活在生者之中

The Live Among the Living

當廣場兩邊都在發表演講，公眾來回轉身時，我們的朋友們不被注意地下到街上，潛入一條側街。出於明顯的原因，沒有人打算追捕他們。幾個街區後，他們到達了馬拉維拉別墅，按了門鈴。卡拉米拉滿懷熱情地迎接他們。

While speeches were being given on both sides of the square and the public were turning back and forth, our friends went down to the street below unnoticed and dived into one of the side streets. For obvious reasons, no-one was intent on pursuing them. A few blocks later, they reached Villa Maravilla and rang the bell. Caramilla greeted them overflowing with enthusiasm.

「哦！我的親愛的！我的親愛的！你們做到了！」卡拉米拉依次給他們每個人一個緊緊的擁抱。

“Oh! My dear ones! My dear ones! You did it!” Caramilla gave a crushing hug to each of them in turn.

她以前奢華的髮型已被更方便、優雅的風格取代。

Her former extravagant hairdo had been replaced by a more convenient, elegant style.

「沒有你的智慧和幫助，親愛的卡拉米拉，我們什麼都做不了，」伊吉特說。

“Without your intelligence and your help, dear Caramilla, we would never have been able to do anything,” said Eejit.

「世界不想被拯救，但我們還是拯救了它，」潛水艇說。「整個貓咪世界現在都在快樂地慶祝，」普西拉說。

“The world did not want to be saved but we saved it anyway,” said Submarine. “And the whole moggy-world is now happy celebrating,” said Puscilla.

「你不會相信廣場上發生了什麼，卡拉米拉，」牛說。

“You won’t believe what is happening on the square, Caramilla,” said Cow.

「我知道，我知道，我的親愛的！所有城市的人都在那裡，但我想等你們，現在你們來了！那麼，讓我給你們拿些吃的，讓你們安頓下來放鬆一下！」

“I know, I know, my dears! All the city people are there but I wanted to wait for you, and here you are! Now then, let me bring you something to eat while you settle down and relax!”

客人們在客廳的餐桌旁坐下，而女主人則忙碌著。

The guests arranged themselves at the table in the living room while the hostess busied herself.

「卡拉米拉，我們非常感謝你所做的一切，」布倫希爾達說，「特別是你在揭開蓋子方面的幫助。」

“Caramilla, we are very grateful to you for everything,” said Brunhilda “especially for your help in lifting the lid.”

「沒有你們，我不知道該怎麼辦！」卡拉米拉滿心歡喜地說。「快吃，快吃，我的親愛的。先吃飯，然後你們可以告訴我一切！」

“I don’t know what I would have done without you!” said Caramilla bursting with happiness. “Tuck in, tuck in, my dears. Eat first and afterwards you can tell me all about it!”

朋友們品嚐了卡拉米拉精心準備的各種菜餚，甜點時他們都開始分享他們在現實中的冒險和驚人的轉變。

The friends tried all the different dishes that Caramilla had so lovingly prepared and over dessert they all jumped in sharing their adventures and amazing transformations within reality.

「卡拉米拉，當電影停止時你注意到任何變化嗎？」女王問。

“Caramilla, did you notice any changes when the movie stopped?” asked the queen.

「沒有，我完全沒有感覺到暫停，」卡拉米拉回答。「一切都和往常一樣。」

“No, I didn’t feel a pause at all,” answered Caramilla. “Everything was the same as usual.”

「似乎那些在電影中凍結的人從來不知道電影停了，」伊吉特說。「每次暫停可能持續一個永恆，但一旦電影再次開始，其居民的生活就像什麼都沒發生過一樣繼續。」

“It seems as if those who freeze in the movie never know afterwards that the movie stopped,” said Eejit. “Each pause could last an eternity but as soon as the movie gets going again, the lives of its inhabitants continue as if nothing had happened.”

「你告訴我的一切都很不尋常！」卡拉米拉驚呼。「顯然，現實並不像我們想像的那樣構建。」

“Everything you’ve told me is extraordinary!” exclaimed Caramilla. “Clearly reality is not constructed quite as we imagined it.”

「如果不是因為蓋子，我們不會發現這一切！」潛水艇說。

“If it wasn’t for the lid, we would not have found out about any of this!” said Submarine.

「而且我們永遠不會相遇！」牛補充道。

“And we would never have met!” added Cow.

「而且我們不會被改變，」野獸說。「無論如何，我可能還是一隻野獸。」

“And we wouldn’t have been transformed,” said Beast. “I would probably still be a beast at any rate.”

