Chapter 18: The Music Festival

第十八章音乐节

Lunch was in the same dining room in which they hadhad breakfast. It was full of Alphans, and with them were Trevize andPelorat, made thoroughly welcome. Bliss and Fallom ate separately,and more or less privately, in a small annex.

午餐地点是他们进早餐的同一间餐厅。这回里面坐满阿尔发人，崔维兹与裴洛拉特夹在人群中，受到热烈的欢迎。宝绮思与菲龙并未加入，她们在旁边一间较隐密的小房间用餐。

There were several varieties of fish, together with soup in whichthere were strips of what might well have been boiled kid. Loaves ofbread were there for the slicing, butter and jam for the spreading. Asalad, large and diffuse, came afterward, and there was a notable absenceof any dessert, although fruit juices were passed about in apparentlyinexhaustible pitchers. Both Foundationers were forced to be abstemiousafter their heavy breakfast, but everyone else seemed to eat freely.

午餐包括好几种不同的鱼类，此外汤里有许多肉片，看来很像是小山羊肉。餐桌上有一条条待切的面包，旁边摆着奶油与果酱，随后又上了一大盘什么都有的沙拉。奇怪的是没有任何甜点，不过一壶壶的果汁彷佛源源不绝。两位基地人由于早餐吃得太好，现在不得不有所节制，但其他人似乎都在尽情享用。

"How do they keep from getting fat?" wondered Pelorat in a lowvoice.

“他们怎样避免发胖呢？”裴洛拉特低声嘀咕。

Trevize shrugged. "Lots of physical labor, perhaps."

崔维兹耸了耸肩。“大概是劳动量很大吧。”

It was clearly a society in which decorum at meals was not greatlyvalued. There was a miscellaneous hubbub of shouting, laughing, andthumping on the table with thick, obviously unbreakable, cups. Womenwere as loud and raucous as men, albeit in higher pitch.

这个社会显然不太注着用餐礼仪，各种吵闹的声音没有停过，包括叫嚷声、欢笑声、以及厚实（而且显然摔不破）的杯子砸到桌面的声音。女人的声音和男人一样嘈杂，只不过音调高出许多。

Pelorat winced, but Trevize, who now (temporarily, at least) felt notrace of the discomfort he had spoken of to Hiroko, felt both relaxedand good-natured.

裴洛拉特一副受不了的样子，但崔维兹现在（至少暂时）完全忘却他对广子提过的那种不舒服，感到的只是轻松和愉快。

He said, "Actually, it has its pleasant side. These are people whoappear to enjoy life and who have few, if any, cares. Weather is whatthey make it and foodiis unimaginably plentiful. This is a golden agefor them that simply continues and continues."

他说：“其实，这也有可爱的一面。这些人显然很会享受生活，几乎没什么烦恼。气候由他们自己控制，粮食丰饶得难以想像。这是他们的黄金时代，而且必定会一直继续下去。”

He had to shout to make himself heard, and Pelorat shouted back,"But it's so noisy."

他得大声喊叫才能把话说清楚，裴洛拉特也以大吼回答道：“可是这么吵！”

"They're used to it."

“他们习惯了。”

"I don't see how they can understand each other in this riot."

“在这么吵闹的场合，我不懂他们如何能沟通。”

Certainly, it was all lost on the two Foundationers. The queerpronunciation and the archaic grammar and word order of the Alphanlanguage made it impossible to understand at the intense sound levels. Tothe Foundationers, it was like listening to the sounds of a zoo infright.

当然，两位基地人什么也听不出来。阿尔发语的奇怪发音、古老文法以及字词的特殊顺序，以巨大的音量不断轰来，让他们根本摸不着头脑。对这两位基地人而言，这简直像置身于受惊的动物园中。

It was not till after lunch that they rejoined Bliss in a smallstructure, which Trevize found to be rather inconsiderably differentfrom Hiroko's quarters, and which had been assigned them as their owntemporary living quarters. Fallom was in the second room, enormouslyrelieved to be alone, according to Bliss, and attempting to nap.

直到午餐过后，他们才在一栋小型建筑中与宝绮思会合。这里是分配给他们的临时住所，崔维兹发现跟广子的家几乎没什么不同。菲龙待在另一个房间，据宝绮思说，有机会独处让菲龙的情绪大为放松，她正准备小睡一会儿。

Pelorat looked at the door-gap in the wall and said uncertainly,"There's very little privacy here. How can we speak freely?"

裴洛拉特望着充当大门的墙洞，不安地说：“这里简直没有隐私。我们怎能放心地说话？”

"I assure you," said Trevize, "that once we pull the canvas barrieracross the door, we won't be disturbed. The canvas makes it impenetrableby all the force of social custom."

“我向你保证，”崔维兹说：“只要用帆布屏障把门遮起来，就不会有人打扰我们。由于社会习俗的力量，那帆布像铜墙铁壁一样。”

Pelorat glanced at the high, open windows. "We can be overheard."

裴洛拉特又朝敞开的天窗瞥了一眼。“我们的谈话会被人偷听。”

"We need not shout. The Alphans won't eavesdrop. Even when they stoodoutside the windows of the dining room at breakfast, they remained ata respectful distance."

“我们不必大吼大叫。阿尔发人不会做隔墙有耳的事，早餐的时候，他们虽然站在餐厅窗外，却仍保持礼貌的距离。”

Bliss smiled. "You've learned so much about Alphan customs in thetime you spent alone with gentle little Hiroko, and you've gained suchconfidence in their respect for privacy. What happened?"

宝绮思微笑着说：“你和可亲的小广子在一起没多久，就学到这么多的阿尔发礼俗；他们对于隐私的尊重，你现在也信心十足。究竟发生了什么事？”

Trevize said, "If you're aware that the tendrils of my mind haveundergone a change for the better and can guess the reason, I can onlyask you to leave my mind alone."

崔维兹说：“如果你发觉我的心灵卷须获得改善，又猜得出原因的话，我只能拜托你离我的心灵远一点。”

"You know very well that Gaia will not touch your mind under anycircumstances short of life-crisis, and you know why. Still, I'm notmentally blind. I could sense what happened a kilometer away. Is thisyour invariable custom on space voyages, my erotomaniac friend?"

“你明明知道，除非是生死关头，否则在任何情况下，盖娅都不会碰触你的心灵，而且你也明白为什么。不过话说回来，我的精神力量并未失灵，我能感测到一公里外发生的事。这是不是你从事太空旅行的老毛病，我的色情狂朋友？”

"Erotomaniac? Come, Bliss. Twice on this entire trip. Twice!"

“色情狂？得了吧，宝绮思。整个旅途中才发生两次，两次而已！”

"We were only on two worlds that had functioning human females onthem. Two out of two, and we had only been a few hours on each."

“我们造访过的世界，只有两个有活色生香的女人。二分之二的机会，而且都是在几小时后就发生的。”

"You are well aware I had no choice on Comporellon."

“你很清楚在康普隆我是身不由己。”

"That makes sense. I remember what she looked like." For a few moments,Bliss dissolved in laughter. Then she said, "Yet I don't think Hirokoheld you helpless in her mighty grip, or inflicted her irresistible willon your cringing body."

“有道理，我还记得她的模样。”宝绮思纵声大笑了一阵子，又说：“可是我不信广子有多大能耐，能够让你束手就擒，或是将不可抗拒的意志，强行加在你瑟缩的身子上。”

"Of course not. I was perfectly willing. But it was her suggestion,just the same."

“当然不是那样，我完全心甘情愿。不过，那的确是她的主意。”

Pelorat said, with just a tinge of envy in his voice, "Does thishappen to you all the time, Golan?"

裴洛拉特带着一丝羡慕的口吻说：“这种事总是发生在你身上吗，葛兰？”

"Of course it must, Pel," said Bliss. "Women are helplessly drawnto him."

“当然必定如此，裴。”宝绮思说：“女性都会不由自主被他吸引。”

"I wish that were so," said Trevize, "but it isn't. And I'm glad itisn't I do have other things I want to do in life. Just the same,in this case I was irresistible. After all, we were the first peoplefrom another world that Hiroko had ever seen or, apparently, that anyonenow alive on Alpha had ever seen: I gathered from things she let slip,casual remarks, that she had the rather exciting notion that I mightbe different from Alphans, either anatomically or in my technique. Poorthing. I'm afraid she was disappointed."

“我希望真是如此，”崔维兹说：“但事实不然。我很庆幸事实并非如此——我这辈子实在还想做些别的事。话又说回来，这回我倒真是令她无法抗拒。毕竟，在我们来到之前，广子从来没见过其他世界的人，阿尔发上现存的居民显然全都未曾见过。从她说溜了嘴的一些事，以及随口的几句话，我推出一个结论，那就是她有个令她相当兴奋的期待，认为我也许在生理结构或技巧方面，跟其他的阿尔发人有所不同。可怜的小东西，恐怕她失望了。”

"Oh?" said Bliss. "Were you?"

“哦？”宝绮思说：“那么你呢？”

"No," said Trevize. "I have been on a number of worlds and I have hadmy experiences. And what I had discovered is that people are people andsex is sex, wherever one goes. If there are noticeable differences, theyare usually both trivial and unpleasant. The perfumes I've encountered inmy time! I remember when a young woman simply couldn't manage unless therewas music loudly played, music that consisted of a desperate screechingsound. So she played the music and then I couldn't manage. Iassure you if it's the same old thing, then I'm satisfied."

“我不会，”崔维兹说：“我到过不少世界，有过许多实际经验。我发现不论在什么地方，人是人、性是性，两者不能混为一谈。如果真有什么显着的差异，通常也是微不足道，而且不怎么愉快。算算我这辈子也闻过不少香水！我还记得有个年轻女子，她怎么样也无法投入，除非把夹杂着死命尖叫的音乐开得很大声。而她一放那种音乐，我却提不起劲来了。我向你保证——只要像往常一样，我就很满意了。”

"Speaking of music," said Bliss, "we are invited to a musicale afterdinner. A very formal thing, apparently, that is being held in ourhonor. I gather the Alphans are very proud of their music."

“提到音乐，”宝绮思说：“我们受邀晚餐后出席一场音乐庆典。这显然是件很正式的事，专门为我们而举行的。我猜，阿尔发人对他们的音乐非常自豪。”

Trevize grimaced. "Their pride will in no way make the music soundbetter to our ears."

崔维兹做个鬼脸。“不论他们如何引以为傲，也不会让他们的音乐更悦耳。”

"Hear me out," said Bliss. "I gather that their pride is that theyplay expertly on very archaic instruments. Very archaic. Wemay get some information about Earth by way of them."

“听我说完，”宝绮思说：“我猜他们自豪的原因，是他们善于演奏很古老的乐器——非常古老。藉着这些乐器，我们或许能获得些地球的资料。”

Trevize's eyebrows shot up. "An interesting thought. And that remindsme that both of you may already have information. Janov, did you seethis Monolee that Hiroko told us about?"

崔维兹扬起眉毛。“很有意思的想法。这倒提醒了我，你们两位也许已经获得一些线索。詹诺夫，你见到广子提到的那个单姓李了吗？”

"Indeed I did," said Pelorat. "I was with him for three hours andHiroko did not exaggerate. It was a virtual monologue on his part andwhen I left to come to lunch, he clung to me and would not let me gountil I promised to return whenever I could in order that I might listento him some more."

“我的确见到了，”裴洛拉特说：“我跟他在一起三个钟头，广子讲得并不夸张，几乎都是他一个人唱独脚戏。我要来吃午餐的时候，他竟然抓住我，不肯让我离开，直到我答应他会尽快回去，听他说更多的故事，他才把我给放了。”

"And did he say anything of interest?"

“他有没有提到任何重要的事？”

"Well, he, too like everybody else insisted that Earthwas thoroughly and murderously radioactive; that the ancestors of theAlphans were the last to leave and that if they hadn't, they would havedied. And, Golan, he was so emphatic that I couldn't help believinghim. I'm convinced that Earth is dead, and that our entire search is,after all, useless."

