等

               今天是他的大日子。

               天意弄人，他的鬧鐘偏偏在今天壞了。經過一番折騰，他終於跑來了巴士站。「哎呀，一個人也沒有，準是剛錯過了上一班車。」看看班次，十五分鐘。「還可以，只有班次沒誤點就是了。」他心想道。他把領帶整理好，呆立在原處。

               五分鐘已經過去了。這時，他聽到一輛巴士正在駛近，興奮得立刻掏出錢包。可惜，巴士並沒有靠站，繼續疾駛而去，車上的小孩仿佛都在嘲笑著他的傻態。瞧瞧巴士的路線牌，629。「真可惡，他們只不過去遊玩，也有車坐；我有要事要辦，卻在這兒呆等。」他心裏嘀咕道。

               二十分鐘已經過去了，誤點的班次使他不禁緊張起來。另一輛巴士靠近了，這回他學乖了，先看看路線牌。88R，他在這裏候車時常常看到這車，不過從來不知道這車去那兒，原來是去沙田。

               轉眼間，他已經等了三十分鐘了，心裏焦急不已。一輛巴士靠站了，他看也沒看就跳上車，正要付錢時被司機攔住了。「老兄，這車回廠，快下車。」他氣急敗壞地下了車，目送這輛12M離去時口裏還罵著髒話。

               不久，他的老舊電話開始收到其他組員催促的短訊，正要回覆，卻又發生錯誤，開啟了巴士公司的應用程式。這時，他才想起自己忘了查詢巴士抵站時間，於是便立刻查閱，得到的結果是：「12A，(金鐘添馬街) ：受現時交通情況影響或服務時間已過，預計45分鐘內沒有巴士班次，請見諒。」

Practicing Democracy on Kepler-186f

In ancient Athenian democracy, there were three main bodies of governance: the assembly, where eligible citizens discussed matters on meetings; the boule, where each of the city’s 10 tribes provided councilors to guide the assembly’s work; the courts, where laymen jurors hear cases and make a judgement.

500 light years from Earth lies a planet called Kepler-186f, the first known Earth-size planet with a suitable habitat. Yet, the highly intelligent living organisms on the planet remain undiscovered by astrologists.

Direct democracy is practiced on the planet. Meetings of the assembly are called several times a month to discuss on matters, such as new proposals drafted by the boule. However, the system is becoming ineffective due to strong opposition of the corrupted boule.

Not long ago, the boule made a proposal on reforming the political system. It suggested breaking down the boule into various departments responsible for different kinds of government work, such as finance, transport and tourism. In addition, a leader of the whole government, with veto power, was suggested. Candidates for this post were to be nominated by members of the boule before being elected by the general public.

Introducing a reform has never been easy. The assembly became rowdy once the proposal was brought up. Supporters argued that the reform could enhance the efficiency of the government, while opposition parties saw the reform merely as a means of the boule to extend its influence. Since then, the opposition force became uncooperative and filibustered many of the boule’s proposals. The schedule of the assembly was delayed and supporters grew annoyed with the opposition forces. Conflicts between opposing parties were common during demonstrations.

Eventually, after much turbulence, the time came for the assembly to deliberate the reform proposed by the boule. Seeing it as a fall back in democracy, the opposition force was determined to veto the proposal. Long speeches were made and it took three months for everyone to have their say.

The army, generally supportive of the boule, had just won a fighting and was heading back into town on the day the assembly voted for the reform. Supporters wanted to wait for the army to “exercise their civil rights”, but others saw their absence as abstaining.

It was decided that the voting would not be delayed. As a last resort, lots of supporters went out of the assembly hall, hoping to call off the meeting. However, there were just enough citizens in the assembly hall for the voting to continue, and the reform was banned with a ratio of 1 support to 80 against. Apparently, the supporters still have a lot to learn from their opponent’s filibusters.

南遊記 第2046回

               話說蝦兵與蟹將望見眼前的香港仔水塘道，紛紛跪求師父道：「師父饒命！我輩實在無力攀登此斜坡！」師父道：「千山萬水我們都穿越了，現在才放棄豈不是功虧一簣？汝等只管跟我走，不然就寫貶書，把汝等貶掉。」師父既出此言，蝦兵、蟹將那敢不依。

               方才起行，便見一告示牌上寫道：「此路特斜，選用低波」。蝦兵曰：「何謂『低波』？」蟹將道：「看見『低』字，我等只管低著身子，蹲下來走罷。」蝦兵道：「所言甚是。」眾人便蹲著爬坡。好蝦兵，蹦蹦跳跳的便攀上去了，撇下師父在後。那師父身體虛弱，要攀斜本已不易，還要低下身子走，自然熬不住，走上兩步後退了三步，走不上幾步便坐下來喘氣。幸得蟹將把蝦兵喚回來，讓徒弟二人把師父抬將上山。

