Chapter 4: On Comporellon
4 康普隆
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They were through. The entry station had shrunk to arapidly dimming star behind them, and in a couple of hours they wouldbe crossing the cloud layer.
崔维兹一行三人终于通关。回头望去，入境站正迅速缩成黯淡的小光点。再过几个小时，他们便要穿越云层。
A gravitic ship did not have to brake its path by a long routeof slow spiral contraction, but neither could it swoop downwardtoo rapidly. Freedom from gravity did not mean freedom from airresistance. The ship could descend in a straight line, but it was stilla matter for caution; it could not be too fast.
像远星号这样的重力太空航具，不必借着逐渐缩小的螺旋路径慢慢减速，却也不能高速俯冲而下。虽然它丝毫不受重力影响，并不代表空气阻力对它也没有作用。即使能以直线下降，仍然必须相当谨慎，降落的速度绝不能太快。
"Where are we going to go?" asked Pelorat, looking confused. "I can'ttell one place in the clouds from another, old fellow."
“我们准备去哪里？”裴洛拉特满脸困惑地问道。“在重重云层中，我根本分不清这里和那里，老伙伴。”
"No more can I," said Trevize, "but we have an official holographicmap of Comporellon, which gives the shape of the land masses and anexaggerated relief for both land heights and ocean depths andpolitical subdivisions, too. The map is in the computer and that will dothe work. It will match the planetary land-sea design to the map, thusorienting the ship properly, and it will then take us to the capital bya cycloidic pathway."
“我一样不知道，”崔维兹说，“但我们有一份康普隆官方发行的全息地图，其中录有每个陆块的形状，还特别突显陆地的高度和海洋的深度，此外还包括政治领域的划分。地图就在电脑里面，电脑会自动处理，能将行星表面的海陆结构和地图资料对比，借此将太空艇正确定位，然后循着一条‘摆线’的路径将我们带到首府。”
Pelorat said, "If we go to the capital, we plunge immediately intothe political vortex. If the world is anti-Foundation, as the fellow atthe entry station implied, we'll be asking for trouble."
裴洛拉特说：“我们若到首府去，会一头栽进政治漩涡中心。如果正如那个海关人员暗示的，这是个反基地的世界，那我们就是自找麻烦。”
On the other hand, it's bound to be the intellectual center ofthe planet, and if we want information, that's where we'll find it, ifanywhere. As for being anti-Foundation, I doubt that they will be ableto display that too openly. The Mayor may have no great liking for me,but neither can she afford to have a Councilman mistreated. She wouldnot care to allow the precedent to be established.
“但另一方面，首府也必定是这颗行星的学术中心，假如我们要找的资料果真存在，就一定会在那里。至于反基地的心态，我不信他们会表现得太明目张胆。市长对我也许没什么好感，却也不能坐视一名议员受辱，她绝不会允许这种先例出现。”
Bliss had emerged from the toilet, her hands still damp fromscrubbing. She adjusted her underclothes with no sign of concern and said,"By the way, I trust the excreta is thoroughly recycled."
此时宝绮思从厕所走出来，刚洗完的双手还湿淋淋的。她一面旁若无人地整理内衣，一面说：“对了，我相信排泄物完全被回收了。”
"No choice," said Trevize. "How long do you suppose our watersupply would last without recycling of excreta? On what do you thinkthose choicely flavored yeast cakes that we eat to lend spice to ourfrozen staples grow? I hope that doesn't spoil your appetite,my efficient Bliss."
“没有其他选择。”崔维兹说，“若不回收排泄物，你想我们的清水能维持多久？我们除了冷藏的主食之外，还能吃到风味独特的酵母蛋糕，你以为是用什么培养出来的？我希望这样说不会令你倒胃口，效率至上的宝绮思。”
"Why should it? Where do you suppose food and water come from on Gaia,or on this planet, or on Terminus?"
“怎么会呢？你以为盖娅、端点星，还有下面这个世界的食物和清水是怎么来的？”
"On Gaia," said Trevize, "the excreta is, of course, as alive asyou are."
“在盖娅上，”崔维兹说，“排泄物想必和你一样是活生生的。”
Not alive. Conscious. There is a difference. The level ofconsciousness is, naturally, very low.
“不是活生生，而是具有意识，这两者是有差别的。不过，排泄物的意识层级自然很低。”
Trevize sniffed in a disparaging way, but didn't try to answer. Hesaid, "I'm going into the pilot-room to keep the computer company. Notthat it needs me."
崔维兹轻蔑地哼了一声，不过没有搭腔。他只是说：“我要到驾驶舱去陪陪电脑，虽然它现在并不需要我。”
Pelorat said, "May we come in and help you keep it company? I can'tquite get used to the fact that it can get us down all by itself; thatit can sense other ships, or storms, or whatever?"
裴洛拉特说：“我们能不能跟你一块去陪它？我还是很难接受让电脑处理一切，包括自动控制太空艇降落、感测其他船舰或风暴，或是别的什么东西。”
Trevize smiled broadly. "Get used to it, please. The ship is far saferunder the computer's control than it ever would be under mine. Butcertainly, come on. It will do you good to watch what happens."
崔维兹露出灿烂的微笑。“你一定得想办法适应，拜托。将这艘太空艇交给电脑控制，比由我控制要安全得多。不过当然欢迎，来吧，看看这些过程对你只有好处。”
They were over the sunlit side of the planet now for, as Trevizeexplained, the map in the computer could be more easily matched toreality in the sunlight than in the dark.
