10 Book

第10章 典籍

HAND-ON-THIGH STORY: …… An occasion cited by Hari Seldon as the first turning point in his search for a method to develop psychohistory. Unfortunately, his published writings give no indication as to what that "story" was and speculations concerning it (there have been many) are futile. It remains one of the many intriguing mysteries concerning Seldons career.

毛手毛脚的故事：……哈里·谢顿曾经提到，在他找寻心理史学发展方法的过程中，这是第一个转折点。不幸的是，他的正式着作皆未指出它究竟是什么“故事”，各种臆测（为数众多）则全是捕风捉影。有关谢顿生平始终存在着许多有趣的谜，这只是其中之一。

ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA

……《银河百科全书》

Raindrop Forty-Three stared at Seldon, wild-eyed and breathing heavily.

雨点四十三瞪着谢顿，眼睛张得老大，呼吸则相当沉重。

I cant stay here, she said.

“我不能待在这里。”她说。

Seldon looked about. "No one is bothering us. Even the Brother from whom we got the dainties said nothing about us. He seemed to take us as a perfectly normal pair."

谢顿四下望了望。“没有人会打扰我们。就连那位给我们美食的兄弟也没说我们什么，他似乎把我们当成一对完全普通的夫妻。”

"Thats because there is nothing unusual about us……when the light is dim, when you keep your voice low so the tribesman accent is less noticeable, and when I seem calm. But now……" Her voice was growing hoarse.

“那是因为我们没有任何不寻常的地方……当时光线黯淡，当时你压低声音使外族口音不太明显，还有当时我还算冷静。可是现在……”她的声音开始变得嘶哑。

"What of now?"

“现在怎么样？”

"I am nervous and tense. I am……in a perspiration."

“我既焦虑又紧张，我在……流汗。”

"Who is to notice? Relax. Calm down."

“谁会注意到呢？放轻松，冷静下来。”

"I cant relax here. I cant calm down while I may be noticed."

“我在这里无法轻松。当我可能引起注意时，我冷静不下来。”

"Where are we to go, then?"

“那么，我们要到哪儿去？”

"There are little sheds for resting. I have worked here. I know about them."

“附近有些供人休憩的小屋。我曾在这里工作，所以我知道。”

She was walking rapidly now and Seldon followed. Up a small ramp, which he would not have noticed in the twilight without her, there was a line of doors, well spread apart.

她快步向前走，谢顿则紧跟在后。他们爬上一个小坡道，若没有她带路，在昏黄的光线下，他不可能会注意到这条小路。在坡道尽头，有一长列互相间隔很远的门。

"The one at the end," she muttered. "If its free."

“最旁边那间，”她低声道，“如果没人的话。”

It was unoccupied. A small glowing rectangle said NOT IN USE and the door was ajar.

那间果然是空的。一块发亮的矩形小板映出“无人使用”几个字，而且门只是微掩着。

Raindrop Forty-Three looked about rapidly, motioned Seldon in, then stepped inside herself. She closed the door and, as she did so, a small ceiling light brightened the interior.

雨点四十三迅速张望一番，便示意谢顿进去，接着自己也走进来。当她关上门的时候，天花板的一盏小灯随即照亮这间斗室。

Seldon said, "Is there any way the sign on the door can indicate this shed is in use?"

谢顿说：“有没有办法让门上号志显示这间小屋有人使用？”

"That happened automatically when the door closed and the light went on," said the Sister.

“门一关上就自动切换，外面的灯已经亮了。”这位姐妹答道。

Seldon could feel air softly circulating with a small sighing sound, but where on Trantor was that ever-present sound and feel not apparent?

谢顿感觉得到空气在轻柔地循环，还带着一种微弱的风声。然而在川陀，又有哪里听不到、觉不着这种永不止息的微风呢？

The room was not large, but it had a cot with a firm, efficient mattress, and what were obviously clean sheets. There was a chair and table, a small refrigerator, and something that looked like an enclosed hot plate, probably a tiny food-heater.

这个房间并不大，却摆了一张具有硬实床垫的便床，上面的床单显然相当清洁。此外还有一把椅子、一张桌子、一台小型冰箱，以及一个看来像是“密封热板”的东西，或许是个微型的食物加热器。

Raindrop Forty-Three sat down on the chair, sitting stiffly upright, visibly attempting to force herself into relaxation.

雨点四十三坐到椅子上，将上身挺得笔直，看得出她在企图强迫自己放松。

Seldon, uncertain as to what he ought to do, remained standing till she gestured……a bit impatiently……for him to sit on the cot. He did so.

谢顿不确定自己该怎么做，只好继续站着。直到她有点不耐烦地做了个手势，他才依照示意坐到便床上。

Raindrop Forty-Three said softly, as though talking to herself, "If it is ever known that I have been here with a man……even if only a tribesman……I shall indeed be an outcast."

雨点四十三轻柔地、仿佛自言自语地说：“万一让人知道我曾和一名男子在这里，即使只是个外族男子，我也注定会被驱逐出境。”

Seldon rose quickly. "Then lets not stay here."

谢顿急忙站起来。“那我们别待在这里。”

"Sit down. I cant go out when Im in this mood. Youve been asking about religion. What are you after?"

“坐下，我在这种心情之下绝不能出去。你一直在问有关宗教的事，究竟是在找什么？”

It seemed to Seldon that she had changed completely. Gone was the passivity, the subservience. There was none of the shyness, the backwardness in the presence of a male. She was glaring at him through narrowed eyes.

谢顿觉得她完全变了一个人，被动与顺从都已经消失无踪。面对一名男性，她也不再害羞，不再畏缩不前。此时，她正眯起双眼，凶狠地瞪着他。

"I told you. Knowledge. Im a scholar. It is my profession and my desire to know, I want to understand people in particular, so I want to learn history. For many worlds, the ancient historical records……the truly ancient historical records……have decayed into myths and legends, often becoming part of a set of religious beliefs or of supernaturalism. But if Mycogen does not have a religion, then……"

“我告诉过你，我在寻求知识。我是一名学者，追求知识是我的专业和欲望。我尤其想要了解人类，所以我想学习历史。因为在许多世界上，古代的历史记录……真正的古代历史记录，都已经变质为神话和传说，常常成了宗教信仰或超自然论的一部分。但麦曲生如果没有宗教，那么……”

"I said we have history."

“我说过我们有历史！”

Seldon said, "Twice youve said you have history. How old?"

谢顿道：“你已经说了两遍。你们的历史有多古老呢？”

"It goes back twenty thousand years."

“上溯两万年前。”

"Truly? Let us speak frankly. Is it real history or is it something that has degenerated into legend?"

“真的吗？让我们坦白说吧，它究竟是真实的历史，还是已经退化成传说的那种东西？”

"It is real history, of course."

“当然是真实的历史。”

Seldon was on the point of asking how she could tell, but thought better of it. Was there really a chance that history might reach back twenty thousand years and be authentic? He was not a historian himself, so he would have to check with Dors.

谢顿正想问她如何能判断，却在最后关头打消这个念头。历史真有可能上溯两万年，而仍旧真实可信吗？他自己不是历史学家，所以必须去问问铎丝。

But it seemed so likely to him that on every world the earliest histories were medleys of self-serving heroisms and minidramas that were meant as morality plays and were not to be taken literally. It was surely true of Helicon, yet you would find scarcely a Heliconian who would not swear by all the tales told and insist it was all true history. They would support, as such, even that perfectly ridiculous tale of the first exploration of Helicon and the encounters with large and dangerous flying reptiles……even though nothing like flying reptiles had been found to be native to any world explored and settled by human beings.

可是他有一种强烈的感觉，那就是在每个世界上，最早期的历史都是一堆大杂烩，充满说教式的英雄事迹与迷你剧本，仅能视为一种道德剧，不能太过当真。赫利肯的情形当然如此，你却很难找到一个不深信那些传说、不坚持它们全是真实历史的赫利肯人。他们就连完全荒诞的故事也照样支持不误，例如人类首次探勘赫利肯时，遇到了危险的巨型飞行爬虫……虽然在人类曾经探勘与殖民的所有世界上，都从未发现任何土生土长的、类似飞行爬虫的动物。

He said instead, "How does this history begin?"

