11 Sacratorium

第11章 圣堂

AURORA: ……A mythical world, supposedly inhabited in primordial times, during the dawn of interstellar travel. It is thought by some to he the perhaps equally mythical "world of origin" of humanity and to be another name for "Earth." The people of the Mycogen (q.v.) Sector of ancient Trantor reportedly held themselves to be descended from the inhabitants of Aurora and made that tenet central to their system of beliefs, concerning which almost nothing else is known ...

奥罗拉：……一个神话世界，在太初时代、星际旅行的黎明期，应该曾有人类居住。有人认为它就是“地球”的别名，就是那个或许同样神秘的“人类起源世界”。据说在古川陀麦曲生区（参见该条），民众自视为奥罗拉居民的后裔，将这一点当做他们信仰体系的中心教条。除此之外，外人对这个信仰几乎一无所知……

ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA

……《银河百科全书》

The two Raindrops arrived at midmorning. Raindrop Forty-Five seemed as cheerful as ever, but Raindrop Forty-Three paused just inside the door, looking drawn and circumspect. She kept her eyes down and did not as much as glance at Seldon.

雨点姐妹在上午时分抵达。雨点四十五似乎快活依旧，雨点四十三却只是伫立在门边，一副愁眉苦脸又小心谨慎的样子……她一直保持目光向下，连瞥也未瞥谢顿一眼。

Seldon looked uncertain and gestured to Dors, who said in a cheerful businesslike tone of voice, "One moment, Sisters. I must give instructions to my man or he wont know what to do with himself today."

谢顿显得有些不安，对铎丝做了一个手势。于是铎丝以愉悦而老到的语气说：“姐妹们，等一下。我必须对我的男人做些指示，否则他不知道自己今天该怎么办。”

They moved into the bathroom and Dors whispered, "Is something wrong?"

他们走进浴室后，铎丝悄声问道：“有什么不对劲吗？”

"Yes. Raindrop Forty-Three is obviously shattered. Please tell her that I will return the Book as soon as possible."

“没错，雨点四十三显然魂不守舍。请告诉她，我会尽快归还那本典籍。”

Dors favored Seldon with a long surprised look. "Hari," she said, "youre a sweet, caring person, but you haven't the good sense of an amoeba. If I as much as mention the Book to the poor woman, shell be certain that you told me all about what happened yesterday and then shell really be shattered. The only hope is to treat her exactly as I would ordinarily."

铎丝对谢顿露出惊讶的神情良久。“哈里，”她说，“你很可爱，很体谅人，但你的敏感度还比不上一条变形虫。只要我对这个可怜的女人提到那本典籍，她就会确定你把昨天的事全告诉了我，然后她才会真的神不守舍。我唯一能做的，就是和平常一模一样地对待她。”

Seldon nodded his head and said dispiritedly, "I suppose youre right."

谢顿点了点头，垂头丧气地说：“我想你说得对。”

Dors returned in time for dinner and found Seldon on his cot, still leafing through the Book, but with intensified impatience.

铎丝赶在晚餐前回来，发现谢顿正坐在便床上，仍在翻阅那本典籍，可是显得越来越不耐烦。

He looked up with a scowl and said, "If were going to be staying here any length of time, were going to need a communication device of some sort between us. I had no idea when youd get back and I was a little concerned."

他带着一脸阴霾抬起头来，说道：“如果我们要在这里多待一些时日，我们就需要弄一套通讯装置。我完全不晓得你何时会回来，真有点担心。”

"Well, here I am," she said, removing her skincap gingerly and looking at it with more than a little distaste. "Im really pleased at your concern. I rather thought youd be so lost in the Book, you wouldnt even realize I was gone."

“好啦，现在我回来了。”她一面说，一面小心翼翼地脱下人皮帽，带着相当嫌恶的表情望着它。“我真的很高兴你会担心。我还以为你早就被这本典籍迷住，甚至没有察觉我出门了。”

Seldon snorted.

谢顿哼了一声。

Dors said, "As for communications devices, I doubt that they are easy to come by in Mycogen. It would mean easing communication with tribespeople outside and I suspect the leaders of Mycogen are bound and determined to cut down on any possible interaction with the great beyond."

铎丝说：“至于通讯装置，我猜在麦曲生可不容易弄到。否则，那就代表能轻易和外面的外族人通讯。我觉得麦曲生的领袖都有坚定的意志，决心切断和外界一切可能的接触。”

"Yes," said Seldon, tossing the Book to one side, "I would expect that from what I see in the Book. Did you find out about the whatever you called it……the temple?"

“没错，”谢顿把典籍丢到一旁，“根据阅读这本典籍的心得，这点我也料想得到。你有没有问到你所谓的那个……寺庙？”

"Yes," she said, removing her eyebrow patches. "It exists. There are a number of them over the area of the sector, but theres a central building that seems to be the important one……Would you believe that one woman noticed my eyelaShe's and told me that I shouldnt let myself be seen in public? I have a feeling she intended to report me for indecent exposure."

“问到了，”她一面说，一面摘下眉毛遮带，“果然存在。在本区范围内，这种建筑为数众多，可是某座中心建筑似乎是最重要的……你相不相信，有个女的注意到我的睫毛，跟我说我不该在公共场所露面？我有一种感觉，她打算告发我犯了暴露罪。”

"Never mind that," said Seldon impatiently. "Do you know where the central temple is located?"

“别担心那个，”谢顿不耐烦地说，“你可知道那座中心寺庙坐落何处？”

"I have directions, but Raindrop Forty-Five warned me that women were not allowed inside except on special occasions, none of which are coming up soon. Its called the Sacratorium."

“我问到了地址，但是雨点四十五警告我，除非是特别的日子，否则女性一律不准进入，而最近都不会有那些日子。对了，它被称为圣堂。”

"The what."

“什么？”

"The Sacratorium."

“圣堂。”

"What an ugly word. What does it mean?"

“多难听的名字，有什么意义吗？”

Dors shook her head. "Its new to me. And neither Raindrop knew what it meant either. To them, Sacratorium isn't what the building is called, its what it is. Asking them why they called it that probably sounded like asking them why a wall is called a wall."

铎丝摇了摇头。“我是第一次听到。两位雨点也都不知道它的意思，对她们而言，圣堂并非那座建筑的名字，它就是那座建筑物本身。问她们为何这样称呼，也许就像问她们墙壁为何叫做墙壁。”

"Is there anything about it they do know?"

“关于这个圣堂，有没有她们真正知道的事？”

"Of course, Hari. They know what its for. Its a place thats devoted to something other than the life here in Mycogen. Its devoted to another world, a former and better one."

“当然有，哈里，她们知道它的用途。那个地方贡献给一种不属于麦曲生此地的生活。它是为了纪念另一个世界，原先的那个较佳的世界。”

"The world they once lived on, you mean?"

“他们之前居住的那个世界，你是这个意思吗？”

"Exactly. Raindrop Forty-Five all but said so, but not quite. She couldnt bring herself to say the word."

“完全正确。雨点四十五几乎就是这么说的，但没有说明白。她无法说出那个名字。”

"Aurora?"

“奥罗拉？”

"Thats the word, but I suspect that if you were to say it out loud to a group of Mycogenians, they would be shocked and horrified. Raindrop Forty-Five, when she said, The Sacratorium is dedicated to……, stopped at that point and carefully wrote out the letters one by one with her finger on the palm of her hand. And she blushed, as though she was doing something obscene."

“就是这个名字，但我觉得你若是对一群麦曲生人大声说出来，他们会感到极度震惊和恐惧。雨点四十五说到‘圣堂是纪念……’就突然打住，改用手指在手掌上仔仔细细、一笔一画写下那个名字。她还涨红了脸，仿佛做了什么淫秽的事。”

"Strange," said Seldon. "If the Book is an accurate guide, Aurora is their dearest memory, their chief point of unification, the center about which everything in Mycogen revolves. Why should its mention be considered obscene? Are you sure you didn't misinterpret what the Sister meant?"

“真奇怪。”谢顿说，“倘若这本典籍是正确的指南，奥罗拉就是他们最亲密的记忆，是他们凝聚一体的首要原因，是麦曲生境内万事万物运转的枢纽。提到它为什么会被视为淫秽呢？你确定没有误解那位姐妹的意思？”

"Im positive. And perhaps its no mystery. Too much talk about it would get to tribespeople. The best way of keeping it secret unto themselves is to make its very mention taboo."

“我很肯定，而这也许没什么神秘。谈得太多便会被外族人听去，最好的保密办法就是让它成为禁忌。”

"Taboo?"

“禁忌？”

"A specialized anthropological term. Its a reference to serious and effective social pressure forbidding some sort of action. The fact that women are not allowed in the Sacratorium probably has the force of a taboo. Im sure that a Sister would be horrified if it was suggested that she invade its precincts."

“这是人类学的一个专用术语，意指一种严厉而有效的社会压力，足以禁止某种行动。女性不准进入圣堂这件事，或许就牵涉到禁忌的力量。假如你建议一位姐妹侵入它的界域，我确定她一定会吓得半死。”

"Are the directions you have good enough for me to get to the Sacratorium on my own?"

“你打听到的地址，能让我自己找去圣堂吗？”

"In the first place, Hari, youre not going alone. Im going with you. I thought we had discussed the matter and that I had made it clear that I cannot protect you at long distance……not from sleet storms and not from feral women. In the second place, its impractical to think of walking there. Mycogen may be a small sector, as sectors go, but it simply isn't that small."

“首先我要强调，哈里，你不会单独行动，因为我要跟你一起去。我想我们已经讨论过这个问题，而且我说得很明白，我无法在远距离保护你……不论是对抗夹着冰珠的暴风雪，或是如狼似虎的女人。其次我要说，步行去那里是不切实际的想法。就行政区而言，麦曲生或许是个小区，但绝未小到那种程度。”

"An Expressway, then."

“那么，就搭捷运吧。”

"There are no Expressways passing through Mycogenian territory. It would make contact between Mycogenians and tribespeople too easy. Still, there are public conveyances of the kind that are found on less developed planets. In fact, thats what Mycogen is, a piece of an undeveloped planet, embedded like a splinter in the body of Trantor, which is otherwise a patchwork of developed societies……And Hari, finish with the Book as soon as possible. Its apparent that Rainbow Forty-Three is in trouble as long as you have it and so will we be if they find out."

