经典科幻文学:《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.

“什么？”阿瑟问。
“你能看见，”福特耐心地问，“那个SEP？”
“我想你刚才说过，那是别人的问题。”
“对。”
阿瑟慢慢地点点头，带着一种相当愚蠢的神情。
“所以我想知道它是什么，”福特说，“如果你能看见的话。”
“是吗？”
“是的。”
“那它，”阿瑟说，“看起来什么样？”
“啊……我怎么知道？你这笨蛋？”福特叫道，“如果你能看见，你就告诉我。”
阿瑟时常像现在这样，在与福特对话的时候，感到太阳穴下面隐隐地跳动。他的大脑就像受惊的小狗一样，躲在狗窝里不愿再出来了。福饿抓住他的手臂，说：
“SEP，”他说，“是一些我们看不见、没看见或者我们的大脑不让我们看见的东西。因为我们认为那是别人的问题。这就是SEP的意思，别人的问题。大脑把它跳过了，就像一种盲点。如果你直接去看它是看不见的，除非你已经知道它到底是什么。唯一能看见它的机会，就是用你眼角的余光、出其不意地抓住它。”
“啊，”阿瑟说，“这就是为什么……”
“是的。”福特已经知道阿瑟要说什么。
“……你不停地跳上……”
“是的。”
“……跳下，眨眼睛……”
“是的。”
“……还有……”
“我想你明白了。”
“我能看见。”阿瑟说，“那是个飞船。”
一时间，阿瑟被这一大发现所带来的反响惊得目瞪口呆。人群中发出咆哮，人们往各个方向奔跑、呼号、叫喊、互相绊倒，现场陷入一片混乱。阿瑟跌跌撞撞地往回走，惊恐地看着四周，然后更加惊恐地看着四周。
“令人兴奋，不是吗？”一个鬼影说。这个鬼影在阿瑟眼前摇摇晃晃，其实是阿瑟的眼睛在鬼影跟前摇摇晃晃。他的嘴也在摇摇晃晃。
“什……什……什……什……”他口中说着。
“我想你的队刚才赢了。”鬼影说。
“什……什……什……什……”阿瑟一直重复着，一边打着这些标点，一边不停地戳着福特的后背。福特正心神不宁地看着这场骚乱。
“你是英格兰人，不是吗？”鬼影说。
“什……什……什……什……对啊。”阿瑟说。