Marvel Salted Fish Kryptonian

Chapter 142: Compulsory Vacation

When the last report at UNICEF ended, both Audrey Hepburn and Henry breathed a sigh of relief.

After resuming her UNICEF visit at the end of January, she was busy for over three months without a break. Finally, in May, Ms. Hepburn took a mandatory two-week break.

There's no reason. The peacekeeping force is already fully staffed and can't send any more personnel to support the operation. Unless the UN sends more troops today, but if it's just for UNICEF activities, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council won't approve it.

Just to ask, where does the funding come from? The deployment of peacekeeping forces is entirely subsidized by the United Nations, and no money from UNICEF is used.

The United Nations does not print its own money, but rather comes from dues from member states.

Even if it involves visits to other regions, it is no small matter if it involves military deployment.

It's certainly a good thing that Ms. Hepburn is so active as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. With her as a big banner, it also helps to carry out some smaller actions.

But there's always a limit, so Ms. Hepburn was forced to take a two-week break, no less.

Should I stay in New York and continue hosting fundraisers to fleece the wealthy? Or should I return to Switzerland and truly take a two-week break? The answer to this question is obvious.

So Henry was sitting on a passenger plane, accompanying Ms. Audrey Hepburn, sitting in the first class cabin of the plane. The expenses were of course paid by Ms. Audrey's own pocket, not public funds.

The service in first class is quite thoughtful, and the flight attendants and stewards are very attentive.

Although Henry is not afraid of being busy, his super speed allows him to have more time to deal with things compared to others. But when he can relax and rest, he will not treat himself badly.

Or rather, for someone with super speed, wasting time wasn't a luxury, but rather a precious commodity. So he really enjoyed the leisurely time on the plane.

A direct flight from New York to Switzerland takes about seven and a half to eight hours, and Henry would spend most of this time reading a book, savoring it quietly and attentively.

Sometimes I scribble on my notebook, recording some ideas that can be used to enrich the functions of Linux.

Apart from not having any free time to communicate with people on the Internet, Henry has become a big shot among co-developers, with the username CK.

Although, with his understanding of the future, it would be easy for him to seize the leading position in Linux development. Even the real boss Linus Torvalds once extended an olive branch and proposed cooperation on the Joker BBS.

But Henry still had no intention of coming out in the open. Just like in the Water Margin, not everyone becomes a bandit just to wait for amnesty.

Today, he was on the plane reading the first edition of the fourth volume of "War and Peace," originally in Russian. It covered Moscow after Napoleon's invasion. The content wasn't entirely story-based, but rather contained more philosophical discussions.

The book even bears Toltoy's autograph. It's part of the personal collection of Audrey Hepburn, who also loved reading. He owns a complete set of signed first editions.

Logically, such a precious antique book should be kept in a suitable environment and preserved properly. However, the lady believed that books are only meaningful when they are read.

So he not only did not stop Henry from borrowing the book, but even encouraged it. On the one hand, he felt a little guilty about the book because he himself could not read the Russian version.

Henry doesn't have a time machine to look back at the origins of Western philosophy, or whether it's a fabrication. But at least the ideas it describes are genuine.

Recently, he also wanted to review the thoughts of the ancient philosophers from the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period to see if he could gain some new insights with his current super brain.

But it was not easy to find suitable books in the environment he was in, so Henry had to put these things aside for the time being.

Just as he was wondering what the meaning of Pierre's whining about the war in occupied Moscow was, there was a small commotion on the plane, which quickly spread to the first-class cabin.

Everyone leaned out the side windows. The plane, high above the clouds, was closer to the universe beyond the atmosphere than the ground itself. Until now, the sky had been filled with nothing but the moon and stars, but today, a never-before-seen spectacle appeared.

A ball of orange fire floated in the sky, occasionally extending tentacles of flames in ever-changing shapes.

“Is this the Aurora?”

"That's not the aurora. The aurora within the Arctic Circle has a certain orderly beauty. That thing is also beautiful, but it doesn't have the same geometric beauty."

"So what is that?"

"I don't know. Look, it's still changing."

Henry naturally overheard the passengers' discussion on the plane. Even Ms. Hepburn, who was also reading, noticed it and looked out the small round window of the plane.

"Henry," the lady called out to the Kryptonian who was also reading a book, and asked, "What do you think that thing in the sky is?"

Looking out another window, Henry felt that the scene seemed familiar, but it was difficult to connect it with a major event in his mind.

However, most cosmic radiation is blocked by Earth's ozone layer. And judging by the other party's changing trajectory, it showed no sign of approaching Earth, so Henry didn't investigate further.

He answered honestly: "Boss, I don't know what that is either."

"Don't you know either? This is really rare." Audrey Hepburn looked at Henry and said with a smile.

Henry threw up his hands helplessly and said, "The more you know, the more you realize your own ignorance. This is a common understanding shared by many senior scholars."

"Is there any way to take a picture of this?" the lady asked.

Henry immediately stood up, found his camera from the overhead luggage compartment, and replaced it with a suitable lens.