“麦曲生境内没有任何捷运经过，那会让麦曲生人和外族人的接触变得太容易。话说回来，这里还是有大众交通工具，属于低度开发行星常用的那种。事实上，这就是麦曲生的写照。一小块未开发的行星，像碎片一样嵌在川陀表面，除此之外，川陀完全由已开发社会连缀而成。还有，哈里，尽快读完那本典籍。只要它还在你手上，显然雨点四十三就身处险境，万一被发现了，我们也会一起完蛋。”

"Do you mean a tribesperson reading it is taboo?"

“你的意思是，外族人阅读典籍是一种禁忌？”

"Im sure of it."

“我肯定。”

"Well, it would be no great loss to give it back. I should say that 95 percent of it is incredibly dull; endless in-fighting among political groups, endless justification of policies whose wisdom I cannot possibly judge, endless homilies on ethical matters which, even when enlightened, and they usually arent, are couched with such infuriating self-righteousness as to almost enforce violation."

“好吧，还回去也不会有太大损失。在我看来，百分之九十五的内容都枯燥得不可思议。政治团体间无止无休的明争暗斗，以及对一些无从判断多么高明的政策无止无休的辩护。此外还有对伦理议题无止无休的说教，即使它是文明开化的思想，措词中也充满令人愤慨的自以为是，让人不想违反也难，况且通常根本不知所云。”

"You sound as though I would be doing you a great favor if I took the thing away from you."

“听你的口气，好像我要是把它拿走，等于帮了你一个大忙。”

"Except that theres always the other 5 percent that discusses the never-to-be-mentioned Aurora. I keep thinking that there may be something there and that it may be helpful to me. Thats why I wanted to know about the Sacratorium.

“不过，总是还有另外百分之五，讨论到那个绝不可直呼其名的奥罗拉。我一直在想，那里也许有什么东西，而它也许对我有帮助。这正是我想打听圣堂的原因。”

"Do you hope to find support for the Books concept of Aurora in the Sacratorium?"

“你希望在圣堂里找到线索，以支持典籍中对奥罗拉的说法？”

"In a way. And Im also terribly caught up in what the Book has to say about automata, or robots, to use their term. I find myself attracted to the concept."

“可以这么说。此外，我对典籍中提到的机器人……或者用他们的说法，对那些机仆起了强烈的好奇心。我发现自己被这个想法深深吸引。”

"Surely, you don't take it seriously?"

“不用说，你不会认真吧？”

"Almost. If you accept some passages of the Book literally, then there is an implication that some robots were in human shape."

“几乎认真了。倘若接受典籍中某些片段的字面意义，那么它就暗示着一件事实：某些机仆具有人形。”

"Naturally. If youre going to construct a simulacrum of a human being, you will make it look like a human being."

“自然如此。假如你想建构人类的拟像，就会把它造得看起来像人类。”

"Yes, simulacrum means likeness, but a likeness can be crude indeed. An artist can draw a stick figure and you might know he is representing a human being and recognize it. A circle for the head, a stalk for the body, and four bent lines for arms and legs and you have it. But I mean robots that really look like a human being, in every detail."

“没错，拟像的意思正是‘相像’，但相像可以是很粗略的。一位艺术家画出一张线条画，你也该认得出来，知道他想表现一个人形。圆圈代表脑袋，长方形代表身体，四根弯曲的线条代表手脚，这就行了。但我的意思是，就每个细节而言，机仆看来都真正酷似人类。”

"Ridiculous, Hari. Imagine the time it would take to fashion the metal of the body into perfect proportions, with the smooth curve of underlying muscles."

“哈里，这简直荒谬。想想看，要花多少时间才能把金属躯体塑造成完美比例，并且表现出内部肌肉的平滑纹理。”

"Who said metal, Dors? The impression I got is that such robots were organic or pseudo-organic, that they were covered with skin, that you could not easily draw a distinction between them and human beings in any way."

“铎丝，谁说金属了？我所得到的印象是，这些机仆都是使用有机或假有机材料；它们的外表覆盖着一层皮肤；你很难用任何方法区分它们和真人的不同。”

"Does the Book say that?"

“典籍上这么说吗？”

"Not in so many words. The inference, however……"

“没有用那么多字句。然而，根据推论……”

"Is your inference, Hari. You cant take it seriously."

“是根据‘你的’推论，哈里。你不能太认真。”

"Let me try. I find four things that I can deduce from what the Book says about robots……and I followed up every reference the index gave. First, as I say, they……or some of them……exactly resembled human beings; second, they had very extended life spans……if you want to call it that."

“让我试试看。我已找遍索引中每一条相关资料，根据那本典籍对机仆的记述，我发现可以推论出四件事。第一，我已经说过，它们……或者其中的一部分……形体和人类一模一样。第二，它们拥有极度倍增的寿命，如果可以这么说的话。”

"Better say effectiveness, " said Dors, "or youll begin thinking of them as human altogether."

“最好说‘有效期’，”铎丝说，“否则你会慢慢把它们完全当成人类。”

"Third," said Seldon, ignoring her, "that some……or, at any rate, at least one……continues to live on to this day."

“第三，”谢顿并未理会她，继续说道，“有些……或者，无论如何至少有一个……一直活到今天。”

"Hari, thats one of the most widespread legends we have. The ancient hero does not die but remains in suspended animation, ready to return to save his people at some time of great need. Really, Hari."

“哈里，这是人类流传最广的传说之一。古代英雄永远不死，只是进入一种生机停顿的状态，随时会在紧要关头回来拯救他的同胞。真的，哈里。”

"Fourth," said Seldon, still not rising to the bait, "there are some lines that seem to indicate that the central temple……or the Sacratorium, if thats what it is, though I haven't found that word in the Book, actually……contains a robot." He paused, then said, "Do you see?"

“第四，”谢顿仍然没有上钩，“有几行字似乎指出，那个中心寺庙……或者就是圣堂，虽说事实上，我在典籍里没找到这个词汇……里面有个机仆。”他顿了一下，然后说，“你懂了吗？”

Dors said, "No. What should I see?"

铎丝说：“不懂，我该懂些什么？”

"If we combine the four points, perhaps a robot that looks exactly like a human being and that is still alive, having been alive for, say, the last twenty thousand years, is in the Sacratorium."

“如果我们把这四点组合起来，那就代表圣堂里也许有个和真人一模一样的机仆，他至今仍旧活着，而且已经存活了……比如说两万年。”

"Come on, Hari, you cant believe that."

“得了吧，哈里，你不可能相信这种事。”

"I don't actually believe it, but I cant entirely let go either. What if its true? What if……its only one chance out of a million, I admit……its true? don't you see how useful he could be to me? He could remember the Galaxy as it was long before any reliable historical records existed. He might help make psychohistory possible."

“我并非真正相信，但我无法完全漠视。万一这是真的呢？我承认，这只是百万分之一的机会，不过倘若是真的呢？你看不出他对我会有多大帮助吗？他能记得古老的银河系是什么样子，那是比任何可靠的历史记录还要古老许多的年代。他或许能帮助我将心理史学变成可能。”

"Even if it was true, do you suppose the Mycogenians would let you see and interview the robot?"

“即使这是真的，你以为麦曲生人会让你和这个机仆见面或晤谈吗？”

"I don't intend to ask permission. I can at least go to the Sacratorium and see if theres something to interview first."

“我并不打算请求他们准许。至少我可以先到圣堂去一趟，看看那里是否真有什么晤谈的对象。”

"Not now. Tomorrow at the earliest. And if you don't think better of it by morning, we go."

“不是现在，最快也要等明天。假如明早你还没改变心意，我们就去。”

"You told me yourself they don't allow women……"

“你自己告诉我，他们不允许女性……”

"They allow women to look at it from outside, Im sure, and I suspect that is all well get to do."

“他们允许女性站在外面看，这点我能肯定，而我怀疑我们能做的也仅止于此。”

And there she was adamant.

她的语气斩钉截铁。

Hari Seldon was perfectly willing to let Dors take the lead. She had been out in the main roadways of Mycogen and was more at home with them than he was.

哈里·谢顿极为乐意让铎丝带路。她曾经逛过麦曲生的大街，因此比他更熟悉这些街道。

Dors Venabili, brows knitted, was less delighted with the prospect. She said, "We can easily get lost, you know."

铎丝·凡纳比里眉心打着结，对情况并没有那么乐观。她说：“你可知道，我们很容易迷路。”

"Not with that booklet," said Seldon.

“有这本小册子就不会。”谢顿说。

She looked up at him impatiently. "Fix your mind on Mycogen, Hari. What I should have is a computomap, something I can ask questions of. This Mycogenian version is just a piece of folded plastic. I cant tell this thing where I am. I cant tell it by word of mouth and I cant even tell it by pushing the necessary contacts. It cant tell me anything either way. Its a print thing."

她抬起头，不耐烦地望着他。“哈里，把你的心思放在麦曲生上面。我真该拿一套电脑地图，我能对它发问的那种东西。这份麦曲生地图只是一叠塑胶布，我不能对它说我在哪里，不能用嘴巴告诉它，甚至不能借着按键告诉它。而它也不能告诉我什么，它只是个印刷品。”

"Then read what it says."

“那就读读它的内容。”

"Thats what Im trying to do, but its written for people who are familiar with the system to begin with. Well have to ask."

“我正试着做这件事，但它是写给本来就熟悉这种系统的人看的。我们必须找人问路。”

"No, Dors. That would be a last resort. I don't want to attract attention. I would rather we take our chances and try to find our own way, even if it means making one or two wrong turns."

“不，铎丝，那是最后的办法，我可不想引人注意。我宁可我们自己碰碰运气，试着找出正确路径，即使转错一两个弯也无所谓。”

Dors leafed through the booklet with great attention and then said grudgingly, "Well, it gives the Sacratorium important mention. I suppose thats only natural. I presume everyone in Mycogen would want to get there at one time or another." Then, after additional concentration, she said, "Ill tell you what. Theres no way of taking a conveyance from here to there."

