Chapter 11: Underground
第十一章 地底世界
47
47
Trevize felt frozen. Trying to breathe normally, heturned to look at Bliss.
崔维兹感到全身僵硬，他努力维持正常的呼吸，同时转头望向宝绮思。
She was standing with her arm protectivelyabout Pelorat's waist, and, to all appearances, was quite calm. Shesmiled slightly and, even more slightly, nodded her head.
她站在那里，手臂护在裴洛拉特腰际，显然相当从容镇定。她微微笑了笑，又以更轻微的动作点了点头。
Trevize turned back to Bander. Having interpreted Bliss's actions assignifying confidence, and hoping with dreadful earnestness that he wascorrect, he said grimly, "How did you do that, Bander?"
崔维兹转头再度面对班德。他将宝绮思的反应解释为信心十足的象徵，并万分希望自己的猜测正确无误。他绷着脸说：“你如何做到的，班德？”
Bander smiled, obviously in high good humor. "Tell me, little Out worlders, do you believe in sorcery? In magic?"
班德笑了笑，显然心情非常好。“告诉我，小小外星人士，你相信法术吗？相信魔术吗？”
"No, we do not, little Solarian," snapped Trevize.
“不，我们不相信，小小索拉利人。”崔维兹回嘴道。
Bliss tugged at Trevize's sleeve and whispered, "Don't irritatehim. He's dangerous."
宝绮思用力拉扯崔维兹的衣袖，悄声道：“别惹他，他很危险。”
"I can see he is," said Trevize, keeping his voice low with difficulty. "You do something, then."
“我看得出来。”崔维兹勉强压低声音，“那么，你想想办法。”
Her voice barely heard, Bliss said, "Not yet. He will be less dangerousif he feels secure."
宝绮思以几乎听不清楚的音量说：“现在还不行，如果他感到安全无虞，会比较没那么危险。”
Bander paid no attention to the brief whispering among theOutworlders. It moved away from them uncaringly, the robots separatingto let it pass.
对于这些外星人士的简短低语，班德完全没有理会。它迳自转身离去，那些机器人为它让出一条路。
Then it looked back and crooked a finger languidly. "Come. Followme. All three of you. I will tell you a story that may not interest you,but that interests me." It continued to walk forward leisurely.
然后它又转头，懒洋洋地曲着一根手指。“来吧，跟我来，你们三个都来。我将告诉你们一个故事，也许你们不会有兴趣，但我却能自得其乐。”它继续悠闲地往前走。
Trevize remained in place for a while, uncertain as to the best courseof action. Bliss walked forward, however, and the pressure of her armled Pelorat forward as well. Eventually, Trevize moved; the alternativewas to be left standing alone with the robots.
一时之间，崔维兹仍然站在原地不动，无法确定采取什么行动最好。不过宝绮思已向前走去，裴洛拉特也被她拉走了。最后崔维兹终于移动脚步，否则他将孤独地留在这里与机器人为伴。
Bliss said lightly, "If Bander will be so kind as to tell the storythat may not interest us……"
宝绮思轻声说：“若是班德那么好心，肯讲一个我们也许没兴趣的故事……”
Bander turned and looked intently at Bliss as though he were trulyaware of her for the first time. "You are the feminine half-human,"he said, "aren't you? The lesser half?"
班德转过身来，神情专注地望着宝绮思，好像这才真正发觉她的存在。“你是雌性的半性人，”它说：“对不对？是较少的那一半？”
"The smaller half, Bander. Yes."
“是较小的那一半，班德。”
"These other two are masculine half-humans, then?"
“那么，其他两位是雄性的半性人喽？”
"So they are."
“他们的确是。”
"Have you had your child yet, feminine?"
“你生过孩子没有，雌性？”
"My name, Bander, is Bliss. I have not yet had a child. This isTrevize. This is Pel."
“我的名字叫宝绮思，班德，我还没生过孩子。这位是崔维兹，这位是裴。”
"And which of these two masculines is to assist you when it is yourtime? Or will it be both? Or neither?"
“当你该生孩子的时候，这两个雄性哪个会帮你？两个都会？或是都不会？”
"Pel will assist me, Bander."
“裴会帮我，班德。”
Bander turned his attention to Pelorat. "You have white hair,I see."
班德将注意力转移到裴洛拉特身上。“你有白头发，我看出来了。”
Pelorat said, "I have."
裴洛拉特说：“我的确有。”
"Was it always that color?"
“一直是那种颜色吗？”
"No, Bander, it became so with age."
“不，班德，年纪大了才会变成这样。”
"And how old are you?"
“那么你年纪多大了？”
"I am fifty-two years old, Bander," Pelorat said, then added hastily,"That's Galactic Standard Years."
Bander continued to walk (toward the distant mansion, Trevize assumed),but more slowly. It said, "I don't know how long a Galactic StandardYear is, but it can't be very different from our year. And how old willyou be when you die, Pel?"
班德继续向前走（走向一座位于远方的宅邸，崔维兹如此设想），不过脚步放慢了。它说：“我不知道一个银河标准年多长，你想必跟我们的一年不会相差太多。当你死去的时候，你会有多大年纪，裴？”
"I can't say. I may live thirty more years."
“我不敢说，我也许还能再活三十年。”
"Eighty-two years, then. Short-lived, and divided inhalves. Unbelievable, and yet my distant ancestors were like you andlived on Earth. But some of them left Earth to establish new worldsaround other stars, wonderful worlds, well organized, and many."
“那么是八十二年，短命，而且分成两半，真是难以置信。下过我的远祖像你们一样，而且住在地球上——但是后来有些离开了地球，在其他恒星周围建立了新世界，它们是美好的世界，有良好的组织，而且为数众多。”
Trevize said loudly, "Not many. Fifty."
崔维兹大声道：“不多，只有五十个。”
Bander turned a lofty eye on Trevize. There seemed less humor in itnow. "Trevize. That's your name."
班德将高傲的目光投向崔维兹，它的心情似乎没有刚才那么好。“崔维兹，那是你的名字？”
"Golan Trevize in full. I say there were fifty Spacerworlds. Our worlds number in the millions."
“我的全名是葛兰·崔维兹。我说外世界只有五十个，我们的世界却有好几千万。”
"Do you know, then, the story that I wish to tell you?" said Bandersoftly.
“那么，你知道我想跟你们讲的是什么故事？”班德柔声道。
"If the story is that there were once fifty Spacer worlds, we knowit."
“如果故事是说过去曾有五十个外世界，那么我们已经知道了。”
"We count not in numbers only, little half-human," said Bander. "Wecount the quality, too. There were fifty, but such a fifty that not allyour millions could make up one of them. And Solaria was the fiftieth and,therefore, the best. Solaria was as far beyond the other Spacer worlds,as they were beyond Earth.
“我们不仅计算数量，小小半性人，”班德说：“我们还衡量品质。虽然只有五十个，但你们几千万个世界加起来，也抵不上其中任何一个。而索拉利正是第五十个，因此是最优秀的。索拉利遥遥领先其他外世界，正如同其他外世界遥遥领先地球一样。
"We of Solaria alone learned how life was to be lived. We did notherd and flock like animals, as they did on Earth, as they did on otherworlds, as they did even on the other Spacer worlds. We lived each alone,with robots to help us, viewing each other electronically as often as wewished, but coming within natural sight of one another only rarely. It ismany years since I have gazed at human beings as I now gaze at you but,then, you are only half-humans and your presence, therefore, does notlimit my freedom any more than a cow would limit it, or a robot.
“唯有我们索拉利人领悟到应如何生活。我们不像动物那样成群结队，而在地球、在其他世界，甚至在其他的外世界却尽皆如此。每一个索拉利人都单独生活，有许多机器人帮助我们，随时能藉电子设备互相会面，可是极少有真正见面的机会。上次我亲眼见到真人，像我现在见到你们这样，已经是许多年前的事。可是，你们只不过是半性人，因此你们的出现，就像母牛或机器人一样，无碍于我的自由。
"Yet we were once half-human, too. No matter how we perfected ourfreedom; no matter how we developed as solitary masters over countlessrobots; the freedom was never absolute. In order to produce young therehad to be two individuals in co-operation. It was possible, of course,to contribute sperm cells and egg cells, to have the fertilization processand the consequent embryonic growth take place artificially in automatedfashion. It was possible for the infant to live adequately under roboticcare. It could all be done, but the half-humans would not give up thepleasure that went with biological impregnation. Perverse emotionalattachments would develop in consequence and freedom vanished. Do yousee that that had to be changed?"
“然而，以前我们也曾是中性人。当时，不论我们如何增进个人自由；不论我们如何发展独居生活，统领着无数机器人，我们的自由仍不是绝对的。因为，为了产生下一代，必须藉着两个个体的合作。当然，我们可以分别提供精子细胞和卵子细胞，让受精过程和其后的胚胎成长过程，都以人工方式自动进行。至于婴儿，也可在机器人的完善照顾下成长。那些问题都能解决，可是伴随自然受精而来的快乐，半性人却不愿放弃。邪门的情感性依附由此发展，令自由因而消失。你们看不出来这必须改变吗？”
Trevize said, "No, Bander, because we do not measure freedom by yours tandards."
