CHAPTER TWENTY CONCLUSION
第20章 结局
MAYOR HARLA BRANNO HAD EVERY REASON FOR SATISFACTION. THE state visit had not lasted long, but it had been thoroughly productive.
无论从哪方面来说，赫拉·布拉诺市长都该感到踌躇满志。这次的正式访问历时不长，但成果极为丰硕。
She said, as though in deliberate attempt to avoidhubris , “We can’t, of course, trust them completely.”
她好像有意避免骄傲自满的语气，说道：“当然，我们不能完全信任他们。”
She was watching the screen. The ships of the Fleet were, one by one, entering hyperspace and returning to their normal stations.
她正盯着屏幕，看着舰队的船舰一艘艘进入超空间，返回平时的驻防区。
There was no question but that Sayshell had been impressed by their presence, but they could not have failed to notice two things: one, that the ships had remained in Foundation space at all times; two, that once Branno had indicated they would leave, they were indeed leaving with celerity.
舰队这回倏来倏去，想必令赛协尔留下深刻的印象。而且，他们一定还会注意到两项事实：第一，那些船舰自始至终都留在基地的星空；第二，一旦布拉诺表示舰队即将离去，果然很快不见它们的踪影。
On the other hand, Sayshell would not forget either that those ships could be recalled to the border at a day’s notice--or less. It was a maneuver that had combined both a demonstration of power and a demonstration of goodwill.
另一方面，赛协尔也永远不会忘记，这些船舰能在一天（甚至更短的时间）之内，就重新在边境集结。这次的行动，同时展示了基地的实力和善意。
Kodell said, “Quite right, we can’t trust them completely, but then no one in the Galaxy can be trusted completely and it is in the self-interest of Sayshell to observe the terms of the agreement. We have been generous.”
柯代尔接口道：“说得很对，我们不能完全信任他们。其实在整个银河中，没有什么人值得完全信任。不过，赛协尔为了自身的利益，势必会遵守这个协定。我们已经够大方了。”
Branno said, “A lot will depend on working out the details and I predict that will take months. The general brushstrokes can be accepted in a moment, but then come the shadings: just how we arrange for quarantine of imports and exports, how we weigh the value of their grain and cattle compared to ours, and so on.”
布拉诺说：“许多事情得等到细节订出来才知道，我预测这得花上几个月的时间。概略性的条件可以马上接受，可是不少后续工作还有待处理，例如怎样安排进出口货物的检疫，他们的谷物和牲畜要如何估价等等。”
“I know, but it will be done eventually and the credit will be yours, Mayor. It was a bold stroke and one, I admit, whose wisdom I doubted.”
“我知道，但这些问题迟早能够解决，而功劳将会属于你，市长。这是个大胆的行动，而我必须承认，我曾怀疑这样做是否明智。”
“Come, Liono. It was just a matter of the Foundation recognizing Sayshellian pride. They’ve retained a certain independence since early Imperial times. It’s to be admired, actually.”
“得了吧，里奥诺，只不过是基地承认赛协尔的自尊罢了。自从帝政时代早期，他们就保持着部分独立，这点实在值得赞赏。”
“Yes, now that it will no longer inconvenience us.”
“对，反正它不会再碍手碍脚了。”
“Exactly, so it was only necessary to bend our own pride to the point of making some sort of gesture to theirs. I admit it took an effort to decide that I, as Mayor of a Galaxy-straddling Federation, should condescend to visit a provincial star-grouping, but once the decision was made it didn’t hurt too much. And it pleased them. We had to gamble that they would agree to the visit once we moved our ships to the border, but it meant being humble and smiling very broadly.”
“正是如此。我们唯一需要做的，只是稍微屈就一下，向他们摆出友好的姿势。我承认当初内心的确交战过，才决定让我自己这位泛银河联邦的市长，屈尊降贵地访问一个偏远的星群。不过一旦作出决定，我倒不觉得多么不舒服。而且我这样做，让他们很陶醉。我们当初必须赌一赌：一旦我们把战舰拉到边境，他们就会同意我的访问。但我们免不了要故作谦逊，还要堆满笑脸。”
Kodell nodded. “We abandoned the appearance of power to preserve the essence of it.”
柯代尔点了点头。“我们舍弃了实力的外表，以便保留它的本质。”
“Exactly. --Who first said that?”
“完全正确。这话是谁最先说的？”
“I believe it was in one of Eriden’s plays, but I’m not sure. We can ask one of our literary lights back home.”
“我相信是出自艾瑞登所写的剧本，但我不敢肯定，我们可以问问老家的文学权威。”
“If I remember. We must speed the return visit of Sayshellians to Terminus and see to it that they are given the full treatment as equals. And I’m afraid, Liono, you will have to organize tight security for them. There is bound to be some indignation among our hotheads and it would not be wise to subject them to even slight and transient humiliation through protest demonstrations.”
“希望我不会忘记。我们必须尽快促使赛协尔人回拜端点星，并且要确实尽到地主之谊，让他们受到相同的款待。里奥诺，只怕你得做好严密的安全防范。他们来到之后，我们的过激分子必定义愤填膺。万一让赛协尔人遇到抗议示威，即使仅仅受到轻微而短暂的羞辱，也会对我们相当不利。”
“Absolutely,” said Kodell. “It was a clever stroke, by the way, sending out Trevize.”
“正是如此。”柯代尔说，“对了，你将崔维兹送出去，这一招实在高明。”
“My lightning rod? He worked better than I thought he would, to be honest. He blundered his way into Sayshell and drew their lightning in the form of protests with a speed I could not have believed. Space! What an excellent excuse that made for my visit--concern lest a Foundation national in any way disturbed then and gratitude for their forbearance.”
“我的避雷针？老实说，他表现得比我想象中还要好。他误打误撞闯进赛协尔，结果在我无法相信的短时间内，就吸引赛协尔发出闪电，也就是向我们提出抗议。太空啊！那可是我亲自来访的最佳借口——让一个基地公民免于受到任何侵犯，然后感谢他们的宽宏大量。”
“Shrewd! --You don’t think it would have been better, though, to have brought Trevize back with us?”
“妙计！不过，你不认为把崔维兹带回去比较好吗？”
“No. On the whole, I prefer him anywhere but at home. He would be a disturbing factor on Terminus. His nonsense about the Second Foundation served as the perfect excuse for sending him out and, of course, we counted on Pelorat to lead him to Sayshell, but I don’t want him back, continuing to spread the nonsense. We can never tell what that might lead to.”
“不，他去哪里都好，总之我不希望他回家，他在端点星一定会成为乱源。当初，他胡扯什么第二基地，那刚好是把他赶走的最佳借口，当然，还多亏了裴洛拉特，才把他带到了赛协尔。可是我绝不要他再回来，继续散播那些惑众妖言，我们永远无法预料那将导致什么后果。”
Kodell chuckled. “I doubt that we can ever find anyone more gullible than an intellectual academic. I wonder how much Pelorat would have swallowed if we had encouraged him.”
