Chapter 12: To the Surface
第十二章 重见天日
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Trevize turned his head at once to look at Bliss. Herface was expressionless, but taut, and her eyes were fixed on Banderwith an intensity that made her seem oblivious to all else.
崔维兹立刻转头望向宝绮思。她毫无表情，面容紧绷，双眼全神贯注凝视着班德，彷佛忘却了周遭的一切。
Pelorat's eyes were wide, disbelieving.
裴洛拉特的眼睛张得老大，一副难以置信的模样。
Trevize, not knowing what Bliss would or could do,struggled to fight down an overwhelming sense of loss (not so muchat the thought of dying, as of dying without knowing where Earth was,without knowing why he had chosen Gaia as humanity's future). He had toplay for time.
崔维兹不知道宝绮思会（或者能够）做些什么，他勉力击退排山倒海而来的挫败感（并非只是想到死亡，主要是想到尚未发现地球的下落，尚未明白他为何选择盖娅作人类未来的蓝图）。他心中很明白，自己必须尽量拖延时间。
He said, striving to keep his voice steady, and his words clear,"You have shown yourself a courteous and gentle Solarian, Bander. Youhave not grown angry at our intrusion into your world. You have beenkind enough to show us over your estate and mansion, and you haveanswered our questions. It would suit your character better to allow usto leave now. No one need ever know we were on this world and we wouldhave no cause to return. We arrived in all innocence, seeking merelyinformation."
他努力保持声音的平稳与咬字的清晰。“你一直表现得像是个谦恭有礼、风度翩翩的索拉利人，班德。我们闯入你的世界，你丝毫不以为忤，还好心地带我们参观你的属地和宅邸，并且回答我们的问题。如果你现在让我们离去，将更符合你的品格。没人有必要知道我们来过这个世界，而我们也没有理由再回来。我们到这里的动机很单纯，只不过是想要寻找资料而已。”
"What you say is so," said Bander lightly, "and, so far, I havegiven you life. Your lives were forfeit the instant you entered ouratmosphere. What I might have done and should have done onmaking close contact with you, would be to have killed you at once. Ishould then have ordered the appropriate robot to dissect your bodiesfor what information on Outworlders that might yield me.
“你当然会这么说，”班德从容道：“如今，你们的命都是跟我借的。你们进入我们大气层那一瞬间，性命就不再属于自己了。当我和你们进行近距离接触时，我可能会做的——也是应该做的——是立刻将你们杀掉。然后，我该命令专职机器人解剖你们的尸体，看看外星人士的身体能为我提供什么知识。
"I have not done that. I have pampered my own curiosity and given into my own easygoing nature, but it is enough. I can do it no longer. Ihave, in fact, already compromised the safety of Solaria, for if,through some weakness, I were to let myself be persuaded to let you go,others of your kind would surely follow, however much you might promisethat they would not.
“但我没有那么做，我纵容自己的好奇心，屈服在自己随和的天性下。不过现在该适可而止了，我不能再继续下去。事实上，我已经威胁到了索拉利的安全。因为，我如果由于某些弱点，竟然被你们说服，让你们安然离去，你们的同类必会接踵而至，现在你们如何保证都没有用。
"There is, however, at least this. Your death will be painless. I willmerely heat your brains mildly and drive them into inactivation. You willexperience no pain. Life will merely cease. Eventually, when dissectionand study are over, I will convert you to ashes in an intense flash ofheat and all will be over."
“不过，至少我能做到一点，能让你们死得毫无痛苦。我只消将你们的大脑稍微加热，使它们趋于钝化，你们不会感到任何痛苦，只是生命就这样终止。最后，等到解剖研究完毕，我会用瞬间高热将你们化为灰烬，这样一切就结束了。”
Trevize said, "If we must die, then I cannot argue against a quickpainless death, but why must we die at all, having given no offense?"
崔维兹说：“如果我们非死不可，我不反对迅速而毫无痛苦的死亡。可是我们没有犯任何罪，为什么一定要被处死？”
"Your arrival was an offense."
“你们的到来就是一项罪行。”
"Not on any rational ground, since we could not know it was anoffense."
“这话根本没道理，我们无法预知这样做是有罪的。”
"Society defines what constitutes an offense. To you, it may seemirrational and arbitrary, but to us it is not, and this is our world onwhich we have the full right to say that in this and that, you have donewrong and deserve to die."
“什么样的行为构成犯罪，不同的社会有不同的定义。对你们而言，它也许是无理而专断的，但对我们则不然。这里是我们的世界，我们有绝对的权利决定各种事务。你们犯了错，所以必须受死。”
Bander smiled as though it were merely making pleasant conversationand went on, "Nor have you any right to complain on the ground of yourown superior virtue. You have a blaster which uses a beam of microwavesto induce intense killing heat. It does what I intend to do, but doesit, I am sure, much more crudely and painfully. You would have nohesitation in using it on me right now, had I not drained its energy,and if I were to be so foolish as to allow you the freedom of movementthat would enable you to remove the weapon from its holster."
班德仍面带微笑，彷佛只是在愉快地闲聊。它继续说：“你们的品德也没多高尚，能让你们拿来作为申诉的藉口。你有一把手铳，它利用微波束激发致命的高热，功用和我如今的目的相同，可是我能肯定，它所导致的死亡将更残酷、痛苦得多。如果我笨到允许你有行动自由，让你能将手铳从皮套中拔出来，又如果我没把它的能量抽光，你现在会毫不犹豫地用它对付我。”
Trevize said despairingly, afraid even to glance again at Bliss, lestBander's attention be diverted to her, "I ask you, as an act of mercy,not to do this."
崔维兹甚至不敢再看宝绮思一眼，生怕班德的注意力转移到她身上。他抱着最后一线希望说：“我求你，就算是发发慈悲，不要这么做。”
Bandar said, turning suddenly grim, "I must first be merciful tomyself and to my world, and to do that, you must die."
班德突然现出冷酷的表情。“我必须先对自己和我的世界仁慈，所以你们都得死。”
He raised his hand and instantly darkness descended upon Trevize.
它举起一只手，一股黑暗立刻笼罩崔维兹。
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For a moment, Trevize felt the darkness choking himand thought wildly, Is this death?
一时之间，崔维兹感到黑暗令他窒息，他狂乱地想：这就是死亡吗？
And as though his thoughts had given rise to an echo, he heard awhispered, "Is this death?" It was Pelorat's voice.
彷佛他的思绪激起了回声，他听见一个低微的声音说：“这就是死亡吗？”那是裴洛拉特的声音。
Trevize tried to whisper, and found he could. "Why ask?" he said,with a sense of vast relief. "The mere fact that you can ask shows itis not death."
崔维兹试图开口，结果发现没有问题。“何必问呢？”他说，同时大大松了一口气。“你还能发问，光凭这一点，就表示这不是死亡。”
"Mere are old legends that there is life after death."
“在一些古老的传说中，死亡之后还有生命。”
"Nonsense," muttered Trevize. "Bliss? Are you here, Bliss?"
“荒谬绝伦。”崔维兹低声道：“宝绮思？你在这里吗，宝绮思？”
There was no answer to that.
没有任何回答。
Again Pelorat echoed, "Bliss? Bliss? What happened, Golan?"
“宝绮思？宝绮思？”裴洛拉特也唤道。“发生了什么事，葛兰？”
Trevize said, "Bender must be dead. He would, in that case, be unableto supply the power for his estate. The lights would go out."
崔维兹说：“班德一定死了。他一死就不能再为他的属地供应电力，所以灯光就熄了。”
"But how could? You mean Bliss did it?"
“可是怎么会……你是说这是宝绮思干的？”
"I suppose so. I hope she did not come to harm in the process." Hewas on his hands and knees crawling about in the total darkness of theunderground (if one did not count the occasional subvisible flashing ofa radioactive atom breaking down in the walls).
“我想应该是的，希望她没在过程中受伤。”在这个全然黑暗的地底世界（若不计墙壁中放射性原子偶然的衰变造成的肉眼下可见闪光），他趴在地上，以双手双膝爬行。
Then his hand came on something warm and soft. He felt along itand recognized a leg, which he seized. It was clearly too small to beBander's. "Bliss?"
然后，他的手摸到一个温热柔软的物体，他来回摸了摸，认出了抓着的是一条腿。那条腿显然太过细小，不可能是班德的。“宝绮思？”
The leg kicked out, forcing Trevize to let go.
那条腿踢了一下，崔维兹只好将手松开。
He said, "Bliss? Say something!"
他说：“宝绮思？说句话啊！”
"I am alive," came Bliss's voice, curiously distorted.
“我还活着。”宝绮思的声音传过来，不知为何却变了调。
Trevize said, "But are you well?"
崔维兹说：“可是你还好吗？”
"No." And, with that, light returned to theirsurroundings weakly. The walls gleamed faintly, brightening anddimming erratically.
“不好。”随着这句话，他们周围重新后了起来，但却相当暗淡。墙壁发出微弱的光芒，毫无规律地时明时暗。
Bander lay crumpled in a shadowy heap. At its side, holding its head,was Bliss.
班德垮作一团，像是一堆昏暗的杂物。在一侧抱着它的头的，正是宝绮思。
She looked up at Trevize and Pelorat. "The Solarian is dead," she said,and her cheeks glistened with tears in the weak light.
她抬起头望着崔维兹与裴洛拉特。“这个索拉利人死了。”在幽暗的灯光下，她的双颊闪烁着泪水。
Trevize was dumbfounded. "Why are you crying?"
崔维兹愣了一愣。“你为什么哭呢？”
"Should I not cry at having killed a living thing of thought andintelligence? That was not my intention."
