《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，本期刊登的是第五章。

Crazy World (5)

Chapter 5— Dr Webber

"I hate having to tell you this, Mr. Serge," the voice continued, "I don't like giving people bad news, but you must listen to me now. You're not well. And you need our help."

I looked everywhere. I couldn't see where the voice was coming from. The water-bus pulled into Greenwich Island, in the middle of the River Thames. The other passengers were taking three-dimensional photographs of the island. Nobody else could hear the voice, but it continued.

- Because nothing you can see is real.

- Get out of my head! What's going on?

Everyone turned to stare at me. I must have been shouting. The old Russian couple looked quite alarmed.1
"Are you alright?" asked Ivan.

"I'm fine, thank you." I lied.

"No, you're not," said the voice.

The tour guide interrupted the voice.

"We are going to stop here for an hour for you to look around Greenwich Island. The most amazing part of the island is the Self-Moving Office District, where all the buildings are able to get up and move around. It features the Mobile Tower—the world's largest walking tower-block."

Dr Webber's voice cut through my thoughts again.

- Walking tower-blocks? Come on, Mr. Serge. You don't honestly believe that's real, do you?

- Yes! Why not?

Ivan and Olga stared at me again. The other passengers were getting off the bus.

- Serge. Watch carefully: this is reality.

As soon as the doctor spoke, the world around me started to change. The wide River Thames began to fade away.2 The strange and wonderful buildings disappeared.

The other people on the boat transformed into mental patients and the London tour bus became a large, white room.

I was back in the hospital ward.3 I looked around in horror. I saw that I was sitting on my bed, with Dr Webber standing in front of me. He was smiling kindly at me.

- That's better. Welcome back to the real world. I know you don't like it, but we are glad to have you back.
- I thought I have escaped.

- Only in your imagination. You've been sitting there for a long time now, Mr. Serge. See if you can stand up.
I stood up. My head felt strange and I nearly fell over. He said it was good for me to get some exercise. I followed him to the door, and out into a long, narrow corridor. At the far end was a door. A sign on it said, "electro-magnetic therapy room".4

- No! No more electric shocks!

- You need your therapy, Mr. Serge. To stop those terrible hallucinations.5 Please remember: I just want you to get better.

Another voice joined in,

- No he doesn't!

It was Plummet, talking in my head. Dr Webber smiled at me. He opened the door.

- After you, Mr. Serge.

- Don't go in there! You're not mentally ill.

- I am ill, Plummet. I've been imagining things. I need help.

- You think this is real? This hospital?

- Yes, of course it's real.

- So where am I then?

I looked around the corridor. I couldn't see him.

- You're just a voice in my head, Plummet. I'm imagining you.

- You're not. Dr Webber's created this hallucination and transmitted it into your head.

Dr Webber led me towards the open door. Plummet's voice shouted at me.

- Serge! If you go in there, you will never come out again!

1. alarmed: 惊恐的。
2. fade away: 淡化，消失。
3. ward: 医院的病房。
4. 走廊的尽头有一扇门，门上的标牌写着“电磁治疗室”。therapy: 治疗。　
5. hallucination /h2;lu:si#nei12n/: 幻觉，幻想。