PART IV TRADERS
第四章 行商
TRADERS:……and constantly in advance of the political hegemony of the Foundation were the Traders, reaching out tenuous fingerholds through the tremendous distances of the Periphery. Months or years might pass between landings on Terminus; their ships were often nothing more than patchquilts of home-made repairs and improvisations; their honesty was none of the highest; their daring……
行商：……长久以来，行商一直是基地政治霸权的先锋部队，在银河外缘辽阔的星域间，他们不断向外扩张，通常数个月甚至数年才往返端点星一次。行商驾驶的太空船，大多是自己用旧货拼凑、修理或改装而成。他们德行不算高尚，而且个个胆大包天……
Through it all they forged an empire more enduring than thep seudo-religious despotism of the Four Kingdoms……
他们利用这些资源所建立的势力，比四王国的假宗教专制体制还要巩固……
Tales without end are told of these massive, lonely figures who borehalf-seriously, half-mockingly a motto adopted from one of Salvor Hardin'sepigrams, "Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what isright!" It is difficult now to tell which tales are real and whichapocryphal. There are none probably that have not suffered someexaggeration……
这些坚强而又孤独的行商，流传下来的传说轶事不可计数。他们都半认真、半戏谑地，以哈定的一句警语当座右铭：“不要让道德观阻止你做正确的事！”有关行商的传说，到底何者为真、何者为伪，如今已经难以分辨。可以确定的是，难免有夸大不实之处……
ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA
——《银河百科全书》
Limmar Ponyets was completely a-lather when the call reached his receiver--which proves that the old bromide about telemessages and the shower holdstrue even in the dark, hard space of the Galactic Periphery.
利玛·彭耶慈接到呼叫讯号的时候，全身正沾满肥皂泡沫。这证明即使在黑暗荒凉的银河外缘太空，“长距离通讯与淋浴总有不解之缘”的老生常谈一样成立。
Luckily that part of a free-lance trade ship which is not given over tomiscellaneous merchandise is extremely snug. So much so, that the shower,hot water included, is located in a two-by-four cubby, ten feet from thecontrol panels. Ponyets heard the staccato rattle of the receiver quiteplainly.
幸好这种个体户太空商船并未被商品占满，浴室部分还算非常宽敞舒适；在二英尺乘四英尺的小空间里，备有热水淋浴设备。这里离驾驶座的控制台大约十英尺，所以彭耶慈能清楚听见收讯器“咔嗒咔嗒”的声响。
Dripping suds and a growl, he stepped out to adjust the vocal, and threehours later a second trade ship was alongside, and a grinning youngsterentered through the air tube between the ships.
他带着肥皂泡沫和一声咆哮，快步走出来调整通话仪。三小时后，另一艘太空商船驶近并横靠在旁边。然后，一个面带微笑的年轻人，从两船之间的空气甬道中走了过来。
Ponyets rattled his best chair forward and perched himself on thepilot-swivel.
彭耶慈连忙把最好的一张椅子推过去，自己则坐在驾驶座的转椅上。
"What've you been doing, Gorm?" he asked, darkly. "Chasing me all the way from the Foundation?"
“戈姆，你在干什么？”他不高兴地问，“难道你从基地一路追我追到这里？”
Les Gorm broke out a cigarette, and shook his head definitely, "Me? Not achance. I'm just a sucker who happened to land on Glyptal IV the day afterthe mail. So they sent me out after you with this."
列斯·戈姆拿出一支香烟，坚定地摇了摇头。“我？绝不可能。我只是倒霉，刚好在这个邮件寄到葛里普特四号的次日，降落到那颗行星。所以他们派我追上来，把邮件交给你。”
The tiny, gleaming sphere changed hands, and Gorm added, "It'sconfidential. Super-secret. Can't be trusted to the sub-ether and all that. Or so I gather. At least, it's a Personal Capsule, and won't open foranyone but you."
戈姆递给彭耶慈一个发亮的小球体，然后又说：“这是机密文件，超级机密。我想就是这个缘故，所以不能用次乙太或其他方法传递。至少，这是一个私人信囊，除了你自己，谁都打不开。”
Ponyets regarded the capsule distastefully, "I can see that. And I neverknew one of these to hold good news, either."
彭耶慈望着这个小球，露出不悦的表情。“我看得出来。我也知道，这种邮件向来报忧不报喜。”
It opened in his hand and the thin, transparent tape unrolled stiffly. His eyes swept the message quickly, for when the last of the tape had emerged,the first was already brown and crinkled. In a minute and a half it hadturned black and, molecule by molecule, fallen apart.
小球在他手中开启，然后薄薄的透明胶带硬邦邦地展开。彭耶慈的眼睛迅速扫过上面的文字，因为等到最后一部分出现时，前面的胶带已经变色变皱了。而在一分半钟之内，胶带全部变成黑色，并分解成无数的分子散落一地。
Ponyets grunted hollowly, "Oh, Galaxy!"
彭耶慈故意喃喃抱怨：“唉，银河啊！”
Les Gorm said quietly, "Can I help somehow? Or is it too secret?"
列斯·戈姆轻声问道：“我能帮什么忙吗？还是真的那么机密，不能告诉我？”
"It will bear telling, since you're of the Guild. I've got to go toAskone."
“告诉你也无妨，反正你是公会的一分子。我必须去阿斯康一趟。”
"That place? How come?"
“去那个地方？为什么？”
"They've imprisoned a trader. But keep it to yourself.''
“那里有一名行商遭到逮捕，可是这件事不能对别人说。”
Gorm's expression jolted into anger, "Imprisoned! That's against theConvention."
戈姆的神情转趋愤怒。“遭到逮捕！那是违反公约的。”
"So is the interference with local politics."
“干涉内政同样违反公约。”
"Oh! Is that what he did?" Gorm meditated. "Who's the trader'? Anyone Iknow?"
“哦，那家伙犯了这条罪吗？”戈姆想了想又说：“那名行商是谁？我认识他吗？”
"No!" said Ponyets sharply, and Gorm accepted the implication and asked nofurther questions.
“不！”彭耶慈以严厉的口吻回答，戈姆知道其中另有隐情，便识趣地不再追问。
Ponyets was up and staring darkly out the visiplate. He mumbled strongexpressions at that part of the misty lens-form that was the body of theGalaxy, then said loudly, "Damnedest mess! I'm way behind quota."
彭耶慈站起来，以忧郁的眼光盯着显像板。对着形成银河主体的朦胧透镜状部分，他低声而坚定地说了几句话，随即又提高嗓门说：“真他妈的一团糟！我的销售业绩已经落后了。”
Light broke on Gorm's intellect, "Hey, friend, Askone is a closed area."
戈姆像是忽然想到什么。“嘿，老友，阿斯康是个贸易闭锁区域。”
"That's right. You can't sell as much as a penknife on Askone. They won'tbuy nuclear gadgets of any sort. With my quota dead on its feet, it's murder to go there."
“是啊，在阿斯康，你连一支削铅笔刀都卖不出去，他们不会购买任何核能装置。我还有那么多存货，派我去那里简直就是谋杀。”
Can't get out of it?
“无法推卸吗？”
Ponyets shook his head absently, A know the fellow involved. Can't walk outon a friend. What of it? I am in the hands of the Galactic Spirit and walkcheerfully in the way he points out."
彭耶慈心不在焉地摇了摇头。“我认识那个被捕的家伙，对朋友总不能见死不救。不然怎么办？我活在银河圣灵的怀抱中，它指示我去任何地方，我都得欣然接受。”
Gorm said blankly, "Huh?"
戈姆茫然地说：“啊？”
Ponyets looked at him, and laughed shortly, "I forgot. You never read the'Bood of the Spirit,' did you?"
彭耶慈望着他，干笑了一声。“我忘了。你从来没有读过《圣灵全书》吧？”
"Never heard of it," said Gorm, curtly.
“我连听都没听过。”戈姆简单地回答。
"Well, you would if you'd had a religious training."
“如果你受过宗教训练，就一定会了解。”
"Religious training? For the priesthood?" Gorm was profoundly shocked.
“宗教训练？你是说教士培训吗？”戈姆大为吃惊。
"Afraid so. It's my dark shame and secret. I was too much for the ReverendFathers, though, They expelled me, for reasons sufficient to promote me toa secular education under the Foundation. Well, look, I'd better push off. How's your quota this year?"
“恐怕就是如此，这是我绝不愿公开的秘密和耻辱。当初师父们认为我太难管教，就将我逐出教门，我这才有机会接受基地的普通教育。喔，我得赶紧出发了，你今年的销售业绩如何？”
Gorm crushed out his cigarette and adjusted his cap, "I've got my lastcargo going now. I'll make it."
戈姆捻熄香烟，再把帽子戴正。“现在只剩最后一批货，我一定能卖完。”
"Lucky fellow," gloomed Ponyets, and for many minutes after Les Gorm left,he sat in motionless reverie.
