Chapter 6: The Nature of Earth
6 地球的真面目
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Trevize felt almost drugged, and wondered how much time hadelapsed.
崔维兹觉得像是吃了迷幻药，不知道时间过了多久。
Beside him lay Mitza Lizalor, Minister of Transportation. She was onher stomach, head to one side, mouth open, snoring distinctly. Trevizewas relieved that she was asleep. Once she woke up, he hoped she wouldbe quite aware that she had been asleep.
他身旁躺着运输部长蜜特札·李札乐。她趴在床上，头转向一侧，张着嘴巴，不时发出清晰的鼾声。知道她睡着了，崔维兹才放心一点。他希望她醒来之后，清清楚楚记得自己曾经睡了一觉。
Trevize longed to sleep himself, but he felt it important that henot do so. She must not wake to find him asleep. She must realize thatwhile she had been ground down to unconsciousness, he had endured. Shewould expect such endurance from a Foundation-reared immoralist and,at this point, it was better she not be disappointed.
崔维兹其实也困极欲眠，但他感到自己必须保持清醒，不能让她醒来的时候，发现他正在呼呼大睡。这点相当重要，必须让她了解，当她筋疲力尽、不省人事之际，他仍然精神饱满。她会希望“基地浪子”一直保持生龙活虎的状态，而此时此刻，最好不要令她失望。
In a way, he had done well. He had guessed, correctly, that Lizalor,given her physical size and strength, her political power, her contemptfor the Comporellian men she had encountered, her mingled horrorand fascination with tales (what had she heard? Trevize wondered)of the sexual feats of the decadents of Terminus, would want to bedominated. She might even expect to be, without being able to expressher desire and expectation.
就某方面而言，他做得很好。他猜对了，虽然李札乐魁梧强健、拥有极大权力、轻视她碰到过的所有康普隆男性，并且对于有关基地浪子性技巧的传说（她从哪里听来的？崔维兹感到纳闷）交杂着恐惧与神往，不过，她却乐于被男人征服。这甚至可能是她长久以来的愿望，只是她一直没机会表达这种欲望与期待。
He had acted on that belief and, to his good fortune, found he wascorrect. (Trevize, the ever-right, he mocked himself.) It pleased thewoman and it enabled Trevize to steer activities in a direction thatwould tend to wear her out while leaving himself relatively untouched.
崔维兹的行动便是以这个猜测为指导原则，结果很幸运，他发现自己猜对了（永远正确的崔维兹，他自嘲地想）。如此不但取悦了这个女人，也让崔维兹取得了主导权，将她的精力完全榨干，自己却没有花太多气力。
It had not been easy. She had a marvelous body (forty-six, she hadsaid, but it would not have shamed a twenty-five-year-old athlete) andenormous stamina a stamina exceeded only by the careless zest withwhich she had spent it.
不过这也不容易，她拥有令人赞叹的胴体（她说自己四十六岁，却丝毫不比二十五岁的运动员逊色），以及无穷无尽的精力——只有她那狂野的欲望才能将它挥霍殆尽。
Indeed, if she could be tamed and taught moderation; if practice(but could he himself survive the practice?) brought her to a bettersense of her own capacities, and, even more important, his ,it might be pleasant to……
事实上，若能将她驯服，教她懂得如何节制，并且在不断的练习中（可是他撑得过来吗？）让她对自己的能力更有自知之明，而更重要的是，对他的能力也更加了解，那么，这也许会是一件愉快……
The snoring stopped suddenly and she stirred. He placed his handon the shoulder nearest him and stroked it lightly and her eyesopened. Trevize was leaning on his elbow, and did his best to look unwornand full of life.
鼾声突然停止，她微微动了一下。他将右手放在她肩膀上轻轻抚摩，她的眼睛就张开了。崔维兹用手肘撑着身子，尽量使自己看起来毫无倦容且精力充沛。
I'm glad you were sleeping, dear, he said. "You needed your rest."
“我很高兴你睡着了，亲爱的。”他说，“你实在需要休息。”
She smiled at him sleepily and, for one queasy moment, Trevize thoughtshe might suggest renewed activity, but she merely heaved herself abouttill she was resting on her back. She said, in a soft and satisfiedvoice, "I had you judged correctly from the start. You are a king of sexuality."
她睡眼惺忪地对他微微一笑，崔维兹突然有点不安，以为她会提议再来云雨一番。但她只是努力翻了个身，变得仰躺在床上，然后用柔和而满足的口吻说：“我一开始就没看错，你的确是个性爱高手。”
Trevize tried to look modest. "I must be more moderate."
崔维兹尽量表现出谦逊的态度。“我应该更节制一点。”
"Nonsense. You were just right. I was afraid that you had been keptactive and drained by that young woman, but you assured me you hadnot. That it true, isn't it?"
“胡说，你做得恰到好处。我本来还在担心，怕你一直保有性生活，精力都给那个年轻女子耗尽了。但你的表现使我相信事实并非如此，你说的都是实话，对不对？”
"Have I acted like someone who was half-sated to begin with?"
“我刚开始就表现得像个半饱的样子吗？”
"No, you did not," and her laughter boomed.
“不，你一点都不像。”说完她就爆笑出来。
“Are you still thinking of Psychic Probes?”
“你还想要用心灵探测器吗？”
She laughed again. "Are you mad? Would I want to lose younow ?"
她又哈哈大笑。“你疯啦？我现在还愿意失去你吗？”
"Yet it would be better if you lost me temporarily "
“但你最好能暂时失去一下。”
"What!" She frowned.
“什么？！”她皱起眉头。
“If I were to stay here permanently, my my dear, how longwould it be before eyes would begin to watch, and mouths would begin towhisper? It I went off on my mission, however, I would naturally returnperiodically to, report, and it would then be only natural that we shouldbe closeted together for a while and my mission is important.”
“如果我永远待在这里，亲……亲爱的，是不是要不了多久，就会有人窃窃私语，指指点点？然而，如果我能离去，继续执行我的任务，我自然会经常回来向你报到，而我们自然会关起门来叙旧一番——况且我的任务极为重要。”
She thought about that, scratching idly at her right hip. Then shesaid, "I suppose you're right. I hate the thought but I supposeyou're right."
她一面考虑，一面随手搔了搔右臀。然后她说：“我想你说得对，我不喜欢这个提议，但是——我想你说得对。”
"And you need not think I would not come back," said Trevize. "I amnot so witless as to forget what I would have waiting for me here."
“你不用担心我不会回来。”崔维兹说，“我不会那么傻，忘记这里有什么在等我。”
She smiled at him, touched his cheek gently, and said, looking intohis eyes, "Did you find it pleasant, love?"
她对他笑了笑，轻轻碰了碰他的脸颊，又望着他的眼眸说：“你觉得快乐吗，吾爱？”
"Much more than pleasant, dear."
“快乐得难以形容，亲爱的。”
"Yet you are a Foundationer. A man in the prime of youth fromTerminus itself. You must be accustomed to all sorts of women with allsoul skills "
“但你是基地人，你正处于人生的黄金岁月，又刚好来自端点星，你一定惯于和具有各种技巧的各种女人……”
"I have encountered nothing nothing in theleast like you," said Trevize, with a forcefulness that came easily tosomeone who was but telling the truth, after all.
“我从未遇到任何一个——任何一个——有一分像你的女人。”崔维兹毫不费力就说得理直气壮，毕竟这是百分之百的实话。
Lizalor said complacently, "Well, if you say so. Still, old habitsdie hard, you know, and I don't think I could bring myself to trust aman's word without some sort of surety. You and your friend, Pelorat,might conceivably go on this mission of yours once I hear about it andapprove, but I will keep the young woman here. She will be well treated,never fear, but I presume your Dr. Pelorat will want her, and he willsee to it that there are frequent returns to Comporellon, even if yourenthusiasm for this mission you to stay away too long."
李札乐以得意的口吻道：“好吧，既然你这么说。话说回来，你知道的，有道是积习难改，我想我不能没有任何保证就轻易相信一个男人。你和你的朋友裴洛拉特，在我了解并批准你们的任务后，应该就能上路，继续执行这项任务，但我要将那年轻女子留在这里。她会受到很好的款待，你不用怕，但我相信裴洛拉特博士会想念她，所以他一定会要你经常返回康普隆，即使你对这项任务的狂热，可能让你想在外面逗留很久。”
"But, Lizalor, that's impossible."