柯代尔咯咯笑了几声。“我不相信还有什么人，会比学者更容易受骗上当。假使我们提供更多的情报，裴洛拉特想必也会照单全收。”
“Belief in the literal existence of the mythical Sayshellian Gaia was quite enough--but forget it. We will have to face the Council when we return and we will need their votes for the Sayshellian treaty. Fortunately we have Trevize’s statement--voiceprint and all --to the effect that he left Terminus voluntarily. I will offer official regrets as to Trevize’s brief arrest and that will satisfy the Council.”
“他相信赛协尔神话中的盖娅确实存在，那就足够了。但别提这个啦，回去后，我们还得面对议会那一关，需要他们投票通过这个赛协尔条约。好在我们有崔维兹的声明，说他是自愿离开端点星的，并有声纹证明绝非作假。我会为崔维兹遭到短暂逮捕这件事，正式表达我的歉意，这样议会就该满意了。”
“I can rely on you for the soft soap, Mayor,” said Kodell dryly. “Have you considered, though, that Trevize may continue to search for the Second Foundation?”
“我对你的能屈能伸信心十足，市长。”柯代尔冷冷地说，“不过，你有没有考虑到，崔维兹也许会继续寻找第二基地？”
“Let him,” said Branno, shrugging, “as long as he doesn’t do it on Terminus. It will keep him busy and get him nowhere. The Second Foundation’s continued existence is our myth of the century, as Gaia is Sayshell’s myth.”
“随他去吧，”布拉诺耸了耸肩，“只要别在端点星上找就好。那会让他有事可忙，却注定白忙一场。第二基地仍旧存在的传说，是我们这个世纪最大的神话，正如盖娅是赛协尔的神话一样。”
She leaned back and looked positively genial. “And now we have Sayshell in our grip--and by the time they see that, it will be too late for them to break the grip. So the Foundation’s growth continues and will continue, smoothly and regularly.”
她往椅背上一靠，看来百分之百和蔼可亲。“现在，赛协尔已在我们掌握之中。等到他们发现的时候，想挣脱已经太迟了。于是基地的势力再次壮大，而且会顺利地、不断地继续茁壮。”
“And the credit will be entirely yours, Mayor.”
“而所有的功劳都会是你的，市长。”
“That has not escaped my notice,” said Branno, and their ship slipped into hyperspace and reappeared in the neighborhood space of Terminus
“我并未忽略这一点。”布拉诺答道。此时，他们的战舰倏地钻入超空间，随即出现在端点星附近的太空。
2
2
Speaker Stor Gendibal, on his own ship again, had every reason for satisfaction. The encounter with the First Foundation had not lasted long, but it had been thoroughly productive.
史陀·坚迪柏发言者回到了自己的太空船，无论从哪方面来说，他都该感到志得意满。与第一基地遭遇的时间并不长，但成果极为丰硕。
He had sent back his message of carefully muted triumph. It was only necessary--for the moment--to let the First Speaker know that all had gone well (as, indeed, he might guess from the fact that the general force of the Second Foundation had never had to be used after all). The details could come later on.
他已经送出一份报告，其中尽量不流露得意的情绪。目前，只需要让第一发言者知道一切顺利（事实上，由于第二基地的总体力量一直未曾动用，他应该猜到了这一点），细节可以留待日后详加说明。
He would describe how a careful--and very minor--adjustment to Mayor Branno’s mind had turned her thoughts from imperialistic grandiosity to the practicality of commercial treaty; how a careful-- and rather long-distance--adjustment of the leader of the Sayshell union had led to an invitation to the Mayor of a parley and how, thereafter, a rapprochement had been reached with no further adjustments at all with Compor returning to Terminus on his own ship, to see that the agreement would be kept. It had been, Gendibal thought complacently, almost a storybook example of large results brought about by minutely crafted mentalics.
到时候，他会描述自己如何小心翼翼，将布拉诺市长的心灵作了极微小的调整，就使她的心思从帝国主义的宏图，转变成只想要一纸务实的贸易条约。以及他如何小心翼翼，在相当遥远的距离外，调整了赛协尔联盟领导人的心灵，让他主动向市长发出谈判的邀请。后来，又如何在没有进一步心灵调整的情况下，双方便达成和解，而康普则驾着原来的太空艇返回端点星，以便确保市长会遵守协定。坚迪柏得意地想到，这简直就是故事书中的经典范例，仅仅借着精神力学的一点小技巧，就导致许多重大的成果。
It would, he was sure, squash Speaker Delarmi flat and bring about his own elevation to First Speaker very soon after the presentation of the details at a formal meeting of the Table.
他十分肯定，当他在正式的圆桌会议上，报告完这些细节之后，德拉米发言者很快就会彻底垮台，而他自己则会登上第一发言者的宝座。
And he did not deny to himself the importance of Sum Novi’s presence, though that would not need to be stressed to the Speakers generally. Not only had she been essential to his victory, but she gave him the excuse he now needed for indulging his childish (and very human, for even Speakers are very human) need to exult before what he knew to be a guaranteed admiration.
他自己绝不否认苏拉·诺微的重要性，但是不需要在其他发言者面前特别强调。她不但对这次的胜利有关键性的贡献，而且现在还给了他一个借口，让他在接受正式褒扬之前，能像孩子般雀跃一番（这是非常合乎人性的，因为发言者在许多方面仍与常人无异）。
She did not understand anything that had happened, he knew, but she was aware that he had arranged matters to his liking and she was bursting with pride over that. He caressed the smoothness of her mind and felt the warmth of that pride.
他当然明白，她完全不了解最近发生的这些事，但是她至少看得出来，他将每件事都安排得称心如意，令她因此迸现出骄傲的情绪。他轻抚着她光润的心灵，便能感受到那股骄傲的热度。
He said, “I could not have done it without you, Novi. It was because of you I could tell that the First Foundation--the people on the large ship--”
他说：“如果没有你，诺微，我根本办不到。由于有你在我身旁，我才能察觉到第一基地——就是大型太空船上的那些人——”
“Yes, Master, I know whom you mean.”
“师傅，我知道你指的是什么人。”
“I could tell, because of you, that they had a shield, together with weak powers of the mind. From the effect onyour mind, I could tell, exactly, the characteristics of both. I could tell how most efficiently to penetrate the one and deflect the other.”
“由于有你在我身旁，我才能察觉到他们拥有防护罩，以及微弱的精神力量。凭借你的心灵所产生的效应，我得以百分之百确认这两者的特征，进而发现最有效的方法，将前者贯穿并使后者偏向。”
Novi said tentatively, “I do not understand exactly what it is you say, Master, but I would have done much more to help, if I could.”
诺微以犹豫的口气说：“我不是很了解你在说什么，师傅，但只要我做得到，我会帮你更多的忙。”
“I know that, Novi. But what you did was enough. It is amazing how dangerous they might have been. But caught now, before either their shield or their field had been developed more strongly, they could be stopped. The Mayor goes back now, the shield and the field forgotten, satisfied over the fact that she has obtained a commercial treaty with Sayshell that will make it a working part of the Federation. I don’t deny that there is much more to do to dismantle the work they have done on shield and field--it is something concerning which we have been remiss--but it will be done.”
