ACHANCETOMAKEATRIPINTOSPACEWITHMYFRIENDLIYANPING,ANASTRONOMERWEVISITEDTHEMOONINOURSPACESHIPBEFOREWELEAVE,LIYANPINGEXPLAINEDTOMETHATTHEFORECEOFTHEGRAVITYWOULDCHANGETHREETIMESONOURJOURNEYANDTHATTHEFIRSTCHANGEWOULDBETHEMOSTPOWERFULTHENWEWEREOFFASTHEROCKETROSEINTOTHEAIR,WEWEREPUSHEDBACKINTOOURSEATSBECAUSEWEWERETRYINGTOESCAPETHEPULLOFTHEEARTHSGRAVITYITWASSOHARDTHATWECOULDNOTSAYANYTHINGTOEACHOTHERGRADUALLYTHEWEIGHTLESSENEDANDIWASABLETOTALKTOHIM“WHYISTHESPACESHIPNOTFALLINGBACKTOTHEEARTHONTHEEARTHIFIFALLFROMATREEIWILLFALLTOGROUND”IASKED“WEARETOOFARFROMTHEEARTHNOWTOFEELITSPULL,“HEEXPLAINED,“SOWEFEELASIFTHEREISNOGRAVITYATALLWHENWEGETCLOSERTOTHEMOON,WESHALLFEELITSGRAVITYPULLINGUS,BUTITWILLNOTBEASSTRONGAPULLASTHEEARTHS“ICHEEREDUPIMMEDIATELYANDFLOATEDWEIGHTLESSLYAROUNDINOURSPACESHIPCABINWATCHINGTHEEARTHBECOMESMALLERANDTHEMOONLARGERWHENWEGOTTHERE,IWANTEDTOEXPLOREIMMEDIATELY“COMEON,”ISAID“IFYOUARERIGHT,MYMASSWILLBELESSTHANONTHEEARTHBECAUSETHEMOONISSMALLERANDIWILLBEABLETOMOVEMOREFREELYIMIGHTEVENGROWTALLERIFISTAYHERELONGENOUGHISHALLCERTAINLYWEIGHLESS”ILAUGHEDANDCLIMBEDDOWNTHESTEPSFROMTHESPACESHIPBUTWHENITRIEDTOSTEPFORWARD,IFOUNDIWASCARRIEDTWICEASFARASONTHEEARTHANDFELLOVER“OHDEAR,”ICRIED,“WALKINGDOESNEEDABITOFPRACTICENOWTHATGRAVITYHASCHANGED”AFTERAWHILEIGOTTHEHANGOFITANDWEBEGANTOENJOYOURSELVESLEAVINGTHEMOONSGRAVITYWASNOTASPAINFULASLEAVINGTHEEARTHSBUTRETURNINGTOTHEEARTHWASVERYFRIGHTENINGWEWATCHED,AMAZEDASFIREBROKEOUTONTHEOUTSIDEOFTHESPACESHIPASTHEEARTHSGRAVITYINCREASEDAGAINWEWEREPUSHEDBACKHARDINTOOURSEATSASWECAMEBACKTOLAND“THATWASVERYEXHAUSTINGBUTVERYEXCITINGTOO,”ISAID“NOWIKNOWMUCHMOREABOUTGRAVITYDOYOUTHINKWECOULDBISITSOMESTARSNEXTTIME”“OFCOURSE,”HESMILED,“WHICHSTARWOULDYOULIKETOGOTO”CAUGHTBYABLACKHOLETHESPACESHIPWARNEDLIYANPINGANDMETOBEREADYASWEWEREAPPROACHINGTHE“BLACKHOLE”WECOULDSEESOMEFAINTLIGHTSAROUNDWHATLOOKEDLIKEANEMPTYSPACELIYANPINGSAID,“THATEMPTYHOLEISLIKEAMOUTHALWAYSNEEDINGTOBEFEDTHOSELIGHTSARETHINSTHATAREBEINGPULLEDINTOTIMEBYTHEGRAVITYOFTHEHOLE”WEWATCHEDWITHINTERESTANDAMAZEMENTATTHELIGHTSWHICHSEEMEDTOBEGOINGFAINTERANDFAINTERROUNDTHEEDGEOFTHEBLACKHOLEJUSTTHENTHELIGHTSONOURSPACESHIPWENTOURTHEANDTHECOMPUTERSTOPPEDWORKINGWHATWASHAPPENINGITRIEDTOTURNTHESPACESHIPAWAYFROMTHEHOLEBUTITWOULDNOTMOVEWOULDITEATUSTOOSUDDENLYTHESPACESHIPJUMPEDANDBEGANTOMOVEROUNDTHEEDGEOFTRHEHOLETOOTHEGRAVITYOFTHE“BLACKHOLE”WASPULLINGUSINTOITS“MOUTH”ASTHESPACESHIPMOVEDROUNDTHEBLACKHOLE,IFELTRATHERSICKMYMOUTHWENTDRYANDICLOSEDMYEYESALLTHESTORIESABOUTWHATHAPPENEDWHENYOUWERECAUGHTBYTHEGRAVITYOFA“BLACKHOLE”SEEMTOBETRUEBUTTHENTHESPACESHIPJUMPEDAGAINTHISTIMEITMOVEDSIDEWAYSANDAWAYFROMTHISEDGEOFTHE“BLACKHOLE”SOMEONEWATCHINGMEWOULDHAVESEENTHESPACESHIPFLYINGLIKEABIRDAWAYFROMTHE“BLACKHOLE”BUTWEFELTNOTHINGATLASTWEWEREABLETOLOOKAROUNDUSLUCKILYTHECOMPUTERHADSTARTEDWORKINGAGAINWEREALIZEDTHATWEHADDISCOVEREDSOMETHINGNEWABOUT“BLACKHOLE”IFYOUGOINSIDETHEEDGEOFA“BLACKHOLE”,ITWILL“EAT”YOUANDTHEREISNOESCAPEBUTIFYOUDONOT,YOUMAYHAVEANOPPORTUNITYTOESCAPEHOWEXCITINGUNIT5ATRIPON“THETRUENORTH”LIDAIYUANDHERCOUSINLIUQIANWEREONATRIPTOCANADATOBISITTHEIRCOUSINSINMONTREALONTHEATLANTICCOASTRATHERTHANTAKETHEAEROPLANEALLTHEWAY,THEYDECIDEDTOFLYTOVANCOUVERANDTHENTAKETHETRAINWESTTOEASTACROSSCANADATHETHOUGHTHATTHEYCOULDCROSSTHEWHOLECONTINENTWASEXCITINGTHEIRFRIEND,DANNYLIN,WASWAITINGATTHEAIRPORTHEWASGOINGTOTAKETHEMANDTHEIRBAGGAGETOCATCH“THETRUENORTH”,THECROSSCANADATRAINONTHEWAYTOTHESTATIION,HECHATTEDABOUTTHEIRTRIP“YOUREGOINGTOSEESOMEGREATSCENERYGOINGEASTWARD,YOULLPASSMOUNTAINSANDTHOUSANDSOFLAKESANDFORESTS,ASWELLASWIDERIVERSANDLARGECITIESSOMEPEOPLEHAVETHEIDEATHATYOUCANCROSSCANDAINLESSTHANFICEDAYS,BUTTHEYFORGETTHEFACTTHATCANADAIS5500KILOMETERSFROMCOASTTOCOASTHEREINVANCOUVER,YOUREINCANADASWARMESTPARTPEOPLESAYITISCANADASMOSTBEAUTIFULCITY,SURROUNDEDBYMOUNTAINSANDTHEPACIFICOCEANSKIINGINTHEROCKYMOUNTAINSANDSAILINGINTHEHARBOURMAKEVANCOUVERONEOFCANADASMOSTPOPULARCITIESTOLIVEINITSPOPULATIONISINCREASINGRAPIDLYTHECOASTNORTHOFVANCOUVERHASSOMEOFTHEOLDESTANDMOSTBEAUTIFULFORESTSINTHEWORLDITISSOWETTHERETHATTHETREESAREEXTREMELYTALL,SOMEMEASURINGOVER90METRES”THATAFTERNOONABOARDTHETRAIN,THECOUSINSSETTLEDDOWNINTHEIRSEATSEARLIERTHATDAY,WHENTHEYCROSSEDTHEROCKYMOUNTAINS,THEYMANAGEDTOCATCHSIGHTOFSOMEMOUNTAINGOATSANDEVENAGRIZZLYBEARANDANEAGLETHEIRNEXTSTOPWASCALGARY,WHICHISFAMOUSFORTHECALGARYSTAMPEDECOWBOYSFROMALLOVERTHEWORLDCOMETOCOMPETEINTHESTAMPEDEMANYOFTHEMHAVEAGIFTFORRIDINGWILDHORSESANDCANWINTHOUSANDSOFDOLLARSINPRIZESAFTERTWODAYSTRAVEL,THEGIRLSBEGANTOREALIZETHATCANADAISQUITEEMPTYATSCHOOL,THEYHADLEARNEDTHATMOSTCANADIANSLIVEWITHINAFEWHUNDREDKILOMETRESOFTHEUSABORDER,ANDCANADASPOPULATIONISONLYSLIGHTLYOVERTHIRTYMILLION,BUTNOWTHEYWEREAMAZEDTOSEESUCHANEMPTYCOUNTRYTHEYWENTTHROUGHAWHEATGROWINGPROVINCEANDSAWFARMSTHATCOVEREDTHOUSANDSOFACRESAFRERDINNER,THEYWEREBACKINANURBANAREA,THEBUSYPORTCITYOFTHUNDERBAYATTHETOPOFTHEGREATLAKESBECAUSEOFTHEGREATLAKES,THEYLEARNED,CANADAHASMOREFRESHWATERTHANANYOTHERCOUNTRYINTHEWORLDINFACT,ITHASONETHIRDOFTHEWORLDSTOTALFRESHWATER,ANDMUCHOFITISINTHEGREATLAKESTHATNIGHTASTHEYSLEPT,THETRAINRUSHEDACROSSTHETOPOFLAKESUPERIOR,THROUGHTHEGREATFORESTSANDSOUTHWARDTOWADSTORONTO“THETRUENORTH”FROMTORONTOTOMONTREALTHENEXTMORNINGTHEBUSHESANDMAPLETREESOUTSIDETHEIRWINDOWWERERED,GOLDANDORANGE,ANDTHEREWASFROSTONTHEGROUND,CONFIRMINGTHATFALLHADARRIVEDINCANADAAROUNDNOONTHEYARRIVEDINTORONTO,THEBIGGESTANDMOSTWEALTHYCITYINCANADATHEYWERENOTLEAVINGFORMONTREALUNTILLATER,SOTHEYWENTONATOUROFTHECITYTHEYWENTUPTHETALLCNTOWERANDLOOKEDACROSSTHELAKEINTHEDISTANCE,THEYCOULDSEETHEMISTYCLOUDTHATROSEFROMTHEGREATNIAGARAFALLS,WHICHISONTHESOUTHSIDEOFTHELAKETHEWATERFLOWSINTOTHENIAGARARIVERANDOVERTHEFALLSONITSWAYTOTHESEATHEYSAWTHECOVEREDSTADIUM,HOMEOFSEVERALFAMOUSBASKETBALLTEAMSASTHEYWALKEDNORTHFROMTHEHARBOURAREA,LIDAIYUSAID,“LINFANG,ONEOFMYMOTHERSOLDSCHOOLMATES,LIVESHEREISHOULDPHONEHERFROMATELEPHONEBOOTH”THEYMETLINFEIAROUNDDUSKINDOWNTOWNCHINATOWN,ONEOFTHETHREEINTORONTOOVERDINNERATARESTAURANTCALLEDTHEPINKPEARL,THECOUSINSCHATTEDWITHLINFEI,WHOHADMOVEDTOCANADAMANYYEARSEARLIER“WECANGETGOODCANTONESEFOODHERE,”LINFEITOLDTHEM,“BECAUSEMOSTOFTHECHINESEPEOPLEHERECOMEFROMSOUTHCHINA,ESPECIALLYHONGKONGITSTOOBADYOUCANTGOASFARASOTTAWA,CANADASCAPITALITSAPPROXIMATELYFOURHUNDREDKILOMETERSNORTHEASTOFTORONTO,SOITWOULDTAKETOOLONG”THETRAINLEFTLATETHATNIGHTANDARRIVEDINMONTREALATDAWNTHENEXTMORNINGATTHESTATION,PEOPLEEVERYWHEREWERESPEAKINGFRENCHTHEREWERESIGHSANDADSINFRENCH,BUTSOMEOFTHEMHADENGLISHWORDSINSMALLERLETTERS“WEDONTLEAVEUNTILTHISEVENING,”SAIDLIUQIAN“LETSGODOWNTOWNOLDMONTREALISCLOSETOTHEWATER”THEYSPENTTHEAFTERNOONINLOVELYSHOPSANDVISITINGARTISTSINTHEIRWORKPLACESBESIDETHEWATERASTHEYSATINABUFFETRESTAURANTLOOKINGOVERTHEBROADSTLAWRENCERIVER,AYOUNGMANSATDOWNWITHTHEM“HELLO,MYNAMEISHENRIIMASTUDENTATTHEUNIVERSITYNEARBY,”HESAID,”ANDIWASWONDERINGWHEREYOUAREFROM