4 Two Men and the Elders
第4章 二人与长老
The Elders of this particular region of Rossem were not exactly what one might have expected. They were not a mere extrapolation of the peasantry; older, more authoritative, less friendly.
罗珊世界上，至少在这个地区，长老的形象与一般人的想象完全不同。他们并非年高望重的农民，也不会显得权威或不甚友善。
Not at all.
完全不是那么回事。
The dignity that had marked them at first meeting had grown in impression till it had reached the mark of being their predominant characteristic.
初次见面，他们总会给人留下相当有尊严的印象，让人了解到他们的地位是如何重要。
They sat about their oval table like so many grave and slow-moving thinkers. Most were a trifle past their physical prime, though the few who possessed beards wore them short and neatly arranged. Still, enough appeared younger than forty to make it quite obvious that "Elders" was a term of respect rather than entirely a literal description of age.
现在他们围坐在椭圆形长桌旁，像是许多严肃而动作迟缓的哲人。大多数人看起来刚刚步入中年，只有少数几位留着修剪整齐的短胡子。总之，每个人显然都还不到四十岁，因此“长老”这个头衔其实只是尊称，而不全然是对年龄的描述。
The two from outer space were at the head of the table and in the solemn silence that accompanied a rather frugal meal that seemed ceremonious rather than nourishing, absorbed the new, contrasting atmosphere.
从外太空来的那两位客人，正坐在上座与长老共餐。大家都保持严肃，而食物也十分简朴。看来这只是一种仪式，而并非真正的宴客。他俩一面吃，一面体察着一种全新的、截然不同的气氛。
After the meal and after one or two respectful remarks……too short and simple to be called speeches……had been made by those of the Elders apparently held most in esteem, an informality forced itself upon the assembly.
饭后，几位显然最受敬重的长老说了一两句客套话……由于实在太短太简单，不能称之为“致词”……拘谨的气氛就不知不觉消失无踪。
It was as if the dignity of greeting foreign personages had finally given way to the amiable rustic qualities of curiosity and friendliness.
欢迎外来访客而做作出来的尊严仿佛终于功成身退，长老们开始对客人表现出亲切与好奇，将乡下人的敦厚纯朴表露无遗。
They crowded around the two strangers and the flood of questions came.
他们围在两位异邦人身边，提出了一大串的问题。
They asked if it were difficult to handle a spaceship, how many men were required for the job, if better motors could be made for their ground-cars, if it was true that it rarely snowed on other worlds as was said to be the case with Tazenda, how many people lived on their world, if it was as large as Tazenda, if it was far away, how their clothes were woven and what gave them the metallic shimmer, why they did not wear furs, if they shaved every day, what sort of stone that was in Pritcher's ring……The list stretched out.
他们的问题五花八门：驾驶太空船是否很困难？总共需要多少人手？他们的地面车有没有可能换装较好的发动机？听说达辛德很少下雪，其他世界是不是一样？他们的世界住了多少人？是不是和达辛德一样大？是不是非常遥远？他们的衣料是如何织成的？为何会有金属光泽？他们为什么不穿毛皮？他们是不是每天刮脸？普利吉戴的戒指是什么矿物……以及其他数不胜数的怪问题。
And almost always the questions were addressed to Pritcher as though, as the elder, they automatically invested him with the greater authority. Pritcher found himself forced to answer at greater and greater length. It was like an immersion in a crowd of children. Their questions were those of utter and disarming wonder. Their eagerness to know was completely irresistible and would not be denied.
几乎所有的问题都是向普利吉提出来的，似乎由于他比较年长，他们自然而然认为他较为权威。普利吉发觉自己不得不回答得越来越详细，好像被一群小孩子包围一般。那些问题全然出于毫无心机的好奇。他们热切的求知欲令人无法抗拒，而他也不会拒绝。
Pritcher explained that spaceships were not difficult to handle and that crews varied with the size, from one to many, that the motors of their ground-cars were unknown in detail to him but could doubtless be improved, that the climates of worlds varied almost infinitely, that many hundreds of millions lived on his world but that it was far smaller and more insignificant than the great empire of Tazenda, that their clothes were woven of silicone plastics in which metallic luster was artificially produced by proper orientation of the surface molecules, and that they could be artificially heated so that furs were unnecessary, that they shaved every day, that the stone in his ring was an amethyst. The list stretched out. He found himself thawing to these naive provincials against his will.