“我知道，诺微，但你已经做得够多了。真没想到他们会那么危险，不过既然被我发觉了，在他们的防护罩或精神力场发展得更强之前，我们就能制止他们。现在那个市长回去了，把有关防护罩和精神力场的事忘得一干二净，只记得跟赛协尔签了一个贸易条约，把赛协尔纳入联邦的势力范围，她正为此感到洋洋得意。我不否认还需要作许多努力，才能毁去他们在精神力学上的一切成就。过去我们一直忽视这件事，可是将来一定要做到。”
He brooded about the matter and went on in a lower voice, “We took far too much for granted with the First Foundation. We must place them under closer supervision. We must knit the Galaxy closer together somehow. We must make use of mentalics to build a closer co-operation of consciousness. That would fit the Plan. I’m convinced of that and I’ll see to it.”
他出神沉思了一阵子，接着低声说：“过去，我们实在太过轻视第一基地。从今以后，必须将他们置于更严密的监督之下。我们得设法将银河联系得更紧密，并利用精神力学建立更密切的意识合作。这才符合谢顿计划，我确信这一点，也一定要这样做。”
Novi said anxiously, “Master?”
诺微焦虑地唤了一声：“师傅？”
Gendibal smiled suddenly. “I’m sorry. I’m talking to myself. --Novi, do you remember Rufirant?”
坚迪柏突然露出微笑。“对不起，我是在自言自语。诺微，你还记得鲁菲南吗？”
“That bone-skulled farmer who attacked you? I should say I do.”
“那个攻击你的笨头农夫？我并没有忘记。”
“I’m convinced that First Foundation agents, armed with personal shields, arranged that, together with all the other anomalies that have plagued us. Imagine being blind to a thing like that. But then, I was bemused into overlooking the First Foundation altogether by this myth of a mysterious world, this Sayshellian superstition concerning Gaia. There, too, your mind came in handy. It helped me determine that the source of that mentalic field was the warship and nothing else.”
“我现在确定，必定有第一基地的特务，戴着个人防护罩在川陀活动，那次的事件就是他们策划的，其他那些困扰我们的异象也一样。想想看，我们竟然完全蒙在鼓里。不过，当时我心中只有那个神秘世界的神话，也就是赛协尔人有关盖娅的迷信，才会全然忽略第一基地。多亏你的心灵就近发挥作用，帮助我判定精神力场并非来自别处，而正是那艘战舰发出来的。”
He rubbed his hands.
他得意地搓了搓手。
Novi said timidly, “Master?”
诺微怯生生地说：“师傅？”
“Yes, Novi?”
“怎么样，诺微？”
“Will you not be rewarded for what you have done?”
“你做了这些事，难道不会有奖赏吗？”
“Indeed I will. Shandess will retire and I will be First Speaker. Then will come my chance to make us an active factor in revolutionizing the Galaxy.”
“当然会。桑帝斯很快就要退位，我便会成为第一发言者。然后，我们就有机会成为积极的角色，大刀阔斧地改造银河。”
“First Speaker?”
“第一发言者？”
“Yes, Novi. I will be the most important and the most powerful scholar of them all.”
“是的，诺微。我会成为所有的学者中，最重要也是最有权力的一位。”
“The most important?” She looked woebegone.
“最重要？”她露出忧愁的神色。
“Why do you make a face, Novi? Don’t you want me to be rewarded?”
“你为什么愁眉苦脸，诺微？你不希望我获得奖赏吗？”
“Yes, Master, I do. --But if you are the most important scholar of them all, you will not want a Hamishwoman near you. It would not be fitting.”
“不是的，师傅，我当然希望。可是如果你成为最重要的学者，你就不会要一个阿姆女子在你身边，那样并不相称。”
“Won’t I, though? Who will stop me?” He felt a gush of affection for her. “Novi, you’ll stay with me wherever I go and whatever I am. Do you think I would risk dealing with some of the wolves we occasionally have at the Table without your mind always there to tell me, even before they know themselves, what their emotions might be--your own innocent, absolutely smooth mind. Besides--” He seemed startled by a sudden revelation, “Even aside from that, I--I like having you with me and I intend having you with me. --That is, if you are willing.”
“啊，我不会吗？谁会阻止我？”他突然涌现一股爱意，“诺微，不论我去哪里，不论我变成什么人，你都愿意跟我在一起吗？圆桌会议上常会出现豺狼虎豹，你以为我愿意独力应付吗？只要有你在我身边，甚至在他们认清自己之前，我就能及早了解他们真正的心思——你那单纯无邪、绝对光滑的心灵。此外，”他似乎有些惊讶，自己竟然会做这番剖白，“即使抛开其他因素，我……我还是喜欢有你陪着我，我希望你能跟我在一起。我是说，只要你愿意。”
“Oh, Master,” whispered Novi and, as his arm moved around her waist, her head sank to his shoulder.
“喔，师傅。”诺微轻声答道。当他伸出手臂搂住她的腰际，她顺势把头靠在他肩上。
Deep within, where the enveloping mind of Novi could scarcely be aware of it, the essence of Gaia remained and guided events, but it was that impenetrable mask that made the continuance of the great task possible.
在诺微的心灵深处，在层层包裹的意识所无法探知的角落，依旧隐藏着盖娅的本质，在指导着每一件事的发展。正是由于这副无法揭穿的心灵面具，才使这项重大工作得以持续。
And that mask--the one that belonged to a Hamishwoman--was completely happy. It was so happy that Novi was almost reconciled for the distance she was from herself/them/all, and she was content to be, for the indefinite future, what she seemed to be
而这副面具——属于一个阿姆女子的面具——露出了快乐无比的表情。它笑得实在太开心了，使得诺微几乎不在乎她与自己／他们／全体的遥远距离，而在未来无尽的岁月中，她对这个角色将永远感到心满意足。
3
3
Pelorat rubbed his hands and said, with carefully controlled enthusiasm, “How glad I am to be back on Gaia.”
裴洛拉特搓着双手，但不敢流露出过度的兴奋。“我真高兴能够重返盖娅。”
“Umm,” said Trevize abstractedly.
“嗯——嗯。”崔维兹心不在焉地应了一声。
“You know what Bliss has told me? The Mayor is going back to Terminus with a commercial treaty with Sayshell. The Speaker from the Second Foundation is going back to Trantor convinced that he has arranged it--and that woman, Novi, is going with him to see to it that the changes that will bring about Galaxia are initiated. And neither Foundation is in the least aware that Gaia exists. It’s absolutely amazing.”
“你知道宝绮思告诉我些什么吗？市长和赛协尔签了一个贸易条约，正在返回端点星的途中。那个第二基地的发言者以为这全都是他的安排，现在正准备回到川陀。而那名女子，诺微，也会跟他一道回去，以确保导致盖娅星系的变化立即展开。两个基地都完全忘了盖娅的存在，这实在太不可思议了。”
“I know,” said Trevize. “I was told all this, too. But we know that Gaia exists and we can talk.”
“我知道。”崔维兹说，“这些我也都听说了。可是我们仍然记得盖娅，还能随意谈论。”
“Bliss doesn’t think so. She says no one would believe us, and we would know that. Besides, I, for one, have no intention of ever leaving Gaia.”
“宝绮思可不这么想。她说不会有人相信我们，而我们应该有自知之明。此外，至少我自己不想再离开盖娅。”
Trevize was pulled out of his inner musing. He looked up and said, “What?”
