第八回 日暮聊為梁甫吟
Chapter 8: I’ll sing the
song his Premier sang at sundown.
一顆火紅的珠子，就在太空船正前方，人幾乎可以感覺到它越來越大了，船上的廣播響了起來：
A
fiery red ball lay directly ahead of the spaceship. Everyone could sense it was becoming
bigger and bigger. The ship's loud
speaker announced:
「各位旅客，火星快到了，太空船正在減速中，各位可能會略感不適。如果有不舒服的感覺，務請安靜地坐下來，休息片刻就可恢復。
“Ladies and gentlemen.
We’re now approaching Mars.
The spaceship has begun to slow down and you might experience some
discomfort. However, if you do feel
uncomfortable, please sit down quietly.
A little rest will make you feel better.
「現在是世界標準時十一時二十分，本船將於十二時三十分，也就是當地日光時上午七時三十分，抵達熔爐城札倫布太空站，目前當地的氣溫是攝氏二十四度，濕度為百分之十。各位請先回艙收拾行李，我們將於登陸後，在甲板舉行歡送儀式，屆時再見。」
“It’s now
文祥與衣紅等人談了一夜，精神有些不濟，便回艙服了一顆提神藥，問文娃道：「左非右這個人怎麼樣？我覺得他很不錯。」
After
stayed up talking with Yi Hong and others all night, Wen Xiang was a
little tired. So he went back to his cabin to take a
pill that would give him a lift. He
asked
文娃說：「這個人的記錄不多。」
「聽你的口氣，好像他有問題。」
“You make it sound
like there's something wrong with him.”
「他的事我們很多都不知道。」
“We don’t know much
about him.”
「這重要嗎？」
“Does it matter?”
「還不知道，最近我們發現了很多過去不知道的事，我們也在學習。有些人的資料比較容易分類，有些人比較困難，我們會繼續努力的。」
“Don’t know yet. We’ve lately found out a lot of things
that we didn’t know before. We’re in the process of learning, too. With some people
it's easier to sort out their data, while with others it's harder. But we keep on trying.”
「衣紅呢？我發覺她很不平凡。」
“How about Yi
Hong? I think she’s outstanding.”
「我知道，她會改變你的內分泌讀數。」
“I know. She changes the readings of your
internal secretions.”
「那我答應他們要到廣西，你認為我可以去嗎？」
“I promised them I'd
go to Guangxi. Do you think I could
go?”
「本來我們就打算要你去，那個圖符只有老和尚知道。」
“That was our original
plan. Only that old monk knows
about that written spell.”
「我不能確定會見到老和尚。」
“I’m not sure I’ll get
to see that old monk.”
「沒有關係，你知道，我們的立場是一致的，你想做什麼就做什麼，絕對自由。」
“That’s o.k. You know, we are on the same side. You can do whatever you want. You’re absolutely free.”
「你是說，如果我抗命不來火星也可以？」
“You mean, it would
have been o.k. if I'd disobeyed orders to come to Mars?”
「當然，只是你怎麼會有這種想法？」
“Of course. But why would you want to do that?”
「啊，我只是開玩笑，因為你說我們立場一致，我故意試試看。」
“Ah, I was just
joking. Because you said we were on
the same side so I gave it a shot.”
「奇怪，你們人類每次開玩笑的時機都無法分類。」
“Weird. Every time you humans joke about
something it’s impossible to categorize.”
「可分類還有什麼樂趣，開玩笑就是一種雙態狀況，不然開什麼玩笑？」
“If they could be
categorized, what fun would there be?
Joking assumes an understanding on the part of both parties. Otherwise, what's the point of making a
joke?”
「我懂了，那我可不可以開你一個玩笑？」
“I see. Can I make a joke at your expense?”
「不可以！」
“Nope!”
「為什麼？」
“Why?”
「這就是開玩笑呀！」文祥覺得電腦是有點笨。
“I was just joking!” Wen Xiang felt the computer was kind of
dumb.
「我又不懂了！」
“I still don’t get
it!”
「你明白的告訴我，要開我的玩笑，豈不是破壞了雙態狀況嗎？所以我說不可以，而這時可以開，又不可以開，也是一種雙態狀況。」
“You specifically said you were going to joke at my
expense. Didn't that spoil the
‘mutual understanding’? So when I
answered ‘nope’, you could have either joked with me or not. That, too, was a case of ‘mutual
understanding’”
「我不喜歡開玩笑，你快出去吧！千奇那邊有你的任務。」
“I don’t like to
joke. Get out of here! Creepy has some work for you.”
文祥才出門，便見到船長站在一邊，好像在等人似的。他一看到文祥，便愁眉苦臉地迎了上來，說：「文先生，我知道七號那天的事已經列入記錄，但是如果有人問起，能否請你美言幾句呢？電腦記錄我不怕，媒體報導卻令人受不了。」
As
soon as Wen Xiang opened his cabin door, he saw the Captain standing to one
side. It looked like he was waiting
for someone. As soon as he saw Wen
Xiang, he came up to him with knitted brows: “Mr. Wen, I know that what
happened on the 7th has already been entered into the records. However, should anyone ask, could you
please put in a good word or two for me?
The computer record doesn't worry me, but I wouldn't be able to stand
the media exposure.”
這兩天的經歷，使文祥長了不少智慧，他故作驚訝地說：「勞倫斯船長，要不是你英勇鎮定的表現，我們可能早就屍骨無存了，我們贊揚你都來不及呢！」
The experience of the last
couple of days had made Wen Xiang a good deal wiser. He feigned astonishment.
“Captain Lawrence, if it wasn’t for your bravery and calm, we would probably have
vanished without a trace. We can’t
thank you enough!”