普利吉耐着性子，逐一解答如下：驾驶太空船并不困难；人员数目决定于船舰的大小，从一个人到很多人都有可能；自己对此地车辆的发动机并不熟悉，但想必可以改进；每个世界的气候都不尽相同；他们的世界上住了几亿人；不过与伟大的达辛德“帝国”相比，则是微不足道；他们的衣服是硅塑料纺织而成；经过特殊加工，布面分子具有固定的方向，因此会产生金属光泽；由于衣料内附加热装置，因此他们不用再穿毛皮；他们的确每天刮胡子；他的戒指上镶的是紫水晶……等等等等。普利吉发现自己竟然和这些乡下人打成一片，这根本违反他的本意。
And always as he answered there was a rapid chatter among the Elders, as though they debated the information gained. It was difficult to follow these inner discussions of theirs for they lapsed into their own accented version of the universal Galactic language that, through long separation from the currents of living speech, had become archaic.
每当他回答一个问题，长老们都会立刻交头接耳一番，好像是在讨论这些最新的资讯。外人很难听懂他们彼此间的讨论，因为此时他们总是恢复特有的口音。由于与主流语言长期隔绝，他们的“银河标准语”显得古老而过时。
Almost, one might say, their curt comments among themselves hovered on the edge of understanding, but just managed to elude the clutching tendrils of comprehension.?
或许可以这样说，他们相互间的简短评论，勉强能让外人知道他们说些什么，却能避免外人了解实际的内容。
Until finally Channis interrupted to say, "Good sirs, you must answer us for a while, for we are strangers and would be very much interested to know all we can of Tazenda."
程尼斯终于忍不住了，打岔道：“诸位长老，你们必须花点时间回答我们的问题。别忘了我们是异邦人，而且非常希望尽可能知道达辛德的一切。”
And what happened then was that a great silence fell and each of the hitherto voluble Elders grew silent. Their hands, which had been moving in such rapid and delicate accompaniment to their words as though to give them greater scope and varied shades of meaning, fell suddenly limp. They stared furtively at one another, apparently quite willing each to let the other have all the floor.
这句话一出口，全场立刻鸦雀无声，刚才喋喋不休的长老一个个闭上嘴巴。他们的双手原本都在拼命挥舞，仿佛是为了加强说话的语气，现在却突然垂了下来。他们偷偷地彼此互望，显然都十分希望由别人来发言。
Pritcher interposed quickly, "My companion asks this in friendliness, for the fame of Tazenda fills the Galaxy and we, of course, shall inform the governor of the loyalty and love of the Elders of Rossem."
普利吉赶紧抢着说：“我的同伴这么问绝无恶意，因为达辛德的盛名早已传遍整个银河。我们见到总督时，当然会向他报告罗珊长老们的忠诚和敬爱。”
No sigh of relief was heard but faces brightened. An Elder stroked his beard with thumb and forefinger, straightening its slight curl with a gentle pressure, and said: "We are faithful servants of the Lords of Tazenda."
虽然没发出松了一口气的吁声，长老们的脸色却都缓和下来。一位长老用拇指与食指缓缓抚着胡须，将微微卷曲的部分轻轻压平，然后说：“我们都是达辛德领主们的忠实仆人。”
Pritcher's annoyance at Channis' bald question subsided. It was apparent, at least, that the age that he had felt creeping over him of late had not yet deprived him of his own capacity for making smooth the blunders of others.
直到这时，普利吉才对程尼斯的莽撞稍加释怀。虽然他最近感到自己上了年纪，至少尚未丧失打圆场的能力。
He continued: "We do not know, in our far part of the universe, much of the past history of the Lords of Tazenda. We presume they have ruled benevolently here for a long time."
普利吉继续说：“我们来自极为遥远的地方，对达辛德领主们的历史不太清楚。相信长久以来，他们都是以开明的方式统治此地。”
The same Elder who spoke before, answered. In a soft, automatic way he had become spokesman. He said: "Not the grandfather of the oldest can recall a time in which the Lords were absent."
刚才开口的那位长老，俨然已经自动成为发言人。他答道：“此地最老的老者，他的祖父也不记得没有领主的时代。”
"It has been a time of peace?"
“过去一直都很太平吗？”
"It has been a time of peace!" He hesitated. "The governor is a strong and powerful Lord who would not hesitate to punish traitors. None of us are traitors, of course."
“过去一直都很太平！”他迟疑了一下，“总督是一位精明强悍的领主，对于惩处叛徒没有丝毫犹豫。当然，我们之间没有叛徒。”
"He has punished some in the past, I imagine, as they deserve."