崔维兹这时才从沉思中回过神来，他抬起头来说：“什么？”
“I’m going to stay here. --You know, I can’t believe it. Just weeks ago, I was living a lonely life on Terminus, the same life I had lived for decades, immersed in my records and my thoughts and never dreaming anything but that I would go to my death, whenever it might be, still immersed in my records and my thoughts and still living my lonely life--contentedly vegetating. Then, suddenly and unexpectedly, I became a Galactic traveler; I was involved with a Galactic crisis; and--do not laugh, Golan--I have found Bliss.”
“我准备留在这里。你知道吗，这连我自己都不相信。只不过几周之前，我还在端点星上过着孤独的生活。那种生活我过了好几十年，天天将自己埋在资料、记录和学术思想中，从未梦想会有任何改变，以为直到死去那一天——不管是哪一天——我仍旧将自己埋在资料、记录和学术思想中，仍旧一个人过着孤独的生活。那种茫然的日子，我一向十分满意。可是突然间，而且是出乎意料之外，我变成了一个银河游客，卷入了一桩银河危机，此外——别笑我，葛兰——我还邂逅了宝绮思。”
“I’m not laughing, Janov,” said Trevize, “but are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
“我可没有笑，詹诺夫。”崔维兹说，“可是你确定自知在干什么吗？”
“Oh yes. This matter of Earth is no longer important to me. The fact that it was the only world with a diverse ecology and with intelligent life has been adequately explained. The Eternals, you know.”
“喔，当然。对我而言，地球那档子事已经不再重要。它独拥多样化生态和智慧生物的两项特点，我们已经找到充分的解释。你也知道，就是那些永恒使者。”
“Yes, I know. And you’re going to stay on Gaia?”
“没错，我知道。所以你打算留在盖娅？”
“Absolutely. Earth is the past and I’m tired of the past. Gaia is the future.”
“正是如此。地球是过去式，我已经厌倦了过去式，盖娅则是未来式。”
“You’re not part of Gaia, Janov. Or do you think you can become part of it?”
“你并非盖娅的一部分，詹诺夫。还是说，你认为自己可以变成它的一部分？”
“Bliss says that I can become somewhat a part of it--intellectually if not biologically. She’ll help, of course.”
“宝绮思说我多少能做到某个程度，即使不是生物上的，也可以是性灵上的。当然，她会帮助我。”
“But since sheis part of it, how can you two find a common life, a common point of view, a common interest--”
“但她却是盖娅的一部分，你们两人怎能找到共同的生活方式、共同的观点、共同的兴趣……”
They were in the open and Trevize looked gravely at the quiet, fruitful island, and beyond it the sea, and on the horizon, purpled by distance, another island--all of it peaceful, civilized, alive, and a unit.
此时他们站在户外，崔维兹望着这座宁谧而肥沃的岛屿，脸上露出严肃的表情。远方是汪洋一片，遥远的水平线上还有另一座岛屿，由于距离太远而显得紫蒙蒙的。这一切是如此太平，如此文明，如此有生气，如此浑然一体。
He said, “Janov, she is a world; you are a tiny individual. What if she gets tired of you? She is young--”
他又说：“詹诺夫，她等于是一个世界，你却只是微小的个体。万一哪天她对你厌倦了呢？她还那么年轻……”
“Golan, I’ve thought of that. I’ve thought of nothing but that for days. I expect her to grow tired of me; I’m no romantic idiot. But whatever she gives me till then will be enough. She has already given me enough. I have received more from her than I dreamed existed in life. If I saw her no more from this moment on, I have ended the winner.”
“葛兰，我想过这种事，但我只要有几天就满足了。我已经料到她会对我厌倦，我又不是浪漫的白痴。但是在她离去之前，她能带给我的就足够了。事实上，我现在从她那里所得到的已经足够了，已经远比我一生的梦想多得多。即使从现在起再也见不到她，我仍然可以算是赢家。”
“I don’t believe it,” said Trevize gently. “I think youare a romantic idiot and, mind you, I wouldn’t want you any other way. Janov, we haven’t known each other for long, but we’ve been together every moment for weeks and--I’m sorry if it sounds silly--I like you a great deal.”
“我真不敢相信。”崔维兹柔声说，“我认为你就是浪漫的白痴。不过请注意，我可没说这样不好。詹诺夫，我们认识并没有多久，但是过去这几周，我们每分每秒都在一起——请包涵我说句傻话——我实在很喜欢你。”
“And I, you, Golan,” said Pelorat.
“我对你也一样，葛兰。”裴洛拉特说。
“And I don’t want you hurt. I must talk to Bliss.”
“所以我不希望你受到伤害，我必须跟宝绮思谈一谈。”
“No no. Please don’t. You’ll lecture her.”
“不，不要。拜托你别那么做，你一定会对她说教。”
“I won’t lecture her. It’s not entirely to do with you--and I want to talk to her privately. Please, Janov, I don’t want to do it behind your back, so grant me your willingness to have me talk to her and get a few things straight. If I am satisfied, I will give you my heartiest congratulations and goodwill--and I will forever hold my peace, whatever happens.”
“我不会对她说教。其实这也不全是为了你，但我要跟她私下谈。拜托，詹诺夫，我不想背着你这样做，所以请你心甘情愿地让我跟她谈谈，以便厘清几件事情。若能得到满意的答案，我会全心全意祝福你们，而且不论发生任何变化，我都会永远保持缄默。”
Pelorat shook his head. “You’ll ruin things.”
裴洛拉特摇了摇头。“你会把事情通通搞砸。”
“I promise I won’t Ibeg you--”
“我保证不会。我求求你——”
“Well-- But do be careful, my dear fellow, won’t you?”
“好吧。可是千万要小心，我亲爱的伙伴，好不好？”
“You have my solemn word.”
“我向你郑重保证。”
4
4
Bliss said, “Pel says you want to see me.”
宝绮思说：“裴说你想见我。”
Trevize said, “Yes.”
崔维兹答道：“是的。”
They were indoors, in the small apartment allotted to him.
他们已经来到分配给崔维兹的小房间里。
She sat down gracefully, crossed her legs, and looked up at him shrewdly, her beautiful brown eyes luminous and her long, dark hair glistening.
她落落大方地坐下来，双腿交叠，以机灵的目光仰望着他。她美丽的黑色眼珠澄澈而明亮，乌黑的长发闪耀着光彩。
She said, “You disapprove of me, don’t you? You have disapproved of me from the start.”
她说：“你对我有成见，对不对？你从一开始就对我有成见。”
Trevize remained standing. He said, “You are aware of minds and of their contents. You know what I think of you and why.”