此时他们正在日照面上方，因为正如崔维兹所说，在日光下将电脑地图与实景进行比对，要比在黑暗中来得简单。
"That's obvious," said Pelorat.
“这个道理显而易见。”裴洛拉特说。
"Not at all obvious. The computer will judge just as rapidly by theinfrared light which the surface radiates even in the dark. However, thelonger waves of infrared don't allow the computer quite the resolutionthat visible light would. That is, the computer doesn't see quite asfinely and sharply by infrared, and where necessity doesn't drive,I like to make things as easy as possible for the computer."
“并非全然显而易见，即使在黑暗中，电脑也能借着地表所辐射的红外线，进行同样迅速的判读。然而，波长较长的红外线无法像可见光那样，提供电脑充分的解析度。也就是说，在红外线之下，电脑无法看得那么清晰细腻。除非有必要，我希望尽量让电脑处理最简单的状况。”
"What if the capital is on the dark side?"
“假如首府在黑夜那边呢？”
"The chance is fifty-fifty," said Trevize, "but if it is, once the mapis matched by daylight, we can skim down to the capital quite unerringlyeven if it is in the dark. And long before we come anywhere near thecapital, we'll be intersecting microwave beams and will be receivingmessages directing us to the most convenient spaceport. There'snothing to worry about."
“机会是一半一半，”崔维兹说，“就算真是那样，一旦在白昼区完成地图比对，虽然首府在黑夜中，我们仍能准确无误地飞去那里。在距离首府还很远的时候，我们就会截收到许多微波波束，还会收到那里发出的讯息，引导我们到最合适的太空航站。根本没什么好担心的。”
"Are you sure?" said Bliss. "You're bringing me down without papers andwithout any native world that these people here will recognize andI'm bound and determined not to mention Gaia to them in any case. Sowhat do we do, if I'm asked for my papers once we're on the surface?"
“你确定吗？”宝绮思说，“你们将带我一起下去，但我没有任何证件，也说不出一个他们晓得的星籍——而且我已下定决心，无论如何不会对他们提到盖娅。所以说，我们降落之后，万一有人要查我的证件，我们该怎么办？”
Trevize said, "That's not likely to happen. Everyone will assume thatwas taken care of at the entry station."
崔维兹说：“这种事不太可能发生，谁都会以为在入境站已经检查过了。”
"But if they ask?"
“但如果他们真的问起呢？”
"Then, when that time comes, we'll face the problem. Meanwhile,let's not manufacture problems out of air."
“那么，等事到临头的时候，我们再来面对问题。此时此刻，我们不要凭空制造问题。”
"By the time we face the problems that may arise, it might well betoo late to solve them."
“等到我们面对问题的时候，很可能就来不及解决了。”
"I'll rely on my ingenuity to keep it from being too late."
“我会用我的智慧及时解决，不会来不及的。”
Talking about ingenuity, how did you get us through the entrystation?
“提到智慧，你是怎么让我们顺利通关的？”
Trevize looked at Bliss, and let his lips slowly expand into a smilethat made him seem like an impish teenager. "Just brains."
崔维兹望着宝绮思，嘴角慢慢扯出一个笑容，看起来像个顽皮的少年。“只是用点头脑罢了。”
Pelorat said, "What did you do, old man?"
裴洛拉特说：“你到底是怎么做的，老友？”
Trevize said, "It was a matter of appealing to him in the correctmanner. I'd tried threats and subtle bribes. I had appealed to his logicand his loyalty to the Foundation. Nothing worked, so I fell back onthe last resort. I said that you were cheating on your wife, Pelorat."
崔维兹说：“只不过找到了求他帮忙的正确法门罢了。我先试着用威胁和不着痕迹的利诱，然后又诉诸他的理智，以及他对基地的忠诚，结果都没有成功。所以我不得不使出最后一招，说你对你的妻子不忠，裴洛拉特。”
"My wife ? But, my dear fellow, I don't have a wife atthe moment."
“我的妻子？可是，我亲爱的伙伴，我目前并没有妻子啊。”
I know that, but he didn't.
“这点我知道，但是他不晓得。”
Bliss said, "By `wife,' I presume you mean a woman who is a particularman's regular companion."
宝绮思说：“我猜你们所谓的‘妻子’，是指男性的固定女性伴侣。”
Trevize said, "A little more than that, Bliss. A legal companion, one with enforceable rights in consequence of thatcompanionship."
崔维兹说：“要比你说的还复杂些，宝绮思。应该说是法定的女性伴侣，由于这种伴侣关系，对方依法获得了某些权利。”
Pelorat said nervously, "Bliss, I do not have a wife. Ihave had one now and then in the past, but I haven't had one for quitea while. If you would care to undergo the legal ritual "
裴洛拉特紧张兮兮地说：“宝绮思，我现在没有妻子，过去有些时候有过，不过都是很久以前的事。如果你希望举行一个法定的仪式……”
"Oh, Pel," said Bliss, making a sweeping-away movement with her righthand, "what would I care about that? I have innumerable companions thatare as close to me as your arm is close companion to your other arm. Itis only Isolates who feel so alienated that they have to use artificialconventions to enforce a feeble substitute for true companionship."
“喔，裴，”宝绮思装模作样地挥了挥手，“我何必在意这种事？我拥有数不清的亲密伴侣，亲密的程度有如你的左臂和右臂。只有充满疏离感的孤立体，因为找不到真正的伴侣，才必须以人为方式约定一个薄弱的代用品。”
"But I am an Isolate, Bliss dear."