「我必須承認，我以為我們的努力是徒勞的，」伊吉特說。「我以為我們會擺脫那該死的機器，他們會再造一個新的。」

“And I have to confess, I thought our efforts were in vain,” said Eejit. “I thought we’d get rid of that damned machine and they would just build a new one.”

「他們現在不會恢復它了，」卡拉米拉說。「當局和科學家們被迫加入主流的公眾意見。」 「他們算是很快就明白了！」潛水艇說。

“They won’t restore it now,” said Caramilla. “The authorities and the sciendologists have been forced to join the mainstream of public opinion.” “They worked that one out pretty quick!” said Submarine.

「他們別無選擇，」牛說。「他們怎麼說的？『給混濁的流動帶來新鮮的流動』。不過如果他們把那句話中的形容詞位置對調會更準確。」

“They had no choice,” said Cow. “How did they put it? ‘Bring a fresh current to a muddy flow’. Only it would have been more accurate if they had swapped the place of the adjectives in that phrase.”

「我想科學家們很可能會發明一些其他有毒的機器，」普西拉推測。

“I suppose it’s quite possible the sciendologists will invent some other poisonous machine,” Puscilla surmised.

「他們會有另一個膿腫，隨後是瘋狂，然後另一個發明會出現。無論他們發明什麼，它總會以某種形式成為炸彈。這不僅僅是貓災難，這是最貓咪形式的恐怖主義。」

“They’ll have another abscess with its subsequent insanity and another invention will find its way into being. No matter what they invent, it’ll always be a bomb in one form or another. It is not just a cat-trocity, it is terrorism in its moggiest form.”

「然後我們又得來拯救世界！」潛水艇喊道。

“And then we’ll have to come and save the world again!” shouted Submarine.

「或者也許我們不會，」牛說。「人們知道現在沒有蓋子的生活更好，並真正為晴朗的天空而高興。所以，他們並不是完全缺乏意識。」

“Or perhaps we won’t,” said Cow. “The people know that life is better without the lid now and are genuinely rejoicing at the clear sky. So, they’re not completely lacking in awareness.”

「他們只是沒有完全理解。他們還沒有完全理解蓋子的本質，」野獸評論道。

“They just don’t understand fully. They have not fully understood the essence of the lid,” Beast commented.

「哦，是的！這就是社會的問題，」卡拉米拉感嘆道。

“Oh yes! That’s the trouble with society,” Caramilla lamented.

「我們之前也不是完全有意識的，」潛水艇說。「比如說，伊吉特和我出去設置猛獁陷阱。」

“We were not completely consciously aware before, either,” said Submarine. “Eejit and I, for example, went out setting mammoth traps.”

「沒有必要提起那些！」伊吉特揮手表示不滿地說。

“There’s no point in bringing all that up!” said Eejit, waving his hand to show his displeasure.

「那時我們還在沉睡，」女王說。「正是因為我們經歷的冒險，我們才醒來。」

“We were asleep then,” said the queen. “It’s only because of the adventures we had to go through that we woke up.”

「更不用說我們的奇妙轉變！」潛水艇驚呼。「變形！」牛補充道。

“Not to mention our wonderful transformations!” exclaimed Submarine. “Transfigurations!” added Cow.

「我現在可以隨意變來變去！」潛水艇宣稱。「我也是，」牛說。「你呢，野獸？」

“I can transform back and forth now at will!” declared Submarine. “Me too,” said Cow. “What about you Beast?”

「我不知道，」他回答。「我不確定我是否想要。這有什麼意義？」

“I don’t know,” he replied. “I’m not sure whether I would want to. What would be the point?”

「嗯，普西拉無論有沒有變身都看起來很棒，」伊吉特讚美地說。

“Well, Puscilla looks fabulous with or without transformation,” said Eejit throwing her a complement.

「貓咪般的美麗！我看起來貓咪般的美麗！」普西拉高興地說。「這是真的，不是嗎，我的主人，」她轉向野獸說。「我看起來不錯吧？」

“Catty-fab! I look catty-fab!” said Puscilla happily. “It’s true, isn’t it, my lord,” she said turning to Beast. “Don’t I look great?”

「是的，普西拉，你看起來很棒，」野獸回答，一如既往地言簡意賅。

“Yes, Puscilla, you look great,” replied Beast as sparing with his words as always.

