20 "I Know ..."
第20章 “我知道……”
The last two months of the Stettinian war did not lag for Homir. In his unusual office as Mediator Extraordinary, he found himself the center of interstellar affairs, a role he could not help but find pleasing.
“卡尔根战争”又拖了两个月才结束，不过侯密尔并没有闲着。由于具有调停特使的特殊身份，他发现自己成了星际事务的焦点人物，这个角色不禁令他沾沾自喜。
There were no further major battles…… a few accidental skirmishes that could scarcely count…… and the terms of the treaty were hammered out with little necessity for concessions on the part of the Foundation. Stettin retained his office, but scarcely anything else. His navy was dismantled; his possessions outside the home system itself made autonomous and allowed to vote for return to previous status, full independence or confederation within the Foundation, as they chose.
此时再也没有什么重大战役（只剩下一些零星的小冲突，根本不值得一提），于是在基地做了少许必要的让步后，和约的条文便完全敲定。史铁亭得以保留原来的头衔，除此之外几乎丧失了一切。他的舰队遭到解散；而且除了卡尔根星系，他控制的其他领域全部获得自治权，并允许居民以投票的方式，决定是否恢复原先的地位，或是完全独立，或是与基地结为邦联。
The war was formally ended on an asteroid in Terminus' own stellar system; site of the Foundation's oldest naval base. Lev Meirus signed for Kalgan, and Homir was an interested spectator.
基地纪元377年62日，在端点星所属星系中的一颗小行星、也是基地最古老的一座舰队基地上，这场战争正式结束。列夫·麦拉斯代表卡尔根在和约上签字，侯密尔则喜滋滋地担任见证人。
Throughout all that period he did not see Dr. Darell, nor any of the others. But it scarcely mattered. His news would keep…… and, as always, he smiled at the thought.
在整个调停过程中，侯密尔都没有见到达瑞尔博士，也没有遇见其他的“同谋”。但是这并没有什么关系。他的消息并不急于公布……每当想到这里，他总是会莞尔一笑。
Dr. Darell returned to Terminus some weeks after VK day, and that same evening, his house served as the meeting place for the five men who, ten months earlier, had laid their first plans.
“凯旋日”之后数周，达瑞尔博士才回到端点星。当天晚上，他家又成了五名“同谋”的聚会场所。十四个月前，他们就是在这里拟定第一步的计划。
They lingered over dinner and then over wine as though hesitating to return again to the old subject.
他们慢吞吞地吃完晚餐，又喝了好一会儿酒，仿佛大家都不希望回到那个旧话题上。
It was Jole Turbor, who, peering steadily into the purple depths of the wineglass with one eye, muttered, rather than said, "Well, Homir, you are a man of affairs now, I see. You handled matters well."
结果是裘尔·屠博首先打破禁忌。他以单眼凝视着酒杯中的深紫色液体，有点像是自言自语地喃喃道：“好啊，侯密尔，我看得出来，你现在是大人物了。你把事情处理得很好嘛。”
"I?" Munn laughed loudly and joyously. For some reason, he had not stuttered in months. "I hadn't a thing to do with it. It was Arcadia. By the by, Darell, how is she……She's coming back from Trantor, I heard?"
“我？”孟恩纵声哈哈大笑，显得十分高兴。不知道为什么，他的口吃已经几个月没犯了。“和我一点关系也没有，都是艾嘉蒂娅的功劳。喔对了，达瑞尔，她现在怎么样？我听说，她就要从川陀回来了。”
"You heard correctly," said Darell, quietly. "Her ship should dock within the week." He looked, with veiled eyes, at the others, but there were only confused, amorphous exclamations of pleasure. Nothing else.
“你的消息正确。”达瑞尔以平静的口气说，“她搭乘的太空船，本周应该就会抵达。”他偷偷看了看每个人，见到的不外乎是雀跃之情。除了这些混杂的正面反应，他没有任何发现。
Turbor said, "Then it's over, really. Who would have predicted all this ten months ago. Munn's been to Kalgan and back. Arcadia's been to Kalgan and Trantor and is coming back. We've had a war and won it, by Space. They tell you that the vast sweeps of history can be predicted, but doesn't it seem conceivable that all that has just happened, with its absolute confusion to those of us who lived through it, couldn't possibly have been predicted."
屠博又说：“那么，这件事真的结束了。去年春天，谁能预料到这一切呢。孟恩往返了一趟卡尔根。艾嘉蒂娅从卡尔根再转到川陀，如今也踏上归途。我们经历了一场战争，太空保佑，让我们赢得了最后的胜利。人们总是说历史的大趋势可以预测，可是这一阵子的种种变故，把我们这些当事人弄得晕头转向，这些事却好像根本无从预测。”
"Nonsense," said Anthor, acidly. "What makes you so triumphant, anyway……You talk as though we have really won a war, when actually we have won nothing but a petty brawl which has served only to distract our minds from the real enemy."
“胡说八道。”安索尖刻地说，“究竟是什么事让你这么得意？听你这种口气，我们似乎真赢了一场战争。事实上，我们打赢的只是个微不足道的对手，却刚好能让我们得意忘形，忘掉那个真正的敌人。”
There was an uncomfortable silence, in which only Homir Munn's slight smile struck a discordant note.
众人维持了一阵不安的沉默，其间，只有侯密尔·孟恩发出极不相称的轻笑。
And Anthor struck the arm of his chair with a balled and furyfilled fist, "Yes, I refer to the Second Foundation. There is no mention of it and, if I judge correctly, every effort to have no thought of it. Is it because this fallacious atmosphere of victory that palls over this world of idiots is so attractive that you feel you must participate……Turn somersaults then, handspring your way into a wall, pound one another's back and throw confetti out the window. Do whatever you please, only get it out of your system…… and when you are quite done and you are yourselves again, return and let us discuss that problem which exists now precisely as it did ten months ago when you sat here with eyes cocked over your shoulders for fear of you knew not what. Do you really think that the Mind-masters of the Second Foundation are less to be feared because you have beat down a foolish wielder of spaceships."