不过他只是问：“这个历史是如何开始的？”

There was a faraway look in the Sisters eyes, a look that did not focus on Seldon or on anything in the room. She said, "It begins with a world……our world. One world."

这位姐妹的目光显得恍惚，并未聚焦在谢顿或屋内任何一样东西上。她说：“它开始于某个世界……我们的世界，独一的世界。”

"One world?" (Seldon remembered that Hummin had spoken of legends of a single, original world of humanity.)

“独一的世界？”谢顿想起夫铭提到过有关人类起源于单一世界的传说。

"One world. There were others later, but ours was the first. One world, with space, with open air, with room for everyone, with fertile fields, with friendly homes, with warm people. For thousands of years we lived there and then we had to leave and skulk in one place or another until some of us found a corner of Trantor where we learned to grow food that brought us a little freedom. And here in Mycogen, we now have our own ways……and our own dreams."

“独一的世界。后来又有了其他世界，但我们的世界是第一个。独一的世界，上面有生存的空间、有露天的空气、有万物的一席之地，还有肥沃的田园、友善的人家，以及热情的人们。上万年的时间，我们一直住在那里。后来我们不得不离开，开始四处东躲西藏，直到有些人在川陀的一角找到容身之地。我们在此学会栽种食粮，为我们带来了一点自由。而在麦曲生这里，我们现在拥有自己的生活方式……以及我们自己的梦想。”

"And your histories give the full details concerning the original world? The one world?"

“而你们的历史详细记载了那个起源世界？那个独一的世界？”

"Oh yes, it is all in a book and we all have it. Every one of us. We carry it at all times so that there is never a moment when any one of us cannot open it and read it and remember who we are and who we were and resolve that someday we will have our world back."

“喔，没错，全部记在一本书里。这本书大家都有，我们每一个人都有。我们总是随身携带，这样一来，人人都能随时随地翻阅，以便牢记我们现在是什么人、过去是什么人，并且下定决心，总有一天会收复我们的世界。”

"Do you know where this world is and who lives on it now?"

“你可知道这个世界在哪里，现在住着什么人吗？”

Raindrop Forty-Three hesitated, then shook her head fiercely. "We do not, but someday we will find it."

雨点四十三迟疑了一下，然后猛力摇了摇头。“我们不知道，但总有一天会找到答案。”

"And you have this book in your possession now?"

“你现在就带着这本书吗？”

"Of course."

“当然。”

"May I see that book?"

“我可以看看吗？”

Now a slow smile crossed the face of the Sister. She said, "So thats what you want. I knew you wanted something when you asked to be guided through the microfarms by me alone." She seemed a little embarrassed. "I didn't think it was the Book."

此时，这位姐妹脸上缓缓掠过一抹笑容。她说：“原来你要的是这个。当你要求由我独自带你参观微生农场时，我就知道你在打什么东西的主意。”她似乎有点发窘，“我没想到竟然是为了这本典籍。”

"It is all I want," said Seldon earnestly. "I really did not have my mind on anything else. If you brought me here because you thought……"

“那是我唯一想要的，”谢顿一本正经地说，“我心里真的没打别的主意。如果你带我到这里来，是由于你以为……”

She did not allow him to finish. "But here we are. Do you or don't you want the Book?"

她没让他把话说完。“可是我们已经来到这里。你到底是想还是不想看这本典籍？”

"Are you offering to let me see it?"

“你准备让我看吗？”

"On one condition."

“有一个条件。”

Seldon paused, weighing the possibility of serious trouble if he had overcome the Sisters inhibitions to a greater extent than he had ever intended. "What condition?" he said.

谢顿愣了一下。若是自己将这位姐妹的心防解除得过了头，他就得衡量导致严重后果的可能性。“什么条件？”他问。

Raindrop Forty-Threes tongue emerged lightly and licked quickly at her lips. Then she said with a distinct tremor in her voice, "That you remove your skincap."

雨点四十三的舌头轻轻伸出来，迅速舔了一下嘴唇。然后她以带着明显颤抖的声音说：“脱掉你的人皮帽。”

Hari Seldon stared blankly at Raindrop Forty-Three. There was a perceptible moment in which he did not know what she was talking about. He had forgotten he was wearing a skincap.

哈里·谢顿茫然地凝视着雨点四十三。有好一会儿，他根本不明白她在说什么，因为他早已忘记自己戴着一顶人皮帽。

Then he put his hand to his head and, for the first time, consciously felt the skincap he was wearing. It was smooth, but he felt the tiny resilience of the hair beneath. Not much. His hair, after all, was fine and without much body.

然后，他将一只手放到头上，才意识到自己戴着那顶帽子。它的表面光滑，但他仍然感觉得到下面头发所产生的轻微弹性。那并不太明显，毕竟他的头发发质纤细，而且不怎么浓密。

He said, still feeling it, "Why?"

他一面摸着头，一面说：“为什么？”

She said, "Because I want you to. Because thats the condition if you want to see the Book."

她说：“因为我要你这么做。因为如果你想看典籍，这就是交换条件。”

He said, "Well, if you really want me to." His hand probed for the edge, so that he could peel it off.

他说：“好吧，如果你真要我这么做的话。”他开始动手摸索帽缘，以便剥掉人皮帽。

But she said, "No, let me do it. Ill do it." She was looking at him hungrily.

但她却说：“不，让我来，我来帮你脱。”她以饥渴的眼神望着他。

Seldon dropped his hands to his lap. "Go ahead, then."

谢顿将双手放在膝盖上。“那就来吧。”

The Sister rose quickly and sat down next to him on the cot. Slowly, carefully, she detached the skincap from his head just in front of his ear. Again she licked her lips and she was panting as she loosened the skincap about his forehead and turned it up. Then it came away and was gone and Seldons hair, released, seemed to stir a bit in glad freedom.

这位姐妹迅速起身，坐到他身边的床沿。她慢慢地、仔细地将他耳前的人皮帽撕开，同时又舔了舔嘴唇。而当她将他的前额部分弄松，并将人皮帽向上掀的时候，她则开始大口喘气。然后人皮帽便被摘下，而在重获自由之后，谢顿的头发似乎微微雀跃了一下。

He said, troubled, "Keeping my hair under the skincap has probably made my scalp sweat. If so, my hair will be rather damp."

他不安地说道：“我的头发一直盖在人皮帽下面，我的头皮也许出汗了。真是这样的话，我的头发就会有点潮湿。”

He raised his hand, as though to check the matter, but she caught it and held it back. "I want to do that," she said. "Its part of the condition."

他举起手来，好像是要检查一下。她却抓住他的手，并将它拉开。“我来做这件事。”她说，“这是条件的一部分。”

Her fingers, slowly and hesitantly, touched his hair and then withdrew. She touched it again and, very gently, stroked it.

她的手指缓缓地、迟疑地触碰到他的头发，又赶紧缩回去。然后她再次伸出手来，并以非常轻柔的动作抚摸着。

Its dry, she said. "It feels……good."

“是干的，”她说，“摸起来感觉……很好。”

"Have you ever felt cephalic hair before?"

“你以前摸过头部毛发吗？”

"Only on children sometimes. This……is different." She was stroking again.

“只是偶尔摸过小孩子的，这个……不一样。”她再度开始抚摸。

"In what way?" Seldon, even amid his embarrassment, found it possible to be curious.

“哪里不一样？”即使处于这种尴尬情境中，谢顿仍然能被勾起好奇心。

"I cant say. Its just……different."

“我说不上来，就是……不一样。”

After a while he said, "Have you had enough?"

过了一会儿，他说：“你摸够了吗？”

"No. don't rush me. Can you make it lie anyway you want it to?"

“没有，别催我。你能随意让它朝任何方向趴下吗？”

"Not really. It has a natural way of falling, but I need a comb for that and I don't have one with me."

“并不尽然，它有自然的俯贴方向。但我需要一把梳子才行，而我手边并没有。”

"A comb?"

“梳子？”

"An object with prongs……uh, like a fork……but the prongs are more numerous and somewhat softer."

“一种具有好些分叉的东西……啊，就像一把叉子……但是分叉多得多，而且比较柔软。”

"Can you use your fingers?" She was running hers through his hair.