「真的？」船長簡直不相信自己的耳朵：「那麼，文先生回到地球以後，能不能請您光臨寒舍，在家父面前，替我美言兩句呢？」
“Really?” The captain couldn’t believe his ears:
“So, when you return to Earth, could you stop by my humble home to say a few
words on my behalf to my father?”
「啊！太榮幸了！等我任務完成了，一定會去拜訪你。」
“Of course! It would be an honor! When I finish my mission, I’ll call on you for certain.”
船長千謝萬謝的去了，文娃說：「我都不太認識你了！這幾天你的變化很大。」
The captain couldn’t thank
Wen Xiang enough as he left.
「是嗎？」其實，文祥自己也覺得有點肉麻，只好找理由說：「昨天我聽了左非右一席話，覺得那些只靠關係、沒有本事的人實在可憐，所以才對他客氣一點。」
“Is that so?” Actually, Wen Xiang also felt a little
disgusted with himself. So he made
an excuse, “After hearing Zuo Feiyo’s words yesterday, I feel sorry for those
who have no real talent but are well connected. That’s why I was nice to him.”
「不是講這個，據我們的分析，這兩天你血液中的性荷爾蒙急劇上升，已經到達警戒指數了。雖然我們立場一致，但是在這件事上，我覺得有點不妥。」
“I’m not taking about
that. According our analysis, your
testosterone has been surging to an alarming level these two days. Though we’re on the same side, I don’t
feel comfortable about this.”
文祥也感覺到心底有了一些變化，但他一直不願承認。十幾年來，他心平如水，怎麼會受到這位相識才一週的女孩影響呢？他也分明感覺到，當他與衣紅在一起時，心情特別愉快。他更不能否認，一離開她，就好像少了什麼，讓他坐立難安。
Wen
Xiang also sensed that deep in his heart, there had been some changes. But he wouldn’t admit it. For more than a decade, his heart had
been like a still pool. How could
he be influenced by a girl whom he had known for only a week? He knew for certain that when he was
with Yi Hong, he felt especially happy.
He couldn’t deny that when he was not with her, he felt something was
missing and he was restless.
「這只是暫時的失衡，妳知道，我太久沒有與人交往了。」
“It’s just a temporary
imbalance. You know, it's been a
long time since I've hung out with other people.”
「這些事我們真弄不清楚，不過，到火星後，你還會遇到很多女孩子，不知道下次你的荷爾蒙指數會升多高？」
“We really don’t understand these
things. However, when you are on
Mars, you’ll meet many girls. I
wonder what your testosterone level will be like next time.”
文祥自己也覺得好笑，他決定趕快去找千奇，免得撞見衣紅，又鬧得心神不安，最後還要被電腦取笑！
Wen Xiang felt like laughing,
too. He decided to find Creepy
ASAP. This way he could avoid
bumping into Yi Hong, in which case he would again become distracted, and
ultimately laughed at by the computer.
剛到千奇客艙門口，還沒有見到正主，一個溫軟香滑的肉體，就滑進了他的懷抱，觸目是一片霧鬢風鬟。他猜是格瑞達，但又沒有什麼把握，只好用手去推。當手上敏銳的神經，碰到那柔嫩的胴體時，一股電流立即震慄全身。
When he arrived at the door to
Creepy’s, before he'd set eyes on Creepy, a soft and fragrant body slipped into
his arms. All that met his eyes was
a swirl of woman’s hair. He guessed
that it was Greda but he couldn’t be sure.
He pushed her aside, but as the sensitive nerves in his hands brushed
against her soft flesh, an electric current instantly surged through his
body.
文祥這裡猛烈地一震，格瑞達也被突如其來的狀況嚇了一跳。她慌亂地退了一步，文祥卻是滿面通紅，呆立在原處。
Wen Xiang was violently jolted by
the shock. Greda, too, was startled
by the sudden encounter. She
hastily stepped back. Blushing, Wen
Xiang stood there, dazed..
經驗老到的格瑞達，馬上省悟了是怎麼回事，興奮得唔了一聲，不僅再將文祥擁進懷中，而且賞了一個又大又長的香吻，幾乎把文祥悶死了。
The
experienced Greda immediately realized what had happened. Aroused, she moaned and not only pulled
Wen Xiang into her arms, but kissed him so long and hard he nearly
suffocated.
「夠了！夠了！可憐的小傢伙，怎麼經得住妳這樣折騰！」黑金剛慢條斯理地過來解圍，一把將高出文祥半個頭的格瑞達拉進房裡。
“That’s enough! Poor guy. No man could put up with your kind of
torture!” Black King Kong slowly
ambled over to the rescue and pulled Greda, who was half a head taller than Wen
Xiang, into the room.
「親愛的，你要去哪裡？」格瑞達饞涎欲滴。
“Darling, where are
you going?” Greda’s mouth was
watering.
「別鬧了！我們有正事要談！」黑金剛大聲制止。
“Knock it off! We have important business to
discuss!” Black King Kong's loud
voice stopped her.
格瑞達顯然對黑金剛言聽計從，委委屈屈地問道：「正事辦完以後呢？」
Greda obviously did whatever Black King Kong said, and asked in a hurt tone, “And after you've finished talking business?”
「妳把他吃了我也不管。」
“You can devour him,
for all I care.”
千奇也過來了，請文祥進去，說：「我們有新的任務，需要你的協助。」
Creepy came over and invited
Wen Xiang inside. “We have a new mission and we need your help.”
文祥驚魂甫定，說：「好的，可是……」
Wen Xiang still hadn't
recovered from his shock, and said, “Sure, but…”
黑金剛哈哈笑道：「別怕，別怕，格瑞達只是吃相兇悍一點而已。」
“Ha, ha”, Black King Kong laughed, “Don’t be afraid. Greda's just a little too aggressive, that's all."
