第5章 战端
From the radiating point of Siwenna, the forces of the Empire reached out cautiously into the black unknown of the Periphery. Giant ships passed the vast distances that separated the vagrant stars at the Galaxy's rim, and felt their way around the outermost edge of Foundation influence.
从设在西维纳的集结点，帝国舰队小心翼翼地向未知的、险恶的银河外缘进发。巨大的星舰横越银河边缘群星间的广袤太空，谨慎地接近基地势力范围的最外环。
Worlds isolated in their new barbarism of two centuries felt the sensation once again of Imperial overlords upon their soil. Allegiance was sworn in the face of the massive artillery covering capital cities.
那些在新兴的蛮荒中孤立了两个世纪的世界，再度感受到帝国威权的降临。在重型火炮兵临城下之际，他们一致宣誓对大帝矢志效忠。
Garrisons were left; garrisons of men in Imperial uniform with the Spaceship-and-Sun insignia upon their shoulders. The old men took notice and remembered once again the forgotten tales of their grandfathers' fathers of the times when the universe was big, and rich, and peaceful and that same Spaceship-and-Sun ruled all.
每个世界都留下若干军队驻守；那些驻军个个身穿帝国军服，肩上佩戴着“星舰与太阳”的徽章。老年人注意到这个标志，想起了那些早已遗忘的故事——在他们曾祖父的时代，整个宇宙都统一在这个“星舰与太阳”旗帜之下；当时的天下浩瀚无边，人民的生活富裕而和平。
Then the great ships passed on to weave their line of forward bases further around the Foundation. And as each world was knotted into its proper place in the fabric, the report went back to Bel Riose at the General Headquarters he had established on the rocky barrenness of a wandering sunless planet.
然后巨大的星舰不断穿梭，在基地周围继续建立更多的前进据点。每当又一个世界被编入这个天罗地网时，就会有报告送回贝尔·里欧思的总司令部。这个总部设在一个不属于任何恒星的行星上，整颗星都是岩石构成的不毛之地。
Now Riose relaxed and smiled grimly at Ducem Barr. "Well, what do you think, patrician?"
此时里欧思心情轻松，对着杜森·巴尔冷笑。“老贵族，你认为如何？”
"I? Of what value are my thoughts? I am not a military man." He took in with one wearily distasteful glance the crowded disorder of the rock-bound room which had been carved out of the wall of a cavern of artificial air, light, and heat which marked the single bubble of life in the vastness of a bleak world.
“我？我的想法有什么价值？我又不是军人。”他颇不以为然地四下看了看，这是一个由岩石凿成的房间，显得拥挤而凌乱，石壁上还挖出一个孔洞，引进人工空气、光线与暖气。在这个荒凉偏僻的世界上，这里要算是唯一具有生机的小空间。
"For the help I could give you," he muttered, "or would want to give you, you might return me to Siwenna."
“我所能给你的帮助，”他又喃喃道，“或说我愿意提供的帮助，值得你把我送回西维纳去。”
"Not yet. Not yet." The general turned his chair to the comer which held the huge, brilliantly-transparent sphere that mapped the old Imperial prefect of Anacreon and its neighboring sectors. "Later, when this is over, you will go back to your books and to more. I'll see to it that the estates of your family are restored to you and to your children for the rest of time."
“还不行，还不行。”将军把椅子转向房间的一角，那里有个巨大而闪烁的透明球体，上面映出旧时的安纳克里昂星郡以及邻近星空。“再过一段时间，等战事告一段落，你就可以回到书堆中，还能得回更多的东西。我保证会把你的家族领地归还给你，你的子孙可以永远继承。”
"Thank you," said Barr, with faint irony, "but I lack your faith in the happy outcome of all this."
“感谢你，”巴尔以稍带讽刺的口吻说，“但是我不像你那么有信心，无法对结局抱着如此乐观的态度。”
Riose laughed harshly, "Don't start your prophetic croakings again. This map speaks louder than all your woeful theories." He caressed its curved invisible outline gently. "Can you read a map in radial projection? You can? Well, here, see for yourself. The stars in gold represent the Imperial territories. The red stars are those in subjection to the Foundation and the pink are those which are probably within the economic sphere of influence. Now watch?
里欧思厉声大笑。“别再讲什么不祥的预言，这个星图比你所有的悲观理论更具说服力。”他轻抚着球体表面雕出的透明轮廓，“你懂得怎么看径向投影的星图吗？你懂？很好，那么自己看吧。金色的星球代表帝国的领土，红色的星球隶属于基地，至于粉红色的那些星球，则可能位于基地的经济势力圈之内。现在注意看——”
Riose's hand covered a rounded knob, and slowly an area of hard, white pinpoints changed into a deepening blue. Like an inverted cup they folded about the red and the pink.
里欧思将手放在一个圆钮上，星图中一块由许多白点构成的区域，开始慢慢变得愈来愈蓝。它酷似一个倒立的杯子，笼罩着红色与粉红色的区域。
"Those blue stars have been taken over by my forces," said Riose with quiet satisfaction, "and they still advance. No opposition has appeared anywhere. The barbarians are quiet. And particularly, no opposition has come from Foundation forces. They sleep peacefully and well."
