觸發器

The Trigger-Jigger

她們輪流品嚐了所有的菜餚，直到吃飽。

They both tried a little of all the dishes in turn until they were full.

「好吧，謝謝你餵我，」瑪蒂爾達說。「我們過著好日子！如果他們讓我們去海邊，我們就真的能享受生活了。」

“Well, thank you for feeding me,” said Matilda. “We’re living the good life! If they let us go to the sea as well, we could really live life.”

「你先說『我們過著』，然後又說『我們能真正生活』。真有趣。給點時間。我們才剛開始測試我們的能力。未來還有更多。」

“First you say, ‘we’re living’, and then ‘we could really live’. It’s funny. Give it time. We’re only just beginning to test our capabilities. There’ll be more to come.”

「是的，我們的能力真是太棒了！」

“Yes, and our capabilities are fabulous!”

「蒂莉，謝謝你幫我激活了我的觸發器。我會記住這種感覺，從現在開始能夠使用它。」

“Tili, thank you for helping me activate my trigger-jigger. I’ll remember the feeling from now on and be able to use it.”

「親愛的芙蒂卡，芙蒂！」瑪蒂爾達說，走近女祭司，給了她一個擁抱。「你為我做了更多，還在繼續做！沒有你，我早就完蛋了。」

“My dear Futichka, Futi!” Matilda said moving closer to the priestess and giving her a hug. “You have done so much more for me and still are doing! I would have been completely finished without you.”

「沒有你，我在這裡也待不久。我們相遇並如此互補，真是太神奇了！」

“I wouldn’t have lasted long here without you either. It’s so amazing that we met and that we complement each other so well!”

「伊特夫特，你之前提到『隨機想法』。你能提醒我，『隨機想法』到底是什麼意思？」

“Itfut, you said something before about ‘random thoughts’. Can you remind me, what do you mean exactly by a ‘random thought’?”

「你不能用意志力、命令、請求甚至祈禱來控制現實。現實是由隨機想法控制的，那種短暫而不引人注目的想法，」伊特夫特說。

“You can’t control reality by using will power, by giving orders, making requests or even through prayer. Reality is controlled by a random thought, the kind that arises fleetingly, unobtrusively,” said Itfut.

「那種想法是自己產生的嗎？」

“Does that kind of thought arise all by itself, then?”

「有時候是自發的，是的，但你也可以故意創造一個。如果你非常渴望某件事，那麼你必須把這種渴望轉化為一個隨機想法。」

“Sometimes, spontaneously, yes, but you can create one deliberately, too. If you want something desperately, passionately, then you have to turn that desire into a random thought.”

「然而，我不需要創造隨機想法就能激活圓柱。」

“And yet I can activate the cylinder without creating a random thought.”

「那是在巨石陣。在這裡，一切都更容易實現。現實要複雜得多。超現實也是如此。」

“That’s in the megalith. Here everything is easier to achieve. Reality is much more complicated. It turns out. The same goes for meta-reality, too.”

「但當我被『帶去屠宰』時，我拼命地、強烈地希望一切都能好起來，然後就真的好了。」

“But when I was being ‘led to the slaughter’, I wished desperately, vehemently, that everything would be alright with me, and then it was.”

「你用了你的觸發槓桿。當然，強烈的渴望也能起作用，但隨機想法結合觸發槓桿的效果更強大。」

“You used your trigger-lever. Of course, desperate desire can work as well but random thoughts combined with the trigger-lever work more powerfully.”

「我還是不太明白你所說的隨機想法是什麼意思，」瑪蒂爾達說。

“I still don’t understand exactly what you mean by a random thought,” said Matilda.

「我自己也還不完全記得。我只知道現實不喜歡被命令，對我們的請求無動於衷。隨機想法不是渴望、命令或請求。更像是一種允許，一種許可。現實就像個孩子。她喜歡被允許做她想做的事。」

“I don’t fully remember myself yet. All I know is that reality does not like being given orders and is indifferent to our pleas. A random thought is not a desire, a command or a request. It’s more like an allowing, a permitting. Reality is like a child. She likes being allowed to do whatever she wants.”

「所以，我必須告訴她我允許她實現我想要的？」

“So, I have to tell her that I permit her to manifest what I want?”

「不是你想要的，而是現實想要的。你必須讓她想要和你一樣的東西。」

“Not what you want but what reality wants. You have to make her want the same thing as you.”

「那你怎麼做到的？」

“And how do you do that?”

「我無法解釋。直覺上，我感覺隨機想法是從你身後某個地方產生的，這就是為什麼我猜我們認為隨機想法來自於心靈的後面。」

“I can’t explain it. Intuitively, I feel that a random thought arises somewhere from behind you, which is why, I suppose we think of random thoughts as originating somewhere at the back of the mind.”

「觸發槓桿也在後面！嗯，不完全是在背後……有點在後面。也許它位於微妙的能量體中？」

“The trigger-lever is at the back, too! Well, not right on the back… a bit behind it. Maybe it’s something located in the subtle energy body?”

「你知道微妙的身體嗎，蒂莉？」伊特夫特驚訝地問。

“You know about subtle bodies, Tili?” asked Itfut in surprise.

「嗯，是的。我在某個地方聽說過關於光環和那些東西。只是『那些東西』還很少被研究。」

“Well, yes. I heard something somewhere about the aura and all that. Only ‘all that’ is still very little studied.”