在微妙的嫉妒陰影下，布倫希爾達側眼瞥了他們一眼，試圖保持冷靜的姿態。但每個人都能感覺到她內心並不平靜。

Under the subtle shadow of jealousy, Brunhilda gave them both a side-long glance while trying to maintain a calm composure. But everyone could sense that she felt far from calm.

「卡拉米拉，你為什麼一開始表現得那麼……嗯，我們可以說是奇怪？」牛試圖緩和緊張氣氛地問。

“Caramilla, why did you behave so... um, shall we say strangely at first?” asked Cow trying to diffuse the tension.

「在夢中的角色面前，還能怎麼表現呢？」卡拉米拉回答。「直到你們開始談論蓋子，我以為你們在沉睡。你們無疑親身體驗過與活著的人交談是什麼感覺，他們看起來充滿活力，但實際上是在醒著的夢中生活。」

“How else is one to behave in the company of the characters of a dream?” Caramilla replied. “Until you started talking about the lid, I took you for being asleep. You have no doubt experienced for yourselves what it is like to talk to the living, who might look vibrant enough but are in fact asleep, living in a waking dream.”

「是的，這真的就像在夢中，」潛水艇同意道。「當你突然意識到這是一個夢，裡面的角色都不是真實的，你往往會像對待虛構角色一樣與他們交談，並保持一定的距離，觀察他們會如何反應。」

“Yes, it really is like being in a dream,” agreed Submarine. “When you suddenly realize that it’s a dream and that none of the characters inside it are real, you tend to talk to them as if they were fictional characters and remain a certain detachment watching how they will react.”

「小時候我就這樣和我的洋娃娃說話，」女王說。

“I used to talk to my dolls like that when I was little,” said the queen.

「泰迪熊更是我的專長，」伊吉特插話道。「只是它們不太會交流。」

“Teddy bears were more my specialty,” Eejit broke in. “Only they weren’t very communicative.”

「哈哈哈！」牛笑道。「我敢打賭它們是你最忠實的聽眾！」

“Ha, ha, ha!” Cow laughed. “I bet they were your most devoted listeners!”

「在電影中可能就像做夢一樣，」潛水艇假設道。「我想知道如果你在電影中醒來並試圖與主要角色交談會是什麼樣子？」

“Being in a movie is probably just like dreaming,” supposed Submarine. “I wonder what it would be like if you woke up inside a movie and tried to talk to the main characters?”

「很可能，你會按照劇情與他們在自己的角色中玩耍，只是你會有意識地這樣做，知道他們是扮演特定角色的虛構角色，而你也在扮演一個角色，只是你是為了好玩而演，」牛回答。

“Most likely, you would play with them in their own roles according to the plot, only you’d be doing it consciously, knowing that they are fictional characters playing a given role and that you are playing a role, too, only you’re playing for fun,” replied Cow.

「我們基本上已經在這樣做了！」伊吉特說。

“We’ve already been doing that essentially!” said Eejit.

「是的，這就是我們與當地角色交流時所做的，」女王說。

“Yes, that’s what we were doing when we were communicating with the local characters,” the queen stated.

「當我們從塔上觀察事件時，我們感受得最深刻，」野獸說。

“We felt it most acutely when we were watching events from the tower,” said Beast.

「那麼，活著的人和生活在電影中的人有什麼區別？」潛水艇問。

“So, what’s the difference between those who are alive and those who are living in the movie?” asked Submarine.

「他們在這裡生活的程度取決於他們被線連接到特定劇本上，就像木偶一樣，」伊吉特回答，「而我們可以到處走動，因為那些線已經被釋放了。」

“They are living here to the extent that they are connected by threads to a given script, like puppets,” replied Eejit, “whereas we can wander about anywhere because those threads have been released.”

「那麼，這裡有另一個問題。只有當電影停止播放時，我們才能在其中漫遊嗎？」潛水艇問。「而其他時間我們也被線綁住？」

“Here’s another question for you, then. Are we only able to wander through a movie when it has stopped playing?” asked Submarine. “And are tied by threads, too, the rest of the time?”

「不，我不這麼認為，」普西拉回答。「我們可以說，『我是我』，而其他角色不能。」

“No, I don’t think so,” replied Puscilla. “We can say, ‘I am me’ whereas the other characters can’t.”

「這讓我們回到了『我們在哪裡』的問題，」牛說。

“That takes us back to the question of ‘where are we’?” said Cow.

