtrytofollowtheminataxi.I’llgobacktothehotel,grabourstuffayouattheairport.IthinkwiththePLAduffelsit’ssafetoassumethatthat’swheretheyaregoing.Findoutwhichflighttheyareon.Weogetonthatflightatallcosts.”
“Goodidea.YouthinktheyaregoingtoShanghai?Isawataxistandoutsidethegates.”
Theywalkedbrisklytowardstheuygates,watgWangLin’sslenderfraduallysmallerasherushedahead.Behiheehe4x4spurredandthevehiclesbegantomove.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
MeiLinsuggestedthattheyehecampusonfoot.Shefiguredtheywouldlookmoreliketouriststhatway.Tsinghuawasohetry’sleadingeducationalinstitutionsanditreceiveditsfairshareofvisitors.They’dboughttheusualtouristparaphernaliahehotel,adisposabledigitalcameraandanaugmentedrealitysystemboughtfromastreetvendor,aftersomeprotractedhaggling,outsideahugemulti-storeyputermall.TheARsystemwassolelyforCaldwell’sbe.MeiLinhadassuredhimthatshekhecampuslayoutreasonablywell.Thesystemsistedofapairofcheapplasticdisplayglassesandasmallunitthatclippeduntoabelt.Acartoon-characterscribedescribedthevariousbuildingsastheyheadedtowardsthelibrary.CaldwellreedthelibrarysystemwouldberelativelyeasytohadthattherewasagoodcethatVickyZhaLinhadanatoem.MeiLinagreed.
“TsinghuaUywasfoundedin1911asapreparatoryschoolforesestudentswhomthegoverplaosendtotiheireducationatuiesiedStates.TheuycampusissituatedonreviouslyusedtobeQingdynastyroyalgardehenameQingHuaderivedfromQingHuaYuan,whichmeansQingGardens,”thescribeexplainedinasqueakyputerizedvoice.
Astheywalkedtowardsthemainadministrativebuildingsofthesprawlingcampus,ssofinformationwereoverlaidontheARunit’sglasseswiththecartoonscribe’squirkyvoiceoverdescribingthebuildingssomeerfluously.ItoorlyputtogetherARunitbutCaldwellfoundtheinformationandhistoricalperspectivesomewhathelpful.
Thescribestoppedtheatrically,turofaceCaldwell,brokeoutintoitscartoongrinandtinued:
“Thtaremostlyfacultyresidences,anurseryschoolandaarysostofthesdteologybuildingsarejustafewminutesahead.”
Thescribeskippedmerrilyalongthepavement,itshatbobbingupanddown.TheARunitlayingbackpre-renderedanimation.Therewasnothingautonomousaboutthescribe’sas.Itjustcycledthroughaseriesofbehaviors,mixingandmatgthemacctosomerandomalgorithmicroutine.CaldwellswitchedtheAIunitoffastheygotclosertothelibrary.
“Problem,”Caldwellsaidpensively.
“Yes?”
“Hoingtogaiothelibrary?”
“Goodquestion,”MeiLinsaid.“Ihaveanalumnicard.Iamnotsurewhetherit’sstillvalidthough.”
“Thatmeansyouhavetogoin.”
“Correct.Ihavetogoinalone.IfIrecallcorrectly,thepubliccataloguesearchterminalsjustrequireaswipeofthecard.”
“OK,I’llpokearoundoutsidewhileyouseewhatyougetinthelibrary.IrethethingtolookforisWangLin’sborrowingatinfo.Itjustmightlisthisdormroomoreventhelocationofthelab.”
“IwouldhavegonefLin’srecordsbutwouldn’tnecessarilyhavethoughtofthelibraryfirst.Theyareboundtohaveanaddressforhim.”
“Yup.”Caldwellsmiled.
Theyarrivedinfrontoftheoldlibrary,anabrown-brickbuildingwithahugemarbleplaqueonthefrontsayingTsinghuaUyLibraryinsimplifiedesecharacters.MeiLindisappearedthroughthemaindoorswhileCaldwellidledhefrontlawntryingtolookasthoughheressedwiththebrickarchitecture.AbunchofstudentswalkedoutofthelibrarysizingCaldwellup.Theyweretryingtofigureoutwhetherhewasastudentoraprofessor.CaldwellidledaroundoutsidethinkingaboutthestudentWangLinandtheversationthey’dhadontheBBS.FifteenmierMeiLinemergedfromthelibrary.Thelookinhereyessuggestedshe’dhitpaydirt.