「在我們的世界中研究得更深入，但可惜的是，我還記不太清。」

“It’s better studied in our world but sadly, I still don’t remember much.”

「別擔心，芙蒂，知識會逐漸回到你身上。門檻承諾過。你已經向我揭示了很多我從未想過的事情。」

“Don’t worry Futi, Knowledge will gradually return to you. Threshold promised. You’ve already revealed so much to me that I had never even thought about before.”

「好吧，好吧，一切都會在適當的時候揭示出來。你忘了你答應要招待我嗎？我已經履行了我的承諾。現在輪到你了。」

“All right, all right, all will be revealed in due course. Have you forgotten that you promised to give me a treat? I kept my side of the agreement. Now it’s your turn.”

「不，我沒忘。我沒忘，」瑪蒂爾達回答，模仿伊特夫特的語氣戲弄她。「現在，現在，一個招待來了。」瑪蒂爾達習慣性地整理她的弓，並對自己念了一種咒語，於是段落開始從圓柱中迅速出現，展示出美麗的藍邊綠松石色碟子。碟子上放著散發誘人香氣的東西。

“No, I haven’t forgotten. I haven’t forgotten,” Matilda replied, teasing Itfut imitating her manner of speaking. “Now, now, one treat coming up.” Out of habit, Matilda straightened her bow and said a kind of spell to herself at which point segments began instantly emerging from the cylinder displaying beautiful turquoise saucers with a blue rim. On the saucers lay something with an alluring aroma.

「看哪，無所不能的女祭司圖夫提，藍邊碟子上的東方甜點。」

“There you have it, all-powerful priestess Tufti, oriental sweets on a dish with a blue rim.

「為什麼特別是藍邊？」

“Why with a blue rim particularly?”

「這是我們說的，當所有心願和渴望都實現了，沒有什麼可再要求的時候，你開始任性：『但我想要藍邊的！』」

“That’s what we say when all whims and desires are fulfilled and there is nothing left to wish for, but you start being capricious: ‘But I want it with a blue rim!’”

「哦，真好吃！這是什麼？」

“Oh, how delicious! What is this?”

「這是哈爾瓦，這是土耳其軟糖，那是雪貝糖。現在就這些，否則我們會撐爆。下次，我會再想些別的。」

“This one is halva, this is Turkish delight and that is sherbet fudge. That’s enough for now though otherwise we’ll pop. Next time, I’ll think up something else as well.”

「有這些甜點，我們需要茶，」伊特夫特說。「我會請你喝我們這裡流行的飲料。」這次，女祭司自信地走向圓柱，微微低下頭，然後一個動作，將手臂抬到肩膀高度，肘部彎曲，然後高舉，做出一個祈求的手勢。

“With sweets like these we need tea,” said Itfut. “I’ll treat you to a drink that is popular with us.” This time, the priestess confidently approached the cylinder, leaned forward slightly lowering her head, and then in one movement, raised her arms to shoulder level bent them at the elbows and raised them higher in a gesture of supplication.

圓柱中立刻出現了兩個整齊的杯子和一個長頸高壺。

Segments holding two neat cups and a tall jug with a long neck immediately emerged from the cylinder.

「芙蒂，你剛才做了什麼？」瑪蒂爾達問。

“Futi, what did you just do?” asked Matilda.

「我不知道。我只是自動地做了，」伊特夫特回答。「我以前一定用過這個手勢很多次，我想我能猜到它的用途。」

“I don’t know. I just did it automatically,” answered Itfut. “I must have used that gesture many times before and I think I can guess what it’s for.”

「那它是用來做什麼的？什麼？」

“And what is it for? What?”

「它能瞬間激活觸發器。」 「有趣，讓我試試看。」

“It instantly activates the trigger-jigger.” “Interesting, let me try.”

瑪蒂爾達站起來，做了她剛才看到芙蒂做的手勢。「是的，我能感覺到一些東西，但為什麼什麼都沒發生？」

Matilda stood up and made the gesture she had seen Futi do moments before. “Yes, I can sense something but why is nothing happening?”

「你可能什麼都沒想。當你激活觸發器時，你必須設置你的焦點，選擇你的隨機想法，這樣你才能實現你的想法。」

“You probably weren’t thinking of anything. When you activate the trigger, you have to set your focus, pick your random thought so that you can manifest your idea.”

「對。我沒有設置焦點。」

“True. I didn’t set a focus.”

「也不需要。你必須小心你的隨機想法和觸發器。」

“And there’s no need to. You have to be careful with your random thoughts and the trigger.”

「顯然如此。來吧，讓我們試試你的飲料吧，」瑪蒂爾達說，伸手去拿其中一個小茶杯。「哦，看看那些可愛的『小杯子』！」

“Evidently. Come on then, let’s try your drink,” said Matilda reaching out to take one of the little teacups. “Oh, look at those sweet ‘kalyambochki’!”

「什麼-什麼，那些什麼？」 「小杯子——『小杯子』。」

“What-what, those what?” “Kalyambochki –’little cups’.”

「這飲料效果強，所以用小杯子來喝，這樣你就得慢慢啜飲。」

“The drink has a powerful effect, so it’s served in small cups so that you have to sip it.”

「效果是什麼？」

“What’s the effect?”

「你馬上就會知道。」伊特夫特把飲料倒進兩個杯子，然後她們開始了儀式。瑪蒂爾達不時地啜飲著她的杯子，輕聲笑著。

“You’re about to find out.” Itfut poured the drink into the two cups and then they began the ceremony. Matilda chuckled every now and then sipping from her cup.

