19 End of War
第19章 终战
QUORISTON, BATTLE OF Fought: on 3, 1, 377 F.E. between the forces of the Foundation and those of Lord Stettin of Kalgan, it was the last battle of consequence during the Interregnum ....
轲里斯顿之役：时间为基地纪元377/1/3，交战双方为基地与卡尔根统领史铁亭的舰队。这是“大断层”期间最后一场重大战役……
ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA
……《银河百科全书》
Jole Turbor, in his new role of war correspondent, found his bulk incased in a naval uniform, and rather liked it. He enjoyed being back on the air, and some of the fierce helplessness of the futile fight against the Second Foundation left him in the excitement of another sort of fight with substantial ships and ordinary men.
裘尔·屠博现在有个崭新的身份，身为战地特派员的他，庞大的身躯穿上了舰队制服，不禁满心欢喜。他很高兴自己能再和观众见面，而且，由于过去与第二基地对抗时，始终充满无可奈何的无力感，如今面对有形的战舰与普通的敌人，他感到一股异常的兴奋。
To be sure, the Foundation's fight had not been remarkable for victories, but it was still possible to be philosophic about the matter. After six months, the hard core of the Foundation was untouched, and the hard core of the Fleet was still in being. With the new additions since the start of the war, it was almost as strong numerically, and stronger technically, than before the defeat at Ifni.
事实上，直到目前为止，基地还没有打过什么胜仗，不过倘若仔细分析，情势仍然大有可为。过去六个月来，基地的核心领域仍旧安然无恙，舰队的核心武力也依然存在。而自开战后，舰队便不断招兵买马，因此与伊夫尼那场败仗之前比较，基地的有形战力几乎未曾减少，而无形战力则变得更为强大。
And meanwhile, planetary defenses were being strengthened; the armed forces better trained; administrative efficiency was having some of the water squeezed out of it…… and much of the Kalganian's conquering fleet was being wallowed down through the necessity of occupying the "conquered" territory.
与此同时，各个世界的星防也已经强化；战斗部队的训练更为加强；行政效率也大幅提升，不再拖泥带水……反观卡尔根，由于必须派驻大量兵力占领那些“占领区”，许多远征舰队变得英雄无用武之地。
At the moment, Turbor was with the Third Fleet in the outer reaches of the Anacreonian sector. In line with his policy of making this a "little man's war," he was interviewing Fennel Leemor, Engineer Third Class, volunteer.
屠博现在是第三舰队的随军记者，这个舰队负责防卫安纳克里昂星区外围。由于他准备将这场战事报道成“小人物的战争”，此时他正在访问志愿参军的三级技师菲美尔·李莫。
"Tell us a little about yourself, sailor," said Turbor.
“战士，请略为自我介绍一下。”屠博说。
"Ain't much to tell," Leemor shuffled his feet and allowed a faint, bashful smile to cover his face, as though he could see all the millions that undoubtedly could see him at the moment. I抦 a Locrian. Got a job in an air-car factory; section head and good pay. I'm married; got two kids, both girls. Say, I couldn't say hello to them, could I…… in case they're listening."
“没啥好说的。”李莫用脚踢了踢甲板，勉强露出一个腼腆的微笑，仿佛他也能看到正在看新闻的数百万名观众。“我是卢奎斯人，在飞车厂工作，是个小主管，收入不错。我已经结婚，有两个小孩，都是女儿。对了，我能不能和她们打个招呼……她们搞不好正在收看呢。”
"Go ahead, sailor. The video is all yours."
“请便，战士。现在你是主角。”
"Gosh, thanks." He burbled, "Hello, Milla, in case you're listening, I'm fine. Is Sunni all right……And Tomma……I think of you all the time and maybe I'll be back on furlough after we get back to port. I got your food parcel but I'm sending it back. We get our regular mess, but they say the civilians are a little tight. I guess that's all."