“我杀死了一个有思想、有智慧的生命，难道不该哭吗？这并非我的本意。”
Trevize leaned down to help her to her feet, but she pushed himaway.
崔维兹弯下腰，想扶她站起来，她却将他一把推开。
Pelorat knelt in his turn, saying softly, "Please, Bliss, even youcan't bring it back to life. Tell us what happened."
裴洛拉特过去跪在她身边，柔声道：“拜托，宝绮思，即使是你，也无法让它起死回生。告诉我们发生了什么事。”
She allowed herself to be pulled upward and said dully, "Gaia cando what Bander could do. Gaia can make use of the unevenly distributedenergy of the Universe and translate it into chosen work by mentalpower alone."
她让裴洛拉特把自己扶起来，含糊地说：“班德能做的盖娅也会，盖娅能够利用宇宙间分布不均的能量，仅藉着心灵的力量，将它转换成适当的功。”
"I knew that," said Trevize, attempting to be soothing without quiteknowing how to go about it. "I remember well our meeting in space whenyou or Gaia, rather held our spaceship captive. I thoughtof that when Bander held me captive after it had taken my weapons. Itheld you captive, too, but I was confident you could have broken freeif you had wished."
“这我早就知道。”崔维兹试图安慰她，却不太清楚该怎么说。“我们在太空中相遇的情形，我还记得很清楚，当时你——或者应该说盖娅——制住我们的太空船。当班德夺走我的武器，又令我动弹不得的时候，我就想到了那件事。它也制伏了你，但是我确信，你若想挣脱是绝没问题的。”
"No. I would have failed if I had tried. When your ship was in my/our/Gaia's grip," she said sadly, "I and Gaia were truly one. Now there is ahyperspatial separation that limits my/our/Gaia's efficiency. Besides,Gaia does what it does by the sheer power of massed brains. Even so,all those brains together lack the transducer-lobes this one Solarianhas. We cannot make use of energy as delicately, as efficiently, astirelessly as he could. You see that I cannot make the lights gleam more brightly, and I don't know how long I can make them gleam at allbefore tiring. Bander could supply the power for an entire vast estate,even when it was sleeping."
“不对，如果我企图挣脱，那一定会失败。当你们的太空船在我／我们／盖娅的掌握中，”她以悲伤的语调说：“我和盖娅是真正的一体。现在却有超空间的分隔，限制了我／我们／盖娅的效率。此外，盖娅的所作所为，全有赖于齐聚无数大脑而生的力量，然而即使我们的大脑全部加起来，也比不上这个索拉利人的转换叶突。我们无法像它那么巧妙、有效又毫不疲倦地利用能量——你看，我就不能让这些灯光变得更亮，我也不知再过多久就会筋疲力尽。而班德即使在睡觉的时候，也能为整个广大的属地供应电力。”
"But you stopped it," said Trevize.
“但你制止了它。”崔维兹说。
"Because it didn't suspect my powers," said Bliss, "and because Idid nothing that would give it evidence of them. It was thereforewithout suspicion of me and gave me none of its attention. Itconcentrated entirely on you, Trevize, because it was you who borethe weapons again, how well it has served that you armedyourself and I had to wait my chance to stop Bander with onequick and unexpected blow. When it was on the point of killing us,when its whole mind was concentrated on that, and on you, I was ableto strike."
“因为它并未察觉我的力量，”宝绮思说：“而且我什么也没做，完全没让我的力量曝光。所以它没有怀疑我，也就没特别注意我。它将精神全部集中在你身上，崔维兹，因为带武器的是你——再次证明你武装自己是明智之举。而我必须等待机会，藉着出其不意、迅雷不及掩耳的一击制服班德。当它即将杀害我们，当它全副心神集中在那个行动以及你身上的时候，我就有了出手的机会。”
"And it worked beautifully."
“那一击相当漂亮。”
"How can you say something so cruel, Trevize? It was only my intentionto stop it. I merely wished to block its use of its transducer. In themoment of surprise when it tried to blast us and found it could not,but found, instead, that the very illumination about us was fadinginto darkness, I would tighten my grip and send it into a prolongednormal sleep and release the transducer. The power would then remainon, and we could get out of this mansion, into our ship, and leave theplanet. I hoped to so arrange things that, when Bander finally woke,it would have forgotten all that had happened from the instant of itssighting us. Gaia has no desire to kill in order to accomplish what canbe brought about without killing."
“这么残酷的话你怎么说得出口，崔维兹？我的本意只是制止它，只希望阻绝它的转换器。我的打算是，当它想要毁灭我们的时候将会发现它不但办不到，周围的照明还会突然熄灭。在它惊讶不已的那一瞬间，我就收紧我的掌握，使它进入长时间的正常睡眠状态，再将它的转换器松开。这样电力可以维持不断，我们便能逃出这座宅邸，返回太空船，尽速离开这颗行星。我希望做到的是，当班德终于醒来时，会忘记见到我们之后发生的一切。如果不必杀生就能办到，盖娅绝对不会滥杀无辜。”
"What went wrong, Bliss?" said Pelorat softly.
“哪里出了差错呢，宝绮思？”裴洛拉特柔声问道。
"I had never encountered any such thing as those transducer-lobes andI lacked any time to work with them and learn about them. I merely struckout forcefully with my blocking maneuver and, apparently, it didn't workcorrectly. It was not the entry of energy into the lobes that was blocked,but the exit of that energy. Energy is always pouring into those lobes ata reckless rate but, ordinarily, the brain safeguards itself by pouringout that energy just as quickly. Once I blocked the exit, however, energypiled up within the lobes at once and, in a tiny fraction of a second,the temperature had risen to the point where the brain protein inactivatedexplosively and it was dead. The lights went out and I removed my blockimmediately, but, of course, it was too late."
“我从来没接触过像转换叶突这样的东西，我没有时间详加研究，了解它的构造。我只能猛力展开我的阻绝行动，可是显然做得不正确。受到阻绝的并非叶突的能量入口，而是能量的出口。在一般情况下，能量源源不绝迅速灌人叶突，大脑则以相同的速率排出能量，以保护本身不至受损。可是，一旦出口被我阻绝，能量马上累积在叶突中，在极短的时间内，大脑的温度遽然升高，使脑中的蛋白质急速钝化，然后它就死了。当灯光尽数熄灭时、我立即收回阻绝的力量，但是那已经太晚了。”
"I don't see that you could have done anything other than that whichyou did, dear," said Pelorat.
“我看不出除了这样做之外，你还能有什么办法，亲爱的。”裴洛拉特说。
"Of what comfort is that, considering that I have killed."
“想到我竟然杀了人，怎么讲都无法安慰我。”
"Bander was on the point of killing us," said Trevize.
“班德眼看就要杀掉我们。”崔维兹说。
"That was cause for stopping it, not for killing it."
“因此我们要制止它，而不是杀害它。”
Trevize hesitated. He did not wish to show the impatience he felt forhe was unwilling to offend or further upset Bliss, who was, after all,their only defense against a supremely hostile world.
崔维兹犹豫了一下，他不希望表现出不耐烦的情绪，因为他实在不愿惹宝绮思生气，或是让她更心烦。毕竟，在这个充满无比敌意的世界中，她是他们唯一的防卫武器。
He said, "Bliss, it is time to look beyond Bander's death. Because itis dead, all power on the estate is blanked out. This will be noticed,sooner or later, probably sooner, by other Solarians. They will be forcedto investigate. I don't think you will be able to hold off the perhapscombined attack of several. And, as you have admitted yourself, you won'tbe able to supply for very long the limited power you are managing tosupply now. It is important, therefore, that we get back to the surface,and to our ship, without delay."
他说：“宝绮思，别再遗憾班德的死亡，现在我们该考虑别的了。由于它的死，这个属地所有的电力已经消失，其他索拉利人发现这点只是迟早的问题——也许不会迟只会早。它们将不得不展开调查，假如几个人联手攻击我们，我认为你根本无法抵御。而且，正如你自己承认的，你现在勉强供应的有限电力，将无法持续太久。所以说，我们的当务之急是赶快返回地面，回到我们的太空船里，一刻也耽误不得。”
"But, Golan," said Pelorat, "how do we do that? We came for manykilometers along a winding path. I imagine it's quite a maze down hereand, for myself, I haven't the faintest idea of where to go to reachthe surface. I've always had a poor sense of direction."
“可是，葛兰，”裴洛拉特说：“我们该怎么做？我们走了好几公里弯弯曲曲的路，我猜这下面一定跟迷宫差不多。就我个人而言，我对如何回到地表毫无概念，我的方向感一向很差。”
Trevize, looking about, realized that Pelorat was correct. He said,"I imagine there are many openings to the surface, and we needn't findthe one we entered."
崔维兹四下看了看，明白裴洛拉特说的完全正确。他说：“我猜通向地表的出口应该很多，我们不一定要找到原来那个。”
"But we don't know where any of the openings are. How do we findthem?"
“可是出口的位置我们一个也不知道，又要从何找起呢？”
Trevize turned again to Bliss. "Can you detect anything. mentally,that will help us find our way out?"
崔维兹又转向宝绮思。“你用精神力量，能否侦测到任何有助我们找到出路的线索？”
Bliss said, "The robots on this estate are all inactive. I can detecta thin whisper of subintelligent life straight up, but all that tellsus is that the surface is straight up, which we know."
宝绮思说：“这个属地的机器人都停摆了。在我们正上方，我可以侦测到一息微弱的次智慧生命，但这只能说明地表在正上方，这点我们早就知道。”
"Well, then," said Trevize, "we'll just have to look for someopening."
“好吧，那么，”崔维兹说：“我们只好自己寻找出口。”
"Hit-and-miss," said Pelorat, appalled. "We'll never succeed."
