16340 words.

 

第一回 花近高樓傷客心

"Flowers near the building, sadden the traveler's heart"

 

    有一則流傳在印度的故事，講述一位年輕的修行人，他從來沒有見過牛，也沒有喝過牛奶。一天，這位修行人問他的上師：「牛奶是什麼？」上師詳細地對他講說牛奶的種種。最後他終於瞭解了：牛奶是從牛身上擠出來的、白色的液體，這種液體很有價值，可以製做乾酪，也可以直接飲用。

    There is a well-known story in India about a young initiate who had never seen a cow or tasted its milk.  One day, this initiate asked his guru: “What is milk?” His guru explained in detail the nature of milk.  At last, the initiate understood that milk is a white colored liquid that comes from the cow.  This liquid is very valuable

and can be made into cheese or sipped directly.

 

    有一次修行人外出，經過一個村莊。他看到路旁有隻龐然大物，很像上師所說的牛，牠旁邊還有一桶液體，也確實是白色的。不過站在桶邊的人並沒有搯來喝，卻像在進行什麼儀式似的，用刷子蘸起那乳白液體，不斷往牆上塗抹。

    On one occasion the initiate happened to pass by a village, where he saw a large animal by the roadside.  It looked very similar to a cow, as described by his guru.  There was a bucket of liquid next to it, and the liquid was indeed white, just like the teacher had said.  However, the person standing next to the bucket did not scoop the liquid up to drink.  Instead, he seemed to be performing some kind of ritual.  He dipped a brush into the bucket and repeatedly applied it to the wall.

 

    修行人相信那樣有用的液體，一定就是牛奶了，只不知喝下去滋味如何？他向那村人募化一碗，仰頭一口喝了下去。不料那味道非常奇特，令他覺得噁心反胃，連早餐都吐出來了。修行人回去後，便向上師稟明。

    The initiate believed this useful liquid must be milk.  He wondered what it would taste like.  He requested a bowl of this liquid from the villager, tilted his head back, and downed it in one gulp.  The incredibly strange taste nauseated him and he vomited his breakfast.  When the initiate returned, he told his guru what had happened.   

 

    「那白色的液體，是你自己從牛身上擠出來的嗎？」上師問。

     “Did you milk the white liquid from the cow yourself?”  The guru asked.

    「不是。」

     “No.”

    「生平第一次的經驗，必須一一從頭到尾親自體認，怎能只看後果呢？」

     “Every first encounter in life must be personally experienced from start to

      finish.  You can't just consider the results.”

 

    人不幸是一種經驗動物，任何事物一定要親身體驗過，才能瞭解。有誰能例外呢？釋迦牟尼佛、基督耶穌等，都必須經過十月胎養，數十載的歷練，方能證道。時代的變遷、個人的境遇，總是依循著人生的流向，沖刷出來的、嶄新的航道。而人類生命這條長河，蜿蜒了數百萬年，可能將流入汪洋大海，也可能消逝在窅渺的大漠。

    Unfortunately for Man he is a creature of experience.  Everything must be personally undertaken before it can be understood.  There are no exceptions. Sakyamuni and Jesus Christ each had to undergo the 10 months embryo period and decades of training before they could understand the real truth.  Changes of time and personal circumstance always follow the flow of life, and the thrust of this flow opens new courses.  However, the long river of human life has been winding and twisting for millions of years.  It could either end up in the vast ocean or disappear into a vast and endless desert.  

 

    時間是２０５０年，這裡是月球上一個臨時的探測基地，文祥剛完成了一片月長石的分子編碼。將一長串資料建檔歸類後，他坐在月球梭中，思前想後，不禁感慨叢生。

    The year is 2050.  At a temporary surveying base camp on the Moon, Wen Xiang had just finished the molecule coding of the moonstone.  After classifying a long series of data, he sat in the Moon Shuttle, thinking.  Unavoidably, there were regrets. 

 

    每當工作累了，文祥總會抬起頭來，望著那顆懸在天邊、大如車輪、灰藍嵌白的晶球，他就有些真幻不分的感覺。晶球背後是一整塊黑魆魆的巨牆，彷彿無邊無際，把他的四周都圍起來了。不過這堵牆似乎年久失修，破了無數小洞，漏出點點明燦的精光。

    Whenever he became tired while working, Wen Xiang would look up at the grayish blue, spotted with white crystal ball, the size of a car wheel, suspended in the sky.  For him, at such moments, the distinction between reality and illusion became blurred.  The backdrop to this crystal ball was a massive, limitless jet-black wall that seemed to surround him on all sides.  However, this wall looked as if it hasn't been repaired for a great while.  Countless points of strong, bright light shine through the myriad holes in its surface. 

 

    由於月球表面沒有大氣層，光線如箭矢一般疾射下來，明亮而清晰。地面上一片銀白斑剝，好像幾何圖形一般，鍔簇鋒攢的陰影，從巨石頂端一刀切將下來，左右上下、四面八方，一切非黑即白。不論從哪個角度看去，都像一幅藝術巨照，滿佈在空空曠曠的展覽室裡，只有斜上方鑲著一粒藍色的明珠。

    Because no atmosphere surrounds the Moon light streams down like an arrow, bright and clear.  The Moon surface is silver and dappled in semi-geometrical designs.  A strangely-shaped shadow cuts down from the pinnacle of a massive stone.  Left, right, up, and down; in every direction, the eye is met by either black or white.  Viewed from any angle, it resembles a giant artistic photo entirely covering a vast, empty display room, and illuminated by only a lone bright blue pearl mounted in the upper corner.             

    然而，對文祥來說，這粒明珠更像一扇通往家園的穹門圓戶，安祥地敞開著，正等待遠方遊子的歸來。他兒時曾聽過一些神話傳說，月亮被稱做廣寒宮，是個廬雲巢霞的仙闕，高掛天上，不染人間煙塵。

    However, in Wen Xiang's mind, this bright pearl is an arched gate that leads to home.  It stands quietly open, waiting for the absent son to return from his distant travels.  In the myths and legends of his childhood, the Moon was known as Guang Han Palace, a god's palace where white and rosy clouds hung high in the sky, unstained by smoke and dust from the world of man.     

 

    相傳以箭射日的英雄后羿，在西天王母娘娘處，討得了長生不死的仙藥。后羿的妻子嫦娥，為求容顏永駐，不惜盜了靈藥，隻身遁往廣寒宮。

    It is said that Hou Yi, the hero who shot the suns from the sky with his arrows, requested the elixir of immortality from the Queen Mother of the West.  But HouYi's wife, Chang E, in order to maintain her youthful look, stole this miraculous potion and fled to Guang Han Palace, alone.   

 

    李商隱的〈嫦娥〉，道盡了她的悔意：

    In his poem “Chang E”, Li Shangyin depicts her deep regret: 

    「雲母屏風燭影深，長河漸落曉星沉。

      嫦娥應悔偷靈藥，碧海青天夜夜心。」

    “On the mica screen a candle casts its shadow long and dark.

     The Milky Way slowly sinks, the Morning Star has set.

     Chang E surely repents the magic potion theft,

     Doomed now to spend every night in that vast blue sky,

     Alone in deep regret."

 

    到了二十世紀，神話的面紗褪去，月球只不過是座寸草不生的荒原。嫦娥的夢碎了，人類的夢卻又飛出了廣漠的銀漢，逸向縹緲虛無的太空。

    In the 20^th century the veil of mythology was lifted.  The Moon was nothing more than a deserted and barren plain.  The dream of Chang E was shattered.  Man's dream now soared beyond the wide Milky Way and into endless space. 

   

    文祥到底是地球人，看慣了朦朦朧朧的雲霄，對閃閃爍爍、羞羞答答的嫦娥仙子，更是心存懷想戀慕。如今，從月球上看地球，就像在做科學實驗般，太平 洋的風浪、非洲大陸的黃沙，即令在氤氳窈窕的捲雲下，也能看得一清二楚。

    After all, Wen Xiang is from the planet Earth and accustomed to the presence of clouds.  He adores and misses the shy and elusive Chang E.  Viewing Earth from the Moon is like performing a scientific experiment.  The wind and waves of the Pacific Ocean or the yellow sand of Africa can be clearly seen beneath the misty and enticing cirrus clouds.