“可是，李札乐，这是不可能的。”
"Indeed?" Suspicion at once seeped into her eyes. "Why impossible? Forwhat purpose would you need the woman?"
“是吗？”她的双眼立刻透出怀疑的目光，“为什么不可能？你需要那个女的做什么？”
"Not for sex. I told you that, and I told you truthfully. She isPelorat's and I have no interest in her. Besides, I'm sure she'd breakin two if she attempted what you so triumphantly carried through."
“我跟你讲过，不是为了性，而我讲的都是实话。她是裴洛拉特的，我对她没兴趣。何况，如果她想学你刚才得意洋洋地摆出的那些招式，我确定她会立刻断成两截。”
Lizalor almost smiled, but repressed it and said severely, "What is it to you, then, if she remains on Comporellon?"
李札乐差点笑起来，但她克制住笑意，以严厉的口吻说：“那么，如果她留在康普隆，对你又有什么影响？”
"Because she is of essential importance to our mission. That is whywe must have her."
“因为她对我们的任务极为重要，这就是我们必须要她同行的原因。”
"Well, then, what is your mission? It is time you told me."
“好吧，那么，你们的任务到底是什么？现在是你告诉我的时候了。”
Trevize hesitated very briefly. It would have to be the truth. Hecould think of no lie as effective.
崔维兹只迟疑了非常短的时间。如今必须实话实说，他根本编不出那么有说服力的谎言。
“Listen to me,” he said. "Comporellon may be an old world, even amongthe oldest, but it can't be the oldest. Human life did notoriginate here. The earliest human beings reached here from some otherworld, and perhaps human life didn't originate there either, but camefrom still another and still older world. Eventually, though, thoseprobings back into time must stop, and we must reach the first world,the world of human origins. I am seeking Earth."
“听我说，”他道，“康普隆也许是个古老的世界，甚至是最古老的世界之一，但它绝不可能是最最古老的。人类这种生物并非发源此地，最早在这里生存的人类，是从别的世界迁徙来的；但人类可能也不是从那里发源，而是来自另一个更古老的世界。不过，这种回溯的过程终究有个尽头，我们一定会回溯到最初的世界，也就是人类的发祥地。我要寻找的正是地球。”
The change that suddenly came over Mitza Lizalor staggered him.
蜜特札·李札乐突如其来的强烈反应令他吓了一大跳。
Her eyes had widened, her breathing took on a sudden urgency, andevery muscle seemed to stiffen as she lay there in bed. Her arms shotupward rigidly, and the first two fingers of both hands crossed.
躺在床上的她，双眼睁得老大，呼吸突然变得急促，身上每条肌肉似乎全都僵住，两只手臂硬邦邦地向上举起，双手食、中两指交叉在一起。
You named it, she whispered hoarsely.
“你说出了它的名字。”她嘶哑地悄声道。
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She didn't say anything after that; she didn't look athim. Her arms slowly came down, her legs swung over the side of the bed,and she sat up, back to him. Trevize lay where he was, frozen.
她没有再说什么，也没有再望他一眼。她的双臂慢慢垂下，两腿移到床沿，然后背对着他坐起来。崔维兹仍旧躺在那里，一动也不动。
He could hear, in memory, the words of Munn Li Compor, as theystood there in the empty tourist center at Sayshell. He could hear himsaying of his own ancestral planet the one that Trevize was onnow "They're superstitious about it. Every time they mention theword, they lift up both hands with first and second fingers crossed toward off misfortune."
曼恩·李·康普所说的一番话，此时在他脑际响起，当时，他们是在那个空洞的赛协尔旅游中心里面。他现在还记得很清楚，当康普提到自己的祖星，也就是崔维兹如今立足之处，他是这么说的：“他们对地球有着迷信式的恐惧，每当提到这个名字，他们都会举起双手，食指和中指交叉，借此祛除霉运。”
How useless to remember after the fact.
事后才想起这些话有什么用！
"What should I have said, Mitza?" he muttered.
“我应该怎么说呢，蜜特札？”他喃喃问道。
She shook her head slightly, stood up, stalked toward and then througha door. It closed behind her and, after a moment, there was the soundof water running.
她轻轻摇了摇头，站起身来，朝一扇门大步走过去。她穿过之后，那扇门随即关上，不一会儿，便有水声从里面传出来。
He had no recourse but to wait, bare, undignified, wondering whetherto join her in the shower, and then quite certain he had better not. Andbecause, in a way, he felt the shower denied him, he at once experienceda growing need for one.
现在的他全身赤裸，模样狼狈，除了等待别无良策。他也想到是否应该跟她一起淋浴，却很肯定最好别这样做。但由于他觉得似乎被排拒在浴室之外，想洗澡的冲动反而立刻剧涨。
She emerged at last and silently began to select clothing.
她终于走出来，开始默默挑选衣服。
He said, "Do you mind if I……"
他说：“你介不介意我——”
She said nothing, and he took silence for consent. He tried to strideinto the room in a strong and masculine way but he felt uncommonly ashe had in those days when his mother, offended by some misbehavior onhis part, offered him no punishment but silence, causing him to shrivelin discomfort.
她什么也没说，崔维兹便将沉默解释为默许。他本想昂首阔步走进浴室，表现得像个健壮的男子汉，却又觉得很别扭，就好像小时候，他不守规矩惹母亲生了气，母亲并不处罚他，只是不再跟他说话，令他感到极为难过而沮丧。
He looked about inside the smoothly walled cubicle that wasbare-completely bare. He looked more minutely. There wasnothing.
进了那间四壁光滑的小浴室之后，他四下望了望，发现里面空空如也，什么东西都没有。他又更加仔细地检查了一遍，仍旧什么也找不到。
He opened the door again, thrust his head out, and said, "Listen,how are you supposed to start the shower?"
他把门打开，伸出头来说：“我问你，怎样才能开启淋浴？”
She put down the deodorant (at least, Trevize guessed that was itsfunction), strode to the shower-room and, still without looking at him,pointed. Trevize followed the finger and noted a spot on the wall that wasround and faintly pink, barely colored, as though the designer resentedhaving to spoil the starkness of the white, for no reason more importantthan to give a hint of function.
她把体香剂（至少，崔维兹猜想它具有类似功效）放在一旁，大步走进浴室，依旧看也不看他一眼，只是举起手来指了指。崔维兹的目光顺着她的手指望去，这才看到墙上有个淡粉红色的圆点，颜色极浅，仿佛设计师不愿为了标示一个小小的功能，而破坏那种纯白的美感。
Trevize shrugged lightly, leaned toward the wall, and touched thespot. Presumably that was what one had to do, for in a moment a deluge offine-sprayed water struck him from every direction. Gasping, he touchedthe spot again and it stopped.
崔维兹轻轻耸了耸肩，向那面墙凑过去，伸手碰触那个圆点。想必那就是他该做的动作，因为下一瞬间，大蓬细碎的水花便从四面八方袭来。他大口喘着气，赶紧再碰一下那个圆点，水花立即停止。
He opened the door, knowing he looked several degrees more undignifiedstill as he shivered hard enough to make it difficult to articulatewords. He croaked, "How do you get hot water?"
他又打开门，知道自己看起来一定更加狼狈，因为他全身抖得十分厉害，几乎连话都说不清楚。他以嘶哑的声音问道：“热水怎么开？”
Now she looked at him and, apparently, his appearance overcame heranger (or fear, or whatever emotion was victimizing her) for she snickeredand then, without warning, boomed her laughter at him.
现在她终于正眼瞧他，他滑稽的模样显然使她忘了愤怒（或是恐惧，或是任何困扰着她的情绪），因为她先是吃吃窃笑，随即又毫无预警地冲着他哈哈大笑。
"What hot water?" she said. "Do you think we're going to wastethe energy to heat water for washing? That's good mild water you had,water with the chill taken off. What more do you want? You sludge-softTerminians! Get back in there and wash!"
“什么热水？”她说，“你以为我们会把能源浪费在洗澡水上？你刚才开的是暖和的温水，已经除掉了寒气，你还想要什么？你这个温室养大的端点星人！给我进去洗！”
Trevize hesitated, but not for long, since it was clear he had nochoice in the matter.