“那些蓝色的星球，就是我们的军队已经占领的世界。”里欧思面有得色地说，“我们的军队仍在推进，在任何地方都没有遭到反抗。那些蛮子都还算乖顺。尤其重要的是，我们从来没有遭遇基地的军队。他们还在安详地蒙头大睡呢。”
"You spread your force thinly, don't you?" asked Barr.
“你将兵力布置得很分散，对不对？”巴尔问道。
"As a matter of fact," said Riose, "despite appearances, I don't. The key points which I garrison and fortify are relatively few, but they are carefully chosen. The result is that the force expended is small, but the strategic result great. There are many advantages, more than would ever appear to anyone who hasn't made a careful study of spatial tactics, but it is apparent to anyone, for instance, that I can base an attack from any point in an inclosing sphere, and that when I am finished it will be impossible for the Foundation to attack at flank or rear. I shall have no flank or rear with respect to them.
“其实，”里欧思说，“只是表面上如此，事实则不然。我留军驻守并建筑了防御工事的重要据点并不多，但是都经过精挑细选。这样的安排，能使兵力的负担减到最少，却能达到重大的战略目的。这样做有很多优点，没有仔细钻研过太空战术的人，根本看不出其中的奥妙；但是有些特点，仍然是人人都看得出来的。比如说，我能从包围网的任何一点发动攻击，而当我军完成包围网之后，基地就不可能攻击我军的侧翼或背面。对敌人而言，我军根本没有侧翼或背面。
"This strategy of the Previous Enclosure has been tried before, notably in the campaigns of Loris VI, some two thousand years ago, but always imperfectly; always with the knowledge and attempted interference of the enemy. This is different."
“这种‘先制包围’的战略，过去也有指挥官尝试过。最着名的一次，是大约两千年前，应用在洛瑞斯六号那场战役中。但一向不完美，总是被敌方洞悉并试图阻挠。这次却不同。”
"The ideal textbook case?" Barr's voice was languid and indifferent.
“这次是教科书中的理想状况？”巴尔显得疲惫不堪又漠不关心。
Riose was impatient, "You still think my forces will fail?"
里欧思不耐烦了。“你还是认为我的部队会失败？”
"They must."
“他们注定失败。”
"You understand that there is no case in military history where an Enclosure has been completed that the attacking forces have not eventually won, except where an outside Navy exists in sufficient force to break the Enclosure."
“你应该了解，在古往今来的战史中，从来没有包围网完成后，进攻一方最后却战败的例子。除非在包围网之外，另有强大的舰队能击溃这个包围网。”
"If you say so."
“你大可这么想。”
"And you still adhere to your faith."
“你仍旧坚持自己的信念？”
"Yes."
“是的。”
Riose shrugged. "Then do so."
里欧思耸耸肩。“那就随便你吧。”
Barr allowed the angry silence to continue for a moment, then asked quietly, "Have you received an answer from the Emperor?"
巴尔让将军默默发了一会儿脾气，然后轻声问道：“你从大帝那边，得到什么回音吗？”
Riose removed a cigarette from a wall container behind his head, placed a filter tip between his lips and puffed it aflame carefully. He said, "You mean my request for reinforcements? It came, but that's all. Just the answer."
里欧思从身后的壁槽中取出一根香烟，再叼着一根滤嘴，然后才开始吞云吐雾。他说：“你是指我要求增援的那件事吗？有回音了，不过也只是回音而已。”
"No ships."
“没有派星舰吗？”
"None. I half-expected that. Frankly, patrician, I should never have allowed myself to be stampeded by your theories into requesting them in the first place. It puts me in a false light."
“没有，我也几乎猜到了。坦白说，老贵族，我实在不应该被你的理论唬到，当初根本不该请求什么增援。这样做反而使我遭到误解。”
"Does it?"
“会吗？”
"Definitely. Ships are at a premium. The civil wars of the last two centuries have smashed up more than half of the Grand Fleet and what's left is in pretty shaky condition. You know it isn't as if the ships we build these days are worth anything. I don't think there's a man in the Galaxy today who can build a first-rate hypernuclear motor."
“绝对会的。如今星舰极为稀罕珍贵。过去两个世纪的内战，消耗了‘大舰队’一大半的星舰，剩下的那些情况也都很不理想。你也知道，现在建造的星舰差得多了。我不相信如今在银河中还能找到什么人，有能力造得出一流的超核能发动机。”
"I knew that," said the Siwennian. His eyes were thoughtful and introspective. "I didn't know that you knew it. So his Imperial Majesty can spare no ships. Psychohistory could have predicted that; in fact, it probably did. I should say that Hari Seldon's dead hand wins the opening round."
“这个我知道。”西维纳老贵族说，他的目光透出沉思与内省，“却不知道你也明白这个道理。所以说，大帝陛下没有多余的星舰了。心理史学应该能预测到这一点，事实上，它也许真的预测到了。我甚至可以说，哈里·谢顿的幽灵之手已经赢了第一回合。”
Riose answered sharply, "I have enough ships as it is. Your Seldon wins nothing. Should the situation turn more serious, then more ships will be available. As yet, the Emperor does not know all the story."
