da.solongandthanksforallthefish-第21部分

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　　Confusing。
　　The　sign　above　the　front　door　said；　〃e　Outside〃；　and　so；　nervously；　they　had。
　　Inside；　of　course；　was　where　the　Outside　was。　Rough　brickwork；　nicely　done　painting；　guttering　in　good　repair；　a　garden　path；　a　couple　of　small　trees；　some　rooms　leading　off。
　　And　the　inner　walls　stretched　down；　folded　curiously；　and　opened　at　the　end　as　if；　by　an　optical　illusion　which　would　have　had　Maurits　C。　Escher　frowning　and　wondering　how　it　was　done；　to　enclose　the　Pacific　Ocean　itself。
　　…　Hello；　…　said　John　Watson；　Wonko　the　Sane。
　　Good；　they　thought　to　themselves；　〃Hello〃　is　something　we　can　cope　with。
　　…　Hello；　…　they　said；　and　all　surprisingly　was　smiles。
　　For　quite　a　while　he　seemed　curiously　reluctant　to　talk　about　the　dolphins；　looking　oddly　distracted　and　saying；　〃I　forget。。。〃　whenever　they　were　mentioned；　and　had　shown　them　quite　proudly　round　the　eccentricities　of　his　house。
　　…　It　gives　me　pleasure；　…　he　said；　…　in　a　curious　kind　of　way；　and　does　nobody　any　harm；　…　he　continued；　…　that　a　petent　optician　couldn't　correct。
　　They　liked　him。　He　had　an　open；　engaging　quality　and　seemed　able　to　mock　himself　before　anybody　else　did。
　　…　Your　wife；　…　said　Arthur；　looking　around；　…　mentioned　some　toothpicks。　…　He　said　it　with　a　hunted　look；　as　if　he　was　worried　that　she　might　suddenly　leap　out　from　behind　the　door　and　mention　them　again。
　　Wonko　the　Sane　laughed。　It　was　a　light　easy　laugh；　and　sounded　like　one　he　had　used　a　lot　before　and　was　happy　with。
　　…　Ah　yes；　…　he　said；　…　that's　to　so　with　the　day　I　finally　realized　that　the　world　had　gone　totally　mad　and　built　the　Asylum　to　put　it　in；　poor　thing；　and　hoped　it　would　get　better。
　　This　was　the　point　at　which　Arthur　began　to　feel　a　little　nervous　again。
　　…　Here；　…　said　Wonko　the　Sane；　…　we　are　outside　the　Asylum。　…　He　pointed　again　at　the　rough　brickwork；　the　pointing　and　the　guttering。　…　Go　through　that　door；　…　he　pointed　at　the　first　door　through　which　they　had　originally　entered；　…　and　you　go　into　the　Asylum。　I've　tried　to　decorate　it　nicely　to　keep　the　inmates　happy；　but　there's　very　little　one　can　do。　I　never　go　in　there　now　myself。　If　ever　I　am　tempted；　which　these　days　I　rarely　am；　I　simply　look　at　the　sign　written　over　the　door　and　shy　away。
　　…　That　one？　…　said　Fenchurch；　pointing；　rather　puzzled；　at　a　blue　plaque　with　some　instructions　written　on　it。
　　…　Yes。　They　are　the　words　that　finally　turned　me　into　the　hermit　I　have　now　bee。　It　was　quite　sudden。　I　saw　them；　and　I　knew　what　I　had　to　do。
　　The　sign　said：
　　Hold　stick　near　centre　of　its　length。　Moisten　pointed　end　in　mouth。　insert　in　tooth　space；　blunt　end　next　to　gum。　Use　gentle　in…out　motion。
　　…　It　seemed　to　me；　…　said　Wonko　the　sane；　…　that　any　civilization　that　had　so　far　lost　its　head　as　to　need　to　include　a　set　of　detailed　instructions　for　use　in　a　packet　of　toothpicks；　was　no　longer　a　civilization　in　which　I　could　live　and　stay　sane。
　　He　gazed　out　at　the　Pacific　again；　as　if　daring　it　to　rave　and　gibber　at　him；　but　it　lay　there　calmly　and　played　with　the　sandpipers。
　　…　And　in　case　it　crossed　your　mind　to　wonder；　as　I　can　see　how　it　possibly　might；　I　am　pletely　sane。　Which　is　why　I　call　myself　Wonko　the　Sane；　just　to　reassure　people　on　this　point。　Wonko　is　what　my　mother　called　me　when　I　was　a　kid　and　clumsy　and　knocked　things　over；　and　sane　is　what　I　am；　and　how；　…　he　added；　with　one　of　his　smiles　that　made　you　feel；　…　Oh。　Well　that's　all　right　then。
