第二十五回：搖落深知宋玉悲
Chapter 25:
“Only fallen leaves can
know the heartbreak of Song Yu”
經過這幾次事件，電腦在自我反思與檢討後，終於理解到以往的觀念錯了，實在沒有必要強迫人類居住在電腦城中。當局因此決定，在電腦城之外增設「資訊服務區」，區內居民可自由選擇，願意配戴私用電腦的，就可獲得當局的服務。
After these several incidents,
and following a period of self-reflection and discussion, the computer finally realized
it had been wrong. There was no
need to force people to live in a computerized city. The Bureau therefore decided to
establish an “Information Service Region” outside of each computerized
city. People living in the Region would
be free to make their own choice. Those
willing to wear a personal computer would
be eligible to receive Bureau service.
文娃對文祥說：「我向禪師請示過了，這一帶已經劃入我們的資訊服務區。你告訴大家，凡是願意接受我們服務的，隨時可以到圓通法師那裡登記，領取微機。」
Wen
Wa told Wen Xiang, “I’ve already asked the Zen Master. This area has been included in our
Information Service Region. Tell
everyone that whoever wants to accept our service can register at their
pleasure with Master Yuan Tong and receive an AI computer.”
文祥好奇地問：「這一來，你們登記的人數不就超過一百億了？」
Curious, Wen Xiang asked,
“If you do this, won’t more than 10 billion people register?”
文娃說：「那有什麼關係？這叫做彈性原則。以往我們太機械化了，一百億究竟代表什麼？只是一個為了節制人口成長而預設的目標。現在人口已經維持穩定，如果我們還食古不化，那就是愚昧！」
Wen
Wa said, “So? This is called
flexibility policy. We were too
mechanical in the past. What does
10 billion mean anyway? It’s only a
pre-set goal to limit population growth.
Now that the number of people has been stabilized, it would be stupid to
blindly follow precedent!”
文祥笑道：「妳真的開竅了！」
Wen Xiang laughed and said,
“You finally understand!”
文娃說：「我記得有個寓言，講一條蚯蚓在黑暗的地底鑽洞，牠努力地向外鑽。終於有一天，將地表挖開了一個小洞，天光露了進來。牠高興地說：『好極了！開竅了！』問題是，到底是誰開竅了？是蚯蚓還是地？是我還是人？」
Wen
Wa said, “I recall a fable about an earthworm digging a hole in the darkness
underground, trying with all its might to get out. Finally, one day it opened a small hole
on the earth’s surface and the light poured in from the sky. It cried out joyously, “Wonderful! The aperture (See Chapter 4, Note 6) is
open!” The question is, who had
been enlightened? The earthworm or
the earth? Have I been enlightened,
or has Man?”
文祥等人在寺裡待了二十幾天，這群年輕人相處融洽，各自交換經驗，都增長了不少見識。行期在即，衣紅更不肯離開禪師半步。禪師笑道：「我道紅兒情關已過，卻是依戀之心猶存。」
Wen
Xiang and the others stayed in the monastery for over 20 days. These youngsters had gotten along very
well and their horizons had been broadened by the exchange of experiences. As the time for departure drew near, Yi
Hong wanted to spend every moment in the Zen Master’s company. The Zen Master laughed and said, “I
thought Hong had resolved her challenge of affection. It looks like her capacity for love is
still with her.”
衣紅賴說：「師父自己禪心不淨，怪得我來？」
Impishly,
Yi Hong said, “Master, your own meditative mind is impure. How can you blame me?”
「妳倒說說，為師哪點禪心不淨？」
“Tell me. In what way is my meditative mind impure?”
衣紅扳著手指頭，說：「第一，貪念，想貪圖清靜，把徒兒趕走。第二，嗔念，想罵徒兒，又不敢出口。第三，痴念，師父嘴巴不說，心裡卻放不下我們。」
Counting on her fingers, Yi Hong
said, “First, greed. You long for
quietness so you want your disciple to go.
Second, anger. You want to scold
your disciple, but you don’t dare.
Third, obsession. Though you
don’t say so, you’re worried about us.”
禪師笑了，說：「好好！為師倒被妳數落了，拿證據來！」
The
Zen Master laughed, saying, “All right!
Now it turns out that I’m being scolded by you. Show me some proof!”
衣紅說：「現在師父又犯了愚昧大罪！」
Yi Hong said, “Now the
Master has committed the sin of unawareness!”
「怎麼說？」
“How’s that?”
「事實在前，師父未見，是愚。證據已說，師父未知，是昧！」
“When the truth has been
laid before your eyes, but the Master doesn’t see it, that’s unawareness. When the evidence has been articulated,
but the Master doesn’t know it, that’s being blind!”
