經典科幻文學:《宇宙盡頭的餐館》第3章8

On Zaphod’s brow stood beads of sweat, first of concentration, then of frustration and finally of embarrassment.
At last he let out a cry of anger, snatched back his hands from Trillian and Ford and stabbed at the light switch.
“Ah, I was beginning to think you’d never turn the lights on,” said a voice. “No, not too bright please, my eyes aren’t what they once were.”
Four figures jolted upright in their seats. Slowly they turned their heads to look, though their scalps showed a distinct propensity to try and stay in the same place.
“Now. Who disturbs me at this time?” said the small, bent, gaunt figure standing by the sprays of fern at the far end of the bridge. His two small wispy-haired heads looked so ancient that it seemed they might hold dim memories of the birth of the galaxies themselves. One lolled in sleep, but the other squinted sharply at them. If his eyes weren’t what they once were, they must once have been diamond cutters.
Zaphod stuttered nervously for a moment. He gave the intricate little double nod which is the traditional Betelgeusian gesture of familial respect.
“Oh… er, hi Great Granddad…” he breathed.

贊福德的眉頭出現了汗珠，剛開始時是由於努力集中意念，接下來是由於奇*書*電&子^書受到了挫敗，後來則是由於窘迫。
最後，他憤怒地大叫一聲，從崔莉恩和福特手中抽回自己的手，戳在燈的開關上。
“噢，我都快以爲你永遠不會再開燈了呢。”一個聲音說道，“不，請別調得太亮，我的眼睛畢竟和從前不太一樣了。”
四個人在座位裏一震。慢慢地，他們開始環顧四周，但他們的腦袋卻明顯試圖保持原位不動。
“說說吧，是誰在這個時候來打擾我？”一個瘦小、佝僂、憔悴的人站在艦橋遠端的蕨類植物旁邊。他的頭髮像掃帚一樣束着，兩個小腦袋看上去是如此蒼老，裏面似乎保存着銀河系本身誕生時的模糊記憶。其中一顆低垂着，正在打盹兒，另一顆則用銳利的眼神斜睨着他們。如果真像他說的那樣，他的眼睛已經大不如前了，那麼當年，這雙眼睛肯定是鑽石切割儀。
贊福德緊張地結巴了好一會兒。他以一種複雜的方式小幅度地點了兩下頭，這是參宿四人表達家族內部敬意的傳統姿勢。
“哦……嗯，嗨，曾祖父……”他深吸了一口氣，說。