“Incrediblyeasyhack,thelibrarysystemhasaronicworkspace,wherestudentsloginahebookstheyhaveborrowed,returndates,e-bookdownloadsandbookreendations.Thatistieddirectlyintothestudentdirectoryserverthatholdstherecordsforeachstudent.”
“Excellent.”
“Onlyproblemis,therearethreeWangLinsintheputerscedepartment.Allofthemarepostgraduatestudents.Twoliveiudentdormitories,ohejuniorfacultyresidences.Ihadalookattheirphotos.It’sdifficulttotellwhielookslikeaheyalllookkindofgeeky.”
“I’dgowiththejuniorfacultyresidene.ThisWangLinissupposedlyoneofProfessorYaés.He’sboundtohaveafewperkssuchasfacultylodgings.”
“Iseethelogicofthat.Whereto?”MeiLinasked.
“HowaboutwepaytheDepartmentofputerSdTeologybuildingavisit?Takealookatthism’scoursetimetable.Whoknows,WangLinmayhavedecidedtoattendclasstoday,”Caldwellsaidwithagrin.
TheyarrivedattheDepartmentofputerSdTeologybuildingafterabrisktenminutewalk.Itwasagraycreteandglassbuildingshapedlikeagiantmicro-chiplyingfaceup.Numerousanterudedfromtheroof.Caldwellspottedatleasteightsatellitedishesanddatabroadcastingtransponders.
“Looksliketheplace.”
Theywalkedintothemaiheentiresideofonewallwascoveredwithahugeeleioticeboardshowingthedifferentclasses.Itlookedeverybitasplexasthedeparturesdisplayataionalairport.
“There’salecturehtnowattheZhuRongjiLectureTheateronartificialintelligence,”Caldwellsaid,pointingatthedisplay,whichwascrammedwithsomuformationthatitwasalmostunintelligible.
“ArtificialIntelligenceIII.Soundslikeapostgraduatedegreecourse.ItookAIIandAIIIinmythirdandfourthyearhere.AtanyrateIknowwheretheZhuRongjiLectureTheatreis.Thisway.”
CaldwellfollowedMeiLindowntlesscorridorsanddoorswithtransparentplasticflapsthatgaveyouagoodacademicslapinthebackasyouwentthrough.BythetimetheygottotheZhuRongjiLectureTheater,Caldwellwastotallylost.Theyslippedintothetheaterthroughthebackdoorandtooksomeemptyseatsattheback.Afewstudentslookedroundtoseewhattheotionwasaboutbutquicklyrefocusedtheirattentionontheproceedings.
ThelecturetheatrewasmassivelikeaGreekamphitheater.Theprofessorwassofardowninthebowelsofthetheater,theroomslopeddownwardsatasteepahathewasablotoage.GianttelevisionssmagnifiedhispresehebeofthoseatthebackashepacedarouageexpoundingobscureAItheories.Hehadwhitehairsleekedbackawayfromapromiforeheadandalargebulbousnose.Youcouldseetheporesinhishemagnifiedimage.Caldwellreedfromtheliverspotsonhisbonyhandsthatherobablypushiy.
Theprofessoingonabouthowtraditionalceptsofartificialintelligencewereundergoingamajoroverhaulasnewideasonwhatstitutesmaeintelligencedeveloped.ItwasdifficulttobelievethatprobablyjustafewhuersfromthisroomanotherprofessorhadiedanAIthatposedathreattocyberspace.HadWangLinbeenlyinginavaioimpressVickiZhao?CaldwellhadahereeylookinggirlwithruddycheekssittingtoCaldwell’sright.HeleanedoverandwhisperedtoherinMandarin.
“WhieisLiJihatworkswithProfessorYao?”
“Didn’tyouhearaboutit?ProfessorYaoisdeadandLiJinhasdonearuhepolicearelookingforhim,”shewhispered.Caldwellwastakenabackbythecasualwayinwhichthestudentdeliveredthisinformationbutshelookedlikethegossipytype.SothestudentLiJinwasontherun.Caldwelltinuedhisquestioning.
“Ohreally?Whywouldherunaway?Thatwouldsuggesthedidsomethingwrong,”heprompted.
“Youbet.TheNanoteologyResearchbuildingiscrawlingwithPLAtypes.Nostudentisallowedtogoanywherehebuildinguheyhaveaspecialpass.It’sasurprisetheyhaven’ttakenWangLininforquestioning.”