「我仍然覺得我們不在日常現實中，」潛水艇說。「那麼，在你看來，我是不是真實的？」卡拉米拉憤怒地問。「卡拉米拉！當然，你是真實的！」他們都回答。

“I still get the impression that we aren’t in everyday reality,” said Submarine. “So, in your opinion, am I real or not?” asked Caramilla with indignation. “Caramilla! Of course, you are real!” they all replied.

「所以這又讓我回到了同樣的困境：真正的現實和非現實之間有什麼區別？你能定義它嗎？」

“So that brings me back to the same old dilemma: What is the difference between genuine reality and non-reality? Can you define it?”

「真正的現實不會停止。」 「你試過嗎？」

“Genuine reality does not stop.” “Have you ever tried?”

「卡拉米拉，你是說所有的膠片、辮子和藍色線也存在於真正的現實中嗎？」

“Caramilla, are you saying that all the filmstrips, plaits and blue threads exist in genuine reality, too?”

「誰知道呢？也許有一天你們會確定地回答這個問題。」

“Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll be able to answer that question with certainty.”

短暫的沉默。他們都明白，任務「探險蓋子」已經完成，該是他們回到自己的道路上的時候了。

There was a short pause. They all understood that mission ‘expedition lid’ was complete and that the time had come for them to return to their own paths.

「好吧，卡拉米拉，非常感謝你所做的一切！」女王說。「感謝每一件事和每一個細節！」潛水艇補充道。

“Well, Caramilla, thank you so much for everything!” said the queen. “For everything and each single thing!” added Submarine.

「是時候回家了，」伊吉特說。「對吧，陛下？」 「是的，」布倫希爾達回答。

“It’s time for us to go home,” said Eejit. “Right, Your Majesty?” “Yes,” replied Brunhilda.

「卡拉米拉，你願意至少和我們一起走一段嗎？」牛問。

“Caramilla, would you like to come with us at least for a short while?” asked Cow.

「我非常想去，我的親愛的，但我沒有可以放心地把馬拉維拉別墅交給別人的人。」

“I would like to very much, my dears, but I have no-one with whom I can leave Villa Maravilla in safe hands.”

「我們的馬拉維拉別墅！」潛水艇驚呼。「我們這麼喜歡這裡，離開和與你分開真讓人難過。」

“Our Villa-Maravilla!” exclaimed Submarine. “We liked it here so much it’s sad to leave and to part company with you.”

「我的家就是你們的家，我的親愛的！」

“My home is your home, my dears!”

「我的城堡大門永遠為你們敞開，」女王說。卡拉米拉流下淚水，默默點頭。

“The gates of my castle will always be open to you,” said the queen. Caramilla shed a tear and nodded silently.

「你呢，普西拉，你要和我們一起走嗎？」野獸問。「你答應過不會拋棄我！」普西拉驚慌地說。「我們無意拋棄你。」

“What about you, Puscilla, are you coming with us?” asked Beast. “You promised that you wouldn’t abandon me!” said Puscilla alarmed. “We have no intention of abandoning you.”

「那麼，這應該完全貓咪清楚我會和你們一起走。我不屬於這裡。」

“Then it ought to be completely pussy-clear that I’m coming with you. I don’t belong here.”

朋友們開始準備他們的旅程。卡拉米拉含淚送別他們。

The friends began preparing for their journey. Caramilla saw them off with tears in her eyes.

「哦，我的親愛的，我們還會再見面嗎？」 「當然會的，親愛的卡拉米拉，」伊吉特向她保證。「你最好貓咪打賭！」普西拉補充道。

“Oh, my dears, shall we ever see each other again?” “Definitely, dear Caramilla,” Eejit assured her. “You’d better catty bet on it!” added Puscilla.

「我們一定會再見面的！」牛也在努力忍住淚水。

“We will definitely, definitely see each other again!” Cow, too, was struggling to hold back tears.

「我們會回到我們的馬拉維拉別墅！」野獸承諾道。

“We will return to our Villa-Maravilla!” promised Beast.

「這是鐵定的承諾！」潛水艇說。「我們很快會再見到你！」女王說。「我會期待你們的！」

“That a cast-iron promise!” said Submarine. “We’ll see you again soon!” said the queen. “I’ll be expecting you!”

