經典科幻文學:《生命 宇宙及一切》第2章4
Disturb you. But you may be interested to know that I am singlehandedly responsible for the evolved shape of the animal you came to know in later centuries as a giraffe. And I tried to learn to fly. Do you believe me?
Tell me, said Arthur.
I’ll tell you later. I’ll just mention that the Guide says…
The?…
Guide. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. You remember?
Yes. I remember throwing it in the river.
Yes, said Ford, but I fished it out.
You didn’t tell me.
I didn’t want you to throw it in again.
Fair enough, admitted Arthur. It says?
What?
The Guide says?
The Guide says there is an art to flying, said Ford, or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. He smiled weakly. He pointed at the knees of his trousers and held his arms up to show the elbows. They were all torn and worn through. I haven’t done very well so far, he said. He stuck out his hand. I’m very glad to see you again, Arthur, he added.
Arthur shook his head in a sudden access of emotion and bewilderment.
I haven’t seen anyone for years, he said, not anyone. I can hardly even remember how to speak. I keep forgetting words. I practise you see. I practise by talking to… talking to… what are those things people think you’re mad if you talk to? Like George the Third.
Kings? suggested Ford.
No, no, said Arthur. The things he used to talk to. We’re surrounded by them for heaven’s sake. I’ve planted hundreds myself. They all died. Trees! I practise by talking to trees. What’s that for?
Ford still had his hand stuck out. Arthur looked at it with incomprehension.
Shake, prompted Ford.
Arthur did, nervously at first, as if it might turn out to be a fish. Then he grasped it vigorously with both hands in an overwhelming flood of relief. He shook it and shook it.
After a while Ford found it necessary to disengage. They climbed to the top of a nearby outcrop of rock and surveyed the scene around them.
What happened to the Golgafrinchans? asked Ford.
Arthur shrugged.
“困擾你。不過，你也許對這事更感興趣：關於你在N個世紀以後會認爲是長頸鹿的那種動物，我以一己之力影響了它們的進化趨勢。還有，我在學習飛行。你相信嗎？”
“說吧。”阿瑟說。
“我就告訴你。我正要提呢，《指南》上說……”
“啊？”
“《指南》。《銀河系漫遊指南》。記得嗎？”
“嗯，我記得把它扔進河裏了。”
“對，”福特說，“我又把它撈起來了。”
“你沒告訴我。”
“我不想讓你再扔一次了。”
“好吧。”阿瑟認了，“它說……？”
“什麼？”
“《指南》上說？”
“《指南》上說，飛行是有方法的，或者說有訣竅的。訣竅就在於，你得學會把自己朝地上拋去，然後不碰到地上。”他訕訕地笑了，指指自己的膝蓋，又舉起手臂給阿瑟看他的肘部。這些部位的衣服都磨得破破爛爛了。
“我到現在還做得不太好。”他說着，伸出手來，“真的很高興再見到你，阿瑟。”他說。
阿瑟搖搖頭，一種強烈的、非常複雜的感覺向他襲來。“我已經很多年沒見過一個人了。”他說，“一個都沒。我幾乎不記得怎麼說話。我不斷地忘掉單詞。你知道，我有在練習。我練習對着……對着……人們一般把瘋子對着說話的那些東西叫什麼？比如‘喬治三世’？”
“國王？”福特猜道。
“不對，不對。”阿瑟說，“就是那種用來對着說話的。看在老天的份上，我們身邊可到處都是。我自己就造了上百個。他們都死了。還有樹！我還練習對着樹說話。那是幹什麼？”
福特依然伸着手。阿瑟不解地看着這隻手。
“握手。”福特提醒他。
阿瑟握了。一開始還有點緊張，彷彿它會變成一條魚。然後，阿瑟感到潮水般涌來的釋然，他用雙手緊緊抓住福特的手，搖了又搖。
過了一會，福特覺得該告一段落了。於是他們爬到附近一塊突出的岩石頂上，縱覽四方景色。
“那些高爾加非洲人①怎麼樣了？”福特問。
阿瑟聳聳肩。