铎丝极其专心地翻阅那本小册子，然后不情不愿地说：“嗯，它对圣堂做了显要的描述，我想这只不过是很自然的事。我敢说，每一个麦曲生人都会偶尔想要去那里。”更加全神贯注一会儿之后，她又说，“让我告诉你吧，从这儿到那儿根本没有交通工具。”

"What?"

“什么？”

"Dont get excited. Apparently, theres a way of getting from here to another conveyance that will take us there. Well have to change from one to another."

“别激动。显然有办法从这里搭车到另一处，再改搭另一辆车去那里。也就是说，我们必须换一次车。”

Seldon relaxed. "Well, of course. You cant take an Expressway to half the places on Trantor without changing."

谢顿松了一口气。“嗯，理所当然。即使搭捷运，如果不换车，川陀也有一半地方到不了。”

Dors cast an impatient glance at Seldon. "I know that too. Its just that Im used to having these things tell me so. When they expect you to find out for yourself, the simplest things can escape you for a while."

铎丝不耐烦地瞥了谢顿一眼。“这点我也知道，只不过我习惯了让这些东西主动告诉我。当它们指望你自己找出答案时，最简单的事也能让你好一阵子摸不着头绪。”

"All right, dear. don't snap. If you know the way now, lead. I will follow humbly."

“好啦，亲爱的，别生气。如果你知道该怎么走，就赶紧带路吧，我将谦卑地跟在后面。”

And follow her he did, until they came to an intersection, where they stopped.

于是他亦步亦趋跟着她，直到抵达一个交叉路口，两人才停下脚步。

Three white-kirtled males and a pair of gray-kirtled females were at the same intersection. Seldon tried a universal and general smile in their direction, but they responded with a blank stare and looked away.

在这个路口等车的人，还有三位身穿白色裰服的男性，以及两位穿灰裰服的女性。谢顿试着向他们投以天下通用的笑容，他们却回敬一个白眼，并随即转开目光。

And then the conveyance came. It was an outmoded version of what Seldon, back on Helicon, would have called a gravi-bus. There were some twenty upholstered benches inside, each capable of holding four people. Each bench had its own doors on both sides of the bus. When it stopped, passengers emerged on either side. (For a moment, Seldon was concerned for those who got out on the traffic side of the gravi-bus, but then he noticed that every vehicle approaching from either direction stopped as it neared the bus. None passed it while it was not moving.)

交通工具不久就来了。那是一辆式样过时的车子，在谢顿的家乡赫利肯，通常称之为重力公车。它里面有二十几张精致的长椅，每张能容纳四个人。在公车的两侧，每张长椅都有专属的独立车门。它停下来之后，乘客纷纷从两侧下车。一时之间，谢顿不禁为那些从街心侧下车的人担心，但他随即注意到，来往车辆在接近公车时都停了下来，而在公车尚未开动前，也没有任何一辆超越它。

Dors pushed Seldon impatiently and he moved on to a bench where two adjoining seats were available. Dors followed after. (The men always got on and got off first, he noticed.)

铎丝不耐烦地推了谢顿一下，他赶紧走到一张还有两个相连座位的长椅旁，铎丝则跟在他后面。他注意到，男士总是优先上下车。

铎丝喃喃抱怨道：“别再研究人性了，注意你的四周。”

“我会试试。”

"For instance," she said and pointed to a smooth boxed-off area on the back of the bench directly before each of them. As soon as the conveyance had begun to move, words lit up, naming the next stop and the notable structures or crossways that were nearby.

“例如这个。”她一面说，一面指着正前方椅背上隔出的一方平坦区域。公车一旦开动，那上面立刻亮起字迹，标示出下一站的站名、着名的建筑物，或是即将穿越的街道。

"Now, that will probably tell us when were approaching the changeover we want. At least the sector isn't completely barbaric."

“好了，接近转车站的时候，它或许会告诉我们。本区至少并非全然混沌未开。”

"Good," said Seldon. Then, after a while, leaning toward Dors, he whispered, "No one is looking at us. It seems that artificial boundaries are set up to preserve individual privacy in any crowded place. Have you noticed that?"

“很好。”谢顿答道。过了一会儿，他倾身凑向铎丝，又悄声说：“没有人在看我们。在任何拥挤的地方，似乎都设有人工的界线，好让人人都能保有隐私。你注意到了吗？”

"Ive always taken it for granted. If thats going to be a rule of your psychohistory, no one will be very impressed by it."

“我总是视之为理所当然。假如这将成为你的心理史学法则之一，没有任何人会重视的。”

As Dors had guessed, the direction plaque in front of them eventually announced the approach to the changeover for the direct line to the Sacratorium.

铎丝猜得没错，最后他们面前的方向指示牌终于宣布：即将抵达“圣堂直达专车”的转车站。

They exited and again had to wait. Some buses ahead had already left this intersection, but another gravi-bus was already approaching. They were on a well-traveled route, which was not surprising; the Sacratorium was bound to be the center and heartbeat of the sector.

他们下车之后，又需要再等一下。前面几辆公车已经离开这个路口，不过另有一辆重力公车即将进站。这是一条热门路线，而这也没什么好奇怪的，因为圣堂必定是本区的枢纽与心脏。

They got on the gravi-bus and Seldon whispered, "Were not paying."

他们上了那辆重力公车，谢顿悄声道：“我们都没付钱。”

"According to the map, public transportation is a free service."

“根据这份地图，大众运输工具是免费的服务。”

Seldon thrust out his lower lip. "How civilized. I suppose that nothing is all of a piece, not backwardness, not barbarism, nothing."

谢顿撅起下唇。“多么文明啊。我想任何事物都不能一概而论，不论落后或是开化，都不能以偏概全。”

But Dors nudged him and whispered, "Your rule is broken. Were being watched. The man on your right."

铎丝却用手肘轻推他一下，压低声音说：“你的法则被打破了。有人盯着我们，坐在你右边那个男的。”

Seldons eyes shifted briefly. The man to his right was rather thin and seemed quite old. He had dark brown eyes and a swarthy complexion, and Seldon was sure that he would have had black hair if he had not been depilated.

谢顿的眼睛很快瞟了一下。坐在他右边的那位男士稍嫌瘦削，而且似乎相当年长。他有一对深褐色的眼珠，以及一身黝黑的皮肤。谢顿可以确定，他若未曾接受脱毛手术，就一定会有一头黑发。

He faced front again, thinking. This Brother was rather atypical. The few Brothers he had paid any attention to had been rather tall, light-skinned, and with blue or gray eyes. Of course, he had not seen enough of them to make a general rule.

他再度面向前方，开始寻思：这位兄弟的外表相当特殊。在此之前，他曾注意过少数几位兄弟，他们的个子都不算矮，而且肤色很淡，有着蓝色或灰色的眼珠。当然，他尚未遇见够多的人，还不足以列出一条通则。

Then there was a light touch on the right sleeve of his kirtle. Seldon turned hesitantly and found himself looking at a card on which was written lightly, CAREFUL, TRIBESMAN!

然后，谢顿感到裰服的右手袖子被轻轻碰了一下。他迟疑地转过头去，发觉眼前出现一张卡片，上面写着一行淡淡的字迹：“外族人，小心！”

Seldon started and put a hand to his skincap automatically. The man next to him silently mouthed, "Hair."

谢顿吓了一跳，自然而然伸手去摸人皮帽。身旁那位男士则做出一组无声的口型：“头发。”

Seldons hand found it, a tiny exposure of bristles at his temple. He must have disturbed the skincap at some point or another. Quickly and as unobtrusively as possible, he tugged the skincap, then made sure that it was snug under the pretence of stroking his head.

谢顿摸到了，原来鬓角处有一绺短发露出来。不知道什么时候，他一定扯到了这顶人皮帽。他赶紧尽可能若无其事地将它向下拉，然后装做好像是在摸头，用手在附近探了探，以确定人皮帽已服服帖帖。

He turned to his neighbor on his right, nodded slightly, and mouthed, "Thank you."

他向右转身，对邻座轻轻点了点头，也做出一组口型：“谢谢你。”

His neighbor smiled and said in a normal speaking voice, "Going to the Sacratorium?"

邻座那人微微一笑，改用正常的声音说：“去圣堂吗？”

Seldon nodded. "Yes, I am."

谢顿点了点头。“对，正要去。”

"Easy guess. So am I. Shall we get off together?" His smile was friendly.

“很容易猜到。我也一样，我们要不要一块下车？”他的笑容相当友善。

"Im with my……my……"

“我带着我的……我的……”

"With your woman. Of course. All three together, then?"

“你的女人。没问题，那就三个人一块吧？”

Seldon was not sure how to react. A quick look in the other direction showed him that Dorss eyes were turned straight ahead. She was showing no interest in masculine conversation……an attitude appropriate for a Sister. However, Seldon felt a soft pat on his left knee, which he took (with perhaps little justification) to mean: "Its all right."

谢顿不知道该如何回应。他向另一侧迅速望了望，发觉铎丝的眼睛已转向正前方。她在刻意表现对男性的交谈不感兴趣，这是符合姐妹身份的态度。然而，谢顿感到左膝被轻拍了一下，他把这个意思（也许没有什么正当理由）诠释为：“没关系。”

In any case, his natural sense of courtesy was on that side and he said, "Yes, certainly."

无论如何，礼数使他自然而然认同这一点。于是他说：“好，当然好。”

There was no further conversation until the direction plaque told them they were arriving at the Sacratorium and Seldons Mycogenian friend was rising to get off.

他们之间并未再做任何交谈。不久，方向指示牌告诉他们圣堂到了，那位麦曲生友人便起身准备下车。

The gravi-bus made a wide turn about the perimeter of a large area of the Sacratorium grounds and there was a general exodus when it came to a halt, the men sliding in front of the women to exit first. The women followed.

重力公车绕着圣堂广场做了一个大转弯。车子停妥后，众多乘客都要在此下车。男士纷纷先行走出车门，女士则一律跟在后面。

The Mycogenians voice crackled a bit with age, but it was cheerful. He said, "Its a little early for lunch my……friends, but take my word for it that things will be crowded in not too long a time. Would you be willing to buy something simple now and eat it outside? I am very familiar with this area and I know a good place."

