经典科幻文学:《宇宙尽头的餐馆》第14章4

“Perhaps,” interrupted the green blur who had by this time resolved into the shape of a small wizened dark-suited green waiter, “perhaps you would care to discuss the matter over drinks…”
“Drinks!” cried Zaphod, “that was it! See what you miss if you don’t stay alert.”
“Indeed sir,” said the waiter patiently. “If the lady and gentlemen would care to order drinks before dinner…”
“Dinner!” Zaphod exclaimed with passion, “Listen, little green person, my stomach could take you home and cuddle you all night for the mere idea.”
“… and the Universe,” concluded the waiter, determined not to be deflected on his home stretch, “will explode later for your pleasure.”
Ford’s head swivelled towards him. He spoke with feeling.
“Wow,” he said, “What sort of drinks do you serve in this place?”
The waiter laughed a polite little waiter’s laugh.
“Ah,” he said, “I think sir has perhaps misunderstood me.”
“Oh, I hope not,” breathed Ford.
The waiter coughed a polite little waiter’s cough.
“It is not unusual for our customers to be a little disoriented by the time journey,” he said, “so if I might suggest…”
“Time journey?” said Zaphod.
“Time journey?” said Ford.
“Time journey?” said Trillian.
“You mean this isn’t the afterlife?” said Arthur.

“也许，”那个绿色斑点现在已经变成了一个穿着黑色制服的瘦小的绿色侍者，他打断他们说，“也许诸位可以点过饮料之后，再接着讨论这个问题”
“饮料！”赞福德叫了起来，“就是这个！看见了吗，如果不保持警觉的话，你们就会漏掉这么重要的话。”
“完全正确，先生。”侍者耐着性子说，“如果这位女士和先生们想在晚餐之前喝点儿什么的话”
“晚餐！”赞福德充满激情地叫道，“听着，小绿人，以我的肠胃的名义，哪怕仅仅只为了这一个主意，我也会把你带回家，整晚拥抱你。”
侍者则下定决心，绝不偏离自己回家的方向。“宇宙尽头餐馆将竭尽全力使您满意。”
他的话里充满感情。
“哦，”他说，“你们这儿都提供些什么饮料呢？”
这个侍者笑了一声。有礼貌的小个子侍者都是这种笑法。
“哦，”他说，“我想这位先生也许误会了我的意思。”
“噢，我希望没有。”
这个侍者咳了一声。福特喘息着。
“我们的客人常常因为时间旅行而感到有点儿不适，”他说“所以，如果允许我推荐——”
“时间旅行？”赞福德说。
“时间旅行？”福特说。
“时间旅行。”崔莉恩说。
“你的意思是说这不是来世？”阿瑟问。