　　…　I　intend　to　remain。　Shall　we　go　on　to　the　beach　and　see　what　we　have　to　talk　about？
　　They　went　out　on　to　the　beach；　which　was　where　he　started　talking　about　angels　with　golden　beards　and　green　wings　and　Dr。　Scholl　sandals。
　　…　About　the　dolphins。。。　…　said　Fenchurch　gently；　hopefully。
　　…　I　can　show　you　the　sandals；　…　said　Wonko　the　Sane。
　　…　I　wonder；　do　you　know。。。
　　…　Would　you　like　me　to　show　you；　…　said　Wonko　the　Sane；　…　the　sandals？　I　have　them。　I'll　get　them。　They　are　made　by　the　Dr。　Scholl　pany；　and　the　angels　say　that　they　particularly　suit　the　terrain　they　have　to　work　in。　They　say　they　run　a　concession　stand　by　the　message。　When　I　say　I　don't　know　what　that　means　they　say　no；　you　don't；　and　laugh。　Well；　I'll　get　them　anyway。
　　As　he　walked　back　towards　the　inside；　or　the　outside　depending　on　how　you　looked　at　it；　Arthur　and　Fenchurch　looked　at　each　other　in　a　wondering　and　slightly　desperate　sort　of　way；　then　each　shrugged　and　idly　drew　figures　in　the　sand。
　　…　How　are　the　feet　today？　…　said　Arthur　quietly。
　　…　OK。　It　doesn't　feel　so　odd　in　the　sand。　Or　in　the　water。　The　water　touches　them　perfectly。　I　just　think　this　isn't　our　world。
　　She　shrugged。
　　…　What　do　you　think　he　meant；　…　she　said；　…　by　the　message？
　　…　I　don't　know；　…　said　Arthur；　though　the　memory　of　a　man　called　Prak　who　laughed　at　him　continuously　kept　nagging　at　him。
　　When　Wonko　returned　he　was　carrying　something　that　stunned　Arthur。　Not　the　sandals；　they　were　perfectly　ordinary　woodenbottomed　sandals。
　　…　I　just　thought　you'd　like　to　see；　…　he　said；　…　what　angels　wear　on　their　feet。　Just　out　of　curiosity。　I'm　not　trying　to　prove　anything；　by　the　way。　I'm　a　scientist　and　I　know　what　constitutes　proof。　But　the　reason　I　call　myself　by　my　childhood　name　is　to　remind　myself　that　a　scientist　must　also　be　absolutely　like　a　child。　If　he　sees　a　thing；　he　must　say　that　he　sees　it；　whether　it　was　what　he　thought　he　was　going　to　see　or　not。　See　first；　think　later；　then　test。　But　always　see　first。　Otherwise　you　will　only　see　what　you　were　expecting。　Most　scientists　forget　that。　I'll　show　you　something　to　demonstrate　that　later。　So；　the　other　reason　I　call　myself　Wonko　the　Sane　is　so　that　people　will　think　I　am　a　fool。　That　allows　me　to　say　what　I　see　when　I　see　it。　You　can't　possibly　be　a　scientist　if　you　mind　people　thinking　that　you're　a　fool。　Anyway；　I　also　thought　you　might　like　to　see　this。
　　This　was　the　thing　that　Arthur　had　been　stunned　to　see　him　carrying；　for　it　was　a　wonderful　silver…grey　glass　fish　bowl；　seemingly　identical　to　the　one　in　Arthur's　bedroom。
　　Arthur　had　been　trying　for　some　thirty　seconds　now；　without　success；　to　say；　〃Where　did　you　get　that？〃　sharply；　and　with　a　gasp　in　his　voice。
　　Finally　his　time　had　e；　but　he　missed　it　by　a　millisecond。
　　…　Where　did　you　get　that？　…　said　Fenchurch；　sharply　and　with　a　gasp　in　her　voice。
　　Arthur　glanced　at　Fenchurch　sharply　and　with　a　gasp　in　his　voice　said：
　　…　What？　Have　you　seen　one　of　these　before？
　　…　Yes；　…　she　said；　…　I've　got　one。　Or　at　least　I　did　have。　Russell　nicked　it　to　put　his　golfballs　in。　I　don't　know　where　it　came　from；　just　that　I　was　angry　with　Russell　for　nicking　it。　Why；　have　you　got　one？
　　…　Yes；　it　was。。。