“哇，太感谢了。”他滔滔不绝地说，“嗨，米拉，希望你正在收看，我一切都好。珊妮好吗？杜玛呢？我时时刻刻都在想念你们，等我们返港后，也许我就能放假回家一趟。我收到了你寄来的食品包裹，但我准备把它寄回去。我们每一餐都吃得很好，可是听说平民的粮食比较短缺。我想说的就是这些了。”
"I'll look her up next time I'm on Locris, sailor, and make sure she's not short of food. O.K.?"
“战士，下次我去卢奎斯，一定会去探望她，确保她们的粮食并不短缺。好吗？”
The young man smiled broadly and nodded his head. "Thank you, Mr. Turbor. I抎 appreciate that."
年轻人露出灿烂的笑容，还不停地点头。“谢谢你，屠博先生。我万分感激。”
"All right. Suppose you tell us, then?You're a volunteer, aren't you?"
“好啦。现在请你告诉我们……你是志愿军，对不对？”
"Sure am. If anyone picks a fight with me, I don't have to wait for anyone to drag me in. I joined up the day I heard about the Hober Mallow."
“我当然是。既然有人向我们挑衅，我不必等任何人来征召。那天听到侯伯·马洛号遇难，我就立刻从军了。”
"That's a fine spirit. Have you seen much action……I notice "You're wearing two battle stars."
“你的爱国心令人敬佩。你经历过许多实战吗？我注意到你佩戴着两枚战功星章。”
"Ptah." The sailor spat. "Those weren't battles, they were chases. The Kalganians don't fight, unless they have odds of five to one or better in their favor. Even then they just edge in and try to cut us up ship by ship. Cousin of mine was at Ifni and he was on a ship that got away, the old Ebling Mis. He says it was the same there. They had their Main Fleet against just a wing division of ours, and down to where we only had five ships left, they kept stalking instead of fighting. We got twice as many of their ships at that fight."
“呸。”他假装吐一口痰，“那些根本不算战斗，只是老鹰抓小鸡。除非有五比一或更大的优势，卡尔根人绝不会动手。即使如此，他们也只敢慢慢逼近，设法把我们一艘艘隔离开来。我的一个表兄参加了伊夫尼之役，他在一艘侥幸逃脱的星舰上，就是那艘老旧的艾布林·米斯号。据他说，那里的情况完全一样。他们用主力舰队对付我们的侧翼分队，直到我们只剩五艘星舰，他们还是偷偷摸摸，没有胆量开火。那场战役，他们的损失是我们的两倍。”
"Then you think we're going to win the war?"
“所以你认为，我们会赢得这场战争？”
Sure bet; now that we aren't retreating. Even if things got too bad, that's when I'd expect the Second Foundation to step in. We still got the Seldon Plan…… and they know it, too."
“绝对没问题，尤其我们已经不再退却了。即使情势变得十分不利也无妨，我相信那时第二基地便会介入。我们仍有谢顿计划当后盾……而他们也知道这件事。”
Turbor's lips curled a bit. "You're counting on the Second Foundation, then?"
屠博微微翘起嘴来。“这么说，你在指望第二基地喽？”
The answer came with honest surprise. "Well, doesn't everyone?"
对方的回答竟然带着明显的讶异。“啊，不是大家都这么想吗？”
Junior Officer Tippellum stepped into Turbor's room after the visicast. He shoved a cigarette at the correspondent and knocked his cap back to a perilous balance on the occiput.
新闻幕的报道结束后，下级军官提波路走进屠博的房间。他递了一根香烟给这位特派员，然后把自己的军帽向后脑一推，推到一个低到不能再低的位置。
"We picked up a prisoner," he said.
“我们抓到一名战俘。”他说。
"Yes?"
“是吗？”
"Little crazy fellow. Claims to be a neutral…… diplomatic immunity, no less. I don't think they know what to do with him. His name's Palvro, Palver, something like that, and he says he's from Trantor. Don't know what in space he's doing in a war zone."
