Section B: Narrative Text

1

In early 2021, according to Seth, a sudden and remarkable transformation occurred in his grandfather’s behavior. Despite being a renowned scientist who always fulfilled his professional responsibilities, he abruptly withdrew from his scientific pursuits, colleagues, and friends, choosing to isolate himself in a remote research facility. In the opinion of his close associate, Sarah, this shift was akin to a major malfunction in his cognitive faculties, possibly due to external factors.

2

The last interaction they had with the previous version of Seth’s grandfather was during a routine lunch. However, when Sarah knocked on his laboratory door at five in the evening to remind him of an upcoming scientific conference, she found him gazing out of the window into the vast wilderness. He was dressed in a lab coat, but his demeanor was far from conventional. “Tell Robert that I won’t be attending the conference, and he should not rely on me for any future scientific endeavors,” he declared with unwavering conviction. Sarah left the room quietly, tasked with conveying the message to her colleague, Robert.

3

The conference was organized to raise research funds for the institute they had established, the Progress Catalyst Foundation, and was considered the highlight of their scientific calendar. Event organizers were still preparing the venue, scientists were engrossed in their experiments, and technicians were fine-tuning the lab equipment. Each year, Seth’s grandfather would deliver a keynote address. Following the event, he would engage in discussions with key patrons, participate in photo sessions with esteemed supporters, and provide interviews to the media. These were his only responsibilities, as the rest of the organizational tasks were overseen by Robert, his protege. However, that year, they had to manage without his presence.

4

The radical shift in behavior became apparent in the days that followed. Seth’s grandfather began packing his research materials and determined that most of his scientific work held little value in his new phase of life. He aimed to simplify his existence. First, he embarked on a shopping spree, followed by consultations with his financial advisor and lawyer. He allocated himself a modest pension, entrusted the remainder of his research funding to Robert without specific instructions on its usage, and made a surprising announcement—he intended to relocate to an isolated research station. The very mention of this place bewildered those in the scientific community, as no one had ever heard of it.

“It’s a research outpost,” Seth’s grandfather vaguely explained.

“A remote laboratory?” inquired Robert, visibly astonished.

“More or less. I want to spend my remaining years in solitude, free from complex scientific pursuits.”

“Complexities? I hope you’re not referring to us!”

“And how will we explain this to others?” Sarah exclaimed.

“That I’m old and eccentric. That wouldn’t be too far from the truth,” Seth’s grandfather replied.

5

With his cat and two suitcases, Seth’s grandfather was chauffeured to the secluded research station. A week later, he renewed his long-expired research license and purchased a bright orange research vehicle. It was so compact that on one occasion, when parked near the research station, a few curious researchers tipped it over, leaving it overturned like an overturned laboratory equipment. His choice of color was deliberate—it ensured visibility, while the small size minimized the risk of harm in case of an unfortunate accident.

“I believe my grandfather is grappling with significant scientific challenges,” Seth explained to his colleagues. In his view, his grandfather’s retreat to the research station was motivated by a sense of professional pride, an attempt to shield his research struggles from public scrutiny.