“嗯，他也——跟其他人一样——坚持地球已经布满致命的放射性。他说阿尔发人的祖先是最后一批离开的，他们如果再不逃走就没命了。而且，葛兰，他说得如此坚决，叫我不得不相信他。我现在确信地球已经死了，我们这趟寻找终归是一场空。”

Trevize sat back in his chair, staring at Pelorat,who was sitting on a narrow cot. Bliss, having risen from where she hadbeen sitting next to Pelorat, looked from one to the other.

崔维兹靠向椅背，瞪着坐在狭窄便床上的裴洛拉特。宝绮思原来坐在裴洛拉特身旁，现在她站起来，轮流望着其他两人。

Finally, Trevize said, "Let me be the judge as to whether our searchis useless or not, Janov. Tell me what the garrulous old man had to sayto you in brief, of course."

最后，崔维兹终于开口：“我们的寻找是不是一场空，詹诺夫，让我来决定吧。告诉我那个唠叨的老头跟你讲了些什么——当然，要长话短说。”

Pelorat said, "I took notes as Monolee spoke. It helped reinforcemy role a scholar, but I don't have to refer to them. He was quitestream-of-consciousness in his speaking. Each thing he said would remindhim of something else, but, of course, I have spent my life trying toorganize information in the search of the relevant and significant,so that it's second nature for me now to be able to condense a long andincoherent discourse……"

裴洛拉特说：“单姓李说话的时候，我一直在旁边做笔记，这样使我看来更像一名学者，但我现在不必参考那些笔记。他说话的方式相当意识流，每说到一件事都缓螵想到另一件。不过，当然啦，我一辈子都在搜集地球的相关资料，设法将它们有系统地组织起来，所以我练就了一项本能，能将冗长而杂乱无章的谈话内容浓缩成……”

Trevize said gently, "Into something just as long and incoherent? Tothe point, dear Janov."

崔维兹轻声道：“浓缩成同样冗长而杂乱无章的话？说着点就好，亲爱的詹诺夫。”

Pelorat cleared his throat uneasily. "Yes, certainly, old chap. I'lltry to make a connected and chronological tale out of it. Earth wasthe original home of humanity and of millions of species of plants andanimals. It continued so for countless years until hyperspatial travelwas invented. Then the Spacer worlds were founded. They broke away fromEarth, developed their own cultures, and came to despise and oppressthe mother planet.

裴洛拉特不自在地清了清喉咙。“当然没错，老弟。我会试着将他的话整理成依照时间顺序的连贯故事。地球是人类最早的故乡，也是数百万种动植物的发源地，这种情形持续了无数岁月，直到超空间旅行发明为止。后来许多外世界陆续建立起来，它们脱离了地球，发展出自己的文化，进而鄙视并压迫那个源头母星。

"After a couple of centuries of this, Earth managed to regain itsfreedom, though Monolee did not explain the exact manner in which thiswas done, and I dared not ask questions, even if he had given me achance to interrupt, which he did not, for that might merely have senthim into new byways. He did mention a culture-hero named Elijah Baley,but the references were so characteristic of the habit of attributingto one figure the accomplishments of generations that there was littlevalue in attempting to……"

“数个世纪后，地球终于设法争回自由，不过单姓李并未解释地球究竟是如何做到的。即使他给我机会插嘴，我也不敢发问，因为那只会让他岔到别的话题去，而且他根本没给我发问的机会。他的确提到一个文化英雄，名字叫作伊利亚·贝莱，可是历史纪录有个很普遍的倾向，就是将几世代的成就归诸某一人物身上，因此不值得去……”

Bliss said, "Yes, Pel dear, we understand that part."

宝绮思说：“没错，亲爱的裴，这点我们了解。”

Again, Pelorat paused in midstream and reconsidered. "Of course. Myapologies. Earth initiated a second wave of settlements, founding many newworlds in a new fashion. The new group of Settlers proved more vigorousthan the Spacers, outpaced them, defeated them, outlasted them, and,eventually, established the Galactic Empire. During the course of thewars between the Settlers and the Spacers no, not wars, for heused the word `conflict,' being very careful about that the Earthbecame radioactive."

裴洛拉特再度打住，思索了一下。“真是的，我很抱歉。后来地球掀起第二波星际殖民潮，以崭新的方式建立许多新世界。新的殖民者比外世界人更有活力，超越了他们、击败了他们，而且繁衍绵延不绝，终于创建了银河帝国。在银河殖民者和外世界人交战期间——不对，不是交战，因为他用的词汇是‘冲突’，而且用得非常谨慎——地球变得具有放射性了。”

Trevize said, with clear annoyance, "That's ridiculous, Janov. How cana world become radioactive? Every world is very slightlyradioactive to one degree or another from the moment of formation,and that radioactivity slowly decays. It doesn't become radioactive."

崔维兹显然是失去耐性了，他说：“实在荒谬绝伦，詹诺夫。一个世界怎么可能‘变得’具有放射性？每个世界在形成的那一刻，多多少少都会带有微量放射性，而那种放射性会渐渐衰变。地球不可能突然‘变得’具有放射性。”

Pelorat shrugged. "I'm only telling you what he said. And he wasonly telling me what he had heard from someone who only told himwhat he had heard and so on. It's folk-history, told and retoldover the generations, with who knows what distortions creeping in ateach retelling."

裴洛拉特耸了耸肩。“我只是将他说的话转述给你，他只是将他听到的转述给我，告诉他的人又是听别人转述的——故事就这样一传再传。这是个民间历史，一代代口耳相传，谁知道每次转述被扭曲了多少。”

"I understand that, but are there no books, documents, ancienthistories which have frozen the story at an early time and which couldgive us something more accurate than the present tale?"

“我了解这点，可是难道没有任何书籍、文件、古代历史等等，在早期就将这个故事固定下来，而能提供我们比这传说更正确的记载？”

"Actually, I managed to ask that question, and the answer is no. Hesaid vaguely that there were books about it in ancient times and thatthey had long ago been lost, but that what he was telling us was whathad been in those books."

“其实，我问过他这个问题，答案是否定的。他含混地提到，记载古代历史的书籍不是没有，但很早以前就散轶了。而他告诉我们的，正是那些书上的记载。”

"Yes, well distorted. It's the same story. In every world we go to,the records of Earth have, in one way or another, disappeared. Well,how did he say the radioactivity began on Earth?"

“对，扭曲得很厉害的记载。同样的事再度发生，我们造访的每个世界，地球的资料总是不翼而飞——嗯，他说地球是怎样变得具有放射性的？”

"He didn't, in any detail. The closest he came to saying so wasthat the Spacers were responsible, but then I gathered that the Spacerswere the demons on whom the people of Earth blamed all misfortune. The radioactivity……"

“他未做任何解释，顶多只提到外世界人要负责。不过我猜地球人把外世界人视为邪恶的化身，将所有的不幸都归咎于他们身上。至于放射性……”

A clear voice overrode him here. "Bliss, am I a Spacer?"

此时，一个清脆的声音掩盖了他的话。“宝绮思，我是外世界人吗？”

Fallom was standing in the narrow doorway between the two rooms, hairtousled and the nightgown she was wearing (designed to fit Bliss's moreample proportions) having slid off one shoulder to reveal an undevelopedbreast.

菲龙正站在两房之间的窄门口，她的头发乱成一团，身上穿的睡衣（根据宝绮思较丰满的体型裁制）从肩头一侧垂下，露出一个没有发育的乳房。

Bliss said, "We worry about eavesdroppers outside and we forget theone inside. Now, Fallom, why do you say that?" She rose and walkedtoward the youngster.

宝绮思说：“我们担心外面有人偷听，却忘了里面同样隔墙有耳——好吧，菲龙，为何那么说？”她站起来，朝那孩子走过去。

Fallom said, "I don't have what they have," she pointed at thetwo men, "or what you have, Bliss. I'm different. Is that because I'ma Spacer?"

菲龙说：“我没有他们身上的东西，”她指了指两位男士，“也没有你身上的东西，宝绮思。我和你们不同，因为我是外世界人吗？”

"You are, Fallom," said Bliss soothingly, "but little differencesdon't matter. Come back to bed."

“你是外世界人，菲龙，”宝绮思以安抚的口吻说：“不过有一点差别没什么关系，回房睡觉去吧。”

Fallom became submissive as she always did when Bliss willed her tobe so. She turned and said, "Am I a demon? What is a demon?"

菲龙变得非常乖顺，就像每次宝绮思以意志驱使她时一样。她转过身去，又问道：“我是邪恶的化身吗？什么是邪恶的化身？”

Bliss said over her shoulder, "Wait one moment for me. I'll be rightback."

宝绮思背对着其他两人说：“等我一下，我马上回来。”

She was, within five minutes. She was shaking her head. "She'll besleeping now till I wake her. I should have done that before, I suppose,but any modification of the mind must be the result of necessity."

五分钟不到她就回来了，摇着头说：“她睡着了，会睡到我叫醒她为止。我想我早就该那么做了，可是对心灵的任何调整，都一定要有必要的理由。”

She added defensively, "I can't have her brood on the differences betweenher genital equipment and ours."

她又为自己辩护道：“我不能让她一直想着她的生殖器和我们的有何不同。”

Pelorat said, "Someday she'll have to know she's hermaphroditic."

裴洛拉特说：“总有一天她会知道自己是个雌雄同体。”

"Someday," said Bliss, "but not now. Go on with the story, Pel."

“总有一天，”宝绮思说：“但不是现在。继续刚才的故事吧，裴。”

"Yes," said Trevize, "before something else interrupts us."

“对，”崔维兹说：“免得待会儿又被什么打断了。”

"Well, Earth became radioactive, or at least its crust did. At thattime, Earth had had an enormous population that was centered in hugecities that existed for the most part underground……"

“嗯，于是地球变得具有放射性，或者至少地壳如此。那时地球人口众多，全都集中在许多大型城市里，而城市大部分位于地底——”

"Now, that," put in Trevize, "is surely not so. It must be local patriotism glorifying the golden age of a planet, and the details were simply a distortion of Trantor in its golden age, when it was the Imperial capital of a Galaxy-wide system of worlds."

“慢着，”崔维兹插嘴道：“那是不可能的，一定是某颗行星的黄金时代经地方主义渲染的结果，内容不过是根据川陀的黄金时代扭曲而成。在川陀的全盛时期，它是一个泛银河政体的京畿所在地。”

Pelorat paused, then said, "Really, Golan, you mustn't teach memy business. We mythologists know very well that myths and legendscontain borrowings, moral lessons, nature cycles, and a hundred otherdistorting influences, and we labor to cut them away and get to whatmight be a kernel of truth. In fact, these same techniques must beapplied to the most sober histories, for no one writes the clear andapparent truth if such a thing can even be said to exist. For now,I'm telling you more or less what Monolee told me, though I suppose Iam adding distortions of my own, try as I might not to do so."

裴洛拉特顿了一下，然后说：“说实在的，葛兰，你真不该班门弄斧。我们神话学家非常了解，神话传说中包含了许多抄袭剽窃、道德教训、自然周期，以及上百种其他的扭曲因素。我们尽力将这些外加成分删除，以得到可能的核心真相。事实上，同样的方法一定也适用于最严肃的历史研究，因为没有人能写出清晰、透明的历史真相——即使真有所谓的真相。现在我告诉你们的，差不多就是转述单姓李告诉我的，不过我想自己难免加油添醋了一番，虽然我已尽量避免。”

"Well, well," said Trevize. "Go on, Janov. I meant no offense."

“好啦，好啦。”崔维兹说：“继续吧，詹诺夫，我无意冒犯你。”

"And I've taken none. The huge cities, assuming they existed, crumbledand shrank as the radioactivity slowly grew more intense until thepopulation was but a remnant of what it had been, clinging precariously toregions that were relatively radiation-free. The population was kept downby rigid birth control and by the euthanasia of people over sixty."

