白噪音(White Noise) (英文版)作者:唐·德里罗(Don DeLillo)-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


g　casually　shattering　remarks　about　my　degree　of　exposure　and　chances　for　survival。
　　〃That's　quite　an　armband　you've　got　there。　What　does　SIMUVAC　mean？　Sounds　important。〃
　　〃Short　for　simulated　evacuation。　A　new　state　program　they're　still　battling　over　funds　for。〃
　　〃But　this　evacuation　isn't　simulated。　It's　real。〃
　　〃We　know　that。　But　we　thought　we　could　use　it　as　a　model。〃
　　〃A　form　of　practice？　Are　you　saying　you　saw　a　chance　to　use　the　real　event　in　order　to　rehearse　the　simulation？〃
　　〃We　took　it　right　into　the　streets。〃
　　〃How　is　it　going？〃　I　said。
　　'The　insertion　curve　isn't　as　smooth　as　we　would　like。　There's　a　probability　excess。　Plus　which　we　don't　have　our　victims　laid　out　where　we'd　want　them　if　this　was　an　actual　simulation。　In　other　words　we're　forced　to　take　our　victims　as　we　find　them。　We　didn't　get　a　jump　on　puter　traffic。　Suddenly　it　just　spilled　out；　three…dimensionally；　all　over　the　landscape。　You　have　to　make　allowances　for　the　fact　that　everything　we　see　tonight　is　real。　There's　a　lot　of　polishing　we　still　have　to　do。　But　that's　what　this　exercise　is　all　about。〃
　　〃What　about　the　puters？　Is　that　real　data　you're　running　through　the　system　or　is　it　just　practice　stuff？〃
　　〃You　watch；〃　he　said。
　　He　spent　a　fair　amount　of　time　tapping　on　the　keys　and　then　studying　coded　responses　on　the　data　screen—a　considerably　longer　time；　it　seemed　to　me；　than　he'd　devoted　to　the　people　who'd　preceded　me　in　line。　In　fact　I　began　to　feel　that　others　were　watching　me。　I　stood　with　my　arms　folded；　trying　to　create　a　picture　of　an　impassive　man；　someone　in　line　at　a　hardware　store　waiting　for　the　girl　at　the　register　to　ring　up　his　heavy…duty　rope。　It　seemed　the　only　way　to　neutralize　events；　to　counteract　the　passage　of　puterized　dots　that　registered　my　life　and　death。　Look　at　no　one；　reveal　nothing；　remain　still。　The　genius　of　the　primitive　mind　is　that　it　can　render　human　helplessness　in　noble　and　beautiful　ways。
　　〃You're　generating　big　numbers；〃　he　said；　peering　at　the　screen。
　　〃I　was　out　there　only　two　and　a　half　minutes。　That's　how　many　seconds？〃
　　〃It's　not　just　you　were　out　there　so　many　seconds。　It's　your　whole　data　profile。　I　tapped　into　your　history。　I'm　getting　bracketed　numbers　with　pulsing　stars。〃
　　〃What　does　that　mean？〃
　　〃You'd　rather　not　know。〃
　　He　made　a　silencing　gesture　as　if　something　of　particular　morbid　interest　was　appearing　on　the　screen。　I　wondered　what　he　meant　when　he　said　he'd　tapped　into　my　history。　Where　was　it　located　exactly？　Some　state　or　federal　agency；　some　insurance　pany　or　credit　firm　or　medical　clearinghouse？　What　history　was　he　referring　to？　I'd　told　him　some　basic　things。　Height；　weight；　childhood　diseases。　What　else　did　he　know？　Did　he　know　about　my　wives；　my　involvement　with　Hitler；　my　dreams　and　fears？
　　He　had　a　skinny　neck　and　jug…handle　ears　to　go　with　his　starved　skull—the　innocent　prewar　look　of　a　rural　murderer。
　　〃Am　I　going　to　die？〃
　　〃Not　as　such；〃　he　said。
　　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　　〃Not　in　so　many　words。〃
　　〃How　many　words　does　it　take？〃
　　〃It's　not　a　question　of　words。　It's　a　question　of　years。　We'll　know　more　in　fifteen　years。　In　the　meantime　we　definitely　have　a　situation。〃
　　〃What　will　we　know　in　fifteen　years？〃
　　〃If　you're　still　alive　at　the　time；　we'll　know　that　much　more　than　we　do　now。　Nyodene　D。　has　a　life　span　of　thirty　years。　You'll　have　made　it　halfway　through。〃
　　〃I　thought　it　was　forty　years。〃
　　〃Forty　years　in　the　soil。　Thirty　years　in　the　human　body。〃
　　〃So；　to　outlive　this　substance；　I　will　have　to　make　it　into　my　eighties。　Then　I　can　begin　to　relax。〃
　　〃Knowing　what　we　know　at　this　time。〃
