Chapter 224 Smith's Taunt
Three days after the sky ladder project was announced, Li Xiao rushed into Lin Mo's office holding a tablet.
"Senior, look at this!"
Lin Mo took the tablet. On the screen was an English article with a striking headline in bold:
"China's Tower to the Heavens — A Modern tower of babel"
Subtitle: "The Trillion-Dollar space elevator, Harder Than Climbing to Heaven"
Author: Smith Edwards
Lin Mo scrolled down, skimming quickly.
"China has just announced a shocking plan: to build a space elevator within twenty years. This 1.3 trillion project is what they call the 'sky ladder project'."
"As a scientist who has spent a lifetime researching Nuclear Fusion, I respect the achievements of my Chinese colleagues. But a space elevator is not Nuclear Fusion. Nuclear Fusion has a solid physical foundation, fifty years of accumulated research, and international cooperation like ITER. But the space elevator remains in the realm of science fiction."
"Carbon Nanotubes? The few meters achieved in a laboratory are an astronomical distance away from the 36,000 kilometers required for a space elevator. A space station counterweight? How can a thousand-ton behemoth be transported into space? Elevator cabin power? Laser energy transmission? Orbital stability? Every single issue is an insurmountable obstacle."
"The Chinese say they will build it within twenty years. This reminds me of the ancient tower of babel—humanity arrogantly attempting to build a tower reaching the heavens, only to have their languages confused by God, leaving the project abandoned halfway. Could today's 'sky ladder' meet the same fate?"
"Of course, I wish them success. But as a scientist, I must say: this is harder than climbing to heaven."
After reading, Lin Mo returned the tablet to Li Xiao.
Li Xiao asked cautiously: "Senior, you... aren't you angry?"
Lin Mo looked at her: "Is being angry useful?"
Li Xiao was stunned for a moment.
Lin Mo stood up and walked to the window:
"Some of what Smith says isn't without reason. The gap from a hundred meters of Carbon Nanotubes to 36,000 kilometers is indeed an astronomical difference. A thousand-ton space station, requiring 120 launches, is also extremely difficult."
He turned around and looked at Li Xiao:
"But he forgot one thing."
"What thing?"
Lin Mo said: "Four years ago, he said Room-Temperature Superconductivity was impossible. Three years ago, he said Lithium Extraction from Seawater was unrealistic. Two years ago, he said Nuclear Fusion ignition was just bragging. Now—"
He smiled:
"All those 'impossibilities' he spoke of have become possibilities."
Li Xiao's eyes lit up.
Lin Mo said: "So, it doesn't matter what he says. What matters is what we do."
The news quickly spread through the base.
In the Canteen, people were discussing the article in twos and threes. Some were angry, some disdainful, some worried.
"Why does this Smith always have it out for us?"
"He's a Nobel Prize winner. When he writes an article, the whole world reads it."
"He says we can't build it, so we are determined to build it!"
Zhao Gang walked over with his tray, heard the discussion, and frowned.
He sat down and tapped the table:
"Stop the noise. Dr. Lin said that being angry is useless. If you have the energy, get back to work."
Everyone quieted down.
Li Xiao leaned over and whispered: "Brother Zhao, are you really not angry?"
Zhao Gang glanced at her: "Angry. But Dr. Lin is right; being angry is useless."
He took a bite of his food and continued:
"When I was in the army, people were always looking down on us. They said our equipment was poor, our training was unsophisticated, and we couldn't beat this or that. And later?"
Li Xiao asked: "What happened later?"
Zhao Gang said: "Later, we fought a few battles and won. Those who looked down on us stopped talking."
Li Xiao was thoughtful.
Zhao Gang looked at her: "Xiaoer, you're the same. Don't argue with others, just do your job well. When the space elevator is actually built, let's see what they can say then."
Li Xiao nodded: "I understand, Brother Zhao."
In the evening, Chen Xueming called via video.
"Old Lin, did you see that article?"
Lin Mo nodded: "I saw it."