「這讓我想起了什麼，雖然我不知道是什麼，」她說。「這是草本茶，」伊特夫特回答。

“It reminds me of something although I don’t know what,” she said. “It’s herb-based tea,” replied Itfut.

「嗯，再來一杯？」

“Hum, another cup?”

「好吧，」伊特夫特又給她們倒滿了杯子。

“Okay,” Itfut refilled their cups.

喝完第二杯後，瑪蒂爾達的眼睛開始閃閃發光，她顯得更加活躍。

After the second cup, Matilda’s eyes began to shine, and she was visibly more animated.

「芙蒂，這是什麼，嗯？」

“Futi, What is it, uh?”

「我告訴過你，這是草本茶。」 「你說是草本的？安全的草藥？」

“I told you, it’s a herb-based tea.” “Herb-based you say? Safe herbs?”

「哈哈哈！蒂莉，沒什麼好擔心的。它不會讓你進入恍惚狀態，也不會上癮。」

“Ha, ha, ha! Tili, there’s nothing to worry about. It won’t bring on a trance state or anything. It isn’t addictive either.”

「草本草藥，無害的小草藥。再來一杯奇妙的？」

“Herby herbs, harmless little herbs. Another quirky cupful?”

「蒂莉，放輕鬆。這飲料是提神的，但喝多了可能有害。」 「沒錯！我需要振奮精神！緩解我的壓力。再給我倒點！」

“Tili, take it easy. The drink is energy-giving but too much of it can be harmful.” “Exactly! I need to be invigorated! Relieve my stress. Pour me some more!”

伊特夫特又給瑪蒂爾達和自己倒了一些。「你不會要做什麼奇怪的事吧？」 「我還不知道，我們拭目以待。」

Itfut poured some more for Matilda and herself. “You’re not about to do something weird, are you?” “I don’t know yet, we’ll see.”

「蒂莉-蒂莉！」

“Tili-Tili!”

「是的！現在輪到我嚇唬你了！再來一杯奇妙的？」

“Yup! Now it’s my turn to frighten you! Another quirky cupful?”

「夠了，別再喝了，否則你會失控。你這個太過表現的女神。別忘了我們在哪裡。」

“That’s enough, no more, otherwise you’ll get out of hand. You’re far too expressive a diva. Don’t forget where we are.”

「好吧，好吧，我只是開玩笑！」瑪蒂爾達說。「這飲料真不錯。我振奮了精神。現在，你可以想像，我完全準備好對付這個固執的現實了。不是只有她能對我們胡鬧！」

“Okay, okay, I was just joking!” said Matilda. “Great little drinkthough. I’ve refreshed my spirits. And now, as can you imagine, I feel totally ready to do something about this bloody-minded reality. It’s not just her who’s going to muck about with us!”

「現實不是可以隨便玩的東西，你知道的。」

“Reality isn’t something to be played with, as you well know.”

「是的，但芙蒂，我一直在想，有什麼能阻止我們利用觸發器來啟動我們自己的夢境？」

“Yes, but Futi, I’ve been thinking, what’s to stop us launching a dream of our own with the help of our triggers?”

「如果我們這麼做會發生什麼？結果會怎樣？」

“What will happen if we do? What will come of it?”

「你不覺得奇怪嗎，模型竟然凍住了？你自己說過，夢應該在播放，因為我們在這裡觀察它。」

“Weren’t you surprised that the mannequins froze? You said yourself that the dream should be playing out because we are here observing it.”

「也許不播放會更好。這樣事情就不會變得更糟。」

“Maybe it would be better if it wasn’t playing. That way things can’t get any worse.”

「但我們也可能會在這裡無所事事地度過一生！生活應該是讓事情運行，而不是懶散地喝茶。」

“But we could also end up spending our entire lives here in limbo with nothing happening! Life should be about keeping things moving, not lackadaisical tea- drinking.”

「嘿嘿！蒂莉，我喜歡你這種心情。」

“Hey hey! Tili, I like you when you’re in this mood.”

「不過首先我想理清一件事。你說過，當我們在夢境空間時，我們的意識專注於觀看夢境，這讓我們成為觀眾，而在清醒的現實空間，我們實際上在生活，這讓我們像角色，對吧？」

“Only first I want to get something straight in my mind. You said that when we are in the dream space, our awareness is focused on watching the dream which makes us a viewer, whereas in the waking reality space, we are actually living it, which makes us like characters, right?”

「對。」

“Right.”

「那麼觀眾和角色有什麼區別？」

“So, what’s the difference between a viewer and a character?”

「觀眾只是觀看，而角色參與其中。」 「但你可以在夢中參與，也可以觀看，不是嗎？」

“A viewer only watches, whereas a character participates in what’s unfolding.” “But you can take part in a dream as well as watch one?”

「聰明，瑪蒂爾達！在夢中，我們的意識可以同時作為觀眾和參與者。有時候，我們只是像在看電影一樣觀看夢境。其他時候，我們則像生活在夢中一樣參與其中。」

“Clever, Matilda! In a dream, our awareness can be present both as a viewer and as a participant. Sometimes, we just watch our dreams as if we were flying through a movie. Other times, we take part in them as if we were living inside the dream.”

「那麼觀眾和觀察者有什麼區別？」

“So, what’s the difference then between a viewer and an observer?”