“但我就是个孤立体，宝绮思吾爱。”
"You will be less Isolate in time, Pel. Never truly Gaia, perhaps,but less Isolate, and you will have a flood of companions."
“你迟早会变得不那么孤立，裴。你或许无法成为真正的盖娅，可是不会再像以前那么孤立，而且将会拥有许许多多的伴侣。”
"I only want you, Bliss," said Pel.
“我只要你，宝绮思。”裴洛拉特说。
That's because you know nothing about it. You'll learn.
“那是因为你根本不了解，你慢慢就能体会了。”
Trevize was concentrating on the viewscreen during that exchange witha look of strained tolerance on his face. The cloud cover had come upclose and, for a moment, all was gray fog.
这段对话进行的同时，崔维兹一直紧盯着显像屏幕，尽量不流露出不耐烦的神情。云层早已近在眼前，不久之后，四面八方全是灰蒙蒙的雾气。
Microwave vision, he thought, and the computer switched at once tothe detection of radar echoes. The clouds disappeared and the surfaceof Comporellon appeared in false color, the boundaries between sectorsof different constitution a little fuzzy and wavering.
微波影像，他动念一想，电脑立刻开始侦测雷达回波。层层云雾随即消失不见，屏幕上出现了经过电脑着色的康普隆地表，不同结构的地形彼此的分界有点模糊不清且摇摆不定。
"Is that the way it's going to look from now on?" asked Bliss, withsome astonishment.
“是不是一直都会像这样子？”宝绮思问，声音中带着几分惊讶。
"Only till we drift below the clouds. Then it's back to sunlight." Evenas he spoke, the sunshine and normal visibility returned.
“等飘到云层下方就不会了，到时会再换回可见光。”他还没说完，阳光已经重新出现，正常的能见度也恢复了。
"I see," said Bliss. Then, turning toward him, "But what I don't seeis why it should matter to that official at the entry station whetherPel was deceiving his wife or not?"
“我懂了。”宝绮思道。然后她转身面对崔维兹，又说：“但我不懂的是，裴有没有欺骗他的妻子，对那个入境站的海关人员来说，又有什么差别呢？”
If that fellow, Kendray, had held you back, the news, I said, mightreach Terminus and, therefore, Pelorat's wife. Pelorat would then be introuble. I didn't specify the sort of trouble he would be in, but I triedto sound as though it would be bad. There is a kind of free-masonryamong males, Trevize was grinning, now, "and one male doesn't betrayanother fellow male. He would even help, if requested. The reasoning,I suppose, is that it might be the helper's turn next to be helped. Ipresume," he added, turning a bit graver, "that there is a similarfree-masonry among women, but, not being a woman, I have never had anopportunity to observe it closely."
“我跟那个叫肯德瑞的家伙说，如果他将你扣下，消息可能就会传回端点星，然后再传到裴洛拉特妻子的耳朵，那么裴洛拉特就有麻烦了。我没说他会有哪种麻烦，但我故意说得好像会很糟。男人彼此之间，都有一种同舟共济的默契，”崔维兹咧嘴笑了笑，“男人不会出卖朋友，如果受人之托，还会拔刀相助。我想其中的道理，是因为助人者人恒助之。我猜想——”他以较严肃的口吻补充道，“女性之间应该也有这种默契，但我不是女性，所以从来没机会仔细观察。”
Bliss's face resembled a pretty thundercloud. "Is this a joke?" shedemanded.
宝绮思的脸孔立刻浮现一重阴霾。“这是个笑话吗？”她追问。
"No, I'm serious," said Trevize. "I don't say that Kendrayfellow let us through only to help Janov avoid angering his wife. Themasculine free-masonry may simply have added the last push to my otherarguments."
“不，我是说真的。”崔维兹答道，“我没说肯德瑞那家伙之所以放我们走，只是因为想要帮詹诺夫的忙，以免他的妻子生气。我对他说的其他理由都起了作用，男性默契只不过是最后一股推波助澜的力量。”
"But is horrible. I is its rules that hold society together andbind it into a whole. Is it such a light ing to disregard the rulesfor trivial reasons?"
“但是这太可怕了。社会需要靠法规来维系，才能结合成一个整体。为了微不足道的原因，竟然就能漠视法规，这难道不算严重吗？”
"Well," said Trevize, in instant defensiveness, "some of the rulesare themselves trivial. Few worlds are very particular about passage inand out of their space in times of peace and commercial prosperity, suchas we have now, thanks to the Foundation. Comporellon, for some reason,is out of step probably because of an obscure matter of internalpolitics. Why should we suffer over that?"
“这个嘛，”崔维兹立刻自我辩护，“有些法规本身就是小题大作。在和平而经济繁荣的时代，例如现在——这都要归功于基地——没有几个世界会对进出太空规定得太严。而康普隆由于某种原因，却跟不上时代，也许是因为内政方面有外人不得而知的问题。我们又何必蒙受其害呢？”
T is beside the point. If we only obey those rules that we inkare just and reasonable, then no rule will stand, for there is no rulethat some will not ink is unjust and unreasonable. Andif we wish to push our own individual advantage, as we see it, then wewill always find reason to believe that some hampering rule is unjustand unreasonable. What starts, then, as a shrewd trick ends in anarchyand disaster, even for the shrewd trickster, since he, too, will notsurvive the collapse of society.