崔维兹犹豫了一下子，不过只是一下子而已，因为他显然没有其他选择。
With remarkable reluctance he touched the pink spot again and this timesteeled his body for the icy spray. Mild water? He foundsuds forming on his body and he rubbed hastily here, there, everywhere,judging it to be the wash cycle and suspecting it would not last long.
他心不甘情不愿地又碰了一下那个粉红圆点，这次他已有心理准备，咬紧牙关忍受着冰冷的水花。温水？他发现身上开始冒起肥皂泡沫，判断现在是“洗涤周期”，想必不会持续太久，于是赶紧这里搓搓，那里搓搓，全身上下到处都搓了搓。
Then came the rinse cycle. Ah, warm Well, perhaps not warm, butnot quite as cold, and definitely feeling warm to his thoroughly chilledbody. Then, even as he was considering touching the contact spot againto stop the water, and was wondering how Lizalor had come out dry whenthere was absolutely no towel or towel-substitute in the place thewater stopped. It was followed by a blast of air that would have certainlybowled him over if it had not come from various directions equally.
接下来是“冲洗周期”，啊，真暖和！嗯，也许并非真正暖和，只不过没有先前那么冷，但是对完全冻僵的身体而言，当然要算相当暖和。不久水花突然停了，当时他正想将水关掉，并纳闷李札乐刚才如何全身干爽地走出来，因为这里绝对没有毛巾或其他代用品。此时，突然出现一阵急速的气流，若非各个方向风力相当，他一定马上被吹得东倒西歪。
It was hot; almost too hot. It took far less energy, Trevize knew,to heat air than to heat water. The hot air steamed the water off himand, in a few minutes, he was able to step out as dry as though he hadnever encountered water in his life.
这是一股热气，几乎可说太热了。崔维兹想，那是因为与热水比较之下，加热空气所消耗的能源要少得多。热气很快将他身上的水珠蒸干，几分钟后，他已经能干爽地走出浴室，就像一辈子从未碰过水一样。
Lizalor seemed to have recovered completely. "Do you feel well?"
李札乐似乎完全恢复了。“你觉得还好吗？”
"Pretty well," said Trevize. Actually, he felt astonishinglycomfortable. "All I had to do was prepare myself for the temperature. Youdidn't tell me "
“相当好。”事实上，崔维兹觉得全身舒畅异常，“我唯一要做的就是洗冷水的心理准备，你没告诉我……”
"Sludge-soft," said Lizalor, with mild contempt.
“温室里的花朵。”李札乐略带轻蔑地说。
He borrowed her deodorant, then began to dress, conscious of the factthat she had fresh underwear and he did not. He said, "What should Ihave called that world?"
他借用了她的体香剂，然后开始穿衣服，这才发觉只有她有干净的内衣可换，自己却没有。他说：“我应该怎样称呼——那个世界？”
She said, "We refer to it as the Oldest."
她说：“我们管它叫‘最古世界’。”
He said, "How was I to know the name I used was forbidden? Did youtell me?"
他说：“我又怎么知道刚才说的那个名字是禁忌？你告诉过我吗？”
"Did you ask?"
“你问过吗？”
"How was I to know to ask?"
“我怎么知道该问？”
"You know now."
“你现在知道了。”
"I'm bound to forget."
“我一定会忘记。”
"You had better not."
“你最好别忘。”
"What's the difference?" Trevize felt his temper rising. "It's justa word, a sound."
“这有什么差别呢？”崔维兹觉得火气来了，“只是一个名字，一些声音罢了。”
Lizalor said darkly, "There are words one doesn't say. Do you sayevery word you know under all circumstances?"
李札乐以阴郁的语气说：“有些字眼是不能随便说的，你会随时随地说出你知道的每个字眼吗？”
Lizalor said, "It's a sad word, a solemn word. It represents a worldthat was ancestor to us all and that now doesn't exist. It's tragic,and we feel it because it was near to us. We prefer not to speak of itor, if we must, not to use its name."
“有些字眼的确很粗俗，有些不适于说出口，有些在特殊场合会伤人。我刚才用的那个字眼，属于哪一类？”
"Some words are vulgar, some are inappropriate, some under particular circumstances would be hurtful. Which is that word I used?"
李札乐答道：“它是个可悲的字眼，是个严肃的字眼。它代表我们的祖先世界，而这个世界已不复存在。它很悲壮，我们感觉得到，因为它距离我们很近。我们尽量不谈到它，如果不得不提及，也不会提到它的名字。”
"And the crossing of fingers at me? How does that relieve the hurtand sadness?"
“手指交叉对着我又是什么意思呢？这样怎能抚慰痛苦和悲伤？”
Lizalor's face flushed. "That was an automatic reaction, and I don'tthank you for forcing it on me. There are people who believe that theword, even the thought, brings on misfortune and that is how theyward it off."
李札乐涨红了脸。“那是一种反射动作，我是给你逼的。有些人相信那个字眼会带来不幸，甚至光是想想都会倒霉，他们就是用那个动作祛除霉运。”
"Do you, too, believe crossing fingers wards off misfortune?"
“你是否也相信交叉手指真能祛除霉运？”
"No. Well, yes, in a way. It makes me uneasy if I don't doit." She didn't look at him. Then, as though eager to shift the subject,she said quickly, "And how is that black-haired woman of yours of theessence with respect to your mission to reach that world youmentioned."
“不相信——嗯，也可以说相信。我要是不那么做，心中就会感到不安。”她在说话的时候，目光一直避开他。然后，她仿佛急于改变话题，马上又说：“你们那位黑发姑娘，对于你们寻找——你所说的那个世界，究竟有什么重要性？”
"Say `the Oldest.' Or would you rather not even say that?"
“说最古世界吧，或是你连这个称呼都不愿意用？”
"I would rather not discuss it at all, but I asked you a question."
“我宁可完全不讨论这件事，但还是请你回答我的问题。”
"I believe that her people reached their present world as emigrantsfrom the Oldest."
“我相信，她的祖先就是从最古世界移民到现在那颗行星的。”
"As we did," said Lizalor proudly.
“跟我们一样。”李札乐骄傲地说。
"But her people have traditions of some sort which she says are thekey to understanding the Oldest, but only if we reach it and can studyits records."
“可是她的族人拥有一些口传历史，她说那是了解最古世界的关键线索。但我们必须先找到它，才能利用那个线索，研究上面的记录。”
"She is lying."
“她在说谎。”
"Perhaps, but we must check it out."
“或许吧，但是我们必须查清楚。”
"If you have this woman with her problematical knowledge, and if youwant to reach the Oldest with her, why did you come to Comporellon?"
“既然你有了这个女子，以及她那些不可靠的知识，你又已经准备和她一起去寻找最古世界，为什么还要来康普隆呢？”
"To find the location of the Oldest. I had a friend once, who, likemyself, was a Foundationer. He, however, was descended from Comporellianancestors and he assured me that much of the history of the Oldest waswell known, on Comporellon."
“因为想要找出最古世界的位置。我以前有个朋友，他跟我一样是基地人，不过他的祖先来自康普隆。他曾经肯定地告诉我，许多有关最古世界的历史在康普隆是家喻户晓的。”
"Did he indeed? And did he tell you any of itshistory?"
“他真这么说？他有没有告诉你任何有关它的历史？”
"Yes," said Trevize, reaching for the truth again. "He said thatthe Oldest was a dead world, entirely radioactive. He did not know why,but he thought that it might be the result of nuclear explosions. In awar, perhaps."
“有的。”崔维兹再次实话实说，“他说最古世界已经死了，上面充满放射性。他也不清楚为什么，但他认为可能是核爆的结果，也许是在一场战争中发生的。”
"No!" said Lizalor explosively.
“不对！”李札乐高声吼道。
"No, there was no war? Or no, the Oldest is not radioactive?"
“不对？是不曾有战争，还是最古世界没有放射性？”
"It is radioactive, but there was no war."
“它有放射性，但并非由于战争的缘故。”
"Then how did it become radioactive? It could not have been radioactiveto begin with since human life began on the Oldest. There would havebeen no life on it ever."
“那么它是如何变得具有放射性呢？它不可能一开始就有放射性，否则根本不会有任何生命存在，但人类这种生物正是起源于最古世界。”
Lizalor seemed to hesitate. She stood erect, and was breathing deeply,almost gasping. She said, "It was a punishment. It was a world that usedrobots. Do you know what robots are?"