崔维兹说：“不，班德，因为我们衡量自由的标准跟你们下同。”
"That is because you do not know what freedom is. You have never livedbut in swarms, and you know no way of life but to be constantly forced,in even the smallest things, to bend your wills to those of others or,which is equally vile, to spend your days struggling to force others tobend their wills to yours. Where is any possible freedom there? Freedomis nothing if it is not to live as you wish! Exactly as you wish!
“那是因为你们根本不知自由为何物。你们一向过着群居生活，你们所知道的生活方式，就是不断被迫屈服于他人意志之下，即使是一些最小的琐事；要不然，就是将时间花在相互斗争上，以迫使他人屈从自己的意志，两者是同样卑贱的行为。这样怎可能还有自由？若是无法随心所欲活着，自由就不存在！自由是不折不扣的随心所欲！
"Then came the time when the Earthpeople began to swarm outwardonce more, when their clinging crowds again swirled through space. The other Spacers, who did not flock as the Earth people did, but who flocked nevertheless, if to a lesser degree, tried to compete.
“后来，地球人再度成群结队向外拓展，再度一群群黏成一团在太空打转。其他外世界人虽然不像地球人那般群居，但那只是程度上的差异。当时，他们曾企图与地球人抗衡。
"We Solarians did not. We foresaw inevitable failure in swarming. Wemoved underground and broke off all contact with the rest of theGalaxy. We were determined to remain ourselves at all costs. We developedsuitable robots and weapons to protect our apparently empty surface,and they did the job admirably. Ships came and were destroyed, andstopped coming. The planet was considered deserted, and was forgotten,as we hoped it would be.
“我们索拉利人没有那样做，我们预见了群居注定的失败。我们移居到地底，切断了和银河其他各处所有的联系。我们决心不惜任何代价，也要保持自己的生活方式。我们发展出合适的机器人和各种武器，用来保卫我们看似空无一物的地表；它们的表现也的确可圈可点，来到此地的船舰都被摧毁，终于再也不来了。这颗行星被视为遭到废弃，逐渐被人遗忘，而这正是我们的初衷。
"And meanwhile, underground, we worked to solve our problems. Weadjusted our genes gingerly, delicately. We had failures, but somesuccesses, and we capitalized on the successes. It took us many centuries,but we finally became whole human beings, incorporating both the masculineand feminine principles in one body, supplying our own complete pleasureat will, and producing, when we wished, fertilized eggs for developmentunder skilled robotic care."
“与此同时，我们在地底世界努力解决自己的问题。我们藉着精密的技术，谨慎调整我们的基因。我们有过多次失败，但也有些成功，而我们善加利用成功的结果。这花了我们几世纪的时间，但我们终于变成全性人，将雌雄的本质融为一体，能随心所欲获得极致的愉悦。当我们有意生育后代时，随时可以产生受精卵，再交由熟练的机器人照顾。”
"Hermaphrodites," said Pelorat.
“雌雄同体。”裴洛拉特说。
"Is that what it is called in your language?" asked Banderindifferently. "I have never heard the word."
“在你们的语言中如此称呼吗？”班德随口问。“我从来没听过这个名词。”
"Hermaphroditism stops evolution dead in its tracks," saidTrevize. "Each child is the genetic duplicate of its hermaphroditicparent."
“雌雄同体会完全阻断演化路径，”崔维兹说：“每个子代都是雌雄同体亲代的基因复制品。”
"Come," said Bander, "you treat evolution as a hit-and-miss affair. Wecan design our children if we wish. We can change and adjust the genesand, on occasion, we do. But we are almost at my dwelling. Letus enter. It grows late in the day. The sun already fails to give itswarmth adequately and we will be more comfortable indoors."
“得了吧，”班德说：“你把演化当成瞎闯乱撞的程序。我们希望的话，当然可以规划子代的特质，我们能改变或调整基因，有时也的确这样做——我的住处到了，让我们进去吧。天色不早了，太阳已经无法供给充足的热量，我们进入室内会舒服点。”
They passed through a door that had no locks of any kind butthat opened as they approached and closed behind them as they passedthrough. There were no windows, but as they entered a cavernous room,the walls glowed to luminous life and brightened. The floor seemed bare,but was soft and springy to the touch. In each of the four corners ofthe room, a robot stood motionless.
他们经过一道门，门上没有任何型式的锁，但在他们接近时，那道门马上自动打开，他们穿过之后又立刻关上。室内没有任何窗户，不过他们来到一个洞穴般的房间时，四周的墙壁便开始发光，映得室内一片光明。地板上似乎未铺任何东西，踏上去却令人感到柔软而富有弹性。在房间的四个角落，各站着一个文风不动的机器人。
"That wall," said Bander, pointing to the wall opposite thedoor a wall that seemed no different in any way from the otherthree is my visionscreen. The world opens before me through thatscreen but it in no way limits my freedom for I cannot be compelled touse it."
“那一面墙壁，”班德指着正对门的那堵墙，它看起来与其他三堵墙没有任何不同。“是我的视幕。藉着这个屏幕，整个世界展现在我眼前，但它绝不会限制我的自由，因为没人能强迫我使用。”
Trevize said, "Nor can you compel another to use his if you wish tosee him through that screen and he does not."
崔维兹说：“如果你想藉着屏幕跟某人见面，而他不愿意，你也无法强迫那人使用他的屏幕。”
"Compel?" said Bander haughtily. "Let another do as it pleases, ifit is but content that I do as I please. Please note that we do not usegendered pronouns in referring to each other."
“强迫？”班德以傲慢的口气说：“别人爱怎么做，就该让‘它’怎么做，只要‘它’也同意我能随心所欲就好——请注意，在互相称呼时，我们不使用带有性别的代名词。”
There was one chair in the room, facing the vision-screen, and Bandersat down in it.
房间中只有一张椅子，摆在视幕的正前方，班德一屁股坐了下来。
Trevize looked about, as though expecting additional chairs to springfrom the floor. "May we sit, too?" he said.
崔维兹四处张望，像是期望会有其他的椅子从地板冒出来似的。“我们也能坐下吗？”他问。
"If you wish," said Bander.
“随你的便。”班德说。
Bliss, smiling, sat down on the floor. Pelorat sat down besideher. Trevize stubbornly continued to stand.
宝绮思面带微笑地坐到地板上，裴洛拉特在她的身旁坐下，崔维兹则倔强地继续站着。
Bliss said, "Tell me, Bander, how many human beings live on thisplanet?"
宝绮思说：“告诉我，班德，这个行星上住着多少人类？”
"Say Solarians, half-human Bliss. The phrase `human being' iscontaminated by the fact that half-humans call themselves that. Wemight call ourselves whole-humans, but that is clumsy. Solarian is theproper term."
“请说索拉利人，半性人宝绮思。由于半性人自称‘人类’，这个名词已遭到严重污染。我们或许应该自称‘全性人’，不过那样说很拗口，索拉利人是个很贴切的名称。”
"How many Solarians, then, live on this planet?"
“那么，有多少索拉利人住在这个行星上？”
"I am not certain. We do not count ourselves. Perhaps twelvehundred."
“我不确定，我们从来不做自我统计，大概有一千两百个。”
"Only twelve hundred on the entire world?"
“整个世界只有一千两百人？”
"Fully twelve hundred. You count in numbers again, while we countin quality. Nor do you understand freedom. If one other Solarianexists to dispute my absolute mastery over any part of my land, overany robot or living thing or object, my freedom is limited. Since otherSolarians exist, the limitation on freedom must be removed as far aspossible by separating them all to the point where contact is virtuallynonexistent. Solaria will hold twelve hundred Solarians under conditionsapproaching the ideal. Add more, and liberty will be palpably limitedso that the result will be unendurable."
“足足一千两百。你又在计算数量，而我们却以品质衡量。你也不了解自由的真谛——如果有别的索拉利人，跟我争夺我的任何土地、任何机器人、任何生物或任何一样东西的绝对支配权，那我的自由就受到限制。既然还有其他索拉利人存在，就必须尽可能消除自由的限制，方法是将大家远远隔开，让我们根本没有实质的接触。为了达到这个理想，索拉利只能容纳一千两百个索拉利人。超过这个数目，自由便会明显地受限，造成令人无法忍受的结果。”
"That means each child must be counted and must balance deaths,"said Pelorat suddenly.
“这就代表出生率必须精确统计，并且必须和死亡率刚好平衡。”裴洛拉特突然说。
"Certainly. That must be true of any world with a stablepopulation even yours, perhaps."
“当然。拥有稳定人口的其他世界，一定也是这样做的。或许连你们的世界也不例外。”
"And since there are probably few deaths, there must therefore befew children."
“既然死亡率可能很小，新生儿一定也很少。”
"Indeed."
“正是如此。”
Pelorat nodded his head and was silent.
裴洛拉特点了点头，没再问下去。
Trevize said, "What I want to know is how you made my weapons flythrough the air. You haven't explained that."