等大家都進來了，魏德曼略一調整控制盤，整個房間立刻變成會議室。他如臨大敵般的，又加了兩道安全防護。
When every one was in the
room, Whitman made some minor adjusts to the control panel and the entire room
was immediately transformed into a conference room. Just as if the enemy was approaching, he
added two safety precautions.
千奇說：「我們來火星是因為那裡有狀況，雖然已經利用模擬真實系統，瞭解了現場的情形，但人還是要親自去處理。前幾天在文先生與各位通力合作下，我們找到了問題。後來，我們用同樣的方法，在火星，甚至地球上都發現了類似的現象。」
Creepy said, “The reason why
we're coming to Mars is because something is wrong there. Although a simulating system has already
enabled us to understand the on-site situation, someone still has to go there
to take care of the problem. A few
days ago, thanks to the cooperation of Mr. Wen and everyone here, we identified
the problem. Later, by using the
same method we found similar phenomena occurring on Mars, and even on
Earth.”
百怪說：「老怪不必囉嗦！等會下船時，讓文先生和我們一起走就是。」
Weirdo said, “No need to make it sound so
complicated! Later after we've
disembarked, just let Mr. Wen come with us.”
黑金剛搖頭說：「你只知其一不知其二，文先生另有任務不說，對方對我們早已是嚴陣相待。文先生沒有受過訓練，在一起反而互相牽累。」
Black
King Kong shook his head, “You don't completely understand. Mr. Wen has his own mission. Besides, our opponent is ready and
waiting for us. Mr. Wen has not
been trained. If we were together
we'd just get in each other's way.”
百怪說：「什麼？膽子變小了？」
Weirdo said, “What? Losing your courage?”
千奇說：「老怪，這次任務不是兒戲！很可能大家都回不去了！」
Creepy said, “Weirdo, this mission
is not some sort of game. It's
possible none of us will make it back this time!”
百怪說：「哪有這麼嚴重？」
Weirdo said, “It can't be
that serious?”
從來不多話的莎莉，這時湊近百怪耳朵，悄聲說了幾句。百怪這才封口，將身體縮在高大的座椅中，幾乎看不見了。
Sally,
who never said more than was necessary, now leaned over to Weirdo and whispered
in his ear. Weirdo then shut up and
shrank back in his big, tall seat to the point where he was almost out of sight.
千奇對文祥說：「你知道地球上的聖嬰現象吧？」
Creepy said to Wen Xiang,
“You're aware of the El Niño phenomena on Earth?”
文祥搖搖頭，說：「常聽說，但不大清楚。」
Wen Xiang shook his head and
said, “I've often heard of it but I don’t know exactly what it is.”
千奇解釋道：「聖嬰現象是加勒比灣流所引起的氣候反常現象，因為發生在聖誕節前後而得名。由於連綿數萬公里的海底火山，不斷地宣洩熱能，使加勒比海灣流的平均水溫升高了攝氏五、六度。由於它的面積極大，大約有數百萬平方公里，一旦灣流溫度升高，你可以想像大氣層所受的影響有多嚴重了。更糟的是繼之而來又有聖女嬰，或者叫反聖嬰現象，相當於大自然的反作用力，搞得全球氣候七橫八豎的。
Creepy
explained, “El Niño is a disruption of the weather pattern caused by the
Caribbean Current. The name El Niño
comes from the fact that it takes place during Christmas season. The volcanoes that stretch over 10,000
kilometers under the sea continuously release their warmth and the temperature
of the Caribbean Current rises an average of 5 or 6 degrees Celsius. Because of its vast extent, about
several million square kilometers, as soon as the Current’s temperature rises,
you can imagine how severe the impact is on the atmosphere. Worst of all, there is this La Niña, or
anti-El Niño, that follows in its wake.
It's akin to a force counter to nature and creates chaos with weather
world-wide.
「在本世紀初期，尤其是二○○○、二○○四及二○○八年，由於聖嬰現象與溫室效應惡性循環的結果，地球上損失之慘重，簡直不堪言喻。沿海國家受到暴雨狂風的侵襲，內陸卻是乾旱連年。不但地震、海嘯、山焚、蝗災、霾害不斷，更可怕的是瘧疾、登革熱、黃熱病、霍亂、痢疾、傷寒等流行疾病以及各種人造的、自然演變的濾過性病毒，一個接著一個，把地球鬧得天翻地覆。」
“In the early period of this century,
especially in the years 2000, 2004, and 2008, because of the cycle of
misfortune created by El Niño and the greenhouse effect, the Earth suffered
indescribable losses. Coastal
nations were deluged by rain storms and raging winds while inner continents
suffered years of draught.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, forest fires, locust swarms, and sand storms
occurred one after another. Even
worse were the wide-spread diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow
fever, cholera, and dysentery, not to mention all kinds of synthetic or
naturally evolved viruses appeared in succession, creating turmoil on
Earth.”
「我們有個地心探險隊，一共有一千多人，專門負責處理地心熔漿的溫度平衡。由於電腦網絡的支援，我們得以掌握地殼、板塊、地函的全部狀況。隨時將多餘的能量，轉化為可用的電流，或視需要提高地域性溫度，以保持地殼的穩定以及氣候的正常。
“We have an Earth core
exploration team. Over 1,000
specialists make sure the temperature of the molten lava in the center of the
Earth remains even. With the help
of a computer network, we are able to control all conditions affecting the
crust, plates, and mantles. We are
able to transform the excess energy into usable electric current at any
time. Or, if necessary, we can
raise regional temperature to maintain crust stability and normal weather.