活者居於生者之中

The Live Among the Living

當廣場兩側正熱烈演說、民眾來回穿梭之際，我們的朋友們悄然下到街上，轉入一條僻靜的小巷。顯然，沒有人有心追逐他們。幾個街區後，他們抵達Villa Maravilla，按下了門鈴。Caramilla滿懷熱情地迎接著他們。

While speeches were being given on both sides of the square and the public were turning back and forth, our friends went down to the street below unnoticed and dived into one of the side streets. For obvious reasons, no-one was intent on pursuing them. A few blocks later, they reached Villa Maravilla and rang the bell. Caramilla greeted them overflowing with enthusiasm.

「哦！我的摯愛！我的摯愛！你們成功了！」Caramilla依次給予他們熱情的擁抱。

“Oh! My dear ones! My dear ones! You did it!” Caramilla gave a crushing hug to each of them in turn.

她以往那華而不實的髮型，如今已換成一個既方便又優雅的造型。

Her former extravagant hairdo had been replaced by a more convenient, elegant style.

Eejit說道：「親愛的Caramilla，若沒有你的智慧與幫助，我們絕對無法達成任何事。」

“Without your intelligence and your help, dear Caramilla, we would never have been able to do anything,” said Eejit.

Submarine說道：「這個世界本不渴望被拯救，但我們卻成功地拯救了它，」Puscilla補充道，「如今整個貓咪般的世界正洋溢著歡樂喜悅。」

“The world did not want to be saved but we saved it anyway,” said Submarine. “And the whole moggy-world is now happy celebrating,” said Puscilla.

「Caramilla，你絕對想不到廣場上究竟發生了什麼，」Cow說道。

“You won’t believe what is happening on the square, Caramilla,” said Cow.

「我知道，我知道，親愛的們！全城人都聚集在那裡，但我一直等著你們，終於等到你們了！那麼，讓我給你們拿點吃的，讓你們坐下休息放鬆一會兒吧！」

“I know, I know, my dears! All the city people are there but I wanted to wait for you, and here you are! Now then, let me bring you something to eat while you settle down and relax!”

客人們陸續在客廳的桌旁就座，而女主人則忙著招呼每一位賓客。

The guests arranged themselves at the table in the living room while the hostess busied herself.

Brunhilda說道：「Caramilla，我們對你所做的一切深懷感激，」並補充說：「尤其感謝你幫我們掀起那個蓋子。」

“Caramilla, we are very grateful to you for everything,” said Brunhilda “especially for your help in lifting the lid.”

Caramilla滿臉喜悅地說：「要不是有你們，我真不知道該怎麼辦！」隨後她說：「快點坐下用餐吧，親愛的們，先吃飽，再告訴我你們所有的奇遇故事！」

“I don’t know what I would have done without you!” said Caramilla bursting with happiness. “Tuck in, tuck in, my dears. Eat first and afterwards you can tell me all about it!”

朋友們品嘗了Caramilla精心烹調的各式佳餚，甜點時他們齊聚一堂，紛紛分享在現實中那令人驚奇的冒險經歷與變革。

The friends tried all the different dishes that Caramilla had so lovingly prepared and over dessert they all jumped in sharing their adventures and amazing transformations within reality.

「Caramilla，你有沒有注意到當電影停止時有什麼變化？」女王問道。

“Caramilla, did you notice any changes when the movie stopped?” asked the queen.

「沒有，我根本感受不到任何停頓，」Caramilla回答道，「一切依舊如常。」

“No, I didn’t feel a pause at all,” answered Caramilla. “Everything was the same as usual.”

「看來那些在電影中瞬間凝固的存在，事後完全不知道電影曾經停止過，」Eejit說道，「每次暫停彷彿持續了無限長的時間，但只要電影一恢復，裡面的生命就會繼續得好像什麼都沒發生過一般。」

“It seems as if those who freeze in the movie never know afterwards that the movie stopped,” said Eejit. “Each pause could last an eternity but as soon as the movie gets going again, the lives of its inhabitants continue as if nothing had happened.”

「你告訴我的一切實在太不可思議了！」Caramilla驚呼，「顯然現實的建構並非我們曾經想象的那樣。」

“Everything you’ve told me is extraordinary!” exclaimed Caramilla. “Clearly reality is not constructed quite as we imagined it.”

「若不是那個蓋子，我們根本無法發現這一切！」Submarine說道。

“If it wasn’t for the lid, we would not have found out about any of this!” said Submarine.

「而且我們也就不會因此相遇了！」Cow補充道。

“And we would never have met!” added Cow.

「而我們也不會因此被改變，」Beast說道，「無論如何，我大概依舊只會是一隻野獸。」

“And we wouldn’t have been transformed,” said Beast. “I would probably still be a beast at any rate.”