“瞎闯乱撞？”裴洛拉特被这个提议吓了一跳，“我们永远不会成功。”
"We might, Janov," said Trevize. "If we search, there will be a chance,however small. The alternative is simply to stay here, and if we do thatthen we will never succeed. Come, a small chance is better than none."
“或许可以，詹诺夫。”崔维兹说：“如果我们动手找，不论机会多小，总有逃出去的机会，否则我们只好待在这里，永远别想逃出去了。来吧，一线希望总比毫无希望强。”
"Wait," said Bliss. "I do sense something."
“等等，”宝绮思说：“我的确侦测到了一点东西。”
"What?" said Trevize.
“什么东西？”崔维兹问。
"A mind."
“一个心灵。”
"Intelligence?"
“有智慧吗？”
"Yes, but limited, I think. What reaches me most clearly, though,is something else."
“有，可是智慧有限，我想。不过，我感到最清楚的，却是另外一种讯息。”
"What?" said Trevize, again fighting impatience.
“是什么？”崔维兹再度压制住不耐烦的情绪。
"Fright! Intolerable fright!" said Bliss, in a whisper.
“恐惧！无法忍受的恐惧！”宝绮思细声道。
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Trevize looked about ruefully. He knew where they hadentered but he had no illusion on the score of being able to retrace thepath by which they had come. He had, after all, paid little attentionto the turnings and windings. Who would have thought they'd be in theposition of having to retrace the route alone and without help, and withonly a flickering, dim light to be guided by?
崔维兹愁眉苦脸地四下张望。他知道刚才是从哪里进来的，但他不会因此产生幻想，认为他们有可能原路折回。毕竟，他对那些拐弯抹角的道路未曾留心。谁想得到他们竟会落到这个地步，不得不自求多福独自折返，只有明灭不定的幽暗光芒为他们指路。
He said, "Do you think you can activate the car, Bliss?"
他说：“你认为自己有办法启动那辆车吗，宝绮思？”
Bliss said, "I'm sure I could, Trevize, but that doesn't mean I canrun it."
宝绮思说：“我确定可以，崔维兹，但那并不表示我会驾驶。”
Pelorat said, "I think that Bander ran it mentally. I didn't see ittouch anything when it was moving."
裴洛拉特说：“我想班德是靠精神力量驾驶的，车子在行驶的时候，我没看到它碰过任何东西。”
Bliss said gently, "Yes, it did it mentally, Pel, buthow , mentally? You might as well say that it did it byusing the controls. Certainly, but if I don't know the details of usingthe controls, that doesn't help, does it?"
宝绮思温柔地说：“没错，它用的是精神力量，裴，可是要如何使用精神力量呢？你当然会说是藉着操纵装置，这点绝对没错，但我若不熟悉操纵装置的使用方法，就根本没有任何帮助，对不对？”
"You might try," said Trevize.
“你好歹试一试。”崔维兹说。
"If I try, I'll have to put my whole mind to it, and if I do that,then I doubt that I'll be able to keep the lights on. The car will do us no good in the dark even if I learn how to control it."
“如果我去试，必须将全副心神放在它上面，这样一来，我怀疑自己是否还能维持照明的灯光。即使我学会如何操纵，在黑暗中这辆车子也帮不上什么忙。”
"Then we must wander about on foot, I suppose?"
“我想，那我们必须徒步游荡了？”
"I'm afraid so."
“恐怕就是如此。”
Trevize peered at the thick and gloomy darkness that lay beyond the dimlight in their immediate neighborhood. He saw nothing, heard nothing.
崔维兹凝视着前方，他们周围笼罩着幽暗的光芒，此外尽皆是厚实沉着的黑暗。他什么也看不见，什么也听不到。
He said, "Bliss, do you still sense this frightened mind?"
他说：“宝绮思，你还能感受到那个受惊的心灵吗？”
"Yes, I do."
“是的，还可以。”
"Can you tell where it is? Can you guide us to it?"
“你能不能分辨它在哪里？能不能带领我们到那里去？”
"The mental sense is a straight line. It is not refracted sensiblyby ordinary matter, so I can tell it is coming from that direction."
“精神感应是直线行进的，几乎不会被普通物质折射，所以我能知道它来自哪个方向。”
She pointed to a spot on the dusky wall, and said, "But we can't walkthrough the wall to it. The best we can do is follow the corridors andtry to find our way in whatever direction will keep the sensation growingstronger. In short, we will have to play the game of hot-and-cold."
她指着黑漆漆的墙壁，继续说：“但我们不能穿墙而过，最好的办法是沿着回廊走，一路选择感应越来越强的方向。简单地说，我们得玩一玩‘跟着感觉走’的游戏。”
"Then let's start right now."
“那么我们现在就开始吧。”
Pelorat hung back. "Wait, Golan; are we sure we want to find thisthing, whatever it is? If it is frightened, it may be that we will havereason to be frightened, too."
裴洛拉特却踌躇不前。“慢着，葛兰，我们真想找到那个东西吗，不论它是什么？假如它感到恐惧，或许我们也会有恐惧的理由。”
Trevize shook his head impatiently. "We have no choice, Janov. It'sa mind, frightened or not, and it may be willing to or may be madeto direct us to the surface."
崔维兹不耐烦地摇了摇头。“我们毫无选择余地，詹诺夫。不论它是否感到恐惧，它总是个心灵，它可能会愿意——或者我们能叫它指点我们回到地表。”
"And do we just leave Bander lying here?" said Pelorat uneasily.
“而我们就让班德躺在这里？”裴洛拉特语带不安地说。
Trevize took his elbow. "Come, Janov. We have no choice in that,either. Eventually some Solarian will reactivate the place, and a robotwill find Bander and take care of it I hope not before we aresafely away."
崔维兹抓住他的手肘。“来吧，詹诺夫，这点我们也没有选择。终究会有某个索拉利人重新启动这个地方，然后某个机器人会发现班德，为它料理善后——我希望是在我们安然离去后。”
He allowed Bliss to lead the way. The light was always strongestin her immediate neighborhood and she paused at each doorway, at eachfork in the corridor, trying to sense the direction from which thefright came. Sometimes she would walk through a door, or move around acurve, then come back and try an alternate path, while Trevize watchedhelplessly.
他让宝绮思在前面带路，不论走到哪里，她身边的光芒总是最后。在每个门口，以及回廊的每个岔路，她都会停下脚步，试图感知那股恐惧来自何方。有时她会在走进一道门或绕过某个弯路后，又折返重新尝试另一条路径。崔维兹只能袖手旁观，一点也帮不上忙。
Each time Bliss came to a decision and moved firmly in a particulardirection, the light came on ahead of her. Trevize noticed that it seemeda bit brighter now either because his eyes were adapting to thedimness, or because Bliss was learning how to handle the transductionmore efficiently. At one point, when she passed one of the metal rodsthat were inserted into the ground, she put her hand on it and the lightsbrightened noticeably. She nodded her head as though she were pleasedwith herself.
每当宝绮思下定决心，坚决地朝某个方向前进时，她前方的灯光便亮起来。崔维兹注意到，现在灯光似乎较为明亮——可能由于他的眼睛适应了昏暗的环境，也可能是宝绮思学会如何更有效地转换能量。有一次遇到一根那种插入地底的金属棒，她便将手放在上面，灯光的后度立时显着增强。她点了点头，好像感到十分满意。
Nothing looked in the least familiar; it seemed certain they werewandering through portions of the rambling underground mansion they hadnot passed through on the way in.
沿途未见到任何熟悉的事物，因此几乎可以肯定，他们现在走过的地方，是这个曲折迂回的地底宅邸另外一部分，他们进来的时候未曾经过这里。
Trevize kept looking for corridors that led upward sharply, and hevaried that by studying the ceilings for any sign of a trapdoor. Nothingof the sort appeared, and the frightened mind remained their only chanceof getting out.
崔维兹一路注意观察，想要寻找陡然上升的回廊，有时又将注意力转向屋顶，试图找出任何活门的痕迹。结果他一直没有任何发现，那受惊的心灵仍是他们唯一的希望。
They walked through silence, except for the sound of their own steps;through darkness, except for the light in their immediate vicinity;through death, except for their own lives. Occasionally, they made outthe shadowy bulk of a robot, sitting or standing in the dusk, with nomotion. Once they saw a robot lying on its side, with legs and arms inqueer frozen positions. It had been caught off-balance, Trevize thought,at the moment when power had been turned off, and it had fallen. Bander,either alive or dead, could not affect the force of gravity. Perhapsall over the vast Bander estate, robots were standing and lying inactiveand it would be that that would quickly be noted at the borders.
他们走在寂静中，唯一的声音是自己的脚步声；走在黑暗里，唯一的光线紧紧包围他们身边；走在死亡的幽谷内，唯一的活物是他们自己。他们偶尔会发现一两个蒙胧的机器人身躯，在昏暗中或立或坐，全都一动不动。有一次，他们看到一个侧卧的机器人，四肢摆出一种古怪的僵凝姿势。当所有的电力消失时，崔维兹想，它一定处于某种不平衡状态，是以立刻倒了下来。不论班德是死是活，都无法影响重力的作用。也许在班德广大的属地各个角落，所有的机器人皆已停摆，或立或卧僵在原地，而在属地的边界，这种情形一定很快会被人发现。
Or perhaps not, he thought suddenly. Solarians would know when oneof their number would be dying of old age and physical decay. The worldwould be alerted and ready. Bander, however, had died suddenly, withoutpossible foreknowledge, in the prime of its existence. Who would know? Whowould expect? Who would be watching for inactivation?