崔维兹仍然站在那里，他说：“你能透视他人的心灵，知晓他人的心事。你应该知道我对你的观感，以及原因何在。”
Slowly Bliss shook her head. “Your mind is out of bounds to Gaia. You know that. Your decision was needed and it had to be the decision of a clear and untouched mind. When your ship was first taken, I placed you and Pel within a soothing field, but that was essential. You would have been damaged--and perhaps rendered useless for a crucial time--by panic or rage. And that was all. I could never go beyond that and I haven’t--so I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
宝绮思缓缓摇了摇头。“盖娅不可以碰触你的心灵，这点你也知道。我们需要你作出决定，这个决定必须出自清明而未受影响的心灵。当初，你们的太空艇刚被抓住，我将你和裴置于抚慰场中，那是因为绝对有必要。否则，你可能会由于惊慌或愤怒而心灵受损，因而无法在关键时刻派上用场。除此之外，我不能有进一步的行动，事实上也没有，所以我不知道你在想些什么。”
Trevize said, “The decision I had to make has been made. I decided in favor of Gaia and Galaxia. Why, then, all this talk of a clear and untouched mind? You have what you want and you can do with me now as you wish.”
崔维兹说：“我必须作的决定已经作过了，我决定支持盖娅星和盖娅星系。所以说，你何必再提什么清明而未受影响的心灵？你已经得到你想要的，现在，你可以随心所欲改造我了。”
“Not at all, Trev. There are other decisions that may be needed in the future. You remain what you are and, while you are alive, you are a rare natural resource of the Galaxy. Undoubtedly there are others like you in the Galaxy and others like you will appear in the future, but for now we know of you--and only you. We still cannot touch you.”
“这话完全错误，崔。将来也许还会碰到需要抉择的难题，你必须保持本来的心境。只要你还活着，就是银河中一个珍贵的自然资源。毫无疑问，银河中一定还有像你这样的人，将来你们这种人也不会绝种。可是，如今我们只知道你一个，所以我们不能碰触你的心灵。”
Trevize considered. “You are Gaia and I don’t want to talk to Gaia. I want to talk to you as an individual, if that has any meaning at all.”
崔维兹考虑了一下。“你是盖娅，我却不想跟盖娅说话。我要你以个体的身份跟我交谈，希望这个请求并不荒谬。”
“It has meaning. We are far from existing in a common melt. I can block off Gaia for a period of time.”
“并不荒谬。我们还不至于融成一体，我可以将盖娅阻隔一段时间。”
“Yes,” said Trevize. “I think you can. Have you now done so?”
“好，”崔维兹说，“我相信你做得到。你已经这么做了吗？”
“I have now done so.”
“我已经这么做了。”
“Then, first, let me tell you that you have played games. You did not enter my mind to influence my decision, perhaps, but you certainly entered Janov’s mind to do so, didn’t you?”
“那么，首先让我告诉你，我发现你耍了花样。或许，你并没有进入我的心灵，并没有影响我的决定，可是你绝对进入过詹诺夫的心灵，对吗？”
“Do you think I did?”
“你认为我做过这种事吗？”
“I think you did. At the crucial moment, Pelorat reminded me of his own vision of the Galaxy as alive and the thought drove me on to make my decision at that moment. The thought may have been his, but yours was the mind that triggered it, was it not?”
“我的确这么认为。在关键时刻，裴洛拉特提醒我当初他将银河视为生物的观点，就在那一瞬间，那个想法驱使我作出了决定。那个想法或许是他自己的，却是被你的心灵所触发的，对不对？”
Bliss said, “The thought was in his mind, but there were many thoughts there. I smoothed the path before that reminiscence of his about the living Galaxy--and not before any other thought of his. That particular thought, therefore, slipped easily out of his consciousness and into words. Mind you, I did not create the thought. It was there.”
宝绮思说：“那个想法的确在他心中，但他还拥有许多其他的想法。我为那个特殊的记忆铺平了道路，除了有关活银河的记忆，我并没有为其他记忆铺路。因此，那个想法很容易从他的意识溜出来，转化为语言。请注意，我并没有创造那个想法，它原先就在那里。”
“Nevertheless, that amounted to an indirect tampering with the perfect independence of my decision, did it not?”
“然而，我本来应该完全独立作出决定，你这样做，等于用间接的手段影响我，对不对？”
“Gaia felt it necessary.”
“盖娅感到有此需要。”
“Did it? --Well, it may make you feel better--or nobler--to know that although Janov’s remark persuaded me to make the decision at that moment, it was the decision I think I would have made even if he had said nothing or if he had tried to argue me into a decision of a different kind. I want you to know that.”
“是吗？好吧，我下面的话会让你觉得好过些，或说觉得高尚些——虽然詹诺夫的意见促使我在那一刻作出决定，可是我想，即使他什么也没有说，或者试图劝我作出其他选择，我仍会作出同样的决定。我要你明白这一点。”
“I am relieved,” said Bliss coolly. “Is that what you wanted to tell me when you asked to see me?”
“这样我就释怀了。”宝绮思神态自若地说，“你想见我，就是要跟我说这件事吗？”
“No.”
“不是。”
“What else is there?”
“还有什么事呢？”
Now Trevize sat down in a chair he had drawn opposite her so that their knees nearly touched. He leaned toward her.
这时，崔维兹已经拉过一张椅子，放到宝绮思面前，终于坐了下来，两人的膝盖几乎相碰。
“When we approached Gaia, it was you on the space station. It was you who trapped us; you who came out to get us; you who have remained with us ever since--except for the meal with Dom, which you did not share with us. In particular, it was you on theFar Star with us, when the decision was made. Always you.”
他俯身向前，对她说：“当初我们接近盖娅时，是你在那个太空站上，是你捉住了我们，也是你前来接引我们的。从此你就一直跟我们在一起，只有和杜姆吃饭时例外，你并没有和我们分享那一餐。尤其特殊的是，当我作出决定的时候，跟我们同在远星号上的也是你。自始至终都是你。”
“I am Gaia.”
“我是盖娅。”
“That does not explain it. A rabbit is Gaia. A pebble is Gaia. Everything on the planet is Gaia, but they are not all equally Gaia. Some are more equal than others. Why you?”
“这不是什么理由。一只兔子也是盖娅，一颗鹅卵石也是盖娅，这颗行星上的每样东西都是盖娅，可是这些成员并非都是平等的盖娅。相较之下，某些成员要更平等些。为什么偏偏是你？”
“Why do you think?”
“你认为呢？”
Trevize made the plunge. He said, “Because I don’t think you’re Gaia. I think you’re more than Gaia.”
崔维兹发动攻势，他说：“因为我认为你并非盖娅，我认为你不只是盖娅。”
Bliss made a derisive sound with her lips.
宝绮思撅着嘴，发出嘲弄的啧啧声。
Trevize kept to his course. “At the time I was making the decision, the woman with the Speaker--”
崔维兹不为所动，继续追问：“当我在作决定的时候，发言者身边那名女子……”
“He called her Novi.”
“他叫她诺微。”
“This Novi, then, said that Gaia was set on its course by the robots that no longer exist and that Gaia was taught to follow a version of the Three Laws of Robotics.”
“好，那位诺微曾说，盖娅是由一群早已消失的机器人所规划的，盖娅遵从机器人的教诲，服从类似机器人学三大法则的法则。”
“That is quite true.”
“这点相当正确。”
“And the robots no longer exist?”
“机器人消失了吗？”
“So Novi said.”
“诺微是这么说的。”
“So Novi didnot say. I remember her exact words. She said: ‘Gaia was formed thousands of years ago with the help of robots that once, for a brief time, served The human species and now serve them no more.”