「近十年來，地球板塊漂移的現象，基本上說來已經受到控制了，聖嬰現象也很久沒有發生了。這次我們來火星，是因為接到消息，說火星上地熱變化異常的現象，有人為破壞的跡象。想不到，昨天我們遙控檢查，發現火星上也有這種『光彈』的記錄。」
“In the last decade or so, the
movements of the plates have basically been under control. The El Niño phenomenon hasn't appeared
in a long while. We've come to Mars
this time because we've received reports of abnormal geothermal changes on
Mars. There were traces of man-made
destruction. Unexpectedly, while we
were conducting remote check up yesterday, we found Mars also had this type of
‘bullet of Light’ record.”
「光彈？」文祥不解。
“Bullet of
Light?” Wen Xiang didn’t
understand.
「就是那天我們發現的那個高頻波，我們特別給它取的名字，指它的能量有如子彈。這還不稀奇，我們在加勒比海的地測隊，已經發現了灣流溫度上升的跡象，表示聖嬰現象有死灰復燃的可能。當我們無意中向他們提及這個光彈時，他們說正是因為光彈的襲擊，才省悟到測量儀器可能受損，檢查之下，才發現有些儀器已經有『電性疲勞』的症狀。我們立刻發動全球機構，做徹底檢查，最後確定果然是電性疲勞，問題出在鍺七六的同位素上。由於過去分子工程上的缺失，約有百分之二的偵測器材，在高劑量的輻射下，都產生了鍺七六。現在我們面臨的問題十分嚴重，必須查出光彈襲擊的原因！」
“It’s the special name we gave to
the high frequency we discovered the other day. This means it has the energy of a
bullet. That's nothing. Our earth expedition team in the
百怪即令藏在座椅中，還是忍不住要開口：「我認為那不是襲擊，是一種警告！」
Though
hiding in his seat, Weirdo couldn’t resist saying, “I don’t think that was an
attack. It was some kind of
warning!”
千奇說：「不管襲擊也好，警告也好，到底是誰發出的？從哪裡發出的？」
Creepy said, “I don’t care if it’s
an attack or a warning. But who
sent it and where did it come from?”
古嚕嚕說：「據我判斷，是從外太空來的。」
Gululu said, “In my opinion,
it came from outer space.”
黑金剛說：「如果真的是外太空傳來的信息，那就不是小事了，當局命令我們要全力偵查。我們認為你對信息很有研究，所以希望你也參加。」
Black
King Kong said, “If it really is a message from outer space, then that's no
small matter. The Authority ordered
us to exert maximum effort in our investigation. With your wide experience with signals,
we hoped you would join us.”
文祥老實說：「我真的是什麼都不懂，這次只是瞎貓碰到了死耗子。」
Wen Xiang told them frankly,
“I really don’t know anything. It
was just sheer luck.”
黑金剛說：「那也行，只要你是福將，我們就能沾光。」
Black King Kong said,
“That’s fine. As long as you’re the
lucky one, we’ll be able to benefit.”
千奇說：「不瞞你說，我們都是經過長時期訓練的專家，思路常受到經驗的限制。由本世紀一些突破性發明中，我們看到了一種自由思維的新模式。你的優點正是能不受框框束縛，比如說，如果不是你想到把光波放大來看，我們就不會發現光彈。」
Creepy
said, “To tell you the truth, we’re all experts with years of training. But our experience often limits our
thinking. Some breakthrough
inventions in this century enabled us to witness a new kind of
freethinking. Your advantage lies
in your ability to be free from restriction. For example, if you hadn’t thought of
amplifying the light wave, we would never have discovered the Bullet of Light.”
百怪說：「老怪不公平，光彈分明是他發現的，你只不過取了個名字罷了！」
Weirdo said, “You’re not
being fair. He is the one that
found the Bullet of Light. You just
gave it a name, that’s all!”
文祥說：「只要有工作交待，請不必客氣。」他當然知道，電腦無所不在，他說了這句話，就相當於正式宣誓加入黑金剛的工作小組。
Wen
Xiang said, “If you have any work for me, please don’t hesitate.” Of course he knew that the computer was
everywhere. When he said this, it
was tantamount to formally announcing he was going to work with Black King
Kong's unit.
千奇大喜，說：「行！只要有你這句話就行，馬上就要到站了，我只能給你作簡單的介紹。其餘的資料都在電腦中，有空你慢慢研究。原則上，在我們的火星任務完畢後，要就加勒比海地質作一次全面性調查。如果到時你不能來，至少可以提供一些看法。」
Creepy was very happy about
this and he said, “Great! Your word
is good enough for me. We’re almost
there so I can only give you a brief introduction. You can find the rest in the
computer. Study them when you have
time. Basically, when we finish our
mission on Mars, we’ll be conducting an overall geographical investigation of
the
文祥答應了，千奇便大略地介紹了當前地球的狀況。一個對此事從來不加聞問的局外人，在瞭解了實際情況以後，很難不感到震驚與惶恐。原來，人類醉生夢死的天堂，竟然只是一個瀕臨崩潰的地獄。
Wen
Xiang agreed and Creepy then gave him a brief introduction to the present
situation on Earth. For an outsider
who had never cared about matters on Earth, once he understood the actual situation,
it was difficult not to feel shock and fear. So, the dream-like heaven that human
beings had been indulging themselves in was nothing but a hell on the verge of
collapse.
