鏡子

The Mirror

「還有另一邊，」Matilda說。「那裡一切都在搖晃？」Itfut問。「是的，我們需要試試。我們應該試試。」 「即使它很可怕？」

“T here is still the other side,” said Matilda. “Where everything wavers?” asked Itfut. “Yes, we need to try it. We should try it.” “Even though it’s scary?”

「這裡發生的一切都很可怕！」

“Everything that happens here is scary!”

然後，似乎為了證實剛才所說的話，巨石開始移動並發出奇怪的聲音。

Then, as if to confirm what had just been said, the megalith began moving and making a strange noise.

「又有事情發生了！」Matilda驚呼。「別忘了，Tili，小心你的想法。」

“Something’s happening again!” exclaimed Matilda. “Don’t forget, Tili, be careful of your thoughts.”

「我該怎麼處理它們？我不可能不想或不說任何話！」

“What am I supposed to do with them? It’s impossible for me not to think or say anything!”

「有簡單的想法，然後有斷言。斷言會對現實產生影響。」

“There are simple thoughts and then there are assertions. Assertions have an impact on reality.”

「什麼斷言？」

“What assertions?”

「斷言是當你陳述一個判斷，認為現實是這樣或那樣。」 「判斷？我說了什麼可以算作判斷？」

“Assertions are when you state a judgement that reality is such and such a way.” “A judgement? What did I say that could be a judgement?”

Matilda還沒來得及說完，地板開始轉動，雖然不太清楚是地板相對於牆壁在旋轉，還是牆壁相對於地板在旋轉。女主角和女祭司本能地衝向出口，但發現門口被一堵黑牆擋住了。這個動作伴隨著不祥的滴答聲，好像巨石裡面有一個鐘錶的內部機制：滴答-滴答-滴答-滴答。

Before Matilda had time to finish, the floor started moving in a circle although it was not entirely clear what was spinning, the floor in relation to the walls, or the walls in relation to the floor. The diva and the priestess instinctively rushed for the exit, but they found the doorway blocked by a black wall. The movement was accompanied by an ominous ticking as if the megalith contained the inner workings of a clock: tick-tock-tick-tock, tick-tock-tick-tock.

除了地板和牆壁的反向旋轉外，每當主節拍響起時，柱子就像石英錶的指針一樣抽動著換位置。大廳中央的圓柱保持靜止，但無法抓住它，所以女主角和女祭司只能互相抱緊，不知道該躲在哪裡。突然，一切都停住了。

In addition to the reverse rotation of the floor and walls, with each stroke of the main beat, the columns changed places in jerking movements like the arrows in a quartz watch. The cylinder at the center of the hall remained still but it was impossible to grasp hold of it, so the diva and the priestess held onto each other not knowing where to hide. Suddenly, everything froze.

Itfut最先回過神來。

Itfut came to her senses first.

「我數了十二下，」她說。

“I counted twelve strokes,” she said.

「你居然還能冷靜地數數！」Matilda驚呼。「我差點嚇尿了！」

“You still had the composure to count!” Matilda exclaimed. “I almost pissed myself!”

「哈哈哈，Tili！」女祭司笑道。「那現在可幫不了我們！」 「你什麼都覺得好笑！你是怎麼做到的？」

“Ha, ha, ha, Tili!” the priestess laughed. “That would hardly help us now!” “You find everything funny! How do you manage it?”

「好吧，好吧，我們看看門是不是開了。」

“Okay, okay, let’s take a look and see if the door has opened.”

她們朝出口走去。門口現在確實開了。朋友們跑到外面，驚訝地叫了出來。環境中有些東西改變了。所有東西都在原來的位置，但動作和時間的比例不同了。女主角和女祭司的動作像是慢動作，只有她們的聲音以正常速度響起。

They made for the exit. The doorway was in fact now open. The friends ran outside and there cried out in surprise. Something in the environment had changed. Everything was in the same place as before but the ratio between the length of movements and time was different. The diva and the priestess moved as if in slow motion. Only their voices sounded at the usual speed.

「Futi，這是怎麼回事？！」Matilda喊道。

“Futi, what’s happening?!” shouted Matilda.

「我不知道。感覺像是在水下。」Itfut回答。「天啊，這一切什麼時候才會結束！」

“I don’t know. It’s like we’re under water.” replied Itfut. “God, when will all this end!”

「Tili-Tili！打起精神來。你怎麼說的？『我們需要分開？』好吧，我們需要分開！」

“Tili-Tili! Cheer up. How did you put it? ‘We need to split?’ Well, we need to split!”