安索突然怒不可遏地一拳打在椅子扶手上。“没错，我指的正是第二基地。始终没有人提到它，假如我的判断正确，大家反倒努力逃避这个话题。笼罩着这个白痴世界的胜利假象，难道真的那么迷人，让你们都觉得非加入不可？那么何不雀跃三丈，翻几个筋斗，大家互相拍拍臂膀，再从窗口扔出彩纸。你们尽情发泄吧，把兴奋的情绪通通消耗掉……等到你们筋疲力尽，恢复理智的时候，再回到这里来，我们再继续讨论那个老问题。去年春天，你们坐在这里，大家的眼睛都骨碌碌地转个不停，被那个不知名的敌人吓得要死，现在问题依然存在，毫无改变。你们真以为打垮一个蠢笨的舰队指挥官，第二基地的心灵科学大师就不足惧了吗？”
He paused, red-faced and panting.
他终于停下来，满脸通红，气喘吁吁。
Munn said quietly, "Will you hear me speak now, Anthor……Or do you prefer to continue your role as ranting conspirator?"
孟恩轻声问道：“安索，你现在愿意听我说吗？或者，你还想继续扮演一名口无遮拦的阴谋分子？”
"Have your say, Homir," said Darell, "but let's all of us refrain from over-picturesqueness of language. It's a very good thing in its place, but at present, it bores me."
“侯密尔，你尽管说吧，”达瑞尔道，“可是我们大家都要节制一点，别卖弄过分修饰的辞藻。它本身虽然没有什么不好，但此刻却令我感到厌烦。”
Homir Munn leaned back in his armchair and carefully refilled his glass from the decanter at his elbow.
侯密尔·孟恩靠回扶手椅的椅背，从手肘边拿起一个玻璃瓶，小心翼翼地为自己再斟满酒。
"I was sent to Kalgan," he said, "to find out what I could from the records contained in the Mule's Palace. I spent several months doing so. I seek no credit for that accomplishment. As I have indicated, it was Arcadia whose ingenuous intermeddling obtained the entry for me. Nevertheless, the fact remains that to my original knowledge of the Mule's life and times, which, I submit, was not small, I have added the fruits of much labor among primary evidence which has been available to no one else.
“你们推派我到卡尔根去，”他说，“希望我能从骡殿的记录中，尽可能找到有用的情报。我花了几个月的时间做这件事，不过我一点也不居功。正如我刚才强调的，是聪明的艾嘉蒂娅从旁帮了大忙，我才得其门而入。我原来对骡的生平以及那个时代的认识，敢说已经小有成就。然而，由于接触到了谁也没见过的原始文献，经过数个月的努力，我又有了许多丰硕的收获。
"I am, therefore, in a unique position to estimate the true danger of the Second Foundation; much more so than is our excitable friend here."
“因此，我现在拥有独一无二的条件，能够确实评估第二基地的危险性。比起我们这位爱冲动的朋友，我比他够资格多了。”
"And," grated Anthor, "what is your estimate of that danger?"
“那么，”安索咬牙切齿地说，“你又如何评估他们的危险性？”
"Why, zero."
“哈，等于零。”
A short pause, and Elvett Semic asked with an air of surprised disbelief, "You mean zero danger?"
短暂的沉默后，爱维特·瑟米克用难以置信的口气问道：“你是说，危险性等于零？”
"Certainly. Friends, there is no Second Foundation!"
“当然啦。朋友们，根、本、没、有、第、二、基、地！”
Anthor's eyelids closed slowly and he sat there, face pale and expressionless.
安索端坐在原处，缓缓闭上眼睛，而且脸色苍白，面无表情。
Munn continued, aftention-centering and loving it, "And what is more, there was never one."
孟恩成了注意力的焦点，他感到很得意，继续说道：“更有意思的是，第二基地从来不曾存在。”
"On what," asked Darell, "do you base this surprising conclusion?"
“你这个惊人的结论，”达瑞尔问道，“究竟有什么根据？”
"I deny," said Munn, "that it is surprising. You all know the story of the Mule's search for the Second Foundation. But what do you know of the intensity of that search…… of the single-mindedness of it. He had tremendous resources at his disposal and he spared none of it. He was single-minded…… and yet he failed. No Second Foundation was found."
“我不承认这是惊人的结论。”孟恩答道，“你们都听过骡寻找第二基地的故事。但你们可知道寻找的规模，以及专注的程度？他可以支配无穷的资源，而他的确毫不吝惜地投入。他一心一意要找到第二基地……但终究失败了。他没有发现第二基地的下落。”
"One could scarcely expect it to be found," pointed out Turbor, restlessly. "It had means of protecting itself against inquiring minds."
“他几乎没有希望找得到。”屠博不耐烦地强调，“第二基地有办法保护自己，不会让任何搜寻者得逞。”
"Even when the mind that is inquiring is the Mule's mutant mentality……I think not. But come, you do not expect me to give you the gist of fifty volumes of reports in five minutes. All of it, by the terms of the peace treaty will be part of the Seldon Historical Museum eventually, and you will all be free to be as leisurely in your analysis as I have been. You will find his conclusion plainly stated, however, and that I have already expressed. There is not, and has never been, any Second Foundation."
“即使搜寻者是具有突变精神力量的骡？我可不这么想。请少安勿躁，你们不可能指望我在五分钟内，就把五十册报告的摘要通通讲完吧。根据刚签订的和约，那些文献都将捐给‘谢顿历史博物馆’永久保存，你们以后都能像我当初那样，从从容容分析那些资料。到时候，你们会发现骡的结论写得明明白白，那就是我刚才已经说过的：自始至终，第二基地都不存在。”
Semic interposed, "Well, what stopped the Mule, then?"
瑟米克插嘴问道：“好吧，那么究竟是什么阻止了骡？”
"Great Galaxy, what do you suppose stopped him……Death did; as it will stop all of us. The greatest superstition of the age is that the Mule was somehow stopped in an all-conquering career by some mysterious entities superior even to himself. It is the result of looking at everything in wrong focus.