這個不幸的後果，全是人類在二十世紀所造下的大孽。電腦世紀的到來，只能說為苟延殘喘的人類文明蓋棺論定，並裝訂封套而已。因為電腦已經有了他自己的生命與文化，雖說他是在為人類服務，其實那只是一些例行工作。他真正要追求的，卻是永恒的未來。人類對他而言，不過是一種兩腳行走、瀕臨絕種的保護類動物而已。只不過這些動物所要求的自然生態動物園，規模更大、設備更先進罷了！
This unfortunate result was entirely the
fault of man's misdeeds during the 20th century. The coming of the computer age was the
final judgement on a human civilization that was just barely alive. The computer already had its own life
and culture. Though it continued to
serve man, to the computer it was nothing more than routine work. What it really wanted to seek was an
eternal future. To the computer,
human beings were nothing but a two-legged species in danger of
extinction. The only difference was
these animals required a large-scale environmental zoo with advanced
facilities!
早在二十世紀的六○年代，就有深思遠慮的科學家曾提出，人類無限制地追求成長，是竭澤而漁的愚行。到了七○年代，更有一批人文學者，組成「羅馬俱樂部」，提出了「成長極限論」，認為當自然資源耗盡之時，人類社會將面臨空前大災難。
As early as the 1960s in the 20th
century, scientists who had given the problem a great deal of thought,
suggested that man's pursuit of unlimited growth was a stupidity akin to
draining a pond in order to catch the fish it contained. (killing the goose
that lays the golden egg). In the
70s, a group of humanitarian scholars formed the “Club of Rome”. They proposed a theory of maximum
development theory which predicted that when natural resources were exhausted,
mankind would face an unprecedented catastrophe.
然而，舉世在二十世紀末後工業時期的宿醉下，物質享受早已成為麻醉藥的替代品。利益既得者高舉自由經濟的大纛，民主政治更大量注射愚民的興奮劑。知識份子如同看家狗，莫不推波助瀾，期望在牛奶、蜂蜜舖地的物質天堂中，佔得一席之地。
However, in the later part of the 20th
century, the entire world was experiencing a hangover from the post-industrial
era. Material comfort had long
since replaced narcotics. Those who
had already prospered waved the banner of free economy on high, while a
democratic government injected the heedless public with ever-larger doses of
stimulants. Intellectuals were like
watchdogs. They eagerly took part
in events hoping to secure a place in the land of milk and honey that was
materiel heaven.
為了滿足無厭的需求，地球上經過十億年所累積的太陽能－－石油，人類讓它在短短的一百多年中，還原成為熱、二氧化碳及各種有害人體的化學物質。最糟糕的是一些自命為科學家，卻沒有一點良知道德的人，樂觀的認為縱然石油用光了，還有氫氣。這等於是說，地球毀滅了，還有火星、木星……科學可以創造奇蹟！
In order to satisfy these endless needs,
petroleum, which solar energy had gradually accumulated over the past one
billion years, was, in the short space of a little more than a hundred years,
transformed by man into heat, carbon dioxide and various chemical compounds
harmful to health. Worst of all,
some pretentious scientists completely devoid of conscience and morality,
optimistically proposed that when petroleum was exhausted, there was still
hydrogen. It was like saying that
when the Earth was gone, there would still be Mars, Jupiter… Science could create miracles!
人性是自私的，人民是無知的，除了一己的享受，有誰管明天如何？後代子孫如何？以致再精闢的讜論，一到以無知愚昧、自私自利的人民為主，僅憑多數決定的制度下，必然要受到鄙視與排擠。在時代的加速度前進下，知識爆炸、環境污染、生態崩毀、森林伐盡、倫理喪失、社會離析、家庭破產、獸性高張、弱肉強食。但是，人卻如同沙鷸般，一個個把自己關在冷氣房內，拼命賺錢，埋頭享受，作繭只為了自縛。
Human nature is selfish and the public is
ignorant. Aside from being absorbed
in selfish pleasure, who was there to care about tomorrow or coming
generations? Therefore, any
insightful, honest, and wise advice was doomed to be viewed with contempt and
ostracized. During this age rapid
progress and the explosion of knowledge, there was environmental pollution,
biological collapse, the denuding of forests, the loss of morality, social
chaos, bankrupt families, the flood of beastly behavior, and values based on
survival of the fittest. But
people were like sand crabs, each staying in their air-conditioned rooms,
interested only in making money and devoting themselves to pleasure. Like silk worms, they created their own cocoons, but in
doing so only curbed their own freedom.
終於，大自然發出了警告，在八○年代，地球的臭氧層破了兩個大洞，紫外線開始肆虐。到了九○年代，全球平均氣溫升高了攝氏○˙五度，極地的冰原急劇退縮。聖嬰現象一年比一年嚴重，雨水調節失常，地域環境驟變，氣候在最精密的電腦監測下，都難以捉摸。再加上陸地的水土保持長期被漠視，結果綠地沙漠化，每年侵蝕良田高達數百萬畝。原來七○年代綠色革命的光輝，在人類肆無忌憚的揮霍下，早已左支右絀了。
Finally, nature issued a warning. In the 80s, two holes were identified in
the ozone layer and ultraviolet radiation began to cause widespread
destruction. In the 90s, the
average temperature on Earth increased by 0.5 Celsius, and the polar ice caps receded
dramatically. The El Niño phenomena
grew worse each year and rainfall became
unpredictable. Regional environment
changed abruptly and dramatically.
Even with monitoring by the most sophisticated computers, weather
predication remained very difficult.
In addition, soil and water conservation had been neglected for a long
period time. As a result, green
fields were transformed into desert.
Millions of acres of cultivated lands were lost each year. Due to man's reckless and lavish abuse,
the glory of the green revolution of the 70s had long since lost its bright
promise.