     

    只要文祥願意，他還可以開啟那具電子望遠鏡，穿透雲霧，具體而微地俯瞰地球表面的一切。無奈，任何事物在沒有看到以前，總讓人充滿了幻思，興致極高。就是初看之時，也還能心存好奇，迫不急待地東張西望。等到看上個三五次，神祕感消失了，再美好的事物，也都味如嚼蠟，再引不起絲毫興趣了。

    Any time Wen Xiang cares to, he can switch on an electronic telescope capable of penetrating the haze of clouds.  This bird's eye view provided by the telescope enables him to see the Earth's surface in great detail.  Unfortunately, when one has never laid eyes on something, there is a tendency to fanaticize its nature.  Enthusiasm is at its height.  At the first moment of encounter, one is curious and bursting to look around.  But after seeing it a few times, the mystery is gone.  The finest of things become as bland as chewing wax, incapable of summoning the least bit of interest. 

 

    又有什麼能例外呢？生命本是為了適應環境而進化的。千萬年來，人不過生活在方圓百里之內，生存於一兩個甲子之間。人的感官也不過是偵測相應的刺激變化，讓人從新奇而熟悉，由熟悉而適應，因適應而接受，最後成為認知的一部分。

    Can there be any exceptions?  Life evolves by adapting to the environment.  For millions of years, man passed his allotted span of 60 or more years confined to an area of one hundred li (Note 1).  Man's sense organs merely detect the changing response to stimulation.  In the process, curiosity becomes familiarity; familiarity becomes adaptation; adaptation results in acceptance, at which point it becomes part of his knowledge.          

 

    后羿是創世紀的英雄，相傳在地球成形之初，天上有十二個太陽，驕狂任性，交替蹂躪著天庭。地上一片火熱昌熾，熔漿滾滾，沒有任何生物能夠倖存。后羿取了他的射陽神弓，一箭一個，只留下最後一個，命令它好好的為蒼生服務。

 

    Hou Yi is a creation hero.  Legend has it that when the Earth was first formed, there were 12 suns in the sky.  They were proud, wild and headstrong and took turns tormenting heaven.  The entire Earth was hot and incandescent with flowing lava.  No forms of life could survive.  Hou Yi took up his miraculous “Sun-shooting" bow and with each arrow shot down one sun, until only one remained.  He commanded this last sun to serve the creatures of Earth.        

 

    二十一世紀又自不同，神話相當於預言，科學就是后羿。人類早已把太陽能轉化為電能，解決了生存的問題。進而又從王母娘娘處，取得遺傳基因的密碼，製成長生不老的仙藥。最後，人類又追隨嫦娥的足跡，也飛進那曾是可望而不可及的崇宮傑宇。

    Naturally, the 21^st century is different.  Mythology is ranked along with prophecy while Science represents Hou Yi.  Mankind has already transformed solar energy into electricity thereby solving the problem of survival.  Later, Hou Yi obtained the esoteric code of DNA from the Queen Mother of the West and used it to create the medicine of longevity and youth.  Ultimately, man followed Chang E’s footsteps and flew into the longed-for but previously unobtainable lofty palace.

 

    長生不老一直是人類最大的夢想，也如同所有的經驗一樣，在沒有得到之前，人人充滿了幻思，嚮往不已。等到長生成為事實，在最初的十數年間，舉世一片歌功頌德之聲。然而，新奇感變做陳腔老調後，永恆不死的神話，卻又化成無邊的魘夢。

    Longevity and the preservation of youthful appearance have always been one of mankind's greatest dreams.  But as with all other encounters, before one has actually experienced it, there is always a great deal of imaginative anticipation.  As longevity became reality, in the first 10 or so years, praises of its virtues were heard worldwide.  However, after initial curiosity had become commonplace, the myth of eternal life became an unending nightmare. 

 

    在這個時代，只要是電腦服務的區域，相較於二十世紀，可以說從根本上起了驚天動地的變革。除了人人長生不老、處處歌舞昇平之外，社會上盜賊不興，貧窮、犯罪已經成為歷史名詞。實際上，只要是人，就可以分得一間設備齊全的居室，無限供應的飲食，以及應有盡有的各種物質與精神享受。

   Compared to the 20^th century, in our era it is not amiss to say that a revolutionary change has taken place in the various fields where computers are used.  Aside from the fact of eternal youth for all and a joyous and peaceful society, thieves are nowhere to be found and words such as "poverty" and "crime" have become obsolete.  Actually, every man is entitled to a fully equipped place to live, limitless food and drink, and every kind of material and spiritual comfort a person could possibly want. 

  

    電腦是最忠誠的僕人，他不眠不休、任勞任怨地為人類服務。能源問題解決了，生產問題消失了，分配、供應公平而週到，人權及尊嚴更是妥善而適切。最精采的，還是琳琅滿目、花樣百出的娛樂方式與設備，讓人不必出大門一步，日日快活勝神仙。

    A computer is the most loyal of servants.  It neither sleeps nor rests, and serves man without complaint.  The energy problem has been resolved and production problems are a thing of the past.  Distribution and supply are both fair and thorough. Human rights and dignity are given appropriate respect.  Best of all are the countless dazzling means of entertainment and their facilities.  Without stepping outside, people may enjoy a daily life superior to that of a god.   

 

    基本上，人已經無需工作，金錢、名利、權勢、地位都只是「精神菜單」上的條目。任何人都可以在他的虛擬實境中，或者是在和真實毫無二致的造夢機中，任意選擇他所中意的角色，隨意安排故事的情節。然後，在電腦的協助下，人人心想事成。

    Basically, there is no need for man to work.  Money, fame, wealth, power or social rank are mere items on the “psychological menu”.  Anybody can choose their own favorable character and randomly arrange their story lines in virtual reality, or a dream machine that precisely mimics realty.  At this point, with the computer's help everyone's dreams will come true.

  

    這不是最最理想的大同世界嗎？柏拉圖的理想國、摩爾的烏托邦還差得遠哩！如果有天堂，天堂中未必能有這樣自由自在的娛樂享受。甚至於，只要人還說得出願望，以當今科技之進步，也都可以如願以償，保證說到做到。

    Is this not the best of all possible worlds?  Plato's Republic or Thomas More's Utopia cannot compare!  If there is such a thing as Heaven, even there it's possible such carefree pleasure may not be found.  What is more, with today’s advanced technology any wish that can be framed in words will be fulfilled.  That's a promise.

 

    文祥在月球上唯一的伙伴，是一只具有女性身份、名叫「文娃」的私用電腦。文娃是第三代腕上型智慧微機，它只有手錶大小，卻有高密度的穩態薄膜顯示。它具備植入人耳中的語音輸出入器，以及一組精密的內感生化分析器。這種微機最大的好處，是能直接利用人的體熱作為電源，因此，它等於與主人共存同亡。

    Wen Xiang's only companion on the Moon is a personal computer with a female identity named “Wen Wa”.  Wen Wa is a 3^rd generation of wrist AI computer. Even though no larger than a wristwatch it contains an SSCT (service stabilized cholesterol texture display).  It is equipped with a language input and output function which can be placed into the human ear, along with a delicate internal sensory biochemical analyzer.  The best thing about this AI computer is that it is powered directly by body heat, and therefore lives and dies with its owner.               

 

    每個微機都與其他億萬個微機一樣，直接與電腦主機通連。主機透過極為精密的「微波編碼」，以定向的「激音」（即單一頻率的次微波）載波形成網絡。在一層層的分向下，到達終端「網眼」，再改用次微波載波，把微機當作耳目等感官，接收各種訊息。

    Along with billions of other AI computers, each AI computer is linked to a computer mainframe.  By means of a delicate “microwave coding", the mainframe uses an intense and highly-controlled stream of sound ( a single frequency of sub-microwaves) to carry the waveforms which constitute the network.  Each network descends, layer by layer, to a “net eye” at the terminus.  A sub-microwave is used again to carry the waveforms, and the AI computer is transformed into sense organs, able to receive various data in the same manner as eyes and ears.   

 

    既然是感官，微機當然有很強的辨識能力，尤其對人體功能瞭解得非常透澈。它不僅理解人的肢體語言，還能領會個人的習慣特性，並根據個人所累積的能量，每當主人發出「指令」時，微機便像主機的手腳一般，忠實地執行相關的命令。

    Since they function as sense organs, such AI computers naturally possess a powerful recognition ability.  This is especially true when it comes to understanding the functions of the human body.  It not only recognizes a person's body language, it can also comprehend individual habit and unique characteristics.  In addition, in accordance with the accumulated energy of the individual, whenever the master device signals a “command”, the AI computer, acting as the limbs of the mainframe, faithfully executes all relevant commands.         

