2 Flight

第2章 逃亡

TRANTOR:……The capital of the First Galactic Empire……Under Cleon I, it had its "twilight glow." To all appearances, it was then at its peak. Its land surface of 200 million square kilometers was entirely domed (except for the Imperial Palace area) and underlaid with an endless city that extended beneath the continental shelves. The population was 40 billion and although the signs were plentiful (and clearly visible in hindsight) that there were gathering problems, those who lived on Trantor undoubtedly found it still the Eternal World of legend and did not expect it would ever……

川陀：……第一银河帝国的首都……在克里昂一世统治下，它放射出“黄昏的回光”。不论从哪方面看来，那时都是它的全盛期。它二亿平方公里的地表完全被穹顶覆盖（只有皇宫周围的区域例外），穹顶下则是绵延不断的大都会，一直延伸到大陆棚之下。当时人口共四百亿，虽然（回顾历史显而易见）有众多迹象显示早已问题丛生，川陀居民无疑仍视其为传说中的“永恒世界”，从未想到有一天会……

ENCYCLOPEDIA GALACTICA

……《银河百科全书》

Seldon looked up. A young man was standing before him, looking down at him with an expression of amused contempt. Next to him was another young man……a bit younger, perhaps. Both were large and appeared to be strong.

谢顿抬起头来，看到一个年轻人站在面前，带着一种嘲弄的轻蔑低头望着他。那人身旁还有另一个年轻人，或许更年轻些。两人都身材高大，而且看来十分强壮。

They were dressed in an extreme of Trantorian fashion, Seldon judged……boldly clashing colors, broad fringed belts, round hats with wide brims all about and the two ends of a bright pink ribbon extending from the brim to the back of the neck.

谢顿判断他们的衣着应是川陀最尖端的流行……大胆的冲突色彩、有流苏的宽边皮带、有整圈阔檐的圆帽，此外还有一条亮丽的粉红色丝带，两端从帽檐一直延伸到后颈。

In Seldons eyes, it was amusing and he smiled.

在谢顿眼中，这种打扮实在有趣，他不禁微微一笑。

The young man before him snapped, "Whatre you grinning at, misfit?"

他面前的年轻人吼道：“邋遢鬼，你龇牙咧嘴在笑什么？”

Seldon ignored the manner of address and said gently, "Please pardon my smile. I was merely enjoying your costume."

谢顿不理会对方的态度，好言好语地答道：“请原谅我刚才发笑，我只不过在欣赏你的服装。”

"My costume? So? And what are you wearing? Whats that awful offal you call clothes?" His hand went out and his finger flicked at the lapel of Seldons jacket……disgracefully heavy and dull, Seldon himself thought, in comparison to the others lighthearted colors.

“我的服装？怎么样？你自己穿的又是什么？你管这身可怕的碎布叫衣服吗？”他伸出一只手，用手指弹了弹谢顿的外衣翻领。与对方的淡雅色调比较之下，谢顿心想，自己的服色沉重得很不体面。

Seldon said, "Im afraid its my Outworlder clothes. Theyre all I have."

谢顿说：“只怕我们外星人士的衣服就是这样，我只有这一套。”

He couldnt help notice that the few others who were sitting in the small park were rising to their feet and walking off. It was as though they were expecting trouble and had no desire to remain in the vicinity. Seldon wondered if his new friend, Hummin, was leaving too, but he felt it injudicious to take his eyes away from the young man who was confronting him. He teetered back on his chair slightly.

他不自觉地注意到，原本坐在小公园里的另外几个人纷纷起身离去。仿佛他们预期会有麻烦，而不愿继续留在附近。谢顿不知道他的新朋友夫铭是不是也正要开溜，但他觉得将视线从面前的年轻人身上移开并非明智之举。他将身子向后挪，稍微向椅背靠去。

The young man said, "You an Outworlder?"

年轻人说：“你是外星人士？”

"Thats right. Hence my clothes."

“没错，因而才穿这身衣服。”

"Hence? What kind of words that? Outworld word?"

“因而？这是哪门子说法？外星语吗？”

"What I meant was, that was why my clothes seem peculiar to you. Im a visitor here."

“我的意思是，正是由于这个缘故，你才会觉得我的衣服奇怪。我是一名游客。”

"From what planet?"

“从哪颗行星来的？”

"Helicon."

“赫利肯。”

The young mans eyebrows drew together. "Never heard of it."

年轻人的两道眉毛挤在一起。“从来没听过。”

"Its not a large planet."

“它不是一颗多大的行星。”

"Why don't you go back there?"

“你为什么不回那里去？”

"I intend to. Im leaving tomorrow."

“我是要回去，我明天就走。”

"Sooner! Now!"

“快一点！现在就走！”

The young man looked at his partner. Seldon followed the look and caught a glimpse of Hummin. He had not left, but the park was now empty except for himself, Hummin, and the two young men.

年轻人看了看他的同伴。谢顿随着他的视线望去，结果瞥见了夫铭。他并没有离开，可是整座公园已经空了，只剩下他自己、夫铭，以及那两个年轻人。

Seldon said, "Id thought Id spend today sight-seeing."

谢顿说：“我本来打算今天到处逛逛。”

"No. You don't want to do that. You go home now."

“不，你不该那么做，现在就回家去。”

Seldon smiled. "Sorry. I wont."

谢顿微微一笑。“抱歉，我无法照办。”

The young man said to his partner. "You like his clothes, Marbie?"

年轻人对他的同伴说：“马毕，你喜欢他的衣服吗？”

Marbie spoke for the first time. "No. Disgusting. Turns the stomach."

马毕首度开口：“不喜欢，真恶心，令人反胃。”

"Cant let him go around turning stomachs, Marbie. Not good for peoples health."

“马毕，不能任由他到处乱跑，害得人人反胃。这样会有损大众健康。”

"No, not by no means, Alem," said Marbie.

“不行，艾连，绝对不可以。”马毕说。

Alem grinned. "Well now. You heard what Marbie said."

艾连咧嘴笑了笑。“好啦，你听到马毕怎么说了。”

And now Hummin spoke. He said, "Look, you two, Alem, Marbie, whatever your names are. Youve had your fun. Why don't you go away?"

这时夫铭终于开口，他说：“听着，你们两个，艾连和马毕，或者不管你们叫什么名字。你们玩够了，何不见好就收？”

Alem, who had been leaning slightly toward Seldon, straightened and turned. "Who are you?"

艾连本来上身微微倾向谢顿，此时他把身子挺直，然后转头。“你是谁？”

"Thats not your business," snapped Hummin.

“不关你的事。”夫铭吼道。

"Youre Trantorian?" asked Alem.

“你是川陀人？”艾连问。

"Also not your business."

“同样不关你的事。”

Alem frowned and said, "Youre dressed Trantorian. Were not interested in you, so don't go looking for problems."

艾连皱着眉头说：“你穿得像个川陀人。我们对你没兴趣，所以别自找麻烦。”

"I intend to stay. That means there are two of us. Two against two doesnt sound like your kind of fight. Why don't you go away and get some friends so you can handle two people?"

“我打算留下，这就表示我们总共有两个人。二对二听来不像你们的打法，你们何不去多找些朋友，来对付我们两个？”

Seldon said, "I really think you ought to get away if you can, Hummin. Its kind of you to try to protect me, but I don't want you harmed."

谢顿说：“夫铭，我真的认为你该趁早离开这里。你试图保护我是你的好意，但我不希望你受到伤害。”

"These are not dangerous people, Seldon. Just half-credit lackeys."

“谢顿，这两人并非危险分子，只不过是值半个信用点的奴才。”

"Lackeys!" The word seemed to infuriate Alem, so that Seldon thought it must have a more insulting meaning on Trantor than it had on Helicon.

“奴才！”这个说法似乎把艾连惹火了，因此谢顿想到，在川陀它的意思一定比在赫利肯更具侮辱性。

"Here, Marbie," said Alem with a growl. "You take care of that other motherlackey and Ill rip the clothes off this Seldon. Hes the one we want. Now……"

“听好，马毕。”艾连咆哮道，“你对付另一个他妈的奴才，我来把这个谢顿的衣服剥光。他就是我们要找的人，动手……”

His hands came down sharply to seize Seldons lapels and jerk him upright. Seldon pushed away, instinctively it would seem, and his chair tipped backward. He seized the hands stretched toward him, his foot went up, and his chair went down.

