第3章幽灵之手
Bel Riose interrupted his annoyed stridings to look up hopefully when his aide entered. "Any word of the Starlet?"
副官走进来的时候，贝尔·里欧思正心事重重地踱着方步，他立刻停下来，满怀希望地抬起头。“有没有小星号的消息？”
"None. The scouting party has quartered space, but the instruments have detected nothing. Commander Yume has reported that the Fleet is ready for an immediate attack in retaliation."
“完全没有。分遣队在太空中搜寻多时，但是并没有侦测到任何结果。尤姆指挥官报告说，舰队已经作好准备，随时能进行报复性攻击。”
The general shook his head. "No, not for a patrol ship. Not yet. Tell him to double……"Wait! I'll write out the message. Have it coded and transmitted by tight beam."
将军摇了摇头。“不，犯不着为一艘巡逻舰这样做，还不到时候。告诉他加强……慢着！我亲自写一封信。你把它译成密码，用密封波束传出去。”
He wrote as he talked and thrust the paper at the waiting officer. "Has the Siwennian arrived yet?"
他一面说，一面写好了信，顺手便将信笺交给副官。“那个西维纳人到了吗？”
"Not yet."
“还没到。”
"Well, see to it that he is brought in here as soon as he does arrive."
“好吧，他抵达后，一定要立刻把他带来这里。”
The aide saluted crisply and left. Riose resumed his caged stride.
副官行了一个利落的军礼，然后随即离去。里欧思继续在房间中来回踱步。
When the door opened a second time, it was Ducem Barr that stood on the threshold. Slowly, in the footsteps of the ushering aide, he stepped into the garish room whose ceiling was an ornamented holographic model of the Galaxy, and in the center of which Bel Riose stood in field uniform.
房门再度打开的时候，站在门口的正是杜森·巴尔。他跟在副官后面，缓缓走了进来。在他眼中，这间办公室布置得华丽无比，天花板还装饰着银河天体的全息模型。而贝尔·里欧思这时穿着野战服，正站在房间中央。
"Patrician, good day!" The general pushed forward a chair with his foot and gestured the aide away with a "That door is to stay closed till I open it."
“老贵族，你好！”将军把一张椅子踢过去，并挥手表示要副官离开，手势中带着“他人绝对不准开门”的意思。
He stood before the Siwennian, legs apart, hand grasping wrist behind his back, balancing himself slowly, thoughtfully, on the balls of his feet.
他站在这位西维纳人面前，双脚分开，两手背在背后，慢慢地、若有所思地把重心放在前脚掌。
Then, harshly, "Patrician, are you a loyal subject of the Emperor?"
突然间，他厉声问道：“老贵族，你是大帝陛下的忠诚子民吗？”
Barr, who had maintained an indifferent silence till then, wrinkled a noncommittal brow. "I have no cause to love Imperial rule."
始终漠然不发一语的巴尔，这时不置可否地皱起眉头。“我没有任何理由喜爱帝国的统治。”
"Which is a long way from saying that you would be a traitor."
“但这并不代表你是一名叛国者。”
"True. But the mere act of not being a traitor is also a long way from agreeing to be an active helper."
“没错。然而并非叛国者，绝不代表我会答应积极帮助你。”
"Ordinarily also true. But to refuse your help at this point," said Riose, deliberately, "will be considered treason and treated as such."
“这样说通常没错。但在这个节骨眼上，你若是拒绝帮助我——”里欧思若有深意地说，“就会被视为叛国，会受到应有的惩治。”
Barr's eyebrows drew together. "Save your verbal cudgels for your subordinates. A simple statement of your needs and wants will suffice me here."
巴尔双眉深锁。“把你的语言暴力留给属下吧。你到底需要什么、想要什么，对我直说就行了。”
Riose sat down and crossed his legs. "Barr, we had an earlier discussion half a year ago."
里欧思坐下来，跷起二郎腿。“巴尔，半年前，我们做过一次讨论。”
"About your magicians?"