“幸运的家伙。”彭耶慈以沮丧的语气说。而在列斯·戈姆离去后，彭耶慈继续陷入沉思，一动不动达数分钟之久。
So Eskel Gorov was on Askone--and in prison as well!
原来艾斯克·哥罗夫在阿斯康——而且关在牢里！
That was bad! In fact, considerably worse than it might appear. It was onething to tell a curious youngster a diluted version of the business tothrow him off and send him about his own. It was a thing of a differentsort to face the truth.
那可真糟糕！事实上，比表面的情况还糟得多。刚才，为了打发戈姆这个好奇心强烈的年轻人，彭耶慈只告诉他一点含糊的梗概，并且故意说得很轻松。可是即将面对的真实情况，却完全不是那么回事。
For Limmar Ponyets was one of the few people who happened to know that Master Trader Eskel Gorov was not a trader at all; but that entirelydifferent thing, an agent of the Foundation!
因为行商长艾斯克·哥罗夫其实根本不是行商，他真正的身份是基地的间谍。这件事只有少数几人知晓内情，而利玛·彭耶慈刚好是其中之一。
Two weeks gone! Two weeks wasted.
两个星期过去了，也白白浪费了！
One week to reach Askone, at the extreme borders of which the vigilantwarships speared out to meet him in converging numbers. Whatever theirdetection system was, it worked--and well.
航行到阿斯康就花了一个星期。当他抵达阿斯康最外围的边界时，警戒战舰就出现了，并且一起涌过来拦截他的太空船。不论他们用的是什么侦察系统，反正十分有效。
They sidled him in slowly, without a signal, maintaining their colddistance, and pointing him harshly towards the central sun of Askone.
那些战舰缓缓挨近彭耶慈的太空船，却不发任何讯号，只是保持着安全距离，并且强迫他转向，朝阿斯康的中心太阳飞去。
Ponyets could have handled them at a pinch. Those ships were holdovers fromthe dead-and-gone Galactic Empire-- but they were sports cruisers, notwarships; and without nuclear weapons, they were so many picturesque andimpotent ellipsoids. But Eskel Gorov was a prisoner in their hands, andGorov was not a hostage to lose. The Askonians must know that.
其实彭耶慈轻易就能解决那些小战舰，因为它们都是当年银河帝国的陈旧遗物——而且根本不是战舰，只是高速太空游艇，并没有配备核武器，外形则是十分华丽却不堪一击的椭圆体。然而艾斯克·哥罗夫落在他们手中，他是绝对不能牺牲的重要人物。这一点，阿斯康人一定很明白。
And then another week--a week to wind a weary way through the clouds ofminor officials that formed the buffer between the Grand Master and theouter world. Each little sub-secretary required soothing and conciliation. Each required careful and nauseating milking for the flourishing signaturethat was the pathway to the next official one higher up.
然后又过了一个星期——在这一周内，彭耶慈花了很大的力气，拜会了许许多多的官员。这些多如牛毛的大小官吏，是阿斯康大公与外界的屏障。彭耶慈必须逐个巴结、奉承、疏通，让每一位都得到些令人想到就作呕的甜头，然后他们才肯施舍龙飞凤舞的签名，让他能接洽到更高一级的官员。
For the first time, Ponyets found his trader's identification papersuseless.
彭耶慈第一次发觉，他的行商证明文件毫无用处。
I Now, at last, the Grand Master was on the other side of the Guard-flankedgilded door--and two weeks had gone.
如今，终于来到最后一关，只要再跨过警卫森严的镀金滑门，他就可以见到那位大公了——而这已经是两个星期以后的事。
Gorov was still a prisoner and Ponyets' cargo rotted useless in the holdsof his ship.
此时，哥罗夫仍旧是阶下囚，而彭耶慈的货物还堆在船舱里，就快开始生锈了。
The Grand Master was a small man; a small man with a balding head and verywrinkled face, whose body seemed weighed down to motionlessness by thehuge, glossy fur collar about his neck.
大公个子矮小，头发稀疏，脸上布满皱纹。由于颈际围着巨大光润的毛皮领，身子好像被压得不能动弹。
His fingers moved on either side, and the line of armed men backed away tofor a passage, along which Ponyets strode to the foot of the Chair ofState.
大公向两侧做个手势，成队的武装卫士立刻退开几步，让出一条路来。彭耶慈就顺着那条通道，大步朝这位统治者走去。
"Don't speak," snapped the Grand Master, and Ponyets' opening lips closedtightly.
“别说话。”大公先声夺人，彭耶慈只好把刚张开的嘴闭起来。
"That's right," the Askonian ruler relaxed visibly, "I can't endure uselesschatter. You cannot threaten and I won't abide flattery. Nor is there roomfor injured complaints. I have lost count of the times you wanderers havebeen warned that your devil's machines are not wanted anywhere in Askone."
“这就对了。”这位阿斯康的统治者显得轻松了许多，“我受不了无用的废话，威胁和奉承对我也都没用，这里也不准备让任何受委屈的人喊冤。我不知道警告过你们这些浪人多少次，阿斯康任何一个角落都不需要你们那些邪门的机器。”
"Sir," said Ponyets, quietly, "there is no attempt to justify the trader inquestion. It is not the policy of traders to intrude where they are notwanted. But the Galaxy is great, and it has happened before that a boundaryhas been trespassed unwittingly. It was a deplorable mistake."
“大公，”彭耶慈轻声地说，“我并不打算替那位行商辩解。对于不欢迎行商的地方，我们绝对不会硬闯。只是银河实在太大了，稍有疏忽就会误入边境，这种事以前也发生过。这次的事件，只是一场令人遗憾的误会。”
"Deplorable, certainly," squeaked the Grand Master. "But mistake? Yourpeople on Glyptal IV have been bombarding me with pleas for negotiationsince two hours after the sacrilegious wretch was seized. I have beenwarned by them of your own coming many times over. It seems awell-organized rescue campaign. Much seems to have been anticipated--alittle too much for mistakes, deplorable or otherwise."
“令人遗憾？的确如此。”大公尖声道，“至于是不是误会呢？在那个亵渎圣灵的恶棍被捕两小时后，你们在葛里普特四号上的人就不断请求，希望能和我交涉。他们多次提醒我，说会有人亲自前来。这似乎是个相当有计划的救援行动，很像是你们早就有预谋——这实在不像单纯的误会，姑且不论是否令人遗憾。”
The Askonian's black eyes were scornful. He raced on, "And are you traders,flitting from world to world like mad little butterflies, so mad in yourown right that you can land on Askone's largest world, in the center of itssystem, and consider it an unwitting boundary mixup? Come, surely not."
阿斯康大公露出轻蔑的眼神，又急速说下去：“你们这些行商，总是像疯狂的小蝴蝶那样，从一个世界飞到另一个世界。甚至疯狂到以为能任意降落在这个星系的中心、阿斯康的最大世界，还狡辩说是不小心误入边境。得了吧，当然不是那么回事。”
Ponyets winced without showing it. He said, doggedly, "If the attempt totrade was deliberate, your Veneration, it was most injudicious and contraryto the strictest regulations of our Guild."
彭耶慈心头一凛，但是并没表现出来。他仍旧顽固地说：“如果他故意试图在此进行贸易，大公，那他就太不聪明了，而且也违反了我们公会的严格规定。”
"Injudicious, yes," said the Askonian, curtly. "So much so, that yourcomrade is likely to lose life in payment."
“不聪明，没错。”阿斯康大公随口说道，“所以，你的同伴极可能付出生命作为代价。”
Ponyets' stomach knotted. There was no irresolution there. He said, "Death,your Veneration, is so absolute and irrevocable a phenomenon that certainlythere must be some alternative."
彭耶慈感到胃部抽搐了一下，看来对方绝非优柔寡断之辈。他只好说：“大公，死亡是绝对无法挽回的憾事，一定有别的替代方案吧？”
There was a pause before the guarded answer came, "I have heard that theFoundation is rich."
停顿一会儿之后，大公才慎重地答道：“听说基地很富裕。”
"Rich? Certainly. But our riches are that which you refuse to take. Ournuclear goods are worth?
“富裕？的确如此。但我们的财富都是你们不要的，我们的核能货品价值……”
"Your goods are worthless in that they lack the ancestral blessing. Yourgoods are wicked and accursed in that they lie under the ancestralinterdict." The sentences were intoned; the recitation of a formula.
“你们的货品没有祖先的祝福，根本一文不值。那些货品都是我们祖先所禁止的，所以不但邪恶，而且受到诅咒。”这句话充满抑扬顿挫，分明是打过腹稿的。
The Grand Master's eyelids dropped, and he said with meaning, "You havenothing else of value?"