他双手猛然向下探，想抓住谢顿的翻领，以便将他提起来。谢顿立刻伸手一推，似乎是出于本能的动作，而他的椅子则往后翻倒。紧接着，他抓住探向自己的那双手，并抬起一只脚，此时椅子刚好倒下。

Somehow Alem streaked overhead, turning as he did so, and came down hard on his neck and back behind Seldon.

艾连像是从谢顿头上飞过，并在空中一个转身，最后落在谢顿身后。他的颈部与背部最先着地，发出一声巨响。

Seldon twisted as his chair went down and was quickly on his feet, staring down at Alem, then looking sharply to one side for Marbie.

当椅子倒下时，谢顿及时扭转身形，很快站了起来，虎视眈眈地瞪着倒地的艾连。然后他又猛一转头，望向一旁的马毕。

Alem lay unmoving, his face twisted in agony. He had two badly sprained thumbs, excruciating pain in his groin, and a backbone that had been badly jarred.

艾连躺在地上一动不动，五官扭成一团。他的两只拇指严重扭伤，鼠蹊传来锥心刺骨的痛楚，此外脊骨也受到重创。

Hummins left arm had grabbed Marbies neck from behind and his right arm had pulled the others right arm backward at a vicious angle. Marbies face was red as he labored uselessly for breath. A knife, glittering with a small laser inset, lay on the ground beside them.

夫铭用左臂从后面勾住马毕的颈部，右手将对方的右臂向后拉到一个难忍的角度。马毕拼命想要喘气，涨得满脸通红。一把小刀躺在旁边的地上，刀缘的激光镶边正闪闪发光。

Hummin eased his grip slightly and said, with an air of honest concern, "Youve hurt that one badly."

夫铭稍微松开手来，以真挚的关切语调说：“你把那家伙伤得很重。”

Seldon said, "Im afraid so. If he had fallen a little differently, he would have snapped his neck."

谢顿说：“我也没办法。如果他着地的角度再偏一点，他的脖子就会摔断了。”

Hummin said, "What kind of a mathematician are you?"

夫铭说：“你究竟是哪门子数学家？”

"A Heliconian one." He stooped to pick up the knife and, after examining it, said, "Disgusting……and deadly."

“赫利肯数学家。”他弯腰拾起那把刀子，检视了一下，又说，“真可恶，而且能要命。”

Hummin said, "An ordinary blade would do the job without requiring a power source.……But lets let these two go. I doubt they want to continue any further."

夫铭说：“普通利刃就能要命，根本无需加装动力源……不过，让我们放这两个走吧，我不信他们还想继续打下去。”

He released Marbie, who rubbed first his shoulder then his neck. Gasping for air, he turned hate-filled eyes on the two men.

他松开马毕。马毕先搓搓肩膀，再揉揉脖子，然后大口喘着气，以怨毒的目光望着他们两人。

Hummin said sharply, "You two had better get out of here. Otherwise well have to give evidence against you for assault and attempted murder. This knife can surely be traced to you."

夫铭厉声道：“你们两个最好马上滚。否则我们将提出证据，控告你们伤害和谋杀未遂。从这把刀一定就能追查到你们。”

Seldon and Hummin watched while Marbie dragged Alem to his feet and then helped him stagger away, still bent in pain. They looked back once or twice, but Seldon and Hummin watched impassively.

在谢顿与夫铭的注视下，马毕将艾连拖起来，再扶着直不起腰的他蹒跚离去。他们曾经回头望了一两眼，谢顿与夫铭则回敬以平静的眼神。

Seldon held out his hand. "How do I thank you for coming to the aid of a stranger against two attackers? I doubt I would have been able to handle them both on my own."

谢顿伸出手来。“你我素昧平生，你却帮助我对付两个人的攻击，我该怎样感谢你？我真怀疑自己能否应付他们两个。”

Hummin raised his hand in a deprecatory manner. "I wasn't afraid of them. Theyre just street-brawling lackeys. All I had to do was get my hands on them……and yours, too, of course."

夫铭举起一只手，做了一个不表赞同的手势。“我并不怕他们，他们不过是专门在街头闹事的奴才。我需要做的，只是把双手放在他们身上……当然啦，你也一样。”

"Thats a pretty deadly grip you have," Seldon mused.

“你那一抓可真要命。”谢顿回想起刚才的情形。

Hummin shrugged. "You too." Then, without changing his tone of voice, he said, "Come on, wed better get out of here. Were wasting time."

夫铭耸了耸肩。“你也不简单。”然后，他以完全相同的语调说，“来吧，我们最好离开这里。我们正在浪费时间。”

Seldon said, "Why do we have to get away? Are you afraid those two will come back?"

谢顿问道：“我们何必离开？你怕那两个人会回来吗？”

"Not in their lifetime. But some of those brave people who cleared out of the park so quickly in their eagerness to spare themselves a disagreeable sight may have alerted the police."

“他们一辈子都不敢再来。不过，那些为了避免撞见不愉快的场面，而从公园慌忙溜走的勇士，其中可能有人报了警。”

"Fine. We have the hoodlums names. And we can describe them fairly well."

“很好。我们知道那两个小流氓的名字，也能详细描述他们的长相。”

"Describe them? Why would the police want them?"

“描述他们的长相？警方有什么理由抓他们？”

"They committed an assault……"

“他们犯了蓄意伤害……”

"Dont be foolish. We don't have a scratch. Theyre virtually hospital bait, especially Alem. Were the ones who will be charged."

“别傻了。我们连一点擦伤也没有，他们却要在医院躺几天，尤其是那个艾连。会被起诉的是我们两个。”

"But thats impossible. Those people witnessed the fact that……"

“但这是不可能的。目睹事件经过的那些人……”

"No people will be called.……Seldon, get this into your head. Those two came to find you……specifically you. They were told you were wearing Heliconian clothes and you must have been described precisely. Perhaps they were even shown a holograph. I suspect they were sent by the people who happen to control the police, so lets not wait any longer."

“警方不会传唤任何人……谢顿，把这点装进你脑子里。那两个是来找你的，专门来找你的。有人告诉他们说你穿着赫利肯服装，而且一定将你描述得很准确，也许还让他们看过你的全息像。我怀疑派他们来的，就是控制警方的那些人，所以我们别再待下去。”

Hummin hurried off, his hand gripping Seldons upper arm. Seldon found the grip impossible to shake and, feeling like a child in the hands of an impetuous nurse, followed.

夫铭伸手抓住谢顿的上臂，匆忙迈开脚步。谢顿发觉无法摆脱他的掌握，感到自己好像一个小孩，落在一名鲁莽的保姆手中，只好乖乖跟他走。

They plunged into an arcade and, before Seldons eyes grew accustomed to the dimmer light, they heard the burring sound of a ground-cars brakes.

他们冲进一条拱廊，而在谢顿的眼睛尚未适应较暗的光线时，便传来一辆地面车的隆隆刹车声。

"There they are," muttered Hummin. "Faster, Seldon." They hopped onto a moving corridor and lost themselves in the crowd.

“他们来了。”夫铭低声道，“谢顿，快点。”他们跳上一道活动回廊，消失在拥挤的人群中。

Seldon had tried to persuade Hummin to take him to his hotel room, but Hummin would have none of that.

谢顿曾试图说服夫铭带他回下榻的旅馆，可是夫铭不肯答应。

"Are you mad?" he half-whispered. "Theyll be waiting for you there."

“你疯了吗？”他以近乎耳语的音量说，“他们正在那里等你。”

"But all my belongings are waiting for me there too."

“可是我所有的家当也在那里等我。”

"Theyll just have to wait."

“只好让它们等一阵子了。”

And now they were in a small room in a pleasant apartment structure that might be anywhere for all that Seldon could tell. He looked about the one-room unit. Most of it was taken up by a desk and chair, a bed, and a computer outlet. There were no dining facilities or washstand of any kind, though Hummin had directed him to a communal washroom down the hall. Someone had entered before Seldon was quite through. He had cast one brief and curious look at Seldons clothes, rather than at Seldon himself, and had then looked away.