“关于你所谓的魔术师？”
"Yes. You remember what I said I would do."
“对。你记得我说过要做什么吧。”
Barr nodded. His arms rested limply in his lap. "You were going to visit them in their haunts, and you've been away these four months. Did you find them?"
巴尔点点头，他的一双手臂无力地垂在膝上。“你说要去探访他们的巢穴，然后就离开了四个月。你找到他们了？”
"Find them? That I did," cried Riose. His lips were stiff as he spoke. It seemed to require effort to refrain from grinding molars. "Patrician, they are not magicians; they are devils. It is as far from belief as the outer galaxies from here. Conceive it! It is a world the size of a handkerchief, of a fingernail; with resources so petty, power so minute, a population so microscopic as would never suffice the most backward worlds of the dusty prefects of the Dark Stars. Yet with that, a people so proud and ambitious as to dream quietly and methodically of Galactic rule.
“找到他们了？我当然找到了。”里欧思吼道。他的嘴唇这时显得很僵硬，似乎努力想要避免咬牙切齿。“老贵族，他们不是魔术师，他们简直就是恶魔。他们的离谱程度，就像银河外的其他星系一般遥远。你想想看！那个世界只有一块手帕、一片指甲般大小，天然资源和能源极度贫乏，人口又微不足道，连‘黑暗星带’那些微尘般的星郡中最落后的世界都比不上。即使如此，那些人却傲慢无比又野心勃勃，正在默默地、有条有理地梦想着统治整个银河。
"Why, they are so sure of themselves that they do not even hurry. They move slowly, phlegmatically; they speak of necessary centuries. They swallow worlds at leisure; creep through systems with dawdling complacence.
“唉，他们对自己充满信心，甚至根本不慌不忙。他们行事稳重，绝不轻举妄动；他们摆明了需要好几个世纪。每当心血来潮，他们就吞并一些世界；平时则得意洋洋地在恒星间横行无阻。
"And they succeed. There is no one to stop them. They have built up a filthy trading community that curls its tentacles about the systems further than their toy ships dare reach. For parsecs, their Traders ?which is what their agents call themselves ?penetrate."
“他们一直很成功，从来没有人能阻止他们。他们还组织了卑鄙的贸易团体，它的触角延伸到他们自己的玩具太空船也不敢去的星系。他们的行商——他们的贸易商自称行商——深入许多秒差距的星空。”
Ducem Barr interrupted the angry flow. "How much of this information is definite; and how much is simply fury?"
杜森·巴尔打断对方一发不可收拾的怒意。“这些信息有多少是确定的，又有多少只是你的气话？”
The soldier caught his breath and grew calmer. "My fury does not blind me. I tell you I was in worlds nearer to Siwenna than to the Foundation, where the Empire was a myth of the distance, and where Traders were living truths. We ourselves were mistaken for Traders."
将军喘了一口气，情绪逐渐平复。“我的怒火没有让我失去理智。我告诉你吧，我所探访的那些世界，其实比较接近西维纳，离基地仍然还很远。而即使在那里，帝国已经成了神话传说，行商却是实实在在的人物。就连我们自己，也被人误认为行商。”
"The Foundation itself told you they aimed at Galactic dominion?"
“基地当局告诉你，他们志在一统银河？”
"Told me!" Riose was violent again. "It was not a matter of telling me. The officials said nothing. They spoke business exclusively. But I spoke to ordinary men. I absorbed the ideas of the common folk; their 'manifest destiny,' their calm acceptance of a great future. It is a thing that can't be hidden; a universal optimism they don't even try to hide."
“告诉我！”里欧思又发火了，“没有任何人直接告诉我。政府官员什么也没说，他们满口都是生意经。但是我和普通人交谈过。我探听到了那些平民的想法；他们心中有个‘自明命运’，他们以平常心接受一个伟大的未来。这种事根本无法遮掩，他们甚至懒得遮掩这个无所不在的乐观主义。”
The Siwennian openly displayed a certain quiet satisfaction. "You will notice that so far it would seem to bear out quite accurately my reconstruction of events from the paltry data on the subject that I have gathered."