不过或许不会，他又突然这么想。当索拉利的一份子即将由于衰老而死亡时，索拉利人应该全都知道，整个世界都会有所警觉，并且预先做好准备。然而，班德正处于盛年，它现在突然暴毙，根本不可能有任何预兆。谁会知道呢？谁会预期这种结果？谁又会期待整个属地停摆？
But no (and Trevize thrust back optimism and consolation as dangerouslures into overconfidence). The Solarians would note the cessation of all activity on the Bander estate and take action at once. They all had too great an interest in the succession to estates to leave death to itself.
不对（崔维兹将乐观与自我安慰抛在脑后，那会引诱自己变得太过自信，实在太危险了），班德属地所有的活动都已停止，索拉利人一定会注意到，然后立即采取行动。它们都对继承属地有极大的兴趣，不会对他人的死亡置之不理。
Pelorat murmured unhappily, "Ventilation has stopped. A place likethis, underground, must be ventilated, and Bander supplied the power. Nowit has stopped."
裴洛拉特满面愁容，喃喃说道：“通风系统停止了。像这种位于地底的场所，一定要保持通风良好，当初有班德供应电力，但现在它已不再运转。”
"It doesn't matter, Janov," said Trevize. "We've got enough air downin this empty underground place to last us for years."
“没关系，詹诺夫。”崔维兹说：“在这个空旷的地底世界，还有足够的空气让我们活好几年。”
"It's close just the same. It's psychologically bad."
“我还是闷得慌，是心理上的难过。”
"Please, Janov, don't get claustrophobic. Bliss, are we anycloser?"
“拜托，詹诺夫，别染上了幽闭恐惧症——宝绮思，我们接近些了吗？”
"Much, Trevize," she replied. "The sensation is stronger and I amclearer as to its location."
“近多了，崔维兹。”她道：“感觉变强许多，我对它的位置也更清楚了。”
She was stepping forward more surely, hesitating less at points ofchoice of direction.
她迈出的脚步更为坚定，在需要选择方向的地点，也下再那么犹豫。
"There! There!" she said. "I can sense it intensely."
“那里！那里！”她说：“我强烈感觉到了。”
Trevize said dryly, "Even I can hear it now."
崔维兹不以为然地说：“现在就连我也听得到了。”
All three stopped and, automatically, held their breaths. They couldhear a soft moaning, interspersed with gasping sobs.
三个人停下脚步，自然而然屏住了气息。他们听到了一阵低低的悲鸣声，还夹杂着气喘吁吁的啜泣。
They walked into a large room and, as the lights went on, they sawthat, unlike all those they had hitherto seen, it was rich and colorfulin furnishings.
他们循声走进一个大房间，当灯光后起后，他们看到里面满是色彩缤纷的陈设，跟原先所见的各个房间完全不同。
In the center of the room was a robot, stooping slightly, its armsstretched out in what seemed an almost affectionate gesture and, ofcourse, it was absolutely motionless.
位于房间中央的是个机器人，它微弯着腰，伸出双臂，像是正准备做个亲昵的动作。不过，当然，它僵在那里一动不动。
Behind the robot was a flutter of garments. A round frightened eyeedged to one side of it, and there was still the sound of a brokenheartedsobbing.
机器人身后传来一阵衣裳拍动的声音。一只充满恐惧、睁得圆圆的眼睛从一侧探出来，那种令人心碎的啜泣声一直不断。
Trevize darted around the robot and, from the other side, a smallfigure shot out, shrieking. It stumbled, fell to the ground, andlay there, covering its eyes, kicking its legs in all directions, asthough to ward off some threat from whatever angle it might approach,and shrieking, shrieking Bliss said, quite unnecessarily, "It's a child!"
崔维兹冲到机器人后面。只听得一声尖叫，一个小身形从另一侧冒出来，猛然摔倒，躺在地上用手蒙住眼睛，两腿向四面八方猛踢，彷佛要逐退来自各方的威胁，同时继续不停地尖叫，尖叫——“是个孩子！”宝绮思说。这点显然毋庸质疑。
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Trevize drew back, puzzled. What was a child doinghere? Bander had been so proud of its absolute solitude, so insistentupon it.
崔维兹向后退了几步，感到十分不解。一个孩子在这里做什么？班德对自己绝对的孤独多么自傲，而且还极力强调这点。
Pelorat, less apt to fall back on iron reasoning in the face of anobscure event, seized upon the solution at once, and said, "I supposethis is the successor."
面对令人不解的事，裴洛拉特比较不会诉诸理性分析。他立刻想到答案、脱口便说：“我想这就是继承人。”
"Bander's child," said Bliss, agreeing, "but too young, I think,to be a successor. The Solarians will have to find one elsewhere."
“是班德的孩子，”宝绮思表示同意，“可是太小了。我想它无法成为继承人，索拉利人得另外找人继承。”
She was gazing at the child, not in a fixed glare, but in a soft,mesmerizing way, and slowly the noise the child was making lessened. Itopened its eyes and looked at Bliss in return. Its outcry was reducedto an occasional soft whimper.
她凝视着这个孩子，但并非目不转晴地瞪着它，而是用一种轻柔的、带有催眠作用的目光。那孩于果然渐渐静下来，睁开双眼，回望着宝绮思，原本的叫喊已经收敛，变作偶尔一下轻声的抽噎。
Bliss made sounds of her own, now, soothing ones, broken words thatmade little sense in themselves but were meant only to reinforce thecalming effect of her thoughts. It was as though she were mentallyfingering the child's unfamiliar mind and seeking to even out itsdisheveled emotions.
宝绮思发出一些具有安抚作用的声音，虽然断断续续没有什么意义，不过她的目的只是要加强镇定效果。她仿佛在用精神指尖，轻抚那孩子陌生的心灵，设法抚平其中紊乱不堪的情绪。
Slowly, never taking its eyes off Bliss, the child got to its feet,stood there swaying a moment, then made a dash for the silent, frozenrobot. It threw its arms about the sturdy robotic leg as though avidfor the security of its touch.
那孩子慢慢爬起来，目光一直没离开宝绮思。它摇摇蔽晃地站了一会儿，突然冲向那个既无动作又没声音的机器人。它紧抱着机器人粗壮的大腿，仿佛渴望得到一点安全感。
Trevize said, "I suppose that the robot is its nursemaid orcaretaker. I suppose a Solarian can't care for another Solarian, noteven a parent for a child."
崔维兹说：“我猜那个机器人是它的——保姆，或者是管理员。我猜索拉利人无法照顾另一个索拉利人，甚至无法照顾自己亲生的孩子。”
Pelorat said, "And I suppose the child is hermaphroditic."
裴洛拉特说：“而我猜这孩子也是雌雄同体。”
"It would have to be," said Trevize.
“一定是。”崔维兹说。
Bliss, still entirely preoccupied with the child, was approachingit slowly, hands held half upward, palms toward herself, as thoughemphasizing that there was no intention of seizing the small creature. Thechild was now silent, watching the approach, and holding on the moretightly to the robot.
宝绮思的心思仍全放在那孩子身上。她慢慢向它走去，双手平举，手掌朝向自己，仿佛强调她没有抓住它的意图。那孩子现在不哭了，看到宝绮思走过来，它把机器人抱得更紧。
Bliss said, "There, child warm, child soft, warm,comfortable, safe, child safe safe."
宝绮思说：“来，孩子——温暖，孩子——柔软，温暖，舒适，安全，来，孩子——安全——安全。”
She stopped and, without looking round, said in a low voice, "Pel,speak to it in its language. Tell it we're robots come to take care ofit because the power failed."
她停了下来，压低声音，头也不回地说：“裴，用它的语言跟它讲。告诉它我们都是机器人，因为这里停电，所以我们来照顾它。”
"Robots!" said Pelorat, shocked.
“机器人！”裴洛拉特吓了一跳。
"We must be presented as robots. It's not afraid of robots. And it'snever seen a human being, maybe can't even conceive of them."
“我们必须这样自我介绍，它不怕机器人，但它从没见过人类，也许甚至无法想像人类是什么。”
Pelorat said, "I don't know if I can think of the right expression. Idon't know the archaic word for `robot.'"
裴洛拉特说：“我不知道能否想出正确的说法，也不知道‘机器人’的古语是什么。”
"Say `robot,' then, Pel. If that doesn't work, say `iron thing.' Say whatever you can."
“那就说‘机器人’吧，裴。如果不管用，就改说‘铁做的东西’，反正尽量说就对了。”
Slowly, word by word, Pelorat spoke archaically. The child looked athim, frowning intensely, as though trying to understand.
裴洛拉特开始慢慢地、一字一顿地说着古银河语。那孩子望着他，紧紧皱着眉头，像是试图了解他在说些什么。
Trevize said, "You might as well ask it how to get out, while you'reat it."
崔维兹说：“你在跟它沟通的时候，最好顺便问它如何才能出去。”
Bliss said, "No. Not yet. Confidence first, then information."
宝绮思说：“不，暂时不要，先建立信心，再问问题。”
The child, looking now at Pelorat, slowly released its hold on therobot and spoke in a high-pitched musical voice.
那孩子一面望着裴洛拉特，一面慢慢松开机器人。它说了几句话，声音高亢而带有音乐性。
Pelorat said anxiously, "It's speaking too quickly for me."
裴洛拉特慌忙道：“它讲得太快，我听不懂。”
Bliss said, "Ask it to repeat more slowly. I'm doing my best to calmit and remove its fears."
宝绮思说：“请它再慢慢讲一遍，我尽全力消除它的恐惧，让它保持镇静。”
Pelorat, listening again to the child, said, "I think it's askingwhat made Jemby stop. Jemby must be the robot."