此刻他们待在一栋公寓的一间小房间里。这是一栋优雅宜人的公寓，不过谢顿对它的位置没有丝毫概念。他环顾这个仅有一房的居住单位，一张书桌、一把椅子、一张床铺，以及一套电脑终端机，占据了绝大部分的空间。房间里没有用餐设备，也没有任何盥洗台，不过夫铭曾带他到走廊尽头的公用盥洗间。当谢顿快出来的时候，刚好有另一个人进去，他没有怎么注意谢顿本人，却对谢顿的衣着投以短暂而好奇的目光，然后就别过脸去。

Seldon mentioned this to Hummin, who shook his head and said, "Well have to get rid of your clothes. Too bad Helicon is so far out of fashion……"

谢顿向夫铭提起这件事，后者摇了摇头，说道：“我们得把你这身衣服换掉。都怪赫利肯那么跟不上流行……”

Seldon said impatiently, "How much of this might just be your imagination, Hummin? Youve got me half-convinced and yet it may be merely a kind of……of……"

谢顿不耐烦地说：“夫铭，整件事有多少可能只是你的幻想？你让我相信了一半，但它或许只是一种……一种……”

"Are you groping for the word paranoia?"

“你是不是想说‘妄想症’？”

"All right, I am. This may be some strange paranoid notion of yours."

“好吧，没错。一切都可能只是你的古怪妄想。”

Hummin said, "Think about it, will you? I cant argue it out mathematically, but youve seen the Emperor. don't deny it. He wanted something from you and you didn't give it to him. don't deny that either. I suspect that details of the future are what he wants and you refused. Perhaps Demerzel thinks youre only pretending not to have the details……that youre holding out for a higher price or that someone else is bidding for it too. Who knows? I told you that if Demerzel wants you, hell get you wherever you are. I told you that before those two splitheads ever appeared on the scene. Im a journalist and a Trantorian. I know how these things go. At one point, Alem said, Hes the one we want. Do you remember that?"

夫铭说：“动动脑筋，好不好？我不能用数学方法做出论证，可是你见过大帝，别否认这一点。他要从你那里得到些什么，而你并没有给他，这点也别否认。我猜想他要的就是有关未来的详情，而你拒绝了。也许丹莫刺尔认为，你只是假装并未掌握详情……你是在待价而沽，或是其他人也在收买你。谁知道呢？我告诉过你，如果丹莫刺尔想要你，不论你到天涯海角也会被他找到。在那两个没脑袋的家伙出场之前，我就对你那么说了。我是一名记者，同时也是川陀人，我知道这种事会如何发展。在某个节骨眼，艾连曾说‘他就是我们要找的人’，你还记得吗？”

"As it happens," said Seldon. "I do."

“我刚好记得。”谢顿答道。

"To him I was only the other motherlackey to be kept off, while he went about the real job of assaulting you."

“对他而言，我只是个碍事的‘他妈的奴才’，而他只顾进行真正的任务，那就是攻击你。”

Hummin sat down in the chair and pointed to the bed. "Stretch out, Seldon. Make yourself comfortable. Whoever sent those two……it must have been Demerzel, in my opinion……can send others, so well have to get rid of those clothes of yours. I think any other Heliconian in this sector caught in his own worlds garb is going to have trouble until he can prove he isn't you."

夫铭坐到椅子上，指着床铺说：“谢顿，舒展一下四肢，尽量放轻松点。那两个人不论是谁派来的……我看，一定就是丹莫刺尔……他还会派其他人来，所以我们得把你这身衣服换掉。我想本区其他赫利肯人被撞见时，若是刚好穿着母星服装，就一定会惹上一场麻烦，直到他能证明他不是你。”

"Oh come on."

“喔，得了吧。”

"I mean it. Youll have to take off the clothes and well have to atomize them……if we can get close enough to a disposal unit without being seen. And before we can do that Ill have to get you a Trantorian outfit. Youre smaller than I am and Ill take that into account. It wont matter if it doesnt fit exactly……"

“我没有开玩笑。你一定要把这身衣服脱掉，然后我们必须把它原子化……只要我们能偷偷接近一台废物处理器。在此之前，我得先帮你找一套川陀服装。你的体型比我小，我会考虑到这点。即使不完全合身也没关系……”

Seldon shook his head. "I don't have the credits to pay for it. Not on me. What credits I have……and they aren't much……are in my hotel safe."

谢顿摇了摇头。“我没有信用点付账，没带在身上。我所有的信用点……其实也没多少……全都在旅馆的保险箱里。”

"Well worry about that another time. Youll have to stay here for an hour or two while I go out in search of the necessary clothing."

“这点我们改天再说。当我出去张罗必要的衣物时，你得在这里待上一两个钟头。”

Seldon spread his hands and sighed resignedly. "All right. If its that important, Ill stay."

谢顿摊开双手，叹了一声表示让步。“好吧。果真那么重要，我就待着吧。”

"You wont try to get back to your hotel? Word of honor?"

“你不会试图溜回旅馆吧？荣誉担保？”

"My word as a mathematician. But Im really embarrassed by all the trouble youre taking for me. And expense too. After all, despite all this talk about Demerzel, they werent really out to hurt me or carry me off. All I was threatened with was the removal of my clothes."

“我以数学家的荣誉担保。可是我给你惹了这么多麻烦，还要让你为我破费，我真觉得过意不去。毕竟，虽然你把丹莫刺尔说得那么厉害，他们并未真正想伤害我或把我带走。我受到的威胁，只是险些被扒光了衣服。”

"Not all. They were also going to take you to the spaceport and put you on a hypership to Helicon."

“不只如此。他们还想押你到太空航站，把你送进一艘飞往赫利肯的超空间飞船。”

"That was a silly threat……not to be taken seriously."

“那是个愚蠢的威胁，我们不必认真。”

"Why not?"

“为什么？”

"Im going to Helicon. I told them so. Im going tomorrow."

“我马上就要回赫利肯。我告诉过他们，明天就会动身。”

"And you still plan to go tomorrow?" asked Hummin.

“你仍然打算明天走吗？”夫铭问。

"Certainly. Why not?"

“当然啦。有何不可？”

"There are enormous reasons why not."

“不可的原因多得很。”

Seldon suddenly felt angry. "Come on, Hummin, I cant play this game any further. Im finished here and I want to go home. My tickets are in the hotel room. Otherwise Id try to exchange them for a trip today. I mean it."

谢顿突然感到不太高兴。“得了吧，夫铭，我不能再玩这种游戏。我的事情办完了，现在想要回家去。我的旅票在旅馆房间里，否则我会试图把行程改成今天，我是说真的。”

"You cant go back to Helicon."

“你不能回赫利肯。”

Seldon flushed. "Why not? Are they waiting for me there too?"

谢顿涨红了脸。“为什么不能？他们也在那里等我吗？”

Hummin nodded. "Dont fire up, Seldon. They would be waiting for you there too. Listen to me. If you go to Helicon, you are as good as in Demerzels hands. Helicon is good, safe Imperial territory. Has Helicon ever rebelled, ever fallen into step behind the banner of an anti-Emperor?"

夫铭点了点头。“别发火，谢顿，他们一定也会在那里等你。听我说，如果你回到赫利肯，等于落入丹莫刺尔的手掌心。赫利肯是个忠实可靠的帝国领域，它曾经叛变吗？曾经追随过反帝旗帜吗？”

"No, it hasnt……and for good reason. Its surrounded by larger worlds. It depends on the Imperial peace for security."

“没有，从来没有，而且理由充分。它周遭都是较强大的世界，需要帝国的和平以确保它的安全。”

"Exactly! Imperial forces on Helicon can therefore count on the full cooperation of the local government. You would be under constant surveillance at all times. Any time Demerzel wants you, he will be able to have you. And, except for the fact that I am now warning you, you would have no knowledge of this and you would be working in the open, filled with a false security."

“正是这样！因此赫利肯上的帝国军队能获得当地政府的全面合作，你将时时刻刻受到严密监视。丹莫刺尔不论何时想要你，都有办法把你找出来。而且，要不是我现在警告你，你对这件事根本毫不知情，你会一直公开活动，一心以为安全无虞。”

"Thats ridiculous. If he wanted me in Helicon, why didn't he simply leave me to myself? I was going there tomorrow. Why would he send those two hoodlums simply to hasten the matter by a few hours and risk putting me on my guard?"

“实在是荒谬。假如他希望我待在赫利肯，何不干脆让我自行离去？反正我明天就要走了。他为什么要派两个小流氓来，只为了让这件事提早几小时，却冒着让我提高警觉的危险？”

"Why should he think you would be put on your guard? He didn't know Id be with you, immersing you in what you call my paranoia."