“我没有生气——姑且假设那些大城市真正存在，随着放射性逐渐增强，所有城市都开始解体，范围越缩越小，最后只剩下残存的极少数人，躲在比较没有放射性的地方，过着岌岌可危的日子。他们为了保持少量人口，除了严格控制生育之外，还对六十岁以上的人施以安乐死。”

"Horrible," said Bliss indignantly.

“太可怕了。”宝绮思愤慨地说。

"Undoubtedly," said Pelorat, "but that is what they did, according toMonolee, and that might be true, for it is certainly not complimentary tothe Earthpeople and it is not likely that an uncomplimentary lie wouldbe made up. The Earthpeople, having been despised and oppressed by theSpacers, were now despised and oppressed by the Empire, though here wemay have exaggeration there out of self-pity, which is a very seductiveemotion. There is the case……"

“这点毋庸置疑，”裴洛拉特说：“不过据单姓李说，他们的确这么做。那也许是真正的史实，因为它当然不是对地球人的夸赞，不太可能有人捏造这种自取其辱的谎言。地球人过去遭到外世界人的鄙视与压迫，后来又受到帝国的鄙视与压迫；不过这种说法也有可能是由于自怜而夸大其词。自怜是种极具诱惑力的情绪，有那么一个例子……”

"Yes, yes, Pelorat, another time. Please go on with Earth."

“没错，没错，裴洛拉特，改天再谈那个例子，请继续讲地球的故事。”

"I beg your pardon. The Empire, in a fit of benevolence, agreed tosubstitute imported radiation-free soil and to cart away the contaminatedsoil. Needless to say, that was an enormous task which the Empire soontired of, especially as this period (if my guess is right) coincidedwith the fall of Kandar V, after which the Empire had many more thingsto worry about than Earth.

“我非常抱歉——后来帝国突然大发慈悲，答应运一批无放射性的泥土到地球来，并将那些受污染的泥土运走。不用说，那是件浩大的工程，帝国很快就失去耐性。尤其这个时期，如果我猜得没错，刚好是肯达五世下台前后，此后帝国自顾不暇，便无心照顾地球了。

"The radioactivity continued to grow more intense, the populationcontinued to fall, and finally the Empire, in another fit of benevolence,offered to transplant the remnant of the population to a new world oftheir own to this world, in short.

“放射性继续增强，地球的人口继续锐减。最后，帝国又发了一次慈悲，愿意将残存的地球人迁往另一个属于他们的新世界——简言之，就是这个世界。

"At an earlier period, it seems an expedition had stocked the ocean sothat by the time the plans for the transplantation of Earthpeople werebeing developed, there was a full oxygen atmosphere and an ample supplyof food on Alpha. Nor did any of the worlds of the Galactic Empire covetthis world because there is a certain natural antipathy to planets thatcircle stars of a binary system. There are so few suitable planets insuch a system, I suppose, that even suitable ones are rejected becauseof the assumption that there must be something wrong with them. This isa common thought-fashion. There is the well-known case, for instance,of……"

“在此之前，似乎有个探险队曾在这个海洋播育生命，因此，迁移地球人的计划付诸实施之际，阿尔发已经有富氧的大气层，以及不虞匮乏的粮食。而且，银河帝国其他世界都不会觊觎这个世界，因为对于一个环绕双星的行星，人们总会有某种自然而然的嫌恶。在这种星系中，我想，适合人类居住的行星太少了，即使是各方面条件都适合的行星，也没有任何人愿意理睬，人们会先入为主地认为一定有什么问题。这是种普遍的思考模式，比如说，有个很著名的例子，是……”

"Later with the well-known case, Janov," said Trevize. "On with thetransplantation."

“待会儿再谈那个著名的例子，詹诺夫，”崔维兹说：“现在先讲那次迁徙的事。”

"What remained," said Pelorat, hurrying his words a little, "wasto prepare a land-base. The shallowest part of the ocean was found andsediment was raised from deeper parts to add to the shallow sea-bottomand, finally, to produce the island of New Earth. Boulders and coralwere dredged up and added to the island. Land plants were seeded so thatroot systems might help make the new land firm. Again, the Empire hadset itself an enormous task. Perhaps continents were planned at first,but by the time this one island was produced, the Empire's moment ofbenevolence had passed.

“剩下来的工作，”裴洛拉特将说话速度加快些，“就是准备一个陆上据点。帝国工作人员找到海洋最浅的部分，再将较深部分的沉淀物挖起来，加到那个最浅的海底，最后造出了这个新地球岛。海底的圆石和珊瑚也被掘起，全数放到这个岛上。然后他们在上面种植陆地植物，想要藉着植物根部巩固这块新的陆地。这个工程也相当浩大，也许最初计划要造几块大陆，可是这座岛屿造好之后，帝国一时的慈悲已冷却下来。

"What was left of Earth's population was brought here. The Empire'sfleets carried off its men and machinery, and they never returned. TheEarthpeople, living on New Earth, found themselves in completeisolation."

“地球上残存的人口尽数送到此地之后，帝国舰队便将工作人员和机械设备全部载走，从此再也没有回来。那些移居新地球的地球人，很快就发现他们完全与世隔绝。”

Trevize said, "Complete? Did Monolee say that no one from elsewherein the Galaxy has ever come here till we did?"

崔维兹说：“完全与世隔绝？难道单姓李说，在我们之前，从未有人从银河其他世界来到此地？”

"Almost complete," said Pelorat. "There is nothing to come here for,I suppose, even if we set aside the superstitious distaste for binarysystems. Occasionally, at long intervals, a ship would come, as ours did,but it would eventually leave and there has never been a follow-up. Andthat's it."

“几乎完全隔绝，”裴洛拉特说：“即使不考虑人们对双星系的迷信式反感，我想也没有人有必要来这里。每隔很长一段时间，偶尔会有艘船舰来到，就像我们现在这样，不过最后终究会离去，也没有其他船舰陆续跟来。故事到此为止。”

Trevize said, "Did you ask Monolee where Earth was located?"

崔维兹说：“你有没有问单姓李地球在哪里？”

"Of course I asked that. He didn't know."

“我当然问了，他不知道。”

"How can he know so much about Earth's history without knowing whereit is located?"

“他知道那么多有关地球的历史，怎么会不知道它在哪里？”

"I asked him specifically, Golan, if the star that was only aparsec or so distant from Alpha might be the sun about which Earthrevolved. He didn't know what a parsec was, and I said it was a shortdistance, astronomically speaking. He said, short or long, he did notknow where Earth was located and he didn't know anyone who knew, and,in his opinion, it was wrong to try to find it. It should be allowed,he said, to move endlessly through space in peace."

“我还特别问他，葛兰，问他那颗距离阿尔发大约一秒差距的恒星，会不会就是地球环绕的太阳。但他不晓得秒差距是什么，我说就天文尺度而言是个短距离。他说不论是长是短，他都不知道地球在何处，也不知道有什么人晓得。而且他认为试图寻找地球是很不当的举动。他还说，应该让地球永远在太空中安详地飘泊。”

Trevize said, "Do you agree with him?"

崔维兹说：“你同意他的看法吗？”

Pelorat shook his head sorrowfully. "Not really. But he said thatat the rate the radioactivity continued to increase, the planet musthave become totally uninhabitable not long after the transplantationtook place and that by now it must be burning intensely so that no onecan approach."

裴洛拉特摇了摇头，神情显得很悲伤。“并不尽然。不过他说，照放射性增强的速率来看，在迁徙计划实施不久后，地球一定就变得完全不可住人；而现在，它一定燃烧得极为炽烈，因此根本没有人能接近。”

"Nonsense," said Trevize firmly. "A planet cannot become radioactiveand, having done so, continuously increase in radioactivity. Radioactivitycan only decrease."

“荒谬。”崔维兹以坚决的口吻说：“一颗行星不会突然变得具有放射性，即使真是这样，放射性也不会继续增强，只会不断减弱。”

"But Monolee is so sure of it. So many people we've talked to onvarious worlds unite in this that Earth is radioactive. Surely,it is useless to go on."

“可是单姓李非常肯定。我们在各个世界上遇到那么多人，对于地球具有放射性这一点，说法也是完全一致——我们继续找下去当然毫无意义。”

Trevize drew a deep breath, then said, in a carefullycontrolled voice, "Nonsense, Janov. That's not true."

崔维兹深深吸了一口气，尽量克制自己的声音说：“荒谬，那不是真的。”

Pelorat said, "Well, now, old chap, you mustn't believe somethingjust because you want to believe it."

裴洛拉特说：“喂，老弟，你不能因为想相信一件事，就去相信那件事。”

"My wants have nothing to do with it. In world after world we findall records of Earth wiped out. Why should they be. wiped out if thereis nothing to hide; if Earth is a dead, radioactive world that cannotbe approached?"

“这跟我想做什么没关系。我们在每个世界上，都发现所有的地球资料被清除殆尽。如果地球是个充满放射性的死星，没有人能接近，又如果根本没什么好隐藏的，那些资料为什么会被清掉呢？”

"I don't know, Golan."

“我不知道，葛兰。”

"Yes, you do. When we were approaching Melpomenia, you said that theradioactivity might be the other side of the coin. Destroy records toremove accurate information; supply the tale of radioactivity to insertinaccurate information. Both would discourage any attempt to find Earth,and we mustn't be deluded into discouragement."

“不，你知道。在我们接近梅尔波美尼亚时，你曾说过销毁纪录和放射性可能是一体两面。销毁纪录是为了除去正确的资料，散播放射性的故事是为了制造假情报，两者都试图认人打消找寻地球的念头。我们绝不能上当，不能这么轻易放弃。”

Bliss said, "Actually, you seem to think the nearby star is Earth'ssun. Why, then, continue to argue the question of radioactivity? Whatdoes it matter? Why not simply go to the nearby star and see if it isEarth, and, if so, what it is like?"

宝绮思说：“其实，你似乎认定附近那颗恒星就是地球之阳，那么为何还要争辩放射性的问题呢？那又有什么关系？何不干脆前往附近那颗恒星，看看地球是否在那里；若是真在那里，它又是什么模样？”

Trevize said, "Because those on Earth must be, in their way,extraordinarily powerful, and I would prefer to approach with someknowledge of the world and its inhabitants. As it is, since I continue toremain ignorant of Earth, approaching it is dangerous. It is my notionthat I leave the rest of you here on Alpha and that I proceed to Earthby myself. One life is quite enough to risk."

崔维兹说：“因为地球上的居民——不论他们是何方神圣——必定具有超凡的力量，我希望在接近之前，能对那个世界和居民先有点了解。事实上，既然我对地球始终一无所知，贸然前进是件很危险的事。所以我打算将你们几位留在阿尔发，由我单独向地球进军，赌一条命就很够了。”

"No, Golan," said Pelorat earnestly. "Bliss and the child might waithere, but I must go with you. I have been searching for Earth sincebefore you were born and I cannot stay behind when the goal is so close,whatever dangers might threaten."

“不，葛兰。”裴洛拉特急切地说：“宝绮思和那孩子也许该留在这儿，但我必须跟你一道去。在你尚未出生之前，我已经开始寻找地球，现在距离目标那么近，我绝不能裹足不前，不论可能有什么危险。”

"Bliss and the child will not wait here," said Bliss. "Iam Gaia, and Gaia can protect us even against Earth."

“宝绮思和那孩子不会在这儿。”宝绮思说：“我就是盖娅，即使和地球正面对峙，盖娅也能保护我们。”

"I hope you're right," said Trevize gloomily, "but Gaia could notprevent the elimination of all early memories of Earth's role in itsfounding."