裴洛拉特又听了一遍那孩子说的话，然后说：“我想它在问健比为什么不动了，健比一定就是这个机器人。”
"Check and make sure, Pel."
“再问一遍确定一下，裴。”
Pelorat spoke, then listened, and said, "Yes, Jemby is the robot. Thechild calls itself Fallom."
裴洛拉特再跟那孩子谈了几句，又说：“没错，健比就是这个机器人，这孩子管自己叫菲龙。”
"Good!" Bliss smiled at the child, a luminous, happy smile, pointedto it, and said, "Fallom. Good Fallom. Brave Fallom." She placed a handon her chest and said, "Bliss."
“太好了！”宝绮思对那孩子微微一笑，那是个灿烂开心的笑容。她伸手指指它，然后说：“菲龙，乖菲龙，勇敢的菲龙。”又将一只手放在自己胸前，“宝绮思。”
The child smiled. It looked very attractive when it smiled. "Bliss,"it said, hissing the "s" a bit imperfectly.
那孩子也露出微笑，它展现笑容时，看起来非常讨人喜欢。“宝绮思——”它那个“思”的发音有点不正确。
Trevize said, "Bliss, if you can activate the robot, Jemby, it mightbe able to tell us what we want to know. Pelorat can speak to it aseasily as to the child."
崔维兹说：“宝绮思，如果你能启动这个机器人健比，它也许能告诉我们一些我们想知道的事。裴洛拉特可以跟它沟通，不会比跟这孩子沟通更困难。”
"No," said Bliss. "That would be wrong. The robot's first duty is toprotect the child. If it is activated and instantly becomes aware of us,aware of strange human beings, it may as instantly attack us. No strange human beings belong here. If I am then forced to inactivate it, it can give us no information, and the child, faced with a second inactivationof the only parent it knows Well, I just won't do it."
“不行，”宝绮思说：“那样做有问题。这个机器人的首要任务是保护这孩子 ，如果它被启动后，发觉我们这几个陌生的人类，它或许立即攻击我们，因为这里不该有任何陌生人。到时我若被迫再使它停摆，它就无法提供我们任何讯息，而这个孩子，看到它心目中唯一的亲人再度停摆——唉，我就是不要那么做。”
"But we were told," said Pelorat mildly, "that robots can't harmhuman beings."
“可是我们都听说过，”裴洛拉特柔声道：“机器人一律不能伤害人类。”
"So we were," said Bliss, "but we were not told what kind of robotsthese Solarians have designed. And even if this robot were designed todo no harm, it would have to make a choice between its child, or thenearest thing to a child it can have, and three objects whom it might noteven recognize as human beings, merely as illegal intruders. Naturally,it would choose the child and attack us."
“我们的确听说过，”宝绮思说：“可是没有人告诉我们，这些索拉利人设计是什么样的机器人。即使这个机器人被设计得不能伤害人类，它也必须做出抉择——一边是它的孩子，或者说几乎是它的孩子；另一边却是三个陌生物件，它也许根本认不出我们是人类，只会把我们当成非法闯人者。它自然会选择保护孩子，而对我们发动攻击。”
She turned to the child again. "Fallom," she said, "Bliss." Shepointed, "Pel Trev."
她再度转身面对那孩子。“菲龙，”她说：“宝绮思，”她指指自己，接着又指向其他两人，“裴——崔——”
"Pel. Trev," said the child obediently.
“裴，崔。”孩子乖顺地跟着说。
She came closer to the child, her hands reaching toward it slowly. Itwatched her, then took a step backward.
她向那孩子走近些，双手慢慢向它接近。它一面望着她，一面向后退了一步。
"Calm, Fallom," said Bliss. "Good, Fallom. Touch, Fallom. Nice,Fallom."
“冷静，菲龙：”宝绮思说：“乖乖，菲龙；摸摸，菲龙；好乖，菲龙。”
It took a step toward her, and Bliss sighed. "Good, Fallom."
它向她走近一步，宝绮思松了一口气。 “乖，菲龙。”
She touched Fallom's bare arm, for it wore, as its parent had,only a long robe, open in front, and with a loincloth beneath. Thetouch was gentle. She removed her arm, waited, and made contact again,stroking softly.
她摸了摸菲龙裸露在外的臂膀，它跟它的单亲一样，只穿了一件长袍，前胸敞开，下面系着一条束腰。她只轻轻摸了一下，手就赶紧移开，等了一会儿，才又将手放回它的手臂上，轻柔地抚摸着。
The child's eyes half-closed under the strong, calming effect ofBliss's mind.
在宝绮思心灵的强力镇静作用下，那孩子的眼睛微微闭上。
Bliss's hands moved up slowly, softly, scarcely touching, to thechild's shoulders, its neck, its ears, then under its long brown hairto a point just above and behind its ears.
宝绮思的双手慢慢往上移，动作非常轻，几乎没有触摸到它的肌肤。她两只手一路摸到孩子的肩膀、颈部、耳朵，最后伸进它棕色的长发中，来到它双耳后方偏上的部位。
Her hands dropped away then, and she said, "The transducer-lobesare still small. The cranial bone hasn't developed yet. There's just atough layer of skin there, which will eventually expand outward and befenced in with bone after the lobes have fully grown. Which meansit can't, at the present time, control the estate or even activate its own personal robot. Ask it how old it is, Pel."
她随即将双手放下，说道：“转换叶突还小，头盖骨尚未发育完全。那里有一层硬质皮肤，等到叶突长成后，它就会向外鼓胀，被头盖骨围起来。这就代表说，如今它还无法控制这个属地，甚至无法启动属于它的机器人——问问它有几岁了，裴。”
Pelorat said, after an exchange, "It's fourteen years old, if Iunderstand it rightly."
经过一番交谈后，裴洛拉特说：“它今年十四岁，如果我没弄错的话。”
Trevize said, "It looks more like eleven."
崔维兹说：“它看起来更像十一岁。”
Bliss said, "The length of the years used on this world may notcorrespond closely to Standard Galactic Years. Besides, Spacers aresupposed to have extended lifetimes and, if the Solarians are likethe other Spacers in this, they may also have extended developmentalperiods. We can't go by years, after all."
宝绮思说：“这个世界采用的年，长度也许和银河标准年不尽相同。此外，据说外世界人曾将寿命延长，这点如果索拉利人跟其他外世界人一样，他们或许也延长了发育期，总之我们不能以年龄为变准。”
Trevize said, with an impatient click of his tongue, "Enoughanthropology. We must get to the surface and since we are dealing witha child, we may be wasting our time uselessly. It may not know the routeto the surface. It may not ever have been on the surface."
崔维兹不耐烦地咂咂舌头。“别再讨论人类学了，我们必须赶快到达地表。我们沟通的对象是个孩子，我们可能只是在浪费时间。它也许不知道通往地表的路径，也可能从来没有到过地表。”
Bliss said, "Pel!"
宝绮思说：“裴！”
Pelorat knew what she meant and there followed the longest conversationhe had yet had with Fallom.
裴洛拉特明白她的意思，马上又跟菲龙讨论起来，这次花的时间比前几次都要长。
Finally, he said, "The child knows what the sun is. It says it's seenit. I think it's seen trees. It didn't act as though it weresure what the word meant or at least what the word I used meant "
最后他终于说：“这孩子知道什么是太阳，它说自己曾看到过。我想它也见过树木，它的反应好像不确定那个字的意义，至少不确定我用的那个字眼……”
"Yes, Janov," said Trevize, "but do get to the point."
“好了，詹诺夫，”崔维兹说：“拜托言归正传吧。”
"I told Fallom that if it could get us out to the surface, thatmight make it possible for us to activate the robot. Actually, I saidwe would activate the robot. Do you suppose we might?"
“我告诉菲龙说，如果它能带我们到达地面，我们也许就有办法启动那个机器人。事实上，我说我们‘就会’启动那个机器人。你认为我们可能做到吗？”
Trevize said, "We'll worry about that later. Did it say it wouldguide us?"
崔维兹说：“这件事我们待会儿再操心，它有没有说愿意为我们带路？”
"Yes. I thought the child would be more anxious to do it, you see,if I made that promise. I suppose we're running the risk of disappointingit "
“有。我刚才是这么想的，如果我做出承诺，你也知道，这孩子会更热心。我认为，我们在冒着让它失望的危险……”
"Come," said Trevize, "let's get started. All this will be academicif we are caught underground."
“走吧，”崔维兹说：“我们立刻出发。如果我们困在地底，所有的事情都是纸上谈兵。”
Pelorat said something to the child, who began to walk, then stoppedand looked back at Bliss.
裴洛拉特又对那孩子说了几句话，它便开始向前走，不久它又停下脚步，回头望着宝绮思。
Bliss held out her hand and the two then walked hand in hand.
宝绮思伸出一只手，于是两人手牵着手一起走了。
"I'm the new robot," she said, smiling slightly.
“我是个新的机器人。”她露出淡淡的微笑。
"It seems reasonably happy over that," said Trevize.
“它好像相当满意。”崔维兹说。
Fallom skipped along and, briefly, Trevize wondered if it were happysimply because Bliss had labored to make it so, or if, added to that,there was the excitement of visiting the surface and of having threenew robots, or whether it was excitement at the thought of having itsJemby foster-parent back. Not that it mattered as long as thechild led them.
菲龙一路蹦蹦跳跳，崔维兹心中突然闪过一些疑问，它现在这么开心，只是宝绮思费尽心血的结果吗？或是除此之外，又加上它有机会再度去地表玩耍，还得到三个新的机器人，所以才会这样兴奋？或者，它变得如此兴高采烈，是因为想到保姆健比会回到它身边？这都没什么关系，只要这孩子肯带路就行。
There seemed no hesitation in the child's progress. It turned withoutpause whenever there was a choice of paths. Did it really know where itwas going, or was it all simply a matter of a child's indifference? Wasit simply playing a game with no clear end in sight?