Although Ms. Hepburn's photography skills were not very good, he was brave enough to try. Even Henry's own photography skills were just his own guesses after reading a few books, so he had no right to look down on others.

But in this situation, Henry handed the camera to the woman and explained some aperture and shutter speed parameters for night photography. He then took a large blanket and covered the window tightly, leaving only the lens touching the tempered glass.

"When shooting through glass like this, the biggest worry is the reflections and shadows on the glass. So we have to block out the extra light sources so that we can capture the image."

After taking a test shot, the lady slightly adjusted the parameters according to her own understanding and took a few more shots.

The results could only be seen after he returned and developed the photos, so he handed the camera back to Henry and used his eyes and brain to remember this amazing scene.

Henry, using his super vision, noticed that a space shuttle had unfortunately approached the alien energy in the sky. Then, as if captured, it lost power and hovered nearby.

Chapter 143: Space Shuttle Endeavour Accident

Should we rescue a space shuttle that has lost power?

How could it be possible! Not setting off the fireworks was already a sign of the greatest conscience.

As long as that thing didn't burn the plane, Henry would have no time to show off.

Sitting back in his seat with peace of mind, Henry continued to flip through the literary masterpiece in his hand.

The other people on the plane kept looking at the scenery, and after seeing it for a while, it became just like that. Those with cameras took a few photos, and then went about their business.

The plane landed smoothly at Geneva International Airport in Switzerland. The driver of the pre-booked airport transfer service was already waiting in the departure hall holding a sign.

The two returned calmly to Ms. Hepburn's home in Trochenau, Switzerland, an 18th-century farmhouse with two floors and a small attic, a very simple old house.

The house itself has an orchard, a vegetable garden, and a lush green lawn, which have always been taken care of by Ms. Hepburn herself. However, she has been busy with UN activities in recent years and has neglected it.

Robert Wolds also lived there, but he wasn't as meticulous about the garden as Ms. Hepburn. He preferred walking his dogs, and he would take his five Jack Russell terriers out for a run, which was quite a blast.

Missy, Toby, Penny, Piceri, Jack, this is Ms. Hepburn's 50th birthday gift to Robert.

In addition to these two people living here, there is a maid who comes to clean the house regularly every day. Ms. Hepburn's children are all adults and only return to this house occasionally to see their mother.

Henry was the third semi-permanent resident of the house, occupying a guest room. He had originally wanted to rent a house in town, but the lady's farm was large enough that she simply gave him a room.

Henry's job was to follow the women around anyway, so living close would make it easier to keep in touch and call on her for last-minute help. It felt a lot like being a long-term worker in a wealthy household back in the day.

There was no iron gate at the entrance to the farm, only a hedge and a stone arch separating the inside and the outside. So the driver easily drove in.

The familiar sound of the dog barking made Audrey Hepburn feel better, not like someone who had just taken a long-distance flight.

Henry got out first, opened the door for the lady, helped her out and then took the luggage. At this time, five white and brown dogs with their tails wagging wildly came running, vying for the first place, almost drowning Ms. Hepburn's thin body.

Audrey Hepburn, who knew her dogs' habits well, prepared in advance to handle their enthusiastic welcome. She stroked them on the left, then on the right, paying attention to every detail without favoring one over the other.

"You're back." Robert Wards came out from the gate and gave Ms. Hepburn a big hug to welcome him home.

The abandoned dogs stood pitifully in a row in front of Henry, sticking out their tongues and wagging their tails.

Henry, who wasn't particularly fond of animals, simply patted the dog's head twice as a greeting and moved his luggage inside. The Jack Russell terrier, not at all satisfied, wagged its tail and dodged between Henry's legs, trying to get him to go inside.

Ms. Hepburn, who walked in slowly, was telling Robert about the amazing sight he had seen on the plane. "You know, we saw a very strange ball of fire on the plane, higher than the clouds.

"It's very beautiful, but I think it's also a little weird. We took some pictures, though I don't know how they turned out. You'll be able to see them once Henry develops them."

"Ah, I know what you're talking about," Robert said. "It was in the news last night. The report said NASA announced that the fire in the sky was a solar flare approaching the Earth.

"Unfortunately, the Space Shuttle Endeavour was severely damaged by a solar flare during its first space mission, STS-49. We don't know what happened next, or whether any rescue efforts were carried out."

Audrey Hepburn listened with a little nervousness and said, "Really? I hope they are all well and rescued successfully."

Robert comforted his close friend, saying, "Don't worry. Even if NASA can't solve the problem on its own, we still have the X-Men. Mutants have many and strange abilities, and they'll always come in handy."

Robert Wards's words were one of the reasons why Henry felt he couldn't quite fit in. Everyone seemed accustomed to mutants, wary and ready to throw problems at them.

It's a bit different from relying on superheroes. It's like when trouble comes, let the mutants deal with it; or when you explore the source of the trouble, it's definitely the mutants' fault.

Henry's appearance allowed him to easily hide in the crowd, and he certainly didn't think of asking for trouble.