这位麦曲生人上了年纪，因此声音有点沙哑，不过口气十分快活。“我说……朋友们，现在吃午餐早了点。但是请相信我，要不了多久就会非常拥挤。你们愿不愿意买点简单的食物，先在外面吃完？我对这一带非常熟，我知道一个好地方。”

Seldon wondered if this was a device to maneuver innocent tribespeople into something or other disreputable or costly, yet decided to chance it.

谢顿疑心这是个圈套，诱骗无知的外族人购买什么不堪的或昂贵的东西。然而，他决定冒一次险。

Youre very kind, he said. "Since we are not at all familiar with the place, we will be glad to let you take the lead."

“你实在太好了。”他说，“既然我们对这个地方一点也不熟，我们很高兴有你当向导。”

They bought lunch……sandwiches and a beverage that looked like milk……at an open-air stand. Since it was a beautiful day and they were visitors, the old Mycogenian said, they would go to the Sacratorium grounds and eat out of doors, the better to become acquainted with their surroundings.

他们在一个露天小摊买了午餐……三明治以及一种看来像是牛奶的饮料。既然天气很好，而他们又是游客，所以那位麦曲生老者建议一同走到圣堂广场，在户外将这一餐解决，这还有助于他们熟悉周围的环境。

During their walk, carrying their lunch, Seldon noted that, on a very small scale, the Sacratorium resembled the Imperial Palace and that the grounds around it resembled, on a minute scale, the Imperial grounds. He could scarcely believe that the Mycogenian people admired the Imperial institution or, indeed, did anything but hate and despise it, yet the cultural attraction was apparently not to be withstood.

当他们拿着午餐一路向前走的时候，谢顿注意到圣堂类似缩小许多倍的皇宫，周围的广场则仿佛是个具体而微的御苑。他几乎不能相信麦曲生人竟会崇拜皇室建筑，或是做出除了憎恨它、鄙视它之外的任何行为，但文化上的吸引力显然无可抵御。

"Its beautiful," said the Mycogenian with obvious pride.

“真漂亮。”那位麦曲生人带着明显的骄傲说。

"Quite," said Seldon. "How it glistens in the daylight."

“是啊。”谢顿说，“它在白昼之下多么灿烂耀眼。”

"The grounds around it," he said, "are constructed in imitation of the government grounds on our Dawn World……in miniature, to be sure."

“周围的广场，”他说，“是模仿我们‘黎明世界’上的政府广场建造的……事实上，是缩小很多的仿制品。”

"Did you ever see the grounds of the Imperial Palace?" asked Seldon cautiously.

“你见过皇宫周围的御苑吗？”谢顿小心翼翼地问。

The Mycogenian caught the implication and seemed in no way put out by it. "They copied the Dawn World as best they could too."

那麦曲生人察觉到了这句话的含意，却似乎一点也不在意。“他们，也是在尽可能仿照黎明世界。”

Seldon doubted that in the extreme, but he said nothing.

谢顿的怀疑达到极点，但他什么也没说。

They came to a semicircular seat of white stonite, sparkling in the light as the Sacratorium did.

他们来到一个半圆形的白色石椅旁，它也像圣堂一样，在人工日光下闪闪发亮。

"Good," said the Mycogenian, his dark eyes gleaming with pleasure. "No ones taken my place. I call it mine only because its my favorite seat. It affords a beautiful view of the side wall of the Sacratorium past the trees. Please sit down. Its not cold, I assure you. And your companion. She is welcome to sit too. She is a tribeswoman, I know, and has different customs. She……she may speak if she wiShe's."

“太好了。”这位麦曲生人的黑眼珠闪耀着喜悦的光彩，“没有人占据我的地盘。我称之为我的，只因为它是我最心爱的座位。从这里穿过树木看出去，可以见到圣堂边墙的美丽景观。请坐下来，我保证它并不冰冷。还有你的同伴，也欢迎她坐下。我知道她是一名外族女子，因而拥有不同的习俗。她……她若想说话，可以随意。”

Dors gave him a hard look and sat down.

铎丝狠狠瞪了他一眼，然后才坐下来。

Seldon, recognizing the fact that they might remain with this old Mycogenian a while, thrust out his hand and said, "I am Hari and my female companion is Dors. We don't use numbers, Im afraid."

谢顿体认到他们大概会跟这位麦曲生老者待一会儿，于是伸出手来说：“我叫哈里，我的女伴名叫铎丝。抱歉，我们并不用号码。”

"To each his……or her……own," said the other expansively. "I am Mycelium Seventy-Two. We are a large cohort."

“各人自有他自己……或她自己……的规矩。”对方以豪爽的口气说，“我是菌丝七十二，我们是个大支族。”

"Mycelium?" said Seldon a bit hesitantly.

“菌丝？”谢顿带着点犹豫问道。

"You seem surprised," said Mycelium. "I take it, then, youve only met members of our Elder families. Names like Cloud and Sunshine and Starlight……all astronomical."

“你似乎很惊讶。”菌丝说，“那么我猜想，你只遇见过那些长老家族的人。诸如云朵、阳光、星光之类的名字……全都是天象。”

"I must admit……" began Seldon.

“我必须承认……”谢顿的话只说了一半。

"Well, meet one of the lower classes. We take our names from the ground and from the micro-organisms we grow. Perfectly respectable."

“嗯，现在见见低下阶层的人吧。我们从土地上，以及我们栽培的微生物中撷取我们的名字，它们尊严无比。”

"Im quite certain," said Seldon, "and thank you again for helping me with my……problem in the gravi-bus."

“我相当确定。”谢顿说，“再次谢谢你在重力公车上帮我……解决问题。”

"Listen," said Mycelium Seventy-Two, "I saved you a lot of trouble. If a Sister had seen you before I did, she would undoubtedly have screamed and the nearest Brothers would have bustled you off the bus……maybe not even waiting for it to stop moving."

“听着，”菌丝七十二说，“我帮你免除了许多麻烦。假使一位姐妹在我之前看到你，她肯定会发出尖叫，旁边的兄弟们就会把你推下公车……也许甚至不等它停下来。”

Dors leaned forward so as to see across Seldon. "How is it you did not act in this way yourself?"

铎丝身子往前倾，以便让视线越过谢顿。“你自己为何没有这种反应呢？”

"I? I have no animosity against tribespeople. Im a scholar."

“我？我对外族人没有恨意，我是一名学者。”

"A scholar?"

“学者？”

"First one in my cohort. I studied at the Sacratorium School and did very well. Im learned in all the ancient arts and I have a license to enter the tribal library, where they keep book-films and books by tribespeople. I can view any book-film or read any book I wish to. We even have a computerized reference library and I can handle that too. That sort of thing broadens your mind. I don't mind a little hair showing. Ive seen pictures of men with hair many a time. And women too." He glanced quickly at Dors.

“我们支族中的头一个。我就读于圣堂学院，而且成绩非常好。我对一切古代艺术都有研究，而且我还有许可证，可以进入外族图书馆，那里收藏着外族人的影视书和字体书。我能随心所欲浏览任何影视书，或是阅读任何一本字体书。我们甚至有一间电脑化参考图书馆，而我也能使用。这种事有助于开拓心灵，所以我不介意见到有点头发露出来。我在许多照片上都看过留着头发的男人，还有女人。”他瞥了铎丝一眼。

They ate in silence for a while and then Seldon said, "I notice that every Brother who enters or leaves the Sacratorium is wearing a red sash."

他们默默吃了一会儿午餐，然后谢顿说：“我注意到每位进出圣堂的兄弟，身上都披挂着一条红色肩带。”

"Oh yes," said Mycelium Seventy-Two. "Over the left shoulder and around the right side of the waist……usually very fancily embroidered."

“喔，没错。”菌丝七十二说，“从左肩垂下来，在腰际右侧绕一圈……通常都有非常别致的刺绣。”

"Why is that?"

“那是为什么？”

"Its called an obiah. It symbolizes the joy felt at entering the Sacratorium and the blood one would spill to preserve it."

“它称为‘和带’，象征着进入圣堂所感受到的喜悦，以及为了保有它而甘愿喷洒的鲜血。”

"Blood?" said Dors, frowning.

“鲜血？”铎丝皱着眉头说。

"Just a symbol. I never actually heard of anyone spilling blood over the Sacratorium. For that matter, there isn't that much joy. its mostly wailing and mourning and prostrating ones self over the Lost World." His voice dropped and became soft. "Very silly."

“只是一种象征罢了，我从未真正听说有什么人血溅圣堂。此外，这里其实也没什么喜悦，主要都是对‘失落世界’的恸哭、悲叹，或是顶礼膜拜。”他的声音压低了，并且转趋柔和。“非常愚蠢。”

Dors said, "Youre not a……a believer?"

铎丝说：“你不是一名……一名信徒？”

"Im a scholar," said Mycelium with obvious pride. His face wrinkled as he grinned and took on an even more pronounced appearance of age. Seldon found himself wondering how old the man was. Several centuries?……No, theyd disposed of that. It couldnt be and yet……

“我是一名学者。”菌丝带着明显的骄傲说。当他咧嘴而笑时，他的脸孔皱成一团，使得老态更加明显。谢顿发觉自己对此人的年纪感到好奇……数个世纪？不，他们已经排除这个假设。那是不可能的，然而……

"How old are you?" Seldon asked suddenly, involuntarily.

“你有多大岁数？”谢顿不知不觉突然问道。

Mycelium Seventy-Two showed no signs of taking offense at the question, nor did he display any hesitation at answering, "Sixty-seven."

对于这个问题，菌丝七十二没有表现生气的意思，他的回答也未显现任何迟疑。“六十七。”

Seldon had to know. "I was told that your people believe that in very early times everyone lived for several centuries."

谢顿非要追根究底不可。“我听说你们族人相信，在极早的时代，每个人都能活好几世纪。”

Mycelium Seventy-Two looked at Seldon quizzically. "Now how did you find that out? Someone must have been talking out of turn……but its true. There is that belief. Only the unsophisticated believe it, but the Elders encourage it because it shows our superiority. Actually, our life expectancy is higher than elsewhere because we eat more nutritionally, but living even one century is rare."

