da.therestaurantattheendoftheuniverse-第29节

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　　He　paused　again。　Sometimes　he　would　pause　for　days；　just　to　see　what　it　was　like。
　　〃Do　you　think　they　came　today？〃　he　said；　〃I　do。　There's　mud　on　the　floor；　cigarettes　and　whisky　on　the　table；　fish　on　a　plate　for　you　and　a　memory　of　them　in　my　mind。　Hardly　conclusive　evidence　I　know；　but　then　all　evidence　is　circumstantial。　And　look　what　else　they've　left　me。〃
　　He　reached　over　to　the　table　and　pulled　some　things　off　it。
　　〃Crosswords；　dictionaries；　and　a　calculator。〃
　　He　played　with　the　calculator　for　an　hour；　whilst　the　cat　went　to　sleep　and　the　rain　outside　continued　to　pour。　Eventually　he　put　the　calculator　aside。
　　〃I　think　I　must　be　right　in　thinking　they　ask　me　questions；〃　he　said；　〃To　e　all　that　way　and　leave　all　these　things　for　the　privilege　of　singing　songs　to　you　would　be　very　strange　behaviour。　Or　so　it　seems　to　me。　Who　can　tell；　who　can　tell。〃
　　From　the　table　he　picked　up　a　cigarette　and　lit　it　with　a　spill　from　the　stove。　He　inhaled　deeply　and　sat　back。
　　〃I　think　I　saw　another　ship　in　the　sky　today；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃A　big　white　one。　I've　never　seen　a　big　white　one；　just　the　six　black　ones。　And　the　six　green　ones。　And　the　others　who　say　they　e　from　so　far　away。　Never　a　big　white　one。　Perhaps　six　small　black　ones　can　look　like　one　big　white　one　at　certain　times。　Perhaps　I　would　like　a　glass　of　whisky。　Yes；　that　seems　more　likely。〃
　　He　stood　up　and　found　a　glass　that　was　lying　on　the　floor　by　the　mattress。　He　poured　in　a　measure　from　his　whisky　bottle。　He　sat　again。
　　〃Perhaps　some　other　people　are　ing　to　see　me；〃　he　said。
　　A　hundred　yards　away；　pelted　by　the　torrential　rain；　lay　the　Heart　of　Gold。
　　Its　hatchway　opened；　and　three　figures　emerged；　huddling　into　themselves　to　keep　the　rain　off　their　faces。
　　〃In　there？〃　shouted　Trillian　above　the　noise　of　the　rain。
　　〃Yes；〃　said　Zarniwoop。
　　〃That　shack？〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃Weird；〃　said　Zaphod。
　　〃But　it's　in　the　middle　of　nowhere；〃　said　Trillian；　〃we　must　have　e　to　the　wrong　place。　You　can't　rule　the　Universe　from　a　shack。〃
　　They　hurried　through　the　pouring　rain；　and　arrived；　wet　through；　at　the　door。　They　knocked。　They　shivered。
　　The　door　opened。
　　〃Hello？〃　said　the　man。
　　〃Ah；　excuse　me；〃　said　Zarniwoop；　〃I　have　reason　to　believe。。。〃
　　〃Do　you　rule　the　Universe？〃　said　Zaphod。
　　The　man　smiled　at　him。
　　〃I　try　not　to；〃　he　said；　〃Are　you　wet？〃
　　Zaphod　looked　at　him　in　astonishment。
　　〃Wet？〃　he　cried；　〃Doesn't　it　look　as　if　we're　wet？〃
　　〃That's　how　it　looks　to　me；〃　said　the　man；　〃but　how　you　feel　about　it　might　be　an　altogether　different　matter。　If　you　feel　warmth　makes　you　dry；　you'd　better　e　in。〃
　　They　went　in。
　　They　looked　around　the　tiny　shack；　Zarniwoop　with　slight　distaste；　Trillian　with　interest；　Zaphod　with　delight。
　　〃Hey；　er。。。〃　said　Zaphod；　〃what's　your　name？〃
　　The　man　looked　at　them　doubtfully。
　　〃I　don't　know。　Why；　do　you　think　I　should　have　one？　It　seems　very　odd　to　give　a　bundle　of　vague　sensory　perceptions　a　name。〃
