13 Lady
第13章 贵妇
Arcadia felt triumphant. How life had changed since Pelleas Anthor had stuck his silly face up against her window……"and all because she had the vision and courage to do what needed to be done.
艾嘉蒂娅感到得意洋洋。自从裴礼斯·安索把那张笨脸靠到她的卧室窗户那天起，她的人生就起了意想不到的变化……而这都是因为她有眼光、有勇气去做该做的一切。
Here she was on Kalgan. She had been to the great Central Theater……"the largest in the Galaxy……"and seen in person some of the singing stars who were famous even in the distant Foundation. She had shopped all on her own along the Flowered Path, fashion center of the gayest world in Space. And she had made her own selections because Homir just didn't know anything about it at all. The saleswomen raised no objections at all to long, shiny dresses with those vertical sweeps that made her look so tall……"and Foundation money went a long, long way. Homir had given her a ten-credit bill and when she changed it to Kalganian "Kalganids," it made a terribly thick sheaf.
如今，她终于来到卡尔根。她已经去过宏伟的中央剧院……那是银河系最大的一间剧院，并亲眼看到许多着名的歌星……即使在遥远的基地，他们也是家喻户晓的人物。她也逛过了锦簇大道，那是这个无比繁华世界的流行中心。她照自己的心意选购了许多商品，因为侯密尔对这种事一窍不通。她看上了一件熠熠生辉的长礼服，上面的直条纹使她看来修长许多，店员则绝不认为有何不妥。基地的现金在这里非常、非常管用。侯密尔给了她一张十信用点的纸币，兑换成卡尔根币，就变成厚厚的一大捆。
She had even had her hair redone……"sort of half-short in back, with two glistening curls over each temple. And it was treated so that it looked goldier than ever; it just shone.
她甚至换了一个新发型……把后面的头发剪短，两侧烫成耀眼的波浪。经过细心的护发处理，她的金发看来比以前更亮丽，简直就是闪闪发光。
But this, this was best of all. To be sure, the Palace of Lord Stettin wasn't as grand and lavish as the theaters, or as mysterious and historical as the old palace of the Mule……"of which, so far they had only glimpsed the lonely towers in their air flight across the planet……"but, imagine, a real Lord. She was rapt in the glory of it.
可是比较之下，最精彩的还是刚才那一幕。老实说，史铁亭统领的官邸并不如剧院那般豪华壮观，也不像骡殿那样神秘而历史悠久……当然，目前为止，他们只是在飞越行星上空时，瞥见了骡殿那些孤独的尖塔而已。不过无论如何，想想看，史铁亭毕竟是一位真正的统领。这份荣耀令她欣喜若狂。
And not only that. She was actually face to face with his Mistress. Arcadia capitalized the word in her mind, because she knew the role such women had played in history; knew their glamour and power. In fact, she had often thought of being an all-powerful and glittering creature, herself, but somehow mistresses weren't in fashion at the Foundation just then and besides, her father probably wouldn't let her, if it came to that.
而且除此之外，她还有机会和统领的“宠姬”面对面交谈。艾嘉蒂娅特别在心中将“宠姬”加上引号，因为她了解这种女人在历史上扮演的角色，了解她们拥有的魅力与权力。事实上，她常常梦想着有朝一日，自己也能成为这样一位倾国倾城的尤物。只可惜基地如今不流行这一套，更何况即使有机会，父亲大概也不会答应。
Of course, the Lady Callia didn't quite come up to Arcadia's notion of the part. For one thing, she was rather plump, and didn't look at all wicked and dangerous. just sort of faded and near-sighted. Her voice was high, too, instead of throaty, and……
当然，嘉莉贵妇并不完全符合艾嘉蒂娅的想象。她稍嫌丰满，毫无狐媚或淫邪的味道，而且还有几分苍老与近视。她的声音也太尖了，并非那种充满磁性的声调，此外……
Callia said, "Would you like more tea, child?"
嘉莉说：“孩子，还要不要加点茶？”
"I'll have another cup, thank you, your grace,"……"or was it your highness?
“谢谢您，贵人，我想再来一杯。”或者应该称呼她“殿下”？
Arcadia continued with a connoisseur's condescension, "Those are lovely pearls you are wearing, my lady." (On the whole, "my lady" seemed best.)