“他怎么想得到你会提高警觉？他不知道我会跟你在一起，对你灌输一些你所谓的妄想。”

"Even without the question of warning me, why all the fuss to hurry me by a few hours?"

“即使他们不担心我会提高警觉，但如此大费周章，让我提早几小时动身又是为什么？”

"Perhaps because he was afraid you would change your mind."

“或许因为他担心你会改变主意。”

"And go where, if not home? If he could pick me up on Helicon, he could pick me up anywhere. He could pick me up on……on Anacreon, a good ten thousand parsecs away……if it should fall into my head to go there. Whats distance to hyperspatial ships? Even if I find a world thats not quite as subservient to the Imperial forces as Helicon is, what world is in actual rebellion? The Empire is at peace. Even if some worlds are still resentful of injustices in the past, none are going to defy the Imperial armed forces to protect me. Moreover, anywhere but on Helicon I wont be a local citizen and there wont even be that matter of principle to help keep the Empire at bay."

“不回家的话，我又到哪里去？如果他能在赫利肯抓到我，我到任何地方都照样逃不掉。比方说，他能在……在足足一万秒差距外的安纳克里昂把我抓到……假使我竟然异想天开躲到那里。对超空间飞船而言，距离又算什么呢？即使我找到一个世界，它不像赫利肯那样对帝国军队百依百顺，又有哪个世界真正在造反呢？帝国目前处于太平时期，即使有些世界对过去的不公仍旧忿忿不平，却没有一个会为了保护我而招惹帝国的武装部队。更何况，除了赫利肯，我在其他地方都不具公民身份，它们根本没有义务阻止帝国对我的搜捕。”

Hummin listened patiently, nodding slightly, but looking as grave and as imperturbable as ever. He said, "Youre right, as far as you go, but theres one world that is not really under the Emperors control. That, I think, is what must be disturbing Demerzel."

夫铭一直耐心倾听，不时轻轻地点点头，但他依旧保持严肃而镇静的神情。“目前为止你说得都对，可是有个世界并非真正在皇帝控制之下。这一点，我想，一定就是丹莫刺尔寝食难安的原因。”

Seldon thought a while, reviewing recent history and finding himself unable to choose a world on which the Imperial forces might be helpless. He said at last, "What world is that?"

谢顿想了一会儿，将近代史回顾一番，怎么也想不出有哪个世界会令帝国军队束手无策。最后他只好问：“究竟是哪个世界？”

Hummin said, "Youre on it, which is what makes the matter so dangerous in Demerzels eyes, I imagine. It is not so much that he is anxious to have you go to Helicon, as that he is anxious to have you leave Trantor before it occurs to you, for any reason……even if only tourists mania……to stay."

夫铭说：“就是你脚下这个世界，我猜正是因为这个缘故，丹莫刺尔才会觉得情况那么危急。与其说他急着要你回赫利肯，不如说他急着要你尽快离开川陀，以免你突然又想留下来……不论理由为何，哪怕只是留恋此地的风光。”

The two men sat in silence until Seldon finally said sardonically, "Trantor! The capital of the Empire, with the home base of the fleet on a space station in orbit about it, with the best units of the army quartered here. If you believe that it is Trantor that is the safe world, youre progressing from paranoia to outright fantasy."

两人默默对坐了一阵子，最后谢顿终于以讥讽的口吻说：“川陀！帝国的首都，它的轨道太空站中有舰队的大本营，地面还驻扎有最精锐的部队。假如你相信川陀就是那个安全的世界，你的妄想症就已经进展到彻底的幻想。”

"No! Youre an Outworlder, Seldon. You don't know what Trantor is like. Its forty billion people and there are few other worlds with even a tenth of its population. It is of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Where we are now is the Imperial Sector……with the highest standard of living in the Galaxy and populated entirely by Imperial functionaries. Elsewhere on the planet, however, are over eight hundred other sectors, some of them with subcultures totally different from what we have here and most of them untouchable by Imperial forces."

“不！谢顿，你是一名外星人士。你不知道川陀是什么样子。它拥有四百亿人口，放眼银河，人口数目是它十分之一的世界都不多。它有着难以想象的科技和文化复杂度。我们现在位于皇区，这里的生活水准是全银河之冠，居民则全部是帝国的大小官员。然而，在这颗行星上，总共有超过八百个行政区，某些区的亚文化和我们这里完全不同，而且大多不是帝国军队能掌控的。”

"Why untouchable?"

“为什么不能掌控？”

"The Empire cannot seriously exert force against Trantor. To do so would be bound to shake some facet or other of the technology on which the whole planet depends. The technology is so interrelated that to snap one of the interconnections is to cripple the whole. Believe me, Seldon, we on Trantor observe what happens when there is an earthquake that manages to escape being damped out, a volcanic eruption that is not vented in time, a storm that is not defused, or just some human error that escapes notice. The planet totters and every effort must be made to restore the balance at once."

“帝国不能真正对川陀动用武力。这么做的话，一定会动摇某个科技层面。那些科技都是整个行星命脉所系，相互间有千丝万缕的关系，弄断任何一个联系，都会令科技整个瘫痪。相信我，谢顿，我们住在川陀的人都目睹过这种情形，例如一场未能成功缓解的地震、一次未曾及时疏导的火山爆发、一阵没有预先消灭的暴风，或者只是一个没人留意的人为错误。发生这些天灾人祸之后，这颗行星立刻摇摇欲坠，必须尽一切力量立刻恢复原有的平衡。”

"I have never heard of such a thing."

“我从未听过这种事。”

A small smile flickered its way across Hummins face. "Of course not. Do you want the Empire to advertise the weakness at its core? However, as a journalist, I know what happens even when the Outworlds dont, even when much of Trantor itself doesnt, even when the Imperial pressure is interested in concealing events. Believe me! The Emperor knows……and Eto Demerzel knows……even if you dont, that to disturb Trantor may destroy the Empire."

夫铭脸上闪过一丝笑容。“当然没有。你想要帝国大肆宣传核心深处的脆弱吗？然而，身为一名记者，即使外星人士不清楚，即使川陀大多数人蒙在鼓里，即使帝国当局尽力隐瞒真相，我却对这种情形一清二楚。相信我！虽然你不晓得，但是大帝心里明白，丹莫刺尔也知道……侵扰川陀就有可能摧毁整个帝国。”

"Then are you suggesting I stay on Trantor for that reason?"

“那么，你因此建议我留在川陀？”

"Yes. I can take you to a place on Trantor where you will be absolutely safe from Demerzel. You wont have to change your name and you will be able to operate entirely in the open and he wont be able to touch you. Thats why he wanted to force you off Trantor at once and if it hadn't been for the quirk of fate that brought us together and for your surprising ability to defend yourself, he would have succeeded in doing so."

“没错。我可以带你到一个地方，你在那里将会绝对安全，不必担心丹莫刺尔。你不用改名换姓，完全可以公开活动，他却对你无可奈何，这就是他想逼你立刻离开川陀的原因。若非命运之神把我们拉到一块，你又有出人意表的自卫本领，他的计划已经成功了。”

"But how long will I have to remain on Trantor?"

“可是我得在川陀待多久呢？”

"For as long as your safety requires it, Seldon. For the rest of your life, perhaps."

“视你的安全情况而定，谢顿，该多久就多久。或许，你一辈子都不能再离开。”

Hari Seldon looked at the holograph of himself cast by Hummins projector. It was more dramatic and useful than a mirror would have been. In fact, it seemed as though there were two of him in the room.

哈里·谢顿望着自己的全息像，那是由夫铭的投影机投射出来的。这要比照镜子更醒目、更实用。事实上，现在房间里仿佛有两个谢顿。

Seldon studied the sleeve of his new tunic. His Heliconian attitudes made him wish the colors were less vibrant, but he was thankful that, as it was, Hummin had chosen softer colors than were customary here on this world. (Seldon thought of the clothing worn by their two assailants and shuddered inwardly.)

谢顿仔细打量这件崭新短袖袍的袖子。赫利肯心态使他希望色调最好再朴素点，但他还是谢天谢地，因为夫铭选的颜色已经比这个世界流行的要柔和了些。谢顿想到那两个小流氓的穿着，心中便打了一个寒颤。

He said, "And I suppose I must wear this hat."

他说：“我想我得戴上这顶帽子。”

"In the Imperial Sector, yes. To go bareheaded here is a sign of low breeding. Elsewhere, the rules are different."

