da.therestaurantattheendoftheuniverse-第8章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　The　larger　speck　was　the　left…hand　tower　of　The　Hitch　Hiker's　Guide　to　the　Galaxy　office　building；　descending　through　the　stratosphere　of　Frogstar　World　B。
　　As　it　descended；　Roosta　suddenly　broke　the　long　unfortable　silence　that　had　grown　up　between　the　two　men。
　　He　stood　up　and　gathered　his　towel　into　a　bag。　He　said：
　　〃Beeblebrox；　I　will　now　do　the　job　I　was　sent　here　to　do。〃
　　Zaphod　looked　up　at　him　from　where　he　was　sitting　in　a　corner　sharing　unspoken　thoughts　with　Marvin。
　　〃Yeah？〃　he　said。
　　〃The　building　will　shortly　be　landing。　When　you　leave　the　building；　do　not　go　out　of　the　door；〃　said　Roosta；　〃go　out　of　the　window。〃
　　〃Good　luck；〃　he　added；　and　walked　out　of　the　door；　disappearing　from　Zaphod's　life　as　mysteriously　as　he　had　entered　it。
　　Zaphod　leapt　up　and　tried　the　door；　but　Roosta　had　already　looked　it。　He　shrugged　and　returned　to　the　corner。
　　Two　minutes　later；　the　building　crashlanded　amongst　the　other　wreckage。　Its　escort　of　Frogstar　Fighters　deactivated　their　force　beams　and　soared　off　into　the　air　again；　bound　for　Frogstar　World　A；　an　altogether　more　congenial　spot。　They　never　landed　on　Frogstar　World　B。　No　one　did。　No　one　ever　walked　on　its　surface　other　than　the　intended　victims　of　the　Total　Perspective　Vortex。
　　Zaphod　was　badly　shaken　by　the　crash。　He　lay　for　a　while　in　the　silent　dusty　rubble　to　which　most　of　the　room　had　been　reduced。　He　felt　that　he　was　at　the　lowest　ebb　he　had　ever　reached　in　his　life。　He　felt　bewildered；　he　felt　lonely；　he　felt　unloved。　Eventually　he　felt　he　ought　to　get　whatever　it　was　over　with。
　　He　looked　around　the　cracked　and　broken　room。　The　wall　had　split　round　the　door　frame；　and　the　door　hung　open。　The　window；　by　some　miracle　was　closed　and　unbroken。　For　a　while　he　hesitated；　then　he　thought　that　if　his　strange　and　recent　panion　had　been　through　all　that　he　had　been　through　just　to　tell　him　what　he　had　told　him；　then　there　must　be　a　good　reason　for　it。　With　Marvin's　help　he　got　the　window　open。　Outside　it；　the　cloud　of　dust　aroused　by　the　crash；　and　the　hulks　of　the　other　buildings　with　which　this　one　was　surrounded；　effectively　prevented　Zaphod　from　seeing　anything　of　the　world　outside。
　　Not　that　this　concerned　him　unduly。　His　main　concern　was　what　he　saw　when　he　looked　down。　Zarniwoop's　office　was　on　the　fifteenth　floor。　The　building　had　landed　at　a　tilt　of　about　forty…five　degrees；　but　still　the　descent　looked　heart…stopping。
　　Eventually；　stung　by　the　continuous　series　of　contemptuous　looks　that　Marvin　appeared　to　be　giving　him；　he　took　a　deep　breath　and　clambered　out　on　to　the　steeply　inclined　side　of　the　building。　Marvin　followed　him；　and　together　they　began　to　crawl　slowly　and　painfully　down　the　fifteen　floors　that　separated　them　from　the　ground。
　　As　he　crawled；　the　dank　air　and　dust　choked　his　lungs；　his　eyes　smarted　and　the　terrifying　distance　down　made　his　heads　spin。
　　The　occasional　remark　from　Marvin　of　the　order　of　〃This　is　the　sort　of　thing　you　lifeforms　enjoy　is　it？　I　ask　merely　for　information；〃　did　little　to　improve　his　state　of　mind。
　　About　half…way　down　the　side　of　the　shattered　building　they　stopped　to　rest。　It　seemed　to　Zaphod　as　he　lay　there　panting　with　fear　and　exhaustion　that　Marvin　seemed　a　mite　more　cheerful　than　usual。　Eventually　he　realized　this　wasn't　so。　The　robot　just　seemed　cheerful　in　parison　with　his　own　mood。
　　A　large；　scraggy　black　bird　came　flapping　through　the　slowly　settling　clouds　of　dust　and；　stretching　down　its　scrawny　legs；　landed　on　an　inclined　window　ledge　a　couple　of　yards　from　Zaphod。　It　folded　its　ungainly　wings　and　teetered　awkwardly　on　its　perch。