「我們確實需要！現在就要！哦不，我開始像你一樣說話了！」 「那我們走吧！」

“We do-do! Right now-now! Oh no, I’ve started talking like you!” “Then let’s go-go!”

然後她們開始跑步，如果這能算是跑步的話，因為她們看起來像是在太空中行走的潛水員。天空仍然分成兩個半球。一半佈滿了發光的子午線，另一半則有著搖曳的霧氣。女主角和女祭司朝後者的方向走去。她們無法預料那裡可能會有什麼危險，但她們必須做點什麼。

And they ran, if you could call it running, for they looked like aquanauts walking through space. The sky was still divided into two hemispheres. One half was lined with luminous meridians, and on the other, there was a swaying haze. The diva and the priestess made in the direction of the latter. What dangers might await them there, they could not say, but they had to do something.

她們花了很長時間才走出城市。當她們終於擺脫城市環境時，一個驚人的場景展現在她們眼前。原本是沙漠的地方，現在變成了一片真正的海洋，波濤洶湧，海浪聲響，甚至岸邊還有草和棕櫚樹。植被的線條在一個不自然突然且明顯的邊界開始。

It took them a long time to get out of the city. When they were finally free of the urban setting, an amazing scene unfolded before their eyes. Where previously there was a desert, now there was a real sea with splashing waves, the noise of surf and even grass and palm trees on the shore. The line of vegetation began in an unnaturally sudden, distinct border.

「哇哦，Futi，太神奇了，看，海！」Matilda喊道。

“Woot-laFuti, how amazing, look, the sea!” shouted Matilda.

「先別高興得太早。這可能是海市蜃樓，」Itfut建議。「看它怎麼在搖晃？」

“Hold off rejoicing. It might be a mirage,” suggested Itfut. “See how it’s all wavering?”

這個場景看起來確實像是在熱氣流中漂浮。Matilda卻不耐煩了。

The scene really did look as if it were floating in streams of hot air. Matilda was impatient though.

「我想進去！現在！立刻！」

“I want to get in! Now! No-o-w!”

她們試著以新的活力前進，但仍然進展緩慢，幾乎無法接近她們的目標。移動雙腿變得更加困難，好像有某種力量在阻止她們。

They tried to move with renewed vigor, but they were still proceeding slowly, barely getting any closer to their goal. It became even harder to move their legs as if some force was holding them back.

最後，她們停下來，無法再邁出一步或移動。停頓了一會兒。過了幾秒鐘，傳來弓弦釋放的聲音，與此同時，兩個女人像被拉伸後彈回的橡皮筋一樣被拋向後方。她們坐在沙地上，完全困惑不已。誘人的海洋和棕櫚樹仍然在她們的觸及之外。

In the end, they stopped no longer capable of taking a step or moving at all. There was a pause. After a few moments, there came the rising sound of a bowstring released and in that same moment both women were thrown backwards like an elastic band that had been stretched and then pinged and let go. They sat down on the sand in complete confusion. The tempting sea and palms were still beyond their reach.

「這簡直是赤裸裸的嘲弄！」Matilda憤怒地說。「是的，現實確實有虐待狂的傾向，」Itfut說。「我們該怎麼辦？」

“This is outright mockery!” said Matilda in indignation. “Yes, reality does have a tendency to be sadistic,” said Itfut. “What are we going to do?”

「我們必須找到一條通往大海的路。」 「為什麼，它可能不讓我們進去？」

“We have to find a way of reaching the sea.” “Why, it might not let us in?”

「據我所記得，」Itfut說，「我的老師教過我，當事情不順利時，你必須能夠看到現實以及自己在其中的位置。所以，Tili，你看到了什麼？」

“As far as I remember,” said Itfut, “my Teacher taught me that when something does not go right, you have to be able to see reality and yourself within it. So, Tili, what are you seeing?”

「我看到大海，我想進去！這裡還有什麼可看的？」 「沒錯！你太想要它了。」

“I see the sea and I want to get in it! What else is there to see here?” “Exactly! You want it too much.”

「我太想要了？過於渴望？那你不想嗎？」

I want it too much? Overmuch? Well, don’t you want to?”

「是的，但過度的渴望會給現實帶來壓力，然後它開始抗拒。」

“Yes, but excessive desire puts a strain on reality, and it starts to resist.”

「哇，我在學校時就學過：任何行動都會引起反作用。那你建議怎麼辦——停止想要？但我怎麼能做到？」

“Wow, I learned that when I was still in school: any action gives rise to opposition. And what do you suggest — stop wanting? But, how can I?”