“Ohyeah,WangLihatguyinthejeanjacketthreerowsahead,right?”Caldwellasked,randomlyselegamalestudent.MeiLinjustlookedathimbemused.Sheseemedimpressedwithhissocialengineeringskills.
“Whatareyoutalkingabout?”thegirlhissed,givingCaldwellasidelongglance.“WangLinisthatskinnyguyintheredjumperfiverowsdown.Idon’tknowwhyheevenbothersattendiures.Heknowsthisstuffianyways.”
“Iamsureyoudotoo,”Caldwellsaid.Thegirlgavehimastrangelookasthoughhehadjusttriedtohitonherandturotrateoure.Shehadlostiintheirlittleversation.CaldwellturoMeiLinandtoldherwhichstudentwasWangLin.Hewasalanky-lookingfellowwithushoulder-lengthhairandhunchedshoulders.TheycouldonlyseeafraofhisfawheretheyweresittingbutCaldwellwascertaintheywouldn’tlosehiminacrowd.Hewaswearingdisposableblackplasticglasseswithverythises.Thisarentevenfromadistandthatredjumper.
Tenmier,thelecturewasover.WangLinwalkeddowntothelecturepodiumandhadabriefchatwiththelecturer.Onthemonitors,CaldwellandMeiLingotagoodlookathisface.Thestudentlookedscared.ThenWangLinheadedbackuptowardsthebackoftheauditorium.Thelecturergathereduphisteagmaterialsanddisappearedoutofthedooratthefront.WangLinwalkedrightpastthem.HelookednothingliketheavatarCaldwellhadseenhimuseoudentBBS.Helookedlikethekindofkidwhowasalwayslettingothersknowhowbrillianthewas.Helookedarrogaoday,hewasscared.Thatmuchwasobvious.CaldwellandMeiLinfollowedhimoutoftheZhuRongjiLectureTheater.
***
Likemanysuper-intelligentstudents,WangLin’sbodylanguagewasalloutofkilter.Hehadtheshufflinggaitofakidwhospenttoomuchtimereadingbooksandtoolittletimeonathleticactivities.Hisskinaleandfromthedepthsofhisthivexlenseshiseyesdartedarardingotherstudentshepassedwithsuspi.Withtheprofessor’sdeathandLiJin’smysteriousdisappearance,WangLinprobablysuspectedthathewasonsomePLAhitlist.Heseemedtobetheirguyalright.CaldwellandMeiLiarespectabledistanceasWangLilynavigatedthemyriadcorridorsoftheDepartmentofputerSdTeologybuilding.
WangLiedthebuildingthroughasmallsidedoor.Helookedbehindhimsuddenly.CaldwellandMeiLindartedintoasmallrecessinanearbydoorway.Thestudentsedthecorridorsbehindhimthenthedoorsslammedshut.WangLinwaswalkingupthepathtowardsthejuniorfacultyresidences,awayfromtheacademicbuilding.ItlookedlikehewasnotgoingtogivethemanyleadsonthisAI.Hepickedupspeed.Caldwellcouldswearthatthestudentwasmumblingtohimself.PerhapshewasstillberatinghimselfforhislackofjudgmentoudentBBS?
AgirlwalkedstraightpastWangLin,aclusterofbooksclutchedtoherchest.Shedidn’tevengivehimasedglance.WangLinstopped,turnedaroundandgawkedafterthegirl.Caldwellcouldn’tbelievehiseyes.ItwasVickyZhao,thegirlwhoseloginCaldwellhadusedoudentBBS.Herhairwasdifferentbuthereizedherfromthephotooe.CaldwellstoppedMeiLinaeobehavingadiscussionwithher.Thegirlwalkedpastthemafewsedslater.Shewasverypretty,eveerlookingthanthedigitalphotographoe.
WangLinshookhishead,turnedaroundawalking.Hearrivedatthejuniorfacultyresidencebuilding,anondescriptfive-storeyblockofcrete,anddisappearedinside.MeiLinandCaldwellmadetheirwaytothesideofthebuilding.
“Shouldwegoin?”Caldwellasked.
“Notsure.Theytakebreakingintouyresidencesveryseriouslyhere.Notworththerisk.”
