《疯狂世界》是英国剧作家Tim Rhys为英国文化委员会所属的LearnEnglish网站创作的一部网络科幻小说。现经英国文化委员会授权，本刊从2002年第1期开始连载此文。《疯狂世界》共十章，本期刊登的是第六章。

　　By Tim Rhys 贺丹 注

　　Chapter 6—The Voice

　　The long hospital corridor was a depressing, familiar sight. I had walked down it countless times. I thought I had broken free, but I was wrong. It must have been my mind playing tricks on me.<注1> Dr Webber opened the door to the Electro-Magnetic Therapy Room.<注2> He smiled at me and spoke in a soft, kind voice.

　　—I know it's horrible being ill. But it's no good hiding in your imagination. You've got to face it. If you have regular therapy, you will get better, I promise.

　　—Don't go in there!

　　That was Plummet's voice, ringing in my head.

　　—It's a hallucination!<注3> He's created it inside your head.

　　—No, it's real, Plummet.

　　—See if you can change it! Imagine the corridor changing colour!

　　I stared at the corridor. Its grey walls immediately became blood-red.

　　—Now put a bend in it.

　　I concentrated and the corridor bent round to the left.

　　—If it was real, it wouldn't be able to bend or change colour. It's just a picture he's put in your mind.

　　Dr Webber was becoming impatient. He spoke sharply.

　　—Mister Serge! Will you please step into the Therapy Room?

　　I took another step. It was dark in there. I couldn't see a thing. Plummet spoke again.

　　—Imagine his head falling off.

　　The doctor's head suddenly fell on the floor. It rolled away down the corridor, screaming.

　　—Those walls don't exist.

　　The walls of the corridor melted away—like snow in the Sun. And I was back on Greenwich Island, in the harbour. I was standing right on the edge of the pier.<注4> I looked down. It was a long drop to the water below. If I had taken one more step I would have fallen to my death. I spoke to Plummet, on my radio.

　　—That was close. Thanks, Plummet.

　　—You're welcome.

　　To relax, I had a drink in a riverside bar and read the latest gossip in Crazy World. I was reading the letters to Dr Constellata when Dr Webber's voice crashed back into my head.

　　—Mr Serge! You will never be cured if you believe your imaginary friend, Plummet.

　　—He's real! He's on my radio.

　　—Of course he isn't! Be rational, please.

　　I tried to shut the voice up but I couldn't.

　　—Josef, I am not giving up on you. I will never abandon you. I want you to get better.

　　—Get out of my head!

　　—Never. Not until you are cured.

　　I radioed Plummet.

　　—What can I do? How can I get him out of my head?

　　—Change your brainwave patterns. That will fool him.

　　—How can I possibly do that?

　　—You need to find a Magnet Hat Cafe?

　　—But they're illegal.

　　—So what? There must be one on Greenwich Island. Ask around.

　　—It's too risky. They can cause brain-damage.

　　—It is a risk, but... it's the only way you'll get rid of that voice.

　　—I don't know. It seems like a dangerous thing to do.

　　The voice fills my head again.

　　—You're right, Mr Serge. It would be a big mistake.

　　Greenwich Harbour disappears. I'm back in the hospital corridor. Dr Webber is looking at me with a sad smile.

　　—This is reality, I'm afraid.

　　I shake my head and he disappears. I'm back in Greenwich. I don't know who or what to believe. I feel so confused... I'll ask Dr Constellata. Let's see what she says.