　　〃But　the　general　consensus　seems　to　be　that　we　don't　know　enough　at　this　time　to　be　sure　of　anything。〃
　　〃Let　me　answer　like　so。　If　I　was　a　rat　I　wouldn't　want　to　be　anywhere　within　a　two　hundred　mile　radius　of　the　airborne　event。〃
　　〃What　if　you　were　a　human？〃
　　He　looked　at　me　carefully。　I　stood　with　my　arms　folded；　staring　over　his　head　toward　the　front　door　of　the　barracks。　To　look　at　him　would　be　to　declare　my　vulnerability。
　　〃I　wouldn't　worry　about　what　I　can't　see　or　feel；〃　he　said。　〃I'd　go　ahead　and　live　my　life。　Get　married；　settle　down；　have　kids。　There's　no　reason　you　can't　do　these　things；　knowing　what　we　know。〃
　　〃But　you　said　we　have　a　situation。〃
　　〃I　didn't　say　it。　The　puter　did。　The　whole　system　says　it。　It's　what　we　call　a　massive　data…base　tally。　Gladney；　J。　A。　K。　I　punch　in　the　name；　the　substance；　the　exposure　time　and　then　I　tap　into　your　puter　history。　Your　genetics；　your　personals；　your　medicals；　your　psychologicals；　your　police…and…hospitals。　It　es　back　pulsing　stars。　This　doesn't　mean　anything　is　going　to　happen　to　you　as　such；　at　least　not　today　or　tomorrow。　It　just　means　you　are　the　sum　total　of　your　data。　No　man　escapes　that。〃
　　〃And　this　massive　so…called　tally　is　not　a　simulation　despite　that　armband　you're　wearing。　It　is　real。〃
　　〃It　is　real；〃　he　said。
　　I　stood　absolutely　still。　If　they　thought　I　was　already　dead；　they　might　be　inclined　to　leave　me　alone。　I　think　I　felt　as　I　would　if　a　doctor　had　held　an　X…ray　to　the　light　showing　a　star…shaped　hole　at　the　center　of　one　of　my　vital　organs。　Death　has　entered。　It　is　inside　you。　You　are　said　to　be　dying　and　yet　are　separate　from　the　dying；　can　ponder　it　at　your　leisure；　literally　see　on　the　X…ray　photograph　or　puter　screen　the　horrible　alien　logic　of　it　all。　It　is　when　death　is　rendered　graphically；　is　televised　so　to　speak；　that　you　sense　an　eerie　separation　between　your　condition　and　yourself。　A　network　of　symbols　has　been　introduced；　an　entire　awesome　technology　wrested　from　the　gods。　It　makes　you　feel　like　a　stranger　in　your　own　dying。
　　I　wanted　my　academic　gown　and　dark　glasses。
　　When　I　got　back　to　the　other　end　of　the　barracks；　the　three　younger　children　were　asleep；　Heinrich　was　making　notations　on　a　road　map　and　Babette　was　seated　some　distance　away　with　Old　Man　Treadwell　and　a　number　of　other　blind　people。　She　was　reading　to　them　from　a　small　and　brightly　colored　stack　of　supermarket　tabloids。
　　I　needed　a　distraction。　I　found　a　camp　chair　and　set　it　near　the　wall　behind　Babette。　There　were　four　blind　people；　a　nurse　and　three　sighted　people　arranged　in　a　semicircle　facing　the　reader。　Qthers　occasionally　paused　to　listen　to　an　item　or　two；　then　moved　on。　Babette　employed　her　storytelling　voice；　the　same　sincere　and　lilting　tone　she　used　when　she　read　fairy　tales　to　Wilder　or　erotic　passages　to　her　husband　in　their　brass　bed　high　above　the　headlong　traffic　hum。
　　She　reported　a　front…page　story。　〃Life　After　Death　Guaranteed　with　Bonus　Coupons。〃　Then　turned　to　the　designated　page。
　　〃Scientists　at　Princeton's　famed　Institute　for　Advanced　Studies　have　stunned　the　world　by　presenting　absolute　and　undeniable　proof　of　life　after　death。　A　researcher　at　the　world…renowned　Institute　has　used　hypnosis　to　induce　hundreds　of　people　to　recall　their　previous…life　experiences　as　pyramid…builders；　exchange　students　and　extraterrestrials。〃
　　Babette　changed　her　voice　to　do　dialogue。
　　'〃In　the　last　year　alone；'　declares　reincarnation　hypnotist　Ling　Ti　Wan；　'I　have　helped　hundreds　to　regress　to　previous　lives　under　hypnosis。　One　of　my　most　amazing　subjects　was　a　woman　who　was　able　to　recall　her　life　as　a　hunter…gatherer　in　the　Mesolithic　era　ten　thousand　years　ago。　It　was　remarkable　to　hear　this　tiny　senior　citizen　in　polyester　slacks　describe　her　life　as　a　hulking　male　chieftain　whose　band　inhabited　a　peat　bog　and　hunted　wild　boar　with　primitive　bow　and　arrow。　She　was　able　to　identify　features　of　that　era　which　only　a　trained　archaeologist　could　know　about。　She　even　spoke　several　phrases　in　the　language　of　that　day；　a　tongue　remarkably　similar　to　modern…day　German。'〃