里欧思厉声答道：“我现有的星舰就足够了。你的谢顿什么也没有赢。当情势紧急时，一定会有更多的星舰供我调度。目前，大帝还没有了解全盘状况。”
"Indeed? What haven't you told him?"
“是吗？你还有什么没告诉他？”
"Obviously ?your theories." Riose looked sardonic. "The story is, with all respect to you, inherently improbable. If developments warrant; if events supply me with proof, then, but only then, would I make out the case of mortal danger.
“显而易见——当然就是你的理论。”里欧思一副挖苦人的表情，“请恕我直言，你说的那些事，根本不可能是真的。除非事情的发展能证实你的理论，除非让我看到具体证明，否则我绝不相信会有致命的危险。”
"And in addition," Riose drove on, casually, "the story, unbolstered by fact, has a flavor of lese majeste that could scarcely be pleasant to His Imperial Majesty."
“除此之外，”里欧思继续轻描淡写地说，“像这种没有事实根据的臆测，简直就有欺君的味道，绝不会讨大帝陛下欢心。”
The old patrician smiled. "You mean that telling him his august throne is in danger of subversion by a parcel of ragged barbarians from the ends of the universe is not a warning to be believed or appreciated. Then you expect nothing from him."
老贵族微微一笑。“你的意思是，假如你禀告大帝，说银河边缘有一群衣衫褴褛的蛮子，可能会推翻他的皇位，他一定不会相信也不会重视。所以说，你不指望从他那里得到任何帮助。”
"Unless you count a special envoy as something."
“除非你将特使也当成一种帮助。”
"And why a special envoy?"
“为什么会有特使呢？”
"It's an old custom. A direct representative of the crown is present on every military campaign which is under government auspices."
“这是一种古老的惯例。凡是由帝国支持的军事行动，都会有一位钦命代表参与其事。”
"Really? Why?"
“真的吗？为什么？”
"It's a method of preserving the symbol of personal Imperial leadership in all campaigns. It's gained a secondary function of insuring the fidelity of generals. It doesn't always succeed in that respect."
“这样一来，每场战役都能保有陛下御驾亲征的意义。此外，另一项作用就是确保将领们的忠诚，不过后者并非每次都成功。”
"You'll find that inconvenient, general. Extraneous authority, I mean."
“将军，你将发现这会带来不便，我是指这个外来的威权。”
"I don't doubt that," Riose reddened faintly, "but it can't be helped?
“我不怀疑这一点，”里欧思的脸颊稍微转红，“但是我也没有办法……”
The receiver at the general's hand glowed warmly, and with an unobtrusive jar, the cylindered communication popped into its slot. Riose unrolled it, "Good! This is it!"
此时将军手中的收讯器亮了起来，并且发出轻微的摩擦声，然后传送槽中便跳出一个圆筒状的信囊。里欧思将信囊打开，叫道：“太好了！来了！”
Ducem Barr raised a mildly questioning eyebrow.
杜森·巴尔轻轻扬起眉毛，表示询问之意。
Riose said, "You know we've captured one of these Trader people. Alive ?and with his ship intact."
里欧思说：“你可知道，我们俘虏到一名行商。是个活口——他的太空船也还完好。”
"I've heard talk of it."
“我听说了。”
"Well, they've just brought him in, and we'll have him here in a minute. You keep your seat, patrician. I want you here when I'm questioning him. It's why I asked you here today in the first place. You may understand him where I might miss important points."
“好，他们把他带到这里来了，我们马上就能见到他。老贵族，请你坐好。在我审问他的时候，我要你也在场。这也是我今天请你来这里的本意。万一我疏忽了什么关键，你也许听得出来。”
The door signal sounded and a touch of the general's toe swung the door wide. The man who stood on the threshold was tall and bearded, wore a short coat of a soft, leathery plastic, with an attached hood shoved back on his neck. His hands were free, and if he noticed the men about him were armed, he did not trouble to indicate it.
叫门的讯号随即响起，将军用脚趾踢了一下开关，办公室的门就打开了。站在门口的人个子很高，留着络腮胡，穿着一件人造皮制的短大衣，后面还有一个兜帽垂在颈际。他的双手没有被铐起来；即使他知道押解的人都带着武器，也并未显得丝毫不自在。
He stepped in casually, and looked about with calculating eyes. He favored the general with a rudimentary wave of the hand and a half nod.
他若无其事地走进来，向四周打量了一番。见到将军后，他只是随便挥挥手，稍微点了点头。
"Your name?" demanded Riose, crisply.
“你叫什么名字？”里欧思简洁有力地问。
"Lathan Devers." The trader hooked his thumbs into his wide and gaudy belt. "Are you the boss here?"
“拉珊·迪伐斯，”行商将两根拇指勾在俗不可耐的宽皮带上，“你是这里的头儿吗？”
"You are a trader of the Foundation?"
“你是基地的行商吗？”
"That's right. Listen, if you're the boss, you'd better tell your hired men here to lay off my cargo."
“没错。听好，如果你是这里的头儿，最好告诉你的手下别碰我的货。”
The general raised his head and regarded the prisoner coldly. "Answer questions. Do not volunteer orders."