“话不能这么说。如果我们只遵循自己认为公正合理的法规，就不会有任何法规还能成立，因为不论哪条法规，都会有人认为是不公正或不合理的。假如我们想要追求个人心目中的利益，对于那些碍事的法规，我们永远有办法找到理由，认定它们不公正和不合理。这原本可能只是精明的投机伎俩，结果却会导致失序和灾难。即使是那些精明的投机分子，也不会得到任何好处，因为一旦社会崩溃，是没有任何人能幸存的。”
Trevize said, "Society will not collapse that easily. You speakas Gaia, and Gaia cannot possibly understand the association of freeindividuals. Rules, established with reason and justice, can easilyoutlive their usefulness as circumstances change, yet can remain inforce through inertia. I is then not only right, but useful, to breakthose rules as a way of advertising the fact they have becomeuseless or even actually harmful."
崔维兹说：“任何一个社会都不会轻易崩溃。你是以盖娅的身份说话，而盖娅不可能了解自由个体的结合方式。建立在公理和正义之上的法规，随着环境的变迁，虽然已经不再适用，但是由于社会的惯性，却很可能继续存在。这时候，我们借着打破这些法规来宣告它们已经过时——甚至实际上是有害的，要算是一种既正确又有用的作为。”
"Then every ief and murderer can argue he is serving humanity."
“这么说的话，每个窃贼和杀人犯都可以辩称是为人类服务。”
You go to extremes. In the superorganism of Gaia, there is automaticconsensus on the rules of society and it occurs to no one to breakthem. One might as well say that Gaia vegetates and fossilizes. There isadmittedly an element of disorder in free association, but is theprice one must pay fog the ability to induce novelty and change. Onthe whole, it's a reasonable price.
“你太走极端了。在盖娅这个超级生命体中，对于社会准则有一种自发的共识，因此没有任何成员想要违背。其实我们还不如说，盖娅是一滩陈腐僵化的死水。在自由个体结合而成的社会中，不可否认存在着脱序的因素，但若想要诱发创新和变化，这却是不可避免的代价——就整体而言，这是个合理的代价。”
Bliss's voice rose a notch. "You are quite wrong if you ink Gaiavegetates and fossilizes. Our deeds, our ways, our views are underconstant self-examination. They do not persist out of inertia, beyondreason. Gaia learns by experience and thought; and therefore changeswhen is necessary."
宝绮思将音量提高一成：“如果你认为盖娅陈腐僵化，那就是大错特错。我们的一举一动、我们的行事方法、我们的各种观点，都在不断接受自我检验。它们绝不会仅仅由于惯性而流传下来。盖娅借着经验和思考来学习，因此在有需要的时候，便会进行调适和改变。”
"Even if w you say is so, the self-examination and learning mustbe slow, because not ing but Gaia exists on Gaia. Here, in freedom, evenwhen almost everyone agrees, there are bound to be a few who disagree and,in some cases, those few may be right, and if they are clever enough,enthusiastic enough, right enough, they will win out in theend and be heroes in future ages like Hari Seldon, who perfectedpsychohistory, pitted his own thoughts against the entire Galactic Empire,and won."
“尽管你说的都对，自我检验和学习的过程却一定很慢，因为盖娅上除了盖娅还是盖娅。然而，在自由社会中，即使大多数成员同意某件事，一定还会有少数人反对。某些情况下，那些少数也许才是对的，而只要他们够聪明、够积极，而且观点真的够正确，就会获得最后胜利，而被后人奉为英雄。例如使心理史学臻于完美境界的哈里·谢顿，他有勇气以自己的学说对抗整个银河帝国，结果最后的胜利果然属于他。”
"He has won only so far, Trevize. The Second Empire he planned forwill not come to pass. There will be Galaxia instead."
“他的胜利到此为止，崔维兹。他所计划的第二帝国不会实现，盖娅星系将取而代之。”
"Will there?" said Trevize grimly.
“会吗？”崔维兹绷着脸说。
"I was your decision, and, however much you argue withme in favor of Isolates and of their freedom to be foolish and criminal,there is somet ing in the hidden recesses of your mind that forced youto agree with me/us/Gaia when you made your choice."
“这是你自己的决定。不论你在跟我辩论时多么偏袒孤立体，甚至赞成他们有做蠢事和犯罪的自由，可是在你内心深处某个暗角，仍然隐藏着一点灵光，驱使你在作抉择的时候，同意我／们／盖娅的看法。”
"W is present in the hidden recesses of my mind," said Trevize,more grimly still, "is w I seek. There, to begin with," he added,pointing to the viewscreen where a gre city spread out o the horizon,a cluster of low structures climbing to occasional heights, surroundedby fields th were brown under a light frost.
“我内心深处所隐藏的，”崔维兹的脸色更加难看，“正是我要寻找的东西。而那里，就是我的第一站。”他指着显像屏幕，上面映着展开在地平线上的一座大城市。在一群低矮的建筑物中，偶尔有一两栋较为高耸，四周则环绕着点缀有薄霜的褐色田野。
Pelorat shook his head. "Too bad. I meant to watch the approach,but I got caught up in listening to the argument."
裴洛拉特摇了摇头。“太糟了，我本想在降落时欣赏一下风景，结果只顾听你们的争论。”
Trevize said, "Never mind, Janov. You can watch when we leave. I'llpromise to keep my mouth shut en, if you can persuade Bliss to controlher own."
