I thought you must be dead… he said simply.
So did I for a while, said Ford, and then I decided I was a lemon for a couple of weeks. A kept myself amused all that time jumping in and out of a gin and tonic.
Arthur cleared his throat, and then did it again.
Where, he said, did you?…
Find a gin and tonic? said Ford brightly. I found a small lake that thought it was a gin and tonic, and jumped in and out of that. At least, I think it thought it was a gin and tonic.
I may, he added with a grin which would have sent sane men scampering into trees, have been imagining it.
He waited for a reaction from Arthur, but Arthur knew better than that.
Carry on, he said levelly.
The point is, you see, said Ford, that there is no point in driving yourself mad trying to stop yourself going mad. You might just as well give in and save your sanity for later.
And this is you sane again, is it? said Arthur. I ask merely for information.
I went to Africa, said Ford.
Yes?
Yes.
What was that like?
And this is your cave, is it? said Ford.
Er, yes, said Arthur. He felt very strange. After nearly four years of total isolation he was so pleased and relieved to see Ford that he could almost cry. Ford was, on the other hand, an almost immediately annoying person.
Very nice, said Ford, in reference to Arthur’s cave. You must hate it.
Arthur didn’t bother to reply.
Africa was very interesting, said Ford, I behaved very oddly there.
He gazed thoughtfully into the distance.
I took up being cruel to animals, he said airily. But only, he added, as a hobby.
Oh yes, said Arthur, warily.
Yes, Ford assured him. I won’t disturb you with the details because they would.
What?
adv. 仅仅,只不过