“我希望你说得没错，”崔维兹绷着脸说：“但是盖娅就没有保住它的早期记忆，它完全忘了地球在它建立之初所扮演的角色。”

"That was done in Gaia's early history when it was not yet wellorganized, not yet advanced. Matters are different now."

“那是盖娅早期历史上发生的事，当时它还不够组织化，也还不够进化，如今已不可同日而语。”

"I hope that is so. Or is it that you have gained informationabout Earth this morning that we don't have? I did ask that you speakto some of the older women that might be available here."

“我希望如此——或者是今天早上，你获得了些我们不知道的地球资料？我曾经特别拜托你，要你设法找些年长的妇女谈谈。”

Trevize said, "And what did you find out?"

“我照做了。”

"And so I did."

崔维兹说：“你有什么新发现？”

"Nothing about Earth. There is a total blank there."

“没有关于地球的资料，这方面完全空白。”

"Ah."

“啊——”

"Oh?"

“不过我发现他们拥有很先进的生物科技。”

"But they are advanced biotechnologists."

“哦？”

"On this small island, they have grown and tested innumerable strainsof plants and animals and designed a suitable ecological balance, stableand self-supporting, despite the few species with which they began. Theyhave improved on the ocean life that they found when they arrived here afew thousand years ago, increasing their nutritive value and improvingtheir taste. It is their biotechnology that has made this world such acornucopia of plenty. They have plans for themselves, too."

“虽然这座小岛上原先只有少数几种生物，但他们试育出无数品种的动植物，并设计出合宜的生态平衡，既稳定又能自给自足。他们数千年前抵达时发现的海洋生物，现在已大为改良，营养价值增加许多，而且更美味可口。就是由于他们的生物科技，才使这个世界变成丰饶的世外桃源。此外，他们对本身也有些计划。”

"What kind of plans?"

“什么样的计划？”

Bliss said, "They know perfectly well they cannot reasonably expect toexpand their range under present circumstances, confined as they are tothe one small patch of land that exists on their world, but they dreamof becoming amphibious."

宝绮思说：“他们心中十分清楚，在目前这种情况下，他们局限在一小块陆地上，根本无法指望扩张生存领域，不过他们梦想能变成两栖类。”

"Of becoming what ?"

“变成什么？”

"Amphibious. They plan to develop gills in addition to lungs. Theydream of being able to spend substantial periods of time underwater; offinding shallow regions and building structures on the ocean bottom. Myinformant was quite glowing about it but she admitted that this had beena goal of the Alphans for some centuries now and that little, if any,progress has been made."

“两栖类。他们计划发展出类似鳃的组织，来辅助肺脏的呼吸功能。他们梦想能在水中停留极长的时间，还梦想能找到其他浅水区域，在海底建造人工建筑。提供这些讯息给我的人，想到这点就非常兴奋，不过她也承认，阿尔发人为这个目标努力了好几世纪，而进展却小得可怜。”

Trevize said, "That's two fields in which they might be more advancedthan we are; weather control and biotechnology. I wonder what theirtechniques are."

崔维兹说：“他们在气候控制和生物科技这两个领域上很可能比我们先进，不知他们用的是什么技术。”

"We'd have to find specialists," said Bliss, "and they might not bewilling to talk about it."

“我们必须找到专家，”宝绮思说：“但他们也许不愿意讲。”

Trevize said, "It's not our primary concern here,but it would clearly pay the Foundation to attempt to learn from thisminiature world."

崔维兹说：“这不是我们来此的主要目的，但基地若向这个袖珍世界学习，显然必将获益匪浅。”

Pelorat said, "We manage to control the weather fairly well onTerminus, as it is."

裴洛拉特说：“事实上，我们在端点星也有办法把气候控制得很好。”

"Control is good on many worlds," said Trevize, "but always it's amatter of the world as a whole. Here the Alphans control the weatherof a small portion of the world and they must have techniques we don'thave. Anything else, Bliss?"

“很多世界上都控制得不错，”崔维兹说：“但控制的总是一个世界的整体气候。可是在阿尔发，控制的则是局部地区的天气，他们一定拥有我们所欠缺的技术——你还打听到了什么，宝绮思？”

"Social invitations. These appear to be a holiday-making people,in whatever time they can take from farming and fishing. Afterdinner, tonight there'll be a music festival. I told you aboutthat already. Tomorrow, during the day, there will be a beachfestival. Apparently, all around the rim of the island there will bea congregation of everyone who can get away from the fields in orderthat they might enjoy the water and celebrate the sun, since it will beraining the next day. In the morning, the fishing fleet will come back,beating the rain, and by evening there will be a food festival, samplingthe catch."

“社交邀宴方面——他们似乎是个善于度假的民族，只要不必耕作或捕鱼，他们都在享受假期。今晚用餐后有个音乐节，我已经告诉你们了。明天白天将举行一个海滩庆典，可想而知，能放下田间工作的人都会聚在岛屿四周，享受嬉水的乐趣，并且乘机赞美太阳，因为再过一天便会下雨。后天早上，渔船队会赶在下雨前回来，当天傍晚又要举行一个美食节，让大家品尝这次的渔获。”

Pelorat groaned. "The meals are ample enough as it is. What would afood festival be like?"

裴洛拉特哼了一声。“平常每餐都那么丰盛了，美食节不知道会是个什么样的盛况？”

"I gather that it will feature not quantity, but variety. In anycase, all four of us are invited to participate in all the festivals,especially the music festival tonight."

“我猜它的特色不在量多，而在口味变化无穷。反正我们四个人都获邀参加所有的活动，尤其是今晚的音乐节。”

"On the antique instruments?" asked Trevize.

“演奏古老乐器？”崔维兹问。

"That's right."

“没错。”

"What makes them antique, by the way? Primitive computers?"

“对了，为什么说它们是古老乐器？原始电脑吗？”

"No, no. That's the point. It isn't electronic music at all, butmechanical. They described it to me. They scrape strings, blow in tubes,and bang on surfaces."

“不，不对。那正是重点，它根本不是电子合成乐，而是机械式的音乐。根据她们的描述，演奏方式是摩擦细线、对管子吹气，以及敲打一些皮面。”

"I hope you're making that up," said Trevize, appalled.

“你没乱讲吧。”崔维兹显得很惊讶。

"No, I'm not. And I understand that your Hiroko will be blowing onone of the tubes I forget its name and you ought to be ableto endure that."

“不，我没有。我还知道你的广子也会上台，她要吹一种管子——我忘了它的名称——你应该能忍受的。”

"As for myself," said Pelorat, "I would love to go. I know very littleabout primitive music and I would like to hear it."

“至于我嘛，”裴洛拉特说：“我很高兴有这个机会。我对原始音乐知道得非常少，希望能亲耳听听。”

"She is not `my Hiroko,'" said Trevize coldly. "But are the instrumentsof the type once used on Earth, do you suppose?"

“她不是‘我的广子’，”崔维兹冷冷地说：“可是依你看，那些乐器是否曾在地球流行？”

"So I gathered," said Bliss. "At least the Alphan women said theywere designed long before their ancestors came here."

“我就是这么猜测，”宝绮思说：“至少阿尔发妇人们告诉我，在他们祖先来到此地前，那些乐器早就发明出来了。”

"In that case," said Trevize, "it may be worth listening to allthat scraping, tootling, and banging, for whatever information it mightconceivably yield concerning Earth."

“这样的话，”崔维兹说：“也许值得听听那些摩擦、吹气和敲打声，只要有可能搜集到一点有关地球的资料。”

Oddly enough, it was Fallom who was most excited atthe prospect of a musical evening. She and Bliss had bathed in thesmall outhouse behind their quarters. It had a bath with running water,hot and cold (or, rather, warm and cool), a washbowl, and a commode. Itwas totally clean and usable and, in the late afternoon sun, it was evenwell lit and cheerful.

说来真奇怪，在他们四个人之中，要数菲龙对傍晚的音乐会最感兴奋。接近黄昏的时候，她与宝绮思在住屋后面的小盥洗间洗了一个澡。盥洗间里有个浴池，备有源源不绝的冷热水（或者应该说是凉水与温水），还有一个洗脸盆与一个室内便器，那些设备都既清洁又合用。在偏西的阳光照耀下，盥洗间内光线充足，气氛令人心旷神怡。

As always, Fallom was fascinated with Bliss's breasts and Bliss wasreduced to saying (now that Fallom understood Galactic) that on herworld that was the way people were. To which Fallom said, inevitably,"Why?" and Bliss, after some thought, deciding there was no sensibleway of answering, returned the universal reply, "Because!"

像往常一样，菲龙对宝绮思的乳房十分着迷，宝绮思只好说（既然菲龙已听得懂银河标准语）在她的世界上，大家都是这个样子。对于这种说法，菲龙难免反问道：“为什么？”宝绮思想了一阵子，发觉根本没有一个说得通的解释，于是回了一句万试万灵的答案：“因为就是这样！”

When they were done, Bliss helped Fallom put on the undergarmentsupplied them by the Alphans and worked out the system whereby theskirt went on over it. Leaving Fallom unclothed from the waist up seemedreasonable enough. She herself, while making use of Alphan garments belowthe waist (rather tight about the hips), put on her own blouse. It seemedsilly to be too inhibited to expose breasts in a society where all womendid, especially since her own were not large and were as shapely as anyshe had seen but there it was.

洗完澡后，宝绮思帮菲龙穿上阿尔发人提供的内衣，并研究出套上裙子的正确方法。菲龙腰部以上什么也没穿，这样似乎无伤大雅又入境随俗。至于宝绮思自己，虽然腰部以下穿了阿尔发人的服装（臀部觉得有点紧），却仍罩上了她的上衫。在一个女性普遍袒胸的社会中，坚拒裸露胸部好像有点傻气，尤其她的乳房并未太过丰满，而且秀挺不输此地任何一位女性，然而——她还是穿上了。

The two men took their turn at the outhouse next, Trevize mutteringthe usual male complaint concerning the time the women had taken.

接下来轮到两位男士使用盥洗间。崔维兹喃喃抱怨一番，就像男士们通常的反应一样，抱怨女士们占用了太久时间。

Bliss turned Fallom about to make sure the skirt would hold in placeover her boyish hips and buttocks. She said, "It's a very pretty skirt,Fallom. Do you like it?"

宝绮思让菲龙转过身来，以确定裙子能包在她那男孩一样的臀部上。“这是一条很漂后的裙子，菲龙，你喜欢吗？”

Fallom stared at it in a mirror and said, "Yes, I do. Won't I be coldwith nothing on, though?" and she ran her hands down her bare chest.

菲龙瞪着镜中的裙子说：“我很喜欢，可是，我上身没穿衣服会不会冷？”说完，她用手摸了摸裸露的胸部。

"I don't think so, Fallom. It's quite warm on this world."

“我想不会的，菲龙，这个世界相当暖和。”

" You have something on."

“你却穿了衣服。”

"Yes, I do. That's how it is on my world. Now, Fallom, we're going tobe with a great many Alphans during dinner and afterward. Do you thinkyou can bear that?"

“没错，我的确穿了，因为在我的世界上大家都这么穿。现在，菲龙，我们要去和很多很多阿尔发人共进晚餐，晚餐后还会跟他们在一起，你觉得自己可以受得了吗？”

Fallom looked distressed, and Bliss went on, "I will sit on your rightside and I will hold you. Pel will sit on the other side, and Trevizewill sit across the table from you. We won't let anyone talk to you,and you won't have to talk to anyone."

菲龙显得很苦恼，于是宝绮思继续说：“我会坐在你的右边，还会抱住你；裴将坐在另一侧，崔维兹将坐在你对面。我们不会让任何人跟你讲话，你也不需要跟任何人交谈。”

"I'll try, Bliss," Fallom piped in her highest tones.

“我会试试看，宝绮思。”菲龙以最高亢的尖声应道。

"Then afterward," said Bliss, "some Alphans will make music for usin their own special way. Do you know what music is?" She hummed in thebest imitation of electronic harmony that she could.