西维纳人明显地表露出一种成就感。“你应该注意到，直到目前为止，你所说的这些，跟我利用搜集到的零星资料所做的推测都相当吻合。”
"It is no doubt," replied Riose with vexed sarcasm, "a tribute to your analytical powers. It is also a hearty and bumptious commentary on the growing danger to the domains of His Imperial Majesty."
“这点毋庸置疑，”里欧思以恼怒的讽刺口吻答道，“这证明你的分析能力很强。然而，这也是对帝国疆域受到的逐渐升高的威胁，所做的一种发自肺腑的傲慢评论。”
Barr shrugged his unconcern, and Riose leaned forward suddenly, to seize the old man's shoulders and stare with curious gentleness into his eyes.
巴尔不为所动地耸耸肩，里欧思却突然俯身抓住老人的肩头，以诡异的温和眼神瞪着他。
He said, "Now, patrician, none of that. I have no desire to be barbaric. For my part, the legacy of Siwennian hostility to the Imperium is an odious burden, and one which I would do everything in my power to wipe out. But my province is the military and interference in civil affairs is impossible. It would bring about my recall and ruin my usefulness at once. You see that? I know you see that. Between yourself and myself then, let the atrocity of forty years ago be repaid by your vengeance upon its author and so forgotten. I need your help. I frankly admit it."
他说：“好了，老贵族，别再说什么了。我根本不想对你动粗。对我而言，西维纳人对帝国一代又一代的敌意，简直像是芒刺在背，我愿意尽一切力量将它消灭。然而我是一名军人，不可能介入民间的纠纷。否则我会立刻被召回，再也无法有所作为。你懂了吗？我知道你已经懂了。既然你早已手刃元凶，你我就当它是扯平了四十年前那场暴行，把这一切都忘掉吧。我需要你的帮助，我坦白地承认。”
There was a world of urgency in the young man's voice, but Ducem Barr's head shook gently and deliberately in a negative gesture.
年轻将军的声音中充满焦急的情绪，杜森·巴尔则从容却坚决地摇了摇头。
Riose said pleadingly, "You don't understand, patrician, and I doubt my ability to make you. I can't argue on your ground. You're the scholar, not I. But this I can tell you. Whatever you think of the Empire, you will admit its great services. Its armed forces have committed isolated crimes, but in the main they have been a force for peace and civilization. It was the Imperial navy that created the Pax Imperium that ruled over all the Galaxy for thousands of years. Contrast the millennia of peace under the Sun-and-Spaceship of the Empire with the millennia of interstellar anarchy that preceded it. Consider the wars and devastations of those old days and tell me if, with all its faults, the Empire is not worth preserving.
里欧思以祈求的口吻说：“老贵族，你不了解，我大概也没有能力让你明白。我无法像你那样说理；你是一名学者，而我却不是。但我可以告诉你，不论你对帝国的观感如何，你仍然得承认它的伟大贡献。纵使帝国的军队曾经犯下少数罪行，可是大体来说，这是一支维护和平与文明的军队。数千年来，银河各处得以享有帝国统治下的和平，完全是帝国星际舰队的功劳。请将帝国‘星舰与太阳’旗帜下的数千年和平，和在此之前数千年的无政府状态相比。想想那时的烽火战乱，请你告诉我，纵有诸多不是，帝国难道不值得我们珍惜吗？
"Consider," he drove on forcefully, "to what the outer fringe of the Galaxy is reduced in these days of their breakaway and independence, and ask yourself if for the sake of a petty revenge you would reduce Siwenna from its position as a province under the protection of a mighty Navy to a barbarian world in a barbarian Galaxy, all immersed in its fragmentary independence and its common degradation and misery."
“你再想想，”他继续中气十足地说，“这些年来，银河外围的世界四分五裂，纷纷独立，可是他们衰退到什么地步？请你扪心自问，仅仅为了自己微不足道的私仇，你就忍心让西维纳从帝国强大舰队保护下的星省，变成一个蛮荒世界，加入蛮荒的银河——各个世界相互孤立，尽数陷入衰败而悲惨的命运吗？”
"Is it so bad ?so soon?" murmured the Siwennian.
