Postcard # 14

April 5th, 2015
2015年4月5日
You know how we as humanity
你知道我們人類
Are obsessed with our own importance
有多在乎自己的重要性
And we're terrified that something could suddenly wipe out our very existence
我們害怕有什麼會突然抹去我們存在的痕跡
So we build seed vaults at Svalbard
於是我們在Svalbard建起精子庫
We send golden records into space
向太空發送金唱片
And well, this is where my idea comes in for a sci-fi story
於是我腦中冒出了一部科幻小說的想法
This is where my idea comes in for a sci-fi story
科幻小說的想法就這樣冒了出來
Imagine the reverse scenario:
請想像完全相反的情節
We decided to erase ourselves
我們想抹去自己的存在
From the largest skyscrapers and monuments
最大的高樓和紀念碑也好
To molecules and cells
分子和細胞也好
If we did then what would be the reason for such a full-scale self-delusion
如果是這樣的話這種完全的自欺是為什麼呢
Well, this is as far I've come with my idea for a sci-fi story
關於科幻小說的想法就是這樣
This is as far I've come with my idea for a sci-fi story
這就是我的科幻小說的構思
I started shopping the story around like a conversational tidbit
我開始兜售這個會話式袖珍故事
I'd wait for a good point to bring it up
我要等到某個合適的時機把它公之於眾
See what the other person would make of it
看看別人能整出什麼花樣
It triggered something interesting
它觸發了一些有趣的東西
My friends all started opening their ideas that directly reflected what was on their mind without their knowing
我的朋友也腦洞大開丟下學識的束縛放飛思想
And I got lots of ideas for my sci-fi story
我有很多科幻小說的點子
Lots and lots and lots of ideas for my sci-fi story
很多很多很多科幻小說的點子
Joseph mentioned the positions of stars
Joseph提到了恆星的位置
I didn't know he was so into the astrological
我不知道他竟有這麼淵博的天文知識
Stella brought up the human mind
Stella說到人類的思維
Revealed an interest in the psychological
她表露出對心理學的興趣
Jennifer said, 'Aren't we already doomed?'
Jennifer說我們不是都在劫難逃嗎
Oh, Jen, you're too cynical
Jen 你太憤世嫉俗啦
Barbak mentioned hope for a new beginning
Barbak拋出對新起點的希望
Babak, you see the best in us all
不錯你看到了我們最好的可能性
I asked my friend, Julian
我問了我的朋友Julian
Gave him the premise of my story
告訴他我的故事的前提
He said, 'Have you ever been in love with someone who's made you feel sorry for who you are?
他說“你可曾愛過一個令你自卑而懷憾的人
Made you want to obliterate yourself to please her or him?
讓你低到塵埃里只為將他或她取悅
Maybe we've met some civilization that treats us in this fashion.'
我們大概也遇見過這樣對待我們的某種文明”
Then he didn't say anything as if, 'Let's go for a walk,'
之後他也沒說“咱們出去走走吧”之類的話
I say, 'How've things been lately?
我說“你最近怎麼樣
Are you okay?
還好嗎
Forget about the sci-fi story
忘了這個科幻小說吧
Let's just get a coffee and talk
我們就喝杯咖啡聊聊天
I head 'round the corner there's a new cafe.'
街道轉角那兒就有家新咖啡廳”