“晚餐以后，”宝绮思又说：“有些阿尔发人会用他们的特殊方法为我们演奏音乐。你知道音乐是什么吗？”她哼出一些音调，尽量模仿着电子和声。

Fallom's face lit up. "You mean……"The last word was inher own language, and she burst into song.

菲龙突然变得神采奕奕。“你的意思是XX？”最后一个词是她的母语，说完她就唱起歌来。

Bliss's eyes widened. It was a beautiful tune, even though it was wild,and rich in trills. "That's right. Music," she said.

宝绮思瞪大了眼睛。那的确是个优美的调子，虽然有些狂野，而且充满颤音。她说：“对啦，那就是音乐。”

Fallom said excitedly, "Jemby made……" she hesitated, then decidedto use the Galactic word "music all the time. It made music on a……" Again a word in her own language.

菲龙兴奋地说：“健比随时都会制造——”她犹豫一下，然后决定用银河标准语：“音乐，它制造音乐用的是XX。”最后一个词她又用了母语。

Bliss repeated the word doubtfully, "On a feeful?"

宝绮思迟疑地着复着那个词：“哼嘀？”

Fallom laughed. "Not feeful……"

菲龙听了大笑。“不是哼嘀，是XX。”

With both words juxtaposed like that, Bliss could hear the difference,but she despaired of reproducing the second. She said, "What does it look like?"

两个词这样放在一起念，宝绮思也听得出其中的差异，但她仍然无法正确念出后者。她改问：“它的外形是什么样子？”

Fallom's as yet limited vocabulary in Galactic did not suffice for anaccurate description, and her gestures did not produce any shape clearlyin Bliss's mind.

菲龙学到的银河标准语词汇有限，无法做出正确的描述，她比手划脚半天，宝绮思心中还是没有一个清晰的图样。

"He showed me how to use the……" Fallom said proudly. "Iused my fingers just the way Jemby did, but it said that soon I wouldn'thave to."

“它教我怎么用XX。”菲龙以骄傲的口吻说：“我的手指动得和健比一样，可是它说我很快就不必再用手指。”

"That's wonderful, dear," said Bliss. "After dinner, we'll see ifthe Alphans are as good as your Jemby was."

“那实在太好了，亲爱的。”宝绮思说：“晚餐后，我们就能知道阿尔发人是否和健比演奏得一样好。”

Fallom's eyes sparkled and pleasant thoughts of what was to followcarried her through a lavish dinner despite the crowds and laughterand noise all about her. Only once, when a dish was accidentally upset,setting off shrieks of excitement fairly close to them, did Fallom lookfrightened, and Bliss promptly held her close in a warm and protectivehug.

菲龙双眼发出光芒，心中充满快乐的期待，因此晚餐时虽被群众、笑声与噪音包围，她仍然享受了丰盛的一餐。只有一次，一个餐盘被人不小心打翻，引起邻近一阵尖声喧哗，菲龙才现出惊骇的表情。宝绮思赶快紧紧搂住她，让她能有安全温暖的感觉。

"I wonder if we can arrange to eat by ourselves," she muttered toPelorat. "Otherwise, we'll have to get off this world. It's bad enougheating all this Isolate animal protein, but I must be ableto do it in peace."

“不知道能否安排我们单独用餐。”她对裴洛拉特悄声说道：“否则的话，我们就得赶快离开这个世界。吃这些孤立体的动物性蛋白已经够糟，至少要让我能静静地下咽。”

"It's only high spirits," said Pelorat, who would have endured anythingwithin reason that he felt came under the heading of primitive behaviorand beliefs.

“他们只是心情太好了。”裴洛拉特说。凡事只要他认为属于原始行为或原始信仰，在合理范围内他会尽量忍受。

And then the dinner was over, and the announcement came thatthe music festival would soon begin.

晚餐随即结束，接着便有人宣布音乐节马上开始。

The hall in which the music festival was to be heldwas about as large as the dining room, and there were folding seats(rather uncomfortable, Trevize found out) for about a hundred fiftypeople. As honored guests, the visitors were led to the front row,and various Alphans commented politely and favorably on their clothes.

举行音乐节的大厅跟餐厅差不多同样宽敞，里面摆着许多张摺椅（崔维兹发现坐起来相当不舒服），可供一百五十几人就坐。他们这几位访客是今晚的贵宾，因此被带到最前排，不少阿尔发人客气地赞赏他们的服装样式。

Both men were bare above the waist and Trevize tightened his abdominalmuscles whenever he thought of it and stared down, on occasion, withcomplacent self-admiration at his dark-haired chest. Pelorat, in hisardent observation of everything about him, was indifferent to his ownappearance. Bliss's blouse drew covert stares of puzzlement but nothingwas said concerning it.

两位男士腰部以上完全赤裸，每当崔维兹想到这点，便会收紧他的腹肌，偶尔还会低头看一看，对自己长满黑色胸毛的胸膛十分自满。裴洛拉特则忙着观察周遭的一切，对自己的模样毫不在意。宝绮思的上衫吸引了许多疑惑的目光，不过大家只是偷偷看着，没有当面发表任何评论。

Trevize noted that the hall was only about half-full and that thelarge majority of the audience were women, since, presumably, so manymen were out to sea.

崔维兹注意到大厅差不多只坐了半满，而且绝大部分的观众是妇女，想必是因为许多男人都出海去了。

Pelorat nudged Trevize and whispered, "They have electricity."

裴洛拉特用手肘轻推了崔维兹一下，悄声道：“他们拥有电力。”

Trevize looked at the vertical tubes on the walls, and at others onthe ceiling. They were softly luminous.

崔维兹看了看挂在墙上的垂直玻璃管，还注意到天花板上也有一些，那些玻璃管都发出柔和的光芒。

"Fluorescence," he said. "Quite primitive."

“是萤光，”他说：“相当原始。”

"Yes, but they do the job, and we've got those things in our roomsand in the outhouse. I thought they were just decorative. If we can findout how to work them, we won't have to stay in the dark."

“没错，不过一样能照明。我们的房间和盥洗间也有这些东西，我本来以为只是装饰用的。如果我们弄清楚如何操作，晚上就不必摸黑了。”

Bliss said irritably, "They might have told us."

宝绮思不悦地说：“他们应该告诉我们。”

Pelorat said, "They thought we'd know; that anyone would know."

裴洛拉特说：“他们以为我们知道，以为任何人都该知道。”

Four women now emerged from behind screens and seated themselves ina group in the space at the front. Each held an instrument of varnishedwood of a similar shape, but one that was not easily describable. Theinstruments were chiefly different in size. One was quite small, twosomewhat larger, and the fourth considerably larger. Each woman alsoheld a long rod in the other hand.

此时四名女子从幕后出现，走到大厅前方的场地，然后彼此紧邻着坐下来。每个人都拿着一个上漆的木制乐器，它们的外形相似，不过形状不太容易描述。那些乐器的主要差别在于大小不同，其中一个相当小，两个稍大些，另一个则相当大。除此之外，每人另一只手里还拿着一根长长的杆子。

The audience whistled softly as they came in, in response to whichthe four women bowed. Each had a strip of gauze bound fairly tightlyacross the breasts as though to keep them from interfering with theinstrument.

她们四人进场时，观众发出轻柔的口哨声，她们则向观众鞠躬致意。四个人的乳房都用薄纱紧紧裹住，仿佛为了避免碰触乐器而影响演出。

Trevize, interpreting the whistles as signs of approval, or of pleasedanticipation, felt it only polite to add his own. At that, Fallom added atrill that was far more than a whistle and that was beginning to attractattention when pressure from Bliss's hand stopped her.

崔维兹将口哨声解释为赞许或欣喜的期待，感到自己礼貌上也该这么做。菲龙则发出一个比口哨尖锐许多的颤音，宝绮思马上紧紧抓住她，但在她停止前，已经引起一些观众的注意。

Three of the women, without preparation, put their instruments undertheir chins, while the largest of the instruments remained between thelegs of the fourth woman and rested on the floor. The long rod in theright hand of each was sawed across the strings stretching nearly thelength of the instrument, while the fingers of the left hand shiftedrapidly along the upper ends of those strings.

四名演出的女子中，有三位未做任何准备动作，便将她们的乐器置于颌下，不过最大的那个乐器仍放在地上，夹在那位演奏者双腿之间。每个人右手的长杆开始前后拉动，摩擦着近乎横跨整个乐器的几条细线，左手的手指则在细线末端来回游移。

This, thought Trevize, was the "scraping" he had expected, butit didn't sound like scraping at all. There was a soft and melodioussuccession of notes; each instrument doing something of its own and thewhole fusing pleasantly.

崔维兹心想，这大概就是想像中的“摩擦”吧，不过听来完全不像摩擦发出的声音。他听到的是一连串轻柔而旋律优美的音符，每个乐器各自演奏不同的部分，融合在一起就变得分外悦耳。

It lacked the infinite complexity of electronic music ("real music," asTrevize could not help but think of it) and there was a distinct samenessto it. Still, as time passed, and his ear grew accustomed to this oddsystem of sound, he began to pick out subtleties. It was wearisome tohave to do so, and he thought, longingly, of the clamor and mathematicalprecision and purity of the real thing, but it occurred to him that ifhe listened to the music of these simple wooden devices long enough hemight well grow to like it.

它缺少电子音乐（“真正的音乐”，崔维兹不由自主这么想）无穷的复杂度，而且有明显的重复。然而，当他慢慢听下去，他的耳朵就渐渐习惯这种奇特的音律，开始领略出其中的微妙。但需要如此细听却容易使人疲倦，因此他分外怀念真实音乐的纯粹、数学化的精准，以及震耳欲聋的音量。不过他也想到，如果听久了这些简单木制乐器的音乐，他想必也会渐渐喜欢。

It was not till the concert was some forty-five minutes old that Hirokostepped out. She noticed Trevize in the front row at once and smiled athim. He joined the audience in the soft whistle of approval with a wholeheart. She looked beautiful in a long and most elaborate skirt, a largeflower in her hair, and nothing at all over her breasts since (apparently)there was no danger of their interference with the instrument.

等到广子终于出场的时候，演奏会已进行了约四十五分钟。她立刻注意到崔维兹坐在最前排，于是向他微微一笑，他则诚心诚意地轻吹口哨，跟其他观众一起为她暍采。广子打扮得非常漂后，穿着一条精致无比的长裙，头上戴了一大朵花。她的乳房完全裸露，（显然）因为它不会影响到乐器的演奏。

Her instrument proved to be a dark wooden tube about two thirds of ameter long and nearly two centimeters thick. She lifted the instrumentto her lips and blew across an opening near one end, producing a thin,sweet note that wavered in pitch as her fingers manipulated metal objectsalong the length of the tube.

她的乐器原来是一根黑色的木管，长度大约三分之二公尺，直径约有两公分。她将那个乐器凑到唇边，对着末端附近的开口吹气，便产生了一个纤细甜美的音调。她的手指操纵着遍布管身的金属物件，随着她手指的动作，音调有了忽高忽低的变化。

At the first sound, Fallom clutched at Bliss's arm and said, "Bliss,that's a……" and the word sounded like "feeful" to Bliss.

听到第一个调，菲龙立刻抓住宝绮思的手臂说：“宝绮思，那就是XX。”那个名字听来很像“哼嘀”。

Bliss shook her head firmly at Fallom, who said, in a lower voice,"But it is!"

宝绮思冲着菲龙坚决地摇了摇头，菲龙却压低声音说：“但它的确是啊！”

Others were looking in Fallom's direction. Bliss put her hand firmlyover Fallom's mouth, and leaned down to mutter an almost subliminallyforceful "Quiet!" into her ear.

