Part Seven - EarthChapter

第七部地球

19 Radioactive?

第十九章放射性之谜

The Far Star took off quietly, rising slowlythrough the atmosphere, leaving the dark island below. The few faintdots of light beneath them dimmed and vanished, and as the atmospheregrew thinner with height, the ship's speed grew greater, and the dotsof light in the sky above them grew more numerous and brighter.

远星号静静起飞，在大气层中缓缓爬升，将那座黑暗的岛屿越抛越远。下方几许微弱的光点越来越暗，终至完全消失无踪。随着高度的增加，大气逐渐稀薄，太空艇的速度逐渐加快，天上的光点则越来越多、越来越后。

Eventually, they looked down upon the planet, Alpha, with only acrescent illuminated and that crescent largely wreathed in clouds.

最后，当他们往下望去，这颗名叫阿尔发的行星只剩一弯新月形的光辉，其上缭绕着众多云气。

Pelorat said, "I suppose they don't have an active spacetechnology. They can't follow us."

裴洛拉特说：“我想他们没有实用的太空科技，他们无法追赶我们。”

"I'm not sure that that cheers me up much," said Trevize, his facedour, his voice disheartened. "I'm infected."

“我不确定这件事能让我释怀多少，”崔维兹看来郁郁寡欢，声音听来相当沮丧。“我被感染了。”

"But with an inactive strain," said Bliss.

“但完全没发作。”宝绮思说。

"Still, it can be made active. They had a method. What is themethod?"

“然而他们有办法触发。那究竟是什么办法？”

Bliss shrugged. "Hiroko said the virus, left inactive, would eventuallydie in a body unadapted to it as yours is."

宝绮思耸了耸肩。“广子说如果病毒一直不发作，最后会死在它们无法适应的身体里面——例如你的身体。”

"Yes?" said Trevize angrily. "How does she know that? For that matter,how do I know that Hiroko's statement wasn't a self-consoling lie? Andisn't it possible that the method of activation, whatever it is, mightnot be duplicated naturally? A particular chemical, a type of radiation,a a who knows what? I may sicken suddenly, and then thethree of you would die, too. Or if it happens after we have reached apopulated world, there may be a vicious pandemic which fleeing refugeeswould carry to other worlds."

“是吗？”崔维兹气冲冲地说：“她怎么知道？话又说回来，我怎么知道广子说的不是自我安慰的谎言？而且不论触发的方法是什么，难道不可能自然发生吗？某种特殊的化学药剂，某种放射性，某种……某种……谁知道是什么？我可能突然发病，然后你们三人也会死掉。若是在我们抵达人口众多的世界后才发作，也许会引起恶性的大型流行疾病，逃离的难民还会把它们带到其他世界。”

He looked at Bliss. "Is there something you can do about it?"

他盯着宝绮思说：“你有没有什么办法对付它们？”

Slowly, Bliss shook her head. "Not easily. There are parasites makingup Gaia microorganisms, worms. They are a benign part of theecological balance. They live and contribute to the world consciousness,but never overgrow. They live without doing noticeable harm. The troubleis, Trevize, the virus that affects you is not part of Gaia."

宝绮思缓缓摇了摇头。“不太容易。盖娅也拥有寄生物的成分——微生物、虫类等等，它们对生态平衡有正面意义。这些生存在盖娅上的寄生物，对世界级意识都有一己的贡献，可是绝不过度繁殖，因此它们的存在不会造成显着的危害。问题是，崔维兹，侵犯你的病毒并非盖娅的一部分。”

"You say `not easily,'" said Trevize, frowning. "Under thecircumstances, can you take the trouble to do it even though it mightbe difficult? Can you locate the virus in me and destroy it? Can you,failing that, at least strengthen my defenses?"

“你说‘不太容易’，”崔维兹皱着眉说：“在如今这种情况下，即使可能非常困难，能不能也麻烦你试试看？你能不能找出病毒在我体内的位置，然后将它们消灭？若是你做不到，能不能至少增强我的抵抗力？”

"Do you realize what you ask, Trevize? I am not acquainted with themicroscopic flora of your body. I might not easily tell a virus in thecells of your body from the normal genes inhabiting them. It would be evenmore difficult to distinguish between viruses your body is accustomed toand those with which Hiroko infected you. I will try to do it, Trevize,but it will take time and I may not succeed."

“你可了解自己在做什么要求，崔维兹？我不熟悉你体内的微观生物，或许不易分辨何者是你细胞内的病毒，何者又是正常的基因。而要区分何者是你身体已经适应的病毒；何者又是广子感染给你的，则更加困难。我会试一试，崔维兹，不过需要花些时间，而且不一定成功。”

"Take time," said Trevize. "Try."

“慢慢来，”崔维兹说：“但一定要试。”

"Certainly," said Bliss.

“当然。”宝绮思答道。

Pelorat said, "If Hiroko told the truth, Bliss, you might be able tofind viruses that seem to be already diminishing in vitality, and youcould accelerate their decline."

裴洛拉特说：“假如广子说的是实话，宝绮思，你也许会发现那些病毒的活力已渐渐减弱，而你可以加速它们的衰亡。”

"I could do that," said Bliss. "It is a good thought."

“我可以试试看，”宝绮思说：“这是个不错的主意。”

"You won't weaken?" said Trevize. "You will have to destroy preciousbits of life when you kill those viruses, you know."

“你不会心软？”崔维兹说：“杀死那些病毒，就等于毁灭许多珍贵的生命，你知道的。”

"You are being sardonic, Trevize," said Bliss coolly, "but, sardonicor not, you are pointing out a true difficulty. Still, I can scarcelyfail to put you ahead of the virus. I will kill them if I have thechance, never fear. After all, even if I fail to consider you" andher mouth twitched as though she were repressing a smile "thencertainly Pelorat and Fallom are also at risk, and you might feel moreconfidence in my feeling for them than in my feeling for you. You mighteven remember that I myself am at risk."

“你是在讽刺我，崔维兹。”宝绮思毫不动容地说：“然而，不管是不是讽刺，你指出了一个真正的难处。话说回来，在你和病毒之间，我很难不优先考虑你。如果有可能，我一定会杀死它们，你不用怕。毕竟，就算我没考虑到你，”她的嘴角牵动一下，彷佛强忍住笑意。“裴洛拉特和菲龙也有危险。跟你相较之下，我对他们两人的感情你应该比较有信心。你甚至应该想到，现在我自己也有危险。”

"I have no faith in your self-love," muttered Trevize. "You'reperfectly ready to give up your life for some high motive. I'll acceptyour concern for Pelorat, however."

“你对自己的爱我可没有信心，”崔维兹喃喃说道：“为了某种高尚的动机，你随时愿意牺牲自己的性命。不过，我倒相信你真心关怀裴洛拉特。”

Then, he said, "I don't hear Fallom'sflute. Is anything wrong with her?"

然后他又说：“我没听见菲龙的笛声，她有什么不对劲吗？”

"No," said Bliss. "She's asleep. A perfectly natural sleep that Ihad nothing to do with. And I would suggest that, after you work out theJump to the star we think is Earth's sun, we all do likewise. I need itbadly and I suspect you do, too, Trevize."

“没事，”宝绮思说：“她睡着了——是自然的睡眠，跟我完全没有关系。而我建议，等你向那颗我们心目中的地球之阳跃迁后，我们也都好好睡一觉。我极需要睡眠，我认为你也一样，崔维兹。”

"Yes, if I can manage. You were right, you know, Bliss."

“好的，要是我做得到的话——你知道吗，宝绮思，你说对了。”

"About what, Trevize?"

“说对了什么，崔维兹？”

"About Isolates. New Earth was not a paradise, however much itmight have seemed like one. That hospitality all that outgoingfriendliness at first was to put us off our guard, so that oneof us might be easily infected. And all the hospitality afterward,the festivals of this and that, were designed to keep us there till thefishing fleet returned and the activation could be carried through. Andit would have worked but for Fallom and her music. It might be you wereright there, too."

“对于孤立体的见解。新地球并非天堂，不论它看起来多么像。最初那些殷勤款待——那些表面的友善——都是为了解除我们的警戒，以便将病毒传染给我们其中一人。而其后的殷勤款待，那些各种名目的庆祝活动，目的是把我们留下，等候渔船队归来，然后就能让病毒发作。多亏菲龙和她的音乐，否则险些就让他们得逞，这点你可能也对了。”

"About Fallom?"

“关于菲龙？”

"Yes. I didn't want to take her along, and I've never been happy withher being on the ship. It was your doing, Bliss, that we have her hereand it was she who, unwittingly, saved us. And yet……"

“是的，当初我不愿带她同行，我也始终不高兴看到她在太空船上。由于你的关系，宝绮思，她才会跟我们在一起，又由于她无意间的举动，我们才会侥幸得救。不过——”

"And yet what?"