李札乐似乎在犹豫，她站得笔直，呼吸沉重，几乎是在喘气。她说：“那是一种惩罚。它是使用机器人的世界之一，你知道什么是机器人吗？”
"Yes."
“知道。”
"They had robots and for that they were punished. Every world thathas had robots has been punished and no longer exists."
“他们使用机器人，因此受到惩罚。每个拥有机器人的世界都受到了惩罚，全都不存在了。”
"Who punished them, Lizalor?"
“李札乐，是谁惩罚他们？”
"He Who Punishes. The forces of history. I don't know." She looked awayfrom him, uncomfortable, then said, in a lower voice, "Ask others."
“是‘惩罚者’，是历史的力量，我也不确定。”她的目光又避开他，眼神有些不安。然后，她压低声音说：“去问别人吧。”
"I would like to, but whom do I ask? Are there those on Comporellonwho have studied primeval history?"
“我愿意问别人，但我该找谁问呢？康普隆上有人研究过太古历史吗？”
"There are. They are not popular with us with the averageComporellian but the Foundation, your Foundation,insists on intellectual freedom, as they call it."
“有的，他们不受我们欢迎，我是指不受一般康普隆人的欢迎。可是基地，你们的基地，却坚持他们所谓的学术自由。”
"Not a bad insistence, in my opinion," said Trevize.
“我认为这个坚持很好。”崔维兹说。
"All is bad that is imposed from without," said Lizalor.
“凡是被外力强迫的，都是不好的。”李札乐回嘴道。
Trevize shrugged. There was no purpose in arguing the matter. He sald,"My friend, Dr. Pelorat, is himself a primeval historian of a sort. Hewould, I'm sure, like to meet his Comporellian colleagues. Can youarrange that, Lizalor?"
崔维兹耸了耸肩。辩论这种题目好像没有任何意义，于是他说：“我的朋友裴洛拉特博士，可以算是一位太古历史学家。我相信他一定希望见见康普隆的同道，你能帮忙安排吗，李札乐？”
She nodded. "There is a historian named Vasil Deniador, who is basedat the University here in the city. He does not teach class, but he maybe able to tell you what you want to know."
她点了点头。“有个名叫瓦希尔·丹尼亚多的历史学家，寄身在本市的大学里。他没有开课，不过你们想知道的事，他也许都能告诉你们。”
"Why doesn't he teach class?"
“他为什么没开课？”
"It's not that he is forbidden; it's just that students do not electhis course."
“不是政府不准，只是学生都不选他的课。”
"I presume," said Trevize, trying not to say it sardonically, "thatthe students are encouraged not to elect it."
“我想，”崔维兹尽量避免透出讥讽的口气，“是政府鼓励学生不去选他的课。”
"Why should they want to? He is a Skeptic. We have them, youknow. There are always individuals who pit their minds against thegeneral modes of thought and who are arrogant enough to feel that theyalone are right and that the many are wrong."
“学生怎么会想上他的课？他是个怀疑论者，到处都有这样的人，你知道的。总有些人喜欢跟一般的思想模式唱反调，而且这种人都十分高傲自大，以为只有自己的看法才正确，其他大多数人都是错的。”
"Might it not be that that could actually be so in some cases?"
“难道许多时候不正是这样吗？”
"Never!" snapped Lizalor, with a firmness of belief that made itquite clear that no further discussion in that direction would be of anyuse. "And for all his Skepticism, he will be forced to tell you exactlywhat any Comporellian would tell you."
“从来没有！”李札乐怒吼道，她的语气万分坚定，表示显然没有必要就这个问题再讨论下去，“纵然他死守着他的怀疑论，他告诉你的答案，也注定和任何康普隆人说的一模一样。”
"And that is?"
“什么答案？”
"That if you search for the Oldest, you will not find it."
“如果要寻找最古世界，你一定会无功而返。”
24
24
In the private quarters assigned them, Pelorat listenedto Trevize thoughtfully, his long solemn face expressionless, then said,"Vasil Deniador? I do not recall having heard of him, but it may be thatback on the ship I will find papers by him in my library."
在指定给他们的套房里，裴洛拉特仔细听完崔维兹的叙述，又长又严肃的面容始终毫无表情。然后他说：“瓦希尔·丹尼亚多？我不记得听过这个名字，但若是在太空艇上，我或许能从我的图书馆中找到他的论文。”
"Are you sure you haven't heard of him? Think!" said Trevize.
“你确定没听过这个人？好好想一想！”崔维兹说。
"I don't recall, at the moment, having heard of him," said Peloratcautiously, "but after all, my dear chap, there must be hundreds ofestimable scholars I haven't heard of; or have, but can't remember."
“此时此刻，我实在想不起来听过这个名字。”裴洛拉特十分谨慎地说，“但无论如何，我亲爱的兄弟，银河中稍有名望的学者，我没听说过或记不起来的，少说也有好几百个。”
"Still, he can't be first-class, or you would have heard of him."
“话说回来，他不可能是第一流的学者，否则你一定听过。”
"The study of Earth……"
“研究地球……”
"Practice saying `the Oldest,' Janov. It would complicate mattersotherwise."
“练习说最古世界，詹诺夫，否则会让事情变得更复杂。”
"The study of the Oldest," said Pelorat, "is not a well-rewarded nichein the corridors of learning, so that first-class scholars, even in thefield of primeval history, would not tend to find their way there. Or,if we put it the other way around, those who are already there do notmake enough of a name for themselves in an uninterested world to beconsidered first-class, even if they were. I am notfirst-class in anyone's estimation, I am sure."
“研究最古世界，”裴洛拉特又说，“在学术界并不吃香，因此第一流的学者，即使是钻研太古历史的一流学者，都不愿意涉足其间。或者，让我们换个说法，那些已经钻入这个领域的学者，不可能借着一个大家都没兴趣的世界，使自己在学术界扬名立万，成为公认的一流学者，即使他们当之无愧。比方说，就没有任何人认为我是一流的，这点我相当肯定。”
Bliss said tenderly, "In mine, Pel."
宝绮思温柔地说：“在我心目中就是，裴。”
"Yes, certainly in yours, my dear," said Pelorat, smiling slightly,"but you are not judging me in my capacity as scholar."
“对啊，在你心目中当然不一样，亲爱的，”裴洛拉特淡淡一笑，“但你的评断并非根据我的学术成就。”
It was almost night now, going by the clock, and Trevize felt himselfgrow slightly impatient, as he always did when Bliss and Pelorat tradedendearments.
根据钟表所指的时间，现在几乎入夜了。崔维兹又开始感到有点不耐烦，每当宝绮思与裴洛拉特打情骂俏之际，他总会有这种感觉。
He said, "I'll try to arrange our seeing this Deniador tomorrow,but if he knows as little about the matter as the Minister does, we'renot going to be much better off than we are now."
他说：“我会试着安排明天一起去见这位丹尼亚多，但如果他知道的和那位部长一样少，我们就等于白跑一趟。”
Pelorat said, "He may be able to lead us to someone more useful."
裴洛拉特说：“他也许能带我们去找对我们更有帮助的人。”
"I doubt it. This world's attitude toward Earth but I had betterpractice speaking of it elliptically, too. This world's attitude towardthe Oldest is a foolish and superstitious one." He turned away. "Butit's been a rough day and we ought to think of an evening meal ifwe can face their uninspired cookery and then begin thinking ofgetting some sleep. Have you two learned how to use the shower?"
“我可不信。这个世界对地球的态度——但我最好也练习改用拐弯抹角的称呼——这个世界对最古世界的态度是愚昧且迷信的。”他背过脸去，又说，“不过这实在是辛苦的一天，我们应该准备吃晚餐了——只要我们能够接受他们那种平平的烹饪术——然后再准备睡上一觉。你们两位学会怎样用淋浴了吗？”
"My dear fellow," said Pelorat, "we have been very kindlytreated. We've received all sorts of instructions, most of which wedidn't need."
“我亲爱的伙伴，”裴洛拉特说，“我们受到非常殷勤的款待，学到了所有设备的使用方法，大部分我们都用不着。”
Bliss said, "Listen, Trevize. What about the ship?"
