Free The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu Page A

confess that I’m not feeling very sharp today. Are you suggesting that—”
    “Yes, the entire history of humankind has been fortunate. From the Stone Age till now, no real crisis has occurred. We’ve been very lucky. But if it’s all luck, then it has to end one day. Let me tell you: It’s ended. Prepare for the worst.”
    Wang wanted to ask more, but Chang shook his head and said good-bye, preventing any more questions.
    After Wang got into the car, the driver asked for his address. Wang gave it and asked, “Oh, were you the one who took me here? I thought it was the same type of car.”
    “No, it wasn’t me. I took Dr. Ding here.”
    Wang had a new idea. He asked the driver to take him to Ding’s address instead.

5
    A Game of Pool
    As soon as he opened the door to Ding Yi’s brand-new three-bedroom apartment, Wang smelled alcohol. Ding was lying on the sofa with the TV on, staring at the ceiling. The apartment was unfinished, with only a few pieces of furniture and little decoration, and the huge living room seemed very empty. The most eye-catching object was the pool table in the corner.
    Ding didn’t seem annoyed by Wang’s unannounced visit. He was clearly in the mood to talk to someone.
    “I bought the apartment about three months ago,” Ding said. “Why did I buy it? Did I really think she was going to become interested in starting a family?” His laugh sounded drunk.
    “You two…” Wang wanted to know the details of Yang Dong’s life, but didn’t know how to ask the questions.
    “She was like a star, always so distant. Even the light she shone on me was always cold.” Ding walked to one of the windows and looked up at the night sky.
    Wang said nothing. All he wanted now was to hear her voice. But a year ago, as the sun sank in the west, when she and he had locked eyes for a moment, they had not spoken to each other. He had never heard her voice.
    Ding waved his hand as though trying to flick something away. “Professor Wang, you were right. Don’t get involved with the police or the military. They’re all idiots. The deaths of those physicists had nothing to do with the Frontiers of Science. I’ve explained it to them many times, but I can’t get them to understand.”
    “They seem to have conducted some independent investigation.”
    “Yes, and the investigation’s scope was global. They should already know that two of the dead never had any contact with the Frontiers of Science, including … Yang Dong.” Ding seemed to have trouble saying her name.
    “Ding Yi, you know that I am already involved. So … as far as why Yang made the choice that … she did, I’d like to know. I think you must know some of it.” Wang thought he must sound very foolish as he tried hard to disguise his real intent.
    “If you know more, you’ll only get pulled in deeper. Right now you’re just superficially involved, but with more knowledge your spirit will be drawn in as well, and then it will mean real trouble.”
    “I work in applied research. I’m not as sensitive as you theoreticians.”
    “All right, then. Do you play pool?” Ding walked to the pool table.
    “I used to play a little in college.”
    “She and I loved to play. It reminded us of particles colliding in the accelerator.” Ding picked up two balls: one black and one white. He set the black ball next to one of the pockets, and placed the white ball about ten centimeters from the black ball. “Can you pocket the black ball?”
    “This close? Anyone can do it.”
    “Try.”
    Wang picked up the cue, struck the white ball lightly, and drove the black ball into the pocket.
    “Good. Come, now let’s move the table to a different location.” Ding directed the confused Wang to pick up the heavy table. Together they moved it to another corner of the living room, next to a window. Then Ding scooped out the black ball, set it next to the pocket, and again picked up the white ball and set it down about ten centimeters away.