“在皇区的确如此，在这里，不戴帽子是没教养的象征。至于其他地方，礼俗则各有不同。”

Seldon sighed. The round hat was made of soft material and molded itself to his head when he put it on. The brim was evenly wide all around, but it was narrower than on the hats his attackers had worn. Seldon consoled himself by noticing that when he wore the hat the brim curved rather gracefully.

谢顿叹了一口气。这顶圆帽以柔软的材料制成，戴上后会根据他的头型自动调整。整圈帽檐都一样宽，但比那两个小流氓的帽檐窄些。谢顿注意到戴上帽子后，帽檐弯成一个优雅的弧度，这令他感到十分欣慰。

It doesnt have a strap under the chin.

“它没有系在下巴底下的帽带。”

"Of course not. Thats advanced fashion for young lanks."

“当然没有。那是年轻叛客最前卫的流行。”

"For young what?"

“年轻什么？”

"A lank is someone who wears things for their shock value. Im sure you have such people on Helicon."

“叛客是指为了惊世骇俗而穿戴某些衣饰的人，我确信你们赫利肯也有这种人。”

Seldon snorted. "There are those who wear their hair shoulder-length on one side and shave the other." He laughed at the memory.

谢顿哼了一声。“有些人把一边头发留到齐肩的长度，却把另外一边剃光。”想到那种发型，他不禁大笑几声。

Hummins mouth twisted slightly. "I imagine it looks uncommonly ugly."

夫铭的嘴角微微撇了一下。“我想那一定难看极了。”

"Worse. There are lefties and righties, apparently, and each finds the other version highly offensive. The two groups often engage in street brawls."

“还有更糟的呢。他们显然还分左派和右派，双方都无法忍受对方的发型，两派经常在街头大打出手。”

"Then I think you can stand the hat, especially without the strap."

“那么我想你应该能忍受这顶帽子，何况它还没有帽带。”

Seldon said, "Ill get used to it."

谢顿说：“我会习惯的。”

"It will attract some attention. Its subdued for one thing and makes you look as if youre in mourning. And it doesnt quite fit. Then, too, you wear it with obvious discomfort. However, we wont be in the Imperial Sector long.……Seen enough?" And the holograph flickered out.

“它会吸引一些注意。一来是它的颜色太素，让你看来像是正在服丧，二来大小也不顶合适。此外，你戴起来显然很不舒服。然而，我们不会在皇区待太久……看够了吗？”全息像立时消失无踪。

Seldon said, "How much did this cost you?"

谢顿问道：“这总共花了你多少钱？”

"Whats the difference?"

“有什么关系吗？”

"It bothers me to be in your debt."

“欠你的钱令我不安。”

"Dont worry about it. This is my choice. But weve been here long enough. I will have been described, Im quite certain. Theyll track me down and theyll come here."

“别为这种事烦心，这是我自己的选择。不过我们在这里待得够久了，会有人把我报上去，这点我相当确定。他们会一路追踪我，最后找到这里来。”

"In that case," said Seldon, "the credits youre spending are a minor matter. Youre putting yourself into personal danger on my account. Personal danger!"

“这样的话，”谢顿说，“你花费的信用点就微不足道了。你为了我而令自己身陷险境，身陷险境！”

"I know that. But its my free choice and I can take care of myself."

“我知道。但这是出于我的自由意志，而且我能照顾自己。”

"But why……"

“可是为什么……”

"Well discuss the philosophy of it later.……Ive atomized your clothes, by the way, and I don't think I was seen. There was an energy surge, of course, and that would be recorded. Someone might guess what happened from that……its hard to obscure any action when probing eyes and mind are sharp enough. However, let us hope well be safely away before they put it all together."

“以后我们再来讨论其中的道理吧……对了，我已经把你的衣服原子化，我想并没有被人看见。当然，出现了一道能量涌浪，那是会留下记录的。有人可能会根据这点猜到是怎么回事……在锐利的耳目窥探之下，实在很难掩饰所有的行动。然而，希望在他们将一切拼凑起来之前，我们已经安然离开此地。”

They traveled along walkways where the light was soft and yellow. Hummins eyes moved this way and that, watchful, and he kept their pace at crowd speed, neither passing nor being passed.

他们沿着人行道往前走，四周是柔和而昏黄的光线。夫铭一直警觉地将眼珠转来转去，并刻意让他们的步调与人群保持一致，既没有超越他人，也没有被人超过。

He kept up a mild but steady conversation on indifferent topics.

他不断找些无关的话题，有一句没一句地闲聊着。

Seldon, edgy and unable to do the same, said, "There seems to be a great deal of walking here. There are endless lines in both directions and along the crossovers."

心浮气躁的谢顿无法那么镇定，他说：“这里的人似乎很喜欢步行，来往方向的人行道和天桥上都是无尽的人潮。”

"Why not?" said Hummin. "Walking is still the best form of short-distance transportation. Its the most convenient, the cheapest, and the most healthful. Countless years of technological advance have not changed that.……Are you acrophobic, Seldon?"

“有何不可？”夫铭说，“步行仍是短程交通的最佳方式，是最方便、最便宜，也是最健康的。无数年的科技进展也未曾改变这个事实。谢顿，你有恐高症吗？”

Seldon looked over the railing on his right into a deep declivity that separated the two walking lanes……each in an opposite direction between the regularly spaced crossovers. He shuddered slightly. "If you mean fear of heights, not ordinarily. Still, looking down isn't pleasant. How far does it go down?"

谢顿从右手边的栏杆看出去，下面是一道很深的斜坡，将两条人行道分隔开来……两者通行方向相反，每隔固定距离设有一座天桥。他不禁有点发抖。“你若是指害怕站在高处，我通常不会。话说回来，往下看还是不怎么好玩。下面有多深？”

"Forty or fifty levels at this point, I think. This sort of thing is common in the Imperial Sector and a few other highly developed regions. In most places, one walks at what might be considered ground level."

“这里，我想大概四十到五十层吧。在皇区以及其他一些高度发展的区域，这种设施都很常见。在大部分地区，人们则在所谓的地面上行走。”

"I should imagine this would encourage suicide attempts."

“我有一种想法，这会鼓励人们萌生自杀的念头。”

"Not often. There are far easier methods. Besides, suicide is not a matter of social obloquy on Trantor. One can end ones life by various recognized methods in centers that exist for the purpose……if one is willing to go through some psychotherapy at first. There are, occasional accidents, for that matter, but thats not why I was asking about acrophobia. Were heading for a taxi rental where they know me as a journalist. Ive done favors for them occasionally and sometimes they do favors for me in return. Theyll forget to record me and wont notice that I have a companion. Of course, Ill have to pay a premium and, again of course, if Demerzels people lean on them hard enough, theyll have to tell the truth and put it down to slovenly accounting, but that may take considerable time."

“很少有这种事。想自杀，还有简单得多的方法。此外在川陀，自杀并非不容于社会的行为。在一些特定的中心，有种种被认可的方法供人结束性命……只要你愿意先花点时间，接受一下心理治疗。至于意外，偶尔也会发生几桩，但这并不是我问你有没有恐高症的原因。我们正要去租车站，那里的人知道我是记者。我偶尔会帮他们一些忙，有时他们也会回报我一下。他们会忘记把我记录下来，也不会注意到我有个同伴。当然，我得付一笔钱。而且理所当然，若是丹莫刺尔的手下逼得太凶，他们还是得吐露实情，推说那是因为会计过于马虎，但那可能会耗去不少时间。”

"Where does the acrophobia come in?"

“这和恐高症又有什么关系？”

"Well, we can get there a lot faster if we use a gravitic lift. Not many people use it and I must tell you that Im not overjoyed at the idea myself, but if you think you can handle it, we had better."

“嗯，如果我们利用重力升降机，可以节省很多时间。没有多少人利用这种设备，而且我必须告诉你，我自己也不太喜欢这个主意。但如果你自认应付得了，我们最好还是这么做。”

"Whats a gravitic lift?"

“什么是重力升降机？”

"Its experimental. The time may come when it will be widespread over Trantor, provided it becomes psychologically acceptable……or can be made so to enough people. Then, maybe, it will spread to other worlds too. Its an elevator shaft without an elevator cab, so to speak. We just step into empty space and drop slowly……or rise slowly……under the influence of antigravity. Its about the only application of antigravity thats been established so far, largely because its the simplest possible application."