　　Its　wingspan　must　have　been　something　like　six　feet；　and　its　head　and　neck　seemed　curiously　large　for　a　bird。　Its　face　was　flat；　the　beak　underdeveloped；　and　half…way　along　the　underside　of　its　wings　the　vestiges　of　something　handlike　could　be　clearly　seen。
　　In　fact；　it　looked　almost　human。
　　It　turned　its　heavy　eyes　on　Zaphod　and　clicked　its　beak　in　a　desultory　fashion。
　　〃Go　away；〃　said　Zaphod。
　　〃OK；〃　muttered　the　bird　morosely　and　flapped　off　into　the　dust　again。
　　Zaphod　watched　its　departure　in　bewilderment。
　　〃Did　that　bird　just　talk　to　me？〃　he　asked　Marvin　nervously。　He　was　quite　prepared　to　believe　the　alternative　explanation；　that　he　was　in　fact　hallucinating。
　　〃Yes；〃　confirmed　Marvin。
　　〃Poor　souls；〃　said　a　deep；　ethereal　voice　in　Zaphod's　ear。
　　Twisting　round　violently　to　find　the　source　of　the　voice　nearly　caused　Zaphod　to　fall　off　the　building。　He　grabbed　savagely　at　a　protruding　window　fitting　and　cut　his　hand　on　it。　He　hung　on；　breathing　heavily。
　　The　voice　had　no　visible　source　whatever　…　there　was　no　one　there。　Nevertheless；　it　spoke　again。
　　〃A　tragic　history　behind　them；　you　know。　A　terrible　blight。〃
　　Zaphod　looked　wildly　about。　The　voice　was　deep　and　quiet。　In　other　circumstances　it　would　even　be　described　as　soothing。　There　is；　however；　nothing　soothing　about　being　addressed　by　a　disembodied　voice　out　of　nowhere；　particularly　if　you　are；　like　Zaphod　Beeblebrox；　not　at　your　best　and　hanging　from　a　ledge　eight　storeys　up　a　crashed　building。
　　〃Hey；　er。。。〃　he　stammered。
　　〃Shall　I　tell　you　their　story？〃　inquired　the　voice　quietly。
　　〃Hey；　who　are　you？〃　panted　Zaphod。　〃Where　are　you？〃
　　〃Later　then；　perhaps；〃　murmured　the　voice。　〃I　am　Gargravarr。　I　am　the　Custodian　of　the　Total　Perspective　Vortex。〃
　　〃Why　can't　I　see。。。〃
　　〃You　will　find　your　progress　down　the　building　greatly　facilitated；〃　the　voice　lifted；　〃if　you　move　about　two　yards　to　your　left。　Why　don't　you　try　it？〃
　　Zaphod　looked　and　saw　a　series　of　short　horizontal　grooves　leading　all　the　way　down　the　side　of　the　building。　Gratefully　he　shifted　himself　across　to　them。
　　〃Why　don't　I　see　you　again　at　the　bottom？〃　said　the　voice　in　his　ear；　and　as　it　spoke　it　faded。
　　〃Hey；〃　called　out　Zaphod；　〃Where　are　you。。。〃
　　〃It'll　only　take　a　couple　of　minutes。。。〃　said　the　voice　very　faintly。
　　〃Marvin；〃　said　Zaphod　earnestly　to　the　robot　squatting　dejectedly　next　to　him；　〃Did　a。。。　did　a　voice　just。。。〃
　　〃Yes；〃　Marvin　replied　tersely。
　　Zaphod　nodded。　He　took　out　his　Peril　Sensitive　Sunglasses　again。　They　were　pletely　black；　and　by　now　quite　badly　scratched　by　the　unexpected　metal　object　in　his　pocket。　He　put　them　on。　He　would　find　his　way　down　the　building　more　fortably　if　he　didn't　actually　have　to　look　at　what　he　was　doing。
　　Minutes　later　he　clambered　over　the　ripped　and　mangled　foundations　of　the　building　and；　once　more　removing　his　sunglasses；　he　dropped　to　the　ground。
　　Marvin　joined　him　a　moment　or　so　later　and　lay　face　down　in　the　dust　and　rubble；　from　which　position　he　seemed　too　disinclined　to　move。
　　〃Ah；　there　you　are；〃　said　the　voice　suddenly　in　Zaphod's　ear；　〃excuse　me　leaving　you　like　that；　it's　just　that　I　have　a　terrible　head　for　heights。　At　least；〃　it　added　wistfully；　〃I　did　have　a　terrible　head　for　heights。〃
　　Zaphod　looked　around　slowly　and　carefully；　just　to　see　if　he　had　missed　something　which　might　be　the　source　of　the　voice。　All　he　saw；　however；　was　the　dust；　the　rubble　and　the　towering　hulks　of　the　encircling　buildings。
　　〃Hey；　er；　why　can't　I　see　you？〃　he　said；　〃why　aren't　you　here？〃
　　〃I　am　here；〃　said　the　voice　slowly；　〃my　body　wanted　to　e　but　it's　a　bit　busy　at　the　moment。　Things　to　do；　people　to　see。〃　After　what　seemed　like　a　sort　of　ethereal　sigh　it　added；　〃You　know　how　it　is　with　bodies。〃