菌丝七十二以古怪的神情望着谢顿。“你是怎么知道的？一定是谁口没遮拦……但那是真的，的确有这种信仰。只有天真的人才会相信，但长老们却鼓励有加，因为它能显出我们的优越。事实上，我们的平均寿命确实高于其他地区，因为我们吃得比较营养，可是活到一个世纪的人都少之又少。”

"I take it you don't consider Mycogenians superior," said Seldon.

“我猜你并不认为麦曲生人比较优越。”谢顿说。

Mycelium Seventy-Two said, "Theres nothing wrong with Mycogenians. Theyre certainly not inferior. Still, I think that all men are equal……Even women," he added, looking across at Dors.

菌丝七十二答道：“麦曲生人没有什么问题，他们绝不低人一等。话说回来，我认为人人平等……甚至包括女人。”他在补充这句话时，朝铎丝的方向望了一眼。

"I don't suppose," said Seldon, "that many of your people would agree with that."

“而我则认为，”谢顿说，“你们族人同意这点的不会太多。”

"Or many of your people," said Mycelium Seventy-Two with a faint resentment. "I believe it, though. A scholar has to. Ive viewed and even read all the great literature of the tribespeople. I understand your culture. Ive written articles on it. I can sit here just as comfortably with you as though you were……[tit]."

“同理，你们族人同意的也不多。”菌丝七十二带着一丝愤恨说道，“不过，我却深信不疑，身为学者理当如此。外族人所有的伟大文学作品，我全部观赏甚至阅读过。我了解你们的文化，还写过这方面的文章。我可以自在地和你们坐在一起，就好像你们是……我们的一分子。”

Dors said a little sharply, "You sound proud of understanding tribespeoples ways. Have you ever traveled outside Mycogen?"

铎丝略嫌唐突地说：“听你的口气，好像颇自豪于了解外族人的种种。你到麦曲生之外旅行过吗？”

Mycelium Seventy-Two seemed to move away a little. "No."

菌丝七十二似乎后退了一点。“没有。”

"Why not? You would get to know us better."

“为什么呢？那样你会对我们更加了解。”

"I wouldnt feel right. Id have to wear a wig. Id be ashamed."

“我会觉得不对劲。我必须戴一顶假发，那令我感到羞愧。”

Dors said, "Why a wig? You could stay bald."

铎丝问道：“为何要假发？你大可保持光头啊。”

"No," said Mycelium Seventy-Two, "I wouldnt be that kind of fool. Id be mistreated by all the hairy ones."

“不行，”菌丝七十二说，“我才不会那么傻，否则拥有毛发的人通通会欺负我。”

"Mistreated? Why?" said Dors. "We have a great many naturally bald people everywhere on Trantor and on every other world too."

“欺负？为什么？”铎丝说，“不论是在川陀任何角落，或是其他任何一个世界上，都有许许多多天生的秃子。”

"My father is quite bald," said Seldon with a sigh, "and I presume that in the decades to come I will be bald too. My hair isn't all that thick now."

“我的父亲就相当秃，”谢顿叹了一声，“我猜未来几十年内，我也会变成秃头。我的头发现在就不怎么浓密。”

"Thats not bald," said Mycelium Seventy-Two. "You keep hair around the edges and over your eyes. I mean bald……no hair at all."

“那不是光头。”菌丝七十二说，“你们保有侧面的毛发，还有眼睛上面的。我的意思是光秃秃……完全没有毛发。”

"Anywhere on your body?" said Dors, interested.

“全身都没有吗？”铎丝很感兴趣地说。

And now Mycelium Seventy-Two looked offended and said nothing.

这回菌丝七十二看来真生气了，他并未回答这个问题。

Seldon, anxious to get the conversation back on track, said, "Tell me, Mycelium Seventy-Two, can tribespeople enter the Sacratorium as spectators?"

谢顿急着想把话题拉回来，他说：“菌丝七十二，请告诉我，外族人能以旁观者的身份进入圣堂吗？”

Mycelium Seventy-Two shook his head vigorously. "Never. Its for the Sons of the Dawn only."

菌丝七十二猛力摇了摇头。“绝对不行，它的门只为黎明之子而开。”

Dors said, "Only the Sons?"

铎丝说：“只有黎明之子？”

Mycelium Seventy-Two looked shocked for a moment, then said forgivingly, "Well, youre tribespeople. Daughters of the Dawn enter only on certain days and times. Thats just the way it is. I don't say I approve. If it was up to me, Id say, Go in. Enjoy if you can. Sooner others than me, in fact."

菌丝七十二显得震惊了一阵子，然后又不以为意地说：“好吧，你们是外族人。只有在特定的日子和时辰，黎明之女方可进入。规定就是这样，我可没说我也赞同。如果由我作主，我会说‘进去吧，玩个尽兴。’事实上，我自己会排在最后。”

"Dont you ever go in?"

“你从来没进去过吗？”

"When I was young, my parents took me, but……he shook his head……"it was just people staring at the Book and reading from it and sighing and weeping for the old days. Its very depressing. You cant talk to each other. You cant laugh. You cant even look at each other. Your mind has to be totally on the Lost World. Totally." He waved a hand in rejection. "Not for me. Im a scholar and I want the whole world open to me."

“我小的时候，父母曾经带我去过。可是……”他摇了摇头，“里面只有一些凝视着典籍的人，他们诵读其中的章句，为古老的日子叹息和流泪。气氛非常沉闷，你不能交谈，不能笑出声来，甚至不能望着别人。你的心灵必须完全放在失落世界上，完完全全。”他挥了挥手，表示无法认同。“我可不吃这一套。我是一名学者，我要整个世界对我开放。”

"Good," said Seldon, seeing an opening. "We feel that way too. We are scholars also, Dors and myself."

“说得好。”谢顿发觉机会出现了，“我们有同感。我们也是学者，铎丝和我都是。”

"I know," said Mycelium Seventy-Two.

“我知道。”菌丝七十二说。

"You know? How do you know?"

“你知道？你怎么会知道？”

"Youd have to be. The only tribespeople allowed in Mycogen are Imperial officials and diplomats, important traders, and scholars……and to me you have the look of scholars. Thats what interested me in you. Scholars together." He smiled delightedly.

“你们一定是。获准进入麦曲生的外族人，仅限于帝国官员、外交使节和重要的行商，此外就是学者。在我看来，你俩都有学者的长相。这就是我对你们感兴趣的原因，物以类聚嘛。”他露出开怀的笑容。

"So we are. I am a mathematician. Dors is a historian. And you?"

“果不其然。我是数学家，铎丝是历史学家。你呢？”

"I specialize in……culture. Ive read all the great works of literature of the tribespeople: Lissauer, Mentone, Novigor……"

“我的专长是……文化。我读过外族人所有的伟大文学作品，黎叟尔、曼通、诺维葛……”

"And we have read the great works of your people. Ive read the Book, for instance……About the Lost World."

“我们则读过你们族人的伟大作品。比如说，我曾经读过你们的典籍……有关失落世界的记述。”

Mycelium Seventy-Twos eyes opened wide in surprise. His olive complexion seemed to fade a little. "You have? How? Where?"

菌丝七十二惊讶得张大双眼，橄榄色的皮肤似乎也稍微褪色。“你读过？怎么会？在哪里？”

"At our University we have copies that we can read if we have permission."

“在我们的大学里有些副本，只要获得允许就能阅读。”

"Copies of the Book?"

“典籍的副本？”

"Yes."

“没错。”

"I wonder if the Elders know this?"

“我怀疑长老们是否知道这件事？”

Seldon said, "And Ive read about robots."

谢顿又说：“我还读过有关机仆的记载。”

"Robots?"

“机仆？”

"Yes. That is why I would like to be able to enter the Sacratorium. I would like to see the robot." (Dors kicked lightly at Seldons ankle, but he ignored her.)

“是的。所以我才会希望能够进入圣堂，我想看看那个机仆。”铎丝轻踢谢顿的脚踝，但他并未理会。

Mycelium Seventy-Two said uneasily, "I don't believe in such things. Scholarly people dont." But he looked about as though he was afraid of being overheard.

菌丝七十二不安地说：“我不相信这种事，有学问的人都不相信。”但他随即东张西望，仿佛担心有人偷听。

Seldon said, "Ive read that a robot still exists in the Sacratorium."

谢顿说：“我读到过一段记载，说有个机仆仍在圣堂里面。”

Mycelium Seventy-Two said, "I don't want to talk about such nonsense."

菌丝七十二说：“我不想讨论这种无稽之谈。”

Seldon persisted. "Where would it be if it was in the Sacratorium?"

谢顿毫不放松。“假使它真在圣堂里面，会在哪个角落呢？”

"Even if one was there, I couldnt tell you. I haven't been in there since I was a child."

“即使那是真的，我也无法告诉你什么。我只在小时候进去过。”

"Would you know if there was a special place, a hidden place?"

“你可知道里面是否有个特别的地方，一个隐密的场所？”

"Theres the Elders aerie. Only Elders go there, but theres nothing there."

“有个长老阁，只有长老才能去，可是那里什么也没有。”

"Have you ever been there?"

“你去过吗？”

"No, of course not."

“没有，当然没有。”

"Then how do you know?"

“那你又怎么知道呢？”

"I don't know that theres no pomegranate tree there. I don't know that theres no laser-organ there. I don't know that theres no item of a million different kinds there. Does my lack of knowledge of their absence show they are all present?"

“我不知道那里有没有石榴树，我不知道那里有没有激光风琴，我不知道那里有没有其他一百万种东西。我不知道它们存不存在，是否就代表它们全部存在？”

For the moment, Seldon had nothing to say.

一时之间，谢顿无言以对。

A ghost of a smile broke through Mycelium Seventy-Twos look of concern. He said, "Thats scholars reasoning. Im not an easy man to tackle, you see. Just the same, I wouldnt advise you to try to get up into the Elders aerie. I don't think youd like what would happen if they found a tribesman inside……Well. Best of the Dawn to you." And he rose suddenly……without warning……and hurried away.