“它还在实验阶段。也许有一天会普及川陀，只要大众在心理上能够接受，或说至少能让足够多的人接受。到那个时候，或许它也会流传到其他世界。这么说吧，它是一种没有升降舱的升降通道。我们只要走进空洞的空间，就会在反重力作用下缓缓坠落，或是缓缓上升。直到目前为止，它大概是应用反重力的唯一装置，主要是因为这是最简单的一种应用。”

"What happens if the power blinks out while were in transit?"

“我们在半空的时候，万一动力突然消失，会怎么样？”

"Exactly what you would think. We fall and……unless were quite near the bottom to begin with……we die. I haven't heard of it happening yet and, believe me, if it had happened I would know. We might not be able to give out the news for security reasons……thats the excuse they always advance for hiding bad news……but I would know. Its just up ahead. If you cant manage it, we wont do it, but the corridors are slow and tedious and many find them nauseating after a while."

“正如你所想的那样，我们会往下掉，除非当时相当接近底层，否则我们必死无疑。我未曾听说发生过这种事，相信我，要是发生过，我一定会知道。我们也许不能发布这种新闻，因为基于安全考量……那是他们隐藏坏消息的一贯借口……但我自己总有办法知道。它就在前面，你要是不能应付，我们就别去。可是活动回廊既缓慢又沉闷，很多人不一会儿就感到头昏。”

Hummin turned down a crossover and into a large recess where a line of men and women were waiting, one or two with children.

夫铭转进一座天桥，来到一个大型凹室，那里已经有些男男女女在排队等候，有一两位还带着小孩。

Seldon said in a low voice, "I heard nothing of this back home. Of course, our own news media are terribly local, but youd think thered be some mention that this sort of thing exists."

谢顿压低声音说：“我在家乡从未听过这种东西。当然，我们的媒体过分注重地方新闻，可是想来总该提提这种东西的存在吧。”

Hummin said. "Its strictly experimental and is confined to the Imperial Sector. It uses more energy than its worth, so the government is not really anxious to push it right now by giving it publicity. The old Emperor, Stanel VI, the one before Cleon who amazed everyone by dying in his bed, insisted on having it installed in a few places. He wanted his name associated with antigravity, they say, because he was concerned with his place in history, as old men of no great attainments frequently are. As I said, the technique may spread, but, on the other hand, it is possible that nothing much more than the gravitic lift will ever come of it."

夫铭说：“这纯粹是实验性的设施，而且仅限于皇区。它使用的能量不敷成本，因此政府并不急于推广，不想过早公诸于世。是克里昂之前的那位老皇帝……斯达涅尔五世，他能寿终正寝令大家难以置信……他坚持要在几个地方装设这种升降机。据说，他是想让自己的名字和反重力连在一起，因为他很在乎自己在历史上的地位，这是没什么成就的老人常有的心态。正如我所说，这种科技将来可能广为流传，不过，反之，也有可能除了升降机之外，不会再有任何应用。”

"What do they want to come of it?" asked Seldon.

“他们还希望有什么应用？”谢顿问道。

"Antigrav spaceflight. That, however, will require many breakthroughs and most physicists, as far as I know, are firmly convinced it is out of the question. But, then, most thought that even gravitic lifts were out of the question."

“反重力太空飞行。然而，那需要很多的技术性突破。据我所知，大多数物理学家坚决相信绝无可能……话说回来，当初，他们大多认为连重力升降机都绝无可能。”

The line ahead was rapidly growing shorter and Seldon found himself standing with Hummin at the edge of the floor with an open gap before him. The air ahead faintly glittered. Automatically, he reached out his hand and felt a light shock. It didn't hurt, but he snatched his hand back quickly.

前面的队伍很快变得越来越短，谢顿发现已经与夫铭站在地板边缘。前方是一道开阔的隙缝，那里的空气发出微微闪光。他自然而然伸出手去，感到一阵轻微的电击。虽然不算痛，但他还是迅速缩回手来。

Hummin grunted. "An elementary precaution to prevent anyone walking over the edge before activating the controls." He punched some numbers on the control board and the glitter vanished.

夫铭咕哝道：“这是基本的防范措施，以防任何人在控制钮开启前越过界限。”他在控制板上按下几个数字，闪光随即消失无踪。

Seldon peered over the edge, down the deep shaft.

谢顿站在边缘往下望，下面是一条深邃的升降通道。

You might find it better……or easier, said Hummin, "if we link arms and if you close your eyes. It wont take more than a few seconds."

“如果我们勾着手臂，你再把眼睛闭起来，”夫铭说，“也许你会觉得比较好，比较容易。顶多只有几秒钟时间。”

He gave Seldon no choice, actually. He took his arm and once again there was no hanging back in that firm grip. Hummin stepped into nothingness and Seldon (who heard himself, to his own embarrassment, emit a small squeak) shuffled off with a lurch.

事实上，他令谢顿毫无选择余地。一旦被他紧紧抓住手臂，谢顿又和上次一样无法挣脱。夫铭向一片虚空走去，谢顿（他听见自己发出一小声尖叫，感到很不好意思）拖着踉跄的脚步尾随在后。

He closed his eyes tightly and experienced no sense of falling, no feeling of air movement. A few seconds passed and he was pulled forward. He tripped slightly, caught his balance, and found himself on solid ground.

他紧闭双眼，并未体会到降落的感觉，也未曾察觉空气的流动。几秒钟之后，他被一股力量往前拉，赶紧迈出一步才恢复平衡，此时他已再度脚踏实地。

He opened his eyes, "Did we make it?"

他张开眼睛。“我们成功了吗？”

Hummin said dryly, "Were not dead," then walked away, his grip forcing Seldon to follow.

夫铭冷冷地说：“我们没有死。”然后便往前走，被他抓着的谢顿只好亦步亦趋。

"I mean, did we get to the right level?"

“我的意思是，我们到达那层了吗？”

"Of course."

“当然。”

"What would have happened if we were dropping down and someone else was moving upward?"

“如果我们落下的时候，正好有人上升，会发生什么事？”

"There are two separate lanes. In one lane everyone drops at the same speed; in the other everyone rises at the same speed. The shaft clears only when there are no people within ten meters of each other. There is no chance of a collision if all works well."

“共有两条不同的路径。其中一条路径，大家以相同的速率下落，另一条中的人则以相同的速率上升。在每个人至少相隔十米的前提下，升降通道才能出入。如果一切运作正常，不可能有相撞的机会。”

"I didn't feel a thing."

“我一点感觉都没有。”

"Why should you? There was no acceleration. After the first tenth of a second, you were at constant speed and the air in your immediate vicinity was moving down with you at the same speed."

“为什么会有？根本没有加速度。除了最初的十分之一秒，你一直在进行等速运动，而你周遭的空气也是以同样速率跟你一起降落。”

"Marvelous."

“不可思议。”

"Absolutely. But uneconomic. And there seems no great pressure to increase the efficiency of the procedure and make it worthwhile. Everywhere one hears the same refrain. We cant do it. It cant be done. It applies to everything." Hummin shrugged in obvious anger and said, "But were here at the taxi rental. Lets get on with it."

“确实如此，可是并不经济。而且似乎没有多么迫切的需要，非得增进它的效率，让它变得真正实用不可。不论在何处，你都能听到同样的老调：‘我们做不到，那是不可能的。’这种话适用于任何事务。”夫铭耸耸肩，显然是动了气。“无论如何，我们总算到了租车站，让我们依计行事吧。”

Seldon tried to look inconspicuous at the air-taxi rental terminus, which he found difficult. To look ostentatiously inconspicuous……to slink about, to turn his face away from all who passed, to study one of the vehicles overintently……was surely the way to invite attention. The way to behave was merely to assume an innocent normality.

在飞车出租站，谢顿尽量让自己看来毫不起眼，结果发现实在很难。想要刻意做到不引人注目……行动躲躲藏藏、避开每个路人的目光、过分仔细研究某一辆车……一定反而吸引他人的注意。他真正需要做的，只是采取一种单纯而正常的态度。

But what was normality? He felt uncomfortable in his clothes. There were no pockets, so he had no place to put his hands. The two pouches, which dangled from his belt on either side, distracted him by hitting against him as he moved, so that he was continually thinking someone had nudged him.