「不得不說，我曾以為我們的努力都是徒勞無功的，」Eejit說道，「我原以為我們能夠摧毀那該死的機器，而他們只會重造一臺新的。」

“And I have to confess, I thought our efforts were in vain,” said Eejit. “I thought we’d get rid of that damned machine and they would just build a new one.”

「他們現在不會再去復原它了，」Caramilla說道，「當局和sciendologists已被迫融入主流輿論。」

“They won’t restore it now,” said Caramilla. “The authorities and the sciendologists have been forced to join the mainstream of public opinion.” “They worked that one out pretty quick!” said Submarine.

「他們別無選擇，」Cow說道，「他們怎麼說來著？『為混濁之流注入一股新鮮之力』。只是如果能把那句話裡的形容詞位置對調，可能會更貼切。」

“They had no choice,” said Cow. “How did they put it? ‘Bring a fresh current to a muddy flow’. Only it would have been more accurate if they had swapped the place of the adjectives in that phrase.”

「我猜很有可能sciendologists會發明出另一台毒害機器，」Puscilla推測道。

“I suppose it’s quite possible the sciendologists will invent some other poisonous machine,” Puscilla surmised.

「他們將迎來另一處膿瘍，伴隨而來的是瘋狂，接著又會誕生另一項發明。不論他們發明什麼，最終都會以某種形式變成炸彈——這不僅僅是一場災難，更是以最具‘moggy’風格的形式展現的恐怖主義行徑。」

“They’ll have another abscess with its subsequent insanity and another invention will find its way into being. No matter what they invent, it’ll always be a bomb in one form or another. It is not just a cat-trocity, it is terrorism in its moggiest form.”

「然後我們又得來拯救世界了！」Submarine大喊道。

“And then we’ll have to come and save the world again!” shouted Submarine.

「或者，也許根本就不需要，」Cow說道，「民眾已經明白沒有那個蓋子的生活更美好，真心為清朗的天空歡欣鼓舞，所以他們並非全然無知。」

“Or perhaps we won’t,” said Cow. “The people know that life is better without the lid now and are genuinely rejoicing at the clear sky. So, they’re not completely lacking in awareness.”

「他們只是不夠理解，還沒有徹底領會那個蓋子的真正本質，」Beast評論道。

“They just don’t understand fully. They have not fully understood the essence of the lid,” Beast commented.

「哦，沒錯！社會的麻煩就是這樣，」Caramilla哀嘆道。

“Oh yes! That’s the trouble with society,” Caramilla lamented.

「我們之前也不是完全有意識地在生活，」Submarine說道，「例如，我和Eejit會出去佈置巨大的陷阱。」

“We were not completely consciously aware before, either,” said Submarine. “Eejit and I, for example, went out setting mammoth traps.”

「那些事情再提也沒什麼意義！」Eejit揮了揮手，流露出不悅地說。

“There’s no point in bringing all that up!” said Eejit, waving his hand to show his displeasure.

「那時我們其實還在沉睡中，」女王說道，「正是因為經歷了那些冒險，我們才會覺醒。」

“We were asleep then,” said the queen. “It’s only because of the adventures we had to go through that we woke up.”

「更不用說我們那精彩的轉變了！」Submarine脫口而出；Cow也補充道：「真是變幻莫測！」

“Not to mention our wonderful transformations!” exclaimed Submarine. “Transfigurations!” added Cow.

「我現在可以隨心所欲地在不同形態間轉換了！」Submarine宣布道；Cow也說：「我也是，你呢，Beast？」

“I can transform back and forth now at will!” declared Submarine. “Me too,” said Cow. “What about you Beast?”

「我不知道，」Beast回答道，「我不確定自己是否真的想要這樣做。畢竟那又有什麼意義呢？」

“I don’t know,” he replied. “I’m not sure whether I would want to. What would be the point?”

「嗯，Puscilla不論變與不變都依然光彩照人，」Eejit一邊讚美著她一邊說道。

“Well, Puscilla looks fabulous with or without transformation,” said Eejit throwing her a complement.

「真是‘貓式極致’！我看起來真是‘貓式極致’呢！」Puscilla高興地說道，轉向Beast補充說：「這不是嗎，我的主人？我看起來多棒啊？」

“Catty-fab! I look catty-fab!” said Puscilla happily. “It’s true, isn’t it, my lord,” she said turning to Beast. “Don’t I look great?”