孩子的步伐似乎没有任何迟疑，每当遇到岔路，它毫不犹豫就做出选择。它真知道自己向哪里走吗？或者这只是小孩子无意义的行动？它只是在玩一个游戏，根本没有明确的目的地？
But Trevize was aware, from the slight burden on his progress, thathe was moving uphill, and the child, bouncing self-importantly forward,was pointing ahead and chattering.
可是，从变得稍微沉着的脚步中，崔维兹意识到自己正在上坡。而那个孩子，则一面信心十足地蹦蹦跳跳，一面指着前方，叽哩呱啦说个不停。
Trevize looked at Pelorat, who cleared his throat and said, "I thinkwhat it's saying is `doorway.'"
崔维兹望向裴洛拉特，袭洛拉特清了清喉咙说：“我想它说的是‘门’。”
"I hope your thought is correct," said Trevize.
“我希望你所想的正确无误。”崔维兹说。
The child broke away from Bliss, and was running now. It pointed to aportion of the flooring that seemed darker than the sections immediatelyneighboring it. The child stepped on it, jumping up and down a few times,and then turned with a clear expression of dismay, and spoke with shrillvolubility.
此时，孩子挣脱了宝绮思的手，飞快向前奔去，同时伸手指着某处的地板，那里的颜色似乎比周围深。它踏上那块地板，在原地跳了几下，然后转过头来，露出明显的沮丧表情，又用尖锐的声音说了一大串。
Bliss said, with a grimace, "I'll have to supply the power. Thisis wearing me out."
宝绮思苦笑了一下。“我得负责供应电力，这会让我筋疲力尽。”
Her face reddened a bit and the lights dimmed, but a door opened justahead of Fallom, who laughed in soprano delight.
她的脸微微转红，灯光变暗了点，但菲龙面前的一扇门却打了开，它立刻发出女高音般的欢呼。
The child ran out the door and the two men followed. Bliss camelast, and looked back as the lights just inside darkened and the doorclosed. She then paused to catch her breath, looking rather worn out.
那孩子冲出门外，两位男士紧跟在后。宝绮思是最后一个出来的，当那扇门快要关上的时候，她回头望了望，里面已经一片漆黑。然后她停下脚步，稍微喘了一口气，看来相当疲倦。
"Well," said Pelorat, "we're out. Where's the ship?"
“好啦，”裴洛拉特说：“我们出来了，太空船在哪里？”
All of them stood bathed in the still luminous twilight.
现在他们都已来到户外，沐浴在仍算明亮的夕阳下。
Trevize muttered, "It seems to me that it was in that direction."
崔维兹喃喃说道：“我觉得它好像在那个方向。”
"It seems so to me, too," said Bliss. "Let's walk," and she held outher hand to Fallom.
“我也这么觉得，”宝绮思说：“我们走吧。”说完就伸手去牵菲龙。
There was no sound except those produced by the wind and by themotions and calls of living animals. At one point they passed a robotstanding motionless near the base of a tree, holding some object ofuncertain purpose.
除了风声，以及一些动物的叫声与走动声外，四周围可谓一片静寂。他们在途中遇到一个机器人，一动不动地站在树基附近，手中抱着一个功用不明的物体。
Pelorat took a step toward it out of apparent curiosity, but Trevizesaid, "Not our business, Janov. Move on."
裴洛拉特显然是出于好奇，朝那个方向迈出一步，崔维兹却赶紧说：“不关我们的事，詹诺夫，继续走吧。”
They passed another robot, at a greater distance, who had tumbled.
不久，他们又远远看到另一个机器人瘫在地上。
Trevize said, "There are robots littered over many kilometers inall directions, I suppose."
崔维兹说：“我想方圆百公里内，一定到处都是放倒的机器人。”
And then, triumphantly, "Ah, there's theship."
然后他又得意洋洋地说：“啊，太空船在那里。”
They hastened their steps now, then stopped suddenly. Fallom raisedits voice in an excited squeak.
他们马上加快脚步，突然间又停了下来。菲龙扯着喉咙发出兴奋的尖叫。
On the ground near the ship was what appeared to be an air-vessel ofprimitive design, with a rotor that looked energy-wasteful, and fragilebesides. Standing next to the air-vessel, and between the little partyof Outworlders and their ship, stood four human figures.
在太空艇附近，停着一艘显得相当原始的航空器，它的转子看来非常浪费能量，而且十分脆弱。在那具航空器旁边，介于他们四人与太空艇之间，站着四个貌似人类的身形。
"Too late," said Trevize. "We wasted too much time. Now what?"
“太迟了，”崔维兹说：“我们浪费了太多时间。现在怎么办？”
Pelorat said wonderingly, "Four Solarians? It can't be. Surely theywouldn't come into physical contact like that. Do you suppose thoseare holoimages?"
裴洛拉特以困惑的口吻说：“四个索拉利人？这不可能。它们当然不会做这样的实质接触，你想它们是全讯影像吗？”
"They are thoroughly material," said Bliss. "I'm sure of that. They'renot Solarians either. There's no mistaking the minds. They're robots."
“它们是百分之百的实体，”宝绮思说：“这点我能肯定。不过它们也不是索拉利人，这些心灵我绝不会弄错，它们是机器人。”
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"Well, then," said Trevize wearily, "onward!" He resumedhis walk toward the ship at a calm pace and the others followed.
“好吧，那么，”崔维兹带着倦意说：“前进！”他继续以沉着的步伐向太空艇走去，其他人跟在他后面。
Pelorat said, rather breathlessly, "What do you intend to do?"
裴洛拉特有点上气不接下气地说：“你打算怎么办？”
"If they're robots, they've got to obey orders."
“假如它们是机器人，它们就必须服从命令。”
The robots were awaiting them, and Trevize watched them narrowly asthey came closer.
那几个机器人正在等候他们。走近之后，崔维兹开始仔细打量它们。
Yes, they must be robots. Their faces, which looked as though they weremade of skin underlain with flesh, were curiously expressionless. Theywere dressed in uniforms that exposed no square centimeter of skinoutside the face. Even the hands were covered by thin, opaque gloves.
没错，它们一定是机器人。它们的脸部看来好像有皮有肉，但是毫无表情，显得相当诡异。它们都穿着制服，除了面部之外，没有暴露任何平方公分的肌肤，就连双手都戴着不透明的薄手套。
Trevize gestured casually, in a fashion that was unquestionably abrusque request that they step aside.
崔维兹随便做了个手势，那是个明确而直接的身体语言，意思是要它们让开。
The robots did not move.
那些机器人并没有动。
In a low voice, Trevize said to Pelorat, "put it into words, Janov. Befirm."
崔维兹低声对裴洛拉特说：“用说的，詹诺夫，语气要坚决。”
Pelorat cleared his throat and, putting an unaccustomed baritone intohis voice, spoke slowly, gesturing them aside much as Trevize had done. Atthat, one of the robots, who was perhaps a shade taller than the rest,said something in a cold and incisive voice.
裴洛拉特清了清喉咙，以很不自然的男中音慢慢说，同时也像崔维兹那样，挥手表示要它们让开。然后，其中一个似乎高一点的机器人，以冰冷而犀利的声音答了几句。
Pelorat turned to Trevize. "I think he said we were Outworlders."
裴洛拉特转头对崔维兹说：“我想它说我们是外星人士。”
"Tell him we are human beings and must be obeyed."
“告诉它我们是人类，它必须服从我们。”
The robot spoke then, in peculiar but understandable Galactic. "Iunderstand you, Outworlder. I speak Galactic. We are Guardian Robots."
此时那机器人再度开口，说的是口音奇特但仍可解的银河标准语。“我了解你的话，外星人士。我会说银河标准语，我们是守护机器人。”
"Then you have heard me say that we are human beings and that youmust therefore obey us."
“那么，你听到我刚才说的话了，我们是人类，你们必须服从我们。”
"We are programmed to obey Rulers only, Outworlder. You are notRulers and not Solarian. Ruler Bander has not responded to the normalmoment of Contact and we have come to investigate at close quarters. Itis our duty to do so. We find a spaceship not of Solarian manufacture,several Outworlders present, and all Bander robots inactivated. Whereis Ruler Bander?"
“我们的程式设计，外星人士，只让我们服从地主的命令，而你既不是地主又不是索拉利人。班德地主对常规接触未做回应，因此我们前来进行实地调查，这是我们的职责。我们发现了一艘并非索拉利出品的太空船，还有几个外星人士，而班德的机器人全部停摆。班德地王在哪里？”
Trevize shook his head and said slowly and distinctly, "We knownothing of what you say. Our ship's computer is not working well. Wefound ourselves near this strange planet against our intentions. Welanded to find our location. We found all robots inactivated. We knownothing of what might have happened."
崔维兹摇了摇头，以缓慢而清晰的声音说：“你的话我们完全不明白，我们太空船的电脑出了点问题，将我们带到这个陌生行星附近，这并非我们的本意。我们登陆此地，是想要找出目前的位置，却发现所有的机器人都已停摆，我们根本不知道发生了什么事。”
"That is not a credible account. If all robots on the estate areinactivated and all power is off, Ruler Bander must be dead. It is notlogical to suppose that by coincidence it died just as you landed. Theremust be some sort of causal connection."
“这个解释不可信。如果这个属地上所有的机器人都停摆，所有的电力全部消失，那么班德地主一定死了。它刚好在你们着陆之际死亡，如果说只是巧合，那是不合逻辑的假设，其中一定有某种因果关联。”
Trevize said, with no set purpose but to confuse the issue and toindicate his own foreigner's lack of understanding and, therefore, hisinnocence, "But the power is not off. You and the others are active."