「觀眾只是被動地觀看，而觀察者則是同時觀看和參與。」

“A viewer simply watches passively, whereas an observer watches and participates at the same time.”

「那麼觀察者和角色有什麼區別？」

“So, what’s the difference between an observer and a character?”

「你真是細心！觀察者是有意識的參與者。如果在夢中你是沉睡的參與者，那麼你就是無意識的角色。在清醒的現實中也是一樣。你仍然是依賴的角色，電影控制著你。但如果你在夢中或清醒的生活中醒來，不管是哪一種，你就成為觀察者，一個獨立的、有意識的個體。」

“Aren’t you meticulous! An observer is a conscious participant. If, in a dream you are a sleeping participant, then you’re a non-conscious character. It’s the same thing when you are asleep in waking reality. You’re still a dependent character and the movie controls you. But if you wake up either in a dream or in waking life, it doesn’t matter which, you become an observer, an independent, conscious individual.”

「那麼清醒的現實和夢境有什麼區別？因為你說我們現在在夢境空間，就像在電影中。而現在你又說現實也像電影，只是它控制著我們。」

“So, what’s the difference then between waking reality and a dream? Because you’ve said that we are in the dream space now, like in a movie. And now you’re saying that reality is like a movie, too, only one that’s controlling us.”

「蒂莉，這是一個非常複雜的問題。如果我們找到了答案，現實可能會摧毀我們。她不喜歡揭示她的秘密，而這是她最大的秘密。這讓你害怕嗎？」

“That, Tili, is a very complex question. If we ever find the answer, reality might destroy us. She does not like to reveal her secrets and that is her biggest secret yet. Does that scare you?”

「不，我不害怕，我不害怕！唯一真正讓我害怕的是被困在這裡永遠出不去的想法。」

“No, I’m not scared, I’m not scared! The only thing that really scares me is the thought of being stuck here forever.”

「好吧，我已經提到了一個可能的答案。當沒有人在看時，夢境空間是靜止的，就像一幅靜止的風景畫，但一旦夢者的注意力進入夢境空間，畫面就開始移動，時間開始運行，這時夢境就像一部電影。在清醒的現實中，情況正好相反。電影自行播放，夢者生活在其中。」

“Okay, so I mentioned one possible answer already. When no-one is watching it, the dream space is static and at rest like a still landscape image, but as soon as the dreamer’s attention penetrates the dream space, the frames starts moving again and time is set in motion, at which point, the dream becomes like a movie. In waking reality it’s the opposite. The movie plays of its own accord and the dreamer is living within it.”

「所以，你認為我們在物理現實中也在做夢？」

“So, you think we’re dreaming in physical reality, too?”

「當然。我們已經談過這個。大多數普通人習慣在清醒的現實中沉睡，這就是為什麼他們只是角色，而那些能看見現實的人則有相反的習慣，這使他們成為觀察者。」

“Of course. We talked about that already. Most normal people are in the habit of sleeping in waking reality, which is why they are just characters, whereas those who see reality have the opposite habit which is what makes them observers.”

「那我們現在是誰？」

“So, who are we being now?”

「很可能是觀察者，因為我們已經醒來並明白我們在哪裡。」

“Most probably observers because we have woken up and understand where we are.”

「對。這意味著，在現實中，電影自行播放，我們生活在其中。在超現實中，情況相反。我們讓電影播放，我們不僅在意識中，而且在我們的物理身體中生活在其中！那為什麼我們不能設置自己的夢境播放，還是因為我們生活在這裡所以不能？」

“Right. That means, in reality the movie is playing of its own accord and we are living inside it. In meta-reality, it’s the opposite. We get the movie playing and we’re here not only in our awareness but in our physical bodies too, living it! So why shouldn’t we set our own dream playing, or is the fact that we’re living here the reason why we can’t?”

「我不知道，蒂莉。」

“I don’t know, Tili.”

「那麼讓我們試著用我們的觸發槓桿來啟動一些東西吧。」 「你覺得我們該怎麼做？」

“Well let’s try to set something in motion with our trigger-levers then.” “And how do you see us doing that?”

「我們去找幾個華麗搖滾人偶，讓它們重新動起來。」 「現在就去？」

“Let’s go find a couple of glamrocks and get them going again.” “Right now?”

「我已經沒有耐心再待在這裡了！一點耐心都不剩了！」

“I don’t have the patience to hang around here any longer-r-r-r! No patience left at a-all!”

「好吧，我們走吧。你的恐懼去哪兒了？是飲料讓你有這種效果嗎？」

“Okay, let’s go. Whatever happened to your fear? Is it the drink that’s had this effect on you?”

「這有什麼關係？趁效果還在，快點走吧，芙蒂。我們要不要帶著壺一起走？」

“What difference does it make? Let’s get a move on, Futi, before the effect wears off. Shall we take the jug with us?”

「不，蒂莉，最好快點去快點回。」

“No, Tili, better just to get moving quick, quick, there and back.”

觸發搖桿

The Trigger-Jigger

他們依序品嚐了所有菜餚，直到吃飽為止。

They both tried a little of all the dishes in turn until they were full.

「那麼，謝謝你給我送飯，」Matilda說，「我們真過著好日子！如果還能讓我們下海，我們就能真正活出精彩人生。」

“Well, thank you for feeding me,” said Matilda. “We’re living the good life! If they let us go to the sea as well, we could really live life.”