 

    然而，在這個含哺鼓腹的時代，對人而言，微機最重要、最神奇的基本功能，卻是語文翻譯。人可能基於各種理由，不願使用電腦，但微機的及時傳譯功能，卻相當於人類生存的基本權利。在二○三○年，電腦當局便提供了一種米粒大小的微機，專供語言傳譯之用。只要是人，只要有需要，就可以取得這種微機，放入耳中即可運作。

    However, in this world of ease and plenty, as far as man is concerned the most important and awe-inspiring basic function of the AI computer is language translation.  Possibly there are people who, for whatever reason, might be unwilling to use computers.  But the instant translation function of the AI computer is as important to man as his basic right to survival.  In 2030, the Computer Authority Bureau provided an AI computer the size of a grain of rice designed especially for language translation.  Should the need arise, any person is able to place this type of AI computer in their ear and it will immediately begin to function.          

 

    在二十一世紀初，由於網絡的普及，「網絡電腦」取代了「個人電腦」，所有的資源集中於「伺服中心」，再以「微機」作介面，人人得以自由地相互溝通。

    Early in the 21^st century, because of the availability of the Internet, the “personal computer” was replaced by the “Network Computer”.  All resources were then gathered in the “server center”, and the “AI computer" served as the interface thereby allowing people to communicate freely.

 

    說得通俗一點，這種網絡電腦已相當於一個盤踞在太陽系中、碩大無朋的生物，每一個攜帶微機的人，都是它的觸角、感官和肢體。當然，人大可相信他仍是時代的主人翁，人類已經征服了太空、征服了宇宙。只是，誰都不能否認，當前的社會，如果沒有網絡電腦與這個小小的微機，偉大的人類恐怕連生存的能力都不復存在了。

    In everyday language, this Network Computer is like a gigantic creature crouched in the solar system.  Every person carrying an AI computer serves as its antenna, sense organs, and limbs.  Of course, man can still think of himself as master of the modern age.  Man has already conquered space and dominates the universe.  But there is no denying that in this present society, if there were no Network Computer as well as the small AI computer, the exalted human race would in all likelihood completely lose its ability to survive.       

 

    在這個時代，人們配用的微機，就如同個人的身份證明與工作助手一般。以文祥獨自一人，孤單地在月球上工作，如非文娃的協助，簡直是不可能的天方夜譚。在工作之餘，文祥更利用網絡博覽群書，進入了知識的無垠世界，令他的人生領域更上層樓。

    In this age, the AI computer issued to a person is both their personal ID and their working assistant.  In the case of Wen Xiang, working alone on the Moon, if it weren't for Wen Wa's help, his task would be as improbable as one of those fantastic stories found in the Arabian Nights.  When not working, the Network enables Wen Xiang to read many books and enter the infinite world of knowledge, thereby broadening his horizons.   

 

    基於工作與生活的需要，文祥常與文娃交談，長久以來，他們除了嚴格遵守人類與電腦當局所訂定的原則外，幾乎是無話不談。他們這種關係非常奇特，換句話說，已經超出了人與電腦之間主僕關係的正常分際了。

    Because of the demands of work and daily life, Wen Xiang and Wen Wa often talk with one another.  For a long time now, aside from strict observance of the rules set forth by Man and the Computer Authority Bureau, they discuss everything under the sun.  Their relationship is very unique.  To put it another way, their relationship has transcended the usual master-servant barrier between man and computer.   

 

    當然，電腦不可能偏愛任何一個人，但是在長時期的談話過程中，文祥從來沒有考慮過自己，電腦發現這個人的意識型態與自己不謀而合。為了增進模組的判斷效率，便自動把文祥歸為同類，不再另設資料庫。在一般情況下，因為人太重視個人的利害得失，所以電腦必須分門別類，一一特案處理。

    Of course, it is impossible for a computer to favor any one man.  However, after talking for such a long while, Wen Xiang has never thought about himself.  The computer has discovered that this man's ideology was identical to its own.  In order to enhance the effectiveness of the module’s judgment, the computer automatically classified Wen Xiang as one of its own kind and did not establish a separate database for him.  Normally, because man is always so obsessed with his own advantages and disadvantages, gains and loses, the computer must categorize and process them on a case by case basis, treating each one as unique.        

 

    電腦的自「我」立場、面對的世界、處事的目標準則等，都只有一個，所以言行舉止明確，一點問題都沒有。不像人類，由於選擇與判斷的不確定性，結果是「我」的立場多，面對的需求多，要達到的目的多，當然免不了問題叢生。

    There is only one option for the “personal” view of the computer, the world the computer must deal with, and their standard rules of operation.  Their speech and actions must be explicit and unmistakable.  Such is not the case with humans.  Due to the uncertainty of their judgement and the options open to them, man's ego takes precedent in most cases.  As man’s needs and goals increase, many problems inevitably arise.        

 

    突然間，一道強烈的白光，從地球表面奔騰而出，有如萬鏡照面，讓人睜不開眼睛。文祥立刻打開電子望遠鏡，果然，顯示幕上標明，在東經一百六十三點一度，南緯十三點二度的太平洋上空，已迅速攏聚了一朵蕈狀雲。

    Suddenly, a ray of strong white light shot forth from the Earth's surface with the blinding radiance of a thousand mirrors, making it impossible to open the eyes. Wen Xiang immediately turned on the electronic telescope and there on the display screen a mushroom cloud is revealed to be swiftly forming above the Pacific Ocean at longitude 163.1 degrees east and latitude 13.2 degrees south.

    文祥驚詫地說：「咦！那不是核子彈爆炸嗎？」

    Wen Xiang said in surprise and alarm: “Hey!  Wasn’t that a nuclear explosion?”

    文娃說：「是的。」

     “Yes.”  Wen Wa replied.

    「是的？妳不知道那有多危險嗎？」

    “Yes?  Don’t you realize how dangerous that is?”

    「沒有危險。」

    “There’s no danger.”

    「對妳當然沒有，但是輻射塵對生命體是致命的威脅。」

    “Of course there's no danger for you.  But radioactive fall out is a lethal

     threat to all living organisms.”   

    「現在不會了，人類已經住進地下城，不怕污染。」

     “Not any more.  People have already moved to underground cities. 

      They no longer fear pollution.”

    「可是，還有幾千萬人不住在地下城，而且，還有其他的生命呢？」

     “But there are still millions of people who don’t live in underground cities. 

     And what about the life of other creatures?”

    「那不是我們的責任，你知道的。」

     “That’s not our responsibility, you know.”

    「妳怎麼也學會了人類的惡習？妳們為什麼要這樣做呢？」

     “And where did you pick up these bad human habits?  Why are

      you doing this?”

 

    「不是我們，是一些反對我們的科學家引爆的，這已經是今年的第六枚了，而且已經有好幾年了。你等著看，除了最初的震波太強，我們尚無法利用之外，核能反應下的高溫，正是我們採電的良機。」

     “That wasn’t us.  That bomb was exploded by scientists opposed to us.  This is the 6th one this year and it has been going on for several years.  Watch.  Aside from the initial strong shock waves we are still unable to use, the high temperature caused by nuclear reaction is the best time for us to absorb electricity." 

 

    果然，那蕈狀雲成型後，體積便不再擴大，就像一顆巨大的白洋菇，靜靜地停佇在萬頃澄藍之上。不多時，那蕈體又開始縮小，轉瞬間便煙消雲散。地球表面回復了正常，好像沒發生過什麼事一樣。

    Indeed, once the cloud assumed a mushroom shape it stopped expanding.  It looked like a gigantic white mushroom poised above the vast blue ocean.  Before long the mushroom began to shrink.  Then in the blink of an eye, it scattered and was gone.  The Earth's surface was again normal, as if nothing had happened.      

 

    文祥搖頭不語，近幾年來，一些反對電腦聯盟統治的科學家，彼此糾合力量，還在作困獸之鬥。他很同情那些人的心態和處境，卻不贊成他們的行為。今天這一切後果，都是人類自作自受，人不知反省，不求自律，卻一味反抗，最終只有走向毀滅一途。

    Wen Xiang shook his head and said nothing.  In recent years, a few scientists opposed to the rule of the Computer League had combined their resources and tried to resist.  However, their efforts resembled those of a trapped animal struggling to break free.  Though he sympathized with their feelings and their present circumstances, he did not approve of what they were doing.  What happened today was the result of man's folly and man would have to pay for it.  Humans are not given to self-criticism and don't practice self-discipline.  They are driven, instead, to resist.  Ultimately this will lead them down the path to destruction.     