大公垂下眼睑，又意味深长地问：“你们就没有别的值钱东西？”
The meaning was lost on the trader, "I don't understand. What is it you want?"
这位行商却会不过意来。“我不明白，您到底想要什么？”
The Askonian's hands spread apart, "You ask me to trade places with you,and make known to you my wants. I think not. Your colleague, it seems, mustsuffer the punishment set for sacrilege by the Askonian code. Death by gas. We are a just people. The poorest peasant, in like case, would suffer nomore. I, myself, would suffer no less."
阿斯康大公摊开双手说：“你是在要求我和你主客易位，自己告诉你我想要什么，我可不打算这么做。你的伙伴，照阿斯康的法规，似乎要以冒渎神圣罪来惩治，也就是以毒气处死。我们绝对公正，任何人犯了这条罪，处罚都是一样的。不会由于他是穷困的农夫而加重，也不会因为我是大公而减轻。”
Ponyets mumbled hopelessly, "Your Veneration, would it be permitted that I speak to the prisoner?"
彭耶慈无奈地轻声问：“大公，您能允许我和犯人见一面吗？”
"Askonian law," said the Grand Master coldly, "allows no communication witha condemned man."
大公冷冷地回答道：“根据阿斯康的律法，死刑犯不准和他人有所接触。”
Mentally, Ponyets held his breath, "Your Veneration, I ask you to bemerciful towards a man's soul, in the hour when his body stands forfeit. Hehas been separated from spiritual consolation in all the time that his lifehas been in danger. Even now, he faces the prospect of going unprepared tothe bosom of the Spirit that rules all."
彭耶慈心中紧张到了极点。“大公，我请求您，当他的肉体面临死亡之际，对他的灵魂施舍一点慈悲吧。在他的生命受到威胁这段期间，从来没有得到精神上的慰藉。如今，他甚至要在毫无心理准备的情况下，就要回到主宰一切的圣灵怀中。”
The Grand Master said slowly and suspiciously, "You are a Tender of the Soul?"
大公以怀疑的语气缓缓问道：“你是个‘灵魂守护者’吗？”
Ponyets dropped a humble head, "I have been so trained. In the emptyexpanses of space, the wandering traders need men like myself to care forthe spiritual side of a life so given over to commerce and worldly pursuits."
彭耶慈谦卑地低下头去。“我的确受过这样的训练。在浩淼虚空的太空中流浪的行商们，他们将一生投注于商业和世俗的追求，所以需要有我们这种人，来照顾他们的性灵生活。”
The Askonian ruler sucked thoughtfully at his lower lip. "Every man shouldprepare his soul for his journey to his ancestral spirits. Yet I had neverthought you traders to be believers."
阿斯康的统治者咬着下唇沉思了一会儿。“在灵魂归于祖灵怀抱之前，人人都应该做好准备。只是我怎么也想不到，你们这些行商居然也这么虔诚。”
Eskel Gorov stirred on his couch and opened one eye as Limmar Ponyetsentered the heavily reinforced door. It boomed shut behind him. Gorovsputtered and came to his feet.
当利玛·彭耶慈从厚重的牢门进来时，躺在床上的艾斯克·哥罗夫立刻惊醒，并睁开一只眼睛。接着牢门重新关上，发出一声轰然巨响，此时哥罗夫已经站了起来。
"Ponyets! They sent you?"
“彭耶慈！是他们派你来的？”
"Pure chance," said Ponyets, bitterly, "or the work of my own personalmalevolent demon. Item one, you get into a mess on Askone. Item two, mysales route, as known to the Board of Trade, carries me within fiftyparsecs of the system at just the time of item one. Item three, we'veworked together before and the Board knows it. Isn't that a sweet,inevitable set-up? The answer just pops out of a slot."
“纯粹是偶然，”彭耶慈以苦涩的口吻说，“或者是我自己身上的恶魔在作祟。第一，你在阿斯康惹了麻烦；第二，贸易局知道我的经商路线，而你出事的时候，我正在离此地五十秒差距的星系；第三，贸易局也知道我们以前曾经共事。光是这一点，我就无法推卸责任，对不对？由这几点看来，答案就呼之欲出了。”
"Be careful," said Gorov, tautly. "There'll be someone listening. Are youwearing a Field Distorter?"
“小心点，”哥罗夫紧张地说，“隔墙有耳。你有没有带电磁场扭曲器？”
Ponyets indicated the ornamented bracelet that hugged his wrist and Gorovrelaxed.
彭耶慈指了指戴在腕上的手镯，哥罗夫这才放心。
Ponyets looked about him. The cell was bare, but large. It was well-lit andit lacked offensive odors. He said, "Not bad. They're treating you with kidgloves."
然后彭耶慈环顾四周。这个单人牢房虽然没有什么家具，但是非常宽敞，而且照明设备充足，也没有令人不快的气味。所以他说：“不错嘛，他们对你相当友善。”
Gorov brushed the remark aside, "Listen, how did you get down here? I'vebeen in strict solitary for almost two weeks."
哥罗夫不理会，只是问道：“听着，你是怎么进来的？我被关禁闭快有两个星期了。”
"Ever since I came, huh? Well, it seems the old bird who's boss here has his weak points. He leans toward pious speeches, so I took a chance thatworked. I'm here in the capacity of your spiritual adviser. There'ssomething about a pious man such as he. He will cheerfully cut your throatif it suits him, but he will hesitate to endanger the welfare of yourimmaterial and problematical soul. It's just a piece of empiricalpsychology. A trader has to know a little of everything."
“那就是自从我来到这里以后，嗯？这没什么，我只是摸到了大公那个老家伙的弱点，他听得进去虔诚的言语。我试着从这方面下手，结果就成功了。所以，我现在的身份是你的灵魂守护者。像他这种所谓虔诚的人都有一个共同点：为了自己的利益，他会毫不犹豫地割断你的喉咙，但是，他却不敢危害你那不切实际、虚无飘渺的灵魂。这不过是经验心理学的常识罢了。身为一名行商，无论什么学问都得懂一点。”
Gorov's smile was sardonic, "And you've been to theological school as well. You're all right, Ponyets. I'm glad they sent you. But the Grand Masterdoesn't love my soul exclusively. Has he mentioned a ransom?"
哥罗夫露出挖苦的微笑。“此外，你还在灵学院待过。你实在不错，彭耶慈，我很高兴他们派你来。可是那个大公绝对不会单单关心我的灵魂，他提到赎金问题没有？”
The trader's eyes narrowed, "He hinted-- barely. And he also threateneddeath by gas. I played safe, and dodged; it might easily have been a trap. So it's extortion, is it? What is it he wants?"
彭耶慈眯起了双眼。“他暗示过——不过很技巧，他还威胁说要用毒气处死你。我小心翼翼避开这个问题，因为很可能是个陷阱。所以你认为这是勒索吗？他到底要什么？”
"Gold."
“黄金。”
"Gold!" Ponyets frowned. "The metal itself? What for?"
“黄金！”彭耶慈皱起眉头，“他要这种金属？为什么？”
"It's their medium of exchange."
“那是他们的交易媒介。”
"Is it? And where do I get gold from?"
“是吗？我要到哪里去找黄金呢？”
"Wherever you can. Listen to me; this is important. Nothing will happen tome as long as the Grand Master has the scent of gold in his nose. Promiseit to him; as much as he asks for. Then go back to the Foundation, ifnecessary, to get it. When I'm free, we'll be escorted out of the system,and then we part company."
“到你能去的任何地方。注意听我说，这点最要紧，只要让大公闻到黄金的味道，我就一定能毫发无伤。不管他要多少，都请你答应他。必要的话，请你回基地去拿。在我获释之后，他们会护送我们离开这个星系，然后我们就分手。”
Ponyets stared disapprovingly, "And then you'll come back and try again."
彭耶慈不以为然地盯着对方。“然后你要回来再试一次？”
"It's my assignment to sell nucleics to Askone."
“我的任务就是要把核能用品推销给阿斯康人。”
"They'll get you before you've gone a parsec in space. You know that, Isuppose."
“你折返不到一个秒差距，就会再度被捕，我想你应该心里有数。”
"I don't," said Gorov. "And if I did, it wouldn't affect things."
“我没有数。”哥罗夫说，“即使我真的心里有数，也不会有任何不同。”
"They'll kill you the second time."
“第二次你就死定了。”
Gorov shrugged.
哥罗夫只是耸耸肩。
Ponyets said quietly, "If I'm going to negotiate with the Grand Masteragain, I want to know the whole story. So far, I've been working it tooblind. As it was, the few mild remarks I did make almost threw hisVeneration into fits."
彭耶慈又轻声说：“如果我得跟那个大公再度谈判，我要了解整件事的来龙去脉。目前为止，我好像瞎子摸象一样。只说了几句温和委婉的话，就令大公大为光火。”
"It's simple enough," said Gorov. "The only way we can increase thesecurity of the Foundation here in the Periphery is to form areligion-controlled commercial empire. We're still too weak to be able toforce political control. It's all we can do to hold the Four Kingdoms."