菌丝七十二忧虑的脸庞闪过一丝飘忽的笑容。他说：“那是学者的论证方式。你瞧，我可不是容易对付的人。无论如何，我还是建议你别试图上长老阁去。万一让他们发现有个外族人在里面，我想你是不会喜欢那种后果的。好啦，愿黎明与你同在。”他突然起身……毫无预警……然后匆匆离去。

Seldon looked after him, rather surprised. "What made him rush off like that?"

谢顿望着他的背影，感到相当讶异。“什么东西把他吓得落荒而逃？”

"I think," said Dors, "its because someone is approaching."

“我想，”铎丝说，“是因为有人来了。”

And someone was. A tall man in an elaborate white kirtle, crossed by an even more elaborate and subtly glittering red sash, glided solemnly toward them. He had the unmistakable look of a man with authority and the even more unmistakable look of one who is not pleased.

的确有人来了。那人身材高大，穿着一件精致的白色裰服，斜挂着一条更为精致且隐隐生辉的红色肩带。他踏着严肃的步伐趋近他们，脸上挂着无庸置疑的权威，以及更加无庸置疑的不悦神色。

Hari Seldon rose as the new Mycogenian approached. He hadn't the slightest idea whether that was the appropriate polite behavior, but he had the distinct feeling it would do no harm. Dors Venabili rose with him and carefully kept her eyes lowered.

新出场的那位麦曲生人走近后，哈里·谢顿马上站起来。至于这是不是合宜的礼貌举动，他并没有丝毫概念，不过他清清楚楚地感觉到，这样做不会有任何害处。铎丝·凡纳比里跟着他起身，小心翼翼地保持着下垂的目光。

The other stood before them. He too was an old man, but more subtly aged than Mycelium Seventy-Two. Age seemed to lend distinction to his still-handsome face. His bald head was beautifully round and his eyes were a startling blue, contrasting sharply with the bright all-but-glowing red of his sash.

对方站在他们两人面前。他也是一名老者，却比菌丝七十二更不容易看出年龄。岁月似乎使他依然英俊的脸庞显得更加高贵。他的光头浑圆美观，他的眼珠则是惊人的湛蓝色，与火红而明亮的肩带形成强烈对比。

The newcomer said, "I see you are tribespeople." His voice was more high-pitched than Seldon had expected, but he spoke slowly, as though conscious of the weight of authority in every word he uttered.

来人说道：“我看得出你们是外族人。”他的声音比谢顿预料的更为高亢，不过他说得很慢，仿佛意识到他吐出的每个字都具有权威。

"So we are," said Seldon politely but firmly. He saw no reason not to defer to the others position, but he did not intend to abandon his own.

“我们的确是。”谢顿以客气但坚定的语气说。他觉得无论如何应该尊重对方的身份，却并未打算放弃自己的身份。

"Your names?"

“你们的姓名？”

"I am Hari Seldon of Helicon. My companion is Dors Venabili of Cinna. And yours, man of Mycogen?"

“我是来自赫利肯的哈里·谢顿，我的同伴是来自锡纳的铎丝·凡纳比里。你呢，麦曲生先生？”

The eyes narrowed in displeasure, but he too could recognize an air of authority when he felt it.

那人不悦地眯起眼睛，不过当他面对威严的态度时，他自然也体会得到。

"I am Skystrip Two," he said, lifting his head higher, "an Elder of the Sacratorium. And your position, tribesman?"

“我是天纹二，”他将头抬高了一些，“圣堂的长老之一。外族男子，你的身份为何？”

"We," said Seldon, emphasizing the pronoun, "are scholars of Streeling University. I am a mathematician and my companion is a historian and we are here to study the ways of Mycogen."

“我们，”谢顿刻意强调这个代名词，“是斯璀璘大学的学者。我是数学家，我的同伴是历史学家，我们前来研究麦曲生的风土民情。”

"By whose authority?"

“经由谁的许可？”

"By that of Sunmaster Fourteen, who greeted us on our arrival."

“经由日主十四的许可。我们抵达时，他曾亲自迎接。”

Skystrip Two fell silent for a moment and then a small smile appeared on his face and he took on an air that was almost benign. He said, "The High Elder. I know him well."

天纹二陷入沉默好一会儿，然后他脸上出现浅浅笑意，态度则变得几乎和蔼可亲。他说：“原来是元老，我和他很熟。”

"And so you should," said Seldon blandly. "Is there anything else, Elder?"

“你理当如此。”谢顿以温和的语气说，“还有什么事吗，长老？”

"Yes." The Elder strove to regain the high ground. "Who was the man who was with you and who hurried away when I approached?"

“有的。”这位长老极力想要重新掌握优势，“刚才和你们在一起，当我走近时匆匆离去的是什么人？”

Seldon shook his head, "We never saw him before, Elder, and know nothing about him. We encountered him purely by accident and asked about the Sacratorium."

谢顿摇了摇头。“长老，我们以前从未见过他，对他一无所知。我们遇到他纯粹是巧合，只是向他询问有关圣堂的事。”

"What did you ask him?"

“你问他些什么？”

"Two questions, Elder. We asked if that building was the Sacratorium and if tribespeople were allowed to enter it. He answered in the affirmative to the first question and in the negative to the second."

“两个问题，长老。我们问他这座建筑是否就是圣堂，还有它是否准许外族人进入。他对第一个问题的回答是肯定的，对第二个则是否定的。”

"Quite so. And what is your interest in the Sacratorium?"

“相当正确。你又对圣堂哪方面有兴趣？”

"Sir, we are here to study the ways of Mycogen and is not the Sacratorium the heart and brain of Mycogen?"

“长老，我们来此是要研究麦曲生的风土民情。圣堂难道不是麦曲生的大脑和心脏吗？”

"It is entirely ours and reserved for us."

“它完全是我们的，专门保留给我们。”

"Even if an Elder……the High Elder……would arrange for permission in view of our scholarly function?"

“即使是某位长老……不，元老……看在我们做学问的份上，也不能特准我们进去吗？”

"Have you indeed the High Elders permission?"

“你真得到了元老的许可？”

Seldon hesitated the slightest moment while Dorss eyes lifted briefly to look at him sideways. He decided he could not carry off a lie of this magnitude. "No," he said, "not yet."

谢顿只迟疑了很短一下子，铎丝趁机扬起眼珠，迅速从旁望了他一眼。他断定自己无法扯这么大的谎，于是说：“不，还没有。”

"Or ever," said the Elder. "You are here in Mycogen by authority, but even the highest authority cannot exert total control over the public. We value our Sacratorium and the populace can easily grow excited over the presence of a tribesperson anywhere in Mycogen but, most particularly, in the vicinity of the Sacratorium. It would take one excitable person to raise a cry of Invasion! and a peaceful crowd such as this one would be turned into one that would be thirsting to tear you apart. I mean that quite literally. For your own good, even if the High Elder has shown you kindness, leave. Now!"

“或者永远不会。”长老说，“你们虽然获得许可来到麦曲生，可是即使最高当局也无法绝对控制公众。我们珍惜我们的圣堂……不论在麦曲生哪个角落出现一个外族人，都很容易引发大众的激动情绪，但是，尤其以圣堂附近最为严重。只要有个容易冲动的人高喊一声‘侵略！’，像这样一群平和的群众就会变成一群猛兽，非得将你们碎尸万段才肯罢休。我这样说绝非夸大其辞。即使元老对你们表示亲善，为了自己好，你们还是走吧。立刻就走！”

"But the Sacratorium……" said Seldon stubbornly, though Dors was pulling gently at his kirtle.

“可是圣堂……”谢顿顽固地说，不过铎丝却在轻扯他的裰服。

"What is there in the Sacratorium that can possibly interest you?" said the Elder. "You see it now. There is nothing for you to see in the interior."

“圣堂里面究竟有什么能引起你的兴趣？”长老说，“你已经从外面看到了，而里面没有任何值得你看的东西。”

"There is the robot," said Seldon.

“有个机仆。”谢顿说。

The Elder stared at Seldon in shocked surprise and then, bending to bring his lips close to Seldons ear, whispered harshly, "Leave now or I will raise the cry of Invasion! myself. Nor, were it not for the High Elder, would I give you even this one chance to leave."

长老惊骇万分地瞪着谢顿。然后他弯下腰来，将嘴巴凑到谢顿耳边，严厉地悄声道：“立刻离开，否则我自己会高喊那声‘侵略！’。要不是看在元老的份上，我连这个机会也不会给你。”

And Dors, with surprising strength, nearly pulled Seldon off his feet as she stepped hastily away, dragging him along until he caught his balance and stepped quickly after her.

此时铎丝展现惊人的力量，拉着谢顿急步离去，几乎使他站立不稳。她一路拖着他走，直到他恢复平衡，快步跟在她后面为止。

It was over breakfast the next morning, not sooner, that Dors took up the subject……and in a way that Seldon found most wounding.

一夜无话，直到次日上午吃早餐的时候，铎丝才重拾这个话题……不过却是用谢顿感到最伤人的说法。

She said, "Well, that was a pretty fiasco yesterday."

她说：“唉，昨天真是一败涂地。”

Seldon, who had honestly thought he had gotten away with it without comment, looked sullen. "What made it a fiasco?"

谢顿面色凝重，他原本还真以为已经躲过批判。“凭什么说一败涂地？”

"Driven out is what we were. And for what? What did we gain?"

“我们的下场是被轰出来。为了什么？我们又得到了什么？”

"Only the knowledge that there is a robot in there."

“我们只是得知那里面有个机器人。”

"Mycelium Seventy-Two said there wasnt."

“菌丝七十二说没这回事。”

"Of course he said that. Hes a scholar……or thinks he is……and what he doesnt know about the Sacratorium would probably fill that library he goes to. You saw the Elders reaction."

“他当然那样说。他是个学者，或说自认是个学者。有关圣堂的点点滴滴，他不知道的也许能装满他常去的那间图书馆。你看到那个长老的反应了。”

"I certainly did."

“我当然看到了。”

"He would not have reacted like that if there was no robot inside. He was horrified we knew."

“假使里面并没有机器人，他不会表现出那样的反应。我们的情报把他吓坏了。”

"Thats just your guess, Hari. And even if there was, we couldnt get in."