“银河啊，你认为是什么阻止他的呢？当然是死神，每个人迟早都会遇见它。当今最大的迷信，就是认为战无不胜、攻无不克的骡，是被某些比他更强的神秘人物所遏止。这是以错误观点解释每一件事的结果。
"Certainly no one in the Galaxy can help knowing that the Mule was a freak, physical as well as mental. He died in his thirties because his ill-adjusted body could no longer struggle its creaking machinery along. For several years before his death he was an invalid. His best health was never more than an ordinary man's feebleness. All right, then. He conquered the Galaxy and, in the ordinary course of nature, proceeded to die. It's a wonder he proceeded as long and as well as he did. Friends, it's down in the very clearest print. You have only to have patience. You have only to try to look at all facts in new focus."
“整个银河系当然人人都知道，骡是肉体和精神双重畸形的人。他三十几岁就死掉了，正是因为失调的身体再也无法苟延残喘。而在最后那几年，他一直病恹恹的。即使他健康情况最佳的时候，也比不上普通人的虚弱状态。好的，他征服了整个银河，然后由于大自然的规律，投向死神的怀抱。他能活那么久，还能创下那么大的功业，也实在是奇迹了。朋友们，这些都清清楚楚记载在文献里。你们只需要有耐心，只需要试着用新观点来解释一切事实。”
Darell said, thoughtfully, "Good, let us try that Munn. It would be an interesting attempt and, if nothing else, would help oil our thoughts. These tampered men…… the records of which Anthor brought to us nearly a year ago, what of them……Help us to see them in focus."
达瑞尔若有所思地说：“很好，孟恩，让我们试试看吧。这会是个很有趣的尝试，即使没有收获，也能帮我们的脑袋上点油。对于那些受到干扰的人……一年多前，安索给我们看的那些记录……你又作何解释呢？请帮我们用新观点来解释。”
"Easily. How old a science is encephalographic analysis……Or, put it another way, how well-developed is the study of neuronic pathways."
“太简单了。脑电图分析这门科学有多久的历史？或者，换个方式来问，神经网路的研究有多么完善了？”
"We are at the beginning in this respect. Granted," said Darell.
“可以说，我们正在展开这方面的研究。”达瑞尔答道。
"Right. How certain can we be then as to the interpretation of what I've heard Anthor and yourself call the Tamper Plateau. You have your theories, but how certain can you be. Certain enough to consider it a firm basis for the existence of a mighty force for which all other evidence is negative……It's always easy to explain the unknown by postulating a superhuman and arbitrary will.
“好的。那么，你和安索称之为‘干扰高原’的那种现象，你们的解释有多么可信？你们提出了理论，可是自己又有多少把握呢？在其他证据都是否定的前提下，它足以证明某种强大力量的存在吗？用超自然或神意来解释未知现象，总是最简单的做法。
"It's a very human phenomenon. There have been cases all through Galactic history where isolated planetary systems have reverted to savagery, and what have we learned there……In every case, such savages attribute the to-them-incomprehensible forces of Nature…… storms, pestilences, droughts…… to sentient beings more powerful and more arbitrary than men.
“不过这也是人之常情。在银河历史上，有许多孤立的行星系退化成蛮荒世界的例子，我们从中学到了什么呢？在每个个案中，那些蛮人都将他们无法了解的自然力量……暴风、瘟疫、干旱……通通归咎于比人类更有力量、更有本领的生命体。
"It is called anthropomorphism, I believe, and in this respect, we are savages and indulge in it. Knowing little of mental science, we blame anything we don't know on supermen…… those of the Second Foundation in this case, based on the hint thrown us by Seldon."
“我相信，这就是所谓的‘神人拟同论’。而在目前这个问题上，我们与蛮人无异，陷入窠臼而不自知。我们对精神科学一知半解，却把我们不懂的一一归咎于超人……在此就是第二基地，只因为我们记得谢顿留下的那点暗示。”
"Oh," broke in Anthor, "then you do remember Seldon. I thought you had forgotten. Seldon did say there was a Second Foundation. Get that in focus.
“喔，”安索插嘴道，“原来你还记得谢顿，我以为你把他给忘了呢。谢顿的确说过有个第二基地。这点请你解释一下。”
"And are you aware then of all Seldon's purposes. Do you know what necessities were involved in his calculations……The Second Foundation may have been a very necessary scarecrow, with a highly specific end in view. How did we defeat Kalgan, for instance……What were you saying in your last series of articles, Turbor?"
“你可了解谢顿的整个意图吗？你可知道在他的计算中，牵涉到哪些必要因素吗？第二基地也许是个非常必要的‘稻草人’，在整个计划中具有极特殊的目的。比方说，我们是如何打败卡尔根的？屠博，你在最后的系列报道中是怎么写的？”
Turbor stirred his bulk. "Yes, I see what "You're driving at. I was on Kalgan towards the end, Darell, and it was quite obvious that morale on the planet was incredibly bad. I looked through their news-records and…… well. they expected to be beaten. Actually, they were completely unmanned by the thought that eventually the Second Foundation would take a hand, on the side of the First, naturally."
屠博挪动了一下壮硕的身躯。“对，我知道你想推出什么结论。达瑞尔，我在战争末期到了卡尔根，那颗行星上的士气低落得无法想象，这点非常明显。我仔细看过他们的新闻记录，而……嗯，他们竟然等着被打败。事实上，他们都认为第二基地最后势必介入，而且当然是向基地伸出援手，因此全体军民完全丧失斗志。”
"Quite right," said Munn. "I was there all through the war. I told Stettin there was no Second Foundation and he believed me. He felt safe. But there was no way of making the people suddenly disbelieve what they had believed all their lives, so that the myth eventually served a very useful purpose in Seldon's cosmic chess game."