将军抬起头，用冷峻的目光凝视这名战俘。“回答问题，不要发号施令。”
"All right. I'm agreeable. But one of your boys blasted a two-foot hole in his chest already, by sticking his fingers where he wasn't supposed to."
“好吧，我欣然同意。可是你有一名手下，把手指放进不该放的地方，结果胸口开了一个两英尺的窟窿。”
Riose shifted his gaze to the lieutenant in charge. "Is this man telling the truth? Your report, Vrank, had it that no lives were lost."
里欧思的目光随即转移到一名中尉身上。“这个人说的是事实吗？威兰克，你的报告明明说没有任何伤亡。”
"None were, sir," the lieutenant spoke stiffly, apprehensively, "at the time. There was later some disposition to search the ship, there having arisen a rumor that a woman was aboard. Instead, sir, many instruments of unknown nature were located, instruments which the prisoner claims to be his stock in trade. One of them flashed on handling, and the soldier holding it died."
“报告将军，当初的确没有。”中尉以僵硬而不安的语调答道，“后来我们决定搜查他的太空船，因为谣传说上面有女人。结果我们没有发现什么人，却找到很多不知名的装置，这名俘虏声称那些都是他的货品。我们正在清点时，有样东西忽然射出一道强光，拿着它的那名弟兄就遇难了。”
The general turned back to the trader. "Does your ship carry nuclear explosives?"
将军又转头面向行商。“你的太空船配备有核能武器？”
"Galaxy, no. What for? That fool grabbed a nuclear puncher, wrong end forward and set at maximum dispersion. You're not supposed to do that. Might as well point a neut-gun at your head. I'd have stopped him, if five men weren't sitting on my chest."
“银河在上，当然没有。那个傻瓜抓着的是核能打孔机，方向却拿反了，又将孔径调到最大。他根本不该这么做，等于是拿中子枪指着自己的头。要不是有五个人坐在我身上，我就能阻止他。”
Riose gestured at the waiting guard, "You go. The captured ship is to he sealed against all intrusion. Sit down, Devers."
里欧思对身旁的警卫做了一个手势。“你去传话，不准任何人进入那艘太空船。迪伐斯，你坐下来。”
The trader did so, in the spot indicated, and withstood stolidly the hard scrutiny of the Imperial general and the curious glance of the Siwennian patrician.
行商在里欧思指定的位置坐下，满不在乎地面对帝国将军锐利的目光，以及西维纳老贵族好奇的眼神。
Riose said, "You're a sensible man, Devers."
里欧思说：“迪伐斯，你是个识相的人。”
"Thank you. Are you impressed by my face, or do you want something? Tell you what, though. I'm a good business man."
“谢谢你。你是觉得我看起来老实，还是对我另有所求？不过我先告诉你，我可是一个优秀的商人。”
"It's about the same thing. You surrendered your ship when you might have decided to waste our ammunition and have yourself blown to electron-dust. It could result in good treatment for you, if you continue that sort of outlook on life."
“两者没有什么分别。你识时务地投降了，并没有让我们浪费多少火炮，也没有让你自己被轰成一团电子。如果你保持这样的态度，就能受到很好的待遇。”
"Good treatment is what I mostly crave, boss."
“头儿，我最渴望的就是很好的待遇。”
"Good, and co-operation is what I mostly crave." Riose smiled, and said in a low aside to Ducem Barr, "I hope the word 'crave' means what I think it does. Did you ever hear such a barbarous jargon?"
“好极了，而我最渴望的就是你的合作。”里欧思微微一笑，低声向一旁的杜森·巴尔说：“但愿我们所说的‘渴望’指的是同一件事。你知道市井俚语里面它有其他意义吗？”
Devers said blandly, "Right. I check you. But what kind of co-operation are you talking about, boss? To tell you straight, I don't know where I stand." He looked about him, "Where's this place, for instance, and ?what's the idea?"
迪伐斯和和气气地说：“对，我同意你的话。头儿，但你说的是什么样的合作呢？老实跟你说，我连身在何处都不知道。”他四下看了看，“比方说，这是什么地方？带我来这里干什么？”
"Ah, I've neglected the other half of the introductions. I apologize." Riose was in good humor. "That gentleman is Ducem Barr, Patrician of the Empire. I am Bel Riose, Peer of the Empire, and General of the Third Class in the armed forces of His Imperial Majesty."?
“啊，我忘了还没有介绍完毕呢，真抱歉。”里欧思的心情很好，“这位老绅士是杜森·巴尔，他是帝国的贵族。我名叫贝尔·里欧思，是帝国的高级贵族，在大帝麾下效忠，官拜三级将军。”
The trader's jaw slackened. Then, "The Empire? I mean the old Empire they taught us about at school? Huh! Funny! I always had the sort of notion that it didn't exist any more."
行商目瞪口呆，然后反问：“帝国？你说的是教科书中提到的那个古老帝国吗？哈！有意思！我一直以为它早就不存在了。”
"Look about you. It does," said Riose grimly.