“你能用手指代替吗？”她一面说，一面用她的手指梳过他的头发。

He said, "After a fashion. It doesnt work very well."

他说：“马马虎虎，效果不是很好。”

"Its bristly behind."

“后面的硬一点。”

"The hair is shorter there."

“那里的头发比较短。”

Raindrop Forty-Three seemed to recall something. "The eyebrows," she said. "Isnt that what theyre called?" She stripped off the shields, then ran her fingers through the gentle arc of hair, against the grain.

雨点四十三似乎想起什么事。“眉毛，”她说，“是这样叫的吗？”她拉下那两条遮带，手指沿着眉毛构成的轻微弧度逆向划过。

Thats nice, she said, then laughed in a high-pitched way that was almost like her younger sisters giggle. "Theyre cute."

“感觉很好。”说完她就发出高亢的笑声，几乎能和她妹妹的吃吃笑声媲美。“真可爱。”

Seldon said a little impatiently, "Is there anything else thats part of the condition?"

谢顿有点不耐烦地说：“这个条件还有没有其他部分？”

In the rather dim light, Raindrop Forty-Three looked as though she might be considering an affirmative, but said nothing. Instead, she suddenly withdrew her hands and lifted them to her nose. Seldon wondered what she might be smelling.

在相当黯淡的光线下，雨点四十三仿佛在考虑提出肯定的答案，但她什么也没有说出口。反之，她突然将手缩回去，再把双手举到鼻尖。谢顿纳闷她究竟想闻些什么。

How odd, she said. "May I……may I do it again another time?"

“多么奇特，”她说，“我可以……我可以改天再试一次吗？”

Seldon said uneasily, "If you will let me have the Book long enough to study it, then perhaps."

谢顿硬着头皮答道：“如果你把典籍多借给我几天，让我有充分的时间研究，那么或许可以。”

Raindrop Forty-Three reached into her kirtle through a slit that Seldon had not noticed before and, from some hidden inner pocket, removed a book bound in some tough, flexible material. He took it, trying to control his excitement.

雨点四十三将手伸进裰服的一个隙缝，谢顿过去从未注意到它的存在。然后，她从一个隐藏式内袋，取出一本由某种又硬又韧的质料充作封面的书。谢顿接了过来，尽量控制住内心的激动。

While Seldon readjusted his skincap to cover his hair, Raindrop Forty-Three raised her hands to her nose again and then, gently and quickly, licked one finger.

当谢顿调整人皮帽，重新遮起头发之际，雨点四十三再度把双手举到鼻尖，接着伸出舌头，很轻很快地舔了舔手指。

"Felt your hair?" said Dors Venabili. She looked at Seldons hair as though she was of a mind to feel it herself.

“摸你的头发？”铎丝·凡纳比里一面说，一面望着谢顿的头发，仿佛她自己也有意摸一摸。

Seldon moved away slightly. "Please dont. The woman made it seem like a perversion."

谢顿稍微避开一点。“拜托别这样，那女人表现得好像性反常患者。”

"I suppose it was……from her standpoint. Did you derive no pleasure from it yourself?"

“我想应该就是……从她的观点而言。你自己没有从中得到乐趣吗？”

"Pleasure? It gave me gooseflesh. When she finally stopped, I was able to breathe again. I kept thinking: What other conditions will she make?"

“乐趣？我全身起鸡皮疙瘩。等到她终于停手，我才能继续呼吸。我本来一直在想，她还会提出什么样的条件？”

Dors laughed. "Were you afraid that she would force sex upon you? Or hopeful?"

铎丝哈哈大笑。“你怕她会强迫和你发生性关系？或是默默期待？”

"I assure you I didn't dare think. I just wanted the Book."

“我向你保证我不敢那么想，我只想要那本典籍。”

They were in their room now and Dors turned on her field distorter to make sure they would not be overheard.

此刻他们在自己的房间里，铎丝开启了她的电磁场扭曲器，以确保不会有人偷听到他们的谈话。

The Mycogenian night was about to begin. Seldon had removed his skincap and kirtle and had bathed, paying particular attention to his hair, which he had foamed and rinsed twice. He was now sitting on his cot, wearing a light nightgown that had been hanging in the closet.

麦曲生的夜晚即将降临。谢顿早已脱下人皮帽与裰服，并且已经洗过澡……他特别用心清洗自己的头发，总共冲洗了两次。现在他坐在他的便床上，穿着一件轻薄的睡衣，那是他在衣橱里找到的。

Dors said, eyes dancing, "Did she know you have hair on your chest?"

铎丝双眼骨碌碌地乱转，并说：“她知不知道你的胸部也有毛？”

"I was hoping earnestly she wouldnt think of that."

“当时我衷心祈祷她不会想到这一点。”

"Poor Hari. It was all perfectly natural, you know. I would probably have had similar trouble if I was alone with a Brother. Worse, Im sure, since he would believe……Mycogenian society being what it is……that as a woman I would be bound to obey his orders without delay or demur."

“可怜的哈里。你该知道，这些都是绝对自然的。我若和一位兄弟单独相处，也可能会有类似的麻烦。不，我确信还更糟，因为他会相信……从麦曲生这种社会结构看来……我身为女性，一定会服从他的命令，绝不会有任何迟疑或异议。”

"No, Dors. You may think it was perfectly natural, but you didn't experience it. The poor woman was in a high state of sexual excitement. She engaged all her senses……smelled her fingers, licked them. If she could have heard hair grow, she would have listened avidly."

“不，铎丝。你或许认为这是绝对自然的事，可是你并未亲身体验过。当时，那个可怜的女人处于高度性兴奋的状态。她动用了所有的感官……不但闻她的手指，还伸舌头来舔。她如果能听见头发生长的声音，也会贪婪地专心倾听。”

"But thats what I mean by natural. Anything you make forbidden gains sexual attractiveness. Would you be particularly interested in womens breasts if you lived in a society in which they were displayed at all times?"

“但那正是我所谓的‘自然’，任何遭禁的事物都会产生性的吸引力。假使你生活在一个妇女随时随地袒胸的社会，你会不会对女性的乳房特别感兴趣？”

"I think I might."

“我想可能会。”

"Wouldnt you be more interested if they were always hidden, as in most societies they are?…… Listen, let me tell you something that happened to me. I was at a lake resort back home on Cinna……I presume you have resorts on Helicon, beaches, that sort of thing?"

“假如它们总是被遮起来，就像在大多数社会那样，难道你不会更感兴趣吗？听着，让我告诉你一件我亲身的经历。当时，我是在母星锡纳的一个湖滨度假胜地……我猜你们赫利肯也有度假胜地，例如沙滩之类的地方？”

"Of course," said Seldon, slightly annoyed. "What do you think Helicon is, a world of rocks and mountains, with only well water to drink?"

“当然有，”谢顿有些恼火，“你把赫利肯想成什么了？一个只有山脉和岩石，只有井水可喝的世界？”

"No offense, Hari. I just want to make sure youll get the point of the story. On our beaches at Cinna, were pretty lighthearted about what we wear……or don't wear."

“哈里，我无意冒犯，只是要确定你能了解故事的背景。在我们锡纳的沙滩上，我们很不在意穿些什么……或不穿什么。”

"Nude beaches?"

“裸体沙滩？”

"Not actually, though I suppose if someone removed all of his or her clothing it wouldnt be much remarked on. The custom is to wear a decent minimum, but I must admit that what we consider decent leaves very little to the imagination."

“并非真正如此，不过我想，假如有人把衣服全部脱掉，旁人也不会多说什么。习惯上，穿着只要得体即可，但我必须承认我们所谓的‘得体’并未留下什么想象空间。”

Seldon said, "We have somewhat higher standards of decency on Helicon."

谢顿说：“在赫利肯，我们对得体的标准多少要高一点。”

"Yes, I could tell that by your careful treatment of me, but to each its own. In any case, I was sitting at the small beach by the lake and a young man approached to whom I had spoken earlier in the day. He was a decent fellow I found nothing particularly wrong with. He sat on the arm of my chair and placed his right hand on my left thigh, which was bare, of course, in order to steady himself.