禪師歎道：「紅兒，有道是『口業身受』，既說此話，就種此因。切記休逞口舌之快，勿炫刀刃銳鋒。」
The
Zen Master sighed, “Hong, as the saying goes, ‘one must suffer the consequences
of what one has said’. Having
spoken these words, you’ve sown the seed for future trouble. Remember, don’t be so confident in your
quick comebacks. Don’t be so sharp-tongued.”
「師父能不能再透露一點訊息？可不要再叫我看圓光。上次師父讓我看，我完全誤會了，白受了好些罪！」
“Could the Master tell me more? Don’t make me look into a circle of
light again. The last time you did
that, I completely missed the point and suffered much needless hardship!”
「紅兒呀紅兒，妳是情關易過名關難，我無話可說！」
“Ah, Hong. It’s easy for you to resolve the
challenge of love but not the challenge of fame. I have nothing more to say!”
「師父！虛名是身外之物，名關有什麼難過的？」
“Master! Superficial fame is not important. Why will the challenge of fame be so
difficult to resolve?”
「虛中有實，妳好強好勝，患得患失，不正是為了名嗎？」
“Substance exists in emptiness. You love to show off and win. You’re worried about securing something
and then worried about losing it.
Isn’t that what fame is all about?”
「師父，不公平，徒兒是怕壞了您的名聲！」
“Master, that’s not fair. This disciple is afraid that she’ll
spoil your reputation!”
「阿彌陀佛！」禪師指著山後的高山，問衣紅道：「紅兒，為師所指者何？」
“Amitabha!” The Zen Master pointed to a lofty
mountain behind this mountain and asked Yi Hong, “Hong. What am I pointing at?”
「師父所指為六詔山萬巒峰。」
“The Master is
pointing at the Wanluan Peak of Liuzhao Mountain.”
禪師手指下移，指著萬巒峰前一座小山峰，又問：「那座呢？」
The
Zen Master’s finger moved downward and pointed to a small peak in front of the
Wanluan Peak, asking, “How about that one?”
「師父，山峰太多了，哪有這麼多名字？」
“Master. There are too many mountain peaks. How could they all have names?”
「紅兒喜歡哪一座？」
“Hong, which one do
you like the best?”
「都喜歡。」
“I like them all.”
「不分高下？」
“No preference?”
「不分高下！」
“No preference!”
「那麼，山名有什麼用？」
“Then, what’s the use
of names for mountains?”
「為了容易分辨呀！」
“So one can distinguish one from the other!”
「要分辨做什麼？」衣紅知道又落入彀中，微笑不答。禪師說：「名因人之有口也，口在夕下，夕昏難見，不得不以口呼之。人有所圖，懼人之不知，故而好名。紅兒，人若好名，便是我心不淨，難以登堂入室。」
“Why do they need to be
distinguished?” Yi Hong knew she
had been set up, so she smiled and didn’t answer. The Zen Master said, “Ming (fame) exists because people are endowed with a mouth. The ‘mouth’ (Kou) is placed under ‘evening’ (Xi)
(Note 1). The light of sunset is
dim, which makes it difficult to see clearly, so one is forced call out with their
mouth. If a person wants something
and he fears that others don’t know about it, we say that he loves fame. Hong, if one loves fame, it means their
mind is impure. It’s difficult to appreciate the full
scale of the master’s teachings.”
「師父，紅兒不是好名，是看不慣人們的愚昧。」
“Master, Hong doesn’t love fame. I just can’t stand how stupid people are.”
「如此說來，紅兒之智高與天齊？」
“So Hong’s wisdom is as high as the heavens?”
「師父，紅兒不是。」
“Master, it’s not true.”
「紅兒才通古今？」
“Hong is conversant with ancient and modern learning?”
「師父，紅兒不是這個意思！」
“Master, I didn’t mean that!”
「那麼，紅兒怎知人多愚昧？」
“Then, how could Hong understand how stupid people are?”
「師父不能怪紅兒呀！」衣紅委屈地說：「師父常說什麼世人皆愚，眾生常昧。紅兒只是重述您的教誨，又有哪點錯了？」
“Master, you can’t blame
Hong!” Yi Hong spoke as if she were
being wronged. “Master, you often
say that the people of the world are stupid and the masses are usually
benighted. Hong is only repeating
your teachings. Why am I wrong?”
禪師不禁笑了，說：「孽障！名關難過！難過！」
The Zen Master couldn’t help
but laugh and said, “You little devil!