接着，艾嘉蒂娅以鉴赏家的口吻，老气横秋地说：“夫人，您带的这串珍珠真是美丽。”（想来想去，“夫人”似乎最恰当。）
"Oh? Do you think so?" Callia seemed vaguely pleased. She removed them and let them swing milkily to and fro. "Would you like them? You can have them, if you like."
“哦？你这么觉得吗？”嘉莉似乎心情不错。她摘下那串乳白色的项链，拿在手中晃来晃去。“你喜欢吗？喜欢的话，你就收下吧。”
"Oh, my?You really mean? She found them in her hand, then, repelling them mournfully, she said, "Father wouldn't like it."
“喔，我的天……您这话当真……”她发觉项链已经到了自己手里，连忙作势要还回去，还用感伤的口吻说：“爸爸会不高兴。”
"He wouldn't like the pearls? But they're quite nice pearls."
“他讨厌珍珠吗？这些都是上好的货色。”
"He wouldn't like my taking them, I mean. You're not supposed to take expensive presents from other people, he says."
“我是说，如果我收下，他会不高兴的。他总是嘱咐我：你不可以随便接受贵重的礼物。”
"You aren't? But……I mean, this was a present to me from Poo……from the First Citizen. Was that wrong, do you suppose?"
“不可以吗？但是……我是说，这是卜……是第一公民送给我的礼物。你认为我也不该收下吗？”
Arcadia reddened. "I didn't mean……"
艾嘉蒂娅满脸通红。“我不是这个意思……”
But Callia had tired of the subject. She let the pearls slide to the ground and said, "You were going to tell me about the Foundation. Please do so right now."
嘉莉却厌倦了这个话题，她任由项链滑落到地板上。“我要你告诉我有关基地的一切，请你现在就开始说。”
And Arcadia was suddenly at a loss. What does one say about a world dull to tears. To her, the Foundation was a suburban town, a comfortable house, the annoying necessities of education, the uninteresting eternities of a quiet life. She said, uncertainly, "It's just like you view in the book-films, I suppose."
艾嘉蒂娅突然感到哑口无言。那个无聊到令人想掉眼泪的世界，有什么好说的？对她而言，基地只是一座郊外的小镇、一间舒适的住宅，以及不得不硬着头皮接受的教育，加上永远无趣而单调的生活。于是，她心虚地答道：“我想，就和您从胶卷书中读到的一样。”
"Oh, do you view book-films? They give me such a headache when I try. But do you know I always love video stories about your Traders……"such big, savage men. It's always so exciting. Is your friend, Mr. Munn, one of them? He doesn't seem nearly savage enough. Most of the Traders had beards and big bass voices, and were so domineering with women……"don't you think so?"
“喔，你爱看胶卷书吗？我常常想看，却一看就头痛。不过，你可知道，我最喜欢看超视上的行商故事……那些雄壮而粗犷的男人，看来总是又刺激又过瘾。你的那个朋友，孟恩先生，也是一名行商吗？他看来似乎没有那么粗犷。大多数的行商都留着络腮胡，嗓门又大又低沉，而且对女人予取予求……你说对不对？”
Arcadia smiled, glassily. "That's just part of history, my lady. I mean, when the Foundation was Young, the Traders were the pioneers pushing back the frontiers and bringing civilization to the rest of the Galaxy. We learned all about that in school. But that time has passed. We don't have Traders any more; just corporations and things."
艾嘉蒂娅露出一个呆板的笑容。“夫人，那些都是历史了。我的意思是，在基地的早期，行商替基地开疆拓土，并将文明散播到银河系各处。这些都是我们在学校学到的。可是那个时代已成为过去。我们那里再也没有行商了，只剩下公司之类的组织。”
"Really? What a shame. Then what does Mr. Munn do? I mean, if he's not a Trader."
“真的吗？实在太可惜了。既然孟恩先生不是行商，他又是做什么的？”
"Uncle Homir's a librarian."
“侯密尔叔叔是一名图书馆员。”
Callia put a hand to her lips and tittered. "You mean he takes care of book-films. Oh, my! It seems like such a silly thing for a grown man to do."
