Remembrance of Earth's Past, #3
Death's End
by Cixin Liu
Contents
Part III — Broadcast Era, Year 7 Sophon (Chapter 45)
Overview
Humanity's desperation for a safety notice mutates into failed social experiments, terrorism, and a worldwide religious revival centered on salvation from the dark forest. Cheng Xin, recast by the public as a saintly mother figure, nearly chooses suicide to escape becoming a harmful symbol, but her few real human ties delay her decision.
Sophon announces her departure and holds one final tea ceremony with Cheng Xin and Luo Ji. Her last message radically changes Cheng Xin's future: Yun Tianming, long presumed lost to her, wants to see her.
Summary
Humanity remains obsessed with finding a way to issue a safety notice, even though serious research keeps showing that all known methods are impossible or untrustworthy. A European NGO attempts to build a solar-amplified antenna to broadcast a draft notice, but police stop the project because it would dangerously reveal Earth's location sooner.
Other movements try symbolic or destructive solutions. The Green Saviors move thousands of members to Australia to model an agrarian, harmless civilization, but the effort collapses within a week because modern humans are physically unsuited to the harsh labor. Anti-intellect groups plot to lower human intelligence, including an attempt to contaminate New York City's water with neural suppressors, but authorities prevent harm.
As fear deepens, religion returns to the center of human society. People reinterpret past escapes from extinction as divine miracles, build a vast orbital cross, and pray for guidance on how to appear harmless to the universe. Trisolarans, once hated as invaders and later pitied as victims, become objects of worship because humans believe they possess the secret of salvation; Sophon's residence becomes a pilgrimage site.
Public opinion also reverses toward Blue Space and Cheng Xin. Blue Space is condemned as a demonic ship that doomed two worlds by forcing the broadcast, while Cheng Xin is recast as a saintly maternal figure who bore humiliation out of love for humanity. Cheng Xin realizes this cult around her is dangerous, and because life has become punishment, she decides that disappearing forever would be her final responsible act.
Cheng Xin prepares to kill herself with her last short-term hibernation capsule, which would be fatal without life-support machinery. A brief call from Fraisse and the memory of 艾 AA remind Cheng Xin that she still has two true friends, and this makes Cheng Xin hesitate. Sophon then calls to invite Cheng Xin and Luo Ji to one last tea ceremony, saying good-bye before leaving.
The next morning, Cheng Xin and Luo Ji visit Sophon's aerial home above a silent crowd of worshippers. Sophon performs the Way of Tea without discussion, then says farewell and expresses hope that fate may let them meet again. Before departing, Sophon delivers her final message: Yun Tianming wants to see Cheng Xin.
Who Appears
- Cheng XinBurdened former Swordholder; nearly chooses suicide, then hears Yun Tianming wants to see her.
- SophonTrisolaran envoy worshipped by humans; holds a final tea ceremony and prepares to leave.
- Luo JiFormer Swordholder invited with Cheng Xin to Sophon's last farewell tea.
- Yun TianmingAbsent but pivotal figure whose wish to see Cheng Xin is revealed by Sophon.
- FraisseCheng Xin's friend whose brief call interrupts and delays her suicide attempt.
- 艾 AACheng Xin's friend; her continued presence helps anchor Cheng Xin to life.
- Bi YunfengFormer Swordholder candidate who condemns humanity's worshipful loss of dignity.