“没错，我从你对我的谨慎态度就看得出来，可是各个世界总有个别差异。言归正传，我正坐在湖滨的小沙滩上，一名年轻男子走了过来，当天稍早的时候，我曾和他讲过几句话。他是个举止得体的人，我不觉得他有什么不对劲。他坐上我的椅子扶手，把他的右手放在我的左大腿上，以便稳住他的身子。当然，我的大腿裸露在外。

"After we had spoken for a minute and a half or so, he said, impishly. Here I am. You know me hardly at all and yet it seems perfectly natural to me that I place my hand on your thigh. Whats more, it seems perfectly natural to you, since you don't seem to mind that it remains there.

“我们聊了大约一分半钟之后，他以顽皮的口气说：‘我坐在这里。你几乎不认识我，但我觉得将手放在你的大腿上，似乎是一件绝对自然的事。非但如此，你好像也感到绝对自然，因为你似乎不介意让它留在那里。’

"It was only then that I actually noticed that his hand was on my thigh. Bare skin in public somehow loses some of its sexual quality. As I said, its the hiding from view that is crucial.

“直到那个时候，我才真正注意到他的手放在我的大腿上。裸露在大庭广众之下的肌肤，多少丧失了一些性的本质。正如我刚才所说，不让人看见的部分才是关键。

"And the young man felt this too, for he went on to say, Yet if I were to meet you under more formal conditions and you were wearing a gown, you wouldnt dream of letting me lift your gown and place my hand on your thigh on the precise spot it now occupies.

“这一点，那年轻男子也察觉到了，因为他继续说：‘但我若是在较正式的场合遇到你，你穿着一件礼服，那你做梦也不会让我掀起你的礼服，将我的手放在一模一样的位置。’

"I laughed and we continued to talk of this and that. Of course, the young man, now that my attention had been called to the position of his hand, felt it no longer appropriate to keep it there and removed it.

“我哈哈大笑，然后我们继续聊了些别的。当然，由于我已经注意到他的手，那年轻人感到让它再留在那儿并不妥当，便将手移开了。

"That night I dressed for dinner with more than usual care and appeared in clothing that was considerably more formal than was required or than other women in the dining room were wearing. I found the young man in question. He was sitting at one of the tables. I approached, greeted him, and said, Here I am in a gown, but under it my left thigh is bare. I give you permission. Just lift the gown and place your hand on my left thigh where you had it earlier.

“当天晚上用餐时，我打扮得比平常更用心，衣着的正式程度则远超过那个场合的需要以及餐厅中其他女士的穿着。我在一张餐桌旁发现那个年轻人。于是我走过去，跟他打招呼，并说：‘我现在穿着一件礼服，但里面的左腿是赤裸的。我准许你把我的礼服掀起来，然后像白天那样，把你的手放在我的左大腿上。’

"He tried. Ill give him credit for that, but everyone was staring. I wouldnt have stopped him and Im sure no one else would have stopped him either, but he couldnt bring himself to do it. It was no more public then than it had been earlier and the same people were present in both cases. It was clear that I had taken the initiative and that I had no objections, but he could not bring himself to violate the proprieties. The conditions, which had been hand-on-thigh in the afternoon, were not hand-on-thigh in the evening and that meant more than anything logic could say."

“他试了一下，这点我不得不佩服他，可是大家都盯着我们看。我是不会阻止他的，我也确定没有别人会阻止他，但他却无法做到这件事。当时的场合并不比白天更为公开，而且在场的是同样一批人。何况采取主动的显然是我，我显然绝不会反对，但他就是不能让自己逾矩。当天下午让他能‘毛手毛脚’的条件，到了晚上便不复存在，这要比任何逻辑更有意义。”

Seldon said, "I would have put my hand on your thigh."

谢顿说：“是我的话，就会把手放在你的大腿上。”

"Are you sure?"

“你确定吗？”

"Positive."

“绝对肯定。”

"Even though your standards of decency on the beach are higher than ours are?"

“即使你们对于沙滩穿着的得体标准比我们还高？”

"Yes."

“没错。”

Dors sat down on her own cot, then lay down with her hands behind her head. "So that youre not particularly disturbed that Im wearing a nightgown with very little underneath it."

铎丝坐到她的便床上，然后躺下来，以双手枕着头。“所以说，虽然我穿着一件晚礼服，里面几乎没穿什么，也不会带给你特别的困扰。”

"Im not particularly shocked. As for being disturbed, that depends on the definition of the word. Im certainly aware of how youre dressed."

“我不会特别震惊。至于困扰，要看这个词怎样定义。我当然晓得你如何穿着。”

"Well, if were going to be cooped up here for a period of time, well have to learn to ignore such things."

“嗯，假如我们将被关在这里一段时间，你我必须学习如何漠视这种事。”

"Or take advantage of them," said Seldon, grinning. "And I like your hair. After seeing you bald all day, I like your hair."

“或者善加利用。”谢顿咧嘴笑了笑，“而且我喜欢你的头发，看了一整天光头的你，我特别喜欢你的头发。”

"Well, don't touch it. I haven't washed it yet." She half-closed her eyes. "Its interesting. Youve detached the informal and formal level of respectability. What youre saying is that Helicon is more respectable at the informal level than Cinna is and less respectable at the formal level. Is that right?"

“唉，别摸，我还没洗头。”她眯起眼睛，“这很有趣，你们将正式和非正式的庄重层面分了开。你这话是说，赫利肯在非正式层面比锡纳更庄重，在正式层面则没有锡纳那么庄重。对不对？”

"Actually, Im just talking about the young man who placed his hand on your thigh and myself. How representative we are as Cinnians and Heliconians, respectively, I cant say. I can easily imagine some perfectly proper individuals on both worlds……and some madcaps too."

“事实上，我只是在讲那个对你‘毛手毛脚’的年轻人，以及我自己而已。至于我们两个分别能代表几成的锡纳人和赫利肯人，这我可不敢说。我很容易想象，两个世界上都有中规中矩的君子，也都有些粗鲁无礼的家伙。”

"Were talking about social pressures. Im not exactly a Galactic traveler, but Ive had to involve myself in a great deal of social history. On the planet of Derowd, there was a time when premarital sex was absolutely free. Multiple sex was allowed for the unmarried and public sex was frowned upon only when traffic was blocked: And yet, after marriage, monogamy was absolute and unbroken. The theory was that by working off all ones fantasies first, one could settle down to the serious business of life."

“我们是在谈论社会压力。我不算是真正的银河旅者，但我总是必须投注许多心力在社会史上面。比方说，狄罗德行星上曾有过一段时期，未婚性行为是绝对自由的，未婚者可以拥有多重性伴侣，公然性行为只有阻碍交通时才会引起反感。然而一旦结了婚，双方就会绝对遵守一夫一妻制。他们的理论是先让一个人实现所有的绮想，这个人就能定下心来面对严肃的生活。”

"Did it work?"

“有用吗？”

"About three hundred years ago that stopped, but some of my colleagues say it stopped through external pressure from other worlds who were losing too much tourist business to Derowd. There is such a thing as overall Galactic social pressure too."

“大约三百年前就终止了，不过我的一些同事说，那是其他几个世界对它施压的结果，因为狄罗德抢走了太多的观光客。别忘了，还有银河社会整体压力这种东西。”

"Or perhaps economic pressure, in this case."

“就这个例子而言，或许应该是经济压力。”

"Perhaps. And being at the University, by the way, I get a chance to study social pressures, even without being a Galactic traveler. I meet people from scores of places inside and outside of Trantor and one of the pet amusements in the social science departments is the comparison of social pressures.

“或许吧。此外，即使我并不是银河旅者，但我常年待在大学里，所以仍有机会研究社会压力。我能遇到来自川陀里里外外、许许多多地方的人，而在社会科学相关系所里，深受喜爱的消遣之一就是比较各种社会压力。

"Here in Mycogen, for instance, I have the impression that sex is strictly controlled and is permitted under only the most stringent rules, all the more tightly enforced because it is never discussed. In the Streeling Sector, sex is never discussed either, but it isn't condemned. In the Jennat Sector, where I spent a week once doing research, sex is discussed endlessly, but only for the purpose of condemning it. I don't suppose there are any two sectors in Trantor……or any two worlds outside Trantor……in which attitudes toward sex are completely duplicated."