臂众纷纷朝菲龙这边望来，宝绮思将手用力按在菲龙嘴巴上，然后低下头来，冲着她耳朵轻声说：“安静！”这句话声音虽小，对下意识而言却可算强而有力。

Fallom listened to Hiroko's playing quietly thereafter, but herfingers moved spasmodically, as though they were operating the objectsalong the length of the instrument.

菲龙果然开始安静地欣赏广子的演奏，但她的手指不时舞动着，好像是她在操纵那个乐器上的金属物件。

The final player in the concert was an elderly man who had aninstrument with fluted sides suspended over his shoulders. He pulled itin and out while one hand flashed across a succession of white and darkobjects at one end, pressing them down in groups.

最后一位演出者是个老头，他的乐器挂在双肩，乐器两侧有许多皱褶。演奏的时候，他左手将那些皱褶拉来拉去，右手在另一侧黑白相问的键上快速掠过，同时按下一组一组的键。

Trevize found this sound particularly wearing, rather barbaric,and unpleasantly like the memory of the barking of the dogs onAurora not that the sound was like barking, but the emotions it gaverise to were similar. Bliss looked as though she would like to place herhands over her ears, and Pelorat had a frown on his face. Only Fallomseemed to enjoy it, for she was tapping her foot lightly, and Trevize,when he noticed that, realized, to his own surprise, that there was abeat to the music that matched Fallom's footfall.

崔维兹觉得这个乐器的声音特别无趣，而且相当粗野，听来不太舒服，使他联想到奥罗拉野狗的吠声——并非由于乐声像狗叫，而是两者引发的情绪极为类似。宝绮思看来像是想用双手按住耳朵，裴洛拉特的脸孔也皱了起来。只有菲龙似乎很欣赏，一只脚还轻轻打着拍子。当崔维兹注意到她的动作时，发现音乐节拍与菲龙的拍子竟然完全吻合，令他感到非常惊讶。

It came to an end at last and there was a perfect storm of whistling,with Fallom's trill clearly heard above it all.

演奏终于结束，观众报以一阵激烈的口哨声，菲龙发出的颤音则盖过了所有声音。

Then the audience broke up into small conversational groups and becameas loud and raucous as Alphans seemed to be on all public occasions. Thevarious individuals who had played in the concert stood about in front ofthe room and spoke to those people who came up to congratulate them.

然后观众开始三五成群闲聊起来，场面变得相当吵杂，不输阿尔发人其他聚会的喧哗程度。每位演出者都站在观众席前，跟前来道贺的人亲切交谈。

Fallom evaded Bliss's grasp and ran up to Hiroko.

菲龙突然挣脱宝绮思的掌握，向广子冲过去。

"Hiroko," she cried out, gaspingly. "Let me see the……"

“广子，”她一面喘气，一面喊道：“让我看看那个XX。”

"The what, dear one?" said Hiroko.

“看什么，小可爱？”广子说。

"The thing you made the music with."

“你刚才用来制造音乐的东西。”

"Oh." Hiroko laughed. "That's a flute, little one."

“喔，”广子大笑一声，“那唤作横笛，小家伙。”

"May I see it?"

“我可以看看吗？”

"Well." Hiroko opened a case and took out the instrument. It was inthree parts, but she put it together quickly, held it toward Fallom withthe mouthpiece near her lips, and said, "There, blow thou thy breathacross this."

“好吧。”广子打开一个盒子，掏出那件乐器。它现在被拆解成三部分，不过广子很快就将它结合起来，然后递到菲龙面前，吹口对准她的嘴唇。“来，尊驾对着这儿吹气。”

"I know. I know," said Fallom eagerly, and reached for the flute.

“我知道，我知道。”菲龙一面急切地说，一面伸手要拿笛子。

Automatically, Hiroko snatched it away and held it high. "Blow, child,but touch not."

广子自然而然抽回手去，又将笛子高高举起。“用嘴吹，孩子，但勿碰。”

Fallom seemed disappointed. "May I just look at it, then? I won'ttouch it."

菲龙似乎很失望。“那么，我可不可以看看就好？我不会碰它。”

"Certainly, dear one."

“当然行，小可爱。”

She held out the flute again and Fallom stared at it earnestly.

她又将笛子递出去，菲龙便一本正经瞪着它看。

And then, the fluorescent lighting in the room dimmed very slightly,and the sound of a flute's note, a little uncertain and wavering, made itself heard.

室内的萤光灯突然微微变暗，同时笛子发出一个音调，听来有些迟疑不定。

Hiroko, in surprise, nearly dropped the flute, and Fallom cried out,"I did it. I did it. Jemby said someday I could do it."

广子吓了一跳，险些让笛子掉到地上，菲龙却高声喊道：“我做到了，我做到了，健比说总有一天我能做到。”

Hiroko said, "Was it thou that made the sound?"

广子说：“方才是尊驾弄出的声音？”

"Yes, I did. I did."

“对，是我，是我。”

"But how didst thou do so, child?"

“然而尊驾是怎样做到的，孩子？”

Bliss said, red with embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Hiroko. I'll takeher away."

宝绮思感到很不好意思，红着脸说：“我很抱歉，广子，我现在就带她走。”

"No," said Hiroko. "I wish her to do it again."

“不，”广子说：“我希望她再做一回。”

A few of the nearest Alphans had gathered to watch. Fallom furrowedher brow as though trying hard. The fluorescents dimmed rather more thanbefore, and again there was the note of the flute, this time pure andsteady. Then it became erratic as the metal objects along the length ofthe flute moved of their own accord.

敖近几个阿尔发人已经围过来旁观，菲龙挤眉弄眼，仿佛很努力在尝试。萤光变得比刚才更暗淡，笛子忽然间又发出一个音调，这次的声音听来既纯又稳。然后，遍布笛身的金属按键自己动起来，笛子的音调有了不规律的变化。

"It's a little different from the……" Fallom said, alittle breathlessly, as though the breath that had been activating theflute had been her own instead of power-driven air.

“它和XX有点不一样。”菲龙有些上气不接下气，仿佛吹笛子的是她本人，而不是电力驱动的气流。

Pelorat said to Trevize, "She must be getting the energy from theelectric current that feeds the fluorescents."

裴洛拉特对崔维兹说：“她一定是从萤光灯的电源取得能量。”

"Try again," said Hiroko in a choked voice.

“再试一回。”广子以惊愕的声音说。

Fallom closed her eyes. The note was softer now and under firmercontrol. The flute played by itself, maneuvered by no fingers, but movedby distant energy, transduced through the still immature lobes of Fallom'sbrain. The notes which began as almost random settled into a musicalsuccession and now everyone in the hall had gathered around Hiroko andFallom, as Hiroko held the flute gently with thumb and forefinger ateither end, and Fallom, eyes closed, directed the current of air andthe movement of the keys.

菲龙闭上眼睛，笛声现在变得较柔和，也被控制得更稳定，在没有手指按动的情况下，笛子自己演奏起来。来自远方的能量，经过菲龙大脑中尚未成熟的叶突，转换成了驱动笛子的动能。最初几乎是随机出现的音调，现在变成一连串的旋律，将大厅中每一个人都吸引过来，大家全部围在广子与菲龙周围。广子用拇指与食指轻轻抓着笛子两端，菲龙则始终闭着眼睛，指挥着空气的流动与按键的动作。

"It's the piece I played," whispered Hiroko.

“这是我方才演奏的曲子。”广子悄声道。

"I remember it," said Fallom, nodding her head slightly, trying notto break her concentration.

“我都记得。”菲龙只是轻轻点了点头，尽量不让自己的注意力分散。

"Thou didst not miss a note," said Hiroko, when it was done.

“尊驾未遗漏任何一个音符。”一曲结束后，广子这么说。

"But it's not right, Hiroko. You didn't do it right."

“可是你那样不对，广子，你吹得不对。”

Bliss said, "Fallom! That's not polite. You mustn't……"

宝绮思赶紧说：“菲龙！这样说没礼貌，你不可以……”

"Please," said Hiroko peremptorily, "do not interfere. Why is it notright, child?"

“拜托，”广子断然道：“请勿打断她的话。为何不对，孩子？”

"Because I would play it differently."

“因为我能吹得不一样。”

"Show me, then."

“那么表演一下。”

Again the flute played, but in more complicated fashion, for the forcesthat pushed the keys did so more quickly, in more rapid succession andin more elaborate combinations than before. The music was more complex,and infinitely more emotional and moving. Hiroko stood rigid and therewas not a sound to be heard anywhere in the room.

于是笛声再度响起，不过曲式较先前复杂，因为驱动按键的力量变化得更快，转换得更迅速，组合也更为精致细腻。奏出的音乐比刚才更繁复，而且更感性、更动人无数倍。广子不禁僵立在那里，整个大厅中也听不到其他声音。

Even after Fallom had finished playing, there was not a sound untilHiroko drew a deep breath and said, "Little one, hast thou ever playedthat before?"

甚至当菲龙演奏完毕后，大厅中仍是一片鸦雀无声。最后还是由广子打破沉默，她深深吸了一口气，然后说：“尊驾曾如此演奏过吗？”

"No," said Fallom, "before this I could only use my fingers, andI can't do my fingers like that."

“没有，”菲龙说：“以前我只能用手指，可是我用手指做不到那样。”

Then, simply and with no trace ofvaunting, "No one can."

接着，她又以干脆而毫不自夸的口气，补充了一句：“没有人办得到。”

"Canst thou play anything else?"

“尊驾还会演奏其他曲子吗？”

"I can make something up."

“我能制作一些。”

"Dost thou mean improvise?"

“尊驾的意思是——即兴演奏？”

Fallom frowned at the word and looked toward Bliss. Bliss nodded andFallom said, "Yes."

菲龙皱起眉头，显然听不懂这个词，只好朝宝绮思望去。宝绮思对她点了点头，于是菲龙答道：“是的。”

"Please do so, then," said Hiroko.

“那么，请示范一番。”广子说。

Fallom paused and thought for a minute or two, then began slowly,in a very simple succession of notes, the whole being rather dreamy. Thefluorescent lights dimmed and brightened as the amount of power exertedintensified and faded. No one seemed to notice, for it seemed to be theeffect of the music rather than the cause, as though a ghostly electricalspirit were obeying the dictates of the sound waves.

菲龙默想了一两分钟，然后笛声开始奏起，那是一连串缓慢而简单的音符，整体而言带着如梦似幻的感觉。萤光灯变得时明时暗，全由电力被抽取的多寡而定。这点似乎没人注意到，因为光线的变化似乎成了音乐所带来的特殊效果，就像有个电力幽灵正听命于声波的指挥而不停变化着。

The combination of notes then repeated itself a bit more loudly, thena bit more complexly, then in variations that, without ever losing theclearly heard basic combination, became more stirring and more excitinguntil it was almost impossible to breathe. And finally, it descendedmuch more rapidly than it had ascended and did so with the effect ofa swooping dive that brought the listeners to ground level even whilethey still retained the feeling that they were high in the air.

这些音符的组合一再着复，先是音量变得较大，然后曲调渐趋繁复。接下来成了变奏，在基本旋律仍清晰可闻的情况下，曲调变得更激昂、更有力，渐渐催逼到令人喘不过气来。最后，缓缓升到最高点的旋律突然急转直下，造成一种俯冲的效果，带着听众迅速落回地面；众人却仍陶醉在置身高空的感觉。

There followed sheer pandemonium that split the air, and even Trevize,who was used to a totally different kind of music, thought sadly,"And now I'll never hear that again."

接着，一阵前所未有的混乱撕裂宁静的空气。崔维兹虽然习惯于另一种完全不同的音乐，也不禁感伤地想道：我再也听不到这么美妙的音乐了。

When a most reluctant quiet had returned, Hiroko held out herflute. "Here, Fallom, this is thine!"

等到众人好不容易安静下来后，广子将笛子递了出去。“来，菲龙，这是尊驾的！”

Fallom reached for it eagerly, but Bliss caught hold of the child'soutstretched arm and said, "We can't take it, Hiroko. It's a valuableinstrument."