崔维兹说：“我想知道的是你如何使我的武器腾空飞起，你还没提出解释。”
"I offered you sorcery or magic as an explanation. Do you refuse toaccept that?"
“我提出法术或魔术作为解释，你拒绝接受吗？”
"Of course I refuse. What do you take me for?"
“我当然拒绝接受，你把我当成什么了？”
"Will you, then, believe in the conservation of energy, and in thenecessary increase of entropy?"
“那么，你相不相信能量守恒，以及熵值递增的必然性？”
"That I do. Nor can I believe that even in twenty thousand years youhave changed these laws, or modified them a micrometer."
“这些我相信，可是我不信在两万年内，你们就能改变这些定律，或是做出一微米的修正。”
"Nor have we, half-person. But now consider. Outdoors, there issunlight." There was its oddly graceful gesture, as though marking outsunlight all about. "And there is shade. It is warmer in the sunlightthan in the shade, and heat flows spontaneously from the sunlit areainto the shaded area."
“我们没有，半性人。下过你想想，室外有阳光，”它又做出那种古怪的优雅手势，彷佛指点着所有的阳光。“也有阴影。在阳光下比在阴影中温暖，因此热量从日照区自发地流到阴影区。”
"You tell me what I know," said Trevize.
“你说的我都知道。”崔维兹说。
"But perhaps you know it so well that you no longer think aboutit. And at night, Solaria's surface is warmer than the objects beyondits atmosphere, so that heat flows spontaneously from the planetarysurface into outer space."
“但也许你太熟悉了，所以不再多动点脑筋。而在夜晚，索拉利的表面比大气层外的物体温暖，因此热量自发地从行星表面流向外太空。”
"I know that, too."
“这我也知道。”
"And day or night, the planetary interior is warmer than the planetarysurface. Heat therefore flows spontaneously from the interior to thesurface. I imagine you know that, too."
“不论白天或夜晚，行星内部的温度总是比行星表面高，因而热量会自发地从内部流向地表。我想这点你也清楚。”
"And what of all that, Bander?"
“说这些到底有什么用，班德？”
"The flow of heat from hotter to colder, which must take place bythe second law of thermodynamics, can be used to do work."
“热量从高温处流向低温处，根据热力学第二定律，这是必定发生的过程，而热流可用来做功。”
"In theory, yes, but sunlight is dilute, the heat of the planetarysurface is even more dilute, and the rate at which heat escapes from theinterior makes that the most dilute of all. The amount of heat-flow thatcan be harnessed would probably not be enough to lift a pebble."
“理论上说来没错，但阳光中的热量很稀薄，行星表面的热量更不用说，从地心逃逸的热量则是三者中最稀薄的。你所能利用的热量，也许还不足举起一小颗鹅卵石。”
"It depends on the device you use for the purpose," said Bander. "Ourown tool was developed over a period of thousands of years and it is nothing less than a portion of our brain."
“这要看你使用的是什么装置，”班德说：“经过数千年的发展，我们的工具已成为大脑的一部分。”
Bander lifted the hair on either side of its head, exposing thatportion of its skull behind its ears. It turned its head this way andthat, and behind each ear was a bulge the size and shape of the bluntend of a hen's egg.
班德将两侧头发往上拨，露出耳朵后方的头颅，然后把头向左右转了转。它两耳后方各有一个突起，大小与形状都跟鸡蛋的钝端差不多。
"That portion of my brain, and its absence in you, is what makes thedifference between a Solarian and you."
“我的大脑有这一部分，你们却没有，这就是索拉利人和你们不同的地方。”
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Trevize glanced now and then at Bliss's face, whichseemed entirely concentrated on Bander. Trevize had grown quite certainhe knew what was going on.
崔维兹一再望着宝绮思，她似乎全神贯注在班德身上。崔维兹越来越肯定，自己已经知道这是怎么回事。
Bander, despite its paean to freedom, found this unique opportunityirresistible. There was no way it could speak to robots on a basis ofintellectual equality, and certainly not to animals. To speak to itsfellow-Solarians would be, to it, unpleasant, and what communicationthere must be would be forced, and never spontaneous.
纵使班德不断讴歌自由，它仍然感到这个千载难逢的机会无法抗拒。机器人与它的智慧天差地远，无法与它做知性的交谈，它更不可能去找动物聊天。在它的经验中，跟它的索拉利同胞讲话并不愉快，即使它们有时必须沟通，那也一定是迫不得已，绝非主动自愿。
As for Trevize, Bliss, and Pelorat, they might be half-human to Bander,and it might regard them as no more an infringement on its liberty thana robot or a goat would be but they were its intellectual equals(or near equals) and the chance to speak to them was a unique luxury ithad never experienced before.
反之，对班德而言，崔维兹、宝绮思与裴洛拉特虽然只是半性人，它也许认为他们就像机器人或山羊一样，不会侵犯它的自由，但他们在智慧上却与自己旗鼓相当（或者几乎差不多）。有机会跟他们交谈，是个太难得的享受，它过去从来未曾体验过。
No wonder, Trevize thought, it was indulging itself in this way. AndBliss (Trevize was doubly sure) was encouraging this, just pushingBander's mind ever so gently in order to urge it to do what it very muchwanted to do in any case.
怪不得，崔维兹想，它会这么乐此不疲。而宝绮思（崔维兹百分之两百肯定）正在鼓励这种倾向，只要极其轻柔地推动班德的心灵，便能怂恿它做出原本就非常想做的事。
Bliss, presumably, was working on the supposition that if Bander spokeenough, it might tell them something useful concerning Earth. That madesense to Trevize, so that even if he had not been truly curious aboutthe subject under discussion, he would nevertheless have endeavored tocontinue the conversation.
宝绮思想必根据一项假设行事，那就是班德如果说得够多，也许就会透露些关于地球的有用讯息。崔维兹认为这样做很有道理，所以即使对现在的话题并非真正好奇，他仍尽力让谈话继续下去。
"What do those brain-lobes do?" Trevize asked.
“这两个大脑叶突有什么功用？”崔维兹问。
Bander said, "They are transducers. They are activated by the flowof heat and they convert the heat-flow into mechanical energy."
班德说：“它们是转换器，藉热流驱动，可将热流转换成机械能。”
"I cannot believe that. The flow of heat is insufficient."
“我不相信，热流没有那么多。”
"Little half-human, you do not think. If there were many Solarianscrowded together, each trying to make use of the flow of heat, then, yes,the supply would be insufficient. I, however, have over forty thousandsquare kilometers that are mine, mine alone. I can collect heat-flowfrom any quantity of those square kilometers with no one to dispute me,so the quantity is sufficient. Do you see?"
“小小半性人，你不用大脑。若是有很多索拉利人挤在一块，每个都想要使用热流，那么的确没错，热流的供应绝对不够。然而，我拥有超过四万平方公里的土地，这些土地全是我的，是我一个人的。从这么多平方公里的土地上，我可任意收集热流，没别人跟我抢，所以热量足够使用。你明白了吗？”
"Is it that simple to collect heat-flow over a wide area? The mereact of concentration takes a great deal of energy."
“在如此宽广的区域收集热流有那么简单吗？光是集中的过程就得耗费许多能量。”
"Perhaps, but I am not aware of it. My transducer-lobes are constantlyconcentrating heat-flow so that as work is needed, work is done. WhenI drew your weapons into the air, a particular volume of the sunlitatmosphere lost some of its excess heat to a volume of the shaded area,so that I was using solar energy for the purpose. Instead of usingmechanical or electronic devices to bring that about, however, I useda neuronic device." It touched one of the transducer-lobes gently. "Itdoes it quickly, efficiently, constantly and effortlessly."
“或许吧，但我没有留意。我的转换叶突不停地集中热流，因此需要做功时，立刻就能把它做好。当我将你的武器吸到半空中的时候，日照区某团大气放出了过剩的热量，流到阴影区另一团大气中，因此我可以利用太阳能帮助我达到目的。我使用的并非机械或电子装置，而是用神经装置完成这项工作。”它轻轻摸了摸一侧的转换叶突，“它的运作迅速、有效、不间断，而且毫不费力。”
"Unbelievable," muttered Pelorat.
“不可思议。”裴洛拉特喃喃说道。
"Not at all unbelievable," said Bander. "Consider the delicacy of theeye and ear, and how they can turn small quantities of photons and airvibrations into information. That would seem unbelievable if you had nevercome across it before. The transducer-lobes are no more unbelievable,and would not be so to you, were they not unfamiliar."
“没什么不可思议的，”班德说：“想想眼睛和耳朵的精巧，还有它们如何能将少量光子和空气振荡转化成讯息。假如你向来不晓得这些器官，也会觉得它们不可思议。比较之下，转换叶突下会更不可思议，若非你对它们不熟悉，你不会有这种感觉。”
Trevize said, "What do you do with these constantly operatingtransducerlobes?"
崔维兹说：“这两个不停运作的转换叶突，你拿它们做什么用？”
"We run our world," said Bander. "Every robot on this vast estateobtains its energy from me; or, rather, from natural heat-flow. Whethera robot is adjusting a contact, or felling a tree, the energy is derivedfrom mental transduction my mental transduction."
