5 Waiting for fifteen thousand years 
　  
　　'It's too bright in here，'I said．'I can't see．' 
　　The light suddenly wasn't so bright and I could see again．I was in a round room，which was empty except for a large square computer． 
　　The computer didn't look like the modern computers we have． 
　　'You are't God！'I said．'You're just a computer！Just a strange old computer！' 
　　A voice came from it．'Yes，this is computer．Who are you？' 
　　Oh，the computer still worked！I was surprised as it looked so very old．It didn't speak in a natural way as modern computers do． 
　　'I'm Hummingbird，'I answered． 
　　'You are not a hummingbird．Hummingbirds fly in the forests here，in Star Zoo．You are human．You are not a child of Star Zoo．Computer is happy．' 
　　I listened but I didn't understand．'Hummingbird'was just my name—and the name of one of the animals in the Book of Remembering．Why was this place called the Star Zoo？What was a 'zoo'？I had so many questions to ask！ 
　　'Computer，'I said，'where do you come from？I never heard of a spaceship as big as this！You speak my language but it sounds different．Why do Hee-Haw and Hoo-Woo think you're God？' 
　　'Who is Hee-Haw？Who is Hoo-Woo？'the computer asked． 
　　'The two monsters that brought me here，'I answered． 
　　'Yes．Dondey．Wolf．All animals believe computer is God．Computer makes ultrasonic sound．Ultrasonics make fear．' 
　　'Animals？'I said slowly．Animals were only a story in the Book of Remembering．There were no animals alive today．What was the computer talking about？'Animals…like EeeEee and Cheep-Cheep？' 
　　'Eee－Eee is a squirrel，'the computer said．'Cheep-Cheep is a bird．Animals take care of you．' 
　　I was very afraid．Donkey，wolf，squirrel，and bird were all animals named in the Book of Remembering． 
　　'Where did these animals come from？'I asked． 
　　'Star Zoo came from Earth，'the computer answered．'Star Zoo left Earth．Earth was hot．' 
　　I suddenly couldn't stand．I fell down and my mind exploded again．This time I wasn't angry．I was sad，empty，afraid，and a little crazy．This was the Book of Remembering come to life！ 
　　Earth hot？That was the Burning！We made the Earth too hot and all life except humans died．And we humans did it！ 
　　'Not necessary to fall down，'the computer said．'Computer is not God．Computer wants to talk to humans．Computer is sad that humans have not spoken for fifteen thousand years．' 
　　I stood up slowly．The Book of Remembering was forremembering the animals but they had been dead for twenty thousand years． 
　　But the animals were here！Yes，here in the Star Zoo，after travelling between stars for twenty thousand years！ 
　　'Why did you leave Earth？What happened？'I asked． 
　　The computer answered，'Humans polluted Earth．Earth was hot．Animals died．' 
　　'Yes，'I said．'I know that．' 
　　The computer continued，'Humans made zoo in space．No money．Used plastic bottles．' 
　　'What？'I said．I didn't understand． 
　　'Collected old plastic bottles．Made zoo with plastic bottles．Cheap．Made big zoo with many rooms．' 
　　'Why are there different rooms？'I asked． 
　　'Animals and plants live in different ways，'the computer said．'Hot，cold，wet，dry．Impossible to keep all animals and all plants in one room．Need different things．Difficult work to get everything right．Necessary to have big computer．No money．Got old computer from army．' 
　　'So that's you？'I said．'You're an old army computer from Earth？' 
　　'Computer works and never stops．' 
　　'I understand！'I said．'A group of people made this Star Zoo．They knew that Earth was dying．They wanted to save the animals．They sent the Star Zoo away from Earth．' 