“说得很对。”孟恩道，“战争期间，我一直都在那里。我告诉史铁亭第二基地并不存在，而他相信了我。所以，他感到安全无虞。可是他没办法将民众根深蒂固的信念，在一朝一夕间扭转过来，因此在谢顿安排的这场宇宙棋戏中，那个传说终究成了非常有用的一步棋。”
But Anthor's eyes opened, quite suddenly, and fixed themselves sardonically on Munn's countenance. "I say you lie."
但是安索突然睁大眼睛，以嘲讽的目光紧盯着孟恩沉着的面容。“我说，你在说谎。”
Homir turned pale, "I don't see that I have to accept, much less answer, an accusation of that nature."
侯密尔脸色煞白。“你对我作这种指控，我绝对没有必要接受，更别说需要回答。”
"I say it without any intention of personal offense. You cannot help lying; you don't realize that you are. But you lie just the same."
“我这么说，毫无对你作人身攻击的意思。你说谎是身不由己，你自己并不知道。但你还是说了谎。”
Semic laid his withered hand on the young man's sleeve. "Take a breath, young fella."
瑟米克将枯瘦的手掌放在年轻人的衣袖上。“年轻人，冷静一点。”
Anthor shook him off, none too gently, and said, "I'm out of patience with all of you. I haven't seen this man more than half a dozen times in my life, yet I find the change in him unbelievable. The rest of you have known him for years, yet pass it by. It is enough to drive one mad. Do you call this man you've been listening to Homir Munn……He is not the Homir Munn I knew."
安索甩开他的手，动作相当粗鲁，并说：“我对你们都失去了耐心。我这辈子顶多见过这人五六回，却发现他的改变令我无法置信。你们其他人都认识他好多年，可是全都忽略了。这简直会把人气疯。你们认为面前这个人是侯密尔·孟恩吗？他并不是我所认识的侯密尔·孟恩。”
A medley of shock; above which Munn's voice cried, "You claim me to be an impostor?"
这句话引起一阵震惊，孟恩高声吼道：“你说我是冒牌货？”
"Perhaps not in the ordinary sense," shouted Anthor above the din, "but an impostor nonetheless. Quiet, everyone! I demand to be heard."
“或许不是普通的冒牌货，”安索也得用力喊叫，才能盖过一片嘈杂，“不过仍然是冒牌货。各位，请安静下来！我要你们听我说。”
He frowned them ferociously into obedience. "Do any of you remember Homir Munn as I do…… the introverted librarian who never talked without obvious embarrassment; the man of tense and nervous voice, who stuttered out his uncertain sentences……Does this man sound like him……He's fluent, he's confident, he's fun of theories, and, by Space, he doesn't stutter. Is he the same person?"
他用凶狠的目光瞪着众人，逼得大家都闭上嘴。“侯密尔·孟恩过去是什么样子，你们有谁还记得……我记得他是个内向的图书馆员，每次开口都显得很害羞，说话的声音既紧张又神经质，讲到不太肯定的事就结结巴巴。可是现在这个人像他吗？他辩才无碍，信心十足，开口闭口都是理论，而且，太空啊，他也没有口吃了。这还会是同一个人吗？”
Even Munn looked confused, and Pelleas Anthor drove on. "Well, shall we test him?"
现在连孟恩都有点迷惑了，于是裴礼斯·安索乘胜追击。“好，我们要不要测验他一下？”
"How?" asked Darell.
“怎么做？”达瑞尔问。
"You ask how……There is the obvious way. You have his encephalographic record of ten months ago, haven't you……Run one again, and compare."
“你竟然问我怎么做？眼前有个最明显的办法。你保有十四个月前帮他做的脑电图记录，对不对？重新再做一次，然后互相比较。”
He pointed at the frowning librarian, and said violently, "I dare him to refuse to subject himself to analysis."
他指着那位眉头深锁的图书馆员，凶巴巴地说：“我敢说他一定会拒绝接受分析。”
"I don't object," said Munn, defiantly. "I am the man I always was."
“我不会拒绝。”孟恩不甘示弱地说，“我始终都是我自己。”
"Can you know?" said Anthor with contempt. "I抣l go further. I trust no one here. I want everyone to undergo analysis. There has been a war. Munn has been on Kalgan; Turbor has been on board ship and all over the war areas. Darell and Semic have been absent, too…… I have no idea where. Only I have remained here in seclusion and safety, and I no longer trust any of the rest of you. And to play fair, I抣l submit to testing as well. Are we agreed then……Or do I leave now and go my own way?"
“你又怎么知道？”安索用轻蔑的语气反问，“我还要得寸进尺。在座每个人我都不相信，我要大家通通接受分析。一场战争刚刚结束。孟恩在卡尔根待了好久；屠博随着舰队跑遍整个战区；达瑞尔和瑟米克也曾经离开过……但我不知道两位去了哪里。只有我一直待在此地，与世隔绝而安然无事，所以我不再信任你们任何人。为了公平起见，我自己也会接受测验。你们大家是否同意？还是要我立刻告辞，去自行设法？”
Turbor shrugged and said, "I have no objection."
屠博耸耸肩。“我不反对这个提议。”
"I have already said I don't," said Munn.
“我已经说过了我不反对。”孟恩说。
Semic moved a hand in silent assent, and Anthor waited for Darell. Finally, Darell nodded his head.
瑟米克默默挥了挥手，表示他也同意。于是安索静待达瑞尔表明态度，最后达瑞尔总算点了点头。
"Take me first," said Anthor.
“让我先来吧。”安索说。
The needles traced their delicate way across the cross-hatchings as the young neurologist sat frozen in the reclining seat, with lidded eyes brooding heavily. From the files, Darell removed the folder containing Anthor's old encephalographic record. He showed them to Anthor.
年轻的神经电学家坐在躺椅上一动不动，紧闭着眼睛，仿佛在沉思。与此同时，指针在网格纸带上描绘出复杂的曲线。达瑞尔已经翻出旧档案，从里面掏出安索上次的脑电图记录，然后交给安索过目。
"That's your own signature, isn't it?"