嘉莉用一只手捂住嘴唇，窃笑了几声。“你的意思是，他负责管理胶卷书。喔，天哪！一个大男人做这种事，好像太没有出息了。”
"He's a very good librarian, my lady. It is an occupation that is very highly regarded at the Foundation." She put down the little, iridescent teacup upon the milky-metaled table surface.
“夫人，他是一名很优秀的图书馆员。在基地，这是一种非常高尚的职业。”说完，她顺手把泛着晕彩的小茶杯放到乳白色金属桌上。
Her hostess was all concern. "But my dear child. I'm sure I didn't mean to offend you. He must be a very intelligent man. I could see it in his eyes as soon as I looked at him. They were so……so intelligent. And he must be brave, too, to want to see the Mule's palace."
女主人感到很不好意思。“亲爱的孩子，我保证绝对无意冒犯你。他一定是个很聪明、很聪明的人。我一见到他，就从他眼中看出这一点。他的眼睛简直……简直太聪明了。而且他一定也很勇敢，才有勇气想要探访骡殿。”
"Brave?" Arcadia's internal awareness twitched. This was what she was waiting for. Intrigue! Intrigue! With great indifference, she asked, staring idly at her thumbtip: "Why must one be brave to wish to see the Mule's palace?"
“勇敢？”艾嘉蒂娅突然绷紧所有的神经，这正是她所等待的一刻。开始执行计划！执行计划！她故意瞪着自己的拇指，尽可能用不经意的语气问道：“为什么想要探访骡殿，就代表勇敢呢？”
"Didn't you know?" Her eyes were round, and her voice sank. "There's a curse on it. When he died, the Mule directed that no one ever enter it until the Empire of the Galaxy is established. Nobody on Kalgan would dare even to enter the grounds."
“你不知道吗？”她的眼睛瞪得圆圆的，声音则变得低沉，“那里受到过诅咒。骡在死前曾经下令，在银河帝国建立之前，任何人都不准进入。卡尔根的本地人，连周围的广场都不敢去。”
Arcadia absorbed that. "But that's superstition^“
艾嘉蒂娅领会了这层意思。“不过那只是迷信……”
"Don't say that," Callia was distressed. "Poochie always says that. He says it's useful to say it isn't though, in order to maintain his hold over the people. But I notice he's never gone in himself. And neither did Thallos, who was First Citizen before Poochie." A thought struck her and she was all curiosity again: "But why does Mr. Munn want to see the Palace?"
“别这么说。”嘉莉显得十分苦恼，“虽然卜吉也总是这么说。不过他也说过，为了要维持他的统治，最好还是别戳破那个迷信。可是，我从来没见过他自己去那里。而萨洛斯也从未去过，他是前任第一公民。”她好像突然想到什么事，再度好奇地问道：“可是孟恩先生为什么要去骡殿呢？”
And it was here that Arcadia's careful plan could be put into action. She knew well from the books she had read that a ruler's mistress was the real power behind the throne, that she was the very well-spring of influence. Therefore, if Uncle Homir failed with Lord Stettin……"and she was sure he would……"she must retrieve that failure with Lady Callia. To be sure, Lady Callia was something of a puzzle. She didn't seem at all bright. But, well, all history proved……
现在，艾嘉蒂娅精心策划的计谋终于能展开了。她从历史小说里学到一件事实：一国之君的宠姬才是真正的掌权者，她们的影响力简直不可思议。因此，假如史铁亭统领拒绝了侯密尔叔叔……她料到一定如此……自己必须从嘉莉贵妇这边挽回局势。其实，嘉莉贵妇本身也有几分神秘。她似乎不太精明。不过，嗯，历史在在证明……
She said, "There's a reason, my lady……"but will you keep it in confidence?"
她说：“夫人，当然是有原因的……可是您能不能保密呢？”
"Cross my heart," said Callia, making the appropriate gesture on the soft, billowing whiteness of her breast.
“我发誓。”嘉莉说，她在柔软、丰挺、雪白的胸前做了一个动作。
Arcadia's thoughts kept a sentence ahead of her words. "Uncle Homir is a great authority on the Mule, you know. He's written books and books about it, and he thinks that all of Galactic history has been changed since the Mule conquered the Foundation."