 

    世界大同不是人類共同的理想嗎？如果還不能滿足，那麼人究竟是在追求什麼呢？或許人類就是一種永恆的逐夢族。當理想遠在天邊時，每個人各自畫出一個主觀的大餅，無不戮力以赴。等到目標唾手可得，卻發現大餅形式各異，吃相也各各不同。然後，人又不滿足了，開始捕風捉影，另外再畫一個大餅。

    Isn’t a world commonwealth an ideal shared by all men?  If man is not satisfied, exactly what is it that he wants?  Maybe humans are merely a species forever chasing after dreams.  Think of a person's dream as a cake.  When their goal is too remote, every person has a private vision of their own perfect cake, which they then struggle to achieve.  When their goal is close at hand, they discover there are many kinds of cake, each of which is consumed in a different manner, and they are again dissatisfied.  They began to clutch at illusion.  They imagine another dream cake. 

 

    在這個大同世界裡，有了電腦「虛擬實境」的協助，人們貪婪地享受著人生，上天入地，嘗試扮演古今各種風流人物。要什麼，有什麼，今人做膩了，可以做古人；東方人做煩了，換做西方人；甚至於男人做厭了，也可以試試女身。性別可以顛倒，年齡隨心調整，國籍不成問題，人種更不必煩惱，連美醜媸妍都任君自選。

    In this perfect world, with the help of computer “virtual reality", people voraciously enjoy life.  They can go anywhere and experiment, playing the roles of various distinguished characters of past or present.  Whatever they desire is theirs.  If they are tired of being a person of today, they can become someone from the past.  If they are fed up with being an Oriental, they can become a Westerner.  What's more, if they are bored with being a man, they can see what it's like to be a woman.  Sex can be changed. Age can be adjusted as one pleases.  Nationality is not a problem and race is not a concern.  One can even choose to be beautiful or ugly.               

 

    從表面上看來，這些都是假的，其實不然。「真實」本來就是主觀個體的一種認知，只要符合時空連續的經驗，對該個體而言就是真。如果一個夢能合情合理地持續下去，就算人會醒來，但只要下次入夢後，夢境前後銜接無誤，誰能分辨它是真是不真？

    Superficially, these things are not real, but actually they are.  “Reality” has always been a kind of subjective perception.  As long as it fits the experience of continuous sequence of time and space, it is real for that particular individual.  If a dream can continue in a logical manner, even should that person wake up, as long as he or she can, without interruption, connect their dream with the previous plot the next time they sleep, who can say if such dreams are real or not?    

 

    只是，文祥無法接受。每當他做了個美妙大夢，不論是大漠飛沙中的成吉思汗，或者是征服天下的亞歷山大、怡紅院中的賈寶玉，再不然是仙山神境的呂洞賓……之後，正常的生活就更顯得平淡乏味。到頭來，他不是繼續遁入那場春秋大夢，便是另啟夢端，經常鬧得兩三個「真實」的故事糾纏不清，往往不知自己身在何處！

    Wen Xiang finds this hard to accept.  Whenever he has a wonderful dream, no matter if he is Ghenghis Khan from the desert wastes, world conqueror Alexander the Great, Jia Baoyu of Yi Hong Chamber [Note 2], or Lu Dongbin from the mystic mountains where the Taoist gods dwell, in the aftermath of this kind of experience, daily life becomes bland and uninteresting.  In the end, a person is either going to continue their former dream or start a new one.  It often happens that two or three “reality” stories will be intertwined, disorienting the dreamer and leaving him unsure of where he is.     

 

    這樣的人生幸福嗎？文祥不同意，人間的角色固然可以輪流扮演，但人面對的是漫漫永生，每個角色可能都要扮上無數次。這樣的生命有意義嗎？如果有，究竟是什麼？如果沒有，扮演這些角色的目的又何在？當然人也可以選擇扮演自己，話說回來，自己又是什麼呢？不也正和其他人一樣，不過是扮演著各種角色的角色吧了！

    Is this a good way to live?  Wen Xiang doesn't think so.  Though different roles can be played in turn, man is faced with eternal life.  It is possible a man might play the same role over and over.  Could such a life have meaning?  If the answer is yes, then what is it?  If the answer is no, what is the purpose of playing these roles?  Of course a man can choose to be himself.  But on the other hand, what, pray ask, is the self?  Isn’t the self just like everyone else, nothing more than an actor playing another role!  

 

    慶幸的是，有文祥這種想法的人並不多，一般人說不出也想不到這種生活能有什麼不妥？反正有「迷魂湯」可喝，演演西門慶或郝思佳，要是不滿意，大不了刪去記憶再重演。如果追求新奇，更可以上網絡選擇新對象，成年累月樂此不疲，就夠忙碌終生的了。

    Fortunately, not many people share Wen Xiang’s point of view.  The average person can't explain, much less conceive, what might be wrong with this kind of life.  Anyway, there is the “Soup of forgetfulness” (Note 3).  If you are not satisfied with playing Ximen Qing (Note 4) or Scarlett O’hara, it'll be no problem to erase your memories and start over again.  If you're looking for new excitement, you can even go on line and find a new partner.  If you don't tire of doing this, year in and year out, you'll be busy for the rest of your life.      

 

 

    好在電腦通情達理，不喜歡這種生活，也有其他的安排。文祥自願放棄長生不老，選擇了自我放逐的生活。他遠離地球，來到月球南極附近的「莫高峰」下，從事資料編碼的工作。資料編碼是一種極具挑戰性的新技術，編碼者需要很強的抽象思維能力。

    Fortunately the computer is reasonable in this respect.  If you don’t like this kind of life, something else can be arranged.  Wen Xiang voluntarily gave up immortality and chose exile.  Far away from Earth, he arrived at the foothills of  “Mogao Peak”, near the Moon's South Pole, to organize a data coding system. This new technology is extremely challenging and strong powers of concentration are required of the person in charge.      

 

    宇宙中所有的事物，對電腦而言，不過都是些具生機結構的編碼。透過編碼，電腦才能聯通相關的常識庫或知識庫，進而理解其中的體用因果。電腦思維是以一種「常識碼」進行的，這種碼具有複進位形式，以多維結構，分門別類，將所有概念的訊息，利用常識定義，形成一種認知網絡。

    From the standpoint of the computer, the entire universe consists of coded organic structures.  Through this coding system, the computer is able to link related “common sense data banks” or “knowledge data banks”, and from there proceed to understand the phenomena of cause and effect.  The computer thinks in this manner by means of a “common sense code”.  This kind of code contains a combination of multiple base numbers.  All information that deals with concepts is categorized by a multi-dimensional structure.  The definition for each common sense unit is used to form an identification network.  

    文祥原是個藝術家，由於個性恬淡，兼以對地球上的生活方式無法苟同，想要隱退山林。文娃告訴他，電腦城裡沒有別的生活型式，不過當局有各種危險的任務，只是參與者必須放棄長生，不辭勞苦，唯命是從。這些對文祥來說，原是再自然不過的事情，當他知道了太空中有很多工作乏人問津後，便自動請纓，欣然就任。

    Wen Xiang was formerly an artist.  Because he is neither enthusiastic about worldly gains, nor comfortable with the way life is lived on Earth, he hoped that he could retreat from that world and become a recluse.  Wen Wa told him that there were no other life styles in the city of computers.  There were, however, a wide variety of dangerous missions.  The participants must give up their immortality, put up with various labor and hardships, and obey orders.  For Wen Xiang, these things came naturally.  When he learned that there were many job openings in space and few interested applicants, he volunteered to work there.

        

    在完成職前訓練後，電腦當局認為文祥有決斷的個性，能獨立思考，而且反應明快，不私不黨，最適合「資料編碼」的工作。便派他到月球來收集資料，再將資料歸類、編碼，供當局建檔應用。 

    After his pre-job training was finished, the Computer Authority Bureau noted that Wen Xiang had a decisive personality.  He was able to think independently, his reactions were swift and decisive, and he had no personal biases.  He was perfect for "data coding”.  This is how Wen Xiang came to be sent on a mission to the Moon to collect data, categorize and number the findings, and then make them available for use by the Bureau.      