“比方说在麦曲生这里，给我的印象是性受到严格控制，只有在最严苛的规范下才被允许。而且实施得一定很彻底，因为没有任何人敢讨论。而在斯璀璘区，人们也从不讨论性的话题，但它并未受到谴责。我曾在坚纳特区进行过一周的研究，该区的人无止无休地谈论性，但唯一的目的只是为了谴责。我认为川陀上的任何两个区……或是川陀之外的任何两个世界……对性的态度都不是完全一样的。”

Seldon said, "You know what you make it sound like? It would appear……"

谢顿说：“你可知道这话听来像在说什么吗？它好像……”

Dors said, "Ill tell you how it appears. All this talk of sex makes one thing clear to me. Im simply not going to let you out of my sight anymore."

铎丝说：“我来告诉你它好像什么。我们谈论的这些有关性的话题，使我认清一件事，我再也不要让你离开我的视线。”

"What?"

“什么？”

"Twice I let you go, the first time through my own misjudgment and the second because you bullied me into it. Both times it was clearly a mistake. You know what happened to you the first time."

“我两度让你单独行动，第一次出于我自己的误判，第二次则因为你出言恫吓。两次显然都是错误的决定，你自己也知道第一次发生了什么事。”

Seldon said indignantly, "Yes, but nothing happened to me the second time."

谢顿愤慨地说：“没错，可是第二次并未发生什么意外。”

"You nearly got into a lot of trouble. Suppose you had been caught indulging in sexual escapades with a Sister?"

“你差点惹上天大的麻烦。万一你和这位姐妹沉迷于性游戏时被逮个正着，那还得了？”

"It wasn't a sexual……"

“那不是性……”

"You yourself said she was in a high state of sexual excitement."

“你自己说过，她当时处于高度性兴奋的状态。”

"But……"

“可是……”

"It was wrong. Please get it through your head, Hari. From now on, you go nowhere without me."

“这是不对的，哈里，请把这点装进你的脑袋。从现在起，你到哪里我就跟到哪里。”

"Look," said Seldon freezingly, "my object was to find out about Mycogenian history and as a result of the so-called sexual escapade with a Sister, I have a book……the Book."

“听着，”谢顿以冰冷的口吻说，“我的目的是找出麦曲生的历史。所谓和一位姐妹玩性游戏，结果是我得到了一本书……那本典籍。”

"The Book! True, theres the Book. Lets see it."

“典籍！是啊，有一本典籍，我们来看看吧。”

Seldon produced it and Dors thoughtfully hefted it.

谢顿将它取出来，铎丝若有所思地拿在手中掂了掂。

She said, "It might not do us any good, Hari. This doesnt look as though it will fit any projector Ive ever encountered. That means youll have to get a Mycogenian projector and They'll want to know why you want it. They'll then find out you have this Book and They'll take it away from you."

她说：“哈里，它也许对我们没什么用。看来它好像和我见过的投影机都不相容，这就代表你得找一台麦曲生投影机。这样一来，他们便会想知道你要做什么。然后他们势必会发现你拥有这本典籍，一定会从你手中抢回去。”

Seldon smiled. "If your assumptions were correct, Dors, your conclusions would be inescapable, but it happens that this is not the kind of book you think it is. Its not meant to be projected. The material is printed on various pages and the pages are turned. Raindrop Forty-Three explained that much to me."

谢顿微微一笑。“倘若你的假设全部正确，铎丝，那么你的结论便无懈可击。但它刚巧不是你所想的那种书，它并不需要使用投影机。它的内容印在许多书页上，可以一页一页翻阅。这些雨点四十三都对我解释过了。”

"A print-book!" It was hard to tell whether Dors was shocked or amused. "Thats from the Stone Age."

“一本字体书！”很难判断铎丝究竟是震惊还是高兴，“那是石器时代的古物。”

"Its certainly pre-Empire," said Seldon, "but not entirely so. Have you ever seen a print-book?"

“绝对是前帝国时代的，”谢顿说，“但还不至于那么古老。你曾经见过字体书吗？”

"Considering that Im a historian? Of course, Hari."

“哈里，你忘了我是历史学家？当然见过。”

"Ah, but like this one?"

“啊，但是像这本吗？”

He handed over the Book and Dors, smiling, opened it……then turned to another page……then flipped the pages. "Its blank," she said.

他将典籍递过去。铎丝笑着把它打开，再翻到另一页，接着从头到尾迅速翻了一遍。“是空白的。”她说。

"It appears to be blank. The Mycogenians are stubbornly primitivistic, but not entirely so. They will keep to the essence of the primitive, but have no objection to using modern technology to modify it for conveniences sake. Who knows?"

“应该说看来是空白的。麦曲生人虽是顽固的原始主义者，但也并不尽然。他们会固守原始的精髓，却不会反对为了增加便利，而利用现代科技进行改良。谁知道呢？”

"Maybe so, Hari, but I don't understand what youre saying."

“或许吧，哈里，但我不懂你在说些什么。”

"The pages aren't blank, theyre covered with microprint. Here, give it back. If I press this little nubbin on the inner edge of the cover…… Look!"

“这些书页并不是空白的，每页上面都有微缩字体。来，还给我。如果我按下封面内缘的这个小球……看！”

The page to which the book lay open was suddenly covered with lines of print that rolled slowly upward.

翻开的那一页突然出现许多行缓缓向上滚动的字体。

Seldon said, "You can adjust the rate of upward movement to match your reading speed by slightly twisting the nubbin one way or the other. When the lines of print reach their upward limit when you reach the bottom line, that is……they snap downward and turn off. You turn to the next page and continue."

谢顿说：“你只要前后稍微转动这个小球，就能调节上移的快慢，来配合你自己的阅读速度。一旦本页的字迹达到上限，也就是说，当你读到底端那一行的时候，它们就会猛然下落，然后自动关掉。这时，你就该翻到下一页。”

"Where does the energy come from that does all this?"

“执行这些功能的能量从哪里来？”

"It has an enclosed microfusion battery that lasts the life of the book."

“它里面封装着一个微融合电池，和这本书的寿命一样长。”

"Then when it runs down……"

“那么等到电用完了……”

"You discard the book, which you may be required to do even before it runs down, given wear and tear, and get another copy. You never replace the battery."

“你就丢掉这本书，甚至或许在此之前，由于磨损得太厉害，你就得提前丢掉了。然后再换一本就行，你永远不必更换电池。”

Dors took the Book a second time and looked at it from all sides. She said, "I must admit I never heard of a book like this."

铎丝再次接过那本典籍，从各个角度仔细观察。“我必须承认，我从未听说过像这样的书。”

"Nor I. The Galaxy, generally, has moved into visual technology so rapidly, it skipped over this possibility."

“我也没有。一般而言，银河系早已无比迅速地迈入视讯科技，以致略过了这个可能性。”

"This is visual."

“这正是视讯啊。”

"Yes, but not with the orthodox effects. This type of book has its advantages. It holds far more than an ordinary visual book does."

“没错，但并不是正统。这种形式的书自有优点，它比普通视讯书籍的容量大许多倍。”

Dors said, "Wheres the turn-on?……Ah, let me see if I can work it." She had opened to a page at random and set the lines of print marching upward. Then she said, "Im afraid this wont do you any good, Hari. Its pre-Galactic. I don't mean the book. I mean the print……the language."

铎丝说：“开关在哪里？啊，我看看自己会不会操作。”她早已随便翻开一页，此时她将字体设定成上移。然后她又说，“只怕对你没有任何用处，哈里，它是前银河时代的。我不是指这本书，我指的是字体……它的语文。”

"Can you read it, Dors? As a historian……"

“铎丝，你读得懂吗？身为历史学家……”

"As a historian, Im used to dealing with archaic language……but within limits. This is far too ancient for me. I can make out a few words here and there, but not enough to be useful."

“身为历史学家，我经常接触古代语文，但总有个限度。这对我而言实在太古老了，我能零零星星认出几个字，却不足以派上用场。”

"Good," said Seldon. "If its really ancient, it will be useful."

“很好。”谢顿说，“如果真正古老，它就一定有用。”

"Not if you cant read it."

“你读不懂就没用。”

"I can read it," said Seldon. "Its bilingual. You don't suppose that Raindrop Forty-Three can read the ancient script, do you?"