崔维兹说：“不要紧，詹诺夫。我们离开的时候，你还有一次机会。我答应你到时一定闭上嘴巴，只要你能说服宝绮思也别张嘴。”
And the Far Star descended a microwave beam to a landing atthe spaceport.
接着远星号便缓缓下降，循着导航微波束，降落在某个太空航站中。
14
14
Kendray looked grave when he returned to the entrystation and watched the Far Star pass through. He was stillclearly depressed at the close of his shift.
当肯德瑞回到入境站，目送远星号离去的时候，他的表情相当凝重。直到快要交班时，他显然还十分沮丧。
He was sitting down to his closing meal of the day when one of hismates, a gangling fellow with wide-set eyes, thin light hair, and eyebrowsso blond they seemed absent, sat down next to him.
此时他坐在餐桌前，正在吃今天的最后一餐。一位同事在他身边坐下，那人身材瘦长，两眼生得很开，稀疏的头发颜色相当淡，金色的眉毛不仔细看根本看不出来。
"What's wrong, Ken?" said the other.
“肯，有什么不对劲？”那位同事问。
Kendray's lips twisted. He said, "That was a gravitic ship that justpassed through, Gatis."
肯德瑞撅了撅嘴，然后说：“盖堤思，刚刚通过的是一艘重力太空艇。”
"The odd-looking one with zero radioactivity?"
“样子古怪，零放射性的那艘？”
"That's why it wasn't radioactive. No fuel. Gravitic."
“那正是它没有放射性的原因，根本不用燃料，全靠重力推动。”
Gatis nodded his head. "What we were told to watch for, right?"
盖堤思点了点头。“就是我们奉命注意的那艘，是吗？”
"Right."
“是的。”
"And you got it. Leave it to you to be the lucky one."
“结果给你碰到了，让你成为那个幸运儿。”
"Not so lucky. A woman without identification was on it and Ididn't report her."
“没那么幸运。上面有个女的没带身份证件，我却没告发她。”
" What? Look, don't tell me . I don't wantto know about it. Not another word. You may be a pal, but I'm not goingto make myself an accomplice after the fact."
“什么？喂，千万别跟我讲，我可不要知道，一个字也不要再听。你或许是个好兄弟，但我可不想在事后成为共犯。”
"I'm not worried about that. Not very much. I had tosend the ship down. They want that gravitic or any gravitic. Youknow that."
“我并不担心这一点，并不十分担心，因为我必须将那艘太空艇送下去。他们想要那艘重力太空艇，或者任何一艘重力航具，这你是知道的。”
"Sure, but you could at least have reported the woman."
“当然，但你至少可以告发那个女的。”
"Didn't like to. She's not married. She was just picked upfor for use."
“我不想这么做。她没结婚，她只是被拿来——拿来用用而已。”
"How many men on board?"
“上面有多少男的？”
"Two."
“两个。”
"And they just picked her up for for that. They must be fromTerminus."
“而他们只拿她一个来——来做那件事，他们一定是端点星来的。”
"That's right."
“没错。”
"They don't care what they do on Terminus."
“端点星的人，行为都不检点。”
"That's right."
“没错。”
"Disgusting. And they get away with it."
“真恶心，他们竟然还安然无事。”
"One of them was married, and he didn't want his wife to know. If Ireported her, his wife would find out."
“其中一个已经结婚，他不想让他老婆知道。如果我告发她，他老婆就会发现这件事。”
"Wouldn't she be back on Terminus?"
“他老婆不是在端点星吗？”
"Of course, but she'd find out anyway."
“当然啦，可是她总有办法知道。”
"Serve the fellow right if his wife did find out."
“如果让他老婆发现了，那是他活该。”
"I agree but I can't be the one to be responsiblefor it."
“我同意，可是我不愿做那个恶人。”
"They'll hammer you for not reporting it. Not wanting to make troublefor a guy is no excuse."
“你没告发这件事，他们一定会好好修理你。不想给一个家伙惹麻烦，不是什么正当理由。”
"Would you have reported him?"
“换成你，你会告发吗？”
"I'd have had to, I suppose."
“我想，我必须这么做。”
"No, you wouldn't. The government wants that ship. If I had insistedon putting the woman on report, the men on the ship would have changedtheir minds about landing and would have pulled away to some otherplanet. The government wouldn't have wanted that."
“不，你也不会。政府希望得到那艘太空艇，假如我坚持要告发那个女的，那两个男的便会改变着陆计划，直接飞往其他行星，政府不会希望看到这种结果。”
"But will they believe you?"
“可是他们会相信你吗？”
"I think so. A very cute-looking woman, too. Imagine a womanlike that being willing to come along with two men, and married men withthe nerve to take advantage. You know, it's tempting."
“我想应该会。她还是个很可爱的女人，想想看，像这样一个女人，竟然愿意陪两个男人同行，而已婚男人又有胆量利用这种机会。你可知道，这实在很诱惑人。”
"I don't think you'd want the missus to know you said that oreven thought that."
“我想你不会希望尊夫人听到你这番话，甚至只是知道你有这种想法。”
Kendray said defiantly, "Who's going to tell her? You?"
肯德瑞气冲冲地说：“谁会去告诉她？你？”
"Come on. You know better than that." Gatis's look of indignationfaded quickly, and he said, "It's not going to do those guys any good,you know, you letting them through."