菲龙迫不及待要接过来，宝绮思却抓住她伸出去的手臂说：“我们不能拿，广子，它是件珍贵的乐器。”

"I have another, Bliss. Not quite as good, but that is how it shouldbe. This instrument belongeth to the person who playeth it best. Neverhave I heard such music and it would be wrong for me to own an instrumentI cannot use to full potential. Would that I knew how the instrumentcould be made to play without being touched."

“我另外有一个，宝绮思，虽比不上这个好，但这是我应当做的。谁能将这乐器奏得最美妙，谁便是其主人。我从未听过如此之音乐，既然我无法发挥其全部潜力，我拥有这乐器即是错误。我希望早就知晓如何得以隔空演奏。”

Fallom took the flute and, with an expression of deep content, heldit tightly to her chest.

菲龙接过笛子，现出极其满足的表情，将它紧紧抱在胸前。

Each of the two rooms of their quarters were lit by onefluorescent light. The outhouse had a third. The lights were dim, and wereuncomfortable to read by, but at least the rooms were no longer dark.

现在，他们的住所两个房间各后起一盏萤光灯，此外盥洗间也后起一盏。这些灯光都很微弱，在灯下阅读会相当吃力，但至少不再是一片黑暗。

Yet they now lingered outside. The sky was full of stars, somethingthat was always fascinating to a native of Terminus, where the night skywas all but starless and in which only the faint foreshortened cloud ofthe Galaxy was prominent.

然而此刻他们却逗留在屋外。夜空中满布星辰，这种景象总是令端点星土生土长的人着迷。端点星的夜空几乎不见什么星辰，唯一显眼的天体是暗淡的银河，看来像是极远方的一团云气。

Hiroko had accompanied them back to their chambers for fear they wouldget lost in the dark, or that they would stumble. All the way back, sheheld Fallom's hand, and then, after lighting the fluorescents for them,remained outside with them, still clutching at the youngster.

广子刚才陪同他们一道回来，因为她担心他们会在黑暗中迷路或摔倒，一路上她都牵着菲龙的手。直到她帮他们打开萤光灯，跟他们一起待在室外的时候，她牵着那孩子的乎仍未放开。

Bliss tried again, for it was clear to her that Hiroko was in a stateof a difficult conflict of emotions. "Really, Hiroko, we cannot takeyour flute."

宝绮思心里很清楚，知道广子正处于难以决断的情感矛盾中，因此她决定再试一次。“真的，广子，我们不能拿你的笛子。”

"No, Fallom must have it." But she seemed on edge just the same.

“不，菲龙万万要收下。”但她似乎仍然犹豫不决。

Trevize continued to look at the sky. The night was truly dark,a darkness that was scarcely affected by the trickle of light fromtheir own chambers; and much less so by the tiny sparks of other housesfarther off.

崔维兹一直望着天空。此地的黑夜名副其实，虽然他们的房间透出一点光后，却几乎没什么影响，更遑论远处建筑物射出的微弱灯火。

He said, "Hiroko, do you see that star that is so bright? What isit called?"

他说：“广子，你看到那颗分外明亮的星星吗？它叫什么名字？”

Hiroko looked up casually and said, with no great appearance ofinterest, "That's the Companion."

广子抬头瞄了一下，并未显出什么兴趣。“那是‘伴星’。”

"Why is it called that?"

“为什么叫这个名字？”

"It circleth our sun every eighty Standard Years. It is an eveningstar at this time of year. Thou canst see it in daytime, too, when itlieth above the horizon."

“每八十个标准年，它便环绕我们太阳一周。每年这个时候，它都是一颗‘昏星’。尊驾在白昼亦能见到它，倘若它徘徊于地平线之上。”

Good, thought Trevize. She's not totally ignorant of astronomy. Hesaid, "Do you know that Alpha has another companion, a very small, dimone that's much much farther away than that bright star. You can't seeit without a telescope." (He hadn't seen it himself, hadn't botheredto search for it, but the ship's computer had the information in itsmemory banks.)

很好，崔维兹想，她对天文并非一无所知。他又说：“你可知道，阿尔发还有另一颗伴星，它非常小、非常暗淡，比这颗明亮的伴星遥远许多许多，不用望远镜根本看不见。”（他自己没有见过，但他不必花时间搜寻，太空艇电脑的记忆库中有详尽的资料。）

She said indifferently, "We were told that in school."

她以冷淡的语气答道：“我们在学校学过。”

"But now what about that one? You see those six stars in a zigzagline?"

“好，那颗又叫什么？那六颗排成锯齿状的星星，你看到了吗？”

Hiroko said, "That is Cassiopeia."

广子说：“那是仙后。”

"Really?" said Trevize, startled. "Which star?"

“真的？”崔维兹吃了一惊，“哪一颗？”

"All of them. The whole zigzag. It is Cassiopeia."

“全部，整个锯齿唤作仙后。”

"Why is it called that?"

“为什么叫这个名字？”

"I lack the knowledge. I know nothing of astronomy, respectedTrevize."

“我缺乏这方面的知识，我对天文学一窍不通，尊贵的崔维兹。”

"Do you see the lowermost star in the zigzag, the one that's brighterthan the other stars? What is that?"

“你看到锯齿最下面的那颗星吗？就是其中最后的那颗，它叫什么？”

"It is a star. I know not its name."

“它就是一颗星，我不知其名。”

"But except for the two companion stars, it's the closest of all thestars to Alpha. It is only a parsec away."

“除了两颗伴星之外，它是最接近阿尔发的恒星，距离大约只有一秒差距。”

Hiroko said, "Sayest thou so? I know that not."

便于说：“尊驾如此认为？我不知晓。”

"Might it not be the star about which Earth revolves?"

“它会不会就是地球环绕的恒星？”

Hiroko looked at the star with a faint flash of interest. "I knownot. I have never heard any person say so."

广子盯着那颗星，些微兴趣一闪即逝。“我不知晓，我从未听人那样说。”

"Don't you think it might be?"

“你不认为有这个可能吗？”

"How can I say? None knoweth where Earth might be. I I mustleave thee, now. I will be taking my shift in the fields tomorrowmorning before the beach festival. I'll see you all there, right afterlunch. Yes? Yes?"

“叫我如何说？无人知晓地球究竟在何处。我——我如今必须向尊驾告辞。明天上午海滩节之前，轮到我在田间工作。午餐后我在海滩跟您们碰面。好吗？”

"Certainly, Hiroko."

“当然好，广子。”

She left suddenly, half-running in the dark. Trevize looked after her,then followed the others into the dimly lit cottage.

她立刻转身离去，在黑暗中慢慢跑开。崔维兹望着她的背影一会儿，便跟其他人走进昏暗的小房舍。

He said, "Can you tell whether she was lying about Earth, Bliss?"

他问：“有关地球的事，你能不能判断她是否在说谎，宝绮思？”

Bliss shook her head. "I don't think she was. She is under enormoustension, something I was not aware of until after the concert. It existedbefore you asked her about the stars."

宝绮思摇了摇头，说道：“不，我不认为她在说谎。她的精神处于极度紧张的状态，我直到演奏会结束才察觉到。在你向她问及那些星星之前，她就已经那么紧张了。”

"Because she gave away her flute, then?"

“那么，是因为她舍弃了那支笛子？”

"Perhaps. I can't tell." She turned to Fallom. "Now, Fallom, I wantyou to go into your room. When you're ready for bed, go to the outhouse,use the potty, then wash your hands, your face, and your teeth."

“大概吧，我也不清楚。”她转头对菲龙说：“菲龙，我要你现在回到自己房间。你上床之前，先到盥洗间去尿尿，然后洗洗手，再洗洗脸，刷刷牙。”

"I would like to play the flute, Bliss."

“我很想演奏那支笛子，宝绮思。”

"Just for a little while, and very quietly. Do you understand,Fallom? And you must stop when I tell you to."

“只能玩一会儿，而且要非常小声。懂了吗，菲龙？还有，我叫你停的时候就一定要停。”

"Yes, Bliss."

“好的，宝绮思。”

The three were now alone; Bliss in the one chair and the men sittingeach on his cot.

于是这个房间中只剩下三个人，宝绮思坐在一张椅子上，两位男士则坐在各自的便床上。

Bliss said, "Is there any point in staying on this planet anylonger?"

宝绮思说：“还有必要在这颗行星继续待下去吗？”

Trevize shrugged. "We never did get to discuss Earth in connectionwith the ancient instruments, and we might find something there. Itmight also pay to wait for the fishing fleet to return. The men mightknow something the stay-at-homes don't."

崔维兹耸了耸肩。“我们一直没机会讨论地球和那些古老乐器间的关系，或许我们可以从那里发现什么线索。而且，渔船队可能也值得我们等一等，那些男人可能知道些待在家的人不知道的事。”

" Very unlikely, I think," said Bliss. "Are you sure it'snot Hiroko's dark eyes that hold you?"

“可能性太小了。”宝绮思说：“你确定不是广子的黑眼珠吸引你留下来？”

Trevize said impatiently, "I don't understand, Bliss. What have youto do with what I choose to do? Why do you seem to arrogate to yourselfthe right of sitting in moral judgment on me?"

崔维兹以不耐烦的语气说：“我不了解，宝绮思，我选择该怎么做跟你有何相干？为什么你好像总要显得高高在上，板起面孔对我做道德判断？”

"I'm not concerned with your morals. The matter affects ourexpedition. You want to find Earth so that you can finally decidewhether you are right in choosing Galaxia over Isolate worlds. I wantyou to so decide. You say you need to visit Earth to make the decisionand you seem to be convinced that Earth revolves about that bright starin the sky. Let us go there, then. I admit it would be useful to havesome information about it before we go, but it is clear to me that theinformation is not forthcoming here. I do not wish to remain simplybecause you enjoy Hiroko."

“我并不关心你的道德，但这件事会影响到我们的探索。你想要找到地球，好对你自己的选择做最后的验证，看看你否定孤立体世界，选择盖娅星系的抉择是否正确，我希望你能找到答案。你说你必须造访地球，然后才能做出决定，而你似乎坚信地球就环绕着天空中那颗亮星，那么就让我们到那里去探个究竟。我承认，在我们出发前若能找到一些资料，的确会有帮助，可是我相当清楚，在这里找不到我们需要的资料。我可不愿由于你喜欢广子，就让大家留在这里陪你。”

"Perhaps we'll leave," said Trevize. "Let me think about it, andHiroko will play no part in my decision, I assure you."

“我们或许会离开这里，”崔维兹说：“让我考虑一下。广子这个因素不会左右我的决定，我向你保证。”

Pelorat said, "I feel we ought to move on to Earth, if only to seewhether it is radioactive or not. I see no point in waiting longer."

裴洛拉特说：“我觉得我们应该向地球前进，即使只是为了看看它到底有没有放射性。我看下出待下去有什么意义。”

"Are you sure it's not Bliss's dark eyes that drive you?" saidTrevize, a bit spitefully. Then, almost at once, "No, I take that back,Janov. I was just being childish. Still this is a charming world,quite apart from Hiroko, and I must say that under other circumstances,I would be tempted to remain indefinitely. Don't you think, Bliss,that Alpha destroys your theory about Isolates?"

“你确定不是宝绮思的黑眼珠迷惑了你？”崔维兹这话有些报复的意味。他几乎立刻就后悔了：“不，我收回这句话，詹诺夫，我只是一时孩子气发作。话说回来——这是个迷人的世界，即使完全不考虑广子，我也不得不承认，要不是在现在这种情况下，我会忍下住永远留下来。难道你看不出来吗，宝绮思，阿尔发使你对孤立体的理论不攻自破？”

"In what way?" asked Bliss.

“怎么说？”宝绮思问。

"You've been maintaining that every truly isolated world turnsdangerous and hostile."