“我想，他一定曾经惩治过一些，而他们都罪有应得。”
Again hesitation, "None here have ever been traitors, or our fathers or our fathers' fathers. But on other worlds, there have been such, and death followed for them quickly. It is not good to think of for we are humble men who are poor farmers and not concerned with matters of politics."
那名长老再度犹豫了一下。“此地从来没有出过叛徒，我们的父辈和祖辈也都没有。可是其他世界却曾经出现过，他们当然很快就被处死了。我们对这些事毫无兴趣，因为我们只是卑微贫苦的农民，对政治一点也不关心。”
The anxiety in his voice, the universal concern in the eyes of all of them was obvious.
他的声音透着明显的焦虑，同时每位长老都流露出不安的眼神。
Pritcher said smoothly: "Could you inform us as to how we can arrange an audience with your governor."
普利吉用平稳的口气问道：“你能否告诉我们，如何才能觐见你们的总督？”
And instantly an element of sudden bewilderment entered the situation.
这个问题立刻令长老们讶异不已。
For after a long moment, the elder said: "Why, did you not know? The governor will be here tomorrow. He has expected you. It has been a great honor for us. We ... we hope earnestly that you will report to him satisfactorily as to our loyalty to him."
过了好一阵子，原先那位长老才说：“啊，你们不知道吗？总督明天就会驾临此地。他一直在等你们，这是我们莫大的荣幸。我们……我们衷心希望，两位能向他报告，说我们对他绝对忠诚。”
Pritcher's smile scarcely twitched. "Expected us?"
普利吉脸上的笑容几乎僵住了。“在等我们？”
The Elder looked wonderingly from one to the other. "Why ... it is now a week since we have been waiting for you."
那位长老以茫然的目光扫过这两名异邦人。“对啊……我们已经等了你们整整一星期。”
Their quarters were undoubtedly luxurious for the world. Pritcher had lived in worse. Channis showed nothing but indifference to externals.
以这个世界的标准而言，他们下榻之处无疑是十分豪华的住宅。普利吉曾经住过更差的地方，程尼斯则对外界的一切都显得漠不关心。
But there was an element of tension between them of a different nature than hitherto. Pritcher, felt the time approaching for a definite decision and yet there was still the desirability of additional waiting. To see the governor first would be to increase the gamble to dangerous dimensions and yet to win that gamble might multi-double the winnings. He felt a surge of anger at the slight crease between Channis' eyebrows, the delicate uncertainty with which the young man's lower lip presented itself to an upper tooth. He detested the useless play-acting and yearned for an end to it.
可是他们两人之间，却出现了一种前所未有的紧张关系。普利吉觉得需要作出决断的时刻越来越近，却又希望能再拖延一段时间。倘若先去见总督，会将这场赌博推到危险的边缘，但是果真赢了的话，收获却会因而丰硕无数倍。看到程尼斯轻轻皱起眉头，牙齿咬着下唇，露出有些茫然的表情，他心中就冒起一股无名火。他厌倦了这种无聊的闹剧，希望能赶快结束这一切。
He said: "We seem to be anticipated."
他说：“我们的行动似乎被人料中了。”
'Yes," said Channis, simply.
“没错。”程尼斯答得很干脆。
"Just that? You have no contribution of greater pith to make. We come here and find that the governor expects us. Presumably we shall find from the governor that Tazenda itself expects us. Of what value then is our entire mission?"
“你只会这样说吗？难道不能做一点更有用的建议？我们临时起意来到这里，却发现那个总督在等我们。想必我们见到总督之后，他会说其实是达辛德人在等我们。这样一来，我们这趟任务还有什么用？”
Channis looked up, without endeavoring to conceal the weary note in his voice: "To expect us is one thing; to know who we are and what we came for, is another."
程尼斯抬起头，他的口气毫不掩饰不耐烦的情绪。“他们只是在等我们，不一定知道我们是什么人，以及我们有什么目的。”
"Do you expect to conceal these things from men of the Second Foundation?"
“你认为这些事瞒得过第二基地分子吗？”
"Perhaps. Why not? Are you ready to throw your hand in? Suppose our ship was detected in space. Is it unusual for a realm to maintain frontier observation posts? Even if we were ordinary strangers, we would be of interest."
“也许可以。难道不可能吗？你已经准备放弃了吗？或许是我们在太空时，他们就发现了我们的星舰。一个国家在边境设置前哨观测站，有什么不寻常的？即使我们是普通的异邦人，我们一样会受到注意。”
"Sufficient interest for a governor to come to us rather than the reverse?'
“注意到这个程度，足以让总督亲自来探望我们，而不是我们去觐见他？”
Channis shrugged: "We抣l have to meet that problem later. Let us see what this governor is like."