“哈里，那只是你的猜想。即使真有其事，我们也进不去。”

"We could certainly try. After breakfast, we go out and buy a sash for me, one of those obiahs. I put it on, keep my eyes devoutly downward, and walk right in."

“我们当然能试一试。吃完早餐我们就出去，我要买一条肩带，就是所谓的和带。我把它挂在身上，虔敬地保持目光向下，就这样走进去。”

"Skincap and all? They'll spot you in a microsecond."

“人皮帽和其他一切呢？他们会在一微秒内认出你来。”

"No, they wont. Well go into the library where all the tribespeople data is kept. Id like to see it anyway. From the library, which is a Sacratorium annex, I gather, there will probably be an entrance into the Sacratorium."

“不，不会的。我们先走进那间保存外族人资料的图书馆，反正我也想去看看。那间图书馆是圣堂的一栋附属建筑，我推测里面或许有进入圣堂的入口……”

"Where you will be picked up at once."

“你进去后会立刻遭到逮捕。”

"Not at all. You heard what Mycelium Seventy-Two had to say. Everyone keeps his eyes down and meditates on their great Lost World, Aurora. No one looks at anyone else. It would probably be a grievous breach of discipline to do so. Then Ill find the Elders aerie……"

“绝对不会。你也听到菌丝七十二是怎么说的，人人都保持目光向下，冥思他们那个伟大的失落世界奥罗拉。没有人会望向其他人，说不定那是严重违反戒律的行为。然后，我就能找到长老阁……”

"Just like that?"

“那么容易？”

"At one point, Mycelium Seventy-Two said he would advise me not to try to get up into the Elders aerie. Up. It must be somewhere in that tower of the Sacratorium, the central tower."

“在昨天的谈话中，菌丝七十二曾建议我别试图上长老阁去。上去！它一定是在圣堂的高塔中，那个中央高塔。”

Dors shook her head. "I don't recall the mans exact words and I don't think you do either. Thats a terribly weak foundation to…… Wait." She stopped suddenly and frowned.

铎丝摇了摇头。“我不记得那人使用的是哪些字眼，我想你也记不清了。那实在是太过微弱的根据……慢着。”她突然打住，同时皱起眉头。

"Well?" said Seldon.

“怎么了？”谢顿问。

"There is an archaic word aerie that means a dwelling place on high. "

“‘阁’是个古老的字眼，意思是位于高处的住所。”

"Ah! There you are. You see, weve learned some vital things as the result of what you call a fiasco. And if I can find a living robot thats twenty thousand years old and if it can tell me……"

“啊！我就说吧。你看，从你所谓的一败涂地中，我们获悉了一些重要的事。如果我再找到一个已经两万岁的、活生生的机器人，如果它能告诉我……”

"Suppose that such a thing exists, which passes belief, and that you find it, which is not very likely, how long do you think you will be able to talk to it before your presence is discovered?"

“假设这种东西果真存在，这已经难以置信；再假设你能找到它，这又是不大可能的事。在这两个前提下，你认为你在行踪暴露之前，可以跟它谈多久的话？”

"I don't know, but if I can prove it exists and if I can find it, then Ill think of some way to talk to it. Its too late for me to back out now under any circumstances. Hummin should have left me alone when I thought there was no way of achieving psychohistory. Now that it seems there may be, I wont let anything stop me……short of being killed."

“我不知道。可是如果我能证明它的存在，而我又能找到它，那我总会想办法和它交谈。不论在任何情况下，我想打退堂鼓都已经太晚了。在我认为心理史学根本无法建立时，夫铭就该放我一马。现在似乎有了眉目，我不会让任何事物阻止我……除非把我杀了。”

"The Mycogenians may oblige, Hari, and you cant run that risk."

“麦曲生人可能会被迫那样做，哈里，你不能冒这个险。”

"Yes, I can. Im going to try."

“不，我可以冒险，我要去试试看。”

"No, Hari. I must look after you and I cant let you."

“不，哈里。我必须照顾你，我不能让你去。”

"You must let me. Finding a way to work out psychohistory is more important than my safety. My safety is only important because I may work out psychohistory. Prevent me from doing so and your task loses its meaning……Think about it."

“你一定要让我去。找到建立心理史学的方法，比我自身的安全更重要。我的安全之所以重要，只因为我或许能够建立心理史学。若是阻止我这么做，你的工作就失去意义……好好想一想。”

Hari felt himself infused with a renewed sense of purpose. Psychohistory……his nebulous theory that he had, such a short while ago, despaired ever of proving……loomed larger, more real. Now he had to believe that it was possible; he could feel it in his gut. The pieces seemed to be falling together and although he couldnt see the whole pattern yet, he was sure the Sacratorium would yield another piece to the puzzle.

谢顿觉得一股全新的使命感注入体内。心理史学……那个模糊不清的理论，不久之前，他还认为绝无成功的希望……隐隐约约变得越来越大，越来越真实。现在，他必须相信它是有可能的，他打心眼里感觉得到。拼图的碎片似乎开始逐渐聚拢，虽然还不能看出整体的图样，他却可以确定圣堂能够提供另一块碎片。

"Then Ill go in with you so I can pull you out, you idiot, when the time comes."

“那我要和你一起进去，这样，我才能及时把你这个白痴拉出来。”

"Women cant enter."

“女人是不准入内的。”

"What makes me a woman? Only this gray kirtle. You cant see my breasts under it. I don't have a womans style hairdo with the skincap on. I have the same washed, unmarked face a man has. The men here don't have stubble. All I need is a white kirtle and a sash and I can enter. Any Sister could do it if she wasn't held back by a taboo. I am not held back by one."

“什么东西让我看来像个女人？只是这件裰服罢了。穿着这种服装，你看不见我的胸部。而戴上人皮帽之后，我也不再拥有女人的发型。我的脸洗得干干净净，未施任何脂粉，和男人没什么两样，何况这里的男人连短髭都没有。我需要的只是一件白色裰服和一条肩带，然后我就能进去。要不是受到禁忌的限制，每位姐妹都能这么做。我可不受任何的限制。”

"Youre held back by me. I wont let you. Its too dangerous."

“你受我的限制。我不让你那样做，太危险了。”

"No more dangerous for me than for you."

“对我和对你一样危险。”

"But I must take the risk."

“但我非得冒这个险不可。”

"Then so must I. Why is your imperative greater than mine?"

“那么我也一样。你的使命为什么能压过我的？”

"Because……" Seldon paused in thought.

“因为……”谢顿突然住口，陷入沉思。

"Just tell yourself this," said Dors, her voice hard as rock. "I wont let you go there without me. If you try, I will knock you unconscious and tie you up. If you don't like that, then give up any thought of going alone."

“你这样想吧，”铎丝的声音坚如岩石，“我绝不会让你一个人去，假如你想尝试，我会把你打昏，再把你绑起来。倘若你不喜欢那样，就打消单独行动的念头。”

Seldon hesitated and muttered darkly. He gave up the argument, at least for now.

谢顿犹豫不决，还闷闷不乐地嘀咕了几句。但他放弃了争论，至少暂时如此。

The sky was almost cloudless, but it was a pale blue, as though wrapped in a high thin mist. That, thought Seldon, was a good touch, but suddenly he missed the sun itself. No one on Trantor saw the planets sun unless he or she went Upperside and even then only when the natural cloud layer broke.

天空几乎万里无云，但晴空却是灰蓝色的，仿佛罩在一片高层轻雾中。那是个美好的画面，谢顿心想，不过他忽然又怀念起太阳。川陀的居民都看不见这颗行星的太阳，除非他们前往上方，而且即便如此，也必须等到自然的云层裂出一道缝。

Did native Trantorians miss the sun? Did they give it any thought? When one of them visited another world where a natural sun was in view, did he or she stare, half-blinded, at it with awe?

土生土长的川陀人是否怀念太阳？是否想到过它？当他们访问其他世界，抬头便能望见真实太阳之际，他们是否带着敬畏的心情，凝视着那颗眩目的火球？

Why, he wondered, did so many people spend their lives not trying to find answers to questions……not even thinking of questions to begin with? Was there anything more exciting in life than seeking answers?

他感到纳闷，为何那么多人过着庸庸碌碌的日子，从未试图找出许多问题的答案……甚至根本未曾想到那些问题？人生难道还有什么事，会比寻找答案更令人感到振奋？

His glance shifted to ground level. The wide roadway was lined with low buildings, most of them shops. Numerous individual ground-cars moved in both directions, each hugging the right side. They seemed like a collection of antiques, but they were electrically driven and quite soundless. Seldon wondered if "antique" was always a word to sneer at. Could it be that silence made up for slowness? Was there any particular hurry to life, after all?

他又将视线移到水平线上。宽广的道路两侧排列着低矮的建筑，其中大多数是商店。来来往往的个人地面车为数众多，每一辆都紧贴着右侧。它们似乎像一批古董，不过都是电力驱动的，而且几乎安静无声。谢顿不禁怀疑，“古董”这个词难道总是值得嘲笑吗？安静是否能弥补慢速的缺点？毕竟，人生又有什么特别需要赶场的呢？

There were a number of children on the walkways and Seldons lips pressed together in annoyance. Clearly, an extended life span for the Mycogenians was impossible unless they were willing to indulge in infanticide. The children of both sexes (though it was hard to tell the boys from the girls) wore kirtles that came only a few inches below the knee, making the wild activity of childhood easier.

看到人行道上有些儿童，谢顿在心烦意乱中抿紧了嘴唇。显然，麦曲生人不可能拥有倍增的寿命，除非他们愿意大肆进行杀婴的举动。无论男孩或女孩（虽然很难分辨）都穿着裰服，长度仅达膝盖以下数寸，好让孩童狂野的活动不至束手束脚。

The children also still had hair, reduced to an inch in length at most, but even so the older ones among them had hoods attached to their kirtles and wore them raised, hiding the top of the head altogether. It was as though they were getting old enough to make the hair seem a trifle obscene……or old enough to be wishing to hide it, in longing for the day of rite of passage when they were depilated.