「通常只要讓自己清醒過來，意識到你是如何給現實帶來壓力的。你必須能夠看到現實以及自己在其中的位置。你沒有看到自己。」

“Often it is enough just to come to your senses and be aware of how you are putting a strain on reality. You have to be able to see reality as well as yourself within it. You aren’t seeing yourself.”

「我怎麼給現實帶來壓力？我這輩子想要過很多東西，但從來沒有被這樣直接牽著走。」

“How am I straining reality? I have wanted a lot of things in my life, but never before have I been kept straight on a leash.”

「別忘了，我們在一個超現實中，這裡的一切似乎都被放大了。」

“Don’t forget, we are in a meta-reality, and here everything seems to be amplified.”

「好吧，那我就一直告訴自己，『我不想要，我不想要』。但這真的能讓我不想要嗎？」

“Okay, so I’ll keep telling myself, ‘I don’t want it, I don’t want it’. But is that really going to stop me from wanting it?”

「如果你不能放棄想要它，那你可以假裝並欺騙現實。」

“If you can’t give up wanting it, then you can pretend and trick reality.”

「假裝？這我倒是能做到。」Matilda停下來想了一會兒。「我知道我們可以怎麼做。我們倒著走向它。」

“Pretend? Now that I can do.” Matilda stopped to think for a moment. “I know what we can do. Let’s walk towards it backwards.”

「哈哈哈！Tili-Tili，這麼愚蠢的想法可能真的會有效。幹得好！」

“Ha, ha, ha! Tili-Tili, that’s so stupid it might actually work. Well done!”

「是的，這可能很愚蠢，但值得一試。」她們站起來，咯咯笑著，背對大海向前走。然後發生了一件不可思議的事情。那片場地放下了抵抗，她們以正常速度移動。

“Yes, it might be stupid but it’s worth a try.” They stood up giggling and made their way forwards with their back to the sea. And then something incredible happened. The field dropped its resistance and they moved at their normal speed.

「Futi！」Matilda驚呼。「成功了！我們快到了！」 「是的，甚至是快速地！」

“Futi!” Matilda exclaimed. “It worked! We’re getting there!” “Yes, even quickly-quickly!”

「但這怎麼可能？你真的能欺騙現實嗎？我並沒有停止想要到海邊！」

“But how is that possible? Can you really trick reality? I did not stop wanting to get to the sea!”

「渴望不僅會讓現實變慢，還會讓我們犯錯並採取錯誤的行動，但如果你假裝並表現得好像你根本沒有這種渴望，現實就會放開你。」

“Desire not only slows reality down, it causes us to make mistakes and take the wrong action but if you pretend and behave as if you didn’t have the desire at all, reality will release its hold on you.”

「Helala，Helala！我現在明白了！」

“Helala, Helala! Now I’m getting it!”

「小聲點，Tili，否則你會驚動現實。」 「這裡到底是誰在驚動誰？！」

“Hush Tili or you’ll startle reality.” “Who is startling who around here?!”

「來吧，我們走，別回頭看。」

“Come on, let’s go, and let’s go without looking over our shoulder.”

於是，女主角和女祭司倒著走，直到撞上一種障礙。驚訝之下，她們轉過身來，開始沿著一面無形的牆摸索。一邊是沙漠，另一邊則是突然轉變的熱帶植被和近在咫尺的海洋，幾乎可以伸手觸及。然而，她們無法穿過這道障礙。然後朋友們注意到，她們在牆上有反射，就像在鏡子裡，只是另一邊的剪影反射幾乎難以辨認，彷彿是透明的。海景在搖曳的霧氣中也有些模糊，但海浪聲卻清晰地近在咫尺。

So, the diva and the priestess walked backwards until they bumped up against some kind of barrier. Surprised, they turned and began to fumble along an invisible wall. On one side, there was a sandy desert and on the other, a dramatic shift to tropical vegetation and the sea so near you could reach out and touch it. Yet it was impossible for them to pass through the barrier. And then the friends noticed that they were reflected in the wall, like in a mirror, only the silhouette reflections on the other side were barely distinguishable as if transparent. The seascape was also a little blurry in the wavering haze and yet the sound of the surf could be heard close by and quite clearly.

「Futi，這太懲罰人了！他們不讓我們進去！」

“Futi, this is punishing! They aren’t letting us in!”

「我明白了，」Itfut說。「這是世界鏡子：現實在那邊。這邊是超現實的原型。」

“I’ve got it,” said Itfut. “This is the world mirror: reality is on that side. This side is the meta-reality prototype.”

