經典科幻文學:《 再見 多謝你們的魚》第5章1

The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is a powerful organ. Indeed, its influence is so prodigious that strict rules have had to be drawn up by its editorial staff to prevent its misuse. So none of its field researchers are allowed to accept any kind of services, discounts or preferential treatment of any kind in return for editorial favours unless:
a) they have made a bona fide attempt to pay for a service in the normal way;
b) their lives would be otherwise in danger;
c) they really want to.
Since invoking the third rule always involved giving the editor a cut, Ford always preferred to much about with the first two.
He stepped out along the street, walking briskly.
The air was stifling, but he liked it because it was stifling city air, full of excitingly unpleasant smells, dangerous music and the sound of warring police tribes.
He carried his satchel with an easy swaying motion so that he could get a good swing at anybody who tried to take it from him without asking. It contained everything he owned, which at the moment wasn’t much.
A limousine careered down the street, dodging between the piles of burning garbage, and frightening an old pack animal which lurched, screeching, out of its way, stumbled against the window of a herbal remedies shop, set off a wailing alarm, blundered off down the street, and then pretended to fall down the steps of a small pasta restaurant where it knew it would get photographed and fed.
Ford was walking north. He thought he was probably on his way to the spaceport, but he had thought that before. He knew he was going through that part of the city where people’s plans often changed quite abruptly.
Do you want to have a good time? said a voice from a doorway.
As far as I can tell, said Ford, I’m having one. Thanks.
Are you rich? said another.
This made Ford laugh.
He turned and opened his arms in a wide I look rich? he said.
Don’t know, said the girl. Maybe, maybe not. Maybe you’ll get rich. I have a very special service for rich people…
Oh yes? said Ford, intrigued but careful. And what’s that?
I tell them it’s OK to be rich.
Gunfire erupted from a window high above them, but it was only a bass player getting shot for playing the wrong riff three times in a row, and bass players are two a penny in Han Dold City.
Ford stopped and peered into the dark doorway.
You what? he said.

《銀河系漫遊指南》是本強悍的出版物。 事實上，由於它的影響力如此巨大，編輯們不得不制定一些嚴格的紀律以防止此書被濫用。因此任何職業調查員都不得爲他人提供方便以換取任何形式的服務、折扣或優惠政策，但以下情況除外：
a)他們誠心誠意地想用正常方式付賬但不被接受；
b)他們若不這麼做，將小命不保；
c)他們實在想這麼做。
由於直接引用第三條規定總是能讓編輯也受益，所以福特總是特別喜歡援引前兩條。
他精神抖擻地走上了大街。
空氣是沉悶的，但福特很喜歡，因爲這是一個沉悶城市的空氣，充滿了令人興奮的異味、危險的音樂以及警察派系火併的聲音。
他一邊走一邊用順手的方式甩着揹包，這樣他就可以把包甩向任何試圖搶包的人。包裏裝着他的全部家當，雖然此刻裏面其實並沒什麼東西。
一輛豪華轎車在燃燒的垃圾和受驚的牲畜間奪路而行。那些牲畜跌撞着，尖叫着，偏離道路，倚在草藥店的窗戶上，觸發了淒厲的警報，最後在一家小意大利餐館前假裝跌倒，它們知道自己在那兒可以被拍照留念，還有飼料可吃。
福特在往北走。他認爲自己是在往太空港走，但他剛纔也是這麼認爲的。他明白自己正穿越的城區裏的居民經常喜歡改主意。
“你想找點樂子嗎？”從一個門口裏傳出聲音。
“只要我還能消受，”福特說，“但我現在已經有樂子了，謝謝。”
“你有錢麼？”另一個聲音說。
這把福特逗笑了。
他轉過去，將雙臂張開。“我像是有錢的主兒嗎？”他說。
“我哪兒知道，”那個女孩說。“也許是，也許不是。也許你以後會有錢的。我對於有錢人有項非常特別的服務。”
“哦？是嗎？”福特好奇而又小心地問着。“那是什麼？”
“我告訴他們有錢是件好事。”
槍聲從他們上方高高的窗戶中傳出，但只是一個貝司手因爲連續彈錯了三次反覆段而被斃掉，貝司手在漢杜德城就值一塊兩毛五。
福特停下來，凝視着黑暗的門洞。
“你什麼？”他說。