那些儿童也都还有头发，长度不超过一寸。不过即使如此，较大的儿童在裰服上一律附有兜帽，而且都把它拉上，将头顶完全遮起来。仿佛他们年龄已经不小，足以使头发看来有点淫秽之意……或者是年龄已经够大，因而主动希望遮掩头发，并渴望脱毛的成年礼早日来临。

A thought occurred to Seldon. He said, "Dors, when youve been out shopping, who paid, you or the Raindrop women?"

谢顿突然闪过一个念头。他说：“铎丝，你去购物的时候由谁付账，是你还是雨点姐妹？”

"I did of course. The Raindrops never produced a credit tile. But why should they? What was being bought was for us, not for them."

“当然是我。雨点姐妹从未掏出信用瓷卡，但是她们应该那样做吗？买的东西全是给我们用的，和她们无关。”

"But you have a Trantorian credit tile……a tribeswoman credit tile."

“但你拿的是一张川陀信用瓷卡，外族女子的信用瓷卡。”

"Of course, Hari, but there was no problem. The people of Mycogen may keep their own culture and ways of thought and habits of life as they wish. They can destroy their cephalic hair and wear kirtles. Nevertheless, they must use the worlds credits. If they dont, that would choke off commerce and no sensible person would want to do that. The credits nerve, Hari." She held up her hand as though she was holding an invisible credit tile.

“当然，哈里，可是这根本不成问题。麦曲生人或许如愿地保持着独有的文化、思考模式和生活习惯。他们还可以毁弃头部毛发，并且一律穿着裰服。然而，他们必须使用这个世界所通用的信用点。倘若他们拒绝，便会扼杀一切商业活动，但任何理智的人都不会想那么做。哈里，信用点是万能的。”她举起一只手，仿佛正握着一张隐形信用瓷卡。

"And they accepted your credit tile?"

“所以他们接受你的信用瓷卡？”

"Never a peep out of them. And never a word about my skincap. Credits sanitize everything."

“他们连看都没看我一眼，对我的人皮帽也从来不予置评。信用点消除了一切疑虑。”

"Well, thats good. So I can buy……"

“嗯，那很好。所以我也能买……”

"No, Ill do the buying. Credits may sanitize everything, but they more easily sanitize a tribeswoman. Theyre so used to paying women little or no attention that they automatically pay me the same……And heres the clothing store Ive been using."

“不，由我来买。信用点或许能消除一切疑虑，但比较起来，还是更容易消除对一名外族女子的疑虑。他们习惯了对女性不太注意或毫不注意，所以自然而然对我一视同仁……这就是我曾经光顾的那家服装店。”

"Ill wait out here. Get me a nice red sash……one that looks impressive."

“我在外面等。帮我买一条好看的红肩带……特别引人注目的。”

"Dont pretend youve forgotten our decision. Ill get two. And another white kirtle also……to my measurements."

“你别假装忘了我们的决定。我会买两条，还会再买一件白色裰服……符合我的尺寸的。”

"Wont they think it odd that a woman would be buying a white kirtle?"

“一个女人想买白色裰服，他们不会奇怪吗？”

"Of course not. They'll assume Im buying it for a male companion who happens to be my size. Actually, I don't think They'll bother with any assumptions at all as long as my credit tile is good."

“当然不会。他们会假定我是帮男伴买的，而他的身材刚好和我一样。事实上，只要我的信用瓷卡没问题，我想他们根本懒得做任何假定。”

Seldon waited, half-expecting someone to come up and greet him as a tribesman or denounce him as one……more likely……but no one did. Those who passed him did so without a glance and even those who glanced in his direction moved on seemingly untouched. He was especially nervous about the gray kirtles……the women……walking by in pairs or, even worse, with a man. They were downtrodden, unnoticed, snubbed. How better to gain a brief notoriety than by shrieking at the sight of a tribesman? But even the women moved on.

于是谢顿开始等待，并有几分期望会有人和他这个外族人打招呼，或者公然抨击他这个外族人……后者其实更有可能，不料这两种人皆未出现。在他面前经过的人都没看他一眼，即使是那些朝这个方向望来的人，也似乎无动于衷地继续前进。尤其让他敏感的是那些灰色裰服……那些成双成对行走的女性，而身边有个男伴的更糟。她们是属于受到压制、遭到冷落、不受重视的一群，还有什么举动，比看到外族男子后尖叫一声更能引起短暂的侧目？可是就连女性也对他不屑一顾。

Theyre not expecting to see a tribesman, Seldon thought, so they don't see one.

他们并未预期看到外族人，谢顿想，所以就视而不见。

That, he decided, augured well for their forthcoming invasion of the Sacratorium. How much less would anyone expect to see tribespeople there and how much more effectively would they therefore fail to see them!

这点，他认定将有助于两人即将侵入圣堂的行动。更不会有人预期在那里见到外族人，自然会对他们两人更加视若无睹。

He was in fairly good humor when Dors emerged.

铎丝出来的时候，谢顿的心情相当好。

"You have everything?"

“买齐了吗？”

"Absolutely."

“绝对齐全。”

Then lets go back to the room, so you can change.

“那我们回去吧，好让你换衣服。”

The white kirtle did not fit her quite as well as the gray one did. Obviously, she could not have tried it on or even the densest shopkeeper would have been struck with alarm.

新买的白色裰服不如灰色那件合身。显然她刚才根本不能试穿，否则即使最愚钝的店主也会吓得不知所措。

"How do I look, Hari?" she asked.

“哈里，我看来怎么样？”她问道。

"Exactly like a boy," said Seldon. "Now lets try the sash……or obiah. I had better get used to calling it that."

“和男生一模一样。”谢顿说，“现在我们来试试肩带……或者该说和带，我最好习惯这个说法。”

Dors, without her skincap, was shaking out her hair gratefully. She said sharply, "Dont put it on now. Were not going to parade through Mycogen with the sash on. The last thing we want to do is call attention to ourselves."

未戴人皮帽的铎丝正心满意足地甩着头发。她突然说：“别急着戴上，我们并不准备披挂着肩带游行麦曲生。引人注目是我们最不愿发生的事。”

"No, no. I just want to see how it goes on."

“不，不。我只是想看看是否合身。”

"Well, not that one. This one is better quality and more elaborate."

“好吧，不是那条。这条的品质比较好，而且比较精致。”

"Youre right, Dors. Ive got to gather in what attention there is. I don't want them to detect you as a woman."

“你说得对，铎丝。我必须吸引所有的注意力，我可不想让他们察觉你是女的。”

"Im not thinking of that, Hari. I just want you to look pretty."

“我不是那个意思，哈里，我只是要你看来帅气。”

"A thousand thanks, but thats impossible, I suspect. Now, lets see, how does this work?"

“万分感谢，但我怀疑那是不可能的。现在，让我们想想看，这究竟该怎样穿戴。”

Together, Hari and Dors practiced putting their obiahs on and taking them off, over and over again, until they could do it in one fluid motion. Dors taught Hari how to do it, as she had seen a man doing it the day before at the Sacratorium.

谢顿与铎丝两人一起练习戴上与摘下和带的动作，练了一次又一次，直到能以流畅的动作一气呵成为止。这回是由铎丝担任谢顿的老师，因为昨天她在圣堂外曾看到一名男子全程的动作。

When Hari praised her for her acute observations, she blushed and said, "Its really nothing, Hari, just something I noticed."

当谢顿称赞她具有敏锐观察力的时候，她红着脸说：“这实在没什么，哈里，只不过是我刚好注意到。”

Hari replied, "Then youre a genius for noticing."

谢顿答道：“那么，你是个注意力过人的天才。”

Finally satisfied, they stood well apart, each surveying the other. Haris obiah glittered, a bright red dragonlike design standing out against a paler field of similar hue. Dorss was a little less bold, had a simple thin line down the center, and was very light in color.

终于练得满意之后，他们站得相隔老远，互相审视着对方的穿着。谢顿的和带闪闪发亮，有个鲜红的龙形图案浮现在较淡的同色调背景上。铎丝那条的设计比较不那么大胆，仅在中央处点缀着一条简单的细纹，而且色调非常浅。

"There," she said, "just enough to show good taste." She took it off.

“这样，”她说，“刚好足以显示我们的品味不赖。”说完她就摘下那条和带。

"Now," said Seldon, "we fold it up and it goes into one of the inner pockets. I have my credit tile……Hummins, really……and the key to this place in this one and here, on the other side, the Book."

“现在，”谢顿说，“我们把它叠起来，放进一个内袋。我的信用瓷卡……其实是夫铭的……和此地的钥匙在这个内袋，而这里，另一边的内袋是那本典籍。”

"The Book? Should you be carrying it around?"

“典籍？你应该带着它到处跑吗？”

"I must. Im guessing that anyone going to the Sacratorium ought to have a copy of the Book with him. They may intone passages or have readings. If necessary, well share the Book and maybe no one will notice. Ready?"

“我必须这么做。我猜进入圣堂的人都该随身携带一本典籍，他们可能会吟咏或齐声朗读其中的章句。有必要的话，我们就共用这本典籍，或许没有人会注意到。准备好了吗？”

"Ill never be ready, but Im going with you."

“我绝不会准备好，但我会跟你一起去。”

"It will be a tedious trip. Will you check my skincap and make sure no hair shows this time? And don't scratch your head."

“这会是一趟沉闷的旅程。能否请你检查一下我的人皮帽，确定这次没有头发露出来？记着别抓你的头。”

"I wont. You look all right."

“我不会。你看来一切正常。”

"So do you."

“你也是。”

"You also look nervous."

“还有，你看来紧张兮兮的。”

And Seldon said wryly, "Guess why!"

谢顿以挖苦的口气说：“猜猜为什么！”

Dors reached out impulsively and squeezed Haris hand, then drew back as if surprised at herself. Looking down, she straightened her white kirtle.

铎丝冲动地伸出手去，紧紧握住谢顿的手，却又赶紧抽回来，好像对自己的举动惊讶不已。然后她低下头，将身上的白色裰服拉直。

Hari, himself a trifle surprised and peculiarly pleased, cleared his throat and said, "Okay, lets go."

谢顿自己也有点惊讶，却又异样地高兴，他清了清喉咙，说道：“好啦，我们走吧。”