第2章 魔术师
Foundation:……With forty years of expansion behind them, the Foundation faced the menace of Riose. The epic days of Hardin and Mallow had gone and with them were gone a certain hard daring and resolution....
基地：……经过四十年的扩张，基地终于面临里欧思的威胁。哈定与马洛的英雄时代已经一去不返，基地人民的勇敢与果决精神也随之式微……
ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA
——《银河百科全书》）
There were four men in the room, and the room was set apart where none could approach. The four men looked at each other quickly, then lengthily at the table that separated them. There were four bottles on the table and as many full glasses, but no one had touched them.
这个房间与外界完全隔绝，任何外人都无法接近。房间里有四个人，他们迅速地互相对望，然后盯着面前的会议桌良久不语。桌上有四个酒瓶，还有四个斟满的酒杯，却没有任何人碰过一下。
And then the man nearest the door stretched out an arm and drummed a slow, padding rhythm on the table.
最接近门口的那个人，此时忽然伸出手臂，在桌面上敲出一阵阵缓慢的节奏。
He said, "Are you going to sit and wonder forever? Does it matter who speaks first?"
他说：“你们准备永远呆坐在这里吗？谁先开口又有什么关系？”
"Speak you first, then," said the big man directly opposite. "You're the one who should be the most worried."
“那么你先发言吧，”坐在正对面的大块头说，“最该担心的人就是你。”
Sennett Forell chuckled with noiseless nonhumor. "Because you think I'm the richest. Well ?Or is it that you expect me to continue as I have started. I don't suppose you forget that it was my own Trade Fleet that captured this scout ship of theirs."
森内特·弗瑞尔咯咯冷笑了几声。“因为你觉得我最富有？或者，因为我开了口，你就希望我继续说下去。我想你应该还没忘记，抓到那艘斥候舰的，是我旗下的太空商船队。”
"You had the largest fleet," said a third, "and the best pilots; which is another way of saying you are the richest. It was a fearful risk; and would have been greater for one of us."
“你拥有最庞大的船队，”第三个人说，“以及最优秀的驾驶员；换句话说，你是最富有的。这是可怕的冒险行为，我们几个都无法担当这种风险。”
Sennett Forell chuckled again. "There is a certain facility in risk-taking that I inherit from my father. After all, the essential point in running a risk is that the returns justify it. As to which, witness the fact that the enemy ship was isolated and captured without loss to ourselves or warning to the others."
森内特·弗瑞尔又咯咯一笑。“我从家父那里，遗传到一些喜爱冒险的天性。总之，只要能有足够回报，冒险就是有意义的。眼前就有一个实例，你们也看到了，我们将敌舰先孤立再逮捕，自己完全没有损失，也没让它有机会发出警告。”
That Forell was a distant collateral relative of the late great Hober Mallow was recognized openly throughout the Foundation. That he was Mallow's illegitimate son was accepted quietly to just as wide an extent.
弗瑞尔是伟大的侯伯·马洛旁系的远亲，这是基地众所周知的事实。不过大家也都心知肚明，事实上他是马洛的私生子。
The fourth man blinked his little eyes stealthily. Words crept out from between thin lips. "It is nothing to sleep over in fat triumph, this grasping of little ships. Most likely, it will but anger that young man further."
第四个人悄悄眨了眨小眼睛，从薄薄的嘴唇中吐出一段话：“这并没有多大的利润，我是指抓到那艘小船这件事。我们这样做，很可能会更加激怒那个年轻人。”
"You think he needs motives?" questioned Forell, scornfully.
“你认为他需要任何动机吗？”弗瑞尔以讽刺的口吻问道。
"I do, and this might, or will, save him the vexation of having to manufacture one." The fourth man spoke slowly, "Hober Mallow worked otherwise. And Salvor Hardin. They let others take the uncertain paths of force, while they maneuvered surely and quietly."
“我的确这么想。这就有可能——或者一定会替他省却炮制一个动机的麻烦。”第四个人慢慢地说，“侯伯·马洛的做法则刚好相反，塞佛·哈定也一样。他们会让对方采取没有把握的武力途径，自己却神不知鬼不觉地掌握了胜算。”
Forell shrugged. "This ship has proved its value. Motives are cheap and we have sold this one at a profit." There was the satisfaction of the born Trader in that. He continued, "The young man is of the old Empire."