艾嘉蒂娅万分谨慎地开始叙述，每句话脱口前都仔细想了一遍。“您可知道，侯密尔叔叔是研究骡的头号权威。他写过好多好多这方面的书籍，而他认为，自从骡征服了基地，整个银河的历史就改变了。”
"Oh, my."
“喔，天哪。”
"He thinks the Seldon Plan……"
“他还认为谢顿计划……”
Callia clapped her hands. "I know about the Seldon Plan. The videos about the Traders were always all about the Seldon Plan. It was supposed to arrange to have the Foundation win all the time. Science had something to do with it, though I could never quite see how. I always get so restless when I have to listen to explanations. But you go right ahead, my dear. It's different when you explain. You make everything seem so clear."
嘉莉突然拍拍手。“我知道谢顿计划。行商影片总是绕着谢顿计划打转，它的作用是让基地永远打胜仗。好像牵涉到什么科学，不过我从来不明白其中的道理。每次听到那些解释，我就觉得很不耐烦。可是亲爱的孩子，请你继续讲。你的解释完全不同，你把每件事都讲得清清楚楚。”
Arcadia continued, "Well, don't you see then that when the Foundation was defeated by the Mule, the Seldon Plan didn't work and it hasn't worked since. So who will form the Second Empire?"
艾嘉蒂娅继续说：“嗯，那么您有没有注意到，当骡打败基地的时候，谢顿计划并没有生效，从此也一直没有发挥作用。所以说，谁来建立第二帝国呢？”
"The Second Empire?"
“第二帝国？”
"Yes, one must be formed some day, but how? That's the problem, you see. And there's the Second Foundation."
“是的，总有一天它会出现，但是又要如何建立呢？您瞧，这可是一个大问题。此外，还有一个第二基地。”
"The Second Foundation?" She was quite completely lost.
“第二基地？”她露出一副莫名其妙的表情。
'Yes, they're the planners of history that are following in the footsteps of Seldon. They stopped the Mule because he was premature, but now, they may be supporting Kalgan."
“没错，他们遵循谢顿的心意，来策划整个银河的历史。他们阻止了骡，因为他揠苗助长，可是现在，他们也许在支持卡尔根。”
"Why?"
“为什么？”
"Because Kalgan may now offer the best chance of being the nucleus for a new Empire."
“因为现在，卡尔根最有可能成为一个新帝国的核心。”
Dimly, Lady Callia seemed to grasp that. "You mean Poochie is going to make a new Empire."
嘉莉贵妇似乎琢磨出这句话的含意。“你的意思是，卜吉会建立一个新帝国。”
"We can't tell for sure. Uncle Homir thinks so, but hell have to see the Mule's records to find out."
“我们还不能确定。侯密尔叔叔是这么认为，但他得先看看骡留下的记录，才能肯定这一点。”
"It's all very complicated," said Lady Callia, doubtfully.
“这一切实在非常复杂。”嘉莉贵妇半信半疑地说。
Arcadia gave up. She had done her best.
艾嘉蒂娅放弃了。她已经尽了最大的努力。
Lord Stettin was in a more-or-less savage humor. The session with the milksop from the Foundation had been quite unrewarding. It had been worse; it had been embarrassing. To be absolute ruler of twenty-seven worlds, master of the Galaxy's greatest military machine, owner of the universe's most vaulting ambition……"and left to argue nonsense with an antiquarian.
史铁亭统领的心情可以说相当不好。他接见了那个基地来的娘娘腔，却没有什么收获。更糟的是，这件事令他很没面子。他是二十七个世界的唯一统治者，是银河系最强大武力的最高统帅，拥有天下无敌的雄心壮志……却和一个古董收藏家，扯了一堆毫无意义的废话。
Damnation!
真该死！
He was to violate the customs of Kalgan, was he? To allow the Mule's palace to be ransacked so that a fool could write another book? The cause of science! The sacredness of knowledge! Great Galaxy! Were these catchwords to be thrown in his face in all seriousness? Besides……"and his flesh prickled slightly……"there was the matter of the curse. He didn't believe in it; no intelligent man could. But if he was going to defy it, it would have to be for a better reason than any the fool had advanced.