「你先說‘我們在生活’，接著又說‘我們真的可以活出來’。真有趣。別著急，我們才剛開始檢驗自己的潛能，未來還有更多機會。」

“First you say, ‘we’re living’, and then ‘we could really live’. It’s funny. Give it time. We’re only just beginning to test our capabilities. There’ll be more to come.”

「是啊，而且我們的潛能真是驚人！」

“Yes, and our capabilities are fabulous!”

「Tili，謝謝你幫我激活我的觸發調節器。我從此會牢記那份感覺，日後加以運用。」

“Tili, thank you for helping me activate my trigger-jigger. I’ll remember the feeling from now on and be able to use it.”

「我親愛的 Futichka，Futi！」 Matilda走近女祭司，給了她一個擁抱，「你已為我做了太多，至今仍在幫助我！要不是你，我早已徹底完蛋。」

“My dear Futichka, Futi!” Matilda said moving closer to the priestess and giving her a hug. “You have done so much more for me and still are doing! I would have been completely finished without you.”

「要不是有你在，我這裡也撐不下去。真是太奇妙了，我們得以相遇，並且如此互補！」

“I wouldn’t have lasted long here without you either. It’s so amazing that we met and that we complement each other so well!”

「Itfut，你之前提到過‘隨機念頭’。能不能再跟我說說，你說的‘隨機念頭’究竟是什麼意思？」

“Itfut, you said something before about ‘random thoughts’. Can you remind me, what do you mean exactly by a ‘random thought’?”

「你無法依靠意志力、下達命令、提出請求，甚至靠祈禱來控制現實。現實，其實是由那種昙花一現、微不足道的隨機念頭所掌控。」 Itfut說。

“You can’t control reality by using will power, by giving orders, making requests or even through prayer. Reality is controlled by a random thought, the kind that arises fleetingly, unobtrusively,” said Itfut.

「那種念頭真的是自發產生的嗎？」

“Does that kind of thought arise all by itself, then?”

「有時候確實會自然產生，但你也可以刻意創造它。當你極度、熱切地渴望某樣東西時，就必須將那份渴望轉化為一個隨機念頭。」

“Sometimes, spontaneously, yes, but you can create one deliberately, too. If you want something desperately, passionately, then you have to turn that desire into a random thought.”

「然而，我卻能在不製造隨機念頭的情況下激活那圓柱體。」

“And yet I can activate the cylinder without creating a random thought.”

「那是因為在巨石裡，一切都更易達成；現實運行起來卻複雜得多，超現實亦然。」

“That’s in the megalith. Here everything is easier to achieve. Reality is much more complicated. It turns out. The same goes for meta-reality, too.”

「但當我被‘送上絞刑架’的時候，我曾極力、激烈地祈求，希望一切都能順利，而結果真的如此。」

“But when I was being ‘led to the slaughter’, I wished desperately, vehemently, that everything would be alright with me, and then it was.”

「你使用了你的觸發機械裝置。當然，極度渴望也能奏效，但若隨機念頭與觸發機械裝置結合，威力就更強大。」

“You used your trigger-lever. Of course, desperate desire can work as well but random thoughts combined with the trigger-lever work more powerfully.”

「我仍然無法完全理解你所謂的‘隨機念頭’到底意味著什麼，」Matilda說。

“I still don’t understand exactly what you mean by a random thought,” said Matilda.

「我自己也還不能完全回想起來。所知僅是，現實並不喜歡被下令，也對我們的懇求無動於衷。‘隨機念頭’既不是渴望、命令，也不是請求，而更像是一種允許、一種容許。現實就像個孩子，她喜歡被允許隨心所欲。」

“I don’t fully remember myself yet. All I know is that reality does not like being given orders and is indifferent to our pleas. A random thought is not a desire, a command or a request. It’s more like an allowing, a permitting. Reality is like a child. She likes being allowed to do whatever she wants.”

「也就是說，我得告訴她，我允許她顯現出我所期盼的東西？」

“So, I have to tell her that I permit her to manifest what I want?”

「不，不是你想要的，而是現實想要的。你必須讓她也渴望與你一致的東西。」

“Not what you want but what reality wants. You have to make her want the same thing as you.”

「那你該如何做到呢？」

“And how do you do that?”

「我無法解釋其中奧妙。依我直覺，一個隨機念頭似乎會自你背後某處湧現，這也就是我們總說隨機念頭源自心靈深處的原因。」

“I can’t explain it. Intuitively, I feel that a random thought arises somewhere from behind you, which is why, I suppose we think of random thoughts as originating somewhere at the back of the mind.”

「觸發機械裝置也位於後方！嗯，不是正好在背部……而是在其稍後的位置。也許它就藏於那微妙能量體之中？」

“The trigger-lever is at the back, too! Well, not right on the back… a bit behind it. Maybe it’s something located in the subtle energy body?”

「你知道什麼是微妙能量體嗎，Tili？」 Itfut驚訝地問。

“You know about subtle bodies, Tili?” asked Itfut in surprise.

「嗯，知道。我曾在某處聽聞過關於氣場之類的說法，只不過這方面的研究仍然非常稀少。」

“Well, yes. I heard something somewhere about the aura and all that. Only ‘all that’ is still very little studied.”

「在我們的世界裡這方面研究較多，但遺憾的是，我自己仍然記不太清。」

“It’s better studied in our world but sadly, I still don’t remember much.”