宝绮思说：“我问你，崔维兹，太空艇的事怎么样了？”
"What about it?"
“什么怎么样？”
"Is the Comporellian government confiscating it?"
“康普隆政府要没收它吗？”
"No. I don't think they will."
“不，我想他们不会。”
"Ah. Very pleasant. Why aren't they?"
“啊，真令人高兴。他们为什么不会？”
Because I persuaded the Minister to change her mind.
“因为我说服了部长改变心意。”
Pelorat said, "Astonishing. She didn't seem a particularly persuadableindividual to me."
裴洛拉特说：“真是难以置信，我认为她不像是特别容易被说服的人。”
Bliss said, "I don't know. It was clear from the texture of her mindthat she was attracted to Trevize."
宝绮思说：“这点我不清楚，不过从她的心灵纹理看来，她显然被崔维兹吸引了。”
Trevize looked at Bliss with sudden exasperation. "Did you do that,Bliss?"
崔维兹突然气呼呼地瞪着宝绮思。“你那么做了吗，宝绮思？”
"What do you mean, Trevize?"
“你这话什么意思，崔维兹？”
"I mean tamper with her "
“我是说影响她的……”
"I didn't tamper. However, when I noted that she was attracted toyou, I couldn't resist just snapping an inhibition or two. It was avery small thing to do. Those inhibitions might have snapped anyway,and it seemed to be important to make certain that she was filled withgood will toward you."
“我并没有影响她。不过，当我注意到她被你吸引的时候，我忍不住扯断她一两道心灵禁制。这是微不足道的一件小事，那些禁制自己也可能挣断，然而确保她对你充满善意，则似乎是件很重要的事。”
"Good will? It was more than that! She softened, yes, butpost-coitally."
“善意？不只如此而已！没错，她的确软化了，却是在我们上床之后。”
Pelorat said, "Surely you don't mean, old man……"
裴洛拉特说：“你显然是在开玩笑，老友……”
"Why not?" said Trevize testily. "She may be past her first youth,but she knew the art well. She was no beginner, I assure you. Nor will Iplay the gentleman and lie on her behalf. It was her idea thanksto Bliss's fiddling with her inhibitions and I was not in aposition to refuse, even if that thought had occurred to me, which itdidn't. Come, Janov, don't stand there looking puritanical. It'sbeen months since I've had an opportunity. You've " And he wavedhis hand vaguely in Bliss's direction.
“我为什么开玩笑？”崔维兹气冲冲地说，“她也许不再年轻，但她精通此道。我向你保证，她可不是生手。我不会装出一副道貌岸然的样子，也不会为她掩饰什么。那是她的主意——这都要感谢宝绮思拉断了她的心灵禁制——在那种情况下我根本无法拒绝，即使想到应该拒绝，我也不会那么做，何况我并没有拒绝的念头。得了吧，詹诺夫，别表现得像个清教徒，我已经好几个月没这种机会了，而你却有——”他朝宝绮思的方向随手挥了挥。
"Believe me, Golan," said Pelorat, embarrassed, "if you areinterpreting my expression as puritanical, you mistake me. I have no objection."
“相信我，葛兰，”裴洛拉特尴尬地说，“如果你将我的表情解释为清教徒的反应，那就是误会我了，我一点都不反对。”
Bliss said, "But she is puritanical. I meant to makeher warm toward you; I did not count on a sexual paroxysm."
宝绮思说：“她却是个标准的清教徒。我本来只想让她对你热络点，并没有想要利用性冲动。”
Trevize said, "But that is exactly what you brought on, my littleinterfering Bliss. It may be necessary for the Minister to play thepuritan in public, but if so, that seems merely to stoke the fires."
崔维兹说：“但你引发的正是这种结果，爱管闲事的小宝绮思。在公开场合，那位部长也许必须扮演清教徒，但这样一来，似乎只会使她的欲火更炽烈。”
"And so, provided you scratch the itch, she will betray theFoundation "
“而你只要搔到她的痒处，她就会背叛基地……”
"She would have done that in any case," said Trevize. "She wantedthe ship " He broke off, and said in a whisper, "Are we beingoverheard?"
“她无论如何都会那么做，她想要那艘太空艇……”崔维兹突然住口，又压低声音说，“我们有没有被窃听？”
Bliss said, "No!"
宝绮思说：“没有！”
"Are you sure?"
“你确定吗？”
"It is certain. It is impossible to impinge upon the mind of Gaia inany unauthorized fashion without Gaia being aware of it."
“确定。以任何未经允许的方式侵入盖娅的心灵，都不可能不让盖娅发觉。”
"In that case, Comporellon wants the ship for itself a valuableaddition to its fleet."
“这样就好。康普隆自己想要这艘珍贵的太空艇，用以充实他们的舰队。”
"Surely, the Foundation would not allow that."
“基地一定不会允许的。”
Comporellon does not intend to have the Foundation know.
“康普隆不打算让基地知道。”
Bliss sighed. "There are your Isolates. The Minister intends tobetray the Foundation on behalf of Comporellon and, in return for sex,will promptly betray Comporellon, too. And as for Trevize, he willgladly sell his body's services as a way of inducing the betrayal. Whatanarchy there is in this Galaxy of yours. What chaos ."
宝绮思叹了一口气。“这又是你们孤立演出的闹剧。部长为了康普隆，本来准备背叛基地，结果为了回报一场鱼水之欢，立刻又准备背叛康普隆。至于崔维兹嘛，他很乐意出卖自己的肉体，来引诱部长叛国。你们的银河简直处于无政府状态，根本就是一团混沌。”
Trevize said coldly, "You are wrong, young woman……"
崔维兹冷冷地说：“你错了，小姐……”
"In what I have just said, I am not a young woman, I am Gaia. I amall of Gaia."
“我刚才说话的时候，可不是什么小姐，我是盖娅，我是所有的盖娅。”
"Then you are wrong, Gaia . I did not sell my body'sservices. I gave them gladly. I enjoyed it and did no one harm. As forthe consequences, they turned out well from my standpoint and I acceptthat. And if Comporellon wants the ship for its own purposes, who is tosay who is right in this matter? It is a Foundation ship, but it wasgiven to me to search for Earth. It is mine then until I complete thesearch and I feel that the Foundation has no right to go back on itsagreement. As for Comporellon, it does not enjoy Foundation domination,so it dreams of independence. In its own eyes, it is correct to do soand to deceive the Foundation, for that is not an act of treason to thembut an act of patriotism. Who knows?"
“那么你错了，盖娅。我并没有出卖肉体，而是心甘情愿地付出，我乐在其中，没有伤害到任何人。至于结果，就我的观点而言，其实是圆满收场，我愿意接受这一切。康普隆若是出于私心而想要那艘太空艇，这又能说是谁对谁错呢？它虽然是一艘基地的太空艇，可是基地已经拨给我，作为寻找地球之用，在我完成这项任务之前，它都是属于我的，我想基地没有权利违背这项协议。至于康普隆，它不喜欢受基地支配，因此梦想着独立。站在它的立场，追求独立和欺骗基地都是正当的，因为这并非叛变的行动，而是爱国的表现。谁能说得清呢？”
"Exactly. Who knows? In a Galaxy of anarchy, how is it possible to sortout reasonable actions from unreasonable ones? How decide between rightand wrong, good and evil, justice and crime, useful and useless? Andhow do you explain the Minister's betrayal of her own government, whenshe lets you keep the ship? Does she long for personal independencefrom an oppressive world? Is she a traitor or a personal one-womanself-patriot?"
“正是如此，谁能说得清呢？在一个无政府状态的银河中，该如何分辨合理和不合理的行为？该如何判断是与非、善与恶、正义与不法、有用与无用？部长背叛她自己的政府，让你保留太空艇，这个行动你要如何解释？难道是因为她对这个令人窒息的世界不满，而渴望个人的独立？她究竟是个叛徒，还是个忠于自己、追求自主的女人？”
"To be truthful," said Trevize, "I don't know that she was willing tolet me have my ship simply because she was grateful to me for the pleasureI gave her. I believe she made that decision only when I told her I wassearching for the Oldest. It is a world of ill-omen to her and we andthe ship that carries us, by searching for it, have become ill-omened,too. It is my feeling that she feet/ she incurred the ill-omen for herselfand her world by attempting to take the ship, which she may, by now,be viewing with horror. Perhaps she feels that by allowing us and ourship to leave and go about our business, she is averting the misfortunefrom Comporellon and is, in that way, performing a patriotic act."