“不过什么？”

"Despite that, I'm still uneasy at Fallom's presence. Idon't know why."

“尽避如此，我对菲龙的存在仍感不安，我也说不出所以然来。”

"If it will make you feel better, Trevize, I don't know that we canlay all the credit at Fallom's feet. Hiroko advanced Fallom's music asher excuse for committing what the other Alphans would surely considerto be an act of treason. She may even have believed this, but there wassomething in her mind in addition, something that I vaguely detectedbut could not surely identify, something that perhaps she was ashamed tolet emerge into her conscious mind. I am under the impression that shefelt a warmth for you, and would not willingly see you die, regardlessof Fallom and her music."

“我这样说你也许会感到舒服点，崔维兹，我不确定是否应将功劳全归菲龙。广子做出阿尔发人必定视为叛逆的行为，菲龙的音乐只不过是她的借口，甚至连她自己可能也相信了。但除此之外，她还另有心事，我隐约侦测得到，却无法确定它的本质，也许她羞于让这件事浮出意识层面。我有一种感觉，她对你有特殊好感，不愿眼睁睁看你死去，这和菲龙以及她的音乐无关。”

"Do you really think so?" said Trevize, smiling slightly for thefirst time since they had left Alpha.

“你真这么认为？”崔维兹浅浅一笑。这是离开阿尔发后，他露出的第一个笑容。

"I think so. You must have a certain proficiency at dealing withwomen. You persuaded Minister Lizalor to allow us to take our shipand leave Comporellon, and you helped influence Hiroko to save ourlives. Credit where it's due."

“我的确这么认为。对于和女人打交道，你一定很有两下子。在康普隆，你说服了李札乐部长让我们驾着太空船离开，这回又促使广子拯救我们的性命，所以功劳其实应该属于你。”

Trevize smiled more broadly. "Well, if you say so. On to Earth,then……" He disappeared into the pilot-room with a step that was almostjaunty.

崔维兹的笑容扩大了些。“好吧，既然你这么说——现在，向地球前进。”他踏着几乎可算轻快的步伐，转身走进驾驶舱。

Pelorat, lingering behind, said, "You soothed him after all, didn'tyou, Bliss?"

裴洛拉特没有跟过去，他对宝绮思说：“你终究还是安抚了他，对不对，宝绮思？”

"No, Pelorat, I never touched his mind."

“没有，裴，我从未碰触他的心灵。”

"You certainly did when you pampered his male vanity sooutrageously."

“你刚才极力满足他的男性虚荣心，当然触及了他的心灵深处。”

"Entirely indirect," said Bliss, smiling.

“全然是间接的。”宝绮思微笑说道。

"Even so, thank you, Bliss."

“即使如此，还是谢谢你，宝绮思。”

After the Jump, the star that might well be Earth'ssun was still a tenth of a parsec away. It was the brightest object inthe sky by far, but it was still no more than a star.

跃迁之后，那颗可能是地球之阳的恒星仍在十分之一秒差距外。它的亮度已远超过星空中其他天体，然而看来依旧只是一颗星。

Trevize kept its light filtered for ease of viewing, and studiedit somberly.

崔维兹面色凝着地研究这颗恒星。为了便于观察，他将光线过滤了一遍。

He said, "There seems no doubt that it is the virtual twin of Alpha,the star that New Earth circles. Yet Alpha is in the computer map andthis star is not. We don't have a name for this star, we aren't givenits statistics, we lack any information concerning its planetary system,if it has one."

他说：“跟新地球环绕的阿尔发星比较之下，它们无疑可算孪生兄弟。但阿尔发收录在电脑舆图中，而这颗恒星却没有。我们不知道它的名字，也没有它的统计资料，即使它有个行星系，相关资料也全然阙如。”

Pelorat said, "Isn't that what we would expect if Earth circlesthis sun? Such a blackout of information would fit with the fact thatall information about Earth seems to have been eliminated."

裴洛拉特说：“假如地球果真环绕这个太阳，这不正是我们意料中的事？完全找不到任何资料，正好符合了地球资料几乎全被销毁的事实。”

"Yes, but it could also mean that it's a Spacer world that justhappened not to be on the list on the wall of the Melpomenian building. Wecan't be altogether sure that that list was complete. Or this starcould be without planets and therefore perhaps not worth listing ona computer map which is primarily used for military and commercialpurposes. Janov, is there any legend that tells of Earth's sunbeing a mere parsec or so from a twin of itself."

“没错，但也可能表示它是个外世界，只是未列在梅尔波美尼亚那座建筑的墙上，我们无法确定那份名单绝对完整无缺。此外还有一个可能，就是这颗恒星或许没有任何行星，因此不值得收录在主要用于军事和贸易的电脑舆圆中——詹诺夫，有没有任何的传说，提到地球之阳和它变的孪生兄弟距离大约只有一秒差距？”

Pelorat shook his head. "I'm sorry, Golan, but no such legend occursto me. There may be one, though. My memory isn't perfect. I'll searchfor it."

裴洛拉特摇了摇头。“对不起，葛兰，我想不起有这样的传说。不过，说不定有，我的记性不大好，我会去查查看。”

"It's not important. Is there any name given to Earth's sun?"

“这不重要，地球之阳有没有什么名字？”

"Some different names are given. I imagine there must be a name ineach of the different languages."

“有好些不同的名称，我猜不同的语言都有不同的称呼。”

"I keep forgetting that Earth had many languages."

“我常常忘记地球上曾经有许多种语言。”

"It must have had. It's the only way of making sense out of many ofthe legends."

“一定是这样。唯有如此，众多的传说才能有个合理的解释。”

Trevize said peevishly, "Well, then, what do we do? We can't tellanything about the planetary system from this distance, and we have tomove closer. I would like to be cautious, but there's such a thing asexcessive and unreasoning caution, and I see no evidence of possibledanger. Presumably anything powerful enough to wipe the Galaxy clean ofinformation about Earth may be powerful enough to wipe us out even atthis distance if they seriously did not wish to be located, but nothing'shappened. It isn't rational to stay here forever on the mere possibilitythat something might happen if we move closer, is it?"

崔维兹没好气地说：“好啦，现在我们该怎么办？在这么远的距离，我们根本观察不到行星系，我们得靠近点才行。我希望能谨慎行事，可是谨慎有时也会过了头，变得毫无道理。直到目前为止，我看不出有什么危险。不论对方是何方神圣，既然他们有力量将银河中的地球资料一扫而光，那么，只要他们不希望被人发现，即使隔着这么远的距离，他们一定也能轻易将我们消灭，但我们现在什么事也没有。如果只是担心靠近些会发生什么变故就永远待在这里，那绝不是理智的做法，对不对？”

Bliss said, "I take it the computer detects nothing that might beinterpreted as dangerous."

宝绮思说：“我想，电脑没侦测到可解释成危险的任何迹象。”

"When I say I see no evidence of possible danger, it's the computerI'm relying on. I certainly can't see anything with the unaided eye. Iwouldn't expect to."

“我说看不出有什么危险时，根据的是电脑的观测结果。我当然无法以肉眼看到任何东西，我也没那么指望。”

"Then I take it you're just looking for support in making what youconsider a risky decision. All right, then. I'm with you. We haven'tcome this far in order to turn back for no reason, have we?"

“那么，我想你现在只是在寻求支持，要大家共同做出一个你认为是危险的决定。好吧，我支持你。我们飞了这么远的路途，总不能无缘无故就掉头离去，对不对？”

"No," said Trevize. "What do you say, Pelorat?"

“没错。”崔维兹道：“你怎么说，裴洛拉特？”

Pelorat said, "I'm willing to move on, if only out of curiosity. Itwould be unbearable to go back without knowing if we have foundEarth."

裴洛拉特说：“我愿意继续前进，即使只是为了满足好奇心。要是就这么空手而归，不知道是否找到了地球，那简直令人无法忍受。”

"Well, then," said Trevize, "we're all agreed."

“好，那么，我们都同意了。”崔维兹说。

"Not all," said Pelorat. "There's Fallom."

“还没有，”裴洛拉特说：“还有菲龙。”

Trevize looked astonished. "Are you suggesting we consult the child? Ofwhat value would her opinion be even if she had one? Besides, all shewould want would be to get back to her own world."

崔维兹看来吃了一惊。“你的意思是要我们跟那孩子商量？即使她真有什么意见，会有什么价值？何况她一心只想回到她自己的世界。”

"Can you blame her for that?" asked Bliss warmly.

“这点你能怪她吗？”宝绮思为菲龙辩护道。

And because the matter of Fallom had arisen, Trevize became aware ofher flute, which was sounding in a rather stirring march rhythm.

直到他们谈起菲龙，崔维兹才察觉到她的笛声，现在她吹的是激昂的进行曲。

"Listen to her," he said. "Where has she ever heard anything inmarch rhythm?"

“听听看，”他说：“不知她在哪里听过进行曲？”

"Perhaps Jemby played marches on the flute for her."

“大概是健比用笛子吹给她听过。”

Trevize shook his head. "I doubt it. Dance rhythms, I should think,lullabies. Listen, Fallom makes me uneasy. She learns tooquickly."

崔维兹摇了摇头。“我不大相信，舞曲、催眠曲之类还比较有可能——听我说，菲龙令我感到很不自在，她学得太快了。”

"I help her," said Bliss. "Remember that. Andshe's very intelligent and she has been extraordinarilystimulated in the time she's been with us. New sensations have floodedher mind. She's seen space, different worlds, many people, all for thefirst time."

“是我帮她的，”宝绮思说：“记住这一点。她不但非常聪明，而且跟我们在一起的这段期间，她受到非比寻常的知性刺激，新的感受源源不绝涌人她的心灵。她目睹了太空的景观，造访了不同的世界，又见到许多人，这都是她前所未有的经验。”

Fallom's march music grew wilder and more richly barbaric.

菲龙的进行曲变得越来越狂放，也越来越粗野。

Trevize sighed and said, "Well, she's here, and she's producing musicthat seems to breathe optimism, and delight in adventure. I'll take thatas her vote in favor of moving in more closely. Let us do so cautiously,then, and check this sun's planetary system."

崔维兹叹了一口气。“好啦，她已经表达了意见。她的音乐似乎透露出乐观的精神，并对冒险充满向往，我想这就代表她赞成我们继续接近地球。所以说，让我们小心翼翼地行动，对这个太阳的行星系仔细观察一番。”

"If any," said Bliss.

“假如有的话。”宝绮思说。

Trevize smiled thinly. "There's a planetary system. It's a bet. Chooseyour sum."

崔维兹淡淡一笑。“它一定有个行星系。我跟你打赌，看你要赌多少。”

"You lose," said Trevize abstractedly. "How much moneydid you decide to bet?"

“你输了。”崔维兹漫下经心地说：“你刚才决定赌多少？”

"None. I never accepted the wager," said Bliss.

“根本没有，我从没说过要跟你打赌。”宝绮思答道。

"Just as well. I wouldn't like to accept the money, anyway."

“没关系，反正我也不会要你的钱。”

They were some 10 billion kilometers from the sun. It was stillstar-like, but it was nearly 1/4,000 as bright as the average sun wouldhave been when viewed from the surface of a habitable planet.

现在他们距离那个太阳大约一百亿公里，它看来虽然仍是个光点，但已显得分外明亮。比较之下，从一般可住人行星表面观察本身的太阳，其平均亮度约为目前这个太阳的四千倍。

"We can see two planets under magnification, right now," saidTrevize. "From their measured diameters and from the spectrum of the reflected light, they are clearly gas giants."

“现在，影像经过放大后，我们可以看到两颗行星。”崔维兹说：“从它们直径的测量值以及反射光的光谱研判，它们显然是气态巨行星。”

The ship was well outside the planetary plane, and Bliss and Pelorat,staring over Trevize's shoulder at the viewscreen, found themselves looking at two tiny crescents of greenish light. The smaller was in the somewhat thicker phase of the two.

太空艇目前距离行星轨道面很远。宝绮思与裴洛拉特站在崔维兹身后，凝视着显像屏幕。他们看到的是两个泛着绿光的微小新月形，其中较小的那个“行星相”比较大。

Trevize said, "Janov! It is correct, isn't it, that Earth's sun issuppose to have four gas giants."

崔维兹说：“詹诺夫！地球之阳应该有四颗气态巨行星，没错吧。”

"According to the legends. Yes," said Pelorat. "The nearest of the four to the sun is the largest, and the second nearest has rings. Right?"

"Large prominent rings, Golan. Yes. Just the same, old chap, you haveto allow for exaggeration in the telling and retelling of a legend. If weshould not find a planet with an extraordinary ring system, I don't thinkwe ought to let that count seriously against this being Earth's star."

"Nevertheless, the two we see may be the farthest, and the twonearer ones may well be on the other side of the sun and too far to beeasily located against the background of stars. We'll have to move stillcloser and beyond the sun to the other side."

"Can that be done in the presence of the star's nearby mass?"

"With reasonable caution, the computer can do it, I'm sure. If itjudges the danger to be too great, however, it will refuse to budge us,and we can then move in cautious, smaller steps."His mind directed the computer and the starfield on theviewscreen changed. The star brightened sharply and then moved off theviewscreen as the computer, following directions, scanned the sky foranother gas giant. It did so successfully.

All three onlookers stiffened and stared, while Trevize's mind,almost helpless with astonishment, fumbled at the computer to directfurther magnification.

"Incredible," gasped Bliss.

A gas giant was in view, seen at an angle that allowedmost of it to be sunlit. About it, there curved a broad and brilliantring of material, tipped so as to catch the sunlight on the side beingviewed. It was brighter than the planet itself and along it, one thirdof the way in toward the planet, was a narrow, dividing line.

Trevize threw in a request for maximum enhancement and the ring became ringlets, narrow and concentric, glittering in the sunlight. Only aportion of the ring system was visible on the viewscreen and the planetitself had moved off. A further direction from Trevize and one corner of the screen marked itself off and showed, within itself, a miniatureof the planet and rings under lesser magnification.

"Is that sort of thing common?" asked Bliss, awed.

"No," said Trevize. "Almost every gas giant has rings of debris, but they tend to be faint and narrow. I once saw one in which the rings werenarrow, but quite bright. But I never saw anything like this; or heardof it, either."

“不错。”崔维兹说：“虽然每颗气态巨行星几乎都有‘碴环’，但它们通常相当暗淡狭窄。我曾见过明亮、细小的行星环，却从未见到过像这样的，也从没听说过。”

Pelorat said, "That's clearly the ringed giant the legends speakof. If this is really unique "

裴洛拉特说：“这显然就是传说中提到的，那颗拥有行星环的巨行星。如果这真是唯一的……”

"Really unique, as far as I know, or as far as the computer knows,"said Trevize.

“真是唯一的，据我所知没有第二颗，甚至电脑也这么认为。”崔维兹说。

"Then this must be the planetary system containingEarth. Surely, no one could invent such a planet. It would have had tohave been seen to be described."

“那么这必定就是拥有地球的行星系。当然没人能虚构出这样的行星，一定要亲眼目睹，才有办法描述出来。”

Trevize said, "I'm prepared to believe just about anything your legends say now. This is the sixth planet and Earth would be the third?"

崔维兹说：“现在不论你的传说怎么讲，我都愿意照单全收。这应该是第六颗行星，而地球是第三颗？”

"Right, Golan."

“是的，葛兰。”

"Then I would say we were less than 1.5 billion kilometers from Earth,and we haven't been stopped. Gaia stopped us when we approached."

“那么我敢说，我们现在距离地球不到十五亿公里，而我们至今未被挡驾。当初我们接近盖娅时，在半途就遭到拦阻。”

Bliss said, "You were closer to Gaia when you were stopped."

宝绮思说：“你们被拦阻的时候，距离盖娅已经很近了。”

"Ah," said Trevize, "but it's my opinion Earth is more powerful thanGaia, and I take this to be a good sign. If we are not stopped, it maybe that Earth does not object to our approach."

“啊，”崔维兹说：“不过我一向认为地球比盖娅强大，因此我想这是个好现象。既然我们没有遭到拦阻，也许代表地球不反对我们造访。”

"Or that there is no Earth," said Bliss.

“或者根本没有地球。”宝绮思说。

"Do you care to bet this time?" asked Trevize grimly.

“这次你有兴趣打赌吗？”崔维兹绷着脸说。

"What I think Bliss means," put in Pelorat, "is that Earth may beradioactive as everyone seems to think, and that no one stops us becausethere is no life on the Earth."

“我想宝绮思的意思是说，”裴洛拉特插嘴道：“地球也许真有放射性，就像大家几乎一致相信的那样，而没人出来拦阻我们，是因为地球上根本没有生命。”

"No," said Trevize violently. "I'll believe everything that's saidabout Earth, but that. We'll just close in on Earth andsee for ourselves. And I have the feeling we won't be stopped."