“是个疯疯癫癫的小个子，声称是个中立者……还说拥有什么外交豁免权。我不相信他们知道该拿他怎么办。他的名字好像是帕夫罗，还是帕佛，反正差不多。他还自称是从川陀来的，天晓得他到战区来干什么。”
But Turbor had swung to a sitting position on his bunk and the nap he had been about to take was forgotten. He remembered quite well his last interview with Darell, the day after war had been declared and he was shoving off.
不料屠博突然从床上坐起来。他本来想打个盹，此时却睡意全消。宣战次日，他正准备随军出发时，曾经向达瑞尔当面辞行，当时的对话他记忆犹新。
"Preem Palver," he said. It was a statement.
“普芮姆·帕佛。”他说……这显然是个肯定句。
Tippellum paused and let the smoke trickle out the sides of his mouth. "Yeah," he said, "how in space did you know?"
提波路愣了一下，任由满嘴的烟从嘴角缓缓逸出来。“是啊，”他说，“你怎么会知道的？”
"Never mind. Can I see him?"
“别管了。我能见他吗？”
"Space, I can't say. The old man has him in his own room for questioning. Everyone figures he's a spy."
“太空啊，我不敢说。司令把他叫到自己的房间去问话。大家都认为他是间谍。”
"You tell the old man that I know him, if he's who he claims he is. I扞I take the responsibility."
“你去告诉司令，说我认识这个人。我可以负一切责任，除非他谎报身份。”
Captain Dixyl on the flagship of the Third Fleet watched unremittingly at the Grand Detector. No ship could avoid being a source of subatomic radiation…… not even if it were lying an inert mass…… and each focal point of such radiation was a little sparkle in the three-dimensional field.
第三舰队旗舰的狄克席尔舰长，此时正目不转睛地盯着大域侦测器。每一艘船舰都是一个核能辐射源……即使静止不动也毫无例外……而在侦测器的三维像场中，每个辐射源都对应一个细小的光点。
Each one of the Foundation's ships were accounted for and no sparkle was left over, now that the little spy who claimed to be a neutral had been picked up. For a while, that outside ship had created a stir in the captain's quarters. The tactics might have needed changing on short notice. As it was……"
剔除了基地船舰后，没有任何光点剩下来，因为那艘自称中立的间谍太空船已被捕获。刚才，在舰长寝室中，那艘小太空船曾经引起一阵恐慌。事实上，差点被迫临时改变战术……
"Are you sure you have it?" he asked.
“你确定完全明白了吗？”他问道。
Commander Cenn nodded. "I will take my squadron through hyperspace: radius, 10.00 parsecs; theta, 268.52 degrees; phi, 84.15 degrees. Return to origin at 1330. Total absence 11.83 hours."
森恩中校点了点头。“我将率领一支分遣队，经由超空间抵达目的地。距离：10.000秒差距；方位角：268.52度；俯角：84.15度。在1330回到原点，共计脱队时间11.83小时。”
"Right. Now we are going to count on pin-point return as regards both space and time. Understand?"
“很好。我们全仰赖你准时回到准确的空间，不能有丝毫误差。明白吗？”
"Yes, captain." He looked at his wrist watch, "My ships will be ready by 0140."
“报告舰长，明白了。”他看了看腕表，“我旗下的星舰将在0140准备行动。”
"Good," said Captain Dixyl.
“好的。”狄克席尔舰长说。
The Kalganian squadron was not within detector range now, but they would be soon. There was independent information to that effect. Without Cenn's squadron the Foundation forces would be badly outnumbered, but the captain was quite confident. Quite confident.
此时，卡尔根的分遣舰队尚未进入侦测范围，不过他们很快就会出现。另有可靠的情报指出这一点。少了森恩中校的分遣队，敌我兵力将会变得极为悬殊。但是舰长相当有信心，相当、相当有信心。
Preem Palver looked sadly about him. First at the tall, skinny admiral; then at the others, everyone in uniform; and now at this last one, big and stout, with his collar open and no tie…… not like the rest…… who said he wanted to speak to him.