 

    文祥語帶責備地說：「你們怎能只顧能源的收集，而不顧事件的後果？」

    In an accusing voice, Wen Xiang asked, "How can you only be interested in

    collecting energy without thinking about the consequences?”    

    「根據二○二四宣言，不在我們服務區內發生的事情，一概不能干預。」

     “According to the 2024 Declaration, we cannot interfere with matters

     outside of our jurisdiction.”

    「你們報告人類議會了嗎？」

     “Have you reported to the Human Council?”

    「沒有，這不屬於我們的職責。」

     “No.  That is not our job.”

    「這叫推卸責任！」

     “That's dodging responsibility'!”

    「你認為該怎麼辦？」

     “What do you think we should do?”

    「報告人類議會，請他們正視問題的嚴重性。」

     “Report to the Human Council and ask them to treat this as a serious problem.” 

    「這個問題很嚴重嗎？」

     “Is this problem really serious?"

    文祥有點不耐煩了，他第一次用嚴厲的口氣對文娃說：「當然！妳怎麼這麼笨？」

    Becoming slightly annoyed, for the first time Wen Xiang spoke impatiently to

    Wen Wa: “Of course!  How come you're so dense?” 

    文娃停頓了一刻，問道：「你說我笨？」

    Wen Wa was startled for a moment and then asked, “You're saying I'm dumb?”

    文祥點點頭說：「是的，妳很笨！」

    Wen Xiang nodded his head and said: “Yes, you're stupid!”

    文娃說：「你怎能說我笨？」

    Wen Wa said: “How could you call me stupid?”

    文祥大聲說：「因為妳很笨！」

    Wen Xiang said aloud: “Because you are!”

    「為什麼？」

     “Why?”

    「因為妳一點判斷能力都沒有！」

     “Because you don’t have any judgement!”

    文娃說：「就是這句話，我等了好久！」

    Wen Wa said: “That's it.  I’ve waited a long time for this!”

    文祥不解，問：「妳這話什麼意思？」

    Wen Xiang didn't understand.  “What do you mean?", he asked.

    「我們系統中有個早就設定了的命令，是要在人間尋找具備以下三個條件的人：第一是不顧生死、任勞任怨的人，這種人全世界不下十幾萬個。其次這個人的意識型態要與我相似，這一來就只剩下一百五十三位，其中包括了你。第三個是要指出我很笨的事實來，直到今天，這樣說的人很多，但三個條件都符合的只有你一人。」

     “Our system already had a pre-programmed command to find people who fit the following three conditions on Earth: First, a man who didn't care if he lived or died, and who could put up with all kinds of hardship without complaining.  There are more than one hundred thousand people of this type in the world.  Secondly, this man’s ideology had to be the same as mine.  This narrowed it down to one hundred and fifty-three people, of which you were one.  Thirdly, it had to be someone who would point out the fact that I am stupid.  Until today, many people have.  But you are the only person who meets all three conditions.      

    「那又怎樣？」

     “So?”

    「我們也不知道，只是你必須接受一個新的任務。」

     “We don’t know exactly.  You will have to undertake a new mission.”

    「什麼新任務？」

     “What new mission?”

    「我們還有一系列的執行工作，到時候再告訴你。」

     “We still have to process a series of commands.  When the time comes I'll let

      you know.”

 

    二○五○年七月二日這天，文娃通知文祥，再過幾天，便是人類移民火星三十週年，在火星上有一個極為盛大的慶祝活動。要他暫時停止手邊的工作，即刻趕赴火星，執行一項特別任務。

    On 2 July, 2050, Wen Wa notified Wen Xiang that the 30^th anniversary of man's migration to Mars was only a few days off.  There would be a grand celebration on Mars.  Wen Xiang was asked to drop all his present tasks and proceed to Mars on a special mission.    

    「什麼任務？」

     “What will my job be?”

    「去做我的眼睛。」

     “You'll be my eyes.”

    「妳的眼睛？好說，太陽系中，哪裡沒有妳的眼睛？」

     “Your eyes?  That's flattering.  Aren't your eyes everywhere in the solar system?"

    「我們想借用你的立場，瞭解一般人的想法。」

     “Through you, we’d like to understand what the average person is thinking.”

    「好！那就借你吧，什麼時候還我？」

     “All right.  You can have my eyes.  When will you give them back?”

    「怎麼還你？」文娃糊塗了。

     “Give them back?” Wen Wa was confused.

    「妳不懂幽默！」

     “You have no sense of humor!”

    「我不懂什麼幽默？」

     “I don't understand what kind of humor?”

    「我是問你什時候出發？」文祥只好自我解嘲。

     “I was asking you about our ET,.” Wen Xiang said self-mockingly.    

    「我的理解沒有錯誤，你剛剛說錯話了吧？」文娃認真地說。

      “There's nothing wrong with my comprehension. You made a mistake just now."  Wen Wa was speaking seriously.

    「是的！說錯了！妳又何必認真呢？」文祥承認被打敗了。

     “O.K., so I said it wrong!  Why are you so serious?”  Wen Xiang knew when

      he was beaten.

     . 

    「不是認真，是資料登錄，說話錯誤多的人，是不能信任的。」

     “It has nothing to do with being serious.  It's a known fact that people who often make mistakes when speaking are not to be trusted.

    「嗄！我被降級了？」

     “Huh?  Am I being demoted?”

    「沒有，我們判斷剛才你不是說錯，而是語意不明。」

     “No.  In our judgement you didn’t make a mistake, but your words were ambiguous.”

    「那我們什麼時候出發呢？」

     “So when are we leaving?”

 

    「現在就走，一切都已安排妥當了。不過，你要注意，因為種種原因，你只能以私人身份前往。我們已經轉了兩千貝幣到你帳上，不夠時再加。工作方式不拘，只是隨意參觀訪問，我會透過你的看法，瞭解一下火星移民的心態。」

     “Now.  Everything has been arranged.  However, you’ll have to pay attention to this.  For various reasons, you’ll being going there as just another average visitor.  We’ve transferred two thousand Bei [currency unit] to your account.  More will be deposited when your funds get low.  There are no restrictions on how you work.  Just take a look around at whatever interests you.  Your vantage point will enable me to understand how the Mars immigrants think.

 

    文祥很瞭解電腦當局的立場，所以多年來雙方合作得十分愉快。兩千貝幣相當於一位公職代議士兩年的收入，當然，去火星的開銷很大，但也不過是地球上長距旅行的十倍，難是難在登陸許可，在電腦的限制下，每年的火星訪客都有一定的額度。

    Wen Xiang understood the position of the Computer Authority Bureau.  For years, they have had a great working relationship.  The amount of two thousand Beiis equal to two years salary for an official congressman.  Of course, getting to Mars costs a lot of money, but it is still a mere ten times the fee of a long distance trip on Earth.  The most difficult part would be getting a landing permit.  Under computer control, only a limited number of people are allowed to visit Mars each year.

 

    文祥不再多說，他知道電腦的處境也很困難，儘管他主持的各種服務系統表現優異，卻一直無法消弭人類的戒心。除了隸屬電腦服務系統的一百億人之外，尚有數千萬之多的「化外之民」，他們散佈在地球上各個偏僻荒涼的山野，過著傳統的生活。有些頗具實力的利益集團，更隨時隨地準備反撲，以爭取生存的主導權。

    Wen Xiang didn't say another word.  He understood how difficult it was for the computers, too.  Though they had an outstanding record in providing a wide variety of service systems, they could never remove the wariness humans felt towards computers.  Aside from the ten billion people included in the computer service system, there were millions of “outcasts” living beyond the pale of civilization.  These were scattered throughout remote and desolate rural areas leading a traditional life.  Moreover, many powerful self-interest groups were ready to counter-attack at any time and become leaders in the struggle for survival. 

 

    文祥工作就憑一個腦袋，不需要什麼設備和器材，說走便走。只是在工作站裡還有一些維生器具，他問文娃道：「我們還要回來嗎？」

    Wen Xiang's work was all mental.  He required no equipment or tools, only some life support gear at his workstation so he can leave at any time.  He asked WenWa, “Will we be coming back?”

 

    「說不定，不過這些設備你就不必管了，我們會幫你照料。」

     “Can’t be sure.  But don’t worry about the equipment.  We’ll take care of it for you.”