“我读得懂，”谢顿说，“它是双语的。你该不会以为雨点四十三能读古代手稿吧？”

"If She's educated properly, why not?"

“倘若她受过良好教育，又有何不可？”

"Because I suspect that women in Mycogen are not educated past household duties. Some of the more learned men can read this, but everyone else would need a translation to Galactic." He pushed another nubbin. "And this supplies it."

“因为我怀疑，麦曲生女性接受的教育不会超过家事的范畴。某些较有学问的人想必读得懂，但其他人一律需要银河标准语的译本。”他按了按另一个小球，“这样就行了。”

The lines of print changed to Galactic Standard.

字体立刻变作银河标准语。

"Delightful," said Dors in admiration.

“真可爱。”铎丝赞叹道。

"We could learn from these Mycogenians, but we dont."

“我们可以向麦曲生人学习一些事物，但我们却没有这么做。”

"We haven't known about it."

“我们还不知道啊。”

"I cant believe that. I know about it now. And you know about it. There must be outsiders coming into Mycogen now and then, for commercial or political reasons, or there wouldnt be skincaps so ready for use. So every once in a while someone must have caught a glimpse of this sort of print-book and seen how it works, but its probably dismissed as something curious but not worth further study, simply because its Mycogenian."

“这点我无法相信。现在我知道了，而你也一样。偶尔一定会有外人来到麦曲生，无论为了商业或政治目的，否则不会有许多人皮帽随时备用。所以每隔一段时间，总会有人瞥见这种字体书，而且目睹它的运作。可是，它也许只被视为稀奇有趣却不值得深入研究的东西，只因为它是麦曲生的产品。”

"But is it worth study?"

“但它真值得研究吗？”

"Of course. Everything is. Or should be. Hummin would probably point to this lack of concern about these books as a sign of degeneration in the Empire."

“当然。每样东西都值得，或者说应该值得。对这些书漠不关心的普遍现象，或许会被夫铭指为帝国正在衰落的一项征兆。”

He lifted the Book and said with a gush of excitement, "But I am curious and I will read this and it may push me in the direction of psychohistory."

他举起那本典籍，带着一股兴奋说道：“可是本人有好奇心。我会阅读这玩意，它或许会将我推向心理史学的正道。”

"I hope so," said Dors, "but if you take my advice, youll sleep first and approach it fresh in the morning. You wont learn much if you nod over it."

“希望如此。”铎丝说，“但你若肯接受我的劝告，就该先睡一觉，明早神清气爽时再来研究。假如你对着它打瞌睡，是不可能学到什么的。”

Seldon hesitated, then said, "How maternal you are!"

谢顿迟疑了一下，然后说：“你多有母性啊！”

"Im watching over you."

“我是在照顾你。”

"But I have a mother alive on Helicon. I would rather you were my friend."

“可是家母在赫利肯活得好好地，我宁愿你当我的朋友。”

"As for that, I have been your friend since first I met you."

“这点嘛，我第一次见到你，就已经是你的朋友了。”

She smiled at him and Seldon hesitated as though he were not certain as to the appropriate rejoinder. Finally he said, "Then Ill take your advice……as a friend……and sleep before reading."

她冲着他微笑，谢顿却犹豫起来，仿佛不确定怎样回答才算妥当。最后他终于说：“那我就接受你的劝告……一位朋友的劝告，先睡一觉再说。”

He made as though to put the Book on a small table between the two cots, hesitated, turned, and put it under his pillow.

他好像是要把典籍放在两床之间的茶几上，迟疑一会儿之后，他又转过身来，将它放在自己的枕头底下。

Dors Venabili laughed softly. "I think youre afraid I will wake during the night and read parts of the Book before you have a chance to. Is that it?"

铎丝·凡纳比里轻声笑了笑。“我想你是怕我会整夜不睡，在你还没有机会阅读这本典籍之前，就抢先看到其中的内容。是不是这样？”

"Well," said Seldon, trying not to look ashamed, "that may be it. Even friendship only goes so far and this is my book and its my psychohistory."

“嗯，”谢顿试着避免显露愧色，“也许是吧，即使友谊也该适可而止。这是我的书，是我的心理史学。”

"I agree," said Dors, "and I promise you that we wont quarrel over that. By the way, you were about to say something earlier when I interrupted you. Remember?"

“我同意，”铎丝说，“我向你保证，我们不会为这件事争吵。对了，刚才你正想说什么，却给我打断了。还记得吗？”

Seldon thought briefly. "No."

谢顿很快想了一下。“不记得了。”

In the dark, he thought only of the Book. He gave no thought to the hand-on-thigh story. In fact, he had already quite forgotten it, consciously at least.

在黑暗中，他想到的只是那本典籍，并未将心思分给那个“毛手毛脚的故事”。事实上，他几乎已经忘光了，至少在意识层面如此。

Venabili woke up and could tell by her timeband that the night period was only half over. Not hearing Haris snore, she could tell that his cot was empty. If he had not left the apartment, then he was in the bathroom.

铎丝·凡纳比里突然醒来，随身的计时带告诉她夜晚只过了一半。由于没有听到谢顿的鼾声，她断定他的便床是空的。他若未曾离开这间寓所，就一定是在浴室里。

She tapped lightly on the door and said softly, "Hari?"

她轻轻敲了敲门，柔声说：“哈里？”

He said, "Come in," in an abstracted way and she did.

他以心不在焉的口气答道：“进来吧。”于是她走了进去。

The toilet lid was down and Seldon, seated upon it, held the Book open on his lap. He said, quite unnecessarily, "Im reading."

马桶盖放了下来，谢顿坐在上面，那本典籍则摊开在他膝盖上。“我正在读书。”这句话其实相当多此一举。

"Yes, I see that. But why?"

“是啊，我看得出来。可是为什么呢？”

"I couldnt sleep. Im sorry."

“真抱歉，我睡不着。”

"But why read in here?"

“可是为什么要在这里读呢？”

"If I had turned on the room light, I would have woken you up."

“如果开房间的灯，会把你惊醒的。”

"Are you sure the Book cant be illuminated?"

“你确定这本典籍不能自我照明吗？”

"Pretty sure. When Raindrop Forty-Three described its workings, she never mentioned illumination. Besides, I suppose that would use up so much energy that the battery wouldnt last the life of the Book." He sounded dissatisfied.

“十分确定。当雨点四十三讲述它的功能时，她从未提到照明装置。此外，我想那样会消耗太多能量，使电池无法撑到这本典籍寿命结束。”他的口气听来并不满意。

Dors said, "You can step out, then. I want to use this place, as long as Im here."

铎丝说：“那么，你现在可以出去了。我要用这个地方，而且我已经在这里。”

When she emerged, she found him sitting cross-legged on his cot, still reading, with the room well lighted.

用完浴室出来后，她发现他正盘腿坐在自己的便床上，仍在专心阅读，而房间则大放光明。

She said, "You don't look happy. Does the Book disappoint you?"

她说：“你看来不太高兴，这本典籍使你失望吗？”

He looked up at her, blinking. "Yes, it does. Ive sampled it here and there. Its all Ive had time to do. The thing is a virtual encyclopedia and the index is almost entirely a listing of people and places that are of little use for my purposes. It has nothing to do with the Galactic Empire or the pre-Imperial Kingdoms either. It deals almost entirely with a single world and, as nearly as I can make out from what I have read, it is an endless dissertation on internal politics."

他抬起头来，眨着眼睛望着她。“是的，的确如此。我随便挑了几段，我的时间只够这样做。这东西简直是一部百科全书，索引几乎全是一串串的人名和地名，对我根本没什么用。它完全没提到银河帝国或前帝国时代的众王国，它记载的几乎全是某个单一世界的历史。而根据我读到的部分来研判，内容一律是无止无休的内政议题。”

"Perhaps you underestimate its age. It may deal with a period when there was indeed only one world……one inhabited world."

“或许你低估了它的年代。说不定它记述的真是只有一个世界的时期……只有一个住人世界。”

"Yes, I know," said Seldon a little impatiently. "Thats actually what I want……provided I can be sure its history, not legend. I wonder. I don't want to believe it just because I want to believe it."