“用来经营我们的世界，”班德说：“这个广大属地上的每个机器人，都从我身上获取能量，或者应该说，靠自然的热流提供它们能源。无论哪个机器人旋转一个开关，或是砍倒一棵树木，能量都是藉由精神转换供应——我的精神转换。”
"And if you are asleep?"
“假如你睡着了呢？”
"The process of transduction continues waking or sleeping, littlehalf-human," said Bander. "Do you cease breathing when you sleep? Doesyour heart stop beating? At night, my robots continue working at the costof cooling Solaria's interior a bit. The change is immeasurably smallon a global scale and there are only twelve hundred of us, so that allthe energy we use does not appreciably shorten our sun's life or drainthe world's internal heat."
“不论是睡是醒，转换的过程会持续进行，小小半性人。”班德说：“当你睡觉的时候，你的呼吸会中断吗？你的心跳会停止吗？到了晚上，我的机器人仍继续工作，代价仅是使索拉利的内部温度降低一点点。就大尺度而言，这种变化根本难以察觉。而且我们总共只有一千两百个，因此即使把我们所用的能量全部加起来，也几乎不会使太阳的寿命缩短，或是令这个世界内部的热量枯竭。”
"Has it occurred to you that you might use it as a weapon?"
“你们是否想过拿它当作武器？”
Bander stared at Trevize as though he were something peculiarlyincomprehensible. "I suppose by that," he said, "you mean that Solariamight confront other worlds with energy weapons based on transduction? Whyshould we? Even if we could beat their energy weapons based on otherprinciples which is anything but certain what would wegain? The control of other worlds? What do we want with other worlds whenwe have an ideal world of our own? Do we want to establish our dominationover half-humans and use them in forced labor? We have our robots thatare far better than half-humans for the purpose. We have everything.We want nothing except to be left to ourselves. See here I'lltell you another story."
班德瞪着崔维兹，彷佛他是个特别难以理解的怪物。“我想你这句话，”班德说：“意思是指索拉利或许能根据转换原理制成能量武器，用来对付其他世界？我们为何要那么做？即使我们能击败对方根据别的原理制成的能量武器——这无法绝对肯定——我们又能得到些什么？控制其他的世界吗？我们已经拥有一个理想的世界，为什么还要其他世界？我们想要支配半性人，把他们当作奴工吗？我们有机器人，就这项功能而言，它们比半性人好得多。我们已经有了一切，我们不再需要什么，除了希望不受任何干扰。听我说，我再跟你们讲个故事。”
"Go ahead," said Trevize.
“说吧。”崔维兹应道。
"Twenty thousand years ago when the half-creatures of Earth began toswarm into space and we ourselves withdrew underground, the other Spacerworlds were determined to oppose the new Earth-settlers. So they struckat Earth."
“两万年前，地球上的半性动物开始成群飞向太空时，我们自己则撤迁到地底。其他外世界决心和来自地球的新殖民者对抗，因此他们对地球发动了攻击。”
"At Earth," said Trevize, trying to hide his satisfaction over thefact that the subject had come up at last.
“攻击地球？”崔维兹很高兴终于谈到正题，但他尽力掩饰得意之情。
"Yes, at the center. A sensible move, in a way. If you wish to killa person, you strike not at a finger or a heel, but at the heart. Andour fellow-Spacers, not too far removed from human beings themselves inpassions, managed to set Earth's surface radioactively aflame, so thatthe world became largely uninhabitable."
“是的，攻击敌人的中心。就某方面而言，这是个聪明的行动。如果你想杀死一个人，不会攻击他的手指或脚后跟，你会直指心脏要害。而我们的外世界同胞，未能完全免除人类的脾气，竟然引发地球表面的放射性，使它大部分地区再也无法住人。”
"Ah, that's what happened," said Pelorat, clenching a fist and movingit rapidly, as though nailing down a thesis. "I knew it could not be anatural phenomenon. How was it done?"
“啊，原来如此。”裴洛拉特捏紧拳头迅速挥着，像是想要拍板定案。“我就知道不可能是自然现象，那是怎么造成的？”
"I don't know how it was done," said Bander indifferently, "and inany case it did the Spacers no good. That is the point of the story. TheSettlers continued to swarm and the Spacers-died out. They had triedto compete, and vanished. We Solarians retired and refused to compete,and so we are still here."
“我不知道是怎么造成的，”班德显得毫不在意，“总之，对外世界人也没什么好处，这才是故事的要点。后来银河殖民者继续蜂拥而出，而外世界人——则逐渐灭绝。他们也曾力图一争长短，最后却消失无踪。我们索拉利人则隐居起来，拒绝参加这场竞争，所以我们方能绵延至今。”
"And so are the Settlers," said Trevize grimly.
“银河殖民者也是。”崔维兹绷着脸说。
"Yes, but not forever. Swarmers must fight, must compete, andeventually must die. That may take tens of thousands of years, but wecan wait. And when it happens, we Solarians, whole, solitary, liberated,will have the Galaxy to ourselves. We can then use, or not use, anyworld we wish to in addition to our own."
“没错，但不会永远如此。群居动物一定会内斗，一定会你争我夺，而最后终将灭亡。那也许需要好几万年的时间，不过我们可以等。当此事成真后，我们索拉利人，全性、独居、解放的索拉利人，便能将银河据为已有。那时，除了我们自己的世界，我们还可以随意利用或放弃任何一个世界。”
"But this matter of Earth," said Pelorat, snapping his fingersimpatiently. "Is what you tell us legend or history?"
“可是有关地球的事迹，”裴洛拉特不耐烦地弹响手指，“你告诉我们的是传说还是史实？”
"How does one tell the difference, half-Pelorat?" said Bander. "Allhistory is legend, more or less."
“如何分辨两者的差异呢，半性的裴洛拉特？”班德说：“所有的历史多少都可算是传说。”
"But what do your records say? May I see the records on the subject,Bander? Please understand that this matter of myths, legends, andprimeval history is my field. I am a scholar dealing with such mattersand particularly with those matters as related to Earth."
“但你们的纪录是怎么说的？我能看看这方面的纪录吗，班德？请你了解一件事，神话、传说和太古历史是我的研究领域，我是钻研这些题目的学者，尤其是和地球有关的题目。”
"I merely repeat what I have heard," said Bander. "There are no recordson the subject. Our records deal entirely with Solarian affairs and otherworlds are mentioned in them only insofar as they impinge upon us."
“我只是着复我听来的故事，”班德说：“根本没有这方面的纪录。我们的纪录所记载的，全部是索拉利本身的事务，即使提到其他的世界，也都是有关他们侵犯我们的史实。”
"Surely, Earth has impinged on you," said Pelorat.
“地球当然侵犯过你们。”裴洛拉特说。
"That may be, but, if so, it was long, long ago, and Earth, of allworlds, was most repulsive to us. If we had any records of Earth, I amsure they were destroyed out of sheer revulsion."
“这点有可能，不过即便如此，那也是很久很久以前的事。而在所有的世界中，我们最厌恶的就是地球，假如我们有过任何地球的纪录，由于我们对它极端的反感，那些纪录肯定也早被销毁了。”
Trevize gritted his teeth in chagrin. "By yourselves?" he asked.
崔维兹咬牙切齿，显得极为懊恼。“被你销毁的？”他问。
Bander turned its attention to Trevize. "There is no one else todestroy them."
班德又将注意力转移到崔维兹身上。“这里没有别人。”
Pelorat would not let go of the matter. "What else have you heardconcerning Earth?"
裴洛拉特下肯轻易放弃，继续追问：“你还听说过哪些有关地球的事？”
Bander thought. It said, "When I was young, I heard a tale from arobot about an Earthman who once visited Solaria; about a Solarian womanwho left with him and became an important figure in the Galaxy. That,however, was, in my opinion, an invented tale."
班德想了一下，然后说：“我年轻的时候，曾经听一个机器人讲过一则故事，内容是说一个地球人来到索拉利，还有个索拉利女子跟他离去，后来她成了银河中的重要人物。不过，依我看，那只不过是个杜撰的故事。”
Pelorat bit at his lip. "Are you sure?"
裴洛拉特咬了一下嘴唇。“你确定吗？”
"How can I be sure of anything in such matters?" said Bander. "Still,it passes the bounds of belief that an Earthman would dare come toSolaria, or that Solaria would allow the intrusion. It is even lesslikely that a Solarian woman we were half-humans then, but evenso should voluntarily leave this world. But come, let meshow you my home."
“这种事我又如何确定？”班德说：“话说回来，一个地球人竟敢前来索拉利，而索拉利竟然容许如此的入侵，这都是令人难以置信的事。更不可能的是，一个索拉利女子竟然自愿离开这个世界——尽管我们那时还是半性人，但此事仍然不可思议。不过别谈这些了，让我带你们去参观我的家。”
"Your home?" said Bliss, looking about. "Are we not in your home?"