弗瑞尔耸耸肩。“结果显示，那艘斥候舰极具价值。动机其实卖不了那么贵，这笔买卖我们是赚到了。”这位天生的行商显得很满意，他继续说：“那个年轻人来自旧帝国。”
"We knew that," said the second man, the big one, with rumbling discontent.
“这点我们知道。”那个大块头吼道，声音中带着不满的情绪。
"We suspected that," corrected Forell, softly. "If a man comes with ships and wealth, with overtures of friendliness, and with offers of trade, it is only sensible to refrain from antagonizing him, until we are certain that the profitable mask is not a face after all. But now……"
“我们只是怀疑。”弗瑞尔轻声纠正，“假如一个人率领船队、带着财富而来，表明了要和我们建立友谊，并且提议进行贸易，我们最好别把他当敌人，除非我们确定了他的真面目并非如此。可是现在……”
There was a faint whining edge to the third man's voice as he spoke. "We might have been even more careful. We might have found out first. We might have found out before allowing him to leave. It would have been the truest wisdom."
第三个人再度发言，声音中透出一点发牢骚的味道。“我们应该更加小心谨慎，应该先弄清楚真相，弄清楚之后才把他放走。这才算是真正的深谋远虑。”
"That has been discussed and disposed of," said Forell. He waved the subject aside with a flatly final gesture.
“我们讨论过这个提议，后来否决了。”弗瑞尔断然地挥挥手，表示不愿再讨论这个问题。
"The government is soft," complained the third man. "The mayor is an idiot."
“政府软弱，”第三个人忽然抱怨，“市长则是白痴。”
The fourth man looked at the other three in turn and removed the stub of a cigar from his mouth. He dropped it casually into the slot at his right where it disappeared with a silent flash of disruption.
第四个人轮流看了看其他三人，又将衔在口中的雪茄头拿开，顺手丢进右边的废物处理槽。一阵无声的闪光之后，雪茄头便消失无踪。
He said sarcastically, "I trust the gentleman who last spoke is speaking through habit only. We can afford to remember here that we are the government."
他以讥讽的口吻说：“我相信，这位先生刚才只是脱口而出。大家千万不要忘记，我们几人就是政府。”
There was a murmur of agreement.
众人喃喃表示同意。
The fourth man's little eyes were on the table. "Then let us leave government policy alone. This young man ... this stranger might have been a possible customer. There have been cases. All three of you tried to butter him into an advance contract. We have an agreement ?a gentleman's agreement ?against it, but you tried."
第四个人用小眼睛盯着会议桌。“那么，让我们把政府的事暂且摆在一边。这个年轻人……这个异邦人可能是个好主顾，这种事情有过先例。你们三个都曾试图巴结他，希望跟他先签一份草约。我们早已约定不做这种事，这是一项君子协定，你们却明知故犯。”
"So did you," growled the second man.
“你还不是一样。”大块头反驳道。
I know it," said the fourth, calmly.
“我不否认。”第四个人冷静地回答。
"Then let's forget what we should have done earlier," interrupted Forell impatiently, "and continue with what we should do now. In any case, what if we had imprisoned him, or killed him, what then? We are not certain of his intentions even yet, and at the worst, we could not destroy an Empire by snipping short one man's life. There might be navies upon navies waiting just the other side of his nonreturn."
“那么，我们就别再讨论当初该做什么，”弗瑞尔不耐烦地插嘴道，“继续研究我们现在该做些什么。总之，假使当初我们把他关起来，或者杀掉，后果又如何呢？直到目前为止，我们还不确定他的真正意图；往坏处想，杀一个人绝对不能毁掉帝国。在边境的另一侧，或许有一批又一批的舰队，正在等待他的噩耗。”
"Exactly," approved the fourth man. "Now what did you get out of your captured ship? I'm too old for all this talking."
“一点都没错，”第四个人表示同意，“你从掳获的船舰上发现了什么？我年纪大了，这样讨论可吃不消。”
"It can be told in a few enough words," said Forell, grimly. "He's an Imperial general or whatever rank corresponds to that over there. He's a young man who has proved his military brilliance ?so I am told ?and who is the idol of his men. Quite a romantic career. The stories they tell of him are no doubt half lies, but even so it makes him out to be a type of wonder man."
“几句话就可以讲明白。”弗瑞尔绷着脸说，“他是一名帝国将军，即使那里不称将军，也是相同等级的军衔。我听说，他年纪轻轻就表现出卓越的军事天分，部下都将他视为偶像。他的经历十分传奇。他们告诉我的故事，无疑有一半是虚构的，即使如此，仍然可以确定他是个传奇人物。”
"Who are the 'they'?" demanded the second man.
