He frowned again at the brochure, as if to be certain that he hadn’t misread it and stupidly turned up on the wrong planet or something. The brochure said ‘The friendly local inhabitants will be glad to share with you the knowledge and wisdom of the ancients. Peer with them into the swirling mysteries of past and future time!’ There were some coupons as well, but Arthur had been far too embarrassed actually to cut them out or try to present them to anybody.

他又指着旅游手册皱起眉头，好像想确定自己确实没有看错，也没有傻乎乎地走错了星球之类。手册上说：“友善的当地居民会很乐意与你分享古人的知识与智慧。来同他们一道窥视过去，未来那炫目的奥秘吧！”上头还附送了几张优惠券，可阿瑟脸皮太薄，没有当真把它们剪下来或者亮给人家看。

‘Advice, eh,’ said the old woman again. ‘Just sort of general advice, you say. On what? What to do with your life, that sort of thing?’

“建议，呃。”老妇人又说，“比较概括的那种，你说。关于什么的？今后的日子该怎么过，那之类的？”

‘Yes,’ said Arthur. ‘That sort of thing. Bit of a problem I sometimes find if I’m being perfectly honest.’ He was trying desperately, with tiny darting movements, to stay upwind of her. She surprised him by suddenly turning sharply away from him and heading off towards her cave.

“没错。”阿瑟说，“那之类的，老实说，有时候我觉得这是个问题。”他陷入了有些绝望的境地，不断地用幅度小，速度快的动作试图保持住上风向的位置。对方突然一个转身朝自己的洞走过去，阿瑟着实吃了一惊。

‘You’ll have to help me with the photocopier, then,’ she said.

“那么你得搭把手，影印机。”她说。

‘What?’ said Arthur.

“什么？”阿瑟问。

‘The photocopier,’ she repeated, patiently. ‘You’ll have to help me drag it out. It’s solar-powered. I have to keep it in the cave, though, so the birds don’t shit on it.’

“影印机。”她耐心地解释着，“你得帮我把它拽出来。它是太阳能的。不过我得把它放在洞里，免得鸟在上面拉屎。”

‘I see,’ said Arthur.

“哦。”阿瑟说。

‘I’d take a few deep breaths if I were you,’ muttered the old woman, as she stomped into the gloom of the cave mouth.

“如果我是你就做几下深呼吸。”老妇人一面嘟囔，一面咚咚咚地走进了黑黝黝的洞里。