普芮姆·帕佛以凄然的目光环顾四周。他首先看到那位又高又瘦的司令官，然后再看了看其他人，发现每一位都穿着整齐的军服。最后，他的目光停在一位高大魁梧的男子身上，那人领子敞开，并没有打领带……和其他人不太一样……而且他说想跟自己单独谈谈。
Jole Turbor was saying: "I am perfectly aware, admiral, of the serious possibilities involved here, but I tell you that if I can be allowed to speak to him for a few minutes, I may be able to settle the current uncertainty."
裘尔·屠博说道：“司令，我完全了解这件事可能的严重后果，不过我要告诉你，如果允许我和他私下谈几分钟，我也许就能解决目前的疑惑。”
"Is there any reason why you can't question him before me?"
“可有任何原因，使你不能在我面前询问他吗？”
Turbor pursed his lips and looked stubborn. "Admiral," he said, "while I have been attached to your ships, the Third Fleet has received an excellent press. You may station men outside the door, if you like, and you may return in five minutes. But, meanwhile, humor me a bit, and your public relations will not suffer. Do you understand me?"
屠博撅起嘴来，露出倔强的表情。“司令，”他说，“打从我成为你们的随军记者，就一直在报道中为第三舰队说好话。如果你不放心，可以派人在门口站岗，而你自己五分钟后就可以回来。我只请求你迁就我这么一点，这样你的公共关系就不会受影响。你了解我的意思吗？”
He did.
他果然了解。
Then Turbor in the isolation that followed, turned to Palver, and said, "Quickly…… what is the name of the girl you abducted."
等到只剩他们两人的时候，屠博立刻转身对帕佛说：“快……你拐走的女孩叫什么名字？”
And Palver could simply stare round-eyed, and shake his head.
帕佛只是把双眼瞪得浑圆，并且不停地摇头。
"No nonsense," said Turbor. "If you do not answer, you will be a spy and spies are blasted without trial in war time."
“别装蒜了。”屠博说，“你要是不回答，就会被当成间谍。现在是战时，间谍不必审判就可以枪毙。”
"Arcadia Darell!" gasped Palver.
“艾嘉蒂娅·达瑞尔！”帕佛喘着气说。
"Well! All right, then. Is she safe?"
“哈！太好了。她平安吗？”
Palver nodded.
帕佛点了点头。
"You had better be sure of that, or it won't be well for you."
“你最好能确定这一点，否则你不会有好下场。”
"She is in good health, perfectly safe," said Palver, palely.
“她身体健康，而且绝对安全。”帕佛吓得脸色苍白。
The admiral returned, "Well?"
此时舰队司令回来了。“怎么样？”
"The man, sir, is not a spy. You may believe what he tells you. I vouch for him."
“阁下，这个人不是间谍。你可以相信他说的一切，我能为他担保。”
"That so?" The admiral frowned. "Then he represents an agricultural co-operative on Trantor that wants to make a trade treaty with Terminus for the delivery of grains and potatoes. Well, all right, but he can't leave now."
“是吗？”司令皱起眉头，“那么，他的确代表川陀的一家农产合作社，要和端点星签订贸易协定，由他们负责提供谷物和马铃薯。嗯，好吧，但他暂时还不能走。”
"Why not?" asked Palver, quickly.
“为什么不能？”帕佛立刻问。
"Because we're in the middle of a battle. After it is over…… assuming we're still alive…… we'll take you to Terminus."
“因为我们的仗正打到一半。等到打完了……假如我们还活着……就会带你去端点星。”
The Kalganian fleet that spanned through space detected the Foundation ships from an incredible distance and were themselves detected. Like little fireflies in each other's Grand Detectors, they closed in across the emptiness.