The challenge of fame is difficult to resolve! Very difficult to resolve!”
衣紅涎皮賴臉地問：「為什麼？」
Yi Hong asked mischievously:
“Why?”
「妳東施效顰，何嘗不是為一個『名』字？」
“You’re trying to be
like me. Isn’t that for ‘fame’?”
四個人商量行程，衣紅很想去看看引她認識禪師的陶朱公和王之淳。禪師說，大約在一個月前，二人曾來此，提到附近又出現一種新害蟲。眼前既然沒有要事，又有電腦作後盾，何不去盡點心力？左非右原來計劃到成都，找他的一位師兄錢昆。他聽了衣紅的建議，自是踴躍輸將，不甘後人。
The
4 of them discussed their itineraries.
Yi Hong desperately wanted to see Mr. Tao Zhu and Wang Zhichun, the two
who had introduced her to the Zen Master.
The Zen Master said that about a month ago, the two of them had been there
and had mentioned that a new harmful insect had emerged in the nearby
area. Since there was nothing
important to do, and they were backed up by the computer, why not go there to
contribute whatever help they could?
Zuo Feiyou had originally planned to go to Chengdu to find his
schoolmate, Qian Kun. After he
heard Yi Hong’s suggestion, he of course was eager to contribute. He didn’t want to be left out.
此次下山，當局任命四人為「巡迴小組」，要他們訪查民隱，學習瞭解。四人各有所長，文祥主持全局，運籌帷幄；衣紅辯才無礙，負責交涉；左非右精通電子，負責四人的安全；風不懼穩重沉著，掌管一應雜事。當局並分派了兩架飛雲梭，以及一些必備的應用工具以為支援。
Upon
leaving the mountains this time, the Bureau commissioned the 4 of them to serve
as the “Circuit Unit”. They were
asked to investigate the hidden grievances of the people, to learn, and to understand. Each one of them had their special
skill: Wen Xiang was assigned to take charge and map out strategy. Yi Hong had a natural gift with words, so
she would be in charge of negotiations.
Zuo Feiyou’s specialty was electronics, so he would be responsible for
their security. Feng Buju was
steady and cool, so he would be responsible for all miscellaneous matters. In addition, the Bureau also provided two
Flying-cloud Shuttles and other necessary gear for backup.
禪師並未規定他們的行程，大家決定先去八寶墟陶莊，看看能不能幫上忙，再分道揚鑣，並隨時保持聯絡。
The
Zen Master didn’t say anything about their itinerary, so they decided to go to
the Tao Estate at Babao Hamlet and see if they could be of help. From there they would each go their
separate ways and stay in touch.
衣紅不再排斥電腦了，而且學著文祥，將她的微機取名為衣娃。她經常在獨處時，與衣娃唧咕個不停，一副舊雨新知的情懷。左非右一見她自言自語，便取笑道：「衣大姐，妳聽說過嗎？『楊柳青，石榴紅；舌頭長，大腦空。』」
Yi
Hong no longer rejected the computer.
Following Wen Xiang’s example, she named her AI computer Yi Wa. Often, when she was alone, Yi Hong would
talk non-stop to Yi Wa, just like old friends, even though they had just met. When Zuo Feiyou saw Yi Hong talking to
herself, he made fun of her, saying, “Sister Yi, have you ever heard the saying:
‘The willows are green and the pomegranate red; the chatterbox has an empty head.’”
衣紅忿忿不平：「文哥還不是和他的電腦扯個不停！」
Yi Hong was annoyed by this
injustice and said, “Doesn’t Wen always talk to his computer, too?”
左非右說：「那我改個說法吧，『楊柳短，石榴空；指頭長，醋缸紅。』」
Zuo
Feiyou said, “Then I’ll say it another way. ‘The willows are short and the pomegranate
empty; fingers are long and the vinegar red (Note 2).’”
衣紅受不了左非右的譏諷，決定向文祥學習倉頡輸入法的指語。文祥認為會指語確實有很大的方便，決定在廟裡開課，讓大家都有機會學習。
Yi
Hong was piqued by Zuo Feiyou’s ridicule and made up her mind to learn from Wen
Xiang the finger language used for the C.J. Input Method. Wen Xiang thought finger language would
indeed be of help, so he decided to hold a class in the monastery. That way, everyone would have a chance
to learn.