　　Babette's　voice　resumed　its　tone　of　straight　narration。
　　〃Dr。　Shiv　Chatterjee；　fitness　guru　and　high…energy　physicist；　recently　stunned　a　live　TV　audience　by　relating　the　well…documented　case　of　two　women；　unknown　to　each　other；　who　came　to　him　for　regression　in　the　same　week；　only　to　discover　that　they　had　been　twin　sisters　in　the　lost　city　of　Atlantis　fifty　thousand　years　ago。　Both　women　describe　the　city；　before　its　mysterious　and　catastrophic　plunge　into　the　sea；　as　a　clean　and　well…run　municipality　where　you　could　walk　safely　almost　any　time　of　day　or　night。　Today　they　are　food　stylists　for　NASA。
　　〃Even　more　startling　is　the　case　of　five…year…old　Patti　Weaver　who　has　made　convincing　claims　to　Dr。　Chatterjee　that　in　her　previous…life　experience　she　was　the　secret　KGB　assassin　responsible　for　the　unsolved　murders　of　famed　personalities　Howard　Hughes；　Marilyn　Monroe　and　Elvis　Presley。　Known　in　international　espionage　circles　as　'the　Viper'　for　the　deadly　and　untraceable　venom　he　injected　into　the　balls　of　the　feet　of　his　celebrity　victims；　the　assassin　died　in　a　fiery　Moscow　helicopter　crash　just　hours　before　little　Patti　Weaver　was　born　in　Popular　Mechanics；　Iowa。　She　not　only　has　the　same　bodily　markings　as　the　Viper　but　seems　to　have　a　remarkable　knack　for　picking　up　Russian　words　and　phrases。
　　〃'I　regressed　this　subject　at　least　a　dozen　times；'　says　Dr。　Chatterjee。　'I　used　the　toughest　professional　techniques　to　get　her　to　contradict　herself。　But　her　story　is　remarkably　consistent。　It　is　a　tale　of　the　good　that　can　e　from　evil。'　Says　little　Patti；　'At　the　moment　of　my　death　as　the　Viper；　I　saw　a　glowing　circle　of　light。　It　seemed　to　wele　me；　to　beckon。　It　was　a　warm　spiritual　experience。　I　just　walked　right　toward　it。　I　was　not　sad　at　all。'〃
　　Babette　did　the　voices　of　Dr。　Chatterjee　and　Patti　Weaver。　Her　Chatterjee　was　a　warm　and　mellow　Indian…accented　English；　with　clipped　phrasing。　She　did　Patti　as　a　child…hero　in　a　contemporary　movie；　the　only　person　on　screen　who　is　unawed　by　mysterious　throbbing　phenomena。
　　〃In　a　further　startling　development　it　was　revealed　by　little　Patti　that　the　three　supercelebrities　were　murdered　for　the　same　astonishing　reason。　Each　of　them　at　the　time　of　his　or　her　death　was　in　secret　possession　of　the　Holy　Shroud　of　Turin；　famed　for　its　sacred　curative　powers。　Entertainers　Elvis　and　Marilyn　were　drink…and…drug　nightmare　victims　and　secretly　hoped　to　restore　spiritual　and　bodily　calm　to　their　lives　by　actually　drying　themselves　with　the　Holy　Shroud　after　pore…cleansing　sessions　in　the　sauna。　Multi…faceted　billionaire　Howard　Hughes　suffered　from　stop…action　blink　syndrome；　a　bizarre　condition　which　prevented　his　eyes　from　reopening　for　hours　after　a　simple　blink；　and　he　obviously　hoped　to　utilize　the　amazing　power　of　the　Shroud　until　the　Viper　intervened　with　a　swift　injection　of　phantom　venom。　Patti　Weaver　has　further　revealed　under　hypnosis　that　the　KGB　has　long　sought　possession　of　the　Shroud　of　Turin　on　behalf　of　the　rapidly　aging　and　pain…racked　members　of　the　Politburo；　the　famed　executive　mittee　of　the　munist　Party。　Possession　of　the　Shroud　is　said　to　be　the　real　motive　behind　the　attempted　assassination　of　Pope　John　Paul　II　at　the　Vatican—an　attempt　that　failed　only　because　the　Viper　had　already　died　in　a　horror　helicopter　crash　and　been　reborn　as　a　freckle…faced　girl　in　Iowa。
　　〃The　no…risk　bonus　coupon　below　gives　you　guaranteed　a