卡尔根的庞大舰队从太空深处渐渐逼近，在不可思议的距离外就侦测到了基地的星舰。与此同时，基地的星舰同样侦测到敌军的行踪。在双方的大域侦测器中，对方看来都像一团萤火虫；两团萤火虫飞过虚无的太空，双方越来越接近。
And the Foundation's admiral frowned and said, "This must be their main push. Look at the numbers." Then, "They won't stand up before us, though; not if Cenn's detachment can be counted on."
基地司令官皱着眉头说：“这一定就是他们的主攻舰队，看看有多少艘星舰。”又说，“尽管如此，他们却没有机会布好阵势，除非森恩的分遣队让我们失望。”
Commander Cenn had left hours before…… at the first detection of the coming enemy. There was no way of altering the plan now. It worked or it didn't, but the admiral felt quite comfortable. As did the officers. As did the men.
森恩中校几小时前已经脱队……当时才刚刚发现敌军的踪迹。如今，计划无法再作任何更改，不成功便成仁。但司令却感到相当乐观，而其他军官，乃至所有的士兵与舰员也都有同感。
Again watch the fireflies.
再来看看那两团萤火虫吧。
Like a deadly ballet dance, in precise formations, they sparked.
两者编成整齐的队形，发出幽暗的光芒，仿佛正在同台表演一场死亡之舞。
The Foundation fleet edged slowly backwards. Hours passed and the fleet veered slowly off, teasing the advancing enemy slightly off course, then more so.
基地舰队开始渐渐退却。几小时过去了，基地舰队始终在缓缓转向，引诱不断推进的敌军偏离原先的航道，一点一点越偏越远。
In the minds of the dictators of the battle plan, there was a certain volume of space that must be occupied by the Kalganian ships. Out from that volume crept the Foundationers; into it slipped the Kalganians. Those that passed out again were attacked, suddenly and fiercely. Those that stayed within were not touched.
作战计划拟定者的企图，正是要使卡尔根舰队占据某个特定的星空。在这范围之外，埋伏着许多基地的人马。等到卡尔根星舰进入这个范围后，若有任何一艘想飞出来，一律会遭到猛烈的突袭。而那些留滞其中的，却都能够安然无事。
It all depended on the reluctance of the ships of Lord Stettin to take the initiative themselves…… on their willingness to remain where none attacked.
作战计划的关键，在于算准史铁亭统领的舰队各怀鬼胎……绝对没有人愿意采取主动，每一艘都想留在不受攻击的位置。
Captain Dixyl stared frigidly at his wrist watch. It was 1310, "We've got twenty minutes," he said.
狄克席尔舰长以冰冷的目光看了看腕表，现在时间是1310。 “我们还有二十分钟。”他说。
The lieutenant at his side nodded tensely, "It looks all right so far, captain. We've got more than ninety percent of them boxed. If we can keep them that way……"
他身边的副官紧张地点点头。“报告舰长，目前为止，一切看来都很顺利。他们已有超过九成的星舰钻了进去。如果我们能让他们保持……”
"Yes! If……"
“是啊！如果……”
The Foundation ships were drifting forward again…… very slowly. Not quick enough to urge a Kalganian retreat and just quickly enough to discourage a Kalganian advance. They preferred to wait.
基地的星舰再度向前慢慢推进……速度非常慢。不至于把卡尔根人吓退，却足以令他们不敢继续前进。果然，他们决定静观其变。
And the minutes passed.Yes!
时间一分一秒地过去。
At 1325, the admiral's buzzer sounded in seventy-five ships of the Foundation's line, and they built up to a maximum acceleration towards the front-plane of the Kalganian fleet, itself three hundred strong. Kalganian shields flared into action, and the vast energy beams flicked out. Every one of the three hundred concentrated in the same direction, towards their mad attackers who bore down relentlessly, uncaringly and……"
到了1325，司令官的命令透过蜂鸣器传遍基地舰队的七十五艘星舰。这些星舰随即全速前进，以最大的加速度冲向卡尔根舰队的正面。卡尔根的三百艘星舰同时升起防护罩，并且立刻射出强大的能束。三百艘星舰全部向一个方向集中，共同迎向那些发动疯狂突袭的无情敌军……
At 1330, fifty ships under Commander Cenn appeared from nowhere, in one single bound through hyperspace to a calculated spot at a calculated time…… and were spaced in tearing fury at the unprepared Kalganian rear.