“会那么糟——那么快吗？”西维纳人喃喃道。
"No," admitted Riose. "We would be safe ourselves no doubt, were our lifetimes quadrupled. But it is for the Empire I fight; that, and a military tradition which is something for myself alone, and which I can not transfer to you. It is a military tradition built on the Imperial institution which I serve."
“不会。”里欧思坦然承认，“即使我们的寿命再延长三倍，我们自己也绝对安然无事。然而我是为帝国而战；这是我个人所信奉的军事传统，我无法让你体会。这个军事传统，建立在我所效忠的帝国体制之上。”
"You are getting mystical, and I always find it difficult to penetrate another person's mysticism."
“你愈说愈玄了，对于他人的玄奥思想，我一向难以参透。”
"No matter. You understand the danger of this Foundation."
“没关系。你了解这个基地的危险性了。”
"It was I who pointed out what you call the danger before ever you headed outward from Siwenna."
“在你尚未从西维纳出发之前，我就已经指出这个所谓的危险性了。”
"Then you realize that it must be stopped in embryo or perhaps not at all. You have known of this Foundation before anyone had heard of it. You know more about it than anyone else in the Empire. You probably know how it might best be attacked; and you can probably forewarn me of its countermeasures. Come, let us be friends."
“那么你应该了解，我们必须趁这个威胁刚萌芽时就将它铲除，否则可能永远来不及了。当别人还不知道基地是什么的时候，你就已经对它很有研究。在整个帝国中，你对基地的认识超过任何人。你也许知道如何攻打基地最有效，也许还能预先警告我它将采取的对策。来，我们结为盟友吧。”
Ducem Barr rose. He said flatly, "Such help as I could give you means nothing. So I will make you free of it in the face of your strenuous demand."
杜森·巴尔站起来，断然说道：“我能给你的帮助根本一文不值。所以，无论你如何要求，我也不会提供任何意见。”
"I will be the judge of its meaning."
“是否一文不值，我自己会判断。”
"No, I am serious. Not all the might of the Empire could avail to crush this pygmy world."
“不，我是说正经的。帝国所有的力量加在一起，也无法打垮那个小小世界。”
"Why not?" Bel Riose's eyes glistened fiercely. "No, stay where you are. I'll tell you when you may leave. Why not? If you think I underestimate this enemy I have discovered, you are wrong. Patrician," he spoke reluctantly, "I lost a ship on my return. I have no proof that it fell into the hands of the Foundation; but it has not been located since and were it merely an accident, its dead hulk should, certainly have been found along the route we took. It is not an important loss ?less than the tenth part of a fleabite, but it may mean that the Foundation has already opened hostilities. Such eagerness and such disregard for consequences might mean secret forces of which I know nothing. Can you help me then by answering a specific question? What is their military power?"
“为什么？”贝尔·里欧思双眼射出凶狠的光芒，“别动，给我坐好。你能走的时候我自然会告诉你。为什么不能呢？假如你认为我低估了我所发现的敌人，那你就错了。老贵族，”他有点不情愿地说道，“我回来的途中，损失了一艘星舰。我无法证明它是落在基地手中，但我们一直找不到它的行踪；倘若只是单纯的意外，沿途必定能够发现一些残骸。这并不是什么重大损失——九牛一毛都谈不上，却有可能代表基地已经对我们开战。他们那么急切，完全不顾后果，也许意味着他们拥有我闻所未闻的秘密武器。所以你能不能帮个忙，回答我一个特定的问题？他们的武力究竟如何？”
"I haven't any notion."
“我没有任何概念。”
"Then explain yourself on your own terms. Why do you say the Empire can not defeat this small enemy?"