上課時，連衣紅、風不懼、左非右及五行人等在內，一共有十幾個人。文祥說：「這種指語是十年前我從事攝影工作時，一個朋友教的。當時我對電腦瞭解不多，只是覺得好玩，後來才發現指語非常方便。和口說相比，速度慢不了多少，是最理想的『悄悄話』。而優點是沒有聲音，不會影響別人。」
When
the class began, there were more than a dozen people, including Yi Hong, Feng
Buju, Zuo Feiyou, and the Five Element People. Wen Xiang said, “This finger language
was taught to me by a friend when I was working as a photographer 10 years
ago. At that time, my understanding
of the computer was limited. I just
thought it was fun. Later, I found that
finger language was very convenient.
Compared with speech, the difference in speed is very insignificant. It’s the most ideal way of ‘confidential whispering’. Its primary advantage is that it makes
no sound. No one else will be
affected.”
金大問：「那和隔音障有什麼分別？」
Greatest Metal asked, “Then how does it differ from the sound block?”
文祥說：「分別很大，有了音障，一方面你會失去聽覺的便利。另一方面，別人還是看得出你在說話，甚至有人會讀唇術，機密就洩漏了。」
Wen
Xiang said, “There’s a great difference.
With a sound block, on the one hand you’ll lose the advantage of listening. On the other hand, other people will
still see that you’re talking.
Moreover, if someone knows how to read lips, your secrets will be out.”
木大說：「有這麼多好處，為什麼不推廣呢？」
Greatest Wood said, “Since it has so many advantages, why not promote it?”
文祥說：「我也是近來才領悟到的，過去我以為是人有惰性，不願意學新東西。現在我才知道，智慧電腦是一位奇人不二老人發明的，倉頡輸入法也是他發明的。據說在他發明之初，世界上沒有人相信中文電腦可行……」
Wen Xiang said, “I didn’t realize this
until recently. In the past, I
thought people were lazy and weren’t interested in learning new things. Now I realize that the AI computer was
invented by an eccentric genius, Buer Lao.
He also invented the C.J. Input Method. It’s said that when he first came out
with his invention, nobody in the world believed that a Chinese computer would
be successful…”
水大說：「怎麼可能有這種事，哪個國家沒有自己的電腦？中國人口佔世界四分之一，你說當時沒人相信？真的嗎？」
Greatest Water said, “How could that
be? Which nation doesn’t have its
own computer? The Chinese account
for 1/4 of the world’s population and you say nobody believed him? Can this be true?”
文祥說：「我問妳，妳相不相信妳會成佛成祖？」
Wen
Xiang said, “Let me ask you a question.
Do you believe you’ll become a Buddha?”
水大搖搖頭，說：「憑我？怎麼可能？」
Greatest Water shook her
head, saying “Me? Not very likely.”
文祥說：「那妳在這裡做什麼？沒有別的地方去？」
Wen Xiang said, “Then why
are you here? Nowhere else to go?”
水大生氣了，說：「你不要污辱人！」
Greatest Water was getting
angry and said, “Don’t try to insult me!”
文祥說：「我不是要污辱妳，想想看吧！成佛成祖不是可不可能，而是努力不努力！我們認為人生應該有更大的意義，但是近百億的人口卻寧願做夢！」
Wen
Xiang said, “I didn’t mean to. Think
about it! To become a Buddha is not
a question of possibility. It’s
about whether you’re willing to work hard or not! We think that life should have a broader
meaning, but nearly10 billion people would rather dream!”
火大說：「你是說，過去的人和現在的人一樣？」
Greatest Fire said, “You mean,
people in the past were the same as those today?
文祥說：「不一樣，那時候人怕做夢，因為多半是惡夢。」
Wen Xiang said, “No. People in the past were afraid of
dreaming because most of their dreams were nightmares.”
土大說：「管過去的人幹嘛？中文電腦與倉頡輸入法有什麼關係呢？」
Greatest
Earth said, “Why worry about people in the past? What’s the Chinese computer got to do
with the C.J. Input Method?”
文祥說：「沒有中文輸入，怎麼能叫中文電腦？不二老就憑著一個理念，四十歲才開始自學電腦，由無到有，後來成為電腦專家。他把他發明的輸入法送給社會免費使用，自己兩袖清風，竟然被人看做神經病！
Wen
Xiang said, “Without keying Chinese into the computer, how could it be called a
Chinese computer? Armed with only
this concept, Buer Lao didn’t start learning to use a computer until he was 40. Starting from scratch, he went on to
become a computer expert. He made the
input method he had invented available to the public free of charge. He didn’t receive a single cent. There were some who thought he was crazy!