“老实说，”崔维兹道，“她愿意让我保有太空艇，我不敢说只是为了感谢我带给她的快乐。我相信，是在我提到正在寻找最古世界之后，她才作出这个决定的。对她而言，那是个充满恶兆的世界，而我们三人，以及载运我们的太空艇，由于从事这项探索，也都变成了恶兆。我有一种想法，她认为夺取那艘太空艇的行动，已经为她自己以及她的世界招来噩运，现在她心中可能充满恐惧。或许她感到，如果让我们和太空艇一起离开，继续执行我们的任务，就能使噩运远离康普隆，而这可算是一桩爱国之举。”
"If that were so, which I doubt, Trevize, superstition is the springof the action. Do you admire that?"
“虽然我很怀疑，崔维兹，但如果真如你所说的，那么迷信就成了行动的原动力。你认为这是好现象吗？”
"I neither admire nor condemn. Superstition always directs action inthe absence of knowledge. The Foundation believes in the Seldon Plan,though no one in our realm can understand it, interpret its details,or use it to predict. We follow blindly out of ignorance and faith,and isn't that superstition?"
“我既不称赞也不谴责这种事。在知识不足的情况下，迷信总是会指导人们的行动。基地上上下下都相信谢顿计划，虽然我们之中没有谁能了解它、没有谁能解释它的细节，或是能用它来进行预测。我们出于无知和信念，盲目奉行这个计划，难道不也是一种迷信吗？”
"Yes, it might be."
“没错，可能就是。”
"And Gaia, too. You believe I have given the correct decision injudging that Gaia should absorb the Galaxy into one large organism, butyou do not know why I should be right, or how safe it would be for you tofollow that decision. You are willing to go along only out of ignoranceand faith, and are even annoyed with me for trying to find evidencethat will remove the ignorance and make mere faith unnecessary. Isn'tthat superstition?"
“而盖娅也一样，你们相信我作了正确的抉择：盖娅应该将整个银河并成一个超大型生命体，但你们不知道我的选择为何正确，以及遵循我的决定有多保险。你们甘愿在无知和信念上展开行动，而我试图寻找证据，想帮助你们突破这个窘境，你们竟然还不高兴。这难道不也是迷信吗？”
"I think he has you there, Bliss," said Pelorat.
“我认为这回他把你驳倒了，宝绮思。”裴洛拉特说。
Bliss said, "Not so. He will either find nothing at all in this search,or he will find something that confirms his decision."
宝绮思说：“没有。这次的寻找只会有两个结果，不是一无所获，便是找到足以支持他那个决定的佐证。”
Trevize said, "And to back up that belief, you have only ignorance and faith. In other words, superstition!"
崔维兹又说：“而你这个信心，也只是靠无知和信念来支持。换句话说，就是迷信！”
25
25
Vasil Deniador was a small man, little of feature, with a way oflooking up by raising his eyes without raising his head. This, combinedwith the brief smiles that periodically lit his face, gave him theappearance of laughing silently at the world.
瓦希尔·丹尼亚多是个小个子，又生得一副小鼻子小眼睛，但他看人的时候并不抬头，只是将眼珠向上翻转。这副尊容，再加上他脸上经常闪现的短暂笑容，使他看来像是一直在默默嘲笑这个世界。
His office was long and narrow, filled with tapes that seemed tobe in wild disorder, not because there was any definite evidence forthat, but because they were not evenly placed in their recesses so thatthey gave the shelves a snaggle-toothed appearance. The three seats heindicated for his visitors were not matched and showed signs of havingbeen recently, and imperfectly, dusted.
他的研究室相当狭长，里面堆满磁带，看来凌乱不堪。倒不是因为真有多乱，而是由于磁带在架子上排列很不整齐，像是好几排参差不齐的牙齿。他请三位访客坐的椅子并不属于一套，而且看得出最近才掸过灰，却没有清理得很干净。
He said, "Janov Pelorat, Golan Trevize, and Bliss. I do nothave your second name, madam."
他说：“詹诺夫·裴洛拉特，葛兰·崔维兹，以及宝绮思。我还不知道你的姓氏，女士。”
"Bliss," she said, "is all I am usually called," and sat down.
她答道：“通常大家就叫我宝绮思。”说完便坐下来。
"It is enough after all," said Deniador, twinkling at her. "You areattractive enough to be forgiven if you had no name at all."
“反正这样也够了，”丹尼亚多一面说，一面对她眨眼睛，“你这么迷人，即使根本没有名字，也不会有人见怪。”
All were sitting now. Deniador said, "I have heard of you, Dr. Pelorat,though we have never corresponded. You are a Foundationer, are younot? From Terminus?"
大家坐定之后，丹尼亚多又说：“虽然我们从来没通过信，但我久仰你的大名，裴洛拉特博士。你是基地人，对不对？从端点星来的？”
"Yes, Dr. Deniador."
“是的，丹尼亚多博士。”
"And you, Councilman Trevize. I seem to have heard that recently youwere expelled from the Council and exiled. I don't think I have everunderstood why."
“而你，崔维兹议员，我好像听说你最近被议会除名，并且遭到放逐，但我一直不了解究竟是为什么。”
"Not expelled, sir. I am still a member of the Council although Idon't know when I will take up my duties again. Nor exiled, quite. Iwas assigned a mission, concerning which we wish to consult you."
“我没有被除名，博士，我仍是议会的一员，虽然我不知道何时会再重拾权责。我也不算真的遭到放逐，而是接受了一项任务。我们希望向你请教的问题，就和这项任务有关。”
"Happy to try to help," said Deniador. "And the blissful lady? Isshe from Terminus, too."
“乐于提供协助。”丹尼亚多说，“这位引人绮思的小姐呢？她也是从端点星来的吗？”
Trevize interposed quickly. "She is from elsewhere, Doctor."
崔维兹立刻插嘴道：“她是从别处来的，博士。”
"Ah, a strange world, this Elsewhere. A most unusual collection ofhuman beings are native to it. But since two of you are from theFoundation's capital at Terminus, and the third is an attractive youngwoman, and Mitza Lizalor is not known for her affection for eithercategory, how is it that she recommends you to my care so warmly?"
“啊，这个‘别处’，真是个奇怪的世界，最不平凡的人类都是那里土生土长的。不过，既然你们两位来自基地的首都端点星，这位又是个年轻迷人的女郎，而蜜特札·李札乐对这两种人向来没有好感，她怎么会如此热心地把我推荐给你们呢？”
"I think," said Trevize, "to get rid of us. The sooner you help us,you see, the sooner we will leave Comporellon."
“我想，”崔维兹说，“是为了要摆脱我们。你愈快协助我们，你该知道，我们就会愈快离开康普隆。”
Deniador eyed Trevize with interest (again the twinkling smile) andsaid, "Of course, a vigorous young man such as yourself might attracther whatever his origin. She plays the role of cold vestal well, butnot perfectly."
丹尼亚多看了崔维兹一眼，显得很感兴趣（又露出一闪即逝的微笑），然后说：“当然啦，像你这样生龙活虎的年轻人，不论是打哪儿来的，都很容易吸引住她。她把冷冰冰的圣女这个角色演得不赖，可是并非十全十美。”
"I know nothing about that," said Trevize stiffly.
“这点我完全不清楚。”崔维兹硬邦邦地说。
"And you had better not. In public, at least. But I am a Skepticand I am professionally unattuned to believing in surfaces. So come,Councilman, what is your mission? Let me find out if I can help you."
“你最好别清楚，至少在公开场合。但我是个怀疑论者，我的职业病使我不会轻易相信表面的事物。说吧，议员先生，你的任务是什么？我来看看自己是否帮得上忙。”
Trevize said, "In this, Dr. Pelorat is our spokesman."
崔维兹说：“这方面，裴洛拉特博士是我们的发言人。”
I have no objection to that, said Deniador. "Dr. Pelorat?"