「所以，我們到了物質現實的反面？」 「是的，我們早該想到的。」

“So, we’ve ended up on the flip side of physical reality?” “Yes, we should have worked that out ages ago.”

「但這面鏡子是什麼？」

“But what is this mirror?”

「我現在記起來了。它分隔了現實的兩個方面：物質的和想像的。」

“I remember now. It borders two aspects of reality: the physical and the imaginary.”

「你是什麼意思，想像的？」

“What do you mean, the imaginary?”

「你記得，我們談過電影在這裡，生活在那邊。這裡是曾經存在和可能存在的，而那邊是現在存在的。影像在這裡，反射在那裡。首先是被拍攝下來，然後在物質現實中顯現。現在，我們在影像這一邊的電影裡。這是一面鏡子，只是它反過來運作，你明白嗎？」

“You remember, we talked about the movie being here and life being over there. Here is what was and what could be, and over there is what is. The image is here, the reflection is there. First, it’s filmed, then it manifests in physical reality. For now, we’re in the movie on the side of images. It’s a mirror, only it works the other way around, you see?”

「那這意味著我們也是想像的？」

“So that means we are imaginary too?”

「不，我們在另一邊變成了想像的。你看到我們在那裡的反射。不是的，只是我們的真實影像和反射換了位置。我們從物質現實跳到了影像空間。」

“No, we became imaginary on the other side. You see how we are reflected there. No, it is just that our real image and our reflections have changed places. We have jumped from physical reality into the image space.”

「但這裡的一切也是物質的！」Matilda反駁道。「而且那些石頭怪物打算吃掉我這個非常物質的女僕，儘管他們一直叫我合成的……」

“But everything here is material too!” retorted Matilda. “And the glamrocks were intending to eat me as a very material maid, although they kept calling me synthetic for some reason...”

「但你在夢裡也覺得一切都是真實的，不是嗎？」 「嗯，是的，但那是夢。在夢裡你只是以為它是真的。」

“But you feel as if everything is real in a dream too, don’t you?” “Well, yes, but that’s a dream. In a dream you only think it’s real.”

「不，這不僅僅是這樣。你自己判斷一下。你的頭腦真的能想出夢中發生的所有古怪事情嗎？你在夢中飛過的那些世界，你真的認為它們都只是在你腦海中？」

“No, it’s more than that. Judge for yourself. Could your mind really have thought up all the quirky things that happen in your dreams? All those worlds you fly through when you are dreaming, do you really think that they are all just in your head?”

「嗯，也許不是。我不知道。我真的沒有想過這個問題。」

“Well, perhaps not. I don’t know. I have not really thought about it.”

「嗯，你在這裡也在飛，或者更確切地說，你的意識在這個超現實中飛翔。影像空間和夢境空間是一回事。」

’Well, you’re flying here too, or rather, your conscious awareness is flying here in meta-reality. The space of images and the space of dreams are one and the same thing.”

「但我們現在不是在睡覺，對吧？」Matilda問。「還是我們在？」

“But we aren’t sleeping now, are we?” asked Matilda. “Or are we?”

「不幸的是，這不是夢，」Itfut回答。「我們在這裡，不僅僅是意識，還有我們的身體。順便問一下，你是立刻進入你的身體的嗎？」

“Unfortunately, this isn’t a dream,” replied Itfut. “We are here, not only in conscious awareness but in our bodies too. By the way, did you enter your body straight away?”

「是的，我感覺到了。我被綁得太緊，四肢都麻木了。」

“Yes, I felt it. I was so tied up my extremities went numb.”

「我沒有。你記得我告訴過你，我先穿過牆壁，然後才找到我的模型嗎？」

“I didn’t. Do you remember my telling you that I passed through the wall first and only then found my mannequin?”

「要是我們現在能擠過這面牆就好了！現在，我們不能穿過到另一邊，也不能離開我們的身體。」

“If only we could squeeze through this wall now! As it is, we can’t pass through to the other side and we can’t leave our bodies either.”

「是的，我們需要以某種方式實現其中之一。」

“Yes, we need to somehow bring about one or the other.”

「唉，Futi，我對這一切感到震驚。我們現在該怎麼辦？」

“Phew, Futi, I’m just so shocked by all this. What are we going to do now?”

鏡子

The Mirror

「那邊還有另一個世界，」Matilda說，「那裡一切都在搖曳？」Itfut問道，「是的，我們需要試試看。我們應該試試看。」 「即便那很可怕？」

“T here is still the other side,” said Matilda. “Where everything wavers?” asked Itfut. “Yes, we need to try it. We should try it.” “Even though it’s scary?”