「不過他絲毫不以為意，終生隱居不出，閉門讀書研究。據電腦告訴我，他內部的思維方式，完全是以『倉頡字母』的觀念進行的……」
“However, he didn’t mind at all. All of his life he was a recluse,
studying and investigating, his door closed to the world. According to the computer, its internal
thinking patterns all accord with the concepts of ‘C.J. signs’…”
金大問：「倉頡字母？」
Greatest Metal asked, “C.J.
signs?”
文祥說：「你們不是倉頡祖師的再傳弟子嗎？怎麼連這個都不知道？」
Wen Xiang said, “Aren’t you people
disciples of creator of the C.J.?
How come you don’t even know of this?”
金大慚愧地說：「何必提那些事？我們拜師只是為了混飯吃。」
Greatest Metal said with shame,
“Why bring that up? We were just trying
to make some kind of living by asking
others to be our teachers.”
文祥說：「要學指語，就不能不先瞭解倉頡字母。因為其中包括了理解分類，可以說是一種最簡略的密碼。」
Wen
Xiang said, “You have to understand the C.J. signs before you learn the finger
language. That’s because the signs
include all the different categories of understanding. It wouldn’t be amiss to say it’s the
most condensed form of code.”
木大說：「怎麼沒有人知道？」
Greatest said, “How come no one knows about it?”
文祥說：「不是沒有人知道，而是在利益掛帥的時代，人得不到利益，就不願花心思去學。還有一些自以為是的人，亂作主張，認為不二老人是個白痴。既然大家都能免費使用，便擅自把倉頡法改得亂七八糟，自牟其利。中文電腦成功之後，且不說有多少種不同的輸入法吧！光是掛著倉頡輸入法名稱的，就有十六種不同的版本！」
Wen
Xiang said, “It wasn’t a case of no one knowing. It’s because during the time when
everything was profit-originated, if there was no profit in it, people wouldn’t
make the mental effort to learn it.
Some people, who assumed that they were right, made decisions on their
own and considered Buer Lao an idiot.
Since anyone could access it free of charge, in the interest of personal
gain, they arbitrarily tinkered with the C.J. Input Method and made a complete
mess of it. When the Chinese
computer was successfully created, never mind how many different input methods
there were! There were 16 versions
alone of those claiming to be the C.J. Input Method!”
水大說：「怎麼可能呢？難道那時不二老人死了嗎？」
Greatest Water said, “How could that be
possible? Do you mean to say Buer
Lao was dead by that time?”
文祥說：「我也搞不清楚，這個不二老人很神秘。在見到禪師以前，不論我怎麼問，電腦都不肯回答有關他的任何問題。前兩天，她終於承認了，不二老人是她的師父。原來不二老人曾經告誡過，說機器沒有師父，他也不願做機器的師父！」
Wen Xiang said, “I don’t know
exactly. Buer Lao was very
mysterious. Before I met the Zen
Master, no matter how hard I tried to question the computer, it wouldn’t answer
any questions about him. Just two
days ago, she finally admitted that Buer Lao was her master. It turned out that Buer Lao had once
warned that machine had no master and he was not interested in being a machine’s
master!”
火大說：「奇怪！師父就是師父！有什麼不願做的？」
Greatest Fire said, “How
strange! A master is a master! Why not admit it?”
文祥說：「我也這樣問她，她終於理解了，不二老人的意思是，機器沒有上進心，既然沒有上進心，要師父有什麼用？」
Wen Xiang said, “I asked her the
same question and she finally had understood. Buer Lao meant that a machine didn’t
have the will to improve itself.
Since there was no will to improve, of what use was a master?”
土大說：「不必繞著圈子罵人，我們現在可有師父了。」
Greatest
Earth said, “You don’t have to beat around the bush to criticize us. We have a master now.”
文祥說：「總之，不二老人在設計智慧電腦時，是根據漢字的常識結構，用倉頡字母分別代表文字的定義。輸入正確的字碼後，電腦就能找到相關的常識，再以體用因果關係，進行理解。」
Wen
Xiang said, “Anyway, when Buer Lao was designing the AI computer, he based it on
the common sense structure found in Chinese characters. The C.J. signs are the basis for Chinese
characters. When the correct unit code is keyed in,
the computer will be able to find the related common sense. By applying the cause and effect
relationship between substance and function, the computer will proceed to understand
the code.”
金大說：「照你這樣說，輸入字母比語音更直接有效了？」
Greatest
Metal said, “So what you’re saying is that inputting symbols is more explicit
and efficient than sound input?”