“看看周围的一切，它当然存在。”里欧思绷着脸说。
"Might have known it though," and Lathan Devers pointed his beard at the ceiling. "That was a mightily polished-looking set of craft that took my tub. No kingdom of the Periphery could have turned them out." His brow furrowed. "So what's the game, boss? Or do I call you general?"
“我早就应该知道，”拉珊·迪伐斯将络腮胡对着天花板，“我那艘小太空船，是被一艘外表壮丽无比的星舰逮到的。银河外缘的那些王国，没有一个造得出那种货色。”他皱起眉头，“头儿，这到底是什么游戏？或者我应该称呼你将军？”
"Me game is war."
“这个游戏叫做战争。”
"Empire versus Foundation, that it?"
“帝国对基地，是吗？”
"Right."
“没错。”
"Why?"
“为什么？”
"I think you know why."
“我想你应该知道。”
The trader stared sharply and shook his head.
行商瞪大眼睛，坚决地摇了摇头。
Riose let the other deliberate, then said softly, "I'm sure you know why."
里欧思任由对方沉思半晌，然后轻声说：“我确定你知道。”
Lathan Devers muttered, "Warm here," and stood up to remove his hooded jacket. Then he sat down again and stretched his legs out before him.
拉珊·迪伐斯喃喃自语：“这里好热。”他站起来，脱下连帽短大衣。然后他又坐下，双腿向前伸得老远。
"You know," he said, comfortably, "I figure you're thinking I ought to jump up with a whoop and lay about me. I can catch you before you could move if I choose my time, and this old fellow who sits there and doesn't say anything couldn't do much to stop me."
“你知道吗，”他以轻松的口吻说，“我猜你以为我会大吼一声，然后一跃而起，向四面八方拳打脚踢一番。假使我算好时机，就能在你采取行动之前制住你。那个坐在旁边一言不发的老家伙，想必阻止不了我。”
"But you won't," said Riose, confidently.
“你却不会这么做。”里欧思充满信心地说。
"I won't," agreed Devers, amiably. "First off, killing you wouldn't stop the war, I suppose. There are more generals where you came from."
“我不会这么做。”迪伐斯表示同意，口气还很亲切，“第一，我想即使杀了你，也阻止不了这场战争。你们那里一定还有不少将军。”
"Very accurately calculated."
“你推算得非常准确。”
"Besides which, I'd probably be slammed down about two seconds after I got you, and killed fast, or maybe slow, depending. But I'd be killed, and I never like to count on that when I'm making plans. It doesn't pay off."
“此外，即使制服了你，我也可能两秒钟后就被打倒，然后立刻遭到处死，却也可能被慢慢折磨死。总之我会没命，而我在盘算的时候，从来不喜欢考虑这种可能性。这太不划算了。”
"I said you were a sensible man."
“我说过，你是个识相的人。”
"But there's one thing I would like, boss. I'd like you to tell me what you mean when you say I know why you're jumping us. I don't; and guessing games bother me no end."
“头儿，但有一件事我想弄明白。你说我知道你们为何攻击我们，希望你能告诉我这是什么意思。我真的不知道，猜谜游戏总是令我头疼。”
"Yes? Ever hear of Hari Seldon?"
“是吗？你可曾听过哈里·谢顿？”
"No. I said I don't like guessing games."
“没有。我说过，我不喜欢玩猜谜游戏。”
Riose flicked a side glance at Ducem Barr who smiled with a narrow gentleness and resumed his inwardly-dreaming expression.
里欧思向一旁的杜森·巴尔瞟了一眼，后者温和地微微一笑，随即又恢复那种冥想的神情。
Riose said with a grimace, "Don't you play games, Devers. There is a tradition, or a fable, or sober history ?I don't care what ?upon your Foundation, that eventually you will found the Second Empire. I know quite a detailed version of Hari Seldon's psychohistorical claptrap, and your eventual plans of aggression against the Empire."
里欧思带着不悦的表情说：“迪伐斯，别跟我装蒜。在你们的基地有一个传统，或者说传说或历史——我不管它到底是什么，反正就是说，你们终将建立所谓的第二帝国。我对哈里·谢顿那套华而不实的心理史学，以及你们对帝国所拟定的侵略计划，都知道得相当详细。”
"That so?" Devers nodded thoughtfully. "And who told you all that?"
“是吗？”迪伐斯若有所思地点点头，“这又是什么人告诉你的？”
"Does that matter?" said Riose with dangerous smoothness. "You're here to question nothing. I want what you know about the Seldon Fable."
“这又有什么关系吗？”里欧思以诡异的温柔语调说，“你在这里不准发问，我要知道你所听过的谢顿传说。”
"But if it's a Fable?
“但既然只是传说……”
"Don't play with words, Devers."
“迪伐斯，别跟我玩文字游戏。”
"I'm not. In fact, I'll give it to you straight. You know all I know about it. It's silly stuff, half-baked. Every world has its yams; you can't keep it away from them. Yes, I've heard that sort of talk; Seldon, Second Empire, and so on. They put kids to sleep at night with the stuff. The young squirts curl up in the spare rooms with their pocket projectors and suck up Seldon thrillers. But it's strictly non-adult. Nonintelligent adult, anyway." The trader shook his head.