“这是你自己的签名，对吗？”
"Yes, yes. It's my record. Make the comparison."
“没错，没错。这是我的记录。赶快进行比对吧。”
The scanner threw old and new on to the screen. All six curves in each recording were there, and in the darkness, Munn's voice sounded in harsh clarity. "Well, now, look there. There's a change."
扫描仪将新旧两份记录投射到屏幕上，两者各自的七条曲线都清清楚楚。在黑暗中，孟恩以刺耳却清晰的声音说：“嗯，看那里。那里起了变化。”
"Those are the primary waves of the frontal lobe. It doesn't mean a thing, Homir. Those additional jags you're pointing to are just anger. It's the others that count."
“那是额叶的主波。侯密尔，它并没有什么意义。你指着的那些锯齿状波纹，只是代表愤怒的情绪。其他几条曲线才能作准。”
He touched a control knob and the six pairs melted into one another and coincided. The deeper amplitude of primaries alone introduced doubling.
他轻轻按下一个控制钮，七对曲线便重叠在一起。除了两条主波的细微振幅互有出入，其他六对曲线完全合而为一。
"Satisfied?" asked Anthor.
“满意了吗？”安索问道。
Darell nodded curtly and took the seat himself. Semic followed him and Turbor followed him. Silently the curves were collected; silently they were compared.
达瑞尔略微点了点头，自己坐上了躺椅。在他之后轮到瑟米克，接下来则是屠博。大家静静地接受测量，静静地比对结果。
Munn was the last to take his seat. For a moment, he hesitated, then, with a touch of desperation in his voice, he said, "Well now, look, I'm coming in last and I'm under tension. I expect due allowance to be made for that."
孟恩是最后一位坐上躺椅的。他犹豫了一下，然后用绝望的口气说：“好了，听着，我是最后一个，而且我很紧张。我希望能将这些因素考虑进去。”
"There will be," Darell assured him. "No conscious emotion of yours will affect more than the primaries and they are not important."
“一定会的。”达瑞尔向他保证，“意识的情绪只会影响到主波，没有什么重要性。”
It might have been hours, in the utter silence that followed……
接下来又是一片肃静，仿佛过了好几个小时……
And then in the darkness of the comparison, Anthor said huskily: "Sure, sure, it's only the onset of a complex. Isn't that what he told us……No such thing as tampering; it's all a silly anthropomorphic notion…… but look at it! A coincidence I suppose."
而在比对的过程中，安索突然在黑暗中粗声叫道：“果然没错，果然没错，这只是个刚发端的‘情结’。记得他刚才说的话吗？根本没有干扰这回事，都是愚蠢的‘神人拟同’观念作祟……可是看看这里！我想，大概是巧合吧。”
"What's the matter?" shrieked Munn.
“到底怎么了？”孟恩尖声问道。
Darell's hand was tight on the librarian's shoulder. "Quiet, Munn…… you've been handled; you've been adjusted by them."
达瑞尔的手掌用力按在图书馆员的肩头。“孟恩，镇定点……你被动了手脚，你被‘他们’调整过了。”
Then the light went on, and Munn was looking about him with broken eyes, making a horrible attempt to smile.
然后室内重新大放光明。孟恩用涣散的目光环顾四周，拼命想挤出一个笑容。
"You can't be serious, surely. There is a purpose to this. You're testing me."
“这当然不会是真的。这一定有什么目的，你们是在试探我。”
But Darell only shook his head. "No, no, Homir. It's true."
达瑞尔却只是摇摇头。“不，不，侯密尔，这都是真的。”
The librarian's eyes were filled with tears, suddenly. "I don't feel any different. I can't believe it." With sudden conviction: "You are all in this. It's a conspiracy."
突然间，图书馆员变得泪眼汪汪。“我没有感到任何不对劲。我绝不相信。”他好像忽然想通了，又说：“你们全都串通好了。这是个阴谋。”
Darell attempted a soothing gesture, and his hand was struck aside. Munn snarled, "You're planning to kill me. By Space, you're planning to kill me."
达瑞尔想要伸手拍拍孟恩，给他一点安慰，没想到被他一把推开。孟恩吼道：“你们计划好了要杀我。太空啊，你们计划好了要杀我。”
With a lunge, Anthor was upon him. There was the sharp crack of bone against bone, and Homir was limp and flaccid with that look of fear frozen on his face.
安索一个箭步冲到他面前。只听到骨头相撞的“啪啦”一声，孟恩便应声倒地瘫成一团，脸上兀自挂着那种惊愕的表情。
Anthor rose shakily, and said, "We'd better tie and gag him. Later, we can decide what to do." He brushed his long hair back.
安索吃力地站起身来，对其他人说：“我们最好把他绑起来，并塞住他的嘴巴。然后，再决定下一步该怎么做。”他将长发撩到背后。
Turbor said, "How did you guess there was something wrong with him?"
屠博问道：“你是怎么猜到他有问题的？”
Anthor turned sardonically upon him. "It wasn't difficult. You see, I happen to know where the Second Foundation really is."
安索转身面向屠博，露出嘲讽的表情。“这并不困难。听好，我、刚、好、知、道、第、二、基、地、真、正、位、于、何、处。”
Successive shocks have a decreasing effect……
接二连三的冲击，使得大家有点麻木……
It was with actual mildness that Semic asked, "Are you sure……I mean we're just gone through this sort of business with Munn……"
因此，瑟米克以相当温和的口气问道：“你能肯定吗？我的意思是，我们才刚刚经历了孟恩这个……”
This isn't quite the same," returned Anthor. "Darell, the day the war started, I spoke to you most seriously. I tried to have you leave Terminus. I would have told you then what I will tell you now, if I had been able to trust you."
“我的说法可不一样。”安索答道，“达瑞尔，战争爆发那天，我曾以最认真的态度和你讨论，试图劝你离开端点星。当初我如果信得过你，早就对你说了，也不至于等到今天。”
"You mean you have known the answer for half a year?" smiled Darell.