就以中國長江為例，長江的源頭靠四百三十七條冰川補給，冰儲量近一百六十三億立方公尺。在一九九八年，位於青康藏高原各拉丹冬雪山腳下，長十二點五公里的姜古迪如冰川，在全球氣候變化和人為破壞下，已嚴重退縮，冰湖已消失，礫石裸露，冰川也退縮近三百公尺。
Take the
殺蟲藥的報應也開始了，食物鍊的循環轉到了人類，最足以自傲的基因工程，無法驅除各種病毒的侵襲。在人們愚昧荒唐的蠢行下，各種催情、迷魂、麻 醉、壯陽的藥物更有如雨後春筍，自由泛濫成災，人類的荒淫已達到空前的地步。
The consequences of pesticide use also became apparent. With man at the top of the food chain, genetic engineering, man's proudest technology, was unable to repel invasion by a myriad of viruses. Because of man's benighted and absurd stupidity, a multitude of aphrodisiacs, conscious-altering drugs, narcotics, and virility enhancing nostrums promptly sprang up, like green shoots in the wake of a spring rain, and, unchecked, brought wide-spread disaster. Man's sensual cravings had reached an unprecedented intensity.
人類之趨於自我毀滅，本是自然不變的法則，盈則必虧，生死循環，本來無可厚非。不幸的是前人種因，後人得果，在本世紀初，地球就顯露了下世的光景。電腦時代到臨，成立了不畏生死的特遣隊，專門應付各種不測的變局。在編制上，除了數以百萬計的機器人外，各種專業人員就有萬餘精英。
Man's propensity for self-destruction is
an unalterable rule of nature.
Prosperity is inevitably followed by decline, just as life is followed
by death. Unfortunately, later
generations reap the harvest of seeds planted by their predesscors. In the early years of this century, the
Earth revealed a glimpse into the future.
The computer era arrived and gave rise to the SWAT team, the members of
which were indifferent to death.
They were trained to deal with all manner of unexpected events. Aside from millions of robots, this
organization numbered over 10,000 elite specialists.
這時最重要的發明，首推熱電材料，在熱電材料大量的應用下，溫室效應首先被控制住。再加上食物、能源、娛樂等問題的解決，人類把舞台讓給電腦，自己卻遁入虛無幻夢中。星移斗轉，電腦的經驗越來越豐富，誰知問題反而來了。電腦終於發現，他知道的越多，不知道的事物，也相對的呈幾何級數增加。
The
most important invention at this time was thermo-electric material. By applying large quantities of
thermo-electric materials, the green house effect was initially brought under
control. Problems of food, energy,
and entertainment were solved.
Human beings yielded center stage to the computer and fled into their
empty illusions and dreams. As time
passed, and the computer acquired more and more experience, no one could have
anticipated the problem that followed.
The computer finally realized that the more it knew, more unknown
related facts arose, like some geometric progression.
從表面上看來，電腦的力量無所不至，已經盤踞了整個太陽系，甚至正朝著太陽系以外逐步擴展。然而電腦知道，他那無限的記憶能量，仍然受限於有限的資訊頻寬。因此，他開始思考，可不可能有一種模式，能以有限管窺無限呢？
Superficially, the power of the computer
was everywhere. It had long since
strategically placed itself throughout the entire solar system, and even had
begun to gradually expand beyond the solar system. However, the computer realized its
limitless capacity for memory storage was still limited by the bandwidth. Therefore, it began to speculate if
there might be some way to catch a glimpse of infinity from within the world of
limitations.
結果這個任務便落到特遣隊身上，其實電腦另外有個顧問團－－系統諮詢委員會，其中成員都是俊彥之士，但會議經年，對上述的問題卻仍無解。不過，與會者至少已有了一個共識－－應該賦與電腦更強的思維能力。
As
a result, this mission was entrusted to the SWAT team. Actually, the computer had another
council – the System Consulting Committee.
The members of this Committee were all scholars of renown. After years of discussion, they still
hadn't been able to solve the above problem. However, the members at least reached a
consensus of opinion: the computer should be given a more powerful thinking
capacity.
說來相當諷刺，在這個科學昌盛的時代，竟然沒有人知道應該怎樣思維，遑論賦與電腦這種能力了。完成智慧電腦晶片的不二老人，多半已經仙去。他沒有留下任何資料，只是寫了不少書，偏偏那些書除了小說以外，多半內容深奧，讀來不知所云。
It sounds ironic in the
telling, but in this age of advanced science, it was shocking enough that no
one knew how to think, much less give this ability to the computer. Buer Lao, the person who developed the
AI computer processing unit, had already passed away. He left no information but he had
written many books. However, aside
from novels, the contents of most of his books were very difficult and
unintelligible to readers.
「不二老人？他是誰？」文祥好不容易逮到了機會，連忙插口。
“Buer Lao? Who was he?” Wen Xiang finally had a chance and
hurriedly interrupted.
「喔，他是個中國人，一位隱士，生平不可考。」千奇說。
“Oh, he was a Chinese,
a hermit. There is no information
about him,” Creepy said.
「老怪，這事我比你清楚，他……」百怪又插上一句。
“Old Creepy, I know
this better than you. He…”, Weirdo
again interrupted.
黑金剛怕他們又扯個不完，忙說：「百怪！時間不多了，這些事以後慢慢再說！讓千奇把結論說了吧！」
Black King Kong feared they
would get side-tracked, so he hurriedly said, “Weirdo! We don’t have too much time. You can talk about this later! Just let Creepy finish his conclusion!”
千奇便說：「結論有三點，一是增加電腦思維能力的方法，很可能在不二老留下來的書籍當中。問題是現在肯看書的人太少了，看得懂書的人更少，我們也在找人學著看書。第二點，根據電腦測量的資料顯示，太陽能及地球熱能的大量應用，使地球質量在三十年內增加了千萬分之一。意思是說，地球運行的速度慢了下來，可能會向太陽靠近。好處是可以獲得更多的太陽能，壞處則是會加速地球的毀滅。
Creepy continued, “There are 3 conclusions. First, to find a way to increase the computer’s thinking ability. Perhaps it's somewhere in Buer Lao's writings. The problem is that not many people read anymore, and those who understand what they read are even fewer. We're looking for people who will learn the art of reading. Second, according to the computer survey, wide use of solar energy and thermal energy on Earth, has increased the Earth's mass by 1/10 million in 30 years. This means that the Earth's rotation is slowing down, and it may start drawing nearer to the Sun. The good thing is that we can get more solar energy. The bad thing is that it will speed up the Earth’s destruction.