文祥說：「完全正確，而且在處理上也特別優先。根據感知效率公式，在感情的認知上，聲訊是視訊的十倍；而在意義理解上，視訊是聲訊的百倍。又根據感知選擇公式，視訊無條件優先，所以漢字績效最高，漢語其次；而英語等其他語文，因為是拼音系統，還要經過一道翻譯手續，效率較差。」
Wen
Xiang said, “Exactly. Besides,
inputting signs is a priority in the matter of processing. According to the feeling efficiency
formula, when identifying feelings, sound is 10 times faster than the eye. But in meaning recognition, the eye is
100 times faster than sound.
Moreover, according to the formula for choosing feelings, without
question visual data comes first.
That’s why Chinese characters are the most efficient, followed by spoken
Chinese. Because English and other
languages need to be translated by means of the pin yin system, they are less efficient.”
左非右說：「管他什麼番字番話！你快點教我們指語吧！」
Zuo Feiyou said, “Who cares
about barbarian scripts and barbarian languages! Hurry up and teach us the finger
language!”
文祥說：「指語是以手指的位置，作為輸入訊號。由於大拇指活動範圍最廣，可以控制五個開關，視為五類……」
Wen
Xiang said, “Finger language uses the position of the fingers for the input
signal. Because the thumb is the most
active, it can control 5 switches.
They’re regarded as the 5 categories…”
金大搶著說：「代表我們五行？」
The Greatest Metal cut in and said, “They represent us, the 5 elements?”
文祥笑說：「沒錯，五個位置稱為『五位』，就是金位、木位、水位、火位和土位。其中金位代表日、月、金、木、水、火、土七種『哲理及元素』，分別以大拇指以外的四隻手指代表。」
Wen
Xiang laughed and said, “Correct.
The 5 positions are called the ‘5 locations’. These are the Metal Location, Wood
Location, Water Location, Fire Location and Earth Location. Among them, the Metal Location represents
the 7 ‘philosophies and elements’, which are the Sun, Moon, Metal, Wood, Water,
Fire, and Earth. These are
represented by the 4 fingers,
but not the thumb.”
木大說：「四隻怎麼代表七個符號呢？」
Greatest Wood said, “How can
4 fingers represent 7 symbols?”
文祥說：「小指僅僅代表妳，就是木。手指向前按時，食指為日，中指為月，無名指為金；而向後時，食指為水，中指為火，無名指為土。同理，大拇指的『木位』分別代表『筆畫類』的斜、點、交、叉、縱、橫、鉤。」
Wen
Xiang said, “The little finger only represents you, which is Wood. As for other fingers, when they press
forward, the index finger represents the Sun; the middle finger, Moon; the ring
finger, Earth. Based on the same
reasoning, the ‘Wood Location’ of the thumb, represents the ‘Stroke Category’,
which includes the Xie (slant), Dian (point), Jiao (a cross of two straight lines), Cha (two oblique lines), Zong
(vertical line), Heng (horizontal
line), and Gou (hooked line).”
水大問：「為什麼不是竹、戈、十、大、中、一、弓呢？」
Greatest Water asked, “Why
not use the writing strokes, Zhu
(bamboo), Ge (spear), Shi (ten), Da (big), Zhong (middle),
Yi (one), and Gong (bow)?”
文祥說：「這就是倉頡法為人誤解之處，妳說的是寫法，我說的是定義。兩種各有好處，都記下來對理解自有妙處。」
Wen
Xiang said, “This is where people get the wrong impression of the C.J.
method. You’re talking about how to
write a character, but I was talking about meaning. Each one has its own advantages. If you can remember both they’ll come in
handy.”
左非右說：「我懂，就像八卦有乾坤震巽離坎艮兌，又可稱為天地雷風火水山澤，兩組分別象徵不同的範疇。」
Zuo
Feiyou said, “I understand. It’s
like the eight diagrams of the Bagua:
Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Li,
Kan, Gen, and Dui. They’re also known as Heaven, Earth,
Thunder, Wind, Fire, Water, Mountain, and Marsh. Each of the two sets symbolizes a different
category.”
文祥微笑點頭，繼續說：「總而言之，各碼用法與前面所說的相同。再就是大拇指的『水位』代表『人體類』，人、心、手、口。『火位』代表『字形類』，是側、並、仰、紐、方、難、卜，方法與『金位』全同。等指法熟悉了，再用倉頡輸入法取碼就可以了。以往曾有一種手握的『輸入球』，或是掌上按鈕，現在只要動手指，各人的微機就會自動偵測。」
Wen
Xiang smiled and nodded as he continued, “In general, the use of each code is
the same as mentioned earlier.