“事情很简单，”哥罗夫说，“为了增进基地在银河外缘的安全，唯一的办法就是建立由宗教控制的商业帝国。我们仍然无力强制实施政治控制。也只有仰赖这个办法，我们才能控制四王国。”
Ponyets was nodding. "This I realize. And any system that doesn't acceptnuclear gadgets can never be placed under our religious control……"
彭耶慈点点头。“这点我了解。同时我也知道，不肯接受核能装置的星系，就绝不会在我们的宗教控制之下……”
"And can therefore become a focal point for independence and hostility. Yes."
“对，因此会成为引发独立和敌对的焦点。”
"All right, then," said Ponyets, "so much for theory. Now what exactly prevents the sale. Religion? The Grand Master implied as much."
“好吧，那我知道了。”彭耶慈说，“理论上的讨论到此为止。现在请告诉我，究竟是什么在阻挡我们的买卖？是宗教吗？大公也曾经稍加暗示。”
"It's a form of ancestor worship. Their traditions tell of an evil pastfrom which they were saved by the simple and virtuous heroes of the pastgenerations. It amounts to a distortion of the anarchic period a centuryago, when the imperial troops were driven out and an independent governmentwas set up. Advanced science and nuclear power in particular becameidentified with the old imperial regime they remember with horror."
“那是一种祖先崇拜。根据他们的传说，在过去有个邪恶的世代，是一群良善而德行崇高的英雄祖先救了他们。这种传说是对上个世纪无政府状态的曲解，而帝国的军队就是那时被赶走的，独立的政府也是那时所建立的。因此他们总是将先进的科学，尤其是核能，和记忆中恐怖的帝政混为一谈。”
"That so? But they have nice little ships which spotted me very handily twoparsecs away. That smells of nucleics to me."
“是这样的吗？可是他们有精良的小型太空船，我在两秒差距之外，就被他们轻而易举盯上了。我觉得那些太空船好像有核动力。”
Gorov shrugged. "Those ships are holdovers of the Empire, no doubt. Probably with nuclear drive. What they have, they keep. The point is thatthey will not innovate and their internal economy is entirely non-nuclear. That is what we must change."
哥罗夫耸耸肩。“那些太空船无疑是帝国时代的遗物，的确可能具有核能发动机。原有的东西，他们都乐于接收。问题是他们不想革新，因而内部的经济体系是完全非核的。那正是我们需要改变的状况。”
"How were you going to do it?"
“你打算怎么办？”
"By breaking the resistance at one point. To put it simply, if I could sella penknife with a force-field blade to a nobleman, it would be to hisinterest to force laws that would allow him to use it. Put that baldly, itsounds silly, but it is sound, psychologically. To make strategic sales, atstrategic points, would be to create a pro-nucleics faction at court."
“在关键点上一举突破。简单举个例子，假如我能把配备力场刀锋的削铅笔刀卖给一位贵族，他就会试图修改法律，让他自己能够合法使用。说得露骨一点，也许听来很蠢，但在心理学上是合理的：只要在战略性的地点，实施战略性的销售，就能在宫廷里建立起拥核的派系。”
"And they send you for that purpose, while I'm only here to ransom you andleave, while you keep on trying? Isn't that sort of tail-backward?"
“他们派你来，原来是为了这个目的。我是专程来这里赎你的，等我离开后，难道你还要继续一试再试？这样不是本末倒置吗？”
"In what way?" said Gorov, guardedly.
“怎么说呢？”哥罗夫谨慎地问。
"Listen," Ponyets was suddenly exasperated, "you're a diplomat, not atrader, and calling you a trader won't make you one. This case is for onewho's made a business of selling--and I'm here with a full cargo stinkinginto uselessness, and a quota that won't ever be met, it looks like."
“我告诉你，”彭耶慈突然生起气来，“你是一名外交官，并不是行商，你假扮行商也一点都不像。这件任务该由货真价实的行商来进行——我的船上还满载着快要生锈的货物，而且看起来，我的销售业绩将无法达成。”
"You mean you're going to risk your life on something that isn't yourbusiness?" Gorov smiled thinly.
“你的意思是说，你愿意为一件与你无关的事冒生命危险？”哥罗夫笑了笑。
Ponyets said, "You mean that this is a matter of patriotism and tradersaren't patriotic?"
彭耶慈答道：“而你的意思是说，行商都没有爱国心，不会有这种爱国行为？”
"Notoriously not. Pioneers never are."
“行商是出了名的不爱国，所有的拓荒者都一样。”
"All right. I'll grant that. I don't scoot about space to save theFoundation or anything like that. But I'm out to make money, and this is mychance. If it helps the Foundation at the same time, all the better. And I've risked my life on slimmer chances."
“好吧，我承认这一点。我并不是为了拯救基地或类似目的，才在太空中忙碌奔波。我跑码头只是为了赚钱，而这个机会十分难得。如果同时又能帮基地一个忙，那岂不是一举两得？即使是一点点的机会，我都曾经用生命下过注。”
Ponyets rose, and Gorov rose with him, "What are you going to do?"
彭耶慈站了起来。哥罗夫也跟着站起来，问道：“你打算怎么办？”
The trader smiled, "Gorov, I don't know--not yet. But if the crux of thematter is to make a sale, then I'm your man. I'm not a boaster as a generalthing, but there's one thing I'll always back up. I've never ended up below quota yet."
彭耶慈微微一笑。“哥罗夫，其实我也不知道——现在还不知道。不过既然问题的关键是做生意，那么我就是最佳人选。我一向不喜欢自夸，但有件事我可以大言不惭，那就是我每次都能把存货卖完。”
The door to the cell opened almost instantly when he knocked, and two guards fell in on either side.
他敲敲门，厚重的牢门立时打开，两名警卫随即走到他身边。
"A show!" said the Grand Master, grimly. He settled himself well into hisfurs, and one thin hand grasped the iron cudgel he used as a cane.
“一场表演！”大公绷着脸说。他整个身子藏在毛裘中，枯瘦的手抓着一根充作拐杖的铁棒。
"And gold, your Veneration."
“并呈献黄金，大公。”
"And gold," agreed the Grand Master, carelessly.
“并呈献黄金。”大公漫不经心地附和。
Ponyets set the box down and opened it with as fine an appearance ofconfidence as he could manage. He felt alone in the face of universalhostility; the way he had felt out in space his first year. The semicircleof bearded councilors who faced him down, stared unpleasantly. Among themwas Pherl, the thin-faced favorite who sat next to the Grand Master instiff hostility. Ponyets had met him once already and marked himimmediately as prime enemy, and, as a consequence, prime victim.
彭耶慈将带来的箱子放下并打开，尽可能表现得信心十足。由于周围充满敌意，令他感到孤独无助，就像他第一年闯荡太空的那种感觉。蓄着胡子的顾问官们围坐成半圆形，都以不友善的眼光瞪着他。其中最显眼的一位，是坐在大公身旁、深受宠信的法尔，他的脸庞瘦削，脸上露出强烈的敌意。彭耶慈曾经见过他一次，当时就把他列为首要敌人，也因此是头号猎物。
Outside the hall, a small army awaited events. Ponyets was effectivelyisolated from his ship; he lacked any weapon, but his attempted bribe; andGorov was still a hostage.
大厅外面，则有一小队军队正在待命。如今，彭耶慈与自己的太空船完全隔离，除了计划好的行贿之外，他什么武器也没有，而哥罗夫仍然是他们的人质。
He made the final adjustments on the clumsy monstrosity that had cost him aweek of ingenuity, and prayed once again that the lead-lined quartz wouldstand the strain.
他带来的这个既简陋又怪异的装置，是他花了一周心血做成的。现在他正在作最后的调整，然后他再度祷告，祈望里面的铅衬石英耐得住形变。
"What is it?" asked the Grand Master.
“这是什么？”大公问。
"This," said Ponyets, stepping back, "is a small device I have constructedmyself."
彭耶慈一面后退一面说：“这是我自己制造的一个小装置。”
"That is obvious, but it is not the information I want. Is it one of theblack-magic abominations of your world?"
“这点显而易见，但我想知道的不是这个。我是问你，这是不是你们那个世界的妖术道具之一？”
"It is nuclear in nature, admitted Ponyets, gravely, "but none of you needtouch it, or have anything to do with it. It is for myself alone, and if itcontains abominations, I take the foulness of it upon myself."
“它的确使用核能，”彭耶慈以严肃的口吻承认，“不过你们任何人都不必接触它，也不必跟它产生任何瓜葛。全程都由我操作，若有什么不祥，就让我一个人自作自受。”
The Grand Master had raised his iron cane at the machine in a threateninggesture and his lips moved rapidly and silently in a purifying invocation. The thin-faced councilor at his right leaned towards him and his straggledred mustache approached the Grand Master's ear. The ancient Askonianpetulantly shrugged himself free.