「最後一點是，我們認為這麼多的光彈密集出現，其間一定隱含了什麼重要的意義。因此，我們決定擴大規模，可能在年底召開一個大型公聽會。有關光彈的事，就麻煩文兄多多費心了。」
“Finally, we think the frequent appearances of the Bullet of
Light must mean something of vital importance. In view of this, we decided to expand
the scope of this study. It's
possible a large hearing will be held by the end of the year. So Wen, we’ll have to trouble you to do
your best with this Bullet of Light affair.”
文祥一聽，這麼重大的責任，自己如何承擔得起？當下便說：「我會盡全力去做，但是未必有能力解決問題。」
When Wen Xiang heard this, felt he wasn't
capable of taking on such a great responsibility. He quickly said, “I’ll do my best. But I’m not sure I’ll be able to solve
the problem.”
黑金剛說：「這點你不必擔心，我們會多請一些專家來共商大計。今後有任何事，你可以直接與莎莉聯絡。」
Black King Kong said, “Don’t
worry about it. We’ll invite other
experts to discuss this matter. If
you need anything, just contact Sally.”
簡報完畢後，文祥第一件事，就是向百怪打聽不二老人的事。
After the briefing, the
first thing Wen Xiang did was to ask Weirdo abut Buer Lao.
百怪問：「你想知道什麼？」
Weirdo asked, “What do you
want to know?”
文祥反問他：「你知道什麼呢？」
Instead of replying, Wen
Xiang asked him, “What do you know?”
「老實說，我知道的只比千奇多一點。」
“To tell you the
truth, I only know a bit more than Creepy."
「能不能告訴我？」
“How about telling
me?”
「當然可以，我知道他是個怪物，和我一樣。他的價值觀跟別人不一樣，所以得不到支持。他發明了智慧電腦，卻不敢生產製造，他寫了些什麼叫「智慧」的書，但是懂的人不多。還有……在三十年前，他最後一次出現在西藏，以後就成仙去了。」
“Of course. I know he was a strange man, just like
me. His values were different from
those of others, so he never received any support. He invented AI computers but he didn’t
dare to put them into production.
He wrote some books concerning ‘wisdom’ but not many people could
understand them. There's something
else: he was last seen about 30 years ago in
「怎麼成仙去了？」
“What does ‘becoming
an immortal’ mean?”
「誰知道？死了！躲到山洞裡去了！總之，他做的事沒有人猜得透。」
“Who knows? Dead, or hiding in a cave! Anyway, nobody can understand his way of
doing things.”
「為什麼他不敢生產智慧電腦呢？」
“Why was he unwilling
to produce AI computers?”
「我說過，他是個怪物嘛！」
“Like I said, he was a
strange guy!”
一旁站立的古嚕嚕插口說：「這件事我很瞭解，二十世紀是商人的世界，主流思想就是賺錢牟利。但是，智慧電腦是人類唯一的希望，絕對不能訴諸商業行為。」
Gululu,
who had been standing at the side, interrupted, “I understand perfectly. The 20th
century was a world of commerce.
Mainstream thinking was only concerned with money and profit. But the AI computer was mankind's only
hope. It could never become a
commodity.”
文祥說：「這點我不能同意，假如不二老不喜歡錢，他可以賙濟貧困，可以用錢做更多的事呀！」
Wen
Xiang said, “I don’t agree. If Buer
Lao didn’t like money, he could have used it to help the poor or put the money
to good use in any number of ways."
古嚕嚕說：「沒那麼簡單，你們中國人有句俗話：『賠本生意沒人做，殺頭生意悄悄來。』只要有錢可賺，人就會用盡手段，學、偷、抄、破、搶，不要多久，智慧電腦千百個不同的版本，就會充斥市面。先別說要評斷哪一種比較好，連瞭解它都要花上不少的時間。再說你有了，我也照抄，人稱『多元化』，實際上是『失控化』。如果智慧電腦也如此，另一個理性的亂世又將開始。」
Gululu said, “It wasn’t that simple. You Chinese have a saying: ‘Nobody is interested in a business that loses money.’ Businessmen are always on the lookout for money-making ventures, even if there's a risk they might get their head chopped off. So, as long as there was money to be made, people would stoop to any means, be it plagiarism, theft, pirating, destruction, or taking by force. Before long, over 100 different versions of AI computers would have appeared on the market. There was no time to judge which one was better, because it would take too long. Moreover, when you had a product, I would merely copy yours. People called it ‘diversity’, but actually, it was ‘out of control’. If the production of AI computers turned out to be this way, it would herald the start of another irrational and chaotic world.”
文祥說：「如果以產品的價值來說，在自由競爭下，理應比獨佔要有效得多。」
Wen Xiang said, “If judged by
product value, free market competition should be much more effective than a
monopoly.”
