Cyber Heroes

Haneda International Airport, next to the coffee shop in the international terminal.

Kanbaru-san handed a cup of macchiato coffee to Xiangshan's hand rather embarrassedly: You come here, I can only treat you to a cup of coffee. Double milk foam, double syrup - I remember you don't like it It’s a bitter drink, right?”

It's not a rare visit. I've traveled all over the world in recent years, and you don't have to act like a host. Maybe I'm more familiar with Haneda Airport's international terminal than you are. Xiangshan bit his straw. , mouthing towards the Kanhara mother and daughter not far away: It's over there, is it okay?

It's just a child making trouble. Kambara-san said this, but the expression on his face was anything but relaxed.

After leaving the Rama Project, Kambara returned to the World Institute of Minority Languages ​​(SIL). It's just that the timing of his return was unlucky and he didn't catch up with the African field survey organized by SIL. In addition, he had also worked on the Rama Project for several years before, so the institute gave him some free time.

After getting a relatively free time, Kanbaru returned to his hometown, a small town in Fukuoka. There he compiled the inspiration he had gained from years of brainstorming with the world's leading linguists. [These contents are also work, so strictly speaking this is not a holiday]

During this period, Kanbaru-san got married.

At that time, Xiangshan, who was still tinkering with the extraterrestrial spacecraft in the Rama project, heard that Kambara was on a blind date with a high school classmate under the arrangement of his parents, and fell in love at first sight. This Mrs. Kanbara lives two blocks away from Kanbaru-san's parents' home.

Within a few years, Kambara-san even had a child.

However, it wasn't until the girl was more than four years old [that is, in 2035] that Xiang Shan had time to visit this old friend.

I do have to criticize you, A-Zun. Xiang Shan sipped his coffee and said, The origin of mankind is very important, and so is the future of mankind - your daughter is a part of the 'future of mankind'. You are her Dad, only you can bear this responsibility.

Kambara took a sip of black coffee: It's just that, my job is not something that 'anyone can take on.' There are never enough researchers willing to go to Africa to do fieldwork. And Africa... this place has been exploited by the world. . It is in crisis all the time. The speed of research and organization of language can never keep up with the speed of language extinction.

That's true. Xiang Shan nodded: It's a great thing. But you don't just have to tell me, you have to tell that little girl. If the truth can be explained, I think she will Proud of being my father.

The look in the corner of Kambara-san's eyes suddenly dimmed: This. Although I have told her many times. But for the child, the parents are the most important. Forcing her to understand 'all mankind' will not be good for her. It's a bit cruel to say it. And my wife. I feel very sorry for her.

Xiang Shan shook his head: I think you two have a good relationship.

Kambara-san showed a smile: Yeah. Maybe it's because I have learned too many primitive languages. When Miku saw me, she thought I was...'too frank to be Japanese.' She said she was very I like this. Those simple and straightforward words that lack advanced rhetoric seem to have taken root in my soul. She also likes what I do. She always sends me on the plane with a smile. I’m also very proud of my wife.”

Xiang Shan said nothing. It's not that he doesn't want to say it, but he's looking for an opportunity to speak.

And Kambara-san opened the conversation. He seemed to want to complain about the current situation.

He really felt sorry for his wife. During the fourteen years of marriage, except for the first two years, he spent three quarters of each year in Africa. And a large part of the remaining time will be spent in SIL.

It was fine before Yanye went to elementary school, and Mrs. Kanbaru could still take her daughter to live in the United States. It's just that Kanbaru-san's parents hope that their granddaughter can still speak Japanese as her native language, so Kotonoha stays in elementary school in Japan.

When talking about this, Xiang Shan's eyes lit up and he took out a form from his briefcase: By the way, A-Zun, take a look at this thing. Don't worry, I won't cheat you.

'Proof of Genetic Correlation of Second Language Acquisition Ability' volunteer registration form? Kanbara-san was a little confused: Second language acquisition...heredity...this one? Ah! It's that one!

A topic he had discussed with Yawgmoth and Ingrid many years ago.

There are huge differences in human second language acquisition abilities. Some people are unable to use their second language to the same level as their native language throughout their lives, while some people can reach this point naturally - outstanding people like Ingrid can even use it in just two weeks. Learn a new language.