大公如临大敌般挥舞着手上的铁棒，嘴里还念念有词，好像在念诵着祛除不祥的咒语。右边那位瘦削的顾问官法尔探身靠向大公，他的红髭险些刺到大公的耳朵。大公露出厌恶的表情，耸耸肩将他甩开。
"And what is the connection of your instrument of evil and the gold thatmay save your countryman's life?"
“这个邪恶的东西，和能解救你们那位同胞的黄金有什么关系？”
"With this machine," began Ponyets, as his hand dropped softly onto thecentral chamber and caressed its hard, round flanks, "I can turn the ironyou discard into gold of the finest quality. It is the only device known toman that will take iron--the ugly iron, your Veneration, that props up thechair you sit in and the walls of this building--and change it to shining,heavy, yellow gold."
“利用这台机器，”彭耶慈开始解释，同时将手轻轻放在箱子上，抚摸着圆形的侧壁，“我能将您扔进来的铁块，变为成色最好的黄金。人世间只有这种装置，能够让铁——卑贱的铁，大公，就像支撑大公椅子的椅脚，或支撑这座建筑的铁柱——放进去之后，变成闪闪发光、沉甸甸、黄澄澄的纯金。”
Ponyets felt himself botching it. His usual sales talk was smooth, facileand plausible; but this limped like a shot-up space wagon. But it was thecontent, not the form, that interested the Grand Master.
彭耶慈觉得自己简直词不达意。平常推销商品，他一向口齿伶俐、能言善道，此刻却笨嘴笨舌，好像中弹的太空货船一样摇摇欲坠。幸亏大公关心的不是他说话的方式，而只是他所说的内容。
"So? Transmutation? Men have been fools who have claimed the ability. Theyhave paid for their prying sacrilege."
“哦？那么这是点金术吗？从前有些愚人自称有这种能力，但是因为冒渎神圣，结果自取其咎。”
"Had they succeeded?"
“他们有没有成功？”
"No." The Grand Master seemed coldly amused. "Success at producing goldwould have been a crime that carried its own antidote. It is the attemptplus the failure that is fatal. Here, what can you do with my staff?" Hepounded the floor with it.
“没有。”大公显得很幸灾乐祸，“人力制造黄金是一种罪过，本身就带着失败的种籽。这种尝试加上不可避免的失败，就会召来杀身之祸。好，就用我这根试试吧。”他用那根铁棒敲敲地面。
"Your Veneration will excuse me. My device is a small model, prepared bymyself, and your staff is too long."
“大公请原谅，我做的这个装置是小型的，您的铁棒实在太长了。”
The Grand Master's small shining eye wandered and stopped, "Randel, yourbuckles. Come, man, they shall be replaced double if need be."
大公闪烁的小眼睛巡视了一下便停下来。“蓝达，把你的皮带扣给我。快点，如果弄坏了，我会加倍补偿你。”
The buckles passed down the line, hand to hand. The Grand Master weighedthem thoughtfully.
皮带扣从众人手中传了过来，交给了大公，大公细心地掂了掂它的重量。
"Here," he said, and threw them to the floor.
“拿去。”说完他就把皮带扣扔到地板上。
Ponyets picked them up. He tugged hard before the cylinder opened, and hiseyes blinked and squinted with effort as he centered the buckles carefullyon the anode screen. Later, it would be easier but there must be nofailures the first time.
彭耶慈捡起皮带扣，用力拉开圆筒，眯起眼睛，仔细将皮带扣放在阳极屏的正中央。以后操作起来一定会更容易，但是第一次绝对不能失败。
The homemade transmuter crackled malevolently for ten minutes while theodor of ozone became faintly present. The Askonians backed away, muttering,and again Pherl whispered urgently into his ruler's ear. The Grand Master'sexpression was stony. He did not budge.
那台机器随即发出“噼里啪啦”的刺耳声响，足足持续了十分钟之久，并且飘出少许难闻的臭味。群臣赶紧向后退去，大家都在喃喃抱怨，法尔则又在大公耳旁拼命嘀咕。大公却一直面无表情，而且一动不动。
And the buckles were gold.
不久，皮带扣的质地由铁变成了黄金。
Ponyets held them out to the Grand Master with a murmured, "YourVeneration!" but the old man hesitated, then gestured them away. His starelingered upon the transmuter.
彭耶慈把金质皮带扣捧到大公面前，低声说：“大公请看！”但是大公犹豫了一下，然后做手势要他拿开，目光则一直停留在那个转化装置上。
Ponyets said rapidly, "Gentlemen, this is pure gold. Gold through andthrough. You may subject it to every known physical and chemical test, ifyou wish to prove the point. It cannot be identified fromnaturally-occurring gold in any way. Any iron can be so treated. Rust willnot interfere, not will a moderate amount of alloying metals?
彭耶慈迅速说道：“各位，这是纯金，百分之百的黄金。如果各位想要证明，可以用任何一种物理或化学方法来检验。从每个角度来看，它都和天然黄金无法区分。所有的铁都能如法炮制，即使生锈也没有关系，掺杂了少量其他金属也无妨……”
But Ponyets spoke only to fill a vacuum. He let the buckles remain in hisoutstretched hand, and it was the gold that argued for him.
彭耶慈说这一串话，只是为了打破沉默。他一直摊开手掌展示着皮带扣，只有这个金皮带扣能证明一切。
The Grand Master stretched out a slow hand at last, and the thin-faced Pherl was roused to open speech. "Your Veneration, the gold is from apoisoned source."
当大公终于缓缓伸出手时，瘦脸的法尔气急败坏地进言：“大公，这金块的来源不干净。”
And Ponyets countered, "A rose can grow from the mud, your Veneration. Inyour dealings with your neighbors, you buy material of all imaginablevariety, without inquiring as to where they get it, whether from anorthodox machine blessed by your benign ancestors or from somespace-spawned outrage. Come, I don't offer the machine. I offer the gold."
彭耶慈立刻反驳道：“大公，烂泥巴里也能长出美丽的玫瑰。您从邻邦买来各式各样的物品，也从来不会过问它们的来源——到底是由列祖列宗祝福过的传统机器生产的，还是什么邪异古怪的仪器制造的。别怕，我并非要将机器送给您，只是献上这块黄金。”
"Your Veneration," said Pherl, "you are not responsible for the sins offoreigners who work neither with your consent nor knowledge. But to acceptthis strange pseudo-gold made sinfully from iron in your presence and withyour consent is an affront to the living spirits of our holy ancestors."
“大公，”法尔说，“对于没有得到您的允许、背着您制造罪恶的异邦人，您不必为他们的罪行负责。可是，这个邪异的冒牌金块是经过您的同意、当着您的面用铁做出来的，假如大公接受了，就是对祖先圣灵的大不敬。”
"Yet gold is gold," said the Grand Master, doubtfully, "and is but anexchange for the heathen person of a convicted felon. Pherl, you are toocritical." But he withdrew his hand.
“但黄金就是黄金，”大公以犹疑的口吻说，“同时，这是用来交换一个犯了重罪的异教徒。法尔，你太吹毛求疵了。”然而大公还是把手缩了回来。
Ponyets said, "You are wisdom, itself, your Veneration. Consider--to giveup a heathen is to lose nothing for your ancestors, whereas with the goldyou get in exchange you can ornament the shrines of their holy spirits. Andsurely, were gold evil in itself, if such, a thing could be, the evil woulddepart of necessity once the metal were put to such pious use."
彭耶慈说：“大公是聪明人，请您好好考虑——放走一个异教徒，对祖先不会造成任何损失，另一方面，换来的黄金可以好好装饰祭祀圣灵的宗祠。而且，即使黄金本身真是邪恶的，但是用在这么虔敬的用途上，它的邪恶也就自然而然消失了。”
"Now by the bones of my grandfather," said the Grand Master with surprisingvehemence. His lips separated in a shrill laugh, "Pherl, what do you say ofthis young man? The statement is valid. It is as valid as the words of myancestors."
“奉我祖父遗骨之名，”大公显然相当热衷，发出了尖锐的哈哈笑声，“法尔，你觉得这个年轻人怎么样？他的话很有道理，和我的祖先所说的一样有道理。”
Pherl said gloomily, "So it would seem. Grant that the validity does notturn out to be a device of the Malignant Spirit."
法尔以沮丧的声音答道：“似乎是这样，只要这个道理不为‘邪灵’利用就好。”
"I'll make it even better," said Ponyets, suddenly. "Hold the gold inhostage. Place it on the altars of your ancestors as an offering and holdme for thirty days. If at the end of that time, there is no evidence ofdispleasure-- if no disasters occur--surely, it would be proof that theoffering was accepted. What more can be offered?"