               行不多時，復見一告示牌上寫道：「巴士必停站」。蝦兵笑道：「好不囂張，竟敢命人『必停站』，意即要我等停下來站住嗎？」師父道：「我等只管照辦，也讓汝等歇息歇息。」徒弟便放下師父，三人便止住腳步，肅立於告示牌前，途人見狀，那裏忍得住笑。後蟹將感不妥，方才攔住一個路人，問曰：「敢問施主，此告示牌有何意義？」路人答道：「出家人原來不知。『巴士』乃大型載客車輛，此告示牌即命巴士於此停將下來，避免它衝下山出意外。」蝦兵笑道：「原來是給車輛的指示，我等快快上路，別耽誤時辰罷。」

               師徒三人忽走忽停，原已不甚快捷，加上蝦兵、蟹將開始乏力，便愈見緩慢。待三人行畢這香港仔水塘道，已夕陽西下。師父從徒弟二人手上跳將下來，只見前方好大的一個牌匾上寫著：「香港仔郊野公園」，便催促徒弟道：「傳說中的龍蝦女神正是藏身於此！汝等勿慵懶，趁天還亮，趕快參見女神。」蟹將想道：「師父心意已決，我若是推卻，豈不是自討沒趣？」於是便拉著蝦兵一同護送師父進公園。

               此路本十分易走，豈料前路突然收窄，師徒上前看個究竟，便見一牌匾上刻著：兒童研習徑。只見前方道路迂迴曲折、崎嶇難行，正是：

               樹木何蕭瑟，北風聲正悲。

               蝦兵驚曰：「莫非這就是讓人聞風喪膽，傳說中的死亡之徑？」

               畢竟不知師徒三人怎生走過險徑，且聽下回分解。

[全文完]

震

      張宅裏一個典型的星期六。四人各有各忙，互不理睬。

               張先生又在欣賞他的郵票簿。他自小就對郵票產生了濃烈的興趣，那年代的小孩沒甚麼娛樂，大都喜歡交換郵票。四十多年來，無論是通用郵票還是特別郵票、本地郵票還是外國郵票，張先生無不涉獵，讓他可以填滿一本又一本的集郵簿。對張先生而言，郵票就是他的生命。

               張太太覺得丈夫的喜好分文不值，太沒大志了。張太太沉醉於鑽石，玻璃櫃裏的鑽石全是她的心肝寶貝。這天她又在上網看鑽石，看到一顆完美的一百卡鑽石正在倫敦展出，看得她口水直淌。雖然她沒錢參加這顆鑽石的拍賣，但她的確希望一睹這顆瑰寶的實物，於是趕緊上航空公司的網站買機票。

               張氏夫婦的大女兒則對手提袋情有獨鍾。Gucci、Prada、Chanel等名牌手提袋全是她的囊中物，不過她始終最愛LV包包，她的百餘個手提袋中，LV包包就有五十多個。今天，她正在找她的銀行存摺，打算去提款，然後買最新推出的手提袋。

               張氏夫婦的小兒子認為家人太物質主義了，只有他是與眾不同的。他對音樂有股熱誠，去年與朋友剛成立了一對樂隊，他則當樂隊裏的鼓手。他才剛剛跟朋友練習過新歌，回家後還是拿出鼓棍，搖頭晃腦地打起鼓來。

               正當各人都埋首於自己的興趣時，一下突如其來的震動令眾人抬起頭來。

               「發生甚麼事？」

               「準是弟弟的鼓聲令地板震動了！」

               「不是我啊，我打了這許多年的鼓，還不曾令地板震動呢！」

               再一震。

               「現在該怎辦？」

               震。桌上的水杯倒下了。

               「是地震！」

               四人立刻跑到餐桌下，抱成一團。

               地震過後，郵票、鑽石、手提袋和低音鼓都被壓毀了。抱在一起的四個人，由於互相保護，安然無恙。

佛地魔的成長故事

他皮膚白晢，塌鼻子，眉毛和頭髮都十分稀薄，同學都把他嘲笑成《哈利波特》中的「佛地魔」。只是他比故事中的佛地魔弱多了，即使他討厭這名字，也無法遏止同學的譏諷。

佛地魔的家庭不甚美滿。在他的記憶裏，他的父母從來沒有疼惜過他--他們一天到晚都在爭吵，吵架完就拿他來出氣。人家的爸媽會帶子女上街、去玩，他的爸媽沒有；人家的爸媽會買玩具給子女，他的爸媽沒有；人家的爸媽會擁抱、親吻子女，他的爸媽也沒有。