1330，森恩中校率领的五十艘星舰凭空出现。他们借着一次超空间跃迁，在准确的时间抵达准确的地点……痛击措手不及的卡尔根后卫。
The trap worked perfectly.
真是个完美无缺的陷阱。
The Kalganians still had numbers on their side, but they were in no mood to count. Their first effort was to escape and the formation once broken was only the more vulnerable, as the enemy ships bumbled into one another's path.
卡尔根舰队在数量上仍占优势，他们却无暇注意这一点，大家都只想到走为上策。而队形一旦散掉，在敌舰逼近时就更容易受到攻击。
After a while, it took on the proportions of a rat hunt.
一会儿之后，整个情势就无异于猫捉老鼠。
Of three hundred Kalganian ships, the core and pride of their fleet, some sixty or less, many in a state of near-hopeless disrepair, reached Kalgan once more. The Foundation loss was eight ships out of a total of one hundred twenty-five.
这支由三百艘星舰所组成的远征舰队，乃是卡尔根舰队的中坚与精华，却顶多只有六十艘重返卡尔根，其中许多艘还遭到重创。而在基地的一百二十五艘星舰中，只有八艘遭敌军击毁。时间是基地纪元377年的第3天。
Preem Palver landed on Terminus at the height of the celebration. He found the furore distracting, but before he left the planet, he had accomplished two things, and received one request.
当普芮姆·帕佛抵达端点星的时候，正值庆祝活动的最高潮。兴奋疯狂的气氛令他眼花缭乱，但在离开这颗行星之前，他还是顺利完成了两件任务，并接受了一项嘱托。
The two things accomplished were: 1) the conclusion of an agreement whereby Palver's co-operative was to deliver twenty shiploads of certain foodstuffs per month for the next year at a war price, without, thanks to the recent battle, a corresponding war risk, and 2) the transfer to Dr. Darell of Arcadia's five short words.
他完成的两件任务是：一、与基地达成一项协议，双方同意在未来一年内，由帕佛代表的合作社每月运来二十艘船的粮食，基地一律以战时价格收购。然而由于最近那场大捷，战争风险其实已经不复存在。二、将艾嘉蒂娅交代的五个字转达给达瑞尔博士。
For a startled moment, Darell had stared wide-eyed at him, and then he had made his request. It was to carry an answer back to Arcadia. Palver liked it; it was a simple answer and made sense. It was: "Come back now. There won't be any danger."
听到这五个字，达瑞尔张大眼睛瞪着他。愣了好一阵子之后，达瑞尔才提出一项请求，请他带一句回话给艾嘉蒂娅。帕佛很喜欢这件差事；那是个简单的答复，而且合情合理。那句话是：“赶快回来吧，没有任何危险了。”
Lord Stettin was in raging frustration. To watch his every weapon break in his hands; to feel the firm fabric of his military might part like the rotten thread it suddenly turned out to be…… would have turned phlegmaticism itself into flowing lava. And yet he was helpless, and knew it.
与此同时，史铁亭统领感到又怒又恼。他眼睁睁看着自己的武器，一件件毁在自己手里；他的武力原是一张强韧的巨网，却在一夕之间变成腐朽的破布……即使再冷静的人，也会像火山一般爆发。但是他无可奈何，而且还心知肚明。
He hadn't really slept well in weeks. He hadn't shaved in three days. He had canceled all audiences. His admirals were left to themselves and none knew better than the Lord of Kalgan that very little time and no further defeats need elapse before he would have to contend with internal rebellion.