“我有办法让你们更安心。”彭耶慈突然说，“请把这块黄金拿去，当作祭品供在你们祖先的圣坛上，同时把我扣留三十天。如果三十天之后，没有任何不祥——没有任何灾厄发生，当然，那就表示祭品被接纳了，还有什么比这更好的办法呢？”
And when the Grand Master rose to his feet to search out disapproval, not aman in the council failed to signal his agreement. Even Pherl chewed theragged end of his mustache and nodded curtly.
大公站起来，想看看有没有不赞成的人，结果群臣当然一致同意。就连法尔也咬着凌乱的髭角，勉强点了点头。
Ponyets smiled and meditated on the uses of a religious education.
彭耶慈微微一笑，心中感谢着宗教教育的妙用。
Another week rubbed away before the meeting with Pherl was arranged. Ponyets felt the tension, but he was used to the feeling of physicalhelplessness now. He had left city limits under guard. He was in Pherl'ssuburban villa under guard. There was nothing to do but accept it withouteven looking over his shoulder.
又等了一个星期，彭耶慈才获得法尔的接见。他虽然觉得紧张，但已经习惯了这种孤独无助的感觉。而从离开城市开始，直到进入法尔的郊区别墅，一路上都有警卫监视。他根本无法抗议或拒绝，只有顺其自然接受如此的安排。
Pherl was taller and younger outside the circle of Elders. In nonformalcostume, he seemed no Elder at all.
当法尔不在“元老”群中的时候，反而显得更高大、更年轻。而且由于穿着便服，他今天根本不像一名元老。
He said abruptly, "You're a peculiar man." His close-set eyes seemed toquiver. "You've done nothing this last week, and particularly these lasttwo hours, but imply that I need gold. It seems useless labor, for who doesnot? Why not advance one step?"
法尔突然开口说：“你是一个怪人。”他那一对靠得很近的眼睛，这时似乎正在颤抖。“过去一个星期，特别是这两个小时，你什么都没做，只在暗示说我需要黄金。这简直是多此一举，谁不需要呢？你为何不进一步表明来意？”
"It is not simply gold," said Ponyets, discreetly. "Not simply gold. Notmerely a coin or two. It is rather all that lies behind gold."
“不只黄金而已。”彭耶慈慎重地说，“不单单只是黄金，也不是一两个金币，应该说是黄金背后的一切比较恰当。”
"Now what can lie behind gold?" prodded Pherl, with a down-curved smile. "Certainly this is not the preliminary of another clumsy demonstration."
“黄金背后还有什么呢？”法尔追问，还露出一个诡异的笑容，“显然，你并非准备再作一场笨拙的示范。”
"Clumsy?" Ponyets frowned slightly.
“笨拙？”彭耶慈微微皱起眉头。
"Oh, definitely." Pherl folded his hands and nudged them gently with hischin. "I don't criticize you. The clumsiness was on purpose, I am sure. Imight have warned his Veneration of that, had I been certain of the motive. Now had I been you, I would have produced the gold upon my ship, andoffered it alone. The show you offered us and the antagonism you arousedwould have been dispensed with."
“嗯，当然。”法尔用下巴轻触着交握的双手，“我不是在挑剔，我能肯定笨拙也是你故意的。那天我如果确定你的用意，可能就会向大公提出警告。假使换成我，我会在太空船上制造黄金，然后直接拿黄金来奉献。这样，就不会因为那场表演而引起敌意。”
"True," Ponyets admitted, "but since I was myself, I accepted theantagonism for the sake of attracting your attention."
“你说得对，”彭耶慈承认，“但我有我的做法。我是为了引起你的注意，才甘冒招惹敌意的危险。”
"Is that it? Simply that?" Pherl made no effort to hide his contemptuousamusement. "And I imagine you suggested the thirty-day purification periodthat you might assure yourself time to turn the attraction into something abit more substantial. But what if the gold turns out to be impure?"
“真的吗？就这么简单？”法尔毫不掩饰他的幸灾乐祸，“我认为你提议的三十天观察期，大概是为了争取时间，好将我的注意转化为更实在一点的东西。可是，假如有人发现黄金不纯，你要怎么办？”
Ponyets allowed himself a dark humor in return, "When the judgement of thatimpurity depends upon those who are most interested in finding it pure?"
彭耶慈忍不住耍了个黑色幽默：“最希望黄金纯正的人，会给出这个判断吗？”
Pherl lifted his eyes and stared narrowly at the trader. He seemed at oncesurprised and satisfied.
法尔抬起头，眯起眼睛看着这个行商，似乎显得又惊又喜。
"A sensible point. Now tell me why you wished to attract me."
“说得有道理。现在请告诉我，你为什么要引起我的注意。”
"This I will do. In the short time I have been here, I have observed usefulfacts that concern you and interest me. For instance, you are young-veryyoung for a member of the council, and even of a relatively young family."
“遵命。我到此地不久之后，就发现几件与你有关，而且对我有利的事。比如说你很年轻——尤其是身为顾问官的一员，你甚至出身于一个新兴的家族。”
"You criticize my family?"
“你在批评我的家族？”
"Not at all. Your ancestors are great and holy; all will admit that. Butthere are those that say you are not a member of one of the Five Tribes."
“绝对没有，你的祖先既伟大又神圣，任何人都不会否认。但是，却有人说你并不属于‘五大部族’。”
Pherl leaned back, "With all respect to those involved," and he did nothide his venom, "the Five Tribes have impoverished loins and thin blood. Not fifty members of the Tribes are alive."
法尔仰靠在椅背上。“关于这些问题，”他并未掩饰心中的恨意，“五大部族已经没落了，就像一个风烛残年、油尽灯枯的老人。如今五大部族的后裔，总共还不到五十人。”
"Yet there are those who say the nation would not be willing to see any manoutside the Tribes as Grand Master. And so young and newly-advanced afavorite of the Grand Master is bound to make powerful enemies among thegreat ones of the State--it is said. His Veneration is aging and hisprotection will not last past his death, when it is an enemy of yours whowill undoubtedly be the one to interpret the words of his Spirit."
“话虽如此，还是有人说不喜欢让五大部族以外的人担任大公。你那么年轻，又是最受大公宠信的新贵，一定会招来许多强有力的敌人——这也是我听来的。大公已经老了，他一旦去世，就不能再保护你。等到那天来临，必定是你的政敌之一来解释他的‘灵言’。”
Pherl scowled, "For a foreigner you hear much. Such ears are made forcropping."
法尔露出不悦的神色。“你这个异邦人听到的太多了，这种耳朵应该割掉。”
"That may be decided later."
“这点可以稍后再决定。”
"Let me anticipate." Pherl stirred impatiently in his seat. "You're goingto offer me wealth and power in terms of those evil little machines youcarry in your ship. Well?"
“让我猜猜看，”法尔坐立不安，显得很没有耐心，“你想建议我，利用你的太空船上那些邪恶的小机器，为我自己带来财富和权力，对不对？”
"Suppose it so. What would be your objection? Simply your standard of goodand evil?"
“就算是吧。你为什么要反对？只是根据你的善恶标准吗？”
Pherl shook his head. "Not at all. Look, my Outlander, your opinion of usin your heathen agnosticism is what it is--but I am not the entire slaveof our mythology, though I may appear so. I am an educated man, sir, and, Ihope, an enlightened one. The full depth of our religious customs, in theritualistic rather than the ethical sense, is for the masses."
法尔摇摇头。“绝对不是。听好，异邦人，根据你们异教徒的不可知论，你们对我们的看法或许如此——但是，我并非完全受制于我们的传统神话，虽然表面上或许如此。我是受过教育的人，我的眼睛是雪亮的，至少我希望是这样。我们的一切宗教习俗和仪典，都是形式胜于实质的，因为那是大众的宗教。”
"Your objection, then?" pressed Ponyets, gently.
“那么，你反对的是什么呢？”彭耶慈以温和的口气追问。
"Just that. The masses. I might be willing to deal with you, but yourlittle machines must be used to be useful. How might riches come to me, ifI had to use--what is it you sell??well, a razor, for instance, only inthe strictest, trembling secrecy. Even if my chin were more simply and morecleanly shaven, how would I become rich? And how would I avoid death by gaschamber or mob frightfulness if I were ever once caught using it?"
“就是这一点，就是群众的态度。我个人倒是很愿意和你打交道，但是你那些小机器必须能用才行，否则我又怎能致富呢？如果我——你到底要卖给我什么——比如说剃刀吧，如果我只能偷偷摸摸、战战兢兢地使用，即使我刮胡子能够更便利、更干净，我又怎么能借此发大财？此外，如果被人发现我使用这种剃刀，又如何能避免被抓进毒气室，或是被暴民吓死？”
Ponyets shrugged, "You are correct. I might point out that the remedy wouldbe to educate your own people into the use of nucleics for theirconvenience and your own substantial profit. It would be a gigantic pieceof work; I don't deny it; but the returns would be still more gigantic. Still that is your concern, and, at the moment, not mine at all. For Ioffer neither razor, knife, nor mechanical garbage disposer."
