經典科幻文學:《 基本上無害 Mostly Harmless》 第12章16

‘All that rushing around. I expect it must be, yes.’

“到處趕場，我猜肯定很累，對。”

‘We have access to virtually every kind of information. I found your name on the passenger list of the ship that crashed.’

“我們幾乎有權訪問任何資源。我在那艘墜毀的飛船上找到了你的名字。”

Arthur was astonished.

阿瑟驚呆了。

‘You mean they knew about the crash?’

“你是說他們知道船墜毀了？”

‘Well, of course they knew. You don’t have a whole spaceliner disappear without someone knowing about it.’

“他們當然知道，我說。整整一架航班不見了，總會有人發現的。”

‘But you mean, they knew where it had happened? They knew I’d survived?’

“可你是說他們知道飛船掉在什麼地方了？知道我還活着？”

‘Yes.’

“沒錯。”

‘But nobody’s ever been to look or search or rescue. There’s been absolutely nothing.’

“可我沒看見有人來搜索救援之類的。什麼動靜也沒有。”

‘Well there wouldn’t be. It’s a whole complicated insurance thing. They just bury the whole thing. Pretend it never happened. The insurance business is completely screwy now. You know they’ve reintroduced the death penalty for insurance company directors?’

“不會有的，這裏頭涉及非常複雜的保險問題。他們乾脆把整件事給埋了，假裝它根本沒有發生。保險業現在是徹底瘋了。你知道嗎，他們重新開始用死刑對付保險公司老總了。”

‘Really?’ said Arthur. ‘No I didn’t. For what offence?’

“真的？”阿瑟問，“不，我沒聽說，什麼罪名？”

Trillian frowned.

崔莉恩皺起眉頭。

‘What do you mean, offence?’

“你什麼意思。罪名？”

‘I see.’

“明白了。”

Trillian gave Arthur a long look, and then, in a new tone of voice, said, ‘It’s time for you to take responsibility, Arthur.’

崔莉恩看了阿瑟好一會兒，然後拿出一種全新的腔調說：“你也該負起責任來了，阿瑟。”

Arthur tried to understand this remark. He found it often took a moment or so before he saw exactly what it was that people were driving at, so he let a moment or two pass at a leisurely rate. Life was so pleasant and relaxed these days, there was time to let things sink in. He let it sink in.

阿瑟試着理解這句話。他經常發現自己得過一會兒才能弄清別人想說什麼，於是他讓時間從從容容地流走一些。如今的生活是這麼舒服這麼放鬆，有的是時間等事情水落石出。他等了一陣。

He still didn’t quite understand what she meant, though, so in the end he had to say so.

不過他還是不大明白她是什麼意思，最後只好照實說。

Trillian gave him a cool smile and then turned back to the door of the hut.

崔莉恩給了他一個酷酷的笑容，然後轉身面對茅屋的小門。

‘Random?’ she called. ‘Come in. Come and meet your father.’

“蘭登？”她大聲喊，“進來，進來見見你父親！”