经典科幻文学:《宇宙尽头的餐馆》第12章4

He raced in a frenzy to the end of the corridor, through the entrance chamber and beyond. He arrived on the flight deck, slammed and bolted the door behind him. He leant back against the door breathing hard.
Within seconds, a hand started beating on the door.
From somewhere on the flight deck a metallic voice addressed him. “passengers are not allowed on the flight deck. Please return to your seat, and wait for the ship to take off. Coffee and biscuits are being served. This is your autopilot speaking. Please return to your seat.”
Zaphod said nothing. He breathed hard, behind him, the hand continued to knock on the door.
“Please return to your seat,” repeated the autopilot. “Passengers are not allowed on the flight deck.”
“I’m not a passenger,” panted Zaphod.
“Please return to your seat.”
“I am not a passenger!” shouted Zaphod again.
“Please return to your seat.”
“I am not a… hello, can you hear me?”
“Please return to your seat.”
You’re the autopilot?” said Zaphod.
“Yes,” said the voice from the flight console.
“You’re in charge of this ship?”
“Yes,” said the voice again, “there has been a delay. Passengers are to be kept temporarily in suspended animation, for their comfort and convenience. Coffee and biscuits are being served every year, after which passengers are returned to suspended animation for their continued comfort and convenience. Departure will take place when the flight stores are complete. We apologize for the delay.”
Zaphod moved away from the door, on which the pounding had now ceased. He approached the flight console.
“Delay?” he cried, “Have you seen the world outside this ship? It’s a wasteland, a desert. Civilization’s been and gone, man. There are no lemon-soaked paper napkins on the way from anywhere!”
“The statistical likelihood,” continued the autopilot primly, “is that other civilizations will arise. There will one day be lemon-soaked paper napkins. Till then there will be a short delay. Please return to your seat.”
“But…”

他疯狂地跑到了走道尽头，穿过出入间，往上爬。他来到飞行甲板，“砰”地关上身后的舱门，上了门闩。他靠在门上，大口喘着粗气。
几秒钟过后，一只手开始在另一侧敲打这扇门。
从飞行甲板上的某个地方传来一个刺耳的声音：“乘客不允许待在飞行甲板上。请回到您的座位上去，等待飞船起飞。我们将提供咖啡和点心，这是您的自动驾驶仪在说话。请回到您的座位上去。”
赞福德什么也没说。他继续喘着粗气；在他身后，那只手继续敲门。
“请回到您的座位上去，”自动驾驶仪重复道，“乘客不允许待在飞行甲板上。”
“我不是乘客。”赞福德气喘吁吁地说。
“请回到您的座位上去！”
“我不是乘客！”赞福德又吼了一声。
“请回到您的座位上去。”
“我不是……嗨，你能听见我吗？”
“请回到您的座位上去。”
“你是自动驾驶仪？”赞福德说。
“是的。”那个声音从飞行控制台传来。
“这艘飞船由你操纵？”
“是的，”那个声音说，“出现了一点儿延迟。为了乘客们的舒适和便利，他们被暂时性地限制了恬动。我们每年都会提供咖啡和点心，在此之后，乘客们叉被重新限制恬动，这是为了继续他们的舒适和便利。一旦飞船完成储备，本次航班将立即起飞。我们对这样的延迟深感抱歉。”
赞福德从门上移开，敲击也停止了。他靠近了飞行控制台：
“延迟？”他叫道，“你看见飞船外面的世界了吗？它已经变成了一片废墟，一片不毛之地。文明已经消失了，伙计。再也没有柠檬香味的餐巾纸输送过来了！”
“根据统计概论，”自动驾驶仪一本正经地继续说道，“其他文明将出现。总有一天会有柠檬香味的餐巾纸的。在那之前，将会有一段短暂的延迟。请回到您的座位上去。”
“可是……”