　　'Star Zoo went，'the computer said．'No money．Went slowly．' 
　　'Very slowly，'I agreed．'But What happened to the humans inside the Star Zoo？' 
　　'Five thousand years humans gave orders．Computer worked．Computer mended walls．Computer kept Star Zoo alive and safe．Star Zoo worked well．No problems．Humans stopped giving orders．Not necessary to talk． Humans enjoyed eating，playing，sleeping．Computer can do work．For fifteen thousand years computer has worked，thought，learnt，grown．Now you have come．Computer is happy．' 
　　I was happy too and I wasn't afraid．It was wonderful news．The Galaxy wasn't empty！Animals could live on all the worlds and all humans could be happy again． 
　　Humans were lonely without animals．Humans needed animals． 
　　'The animals must leave the Star Zoo，'I said to the computer．'We have planets where they can live．Do you agree？' 
　　'Star Zoo is not strong，'the computer said．'Holes in walls lose air and water．Animals need planets．Can have more animals on planets．' 
　　'Then I must go home，'I said．'I will come back with spaceships．We will take the animals to different planets．Planets everywhere in the Galaxy．' 
　　'Computer will choose planets for different animals，'it said．'First plants will grow．Animals will follow．' 
　　'You can tell us what to do，'I said．'This is wonderful． 
　　I want to leave now．Is Hee-Haw waiting？' 
　　'Donkey waits．'the computer made a noise that was like crying．'Donkey has waited for a few minutes．Computer has waited for fifteen thousand years．You come back．Computer is sad and afraid．'  
　 
5 一万五千年的等待 
　  
　　“这儿太亮了，”我说，“我看不见。” 
　　那盏灯马上暗了一些，我又看得见了。我站在一个圆圆的房间里，屋里除了一台四四方方的大电脑外什么也没有。 
　　这台电脑看上去和我们用的现代电脑不一样。 
　　“你不是上帝！”我说，“你不过是台电脑而已！一台怪模怪样的破电脑而已！” 
　　里面传出一个声音：“对，我是电脑。你是谁？” 
　　噢，这电脑还能运转！我很惊奇，因为看上去它太破旧了。它说话的腔调不像现代电脑那么自然。 
　　“我是蜂鸟，”我回答。 
　　“你不是蜂鸟。蜂鸟是在这森林里飞的，在星际动物园。你是人。你不是星际动物园的孩子。电脑很高兴。” 
　　我听着，但无法理解。“蜂鸟”只是我的名字——《往事追忆》中一种动物的名字。这个地方为什么叫星际动物园？什么是“动物园”？我有好多问题要问！ 
　　“电脑，”我说，“你是哪儿来的？我从没听说过这么大的飞船！你讲的是我的语言，可听起来不大一样。为什么'嘻嗬'和'呼呜'把你当上帝？” 
　　“'嘻嗬'是谁？'呼呜'又是谁？”电脑问道。 
　　“带我到这儿来的那两个怪物，”我回答。 
　　“哦。驴子、狼。所有的动物都把电脑当成上帝。电脑能发出超声波。超声波能引起恐惧。” 
　　“动物？”我慢慢地问道。动物不过是《往事追忆》中的故事。今天没有活着的动物了。这电脑在胡说什么？“动物……'噫噫'和'嘁嘁'那样的？” 
　　“'噫噫'是只松鼠，”电脑说，“'嘁嘁'是只鸟。照料你的都是动物。” 
　　我很害怕。驴子、狼、松鼠和鸟都是《往事追忆》中动物的名字。 
　　“这些动物是哪儿来的？”我问道。 
　　“星际动物园来自地球，”电脑回答，“星际动物园离开了地球。地球热。” 
　　我突然站不住了。我倒了下去，头脑又发懵了。这次我没有感到愤怒。我难过、空虚、恐惧，还有点狂乱。《往事追忆》变成了活生生的现实！ 
　　地球热？那是因为大火灾！我们把地球弄热了，除了人类以外，所有的生物都死了。那是我们人类干的！ 
　　“不必趴下，”电脑说，“电脑不是上帝。电脑想和人说话。电脑难过，人类已经一万五千年没说话了。” 
　　我慢慢站起来。《往事追忆》是为了纪念动物的，但它们已经灭亡了两万年。 
　　可动物就在这儿！是的，在星际动物园这儿，在星际间运行了两万年后到了这儿！ 
　　“你们为什么离开地球？发生了什么事？”我问。 
　　电脑回答：“人类污染了地球。地球热。动物死了。” 
　　“是的，”我说。“我知道这些。” 
　　电脑接着说：“人类在太空建造动物园。没有钱，就用塑料瓶子。” 
　　“什么？”我说。我不明白。 
　　“回收旧塑料瓶子，用塑料瓶子建造动物园。便宜。建造了有很多房间的大动物园。” 
　　“为什么要分不同的房间？”我问。 
　　“动物和植物的生活方式各不相同，”电脑说，“热的、冷的、湿的、干的。不可能把所有动物和所有植物都放在同一个房间里。需要不同的东西。把一切都弄好是困难的工作。需要有大电脑。没有钱，从军队弄来旧电脑。” 
　　“就是你吗？”我说，“你是从地球来的旧军用电脑？” 
　　“电脑永远工作，从不停止。” 
　　“我知道！”我说，“有一些人建造了这个星际动物园。他们知道地球就要灭亡。他们希望拯救动物。他们把星际动物园从地球上发射走了。” 
　　“星际动物园走了，”电脑说，“没有钱。慢慢地走了。” 
　　“非常慢，”我也这么认为。“但星际动物园里的人呢？” 
　　“人类在5000年发布指令。电脑执行。电脑修补墙壁。电脑维持星际动物园的生存和安全。星际动物园运转良好。没有问题。人类不再给指令了。没有必要说话。人类喜欢吃、玩、睡。电脑可以工作。一万五千年了，电脑工作、思想、学习、成长。现在你来了。电脑高兴。” 
　　我也高兴，我不害怕了。这是个好消息。银河系不再是空荡荡的了！动物们可以在任何世界上生活，所有的人类又可以快乐了。 
　　没有动物，人类感觉孤独。人类需要动物。 
　　“动物们得离开星际动物园，”我对电脑说，“我们有行星，它们可以在上面生活。你同意么？” 
　　“星际动物园不结实，”电脑说，“墙上的破洞漏气、漏水。动物们需要行星。行星上可以有更多的动物生活。” 
　　“那我必须回家，”我说，“我会带着些飞船来。我们把动物送到各个行星上去。银河系里的所有行星。” 
　　“电脑将为不同的动物挑选行星，”它说，“先种植物。接着是动物。” 
　　“你可以告诉我们怎么做，”我说，“这太好了。我现在要走了。'嘻嗬'还在等着吗？” 
　　“驴子在等着。”电脑发出一种像哭一样的声音：“驴子等了几分钟。电脑等了一万五千年。你回来了。电脑又难过，又害怕。” 
　　　    


 