　　They　both　became　aware　that　Wonko　the　Sane　was　glancing　sharply　backwards　and　forwards　between　them；　and　trying　to　get　a　gasp　in　edgeways。
　　…　You　have　one　of　those　too？　…　he　said　to　both　of　them。
　　…　Yes。　…　They　both　said　it。
　　He　looked　long　and　calmly　at　each　of　them；　then　he　held　up　the　bowl　to　catch　the　light　of　the　Californian　sun。
　　The　bowl　seemed　almost　to　sing　with　the　sun；　to　chime　with　the　intensity　of　its　light；　and　cast　darkly　brilliant　rainbows　around　the　sand　and　upon　them。　He　turned　it；　and　turned　it。　They　could　see　quite　clearly　in　the　fine　tracery　of　its　etchwork　the　words　〃So　Long；　and　Thanks　For　All　The　Fish。〃
　　…　Do　you　know；　…　asked　Wonko　quietly；　…　what　it　is？
　　They　each　shook　their　heads　slowly；　and　with　wonder；　almost　hypnotized　by　the　flashing　of　the　lightning　shadows　in　the　grey　glass。
　　…　It　is　a　farewell　gift　from　the　dolphins；　…　said　Wonko　in　a　low　quiet　voice；　…　the　dolphins　whom　I　loved　and　studied；　and　swam　with；　and　fed　with　fish；　and　even　tried　to　learn　their　language；　a　task　which　they　seemed　to　make　impossibly　difficult；　considering　the　fact　that　I　now　realize　they　were　perfectly　capable　of　municating　in　ours　if　they　decided　they　wanted　to。
　　He　shook　his　head　with　a　slow；　slow　smile；　and　then　looked　again　at　Fenchurch；　and　then　at　Arthur。
　　…　Have　you。。。　…　he　said　to　Arthur；　…　what　have　you　done　with　yours？　May　I　ask　you　that？
　　…　Er；　I　keep　a　fish　in　it；　…　said　Arthur；　slightly　embarrassed。　…　I　happened　to　have　this　fish　I　was　wondering　what　to　do　with；　and；　er；　there　was　this　bowl。　…　He　tailed　off。
　　…　You've　done　nothing　else？　No；　…　he　said；　…　if　you　had；　you　would　know。　…　He　shook　his　head　again。
　　…　My　wife　kept　wheatgerm　in　ours；　…　resumed　Wonko；　with　some　new　tone　in　his　voice；　…　until　last　night。。。
　　…　What；　…　said　Arthur　slowly　and　hushedly；　…　happened　last　night？
　　…　We　ran　out　of　wheatgerm；　…　said　Wonko；　evenly。　…　My　wife；　…　he　added；　…　has　gone　to　get　some　more。　…　He　seemed　lost　with　his　own　thoughts　for　a　moment。
　　…　And　what　happened　then？　…　said　Fenchurch；　in　the　same　breathless　tone。
　　…　I　washed　it；　…　said　Wonko。　…　I　washed　it　very　carefully；　very　very　carefully；　removing　every　last　speck　of　wheatgerm；　then　I　dried　it　slowly　with　a　lint…free　cloth；　slowly；　carefully；　turning　it　over　and　over。　Then　I　held　it　to　my　ear。　Have　you。。。　have　you　held　one　to　your　ear？
　　They　both　shook　their　heads；　again　slowly；　again　dumbly。
　　…　Perhaps；　…　he　said；　…　you　should。
　　
　　
　　　Chapter　32
　　
　　The　deep　roar　of　the　ocean。
　　The　break　of　waves　on　further　shores　than　thought　can　find。
　　The　silent　thunders　of　the　deep。
　　And　from　among　it；　voices　calling；　and　yet　not　voices；　humming　trillings；　wordlings；　the　half…articulated　songs　of　thought。
　　Greetings；　waves　of　greetings；　sliding　back　down　into　the　inarticulate；　words　breaking　together。
　　A　crash　of　sorrow　on　the　shores　of　Earth。
　　Waves　of　joy　on　…　where？　A　world　indescribably　found；　indescribably　arrived　at；　indescribably　wet；　a　song　of　water。
　　A　fugue　of　voices　now；　clamouring　explanations；　of　a　disaster　unavertable；　a　world　to　be　destroyed；　a　surge　of　helplessness；　a　spasm　of　despair；　a　dying　fall；　again　the　break　of　words。
　　And　then　the　fling　of　hope；　the　finding　of　a　shadow　Earth　in　the　implications　of　enfolded　time；　submerged　dimensions；　the　pull　of　parallels；　the　deep　pull；　the　spin　of　will；　the　hurl　and　split　of　it；　the　flight。　A　new　Earth　pulled　into　replacement；　the　dolphi