Chen Xueming was a bit anxious: "Is that your only reaction? That Smith, when it came to Nuclear Fusion before, he said 'the data is worth verifying,' but now he's flat out calling us a tower of babel!"
Lin Mo smiled: "So?"
Chen Xueming was stunned: "So... we need to strike back!"
Lin Mo asked: "How do we strike back?"
Chen Xueming said: "Write an article! Find the media! Let the whole world know he is wrong!"
Lin Mo shook his head:
"Xueming, do you remember what you thought four years ago?"
Chen Xueming froze.
Lin Mo said: "Four years ago, you also thought I couldn't do it. And now?"
Chen Xueming was silent.
Lin Mo continued: "Smith isn't a bad person. He is just a man who dedicated his whole life to science, only to discover that the things he pursued his entire life were surpassed by others in a shorter time. It's normal for him to feel uncomfortable and say some strange things."
He looked at Chen Xueming on the screen:
"You said strange things back then too. Did I hold it against you?"
Chen Xueming's eyes reddened:
"Old Lin..."
Lin Mo smiled: "Alright. Don't think too much. Get the Guangdong Power Station done well, calculate the space station orbit accurately. When the space elevator is really built, invite him up for a visit; that will be more effective than any article."
Chen Xueming took a deep breath and nodded:
"I understand."
The next day, Li Xiao brought more reports.
The New York Times quoted Smith's article with the headline: "China's Sky Ladder: Ambition or Fantasy?"
The BBC interviewed several Western experts, most of whom were skeptical.
Le Monde's headline was even more direct: "The Curse of the tower of babel?"
Lin Mo read them one by one, his face expressionless.
Li Xiao watched his reaction from the side and couldn't help but ask:
"Senior, are you really not angry?"
Lin Mo put down the newspaper and looked at her:
"Xiaoer, do you know the story of the tower of babel?"
Li Xiao nodded: "I know. Humans wanted to build a tower to the heavens, and God confused their languages so they couldn't communicate, and the project stopped."
Lin Mo said: "Correct. But do you know what happened later?"
Li Xiao shook her head.
Lin Mo said: "Later, humans learned to translate. People of different languages could communicate. Even later, humans learned to cooperate. People from different countries could work together on big things."
He paused:
"The tower of babel wasn't completed, not because of God's punishment, but because humanity itself wasn't ready yet. Once we are ready, one day, it will be built."
Li Xiao was thoughtful.
Lin Mo said: "Smith says we are a tower of babel. He isn't wrong. But he is talking about the one from ancient times, while we are talking about the one of the future."
He stood up and walked to the window:
"The tower of babel of the future does not lead to God; it leads to the universe."
A week later, Lin Mo received a letter.
The sender was Smith Edwards, and the address was Princeton, USA.
Li Xiao leaned over curiously: "Senior, why is he writing to you?"
Lin Mo opened the envelope. Inside was only one sheet of paper with a few lines written on it:
"Dr. Lin:
Regarding the article, I knew you would see it. I meant what I said in those words. I do not believe a space elevator can be built within twenty years.
However, I also hope you succeed. Because if you succeed, humanity will have truly taken a great step forward.
Best regards.
Smith"
Lin Mo finished reading and handed the letter to Li Xiao.
Li Xiao finished reading and was stunned:
"He... what does this mean?"
Lin Mo smiled:
"It means he doesn't think we'll make it, but he hopes we succeed."
Li Xiao blinked: "Then is he an enemy or a friend?"
Lin Mo thought for a moment:
"Neither. He is a true scientist."
That evening, Lin Mo replied to Smith with an email:
"Professor Smith:
Letter received. Thank you for your candor.
You are right, the space elevator is very difficult. Harder than climbing to heaven.
But four years ago, Nuclear Fusion was also very difficult. We did it.
So, please continue to be skeptical. We will continue to work.
When the day it is built comes, you are welcome to come for a visit.
Lin Mo"
He clicked send.
Outside the window, the starry sky over the Gobi Desert was still brilliant.
He looked toward the low sky in the southeast, where that dim star was still flickering.
tower of babel?
Perhaps.
But this tower does not lead to God; it leads to that star.