几周以来，他未曾睡过一晚的好觉，而且已经三天没刮脸了。他取消了一切活动，甚至连将领们也不接见。没有人比他自己更了解，内乱已经迫在眉睫，即使卡尔根不再吃败仗，叛变的烽火也随时可能一触即发。
Lev Meirus, First Minister, was no help. He stood there, calm and indecently old, with his thin, nervous finger stroking, as always, the wrinkled line from nose to chin.
首相列夫·麦拉斯根本帮不上忙。他站在一旁，表现得很冷静，看起来却像个猥琐的糟老头子。他那根瘦削而神经质的食指，又习惯性地摸着自己的老脸，从鼻头一直摸到下巴。
"Well," shouted Stettin at him, "contribute something. We stand here defeated, do you understand……Defeated! And why……I don't know why. There you have it. I don't know why. Do you know why?"
“喂，”史铁亭对他咆哮道，“贡献一点意见吧。我们吃了败仗，你明白吗？被打败了！可是为什么呢？我不知道为什么。你都听到了，我不知道为什么。你知道为什么吗？”
"I think so," said Meirus, calmly.
“我想我知道。”麦拉斯以镇定的口气说。
"Treason!" The word came out softly, and other words followed as softly. "You've known of treason, and you've kept quiet. You served the fool I ejected from the First Citizenship and you think you can serve whatever foul rat replaces me. If you have acted so, I will extract your entrails for it and burn them before your living eyes."
“叛变！”史铁亭故意轻声细语，接下来的话也是同样轻柔，“你知道有人叛变，却故意不做声。你伺候过那个被我赶下台的第一公民，就以为不论哪个龌龊鼠辈取代我，你依旧能继续当你的首相。我告诉你，如果你在打这个主意，我就把你的五脏六腑挖出来，在你的眼前一把火烧掉。”
Meirus was unmoved. "I have tried to fill you with my own doubts, not once, but many times. I have dinned it in your ears and you have preferred the advice of others because it stuffed your ego better. Matters have turned out not as I feared, but even worse. If you do not care to listen now, say so, sir, and I shall leave, and, in due course, deal with your successor, whose first act, no doubt, will be to sign a treaty of peace."
麦拉斯却毫不动容。“我曾试图将自己的疑虑灌输给您，不只一次，而是好多次。我不停地在您耳旁唠叨，您却宁愿相信别人的话，因为那些话更能满足您的虚荣心。如今的情势，甚至变得比我当初所担心的更糟。如果您现在仍不想听我的忠告，请您直说，我会立即告退。不久之后，我会再回来为您的继任者献计。而他所采取的第一个行动，一定是签署和平条约。”
Stettin stared at him red-eyed, enormous fists slowly clenching and unclenching. "Speak, you gray slug. Speak!"
史铁亭用冒火的眼睛瞪着他，一双巨掌慢慢地握紧再松开，松开再握紧。“说吧，你这个迟钝的糟老头。给我说！”
"I have told you often, sir, that you are not the Mule. You may control ships and guns but you cannot control the minds of your subjects. Are you aware, sir, of who it is you are fighting……You fight the Foundation, which is never defeated…… the Foundation, which is protected by the Seldon Plan…… the Foundation, which is destined to form a new Empire."
“阁下，我常常提醒您，您并不是骡。您也许能控制船舰和武器，却无法控制子民的心灵。阁下，您可明白究竟是在跟什么人作战？您的敌手是基地，永远不败的基地……这个基地受到谢顿计划的保护，这个基地注定要建立一个新帝国。”
"There is no Plan. No longer. Munn has said so."
“根本没有什么计划，早就没有了。孟恩亲口告诉我的。”
"Then Munn is wrong. And if he were right, what then……You and I, sir, are not the people. The men and women of Kalgan and its subject worlds believe utterly and deeply in the Seldon Plan as do all the inhabitants of this end of the Galaxy. Nearly four hundred years of history teach the fact that the Foundation cannot be beaten. Neither the kingdoms nor the warlords nor the old Galactic Empire itself could do it."
