The world-devouring dragon

1890, German Empire, city of Weimar.

In front of the famous memorial statues of poets Goethe and Schiller in the Theater Square, a crazy old man was shouting indulgently in the busy flow of people.

"God is dead and a new era has arrived. I will tell you what Superman is..."

"What is an ape to a man? A ridicule or a painful humiliation. The same should be true for a man to a superman: a ridicule or a painful humiliation. You have completed the long journey from insect to man, but in many ways you are still Insects. In the past you were apes, but now, humans are more like apes than any apes..."

The crazy and confusing words made passers-by look askance at him. Parents covered their children's ears and eyes for fear of scaring them, or even stayed away from this "madman".

But in the face of so many eyes, the old man didn't notice it. Instead, he held his own wine bottle, raised his head and started drinking.

"Gulu gulu..."

The sweet wine spilled from the corner of his mouth and fell on his cheeks, beard, and even his robes, but he didn't mind at all.

"O people, I declare to you the will of the earth..."

The crazy old man was still shouting and dancing wildly, but no one listened to his voice. Only a group of playful children followed him and threw stones at him. The embarrassed old man was hurt by the stones and had to move away.

After a long time, the old man got drunk and simply lay down on the street and fell asleep.

Ten years later, the old man passed away, leaving only the name "Nietzsche" and a few books in the world. However, for the philosophical community at that time, it meant the death of a founder of the modern philosophical system.

The king in the kingdom of philosophers died, and the genius who overturned old morality and created a new moral system no longer existed, but his influence was extremely far-reaching.

…

Vienna, Austria, 1907, 7 years after Nietzsche's death.

"Mr. Adolf Hitler, your painting does not...so, we..."

A 17-year-old young man received a letter from the Vienna Academy of Arts. The silent young man's face turned blue and white, and finally dragged his luggage unwillingly and returned to his hometown angrily.

…

Linz, train station, a young man is waiting for the train among the crowd.

He wore his hair with bangs that were popular at the time, and his neat and meticulous hair was smooth and shiny, just like his serious and slightly rigid character. From time to time, he would lower his head and look at the time on the pocket watch in his hand, waiting for his friend to appear.

The trains came one after another, and he kept looking at the train codes until the train he was waiting for finally arrived. He carefully scanned the people getting off the train. Finally, he saw himself in the turbulent crowd. good friend...

With a stern face and slender hair, he was as rigid and unsmiling as ever. He dragged his big suitcase and struggled to squeeze through the sea of ​​people in front of him.

"Adolf!"

The excited young man waved to his good friend and shouted his friend's name loudly. The young man named Adolf raised his head and looked at him. He was surprised at first, but then he seemed to have thought of something. As usual, he fell silent inexplicably.

When Adolf got off the train, the young man walked with him while talking about how he missed his friend.

However, in the past, his good friend who was always gushing in his mind was silent now. He just dragged his suitcase forward and then listened to the words of the young man next to him and suddenly said something.

"Kubisik, I don't want to talk about this right now."

After being stunned for a moment, Kubicek also noticed Adolf's gloominess and stopped talking. He had known Adolf for many years and knew very well that he should get along with his friend.

…

When Adolf returned to his hometown of Linz, he didn't look strange at first. Just like he did in the past, he dressed neatly every day, then walked around his hometown of Linz with a cane, and occasionally used the money he saved to go to the concert hall. Opera was a common hobby between him and his only friend Kubicek.

In Kubicek's opinion, his friend is a very strange person, stubborn and rigid, arrogant and arrogant.

His father was a customs clerk, but died when he was very young. According to the regulations at the time, the widow of a civil servant could receive a monthly allowance of 100 crowns, but each trip to the theater cost 10 crowns. Adolf didn't care about the money, and Adolf's mother, Mrs. Clara, who loved her son deeply, also continued to support her child for Adolf's artistic dream, even though the expenses were so high.

Kubicek once asked Adolf, since you are short of money, why don't you find some jobs to make money? Then, Adolf answered confidently.

"Work? There's no way I'm going to work. I don't think about working."

In Adolf's eyes, any job is just a "make a living". His inexplicable pride and arrogance made him disdain to do these small things. In Adolf's view, he should devote himself to great poetry creation, painting and opera appreciation, rather than just making a living.

Adolf's mouth was full of contempt when he talked about the "business of life."