“不可能。”崔维兹以激动的口气说：安“我愿意相信有关地球的每一个传说，唯独这点例外。我们一定要迫近地球，亲自看个清楚。而且我有个预感，我们不会遭到拦阻。”

The gas giants were well behind. An asteroid beltlay just inside the gas giant nearest the sun. (That gas giant was thelargest and most massive, just as the legends said.)Inside the asteroid belt were four planets.

气态巨行星皆已被远远抛在后面，在最靠近太阳的气态巨行星内围（诚如传说所言，这颗巨行星的体积与质量都是最大的），出现了一条小行星带。小行星带之内，总共有四颗行星。

Trevize studied them carefully. "The third is the largest. The sizeis appropriate and the distance from the sun is appropriate. It couldbe habitable."

此时，崔维兹正在仔细研究这些行星。“第三颗行星最大。它的体积适中、和太阳的距离适中，应该是个可住人行星。”

Pelorat caught what seemed to be a note of uncertainty in Trevize'swords.

从崔维兹的话中，裴洛拉特捕捉到一丝不确定的语气。

He said, "Does it have an atmosphere?"

他问：“它有大气层吗？”

"Oh yes," said Trevize. "The second, third, and fourth planets allhave atmospheres. And, as in the old children's tale, the second's istoo dense, the fourth's is not dense enough, but the third's is justright."

“喔，有的。”崔维兹说：“第二、第三和第四颗行星都有大气层。而且，就像古老的儿童故事一样，第二颗的大气太浓，第四颗的又太稀，只有第三颗的大气恰到好处。”

"Do you think it might be Earth, then?"

“那么，你认为它可能是地球吗？”

"Think?" said Trevize almost explosively. "I don't have to think. Itis Earth. It has the giant satellite you told me of."

“认为？”崔维兹几乎是大声吼了出来。“我不必认为，它就是地球，它拥有你说的那个巨型卫星。”

"It has?" And Pelorat's face broke into a wider smile than any thatTrevize had ever seen upon it.

“有吗？”裴洛拉特露出难得的笑容，崔维兹从未见过他笑得那么开心。

"Absolutely! Here, look at it under maximum magnification."

“正是如此！来，看看最高倍率的放大影像。”

Pelorat saw two crescents, one distinctly larger and brighter thanthe other.

裴洛拉特看到两个新月形，其中一个显然较大，而且较为明亮。

"Is that smaller one the satellite?" he asked.

“较小的那颗是卫星吗？”他问。

"Yes. It's rather farther from the planet than one might expect butit's definitely revolving about it. It's only the size of a small planet;in fact, it's smaller than any of the four inner planets circling thesun. Still, it's large for a satellite. It's at least two thousandkilometers in diameter, which makes it in the size range of the largesatellites that revolve about gas giants."

“是的，它和那颗行星的距离比想像中要远，可是它的确环绕着那颗行星。它的体积相当于小型行星，事实上，它比四颗内行星都要小。话说回来，就卫星的标准而言，它实在太大了些。它的直径至少有两千公里，和气态巨行星的卫星差不多大。”

"No larger?" Pelorat seemed disappointed. "Then it's not a giantsatellite?"

“不是更大？”裴洛拉特似乎有些失望，“那它就不能算巨型卫星。”

"Yes, it is. A satellite with a diameter of two to three thousandkilometers that is circling an enormous gas giant is one thing. That samesatellite circling a small, rocky habitable planet is quite another. Thatsatellite has a diameter over a quarter that of Earth. Where have youheard of such near-parity involving a habitable planet?"

“不，它的确是。环绕巨大气态巨行星的卫星，直径两、三千公里没什么稀奇，而同样大小的卫星环绕一颗小型、岩质的可住人行星，则完全另当别论。那颗卫星的直径是地球直径的四分之一强，你在哪里听说过，可住人行星有这种同量级的卫星？”

Pelorat said timidly, "I know very little of such things."

裴洛拉特怯生生地说：“这方面我知道得很少。”

Trevize said, "Then take my word for it, Janov. It's unique. We'relooking at something that is practically a double planet, and there arefew habitable planets that have anything more than pebbles orbitingthem. Janov, if you consider that gas giant with its enormous ringsystem in sixth place, and this planet with its enormous satellite inthird both of which your legends told you about, against allcredibility, before you ever saw them then that world you'relooking at must be Earth. It cannot conceivably be anythingelse. We've found it, Janov; we've found it."

崔维兹说：“那就相信我，詹诺夫，它是银河中独一无二的。我们现在看到的其实可算一对行星，而通常在可住人行星的轨道上，却鲜有超过鹅卵石大小的天体。詹诺夫，想想看，第六颗是拥有巨大行星环的气态巨行星，第三颗又是拥有巨大卫星的行星——虽然亲眼目睹之前难以置信，但两者都跟你熟知的传说相符——如此，你眼前这颗行星一定就是地球，它不可能是别的世界。我们找到它了，詹诺夫，我们找到它了！”

THey were on the second day of their coasting progresstoward Earth, and Bliss yawned over the dinner meal. She said, "It seemsto me we've spent more time coasting toward and away from planets thananything else. We've spent weeks at it, literally."

他们缓缓向地球前进，如今已进入第二天。晚餐的时候，宝绮思频频打呵欠。她说：“我感到这些日子以来，我们大部分时间都在行星问飞来飞去。事实上，我们已经花了好几个星期。”

"Partly," said Trevize, "that's because Jumps are dangeroustoo close to a star. And in this case, we'removing very slowly because I do not wish to advance into possible dangertoo quickly."

“有一部分原因，”崔维兹说：“是距离恒星如果太近，进行跃迁会很危险。而这一次，我们故意将速度放得非常慢，是因为我不想太快冲进可能的危险中。”

"I thought you said you had the feeling we would not be stopped."

“我记得你说过你有一种预感，认定我们不会遭到拦阻。”

"So I do, but I don't want to stake everything on a feeling." Trevizelooked at the contents of the spoon before putting it into his mouthand said, "You know, I miss the fish we had on Alpha. We only had threemeals there."

“的确如此，可是我不要将一切押在感觉上。”崔维兹凝视着汤匙中的食物，没有立刻放进嘴里。“你们知道吗，我很怀念阿尔发的渔产，我们在那里只吃了三顿而已。”

"A pity," agreed Pelorat.

“实在可惜。”裴洛拉特表示同意。

"Well," said Bliss, "we visited five worlds and had to leave eachone of them so hurriedly that we never had time to add to our foodsupplies and introduce variety. Even when the world had food to offer,as did Comporellon and Alpha, and, presumably……"

“是啊，”宝绮思说：“我们总共造访了五个世界，每一次都是落荒而逃，从没有机会补充些食物，换点新鲜的口味。即使在愿意供应食物的世界上，例如康普隆和阿尔发，我们也根本就没机会，想必在……”

She did not complete the sentence, for Fallom, looking up quickly,finished it for her. "Solaria? Could you get no food there? There isplenty of food there. As much as on Alpha. And better, too."

宝绮思的话没有说完，因为菲龙立刻抬起头来，把她的话接下去。“索拉利？你们在那里不能得到食物吗？那里有很多食物，就像在阿尔发上一样多，而且品质更好。”

"I know that, Fallom," said Bliss. "There was just no time."

“这点我知道，菲龙，”宝绮思说：“只是时间来不及。”

Fallom stared at her solemnly. "Will I ever see Jemby again,Bliss? Tell me the truth."

菲龙面色凝着地瞪着她。“我会不会再见到健比，宝绮思？告诉我实话。”

Bliss said, "You may, if we return to Solaria."

宝绮思说：“会的，如果我们回到索拉利的话。”

"Will we ever return to Solaria?"

“我们会不会回索拉利呢？”

Bliss hesitated. "I cannot say."

宝绮思迟疑了一下。“我不敢说。”

"Now we go to Earth, is that right? Isn't that the planet where yousay we all originate?"

“现在我们要到地球去是吗？是不是你说过的那个我们都源自那里的行星？”

"Where our forebears originated," said Bliss.

“我们的先人源自那里。”宝绮思说。

"I can say `ancestors,'" said Fallom.

“我会说祖先了。”菲龙说。

"Yes, we are going to Earth."

“对，我们正要去地球。”

“为什么？”

Bliss said lightly, "Wouldn't anyone wish to see the world of theirancestors?"

宝绮思随口答道：“谁不希望看看自己祖先的世界呢？”

"I think there's more to it. You all seem so concerned."

“我觉得还有别的原因，你们似乎都很担心。”

"But we've never been there before. We don't know what to expect."

“我们从没去过那里，不知道会遇到些什么。”

"I think it is more than that."

“我觉得还不只这样。”

Bliss smiled. "You've finished eating, Fallom dear, so why not goto the room and let us have a little serenade on your flute. You'replaying it more beautifully all the time. Come, come." She gave Falloman accelerating pat on the rear end, and off Fallom went, turning onlyonce to give Trevize a thoughtful look.