Xiao Yanye, I remember, also understands English and Japanese, two completely different languages, right? Xiang Shan said: But she grew up in a bilingual environment from the beginning... I don't know if it counts as second language acquisition. But as long as she learns another language and can use it freely, then it will definitely be over! You are still father and daughter, so it is suitable for you to participate in such a project.

Kambara-san showed a nostalgic expression: At that time, I thought that this project would not be approved in a hundred years.

The reality is that we have money now. After Yog succeeded in betting his life, as long as we prove that 'this direction may be closely related to human progress', a large number of organizations or rich people will give us money! Xiangshan said with a smile: According to Yingjia, research on second language acquisition is actually the study of the underlying mechanism of language. If you want to directly input the thinking in the brain into the computer, you must understand the language function of the brain.

Now all major countries are actively cooperating. Many scholars who use their second language as their mother tongue and their children who have studied abroad are the experimental subjects we want to strive for. You can use dozens of African languages ​​freely, naturally It is also an important object to observe.”

Kanbaru-san said cheerfully: If you carry equipment to preserve blood samples, I can draw a tube of blood for you now. But Yanye... I need to discuss it with my wife.

He fully trusts the research institutions under Yawgmoth and believes that the privacy of his genetic information will not be used elsewhere.

Now, how can this be possible? I originally came here to take a look. Xiang Shan smiled: I took my whole family on a trip to the Republic when I had time, and donated the genetic samples by the way.

Kambara-san smiled and said: It's really good to have money. When Yog brought up this topic, Yingjia and I were crying about poverty. Now we can start such willful projects... It's great.

Xiang Shan nodded: Yes, yes, I have abundant funds here and free projects - man, look, do you want to come here to lead a project?

Kambara-san was stunned for a moment and then smiled: Let me tell you, you are already a rich man who can appear in the Asahi Shimbun. How could you not even be able to afford a special plane? You came all the way to block me.

There is really no special plane. Xiang Shan shrugged: After all, it is the organization that is rich, not me personally. I also have an assistant and a bodyguard with me. The assistant comrade helped me go through the formalities, and Mr. Bodyguard, look outside. You should be able to see someone wearing a black hat. It is true that I came here on the spur of the moment after seeing the information about SIL. There are some things I think it would be more serious to say in person.

Kambara nodded: That's great. It's pretty good too.

Our project very much needs someone who understands the 'original appearance' of language. Yingjia said, this person must be you. Xiang Shan said: You are familiar with many languages. These languages ​​have not been influenced by rhetoric, history, and religion. Layer decoration. Yingjia feels that deep in your mind, there is definitely a unique understanding of language. With you joining us, we may really be able to develop a brain-computer interface in our lifetime.

Lord Kambara lowered his head: This, please let me think about it.

Of course, you don't have to refuse now...

I'd better refuse.

Ah... Xiangshan was confused: In terms of treatment.

Lord Kamehara lowered his head: It's not about treatment. Not at all. I'm glad you can think about me and my daughter. Xiang, I'm really happy.

So what's the problem?

Kanbaru asked in return: I heard that in order to protect a species of scaly-horned gastropod snail, you fought among many parties and successfully got the United States to sanction a mining company with an administrative order?

Xiang Shan shook his head: I just reasonably explained the potential value of those scaly-horned gastropod snails and the possible potential value of submarine crater mining, and then compared them. That's all. And there's also 'Ogun' 'This flag can be pulled. Anyone in that position can do such a thing.

I heard that Yog's ex-wife once fought in the United States for the right of those hydrothermal creatures to survive. But there was almost no result. Anyway, this is still very powerful. Kanbaru smiled and shook his head: I think , my mood now is the same as hers back then. However, it is too difficult to slow down the death of African languages.

While I'm sleeping, an old man may die in Africa. When this old man dies, he also takes away a vocabulary left behind thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago. The old man's descendants have become accustomed to using English and French Or other Indo-European languages ​​to express the meaning of this ancient word - when I think about this, I feel the same as the biologists who watch the mining companies destroy the habitats of rare species and annihilate the evidence of evolution for petty profits. .”

You can say that if I don't study those ancient African languages, there will still be other people studying them. But... Kanbaru sighed: Language is not a constant objective existence, it only exists within the subject. time. It will become less and less. This is not a project of 'there will always be a chance to study it in the future'. This is a project of 'if we don't seize the time to save it now, there will be no chance in the future'.

If you hadn't stopped that mining company, I'm afraid Yog wouldn't have had the chance to study those little snails.