“我没有任何异议。”丹尼亚多说，“裴洛拉特博士？”
Pelorat said, "To put it at the simplest, dear Doctor, I have allmy mature life attempted to penetrate to the basic core of knowledgeconcerning the world on which the human species originated, and I wassent out along with my good friend, Golan Trevize although, tobe sure, I did not know him at the time to find, if we could,the uh Oldest, I believe you call it."
裴洛拉特开口道：“用最简单的方式来说，亲爱的博士，我把成年后的所有岁月，全部花在钻研一个特殊的世界上，试图洞视一切相关知识的基本核心，而这个世界就是人类这个物种的发源地。后来我和我的好友葛兰·崔维兹一同被送到太空，不过实际上，我原来根本不认识他。我们的任务是要寻找，尽可能寻找那个——呃——最古世界，我相信你们是这么叫的。”
The Oldest? said Deniador. "I take it you mean Earth."
“最古世界？”丹尼亚多说，“我想你的意思是指地球。”
Pelorat's jaw dropped. Then he said, with a slight stutter, "I was under the impression that is, I was given to understand that one did not……"
裴洛拉特突然张口结舌，然后有点结巴地说：“在我的印象中……我是说，有人告诉我说，你们都不……”
He looked at Trevize, rather helplessly.
他望向崔维兹，显然不知如何是好。
Trevize said, "Minister Lizalor told me that that word was not usedon Comporellon."
于是崔维兹接口道：“李札乐部长曾经告诉我，那个名字在康普隆不能使用。”
"You mean she did this?" Deniador's mouth turned downward, his nosescrewed up, and he thrust his arms vigorously forward, crossing thefirst two fingers on each hand.
“你是说她这样做？”丹尼亚多嘴角下垂，鼻子皱成一团，然后使劲向前伸出双臂，双手的食中两指互相交叉。
Yes, said Trevize. "That's what I mean."
“对，”崔维兹说，“我正是那个意思。”
Deniador relaxed and laughed. "Nonsense, gentlemen. We do it as amatter of habit, and in the backwoods they may be serious about it but,on the whole, it doesn't matter. I don't know any Comporellian whowouldn't say `Earth' when annoyed or startled. It's the most commonvulgarism we have."
丹尼亚多收回双手，大笑了几声。“愚不可及，两位先生。我们做这个动作只是一种习惯，偏远地区的人也许很认真，但一般人都不把它当一回事。康普隆人在生气或受惊的时候，都会随口喊上一声‘地球’，我还从来没见过一个例外，那是我们这里最普通的一句粗话。”
"Vulgarism?" said Pelorat faintly.
“粗话？”裴洛拉特细声道。
"Or expletive, if you prefer."
“或者说感叹词，随你喜欢。”
"Nevertheless," said Trevize, "the Minister seemed quite upset whenI used the word."
“然而，”崔维兹说，“当我使用这个字眼时，部长似乎相当慌乱。”
"Oh well, she's a mountain woman."
“喔，对了，她是个山地女人。”
"What does that mean, sir?"
“那是什么意思，博士？”
"What it says. Mitza Lizalor is from the Central Mountain Range. Thechildren out there are brought up in what is called the good old-fashionedway, which means that no matter how well educated they become you cannever knock those crossed fingers out of them."
“就是字面的意思。蜜特札·李札乐来自中央山脉，那里的孩子是由所谓优良旧式传统培养出来的。也就是说，不论他们后来接受多好的教育，也永远无法戒除交叉手指的习惯。”
"Then the word `Earth' doesn't bother you at all, does it,Doctor?" said Bliss.
“那么‘地球’两字对你完全不会造成困扰，是吗，博士？”宝绮思问。
"Not at all, dear lady. I am a Skeptic."
“完全不会，亲爱的小姐，我是个怀疑论者。”
Trevize said, "I know what the word `skeptic' means in Galactic,but how do you use the word?"
崔维兹说：“我知道‘怀疑论者’在银河标准语中的意思，但你们是怎么个用法？”
"Exactly as you do, Councilman. I accept only what I am forcedto accept by reasonably reliable evidence, and keep that acceptancetentative pending the arrival of further evidence. That doesn't makeus popular."
“跟你们的用法一模一样，议员先生。除非有合理可靠的证据使我不得不接受，否则我不轻易接受任何观念，但我仍然保持存疑，以等待更进一步的证据。这种态度使我们不受欢迎。”
"Why not?" said Trevize.
“为什么？”崔维兹说。
"We wouldn't be popular anywhere. Where is the world whose people don'tprefer a comfortable, warm, and well-worn belief, however illogical,to the chilly winds of uncertainty? Consider how you believe inthe Seldon Plan without evidence."
“我们在任何地方都不会受欢迎。哪个世界的人不喜欢轻轻松松、平易近人又老掉牙的信仰——不论多么不合逻辑——反倒偏爱令人心寒的不确定感呢？想想看，你们又是如何相信缺乏证据的谢顿计划。”
Yes, said Trevize, studying his finger ends. "I put that forwardyesterday as an example, too."
“没错。”崔维兹一面说，一面审视自己的指尖，“我昨天也举过这个例子。”
Pelorat said, "May I return to the subject, old fellow? What is knownabout Earth that a Skeptic would accept?"
裴洛拉特说：“我可不可以回到原来的题目，老兄？有关地球的种种说法，哪些是一名怀疑论者可以接受的？”
Deniador said, "Very little. We can assume that there is a singleplanet on which the human species developed, because it is unlikelyin the extreme that the same species, so nearly identical as to beinterfertile, would develop on a number of worlds, or even on just two,independently. We can choose to call this world of origin Earth. The belief is general, here, that Earth exists in this corner of the Galaxy,for the worlds here are unusually old and it is likely that the firstworlds to be settled were close to Earth rather than far from it."
丹尼亚多说：“非常少。我们可以假设，人类这个物种的确发源于单一行星。若说这些相近到了能够偶配的物种，竟然发源自数个世界，那是极端不可能的。人类甚至不会是在两颗行星上独立发展的，我们可以姑且将这个起源世界称为地球。在我们这里，一般人都相信地球就在附近的星空，因为这里的世界都特别古老，而最初的殖民世界想必都比较接近地球。”
"And has the Earth any unique characteristics aside from being theplanet of origin?" asked Pelorat eagerly.
“地球除了是起源行星之外，还有没有其他独一无二的特色？”裴洛拉特急切地问道。
"Do you have something in mind?" said Deniador, with his quicksmile.
“你心里有什么特定的答案吗？”丹尼亚多说，脸上掠过一闪即逝的笑容。
"I'm thinking of its satellite, which some call the moon. That wouldbe unusual, wouldn't it?"
“我想到了地球的卫星，有些人称之为月球。它应该颇不寻常，对不对？”
"That's a leading question, Dr. Pelorat. You may be putting thoughtsinto my mind."
“这是个诱导性的问题，裴洛拉特博士，你可能正在将一些想法灌输给我。”
"I do not say what it is that would make the moon unusual."
“我没说月球哪方面不寻常。”
Its size, of course. Am I right? Yes, I see I am. All thelegends of Earth speak of its vast array of living species and of itsvast satellite one that is some three thousand to three thousandfive hundred kilometers in diameter. The vast array of life is easyto accept since it would naturally have come about through biologicalevolution, if what we know of the process is accurate. A giant satelliteis more difficult to accept. No other inhabited world in the Galaxy hassuch a satellite. Large satellites are invariably associated with theuninhabited and uninhabitable gas-giants. As a Skeptic, then, I prefernot to accept the existence of the moon.
“当然是它的大小，我说对了吗？没错，我想我说对了。所有关于地球的传说，都提到它拥有一大堆物种，以及一颗巨大的卫星，直径约在三千到三千五百公里之间。一大堆的生命形态不难理解，因为生物的演化自然会导致这种结果，除非我们所了解的演化过程并不正确。一颗巨大的卫星却较难令人接受，银河中其他住人世界都没有这样的卫星，大型卫星总是环绕着不可住人也无人居住的气态巨星。因此，身为一名怀疑论者，我不愿接受月球的存在。”
Pelorat said, "If Earth is unique in its possession of millionsof species, might it not also be unique in its possession of a giantsatellite? One uniqueness might imply the other."
裴洛拉特说：“如果拥有几百万种物种，是地球独一无二的特色，它为何不能也是唯一拥有巨大卫星的可住人行星呢？一个唯一性有可能导致另一个唯一性。”
Deniador smiled. "I don't see how the presence of millions of specieson Earth could create a giant satellite out of nothing."