Therewasasmallpatchoflawnohersideofthepath.AfewstudentsweresittingaroundpeeringintobooksorPDAs.CaldwellandMeiLinsatdownasafedistanthemandwaited.Theydidn’thavetowaitlong.Afewmier,WangLinemergedoutofthejuniorfacultyresidence.Hehadgedhisclothesandhadamedium-sizedbackpagingaroundhisshoulder.MeiLinandCaldwelllookedateachother.Whatthehellwasgoingon?
***
WangLinwaswalkingringinhisstep,likeahighschoolstudentwhohadjustfoundoutthathe’dscoredstraightA’sinhisuyentranceexams.Orwasheinahurryforanaltogetherdifferentreason.
“Something’sgoingdown.Iwon’tbesurprisedifbackatthelecturetheaterWangLinjusttoldhisprofessorthathewoendingclassforawhile,”Caldwellobserved.
“Youthinkso?”MeiLinasked,inawaythatsuggestedshehadarrivedatthesameclusionjustafewmomentsearlier.
“Ifeelitinmybones.Heisprobablygoingtodoaruoo.”
TheyfollowedWangLinallthewayback.Thistime,however,WangLinwalkedstraightpasttheDepartmentofputerSdTeologybuilding.Hedisappearedintoasmallgardenwithastohandaclusterofleaflesstrees.Attheotherendofthegardenstoodagleamingwhitemonsterofabuilding.Atthetopofthebuildingwasashinysilversignthatreflectedthesunlight.Itread:NanoteologyReseartre.Thereleof4x4Mitsubishielectricsparkedinfrontofthebuilding.Twoathletic-lookingesemeandinginfrontofthebuilding’smaindoorssmoking.WangLinstoppedattheedgeofthegarden.Hewasgthejoint.
“Webettermovebackabit,”MeiLinsuggested.
“Why?”
“TheNanoteologyReseartrehousesseveralofTsinghua’sStateKeyInstitutes.WhenIwasanundergraduatehereIheardaboutthembutdidn’treallyknowwhattheydidihisparticularbuildingwasoftenfrequentedbyofficialsfromthegoverhekindthatworedarkglasseseveherewasnosuntospeakof.”
“What’saStateKeyInstitute?Soundsvaguelyfamiliar.Ringssomekindofabell.”
“Theyareinstitutesthatductresearch,usuallytopsecret,injunwiththeNewagoverheygetfundingfromboththeuyaionalResearchcil.SometimestheyarefundeddirectlybythePeople’sLiberationArmy.”
“IfIrecallcorrectly,ProfessorYaoheadedseveralsustitutesandductedresearchworkforthePLA,right.”
“Yes.Andifwegetcaughthereitcouldbesomeserioustrouble.”
“Look,”Caldwellsaid,pointingtowardsthefrontofthebuilding.
TwomendressedinPLAuniformemergedfromthebuilding.Eaeushingwhatlookedlikeasmalldarkgrayrefrigeratoronatrolley.Ohemwascarryingasilvermetalcasesimilartothoseusedtoholdexpensivecameraorvideorecequipment.
“Theyaremovingservers.Don’thavetobeagenius...”MeiLinstartedtosay.
“Youthinkthat’sit?TheAI?”
“Positive.ThatistheAI.Andthecasemustholdthequantumprocessor.”
“Whatmakesyousosure?”
“Thoseguysarearmed.Ifthatwasordinaryputerequipment,whyalltheguns?”
ThetwoPLAmenwhohadbeenstandingoutsidegotbehindthewheelsofthe4x4s.Theothertwoloadedtheserversintothebackofthevehiclesandclimbedin.Aclusterofidenticalgreentravelingbagswasclearlyvisibleatthebackofthevehicle.WangLinturnedroundandstartedrunningtowardswheretheywerestanding.MeiLinandCaldwellretreatedoutofsightbehihetrees.WangLinranstraightpastthemwithaworriedlookonhisface.
“Headbacktothegatesandtrytofollowtheminataxi.I’llgobacktothehotel,grabourstuffayouattheairport.IthinkwiththePLAduffelsit’ssafetoassumethatthat’swheretheyaregoing.Findoutwhichflighttheyareon.Weogetonthatflightatallcosts.”
“Goodidea.YouthinktheyaregoingtoShanghai?Isawataxistandoutsidethegates.”
Theywalkedbrisklytowardstheuygates,watgWangLin’sslenderfraduallysmallerasherushedahead.Behiheehe4x4spurredandthevehiclesbegantomove.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读
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