“没错，我知道。”谢顿显得有点不耐烦，“其实那正是我想要的……只要我能确定那是史实，而不是传说。这点我还存疑。我可不要为了相信而相信。”

Dors said, "Well, this matter of a single-world origin is much in the air these days. Human beings are a single species spread all over the Galaxy, so they must have originated somewhere. At least thats the popular view at present. You cant have independent origins producing the same species on different worlds."

铎丝说：“嗯，有关单一世界起源的说法，近来实在流传甚广。整个银河系的人类都属于单一物种，所以必定源自同一个角落。至少，那是目前最流行的观点。同样的物种，不可能独立起源于许多不同的世界。”

"But Ive never seen the inevitability of that argument," said Seldon. "If human beings arose on a number of worlds as a number of different species, why couldnt they have interbred into some single intermediate species?"

“但我一直看不出那个论证的必然性。”谢顿说，“假如人类起源于许多个世界，分别属于许多不同的物种，为什么不能经由异种杂交，而形成一种中间型的单一物种呢？”

"Because species cant interbreed. Thats what makes them species."

“因为不同物种之间不能杂交，这正是物种的定义。”

Seldon thought about it a moment, then dismissed it with a shrug. "Well, Ill leave it to the biologists."

谢顿想了一会儿，然后耸耸肩，将它抛到脑后。“好啦，我把这个问题留给生物学家。”

"Theyre precisely the ones who are keenest on the Earth hypothesis."

“他们正是对‘地球假说’最热衷的一群人。”

"Earth? Is that what they call the supposed world of origin?"

“地球？这是他们对那个所谓‘起源世界’的称呼吗？”

"Thats a popular name for it, though theres no way of telling what it was called, assuming there was one. And no one has any clue to what its location might be."

“这是个最普遍的名字，不过我们无法知晓当初它叫什么，即使它真有个名字。至于它的可能位置，任何人都没有丝毫线索。”

"Earth!" said Seldon, curling his lips. "It sounds like a belch to me. In any case, if the book deals with the original world, I didn't come across it. How do you spell the word?"

“地球！”谢顿撅着嘴说，“在我听来和浑球差不多。无论如何，如果这本书讨论的是起源世界，我还没有碰到这个名字。它怎么写？”

She told him and he checked the Book quickly. "There you are. The name is not listed in the index, either by that spelling or any reasonable alternative."

她告诉他之后，他便迅速查阅那本典籍。“你看，这个名字没有列在索引里面，不论是‘地球’这两个字，或是任何同义词。”

"Really?"

“真的？”

"And they do mention other worlds in passing. Names aren't given and there seems no interest in those other worlds except insofar as they directly impinge on the local world they speak of……at least as far as I can see from what Ive read. In one place, they talked about The Fifty. I don't know what they meant. Fifty leaders? Fifty cities? It seemed to me to be fifty worlds."

“但他们的确随口提到其他一些世界，不过没有写出名字。他们对其他世界好像都没兴趣，除非它直接侵扰到他们所叙述的那个世界……至少，根据我目前读到的内容，我的心得是这样的。在某个地方，他们谈论到‘伍拾’这个概念，我不知道他们是什么意思。五十位领袖？五十个城市？在我看来似乎是五十个世界。”

"Did they give a name to their own world, this world that seems to preoccupy them entirely?" asked Dors. "If they don't call it Earth, what do they call it?"

“他们有没有说自己的世界叫什么名字？”铎丝问道，“这个世界似乎占据他们所有的心思。如果不称之为地球，他们又管它叫什么呢？”

"As youd expect, they call it the world or the planet. Sometimes they call it the Oldest or the World of the Dawn, which has a poetic significance, I presume, that isn't clear to me. I suppose one ought to read the Book entirely through and some matters will then grow to make more sense." He looked down at the Book in his hand with some distaste. "It would take a very long time, though, and Im not sure that Id end up any the wiser."

“你该料想得到，他们管它叫‘本世界’或‘本行星’。有时也称之为‘最古世界’或‘黎明世界’，我猜后者带有诗意的象征，但我不清楚其中的意思。我想必须将这本典籍从头到尾读一遍，某些内容才会变得较有意义。”他带着几分嫌恶的表情，低头望着手中的典籍。“不过，那会花上很长一段时间，而我不确定会不会真有收获。”

Dors sighed. "Im sorry, Hari. You sound so disappointed."

铎丝叹了一口气。“哈里，我很遗憾。听你的口气，你十分失望。”

"Thats because I am disappointed. Its my fault, though. I should not have allowed myself to expect too much……At one point, come to think of it, they referred to their world as Aurora. "

“那是因为我的确失望。不过，这是我自己的错，我不该让自己抱太大的希望……在某一处，我现在想起来了，他们称自己的世界为‘奥罗拉’。”

"Aurora?" said Dors, lifting her eyebrows.

“奥罗拉？”铎丝扬起眉毛。

"It sounds like a proper name. It doesnt make any sense otherwise, as far as I can see. Does it mean anything to you, Dors?"

“听来像个专有名词，据我所知，没有任何其他含意。它对你有任何意义吗，铎丝？”

"Aurora." Dors thought about it with a slight frown on her face. "I cant say Ive ever heard of a planet with that name in the course of the history of the Galactic Empire or during the period of its growth, for that matter, but I wont pretend to know the name of every one of the twenty-five million worlds. We could look it up in the University library……if we ever get back to Streeling. Theres no use trying to find a library here in Mycogen. Somehow I have a feeling that all their knowledge is in the Book. If anything isn't there, they aren't interested."

“奥罗拉。”铎丝一面想，一面露出些许凝重的神色，“在银河帝国的整个历史中，甚至在它的发展阶段，我都不敢说听过有哪颗行星叫那个名字。但是，我不会装作知道两千五百万个世界每一个的名字。我们可以在大学图书馆查一下……假如我们还有机会回斯璀璘的话。在麦曲生这里，想找图书馆是徒劳无功的。我总有一种感觉，他们所有的知识都在这本典籍中。不在里面的东西，他们就不会有兴趣。”

Seldon yawned and said, "I think youre right. In any case, theres no use reading any more and I doubt that I can keep my eyes open any longer. Is it all right if I put out the light?"

谢顿打了一个呵欠。“我想你说得对。无论如何，再读下去也没什么用，我也怀疑我的眼睛还能张多久。我想把灯关掉，你认为可好？”

"I would welcome it, Hari. And lets sleep a little later in the morning."

“哈里，我会很高兴。还有，我们明天早上睡晚一点。”

Then, in the dark, Seldon said softly, "Of course, some of what they say is ridiculous. For instance, they refer to a life expectancy on their world of between three and four centuries."

在接下来的黑暗中，谢顿轻声说道：“当然，他们的记述有些实在荒谬。比方说，他们提到在他们的世界上，平均寿命介于三至四个世纪之间。”

"Centuries?"

“世纪？”

"Yes, they count their ages by decades rather than by years. It gives you a queer feeling, because so much of what they say is perfectly matter-of-fact that when they come out with something that odd, you almost find yourself trapped into believing it."

“没错，他们不用年来计算年龄，至少以十年为单位。这会带来一种诡异的感觉，因为他们叙述的事绝大多数平淡无奇，一旦他们举出一件古怪事物，你便会发觉自己险些就要相信了。”

"If you feel yourself beginning to believe that, then you should realize that many legends of primitive origins assume extended life spans for early leaders. If theyre pictured as unbelievably heroic, you see, it seems natural that they have life spans to suit."

“假如你觉得自己快要相信了，那么你就该了解，许多有关原始起源的传说，都会假设早期领袖人物拥有倍增的寿命。既然将他们刻画成具有不可思议的神勇，你想，配以倍增的寿命似乎是很自然的事。”

"Is that so?" said Seldon, yawning again.

“是这样的吗？”谢顿又打了一个呵欠。

"It is. And the cure for advanced gullibility is to go to sleep and consider matters again the next day."

“是的。而重度冤大头症的疗法就是赶紧睡觉，等明天再来想这些问题。”

And Seldon, pausing only long enough to think that an extended life span might well be a simple necessity for anyone trying to understand a Galaxy of people, slept.