“得了吧，你自己心里明白。”盖堤思的愤慨很快就消退，他又说，“这样做对那些家伙没有好处，我是说，你就这样让他们通关。”
"I know."
“我知道。”
"The people down surface-way will find out soon enough, and even ifyou get away with it, they won't."
“下面的人很快便会发现，就算你侥幸不受处罚，他们可不会那么幸运。”
"I know," said Kendray, "but I'm sorry for them. Whatever troublethe woman will make for them will be as nothing to what the ship willmake for them. The captain made a few remarks……"
“我知道，”肯德瑞说，“我替他们感到遗憾。不管那个女的会带给他们多少麻烦，跟那艘太空艇比起来都不算什么了。那个船长还说了些……”
Kendray paused, and Gatis said eagerly, "Like what?"
肯德瑞突然住口，盖堤思急忙问道：“说了些什么？”
"Never mind," said Kendray. "If it comes out, it's my butt."
“算了。”肯德瑞说，“如果传出去，倒霉的是我。”
"I'm not going to repeat it."
“我不会告诉任何人。”
Neither am I. But I'm sorry for those two men from Terminus.
“我也不会。不过，我还是替那两位端点星来的感到遗憾。”
15
15
To anyone who has been in space and experienced itschangelessness, the real excitement of space flight comes when it istime to land on a new planet. The ground speeds backward under you asyou catch glimpses of land and water, of geometrical areas and linesthat might represent fields and roads. You become aware of the green ofgrowing things, the gray of concrete, the brown of bare ground, the whiteof snow. Most of all, there is the excitement of populated conglomerates;cities which, on each world, have their own characteristic geometry andarchitectural variants.
任何一个经历过太空旅行，体验过那种单调的人，都知道太空飞行真正令人兴奋的时刻，就是即将降落另一颗行星之前。此时向下望去，地表景观迅疾后退，可以不时瞥见陆地、湖海，以及像是几何图形的田野与道路。这个时候，肉眼已能分辨各种色彩，包括绿色的植物、灰色的混凝土、褐色的旷野、白色的积雪等等。而最令人感到兴奋的，莫过于看到人群聚集之处。在每个世界上，各个城镇都各有各的几何构图与建筑特色。
In an ordinary ship, there would have been the excitement oftouching down and skimming across a runway. For the Far Star ,it was different. It floated through the air, was slowed by skillfullybalancing air resistance and gravity, and finally made to come to restabove the spaceport. The wind was gusty and that introduced an addedcomplication. The Far Star , when adjusted to low response togravitational pull, was not only abnormally low in weight, but in massas well. If its mass were too close to zero, the wind would blow it awayrapidly. Hence, gravitational response had to be raised and jetthrustshad to be delicately used not only against the planet's pull but againstthe wind's push, and in a manner that matched the shift in wind intensityclosely. Without an adequate computer, it could not possibly have beendone properly.
假如乘坐的是普通太空船，还能体会到着陆以及在跑道上滑行的兴奋。远星号的情况则不同，它缓缓飘浮在空中，很技巧地平衡了重力与空气阻力，最后静止在太空航站正上方。由于此刻风速很高，使得着陆因而更加困难。如果将远星号的“重力响应”调得很低，不单它的重量会减到不可思议的程度，连质量亦将同时变小。倘若质量太接近零，它很快会被强风吹跑，因此现在必须增加重力响应，并且巧妙地利用喷射推进器，以抵抗行星的引力与强风的推力，而后者需要密切配合风力强度的变化。若是没有一台称职的电脑，绝不可能顺利做到这一点。
Downward and downward, with small unavoidable shifts in this directionand that, drifted the ship until it finally sank into the outlined areathat marked its assigned position in the port.
远星号不断往下降，其间难免需要小幅修正方向，最后终于落在航站标示出的指定地点。
The sky was a pale blue, intermingled with flat white, when the FarStar landed. The wind remained gusty even at ground level and thoughit was now no longer a navigational peril, it produced a chill thatTrevize winced at. He realized at once that their clothing supply wastotally unsuited to Comporellian weather.
当远星号降落时，天空是一片苍蓝，还掺杂着些许惨白的色彩。即使已到达地面，风速丝毫不减，虽然不再有飞航安全的威胁，强风带来的寒意仍令崔维兹退避三舍。他立刻明白，他们的备用衣物完全不适于康普隆的气候。
Pelorat, on the other hand, looked about with appreciation and drewhis breath deeply through his nose with relish, liking the bite ofthe cold, at least for the moment. He even deliberately unseamed hiscoat in order to feel the wind against his chest. In a little while,he knew, he would seam up again and adjust his scarf, but for now hewanted to feel the existence of an atmosphere. One neverdid aboard ship.
反之，裴洛拉特却在四处观望，露出一副十分欣赏的神情，还津津有味地深深吸了一口气，好像陶醉在刺骨寒风中，至少暂时如此。他甚至故意拉开大衣，让风吹进他的胸膛。他知道，不久就得再把大衣拉起来，并将围巾裹紧，不过现在他要感受大气的存在，这是在太空艇中所无法体验的。
Bliss drew her coat closely about herself, and, with gloved hands,dragged her hat down to cover her ears. Her face was crumpled in miseryand seemed close to tears.
宝绮思用大衣紧紧裹住自己，还用带着手套的双手把帽子拉低，盖住两只耳朵。她的五官皱成一团，显出一副可怜相，眼泪似乎都快要掉下来。
She muttered, "This world is evil. It hates and mistreats us."