程尼斯耸耸肩。“我们暂且不讨论那个问题。先让我们看看总督究竟是何方神圣。”
Pritcher bared his teeth in a bloodless kind of scowl. The situation was becoming ridiculous.
普利吉龇牙咧嘴，露出一副无精打采的愁容。整个情况变得越来越荒谬。
Channis proceeded with an artificial animation: "At least we know one thing. Tazenda is the Second Foundation or a million shreds of evidence are unanimously pointing the wrong way. How do you interpret the obvious terror in which these natives hold Tazenda? I see no signs of political domination. Their groups of Elders apparently meet freely and without interference of any sort. The taxation they speak of doesn't seem at all extensive to me or efficiently carried through. The natives speak much of poverty but seem sturdy and well-fed. The houses are uncouth and their villages rude, but are obviously adequate for the purpose.
程尼斯继续故作轻松地说：“至少我们知道了一件事。达辛德正是第二基地，否则上百万件大大小小的证据都指错了方向。这些本地人对达辛德怀有明显的恐惧，这点你要如何解释？我看不出有任何政治压迫的迹象。他们的长老显然可以自由集会，不会受到任何形式的干预。他们所提到的税赋，我觉得一点都不苛刻，也根本没有贯彻执行。这里人人都在喊穷，可是个个身强体壮，没有人面露饥色。虽然他们的房舍简陋，他们的村庄也很原始，可是显然都足敷需要。
"In fact, the world fascinates me. I have never seen a more forbidding one, yet I am convinced there is no suffering among the population and that their uncomplicated lives manage to contain a well-balanced happiness lacking in the sophisticated populations of the advanced centers."
“事实上，这个世界令我着迷。我从未见过比这儿条件更差的地方，可是我确信人民并没有受苦，他们单纯的生活刚好提供了和谐的快乐。在科技进步的世界上，在精明世故的人群中，这种快乐早已荡然无存。”
"Are you an admirer of peasant virtues, then?"
“这么说，你对田园生活充满向往？”
"The stars forbid." Channis seemed amused at the idea. "I merely point out the significance of all this. Apparently, Tazenda is an efficient administrator……efficient in a sense far different from the efficiency of the old Empire or of the First Foundation, or even of our own union. All these have brought mechanical efficiency to their subjects at the cost of more intangible values. Tazenda brings happiness and sufficiency. Don't you see that the whole orientation of their domination is different? It is not physical, but psychological."
“我没有那个命。”程尼斯似乎对这个想法很感兴趣，“我只是指出这些现象背后的意义。显然，达辛德人是很有效率的管理者……这种效率和旧帝国或第一基地完全不同，甚至和我们的‘联盟’也不一样。其他体制都把机械式效率强加在子民身上，因而牺牲一些无形的价值；达辛德人却带给他们快乐和富足。难道你看不出来，他们的统治方式完全不同，这不是物理式的，而是心理式的统治。”
"Really?" Pritcher, allowed himself irony. "And the terror with which the Elders spoke of the punishment of treason by these kind hearted psychologist administrators? How does that suit your thesis?"
“真的吗？”普利吉故意用嘲讽的口气说，“那么，长老们提到的那些令他们恐惧万分的惩罚，竟然是由仁慈的心理学家所执行的？这点你又要如何自圆其说？”
"Were they the objects of the punishment? They speak of punishment only of others. It is as if knowledge of punishment has been so well implanted in them that punishment itself need never be used. The proper mental attitudes are so inserted into their minds that I am certain that not a Tazendian soldier exists on the planet. Don't you see all this?"
“他们自己受到过惩罚吗？他们只是说有人受过惩罚。仿佛恐惧已经深植他们心中，真正的惩罚反而从来没有施行过。这种精神倾向已经在他们心中生根发芽，所以我能确定，这颗行星上没有任何达辛德军人。这一切，难道你看不出来吗？”
"I'll see perhaps," said Pritcher, coldly, "when I see the governor. And what, by the way, if our mentalities are handled?"
“等我见到总督后，”普利吉冷冷地答道，“也许就能看出来了。对了，万一是我们自己的精神遭到控制呢？”
Channis replied with brutal contempt: "You should be accustomed to that."
程尼斯以赤裸裸的轻蔑口吻答道：“这种事，你应该早就习惯了。”
Pritcher whitened perceptibly, and, with an effort, turned away. They spoke to one another no more that day.