“你的家？”宝绮思四处张望了一下，“我们不是已经在你家了吗？”
"Not at all," said Bander. "This is an anteroom. It is a viewingroom. In it I see my fellow-Solarians when I must. Their images appearon that wall, or three-dimensionally in the space before the wall. Thisroom is a public assembly, therefore, and not part of my home. Come with me."
“根本还没有，”班德说：“这是一间会客室，一间影像室。必要的时候，我可以在此处会见我的索拉利同胞，他们的影像会出现在墙壁上，或者以三维影像出现在墙壁前。因此，这个房间是集会的场所，不是我家的一部分——跟我来吧。”
It walked on ahead, without turning to see if it were followed, but the four robots left their corners, and Trevize knew that if he and hiscompanions did not follow spontaneously, the robots would gently coercethem into doing so.
它向前走去，并未回头看看他们是否跟来，但是站在角落的四个机器人也开始移动。崔维兹心里明白，他与两位同伴若不自动跟上去，那些机器人就会委婉地押着他们走。
The other two got to their feet and Trevize whispered lightly to Bliss,"Have you been keeping it talking?"
此时裴洛拉特和宝绮思站了起来，崔维兹对宝绮思耳语道：“你是不是让他一直说个不停？”
Bliss pressed his hand, and nodded. "Just the same, I wish I knewwhat its intentions were," she added, with a note of uneasiness inher voice.
宝绮思按按他的手，点了点头。“然而，我还是希望能知道它的意图。”她补充道，声音中透着不安的情绪。
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They followed Bander. The robots remained at a politedistance, but their presence was a constantly felt threat.
他们跟着班德向前走。机器人与他们维持着礼貌的距离，但它们的存在始终带来一种威胁感。
They were moving through a corridor, and Trevize mumbledlow-spiritedly, "There's nothing helpful about Earth on this planet. I'msure of it. Just another variation on the radioactivity theme." He shrugged. "We'll have to go on to the third set of co-ordinates."
现在他们正穿过一道回廊，崔维兹无精打采地含糊说道：“这个行星上没有能帮我们找到地球的资料，这点我可以肯定，它只有放射性传说的另一个版本。”他耸了耸肩，“我们还得继续前往第三组座标。”
A door opened before them, revealing a small room. Bander said,"Come, half-humans, I want to show you how we live."
一扇门在他们面前敞开，里面是个小房间。班德说：“来吧，半性人，我要让你们看看我们的生活方式。”
Trevize whispered, "It gets infantile pleasure out of display. I'dlove to knock it down."
崔维兹细声说：“它藉着炫耀得到幼稚的快乐，我真想好好泼它一盆冷水。”
"Don't try to compete in childishness," said Bliss.
“别跟它比赛幼稚。”宝绮思说。
Bander ushered all three into the room. One of the robots followedas well. Bander gestured the other robots away and entered itself. Thedoor closed behind it.
班德将他们三人迎进那个房间，其中一个机器人也跟进来。班德挥手叫其他机器人退下，自己走了进去，房门立刻在它身后关上。
"It's an elevator," said Pelorat, with a pleased air of discovery.
“这是电梯嘛。”裴洛拉特说，他对自己这项发现感到很高兴。
"So it is," said Bander. "Once weeeent underground, we nevertruly emerged. Nor would weeeant to, though I find it pleasant tofeel the sunlight on occasion. I dislike clouds or night in the open,however. That gives one the sensation of being underground without trulybeing underground, if you know what I mean. That is cognitive dissonance,after a fashion, and I find it very unpleasant."
“的确是，”班德说：“一旦我们移居地底，就未曾真正出去过，我们也不想那样做。不过我发现，偶尔见见阳光挺舒服，但我不喜欢阴天和黑夜的户外，那令人感到虽不在地底又仍像在地底，希望你们了解我的意思。那是一种认知上的失调，大概可以这么说，我发现那是很不舒服的感觉。”
"Earth built underground," said Pelorat. "The Caves of Steel, theycalled their cities. And Trantor built underground, too, even moreextensively, in the old Imperial days. And Comporellon builds undergroundright now. It is a common tendency, when you come to think of it."
“地球建造过地底建筑，”裴洛拉特说：“他们称那些城市为‘钢穴’。川陀也曾经建造地底建筑，甚至规模更广大，那是旧帝国时代的事——如今，康普隆仍在建造地底建筑。仔细想一想，这还是一种普遍的倾向。”
"Half-humans swarming underground and weeliving underground in isolatedsplendor are two widely different things," said Bander.
“半性人群聚在地底建筑中，我们却在地底独自过着逍遥的日子，这两者有天壤之别。”班德说。
Trevize said, "On Terminus, dwelling places are on the surface."
崔维兹说：“在端点星上，住宅都建在地表。”
"And exposed to the weather," said Bander. "Very primitive."
“暴露在风吹日晒雨打中，”班德说：“太原始了。”
The elevator, after the initial feeling of lower gravity thathad given away its nature to Pelorat, gave no sensation of motionwhatsoever. Trevize was wondering how far down it would penetrate,when there was a brief feeling of higher gravity and the door opened.
电梯只有在启动时产生连裴洛拉特也能察觉到的重力减小感觉，其后一直没有任何动静。崔维兹正纳闷它会钻到多深的地方，重力便突然转强，然后电梯门打了开来。
Before them was a large and elaborately furnished room. It was dimlylit, though the source of the light was not apparent. It almost seemedas though the air itself were faintly luminous.
眼前是一间宽敞且经过精心装潢的房间，室内微微有些光线，却看下出光源在哪里，好像空气本身会发出微弱的光芒。
Bander pointed its finger and where it pointed the light grew a bitmore intense. It pointed it elsewhere and the same thing happened. Itplaced its left hand on a stubby rod to one side of the doorway and, withits right hand, made an expansive circular gesture so that the whole roomlit up as though it were in sunlight, but with no sensation of heat.
班德伸出一根手指，所指的地方光线立刻变强。它又指向另一处，同样的现象随即发生。然后它将左手放在门边的一根粗短圆棍上，右手在空中画了一个大圆，整个房间便大放光明，彷佛沐浴在阳光下，但却没有增加丝毫热度。
Trevize grimaced and said, half-aloud, "The man's a charlatan."
崔维兹做了个鬼脸，以不大不小的音量说：“这人是个玩把戏的。”
Bander said sharply. "Not `the man,' but `the Solarian.' I'm notsure what the word `charlatan' means, but if I catch the tone of voice,it is opprobrious."
班德厉声道：“不是‘这人’，是‘这索拉利人’！我不确定‘玩把戏的’这个词是什么意思，不过听你的口气，如果我没猜错，那不会是什么好东西。”
Trevize said, "It means one who is not genuine, who arranges effectsto make what is done seem more impressive than it really is."
崔维兹说：“它是指一个人并不实在，只会制造些看起来比实际上更炫人耳目的效果。”
Bander said, "I admit that I love the dramatic, but what I have shownyou is not an effect. It is real."
班德说：“我承认自己喜爱戏剧效果，但我刚才向你们展示的却不是，那是货真价实的。”
It tapped the rod on which its left hand was resting. "Thisheat-conducting rod extends several kilometers downward, and there aresimilar rods in many convenient places throughout my estate. I knowthere are similar rods on other estates. These rods increase the rate atwhich heat leaves Solaria's lower regions for the surface and eases itsconversion into work. I do not need the gestures of the hand to producethe light, but it does lend an air of drama or, perhaps, as you point out,a slight touch of the not-genuine, I enjoy that sort of thing."
它用右手拍了拍左手按着的那根圆棍。“这个热导棒一直延伸到地底几公里处，在我的属地上，许多合适的地方都有类似的热导棒。我还知道，其他属地上也有这类设备。它们能使地底的热量加速传到地表，并且让那些热量更容易转换成机械功。其实我无需做任何手势，一样可以产生光后，但是那样没有戏剧效果，或者正如你说的，少了点戏耍的味道，而我就喜欢这一套。”
Bliss said, "Do you have much opportunity to experience the pleasureof such little dramatic touches?"
宝绮思说：“这种小小的戏剧效果带来的快乐，你经常有机会体验吗？”
"No," said Bander, shaking its head. "My robots are not impressedwith such things. Nor would my fellow-Solarians be. This unusual chanceof meeting half-humans and displaying for them is most amusing."
“没有，”班德摇了摇头，“我的机器人对这种事无动于衷，我的索拉利同胞也一样。能遇到半性人，向他们展示这一切，实在是个难得的机会，我真是太——开心了。”
Pelorat said, "The light in this room shone dimly when we entered. Doesit shine dimly at all times?"
裴洛拉特说：“我们进来的时候，这个房间有着昏暗的光线，它是不是始终维持这样？”
"Yes, a small drain of power like keeping the robots working. Myentire estate is always running, and those parts of it not engaged inactive labor are idling."
“是的，只需要消耗很少的电力，就像维持机器人的运作一样。我的整个属地随时都在运转，没有实际从事工作的部分则保持空转。”
"And you supply the power constantly for all this vast estate?"