“你一直坚持一种理论，任何真正孤立的世界都会变得危险而充满敌意。”

"Even Comporellon," said Bliss evenly, "which is rather out of themain current of Galactic activity for all that it is, in theory, anAssociated Power of the Foundation Federation."

“就连康普隆也一样，”宝绮思以平静的口吻说：“即使它不能算是处于银河的主流，虽然在理论上它是基地联邦的一个联合势力。”

"But not Alpha. This world is totally isolated, butcan you complain of their friendliness and hospitality? They feed us,clothe us, shelter us, put on festivals in our honor, urge us to stayon. What fault is there to find with them?"

“但阿尔发不同，这个世界虽然完全孤立，可是你能抱怨他们的友善和殷勤吗？他们提供我们食物、衣物、住宿场所，还为我们举行各种庆祝活动，盛情地邀请我们留下来。对他们还有什么好挑剔的？”

"None, apparently. Hiroko even gives you her body."

“表面上没什么，广子甚至将她的身体给了你。”

Trevize said angrily, "Bliss, what bothers you about that? She didn'tgive me her body. We gave each other our bodies. It was entirely mutual,entirely pleasurable. Nor can you say that you hesitate to give yourbody as it suits you."

崔维兹怒冲冲地说：“宝绮思，这件事哪里又妨碍到你了？不是她将身体给了我，而是我们互相奉献，这全然是两情相悦。在适当情况下，你也一定会毫不迟疑地献出自己的身体。”

"Please, Bliss," said Pelorat. "Golan is entirely right. There is noreason to object to his private pleasures."

“拜托，宝绮思，”裴洛拉特说：“葛兰完全正确，我们没有理由反对他的私人享乐。”

"As long as they don't affect us," said Bliss obdurately.

“只要不影响到我们的行动。”宝绮思执拗地说。

"They do not affect us," said Trevize. "We will leave, I assure you. Adelay to search further for information will not be long."

“不会影响我们，”崔维兹说：“我们将很快离开这里，我向你保证。耽搁一下是为了搜集更多资料，不会花太久的时间。”

"Yet I don't trust Isolates," said Bliss, "even when they comebearing gifts."

“但我还是不信任孤立体，”宝绮思说：“即使他们捧着礼物前来。”

Trevize flung up his arms. "Reach a conclusion, then twist the evidenceto fit. How like a……"

崔维兹举起双手。“先得出结论，然后再扭曲证据去迁就，简直就是——”

"Don't say it," said Bliss dangerously. "I am not a woman. I amGaia. It is Gaia, not I, who is uneasy."

“别说出来，”宝绮思以警告的口吻说：“我可不是女人，我是盖娅。感到不安的是盖娅，不是我。”

"There is no reason to……" And at that point there was a scratchingat the door.

“没有理由——”此时，门上突然发出一下搔抓声。

Trevize froze. "What's that?" he said, in a low voice.

崔维兹愣住了。“那是什么？”他低声道。

Bliss shrugged lightly. "Open the door and see. You tell us this isa kindly world that offers no danger."

宝绮思轻轻耸了耸肩。“拉开门看看，你说过这是个亲善的世界，不会发生任何危险。”

Nevertheless, Trevize hesitated, until a soft voice from the otherside of the door called out softly, "Please. It is I!"

尽避如此，崔维兹仍踌躇不前。不久门外传来轻声的叫喊：“拜托，是我！”

It was Hiroko's voice. Trevize threw the door open.

那是广子的声音，崔维兹立刻将门掀开。

Hiroko entered quickly. Her cheeks were wet.

广子快步走进来，她的两颊满是泪水。

"Close the door," she gasped.

“将门拉上。”她气喘吁吁地说。

"What is it?" asked Bliss.

“怎么回事？”宝绮思问。

Hiroko clutched at Trevize. "I could not stay away. I tried, but I endured it not. Go thou, and all of you. Take the youngster with you quickly. Take the ship away……from Alpha……while it is yet dark."

广子紧紧抓住崔维兹。“我无法置身事外，我尝试过，然而我承受不了。尊驾快走，您们全部走，带那孩儿与您们一道离去。驾着那艘太空船驶离——驶离阿尔发——趁着天色仍暗之际。”

"But why?" asked Trevize.

“可是为什么呢？”崔维兹问。

"Because else wilt thou die; and all of you."

“否则尊驾将丧命，您们全部将丧命。”

The three Outworlders stared frozenly at Hiroko fora long moment. Then Trevize said, "Are you saying your people willkill us?"

三位外星人士目不转晴盯着广子良久，然后崔维兹说：“你是说你的族人会杀害我们？”

Hiroko said, as the tears rolled down her cheeks, "Thou art already onthe road to death, respected Trevize. And the others with you. Longago, those of learning devised a virus, harmless to us, but deadlyto Outworlders. We have been made immune." She shook Trevize's arm indistraction. "Thou art infected."

广子两行热泪滚滚而下。“尊驾已踏上死亡之途，尊贵的崔维兹，其他人也将陪伴您。很久以前，学者们发明出一种病毒，对我们无害，我们具有免疫力，然而对外星人士有致命威胁。”她心慌意乱地摇着崔维兹的手臂，“尊驾已经感染。”

"How?"

“怎么会？”

"When we had our pleasure. It is one way."

“当我们交欢时，那即是管道之一。”

Trevize said, "But I feel entirely well."

崔维兹说：“但我不觉得有什么不对劲。”

"The virus is as yet inactive. It will be made active when the fishingfleet returns. By our laws, all must decide on such a thing eventhe men. All will surely decide it must be done, and we keep you heretill that time, two mornings hence. Leave now while it is yet dark andnone suspects."

“病毒仍在潜伏，渔船队归来后才会让它们发作。根据我们的法律，这种事必须经过全体决议，甚至包括所有男人，大家必将决定非如此做不可。我们负责让您们留下，直到做出决议之时，亦即后天早上——如今趁着天黑又无人起疑，赶紧走吧。”

Bliss said sharply, "Why do your people do this?"

宝绮思厉声问道：“你的族人为什么要这样做？”

"For our safety. We are few and have much. We do not wish Outworldersto intrude. If one cometh and then reporteth our lot, others will come,and so when, once in a long while, a ship arriveth, we must make certainit leaveth not."

“为了我们的安全，我们人稀物丰，不希望外星人士侵犯我们。若果有人来访之后，将我们的位置传出去，其他人将接踵而来。因此之故，每隔很长一段时日，偶尔有一艘太空船抵达，我们便需确保它不再离去。”

"But then," said Trevize, "why do you warn us away?"

“可是既然如此，”崔维兹说：“为什么你要来通风报信？”

"Ask not the reason. Nay, but I will tell you, since I hear itagain. Listen……"

“勿问缘由——好，我将告诉您们，因我又听到了，听——”

From the next room, they could hear Fallom playing softly and infinitely sweetly.

他们都听到了，隔壁房间传来菲龙奏出的辍柔笛声——甜美无比的笛声。

Hiroko said, "I cannot bear the destruction of that music, for theyoung one will also die."

广子说：“我无法忍受这音乐自人间消失，因为小家伙亦将死去。”

Trevize said sternly, "Is that why you gave the flute toFallom? Because you knew you would have it once again when she wasdead?"

崔维兹以严厉的口吻说：“是不是因为这样，你才把笛子送给菲龙？因为你知道她死了之后，你可以再拿回去。”

Hiroko looked horrified. "Nay, that was not in my mind. And when itcame to mind at length, I knew it must not be done. Leave with the child,and with her, take the flute that I may never see it more. Thou wilt besafe back in space and, left inactive, the virus now in thy body willdie after a time. In return, I ask that none of you ever speak of thisworld, that none else may know of it."

广子看来惊愕万分。“不然，我心中未有这般想法。当我终于想到之际，即明了绝不该如此做。带着那孩儿离去吧，也带走那支我再也见不到的笛子。尊驾回到太空便安全，尊驾体内的病毒只要不发作，一段时日后便会死亡。我所求的回报，是您们不再提起这个世界，勿让他人知晓它的存在。”

"We will not speak of it," said Trevize.

“我们不会说出去。”崔维兹说。

Hiroko looked up. In a lower voice, she said, "May I not kiss theeonce ere thou leavest?"

广子抬起头来，低声道：“尊驾离去之前，我能否再吻尊驾一回？”

Trevize said, "No. I have been infected once and surely that isenough." And then, a little less roughly, he added, "Don't cry. Peoplewill ask why you are crying and you'll be unable to reply. I'll forgive what you did to me in view of your present effort to save us."

崔维兹说：“不，我被感染一次已经够了。”然后他用较和缓的口气说：“别哭，否则别人问你为什么哭，你将无言以对——看在你如今力图拯救我们的份上，我原谅你对我所做的伤害。”

Hiroko straightened, carefully wiped her cheeks with the back ofher hands, took a deep breath, and said, "I thank thee for that," andleft quickly.

广子抬头挺胸，用双手手背仔细拭干脸颊，又深深吸了一口气。“我感谢尊驾宽恕。”随即匆匆离去。

Trevize said, "We will put out the light, and we will wait awhile,and then we will leave. Bliss, tell Fallom to stop playing herinstrument. Remember to take the flute, of course. Then we willmake our way to the ship, if we can find it in the dark."

崔维兹说：“我们马上把灯关掉，在屋里等一会儿，然后离开这里——宝绮思，叫菲龙别再玩她的乐器。当然，记得将笛子带走。我们得一路摸到太空船那里，希望在黑暗中还能找到它的位置。”

"I will find it," said Bliss. "Clothing of mine is on board and,however dimly, that, too, is Gaia. Gaia will have no trouble findingGaia." And she vanished into her room to collect Fallom.

“我找得到。”宝绮思说：“太空船上有我的衣物，不论成分多微弱，它仍算盖娅的一部分，盖娅寻找盖娅不会有问题。”说完，她就钻进她的房间去找菲龙。

Pelorat said, "Do you suppose that they've managed to damage our shipin order to keep us on the planet?"

裴洛拉特说：“你想他们会不会设法破坏太空船，迫使我们留在这里？”

"They lack the technology to do it," said Trevize grimly. When Blissemerged, holding Fallom by the hand, Trevize put out the lights.

“他们的科技还做不到这一点。”崔维兹绷着脸说。宝绮思牵着菲龙走出来之后，崔维兹便将灯火尽数熄灭。

They sat quietly in the dark for what seemed half the night, andmight have been half an hour. Then Trevize slowly and silently openedthe door. The sky seemed a bit more cloudy, but stars shone. High in thesky now was Cassiopeia, with what might be Earth's sun burning brightlyat its lower tip. The air was still and there was no sound.

他们一声不响地在黑暗中坐了大约半小时，感觉却好像足足等了大半夜。然后崔维兹缓缓地、悄悄地拉开门。夜空似乎多了一点云气，不过群星仍在闪烁。现在仙后星座高挂中天，底端那颗可能是地球之阳的恒星，正发出耀眼的光芒。四周静寂无声，连一丝风都没有。

Carefully, Trevize stepped out, motioning the others to follow. Oneof his hands dropped, almost automatically, to the butt of his neuronicwhip. He was sure he would not have to use it, but……

崔维兹小心翼翼踏出房门，再示意其他人跟出来。他一只手自然而然挪到神经鞭的握柄上，虽然他确定不会用到，不过……

Bliss took the lead, holding Pelorat's hand, who held Trevize's. Bliss's other hand held Fallom, and Fallom's other hand heldthe flute. Feeling gently with her feet in the nearly total darkness,Bliss guided the others toward where she felt, very weakly, the Gaia-nessof her clothing on board the Far Star .

宝绮思带头走在前面，她一只手拉着裴洛拉特，裴洛拉特又拉着崔维兹；宝绮思另一只手拉着菲龙，菲龙另一只手握着笛子。在几乎全黑的暗夜中，宝绮思双脚轻轻探着路，引领大家朝远星号上极微弱的“盖娅感”前进。