“诺微并没有这么说，她说的每个字我都记得清清楚楚。她是说：‘盖娅是在两万多年前，借着机器人之助所建立的世界。曾有一段短暂的时间，机器人是人类的好帮手，但这种情形早已不再。’”
“Well, Trev, doesn’t that mean they exist no more?”
“嗯，崔，这不就是说它们已经消失了？”
“No, it means they serve no more. Might they not rule instead?”
“不，这只表示它们不再为人类服务。难道它们不能摇身一变，成为统治者吗？”
“Ridiculous!”
“荒唐！”
“Or supervise? Why were you there at the time of the decision? You did not seem to be essential. It was Novi who conducted matters and she was Gaia. What need of you? Unless--”
“或者是监督者？当我作出决定的时候，你为何要在场？你似乎并不是关键人物。当时由诺微主导一切，由她代表盖娅，为什么还需要你？除非——”
“Well? Unless?”
“嗯？除非怎样？”
“Unless you are the supervisor whose role it is to make certain that Gaia does not forget the Three Laws. Unless you are a robot, so cleverly made that you cannot be told from a human being.”
“除非你正是那位监督者，你的任务是要确定盖娅没有忘记三大法则。除非你就是机器人，只不过造得十分精巧，和人类真假难辨。”
“If I cannot be told from a human being, how is it you think that you can tell?” asked Bliss with a trace of sarcasm.
“如果我和人类真假难辨，你又怎么肯定自己能够分辨？”宝绮思带着讥讽的语气问道。
Trevize sat back. “Do you not all assure me I have the faculty of beingsure ; of making decisions, seeing solutions, drawing correct conclusions. I don’t claim this; it is whatyou say of me. Well, from the moment I saw you I felt uneasy. There was something wrong with you. I am certainly as susceptible to feminine allure as Pelorat is--more so, I should think--and you are an attractive woman in appearance. Yet not for one moment did I feel the slightest attraction.”
崔维兹往椅背上一靠。“你们不是一再肯定，我拥有与生俱来的判断力，能够作出恰当的抉择，能够一眼看出答案，能够归纳出正确的结论吗？我从来没有如此自夸，都是你们这么说的。好，我第一眼见到你，心里就不舒服，因为你有些地方不大对劲。我当然跟裴洛拉特一样，感受得到异性的诱惑——其实我自认更为敏感——外表看来，你是个很诱人的女性，但我从未感到你有任何一点吸引力。”
“You devastate me.”
“你在作贱+B1185我。”
Trevize ignored that. He said, “When you first appeared on our ship, Janov and I had been discussing the possibility of a nonhuman civilization on Gaia, and when Janov saw you, he asked, in his innocence, ‘Are you human?’ Perhaps a robot must answer the truth, but I suppose it can be evasive. You merely said, ‘Don’t Ilook human?’ Yes, you look human, Bliss, but let me ask you again. Are you human?”
崔维兹没有理会，径自说下去：“你刚出现在太空艇上的时候，詹诺夫和我正在讨论盖娅上存在非人文明的可能性，因此詹诺夫一见到你，就天真地问：‘你是人类吗？’也许机器人必须据实回答问题，但我想总有蒙混的办法。你只是回答：‘我看来不像人类吗？’没错，你看来很像人类，宝绮思，但让我再问你一遍，你是人类吗？”
Bliss said nothing and Trevize continued. “I think that even at that first moment, I felt you were not a woman. You are a robot and I could somehow tell. And because of my feeling, all the events that followed had meaning for me--particularly your absence from the dinner.”
宝绮思没有吭声，于是崔维兹继续说：“我认为，第一眼见到你的时候，我就觉得你不是女人。你是机器人，反正我就是看得出来。因为我有这种感觉，所有接踵而来的事件，在我看来都有合理的解释，尤其是你刻意缺席的那顿晚餐。”
Bliss said, “Do you think I cannot eat, Trev? Have you forgotten I nibbled a shrimp dish on your ship? I assure you that I am able to eat and perform any of the other biological functions. --Including, before you ask, sex. And yet that in itself, I might as well tell you, does not prove that I am not a robot. Robots had reached the pitch of perfection, even thousands of years ago, where only by their brains were they distinguishable from human beings, and then only by those able to handle mentalic fields. Speaker Gendibal might have been able to tell whether I were robot or human, if he had bothered even once to consider me. Of course, he did not.”
宝绮思说：“你以为我不能进食，崔？我在太空艇上品尝了一客虾米，难道你忘记了？我向你保证我可以吃东西，也能执行其他各种的生物功能，包括——不必你追问——性爱活动。但这些事实，我大可告诉你，并不能证明我不是机器人。远在几万年前，机器人就发展到完美的境界，只有根据它们的脑子，才能分辨出它们异于人类，因此只有能侦知精神力场的人，才有办法做到这一点。例如坚迪柏发言者，当时他只要稍微注意我一下，或许就能确定我到底是机器人还是人类。不过，他当然没有那么做。”
“Yet, though I am without mentalics, I am nevertheless convinced you are a robot”
“可是，我虽然没有精神力量，仍然肯定你就是机器人。”
Bliss said, “But what if I am? I admit nothing, but I am curious. What if I am?”
宝绮思说：“那又如何呢？我可没承认什么，但我很好奇，我若真是又如何呢？”
“You have no need to admit anything. I know you are a robot If I needed a last bit of evidence, it was your calm assurance that you could block off Gaia and speak to me as an individual. I don’t think you could do that if you were part of Gaia--but you are not You are a robot supervisor and, therefore, outside of Gaia. I wonder, come to think of it, how many robot supervisors Gaia requires and possesses?”
“你不需要承认任何事，反正我知道你是机器人。若说需要最后一点证据，我刚才也找到了。你信心十足地说可以阻隔盖娅，以个体的身份跟我交谈。假使你是盖娅的一部分，我不相信你办得到。但你并不属于盖娅，你是具有监督者身份的机器人，因此独立于盖娅之外。提到这件事，我就很想知道，像你这种监督者机器人，盖娅究竟需要多少，又拥有多少？”
“I repeat: I admit nothing, but I am curious. What if I am a robot?”
“我再重复一遍：我可没承认什么，但我很好奇，万一我是机器人又怎样？”
“In that case, what I want to know is: What do you want of Janov Pelorat? He is my friend and he is, in some ways, a child. He thinks he loves you; he thinks he wants only what you are willing to give and that you have already given him enough. He doesn’t know --and cannot conceive--the pain of the loss of love or, for that matter, the peculiar pain of knowing that you are not human--”
“在这个前提下，我想知道的是：你想要从詹诺夫·裴洛拉特那里得到什么？他是我的朋友，而且在某些方面，他简直是个孩子。他自以为爱你，认为自己能满足于你所愿意付出的那些，而你给他的已经够多了。至于失去爱情的痛苦，他不知道也无法想象。同理，如果发现你并非人类，他也一定会痛苦莫名……”
“Doyou know the pain of lost love?”
“你自己，知道失去爱情的痛苦吗？”
“I have had my moments. I have not led the sheltered life of Janov. I have not had my life consumed and anesthetized by an intellectual pursuit that swallowed up everything else, even wife and child. He has. Now suddenly, he gives it all up for you. I do not want him hurt. I will not have him hurt. If I have served Gaia, I deserve a reward--and my reward is your assurance that Janov Pelorat’s well-being will be preserved.”