「這裡發生的一切都讓人毛骨悚然！」

“Everything that happens here is scary!”

隨後，彷彿是為了證實剛才所言，巨石開始移動並發出奇怪的聲音。

Then, as if to confirm what had just been said, the megalith began moving and making a strange noise.

「又有事情發生了！」Matilda驚呼，「別忘了，Tili，小心你的念頭！」

“Something’s happening again!” exclaimed Matilda. “Don’t forget, Tili, be careful of your thoughts.”

「我該怎麼處理這些東西？我根本沒辦法不去思考或說出任何話！」

“What am I supposed to do with them? It’s impossible for me not to think or say anything!”

「有些念頭很簡單，但還有一些則屬於斷言，斷言對現實會產生影響。」

“There are simple thoughts and then there are assertions. Assertions have an impact on reality.”

「什麼樣的斷言？」

“What assertions?”

「斷言就是當你發表一個判斷，說現實就是這樣的。」 「判斷？我說了什麼能算作判斷？」

“Assertions are when you state a judgement that reality is such and such a way.” “A judgement? What did I say that could be a judgement?”

在Matilda還來不及說完之際，地板開始以圓形旋轉，但究竟是地板相對於牆壁在轉，還是牆壁相對於地板在轉，都無從分辨。diva和祭司本能地衝向出口，卻發現門口被一道黑色牆壁堵住了。這旋轉伴隨著陰森的滴答聲，彷彿這塊巨石內藏著一個時鐘的運轉機制：滴答－滴答－滴答－滴答。

Before Matilda had time to finish, the floor started moving in a circle although it was not entirely clear what was spinning, the floor in relation to the walls, or the walls in relation to the floor. The diva and the priestess instinctively rushed for the exit, but they found the doorway blocked by a black wall. The movement was accompanied by an ominous ticking as if the megalith contained the inner workings of a clock: tick-tock-tick-tock, tick-tock-tick-tock.

除了地板與牆壁的反向旋轉外，隨著每一次主節拍的擊打，柱子也像石英錶的指針般急促換位。大廳中央的圓柱依舊靜止，但卻無法被牢牢抓住，於是diva與祭司互相攙扶，不知該躲向何處。突然，一切都凝固下來。

In addition to the reverse rotation of the floor and walls, with each stroke of the main beat, the columns changed places in jerking movements like the arrows in a quartz watch. The cylinder at the center of the hall remained still but it was impossible to grasp hold of it, so the diva and the priestess held onto each other not knowing where to hide. Suddenly, everything froze.

Itfut最先恢復了知覺。

Itfut came to her senses first.

「我數到十二一下，」她說。

“I counted twelve strokes,” she said.

「你還能保持冷靜去數數！」Matilda驚呼，「我差點笑到尿褲子了！」

“You still had the composure to count!” Matilda exclaimed. “I almost pissed myself!”

「哈哈哈，Tili！」祭司大笑，「這對我們幫助不大！」 「你真是什麼都覺得好笑！你是怎麼做到的？」

“Ha, ha, ha, Tili!” the priestess laughed. “That would hardly help us now!” “You find everything funny! How do you manage it?”

「好啦，好啦，咱們去看看門打開了沒。」

“Okay, okay, let’s take a look and see if the door has opened.”

他們趕往出口。事實上，門如今已經敞開了。朋友們衝到外面並驚呼出聲：環境中的某些事物發生了變化。一切依舊在原地，但動作的幅度和時間的比例卻變了。diva與祭司的動作彷彿變成了慢動作，唯獨他們的聲音卻依然以正常速度回響。

They made for the exit. The doorway was in fact now open. The friends ran outside and there cried out in surprise. Something in the environment had changed. Everything was in the same place as before but the ratio between the length of movements and time was different. The diva and the priestess moved as if in slow motion. Only their voices sounded at the usual speed.

「Futi，這到底是怎麼回事？！」Matilda大喊。

“Futi, what’s happening?!” shouted Matilda.

「我不知道，感覺就像我們身處水中。」Itfut回答，「天啊，這究竟什麼時候才會結束！」

“I don’t know. It’s like we’re under water.” replied Itfut. “God, when will all this end!”

「Tili-Tili！打起精神來。你不是說過‘我們得分開’嗎？沒錯，我們得分開！」

“Tili-Tili! Cheer up. How did you put it? ‘We need to split?’ Well, we need to split!”

「我們快快走！就現在！哦不，我竟然開始像你一樣說話了！」 「那就走走吧！」

“We do-do! Right now-now! Oh no, I’ve started talking like you!” “Then let’s go-go!”