　　He　invited　Trillian　to　sit　in　the　chair。　He　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　chair；　Zarniwoop　leaned　stiffly　against　the　table　and　Zaphod　lay　on　the　mattress。
　　〃Wowee！〃　said　Zaphod；　〃the　seat　of　power！〃　He　tickled　the　cat。
　　〃Listen；〃　said　Zarniwoop；　〃I　must　ask　you　some　questions。〃
　　〃Alright；〃　said　the　man　kindly；　〃you　can　sing　to　my　cat　if　you　like。〃
　　〃Would　he　like　that？〃　asked　Zaphod。
　　〃You'd　better　ask　him；〃　said　the　man。
　　〃Does　he　talk？〃　said　Zaphod。
　　〃I　have　no　memory　of　him　talking；〃　said　the　man；　〃but　I　am　very　unreliable。〃
　　Zarniwoop　pulled　some　notes　out　of　a　pocket。
　　〃Now；〃　he　said；　〃you　do　rule　the　Universe；　do　you？〃
　　〃How　can　I　tell？〃　said　the　man。
　　Zarniwoop　ticked　off　a　note　on　the　paper。
　　〃How　long　have　you　been　doing　this？〃
　　〃Ah；〃　said　the　man；　〃this　is　a　question　about　the　past　is　it？〃
　　Zarniwoop　looked　at　him　in　puzzlement。　This　wasn't　exactly　what　he　had　been　expecting。
　　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　　〃How　can　I　tell；〃　said　the　man；　〃that　the　past　isn't　a　fiction　designed　to　account　for　the　discrepancy　between　my　immediate　physical　sensations　and　my　state　of　mind？〃
　　Zarniwoop　stared　at　him。　The　steam　began　to　rise　from　his　sodden　clothes。
　　〃So　you　answer　all　questions　like　this？〃　he　said。
　　The　man　answered　quickly。
　　〃I　say　what　it　occurs　to　me　to　say　when　I　think　I　hear　people　say　things。　More　I　cannot　say。〃
　　Zaphod　laughed　happily。
　　〃I'll　drink　to　that；〃　he　said　and　pulled　out　the　bottle　of　Janx　spirit。　He　leaped　up　and　handed　the　bottle　to　the　ruler　of　the　Universe；　who　took　it　with　pleasure。
　　〃Good　on　you；　great　ruler；〃　he　said；　〃tell　it　like　it　is。〃
　　〃No；　listen　to　me；〃　said　Zarniwoop；　〃people　e　to　you　do　they？　In　ships。。。〃
　　〃I　think　so；〃　said　the　man。　He　handed　the　bottle　to　Trillian。　
　　〃And　they　ask　you；〃　said　Zarniwoop；　〃to　take　decisions　for　them？　About　people's　lives；　about　worlds；　about　economies；　about　wars；　about　everything　going　on　out　there　in　the　Universe？〃
　　〃Out　there？〃　said　the　man；　〃out　where？〃
　　〃Out　there！〃　said　Zarniwoop　pointing　at　the　door。
　　〃How　can　you　tell　there's　anything　out　there；〃　said　the　man　politely；　〃the　door's　closed。〃
　　The　rain　continued　to　pound　the　roof。　Inside　the　shack　it　was　warm。
　　〃But　you　know　there's　a　whole　Universe　out　there！〃　cried　Zarniwoop。　〃You　can't　dodge　your　responsibilities　by　saying　they　don't　exist！〃
　　The　ruler　of　the　Universe　thought　for　a　long　while　whilst　Zarniwoop　quivered　with　anger。
　　〃You're　very　sure　of　your　facts；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃I　couldn't　trust　the　thinking　of　a　man　who　takes　the　Universe　…　if　there　is　one　…　for　granted。〃
　　Zarniwoop　still　quivered；　but　was　silent。
　　〃I　only　decide　about　my　Universe；〃　continued　the　man　quietly。　〃My　Universe　is　my　eyes　and　my　ears。　Anything　else　is　hearsay。〃
　　〃But　don't　you　believe　in　anything？〃
　　The　man　shrugged　and　picked　up　his　cat。
　　〃I　don't　understand　what　you　mean；〃　he　said。
　　〃You　don't　understand　that　what　you　decide　in　this　shack　of　yours　affects　the　lives　and　fates　of　millions　of　people？　This　is　all　monstrously　wrong！〃