“你的意思是，半年前你就已经知道了？”达瑞尔露出微笑。
"I have known it from the time I learned that Arcadia had left for Trantor."
“当我听说艾嘉蒂娅转到川陀去的时候，我就已经想通了。”
And Darell started to his feet in sudden consternation. "What had Arcadia to do with it……What are you implying?"
达瑞尔大吃一惊，陡然跳了起来。“这和艾嘉蒂娅有什么关系？你在暗示什么？”
"Absolutely nothing that is not plain on the face of all the events we know so well. Arcadia goes to Kalgan and flees in terror to the very center of the Galaxy, rather than return home. Lieutenant Dirige, our best agent on Kalgan is tampered with. Homir Munn goes to Kalgan and he is tampered with. The Mule conquered the Galaxy, but, queerly enough, he made Kalgan his headquarters, and it occurs to me to wonder if he was conqueror or, perhaps, tool. At every turn, we meet with Kalgan, Kalgan…… nothing but Kalgan, the world that somehow survived untouched all the struggles of the warlords for over a century."
“我想要说的，绝对都是我们早就心知肚明的事实。艾嘉蒂娅在卡尔根遇到麻烦，可是她没有回家，反而逃到了昔日的银河中心。迪瑞吉警官是我们在卡尔根最好的间谍，他的心灵却被调整过。侯密尔·孟恩去了一趟卡尔根，结果心灵也受到干扰。骡征服了整个银河，最后却出人意料之外，选择卡尔根作为他的大本营，这不禁令我怀疑，他究竟是一位征服者，或者只是一个工具。在每个事件中，我们都会碰到卡尔根，卡尔根……永远是卡尔根。过去一个多世纪，无数的军阀发动过无数次战争，那个世界却始终能安然无恙。”
"Your conclusion, then."
“那么，你的结论又是什么呢？”
"Is obvious," Anthor's eyes were intense. "The Second Foundation is on Kalgan."
“太明显了。”安索的眼睛射出热切的光芒，“第二基地就在卡尔根。”
Turbor interrupted. "I was on Kalgan, Anthor. I was there last week. If there was any Second Foundation on it, I'm mad. Personally, I think you're mad."
此时屠博突然打岔。“安索，我到过卡尔根，上星期我还在那里。除非我疯了，否则那颗行星上绝对没有什么第二基地。不瞒你说，我倒认为是你疯了。”
The young man whirled on him savagely. "Then you're a fat fool. What do you expect the Second Foundation to be……A grammar school……Do you think that Radiant Fields in tight beams spell out 慡econd Foundation' in green and purple along the incoming spaceship routes……Listen to me, Turbor. Wherever they are, they form a tight oligarchy. They must be as well hidden on the world on which they exist, as the world itself is in the Galaxy as a whole."
年轻人猛然转身面向他。“那么你就是一头蠢猪。你以为第二基地是什么样子？像一间小学学堂？你以为在太空船降落的航道上，会有辐射场的紧致波束构成的‘第二基地’彩色字样？屠博，听我说。不论他们在哪里，都必定形成一个严密的寡头政体。他们一定会在存身的世界藏得很隐密，和那个世界在银河中的地位一样不起眼。”
Turbor's jaw muscles writhed. "I don't like your attitude, Anthor."
屠博的面部肌肉不自主地扭曲。“安索，我不喜欢你这种态度。”
"That certainly disturbs me," was the sarcastic response. "Take a look about you here on Terminus. We抮e at the center…… the core…… the origin of the First Foundation with all its knowledge of physical science. Well, how many of the population are physical scientists……Can you operate an Energy Transmitting Station……What do you know of the operation of a hyperatomic motor……Eh……The number of real scientists on Terminus…… even on Terminus…… can be numbered at less than one percent of the population.
“这的确令我困扰。”安索故意反讽，“你在端点星放眼望望吧。这里是第一基地的中枢、核心和起点，拥有第一基地的一切物理科学知识。可是，又有多少人是科学家呢？你会操作能源传输站吗？你对超核发动机的运作原理又懂得多少？啊？在端点星……甚至在端点星……真正的科学家也不会超过百分之一。
"And what then of the Second Foundation where secrecy must be preserved. There will still be less of the cognoscenti, and these will be hidden even from their own world."
“而必须严守机密的第二基地情况又如何呢？真正的行家同样不会太多，而且即使在自己的世界上，他们照样会隐姓埋名。”
"Say," said Semic, carefully. "We just licked Kalgan……"
“不过，”瑟米克谨慎地说，“我们刚把卡尔根打垮……”
"So we did. So we did," said Anthor, sardonically. "Oh, we celebrate that victory. The cities are still illuminated; they are still shooting off fireworks; they are still shouting over the televisors. But now,????? when the search is on once more for the Second Foundation? where is the last place well look; where is the last place anyone will look……Right!" Kalgan!
“我们做到了，的确做到了。”安索又用讽刺的口吻说：“喔，我们大肆庆祝胜利。各个城市都依然灯火通明，人们还在街头施放烟火，并且利用影像电话大声互道恭喜。可是话说回来，从现在开始，如果再要寻找第二基地，我们最不会注意的是哪个地方？任何人最不会注意的是哪个地方？啊？就是卡尔根！
"We haven't hurt them, you know; not really. We've destroyed some ships, killed a few thousands, torn away their Empire, taken over some of their commercial and economic power…… but that all means nothing. I'll wager that not one member of the real ruling class of Kalgan is in the least discomfited. On the contrary, they are now safe from curiosity. But not from my curiosity. What do you say, Darell?"
“你该知道，我们并没有伤到他们，没有真的伤到。我们击毁了一些星舰，打死了几千人，粉碎了他们的帝国梦，接收了一些贸易和经济势力……可是这些通通毫无意义。我敢打赌，卡尔根那些真正的统治阶级，每个人一定都毫发无伤。反之，他们的处境更安全了，因为没有人会再怀疑那个地方。唯独我不然。达瑞尔，你怎么说？”
Darell shrugged his shoulders. "Interesting. I抦 trying to fit it in with a message I received from Arcadia a few months since."