他們開始跑起來——如果能稱之為跑步的話，因為他們看上去更像是在太空裡穿梭的水下探險家。天空仍然被劃分成兩個半球，一邊界滿了發光的經線，另一邊則覆蓋著搖晃的薄霧。diva和祭司選擇朝著後者的方向前進。他們無法確定前方等待著他們的究竟是何種危險，但他們必須有所行動。

And they ran, if you could call it running, for they looked like aquanauts walking through space. The sky was still divided into two hemispheres. One half was lined with luminous meridians, and on the other, there was a swaying haze. The diva and the priestess made in the direction of the latter. What dangers might await them there, they could not say, but they had to do something.

他們花了相當長的時間才走出那座城市。當終於離開都市，眼前展現出一個驚人的畫面——曾經一片沙漠的地方，如今竟化作真實的海洋，海浪激盪、濤聲陣陣，岸邊還長滿了青草和棕櫚樹，而那片植被的邊界則出現了一條異常突兀且明顯的界線。

It took them a long time to get out of the city. When they were finally free of the urban setting, an amazing scene unfolded before their eyes. Where previously there was a desert, now there was a real sea with splashing waves, the noise of surf and even grass and palm trees on the shore. The line of vegetation began in an unnaturally sudden, distinct border.

「哇啦，Futi，多驚人啊，快看那海！」Matilda喊道。

“Woot-laFuti, how amazing, look, the sea!” shouted Matilda.

「別急著歡呼，可能只是一場海市蜃樓，」Itfut建議道，「看，那一切都在搖曳！」

“Hold off rejoicing. It might be a mirage,” suggested Itfut. “See how it’s all wavering?”

畫面看起來彷彿漂浮在熱氣流中，而Matilda卻顯得不耐煩。

The scene really did look as if it were floating in streams of hot air. Matilda was impatient though.

「我想馬上進去！現在！現-在！」

“I want to get in! Now! No-o-w!”

他們努力以全新的活力向前移動，但步伐依然緩慢，幾乎一點也沒靠近目標。感覺連雙腿都變得愈發沉重，好像有某種無形的力量在牽制著他們。

They tried to move with renewed vigor, but they were still proceeding slowly, barely getting any closer to their goal. It became even harder to move their legs as if some force was holding them back.

最終，他們停下了腳步，竟無法再移動一步。短暫的寂靜後，傳來了一陣如同弓弦被放開般的聲響，隨即兩位女子猶如被拉緊後猛然彈回一般，跌坐在沙灘上，徹底陷入困惑。那誘惑人的大海和棕櫚依然遙不可及。

In the end, they stopped no longer capable of taking a step or moving at all. There was a pause. After a few moments, there came the rising sound of a bowstring released and in that same moment both women were thrown backwards like an elastic band that had been stretched and then pinged and let go. They sat down on the sand in complete confusion. The tempting sea and palms were still beyond their reach.

「這簡直是徹頭徹尾的嘲弄！」Matilda憤慨地喊道，「是啊，現實確實常常讓人覺得殘酷得近乎虐待，」Itfut回答，「我們該怎麼辦？」

“This is outright mockery!” said Matilda in indignation. “Yes, reality does have a tendency to be sadistic,” said Itfut. “What are we going to do?”

「我們必須找到一條達到那海洋的方法。」「可是，它可能根本就不允許我們進去吧？」

“We have to find a way of reaching the sea.” “Why, it might not let us in?”

「據我記得，」Itfut說，「我老師曾教導我，當事情不順時，你必須能在現實中看到自己。所以，Tili，你現在看見什麼？」

“As far as I remember,” said Itfut, “my Teacher taught me that when something does not go right, you have to be able to see reality and yourself within it. So, Tili, what are you seeing?”

「我看到那片海，我真想跳進去！這裡還有什麼值得看呢？」 「正是！你太迫不及待了。」

“I see the sea and I want to get in it! What else is there to see here?” “Exactly! You want it too much.”

「我太迫不及待？過分了？那你不也想要嗎？」

I want it too much? Overmuch? Well, don’t you want to?”

「是的，但過度的慾望會給現實帶來壓力，進而開始產生抵抗。」

“Yes, but excessive desire puts a strain on reality, and it starts to resist.”

「哇，我在還念書的時候就學到：任何行動都會引發對立。你建議什麼呢——停止欲望？可是，我該如何做到？」

“Wow, I learned that when I was still in school: any action gives rise to opposition. And what do you suggest — stop wanting? But, how can I?”