可是什么才算正常呢？这身衣服让他觉得不舒服，它没有任何口袋，所以他的两只手没地方放。腰际两侧皮带上各垂挂着一个袋囊，走动时不断撞到他身上，令他心神涣散，总以为有人在旁边推他。

He tried looking at women as they passed. They had no pouches, at least none dangling, but they carried little boxlike affairs that they occasionally clipped to one hip or another by some device he could not make out. It was probably pseudomagnetic, he decided. Their clothes were not particularly revealing, he noted regretfully, and not one had any sign of d閏olletage, although some dresses seemed to be designed to emphasize the buttocks.

他试着去欣赏路过的女子。她们都没有那种袋囊，至少没有垂挂在外面。不过她们带着一种类似小盒子的物件，有些人将它粘在臀部一侧。谢顿看不出它是怎么粘上去的，也许是靠一种赝磁性装置吧，他这么判断。她们的服装并不特别暴露，注意到这点令他有些遗憾。此外，没有人穿着袒胸露背的衣服，虽说有些服饰的设计似乎刻意强调臀部曲线。

Meanwhile, Hummin had been very businesslike, having presented the necessary credits and returned with the superconductive ceramic tile that would activate a specific air-taxi.

与此同时，夫铭非常有效率地办完一切手续。他付了足够的信用点，换来一张启动某辆出租飞车的“超导陶片”。

Hummin said, "Get in, Seldon," gesturing to a small two-seated vehicle.

夫铭说：“谢顿，上去吧。”他指着一辆小型双座飞车。

Seldon asked, "Did you have to sign your name, Hummin?"

谢顿问道：“夫铭，刚才你需要签名吗？”

"Of course not. They know me here and don't stand on ceremony."

“当然不用。这里的人都认识我，不会坚持那些繁文缛节。”

"What do they think youre doing?"

“他们会认为你在做什么呢？”

"They didn't ask and I volunteered no information." He inserted the tile and Seldon felt a slight vibration as the air-taxi came to life.

“他们没问，我也没主动说明。”他把陶片插进去。出租飞车发动时，谢顿感到一阵轻微的振动。

Were headed for D-7, said Hummin, making conversation.

“我们要往‘丁七’飞去。”夫铭打开话匣子。

Seldon didn't know what D-7 was, but he assumed it meant some route or other.

谢顿不知道“丁七”是什么，但他猜想应该是指某种路线。

The air-taxi found its way past and around other ground-cars and finally moved onto a smooth upward-slanting track and gained speed. Then it lifted upward with a slight jolt.

出租飞车在其他地面车之间钻来钻去，最后终于来到一条平滑的斜坡路。然后飞车逐渐加速，在轻微颠簸中腾空而起。

Seldon, who had been automatically strapped in by a webbed restraint, felt himself pushed down into his seat and then up against the webbing.

一组网状安全带早已自动将谢顿捆住，这时他觉得一股力量先把自己推向座位，然后又向上推向那张网。

He said, "That didn't feel like antigravity."

他说：“感觉不像是反重力。”

"It wasnt," said Hummin. "That was a small jet reaction. Just enough to take us up to the tubes."

“的确不是。”夫铭说，“这是小型的喷气作用力，刚好足够把我们推进隧道。”

What appeared before them now looked like a cliff patterned with cave openings, much like a checkerboard. Hummin maneuvered toward the D-7 opening, avoiding other air-taxis that were heading for other tunnels.

此时出现在他们面前的，是一座看来像是断崖的结构，上面有许多类似洞穴的开口，远看活脱是个西洋棋盘。夫铭闪避着那些飞向其他隧道的出租飞车，一路向“丁七”入口飞去。

"You could crash easily," said Seldon, clearing his throat.

“你这样很容易撞毁的。”谢顿清了清喉咙才说。

"So I probably would if everything depended on my senses and reactions, but the taxi is computerized and the computer can overrule me without trouble. The same is true for the other taxis.……Here we go."

“假如一切依赖我的感觉和反应，那么或许如此，不过这辆出租飞车完全电脑化，电脑可以轻易强行接管。其他的出租飞车也一样……我们要进去了。”

They slid into D-7 as if they had been sucked in and the bright light of the open plaza outside mellowed, turning a warmer yellow hue.

他们滑进丁七隧道，仿佛是被它吸进去。光线不再像外面广场中那般明亮，变成较温暖、较柔和的黄色调。

Hummin released the controls and sat back. He drew a deep breath and said, "Well, thats one stage successfully carried through. We might have been stopped at the station. In here, were fairly safe."

夫铭双手离开控制板，身子向后仰。他深深吸了一口气，然后说：“好，我们已经成功闯过一关。刚才在车站，我们有可能被拦下来。在这里面，我们则相当安全。”

The ride was smooth and the walls of the tunnel slipped by rapidly. There was almost no sound, just a steady velvety whirr as the taxi sped along.

随着飞车一路平稳向前行驶，隧道内壁不断迅速向后掠去。沿途几乎完全寂静无声，只有飞车加速时发出的稳定轻柔的呼呼声。

How fast are we going? asked Seldon.

“我们的车速多少？”谢顿问道。

Hummin cast an eye briefly at the controls. "Three hundred and fifty kilometers per hour."

夫铭瞥了一眼控制板。“时速三百五十公里。”

"Magnetic propulsion?"

“磁力推进吗？”

"Yes. You have it on Helicon, I imagine."

“没错。我猜，你们赫利肯也有吧。”

"Yes. One line. Ive never been on it myself, though Ive always meant to. I don't think its anything like this."

“是的，是有一条。我从来没搭过，虽然一直想试试看。我想应该不会像这样吧。”

"Im sure it isn't . Trantor has many thousands of kilometers of these tunnels honeycombing the land subsurface and a number that snake under the shallower extensions of the ocean. Its the chief method of long-distance travel."

“我确定不会一样。像这样的隧道，川陀总共有好几万公里，像蚂蚁洞那样在地底钻来钻去，还有好些蔓延到较浅的海底。这是我们长途旅行的主要途径。”

"How long will it take us?"

“我们要走多久？”

"To reach our immediate destination? A little over five hours."

“到我们真正的目的地？五小时多一点。”

"Five hours!" Seldon was dismayed.

“五小时！”谢顿心都凉了。

"Dont be disturbed. We pass rest areas every twenty minutes or so where we can stop, pull out of the tunnel, stretch our feet, eat, or relieve ourselves. Id like to do that as few times as possible, of course."

“别担心。我们差不多每二十分钟会经过一处休息区，可以在那些地方停下来，把车子驶出隧道，伸伸腿，吃点东西，或是解个手。当然，我希望休息的次数愈少愈好。”

They continued on in silence for a while and then Seldon started when a blaze of light flared at their right for a few seconds and, in the flash, he thought he saw two air-taxis.

他们在沉默中继续前进，一会儿之后，右方出现一道强光，前后持续好几秒钟，令谢顿大吃一惊。一眨眼间，他认为自己看到了两辆出租飞车。

"That was a rest area," said Hummin in answer to the unspoken question.

“那就是休息区。”夫铭回答了谢顿心中的问题。

Seldon said, "Am I really going to be safe wherever it is you are taking me?"

谢顿说：“不论你要带我到哪儿去，我在那里真会安全吗？”

Hummin said, "Quite safe from any open movement on the part of the Imperial forces. Of course, when it comes to the individual operator……the spy, the agent, the hired assassin……one must always be careful. Naturally, I will supply you with a bodyguard."

夫铭说：“就帝国军警的任何公开行动而言，你都会相当安全。当然啦，至于单打独斗的人员……间谍、特务、职业杀手……则必须时刻提防。自然，我会帮你找个保镖。”

Seldon felt uneasy. "The hired assassin? Are you serious? Would they really want to kill me?"

谢顿感到相当不安。“职业杀手？你不是开玩笑吧？他们真会想杀我吗？”

Hummin said, "Im sure Demerzel doesnt. I suspect he wants to use you rather than kill you. Still, other enemies may turn up or there may be unfortunate concatenations of events. You cant go through life sleepwalking."

夫铭说：“我确定丹莫刺尔不会。据我猜想，他想利用你胜过想杀你。话说回来，或许会出现其他敌人，也可能会发生一连串不幸事件。你不能永远像梦游般过日子。”

Seldon shook his head and turned his face away. To think, only forty-eight hours ago he had been just an insignificant, virtually unknown Outworld mathematician, content only to spend his remaining time on Trantor sight-seeing, gazing at the enormity of the great world with his provincial eye. And now, it was finally sinking in: He was a wanted man, hunted by Imperial forces. The enormity of the situation seized him and he shuddered.