　　Zaphod　wasn't　sure　about　this。
　　〃I　thought　I　did；〃　he　said。
　　〃I　only　hope　it's　gone　for　a　rest　cure；〃　continued　the　voice；　〃the　way　it's　been　living　recently　it　must　be　on　its　last　elbows。〃
　　〃Elbows？〃　said　Zaphod；　〃don't　you　mean　last　legs？〃
　　The　voice　said　nothing　for　a　while。　Zaphod　looked　around　uneasily。　He　didn't　know　if　it　was　gone　or　was　still　there　or　what　it　was　doing。　Then　the　voice　spoke　again。
　　〃So；　you　are　to　be　put　into　the　Vortex；　yes？〃
　　〃Er；　well；〃　said　Zaphod　with　a　very　poor　attempt　at　nonchalance；　〃this　cat's　in　no　hurry；　you　know。　I　can　just　slouch　about　and　take　in　a　look　at　the　local　scenery；　you　know？〃
　　〃Have　you　seen　the　local　scenery？〃　asked　the　voice　of　Gargravarr。
　　〃Er；　no。〃
　　Zaphod　clambered　over　the　rubble；　and　rounded　the　corner　of　one　of　the　wrecked　buildings　that　was　obscuring　his　view。
　　He　looked　out　at　the　landscape　of　Frogstar　World　B。
　　〃Ah；　OK；〃　he　said；　〃I'll　just　sort　of　slouch　about　then。〃
　　〃No；〃　said　Gargravarr；　〃the　Vortex　is　ready　for　you　now。　You　must　e。　Follow　me。〃
　　〃Er；　yeah？〃　said　Zaphod；　〃and　how　am　I　meant　to　do　that？〃
　　〃I'll　hum　for　you；〃　said　Gargravarr；　〃follow　the　humming。〃
　　A　soft　keening　sound　drifted　through　the　air；　a　pale；　sad　sound　that　seemed　to　be　without　any　kind　of　focus。　It　was　only　by　listening　very　carefully　that　Zaphod　was　able　to　detect　the　direction　from　which　it　was　ing。　Slowly；　dazedly；　he　stumbled　off　in　its　wake。　What　else　was　there　to　do？
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　10
　　
　　The　Universe；　as　has　been　observed　before；　is　an　unsettlingly　big　place；　a　fact　which　for　the　sake　of　a　quiet　life　most　people　tend　to　ignore。
　　Many　would　happily　move　to　somewhere　rather　smaller　of　their　own　devising；　and　this　is　what　most　beings　in　fact　do。
　　For　instance；　in　one　corner　of　the　Eastern　Galactic　Arm　lies　the　large　forest　planet　Oglaroon；　the　entire　〃intelligent〃　population　of　which　lives　permanently　in　one　fairly　small　and　crowded　nut　tree。　In　which　tree　they　are　born；　live；　fall　in　love；　carve　tiny　speculative　articles　in　the　bark　on　the　meaning　of　life；　the　futility　of　death　and　the　importance　of　birth　control；　fight　a　few　extremely　minor　wars；　and　eventually　die　strapped　to　the　underside　of　some　of　the　less　accessible　outer　branches。
　　In　fact　the　only　Oglaroonians　who　ever　leave　their　tree　are　those　who　are　hurled　out　of　it　for　the　heinous　crime　of　wondering　whether　any　of　the　other　trees　might　be　capable　of　supporting　life　at　all；　or　indeed　whether　the　other　trees　are　anything　other　than　illusions　brought　on　by　eating　too　many　Oglanuts。
　　Exotic　though　this　behaviour　may　seem；　there　is　no　life　form　in　the　Galaxy　which　is　not　in　some　way　guilty　of　the　same　thing；　which　is　why　the　Total　Perspective　Vortex　is　as　horrific　as　it　is。
　　For　when　you　are　put　into　the　Vortex　you　are　given　just　one　momentary　glimpse　of　the　entire　unimaginable　infinity　of　creation；　and　somewhere　in　it　a　tiny　little　marker；　a　microscopic　dot　on　a　microscopic　dot；　which　says　〃You　are　here。〃
　　The　grey　plain　stretched　before　Zaphod；　a　ruined；　shattered　plain。　The　wind　whipped　wildly　over　it。
　　Visible　in　the　middle　was　the　steel　pimple　of　the　dome。　This；　gathered　Zaphod；　was　where　he　was　going。　This　was　the　Total　Perspective　Vortex。
　　As　he　stood　and　gazed　bleakly　at　it；　a　sudden　inhuman　wail　of　terror　emanated　from　it　as　of　a　man　having　his　soul　burnt　from　his　body。　It　screamed　above　the　wind　and　died　away。
　　Zaphod　started　with　fear　and　his　blood　seemed　to　turn　to　liquid　helium。
　　〃Hey；　what　was　that？〃　he　muttered　voicelessly。
　　〃A　recording；〃　said　Gargravarr；　〃of　the　last　man　who　was　put　in　the　Vortex。　It　is　always　played　to　the　next　victim。　A　sort　of　prelude。〃
　　〃Hey；　it　really　sounds　bad。。。〃　stammered　Zaphod；　〃c