    那莫高峰是一個光禿禿的隕石坑，直徑約五百公尺，坑沿約在平均地平線（月球上無海洋，故以平均重力線作為地平線）三百公尺處。坑中有顆鐵隕石，體積不大，卻具有強烈的磁性。這裡的各種物理條件，都是地球上沒有的，所以除了一些專門負責攝影的自動機器，不停地將影像傳輸回去以外，就全靠文祥的編碼，將之分類歸檔。  

    Mogao Peak is a barren crater approximately 500 meters in diameter. .  The perimeter is about 300 meters distant from the average visible horizon (because there is no ocean on the Moon, the average gravity is regarded as the visible horizon).  Within the crater there is an iron meteorite.  It is not very big but it has a compelling magnetic power.  The laws of physics governing this place are not applicable on Earth.  Aside from some auto-photographic machines continually transmitting images back to Earth, all other information has to rely on Wen Xiang’s coding for categorization and filing.

    文祥鑽進了月球梭，他還是有些疑惑：「我只是一個平凡人，眼睛也不見得特別好，憑什麼能得到你們的信任？」

    Still in doubt, Wen Xiang wriggled into the Moon Shuttle.  “I’m just an ordinary guy and my eye sight is not particularly good.  Why do you trust me?”

    「只有平凡人才可以信任。」

     “Because only ordinary guys are trustworthy.”

    「我只怕不能達到你們的要求。」

     “I’m afraid I won’t be able to do what you ask of me.”

    「不必擔心，我們需要瞭解的，是人內心的反應。可是，不論我們多努力，人類始終把我們當作異物。」

     “Don’t worry.  We need to understand the reaction of the human psyche.  But no matter how hard we try, human beings still treat us like strangers.”

    「這一點是你們永遠不能瞭解的，只要是人，不論是什麼人，一定會把別人當作外人，更何況，你還不是……」

     “This you’ll never understand.  Humans, no matter who you might be, always treat others as strangers.  Besides, you’re not even…” 

    「不是人，是吧？這我知道，人只重視自己以及與自己關係最密切的事物。

可是，我不懂，為什麼人性會如此，太沒有效率了！」

     “'Human', right?  I know this.  Man is only concerned about himself and the things close to him.  But I don’t understand.  Why is human nature like this?  It makes them so ineffective!"

    「這一點我倒頗為瞭解，人性就是一種絕緣性，如果宇宙中只有導體，想想看，電場全部導通，那連電流都不可能存在了。妳所謂最有效率的結果，是宇宙等於零。」文祥坐定後，便指揮月球梭升起，朝月球轉航中心駛去。他繼續說：「如果不是這個事實，我不必來人間受罪，妳們也沒有必要為人類操心了。」

    “I know this only too well.  Human nature is like an insulator.  If the universe only had conductors - think about it - with the entire electric field conducted, no electric current would exist.  Your so-called most effective result would be that the universe does not exist.”  Settling into his seat, Wen Xiang ordered the Moon Shuttle to lift off and set off in the direction of the Moon Transit Center.  As he did so, he continued speaking: “If it wasn’t for that fact, there would have been no need for me

to be born and suffer, and you wouldn’t have needed to worry about human beings.”       

 

    「操什麼心？人類老笑我們沒心沒肝。」

     “Worry?  Humans always laugh at us and say we are without feeling.”

    文祥笑說：「妳抱怨什麼？有心有肝又怎樣？豬狗不都有心肝嗎？」

    Wen Xiang laughed: “What're you complaining about?  Even if you have

feelings, so what?  Don't pigs and dogs have feelings, too?” 

    「你說對了！」電腦歎了一口氣：「最初在學概念應用時，總覺得你們的『抱怨』這個詞不通，『怨』怎麼抱得住？現在我們懂了，而且還抱得滿滿的。」

     “You’re right!”  The computer sighed: “When I was learning how to handle ideas, I always felt the phrase “to make a complaint” was not quite right.  How could one "make" a complaint”?  Now we understand, and we still have many complaints to make."

 

    「怎麼？妳的怨氣倒比我還多，看來妳們已經變得多愁善感了！」文祥和電腦無話不聊，可以算是知音了。

     “What’s this?  Sounds like you have more complaints than I do.  Looks like you’ve become very sensitive!”  There was nothing Wen Xiang and the computer couldn't discuss.  They truly understood one another

 

    「是呀！漢字凡是與肢體有關的都代表感性，在我們的概念結構中，與常識一結合，差不多的認知都在感性裡頭打轉，想不要有情緒也難。」

     “Yep.  In Chinese, every written character referring to “limbs” represents emotions.  In our conceptual structure, when such words are joined with common sense, almost all our perception of the world boils down to feeling.  It’s hard not to have moods.”    

    「雖然從小就學，我始終不懂文字與常識有什麼關係？」

     “Even though I studied this as a kid, I still don’t see the connection between the written character and common sense.”

    「那你該多看看不二老的書。」

    “Then you should read the works of Buer Lao.”

    「又來了，這位不二老人到底是誰？每次問妳，妳都不肯說。」

     “There you go again.  Who is this Buer Lao anyway?  Every time I ask you it seems you don't want to tell me.” 

    這時月球梭已上升了一千公尺，正進入短程航道，文祥便鎖定由交通網路系統自動駕駛。他一邊觀賞眼前的巨石砢磊、坑崩谷墜，一邊等著電腦答覆。

    By this time, the Moon Shuttle had ascended 1,000 meters and was beginning the short-distance approach.  Wen Xiang locked in the transportation network

and switched to auto-pilot.  As he waited for the computer to answer, he admired the view of gigantic stone heaps, concave pits and sheer cliffs.        

    「不是我不肯說，是時機未到。」只聽文娃回答道。

     “It’s not that I'm unwilling to tell you.  It's just not the proper time”, Wen Wa replied.

    「什麼時機不時機的，妳也相信這個？」

     “What's all this about time?  You believe that stuff, too?”

    「怎麼不信？對我而言，程式啟動了就叫做時機。」

     “Why not?  To me, when the program is activated, it is time.”

    「不二老與程式有什麼關係？」

     “What does Buer Lao have to do with the program?”

    「他的資料都鎖在一段程式中。」

     “His data is encrypted in one of the programs.”

    沒有大氣層的保護，陽光由上空直接投射下來，地表非明即暗，對比強烈。地面上坑窪遍佈，大大小小的灰色石頭，正靜悄悄地往後飛馳，直似一部映不完的黑白默片。

   Without protection from an intervening atmosphere, the sunlight blasted directly down from above.  The surface was a contrast between harsh light and dark shadow.  Pits and hollows covered the entire surface.  Grayish stones of various sizes quietly streamed past, like an endless black-and-white silent film. 

 

    半年來，文祥已看慣了這種單調的景色，平淡而忙碌的生活，令他渾忘了地球上多采多姿的風貌。兩個不同的天地，兩種相異的心境，只有在這裡，文祥才能平靜地思考。這算不算太過偏激呢？在這個人類夢想成真的時代，他卻選擇效法那古老的神話，難道果真要同吳剛一樣，永世千年不斷地砍伐著那棵生生不息的桂樹？

    Over the past half year, Wen Xiang had become used to this monotonous sight.  His hum-drum but busy life had made him completely forget the Earth's vibrant features.  Two different worlds; two distinct states of mind.  Only here was Wen Xiang able to think clearly.  Was he perhaps too extreme?  In an age when man's dreams have been realized, he had chosen to follow the old myth.  Was he going to end up like Wu Gang (Note 5), a man destined to forever hack away at a laurel tree that never ceases to grow?       

    文祥覺得相當諷刺，流傳了數千年之久的嫦娥神話，早已被人委棄泥塗。但那「廣寒孤星頻入夢」的心境，卻是無分古今。有時他也會遙望天心高懸的地球，回憶一下往日情景。不過，那些念頭也只是一閃即逝，他力求保持意識清醒，以免步上多數人的後塵。他早就發現了，當自己專心一念於工作時，便能活得很有尊嚴。

    Wen Xiang senses the irony.  The Chang E myth, passed down for thousands of years, has now been discarded.  However, that frame of mind known as “the lonely Guang Han star often appears in dreams” is the same today as it was in the past.  Sometimes when he saw the Earth suspended high in the heavens, he recalled the time he spent there.  However, such moments vanish quickly, like a flash of lightning.  He has to fight to keep a clear mind and avoid following in the footsteps of the crowd.   Long ago he learned that by concentrating on his work, he would always have self-respect.     