丹尼亚多微微一笑。“地球上的数百万物种，如何能够无中生有地创造一颗巨大的卫星，这我可真不明白。”
"But the other way around Perhaps a giant satellite could helpcreate the millions of species."
“但是将因果颠倒过来就有可能，也许一颗巨大的卫星有助于创造几百万种物种。”
"I don't see how that could be either."
“我也看不出有这个可能。”
Trevize said, "What about the story of Earth's radioactivity?"
崔维兹说：“有关地球具有放射性的故事，又是怎么一回事？”
"That is universally told; universally believed."
“那是个普遍的说法，大家也都普遍相信。”
"But," said Trevize, "Earth could not have been so radioactive as topreclude life in the billions of years when it supported life. How didit become radioactive? A nuclear war?"
“可是，”崔维兹说，“地球生养万物已有数十亿年的历史，当初它不可能有那么强的放射性，否则根本不会有生命出现。它是如何变得带有放射性的？一场核战吗？”
"That is the most common opinion, Councilman Trevize."
“那是最常见的解释，崔维兹议员。”
"From the manner in which you say that, I gather you don't believeit."
“从你说这句话的态度，我猜你自己并不相信。”
"There is no evidence that such a war took place. Common belief,even universal belief, is not, in itself, evidence."
“没有证据显示发生过这样的战争。常见的说法，甚至普遍为人接受的说法，本身并不等于证据。”
"What else might have happened?"
“还有可能发生什么其他变故吗？”
There is no evidence that anything happened. The radioactivity mightbe as purely invented a legend as the large satellite.
“没有证据显示发生过任何事，放射性也许和巨大的卫星一样，纯粹只是杜撰出来的传说。”
Pelorat said, "What is the generally accepted story of Earth'shistory? I have, during my professional career, collected a large numberof origin-legends, many of them involving a world called Earth, or somename very much like that. I have none from Comporellon, nothing beyondthe vague mention of a Benbally who might have come from nowhere forall that Comporellian legends say."
裴洛拉特说：“有关地球的历史，哪些故事是一般人所接受的？在我的职业生涯中，我搜集了大量有关人类起源的传说，其中许多都提到一个叫做地球的世界，或者是非常接近的名称。但我没有搜集到康普隆上的传说，只发现有些资料中，模糊地提到班伯利这个名字。不过，即使康普隆许多传说中都有这号人物，他仍有可能是凭空杜撰的。”
"That's not surprising. We don't usually export our legends and I'mastonished you have found references even to Benbally. Superstition,again."
“这没什么好奇怪的。我们通常并不对外宣扬我们的传说，你能找到有关班伯利的参考资料，已经令我十分惊讶——这也是一种迷信。”
"But you are not superstitious and you would not hesitate to talkabout it, would you?"
“可是你不迷信，谈一谈应该没什么顾忌吧？”
"That's correct," said the small historian, casting his eyes upwardat Pelorat. "It would certainly add greatly, perhaps even dangerously,to my unpopularity if I did, but you three are leaving Comporellon soonand I take it you will never quote me as a source."
“说得对。”这位矮小的历史学家将眼珠向上扬，看了裴洛拉特一眼，“我要是这么做，一定会使我讨人厌的程度暴增，甚至可能带来危险。不过你们三人很快就会离开康普隆，而我相信你们绝不会指名道姓引用我的话。”
"You have our word of honor," said Pelorat quickly.
“我们以人格向你担保。”裴洛拉特立刻说。
"Then here is a summary of what is supposed to have happened,shorn of any supernaturalism or moralizing. Earth existed as thesole world of human beings for an immeasurable period and then, abouttwenty to twenty-five thousand years ago, the human species developedinterstellar travel by way of the hyperspatial Jump and colonized agroup of planets.
“那么以下就是整个历史的摘要，其中超自然理论和教化的成分皆已剔除——过去曾有一段无限久远的时间，地球是唯一拥有人类的世界，然后，大约在两万到两万五千年前，人类发明了超空间跃迁，进而发展出星际旅行，开始向其他行星殖民。
"The Settlers on these planets made use of robots, which had firstbeen devised on Earth before the days of hyperspatial travel and doyou know what robots are, by the way?"
“那些行星上的殖民者大量使用机器人。早在超空间旅行出现之前，地球上就发明了机器人，而……对了，你们知不知道机器人是什么？”
"Yes," said Trevize. "We have been asked that more than once. We knowwhat robots are."
“知道。”崔维兹说，“我们被问过不只一次，我们知道机器人是什么。”
"The Settlers, with a thoroughly roboticized society, developeda high technology and unusual longevity and despised their ancestralworld. According to more dramatic versions of their story, they dominatedand oppressed the ancestral world.
“在完全机器人化的社会中，那些殖民者发展出高等科技和超凡的寿命，因而开始鄙视他们的祖星。根据更戏剧性的说法，他们开始支配并压迫地球。
"Eventually, then, Earth sent out a new group of Settlers, amongwhom robots were forbidden. Of the new worlds, Comporellon was amongthe first. Our own patriots insist it was the first, butthere is no evidence of that that a Skeptic can accept. The first groupof Settlers died out, and "
“最后，地球送出另一批殖民者，这些人都将机器人视为禁忌。康普隆是这些新殖民者最早建立的世界之一，此地的爱国分子坚持它是最早建立的世界，却找不到任何足以说服怀疑论者的证据。后来，第一批殖民者灭绝了，接着……”
Trevize said, "Why did the first set die out, Dr. Deniador?"
崔维兹插嘴道：“第一批殖民者为什么会灭绝呢，丹尼亚多博士？”
"Why? Usually they are imagined by our romantics as having beenpunished for their crimes by He Who Punishes, though no one bothersto say why He waited so long. But one doesn't have to resort to fairytales. It is easy to argue that a society that depends totally on robotsbecomes soft and decadent, dwindling and dying out of sheer boredom or,more subtly, by losing the will to live.
“为什么？在我们的浪漫主义者想象之中，通常都认为由于他们罪孽深重，因而遭到惩罚者的惩罚。至于他为何等那么久才出手，则无人追究。但我们不必求助于这些神话，也很容易解释这件事。一个完全倚赖机器人的社会，由于极度单调无趣，或者说得更玄一点，由于失去了生存的意志，终究会变得孱弱、衰颓、没落且奄奄一息。
"The second wave of Settlers, without robots, lived on and took overthe entire Galaxy, but Earth grew radioactive and slowly dropped out ofsight. The reason usually given for this is that there were robots onEarth, too, since the first wave had encouraged that."
“而舍弃机器人的第二波殖民者，则渐渐站稳脚跟，进而接掌整个银河。可是地球却变得带有放射性，因此渐渐退出银河舞台。对于这一点，通常的解释是地球上也有机器人，因为第一波星际殖民促进了机器人的发展。”
Bliss, who had listened to the account with some visible impatience,said, "Well, Dr. Deniador, radioactivity or not, and however many wavesof settlers there might have been, the crucial question is a simpleone. Exactly where is Earth? What are its co-ordinates?"
宝绮思听到这里，显得有点不耐烦了。“好吧，丹尼亚多博士，不论地球有没有放射性，也不论有过多少波星际殖民，关键问题其实很简单：地球究竟在哪里？它的坐标是什么？”
Deniador said, "The answer to that question is: I don't know. Butcome, it is time for lunch. I can have one brought in, and we can discussEarth over it for as long as you want."
丹尼亚多说：“这个问题的答案是——我不知道。不过嘛，该吃中饭了，我可以叫人将午餐送来这里，我们就能一面用餐，一面讨论地球，随便你们想讨论多久都行。”
"You don't know ?" said Trevize, the sound of his voicerising in pitch and intensity.
“你不知道？”崔维兹说，他的声调与音量同时提高。
"Actually, as far as I know, no one knows."
“事实上，据我所知，没有任何人知道。”
"But that is impossible."
“但那是不可能的事。”
"Councilman," said Deniador, with a soft sigh, "if you wish tocall the truth impossible, that is your privilege, but it will get younowhere."
“议员先生，”丹尼亚多轻叹了一声，“如果你硬要说事实是不可能的，那是你的权利，可是这样对你毫无帮助。”