谢顿摇了摇头，别过脸去。想想看，仅仅四十八小时前，他还是个无足轻重、几乎无人知晓的外星数学家，只想在离开川陀前观光游览一番，以乡下眼光看看这个伟大世界的雄壮景观。而如今，情势终于明朗，他是帝国军警追捕的一名要犯。想到这种无比险恶的情势，他突然发起抖来。

"And what about you and what youre doing right now?"

“那么你呢，你现在又在做什么呢？”

Hummin said thoughtfully, "Well, they wont feel kindly toward me, I suppose. I might have my head laid open or my chest exploded by some mysterious and never-found assailant."

夫铭若有所思地说：“嗯，我想，他们不会对我仁慈的。可能会有个神秘而永远逍遥法外的凶手，迟早将我的头颅劈成两半，或者炸开我的胸膛。”

Hummin said it without a tremor in his voice or a change in his calm appearance, but Seldon winced.

夫铭的声调没有丝毫颤抖，冷静的表情也完全没有变化，但谢顿却心头一凛。

Seldon said, "I rather thought you would assume that might be in store for you. You don't seem to be……bothered by it."

谢顿说：“我也晓得你会料到可能惹祸上身。但你看来好像……一点也不在乎。”

"Im an old Trantorian. I know the planet as well as anybody can. I know many people and many of them are under obligation to me. I like to think that I am shrewd and not easy to outwit. In short, Seldon, I am quite confident that I can take care of myself."

“我是个老川陀，我对这颗行星的了解不输任何人。我认识很多朋友，有许多还欠我的情。我乐观地自认为很精明，不容易让人智取。简单地说，谢顿，我十分有信心，相信我能照顾自己。”

"Im glad you feel that way and I hope youre justified in thinking so, Hummin, but I cant get it through my head why youre taking this chance at all. What am I to you? Why should you take even the smallest risk for someone who is a stranger to you?"

“夫铭，我很高兴你有这种感觉，希望你这么想是有根据的。可是我怎么也想不通，你究竟为什么要冒这个险。我对你有什么意义？为了一个陌生人，即使一点点风险也不值得啊？”

Hummin checked the controls in a preoccupied manner and then he faced Seldon squarely, eyes steady and serious.

夫铭全神贯注地检查了一下控制板，然后与谢顿正面相对，露出坚定而认真的眼神。

"I want to save you for the same reason that the Emperor wants to use you……for your predictive powers."

“我想要搭救你的原因，和大帝想利用你是一样的……因为你有预测未来的能力。”

Seldon felt a deep pang of disappointment. This was not after all a question of being saved. He was merely the helpless and disputed prey of competing predators. He said angrily, "I will never live down that presentation at the Decennial Convention. I have ruined my life."

谢顿感到极度失望与痛心，原来自己并非被人搭救。他只不过是个无助的猎物，被众多猎食者竞相争逐。他气呼呼地说：“我再也不能像在十载会议上发表论文之前那样，我毁掉了自己的一生。”

"No. don't rush to conclusions, mathematician. The Emperor and his officers want you for one reason only, to make their own lives more secure. They are interested in your abilities only so far as they might be used to save the Emperors rule, preserve that rule for his young son, maintain the positions, status, and power of his officials. I, on the other hand, want your powers for the good of the Galaxy."

“不，数学家，别急着下结论。大帝和他的官员想得到你的原因只有一个，那就是让他们自己活得更安全。他们之所以对你的能力有兴趣，只是因为它或许能用来扶助大帝的统治，确保他的幼子得以继位，以及维系文武百官的地位和权势。然而，我想要你的力量，则是为了整个银河系着想。”

"Is there a distinction?" spat Seldon acidly.

“这两者有差别吗？”谢顿尖酸地斥道。

And Hummin replied with the stern beginning of a frown, "If you do not see the distinction, then that is to your shame. The human occupants of the Galaxy existed before this Emperor who now rules, before the dynasty he represents, before the Empire itself. Humanity is far older than the Empire. It may even be far older than the twenty-five million worlds of the Galaxy. There are legends of a time when humanity inhabited a single world."

夫铭严肃地皱了一下眉头，这才答道：“你若无法看出两者的差别，那是你自己的不幸。早在当今这位皇帝出现之前，早在他所代表的皇朝出现之前，早在帝国本身出现之前，人类便已存在于银河系各个角落。人类的历史比帝国久远许多，甚至可能比银河系两千五百万个世界的历史还要久远。根据传说，曾有一段时期，人类全部住在一个世界上。”

"Legends!" said Seldon, shrugging his shoulders.

“传说！”谢顿耸了耸肩。

"Yes, legends, but I see no reason why that may not have been so in fact, twenty thousand years ago or more. I presume that humanity did not come into existence complete with knowledge of hyperspatial travel. Surely, there must have been a time when people could not travel at superluminal velocities and they must then have been imprisoned in a single planetary system. And if we look forward in time, the human beings of the worlds of the Galaxy will surely continue to exist after you and the Emperor are dead, after his whole line comes to an end, and after the institutions of the Empire itself unravel. In that case, it is not important to worry overmuch about individuals, about the Emperor and the young Prince Imperial. It is not important to worry even about the mechanics of Empire. What of the quadrillions of people that exist in the Galaxy? What of them?"

“是的，传说。但我找不到它并非事实的理由，我是指两万年或更久以前。我敢说人类刚出现的时候，并没有与生俱来的超空间旅行知识。不用说，一定曾有一段时间，人们无法以超光速旅行，当时他们必定被禁锢在一个行星系中。而我们若是展望未来，在你死去之后，在大帝驾崩之后，在他的整个世系结束之后，甚至在帝国政体瓦解之后，银河系各个世界的人类当然仍会存在。由这一点看来，过度关切个人、皇帝或是年幼的皇太子并无意义，甚至整个帝国的结构也没什么值得关心的。遍布于银河系的万兆人口呢？他们又如何？”

Seldon said, "Worlds and people would continue, I presume."

谢顿说：“我想，各个世界和全体人类都将继续存在。”

"Dont you feel any serious need of probing the possible conditions under which they would continue to exist."

“你难道不觉得亟需探索在何种条件下，这两者才能继续存在？”

"One would assume they would exist much as they do now."

“我会假设两者将来的处境和现在很接近。”

"One would assume. But could one know by this art of prediction that you speak of?"

“你会假设！但能否用你提到的那种预测未来的技艺弄清楚？”

"Psychohistory is what I call it. In theory, one could."

“我管它叫心理史学。理论上，这是可能的。”

"And you feel no pressure to turn that theory into practice."

“你并未感受到化理论为实际的燃眉之急。”

"I would love to, Hummin, but the desire to do so doesnt automatically manufacture the ability to do so. I told the Emperor that psychohistory could not be turned into a practical technique and I am forced to tell you the same thing."

“我很想这样做，夫铭，可是这种渴望无法自动产生能力。我曾经告诉大帝，心理史学不可能转变成一项实用科技，我不得不以同样的说法回答你。”

"And you have no intention of even trying to find the technique?"

“难道你连试一试、找一找的意图都没有？”

"No, I dont, any more than I would feel I ought to try to tackle a pile of pebbles the size of Trantor, count them one by one, and arrange them in order of decreasing mass. I would know it was not something I could accomplish in a lifetime and I would not be fool enough to make a pretense of trying."

“我没有，正如我不会试图整理一堆和川陀一样大的鹅卵石，将它们一个个数一数，再按照质量大小排列起来。我明白这种事绝不是这辈子所能完成的，我不会傻到假装要试试看。”

"Would you try if you knew the truth about humanitys situation?"

“假如你明白了人类目前处境的真相，你会不会想试一试？”

"Thats an impossible question. What is the truth about humanitys situation? Do you claim to know it?"

“这是个不可能的问题。什么是人类目前处境的真相？你是说你知道吗？”

"Yes, I do. And in five words." Hummins eyes faced forward again, turning briefly toward the blank changelessness of the tunnel as it pushed toward them, expanding until it passed and then dwindling as it slipped away. He then spoke those five words grimly.

“是的，我知道，几个字就能描述。”夫铭的双眼再度望向前方，瞥见单调而毫无变化的隧道迎面而来，洞口在车身接近时显得越来越大，穿过之后又渐渐缩小。然后，他绷着脸说出了那几个字。

He said, "The Galactic Empire is dying."

他说：“银河帝国即将灭亡。”