“你所说的‘他们’，指的是什么人？”大块头追问。
"The crew of the captured ship. Look, I have all their statements recorded on micro-film, which I have in a secure place. Later on, if you wish, you can see them. You can talk to the men yourselves, if you think it necessary. I've told you the essentials."
“就是那些被捕的舰员。听好，我把他们的口供都记录在微缩胶片上，存放在安全的地方。你们若有兴趣，等会儿可以看看。假如觉得有必要，还可以亲自和那些舰员谈谈。不过，我已经将重点都转述了。”
"How did you get it out of them? How do you know they're telling the truth?"
“你是怎么问出来的？又怎么知道他们说的是实话？”
Forell frowned. "I wasn't gentle, good sir. I knocked them about, drugged them crazy, and used the Probe unmercifully. They talked. You can believe them."
弗瑞尔皱皱眉。“老兄，我对他们可不客气。拳打脚踢之外，还配合药物逼供，并且毫不留情地使用心灵探测器。他们通通招了，你可以相信他们说的话。”
"In the old days," said the third man, with sudden irrelevance, "they would have used pure psychology. Painless, you know, but very sure. No chance of deceit."
“在过去的时代，”第三个人突然岔开话题，“光用心理学的方法，就能让人吐露实情。你知道吗，毫无痛苦，却非常可靠。对方绝对没有撒谎的机会。”
"Well, there is a good deal they had in the old days," said Forell, dryly. "These are the new days."
“是啊，过去的确有许多好东西，”弗瑞尔冷冰冰地说，“现在时代不同了。”
"But," said the fourth man, "what did he want here, this general, this romantic wonder-man?" There was a dogged, weary persistence about him.
“可是，”第四个人说，“这个将军，这个传奇人物，他来这里到底有什么目的？”他的声音中带着固执与坚持。
Forell glanced at him sharply. "You think he confides the details of state policy to his crew? They didn't know. There was nothing to get out of them in that respect, and I tried, Galaxy knows."
弗瑞尔以锐利的目光瞥了他一眼。“你以为他会把国家机密透露给部下？他们都不知道。从他们口中没法问出这些来，银河可以作证，我的确试过。”
"Which leaves us?
“所以我们只好……”
"To draw our own conclusions, obviously." Forell's fingers were tapping quietly again. "The young man is a military leader of the Empire, yet he played the pretense of being a minor princeling of some scattered stars in an odd comer of the Periphery. That alone would assure us that his real motives are such as it would not benefit him to have us know. Combine the nature of his profession with the fact that the Empire has already subsidized one attack upon us in my father's time, and the possibilities become ominous. That first attack failed. I doubt that the Empire owes us love for that."
“我们只好自己导出一个结论。”弗瑞尔又开始用手指轻敲桌面，“这个年轻人是帝国的一名军事将领，却假扮成银河外缘某个偏僻角落一个小国的王子。这就足以显示，他绝不希望让我们知道他的真正动机。在我父亲的时代，帝国就已经间接援助过一次对基地的攻击，如今他这种身份的人又来到这里，这很可能是个坏兆头。上次的攻击行动失败了，我不相信帝国会对我们心存感激。”
"There is nothing in your findings," questioned the fourth man guardedly, "that makes for certainty? You are withholding nothing?"
“你难道没有发现任何确定的事吗？”第四个人以谨慎的语气问道，“你没有对我们保留什么吗？”
Forell answered levelly, "I can't withhold anything. From here on there can be no question of business rivalry. Unity is forced upon us."
弗瑞尔稳重地答道：“我不会保留任何情报。从现在开始，我们不能再为了生意钩心斗角，大家一定要团结一致。”
"Patriotism?" There was a sneer in the third man's thin voice.
“基于爱国心吗？”第三个人微弱的声音中带着明显的嘲弄。
"Patriotism be damned," said Forell quietly. "Do you think I give two puffs of nuclear emanation for the future Second Empire? Do you think I'd risk a single Trade mission to smooth its path? But ?do you suppose Imperial conquest will help my business or yours? If the Empire wins, there will be a sufficient number of yearning carrion crows to crave the rewards of battle."