普利吉立刻脸色煞白，使尽力气才转过身去。当天，他们两人没有再作任何交谈。
It was in the silent windlessness of the frigid night, as he listened to the soft, sleeping motions of the other, that Pritcher silently adjusted his wrist-transmitter to the ultrawave region for which Channis' was unadjustable and, with noiseless touches of his fingernail, contacted the ship.
那是一个静寂无风的寒夜。普利吉听到程尼斯发出轻缓的鼾声后，便开始悄悄调整手腕上的发射器，调到程尼斯接收不到的超波频带。然后他用指甲轻巧地敲击发报键，开始与星舰联络。
The answer came in little periods of noiseless vibration that barely lifted themselves above the sensory threshold.
不久之后，他就收到了答复。那是一阵阵无声无息的振荡，仅仅刚好超过人体触觉的阈值。
Twice Pritcher asked: "Any communications at all yet?"
普利吉问了两次：“有没有拦截到任何通讯？”
Twice the answer came: "None. We wait always."
两次的回答都一样：“没有，我们一直在监听。”
He got out of bed. It was cold in the room and he pulled the furry blanket around him as he sat in the chair and stared out at the crowding stars so different in the brightness and complexity of their arrangement from the even fog of the Galactic Lens that dominated the night sky of his native Periphery.
他从床上爬起来。室内十分寒冷，他顺手抓了一条毛皮毯裹在身上，这才坐下来，抬头望着满天的繁星。此地的星空明亮而繁复，与他所熟悉的银河外缘很不一样。在他的故乡，朦胧的银河透镜是夜空唯一的主宰。
Somewhere there between the stars was the answer to the complications that overwhelmed him, and he felt the yearning for that solution to arrive and end things.
那个困扰他多年的疑问，答案一定藏在群星间某个角落。他衷心期望答案早日出现，以结束这烦人的一切。
For a moment he wondered again if the Mule were right……if Conversion had robbed him of the firm sharp edge of self-reliance. Or was it simply age and the fluctuations of these last years?
一时之间，他突然又对骡产生怀疑……真是“回转”令他丧失坚强的信心吗？抑或是越来越大的年岁，以及过去几年的波折在作祟？
He didn't really care.
他并非真的在乎。
He was tired.
他感到疲倦了。
The governor of Rossem arrived with minor ostentation. His only companion was the uniformed man at the controls of the ground-car.
罗珊总督轻车简从地到来。他唯一的随从，就是那名驾驶地面车的军人。
The ground-car itself was of lush design but to Pritcher it appeared inefficient. It turned clumsily; more than once it apparently balked at what might have been a too-rapid change of gears. It was obvious at once from its design that it ran on chemical, and not on atomic, fuel.
总督的座车设计得很花巧，普利吉却看得出它性能不佳。它转弯时动作笨拙，而且有好几次可能由于换档太急，车子突然就走不动了。从它的外型，一眼就能判断它是使用化学燃料，而并不是核能。
The Tazendian governor stepped softly on to the thin layer of snow and advanced between two lines of respectful Elders. He did not look at them but entered quickly. They followed after him.
达辛德籍的总督步出座车，轻轻踏着薄薄的积雪，从列队欢迎的两排长老间向前走去。他没有看他们一眼，就快步走进房舍。长老们则鱼贯地跟了进去。
From the quarters assigned to them, the two men of the Mule's union watched. He……the governor……was thickset, rather stocky, short, unimpressive.
此时，效命于骡的两个人正从自己的房间向外窥探。那位总督五短身材，体格还算结实，但毫不起眼。
But what of that?
可是这又怎么样呢？
Pritcher cursed himself for a failure of nerve. His face, to be sure, remained icily calm. There was no humiliation before Channis……but he knew very well that his blood pressure had heightened and his throat had become dry.
普利吉咒骂自己神经太紧张。事实上，他的表情仍旧保持一片严霜，他并未在程尼斯面前丢脸。可是他非常清楚，自己的血压已经升高，喉咙也感到异常干燥。
It was not a case of physical fear. He was not one of those dull-witted, unimaginative men of nerveless meat who were too stupid ever to be afraid……but physical fear he could account for and discount.
这不是一种肉体上的恐惧。他并非一个愚鲁麻木、缺乏想象力的人，绝不会笨得连害怕都不懂……可是对于肉体上的恐惧，他却有办法应付与漠视。
But this was different. It was the other fear.
现在的情况则完全不同，他所面临的是另一种恐惧。
He glanced quickly at Channis. The young man glanced idly at the nails of one hand and poked leisurely at some trifling unevenness.