「是的，Puscilla，你看起來真棒，」Beast一向言簡意賅地回答。

“Yes, Puscilla, you look great,” replied Beast as sparing with his words as always.

在那微妙的嫉妒陰影下，Brunhilda對他們投去一旁斜斜的一瞥，表面上努力保持鎮定，但人人都明顯感覺到她內心並不平靜。

Under the subtle shadow of jealousy, Brunhilda gave them both a side-long glance while trying to maintain a calm composure. But everyone could sense that she felt far from calm.

「Caramilla，你為什麼一開始表現得那麼……嗯，怎麼說呢，怪異？」Cow試圖緩和緊張氣氛地問。

“Caramilla, why did you behave so... um, shall we say strangely at first?” asked Cow trying to diffuse the tension.

「與夢境中的角色相處，還能怎麼表現呢？」Caramilla回答道，「在你開始提起那個蓋子之前，我一直以為你們都還在沉睡。你們無疑都曾親身體驗過，與那些看似充滿活力卻其實沉睡於覺醒夢境中的生者交談的感受。」

“How else is one to behave in the company of the characters of a dream?” Caramilla replied. “Until you started talking about the lid, I took you for being asleep. You have no doubt experienced for yourselves what it is like to talk to the living, who might look vibrant enough but are in fact asleep, living in a waking dream.”

「是啊，這真像置身於夢中，」Submarine附和道，「當你突然意識到這只是一場夢，而夢中的角色也都不是真實存在的時候，你就會像對待虛構人物那樣與他們交談，同時保持一種距離，靜觀其反應。」

“Yes, it really is like being in a dream,” agreed Submarine. “When you suddenly realize that it’s a dream and that none of the characters inside it are real, you tend to talk to them as if they were fictional characters and remain a certain detachment watching how they will react.”

「我小時候也常如此與我的娃娃們傾談，」女王說道。

“I used to talk to my dolls like that when I was little,” said the queen.

「我倒是較擅長玩泰迪熊，」Eejit插話道，「只是它們不太會說話罷了。」

“Teddy bears were more my specialty,” Eejit broke in. “Only they weren’t very communicative.”

「哈哈哈！」Cow大笑道，「我敢打賭它們可是你最忠實的聽眾！」

“Ha, ha, ha!” Cow laughed. “I bet they were your most devoted listeners!”

「身處電影中大概就像在做夢，」Submarine推測道，「你有沒有想過如果你在電影中意外醒來，然後試著和主角對話，會是怎樣的情形？」

“Being in a movie is probably just like dreaming,” supposed Submarine. “I wonder what it would be like if you woke up inside a movie and tried to talk to the main characters?”

「很可能，你會按照劇情中他們既定的角色與他們相處，但這次你是有意識地去做，知道他們是扮演特定角色的虛構人物，而你自己也在扮演著一個角色，只不過你是在樂趣中演出，」Cow回答道。

“Most likely, you would play with them in their own roles according to the plot, only you’d be doing it consciously, knowing that they are fictional characters playing a given role and that you are playing a role, too, only you’re playing for fun,” replied Cow.

「其實我們本來就這麼做了！」Eejit說道。

“We’ve already been doing that essentially!” said Eejit.

「是啊，這正是我們與當地角色交流時所做的，」女王陳述道。

“Yes, that’s what we were doing when we were communicating with the local characters,” the queen stated.

「我們在塔上觀察事件時體會得最深，」Beast說道。

“We felt it most acutely when we were watching events from the tower,” said Beast.

「那麼，到底生者與身處電影中的人有何分別？」Submarine問道。

“So, what’s the difference between those who are alive and those who are living in the movie?” asked Submarine.

「他們活在這裡，是因為被細線連接著某個既定劇本，就像木偶一樣，」Eejit回答道，「而我們則可以自由徜徉，因為那些細線已經被斷開了。」

“They are living here to the extent that they are connected by threads to a given script, like puppets,” replied Eejit, “whereas we can wander about anywhere because those threads have been released.”

「那麼，再問你一個問題：只有在電影停止播放時，我們才能自由徜徉？其餘時間我們是否也被細線束縛？」Submarine問道。

“Here’s another question for you, then. Are we only able to wander through a movie when it has stopped playing?” asked Submarine. “And are tied by threads, too, the rest of the time?”

「不，我不這麼認為，」Puscilla回答道，「我們能說『我就是我』，而其他角色則做不到。」

“No, I don’t think so,” replied Puscilla. “We can say, ‘I am me’ whereas the other characters can’t.”