「別擔心，Futi，知識終將逐漸回歸於你——Threshold已經承諾過這點。你已經向我透露了許多我從未想過的事。」

“Don’t worry Futi, Knowledge will gradually return to you. Threshold promised. You’ve already revealed so much to me that I had never even thought about before.”

「好了，好了，一切自有定時揭曉。你忘了你曾答應過要請我一頓嗎？我已兌現了我的承諾，現在輪到你了。」

“All right, all right, all will be revealed in due course. Have you forgotten that you promised to give me a treat? I kept my side of the agreement. Now it’s your turn.”

「不，我沒忘，真的沒忘，」Matilda模仿著Itfut的語氣打趣道，「好了好了，一頓美味馬上來到。」出於習慣，Matilda立刻整理好她的弓，並自言自語地念了段符咒，頓時，圓柱體中冒出若干分段，展示出精美的藍邊青綠色小碟，小碟上擺著散發著誘人氣息的美食。

“No, I haven’t forgotten. I haven’t forgotten,” Matilda replied, teasing Itfut imitating her manner of speaking. “Now, now, one treat coming up.” Out of habit, Matilda straightened her bow and said a kind of spell to herself at which point segments began instantly emerging from the cylinder displaying beautiful turquoise saucers with a blue rim. On the saucers lay something with an alluring aroma.

「這就對了，無所不能的女祭司 Tufti，看這藍邊碟子裡的東方點心。」

“There you have it, all-powerful priestess Tufti, oriental sweets on a dish with a blue rim.

「為何偏偏要用藍邊呢？」

“Why with a blue rim particularly?”

「當所有的心血來潮與慾望都已滿足，沒有什麼可再奢求時，你卻開始變得任性：‘但我就是要藍邊！’」

“That’s what we say when all whims and desires are fulfilled and there is nothing left to wish for, but you start being capricious: ‘But I want it with a blue rim!’”

「哦，好美味！這是什麼？」

“Oh, how delicious! What is this?”

「這個是哈瓦（halva），這個是土耳其軟糖（Turkish delight），那個則是糖果雪酪（sherbet fudge）。不過現在這些就夠了，要不然我們會撐爆的。下次，我還會再想出其他的花樣。」

“This one is halva, this is Turkish delight and that is sherbet fudge. That’s enough for now though otherwise we’ll pop. Next time, I’ll think up something else as well.”

「有了這些甜點，我們就該來杯茶了，」Itfut說，「我請你喝一杯我們這邊很流行的飲料。」這一次，女祭司自信地走向圓柱體，微微俯身低下頭，然後一氣呵成地雙臂抬至肩高，再彎曲肘部舉得更高，以一個祈求的姿勢示意。

“With sweets like these we need tea,” said Itfut. “I’ll treat you to a drink that is popular with us.” This time, the priestess confidently approached the cylinder, leaned forward slightly lowering her head, and then in one movement, raised her arms to shoulder level bent them at the elbows and raised them higher in a gesture of supplication.

隨即，圓柱體中冒出數節分段，每段裡都盛著兩個整齊的小杯子和一個長頸大壺。

Segments holding two neat cups and a tall jug with a long neck immediately emerged from the cylinder.

「Futi，你剛才做了什麼？」Matilda問。

“Futi, what did you just do?” asked Matilda.

「我不知道，我只是自然而然地做出來了，」Itfut回答，「我以前肯定用過這個姿勢不少次，大概也清楚這動作的用途。」

“I don’t know. I just did it automatically,” answered Itfut. “I must have used that gesture many times before and I think I can guess what it’s for.”

「那它是用來幹什麼的？什麼意思？」

“And what is it for? What?”

「它能立刻激活觸發調節器。」 「有趣，我來試試看。」

“It instantly activates the trigger-jigger.” “Interesting, let me try.”

Matilda站起來，做出了剛才見到Futi所做的那個姿勢，「嗯，我能感覺到有些反應，但卻什麼都沒發生，為什麼呢？」

Matilda stood up and made the gesture she had seen Futi do moments before. “Yes, I can sense something but why is nothing happening?”

「你可能沒有集中思想。當你啟動觸發器時，必須設定好焦點，挑選一個隨機念頭，才能把你的意念表現出來。」

“You probably weren’t thinking of anything. When you activate the trigger, you have to set your focus, pick your random thought so that you can manifest your idea.”

「確實，我沒有設定好焦點。」

“True. I didn’t set a focus.”

「其實也沒必要過於刻意，但你得對隨機念頭和觸發器保持謹慎。」

“And there’s no need to. You have to be careful with your random thoughts and the trigger.”

「看來確實如此。好了，來試試你的飲料吧，」Matilda說著，伸手拿起一個小茶杯，「哦，看那些可愛的小‘kalyambochki’！」 (Note: ‘kalyambochki’ 為專有名詞，保持原樣)

“Evidently. Come on then, let’s try your drink,” said Matilda reaching out to take one of the little teacups. “Oh, look at those sweet ‘kalyambochki’!”

「什麼什麼，那些什麼？」 「Kalyambochki –‘小杯子’。」

“What-what, those what?” “Kalyambochki –’little cups’.”

「這飲料效果相當強烈，因此被倒在小杯中，讓你只能小口啜飲。」

“The drink has a powerful effect, so it’s served in small cups so that you have to sip it.”

「效果是什麼呢？」

“What’s the effect?”