宝绮思微笑着说：“你已经吃完了，亲爱的菲龙，何不回到舱房去，让我们欣赏一段笛子奏出的小夜曲，你的演奏越来越美妙了。去吧，去。”她在菲龙屁股上轻轻拍了一下，催促她赶紧离去。菲龙乖乖走开，途中还回过头来，若有所思地看了崔维兹一眼。

Trevize looked after her with clear distaste. "Does that thing readminds?"

崔维兹望着她的背影，露出明显的嫌恶表情。“那小东西会读心术吗？”

"Don't call her a `thing,' Trevize," said Bliss sharply.

“别叫她‘东西’，崔维兹。”宝绮思以严厉的口吻说。

"Does she read minds? You ought to be able to tell."

“她会读心术吗？你应该能判断。”

"No, she doesn't. Nor can Gaia. Nor can the SecondFoundationers. Reading minds in the sense of overhearing a conversation,or making out precise ideas is not something that can be done now, or inthe foreseeable future. We can detect, interpret, and, to some extent,manipulate emotions, but that is not the same thing at all."

“不，她不会，盖娅和第二基地人也不会。如果将读心解释为偷听一段心灵谈话，或是获悉他人明确的概念，那么目前没有人做得到，在可预见的将来也不可能。我们能侦测、诠释情感，在某种程度上也能操纵情感，但这完全是另一回事。”

"How do you know she can't do this thing that supposedly can't bedone?"

“理论上无法做到的事，你怎么知道她一定做不到？”

"Because as you have just said, I ought to be able to tell."

“因为正如你刚才说的，我应该判断得出来。”

"Perhaps she is manipulating you so that you remain ignorant of the fact that she can."

“或许是她控制了你，所以你对事实一直浑然不觉。”

Bliss rolled her eyes upward. "Be reasonable, Trevize. Even if she hadunusual abilities, she could do nothing with me for I am not Bliss, I amGaia. You keep forgetting. Do you know the mental inertia representedby an entire planet? Do you think one Isolate, however talented, canovercome that?"

宝绮思白了他一眼。“你要讲理，崔维兹。即使她具有不寻常的能力，她也对我莫可奈何，因为我不只是宝绮思，我还是盖娅，你始终记不住这点。你知道整个行星的精神惯性有多大吗？你以为一个孤立体，不论多么能干，就能摇撼整个行星吗？”

"You don't know everything, Bliss, so don't be overconfident," saidTrevize sullenly. "That th She has been with us notvery long. I couldn't learn anything but the rudiments of a language inthat time, yet she already speaks Galactic perfectly and with virtuallya full vocabulary. Yes, I know you've been helping her, but I wish youwould stop."

“你不是万事通，宝绮思，所以不要过分自信。”崔维兹语气阴沉地说：“那个小东——她跟我们在一起没多久，这么短的时间内，我顶多只能学到一种语言的皮毛，她竟然已经能说流利的银河标准语，还几乎掌握了所有的词汇。没错，我知道你一直在帮助她，但我希望你适可而止。”

"I told you I was helping her, but I also told you she's fearfullyintelligent. Intelligent enough so that I would like to have her part ofGaia. If we can gather her in; if she's still young enough; we might learnenough about the Solarians to absorb that entire world eventually. Itmight well be useful to us."

“我跟你说过我在帮她，但我也说过她聪明得吓人，以致使我希望她能成为盖娅的一部分。假如我们能吸收她，假如她尚未超龄，我们也许可藉着她了解索拉利人，从而将那整个世界吸收进来，这样做当然对我们有很大的肋益。”

"Does it occur to you that the Solarians are pathological Isolateseven by my standards?"

“你有没有想到过，即使就我的标准而言，索拉利人也是病态的孤立体？”

"They wouldn't stay so as part of Gaia."

“变成盖娅的一部分，它们就会改头换面。”

"I think you're wrong, Bliss. I think that Solarian child is dangerousand that we should get rid of her."

“我认为你错了，宝绮思。我认为那个索拉利儿童是个危险人物，我们应该做个了断。”

"How? Dump her through the airlock? Kill her, chop her up, and addher to our food supply?"

“怎么做？将她从气闸抛出去？杀了她，把她剁碎，然后给我们加菜？”

Pelorat said, "Oh, Bliss."

裴洛拉特说：“喔，宝绮思。”

And Trevize said, "That's disgusting, and completely uncalled for." Helistened for a moment. The flute was sounding without flaw or waver,and they had been talking in half-whispers. "When this is all over, we'vegot to return her to Solaria, and make sure that Solaria is forever cutoff from the Galaxy. My own feeling is that it should be destroyed. Idistrust and fear it."

崔维兹则说：“真恶心，实在太过分了。”由于笛声早已响起，他们一直以接近耳语的音量交谈。崔维兹默默听了一会儿，笛声完全没有任何破绽或犹豫。“等一切结束后，我们一定要将她送回索拉利，还要确保索拉利和银河永远隔离。我个人的感觉是应该将它毁灭，我对它既不信任又感到恐惧。”

Bliss thought awhile and said, "Trevize, I know that you have the knackof coming to a right decision, but I also know you have been antipatheticto Fallom from the start. I suspect that may just be because you werehumiliated on Solaria and have taken a violent hatred to the planet andits inhabitants as a result. Since I must not tamper with your mind,I can't tell that for sure. Please remember that if we had not takenFallom with us, we would be on Alpha right now dead and, I presume,buried."

宝绮思想了一下，然后说：“崔维兹，我知道你有一项特殊本领，能做出正确的抉择，但我也知道，打从一开始你就十分厌恶菲龙。我猜也许只是因为你在索拉利遭到了羞辱，因此对那颗行星和其上居民怀有深切的恨意。由于我绝不能干扰你的心灵，我无法百分之百确定这点。但请别忘了，假如我们未带菲龙同行，我们如今仍然在阿尔发——成了死尸，而且已经被埋掉了。”

"I know that, Bliss, but even so……"

“这点我知道，宝绮思，但即使这样……”

"And her intelligence is to be admired, not envied."

“她的智慧应该受到赞赏，而不是妒嫉。”

"I do not envy her. I fear her."

“我并不妒嫉她，我怕她。”

"Her intelligence?"

“怕她的智慧？”

Trevize licked his lips thoughtfully. "No, not quite."

崔维兹若有所思地舔了舔嘴唇。“不，并不尽然。”

"What, then?"

“不然怕什么？”

"I don't know. Bliss, if I knew what I feared, I might not have tofear it. It's something I don't quite understand." His voice lowered,as though he were speaking to himself. "The Galaxy seems to be crowdedwith things I don't understand. Why did I choose Gaia? Why must I findEarth? Is there a missing assumption in psychohistory? If there is,what is it? And on top of all that, why does Fallom make me uneasy?"

“我不知道，宝绮思。如果我知道，我也许就不必怕了，可是我不太清楚自己为什么害怕。”他的声音压得更低，彷佛在自言自语。“银河中似乎充满我不了解的事物。为什么我要选择盖娅？为什么我必须找到地球？心理史学有一项遗漏的假设吗？倘若真有的话，那又是什么？而最令人费解的一点，是菲龙为何令我坐立不安？”

Bliss said, "Unfortunately, I can't answer those questions." She rose,and left the room.

宝绮思说：“不幸我无法回答这些问题。”说完她就起身离去。

Pelorat looked after her, then said, "Surely things aren't totallyblack, Golan. We're getting closer and closer to Earth and once we reachit all mysteries may be solved. And so far nothing seems to be makingany effort to stop us from reaching it."

裴洛拉特望了望她的背影，然后说：“不会事事不如人意的，葛兰。我们离地球越来越近，一旦我们抵达地球，所有的迷团将迎刀而解。目前为止，似乎没有任何力量企图阻止我们前进。”

Trevize's eyes flickered toward Pelorat and he said in a low voice,"I wish something would."

崔维兹对裴洛拉特猛眨眼睛，同时低声说：“我倒希望有。”

Pelorat said, "You do? Why should you want that?"

裴洛拉特说：“是吗？你为何这么希望？”

"Frankly, I'd welcome a sign of life."

“坦白说，我乐意看到生命迹象。”

Pelorat's eyes opened wide. "Have you found that Earth is radioactiveafter all?"

裴洛拉特双眼睁得老大。“你发现地球具有放射性了？”

"Not quite. But it is warm. A bit warmer than I would haveexpected."

“并不尽然。不过它的表面温热，比我预期的温度高一点。”

"Is that bad?"

