宇宙尽头的餐馆小说 经典科幻文学:《宇宙尽头的餐馆》第18章6

经典科幻文学:《宇宙尽头的餐馆》第18章6  

“And now
” cried Max from the centre of the stage
“the moment you’ve all been waiting for!” He flung his arms into the air. Behind him
the band went into a frenzy of percussion and rolling synthochords. Max had argued with them about this but they had claimed it was in their contract that that’s what they would do. His agent would have to sort it out.
“The skies begin to boil!” he cried. “Nature collapses into the screaming void! In enty seconds’ time
the Universe itself will be at an end! See where the light of infinity bursts in upon us!”
The hideous fury of destruction blazed about them and at that moment a still small trumpet sounded as from an infinite distance. Max’s eyes swivelled round to glare at the band. None of them seemed to be playing a trumpet. Suddenly a wisp of smoke was swirling and shimmering on the stage next to him. The trumpet was joined by more trumpets. Over five hundred times Max had done this show
and nothing like this had ever happened before. He drew back in alarm from the swirling smoke
and as he did so
a figure slowly materialized inside
the figure of an ancient man
bearded
robed and wreathed in light. In his eyes were stars and on his brow a golden crown.
“What’s this?” whispered Max
wild-eyed
“what’s happening?”
At the back of the Restaurant the stony-faced party from the Church of the Second Coming of the Great Prophet Zarquon leapt ecstatically to their feet chanting and crying.
Max blinked in amazement. He threw up his arms to the audience.
“A big hand please
ladies and gentlemen
” he hollered
“for the Great Prophet Zarquon! He has e! Zarquon has e again!”
Thunderous applause broke out as Max strode across the stage and handed his microphone to the Prophet.
Zarquon coughed. He peered round at the assembled gathering. The stars in his eyes blinked uneasily. He handled the microphone with confusion.
“Er…” he said
“hello. Er
look
I’m sorry I’m a bit late. I’ve had the most ghastly time
all sorts of things cropping up at the last moment.”
He seemed nervous of the expectant awed hush. He cleared his throat.
“Er
how are we for time?” he said
“have I just got a min-“
And so the Universe ended.