經典科幻文學:《宇宙盡頭的餐館》第2章8

“If you have enjoyed the experience of this drink,” continued the machine, “why not share it with your friends?”
“Because,” said Arthur tartly, “I want to keep them. Will you try to comprehend what I’m telling you? That drink…”
“That drink,” said the machine sweetly, “was individually tailored to meet your personal requirements for nutrition and pleasure.”
“Ah,” said Arthur, “so I’m a masochist on diet am I?”
“Share and Enjoy.”
“Oh shut up.”
“Will that be all?”
Arthur decided to give up.
“Yes,” he said.
Then he decided he’d be dammed if he’d give up.
“No,” he said, “look, it’s very, very simple… all I want… is a cup of tea. You are going to make one for me. Keep quiet and listen.”
And he sat. He told the Nutri-Matic about India, he told it about China, he told it about Ceylon. He told it about broad leaves drying in the sun. He told it about silver teapots. He told it about summer afternoons on the lawn. He told it about putting in the milk before the tea so it wouldn’t get scalded. He even told it (briefly) about the history of the East India Company.
“So that’s it, is it?” said the Nutri-Matic when he had finished.
“Yes,” said Arthur, “that is what I want.”
“You want the taste of dried leaves boiled in water?”

“如果您已經享用了這種飲料帶來的美好體驗，”機器繼續說，“爲什麼不和您的朋友們分享呢？”
“因爲，”阿瑟尖酸地說，“我想獨霸它們。你難道不能試着理解我跟你說的話嗎？這種飲料……”
“這種飲料，”機器甜甜地說，“是爲了適應您對營養和愉悅感的個人需求而單獨調配的。”
“噢，”阿瑟說，“看樣子，我是個認準了保健食譜的受虐狂，是嗎？”
“請分享，請享用。”
“噢，給我閉嘴。”
“這就是您的全部要求嗎？”
阿瑟決定放棄。
“是的。”他說。
不過他馬上認定，就這樣放棄的話實在心有不甘。
“不，”他說，“你瞧，這其實非常非常簡單……我所要的……只是一杯茶。你得爲我來上一杯。請保持安靜，聽我說。”
然後，他坐了下來。他給自動營養機講了印度，講了中國，還講了錫蘭。他講了寬大的葉片在太陽下怎麼被曬乾。他講了銀製的茶壺。他講了夏日午後的草坪。他還告訴它應該先放奶再加茶水，這樣它就不會被蒸汽燙傷了。他甚至還講了（當然是簡短地）東印度公司的歷史。
“那麼，您要的就是這種東西，是嗎？”他結束後，自動營養機問。
“是的，”阿瑟說，“我想要的就是這種東西。”
“您想要那種幹葉子在水裏燒開的味道？”