“这样很糟吗？”

"Not necessarily. It may be rather warm but that wouldn't make itnecessarily uninhabitable. The cloud cover is thick and it is definitelywater vapor, so that those clouds, together with a copious water ocean,could tend to keep things livable despite the temperature we calculatedfrom microwave emission. I can't be sure, yet. It's just that……"

“不一定，它的温度可能较高，但并不代表一定不可住人。它有很厚的云层，成分绝对是水蒸气，所以说，虽然我们从微波发射计算出的温度偏高，那些云气，连同丰沛的普通海洋，仍然可以维持生命。我还不能肯定，不过——”

"Yes, Golan?"

“怎样，葛兰？”

"Well, if Earth were radioactive, that might well account for itsbeing warmer than expected."

“嗯，假如地球真有放射性，那就能解释它的温度为何比预期的高。”

"But that doesn't argue the reverse, does it? If it's warmer thanexpected, that doesn't mean it must be radioactive."

“可是这种推论不能反过来，对不对？如果它的温度比预期的高一点，不一定表示它就具有放射性。”

"No. No, it doesn't." Trevize managed to force a smile. "No usebrooding, Janov. In a day or two, I'll be able to tell more about itand we'll know for sure."

“没错，没错，并不成立。”崔维兹勉强挤出一丝笑容，“光用想的什么用处，詹诺夫。再过一两天，我就能得到更多资料，到时我们就能确定了。”

Fallom was sitting on the cot in deep thought whenBliss came into the room. Fallom looked up briefly, then down again.

宝绮思走进舱房的时候，菲龙正坐在便床上沉思。发现宝绮思进来，菲龙只抬头看了一眼，立刻又低下头去。

Bliss said quietly, "What's the matter, Fallom?"

宝绮思平静地说：“怎么了，菲龙？”

Fallom said, "Why does Trevize dislike me so much, Bliss?"

菲龙答道：“为什么崔维兹那么讨厌我，宝绮思？”

"What makes you think he dislikes you."

“你为什么认为他讨厌你？”

"He looks at me impatiently Is that the word?"

“当我接近他的时候，他会用不耐烦的眼光——是不是该说不耐烦？”

"It might be the word."

“也许是吧。”

"He looks at me impatiently when I am near him. His face always twistsa little."

“他会用不耐烦的眼光看着我，而且他的脸孔总是微微扭曲。”

"Trevize is having a hard time, Fallom."

“崔维兹承受的压力很大，菲龙。”

"Because he's looking for Earth?"

“因为他在寻找地球？”

"Yes."

“对。”

Fallom thought awhile, then said, "He is particularly impatient when I think something into moving."

菲龙想了一会儿，说：“当我想让什么东西动的时候，他就特别不耐烦。”

Bliss's lips tightened. "Now, Fallom, didn't I tell you you must notdo that, especially when Trevize is present?"

宝绮思噘了噘嘴。“喂，菲龙，难道我没告诉过你绝对不能那样做，尤其是崔维兹在场的时候？”

"Well, it was yesterday, right here in this room, and he was in thedoorway and I didn't notice. I didn't know he was watching. It was justone of Pel's book-films, anyway, and I was trying to make it stand onone tip. I wasn't doing any harm."

“嗯，可是昨天，就在这间舱房里，他站在门口，我没注意到，我不知道他正在盯着我。那只不过是裴的一支胶卷书，我试着要让它站起来，我没有做任何危险的事。”

"It makes him nervous, Fallom, and I want you not to do it, whetherhe's watching or not."

“那会让他神经紧张，菲龙，我要你以后别再做那种事，不管崔维兹有没有看到。”

"Does it make him nervous because he can't do it?"

“是不是他自己做不到，所以会神经紧张？”

"Perhaps."

“大概吧。”

"Can you do it?"

“你做得到吗？”

Bliss shook her head slowly. "No, I can't."

宝绮思缓缓摇了摇头。“不，我不能。”

"It doesn't make you nervous when I do it. It doesn't make Pel nervous,either."

“我那样做的时候，不会让你感到紧张，也不会让裴感到紧张。”

"People are different."

“每个人都不一样。”

"I know," said Fallom, with a sudden hardness that surprised Blissand caused her to frown.

“我知道了。”菲龙突然改用强硬的语气。宝绮思吓了一跳，不禁皱起眉头。

"What do you know, Fallom?"

“你知道什么，菲龙？”

" I'm different."

“我不一样。”

"Of course, I just said so. People are different."

“当然，我刚才说过，每个人都不一样。”

"My shape is different. I can move things."

“我的形体不一样，我还可以让东西运动。”

"That's true."

“这是事实。”

Fallom said, with a shade of rebelliousness, "I must move things. Trevize should not be angry with me for that, and you shouldnot stop me."

菲龙带着叛逆的口吻说：“我一定要让东西运动，崔维兹不该生我的气，你也不该阻止我。”

"But why must you move things?"

“可是你为什么一定要这样做呢？”

"It is practice. Exercise……Is that the right word?"

“这是练习，是磨练——这样说对吗？”

"Not quite. Exercise."

“不完全对，应该说锻链。”

"Yes. Jemby always said I must train my……my……"

“对，健比总是说，我必须训练我的……我的……”

"Transducer-lobes?"

“转换叶突？”

"Yes. And make them strong. Then, when I was grown up, I could powerall the robots. Even Jemby."

“对，使它们越来越强壮。然后，等我长大了，我就能驱动所有的机器人，甚至包括健比。”

"Fallom, who did power all the robots if you did not?"

“菲龙，在你还没这样做的时候，由谁来驱动所有的机器人？”

"Bander." Fallom said it very matter-of-factly.

“班德。”菲龙随口答道。

"Did you know Bander?"

“你认识班德？”

"Of course. I viewed him many times. I was to be the nextestate-head. The Bander estate would become the Fallom estate. Jembytold me so."

“当然，我跟他见过许多面。我是下一任的属地领主，班德属地将来会变成菲龙属地，健比这样告诉我的。”

"You mean Bander came to your……"

“你是说班德来到你……”

Fallom's mouth made a perfect O of shock. She said in a choked voice,"Bander would never come to……" The youngster ran out of breath andpanted a bit, then said, "I viewed Bander's image."

菲龙吃了一惊，嘴巴张成一个完美的椭圆。她像是被人掐住脖子一样，吃力地说：“班德从来不会到……”她一口气没接上，喘了喘才继续说：“我看到的是班德的影像。”

Bliss asked hesitantly, "How did Bander treat you?"

宝绮思以迟疑的口吻问道：“班德待你怎么样？”

Fallom looked at Bliss with a faintly puzzled eye. "Bander would askme if I needed anything; if I was comfortable. But Jemby was always nearme so I never needed anything and I was always comfortable."

菲龙用稍带困惑的眼光望着宝绮思。“班德总是问我是否需要什么，是否感到舒适。可是健比一直在我身边，所以我从不需要任何东西，也始终感到很舒适。”

Her head bent and she stared at the floor. Then she placed her handsover her eyes and said, "But Jemby stopped. I think it was because Bander stopped, too."

她垂下头来，凝视着地板，然后用双手蒙住眼睛，又说：“可是健比不动了，我想那是因为班德——也不动了。”

Bliss said, "Why do you say that?"

宝绮思问道：“你为什么这样说？”

"I've been thinking about it. Bander powered all the robots, and ifJemby stopped, and all the other robots, too, it must be that Banderstopped. Isn't that so?"

“我一直在想这件事。班德负责驱动所有的机器人，如果健比不动了，其他的机器人也都不动了，那一定是因为班德不动了。是不是这样？”

Bliss was silent.

宝绮思哑口无言。

Fallom said, "But when you take me back to Solaria I will power Jembyand all the rest of the robots, and I will be happy again."

菲龙说：“不过等你带我回索拉利后，我就会驱动健比和其他所有的机器人，到时候我又会快乐了。”

She was sobbing.

说完她哭了起来。

Bliss said, "Aren't you happy with us, Fallom? Just alittle? Sometimes?"

宝绮思说：“跟我们在一起你觉得不快乐吗，菲龙？哪怕只是一点点？偶尔一下子？”

Fallom lifted her tear-stained face to Bliss and her voice trembledas she shook her head and said, "I want Jemby."

菲龙拾起头，沾满泪水的脸孔正对着宝绮思。她一面摇头，一面以颤抖的声音说：“我要健比。”

In an agony of sympathy, Bliss threw her arms about the youngster. "Oh,Fallom, how I wish I could bring you and Jemby together again," and wassuddenly aware that she was weeping, too.

宝绮思心中顿生一股强烈的同情，她伸出双臂将孩子抱在怀中。“喔，菲龙，我多么希望能让你和健比团圆。”她突然发觉自己也在流泪。

Pelorat entered and found them so. He halted in mid-stepand said, "What's the matter?"