“这么广大的属地所需的电力，都靠你一个人不断地提供？”
"The sun and the planet's core supply the power. I am merely theconduit. Nor is all the estate productive. I keep most of it as wildernessand well stocked with a variety of animal life; first, because thatprotects my boundaries, and second, because I find esthetic value init. In fact, my fields and factories are small. They need only supply myown needs, plus some specialties to exchange for those of others. I haverobots, for instance, that can manufacture and install the heat-conductingrods at need. Many Solarians depend upon me for that."
“真正供应电力的是太阳和行星核，我只能算一根导管而已。而且并非整个属地都从事生产，我让大部分地区保持未开发状态，蕴育着各式各样的动物生命。第一，因为这样做可以保护我的边界：第二，因为我发现这有美化的功能。其实，我的田地和工厂不大，它们只需要供应我个人所需，此外再生产一些特产，以便跟他人的特产交换。比如说，我拥有会制造和装设热导棒的机器人，很多索拉利人都仰赖我提供这方面的协助。”
"And your home?" asked Trevize. "How large is that?"
“而你的家呢？”崔维兹问：“范围有多大？”
It must have been the right question to ask, for Bander beamed. "Verylarge. One of the largest on the planet, I believe. It goes on forkilometers in every direction. I have as many robots caring for myhome underground, as I have in all the thousands of square kilometersof surface."
这个问题一定是问对了，因为班德立刻笑逐颜开。“非常大，我相信是这颗行星上数一数二的，从任何一个方向延伸出去都有好几公里。我所拥有的机器人，在地底照顾我家的，和在数万平方公里地表上的一样多。”
"You don't live in all of it, surely," said Pelorat.
“那么大的住宅，你当然不会全用到吧。”裴洛拉特说。
"It might conceivably be that there are chambers I have never entered,but what of that?" said Bander. "The robots keep every room clean,well ventilated, and in order. But come, step out here."
“可想而知，有些房间我从未进去过，可是这又怎么样？”班德说：“机器人会负责将每间房间保持得一尘不染、通风良好又整齐有序。好了，出来吧。”
They emerged through a door that was not the one through which theyhad entered and found themselves in another corridor. Before them wasa little topless ground-car that ran on tracks.
他们并未循着原路，而是从另一扇门走出去，随即发现置身另一道回廊中。在他们面前，有一辆停在轨道上的小型敞篷车。
Bander motioned them into it, and one by one they clamberedaboard. There was not quite room for all four, plus the robot, but Peloratand Bliss squeezed together tightly to allow room for Trevize. Bandersat in the front with an air of easy comfort, the robot at its side,and the car moved along with no sign of overt manipulation of controlsother than Bander's smooth hand motions now and then.
班德示意他们上去，于是大家一个接一个爬进车里。车内的空间有限，不够容纳四个人再加一个机器人，还好裴洛拉特与宝绮思紧挨在一起，为崔维兹腾出位子。班德坐在前面，一副轻松自在的模样，那个机器人坐在它身边。车子开始前进，班德除了偶尔做些流畅的手部动作，看不出它还在进行什么操控。
"This is a car-shaped robot, actually," said Bander, with an air ofnegligent indifference.
“事实上，这是个车型机器人。”班德说，带着一副相当冷淡的神情。
They progressed at a stately pace, very smoothly past doors thatopened as they approached, and closed as they receded. The decorationsin each were of widely different kinds as though robots had been orderedto devise combinations at random.
他们以稳定的速率前进，每来到一扇门前，门就会自动打开，在他们通过后又立即关上，因此车速完全不必改变。每间房间的装饰都大不相同，好像机器人曾奉命随机设计出各种组合。
Ahead of them the corridor was gloomy, and behind them as well. Atwhatever point they actually found themselves, however, they were in theequivalent of cool sunlight. The rooms, too, would light as the doorsopened. And each time, Bander moved its hand slowly and gracefully.
他们前方的回廊相当幽暗，身后的情形也完全相同。然而车行所到之处，彷佛都使他们置身没有热度的阳光下。每一扇门打开的时候，室内也会转趋明亮，班德每次都会缓慢而优雅地挥动着手。
There seemed no end to the journey. Now and then they found themselvescurving in a way that made it plain that the underground mansion spreadout in two dimensions. (No, three, thought Trevize, at one point, asthey moved steadily down a shallow declivity.)
这趟旅程似乎没有尽头。他们发现车子不时会转个弯，显然这座地底宅邸是向两个维度延伸的。（不，是三个维度，当他们沿着一个浅坡稳稳下滑时，崔维兹心中这么想。）
Wherever they went, there were robots, by thedozens scores hundreds engaged in unhurried work whosenature Trevize could not easily divine. They passed the open door ofone large room in which rows of robots were bent quietly over desks.
不论他们经过何处，都能看到许多机器人——十数个、数十个、几百个，都在从容不迫地工作，但崔维兹很难猜出那些工作的性质。此时他们又通过一扇门，来到一间很大的房间，里面有一排排的机器人，全都安静地趴在办公桌前。
Pelorat asked, "What are they doing, Bander?"
裴洛拉特问道：“它们在做什么，班德？”
"Bookkeeping," said Bander. "Keeping statistical records, financialaccounts, and all sorts of things that, I am very glad to say, I don'thave to bother with. This isn't just an idle estate. About a quarter ofits growing area is given over to orchards. An additional tenth are grainfields, but it's the orchards that are really my pride. We grow the bestfruit in the world and grow them in the largest number of varieties,too. A Bander peach is the peach on Solaria. Hardly anyone else evenbothers to grow peaches. We have twenty-seven varieties of applesand and so on. The robots could give you full information."
“在做簿记，”班德说：“整理统计纪录，财务帐目，以及诸如此类的事。我很庆幸不必为这些事情烦恼。这不是个闲置的属地，大约四分之一的耕地用作果园，另外十分之一则用来种植谷类，下过真正令我感到骄傲的还是果园。我们培育世界上品质最佳的水果，而且品种也最多。‘班德桃’就是索拉利桃的代名词，其他索拉利人几乎都懒得种桃子。此外，我们有二十七种不同的苹果，还有——还有许多，那些机器人可以给你详尽的资料。”
"What do you do with all the fruit?" asked Trevize. "You can't eatit all yourself."
“你怎样处理这么多水果？”崔维兹问。“你自己不可能全部吃掉。”
"I wouldn't dream of it. I'm only moderately fond of fruit. It'straded to the other estates."
“我作梦也不会这么想，我不是很喜欢吃水果，它们是用来和其他属地做交易的。”
"Traded for what?"
“交易些什么？”
"Mineral material mostly. I have no mines worth mentioning on myestates. Then, too, I trade for whatever is required to maintain ahealthy ecological balance. I have a very large variety of plant andanimal life on the estate."
“主要是矿物，我的属地上没有值得一提的矿物。此外，我也换取维持健康生态平衡所需的各种东西。在我的属地上，有各式各样、种类繁多的动植物。”
"The robots take care of all that, I suppose," said Trevize.
“全仰赖机器人照顾吧，我猜想。”崔维兹说。
"They do. And very well, too."
“的确如此，而且它们做得很好。”
"All for one Solarian."
“只为了一个索拉利人。”
"All for the estate and its ecological standards. I happen to be theonly Solarian who visits the various parts of the estate when Ichoose but that is part of my absolute freedom."
“只为了这个属地，以及其上的生态标准。我恰好是唯一巡视属地各处的索拉利人——当我选择这么做的时候——但这是我绝对自由的一部分。”
Pelorat said, "I suppose the others the otherSolarians also maintain a local ecological balance and havemarshlands, perhaps, or mountainous areas or seafront estates."
裴洛拉特说：“我想其他的……其他的索拉利人，也会维持一个局部的生态平衡，或许会有位于沼地、山区或海埔的属地。”
Bander said, "I suppose so. Such things occupy us in the conferencesthat world affairs sometimes make necessary."
班德说：“我想应该有吧。我们有时必须开会讨论世界性事务，这种事总是花掉许多开会时间。”
"How often do you have to get together?" asked Trevize. (They weregoing through a rather narrow passageway, quite long, and with no roomson either side. Trevize guessed that it might have been built throughan area that did not easily allow anything wider to be constructed, sothat it served as a connecting link between two wings that could eachspread out more widely.
“你们多久得聚会一次？”崔维兹问。（现在，他们正通过一条又窄又长的甬道，两侧没有任何房间。崔维兹猜想，这条甬道所在的位置，也许难以辟建更宽的建筑，所以被用作两翼之间的联系，而两翼则可向其他方向继续延伸。）
"Too often. It's a rare month when I don't have to pass some time inconference with one of the committees I am a member of. Still, although I may not have mountains or marshlands on my estate, my orchards, myfishponds, and my botanical gardens are the best in the world."
“太频繁了。我几乎每个月都得花些时间在会议上，都是我所属的那些委员会。我的属地上也许没有山脉或沼泽，然而我的果园，我的鱼池，还有我的植物园都是全世界最好的。”
Pelorat said, "But, my dear fellow I mean, Bander Iwould assume you have never left your estate and visited those ofothers "
裴洛拉特说：“但是，我亲爱的夥伴——我的意思是班德，我以为你从未离开你的属地，拜访其他的……”
"Certainly not ," said Bander, with an air of outrage.