「通常，只要你能恢復冷靜，並意識到自己正在給現實施壓就夠了。你必須能夠在現實中看到自己，而不是失去了自我。」

“Often it is enough just to come to your senses and be aware of how you are putting a strain on reality. You have to be able to see reality as well as yourself within it. You aren’t seeing yourself.”

「我怎樣在給現實施壓呢？我生命中渴望過許多東西，但從來沒有人像走繩索般束縛住我。」

“How am I straining reality? I have wanted a lot of things in my life, but never before have I been kept straight on a leash.”

「別忘了，我們身處於元現實中，而這裡的一切似乎都被放大了。」

“Don’t forget, we are in a meta-reality, and here everything seems to be amplified.”

「好吧，那我就不停地對自己重複：‘我不想要，我不想要’。但這真的能阻止我產生欲望嗎？」

“Okay, so I’ll keep telling myself, ‘I don’t want it, I don’t want it’. But is that really going to stop me from wanting it?”

「如果你無法放棄那份慾望，那就假裝，利用詭計欺騙現實吧。」

“If you can’t give up wanting it, then you can pretend and trick reality.”

「假裝？那倒是我能做到的。」Matilda停下來沉思片刻，「我知道我們該怎麼做：倒退著走向它。」

“Pretend? Now that I can do.” Matilda stopped to think for a moment. “I know what we can do. Let’s walk towards it backwards.”

「哈哈哈！Tili-Tili，這也太蠢了，竟然可能管用。幹得好！」

“Ha, ha, ha! Tili-Tili, that’s so stupid it might actually work. Well done!”

「是啊，雖然這聽起來很蠢，但值得一試。」他們一邊咯咯笑著站了起來，一邊背對著海，向前走去。就在那時，奇蹟出現了——那領域放下了抵抗，他們也恢復了正常的速度。

“Yes, it might be stupid but it’s worth a try.” They stood up giggling and made their way forwards with their back to the sea. And then something incredible happened. The field dropped its resistance and they moved at their normal speed.

「Futi！」Matilda驚呼，「成功了！我們快到了！」 「是的，甚至還加快了速度！」

“Futi!” Matilda exclaimed. “It worked! We’re getting there!” “Yes, even quickly-quickly!”

「但這怎可能？你真的能騙過現實嗎？我並沒有停止渴望到達那海邊！」

“But how is that possible? Can you really trick reality? I did not stop wanting to get to the sea!”

「慾望不僅讓現實變得遲緩，還讓我們犯錯、採取錯誤的行動；但如果你假裝、裝作根本沒有那慾望，現實就會放開對你的束縛。」

“Desire not only slows reality down, it causes us to make mistakes and take the wrong action but if you pretend and behave as if you didn’t have the desire at all, reality will release its hold on you.”

「嘿啦啦，嘿啦啦！現在我懂了！」

“Helala, Helala! Now I’m getting it!”

「安靜點，Tili，免得你驚動了現實。」 「這裡誰在驚動誰啊？！」

“Hush Tili or you’ll startle reality.” “Who is startling who around here?!”

「來吧，走啰，而且走時別回頭看！」

“Come on, let’s go, and let’s go without looking over our shoulder.”

於是，diva與祭司一路倒退行走，直到撞上一道某種障礙。驚訝之餘，她們轉身開始沿著一道無形的牆摸索前進；牆的一側是沙漠，而另一側則突然變成濃密的熱帶植被，與幾乎伸手可及的海洋相映成趣。然而，無論如何，她們無法穿越這道屏障。接著，她們注意到自己的身影映射在牆上，就像鏡子中的倒影一樣，不過那邊的剪影幾乎分辨不出，彷彿變得透明。海景在搖曳的薄霧中略顯模糊，但近處卻能聽到清晰的海浪聲。

So, the diva and the priestess walked backwards until they bumped up against some kind of barrier. Surprised, they turned and began to fumble along an invisible wall. On one side, there was a sandy desert and on the other, a dramatic shift to tropical vegetation and the sea so near you could reach out and touch it. Yet it was impossible for them to pass through the barrier. And then the friends noticed that they were reflected in the wall, like in a mirror, only the silhouette reflections on the other side were barely distinguishable as if transparent. The seascape was also a little blurry in the wavering haze and yet the sound of the surf could be heard close by and quite clearly.

「Futi，這簡直是在折磨人！他們不讓我們進去！」

“Futi, this is punishing! They aren’t letting us in!”

「我明白了，」Itfut說，「這就是世界的鏡子：現實在那邊，而這邊就是元現實原型 (meta-reality prototype)。」

“I’ve got it,” said Itfut. “This is the world mirror: reality is on that side. This side is the meta-reality prototype.”