裴洛拉特走进来，看到两人哭成一团。他猛然停下脚步问道：“怎么回事？”

Bliss detached herself and fumbled for a small tissue so that shemight wipe her eyes. She shook her head, and Pelorat at once said,with heightened concern, "But what's the matter ?"

宝绮思轻轻推开菲龙，想要摸出一小张面纸擦乾眼泪。她才摇了摇头，裴洛拉特立刻以加倍关切的语气问：“究竟是怎么回事？”

Bliss said, "Fallom, just rest a little. I'll think of something tomake things a little better for you. Remember I love you just thesame way that Jemby did."

宝绮思说：“菲龙，稍微休息一下，我会想想办法，让你感觉好过一点。记住，我和健比一样爱你。”

She seized Pelorat's elbow and rushed him out into the living room,saying, "It's nothing, Pel……Nothing."

她抓住裴洛拉特的手肘，将他拉到起居舱中。“没事，裴——没什么事。”

"It's Fallom, though, isn't it? She still misses Jemby."

“不过菲龙有问题，对不对？她仍想念健比。”

"Terribly. And there's nothing we can do about it. I can tell herthat I love her and, truthfully, I do. How can you help loving achild so intelligent and gentle? Fearfully intelligent. Trevizethinks too intelligent. She's seen Bander in her time,you know or viewed it, rather, as a holographic image. She's notmoved by that memory, however; she's very cold and matter-of-fact aboutit, and I can understand why. There was only the fact that Bander wasowner of the estate and that Fallom would be the next owner that boundthem. No other relationship at all."

“想念得很厉害，而我们根本帮不上忙。我可以告诉她我爱她——我真的很爱她。这么聪明、这么乖顺的孩子谁能不爱？而且聪明得吓人，崔维兹甚至认为她聪明得过分。她曾经见过班德，你知道吗——或者应该说，见过它的全讯影像。不过，她对那些记忆没什么感情，她提到这件事的时候非常冷漠，好像跟她毫不相干，而我晓得是为什么。除了班德是属地原来的主人，菲龙将是下一任主人之外，两人之间根本没有其他关系。”

"Does Fallom understand that Bander is her father?"

“菲龙了解班德是她的父亲吗？”

"Her mother . If we agree that Fallom is to be regardedas feminine, so is Bander."

“应该说是她的母亲。既然我们同意将菲龙视为女性，那么班德也是。”

"Either way, Bliss dear. Is Fallom aware of the parentalrelationship?"

“都一样，宝绮思吾爱。菲龙是否明了这着亲子关系？”

"I don't know that she would understand what that is. She may, ofcourse, but she gave no hint. However, Pel, she has reasoned out thatBander is dead, for it's dawned on her that Jemby's inactivation must bethe result of power loss and since Bander supplied the power Thatfrightens me."

“我不知道她对这点了解多少，她当然有可能知道，但她始终没表露出来。可是，裴，她推论出班德已经死了，因为她终于明白健比停摆是停电的结果，而负责提供电力的是班德——这实在令我害怕。”

Pelorat said thoughtfully, "Why should it, Bliss? It's only a logicalinference, after all."

裴洛拉特体贴地说：“为什么害怕，宝绮思？这毕竟只是逻辑推论罢了。”

"Another logical inference can be drawn from that death. Deathsmust be few and far distant on Solaria with its long-lived and isolatedSpacers. Experience of natural death must be a limited one for any ofthem, and probably absent altogether for a Solarian child of Fallom'sage. If Fallom continues to think of Bander's death, she's going to beginto wonder why Bander died, and the fact that it happenedwhen we strangers were on the planet will surely lead her to the obviouscause and effect."

“从班德的死亡，就能推出另一个结论。索拉利的居民是长寿而孤立的外世界人，死亡必定是罕见而遥远的事件。他们目睹自然死亡的经验一定极其有限，对菲龙那种年纪的索拉利儿童而言，也许根本是一片空白。假如菲龙继续思索班德的死，她就会开始怀疑死因为何。我们这几个陌生人当时在那里，这个事实当然会让她导出一个明显的因果关系。”

"That we killed Bander?"

“那就是我们杀了班德？”

"It wasn't we who killed Bander, Pel. It was I ."

“不是我们杀了班德，裴，是我干的。”

"She couldn't guess that."

“她不可能猜到。”

"But I would have to tell her that. She is annoyed with Trevize as itis, and he is clearly the leader of the expedition. She would take itfor granted that it would be he who would have brought about the deathof Bander, and how could I allow Trevize to bear the blame unjustly?"

“可是我必须告诉她实情。她原本就对崔维兹很恼火，而崔维兹显然是我们的组织者，她自然会认为班德的死是他一手造成的。裴，我怎么能让崔维兹背这个黑锅呢？”

"What would it matter, Bliss? The child feels nothing for herfath mother. Only for her robot, Jemby."

“那又有什么关系，宝绮思？那孩子对她的父——母亲毫无感情，她爱的只是她的机器人，健比。”

"But the death of the mother meant the death of her robot, too. Ialmost did own up to my responsibility. I was strongly tempted."

“可是她母亲的死导致那机器人的死。我差点就要自己招认了，有股强烈的力量在驱策我。”

"Why?"

“为什么？”

"So I could explain it my way. So I could soothe her, forestall herown discovery of the fact in a reasoning process that would work it outin a way that would offer no justification for it."

“那样的话，我就可以用我的方式解释，可以在她自己发现真相之前安慰她。否则，如果她藉着推理得到答案，会让我们对这件事百口莫辩。”

"But there was justification. It was self-defense. Ina moment, we all would have been dead, if you had not acted."

“但我们有申辩的正当理由啊，那是种自卫行为。假使当时你不采取行动，下一刻我们就是死人了。”

"It's what I would have said, but I could not bring myself toexplain. I was afraid she wouldn't believe me."

“我的确该那样说，但我无法对她解释，我怕她不相信我。”

Pelorat shook his head. He said, sighing, "Do you suppose it mighthave been better if we had not brought her? The situation makes youso unhappy."

裴洛拉特摇了摇头，又叹了一口气。“你认为当初我们如果没带她走会比较好吗？现在这种情形令你很不快乐。”

"No," said Bliss angrily, "don't say that. It would have mademe infinitely more unhappy to have to sit here right now and rememberthat we had left an innocent child behind to be slaughtered mercilesslybecause of what we had done."

“不，”宝绮思生气了：“不要那样说。假如我现在坐在这里，想到我们曾经遗弃一个无辜的幼童，而且由于我们的作为令她惨遭无情的屠杀，那会使我更不快乐、更痛苦。”

"It's the way of Fallom's world."

“在菲龙的世界里，那就是解决之道。”

"Now, Pel, don't fall into Trevize's way of thinking. Isolatesfind it possible to accept such things and think no more about it. Theway of Gaia is to save life, however, not destroy it or to sitidly by while it is destroyed. Life of all kinds must, we all know,constantly be coming to an end in order that other life might endure,but never uselessly, never to no end. Bander's death, though unavoidable,is hard enough to bear; Fallom's would have been past all bounds."

“好了，裴，别陷入崔维兹的思考模式。孤立体有办法接受这种事，而且不会多加深思。然而，盖娅的行为准则是拯救生命，并非毁灭生命——或是坐视生命遭到毁灭。我们都知道，各种生命都必须不断死亡，好让后起的生命有存活的机会，可是绝不该无缘无故、毫无价值地死去。班德的死虽无可避免，仍然令我难以承受，菲龙要是也死了，那我绝对会受不了。”

"Ah well," said Pelorat, "I suppose you're right. And in anycase, it is not the problem of Fallom concerning which I've come to seeyou. It's Trevize."

“啊，”裴洛拉特说：“我想你说得没错——不过，我找你不是因为菲龙的问题，而是为了崔维兹。”

"What about Trevize?"

“崔维兹怎么了？”

"Bliss, I'm worried about him. He's waiting to determine the facts about Earth, and I'm not sure he can withstand the strain."

“宝绮思，我很担心他。他正等着揭开地球的真面目，我不确定他受得了这个压力。”

"I don't fear for him. I suspect he has a sturdy and stable mind."

“我可不怕，我相信他有颗强健坚固的心。”

"We all have our limits. Listen, the planet Earth is warmer than heexpected it to be; he told me so. I suspect that he thinks it may be toowarm for life, though he's clearly trying to talk himself into believingthat's not so."

“我们每个人都有极限。听我说，地球那颗行星的温度比预期的高——这是他告诉我的。我怀疑他认为地球温度过高，不可能有生命存在，尽管他一直想说服自己事实并非如此。”

"Maybe he's right. Maybe it's not too warm for life."