Next, the ‘Water Location’ of the thumb represents the ‘Human Body
Category’. Ren (man), Xin (heart), Shou (hand), and Kou (mouth). The ‘Fire
Location’ represents the ‘Characters’ Shape Category’. They are Ce (inclination), Bing (also),
Yang (facing upward), Niu (knot), Fang (square), Nan (difficulty), and Bu
(divination). The method is the
same as the one used in the ‘Metal Location’. When you’re familiar with all the finger
locations, all that remains is to use the C.J. Input Method to access the
code. In the past, there was an
‘Input Ball’ which could be held in the hand, or one could push the buttons in their
palm. Now, as one moves their
fingers, one’s own personal AI computer is able to auto-detect.”
火大問：「你不是說倉頡輸入法有很多版本嗎？到底要用哪一種？」
Greatest Fire asked, “Didn’t you say the
C.J. Input Method has many versions?
Which one should we use?”
文祥說：「隨便哪一種都可以，電腦已經建了轉換檔。我個人習慣了第六代，因為字數最多，有七萬多字，而且重複字最少。至於各位要學倉頡輸入法，可以向電腦請教，要不了多久就會了。但要注意，學會不難，只有多用常用才不會忘掉。」
Wen
Xiang said, “Any kind will do. The
computer has established a switch function. Personally, I’m used to the 6th
Generation because it contains the greatest number of characters; more than
70,000 words. Also, there are fewer
recurring words. As for those of
you who wish to learn how to use the C.J. Input Method, you can ask the
computer. It won’t take long before
you get the knack of it. However,
you must remember. Learning it is
easy. But frequent use is the only
way to keep from forgetting it.”
土大終於憋不住了，抗議道：「不公平，我的『土位』呢？難道沒有用？」
Finally, Greatest Earth was unable
to contain himself, and objected, “It’s not fair. How about my ‘Earth Location’? Are you saying it’s useless?”
文祥說：「當然有用，而且用得最多，是做斷句、標點符號用。這『五位』在食指的側面，呈上、下、左、右、中五宮排列。告訴你們一個秘訣，土位就在食指第二關節處，如果在土位四指齊動，就是呼喚私用電腦的熱鍵！」
Wen
Xiang said, “Of course not. It’s
used more than the others. It’s for
ending a sentence and for indicating punctuation marks. The ‘Five Locations’ are on the side of
the index finger. They are lined up
in five directions, up, down, left, right, and the middle. I’ll tell you a secret. The ‘Earth Location’ is at the second
joint of the index finger. If the 4 fingers move all at once at
the ‘Earth Location’, it becomes the hot line for contacting your own personal
computer!”
由於有切身關係，衣紅等三人很快就學會了倉頡輸入指法。每個人樂此不疲，也不理會別人，只顧與自己的電腦講悄悄話。
Because this knowledge concerned themselves,
Yi Hong and 3 others quickly learned the finger system for the C.J. Input
Method. Every one of them worked
tirelessly. They ignored the others
and concentrated on silently communicating with their own computers.
到了上路的時候了，四人拜辭了禪師，寺中諸人皆送至大殿外。五行人聽說他們要到陶朱公那裡，欣羨不已，圍著衣紅問東問西。衣紅急欲脫身，便說：「我問過師父，師父說，正是因為你們太想下山了，所以這次不讓你們同行。」
When
it was time for them to go, the 4 of them bid the Zen Master goodbye and everyone
in the monastery gathered outside the great hall to see them off. When the Five Element People heard that
they were going to Mr. Tao Zhu’s, they were filled with envy. They gathered around Yi Hong and pressed
her with questions. Yi Hong was in a
hurry to get going, so she said, “I asked the Master. The Master said it was precisely because
you were so desperate to leave the mountains, you wouldn’t be allowed to go
with us this time.”
金大搖頭說：「我一點都不想下山。」
Greatest Metal shook his
head, saying, “I don’t want to leave at all.”
火大說：「那是你，我是想下山，不過也沒那麼想！」
Greatest Fire said, “Speak for
yourself. I’d like to leave, but I’m
not that desperate.”
水大說：「沒那麼想？你見到飛雲梭的表情！我看你簡直想瘋了！」
Greatest Water said, “Not that desperate? That look on your face when you saw the
Flying-cloud Shuttle! I think you
want to get out of here so badly you’re about to go nuts!”
土大說：「妳莫說他！妳還不是一樣？」
Greatest Earth said, “Don’t
get on his case! Aren’t you the
same?”
衣紅怕他們一吵起來，沒完沒了，便說：「你們的師父還是倉頡法的傳人，你們連指語都學不會，跟我們去有什麼用？」
Yi
Hong was afraid that when they began arguing, there would be no end to it. So she said, “The C.J. Method was passed
down to your master and you can’t even learn how to use the finger
language. What’s the use of coming
with us?”