In addition, Adolf, who was passionate about architecture, often took Kubischik to see the buildings in the city. He once described to Kubischik the blueprint of the city in his heart, including churches, opera houses, and subways. Stations, transportation routes...a prosperous city built by itself.

There is an unquestionable decisiveness in his speech. The speech method he learned from opera performances gives him an inexplicable magical charm in every move he raises his hands and feet, making people involuntarily forget what he is talking about. I was impressed by the movement and momentum, and subconsciously believed his words.

But...occasionally Kubicek would ask in confusion.

"So, where does the money come from?"

Then, Adolf would stare at him dissatisfied. His overly serious and cold face, especially his sharp eyes, would make people feel frightened. When Kubischik's mother first saw Adolf who came to visit, she I couldn't help but be frightened by those eyes.

"Your friend's eyes are really amazing!"

Kubicek clearly remembers that when his mother said these words that night, there was more fear in her words than appreciation.

"That kind of thing doesn't matter at all! It doesn't matter!"

Looking at the friend in front of him, Adolf said angrily.

As for his experience studying in Vienna, he did not say much, only that he passed the requirements of the academy. Kubicek was sincerely happy for his friend, because he was finally able to move towards the goal of art.

This news also pleased Adolf's mother, Mrs. Clara, who was seriously ill. Adolf's return and admission news gave her some comfort. At other times, Adolf would take his only friend Kubisik with him to the suburbs. This was the only time when he felt relaxed.

…

It’s spring and everything is growing.

On the outskirts of Linz, there are towering beech trees and shrubs with flashing red leaves. Take a deep breath and the moist air will fill your lungs. Walking on the forest road, the two friends quietly enjoyed this rare sense of peace.

"Gustav, look at that squirrel."

Lifting his cane, Adolf pointed at the squirrel on the treetop and motioned for his friend to look at it.

And the "Gustav" in his mouth is also the Kubishik of Augustus Kubishik. Because of habit, Adolf sometimes calls his friend Gustav, not only because of ridicule, but also because of him. The older brother who died young was named Gustav.

Kubicek looked in the direction of his cane and saw a maroon squirrel with its tail raised above the treetops. It was so naive and endearing.

"What a cute little guy."

Adolf admired.

"It's very cute. Why, you're used to the city of Vienna, so it's rare to see a squirrel and you feel very happy."

Kubicek couldn't help but laugh.

He understood that his only friend had a temper, was stubborn, conservative, misogynistic, and worshiped heroes. He was almost ascetic. He often lamented why he was not born in the classical era 1,500 years ago when heroes were born in large numbers. There is a deep classical plot in him. Although he has repeatedly said that he does not like the countryside and does not like to stay in a small place like Linz, he cannot hide his love for natural scenery.

"Vienna is a nice city, but... hum."

Adolf said, snorting coldly as if he was remembering the unpleasant events in Vienna.

"I have seen your paintings in Vienna. The architecture is good and the details are very detailed, but it has never been very popular... I think you don't hate the city, it's just because you hate too many people."

While walking, Kubisek brushed away the slender branches in front of him and said smoothly. Adolf thought about it for a while, but unexpectedly nodded in agreement.

"Maybe."

After walking for a while, Adolf suddenly spoke.

"You think, if I win the jackpot one day, how about we dress in the same clothes and pretend to be twin brothers."

The whimsical idea was very consistent with Adolf's style. Kubicek had long been accustomed to his unconstrained thinking mode and answered with a smile.

"OK……"

It was a peaceful day. The two best friends were walking in the woods and relaxing. But the next day, there was a rare knock on Kubicek's door.

"Dong dong dong..."

Opening the door, what appeared in front of Kubisik was a scene he had never seen before, his arrogant and arrogant friend Adolf, who looked very haggard at the moment. His face was so pale that there was no trace of blood, and his eyes were dull.

He was silent for a moment, and then said in a hoarse voice.

"The doctors said my mother... was incurable."

(The story about Hitler is based on "The Young Hitler I Knew" by Augustus Kubicek)

Recommend a book from a friend: "Supporting the Demon to the Top"

The spirits are peeking out from the nooks and crannies, there are corn kernels growing in the millet fields, there are more and more ghost possession incidents, a certain female star sheds a layer of human skin in public... Demons and monsters, hundreds of ghosts walk at night, myths are about to reappear, and the earth gradually wakes up. .

——Sir, the wind has picked up.