”THEGIRLSTOLDHIMTHEYWEREONATRPACROSSCANADAANDTHATTHEYHADONLYONDAYINMONTREAL“THATSTOOBAD,”HESAID“MONTREALISACITYWITHWONDERFULRESTAURANTSANDCLUBSMOSTOFUSSPEAKBOTHENGLISHANDFRENCH,BUTTHECITYHASFRENCHCULTUREANDTRADITIONSWELOVEGOODCOFFEE,GOODBREADANDGOODMUSIC”THATNIGHTASTHETRANSFERWASSPEEDINGALONGTHESTLAWRENCERIVERTOWARDTHEGULFOFSTLAWRENCEANDDOWNTOTHEDISTANTEASTCOAST,THECOUSINSDREAMEDOFFRENCHRESTAURANTSANDREDMAPLELEAVESIQALUITTHEFROZENTOWNTHEREPORTER,BETHALLEN,ARRIVEDINANORTHERNCOMMUNITYCALLEDIQALUITINNUNAVUTNUNAVUTWASCREATEDIN1999ASASPECIALAREAFORINUITPEOPLEITSNAMEMEANS“OURLAND”INTHEIRLANGUAGEITISINTHEFARTHESTNORTHEASTERNAREAOFCANADA,NORTHORTHEARCTICCIRCLE,ANDISVERYCOLDTHEAVERAGEWITERTEMPERATUREINNUNAVUTIS35DEGREESBELOWZEROBETHSAID,“IKNEWITWOULDBECOULDINJANUARY,BUTNOTTHISCOLDMAYBETHEREISADOGSLEDTHATCANTAKEMEINTOTOWN”THEQUIETMANWHOHADBEENONTHEPLANEWITHHERSAID,“ILLTAKEYOUINTOTOWN,BUTIDONTHACEADOGSLEDMOSTPEOPLEONLYUSETHEDOGSFORCOMPETITIONS,WHYAREYOUVISITINGIQALUIT”BETHANSWERED,“IMWRITINGASTORYFORMYNEWSPAPERABOUTIQALUITWEDLIKETOADVERTISEITASAHOLIDAYPLACE,BUTITHINKITSTOOCOLD”THEMANLAUGHED“MYNAMEISSIMONANDIAMINUIT,”HESAID“ITHINKITSTOOFARNORTHHEREFORHOLIDAYSBUTMOREANDMORETOURISTSARECOMINGTHEYLIKEICEFISHINGANDPHOTOGRAPHINGPOLARBEARSISTARASFARAWAYFROMPOLARBEARSASPOSSIBLEILIKEMYWARMOFFICEANDMYWARMHOUSE”“IMBUSINESSMANMYGRANDFATHERWOULDLIVEINICEHOUSESWHENHEHUNTEDINWINTER,BUTNOTSOMANYPEOPLEDOTHATNOWTHEOLDMENUSEDTOMAKEONEINAFEWHOURSTHEYUSEDTOLIVEINSKINTENTSINSUMMERTHETENTSWEREEASYTOMOVESOTHEPEOPLECOULDFOLLOWTHEANIMALS”AFEWMINUTESLATERTHEYARRIVEDINIQALUIT,ATOWNWITHAPOPULATIONOF6000,ONSIMONSSNOWMOBILEITWASTWOOCLOCKINTHEAFTERNOON,BUTITWASALREADYDARK,ANDALLTHEHOUSESSHONEWITHBRIGHTLIGHTSBETHSAID,“WHYISITSODARKITSTHEMIDDLEOFTHEDAY”SIMONREPLIED,“ITSDARKINTHEDAYBECAUSEWEARESOFARNORTHYOUSHOULDCOMEINJUNETHESUNSHINESALLNIGHTINTHENORTHTHENTHATSWHYITSCALLEDTHELANDOFTHEMIDNIGHTSUN”THEREWEREPEOPLEONTHESTREETSANDSNOWMOBILESEVERYWHERETHEREWEREEVENAFEWDOGTEAMS必修四UNIT1ASTUDENTOFAFRICANWILDLIFEITIS545AMANDTHESUNISJUSTRISINGOVERGOMBENATIONALPARKINEASTAFRICAFOLLOWINGJANESWAYOFSTUDYINGCHIMPS,OURGROUPAREALLGOINGTOVISITTHEMINTHEFORESTJANEHASSTUDIEDTHESEFAMILIESOFCHIMPSFORMANYYEARSANDHELPEDPEOPLEUNDERSTANDHOWMUCHTHEYBEHAVELIKEHUMANSWATCHINGAFAMILYOFCHIMPSWAKINGUPISOURFIRSTACTIVITYOFTHEDAYTHISMEANSGOINGBACKTOTHEPLACEWHEREWELEFTTHEFAMILYSLEEPINGINATREETHENIGHTBEFOREEVERYBODYSITSANDWAITSINTHESHADEOFTHETREESWHILETHEFAMILYBEGINSTOWAKEUPANDMOVEOFFTHENWEFOLLOWASTHEYWONDERINTOTHEFORESTMOSTOFTHETIME,CHIMPSEITHERFEEDORCLEANEACHOTHERASAWAYOFSHOWINGLOVEINTHEIRFAMILYJANEWORNSUSTHATOURGROUISGOINGTOBEVERYTIREDANDDIRTYACHANCETOMAKEATRIPINTOSPACEWITHMYFRIENDLIYANPING,ANASTRONOMERWEVISITEDTHEMOONINOURSPACESHIPBEFOREWELEAVE,LIYANPINGEXPLAINEDTOMETHATTHEFORECEOFTHEGRAVITYWOULDCHANGETHREETIMESONOURJOURNEYANDTHATTHEFIRSTCHANGEWOULDBETHEMOSTPOWERFULTHENWEWEREOFFASTHEROCKETROSEINTOTHEAIR,WEWEREPUSHEDBACKINTOOURSEATSBECAUSEWEWERETRYINGTOESCAPETHEPULLOFTHEEARTHSGRAVITYITWASSOHARDTHATWECOULDNOTSAYANYTHINGTOEACHOTHERGRADUALLYTHEWEIGHTLESSENEDANDIWASABLETOTALKTOHIM“WHYISTHESPACESHIPNOTFALLINGBACKTOTHEEARTHONTHEEARTHIFIFALLFROMATREEIWILLFALLTOGROUND”IASKED“WEARETOOFARFROMTHEEARTHNOWTOFEELITSPULL,“HEEXPLAINED,“SOWEFEELASIFTHEREISNOGRAVITYATALLWHENWEGETCLOSERTOTHEMOON,WESHALLFEELITSGRAVITYPULLINGUS,BUTITWILLNOTBEASSTRONGAPULLASTHEEARTHS“ICHEEREDUPIMMEDIATELYANDFLOATEDWEIGHTLESSLYAROUNDINOURSPACESHIPCABINWATCHINGTHEEARTHBECOMESMALLERANDTHEMOONLARGERWHENWEGOTTHERE,IWANTEDTOEXPLOREIMMEDIATELY“COMEON,”ISAID“IFYOUARERIGHT,MYMASSWILLBELESSTHANONTHEEARTHBECAUSETHEMOONISSMALLERANDIWILLBEABLETOMOVEMOREFREELYIMIGHTEVENGROWTALLERIFISTAYHERELONGENOUGHISHALLCERTAINLYWEIGHLESS”ILAUGHEDANDCLIMBEDDOWNTHESTEPSFROMTHESPACESHIPBUTWHENITRIEDTOSTEPFORWARD,IFOUNDIWASCARRIEDTWICEASFARASONTHEEARTHANDFELLOVER“OHDEAR,”ICRIED,“WALKINGDOESNEEDABITOFPRACTICENOWTHATGRAVITYHASCHANGED”AFTERAWHILEIGOTTHEHANGOFITANDWEBEGANTOENJOYOURSELVESLEAVINGTHEMOONSGRAVITYWASNOTASPAINFULASLEAVINGTHEEARTHSBUTRETURNINGTOTHEEARTHWASVERYFRIGHTENINGWEWATCHED,AMAZEDASFIREBROKEOUTONTHEOUTSIDEOFTHESPACESHIPASTHEEARTHSGRAVITYINCREASEDAGAINWEWEREPUSHEDBACKHARDINTOOURSEATSASWECAMEBACKTOLAND“THATWASVERYEXHAUSTINGBUTVERYEXCITINGTOO,”ISAID“NOWIKNOWMUCHMOREABOUTGRAVITYDOYOUTHINKWECOULDBISITSOMESTARSNEXTTIME”“OFCOURSE,”HESMILED,“WHICHSTARWOULDYOULIKETOGOTO”CAUGHTBYABLACKHOLETHESPACESHIPWARNEDLIYANPINGANDMETOBEREADYASWEWEREAPPROACHINGTHE“BLACKHOLE”WECOULDSEESOMEFAINTLIGHTSAROUNDWHATLOOKEDLIKEANEMPTYSPACELIYANPINGSAID,“THATEMPTYHOLEISLIKEAMOUTHALWAYSNEEDINGTOBEFEDTHOSELIGHTSARETHINSTHATAREBEINGPULLEDINTOTIMEBYTHEGRAVITYOFTHEHOLE”WEWATCHEDWITHINTERESTANDAMAZEMENTATTHELIGHTSWHICHSEEMEDTOBEGOINGFAINTERANDFAINTERROUNDTHEEDGEOFTHEBLACKHOLEJUSTTHENTHELIGHTSONOURSPACESHIPWENTOURTHEANDTHECOMPUTERSTOPPEDWORKINGWHATWASHAPPENINGITRIEDTOTURNTHESPACESHIPAWAYFROMTHEHOLEBUTITWOULDNOTMOVEWOULDITEATUSTOOSUDDENLYTHESPACESHIPJUMPEDANDBEGANTOMOVEROUNDTHEEDGEOFTRHEHOLETOOTHEGRAVITYOFTHE“BLACKHOLE”WASPULLINGUSINTOITS“MOUTH”ASTHESPACESHIPMOVEDROUNDTHEBLACKHOLE,IFELTRATHERSICKMYMOUTHWENTDRYANDICLOSEDMYEYESALLTHESTORIESABOUTWHATHAPPENEDWHENYOUWERECAUGHTBYTHEGRAVITYOFA“BLACKHOLE”SEEMTOBETRUEBUTTHENTHESPACESHIPJUMPEDAGAINTHISTIMEITMOVEDSIDEWAYSANDAWAYFROMTHISEDGEOFTHE“BLACKHOLE”SOMEONEWATCHINGMEWOULDHAVESEENTHESPACESHIPFLYINGLIKEABIRDAWAYFROMTHE“BLACKHOLE”BUTWEFELTNOTHINGATLASTWEWEREABLETOLOOKAROUNDUSLUCKILYTHECOMPUTERHADSTARTEDWORKINGAGAINWEREALIZEDTHATWEHADDISCOVEREDSOMETHINGNEWABOUT“BLACKHOLE”IFYOUGOINSIDETHEEDGEOFA“BLACKHOLE”,ITWILL“EAT”YOUANDTHEREISNOESCAPEBUTIFYOUDONOT,YOUMAYHAVEANOPPORTUNITYTOESCAPEHOWEXCITINGUNIT5ATRIPON“THETRUENORTH”LIDAIYUANDHERCOUSINLIUQIANWEREONATRIPTOCANADATOBISITTHEIRCOUSINSINMONTREALONTHEATLANTICCOASTRATHERTHANTAKETHEAEROPLANEALLTHEWAY,THEYDECIDEDTOFLYTOVANCOUVERANDTHENTAKETHETRAINWESTTOEASTACROSSCANADATHETHOUGHTHATTHEYCOULDCROSSTHEWHOLECONTINENTWASEXCITINGTHEIRFRIEND,DANNYLIN,WASWAITINGATTHEAIRPORTHEWASGOINGTOTAKETHEMANDTHEIRBAGGAGETOCATCH“THETRUENORTH”,THECROSSCANADATRAINONTHEWAYTOTHESTATIION,HECHATTEDABOUTTHEIRTRIP“YOUREGOINGTOSEESOMEGREATSCENERYGOINGEASTWARD,YOULLPASSMOUNTAINSANDTHOUSANDSOFLAKESANDFORESTS,ASWELLASWIDERIVERSANDLARGECITIESSOMEPEOPLEHAVETHEIDEATHATYOUCANCROSSCANDAINLESSTHANFICEDAYS,BUTTHEYFORGETTHEFACTTHATCANADAIS5500KILOMETERSFROMCOASTTOCOASTHEREINVANCOUVER,YOUREINCANADASWARMESTPARTPEOPLESAYITISCANADASMOSTBEAUTIFULCITY,SURROUNDEDBYMOUNTAINSANDTHEPACIFICOCEANSKIINGINTHEROCKYMOUNTAINSANDSAILINGINTHEHARBOURMAKEVANCOUVERONEOFCANADASMOSTPOPULARCITIESTOLIVEINITSPOPULATIONISINCREASINGRAPIDLYTHECOASTNORTHOFVANCOUVERHASSOMEOFTHEOLDESTANDMOSTBEAUTIFULFORESTSINTHEWORLDITISSOWETTHERETHATTHETREESAREEXTREMELYTALL,SOMEMEASURINGOVER90METRES”THATAFTERNOONABOARDTHETRAIN,THECOUSINSSETTLEDDOWNINTHEIRSEATSEARLIERTHATDAY,WHENTHEYCROSSEDTHEROCKYMOUNTAINS,THEYMANAGEDTOCATCHSIGHTOFSOMEMOUNTAINGOATSANDEVENAGRIZZLYBEARANDANEAGLETHEIRNEXTSTOPWASCALGARY,WHICHISFAMOUSFORTHECALGARYSTAMPEDECOWBOYSFROMALLOVERTHEWORLDCOMETOCOMPETEINTHESTAMPEDEMANYOFTHEMHAVEAGIFTFORRIDINGWILDHORSESANDCANWINTHOUSANDSOFDOLLARSINPRIZESAFTERTWODAYSTRAVEL,THEGIRLSBEGANTOREALIZETHATCANADAISQUITEEMPTYATSCHOOL,THEYHADLEARNEDTHATMOSTCANADIANSLIVEWITHINAFEWHUNDREDKILOMETRESOFTHEUSABORDER,ANDCANADASPOPULATIONISONLYSLIGHTLYOVERTHIRTYMILLION,BUTNOWTHEYWEREAMAZEDTOSEESUCHANEMPTYCOUNTRYTHEYWENTTHROUGHAWHEATGROWINGPROVINCEANDSAWFARMSTHATCOVEREDTHOUSANDSOFACRESAFRERDINNER,THEYWEREBACKINANURBANAREA,THEBUSYPORTCITYOFTHUNDERBAYATTHETOPOFTHEGREATLAKESBECAUSEOFTHEGREATLAKES,THEYLEARNED,CANADAHASMOREFRESHWATERTHANANYOTHERCOUNTRYINTHEWORLDINFACT,ITHASONETHIRDOFTHEWORLDSTOTALFRESHWATER,ANDMUCHOFITISINTHEGREATLAKESTHATNIGHTASTHEYSLEPT,THETRAINRUSHEDACROSSTHETOPOFLAKESUPERIOR,THROUGHTHEGREATFORESTSANDSOUTHWARDTOWADSTORONTO“THETRUENORTH”FROMTORONTOTOMONTREALTHENEXTMORNINGTHEBUSHESANDMAPLETREESOUTSIDETHEIRWINDOWWERERED,GOLDANDORANGE,ANDTHEREWASFROSTONTHEGROUND,CONFIRMINGTHATFALLHADARRIVEDINCANADAAROUNDNOONTHEYARRIVEDINTORONTO,THEBIGGESTANDMOSTWEALTHYCITYINCANADATHEYWERENOTLEAVINGFORMONTREALUNTILLATER,SOTHEYWENTONATOUROFTHECITYTHEYWENTUPTHETALLCNTOWERANDLOOKEDACROSSTHELAKEINTHEDISTANCE,THEYCOULDSEETHEMISTYCLOUDTHATROSEFROMTHEGREATNIAGARAFALLS,WHICHISONTHESOUTHSIDEOFTHELAKETHEWATERFLOWSINTOTHENIAGARARIVERANDOVERTHEFALLSONITSWAYTOTHESEATHEYSAWTHECOVEREDSTADIUM,HOMEOFSEVERALFAMOUSBASKETBALLTEAMSASTHEYWALKEDNORTHFROMTHEHARBOURAREA,LIDAIYUSAID,“LINFANG,ONEOFMYMOTHERSOLDSCHOOLMATES,LIVESHEREISHOULDPHONEHERFROMATELEPHONEBOOTH”THEYMETLINFEIAROUNDDUSKINDOWNTOWNCHINATOWN,ONEOFTHETHREEINTORONTOOVERDINNERATARESTAURANTCALLEDTHEPINKPEARL,THECOUSINSCHATTEDWITHLINFEI,WHOHADMOVEDTOCANADAMANYYEARSEARLIER“WECANGETGOODCANTONESEFOODHERE,”LINFEITOLDTHEM,“BECAUSEMOSTOFTHECHINESEPEOPLEHERECOMEFROMSOUTHCHINA,ESPECIALLYHONGKONGITSTOOBADYOUCANTGOASFARASOTTAWA,CANADASCAPITALITSAPPROXIMATELYFOURHUNDREDKILOMETERSNORTHEASTOFTORONTO,SOITWOULDTAKETOOLONG”THETRAINLEFTLATETHATNIGHTANDARRIVEDINMONTREALATDAWNTHENEXTMORNINGATTHESTATION,PEOPLEEVERYWHEREWERESPEAKINGFRENCHTHEREWERESIGHSANDADSINFRENCH,BUTSOMEOFTHEMHADENGLISHWORDSINSMALLERLETTERS“WEDONTLEAVEUNTILTHISEVENING,”SAIDLIUQIAN“LETSGODOWNTOWNOLDMONTREALISCLOSETOTHEWATER”THEYSPENTTHEAFTERNOONINLOVELYSHOPSANDVISITINGARTISTSINTHEIRWORKPLACESBESIDETHEWATERASTHEYSATINABUFFETRESTAURANTLOOKINGOVERTHEBROADSTLAWRENCERIVER,AYOUNGMANSATDOWNWITHTHEM“HELLO,MYNAMEISHENRIIMASTUDENTATTHEUNIVERSITYNEARBY,”HESAID,”ANDIWASWONDERINGWHEREYOUAREFROM”THEGIRLSTOLDHIMTHEYWEREONATRPACROSSCANADAANDTHATTHEYHADONLYONDAYINMONTREAL“THATSTOOBAD,”HESAID“MONTREALISACITYWITHWONDERFULRESTAURANTSANDCLUBSMOSTOFUSSPEAKBOTHENGLISHANDFRENCH,BUTTHECITYHASFRENCHCULTUREANDTRADITIONSWELOVEGOODCOFFEE,GOODBREADANDGOODMUSIC”THATNIGHTASTHETRANSFERWASSPEEDINGALONGTHESTLAWRENCERIVERTOWARDTHEGULFOFSTLAWRENCEANDDOWNTOTHEDISTANTEASTCOAST,THECOUSINSDREAMEDOFFRENCHRESTAURANTSANDREDMAPLELEAVESIQALUITTHEFROZENTOWNTHEREPORTER,BETHALLEN,ARRIVEDINANORTHERNCOMMUNITYCALLEDIQALUITINNUNAVUTNUNAVUTWASCREATEDIN1999ASASPECIALAREAFORINUITPEOPLEITSNAMEMEANS“OURLAND”INTHEIRLANGUAGEITISINTHEFARTHESTNORTHEASTERNAREAOFCANADA,NORTHORTHEARCTICCIRCLE,ANDISVERYCOLDTHEAVERAGEWITERTEMPERATUREINNUNAVUTIS35DEGREESBELOWZEROBETHSAID,“IKNEWITWOULDBECOULDINJANUARY,BUTNOTTHISCOLDMAYBETHEREISADOGSLEDTHATCANTAKEMEINTOTOWN”THEQUIETMANWHOHADBEENONTHEPLANEWITHHERSAID,“ILLTAKEYOUINTOTOWN,BUTIDONTHACEADOGSLEDMOSTPEOPLEONLYUSETHEDOGSFORCOMPETITIONS,WHYAREYOUVISITINGIQALUIT”BETHANSWERED,“IMWRITINGASTORYFORMYNEWSPAPERABOUTIQALUITWEDLIKETOADVERTISEITASAHOLIDAYPLACE,BUTITHINKITSTOOCOLD”THEMANLAUGHED“MYNAMEISSIMONANDIAMINUIT,”HESAID“ITHINKITSTOOFARNORTHHEREFORHOLIDAYSBUTMOREANDMORETOURISTSARECOMINGTHEYLIKEICEFISHINGANDPHOTOGRAPHINGPOLARBEARSISTARASFARAWAYFROMPOLARBEARSASPOSSIBLEILIKEMYWARMOFFICEANDMYWARMHOUSE”“IMBUSINESSMANMYGRANDFATHERWOULDLIVEINICEHOUSESWHENHEHUNTEDINWINTER,BUTNOTSOMANYPEOPLEDOTHATNOWTHEOLDMENUSEDTOMAKEONEINAFEWHOURSTHEYUSEDTOLIVEINSKINTENTSINSUMMERTHETENTSWEREEASYTOMOVESOTHEPEOPLECOULDFOLLOWTHEANIMALS”AFEWMINUTESLATERTHEYARRIVEDINIQALUIT,ATOWNWITHAPOPULATIONOF6000,ONSIMONSSNOWMOBILEITWASTWOOCLOCKINTHEAFTERNOON,BUTITWASALREADYDARK,ANDALLTHEHOUSESSHONEWITHBRIGHTLIGHTSBETHSAID,“WHYISITSODARKITSTHEMIDDLEOFTHEDAY”SIMONREPLIED,“ITSDARKINTHEDAYBECAUSEWEARESOFARNORTHYOUSHOULDCOMEINJUNETHESUNSHINESALLNIGHTINTHENORTHTHENTHATSWHYITSCALLEDTHELANDOFTHEMIDNI