她喃喃抱怨道：“这是个邪恶的世界，它憎恨并虐待我们。”
"Not at all, Bliss dear," said Pelorat earnestly. "I'm sure theinhabitant; like this world, and that it uh likes them,if you want to put it that way. We'll be indoors soon enough, and itwill be warm there."
“并不尽然，宝绮思吾爱。”裴洛拉特态度认真地答道，“我确定此地居民都喜欢这个世界，而这个世界——呃，如果照你的说法来说——也喜欢他们。我们很快就要进入室内，里面一定很暖和。”
Almost as an afterthought, he flipped one side of his coat outwardcurved it about her, while she snuggled against his shirtfront.
他突然想起该怎么做，赶紧敞开大衣将她围住，她则依偎在他胸前。
Trevize did his best to ignore the temperature. He obtained a mapcard from the port authority, checking it on his pocket computer tosure that it gave the necessary details his aisle and lot number,the and engine number of his ship, and so on. He checked once more tosure that the ship was tightly secured, and then took out the maximuminsurance allowed against the chance of misadventure (useless, actually,the Far Star should be invulnerable at the likely Comporellianlevel of technology, and was entirely irreplaceable at whatever price,if it were not).
崔维兹尽量不理会寒冷的温度。他从航站管理局取得一张磁卡，并用口袋型电脑检查了一下资料是否齐备——包括停泊处的位址、太空艇番号与引擎号码等等。他再一次四下查看，以确定太空艇绝对安全，然后买了最高额的意外险（其实并没有必要，因为就康普隆的科技水准而言，看来还无法对远星号构成威胁。万一并非如此，那么即使再多的赔偿也无法弥补了）。
Trevize found the taxi-station where it ought to be. (A number offacilities at spaceports were standardized in position, appearance,and manner of use. They had to be, in view of the multiworld nature ofthe clientele.)
崔维兹在预期的地点找到了计程车站。（一般说来，太空航站的许多设施，不论是位置、外观或使用方法，都已经全部标准化。由于旅客来自各个世界，这当然是有必要的。）
He signaled for a taxi, punching out the destination merely as"City."
他送出召唤计程车的讯号，但只按下“市区”作为目的地。
A taxi glided up to them on diamagnetic skis, drifting slightlyunder the impulse of the wind, and trembling under the vibration of itsnot-quite-silent engine. It was a dark gray in color and bore its whitetaxi-insignia on tell doors. The taxi-driver was wearing a dark coatand a white, furred bat.
一辆计程车借着反磁滑板滑到他们面前，车身被风吹得轻微飘荡，同时还不停发颤，那是被声音不小的引擎所带动的。这辆计程车外表是深灰色，后门贴着白色的计程车徽，司机穿着深色外套，头上戴着一顶白色毛皮帽。
Pelorat, becoming aware, said softly, "The planetary decor seem tobe black and white."
裴洛拉特若有所感，轻声道：“这行星似乎偏爱黑白两色。”
Trevize said, "It may be more lively in the city proper."
崔维兹说：“到了市区，也许就会比较多彩多姿。”
The driver spoke into a small microphone, perhaps in order to avoidopening the window. "Going to the city, folks?"
司机对着一个小型麦克风讲话，可能是为了省去开关车窗的麻烦。“三位，到市区去吗？”
There was a gentle singsong to his Galactic dialect that was ratherattractive, and he was not hard to understand always a relief ona new world,Trevize said, "That's right," and the rear door slid open.
他讲的银河方言音韵平板，但相当动听，而且不难懂。在一个陌生的世界，这总是能令人松一口气。崔维兹答道：“是的。”后车门便立刻滑开。
Bliss entered, followed by Pelorat, and then by Trevize. The doorclosed and warm air welled upward.
宝绮思先坐进去，接着是裴洛拉特，最后才是崔维兹。车门关上之后，一股暖气向上涌来。
Bliss rubbed her hands and breathed a long sigh of relief.
宝绮思搓了搓手，长长吁了一口气。
The taxi pulled out slowly, and the driver said, "That ship you camein is gravitic, isn't it?"
车子慢慢开出航站，司机问道：“你们驾驶的是重力太空艇，对吗？”
Trevize said dryly, "Considering the way it came down, would youdoubt it?"
崔维兹冷冷地说：“照它降落的方式看来，你还会怀疑吗？”
The driver said, "Is it from Terminus, then?"
司机说：“那么，它是端点星出厂的喽？”
Trevize said, "Do you know any other world that could build one?"
崔维兹说：“你还知道哪个世界会造这种太空艇吗？”
The driver seemed to digest that as the taxi took on speed. He thensaid, "Do you always answer a question with a question?"
司机一面将计程车加速，一面似乎在咀嚼对方的回答。然后他说：“你总是用问句来回答问题吗？”
Trevize couldn't resist. "Why not?"
崔维兹忍不住说：“有何不可？”
"In that case, how would you answer me if I asked if your name wereGolan Trevize?"
“这样的话，假如我问你，你的名字是不是葛兰·崔维兹，你会怎么回答？”
I would answer: What makes you ask?
“我会回答：你为何要问？”
The taxi came to a halt at the outskirts of the spaceport and thedriver said, "Curiosity! I ask again: Are you Golan Trevize?"
计程车在航站外停了下来，那司机说：“好奇！我再问一遍：你是不是葛兰·崔维兹？”
Trevize's voice became stiff and hostile. "What business is thatof yours?"