And what about that thing in the sky being called a solar flare? And not a single astrophysicist has come forward to refute it! It's obvious there's something fishy going on.

Even if the cloud of gas carrying the solar flare from a coronal ejection on the surface of the sun approaches the Earth, it is impossible for it to stay and last for a long time.

Furthermore, a flash of that magnitude approaching Earth would generate electromagnetic waves and ion storms sufficient to cause damage to the Earth's surface. It would not harm a passing space shuttle.

Never mind. It's none of my business, so just ignore it. Henry went about his business contentedly, with luggage to pack and clothes to wash.

When the evening news came on, Robert was sitting in the living room, petting his dog and watching the news, while Henry was in the kitchen with Ms. Hepburn, preparing dinner.

This wasn't a matter of Henry being a lackey or Robert being a male chauvinist. It was more that when they were two, Ms. Hepburn could prepare dinner quickly by herself.

But Henry could eat enough for three or four people, so for Ms. Hepburn to prepare it all by herself would be like preparing a big dinner every night, and she might have to start working from noon.

So Henry decided to help. Both Audrey and Robert were happy to order more dishes and try different flavors. Even if they only took a bite of a dish, Henry would finish the rest.

As long as there is no waste, no one will have a problem with how much food you prepare.

However, Robert, who was watching the news, suddenly said loudly: "Ha, just as I thought."

"What's wrong?" Audrey asked in the kitchen.

Robert, still sitting in the living room, spoke loudly, "Last night, the Space Shuttle Endeavour malfunctioned. The President of the United States dispatched the X-Men, who successfully rescued all the astronauts. Professor X was also commended and awarded a medal afterward. It's all on the news."

"Oh, is everyone okay?" Audrey asked in the kitchen.

"It wasn't mentioned on the news. I'm afraid they're still checking or it's not serious. If there were any casualties, they would have announced it long ago. But they did say that the solar flare crisis is over."

Henry remained silent throughout the entire process, simply pondering the familiarity. Solar flares, X-Men, could this be the movie Dark Phoenix? That film where the heroes weren't heroes, the wise men weren't wise, the aliens weren't aliens, and it was criticized as a movie where everyone was sick.

Chapter 144 Asking for help

Even if you don't look for trouble, trouble will find you.

Henry, who was squatting and tidying the flower garden, had dirt all over his face when a dog dug the ground.

Audrey Hepburn laughed maliciously on the side, with no intention of stopping her dog's behavior.

Henry was trying to figure out how to describe the delicious taste of dog meat hotpot in French. He'd convince the two elders to have some nourishing tonight. If they need any Chinese medicinal herbs, I'll fly over and buy them!

Just as he was about to shoot a heat ray at the sticking-up dog's butt, the maid who was cleaning the house called out in French: 'Henry, there's a call for you.'

"Phone? Who is it?" Henry asked. Because basically no one would call Ms. Hepburn's home and ask for him by name, usually they would ask for Robert or directly ask for Ms. Hepburn herself.

The maid said, "I don't know who it is. He keeps speaking English, but I don't understand him. I only hear Henry, Henry. You can speak English, so come and listen."

Those who say English is an international language can come to Europe and walk around. There is a high chance of encountering obstacles. But now is not the time to complain. Henry quickly stood up, dusted off the dust on his body, and said: "I will be right there."

Perhaps they were looking for me, their assistant, to help them arrange their schedule. This was a common occurrence in New York; people who wanted to invite Audrey Hepburn would usually contact him first to confirm her schedule before making the invitation.

So Henry nodded to the woman who was still tidying the flower garden, then trotted into the house, went to the phone, and answered it. He said in English, "This is Henry. Where can I find you?"

A female voice came over the line, saying, "This is Raven. Um, Mystique from the X-Men."

"Click!" Henry hung up the phone as quickly as possible without damaging it.

Audrey Hepburn, who had walked in slowly and was taking off her gardening gloves, asked, "Henry, who is it?"

"Wrong number."

Henry had barely answered when the phone rang again. Ms. Hepburn gave him a blaming look, clearly sensing that this was more than a simple 'wrong number.' Henry could only answer the phone again, feeling frustrated.

Before the microphone even got close to my ear, I heard the person on the other end yelling, "Madfake, you damn alien, if you dare hang up on me again, I'll..."

"Click!" Henry hung up the phone at the same lightning speed.

Although he didn't know whether Ms. Hepburn heard the content clearly, Henry just made an expression and said, "The person on the other side is a little angry. Let's wait until he calms down."

"Well, I think if you keep hanging up on people like that, the person on the other end won't be able to calm down," Ms. Hepburn said fairly.

However, he was also certain that the call had nothing to do with official business, otherwise the assistant wouldn't have used such an attitude.

Then the phone rang again.

Henry looked at the ringing phone with disgust, wondering if he should just punch it and break it. Audrey Hepburn, on the other hand, looked at the phone and winked at Henry, looking at him with a look of anticipation.

Helpless, Henry, who had picked up the phone, said first: "Speak calmly, otherwise I will hang up again."