“当然没有。”班德答道，神情显得有些愤怒。
"I said I assumed that," said Pelorat mildly. "But in that case,how can you be certain that yours are best, never having investigated,or even seen the others?"
“我只是说以为而已，”裴洛拉特以和缓的语气说：“可是这样的话，你从未做过调查，甚至没见过其他的属地，又怎能确定自己的最好呢？”
"Because," said Bander, "I can tell from the demand for my productsin interestate trade."
“因为，”班德说：“在属地彼此的交易中，从产品的需求量可以看出来。”
Trevize said, "What about manufacturing?"
崔维兹说：“制造业的情形又如何？”
Bander said, "There are estates where they manufacture tools andmachinery. As I said, on my estate we make the heat-conducting rods,but those are rather simple."
班德说：“有些属地从事工具和机械的制造。正如我刚才提到的，在我的属地上，我们制造热导棒，不过这些都相当简单。”
"And robots?"
“那机器人呢？”
"Robots are manufactured here and there. Throughout history,Solaria has led all the Galaxy in the cleverness and subtlety of robotdesign."
“到处都在制造机器人。有史以来，索拉利设计的机器人，灵巧精妙的水平一向领先全银河。”
"Today also, I imagine," said Trevize, carefully having the intonationmake the remark a statement and not a question.
“直到今天仍旧如此，我猜想。”崔维兹小心翼翼控制着语调，尽量让这句话听来是个直述句，而不是疑问句。
Bander said, "Today? With whom is there to compete today? Only Solariamakes robots nowadays. Your worlds do not, if I interpret what I hearon the hyperwave correctly."
班德说：“今天？今天还有谁跟我们竞争？如今只有索拉利还在制造机器人，你们的世界完全没有。这是我从超波中听来的，如果我的了解没错的话。”
"But the other Spacer worlds?"
“可是其他的外世界呢？”
"I told you. They no longer exist."
“我告诉过你，他们已经不存在了。”
"At all?"
“全都不存在了？”
"I don't think there is a Spacer alive anywhere but on Solaria."
“除了索拉利，我不相信别处还有活生生的外世界人。”
"Then is there no one who knows the location of Earth?"
“那么根本没有人知道地球的位置喽？”
"Why would anyone want to know the location of Earth?"
“会有什么人想要知道地球的位置？”
Pelorat broke in, "I want to know. It's my field of study."
裴洛拉特插嘴道：“我就想知道，这是我的研究领域。”
"Then," said Bander, "you will have to study something else. I knownothing about the location of Earth, nor have I heard of anyone who everdid, nor do I care a sliver of robot-metal about the matter."
“那么，”班德说：“你得改行研究别的了。我根本不晓得地球的位置，也没听说过有谁知道，而且我丝毫不关心这码子事。”
The car came to a halt, and, for a moment, Trevize thought thatBander was offended. The halt was a smooth one, however, and Bander,getting out of the car, looked its usual amused self as it motioned theothers to get out also.
车子突然停下来，一时之间，崔维兹以为班德生气了。下过，停车的过程很平稳，而当班德下了车，又挥手叫其他人下车的时候，它看来仍是原来那副得意的模样。
The lighting in the room they entered was subdued, even after Banderhad brightened it with a gesture. It opened into a side corridor, on bothsides of which were smaller rooms. In each one of the smaller rooms wasone or two ornate vases, sometimes flanked by objects that might havebeen film projectors.
他们进入另一间房间，在班德做了一个手势后，室内的光线仍相当暗淡。这间房通向一个侧廊，侧廊两边是许多小房间，每个小房间里有一两件华丽的容器，有些旁边还摆着另一个物件，看来好像是影片放映机。
"What is all this, Bander?" asked Trevize.
“这些是什么，班德？”崔维兹问。
Bander said, "The ancestral death chambers, Trevize."
班德说：“祖先灵房，崔维兹。”
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Pelorat looked about with interest. "I suppose you havethe ashes of your ancestors interred here?"
裴洛拉特很感兴趣地四处张望。“我猜，你们把祖先的骨灰葬在这里？”
"If you mean by `interred,'" said Bander, "buried in the ground,you are not quite right. We may be underground, but this is my mansion,and the ashes are in it, as we are right now. In our own language wesay that the ashes are `inhoused.'" It hesitated, then said, "`House'
“如果你所谓的‘葬’，”班德说：“意思是指埋在土里，你说的就不十分正确。我们现在也许身处地底，但这里是我的宅邸，所以这些骨灰都在我家里，就像我们现在一样。在我们的语言中，我们说骨灰‘安厝’此地。”它迟疑了一下，然后又说：“‘厝’是‘宅邸’的古字。”
is an archaic word for `mansion.'"Trevize looked about him perfunctorily. "And these are all yourancestors? How many?"
崔维兹四下望了望。“这些都是你的祖先？有多少？”
"Nearly a hundred," said Bander, making no effort to hide the pridein its voice. "Ninety-four, to be exact. Of course, the earliest arenot true Solarians not in the present sense of the word. They werehalf-people, masculine and feminine. Such half-ancestors were placed inadjoining urns by their immediate descendants. I don't go into thoserooms, of course. It's rather `shamiferous.' At least, that's theSolarian word for it; but I don't know your Galactic equivalent. Youmay not have one."
“将近一百个，”班德答道，毫不掩饰声音中的骄傲。“正确的数目是九十四个。当然，最早的并非真正的索拉利人——不符这个名字如今的定义。他们是半性人，雄性和雌性。那些半性祖先的骨灰坛摆在一起，紧邻他们的下一代。我当然不会走进那些房间，那相当‘蒙人羞’。至少，索拉利语是这么说的，但我不知道你们的银河标准语怎么讲，你们也许没有类似的用语。”
"And the films?" asked Bliss. "I take it those are filmprojectors?"
“那些影片呢？”宝绮思说：“我想那些是影片放映机？”
"Diaries," said Bander, "the history of their lives. Scenes ofthemselves in their favorite parts of the estate. It means they do notdie in every sense. Part of them remains, and it is part of my freedomthat I can join them whenever I choose; I can watch this bit of film orthat, as I please."
“那些是日志，”班德说：“是有关他们生活的历史：是他们在这块属地上最锺爱的部分，所拍摄的一些影像。这意味着它们并未全然逝去，它们的一部分依旧存在。我的自由包括了能随时加入它们，我能随意观看任何影片的任何部分。”
"But not into the shamiferous ones."
“可是不会加入那些——蒙人羞的祖先。”
Bander's eyes slithered away. "No," it admitted, "but then we allhave that as part of the ancestry. It is a common wretchedness."
班德将目光栘到别处。“不会，”它坦承不讳，“不过我们的祖先都有这么一部分，这是我们共同的不幸。”
"Common? Then other Solarians also have these death chambers?" askedTrevize.
“共同的？那么其他索拉利人也有这种灵房？”崔维兹问。
"Oh yes, we all do, but mine is the best, the most elaborate, themost perfectly preserved."
“喔，是啊，我们全都有。不过要数我的最好、最精致，保存得也最妥当。”
Trevize said, "Do you have your own death chamber alreadyprepared?"
崔维兹问道：“你是不是已经把自己的灵房准备好了？”
"Certainly. It is completely constructed and appointed. That was done as my first duty when I inherited the estate. And when I am laid toash to be poetic my successor will go about the constructionof its own as its first duty."
“当然，它完全建好了，全部装潢完毕。在我继承这个属地之后，那是我完成的第一件任务。而在我归于尘秃筢——这样讲比较诗意——我的继承人便会开始建造它自己的灵房，那也将是它的第一件任务。”
"And do you have a successor?"
“你有继承人吗？”
"I will have when the time comes. There is as yet ample scope forlife. When I must leave, there will be an adult successor, ripe enoughto enjoy the estate, and well lobed for power-transduction."
“到时我就有了，但我的寿命还长得很呢。当我必须离开的时候，就会有个成年的继承人，成熟到了足以享受这个属地，它会有发育完成的叶突，以进行能量转换。”
"It will be your offspring, I imagine."
“它应该是你的子嗣吧，我猜想。”
"Oh yes."
“喔，没错。”
"But what if," said Trevize, "something untoward takes place? I presumeaccidents and misfortunes take place even on Solaria. What happens if aSolarian is laid to ash prematurely and it has no successor to take itsplace, or at least not one who is ripe enough to enjoy the estate?"
“可是万一，”崔维兹说：“有什么不幸发生呢？我想即使在索拉利，也会发生一些意外和不幸吧。假使一个索拉利人过早归于尘土，没有继承人接掌它的位置，或是继承人尚未成熟到能享有属地，那又会如何呢？”
"That rarely happens. In my line of ancestors, that happened onlyonce. When it does, however, one need only remember that there are othersuccessors waiting for other estates. Some of those are old enough toinherit, and yet have parents who are young enough to produce a seconddescendant and to live on till that second descendant is ripe enough forthe succession. One of these old/young successors, as they are called,would be assigned to the succession of my estate."
