JOHN - Day 007

宇宙歷 20000 年 9 月 25 日． PM0405 行星．晴


欣賞過這顆流浪行星上的「星光祭」之後，我從居民口中得知，原來這個浪漫的祭典習俗才只是開始了十幾年而已。而且兩位發源者依然健在。


只是，他們現在竟然於監獄服刑中。


據居民說，這兩位星光祭的發源者並非原住民，而是從其他星球移居至此的。除了星光祭之外，他們還把很多獨有的科技跟有趣的文化帶來這裡。故此深得大家愛戴。


可是，就在星光祭初次於這個星球上舉行那天。他們居然趁著大家都把注意力放在祭典的時候，偷偷溜進國家動物園，並且放走了所有動物！


由於大部份逃脫的動物都是從其他星球捕捉回來，可說是國家一級財產。故此這事件在當年造成很大的哄動。


「我們生活在宇宙中最自由的星球，卻竟然肆意奪取其他生物的自由，這不是很諷刺嗎？」


兩位發源者在法庭上說出的唯一抗辯並沒有被接納，最終被判處了二十年的監禁。


雖然有人覺得他們是罪有應得，卻有更多人認為這是一場關乎生物平權的小型革命。而由他們發起的星光祭直到現在依然會不定期舉行，而且愈趨盛大。


在離開這個星球之前，我從其中一位星光祭參加者手上拿到一個紀念臂章。而這個臂章就是由兩位星光祭起源者所設計的。


我看著臂章的顏色覺得十分眼熟，後來翻查太空衣的數據，才發現這種顏色跟我曾經在 A91 行星遇上的宇宙色「狐狸」一樣。或許當中隱藏著某些關連也說不定。


不過對於跟旅程無關的事情，我並沒有在意去深究就是。


宇宙很大，生命很短。


-John
寫於前往下個目的地的途中

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Space Calendar 20000/9/25. Planet PM045. Sunny. 


Having enjoyed the “Astral Festival” on this wandering planet, I learned from the residents that this romantic festival only began around ten years ago. And the two founders are still alive.


The only thing is, they are currently serving time in prison. 


According to the residents, the founders of the Astral Festival are not natives of the planet. They have migrated to this planet from another one. Other than the Astral Festival, they’ve introduced many unique technologies and interesting cultures to this planet. Everyone loved them dearly.


But on the day of the first Astral Festival, while everyone’s distracted by it, the founders sneaked into the National Zoo and released all the animals!


As most of the escaped animals are captured from other planets, they are regarded as Class I National Properties. This incident caused quite a big commotion that year.


"Isn't it ironic that we live on the freest planet in the universe but we take away the freedom of other creatures according to our own will?"


The two founders only defense in court was not accepted and were eventually sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment.


Although some people think that they deserved it, more thought that this is a small revolution about animal rights. The Astral festival they founded is still being held from time to time, each grander than the last.


Before I left this planet, I received a souvenir badge from a participant of the Astral Festival. The badge is designed by the two founders of the Astral Festival. 


Looking at the badge, I couldn’t help but feel a vague sense of familiarity with its colour. I looked through the data on my spacesuit, and discovered that this colour is exactly the same as the cosmic-colored ‘fox’ I met on planet A91. Perhaps there are some hidden connections. 


But with things that are not related to the journey, I don’t care enough to dig deep into it.


Space is big, life is short. 


-John


Written on my way to the next destination