“我没有。事实上，我会坦白对你说。我知道的其实你都知道了。这是个愚蠢的传说，内容也不完整。每个世界都有一些传奇故事，谁也无法使它销声匿迹。是的，我听过这一类的说法，关于谢顿、第二帝国等等。父母晚上讲这种故事哄小孩子入睡；年轻小伙子喜欢在房间里挤成一团，用袖珍投影机播放谢顿式惊险影片。但这些都不吸引成年人，至少，不吸引有头脑的成年人。”行商使劲摇了摇头。
The Imperial general's eyes were dark. "Is that really so? You waste your lies, man. I've been on the planet, Terminus. I know your Foundation. I've looked it in the face."
帝国将军的眼神变得阴沉。“真是如此吗？老兄，你撒这些谎是浪费唇舌。我曾经去过那颗行星，端点星。我了解你们的基地，我亲自探访过。”
"And you ask me? Me, when I haven't kept foot on it for two months at a piece in ten years. You are wasting your time. But go ahead with your war, if it's fables you're after."
“那你还问我？我呀，过去十年间，待在那里的日子还不到两个月。你是在浪费自己的时间。不过如果你相信那些传说，就继续打这场仗吧。”
And Barr spoke for the first time, mildly, "You are so confident then that the Foundation will win?"
巴尔终于首度开口，以温和的口气道：“这么说，你绝对相信基地会胜利？”
The trader turned. He flushed faintly and an old scar on one temple showed whitely, "Hm-mmm, the silent partner. How'd you squeeze that out of what I said, doc?"
行商转过身来。他的脸颊稍微涨红，一侧太阳穴上的旧疤痕却更加泛白。“嗯——嗯，这位沉默的伙伴。老学究，你是如何从我的话中得出这个结论的？”
Riose nodded very slightly at Barr, and the Siwennian continued in a low voice, "Because the notion would bother you if you thought your world might lose this war, and suffer the bitter reapings of defeat, I know. My world once did, and still does."
里欧思对巴尔浅浅地点了点头，西维纳老贵族继续低声说：“因为我知道，假如你认为自己的世界可能打败仗，因而导致悲惨的遭遇，你一定会坐立不安。我自己的世界就被征服过，如今仍旧如此。”
Lathan Devers fumbled his beard, looked from one of his opponents to the other, then laughed shortly. "Does he always talk like that, boss? Listen," he grew serious, "what's defeat? I've seen wars and I've seen defeats. What if the winner does take over? Who's bothered? Me? Guys like me?" He shook his head in derision.
拉珊·迪伐斯摸摸胡子，轮流瞪视对面的两个人，然后干笑了几声。“头儿，他总是这样说话吗？听好，”他态度转趋严肃，“战败又怎么样？我曾经目睹战争，也看过打败仗。领土真的被占领又如何？谁会操这个心？我吗？像我这种小角色吗？”他满脸嘲讽地摇了摇头。
"Get this," the trader spoke forcefully and earnestly, "there are five or six fat slobs who usually run an average planet. They get the rabbit punch, but I'm not losing peace of mind over them. See. The people? The ordinary run of guys? Sure, some get killed, and the rest pay extra taxes for a while. But it settles itself out; it runs itself down. And then it's the old situation again with a different five or six."
“听好了，”行商一本正经、义正辞严地说，“一般的行星，总是由五六个脑满肠肥的家伙统治。战败了是他们遭殃，可是我的心情不会受到丝毫影响。懂吧！一般大众呢？普通人呢？当然，有些倒霉鬼会被杀掉，没死的则有一阵子得多付些税金。但是局势终将安定，事情总会渐渐恢复正常。然后一切又回复原状，只是换了另外五六个人而已。”
Ducem Barr's nostrils flared, and the tendons of his old right hand jerked; but he said nothing.
杜森·巴尔的鼻孔翕张，右手的肌肉在抽搐，他却什么都没有说。
Lathan Devers' eyes were on him. They missed nothing. He said, "Look. I spend my life in space for my five-and-dime gadgets and my beer-and-pretzel kickback from the Combines. There's fat fellows back there," his thumb jerked over his shoulder and back, "that sit home and collect my year's income every minute ?out of skimmings from me and more like me. Suppose you run the Foundation. You'll still need us. You'll need us more than ever the Combines do ?because you'd not know your way around, and we could bring in the hard cash. We'd make a better deal with the Empire. Yes, we would; and I'm a man of business. If it adds up to a plus mark, I'm for it."
拉珊·迪伐斯的目光停驻在他身上，将一切都看在眼里。他说：“看，我一生在太空飘泊，到处兜售那些不值钱的玩意，我的微薄利润还要被‘企业联营组织’抽头。那里有好几头肥猪——”他用拇指向背后比了比，“成天坐在家中，每分钟都能赚到我一年的收入——靠的就是向许许多多我们这种人抽成。假如换成你来治理基地，你还是需要我们，你会比‘企业联营组织’更加需要我们。因为你根本摸不着头绪，而我们能帮你赚进现金。我们可以和帝国进行更有利的交易。没错，我们会这么做，我是在商言商。只要能有赚头，我一定干。”
And he stared at the two with sardonic belligerence.