他迅速瞥了程尼斯一眼。年轻人正若无其事地审视着自己的指甲，还悠闲地用锉刀锉着不整齐的地方。
Something inside Pritcher became vastly indignant. What had Channis to fear of mental handling?
普利吉心中突然冒出强烈的怒意。程尼斯怎么会害怕精神控制呢？
Pritcher caught a mental breath and tried to think back. How had he been before the Mule had Converted him from the die-hard Democrat that he was. It was hard to remember. He could not place himself mentally. He could not break the clinging wires that bound him emotionally to the Mule. Intellectually, he could remember that he had once tried to assassinate the Mule but not for all the straining he could endure, could he remember his emotions at the time. That might be the self-defense of his own mind, however, for at the intuitive thought of what those emotions might have been……not realizing the details, but merely comprehending the drift of it……his stomach grew queasy.
普利吉集中精神，试图回溯自己的过去。在骡尚未使他“回转”之前，当他还是一名死硬派的民主分子时，他究竟是怎样的一个人？这实在很难回想。他无法为自己定位，无法挣脱将他和骡绑在一起的情感粘丝。他的理智还记得自己曾经试图暗杀骡，但是任凭他绞尽脑汁，也想不起自己当时的情绪。然而，这也许是发自他内心的自卫行为，因为即使他刚想要重温那些情绪……刚刚开始捕捉当时的心理，尚未体会任何实质的内容……他就已经开始反胃了。
What if the governor tampered with his mind?
是不是那个总督在干扰自己的心灵？
What if the insubstantial mental tendrils of a Second Foundationer insinuated itself down the emotional crevices of his makeup and pulled them apart and rejoined them……
是不是第二基地分子伸出的无形精神触须，已经迂回地钻进他的心灵隙缝，将他的情感扯散，再重新组合……
There had been no sensation the first time. There had been no pain, no mental jar……not even a feeling of discontinuity. He had always loved the Mule. If there had ever been a time long before……as long before as five short years……when he had thought he hadn't loved him, that he had hated him……that was just a horrid illusion. The thought of that illusion embarrassed him.
当初，就是一点感觉也没有。没有肉体上的痛苦，没有精神上的折磨，甚至连过程都感觉不到。仿佛他始终对骡充满敬爱。假如在遥远的过去……同样短短的五年时间……他心中不曾存在对骡的敬爱，甚至曾经憎恨骡，那也只是可恶的幻觉。想到这种幻觉，他便羞愧不已。
But there had been no pain.
可是，从来不曾有过痛苦。
Would meeting the governor duplicate that? Would all that had gone before……all his service for the Mule……all his life's orientation……join the hazy, other-life dream that held the word, Democracy. The Mule also a dream, and only to Tazenda, his loyalty?
与总督会面后，一切是否会重演呢？过去的一切……他效忠骡的那些日子、他这一辈子的人生方向……会不会与那个信仰“民主”的模糊梦境融为一体？骡会不会也是一场梦，而他自始至终效忠的对象只有达辛德……
Sharply, he turned away.
他猛然转过身去。
There was that strong desire to retch.
一阵强烈的恶心涌上来。
And then Channis' voice clashed on his ear, "I think this iiiit, general."
然后，程尼斯的声音在他耳边响起：“将军，我想这就是了。”
Pritcher turned again. An Elder had opened the door silently and stood with a dignified and calm respect upon the threshold.
普利吉再度转身。一位长老轻轻推开门，恭敬而严肃地站在门槛处。
He said, "His Excellency, Governor of Rossem, in the name of the Lords of Tazenda, is pleased to present his permission for an audience and request your appearance before him."
他说：“达辛德领主们的代表，罗珊总督阁下，乐意接受你们的觐见，劳驾两位跟我来。”
"Sure thing," and Channis tightened his belt with a jerk and adjusted a Rossemian hood over his head.
“当然。”程尼斯顺手拉了拉皮带，调整了一下头上的罗珊式头巾。
Pritcher's jaw set. This was the beginning of the real gamble.
普利吉咬紧牙根。真正的赌博即将开始。
The governor of Rossem was not of formidable appearance. For one thing, he was bareheaded, and his thinning hair, light brown, tending to gray, lent him mildness. His bony eye-ridges lowered at them, and his eyes, set in a fine network of surrounding wrinkles, seemed calculating, but his fresh-cropped chin was soft and small and, by the universal convention of followers of the pseudoscience of reading character by facial bony structure, seemed "weak."