「你快要知道了。」 Itfut 將飲料倒入兩個杯子中，然後他們開始了儀式。Matilda 一邊啜飲著杯中之物，一邊時不時輕笑。

“You’re about to find out.” Itfut poured the drink into the two cups and then they began the ceremony. Matilda chuckled every now and then sipping from her cup.

「它讓我想起了什麼，不過我也不確定是什麼，」她說。 「這是草本茶，」 Itfut 回答。

“It reminds me of something although I don’t know what,” she said. “It’s herb-based tea,” replied Itfut.

「嗯，再來一杯？」

“Hum, another cup?”

「好吧，」 Itfut 便為他們續杯。

“Okay,” Itfut refilled their cups.

第二杯喝下後，Matilda 的眼睛開始閃閃發光，整個人也明顯變得更有精神。

After the second cup, Matilda’s eyes began to shine, and she was visibly more animated.

「Futi，這是什麼，嗯？」

“Futi, What is it, uh?”

「我告訴過你了，這是草本茶。」 「你說是草本的？那是安全的草藥嗎？」

“I told you, it’s a herb-based tea.” “Herb-based you say? Safe herbs?”

「哈哈哈！Tili，別擔心。它不會讓你陷入恍惚狀態，也不會上癮。」

“Ha, ha, ha! Tili, there’s nothing to worry about. It won’t bring on a trance state or anything. It isn’t addictive either.”

「草本茶，無害的小草藥。再來一杯這奇特的茶？」

“Herby herbs, harmless little herbs. Another quirky cupful?”

「Tili，放輕鬆。這飲料能量十足，但喝太多也會有害。」 「正是！我需要補充活力，紓解壓力，再給我倒點吧！」

“Tili, take it easy. The drink is energy-giving but too much of it can be harmful.” “Exactly! I need to be invigorated! Relieve my stress. Pour me some more!”

Itfut 再為 Matilda和自己續了一些。 「你難道要做什麼怪事嗎？」 「我還不知道，我們拭目以待吧。」

Itfut poured some more for Matilda and herself. “You’re not about to do something weird, are you?” “I don’t know yet, we’ll see.”

“Tili-Tili！”

“Tili-Tili!”

「對了！現在輪到我來嚇你了！再來一杯這奇特的小茶？」

“Yup! Now it’s my turn to frighten you! Another quirky cupful?”

「夠了，別再喝了，不然你就會失控。你實在太張揚了，你這位情緒豐富的天后（diva）。別忘了我們現在身處何地。」

“That’s enough, no more, otherwise you’ll get out of hand. You’re far too expressive a diva. Don’t forget where we are.”

「好啦，好啦，我只是在開玩笑！」 Matilda說，「這茶真是極好，提振了我的精神。而且，就如你所能想像的，我現在已完全準備好向這頑固的現實發起挑戰。她可不只是想和我們胡鬧！」

“Okay, okay, I was just joking!” said Matilda. “Great little drinkthough. I’ve refreshed my spirits. And now, as can you imagine, I feel totally ready to do something about this bloody-minded reality. It’s not just her who’s going to muck about with us!”

「正如你所知，現實從來就不是可以隨便玩弄的東西。」

“Reality isn’t something to be played with, as you well know.”

「是啊，但Futi，我在想，有什麼能阻止我們借助觸發器開啟屬於我們自己的夢境呢？」

“Yes, but Futi, I’ve been thinking, what’s to stop us launching a dream of our own with the help of our triggers?”

「如果我們這麼做，會發生什麼？結果究竟會如何呢？」

“What will happen if we do? What will come of it?”

「你難道不覺得那些模特兒一凍住就讓你驚訝嗎？你自己不是說過，夢境會展現出來，因為我們正坐在這裡觀察嗎？」

“Weren’t you surprised that the mannequins froze? You said yourself that the dream should be playing out because we are here observing it.”

「也許如果夢境不再演繹反倒更好，這樣一來情況就不會再惡化了。」

“Maybe it would be better if it wasn’t playing. That way things can’t get any worse.”

「但我們也有可能最終一輩子困在這虛無之中，什麼也不發生！人生應該是不斷向前，而不是無精打采地喝茶度日。」

“But we could also end up spending our entire lives here in limbo with nothing happening! Life should be about keeping things moving, not lackadaisical tea- drinking.”

「嘿嘿！Tili，我真喜歡你這樣的情緒。」

“Hey hey! Tili, I like you when you’re in this mood.”

「只是，我先要把某件事弄清楚。你曾說過，當我們處於夢境空間時，覺知只用來觀察夢境，讓我們變成旁觀者；而在醒著的現實空間中，我們真正生活其中，也就成了角色，對吧？」

“Only first I want to get something straight in my mind. You said that when we are in the dream space, our awareness is focused on watching the dream which makes us a viewer, whereas in the waking reality space, we are actually living it, which makes us like characters, right?”

「沒錯。」

“Right.”

「那麼，旁觀者和角色究竟有何區別？」

“So, what’s the difference between a viewer and a character?”

「旁觀者只會觀看，而角色則參與事情的發展。」 「但是，你不也可以既作旁觀又參與夢境嗎？」

“A viewer only watches, whereas a character participates in what’s unfolding.” “But you can take part in a dream as well as watch one?”

「真聰明，Matilda！在夢中，我們的覺知既可以當作旁觀者，又能成為參與者。有時我們只是像坐在電影院裡一樣觀看夢境；而有時，則仿佛真正在夢中生活。」

“Clever, Matilda! In a dream, our awareness can be present both as a viewer and as a participant. Sometimes, we just watch our dreams as if we were flying through a movie. Other times, we take part in them as if we were living inside the dream.”