“或许他是对的，或许温度没有高到那种程度。”

"Also, he admits it's possible that the warmth might possibly arisefrom a radioactive crust, but he is refusing to believe that also. -Ina day or two, we'll be close enough so that the truth of the matter willbe unmistakable. What if Earth is radioactive?"

“此外他还承认，这种温度可能是放射性地壳造成的结果，但是他也拒绝相信这点——在一两天内，我们就会达到够近的距离，那时便会真相大白。假如地球果真具有放射性呢？”

"Then he'll have to accept the fact."

“那么他就得面对现实。”

"But I don't know how to say this, or how to put it in mentalterms. What if his mind……"

“可是——我不知道该怎么说，或是该用什么精神力学的术语。万一，他心灵的……”

Bliss waited, then said wryly, "Blows a fuse?"

宝绮思等不到下文，便以挖苦的口气说：“保险丝烧断了？”

"Yes. Blows a fuse. Shouldn't you do something now to strengthenhim? Keep him level and under control, so to speak?"

“对，保险丝烧断了。你现在不该帮他做点什么吗？比如说，让他保持心理平衡，不至于失去控制？”

"No, Pel. I can't believe he's that fragile, and there is a firmGaian decision that his mind must not be tampered with."

“不行，裴。我不相信他那么脆弱，而且盖娅做过一项坚决的决定，绝不去干扰他的心灵。”

"But that's the very point. He has this unusual `rightness,' orwhatever you want to call it. The shock of his entire project fallingto nothingness at the moment when it seems successfully concluded maynot destroy his brain, but it may destroy his `rightness.' It's a veryunusual property he has. Might it not be unusually fragile, too?"

“但这正是问题的症结所在。他拥有一种罕见的正确性”——不论你要如何称呼它。在眼看就要成功的时候，他若是发现整个计划化为泡影，必定会受到很大的打击，虽然不一定会损坏他的脑子，却有可能毁了他的‘正确性’。那是一种极不寻常的特质，难道不会同样异常脆弱吗？”

Bliss remained for a moment in thought. Then she shrugged. "Well,perhaps I'll keep an eye on him."

宝绮思沉思了一下，然后耸了耸肩。“嗯，或许我该看着他点。”

For the next thirty-six hours, Trevize was vaguelyaware that Bliss and, to a lesser degree, Pelorat, tended to dog hisfootsteps. Still, that was not utterly unusual in a ship as compact astheirs, and he had other things on his mind.

接下来的三十六小时中，崔维兹隐约感到宝绮思一直尾随自己的脚步，而裴洛拉特也有这种倾向。话说回来，在一艘如此袖珍的太空艇中，这不是什么特殊的现象，何况他还有其他事要操心，因此没有放在心上。

Now, as he sat at the computer, he was aware of them standing justinside the doorway. He looked up at them, his face blank.

现在，他坐在电脑前面，发觉另外两人正站在门边。他抬起头来，面无表情地望着他们。

"Well?" he said, in a very quiet voice.

“怎么样？”他以很小的声音说。

Pelorat said, rather awkwardly, "How are you, Golan?"

裴洛拉特掩饰得很拙劣，他说：“你好吗，葛兰？”

Trevize said, "Ask Bliss. She's been staring at me intently forhours. She must be poking through my mind. Aren't you, Bliss?"

崔维兹说：“问宝绮思，她紧盯着我好几个钟头了。她一定是在刺探我的心灵——有没有，宝绮思？”

"No, I am not," said Bliss evenly, "but if you feel the need for myhelp, I can try……Do you want my help?"

“不，我没有。”宝绮思以平静的语气说：“但你若是感到需要我的帮助，我倒可以试试看——你要我帮你吗？”

"No, why should I? Leave me alone. Both of you."

“不用了，我为何需要？请便吧，两位。”

Pelorat said, "Please tell us what's going on."

裴洛拉特说：“请告诉我们到底怎么回事。”

"Guess!"

“猜吧！”

"Is Earth……"

“是不是地球——”

"Yes, it is. What everyone insisted on telling us is perfectlytrue." Trevize gestured at the viewscreen, where Earth presented itsnightside and was eclipsing the sun. It was a solid circle of blackagainst the starry sky, its circumference outlined by a broken orangecurve.

“没错，正是。每个人坚持要我们相信的那件事，竟然千真万确。”崔维兹指了指显像屏幕，画面上呈现的是地球的夜面，后方的太阳完全被蚀去。在布满繁星的天空中，地球看来像个实心的黑色圆盘，边缘围绕着一道断断续续的橙色曲线。

Pelorat said, "Is that orange the radioactivity?"

裴洛拉特说：“那些橙色光芒就是放射线吗？”

"No. Just refracted sunlight through the atmosphere. It would bea solid orange circle if the atmosphere weren't so cloudy. We can'tsee the radioactivity. The various radiations, even the gamma rays, areabsorbed by the atmosphere. However, they do set up secondary radiations,comparatively feeble ones, but the computer can detect them. They'restill invisible to the eye, but the computer can produce a photon ofvisible light for each particle or wave of radiation it receives andput Earth into false color. Look……"

“不是，那只是经过大气折射的阳光。假如大气层中没那么多云气，它看起来应该是橙色实线构成的圆形。我们根本看不见放射线，各种放射线都被大气吸收了，就连伽玛线也下例外。然而，它们的确会造成次级辐射，相较之下虽然十分微弱，电脑还是有办法侦测出来。那些辐射肉眼仍无法看见，但是电脑每次接收到其中的粒子或波动，都能产生一个可见光的光子，再将地球影像以假色显示。看——”

And the black circle glowed with a faint, blotchy blue.

黑色圆盘各处都出现了暗淡的蓝色光点。

"How much radioactivity is there?" asked Bliss, in a low voice. "Enoughto signify that no human life can exist there?"

“上面的放射性有多强？”宝绮思低声问道：“强到足以显示没有人类生命存在吗？”

"No life of any kind," said Trevize. "The planet is uninhabitable. Thelast bacterium, the last virus, is long gone."

“任何种类的生命都没有。”崔维兹说：“这颗行星绝对无法居住，连最后一个细菌、最后一个病毒都早已绝迹。”

"Can we explore it?" said Pelorat. "I mean, in space suits."

“我们可以去探索一番吗？”裴洛拉特说：“我的意思是穿着太空衣。”

"For a few hours before we come down with irreversible radiationsickness."

“不出几个小时，我们就会受到无药可救的放射线伤害。”

"Then what do we do, Golan?"

“那我们该怎么办，葛兰？”

"Do?" Trevize looked at Pelorat with that same expressionlessface. "Do you know what I would like to do? I would like to take you and Bliss……and the child……back to Gaia and leave you allthere forever. Then I would like to go back to Terminus and hand backthe ship. Then I would like to resign from the Council, which ought tomake Mayor Branno very happy. Then I would like to live on my pensionand let the Galaxy go as it will. I won't care about the Seldon Plan, orabout the Foundation, or about the Second Foundation, or about Gaia. The Galaxy can choose its own path. It will last my time and why should Icare a snap as to what happens afterward?"

“怎么办？”崔维兹仍面无表情地望着裴洛拉特，“你知道我想怎么办吗？我想带你和宝绮思——还有那孩子——回到盖娅，让你们永远留在那里。然后我准备回端点星去交还太空船；然后我准备向议会辞职，那应该会使布拉诺市长非常高兴：然后我准备靠退休金过活，让银河自求多福。我再也不会过问谢顿计划、基地、第二基地或盖娅。银河自会选择自己的前途，在我有生之年它绝不会毁灭，我又何必关心身后会发生什么事？”

"Surely, you don't mean it, Golan," said Pelorat urgently.

“你这话绝不是当真的，葛兰。”裴洛拉特赶紧说。

Trevize stared at him for a while, and then he drew a long breath. "No,I don't, but, oh, how I wish I could do exactly what I have just outlinedto you."

崔维兹瞪了他一会儿，然后深深吸了一口气。“没错，我没有当真。可是，噢，我多希望能照我刚才说的去做。”

"Never mind that. What will you do?"

“别再提那些了，你现在打算怎么做？”

"Keep the ship in orbit about the Earth, rest, get over the shock ofall this, and think of what to do next. Except that……"

“让太空船继续绕着地球轨道飞行，休息一下，从这些震惊中恢复过来，然后，再想想下一步该做什么。只不过——”

"Yes?"

“不过什么？”

And Trevize blurted out, "What can I do next? What is there furtherto look for? What is there further to find?"

崔维兹突然迭声应道：“下一步我能做什么？还剩下什么可找？还能找到些什么？”