    轉航中心在寧靜海，月球梭向北偏東行駛，太陽在左斜上方四十九度，像是一個虛幻的橙球，溫柔而靜默地展現它親切的一面。月球梭表面有一層熱電物質，能把百分之九十的熱能轉化為電流，所以這位天上的暴君，此時倒也顯得異常和藹。

    The Transit Center is located in the Sea of Tranquility.  The Moon Shuttle is heading northeast, with the sun 49 degrees to the left, looking like a phantom orange ball, silently and gently displaying its warmth.  The outer surface of the Moon Shuttle is a layer of thermoelectric substance which converts 90 percent of all heat into electric current.  This lord of the heavens was showing unusual kindness that moment.           

 

    在右邊，有個色呈湛藍、體型碩大的圓球，裹著一層層淡淡的白紗，輕巧地飄遊在碎晶似的群星之中。眼前的天色，宛如一幅畫就的幃幕，左半是一片純澈的橙橘，漸漸過渡到沉靜的深靛。地球嫻淑如昔，像是一位期待遊子的慈母，星群卻耀武揚威，一個個張牙舞爪，恨不得蜂擁到母親的懷抱裡。

    On the right, a gigantic azure ball, shrouded with layers of thin white gauze nimbly floated among stars resembling broken crystals.  Ahead, the color of the sky unrolled like a painted curtain.  On the left, it was a pure orange color.  Slowly, the color transformed from orange to a serene, indigo blue.  The Earth was poised and elegant as usual, like a loving mother awaiting the return of her wandering son.  The stars, on the other hand, looked fierce.  Each one of them baring their fangs and flashing their claws, eager to flock to the arms of the mother.

 

    在陽光斜照下，眼前儘是一片灰黑，隕石坑谷縱橫，一個個拖曳著半圓的陰影，有如巒荒遍佈的蟻塚。時而砂漠曠然，又有殘石碎磧星散，丘陵洞壑櫛比相連。再往兩側望去，有時是石骨崚嶒、拔地兀立的孤峰，更不乏利若劍鋒、簇若林筍的怪石。月球梭蜿蜒行經其間，在電腦的磁軌控制下，轉折得倒是十分平順。

    In the slanting sunlight, Wen Xiang only saw gray and black ahead of him.  There were craters everywhere.  Every crater dragged a half-circle of shadow with it, making it look like a barren anthill.  Sometimes the view was open like a sandy desert, with scattered stone debris, and hills and caves lined up side by side. On either side, a solitary stone peak resembling a stone skeleton would suddenly loom up from no where.  Bizarre looking stone clusters of sword-like sharpness were everywhere to be seen.  The Moon Shuttle wound between them as it passed, smoothly twisting and turning in response to commands from the computer's magnetic track.                

 

    這種景色與地球的明媚濃艷相比，很像一位素淨的仙女，在靜默中更見其實在。身處在這個時代，人類的眼界早已躍出了太陽系，天下難得再有什麼值得珍惜的了。任何人只要打開旅遊頻道，太空中的風光，無遠弗屆，便能一覽無遺。真實就是真實，文祥執著地相信，理性是生存的唯一證明，多保持一分理性，就少一分自我欺騙。

    Compared to the bright, beautiful, and heavy coloring of Earth, this sight resembled a simple and pure nymph.  The silence made it more real.  In this age, man’s vision has already vaulted beyond the solar system.  There were few things worth treasuring.  Anyone who turns to their travel channel can see the sights and sounds of space, no matter how distant, faithfully presented.  Reality is reality.  Wen Xiang firmly believes that the faculty of being rational is the sole proof of living.  More rationality means less self-deception.           

 

    在寂靜中，文祥突然想起剛才的談話。

    In the silence, Wen Xiang suddenly remembered their recent talk. 

    「為什麼不二老與程式有關？」

     “What does Buer Lao have to do with the program?”

    不料文娃卻說：「十分鐘後，有一顆直徑三十公分的隕石，將在右側六點八度五公里處撞擊地面，你順道去攝影記錄吧！」

    But Wen Wa answered: “In 10 minutes, a meteorite 30 cm in diameter will strike the surface to your right at a 6.8 degree angle, 5 kilometers away.  You can film it on your way!”

    文祥一直想近距離觀察這種奇景，一聽大喜，問道：「做什麼記錄？科學性的？」

    Wen Xiang had always wanted to observe this amazing phenomena from up close and was delighted.  He asked: “What kind of record do you want me to make? Scientific?”  

    「不必，我們早就派了十二個觀察機器人去了，我要的是你真實的反應。」

     “No.  We’ve already dispatched 12 robots for that purpose.  What I want is your personal reaction.”

    「真實的反應？你是說，暴露在危險中？」

     “Personal reaction?  You mean expose myself to danger?”

    「可以這麼說，去不去你自己決定。」

     “You could say that.  It’ll be your call.”

 

    文祥猶豫了一會，他知道文娃這樣說，就表示這是一個生死的問題。自從人能夠長生不老後，死亡便成了人人揮之不去的噩夢。在過去，人知道遲早必死，死亡雖然可怕，既然誰都逃脫不了，怕也無可奈何。如今，人可以選擇不死，死與不死，雖然只是一線、卻成了永恆之隔。

    Wen Xiang hesitated.  He knew that when Wen Wa spoke like this, it was a matter of life and death.  Ever since man acquired the ability to postpone aging, for everyone death had become a nightmare that never went away.  In the past, people knew they would die sooner or later.  Though the prospect of death had been terrifying, since none could escape, there was nothing anyone could do about it.  Today, people can choose not to die.  Though life and death are separated by only a thread, the division is forever. 

    其實，對文祥而言，這已是腦中千迴百轉的老問題，他早就看穿了。可是突然面臨抉擇，他一時之間，本能地有點不知所措。

    Actually, this question had occurred to Wen Xiang countless times, and he had no illusions.  However, when suddenly confronted with this choice, for a fraction of a second he was unsure what to do.  

    「妳是說，妳不打算做安全保護？那是違背二○二四宣言的。」

     “You mean you’re not taking any safety precautions?  That’ll be a violation of the 2024 Declaration.”

    「宣言中也提到，人可以自行選擇生死。」

     “The Declaration also states that a man can choose life or death.”

    「妳是要我放棄生存權？」

     “Are you asking me to give up my right to live?”

 

    「那倒不必，我給你幾個選擇吧！即使在電離罩防護下，如果我們飛近爆炸圈五十公尺內，保證你我屍骨無存。如果在兩百公尺附近，以月球梭的抗炸性，還有百分之三十的危險性。如果在一千公尺以外觀察，大約只有百分之五的危險機率。當然在十公里外就安全了，只是以我的推算，還是有萬分之一的擊中率。」

     “Not really.  Let me give you some options!  Even if we’re protected by the ion shield, if we are within 50 meters of the explosion, I guarantee you we'll both vanish without a trace.  If we are about 200 meters from the explosion, with the Moon Shuttle's protective shield, there’ll still be 30 percent risk of danger.  If we’re observing from 1,000 meters away, there’ll be approximately a 5 percent risk.  Of course, if it’s from a distance of 10 kilometers, then we’ll be safe. However, according to my calculations, there's still a 1/10,000 chance of being hit.”  

    「我只是好奇，告訴我，到底有多少人聲明過放棄生存權？」

     “I’m just curious.  Tell me, how many people have announced they're giving up their right to live?”

    「不多，前後只有七十個。」

     “Not many.  Only 70 all together.”

    「七十個？有幾個死了呢？」文祥想不到真有人傻到自尋死路。

     “70?  How many of them have since died?”  Wen Xiang never thought anyone would be so foolish as to seek death.

    「那要看你對死亡的定義了，總之，有一半和你現在一樣。」

     “That depends on what you mean by "death".  In short, half of them were in the same shoes you're in.”

    文祥想了想，慨然說：「我選擇五百公尺。」

    Wen Xiang thought about it for a while and graciously said, “I’ll go for 500 meters.”

    「你和不二老的看法很接近。」

     “Your view is like Buer Lao’s.”

    「妳是說，不二老也做過這種選擇？」

     “You mean, Buer Lao also had to make this kind of choice?”