“我领教过几次。我不像詹诺夫那样躲在温室里过日子，我没有拿做学问来消耗和麻醉我的生命，或是让学术吞没了其他事物，甚至包括老婆和孩子，而他就是这样。现在突然之间，他竟然为了你放弃一切。我不希望他受到伤害，也不允许他受到伤害。如果我曾经帮助过盖娅，我理应得到一点回报。而我要求的回报，就是要你保证詹诺夫·裴洛拉特的幸福。”
“Shall I pretend I am a robot and answer you?”
“我是否该装成机器人来回答？”
Trevize said, “Yes. And right now.”
崔维兹说：“是的，并且立刻回答。”
“Very well, then. Suppose I am a robot, Trev, and suppose I am in a position of supervision. Suppose there are a few, a very few, who have a similar role to myself and suppose we rarely meet. Suppose that our driving force is the need to care for human beings and suppose there are no true humans beings on Gaia, because all are part of an overall planetary being.
“好吧，那么，崔，假设我是机器人，并且假设我身负监督的责任。此外，假设在盖娅上还有少数——极少数和我类似的角色，但我们很少碰面。假设照顾人类就是我们的原动力，再假设盖娅上并没有真正的人类，因为所有的成员都是行星整体生命的一部分。
“Suppose that it fulfills us to care for Gaia--but not entirely. Suppose there is something primitive in us that longs for a human being in the sense that existed when robots were first formed and designed. Don’t mistake me; I do not claim to be age-old (assuming I am a robot). I am as old as I told you I was or, at least, (assuming I am a robot) that has been the term of my existence. Still, (assuming I am a robot) my fundamental design would be as it always was and I would long to care for a true human being.
“假设照顾盖娅能让我们实现自我，但又不尽然。假设我们拥有根深蒂固的需求，渴望照顾一个真正的人类——这是机器人最初被设计和制造出来的时候，便已经存在的需求。请别误会我，即使假定我是机器人，我也并未声称多么高龄。我告诉你的年龄，就是我的实际年龄。或者说，假定我是机器人，至少我的基本设计永远不会改变，因此我一直渴望照顾一个真正的人类。
“Pel is a human being. He is not part of Gaia. He is too old to ever become a true part of Gaia. He wants to stay on Gaia with me, for he does not have the feelings about me that you have. He does not think that I am a robot. Well, I want him, too. If you assume that I am a robot, you see that I would. I am capable of all human reactions and I would love him. If you were to insist I was a robot, you might not consider me capable of love in some mystic human sense, but you would not be able to distinguish my reactions from that which you would call love--so what difference would it make?”
“裴是一个人类，并非盖娅的一部分。他年纪太大，再也不可能真正变成盖娅的一分子。他想留在盖娅与我为伴，因为他没有你对我的那种感觉，并不认为我是机器人。而我，我也想要他。如果你假定我是机器人，就该知道我会这么做。我能表现出人类所有的反应，我会好好爱他。如果你坚持我是机器人，或许就不会认为我拥有人类那种奇妙的爱意，可是根据我的各种反应，你也无法分辨那是不是你们所谓的爱意。所以说，又有什么分别呢？”
She stopped and looked at him--intransigently proud.
她终于说完了，双眼紧盯着他，一副得理不饶人的样子。
Trevize said, “You are telling me that you would not abandon him?”
崔维兹说：“你是在告诉我，你不会抛弃他？”
“If you assume that I am a robot, then you can see for yourself that by First Law I could never abandon him, unless he ordered me to do so and I were, in addition, convinced that he meant it and that I would be hurting him more by staying than by leaving.”
“如果你假定我是机器人，那么你自己就该知道，根据第一法则，我永远不能抛弃他。除非他命令我这么做，而且我肯定了他说的是真话，如果我硬要留下，会令他更加痛苦。”
“Would not a younger man--”
“难道不会有什么年轻男子……”
“What younger man? You are a younger man, but I do not conceive you as needing me in the same sense that Pel does, and, in fact, you do not want me, so that the First Law would prevent me from attempting to cling to you.”
“什么年轻男子？你就是年轻男子，我却不觉得你像裴那样需要我。事实上，你根本不想要我，因此根据第一法则，我不可以纠缠你。”
“Not me. Another younger man--”
“不是我，而是另外的年轻男子……”
“There is no other. Who is there on Gaia other than Pel and yourself that would qualify as human beings in the non-Gaian sense?”
“不会有其他人的。根据盖娅的标准，除了裴和你自己之外，盖娅上还有谁够资格称为人类？”
Trevize said, more softly, “And if you arenot a robot?”
崔维兹改以较为温柔的语气说：“如果你并不是机器人呢？”
“Make up your mind,” said Bliss.
“请你不要反反复复。”宝绮思说。
“I say,if you are not a robot?”
“我是说‘如果’你并不是机器人呢？”
“Then I say that, in that case, you have no right to say anything at all. It is for myself and for Pel to decide.”
“那么我就要说，在这个前提下，你根本没有权利过问任何事，一切操在我自己和裴手中。”
Trev said, “Then I return to my first point. I want my reward and that reward is that you will treat him well. I won’t press the point of your identity. Simply assure me, as one intelligence to another, that you will treat him well.”
崔维兹说：“那么让我回到原先的话题，我要一点回报，那就是要你好好待他。我不会逼你承认自己的身份，只请你向我保证——以一个心智对另一个心智的方式——保证你会永远善待他。”
And Bliss said softly, “I will treat him well--not as a reward to you, but because I wish to. It is my earnest desire. I will treat him well.” She called “Pel!” And again, “Pel!”
宝绮思也柔声说：“我会好好待他的，并非以此作为对你的回报，而是因为我希望这样做。那是我真挚的渴望，我会好好待他的。”然后她就连声唤道：“裴！裴！”
Pelorat entered from outside, “Yes, Bliss.”
裴洛拉特随即走进来。“我在这里，宝绮思。”
Bliss held out her hand to him. “I think Trev wants to say something.”
宝绮思向他伸出右手。“我想崔有话要说。”
Pelorat took her hand and Trevize then took the doubled hand in his two. “Janov,” he said, “I am happy for both of you.”
裴洛拉特握住她的手，崔维兹则伸出双手握住两人的手。“詹诺夫，”他说，“我为你们俩感到高兴。”
Pelorat said, “Oh, my dear fellow.”
裴洛拉特说：“喔，我亲爱的伙伴。”
Trevize said, “I will probably be leaving Gaia. I go now to speak to Dom about that. I don’t know when or if we will meet again, Janov, but, in any case, we did well together.”
崔维兹说：“我大概很快会离开盖娅，现在我就要去向杜姆辞行。我不知道我们何时才能再见，甚至不知道还有没有这个机会，詹诺夫，但是无论如何，我们合作得十分愉快。”
“We did well,” said Pelorat, smiling.
“我们合作无间。”裴洛拉特笑着说。
“Good-bye, Bliss, and, in advance, thank you.”
“再见了，宝绮思，我要先说一声谢谢你。”
“Good-bye, Trev.”