人家的爸媽鬧離婚時會搶奪孩子的撫養權，佛地魔的爸媽鬧離婚時也沒有。

「是你在外頭有小三，不是應該由你承擔責任嗎?」

「我的新老婆快要生小孩了，而且我搬到內地後還要供房貸，我那來的錢養他?」

「我在香港就很富貴嗎?」

「至少他可以留在香港讀書吧。」

「讀書?你瞧他，一副傻呼呼的模樣，將來也很難飛黃騰達吧，讀這許多書有屁用。」

聽到這裏，本來一臉茫然的佛地魔突然變得憤怒。

「誰說我將來不能成功，我會證明你是錯的！等著瞧吧！」

原本渾渾噩噩的佛地魔，在那日下定決心，一定要發奮圖強，將來要出人頭地。那時，他才五歲。

結果，他們把佛地魔撇下給年屆耄耋的奶奶。他們各散東西以後，也不曾回來看過他。有時，佛地魔會懷疑，他的存在，可能只是父母尋歡作樂的惡果。

跟奶奶生活並不容易。佛地魔到現在也不明白，奶奶那時為何不領取綜援，畢竟綜援就是給他們這些無甚工作能力的人的。

「不行，做人要有骨氣，不可靠別人養活。只有我的腳還能走、我的手還能動，我也不會領綜援!」

所以，佛地魔只好跟著奶奶拾紙皮，每天四時許就得起床，放學後又要忙到晚上九時，才能回家做功課、溫習。這樣風雨不改地幹活，兩奶孫才僅僅夠錢租住天台屋、吃醬油拌飯。因此，他也很固厭故執的奶奶。

縱使生活如此艱難，佛地魔也沒有忘記五歲的那一天，於是他盡量抓緊時間，有空時便溫習功課。從小以來，他在學校都名列前茅。可是，由於他不看電視，也不玩電玩，於是被同學冠以「書獃子」的稱號，受盡排擠。而他自己也是一副弱不禁風的模樣，自然不能作出反抗。

回望過去，佛地魔認為他的童年並不快樂。

不過，佛地魔對自己求學時期的成績倒是十分滿意。經過多年的寒「屋」苦讀(他住的天台屋沒有窗戶)，他終於成為會考的9A狀元，並獲科技大學取錄，修讀環球商業管理課程(Global Business)。不久，他以一級榮譽成績畢業，進入一家大型投資銀行工作。

眾所周知，在投資銀行工作十分辛苦，壓力非一般人能承受，但佛地魔的奶奶早已過身，佛地魔孤家寡人，在沒有負累之下工作得特別起勁，因此表現很好，晉升甚快。他30來歲時已經賺到很多桶金，於是決定離開公司，自行創業。

努力十年後，佛地魔的王國逐漸壯大，地產、金融、公營事業等均有染指。從拾紙皮、住天台屋的小伙子躍身成為香港十大首富之一，佛地魔被譽為「人間神話」，成為無數青年的偶像。

佛地魔的南灣大宅面積過萬呎，有270度海景，停車場內停放著法利拉、林寶堅尼、勞斯萊斯等名車，還有隨時候命的司機。雖然佛地魔的Double King Bed有過許多「訪客」，但佛地魔始終沒有結婚和生兒育女。

佛地魔過著大部分人心中的理想生活，甚麼也不缺。可是，他心裏總是覺得欠缺甚麼似的。

在一個假日，佛地魔的座駕駛過淺水灣，碰巧有點塞車，他就往窗外看了看。他看見一個計程車司機，載著自己年邁的父母和妻兒到海灘。五人下車到「富豪雪糕流動車」買了冰淇淋，然後手牽手，一邊舔著冰淇淋一邊步向海灘，甚是溫馨。這時，佛地魔終於想到他的生命裏缺了甚麼。

愛。

好雨

若說「好雨」是「知時節」的話，「好雨」非去年初夏的一場豪雨所屬。
去年的四、五月分十分潮濕，香港不是被大霧籠罩著便是下著雨，而且天氣變幻無常，突如其來的雨水教人冷不及防。一天，我和友人結伴放學回家，甫踏出校們，便被震耳欲聾的一聲「轟隆」嚇倒，連忙縮回學校裏，狼狽地掏出雨傘。
「你好，我今天忘了帶雨傘，你可以幫忙幫忙嗎？」一把清脆的女聲對我說道。
回首一看，原來是一個同班的女同學，我的心跳不由自主的加快。
「你......想跟我共用一把雨傘？」心裏興奮的期待著她說「是」。
「不是，你能不能把雨傘借我，然後跟他一塊兒用他的傘子？」
「沒問題。」縱使有點無奈，也只得順從。
就這樣，我們出發了。在下山的路途中，我和友人小心翼翼地走過十分濕滑的大斜坡，並共用了他那小得可憐的摺疊雨傘。從山上的學校一直走到市區裏的商場，還不過是十分鐘的路程，卻已足夠讓我的左半身和整個書包濕透，變成了一個「水人」
「雨傘先還你。」看見女同學的身體依舊乾爽、依舊美麗，心裏不免感到甜絲絲的。
穿過商場以後，我們便下了地鐵站了。本以為要「田雞過河」了，但女同學在離開之前回過頭來，像是對我說了些甚麼。
「你說啥？」
「唔該。」她用非常誠懇的語氣說道，並用非常誠懇眼光看著我，使我立時「觸電」。
「不客氣。」我急忙應道。
從此以後，我每次上街都要帶上一把摺疊雨傘，為的是在下一次遇到一場知曉時節的「好雨」時能再一次聽到那刻骨銘心、誠懇的「唔該」。