彭耶慈耸耸肩。“你说得不错。我认为解决之道，就是要重新教育你们的人民，让大家都习惯使用核能用品；这是为了他们自身的方便，也是为了你的实际利益。虽然这是一项艰巨的任务，这点我不否认，但是利润相当大。而且这和你现在有切身关系，却不干我什么事，因为我要卖给你的，可不是剃刀或水果刀，也不是垃圾处理器。”
"What do you offer?"
“那你要卖给我什么？”
"Gold itself. Directly. You may have the machine I demonstrated last week."
“黄金，直接卖给你黄金。我可以将上周展示的那台机器卖给你。”
And now Pherl stiffened and the skin on his forehead moved jerkily. "Thetransmuter?"
法尔立时全身僵硬，前额的皮肤抽动起来。“那个金属转化装置？”
"Exactly. Your supply of gold will equal your supply of iron. That, Iimagine, is sufficient for all needs. Sufficient for the Grand Mastershipitself, despite youth and enemies. And it is safe."
“没错。有了它，你有多少铁，就能有多少黄金。有了这些黄金，我相信足够应付一切的需要。当然也包括大公的地位，什么年轻、什么政敌，都不再是问题了。而且，这非常安全。”
"In what way?"
“怎么做呢？”
"In that secrecy is the essence of its use; that same secrecy you describedas the only safety with regard to nucleics. You may bury the transmuter inthe deepest dungeon of the strongest fortress on your furthest estate, andit will still bring you instant wealth. It is the gold you buy, not themachine, and that gold bears no trace of its manufacture, for it cannot betold from the natural creation."
“当然要绝对秘密地使用，正如你刚才说的，绝对秘密才是使用核能用品的唯一安全策略。你得到那台机器之后，最好把它埋在你最远的领地上、最牢固的城堡中、最深的地牢里，这样你很快就能变成大富翁。请记住，你现在要买的不是机器，而是黄金。而且，这些黄金绝对看不出是制造出来的，因为它们和天然黄金毫无两样。”
"And who is to operate the machine?"
“那么谁来操作机器呢？”
"Yourself. Five minutes teaching is all you will require. I'll set it upfor you wherever you wish."
“你自己，只需要五分钟，你就能学会如何操作。等你决定之后，我随时可以替你安装。”
"And in return?"
“你要什么代价呢？”
"Well," Ponyets grew cautious. "I ask a price and a handsome one. It is myliving. Let us say,?for it its a valuable machine--the equivalent of acubic foot of gold in wrought iron."
“嗯，”彭耶慈变得谨慎起来，“我会狮子大开口，因为我是靠这个吃饭的。那台机器相当贵重，所以我想——我要一立方英尺的黄金，用等值的锻铁来支付。”
Pherl laughed, and Ponyets grew red. "I point out, sir," he added, stiffly,"that you can get your price back in two hours."
法尔哈哈大笑，彭耶慈则涨红了脸。“大人，我再提醒你一次，”他以平板的声音补充道，“你在两小时之内，就能将本钱捞回来。”
"True, and in one hour, you might be gone, and my machine might suddenlyturn out to be useless. I'll need a guarantee."
“你说得对。但是一小时内，你就可能消失无踪，而我的机器也许就突然失灵，我需要一点保证。”
"You have my word."
“我向你保证。”
"A very good one," Pherl bowed sardonically, "but your presence would be aneven better assurance. I'll give you my word to pay you one week afterdelivery in working order."
“很好，”法尔嘲弄似地弯腰一鞠躬，“但是如果你留下来，那就是更好的保证了。我也向你保证，如果一周后，机器运转仍然正常，我一定马上付钱。”
"Impossible."
“不可能。”
"Impossible? When you've already incurred the death penalty very handily byeven offering to sell me anything. The only alternative is my word thatyou'll get the gas chamber tomorrow otherwise."
“不可能？你向我推销任何东西，都足以使你被判死刑。如果你不答应，唯一的下场，就是明天便被送进毒气室。”
Ponyet's face was expressionless, but his eyes might have flickered. Hesaid, "It is an unfair advantage. You will at least put your promise inwriting?"
彭耶慈面无表情，眼睛却似乎闪烁着兴奋的光芒。他说：“这样会让你占尽便宜，太不公平了。你至少要写个书面保证给我。”
"And also become liable for execution? No, sir!" Pherl smiled a broadsatisfaction. "No, sir! Only one of us is a fool."
“好让我也有机会被判死刑？不，你休想！”法尔露出十分满意的微笑，“你休想！我们两人之中只有一个笨蛋而已。”
The trader said in a small voice, "It is agreed, then."
行商彭耶慈低声说：“那么，只好这样了。”
Gorov was released on the thirtieth day, and five hundred pounds of theyellowest gold took his place. And with him was released the quarantinedand untouched abomination that was his ship.
哥罗夫终于在第三十天被释放了，赎金是五百磅成色最纯的黄金。遭扣押的太空船与他同时获释，由于阿斯康人认为它是邪恶的，所以始终没有碰它。
Then, as on the journey into the Askonian system, so on the journey out,the cylinder of sleek little ships ushered them on their way.
然后，与彭耶慈之前进入阿斯康星系一样，众多小型战舰编成整齐的圆筒状队形，引领彭耶慈与哥罗夫离开这个星系。
Ponyets watched the dimly sun-lit speck that was Gorov's ship while Gorov'svoice pierced through to him, clear and thin on the tight,distortion-bounded ether-beam.
当哥罗夫清晰而微弱的声音经由高传真乙太波束传来时，彭耶慈正望着哥罗夫的太空船，它在阳光照耀下形成一个模糊的小亮点。
He was saying, "But it isn't what's wanted, Ponyets. A transmuter won't do. Where did you get one, anyway?"
哥罗夫说：“彭耶慈，但这并不是我们想要的，一台金属转化装置不可能达成目标。不过，那台机器是从哪里弄来的？”
"I didn't," Ponyets answer was patient. "I juiced it up out of a foodirradiation chamber. It isn't any good, really. The power consumption isprohibitive on any large scale or the Foundation would use transmutationinstead of chasing all over the Galaxy for heavy metals. It's one of thestandard tricks every trader uses, except that I never saw an iron-to-goldone before. But it's impressive, and it works-- very temporarily."
“不是弄来的，”彭耶慈耐心地答道，“是我用船上的辐射烹饪炉改装的。其实，它并没有实用价值。由于耗费的能量太大，它不能用于大量生产。否则基地不会为了寻找重金属，而派人在银河中到处奔波。这是每个行商都会玩的把戏，不过我相信，点铁成金这一招还是我首创的。这能使对方留下深刻的印象，而且非常成功——虽然只是非常暂时性的。”
"All right. But that particular trick is no good."
“好吧，可是那种把戏并不太高明。”
"It got you out of a nasty spot."
“至少把你从那个鬼地方救出来了。”
"That is very far from the point. Especially since I've got to go back,once we shake our solicitous escort."
“问题根本不在这里。尤其是，一旦摆脱了这些强行护送的战舰，我一定还要回去。”
"Why?"
“为什么？”
"You yourself explained it to this politician of yours," Gorov's voice wason edge. "Your entire sales-point rested on the fact that the transmuterwas a means to an end, but of no value in itself? that he was buying thegold, not the machine. It was good psychology, since it worked, but……"
“你曾经向那个政客解释过。”哥罗夫的声音听来有些不安，“你的整个推销重点，是基于转化装置只是一种手段，它本身并没有任何价值。他买的其实是黄金，而不是机器。以心理学的观点来看，这一招很不错，因为它成功了，但是——”
"But?" Ponyets urged blandly and obtusely.
“但是什么？”彭耶慈故作不解，以温和的口气追问。
The voice from the receiver grew shriller, "But we want to sell them amachine of value in itself, something they would want to use openly;something that would tend to force them out in favor of nuclear techniquesas a matter of self-interest."
收讯器中的声音转趋尖锐。“但是我们要卖的机器，应该是本身就有价值，而且是他们想要公开使用的。这才能迫使他们为了自身的利益，而不得不引进核能科技。”
"I understand all that," said Ponyets, gently. "You once explained it. Butlook at what follows from my sale, will you? As long as that transmuterlasts, Pherl will coin gold; and it will last long enough to buy him thenext election. The present Grand Master won't last long."
“这点我完全了解，”彭耶慈轻声答道，“你以前向我解释过。但是，请你想想我所销售的东西将造成的结果。只要法尔拥有转化装置，他就可以不断制造黄金，维持到足以让他赢得下次的选举。现任的大公已经来日无多了。”
"You count on gratitude?" asked Gorov, coldly.