“那就是孟恩搞错了。即使他说得对，又怎么样呢？阁下，您和我不能代表全体人民。卡尔根的男女老幼，以及所有藩属世界的民众，人人都对谢顿计划深信不疑，而这也是银河此端所有居民的共识。近四百年的历史，让我们学到一个真理：任何人都无法击败基地。自立称王的王国不能，割据一方的军阀不能，甚至连旧帝国本身也休想。”
"The Mule did it."
“骡却做到了。”
"Exactly, and he was beyond calculation…… and you are not. What is worse, the people know that you are not. So your ships go into battle fearing defeat in some unknown way. The insubstantial fabric of the Plan hangs over them so that they are cautious and look before they attack and wonder a little too much. While on the other side, that same insubstantial fabric fills the enemy with confidence, removes fear, maintains morale in the face of early defeats. Why not……The Foundation has always been defeated at first and has always won in the end.
“一点都没错，因为他不在算计之中……而您却不一样。更糟的是，人人都知道这个事实。所以您的舰队在进行战斗时，总是担心会被什么未知力量击败。谢顿计划的无形巨网罩在他们头上，令他们畏畏缩缩，进攻之前犹疑不决，小心谨慎得过了头。另一方面，同样的巨网却是基地的无形防护罩，使他们信心倍增，心中毫无畏惧，面对初期的挫败仍能凝聚士气。有什么好怕的呢？回顾历史，基地一向是先吃败仗，却总是赢得最后的胜利。
"And your own morale, sir……You stand everywhere on enemy territory. Your own dominions have not been invaded; are still not in danger of invasion…… yet you are defeated. You don't believe in the possibility, even, of victory, because you know there is none.
“阁下，可是您这边的士气呢？您一直踏在敌人的土地上。您自己的领土从未遭到入侵，至今没有失守的危险……但您却打了败仗。甚至可以说，您自己也不相信有胜利的可能，因为您知道那根本是幻想。
"Stoop, then, or you will be beaten to your knees. Stoop voluntarily, and you may save a remnant. You have depended on metal and power and they have sustained you as far as they could. You have ignored mind and morale and they have failed you. Now, take my advice. You have the Foundation man, Homir Munn. Release him. Send him back to Terminus and he will carry your peace offers."
“所以说，认输吧，否则您终将被迫屈膝。现在主动低头，也许还能保留一点什么。您一向倚仗武器和军力，将这些有形力量发挥到极限。但是您始终忽略精神和士气，最后终于败在这些无形力量之下。现在，接受我的劝告吧。这里现成有一个基地人，侯密尔·孟恩。赶快释放他，送他回端点星，让他把您的求和诚意带回去。”
Stettin's teeth ground behind his pale, set lips. But what choice had he?
史铁亭紧抿着苍白而倔强的嘴唇，暗自咬牙切齿。但他还有别的选择吗？
On the first day of the new year, Homir Munn left Kalgan again. More than six months had passed since he had left Terminus and in the interim, a war had raged and faded.
新年后的第八天，侯密尔·孟恩终于告别卡尔根。他离开端点星已经超过七个月，在这期间，曾经发生过一场激烈的战争，如今则只剩下一些荡漾的余波。
He had come alone, but he left escorted. He had come a simple man of private life; he left the unappointed but nevertheless, actual, ambassador of peace.
当初，他自己驾船来到卡尔根，现在则有舰队护送离去。当初，他是以私人身份前来，如今则是一位有实无名的和平特使。
And what had most changed was his early concern over the Second Foundation. He laughed at the thought of that: and pictured in luxuriant detail the final revelation to Dr. Darell, to that energetic, young competent, Anthor, to all of them?
对侯密尔而言，最大的变化则在于他对第二基地的看法。每当想到这里，他就开怀大笑，并且想象着当自己向达瑞尔博士，以及那位年轻、能干、精力充沛的安索，还有其他人揭示真正的答案时，会是一幅什么样的画面。
He knew. He, Homir Munn, finally knew the truth.
他知道了。他，侯密尔·孟恩，终于知道了真相。