崔维兹又说：“可是电力没有消失啊，你和其他几个机器人还能活动。”他这样说只是为了混淆视听，以显示他是个局外人，对这里的状况毫不知情，藉此洗脱自己的嫌疑。
The robot said, "We are Guardian Robots. We do not belong to anyRuler. We belong to all the world. We are not Ruler-controlled but arenuclear-powered. I ask again, where is Ruler Bander?"
那机器人说：“我们是守护机器人，我们不属于任何地主，而是属于整个世界。我们不受地主控制，以核能为动力来源。我再问一遍，班德地主在哪里？”
Trevize looked about him. Pelorat appeared anxious; Bliss wastight-lipped but calm. Fallom was trembling, but Bliss's hand touchedthe child's shoulder and it stiffened somewhat and lost facialexpression. (Was Bliss sedating it?)
崔维兹四下看了看，裴洛拉特显得忧心仲忡，宝绮思紧抿嘴唇，但表情还算冷静，菲龙则全身发抖：宝绮思赶紧伸手搭着它的肩膀，它才变得坚强一点，脸上的恐惧神情也消失了。（宝绮思在令它镇静吗？）
The robot said, "Once again, and for the last time, where is RulerBander?"
那机器人说：“再问一次，这是最后一次，班德地主在哪里？”
"I do not know," said Trevize grimly.
“我不知道。”崔维兹绷着脸说。
The robot nodded and two of his companions left quickly. The robotsaid, "My fellow Guardians will search the mansion. Meanwhile, you willbe held for questioning. Hand me those objects you wear at your side."
机器人点了点头，它的两个同伴便迅速离去。然后它说：“我的守护者同僚将搜索这所宅邸，在此期间，你将被留置此地接受盘问。把你佩挂在腰际两侧的东西交给我。”
Trevize took a step backward. "They are harmless."
崔维兹退了一步。“这些不会伤人。”
"Do not move again. I do not question their nature, whether harmfulor harmless. I ask for them."
“别再乱动，我没问它们会不会伤人，我要你把它们交出来。”
No.
“不行。”
The robot took a quick step forward, and his arm flashed out tooquickly for Trevize to realize what was happening. The robot's hand wason his shoulder; the grip tightened and pushed downward. Trevize wentto his knees.
那机器人迅速向前迈出一步，手臂猛然掠出，崔维兹还不知道发生了什么事，机器人一只手已搭上他的肩头。那只手用力收紧，同时向下猛压，崔维兹便跪了下来。
The robot said, "Those objects." It held out its other hand.
机器人又说：“交出来。”它伸出另一只手。
"No," gasped Trevize.
“不。”崔维兹喘着气说。
Bliss lunged forward, pulled the blaster out of its holster beforeTrevize, clamped in the robot's grip, could do anything to preventher, and held it out toward the robot. "Here, Guardian," she said,"and if you'll give me a moment here's the other. Now releasemy companion."
此时宝绮思冲过去，将手铣从皮套中掏出来。崔维兹被机器人紧紧箝制，根本无法阻止她的行动。她将手铳递给那机器人。“给你，守护者，”她说：“请你稍等一下——这是另外一件，现在放开我的同伴。”
The robot, holding both weapons, stepped back, and Trevize roseslowly to his feet, rubbing his left shoulder vigorously, face wincing with pain.
机器人握着两件武器向后退去，崔维兹慢慢站起来，搓揉着左肩，脸孔因痛苦而扭曲。
(Fallom whimpered softly, and Pelorat picked it up in distraction,and held it tightly.)
（菲龙在轻声抽噎，心慌意乱的裴洛拉特连忙将它抱起来，紧紧搂着它。）
Bliss said to Trevize, in a furious whisper, "Why are you fightinghim? He can kill you with two fingers."
宝绮思以极愤怒的语气，对崔维兹悄声道：“你为什么要跟它斗？它用两根指头就能把你捏死。”
Trevize groaned and said, between gritted teeth, "Why don'tyou handle him.
崔维兹哼了一声，咬牙切齿地说：“你为什么不对付它？”
"I'm trying to. It takes time. His mind is tight, intensely programmed,and leaves no handle. I must study it. You play for time."
“我在试啊，但这需要时间。它的心灵没有空隙，程式设计得精密无比，我根本找不到漏洞可钻。我必须好好研究一下，你得设法拖延时间。”
"Don't study his mind. Just destroy it," said Trevize, almostsoundlessly.
“别研究它的心灵，把它摧毁就行了。”崔维兹这句话几乎没有发出声音。
Bliss looked quickly toward the robot. It was studying the weaponsintently, while the one other robot that still remained with it watchedthe Outworlders. Neither seemed interested in the whispering that wasgoing on between Trevize and Bliss.
宝绮思迅速向那个机器人瞥了一眼，看到它正专注地研究那两件武器，而留在它身边的另一个机器人，则负责看守他们这些外星人士。它们两个似乎对崔维兹与宝绮思之间的耳语毫无兴趣。
Bliss said, "No. No destruction. We killed one dog and hurt another onthe first world. You know what happened on this world." (Another quickglance at the Guardian Robots.) "Gaia does not needlessly butcher lifeor intelligence. I need time to work it out peacefully."
宝绮思说：“不行，不能摧毁它。在先前那个世界，我们杀害过一只狗，又伤了另一只；而在这个世界，你也知道发生了什么事。”（她又很快瞥了一下两个守护机器人）“盖娅从不无故屠杀生灵，我需要时间设法和平解决。”
She stepped back and stared at the robot fixedly.
她后退了几步，眼睛紧盯着那个机器人。
The robot said, "These are weapons."
机器人说：“这两件是武器。”
"No," said Trevize.
“不是。”崔维兹说。
"Yes," said Bliss, "but they are no longer useful. They are drainedof energy."
“是的，”宝绮思说：“不过它们现在没有用了，它们的能量已被抽光。”
"Is that indeed so? Why should you carry weapons that are drainedof energy? Perhaps they are not drained." The robot held one of theweapons in its fist and placed its thumb accurately. "Is this the wayit is activated?"
“真是这样吗？你为什么携带能量被抽光的武器？也许它们还有些能量。”机器人抓起其中一件武器，将拇指放在正确的位置上。“它是这样启动的吗？”
"Yes," said Bliss; "if you tighten the pressure, it would be activated,if it contained energy but it does not."
“没错。”宝绮思说：“假如它还存有能量，你用力一压，它就会被启动——但是它没有。”
"Is that certain?" The robot pointed the weapon at Trevize. "Do youstill say that if I activate it now, it will not work?"
“确定吗？”机器人将武器对准崔维兹，“你还敢说如果我现在启动它，它不会生效？”
"It will not work," said Bliss.
“它不会生效。”宝绮思说。
Trevize was frozen in place and unable to articulate. He had testedthe blaster after Bander had drained it and it was totally dead, butthe robot was holding the neuronic whip. Trevize had not tested that.
崔维兹僵在那里，几乎话都讲不清楚。班德将手铳中的能量抽光后，他曾经试过一次，证实它已经完全失效。然而那机器人拿的是神经鞭，崔维兹并未测试过。
If the whip contained even a small residue of energy, there wouldbe enough for a stimulation of the pain nerves, and what Trevize wouldfeel would make the grip of the robot's hand seem to have been a patof affection.
即使神经鞭仅仅残存一点能量，也足以刺激痛觉神经。而崔维兹将产生的感觉，会使得刚才那一抓相较之下像是亲昵的爱抚。
When he had been at the Naval Academy, Trevize had been forced totake a mild neuronic whipblow, as all cadets had had to. That was justto know what it was like. Trevize felt no need to know anything more.
在“舰队学院”受训时，崔维兹跟每个学员一样，曾被迫接受神经鞭轻微的一击。那样做的目的，只是要让他们尝尝那种滋味，崔维兹觉得一次就绰绰有余。
The robot activated the weapon and, for a moment, Trevize stiffenedpainfully and then slowly relaxed.
那机器人启动了武器，一时之间，崔维兹吃力地咬紧牙关——然后，又慢慢放松。
The whip, too, was thoroughlydrained.
神经鞭的能量也全被抽光。
The robot stared at Trevize and then tossed both weapons to oneside. "How do these come to be drained of energy?" it demanded. "If theyare of no use, why do you carry them?"
机器人瞪了崔维兹一眼，再将两件武器丢到一旁。“这些武器怎么会被抽光能量？”它质问道：“如果它们没有用了，你为什么还要带在身上？”
Trevize said, "I am accustomed to the weight and carry them evenwhen drained."
崔维兹说：“我习惯了这个着量，即使能量没了，我仍然会随身携带。”
The robot said, "That does not make sense. You are all undercustody. You will be held for further questioning, and, if the Rulersso decide, you will then be inactivated. How does one open thisship? We must search it."
机器人说：“这样讲根本没有道理，你们都被捕了。你们将接受进一步的盘问，而如果地主们做出决定，你们就会被停摆——怎样打开那艘太空船？我们必须进去搜查。”
"It will do you no good," said Trevize. "You won't understand it."
“那样做没什么用，”崔维兹说：“你不了解它的构造。”
"If not I, the Rulers will understand."
“即使我不懂，地主们也会懂得。”
"They will not understand, either."
“他们也不会了解。”
"Then you will explain so that they will understand."
“那么你就得解释清楚，让他们能够了解。”
"I will not."
“我不会那样做。”
"Then you will be inactivated."
“那么你会被停摆。”
"My inactivation will give you no explanation, and I think I will beinactivated even if I explain."
