經典科幻文學:《生命 宇宙及一切》第4章(6)

What? said Arthur.
Can you see, said Ford patiently, the SEP?
I thought you said that was somebody else’s problem.
That’s right.
Arthur nodded slowly, carefully and with an air of immense stupidity.
And I want to know, said Ford, if you can see it.
You do?
Yes.
What, said Arthur, does it look like?
Well, how should I know, you fool? shouted Ford. If you can see it, you tell me.
Arthur experienced that dull throbbing sensation just behind the temples which was a hallmark of so many of his conversations with Ford. His brain lurked like a frightened puppy in its kennel. Ford took him by the arm.
An SEP, he said, is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a blind spot. If you look at it directly you won’t see it unless you know precisely what it is. Your only hope is to catch it by surprise out of the corner of your eye.
Ah, said Arthur, then that’s why…
Yes, said Ford, who knew what Arthur was going to say.
–…you’ve been jumping up and…
Yes.
–…down, and blinking…
Yes.
–…and…
I think you’ve got the message.
I can see it, said Arthur, it’s a spaceship.
For a moment Arthur was stunned by the reaction this revelation provoked. A roar erupted from the crowd, and from every direction people were running, shouting, yelling, tumbling over each other in a tumult of confusion. He stumbled back in astonishment and glanced fearfully around. Then he glanced around again in even greater astonishment.
Exciting, isn’t it? said an apparition. The apparition wobbled in front of Arthur’s eyes, though the truth of the matter is probably that Arthur’s eyes were wobbling in front of the apparition. His mouth wobbled as well.
W… w… w… w… his mouth said.
I think your team have just won, said the apparition.
W… w… w… w… repeated Arthur, and punctuated each wobble with a prod at Ford Prefect’s back. Ford was staring at the tumult in trepidation.
You are English, aren’t you? said the apparition.
W… w… w… w… yes said Arthur.

“什麼？”阿瑟問。
“你能看見，”福特耐心地問，“那個SEP？”
“我想你剛纔說過，那是別人的問題。”
“對。”
阿瑟慢慢地點點頭，帶着一種相當愚蠢的神情。
“所以我想知道它是什麼，”福特說，“如果你能看見的話。”
“是嗎？”
“是的。”
“那它，”阿瑟說，“看起來什麼樣？”
“啊……我怎麼知道？你這笨蛋？”福特叫道，“如果你能看見，你就告訴我。”
阿瑟時常像現在這樣，在與福特對話的時候，感到太陽穴下面隱隱地跳動。他的大腦就像受驚的小狗一樣，躲在狗窩裏不願再出來了。福餓抓住他的手臂，說：
“SEP，”他說，“是一些我們看不見、沒看見或者我們的大腦不讓我們看見的東西。因爲我們認爲那是別人的問題。這就是SEP的意思，別人的問題。大腦把它跳過了，就像一種盲點。如果你直接去看它是看不見的，除非你已經知道它到底是什麼。唯一能看見它的機會，就是用你眼角的餘光、出其不意地抓住它。”
“啊，”阿瑟說，“這就是爲什麼……”
“是的。”福特已經知道阿瑟要說什麼。
“……你不停地跳上……”
“是的。”
“……跳下，眨眼睛……”
“是的。”
“……還有……”
“我想你明白了。”
“我能看見。”阿瑟說，“那是個飛船。”
一時間，阿瑟被這一大發現所帶來的反響驚得目瞪口呆。人羣中發出咆哮，人們往各個方向奔跑、呼號、叫喊、互相絆倒，現場陷入一片混亂。阿瑟跌跌撞撞地往回走，驚恐地看着四周，然後更加驚恐地看着四周。
“令人興奮，不是嗎？”一個鬼影說。這個鬼影在阿瑟眼前搖搖晃晃，其實是阿瑟的眼睛在鬼影跟前搖搖晃晃。他的嘴也在搖搖晃晃。
“什……什……什……什……”他口中說着。
“我想你的隊剛纔贏了。”鬼影說。
“什……什……什……什……”阿瑟一直重複着，一邊打着這些標點，一邊不停地戳着福特的後背。福特正心神不寧地看着這場騷亂。
“你是英格蘭人，不是嗎？”鬼影說。
“什……什……什……什……對啊。”阿瑟說。