他分明是要破坏卡尔根的传统，对不对？为了这个傻子想再写一本书，就能允许他进入骡殿翻箱倒柜吗？为了科学！为了神圣的知识！银河啊！自己为什么要忍受那些义正辞严的高调？而且……他突然感到一阵微微刺痛……别忘了还有诅咒呢。他自己不相信，有头脑的人都不会相信。但如果他决心向诅咒挑战，也需要一个更好的理由，而不是这傻子提出的那些蠢话。
"What do you want?" he snapped, and Lady Callia cringed visibly in the doorway.
“你来干什么？”他突然吼道，嘉莉贵妇则吓得僵立在门口。
"Are you busy?"
“你在忙吗？”
"Yes. I am busy."
“没错，我现在很忙。”
"But there's nobody here, Poochie. Couldn't I even speak to you for a minute?"
“卜吉，可是现在没有别人。我难道不能和你说几句话吗？”
"Oh, Galaxy! What do you want? Now hurry."
“喔，银河啊！你到底要说什么？赶快。”
Her words stumbled. "The little girl told me they were going into the Mule's palace. I thought we could go with her. It must be gorgeous inside."
她结结巴巴地说：“那个小女孩告诉我，他们打算到骡殿里头。我想我们可以跟她一块去，那里面一定华丽无比。”
"She told you that, did she? Well, she isn't and we aren't. Now go tend your own business. I've had about enough of you."
“她那样告诉你的吗？哼，她去不成，我们也不去。你去忙你的吧，我已经给你烦透了。”
"But, Poochie, why not? Aren't you going to let them? The little girl said that you were going to make an Empire!"
“可是，卜吉，为什么呢？你不准备批准他们吗？那个小女孩说，你会建立一个帝国！”
"I don't care what she said?What was that?" He strode to Callia, and caught her firmly above the elbow, so that his fingers sank deeply into the soft flesh, "What did she tell you?"
“我才不管她说什么……等一等，她说什么？”他大步走向嘉莉，用力抓住她的手肘，五根指头深深陷入柔嫩的肌肤。“她到底和你说了些什么？”
"You're hurting me. I can't remember what she said, if you're going to look at me like that."
“你弄痛我了。如果你一直这样瞪着我，我根本想不起她说过什么话。”
He released her, and she stood there for a moment, rubbing vainly at the red marks. She whimpered, "The little girl made me promise not to tell."
他松开了手，她则默默站在原处，搓揉着被抓出来的红印子。过了一会儿，她哭哭啼啼地说：“那小女孩要我答应替她保密。”
"That's too bad. Tell me! Now!"
“那可真糟糕。告诉我！赶快说！”
"Well, she said the Seldon Plan was changed and that there was another Foundation somewheres that was arranging to have you make an Empire. That's all. She said Mr. Munn was a very important scientist and that the Mule's palace would have proof of all that. That's every bit of what she said. Are you angry?"
“嗯，她说谢顿计划有所改变，某处还有另一个基地，正在策划让你建立一个帝国。就是这样。她说孟恩先生是一位非常重要的科学家，而骡殿中藏着所有的证据。她说的话，我一字一句都告诉你了。你还在生气吗？”
But Stettin did not answer. He left the room, hurriedly, with Callia's cowlike eyes staring mournfully after him. Two orders were sent out over the official seal of the First Citizen before the hour was up. One had the effect of sending five hundred ships of the line into space on what were officially to be termed as "war games." The other had the effect of throwing a single man into confusion.
史铁亭并没有回答。他匆忙离去，嘉莉只能张着一双大眼睛，伤感地目送他的背影。一小时内，盖着第一公民官印的两道命令已经发了出去。其中一道命令使五百艘主力舰立即升空，去从事官方所谓的“实战演习”。另外一道命令，则让某人一时之间不知所措。
Homir Munn ceased his preparations to leave when that second order reached him. It was, of course, official permission to enter the palace of the Mule. He read and reread it with anything but joy.
当那道命令送达时，侯密尔·孟恩正在收拾行囊准备离去。命令的内容当然是批准他进入骡殿。他捧着命令一读再读，顿时百感交集，唯独欠缺喜悦。
But Arcadia was delighted. She knew what had happened.
艾嘉蒂娅却喜出望外。她知道发生了什么事。
Or, at any rate, she thought she did.
或者应该说，她自以为料中了。