谢顿让思绪暂停，转而想到某人倘若试图了解整个银河系的人类，倍增的寿命或许正是必要的条件。刚想到这里，他便进入梦乡。

The next morning, feeling relaxed and refreshed and eager to begin his study of the Book again, Hari asked Dors, "How old would you say the Raindrop sisters are?"

隔天早上，谢顿觉得心情轻松、神清气爽，迫不及待要继续研究那本典籍。他对铎丝说：“你说雨点姐妹有多大年纪？”

"I don't know. Twenty……twenty-two?"

“我不知道。大概二十……二十二？”

"Well, suppose they do live three or four centuries."

“嗯，假设他们真能活三、四个世纪……”

"Hari. Thats ridiculous."

“哈里！那太荒谬了。”

"Im saying suppose. In mathematics, we say suppose all the time and see if we can end up with something patently untrue or self-contradictory. An extended life span would almost surely mean an extended period of development. They might seem in their early twenties and actually be in their sixties."

“我是说假设。在数学中，我们一天到晚‘假设’，看看是否会导致什么明显的错误，或是自相矛盾的结果。倍增的寿命几乎确定会导致倍增的发育期。她们可能看来二十出头，实际上已经六十几岁。”

"You can try asking them how old they are."

“你可以试着问问她们的芳龄。”

"We can assume theyd lie."

“我们可以假定她们会说谎。”

"Look up their birth certificates."

“查查她们的出生证明。”

Seldon smiled wryly. "Ill bet you anything you like……a roll in the hay, if youre willing……that They'll claim they don't keep records or that, if they do, they will insist those records are closed to tribespeople."

谢顿露出一抹苦笑。“随便你赌什么……让我献身给你都行，只要你愿意。我赌她们会说并不保存那种记录，即使有的话，她们也会坚持那些记录不能对外族人曝光。”

"No bet," said Dors. "And if thats true, then its useless trying to suppose anything about their age."

“不赌。”铎丝说，“假如真是那样，那么试图对她们的年龄做任何假设都没用。”

"Oh no. Think of it this way. If the Mycogenians are living extended life spans that are four or five times that of ordinary human beings, they cant very well give birth to very many children without expanding their population tremendously. You remember that Sunmaster said something about not having the population expand and bit off his remarks angrily at that time."

“喔，不。你这样想想，如果麦曲生人拥有倍增的寿命，长达普通人类的四、五倍，他们就不太可能生育很多子女，否则他们的人口一定急剧增加。你该记得，日主说过不能让人口增加之类的话，然后连忙愤愤地住口。”

Dors said, "What are you getting at?"

铎丝道：“你到底想说什么？”

"When I was with Raindrop Forty-Three, I saw no children."

“我和雨点四十三在一起的时候，始终没看到小孩子。”

"On the microfarms?"

“在微生农场？”

"Yes."

“对。”

"Did you expect children there? I was with Raindrop Forty-Five in the shops and on the residential levels and I assure you I saw a number of children of all ages, including infants. Quite a few of them."

“你指望那里会有小孩吗？昨天我和雨点四十五在商店购物，还经过一些居住层。我向你保证，我看见许许多多各种年龄的儿童，包括婴儿在内，为数还真不少。”

"Ah." Seldon looked chagrined. "Then that would mean they cant be enjoying extended life spans."

“啊。”谢顿露出懊恼的表情，“这就代表他们不可能享有倍增的寿命。”

Dors said, "By your line of argument, I should say definitely not. Did you really think they did?"

铎丝说：“根据你的推论，我会说绝无可能。你原来真以为是那样吗？”

"No, not really. But then you cant close your mind either and make assumptions without testing them one way or another."

“不，我并不认真。可是话说回来，你也不能封闭自己的心灵，不能仅仅做出一些假设，而不利用各种方法一一检验。”

"You can waste a lot of time that way too, if you stop to chew away at things that are ridiculous on the face of it."

“假如你碰到表面上荒谬绝伦的事，一律停下来咀嚼一番，同样会浪费很多时间。”

"Some things that seem ridiculous on the face of it arent. Thats all. Which reminds me. Youre the historian. In your work, have you ever come across objects or phenomena called robots?"

“有些事情表面上似乎荒谬，事实却不然。这倒提醒了我，你是历史学家。在你的研究工作中，曾经碰到一种称为‘机仆’的物件或现象吗？”

"Ah! Now youre switching to another legend and a very popular one. There are any number of worlds that imagine the existence of machines in human form in prehistoric times. These are called robots.

“啊！现在你又转到另一个传说，而且是非常热门的一个。许多世界都猜想史前时代曾有人形机器存在，它们通称为‘机仆’。

"The tales of robots probably originate from one master legend, for the general theme is the same. Robots were devised, then grew in numbers and abilities to the status of the almost superhuman. They threatened humanity and were destroyed. In every case, the destruction took place before the actual reliable historic records available to us today existed. The usual feeling is that the story is a symbolic picture of the risks and dangers of exploring the Galaxy, when human beings expanded outward from the world or worlds that were their original homes. There must always have been the fear of encountering other……and superior……intelligences."

“机仆的故事也许通通源自同一个母传说，因为大意都差不多。机仆是人类发明的，后来，它们的数量和能力都增长到近乎超人的地步。它们威胁到人类，最后被尽数毁灭。在每个传说中，毁灭行动都发生于真正可靠的历史记录出现之前。我们通常的感觉是这个故事只是一种意象，代表人类从一个或数个源头母星开始向外扩张、探索整个银河系的过程中所面临的风险和危险。他们必定始终怀有一种恐惧，担心会遇到其他的，而且是超人的智慧生灵。”

"Perhaps they did at least once and that gave rise to the legend."

“或许他们的确至少碰过一次，才会衍生出这个传说。”

"Except that on no human……occupied world has there been any record or trace of any prehuman or nonhuman intelligence."

“只不过在人类居住的每一个世界，都没有任何‘前人类’或‘非人类’智慧生灵的记录或遗迹。”

"But why robots? Does the word have meaning?"

“可是为什么要叫‘机仆’呢？这个名字有任何意义吗？”

"Not that I know of, but its the equivalent of the familiar automata. "

“即使有我也不知道，但它和耳熟能详的‘机器人’是同义词。”

"Automata! Well, why don't they say so?"

“机器人！哼，他们为何偏偏不这样说？”

"Because people do use archaic terms for flavor when they tell an ancient legend. Why do you ask all this, by the way?"

“因为在讲述古老传说时，人们喜欢使用古典词汇来营造气氛。对了，你为什么要问这些？”

"Because in this ancient Mycogenian book, they talk of robots. And very favorably, by the way……Listen, Dors, aren't you going out with Raindrop Forty-Five again this afternoon?"

“因为在这本古老的麦曲生典籍中，他们就提到了机仆。而且，还有极佳的评价呢。听我说，铎丝，你今天下午不是又要跟雨点四十五出去吗？”

"Supposedly……if she shows up."

“原则上……如果她现身的话。”

"Would you ask her some questions and try to get the answers out of her?"

“你能不能问她一些问题，试着从她嘴里套出答案？”

"I can try. What are the questions?"

“我可以试试。哪些问题呢？”

"I would like to find out, as tactfully as possible, if there is some structure in Mycogen that is particularly significant, that is tied in with the past, that has a sort of mythic value, that can……"

“我想要问问……以尽可能技巧的方式……麦曲生有没有哪座建筑是特别有意义的，是和过去息息相关的，是具有某种神话价值的，是可以……”

Dors interrupted, trying not to smile. "I think that what you are trying to ask is whether Mycogen has a temple."

铎丝打断了他的话，压抑着笑意说：“我想你试图问的，是麦曲生有没有一座寺庙。”

And, inevitably, Seldon looked blank and said, "Whats a temple?"

谢顿不可避免地露出茫然的表情。“寺庙是什么？”

"Another archaic term of uncertain origin. It means all the things you asked about……significance, past, myth. Very well, Ill ask. Its the sort of thing, however, that they might find difficult to speak of. To tribespeople, certainly."

“另一个起源不明的古老词汇。它意味着你问及的所有事物……重大意义、过去、神话。很好，我会问问她。然而，这种事正是她们可能难以启齿的。当然，我是指对外族人而言。”

"Nevertheless, do try."

“纵然如此，还是试试吧。”