罗珊总督的外表看来并不令人畏惧。这主要是因为他没有戴帽子，稀疏的头发已逐渐由淡棕色褪为灰白，为他增添了几许和气。他的眉脊高耸，而被细密皱纹包围的双眼则显得相当精明。刚刚刮过胡子的下巴却是轮廓平缓、稍嫌窄小，根据“面相学”这门伪科学的信徒公认的说法，那应该是属于“弱者”的下巴。
Pritcher, avoided the eyes and watched the chin. He didn't know whether that would be effective……if anything would be.
普利吉避开了那双眼睛，凝视着他的下巴。他也不知道这样做是否有效……万一真有状况的话。
The governor's voice was high-pitched, indifferent: "Welcome to Tazenda. We greet you in peace. You have eaten?"
总督的声音听来尖细而冷淡，他说：“欢迎来到达辛德，我们以平和之心欢迎两位。你们用过餐了吗？”
His hand……long fingers, gnarled veins……waved almost regally at the U-shaped table.
坐在Ｕ形桌前的他，挥了挥布满青筋、五指细长的右手，看来颇有帝王的架势。
They bowed and sat down. The governor sat at the outer side of the base of the U, they on the inner; along both arms sat the double row of silent Elders.
一鞠躬之后，两人随即就坐。总督坐在Ｕ形桌底端的外侧，他们坐在总督正对面，长老们则安安静静地坐在两旁。
The governor spoke in short, abrupt sentences……praising the food as Tazendian importations……and it had indeed a quality different if, somehow, not so much better, than the rougher food of the Elders……disparaging Rossemian weather, referring with an attempt at casualness to the intricacies of space travel.
总督有一搭没一搭地聊着，包括称赞从达辛德进口的食物……事实上，与长老们的粗茶淡饭相比，即使不算略胜一筹，它也的确很不一样。他又批评罗珊的气候，并且刻意漫不经心地谈到太空旅行的种种。
Channis talked little. Pritcher not at all.
程尼斯的话很少，普利吉则一句话也没有说。
Then it was over. The small, stewed fruits were finished; the napkins used and discarded, and the governor leaned back.
最后，总督吃完一小碗水果盅，用餐巾擦擦嘴，便舒服地向后一靠。
His small eyes sparkled.
他那双小眼睛闪烁着光芒。
"I have inquired as to your ship. Naturally, I would like to see that it receives due care and overhaul. I am told its whereabouts are unknown."
“我查询过你们的星舰。理所当然，我一定要提供最好的照顾和维修。不过我听说，目前它下落不明。”
"True." Channis replied lightly. "We have left it in space. It is a large ship, suitable for long journeys in sometimes hostile regions, and we felt that landing it here might give rise to doubts as to our peaceful intentions. We preferred to land alone, unarmed."
“没错。”程尼斯轻描淡写地答道，“我们把它留在太空。那是一艘巨型星舰，足以在不甚友善的领域进行远航。我们觉得如果降落此地，会给我们的和平意图蒙上阴影。我们宁愿手无寸铁、单枪匹马地登陆。”
"A friendly act," commented the governor, without conviction. "A large ship, you say?"
“这是友善的表现。”总督说得言不由衷，“你说，那是一艘巨型星舰？”
"Not a vessel of war, excellency."
“回禀阁下，但它并不是战舰。”
"Ha, hum. Where is it you come from?"
“哈，嗯。你们从哪里来？”
"A small world of the Santanni sector, your excellency. It may be you are not aware of its existence for it lacks importance. We are interested in establishing trade relationships."
“回禀阁下，我们来自圣塔尼星区的一个小世界。它微不足道，或许您根本没有听说过。我们希望为双方建立贸易关系。”
"Trade, eh? And what have you to sell?'
“贸易，啊？你们准备卖些什么？”
"Machines of all sorts, excellency. In return, food, wood, ores
“回禀阁下，我们准备以各式各样的机械，换取食物、木材、矿石……”
"Ha, hum." The governor seemed doubtful. "I know little these matters. Perhaps mutual profit may be arranged. Perhaps, after I have examined your credentials at length……for much information will be required by my government before matters may proceed, you understand……and after I have looked over your ship, it would be advisable for you to proceed to Tazenda."
“哈，嗯。”总督似乎不怎么相信，“我对这些事务并不熟悉。或许，我们可以做到互惠互利。不过，我得先详细查验你们的证件……因为进行贸易之前，必须先将一切资料呈交我方政府，你了解吧。等我查看过你们的星舰后，你们最好直接到达辛德去。”
There was no answer to that, and the governor's attitude iced perceptibly.
由于对方并未回应，总督的态度明显降温。
"It is necessary that I see your ship, however."