他露出一副嘲弄似的挑战神情，瞪着对面两个人。
The silence remained unbroken for minutes, and then a cylinder rattled into its slot. The general flipped it open, glanced at the neat printing and in-circuited the visuals with a sweep.
沉默维持了好几分钟之久，突然又有一个圆筒状信囊从传送槽中跳出来。将军立刻扳开信囊，浏览了一遍其中的字迹，并随手将影像通话器的开关打开。
"Prepare plan indicating position of each ship in action. Await orders on full-armed defensive."
“立刻拟定计划，指示每艘船舰各就各位。全副武装备战，等待我的命令。”
He reached for his cape. As he fastened it about his shoulders, he whispered in a stiff-lipped monotone to Barr, "I'm leaving this man to you. I'll expect results. This is war and I can be cruel to failures. Remember!" He left, with a salute to both.
他伸手将披风取过来，一面系着披风的带子，一面以单调的语气对巴尔耳语：“我把这个人交给你，希望你有些收获。现在是战时，我对失败者绝不留情。记住这一点！”他向两人行了一个军礼，便径自离去。
Lathan Devers looked after him, "Well, something's hit him where it hurts. What goes on?"
拉珊·迪伐斯望着他的背影。“嗯，有什么东西戳到他的痛处了。到底是怎么回事？”
"A battle, obviously," said Barr, gruffly. "The forces of the Foundation are coming out for their first battle. You'd better come along."
“显然是一场战役。”巴尔粗声说：“基地的军队终于出现了，这是他们的第一仗。你最好跟我来。”
There were armed soldiers in the room. Their bearing was respectful and their faces were hard. Devers followed the proud old Siwennian patriarch out of the room.
房间中还有几名全副武装的士兵。他们的举止谦恭有礼，表情却木然生硬。迪伐斯跟着西维纳的老贵族走出这间办公室。
The room to which they were led was smaller, barer. It contained two beds, a visi-screen, and shower and sanitary facilities. The soldiers marched out, and the thick door boomed hollowly shut.
他们被带到一间比较小、陈设比较简陋的房间。室内只有两张床，一块电视幕，以及淋浴和卫生设备。而将两人带进来之后，士兵们便齐步离开，随即传来一声关门的巨响。
"Hmp?" Devers stared disapprovingly about. "This looks permanent."
“嗯？”迪伐斯不以为然地四处打量，“看来我们要长住了。”
"It is," said Barr, shortly. The old Siwennian turned his back.
“没错。”巴尔简短地回答，然后这位老贵族便转过身去。
The trader said irritably, "What's your game, doc?"
行商暴躁地问：“老学究，你在玩什么把戏？”
"I have no game. You're in my charge, that's all."
“我没有玩什么把戏。你现在由我监管，如此而已。”
The trader rose and advanced. His bulk towered over the unmoving patrician. "Yes? But you're in this cell with me and when you were marched here the guns were pointed just as hard at you as at me. Listen, you were all boiled up about my notions on the subject of war and peace."
行商站起来向对方走去。他那魁梧的身形峙立在巴尔面前，巴尔却不为所动。“是吗？可是你却跟我一起关在这间牢房。而我们走到这里来的时候，那些枪口不只是对着我，同时也对着你。听着，当我发表战争与和平的高论时，我发现你简直要气炸了。”
He waited fruitlessly, "All fight, let me ask you something. You said your country was licked once. By whom? Comet people from the outer nebulae?"
他没等到回应，只好说：“好吧，让我问你一件事。你说你的故乡被征服过，是被谁征服的？从外星系来的彗星人吗？”
Barr looked up. "By the Empire."
巴尔抬起头。“是帝国。”
"That so? Then what are you doing here?"
“真的吗？那你在这里干什么？”
Barr maintained an eloquent silence.
巴尔又以沉默代替回答。
The trader thrust out a lower lip and nodded his head slowly. He slipped off the flat-linked bracelet that hugged his fight wrist and held it out. "What do you think of that?" He wore the mate to it on his left.
迪伐斯努着下唇，缓缓点了点头。他把戴在右手腕上的一个扁平手镯退下来，再递给对方。“你知道这是什么？”他的左手也戴了一个一模一样的。
The Siwennian took the ornament. He responded slowly to the trader's gesture and put it on. The odd tingling at the wrist passed away quickly.
西维纳老贵族接过了这个手镯。过了好一会儿，他才遵照迪伐斯的手势，将手镯戴上。手腕上立刻传来一阵奇特的刺痛。
Devers' voice changed at once. "Right, doc, you've got the action now. Just speak casually. If this room is wired, they won't get a thing. That's a Field Distorter you've got there; genuine Mallow design. Sells for twenty-five credits on any world from here to the outer rim. You get it free. Hold your lips still when you talk and take it easy. You've got to get the trick of it."
迪伐斯的声音突然变了。“对，老学究，你感觉到了。现在随便说话吧。即使这个房间装有监听线路，他们也什么都听不到。你戴上的是一个电磁场扭曲器，货真价实的马洛设计品。它的统一售价是25信用点，从此地到银河外围每个世界都一样。今天我免费送你。你说话的时候嘴唇别动，要放轻松。这个窍门你必须学会。”
Ducem Barr was suddenly weary. The trader's boring eyes were luminous and urging. He felt unequal to their demands.
