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1、1TheMachineStopsbyE.M.ForsterFirstpublishedintheOxfordandCambridgeReviewin1909ITHEAIR-SHIPImagine,ifyoucan,asmallroom,hexagonalinshape,likethecellofabee.Itislightedneitherbywindownorbylamp,yetitisfilledwithasoftradiance.Therearenoaperturesforventilation,yettheairisfresh.Therea
2、renomusicalinstruments,andyet,atthemomentthatmymeditationopens,thisroomisthrobbingwithmelodioussounds.Anarmchairisinthecentre,byitssideareading-desk--thatisallthefurniture.Andinthearmchairtheresitsaswaddledlumpofflesh--awoman,aboutfivefeethigh,withafaceaswhiteasafungus.Itistoh
3、erthatthelittleroombelongs.Anelectricbellrang.Thewomantouchedaswitchandthemusicwassilent."IsupposeImustseewhoitis",shethought,andsetherchairinmotion.Thechair,likethemusic,wasworkedbymachineryanditrolledhertotheothersideoftheroomwherethebellstillrangimportunately."Whoisit?"shec
4、alled.Hervoicewasirritable,forshehadbeeninterruptedoftensincethemusicbegan.Sheknewseveralthousandpeople,incertaindirectionshumanintercoursehadadvancedenormously.Butwhenshelistenedintothereceiver,herwhitefacewrinkledintosmiles,andshesaid:"Verywell.Letustalk,Iwillisolatemyself.I
5、donotexpectanythingimportantwillhappenforthenextfiveminutes--forIcangiveyoufullyfiveminutes,Kuno.ThenImustdelivermylectureon'Musicduringthe2AustralianPeriod'."Shetouchedtheisolationknob,sothatnooneelsecouldspeaktoher.Thenshetouchedthelightingapparatus,andthelittleroomwasplunge
6、dintodarkness."Bequick!"Shecalled,herirritationreturning."Bequick,Kuno;hereIaminthedarkwastingmytime."Butitwasfullyfifteensecondsbeforetheroundplatethatsheheldinherhandsbegantoglow.Afaintbluelightshotacrossit,darkeningtopurple,andpresentlyshecouldseetheimageofherson,wholivedon
7、theothersideoftheearth,andhecouldseeher."Kuno,howslowyouare."Hesmiledgravely."Ireallybelieveyouenjoydawdling.""Ihavecalledyoubefore,mother,butyouwerealwaysbusyorisolated.Ihavesomethingparticulartosay.""Whatisit,dearestboy?Bequick.Whycouldyounotsenditbypneumaticpost?""BecauseIp
8、refersayingsuchathing.Iwant--""Well?""Iwantyoutocomeandseeme.