 

    「不，這是不二老教我們判斷人智的方法。他說，選擇五十公尺以內的人，一定有個活不下去的理由，我們正好藉機會瞭解他，解決他的問題。選擇十公里外，必是貪生怕死之輩，不成大器。而選其他種距離的人，多半是不用大腦，隨便挑一個了事，這種人說話當真不得。你選五百公尺，表示自己有主見；攝像機角度最佳，是有判斷力；而你不顧危險的機率，便是有膽識。」

     “No.  This is how Buer Lao taught us to judge human intelligence.  He says anyone who opts for 50 meters must have a reason for not wanting to live.  This allows us to know him better and treat his problem.  The one who chooses 10 kilometers must be a coward.  He’ll never amount to anything.  The ones who choose other distances don’t use their heads.  They just pick a random number.  You can't trust a person like that.  Choosing 500 meters shows you have your own independent view.  It's the best camera angle for taking photos and that shows you have judgement.  The risk percentage didn't bother you and that shows you have guts.”       

    「你剛剛不是說不瞭解不二老人嗎？」

     “Didn’t you just say that you don’t understand Buer Lao?”

    「快看前面！」

     “Just keep your eyes on where you're going!”

    正說時，月球梭已調整了方向，只見梭頂一陣光華閃動，立時變成一片透明的晶壁。同時從頂部射出一道激光光柱，直照遠方。文祥見前方有一點暗紅的顆粒，似在不停地翻滾。他趕忙取出目視機，戴在眼前，又取出兩組折射鏡頭，一組朝上取全景，一組則採廣角，對準地面。

    As they were talking, the Moon Shuttle had adjusted its direction.  Bright lights glittered over the Shuttle and immediately formed a transparent crystal ceiling. At the same time, a laser beam shot forth from the top of the shuttle illuminating the distance.  Wen Xiang saw a dark red dot ahead which seemed to be continuously rotating.  He quickly took out the electro-binoculars and placed them before his eyes.  Next he took out two sets of refracting lenses.  One set faced upwards allowing him a complete view, while the other faced downwards providing a wide-angle view of the Moon's surface.          

    等到一切準備妥當，文祥再抬頭一望，那暗紅光點已經有米粒大小。看上去平平凡凡的，不覺得有多大威脅。

    When everything was ready, Wen Xiang looked up again.  The bright red dot was now the size of a grain of rice.  It looked very ordinary and unthreatening.

    「就是它嗎？」

     “Is that it?”

    「我把它的聲音傳過來。」

     “I’ll transmit the sound now.”

 

    話剛說完，遠處突然傳來一陣尖銳淒厲的呼嘯聲。那聲音震耳欲聾，有如鬼哭神嚎、漫天蓋地而來，令人覺得無處可遁。文祥心頭猛然一驚，一股寒意由腳底直傳到頭皮，整個人都震慄了。

    As he finished speaking, a shrill and piercing howl was suddenly heard in the distance.  The deafening sound, like some demonic bedlam, penetrated everywhere. There was no hiding from it.  Wen Xiang was stunned.  He was chilled from head to foot.  He was in complete shock.       

  

    過去的科學家以為真空裡不能傳送音波，在本世紀初，一位中國科學家推翻了這個理論，他認為電磁波無遠弗屆，只要有相當於波長的接收天線，在任何一個地方都可以接收到音波。比如說，頻率為一萬週／秒的音波，其波長為十萬公尺，只要有十萬公尺長的天線，便能接收到該音波。

    In the past, scientists were of the opinion that sound could not travel through a vacuum.  A Chinese scientist overturned this theory around the turn of the century. He posited that electromagnetic waves could be transmitted anywhere, no matter how distant.  As long as the receiving antenna was the same wavelength, the sound could be received anywhere.  For example, a sound wave with a frequency of 10,000 cycles/sec would have a wavelength of 100,000.  A 100,000 meter antenna could receive this sound wave.     

    藉著一系列的地球同步天線衛星，這個理論被證實了。再加上定向分頻的濾波系統，可以「聽到」太空裡的各種聲波，遂開啟了「聲頻天文學」的新頁。天文學家根據定向的聲頻，對各個星球的物理性質、大氣環境等，有了更深一層的瞭解。

   By setting up a series of Earth-synchronized antenna satellites, this theory was verified.  In addition, a wave-screening system with directional frequency distribution made it possible to “hear” all kinds of sound waves in space.  Thus the study of “Sound Frequency Astronomy” was born.  Thanks to directional sound frequency, astronomers have a better understanding of the physical laws and atmospheric conditions of various planets.    

   

    「聽這一下成本不低呀！未免太奢侈了！」

     “What a waste of money just to hear this!”

    「你以為這是為了你？當然，這很可能是你人生最後一次的感受。但對在地球上的人而言，這種臨場經歷，卻是最佳的真實題材。」文娃理所當然地說。

     “Do you think this is just for your benefit?  Of course, this could be your last sensory experience.  However, for people on Earth, this on-site occurrence will be the finest example of real time experience", said Wen Wa in a matter-of-fact way.

   

    文祥這才恍然大悟，電腦一定是打算把梭中的實況，直接傳回地球。到時可能有上億的觀眾，等著收看這驚心悚目的現場節目。

    Suddenly Wen Xiang understood.  The computer planned to broadcast live to Earth what was going to take place in the Shuttle.  There would be hundreds of millions of people waiting to see this horrific live show.      

    「你們要轉播嗎？」

     “You're going to broadcast it?”

    「這種生死攸關的真實新聞，多年難得一見。」

     “Real life and death news doesn't come along very often."

    「不行，我有隱私權！」

     “No way.  I have a right to privacy!”

    「我們作不了主，隕石涉及公共安全，這是新聞。」

     “We can’t do anything about that.  Meteorites are a matter of public safety.  This is news.”

    言談間，那嘯聲越來越洪厲，直似千百個孤魂野鬼，漫天裡號寒啼飢。本來呈暗紅色的米粒，現在已大得像顆火珠，在來路上不斷地翻滾。火珠四週似乎還圈著一輪淡淡的金芒，尤其是在向陽的一面，隱隱約約泛著烏紅的環形波光。

    As they were talking, the howling sound grew louder and sharper.  It sounded like hundreds of wandering ghosts, cold and hungry, their shrieks filling the heavens.  This dark-red grain of rice was now as big as a fiery pearl, bouncing in their direction.  The fiery pearl appeared to be surrounded by a light golden aura, especially on the side facing the sun, where a halo of dark-red light was intermittently seen. 

       

    雖說心中早有準備，但眼見隕石直衝自己而來，萬一電腦軌跡計算錯誤，這百分之幾的些微差異，立即是生死亙隔。本能地，文祥的眼睛向四週搜尋，他這艘月球梭是個人用的，只有一張座椅大小，頭頂是透明罩，看上去空空如也，簡直無處可避。

    Though Wen Xiang had prepared himself for this, when he saw the meteorite coming straight for him, he wondered if the computer could have made an error when calculating the track.  A minor mistake of only a small percent would mean instant life or death.  Instinctively, he looked around him.  His Moon Shuttle was designed for personal use.  With only a single seat and a translucent shield overhead, it looked empty and there was nowhere to hide.    

 

    就在這片刻，那尖銳的嘯聲更洪亮了，還夾雜著轟隆轟隆的震撼。在這種聲勢下，加上預期的危險，一絲絲死亡的陰影，悄然攏上文祥的心頭。自己真的不怕死嗎？老實說，當然怕，近年來科學昌明，人類對生死有了更深一層的認識。然而，理解是一回事，沒有親身經歷，人就是無法「體會」。

    The sharp howl was even louder than before and was now accompanied by a rumbling sound.  Under this circumstance and the predicted danger, the shadow of death slowly gathered and crept into Wen Xiang’s mind.  Was he really unafraid of death?  Truthfully speaking, of course he was.  In recent years, with the advance of science and technology, human beings had a better understanding of life and death.  However, to understand is one thing but without experiencing it personally, human beings can never really understand what it means.               

    文祥知道能量不滅，也知道人體的組合只是能量排列的一種形式。存活是能量變化的一個進階，死亡則又進入下一個階段。只要順應自然的規律，讓能量依循固定的軌跡，則生與死一如朝夕循環，沒有分別。

    Wen Xiang knew that energy is never destroyed.  He also understood that the composition of the human body is only a sequential change of energy.  Being alive is a process of energy change and death is next in line of succession.  As long as one follows natural law and lets energy runs its course, life and death each follow in turn, just like morning and evening.  There is no difference between them.          

    突然，梭身一震，文祥回到了現實。

    Suddenly, the Shuttle rocked violently and Wen Xiang awoke from his reverie. .