“你指望他会感激吗？”哥罗夫冷淡地问。
"No-- on intelligent self-interest. The transmuter gets him an election;other mechanisms?
“不——我指望的，是他为自己所作的高明打算。转化装置能帮他赢得选举，然后别的机器就……”
"No! No! Your premise is twisted. It's not the transmuter, he'll credit--
“不，不！你把前提弄拧了。他信赖的不是转化装置——而是黄金，亘古不变的黄金，我要你搞清楚的是这一点。”
it'll be the good, old-fashioned gold. That's what I'm trying to tell you."Ponyets grinned and shifted into a more comfortable position. All right. He'd baited the poor fellow sufficiently. Gorov was beginning to soundwild
彭耶慈咧嘴一笑，并换了一个比较舒服的姿势。好了，他想，哥罗夫这个可怜的家伙，已经被逗弄得差不多了。看来再不告诉他真相，他可就要发狂了。
.The trader said, "Not so fast, Gorov. I haven't finished. There are other gadgets already involved."
于是行商彭耶慈说：“别着急，哥罗夫，我的话还没说完。其实，这次我还动用了一些其他的装置。”
There was a short silence. Then, Gorov's voice sounded cautiously, "Whatother gadgets?"
沉默了一会儿之后，哥罗夫小心翼翼地问：“什么其他的装置？”
Ponyets gestured automatically and uselessly, "You see that escort?"
彭耶慈不自觉地打着徒劳无功的手势。“你看到那些护送我们的战舰了吗？”
"I do," said Gorov shortly. "Tell me about those gadgets."
“看到了，”哥罗夫不耐烦地说，“你还是直截了当告诉我吧。”
"I will, 吠f you'll listen. That's Pherl's private navy escorting us; aspecial honor to him from the Grand Master. He managed to squeeze thatout."
“我会的——你别插嘴。现在护送我们的，是法尔的私人舰队。这是大公给他的殊荣，法尔花了很大力气才争取到的。”
"So?"
“所以呢？”
"And where do you think he's taking us? To his mining estates on theoutskirts of Askone, that's where. Listen!" Ponyets was suddenly fiery, "Itold you I was in this to make money, not to save worlds. All right. I soldthat transmuter for nothing. Nothing except the risk of the gas chamber andthat doesn't count towards the quota."
“你以为他要带我们到哪里去？我们要去的地方，是他在阿斯康外围的私人矿区。你听我说！”彭耶慈突然变得急躁起来，“我告诉过你，我这么做只是为了赚钱，并不是想要拯救银河系各个世界。没错，我把转化装置卖给他，除了被送进毒气室的危险，其他什么也没得到，而且这东西还不能算是我的业绩。”
"Get back to the mining estates, Ponyets. Where do they come in?"
“彭耶慈，你再说说那个私人矿区吧，那跟这件事又有什么关系？”
"With the profits. We're stacking up on tin, Gorov. Tin to fill every lastcubic foot this old scow can scrape up, and then some more for yours. I'mgoing down with Pherl to collect, old man, and you're going to cover mefrom upstairs with every gun you've got--just in case Pherl isn't assporting about the matter as he lets on to be. That tin's my profit."
“那就是我们的报酬。哥罗夫，我们要去那里采锡。我要把我的太空船里每一立方英尺都填满，然后你的太空船也要尽量装。我和法尔下去采集，老朋友，你就在上面利用所有的武器替我掩护——这是为了防范法尔突然食言。那些锡就是他给我的报酬。”
"For the transmuter?"
“用来交换那个转化装置？”
"For my entire cargo of nucleics. At double price, plus a bonus." Heshrugged, almost apologetically. "I admit I gouged him, but I've got tomake quota, don't I?"
“用来交换我的太空船中所有的核能用品，每一样都以双倍价钱卖给他，再加上红利。”他耸了耸肩，像是在为自己辩解，“我承认狠狠敲了他一笔，但是我必须达成销售业绩，对不对？”
Gorov was evidently lost. He said, weakly, "Do you mind explaining'?"
哥罗夫显然摸不着头脑，他有气无力地说：“能不能解释给我听？”
"What's there to explain? It's obvious, Gorov. Look, the clever dog thoughthe had me in a foolproof trap, because his word was worth more than mine tothe Grand Master. He took the transmuter. That was a capital crime inAskone. But at any time he could say that he had lured me on into a trapwith the purest of patriotic motives, and denounce me as a seller offorbidden things."
“哪里还需要解释？这是件很明显的事。哥罗夫，听好，那家伙自作聪明，以为他可以高枕无忧吃定我，因为大公很听他的话，却绝对不会相信我。他收下转化装置，这在阿斯康是要处以极刑的。但是他随时可以辩称，他那样做是出于爱国的动机，是故意要诱我入瓮，准备借此指控我销售违禁物品。”
"That was obvious."
“这点的确很明显。”
"Sure, but word against simple word wasn't all there was to it. You see,Pherl had never heard nor conceived of a microfilm-recorder."
“当然，但是空口总是无凭。你可知道，法尔从来不晓得有微缩影片记录仪这种东西。”
Gorov laughed suddenly.
哥罗夫突然忍不住笑了起来。
"That's right," said Ponyets. "He had the upper hand. I was properlychastened. But when I set up the transmuter for him in my whipped-dogfashion, I incorporated the recorder into the device and removed it in thenext day's overhaul. I had a perfect record of his sanctum sanctorum, hisholy-of-holies, with he himself, poor Pherl, operating the transmuter forall the ergs it had and crowing over his first piece of gold as if it werean egg he had just laid."
“你想到了。”彭耶慈说，“看起来他占尽上风，我吃了大亏。但是我低声下气帮他安装转化装置时，偷偷在里面藏了一台记录仪，第二天来做检查时才取走。记录仪把他在那个最秘密的场所，所有的一举一动都详细录了下来。可怜的法尔，他使尽吃奶的力气，好像要把那台机器榨干才满意。当他看见第一块黄金时，就像生了金蛋的老母鸡一样，高兴得咯咯乱叫。”
"You showed him the results?"
“你把录像放给他看了吗？”
"Two days later. The poor sap had never seen three-dimensional color-soundimages in his life. He claims he isn't superstitious, but if I ever saw anadult look as scared as he did then, call me rookie. When I told him I hada recorder planted in the city square, set to go off at midday with amillion fanatical Askonians to watch, and to tear him to piecessubsequently, he was gibbering at my knees in half a second. He was readyto make any deal I wanted."
“那是两天以后的事。那个可怜的蠢蛋从未见过立体彩色有声影像，他说他不迷信，但是我这一辈子，还从来没见过一个成年人那么害怕。我又告诉他，说我已经在市中心广场安装了一台记录仪，准备让阿斯康的百万群众在大白天欣赏这一幕，然后他一定会被碎尸万段。他听了我的话，半秒钟内就吓得双膝落地，抱着我的脚拼命求饶，说他愿意答应我的任何要求。”
"Did you?" Gorov's voice was suppressing laughter. "I mean, have oneplanted in the city square."
“你真的那么做了吗？”哥罗夫努力忍住笑意，“我是说，在市中心广场安装记录仪？”
"No, but that didn't matter. He made the deal. He bought every gadget Ihad, and every one you had for as much tin as we could carry. At thatmoment, he believed me capable of anything. The agreement is in writing andyou'll have a copy before I go down with him, just as another precaution."
“没有，但这并不重要。他已经和我成交了，用锡交换你我所带来的一切货物，只要我们装得下，爱拿他多少锡就拿多少。那个时候，他简直相信我无所不能。我们的协议写成了书面合约，在我和他下去之前，我会传给你一份，这也是预防万一的做法。”
"But you've damaged his ego," said Gorov. "Will he use the gadgets?"
“但是你已经伤了他的自尊心。”哥罗夫说，“他还会使用那些装置吗？”
"Why not? It's his only way of recouping his losses, and if he makes moneyout of it, he'll salve his pride. And he will be the next Grand Master--and the best man we could have in our favor."
“他有不用的道理吗？那是他弥补损失的唯一办法，而且如果能够赚一笔钱，自尊心也能得到补偿。此外，他还会因此成为下一届的大公——对我们而言，他是最恰当的人选。”
"Yes," said Gorov, "it was a good sale. Yet you've certainly got anuncomfortable sales technique. No wonder you were kicked out of a seminary. Have you no sense of morals?"
“没错，”哥罗夫说，“的确是笔好买卖。但不管怎么说，你的推销术都有点邪门。难怪你会被踢出灵学院，你难道没有一点道德观念吗？”
"What are the odds?" said Ponyets, indifferently. "You know what SalvorHardin said about a sense of morals."
“那又怎样？”彭耶慈满不在乎地说，“你总该知道塞佛·哈定对道德的评价吧。”