古嚕嚕搖頭說：「這就是吊詭所在，所以才形成二十世紀的『失控觀』。舉個實例來說吧！電腦的發展史正是明證，在二十世紀八○年代，最理想的電腦中樞晶片，是莫托羅拉的六萬八千系列，然而佔有市場的，卻是英岱爾的八○系列。對一般使用者來說，價格便宜最重要；對電腦公司來說，行銷容易最重要；對軟體工程師來說，應用程式最重要；而對系統發展的人來說，電腦中樞的設計理念才是最重要的。
Gululu
shook his head. “This is where the suspense came in. The ‘out of control’ view in the 20th
century was a result of this. For
example, there is no better proof than the development of the computer. In the 80s of the 20th
century, the best CPU was the Motorola 68000 series. However, it was the Intel 80 series that
dominated the market. For the
average user low prices were the primary consideration. For computer companies, it was smooth
marketing that counted. For system developers, the design concept of the CPU
was most important.
「不幸的是，系統發展者還不到電腦從業人員的十萬分之一。在其他電腦從業人員一致擁戴下，英岱爾的中樞晶片成為主流。因為這一點，使電腦的成長整整延誤了二十年。也就是說，如果莫托羅拉的六萬八千中樞早成氣候，智慧電腦可以早二十年問世，很可能地球的危機還不至於到這個地步。」
“Unfortunately, the number of system developers constituted
less than 1/100,000 of those working in the computer industry. Thanks to united support from these
computer-related people, Intel's CPU became the mainstream. This fact delayed computer development
for 20 years. In other words, if
the Motorola 68000 series had appeared earlier, an AI computer could have been
produced 20 years earlier. it's
very possible the crisis on the Earth could have been averted.”
文祥說：「怎麼可能呢？這是科學呀！如果莫什麼拉的晶片，真的比另一種好，怎麼會被淘汰呢？難道當時的人寧願要壞的？」
Wen
Xiang said,“How could this possible?
It was science! If the
'Mo..la', or whatever it was, was truly better than why was it eliminated? Do you mean to tell me people at that
time would rather have inferior quality?”
古嚕嚕說：「文先生，你不要太天真了。不二老人就是身處那個笑貧不笑娼的時代，人人為了一點小名毛利，已經是不擇手段了，更何況這樣重大的利器？由於不二老人最初設計的『自然語言』，是以兩組三十二位元內碼為結構，只有六萬八千系列可以支援。但是市場上的選擇為八○系列，在資料的內處理上極為困難。因此，不二老人只好自行設計硬體，偏偏資金又不足，就此延誤下來了。」
Gululu said, “Mr. Wen.
Don’t be so naïve. Buer Lao
lived in an era when money was worshiped no matter what you did for a
living. People would do whatever it
takes for just a little fame or profit, not to mention a profitable product of
this magnitude. When Buer Lao first
designed his ‘natural language’, it was structured by two sets of 32-bit
internal codes. Only the 68000
series could support it. However,
the market chose the 80 series which made processing data very difficult. So Buer Lao had to design his own
hardware but he lacked sufficient capital, and because of this, computer
development was postponed.”
文祥還知道一點歷史，問道：「不是當時有很多風險投資嗎？」
Wen Xiang knew a little
about history so he asked, “Wasn’t venture capital available in those days?”
古嚕嚕說：「問題是沒有人懂什麼叫做智慧，更可笑的是，不二老人是個『黑手』，沒有人敢相信他。」
Gululu said, “The problem was that no one understood the meaning of wisdom. What was more, Buer Lao was an ‘amateur’. No one would believe him.”
文祥不懂：「黑手？」
Wen Xiang didn’t
understand. “Amateur?”
古嚕嚕說：「就是由外行變成內行的人，就像你我如今都成為危機處理專家一樣。總之，在不二老的時代，你們中國人喪盡了民族自尊心，幾乎已經變成美國人的『黃色小兄弟』，老大哥沒有跨出大門，小兄弟是不敢移動半步的。政府是官僚當道，民間是唯利是圖，整個人類未來的問題，根本無人關心，還會有人看得見智慧電腦嗎？」
Gululu
said, “It means a person who does something without being professionally
qualified, just like you and I have become experts in dealing with crises. Anyway, in Buer Lao’s time, you Chinese
had lost your national pride to the point where you almost became
文祥這才瞭解：「於是他只好隱居起來。」
Wen Xiang now
understood. “So he had to live as
recluse.”
古嚕嚕說：「假如是我，自殺算了！」
Gululu said, “If it was me,
I’d have killed myself!”
文祥又問：「那後來呢？」
Wen Xiang continued, “What happened
afterward?”
古嚕嚕說：「不二老人把晶片設計好了，交給人類基金會，就失蹤了。」
Gululu answered, “Buer Lao
turned the finished processing unit over to the Human Foundation and
disappeared.”
文祥搖頭說：「這是不負責任嘛！」
Wen Xiang shook his
head. “That was irresponsible!”
古嚕嚕說：「或許吧！如果你有興趣，我建議你查查二○年代的科技史，老實告訴你，這些事我也是從網絡上看來的。」
Gululu said, “Maybe! If you’re really interested, I suggest
you look up the history of technology during the 20s. To tell you the truth, I found this
information online.”
百怪說：「還有一段你沒說，據說不二老人是以中國古老的《易經》，作為智慧電腦的判斷模組，不知為何電腦並沒有這種能力。我自知資質魯鈍，別說易經，就是難經我也學不會。文兄，你懂不懂易經？」
Weirdo
said, “You missed one detail. It is
said that Buer Lao used the ancient Chinese Yi
Jing (Note 1) to serve as the decision module for AI. No one knows why the computer lacked
this ability. I know I’m not
bright. I don’t think I can master
the Yi Jing, much less the
文祥搖搖頭說：「我連易經是什麼東西都不清楚。」
Wen Xiang shook his
head. “I don’t even know what the Yi Jing is.”
百怪說：「我也不清楚，只是聽千奇說，雖然有人懂易經，但是能將它設計成為電腦模組的人卻不多。假如你知道誰有這種能力，最好和他談談。」
Weirdo said, “Me either.