「這又回到‘我們在哪裡’這個問題了吧？」Cow說道。

“That takes us back to the question of ‘where are we’?” said Cow.

「我仍然感覺我們並不處於日常現實中，」Submarine說道。「那麼，你認為我是真實的還是不是真實的？」Caramilla憤慨地問道。「Caramilla！當然你是真實的！」眾人齊聲回答道。

“I still get the impression that we aren’t in everyday reality,” said Submarine. “So, in your opinion, am I real or not?” asked Caramilla with indignation. “Caramilla! Of course, you are real!” they all replied.

「這讓我又回到了那個老問題：究竟真實的現實與非現實之間有何區別？你能定義一下嗎？」

“So that brings me back to the same old dilemma: What is the difference between genuine reality and non-reality? Can you define it?”

「真實的現實是永不停歇的。」

“Genuine reality does not stop.” “Have you ever tried?”

「Caramilla，你是說所有的膠片、辮子和藍色細線也都存在於真實的現實中嗎？」

“Caramilla, are you saying that all the filmstrips, plaits and blue threads exist in genuine reality, too?”

「誰知道呢？也許總有一天你就能確定地回答這個問題。」

“Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll be able to answer that question with certainty.”

隨後短暫的沉默中，他們都明白那項『探險蓋子 (expedition lid)』任務已經完成，該是各自走上自己道路的時候了。

There was a short pause. They all understood that mission ‘expedition lid’ was complete and that the time had come for them to return to their own paths.

「那麼，Caramilla，非常感謝你的一切！」女王說道。「謝謝你的一切，每一件小事都謝謝！」Submarine補充道。

“Well, Caramilla, thank you so much for everything!” said the queen. “For everything and each single thing!” added Submarine.

「該是我們回家的時候了，」Eejit說道。「對吧，陛下？」「是的，」Brunhilda回應道。

“It’s time for us to go home,” said Eejit. “Right, Your Majesty?” “Yes,” replied Brunhilda.

「Caramilla，你至少願不願意暫時跟我們同行一程？」Cow問道。

“Caramilla, would you like to come with us at least for a short while?” asked Cow.

「親愛的們，我真想一同前往，但我沒有人可以把Villa Maravilla托付得妥妥當當，」Caramilla回答道。

“I would like to very much, my dears, but I have no-one with whom I can leave Villa Maravilla in safe hands.”

「我們的Villa-Maravilla！」Submarine驚呼道，「我們太喜歡這裡了，不捨離去，也捨不得與你分別。」

“Our Villa-Maravilla!” exclaimed Submarine. “We liked it here so much it’s sad to leave and to part company with you.”

「我的家就是你們的家，親愛的們！」

“My home is your home, my dears!”

「我的城堡大門永遠向你們敞開，」女王說道。Caramilla眼裡含著淚水，默默地點了點頭。

“The gates of my castle will always be open to you,” said the queen. Caramilla shed a tear and nodded silently.

「Puscilla，你要跟我們一起走嗎？」Beast問道。「你可曾答應過不會拋下我！」Puscilla驚慌地說。「我們絕無拋棄你的打算。」

“What about you, Puscilla, are you coming with us?” asked Beast. “You promised that you wouldn’t abandon me!” said Puscilla alarmed. “We have no intention of abandoning you.”

「那麼，我必須非常明確地表示——我一定要跟你們一起走。畢竟，我不屬於這裡。」

“Then it ought to be completely pussy-clear that I’m coming with you. I don’t belong here.”

朋友們開始整裝待發準備旅程，Caramilla含淚目送他們離去。

The friends began preparing for their journey. Caramilla saw them off with tears in her eyes.

「哦，親愛的們，我們還能再見面嗎？」Caramilla哀問。

“Oh, my dears, shall we ever see each other again?” “Definitely, dear Caramilla,” Eejit assured her. “You’d better catty bet on it!” added Puscilla.

「我們絕對、絕對會再見面的！」Cow也努力忍住淚水說。

“We will definitely, definitely see each other again!” Cow, too, was struggling to hold back tears.

「我們一定會回到我們的Villa-Maravilla！」Beast承諾道。

“We will return to our Villa-Maravilla!” promised Beast.

「這可是銅板般堅定的承諾！」Submarine說道；女王接著說：「我們很快就會再見面，我正期待著你們的歸來！」

“That a cast-iron promise!” said Submarine. “We’ll see you again soon!” said the queen. “I’ll be expecting you!”