“那么你用自己的理论解释一下，为什么你会说帝国无法打败这个小小的敌人？”
The Siwennian seated himself once more and looked away from Riose's fixed glare. He spoke heavily, "Because I have faith in the principles of psychohistory. It is a strange science. It reached mathematical maturity with one man, Hari Seldon, and died with him, for no man since has been capable of manipulating its intricacies. But in that short period, it proved itself the most powerful instrument ever invented for the study of humanity. Without pretending to predict the actions of individual humans, it formulated definite laws capable of mathematical analysis and extrapolation to govern and predict the mass action of human groups."
西维纳人重新坐下，避开了里欧思的灼灼目光。他以严肃的口吻说：“因为我对心理史学的原理深具信心。这是一门奇特的科学，它的数学结构在一个人手中臻于成熟，却也随着他的逝去而成为绝响，他就是哈里·谢顿。从此以后，再也没有人能够处理那么复杂的数学。可是就在那么短的时期内，它的学术地位已经确立，公认是有史以来研究人类行为最有力的工具。心理史学并不试图预测个人的行为，而是发展出几个明确的定律，利用这些定律，借着数学的分析和外推，就能决定并预测人类群体的宏观动向。”
"So?
“所以说……”
"It was that psychohistory which Seldon and the group he worked with applied in full force to the establishment of the Foundation. The place, time, and conditions all conspire mathematically and so, inevitably, to the development of a Second Galactic Empire."
“谢顿和他手下的一批人，在建立基地的过程中，正是以心理史学作为最高指导原则。无论基地的位置、时程或初始条件，都是用数学推算出来的，它让基地必然会发展成为第二银河帝国。”
Riose's voice trembled with indignation. "You mean that this art of his predicts that I would attack the Foundation and lose such and such a battle for such and such a reason? You are trying to say that I am a silly robot following a predetermined course into destruction."
里欧思的声音带着愤怒的颤抖。“你的意思是说，他的这门学问，预测到了我将进攻基地，并且会由于某些原因，使我在某场战役中被击败？你是想告诉我，我只是个呆板的机器人，根据早已决定好的行动，走向注定毁灭的结局？”
"No," replied the old patrician, sharply. "I have already said that the science had nothing to do with individual actions. It is the vaster background that has been foreseen."
“不！”老贵族尖声答道，“我已经说过了，这门科学和个人行动没有任何关系。它所预见的是宏观的历史背景。”
"Then we stand clasped tightly in the forcing hand of the Goddess of Historical Necessity."
“那么，我们都被紧紧捏在‘历史必然性’这个女神掌心中？”
"Of Psychohistorical Necessity," prompted Barr, softly.
“是‘心理史学’的必然性。”巴尔轻声纠正。
"And if I exercise my prerogative of freewill? If I choose to attack next year, or not to attack at all? How pliable is the Goddess? How resourceful?"
“假如我运用自己的自由意志来应变呢？如果我决定明年才进攻，或者根本不进攻呢？这位女神究竟有多大的弹性？又有多大的法力？”
Barr shrugged. "Attack now or never; with a single ship, or all the force in the Empire; by military force or economic pressure; by candid declaration of war or by treacherous ambush. Do whatever you wish in your fullest exercise of freewill. You will still lose."
巴尔耸耸肩。“立刻进攻或者永不进攻；动用一艘星舰，或是整个帝国的武力；用军事力量也好，用经济手段也罢；光明正大地宣战，或者发动阴谋奇袭。无论你的自由意志如何应变，你终归都要失败。”
"Because of Hari Seldon's dead hand?"
“因为有哈里·谢顿的幽灵之手在作祟？”
"Because of the dead hand of the mathematics of human behavior that can neither be stopped, swerved, nor delayed."
“是‘人类行为的数学’这个幽灵，这是任何人都无法抵挡、无法扭转，也无法阻延的。”
The two faced each other in deadlock, until the general stepped back.
两人面对面僵持良久，将军才终于向后退了一步。
He said simply, "I'll take that challenge. It's a dead hand against a living will."
他毅然决然地说：“我愿意接受这个挑战。这是幽灵之手对抗活生生的意志。”