达瑞尔耸耸肩。“很有意思。我正在试图用你的理论，印证两个月前艾嘉蒂娅带给我的口信。”
"Oh, a message?" asked Anthor. "And what was it?"
“哦，口信？”安索问道，“说些什么？”
"Well, I'm not certain. Five short words. But its interesting."
“嗯，我也不确定。短短五个字，但是很有意思。”
"Look," broke in Semic, with a worried interest, "there's something I don't understand."
“慢着，”瑟米克插嘴道，口气十分急切，“有件事我还不明白。”
"What's that?"
“什么事？”
Semic chose his words carefully, his old upper lip lifting with each word as if to let them out singly and reluctantly. "Well, now, Homir Munn was saying just a while ago that Hari Seldon was faking when he said that he had established a Second Foundation. Now you're saying that it's not so; that Seldon wasn't faking, eh?"
瑟米克字斟句酌，嘴唇一开一合，一字一顿勉强地说：“嗯，侯密尔·孟恩刚刚说，虽然哈里·谢顿声称建立了第二基地，其实根本是在唬人。现在你又说事实并非如此，第二基地并不是个幌子，啊？”
"Right, he wasn't faking. Seldon said he had established a Second Foundation and so he had."
“对，他并没有唬人。谢顿声称他建立了第二基地，而事实正是如此。”
"All right, then, but he said something else, too. He said he established the two Foundations at opposite ends of the Galaxy. Now, young man? was that a fake…… because Kalgan isn't at the opposite end of the Galaxy."
“好的，可是他还说了一点别的。他说他将这两个基地，设在银河中两个遥相对峙的端点。好了，年轻人，这句话是不是唬人的……因为卡尔根并非位于银河的另一端。”
Anthor seemed annoyed, "That's a minor point. That part may well have been a cover up to protect them. But after all, think?What real use would it serve to have the Mind-masters at the opposite end of the Galaxy……What is their function……To help preserve the Plan. Who are the main card players of the Plan……We, the First Foundation. Where can they best observe us, then, and serve their own ends……At the opposite end of the Galaxy……Ridiculous! They're within fifty parsecs, actually? which is much more sensible."
安索似乎有点恼怒。“那只是个小问题。他那番话，很可能是为了保护他们而故意放出的烟幕。无论如何，请想想看……把那些心灵科学大师放在银河另一端，能有什么用处呢？他们的作用是什么？是要维护谢顿计划。谁是计划的主要推手？是我们，是第一基地。那么，他们应该置身何处，才最适宜观察我们，并且最符合自己的需要？在银河另一端吗？简直荒谬！其实他们是在相当近的地方，只有这样才合理。”
"I like that argument," said Darell. "It makes sense. Look here, Munn's been conscious for some time and I propose we loose him. He can't do any harm, really."
“我喜欢这种说法。”达瑞尔道，“听来合情合理。听我说，孟恩已经清醒一阵子了，我提议将他松绑。他不可能造成危害，真的。”
Anthor looked rebellious, but Homir was nodding vigorously. Five seconds later he was rubbing his wrists just as vigorously.
安索看来绝不同意，侯密尔却使劲点着头。五秒钟后，他则使劲搓揉着两只手腕。
"How do you feel?" asked Darell.
“你感觉怎么样？”达瑞尔问。
"Rotten," said Munn, sulkily, "but never mind. There's something I want to ask this bright young thing here. I've heard what he's had to say, and I抎 just like permission to wonder what we do next."
“糟透了，”孟恩悻悻然地说，“不过没关系。我有个问题，想要问问面前这位青年才俊。我已经听过了他的长篇大论，现在希望允许我来质疑，我们下一步应该怎么做。”
There was a queer and incongruous silence.
接下来是一阵诡异而令人尴尬的肃静。
Munn smiled bitterly. "Well, suppose Kalgan is the Second Foundation. Who on Kalgan are they……How are you going to find them……How are you going to tackle them if you find them, eh?"
孟恩苦笑了一下。“好，假设卡尔根真是第二基地。卡尔根上，哪些人又是第二基地分子？你准备怎样找出他们来？万一找到了，又准备怎样对付他们，啊？”
"Ah," said Darell, "I can answer that, strangely enough. Shall I tell you what Semic and I have been doing this past half-year……It may give you another reason, Anthor, why I was anxious to remain on Terminus all this time."
“啊，”达瑞尔说，“太巧了，我刚好能回答这个问题。要不要我来讲讲，我和瑟米克过去半年在忙些什么？安索，我会一直坚持留在端点星，这是另一个重要原因。”
"In the first place," he went on, "I've been working on encephalographic analysis with more purpose than any of you may suspect. Detecting Second Foundation minds is a little more subtle than simply finding a Tamper Plateau…… and I did not actually succeed. But I came close enough.
“首先我要强调，”他继续说，“多年来，我从事脑电图分析的研究，其实还怀着一个谁也猜不到的目的。想要侦测第二基地分子的心灵可不简单，要比单纯找出‘干扰高原’困难一点……我并没有真正成功。但我算是接近成功的边缘。
"Do you know, any of you, how emotional control works……It's been a popular subject with fiction writers since the time of the Mule and much nonsense has been written, spoken, and recorded about it. For the most part, it has been treated as something mysterious and occult. Of course, it isn't. That the brain is the source of a myriad, tiny electromagnetic fields, everyone knows. Every fleeting emotion varies those fields in more or less intricate fashion, and everyone should know that, too.