「那麼，我們竟然來到了物質現實的另一面？」 「是的，我們早該弄清楚這一點了。」

“So, we’ve ended up on the flip side of physical reality?” “Yes, we should have worked that out ages ago.”

「但是，這面鏡子究竟是什麼？」

“But what is this mirror?”

「我現在記起來了。它將現實劃分為兩個層面：物質的與虛幻的。」

“I remember now. It borders two aspects of reality: the physical and the imaginary.”

「你所謂的虛幻到底是什麼意思？」

“What do you mean, the imaginary?”

「你還記得嗎？我們曾談過，這裡代表著電影裡的世界，而那邊則是生活所在。這邊包含了既是過去也是未來的可能，而對面則是當下的現實。影像在這邊，而反射在那邊。先被‘拍攝’下來，再於物質現實中實現。就目前而言，我們正處於以影像為主的電影之中。這面鏡子只是運作方式剛好相反，你懂嗎？」

“You remember, we talked about the movie being here and life being over there. Here is what was and what could be, and over there is what is. The image is here, the reflection is there. First, it’s filmed, then it manifests in physical reality. For now, we’re in the movie on the side of images. It’s a mirror, only it works the other way around, you see?”

「那是不是意味著我們也屬於虛幻的一方？」

“So that means we are imaginary too?”

「不，我們是在另一邊變得虛幻了。你看，那裡有我們的倒影。其實，只是我們的真實形象與倒影交換了位置，我們已從物質現實躍進到影像空間。」

“No, we became imaginary on the other side. You see how we are reflected there. No, it is just that our real image and our reflections have changed places. We have jumped from physical reality into the image space.”

「可是，這裡的一切也都是物質的！」Matilda反駁道，「而那些 glamrocks 本來打算把我當作一個非常物質的女僕宰了，儘管他們總是莫名其妙地稱我為合成的……」

“But everything here is material too!” retorted Matilda. “And the glamrocks were intending to eat me as a very material maid, although they kept calling me synthetic for some reason...”

「但你不覺得夢中一切也彷彿真實嗎？」 「嗯，是的，但那只是一場夢；在夢裡，你只是以為它是真實的。」

“But you feel as if everything is real in a dream too, don’t you?” “Well, yes, but that’s a dream. In a dream you only think it’s real.”

「不，遠不止如此。你自己想想，你的腦袋真的能構思出夢中那麼多怪異的情景嗎？那無數在夢中你經歷過的世界，你真的認為它們僅存在於你的腦海中嗎？」

“No, it’s more than that. Judge for yourself. Could your mind really have thought up all the quirky things that happen in your dreams? All those worlds you fly through when you are dreaming, do you really think that they are all just in your head?”

「也許並非如此，我不知道，我還真沒仔細想過。」

“Well, perhaps not. I don’t know. I have not really thought about it.”

「其實，你也在這裡‘飛行’呢，或者更確切地說，是你的意識在元現實中翱翔。影像的空間與夢境的空間，其實是合而為一的。」

’Well, you’re flying here too, or rather, your conscious awareness is flying here in meta-reality. The space of images and the space of dreams are one and the same thing.”

「但我們現在不是在睡覺吧？」Matilda問道，「還是說我們在睡？」

“But we aren’t sleeping now, are we?” asked Matilda. “Or are we?”

「不幸的是，這不是夢境，」Itfut回答，「我們不僅在意識中存在，身體也同樣存在。對了，你是不是立刻就進入了你的身體？」

“Unfortunately, this isn’t a dream,” replied Itfut. “We are here, not only in conscious awareness but in our bodies too. By the way, did you enter your body straight away?”

「是的，我感覺到了。我被束縛得連四肢都麻了。」

“Yes, I felt it. I was so tied up my extremities went numb.”

「我沒有。你還記得我跟你說過，我是先穿過那牆，才找到我的模特兒嗎？」

“I didn’t. Do you remember my telling you that I passed through the wall first and only then found my mannequin?”

「要是我們能現在就擠過這面牆該多好！事實上，我們既無法通過那邊，也無法離開我們的身體。」

“If only we could squeeze through this wall now! As it is, we can’t pass through to the other side and we can’t leave our bodies either.”

「是啊，我們必須想辦法實現其中一種可能。」

“Yes, we need to somehow bring about one or the other.”

「呼，Futi，我真是被這一切嚇壞了。現在我們該怎麼辦？」

“Phew, Futi, I’m just so shocked by all this. What are we going to do now?”