“再见，崔。”
And Trevize, with a wave of his hand, left the house
崔维兹挥了挥手，就离开了那间屋子。
5
5
Dom said, “You did well, Trev. --But then, you did as I thought you would.”
杜姆说：“你做得很好，崔。不过，我早就料到你会这么做。”
They were once more sitting over a meal, as unsatisfactory as the first had been, but Trevize did not mind. He might not be eating on Gaia again.
杜姆又招待崔维兹吃了一顿，这顿饭跟上次一样难以下咽。但崔维兹并不在意，这可能是他在盖娅吃的最后一餐。
He said, “I did as I thought you would, but not, perhaps, for the reason you thought I would.”
他说：“我的决定不出您意料之外，可是我的理由，或许并不在您意料之中。”
“Surely you were sure of the correctness of your decision.”
“你至少肯定这个决定的正确性吧。”
“Yes, I was, but not because of any mystic grip I have on certainty. If I chose Galaxia, it was through ordinary reasoning--the sort of reasoning that anyone else might have used to come to a decision. Would you care to have me explain?”
“我可以肯定，但并非由于我所拥有的神秘悟性。我之所以选择盖娅星系，是经过普通推理之后所作的决定。任何人在作抉择之前，都会进行这种推理。您愿意听听我的解释吗？”
“I most certainly would, Trev.”
“我愿洗耳恭听，崔。”
Trevize said, “There were three things I might have done. I might have joined the First Foundation, or joined the Second Foundation, or joined Gaia.
于是崔维兹说：“当时我总共有三种选择。我可以选择加入第一基地，加入第二基地，或是加入盖娅。
“If I had joined the First Foundation, Mayor Branno would have taken immediate action to establish domination over the Second Foundation and over Gaia. If I had joined the Second Foundation, Speaker Gendibal would have taken immediate action to establish domination over the First Foundation and over Gaia. In either case, what would have taken place would have been irreversible--and if either were the wrong solution, it would have been irreversibly catastrophic.
“假使我选择第一基地，布拉诺市长将立即采取行动，一举征服第二基地和盖娅。假使我选择第二基地，坚迪柏发言者也会立即采取行动，一举将第一基地和盖娅征服。这两种选择都会导致不可逆的结果——万一是错误的解决方案，便会造成不可收拾的大祸。
“If I joined with Gaia, however, then the First Foundation and the Second Foundation would each have been left with the conviction of having won a relatively minor victory. All would then have continued as before, since the building of Galaxia, I had already been told, would take generations, even centuries.
“然而，我若选择盖娅，第一基地和第二基地则安然无事，都会以为己方赢得一场小小的胜利。一切将如常地继续下去，因为我已经知道，盖娅星系的建立将花上好几代，甚至好几世纪的时间。
“Joining with Gaia was my way of temporizing, then, and of making sure that there would remain time to modify matters--or even reverse them--if my decision were wrong.”
“所以说，选择盖娅其实是我的缓兵之计，假使我的决定错误，至少还有充裕的时间，得以修正或扭转既定的方向。”
Dom raised his eyebrows. His old, almost cadaverous face remained otherwise expressionless. He said in his piping voice, “And is it your opinion that your decision may turn out wrong?”
杜姆扬起眉毛，除此之外，他那苍老而近乎枯槁的面容没有其他表情。他以尖锐的嗓音说：“依你之见，时间也许会证明你的决定错误？”
Trevize shrugged. “I don’t think so, but there is one thing I must do in order that I might know. It is my intention to visit Earth, if I can find that world.”
崔维兹耸了耸肩。“我并不这么想，但为了确定这一点，我必须去做一件事。我打算亲自造访地球，除非我找不到那个世界。”
“We will certainly not stop you if you wish to leave us, Trev--”
“如果你想离开我们，我们绝不会阻拦，崔……”
“I do not fit on your world.”
“我并不适合你们的世界。”
“No more than Pel does, yet you are as welcome to remain as he is. Still, we will not hold you. --But tell me, why do you wish to visit Earth?”
“裴也不适合，但我们欢迎你留下来，就像我们欢迎他一样。话说回来，我们不会勉强你。可是请告诉我，你为什么希望造访地球？”
Trevize said, “I rather think you understand.”
崔维兹说：“我以为您会了解。”
“I do not.”
“我并不了解。”
“There is a piece of information you withheld from me, Dom. Perhaps you had your reasons, but I wish you had not.”
“您还有一点事情瞒着我，杜姆。或许您有理由这么做，但我希望没有。”
Dom said, “I do not follow you.”
杜姆说：“我没听懂。”
“Look, Dom, in order to make my decision, I used my computer and for a brief moment I found myself in touch with the minds of those about me--Mayor Branno, Speaker Gendibal, Novi. I caught glimpses of a number of matters that, in isolation, meant little to me, as, for example, the various effects Gaia, through Novi, had produced on Trantor--effects that were intended to maneuver the Speaker into going to Gaia.”
“听好，杜姆，当初为了作出抉择，我曾动用那台电脑。有很短暂的一瞬间，我发觉自己和周围的心灵都有了联系，包括布拉诺市长、坚迪柏发言者和诺微。我窥视到一些记忆，单独看来，那些事对我都没什么意义。比方说，盖娅透过诺微，在川陀所造成的种种影响，目的是要策动那位发言者来到盖娅。”
“Yes?”
“怎么样？”
“And one of those things was the clearing from Trantor’s library of all references to Earth.”
“其中有一项行动，是把有关地球的一切资料，从川陀的图书馆中清除。”
“The clearing of references to Earth?”
“清除有关地球的资料？”
“Exactly. So Earth must be important--and not only does it appear that the Second Foundation must know nothing about it, but that I must not, either. And if I am to take the responsibility for the direction of Galactic development, I do not willingly accept ignorance. Would you consider telling me why it was so important to keep knowledge of Earth hidden?”
“正是如此。所以地球必定十分重要，看来非但第二基地不能知道任何线索，就连我也一样。可是，如果我必须对银河的走向负责，我可不愿意接受这种事。为什么地球的资料非得隐藏起来不可？请您考虑一下能否告诉我。”
Dom said solemnly, “Trev, Gaia knows nothing about such clearance. Nothing!”
杜姆郑重其事地答道：“崔，盖娅对这件事毫不知情，完全不知道！”
“Are you telling me that Gaia is not responsible?”
“您是说盖娅跟这件事没关系？”
“It is not responsible.”
“没有任何关系。”
Trevize thought for a while, the tip of his tongue moving slowly and meditatively over his lips. “Who was responsible, then?”
崔维兹沉思了一会儿，只见他的舌尖在唇边缓缓打转。“那么，又是谁做的呢？”
“I don’t know. I can see no purpose in it.”
“我不知道，我看不出这样做有任何意义。”
The two men stared at each other and then Dom said, “You are right. We had seemed to have reached a most satisfactory conclusion, but while this point remains unsettled, we dare not rest. --Stay a while with us and let us see what we can reason out. Then you can leave, with our full help.”
两人互相凝视了半晌，杜姆才继续说：“你说得对。我们似乎获得了最满意的结果，但只要这个问题尚未解决，我们依然不敢放心。跟我们多聚一会儿，我们来看看能理出什么头绪。然后你再上路，带着我们全体的助力同行。”