(部分內容純屬虛構)

Cocaine Fishballs

                “Onward Christian soldiers.

Marching as to war.

With the cross of Jesus.

Going on before.”

The Christians from different churches assembled in Stanley prison to sing their hymns of praise during Christmas time, and the images of my beloved children, wife, and parents instantly floated into my mind. Unfortunately, I will never get the chance to see them again in my lifetime, thanks to the utterly wrong decision I’ve made last year.

I was busy working in my office on last year’s Christmas day, when a black limousine pulled up outside the building of our company. Larry Win, a famous criminal who is wanted by the useless and pathetic HK government, got off the limousine and went into our company’s building with his assistants.

My secretary really freaked out when she spotted Larry along with his assistants, all armed with AK-47, enter our office.

“Mr. Ball, someone outsides w……wants to s……see you.”

“Let them in, and quit stammering.”

Frankly speaking, I was also quite scared and shocked to see these unexpected guests step into my office. Nevertheless, I tried my best to look confident in the outside.

A leather handbag which is stuffed and overloaded landed on my table with a loud “Bang!”

“Merry Christmas, Mr. Ball. How’re you doing lately?”

“Be honest and tell me WHAT DO YOU WANT?!”

“No need to be so defensive. It is ten kilograms of cocaine inside this bag. I’ll let you have it as a Christmas present from me.”

“What’s the point of giving me all this? I’m not going to make use of it anyway, considering all the bad effects it does to my body.”

“I see, so you’re a law-abiding citizen, am I right? But hang on a sec, people will get addicted to the fishballs your company produces if you add in a bit of these, right? Then your company can make a lot more money, and I benefit from this too, so it’s a win-win situation. OK now, if you’re interested, just phone my assistant to make arrangement and I’ll offer a 30% discount exclusively for you. Think about it, dude.”

The gang then left, leaving me struggling on what to do next.

“Hey, Mr. Fish Ball, dinner is ready.” My roommate, Paul reminded.

Paul was really addicted to cocaine, and consumed loads of it each day. Right now, he is adding some of his white powder onto his curry fishballs, and painfully reminded me the utterly wrong decision I made.

Larry was experienced in hiding his crime from the government. He first shipped the cocaine, from Argentina, to the middle of nowhere in mainland, packed it into bags which said “Starch” outside, then transported it to Hong Kong. To play safe, he also bribed some governors. These methods kept our illegal business deal secret.

One evening, my wife was watching the finance news report on television.

“Good Fish Company held a press conference today. Their profit rose 95.1% to HKD 51.5 billion. The price of the company’s stocks also rose 58.5% to……”

“Wow, I can’t believe that your company has been doing so well lately. You’re an amazing businessmen!”

“Stop using the fishballs of our company, it’s bad.”

“What? But why……”

“Are you deaf? Just do as I say!”

As everyone knows, cocaine does great harm to the human body, and some nosy reporters started to find out the fact that consumers regularly purchasing our company’s fishballs are getting unhealthier. To prevent them from discovering the truth, I decided temporarily stop purchasing the cocaine from Larry.

However, Larry was way more cunning than I expected. Of course, my decision made him earn less, and also made him furious, and he fired back. Fiercely. Firstly, the bribe was changed to be paid from our company’s bank account directly, as he said his gang was undergoing a “financial redevelopment”, and I was unbelievably foolish and believed in him. Moreover, he also found someone to report to the Hong Kong Police about the bad fishballs containing cocaine.

After all these careful arrangements, he seemed to have no relationship at all with the cocaine fishballs, and I, as the CEO of the company, had to take up all the responsibility. Finally, I was sentenced to a lifelong imprisonment.

Well, this is the end of my sad little story. I hope you would learn a thing or two from it, and, most importantly, do not follow my footsteps. Lastly, I wish you all a Christmas merrier then mine.