“那是很罕见的，在我的世系中，那种事只发生过一次。不过，万一遇到这种情况，别忘了还有其他的继承人，等着继承其他的属地。有些继承人已足够成熟，它们的单亲却足够年轻，能够产生另一个后代，并且等得到那个后代长大成人。这种所谓的‘壮／少继承人’之一，就会被指定来继承无主的属地。”
"Who does the assigning?"
“由谁指定呢？”
"We have a ruling board that has this as one of its fewfunctions the assignment of a successor in case of prematureashing. It is all done by holovision, of course."
“我们有个统领委员会，它的少数功能之一就包括这一项——当有人过早归于尘土时，负责指定一个继承人。当然，整个过程是经由全讯传视进行的。”
Pelorat said, "But see here, if Solarians never see each other, howwould anyone know that some Solarian somewhere has unexpectedly orexpectedly, for that matter been laid to ash."
裴洛拉特说：“可是我问你，如果索拉利人彼此从不见面，要是某地的某个索拉利人意外——或是在意料之中归于尘土，又怎么会有人知道呢？”
Bander said, "When one of us is laid to ash, all power at the estateceases. If no successor takes over at once, the abnormal situation iseventually noticed and corrective measures are taken. I assure you thatour social system works smoothly."
班德说：“当我们其中之一归于尘秃筢，那个属地所有的电力都会消失。如果没有继承人立即接管，这种反常情况终究会被人发现，纠正措施随即会展开。我向你们保证，我们的社会系统运作得非常健全。”
Trevize said, "Would it be possible to view some of these films youhave here?"
崔维兹说：“我们有没有可能看看你这里的一些影片？”
Bander froze. Then it said, "It is only your ignorance that excusesyou. What you have said is crude and obscene."
班德愣了一下，然后说：“我不怪罪你，全然是由于你不知情，你刚才的言语既粗鲁又卑贱。”
"I apologize for that," said Trevize. "I do not wish to intrudeon you, but we've already explained that we are very interested inobtaining information on Earth. It occurs to me that the earliest filmsyou have would date back to a time before Earth was radioactive. Earthmight therefore be mentioned. There might be details given about it. Wecertainly do not wish to intrude on your privacy, but would there be anyway in which you yourself could explore those films, or have a robot doso, perhaps, and then allow any relevant information to be passed on tous? Of course, if you can respect our motives and understand that wewill try our best to respect your feelings in return, you might allowus to do the viewing ourselves."
“我为这件事道歉，”崔维兹说：“我不想强迫你，不过我们解释过了，我们很想获得有关地球的资料。我忽然想到，你这里早期影片的拍摄年代，应该是在地球变得具有放射性之前，因此影片中可能会提到地球，也许还会有详尽的叙述。我们当然不希望侵犯你的隐私，但有没有变通的办法，例如由你自己查看这些影片，或者让一个机器人来做，再将其中的相关资讯告诉我们？当然啦，如果你能体谅我们的动机，并且了解我们为了回报你的好意，会尽全力尊着你的感受，你也许会让我们亲自观看这些影片。”
Bander said frigidly, "I imagine you have no way of knowing that youare becoming more and more offensive. However, we can end all this atonce, for I can tell you that there are no films accompanying my earlyhalf-human ancestors."
班德以冷峻的语气说：“我猜想你并不知道，你变得越来越无礼了。不过，我们可以立刻结束这个话题，因为我可以告诉你，在我的早期半性祖先旁边，根本没有任何影片。”
"None?" Trevize's disappointment was heart-felt.
“没有？”崔维兹简直失望透了。
"They existed once. But even you can imagine what might have been onthem. Two half-humans showing interest in each other or, even," Bandercleared its throat, and said, with an effort, "interacting. Naturally,all half-human films were destroyed many generations ago."
“它们曾经存在过，但即使是你们，也该想像得到里面会是什么内容。两个半性人彼此表示兴趣，甚至，”班德清了清喉咙，有些勉强地说：“互相作用。半性人的所有影片，自然在许多代以前就被销毁了。”
"What about the records of other Solarians?"
“其他索拉利人所收藏的呢？”
"All destroyed."
“全都销毁了。”
"Can you be sure?"
“你能确定吗？”
"It would be mad not to destroy them."
“不毁掉那些东西的人一定疯了。”
"It might be that some Solarians were mad, or sentimental,or forgetful. We presume you will not object to directing us toneighboring estates."
“也许有些索拉利人真疯了，或者多愁善感，或者过于健忘。我想，请你指引我们前往邻近的属地，你该不会反对吧。”
Bander looked at Trevize in surprise. "Do you suppose others will beas tolerant of you as I have been?"
班德瞪着崔维兹，一副讶异的表情。“你以为其他人会像我这般容忍你们？”
"Why not, Bander?"
“为何不会呢，班德？”
"You'll find they won't be."
“到时你就知道了。”
"It's a chance we'll have to take."
“我们必须碰碰运气。”
"No, Trevize. No, any of you. Listen to me."
“不行，崔维兹：不行，你们都不能——听我说。”
There were robots in the background, and Bander was frowning.
后面出现几个机器人，班德皱起了眉头。
"What is it, Bander?" said Trevize, suddenly uneasy.
“什么事，班德？”崔维兹说，他突然感到不安。
Bander said, "I have enjoyed speaking to all of you, and observingyou in all your strangeness. It was a unique experience, whichI have been delighted with, but I cannot record it in my diary, normemorialize it in film."
班德说：“我很喜欢跟你们聊天，并且观察你们的——怪异言行。这是空前绝后的经验，我感到很高兴，可是我不能记在日志中，或是将这段记忆保存在影片里面。”
"Why not?"
“为什么不能？”
"My speaking to you; my listening to you; my bringing you into mymansion; my bringing you here into the ancestral death chambers; areshameful acts."
“我讲话给你们听，我听你们讲话，我带你们来我的宅邸，我带你们来祖先灵房，这些都是可耻的行为。”
"We are not Solarians. We matter to you as little as these robots do,do we not?"
“因为我们不是索拉利人，对你而言，我们跟这些机器人一样微不足道，不是吗？”
"I excuse the matter to myself in that way. It may not serve as anexcuse to others."
“那只是我替自己找的藉口，别的索拉利人也许不会接受。”
"What do you care? You have absolute liberty to do as you choose,don't you?"
“你有什么顾虑？你有绝对的自由随心所欲，难道不是吗？”
"Even as we are, freedom is not truly absolute. If I were theonly Solarian on the planet, I could do even shameful thingsin absolute freedom. But there are other Solarians on the planet, and,because of that, ideal freedom, though approached, is not actuallyreached. There are twelve hundred Solarians on the planet who woulddespise me if they knew what I had done."
“即使像我们这样，自由也不是真正绝对的。假使我是这个行星上唯一的索拉利人，我就有绝对的自由做些甚至更可耻的事。可是这个世界还有其他索拉利人，因此，虽然我们与理想中的自由极为接近，却未曾真正达到。这个行星上有一千两百个索拉利人，要是让它们知道我做了些什么，它们全都会瞧不起我。”
"There is no reason they need know about it."
“没有理由需要让它们知道。”
"That is true. I have been aware of that since you've arrived. I'vebeen aware of it all this time that I've been amusing myself with you. Theothers must not find out."
“那倒是实话，你们刚抵达此地时，我就已经想到了。在我跟你们寻开心的时候，我始终把这件事放在心上——一定不能让其他人知道。”
Pelorat said, "If that means you fear complications as a result ofour visits to other estates in search of information about Earth, why,naturally, we will mention nothing of having visited you first. That isclearly understood."
裴洛拉特说：“如果你的意思是，你担心我们去别的属地寻找地球的资料会为你带来麻烦，这个嘛，我们自然不会提到先拜访过你，这点我们心里有数。”
Bander shook its head. "I have taken enough chances. I will not speakof this, of course. My robots will not speak of this, and will even beinstructed not to remember it. Your ship will be taken underground andexplores for what information it can give us……"
班德摇了摇头。“我已经冒了太多的风险。我自己当然不会提到这件事，我的机器人也不会提到，它们甚至会奉命不准记住这件事。你们的太空船将被带到地底，我们要进行研究，看看能提供我们什么……”
"Wait," said Trevize, "how long do you suppose we can wait here whileyou inspect our ship? That is impossible."
“慢着，”崔维兹说：“你想检查我们的太空船，你以为我们能在这里等多久？那是不可能的事。”
"Not at all impossible, for you will have nothing to say about it. Iam sorry. I would like to speak to you longer and to discuss many otherthings with you, but you see the matter grows more dangerous."
“绝非不可能”因为你不会再有表达意见的机会。我很遗憾，我也想跟你们多聊一会儿，讨论许多其他的事情，可是你们也看得出来，情况变得越来越危险。”
"No, it does not," said Trevize emphatically.
“不，绝对没有。”崔维兹尽力强调。
"Yes, it does, little half-human. I'm afraid the time has come whenI must do what my ancestors would have done at once. I must kill you,all three."
“喔，绝对有的，小小半性人。只怕是我该采取行动的时候了，那是我的祖先会在第一时间采取的行动。我必须将你们杀掉，三个通通杀掉。”