What? said Arthur.
Can you see, said Ford patiently, the SEP?
I thought you said that was somebody else’s problem.
That’s right.
Arthur nodded slowly, carefully and with an air of immense stupidity.
And I want to know, said Ford, if you can see it.
You do?
Yes.
What, said Arthur, does it look like?
Well, how should I know, you fool? shouted Ford. If you can see it, you tell me.
Arthur experienced that dull throbbing sensation just behind the temples which was a hallmark of so many of his conversations with Ford. His brain lurked like a frightened puppy in its kennel. Ford took him by the arm.
An SEP, he said, is something that we can’t see, or don’t see, or our brain doesn’t let us see, because we think that it’s somebody else’s problem. That’s what SEP means. Somebody Else’s Problem. The brain just edits it out, it’s like a blind spot. If you look at it directly you won’t see it unless you know precisely what it is. Your only hope is to catch it by surprise out of the corner of your eye.
Ah, said Arthur, then that’s why…
Yes, said Ford, who knew what Arthur was going to say.
–…you’ve been jumping up and…
Yes.
–…down, and blinking…
Yes.
–…and…
I think you’ve got the message.
I can see it, said Arthur, it’s a spaceship.
For a moment Arthur was stunned by the reaction this revelation provoked. A roar erupted from the crowd, and from every direction people were running, shouting, yelling, tumbling over each other in a tumult of confusion. He stumbled back in astonishment and glanced fearfully around. Then he glanced around again in even greater astonishment.
Exciting, isn’t it? said an apparition. The apparition wobbled in front of Arthur’s eyes, though the truth of the matter is probably that Arthur’s eyes were wobbling in front of the apparition. His mouth wobbled as well.
W… w… w… w… his mouth said.
I think your team have just won, said the apparition.
W… w… w… w… repeated Arthur, and punctuated each wobble with a prod at Ford Prefect’s back. Ford was staring at the tumult in trepidation.
You are English, aren’t you? said the apparition.
W… w… w… w… yes said Arthur.
n. 惊讶,令人惊讶的事