“然而，我必须看看你们的星舰。”
Channis said distantly: "The ship, unfortunately, is undergoing repairs at the moment. If your excellency would not object giving us forty-eight hours, it will be at your service."
程尼斯以冷淡的口吻说：“真不巧，目前星舰正在进行整修。阁下若不介意再等四十八小时，它就能准备好了。”
"I am not accustomed to waiting."
“我可不习惯等待。”
For the first time, Pritcher met the glare of the other, eye to eye, and his breath exploded softly inside him. For a moment, he had the sensation of drowning, but then his eyes tore away.
这时候，普利吉第一次接触到对方愤怒的眼神，不禁暗自大大叹了一口气。一时之间，他觉得自己即将灭顶，好在及时转移了目光。
Channis did not waver. He said: "The ship cannot be landed for forty-eight hours, excellency. We are here and unarmed. Can you doubt our honest intentions?"
程尼斯则不为所动，他说：“回禀阁下，四十八小时内，星舰实在无法降落。我们手无寸铁来到此地，您能怀疑我们真诚的意图吗？”
There was a long silence, and then the governor said gruffly, "Tell me of the world from which you come."
好长的一阵沉默之后，总督才粗声道：“说说你们那个世界吧。”
That was all. It passed with that. There was no more unpleasantness. The governor, having fulfilled his official duty, apparently lost interest and the audience died a dull death.
这场晤谈就这么草草结束。接下来，就没有什么不愉快的场面了。总督尽完了自己的责任，显然再也提不起任何兴致，觐见仪式于是不了了之。
And when it was all over, Pritcher found himself back in their quarters and took stock of himself.
等到当天的行程完全结束，普利吉回到下塌处，随即展开自我评量。
Carefully……holding his breath……he "felt" his emotions. Certainly he seemed no different to himself, but would he feel any difference? Had he felt different after the Mule's Conversion? Had not everything seemed natural? As it should have been?
他小心翼翼屏住气息，开始“感觉”自己的情感。当然，对他自己而言，他似乎没有什么不同，可是话说回来，他会察觉到任何差异吗？在骡令他“回转”后，他曾经察觉到任何差异吗？不是一切似乎都很自然，一切如常吗？
He experimented.
他做了一个实验。
With cold purpose, he shouted inside the silent caverns of his mind, and the shout was, "The Second Foundation must be discovered and destroyed."
抱着姑且一试的心情，他在内心深处的幽静角落发出呐喊：“一定要找到并摧毁第二基地。”
And the emotion that accompanied it was honest hate. There was not as much as a hesitation involved in it.
随之而来的是如假包换的恨意，其中毫无任何犹豫。
And then it was in his mind to substitute the word "Mule" for the phrase "Second Foundation" and his breath caught at the mere emotion and his tongue clogged.
然后，他在心中悄悄将“第二基地”换成“骡”，伴随的情感变化令他呼吸困难，舌头打结。
So far, good.
目前为止还好。
But had he been handled otherwise……more subtly? Had tiny changes been made? Changes that he couldn't detect because their very existence warped his judgment.
可是，他有没有受到更微妙的操纵呢？有没有更细微的改变呢？或许正是因为这些改变扭曲了他的判断，以致他根本侦测不出来。
There was no way to tell.
根本没有办法分辨。
But he still felt absolute loyalty to the Mule! If that were unchanged, nothing else really mattered.
但是他仍然感到对骡百分之百忠诚！只要这点不变，其他一切其实都不重要。
He turned his mind to action again. Channis was busy at his end of the room. Pritcher's thumbnail idled at his wrist communicator.
他让心灵再度展开行动。程尼斯正在室内另一个角落忙他自己的事，普利吉开始用拇指指甲拨弄腕上的通讯器。
And then at the response that came he felt a wave of relief surge over him and leave him weak.
而在接到回音时，他感到被一股轻松的暖流包围，进而全身乏力。
The quiet muscles of his face did not betray him, but inside he was shouting with joy……and when Channis turned to face him, he knew that the farce was about over.
他的面部肌肉并未背叛自己，但他在心中发出喜悦的欢呼。当程尼斯转身面对他的时候，他知道这场闹剧即将结束。
FOURTH INTERLUDE
第四插曲
The two Speakers passed each other on the road and one stopped the other.
两位发言者在路上擦肩而过，其中一位叫住另一位。
"I have word from the First Speaker."
“我带来第一发言者的口信。”
There was a half-apprehensive flicker in the other's eyes. "Intersection point?"
对方眼中闪着会意的光芒。“交会点？”
"Yes! May we live to see the dawn!"
“是的！希望我们还能见到明天的日出！”