左非右跟風不懼穩穩坐在飛雲梭上，見衣紅仍和五行人喋喋不休，早就不耐煩了。左非右對文祥、衣紅說：「你們慢慢聊吧！我們天上見！」說罷，光華閃過，一個光球倏地衝天而起。等升到天空，那光球悠遊自在地翻來滾去，在天心大跳顛仙舞。
Zuo
Feiyou and Feng Buju had settled themselves comfortably in the Flying-cloud
Shuttle and when they saw Yi Hong still gabbing with the Five Element People
with no sign of stopping, they became very impatient. Zuo Feiyou said to Wen Xiang and Yi
Hong, “Take your time! We’ll see
you in the sky!” When he finished, there
was a flash of light, and a luminous ball suddenly shot into the blue. After it was aloft, the luminous ball
leisurely rolled back and forth. It
was dancing the Tumbling Immortal Dance in the middle of the heavens.
火大兩眼釘著天上的光球，說：「像那樣，豈不是和神仙一樣？」
Greatest Fire’s eyes were fixed on the
ball of light in the sky, saying, “Look at that. Isn’t that just how the Immortals do it?”
衣紅說：「可是，當局這樣優待我們，責任也重大非凡！」她行事果斷異常，可是一碰到別人懇求的眼神，她就心軟如泥：「好吧！我教你們一個訣竅，保證有效！其實師父的心比我的還要軟，只要你們聽話，修為精純，再用苦肉計……」
Yi
Hong said, “But since the Bureau is giving us special treatment, this also
means great responsibility!” When
it came down to business, she was surprisingly decisive. But when she encountered the pleading
eyes of others, her heart would soften.
“All right! I’ll teach you a
secret and it’s guaranteed to work!
Actually, the Master is even more soft-hearted than I am. Just so long as
you’re obedient and strive to eliminate impurities in your practice, and you
can put up with a little pain…”
正在說時，一個小沙彌由大殿中跑出來，對衣紅說：「師父有諭，五行人可以乘氣墊車赴陶莊……為人類除害，事成即歸。」
While
she was in the midst of talking, a young novice ran out from the great hall and
said to Yi Hong, “The Master has given an order. The Five Element People may travel to
the Tao Estate by hovercraft…for the purpose of removing a threat to the
people. They are to return as soon
as it’s over.”
五行人才聽到一半就跳起來了，立刻奔到大殿中央行了禮，便飛身取氣墊車去了。
Before
the novice had finished speaking, the Five Element People jumped to their feet,
quickly rushed to the middle of the great hall and bowed. Next, they dashed off to get the hovercraft.
陶莊距此不過幾十公里，而飛雲梭時速一千公里，要不了一分鐘就到了。四人到時，王之淳和陶朱公已經在院中迎迓。
The
Tao Estate was only a few dozen kilometers away and since the speed of the Flying-cloud
Shuttle was 1,000 km per hour, it took less than a minute to get there. Upon arrival, Wang Zhichun and Mr.
Tao Zhu were already in the courtyard to greet them.
衣紅詫道：「才兩個月不見，怎麼你們已經有前知的能力了？」
Yi
Hong said with surprise, “It’s only been two months since I last saw you. How is it that you’re now able to see
into the future?”
陶朱公邊把眾人讓入客廳，邊說：「我們哪裡有什麼前知的能力，是電腦當局剛剛通知我們的。」
While Mr. Tao Zhu was inviting everyone
into the living room, he said, “We don’t have any ability to foresee the
future. The Computer Bureau just finished
letting us know.”
衣紅問：「你們也有電腦了？」
Yi Hong asked, “You have a computer
now?”
陶朱公說：「不僅是我們，當局還通知我們，這一帶已經設為資訊服務區。每個人都配了私用電腦，當局還支援一些機器人為我們工作。」
Mr.
Tao Zhu replied, “Not only us. The
Bureau also informed us that this area has become an Information Service
Region. Everyone is now equipped
with a personal computer. The
Bureau even supplied some robots to work for us.”
衣紅等自然高興不過，又告知二人，五行人隨即趕來，大家下了決心，要群策群力，一舉將蟲害消除。
Naturally,
no one was more delighted than Yi Hong and her companions. They also told Tao and Wang that the
Five Element People would be coming soon.
They all pledged to join forces and eradicate the danger presented by
these insects.
陶朱公拍手笑說：「好極了，當局派來的機器人雖然幫助很大，靈活應變的能力卻不夠。這次發生的蟲災範圍極廣，我猜整個文山一帶都不能倖免。我懷疑