　　〃I　don't　know。　I've　never　met　all　these　people　you　speak　of。　And　neither；　I　suspect；　have　you。　They　only　exist　in　words　we　hear。　It　is　folly　to　say　you　know　what　is　happening　to　other　people。　Only　they　know；　if　they　exist。　They　have　their　own　Universes　of　their　own　eyes　and　ears。〃
　　Trillian　said：
　　〃I　think　I'm　just　popping　outside　for　a　moment。〃
　　She　left　and　walked　into　the　rain。
　　〃Do　you　believe　other　people　exist？〃　insisted　Zarniwoop。
　　〃I　have　no　opinion。　How　can　I　say？〃
　　〃I'd　better　see　what's　up　with　Trillian；〃　said　Zaphod　and　slipped　out。
　　Outside；　he　said　to　her：
　　〃I　think　the　Universe　is　in　pretty　good　hands；　yeah？〃
　　〃Very　good；〃　said　Trillian。　They　walked　off　into　the　rain。
　　Inside；　Zarniwoop　continued。
　　〃But　don't　you　understand　that　people　live　or　die　on　your　word？〃
　　The　ruler　of　the　Universe　waited　for　as　long　as　he　could。　When　he　heard　the　faint　sound　of　the　ship's　engines　starting　he　spoke　to　cover　it。
　　〃It's　nothing　to　do　with　me；〃　he　said；　〃I　am　not　involved　with　people。　The　Lord　knows　I　am　not　a　cruel　man。〃
　　〃Ah！〃　barked　Zarniwoop；　〃you　say　'The　Lord'。　You　believe　in　something！〃
　　〃My　cat；〃　said　the　man　benignly；　picking　it　up　and　stroking　it；　〃I　call　him　The　Lord。　I　am　kind　to　him。〃
　　〃Alright；〃　said　Zarniwoop；　pressing　home　his　point；　〃How　do　you　know　he　exists？　How　do　you　know　he　knows　you　to　be　kind；　or　enjoys　what　he　thinks　of　as　your　kindness？〃
　　〃I　don't；〃　said　the　man　with　a　smile；　〃I　have　no　idea。　It　merely　pleases　me　to　behave　in　a　certain　way　to　what　appears　to　be　a　cat。　Do　you　behave　any　differently？　Please；　I　think　I　am　tired。〃
　　Zarniwoop　heaved　a　thoroughly　dissatisfied　sigh　and　looked　about。
　　〃Where　are　the　other　two？〃　he　said　suddenly。
　　〃What　other　two？〃　said　the　ruler　of　the　Universe；　settling　back　into　his　chair　and　refilling　his　whisky　glass。
　　〃Beeblebrox　and　the　girl！　The　two　who　were　here！〃
　　〃I　remember　no　one。　The　past　is　a　fiction　to　account　for。。。〃
　　〃Stuff　it；〃　snapped　Zarniwoop　and　ran　out　into　the　rain。　There　was　no　ship。　The　rain　continued　to　churn　the　mud。　There　was　no　sign　to　show　where　the　ship　had　been。　He　hollered　into　the　rain。　He　turned　and　ran　back　to　the　shack　and　found　it　locked。
　　The　ruler　of　the　Universe　dozed　lightly　in　his　chair。　After　a　while　he　played　with　the　pencil　and　the　paper　again　and　was　delighted　when　he　discovered　how　to　make　a　mark　with　the　one　on　the　other。　Various　noises　continued　outside；　but　he　didn't　know　whether　they　were　real　or　not。　He　then　talked　to　his　table　for　a　week　to　see　how　it　would　react。
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　30
　　
　　The　stars　came　out　that　night；　dazzling　in　their　brilliance　and　clarity。　Ford　and　Arthur　had　walked　more　miles　than　they　had　any　means　of　judging　and　finally　stopped　to　rest。　The　night　was　cool　and　balmy；　the　air　pure；　the　Sub…Etha　Sens…O…Matic　totally　silent。
　　A　wonderful　stillness　hung　over　the　world；　a　magical　calm　which　bined　with　the　soft　fragrances　of　the　woods；　the　quiet　chatter　of　insects　and　the　brilliant　light　of　the　stars　to　soothe　their　jangled　spirits