「那麼，旁觀者（viewer）和觀察者（observer）究竟有何區別？」

“So, what’s the difference then between a viewer and an observer?”

「旁觀者僅僅是被動地觀看，而觀察者則既觀看又同時參與其中。」

“A viewer simply watches passively, whereas an observer watches and participates at the same time.”

「那麼，觀察者和角色之間又有何區別？」

“So, what’s the difference between an observer and a character?”

「你真細心！觀察者是一個有意識的參與者。如果你在夢中只是以沉睡狀態參與，那你就等同於一個無意識的角色；在清醒的現實中睡著時，你仍然是那個由電影操控的依賴性角色。但若你在夢中或清醒時甦醒，不論哪種情況，你便會成為一個觀察者，一個獨立且有意識的個體。」

“Aren’t you meticulous! An observer is a conscious participant. If, in a dream you are a sleeping participant, then you’re a non-conscious character. It’s the same thing when you are asleep in waking reality. You’re still a dependent character and the movie controls you. But if you wake up either in a dream or in waking life, it doesn’t matter which, you become an observer, an independent, conscious individual.”

「那麼，清醒現實和夢境到底有何區別？因為你曾說過，我們現在正如同坐在電影裡那樣處於夢境空間，而你又說，現實也像電影，只不過那部電影是在操控我們。」

“So, what’s the difference then between waking reality and a dream? Because you’ve said that we are in the dream space now, like in a movie. And now you’re saying that reality is like a movie, too, only one that’s controlling us.”

「Tili，那真是一個極其複雜的問題。如果我們真的找到了答案，現實可能會毀滅我們。她不喜歡洩露她的秘密，而這正是她最大的秘密。這讓你害怕嗎？」

“That, Tili, is a very complex question. If we ever find the answer, reality might destroy us. She does not like to reveal her secrets and that is her biggest secret yet. Does that scare you?”

「不，我一點也不怕！唯一真正令我恐懼的，是永遠被困在這裡的念頭。」

“No, I’m not scared, I’m not scared! The only thing that really scares me is the thought of being stuck here forever.”

「好吧，我已經提過一個可能的答案。當沒有人注視時，夢境空間就像一幅靜止的風景畫，處於靜止狀態；但只要夢者的注意力滲入這個空間，畫面便重新開始流動，時間也由此運轉，夢境就變得如電影般連續。而在清醒的現實中，情況正好相反：電影自動運行，夢者則生活其中。」

“Okay, so I mentioned one possible answer already. When no-one is watching it, the dream space is static and at rest like a still landscape image, but as soon as the dreamer’s attention penetrates the dream space, the frames starts moving again and time is set in motion, at which point, the dream becomes like a movie. In waking reality it’s the opposite. The movie plays of its own accord and the dreamer is living within it.”

「也就是說，你認為我們在物質現實中也在做夢？」

“So, you think we’re dreaming in physical reality, too?”

「當然。我們早已談過這個。大多數普通人習慣於在清醒現實中沉睡，所以他們只是角色；而那些能看透現實的人，則養成了相反的習慣，這使他們成為觀察者。」

“Of course. We talked about that already. Most normal people are in the habit of sleeping in waking reality, which is why they are just characters, whereas those who see reality have the opposite habit which is what makes them observers.”

「那麼，我們現在到底是什麼身份呢？」

“So, who are we being now?”

「大概是觀察者，因為我們已經覺醒，並明白自己身處何地。」

“Most probably observers because we have woken up and understand where we are.”

「沒錯。這意味著，在現實中，電影自我運轉，我們生活在其中；而在超現實（meta-reality）中，情況正好相反。那裡，我們不僅在覺知之中存在，連我們的實體身體也活躍其中，共同演繹著這部電影！那麼，為什麼我們不能開始演繹屬於我們自己的夢境呢？還是說，正因為我們生活在這裡，所以無法做到？」

“Right. That means, in reality the movie is playing of its own accord and we are living inside it. In meta-reality, it’s the opposite. We get the movie playing and we’re here not only in our awareness but in our physical bodies too, living it! So why shouldn’t we set our own dream playing, or is the fact that we’re living here the reason why we can’t?”

「我不知道，Tili。」

“I don’t know, Tili.”

「那麼，我們就試著用觸發機械裝置（trigger-lever）推動點什麼吧。」 「你覺得我們應該怎麼做呢？」

“Well let’s try to set something in motion with our trigger-levers then.” “And how do you see us doing that?”

「我們去找幾個光彩耀人的玩物（glamrocks），讓它們重新運作。」 「現在就去嗎？」

“Let’s go find a couple of glamrocks and get them going again.” “Right now?”

「我已經沒耐心再在這裡逗留——耐心全無！」

“I don’t have the patience to hang around here any longer-r-r-r! No patience left at a-all!”

「好吧，走吧。你的恐懼呢？是不是這茶改變了你？」

“Okay, let’s go. Whatever happened to your fear? Is it the drink that’s had this effect on you?”

「那有什麼差別？Futi，我們趕快動起來吧，趁這效果還未消退。要不要把那壺也帶上？」

“What difference does it make? Let’s get a move on, Futi, before the effect wears off. Shall we take the jug with us?”

「不，Tili，還是快點往那邊去，再回來就好。」

“No, Tili, better just to get moving quick, quick, there and back.”