經典科幻文學:《銀河系漫遊指南》第8章 Part 3

The nothingth of a second for which the hole existed reverberated backwards and forwards through time in a most improbable fashion. Somewhere in the deeply remote past it seriously traumatized a small random group of atoms drifting through the empty sterility of space and made them cling together in the most extraordinarily unlikely patterns. These patterns quickly learnt to copy themselves (this was part of what was so extraordinary of the patterns) and went on to cause massive trouble on every planet they drifted on to. That was how life began in the Universe.
Five wild Event Maelstroms swirled in vicious storms of unreason and spewed up a pavement.
On the pavement lay Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent gulping like half-spent fish.
"There you are," gasped Ford, scrabbling for a fingerhold on the pavement as it raced through the Third Reach of the Unknown, "I told you I'd think of something."
"Oh sure," said Arthur, "sure."
"Bright idea of mine," said Ford, "to find a passing spaceship and get rescued by it."
The real universe arched sickeningly away beneath them. Various pretend ones flitted silently by, like mountain goats. Primal light exploded, splattering space-time as with gobbets of junket. Time blossomed, matter shrank away. The highest prime number coalesced quietly in a corner and hid itself away for ever.
"Oh come off it," said Arthur, "the chances against it were astronomical."
"Don't knock it, it worked," said Ford.
"What sort of ship are we in?" asked Arthur as the pit of eternity yawned beneath them.
"I don't know," said Ford, "I haven't opened my eyes yet."
"No, nor have I," said Arthur.
The Universe jumped, froze, quivered and splayed out in several unexpected directions.
Arthur and Ford opened their eyes and looked about in considerable surprise.

這個洞只存在了短短的一秒鐘，但卻以一種幾乎不可能的方式在此前此後的時間中產生了影響。在遙遠的過去的某個點上，它影響了一組隨機排列飄過虛無太空的原子，使它們按照一些相當特殊的方式組合起來。這些組合方式很快就學會了自我複製（這正是這些組合方式的部分特殊之處），並且繼續發展，給它們經過的所有星球都帶米了巨大的麻煩。這就是宇宙中生命的起源。
五場猛烈的相對渦流翻卷噴流，變出一條人行道。
福特·普里弗克特和阿瑟。登特躺在人行道上，大口喘着氣，像是半死的魚。
“這不成了嗎？”福特氣喘吁吁地說，—邊在人行道上胡亂摸索着，想尋找一個舒服的支撐點，“我告訴過你我會想到法子的。”
“哦，當然，”阿瑟說，“當然。”
“我的如意算盤就是，”福特說，“找一艘路過的飛船，讓它把我們救起來。”
真實的宇宙令人恐懼地消失了。各式各樣的幻象悄然閃過，像山羊一樣敏捷。原初的光亮一陣陣爆發，像給空間貼上了一片片果凍。時間膨脹，物質收縮。最大的質數安靜地躲進角落，永久地隱藏起來。
“噢，算了吧，你別吹牛了，”阿瑟說，“發生這種事的概率微乎其微。”
“別爭了，反正成了。”福特說。
“我們這是在一艘什麼飛船上？”阿瑟問道。
“我不知道，”福特說，“我還沒有睜開眼睛呢。”
“我也沒有。”阿瑟說。
宇宙跳躍、凝結、顫抖，朝意想不到的方向擴張。
阿瑟和福特睜開眼睛，驚訝無比地環顧四周。