“你们有谁知道情感控制的机制？自从骡的时代，它就一直是小说家的热门题材。这类的无稽之谈，无论口耳相传或文字记录都比比皆是。大多数的说法，都将它视为一种神秘玄奥的异能。当然，事实并非如此。大家都知道，人脑是无数细微电磁场的发射源。每一个飞纵的情感或情绪，都会令那些电磁场或多或少产生变化，这点也是大家都应该知道的。
"Now it is possible to conceive a mind which can sense these changing fields and even resonate with them. That is, a special organ of the cerebrum can exist which can take on whatever field-pattern it may detect. Exactly how it would do this, I have no idea, but that doesn't matter. if I were blind, for instance, I could still learn the significance of photons and energy quanta and it could be reasonable to me that the absorption of a photon of such energy could create chemical changes in some organ of the body such that its presence would be detectable. But, of course, I would not be able, thereby, to understand color.
“所以说，不难想象有一种特殊的心灵，能够感知这些多变的电磁场，甚至能够与之共振。也就是说，他们大脑中可能有一种特殊的器官，能解读所侦测到的电磁场型样。至于真正的运作原理，我自己也没有概念，不过这没什么关系。打个比方吧，假使我是盲人，我仍然可以了解光子的量子理论，因而接受视觉的科学解释：眼睛吸收了某种能量的光子，便会导致人体某个器官产生化学变化，因而侦测出光子的存在。可是，当然啦，我却无论如何无法了解色彩的概念。
"Do all of you follow?"
“你们大家都能明白吗？”
There was a firm nod from Anthor; a doubtful nod from the others.
安索使劲点了点头，其他人则是茫然地点头。
"Such a hypothetical Mind Resonating Organ, by adjusting itself to the Fields emitted by other minds could perform what is popularly known as 'reading emotion?or even 'reading minds,?which is actually something even more subtle. It is but an easy step from that to imagining a similar organ which could actually force an adjustment on another mind. It could orient with its stronger Field the weaker one of another mind…… much as a strong magnet will orient the atomic dipoles in a bar of steel and leave it magnetized thereafter.
“这种假设中的心灵共振器官，一旦调整到和其他心灵的电磁场谐振，就会像传说中那样，可以感知他人的情绪，甚至表现出更微妙的‘读心术’。从这个假设出发，很容易再想象另一种能够强行调整他人心灵的器官。这种器官能发射强力的电磁波，来同化他人脑部较微弱的电磁场……就好像一个强力的磁铁，能够固定钢条中原子偶极的排列方向，使得钢条因此永久磁化。
"I solved the mathematics of Second Foundationism in the sense that I evolved a function that would predict the necessary combination of neuronic paths that would allow for the formation of an organ such as I have just described…… but, unfortunately, the function is too complicated to solve by any of the mathematical tools at present known. That is too bad, because it means that I can never detect a Mind-worker by his encephalographic pattern alone.
“我试图解出第二基地的数学模式，方法是建构一个方程式，以便预测神经网路必须作出何种组合，才能形成我刚才描述的那种器官……不过，可惜的是，那个方程式过于复杂，现有的任何数学工具都解不出来。这实在很糟，意味着如果只靠脑电图的图样，我永远无法辨识那些心灵术士。
"But I could do something else. I could, with Semic's help, construct what I shall describe as a Mental Static device. It is not beyond the ability of modem science to create an energy source that will duplicate an encephalograph-type pattern of electromagnetic field. Moreover, it can be made to shift at complete random, creating, as far as this particular mind-sense is concerned, a sort of 'noise' or 'static' which masks other minds with which it may be in contact.
“但是我还有另一个办法。借着瑟米克的帮助，我制成一个命名为‘精神杂讯器’的装置。以我们现有的科学水准，不难制造出能复制任何脑电波的能量发射器。更重要的是，这种装置所发射的电磁波，波型可以设定为完全随机变化。对那种‘第六感’而言，随机的电磁波就是一种‘噪声’或‘杂讯’，因此可用来屏障我们的心灵。
"Do you still follow?"
“各位都还听得懂吗？”
Semic chuckled. He had helped create blindly, but he had guessed, and guessed correctly. The old man had a trick or two left……"
瑟米克咯咯大笑。他帮达瑞尔制作那个装置时，曾经猜过它的用途，如今证明他的猜测完全正确。这位老前辈果然还有两把刷子……
Anthor said, "I think I do."
安索说：“我想我听得懂。”
"The device," continued Darell, "is a fairly easy one to produce, and I had all the resources of the Foundation under my control as it came under the heading of war research. And now the mayor's offices and the Legislative assemblies are surrounded with Mental Static. So are most of our key factories. So is this building. Eventually, any place we wish can be made absolutely safe from the Second Foundation or from any future Mule. And that's it."
“这种装置相当容易大量生产，”达瑞尔继续说，“借着战时研发的名义，基地所有的资源都在我的支配之下。现在，市长办公室和立法机构都已受到‘精神杂讯’的保护。而此地的重要工厂，以及这栋建筑物也不例外。如今，我们可说已经较为隐密。将来，我们可以让任何地方变得绝对安全，让第二基地或者类似骡的异人再也无法入侵。我说完了。”
He ended quite simply with a flat-palmed gesture of the hand.
他将右手一摊，做了一个发言完毕的手势。
Turbor seemed stunned. "Then it's all over. Great Seldon, it's all over."
屠博似乎极为惊讶。“那么一切都结束了。谢顿保佑，一切都结束了。”
"Well," said Darell, "not exactly."
“不，”达瑞尔说，“并不尽然。”
"How, not exactly……Is there something more?"
“不尽然，怎么会？还有什么意料之外的发展吗？”
"Yes, we haven't located the Second Foundation yet!"
“没错，我们还没有找到第二基地！”
"What," roared Anthor, "are you trying to say……"
安索立刻吼道：“你到底想要说什么……”
"Yes, I am. Kalgan is not the Second Foundation."
“是的，我还有话要说。卡尔根并不是第二基地。”
"How do you know?"
“你又怎么知道？”
"It's easy," grunted Darell. "You see I happen to know where the Second Foundation really is."
“太简单了。”达瑞尔喃喃地说，“听好，我、刚、好、知、道、第、二、基、地、真、正、位、于、何、处。”