杜森·巴尔突然全身乏力。行商锐利的眼神充满怂恿的意味，令他感到无法招架。
Barr said, "What do you want?" The words slurred from between unmoving lips.
巴尔说：“你到底要我做什么？”他嘴唇几乎没动，讲得含含糊糊。
"I've told you. You make mouth noises like what we call a patriot. Yet your own world has been mashed up by the Empire, and here you are playing ball with the Empire's fair-haired general. Doesn't make sense, does it?"
“我告诉过你了。你说得慷慨激昂，好像是我们所谓的爱国人士，但你自己的世界却曾经被帝国蹂躏。而你如今又在这里，和帝国的金发将军携手合作。这实在说不通，对不对？”
Barr said, "I have done my part. A conquering Imperial viceroy is dead because of me."
巴尔说：“我已经尽了自己的责任。征服我们的那个帝国总督，就是死在我手里。”
"That so? Recently?"
“真的吗？是最近的事吗？”
"Forty years ago."
“四十年前的事。”
"Forty ... years ... ago!" The words seemed to have meaning to the trader. He frowned, "That's a long time to live on memories. Does that young squirt in the general's uniform know about it?"
“四十……年……前！”行商似乎对这几个字别有所悟，他皱起眉头，“这种陈年旧账，实在不值得提了。那个穿将军制服的初生之犊，他晓得这件事吗？”
Barr nodded.
巴尔点了点头。
Devers' eyes were dark with thought. "You want the Empire to win?"
迪伐斯的眼神充满深意。“你希望帝国战胜吗？”
And the old Siwennian patrician broke out in sudden deep anger, "May the Empire and all its works perish in universal catastrophe. All Siwenna prays that daily. I had brothers once, a sister, a father. But I have children now, grandchildren. The general knows where to find them."
西维纳老贵族突然大发雷霆。“希望帝国和它的一切，在一场大灾难中毁灭殆尽。每个西维纳人天天都在这样祈祷。我的父亲、我的妹妹、我的几位兄长都去世了。可是我还有儿女，还有孙儿。那个将军知道他们在哪里。”
Devers waited.
迪伐斯默然不语。
Barr continued in a whisper, "But that would not stop me if the results in view warranted the risk. They would know how to die."
巴尔继续细声道：“但是，只要冒险是值得的，我还是会不顾一切，我的家人也已经准备牺牲。”
The trader said gently, "You killed a viceroy once, huh? You know, I recognize a few things. We once had a mayor, Hober Mallow his name was. He visited Siwenna; that's your world, isn't it? He met a man named Barr."
行商以温和的口吻说：“你杀死过一名总督，是吗？你可知道，我想到了一些事。我们以前有位市长，他的名字叫做侯伯·马洛。他曾经造访西维纳，那就是你的世界，对吗？他遇到过一位姓巴尔的老人。”
Ducem Barr stared hard, suspiciously. "What do you know of this?"
杜森·巴尔以狐疑的目光紧盯着对方。“这件事你知道多少？”
"What every trader on the Foundation knows. You might be a smart old fellow put in here to get on my right side. Sure, they'd point guns at you, and you'd hate the Empire and be all-out for its smashing. Then I'd fall all over you and pour out my heart to you, and wouldn't the general be pleased. There's not much chance of that, doc.
“和基地上每名行商知道得一样多。你是个精明的老人，你和我关在一起也许是故意安排的。没错，他们也拿枪比着你，而你看来恨透了帝国，愿意和它同归于尽。这样，我就会把你当成自己人，对你推心置腹，如此正中将军下怀。老学究，这种机会实在很难得。
"But just the same I'd like to have you prove that you're the son of Onum Barr of Siwenna ?the sixth and youngest who escaped the massacre."
“但是话说回来，我要你先向我证明，你的确是西维纳人欧南·巴尔的儿子——他的第六个儿子，那个逃过大屠杀的老幺。”
Ducem Barr's hand shook as he opened the flat metal box in a wall recess. The metal object he withdrew clanked softly as he thrust it into the trader's hands.
杜森·巴尔以颤抖的手，从壁槽中拿出一个扁平的金属盒并打开来。当他将取出的金属物件递给行商的时候，带起一阵“叮当叮当”的轻微响声。
Look at that, he said.
“你自己看。”他说。
Devers stared. He held the swollen central link of the chain close to his eyes and swore softly. "That's Mallow's monogram, or I'm a space-struck rookie, and the design is fifty years old if it's a day."
迪伐斯瞪大眼睛。他将那个金属链中央的大环凑到眼前，然后低声赌咒：“这是马洛名字的缩写，否则我就是一只没上过太空的嫩鸟。这种设计的式样，也是五十年前的。”
He looked up and smiled.
他抬起头来，面露微笑。
"Shake, doc. A man-sized nuclear shield is all the proof I need," and he held out his large hand.
“老学究，握握手吧。这副个人核能防护罩就是最好的证明。”他伸出粗大的手掌。