“我要是停摆了，你就得不到任何解释。不过我想，即使我做出解释，我一样会被停摆。”
Bliss muttered, "Keep it up. I'm beginning to unravel the workingsof its brain."
宝绮思喃喃地说：“继续下去，我逐渐解开它脑部的运作奥秘了。”
The robot ignored Bliss. (Did she see to that? thought Trevize,and hoped savagely that she had.)
那机器人未理会宝绮思。（是她造成的结果吗？崔维兹想，而且极度希望真是这样。）
Keeping its attention firmly on Trevize, the robot said, "If you makedifficulties, then we will partially inactivate you. We will damage youand you will then tell us what we want to know."
机器人的注意力紧盯在崔维兹身上。“如果你制造麻烦，那我们将令你部分停摆。我们会损坏你，然后你就会把我们想知道的告诉我们。”
Suddenly, Pelorat called out in a half-strangled cry. "Wait, youcannot do this. Guardian, you cannot do this."
裴洛拉特突然喊道：“慢着，你不能这么做——守护者，你不能这么做。”声音听来就像他被人扼住了脖子。
"I am under detailed instructions," said the robot quietly. "I cando this. Of course, I shall do as little damage as is consistent withobtaining information."
“我接受了详尽的指令，”机器人以平静的语气说：“我可以这样做。我会尽量减小损坏的，只要能问出所需的答案就好。”
"But you cannot. Not at all. I am an Outworlder, and so are thesetwo companions of mine. But this child," and Pelorat looked at Fallom,whom he was still carrying, "is a Solarian. It will tell you what to doand you must obey it."
“可是你不能那么做，绝对不能。我是个外星人士，我的两个同伴也一样。但这个孩子，”裴洛拉特看了看仍抱在手中的菲龙，“是个索拉利人。它会告诉你应该做什么，你必须服从它。”
Fallom looked at Pelorat with eyes that were open, but seemedempty.
菲龙张开眼睛望着裴洛拉特，不过它的眼神似乎很空洞。
Bliss shook her head, sharply, but Pelorat looked at her without anysign of understanding.
宝绮思拼命摇头，可是裴洛拉特望着她，现出一副百思不解的神情。
The robot's eyes rested briefly on Fallom. It said, "The child is ofno importance. It does not have transducer-lobes."
那机器人的目光在菲龙身上停了一下，然后它说：“这个儿童一点都不重要，它没有转换叶突。”
"It does not yet have fully developed transducer-lobes," said Pelorat,panting, "but it will have them in time. It is a Solarian child."
“它只是没有发育完成的转换叶突，”裴洛拉特喘着气说：“但它将来总会有的，它是个索拉利儿童。”
"It is a child, but without fully developed transducer-lobes it isnot a Solarian. I am not compelled to follow its orders or to keep itfrom harm."
“它是个儿童，但它没有发育完成的转换叶突，所以不能算是索拉利人。我没必要听从它的命令，也没必要保护它。”
"But it is the offspring of Ruler Bander."
“但它是班德地主的子嗣。”
"Is it? How do you come to know that?"
“是吗？你怎么知道这件事？”
Pelorat stuttered, as he sometimes did when overearnest. "Wh whatother child would be on this estate?"
“怎……怎么会有其他小孩在这个属地上？”就像他过度兴奋的时候一样，裴洛拉特又结巴了。
"How do you know there aren't a dozen?"
“你怎么知道不会有十几个？”
"Have you seen any others?"
“你看到其他小孩了吗？”
"It is I who will ask the questions."
“现在是我在发问。”
At this moment, the robot's attention shifted as the second robottouched its arm. The two robots who had been sent to the mansion werereturning at a rapid run that, nevertheless, had a certain irregularityto it.
此时，另一个机器人拍拍那机器人的手臂，转移了它的注意力。刚才被派去搜索宅邸的两个机器人，现在正快步跑回来，不过脚步有些踉舱。
There was silence till they arrived and then one of them spoke inthe Solarian language at which all four of the robots seemed tolose their elasticity. For a moment, they appeared to wither, almostto deflate.
突然间一片鸦雀无声，直到它们来到近前，其中一个才以索拉利语开始说话。它一番话讲完之后，四个机器人似乎都失去了弹性。一时之间，它们显得萎靡不振，像是泄了气一样。
Pelorat said, "They've found Bander," before Trevize could wavehim silent.
裴洛拉特说：“它们找到班德了。”崔维兹根本来不及挥手阻止他。
The robot turned slowly and said, in a voice that slurred thesyllables, "Ruler Bander is dead. By the remark you have just made,you show us you were aware of the fact. How did that come to be?"
那机器人慢慢转过身来，以含糊不清的声音说：“班德地主死了。可是你们刚才那句话告诉我们，你们已经知晓这件事实。怎么会这样呢？”
"How can I know?" said Trevize defiantly.
“我怎么知道？”崔维兹凶巴巴地说。
"You knew it was dead. You knew it was there to be found. How couldyou know that, unless you had been there unless it was you thathad ended the life?" The robot's enunciation was already improving. Ithad endured and was absorbing the shock.
“你们知道它死了，你们知道在里面能找到它的尸体。除非你们曾经到过那里，除非就是你们结束了它的生命，否则你们怎么能知道？”那机器人的发音咬字渐渐恢复正常，表示它已经消化这个震撼，变得比较可以承受了。
Then Trevize said, "How could we have killed Bander? With itstransducer-lobes it could have destroyed us in a moment."
此时崔维兹说：“我们如何能杀死班德？它拥有转换叶突，可以在瞬间将我们摧毁。”
"How do you know what, or what not, transducer-lobes could do?"
“你怎知道转换叶突能做些什么、不能做些什么？”
"You mentioned the transducer-lobes just now."
“你刚才提到了转换叶突。”
"I did no more than mention them. I did not describe their propertiesor abilities."
“我只不过提到而已，没有描述它们的特性或功能。”
"The knowledge came to us in a dream."
“我们从一场梦中得知的。”
"That is not a credible answer."
“这是个不可信的答案。”
Trevize said, "To suppose that we have caused the death of Bander isnot credible, either."
崔维兹说：“你怀疑我们导致班德的死亡，这个假设也不可信。”
Pelorat added, "And in any case, if Ruler Bander is dead, then RulerFallom now controls this estate. Here the Ruler is, and it is it whomyou must obey."
裴洛拉特补充道：“而且无论如何，班德地主若是死了，这个属地现在就由菲龙地主控制。地主在这里，你们必须服从的就是它。”
"I have already explained," said the robot, "that an offspring withundeveloped transducer-lobes is not a Solarian. It cannot be a Successor,therefore, Another Successor, of the appropriate age, will be flown inas soon as we report this sad news."
“我解释过了，”那机器人说：“转换叶突尚未发育完成的儿童，不能算是索拉利人，因此它不能成为继承人。我们报告了这个坏消息后，另一个年龄适当的继承人会尽快飞来。”
"What of Ruler Fallom?"
“菲龙地主又怎么办？”
"There is no Ruler Fallom. There is only a child and we have an excessof children. It will be destroyed."
“根本没有所谓的菲龙地主，它只是个儿童，而我们的儿童人口过剩，它会被销毁。”
Bliss said forcefully, "You dare not. It is a child!"
宝绮思激动地说：“你不敢。它是个孩子！”
"It is not I," said the robot, "who will necessarily do the act and itis certainly not I who will make the decision. That is for the consensusof the Rulers. In times of child-excess, however, I know well what thedecision will in."
“不一定由我执行这个行动，”机器人说：“也绝非由我做决定，这要由所有地主达成共识。然而，在儿童过剩时期，我很清楚它们的决定会是什么。”
"No. I say no."
“不行，我说不行。”
"It will be painless. But another ship is coming. It isimportant that we go into what was the Bander mansion and set up aholovision Council that will supply a Successor and decide on what todo with you. Give me the child."
“不会有任何痛苦——但另一艘航具就快到了，我们的当务之急是进入原先的班德宅邸，召开一次全讯审议会，以便产生一个继承人，并决定怎样处置你们——把那个儿童交给我。”
Bliss snatched the semicomatose figure of Fallom from Pelorat. Holdingit tightly and trying to balance its weight on her shoulder, she said,"Do not touch this child."
宝绮思从裴洛拉特怀中，将陷入半昏迷的菲龙一把抢过来。她紧紧抱着它，试图用肩膀支撑它的着量，并且说：“不准碰这个孩子。”
Once again, the robot's arm shot out swiftly and it stepped forward,reaching for Fallom. Bliss moved quickly to one side, beginning her motionwell before the robot had begun its own. The robot continued to moveforward, however, as though Bliss were still standing before it. Curvingstiffly downward, with the forward tips of its feet as the pivot, it wentdown on its face. The other three stood motionless, eyes unfocused.
那机器人再度猛然伸出手臂，同时迈出脚步，想要将菲龙抓走。但在它展开行动前，宝绮思早巳迅速闪到一侧，机器人却继续前进，好像宝绮思仍站在原地。接着，它全身僵硬地向前栽倒，双脚脚尖顶地，直挺挺地扑向地面。其他三个机器人站在原处静止不动，眼神全都涣散无光。
Bliss was sobbing, partly with rage. "I almost had the proper method ofcontrol, and it wouldn't give me the time. I had no choice but to strikeand now all four are inactivated. Let's get on the ship beforethe other ship lands. I am too ill to face additional robots, now."
宝绮思开始哭泣，同时带着几分愤怒。“我几乎找到了适当的控制法，它却不给我时间。我没有选择余地，只好先下手为强，现在这四个都停摆了。趁援军尚未降落，我们赶紧上太空船吧：我现在身心俱疲，再也无法对付其他的机器人了。”