“什么鬼爱国心。”弗瑞尔轻声说，“你以为我会为了将来的第二帝国，而愿意捐出一丁点核能吗？你以为我会愿意让哪批行商船队冒险为它铺路？但是——难道你认为被帝国征服之后，对你我的生意会更有帮助吗？假使帝国赢了，不知道有多少贪婪成性的乌鸦，会忙不迭地飞来要求分享战利品。”
"And we're the rewards," added the fourth man, dryly.
“而我们就是那些战利品。”第四个人以干涩的声音补充道。
The second man broke his silence suddenly, and shifted his bulk angrily, so that the chair creaked under him. "But why talk of that. The Empire can't win, can it? There is Seldon's assurance that we will form the Second Empire in the end. This is only another crisis. There have been three before this."
大块头突然挪了挪庞大的身躯，压得椅子嘎嘎作响。“可是何必讨论这些呢？帝国绝对不可能赢的，对不对？谢顿保证我们最后能够建立第二帝国，这只不过是另一个危机而已。在此之前，基地已经度过三次危机。”
"Only another crisis, yes!" Forell brooded. "But ?in the case of the first two, we had Salvor Hardin to guide us; in the third, there was Hober Mallow. Whom have we now?"
“只不过是另一个危机而已，没错！”弗瑞尔默想了一下，“但是最初两个危机发生的时候，我们有塞佛·哈定领导我们；第三次的危机，则有侯伯·马洛。如今我们能指望谁？”
He looked at the others somberly and continued, "Seldon's rules of psychohistory on which it is so comforting to rely probably have as one of the contributing variables, a certain normal initiative on the part of the people of the Foundation themselves. Seldon's laws help those who help themselves."
他以忧郁的目光望着其他人，继续说道：“支撑心理史学的几个谢顿定律，其中也许有一个很重要的变数，那就是基地居民本身的主动性。唯有自求多福，谢顿定律方能眷顾。”
"The times make the man," said the third man. "There's another proverb for you."
“时势造英雄，”第三个人说，“这句成语你也用得上。”
"You can't count on that, not with absolute assurance," grunted Forell. "Now the way it seems to me is this. If this is the fourth crisis, then Seldon has foreseen it. If he has, then it can be beaten, and there should be a way of doing it.
“你不能指望这一点，它并非百分之百可靠。”弗瑞尔喃喃抱怨，“现在我的看法是这样的：倘若这就是第四次危机，那么谢顿应该早已预见。而只要他预测到了，这个危机就能化解，一定能够找到化解的办法。
"Now The Empire is stronger than we; it always has been. But this is the first time we are in danger of its direct attack, so that strength becomes terribly menacing. If it can be beaten, it must be once again as in all past crises by a method other than pure force. We must find the weak side of our enemy and attack it there."
“帝国比我们强大，一向都是如此。然而，这是我们第一次面临它的直接攻击，所以也就特别危险。假使能安全过关，一定如同过去那些危机一样，是借助于武力以外的办法。我们必须找出敌人的弱点，然后从那里下手。”
"And what is that weak side?" asked the fourth man. "Do you intend advancing a theory?"
“他们的弱点又是什么呢？”第四个人问，“你想提出一个理论吗？”
"No. That is the point I'm leading up to. Our great leaders of the past always saw the weak points of their enemies and aimed at that. But now?
“不，我只是想把话题拉到这里。我们以往的伟大领导者，都有办法看出敌人的弱点，然后予以痛击。可是现在……”
There was a helplessness in his voice, and for a moment none volunteered a comment.
他的声音中带着无奈的感慨，一时之间，没有任何人愿意搭腔。
Then the fourth man said, "We need spies."
然后，第四个人说：“我们需要找人卧底。”
Forell turned to him eagerly. "Right! I don't know when the Empire will attack. There may be time."
弗瑞尔热切地转向他。“对！我不知道帝国何时发动攻击，也许还有时间。”
"Hober Mallow himself entered the Imperial dominions," suggested the second man.
“侯伯·马洛曾经亲身潜入帝国疆域。”大块头建议道。
But Forell shook his head. "Nothing so direct. None of us are precisely youthful; and all of us are rusty with red-tape and administrative detail. We need young men that are in the field now?
可是弗瑞尔却摇了摇头。“没有那么简单。严格说来，我们都已经不再年轻；而且天天处理行政事务，让我们都生锈了。我们需要正在外面跑的年轻人……”
"The independent traders?" asked the fourth man.
“独立行商？”第四个人问。
And Forell nodded his, head and whispered, "If there is yet time?
弗瑞尔点点头，悄声道：“但愿还来得及……”