“关你什么事？”崔维兹的声音变得严厉且充满敌意。
"My friend," said the driver, "We're not moving till you answer thequestion. And if you don't answer in a clear yes or no in about twoseconds, I'm turning the heat off in the passenger compartment and we'llkeep on waiting. Are you Golan Trevize, Councilman of Terminus? If youranswer is in the negative, you will have to show me your identificationpapers."
“朋友，”司机说，“我们就停在这里，直到你回答这个问题为止。如果你在两秒钟内，不肯明确地回答是或不是，我便将乘客隔间的暖气关掉，我们就这样一直耗下去。我再问一遍，你是不是葛兰·崔维兹，端点星的议员？假如你的回答是否定的，你必须拿出身份证件让我看看。”
Trevize said, "Yes, I am Golan Trevize, and as a Councilman of theFoundation, I expect to be treated with all the courtesy due my rank. Yourfailure to do so will have you in hot water, fellow. Now what?"
崔维兹说：“没错，我是葛兰·崔维兹。身为基地的议员，我希望受到和这个身份相符的礼遇。你不这么做，将会吃不了兜着走，老兄，怎么说？”
"Now we can proceed a little more lightheartedly." The taxi beganto move again. "I choose my passengers carefully, and I had expected topick up two men only. The woman was a surprise and I might have made amistake. As it is, if I have you, then I can leave it to you to explainthe woman when you reach your destination."
“现在我们可以带着比较轻松的心情上路。”计程车继续向前开去，“我很仔细地选择乘客，我该接的只有两位男士，没料到竟然还有个女的，所以我有可能弄错了。不过也无妨，只要我接到你，等我们到达目的地之后，就由你负责把这个女的交代清楚。”
"You don't know my destination."
“你不知道我的目的地。”
"As it happens, I do. You're going to the Department ofTransportation."
“我恰巧知道，你要去运输部。”
"That's not where I want to go."
“我不是要去那里。”
"That matters not one little bit, Councilman. If I were a taxi-driver,I'd take you where you want to go. Since I'm not, I take you whereI want you to go."
“这丝毫不重要，议员先生。假如我真是计程车司机，自然会载你到你要去的地方；既然我不是，我就要载你到我要你去的地方。”
"Pardon me," said Pelorat, leaning forward, "you certainly seem tobe a taxi-driver. You're driving a taxi."
“对不起，”裴洛拉特俯身向前，“你当然应该是计程车司机，你开的是计程车。”
"Anyone might drive a taxi. Not everyone has a license to do so. Andnot every car that looks like a taxi is a taxi."
“谁都可能开计程车，但不是每个人都有执照，也不是每辆看起来像计程车的都是计程车。”
Trevize said, "Let's stop playing games. Who are you and whatare you doing? Remember that you'll have to account for this to theFoundation."
崔维兹说：“别再玩游戏了。你是谁？你到底在做什么？别忘了你的所作所为都得向基地负责。”
"Not I," said the driver, "My superiors, perhaps. I'm an agent ofthe Comporellian Security Force. I am under orders to treat you with alldue respect to your rank, but you must go where I take you. And be verycareful how you react, for this vehicle is armed, and I am under ordersto defend myself against attack."
“我不必负什么责，”那司机说，“但我的上级或许吧。我是康普隆安全局的人，奉上级的命令，以完全合乎你身份地位的方式接待你，但是你必须跟我走。请你凡事三思而后行，因为这辆车备有武装，而我奉命遇到攻击必须自卫。”
16
16
The vehicle, having reached cruising speed, moved withabsolute, smooth quiet, and Trevize sat there in quietness as frozen. Hewas aware, without actually looking, of Pelorat glancing at him now andthen with a look of uncertainty on his face, a "What do we do now? Pleasetell me" look.
计程车加速到巡航速度之后，车身变得绝对平稳而安静。崔维兹坐在那里一动不动，似乎全身都僵住了。他虽然没有望着裴洛拉特，也晓得他不时瞥向自己，脸上带着不安的表情，仿佛在说：“我们现在该怎么办？请告诉我。”
Bliss, a quick glance told him, sat calmly, apparently unconcerned. Ofcourse, she was a whole world in herself. All of Gaia, though it mightbe at Galactic distances, was wrapped up in her skin. She had resourcesthat could be called on in a true emergency.
至于宝绮思，崔维兹只是很快瞄了一眼，就知道她冷静地端坐着，显然根本不在乎。当然，她本身就是整个世界，虽然与盖娅有着天文数字的距离，整个盖娅仍然裹在她的皮囊中。在真正紧急的情况下，她还有一个稳当的靠山。
But, then, what had happened?
可是，到底发生了什么事？
Clearly, the official at the entry station, following routine, hadsent down his report omitting Bliss and it had attractedthe interest of the security people and, of all things, the Departmentof Transportation. Why?
显然，入境站的那个海关人员循例将报告送了下来，只不过没提到宝绮思。这份报告引起安全人员的兴趣，甚至连运输部也插上一脚。但是为什么呢？
It was peacetime and he knew of no specific tensions betweenComporellon and the Foundation. He himself was an important Foundation official……
现在是承平时期，据他所知，康普隆与基地之间并没有特殊的紧张关系。而自己又是基地的重要官员……
Wait, he had told the official at the entry station Kendray,his name had been that he was on important business with theComporellian government. He had stressed that in his attempt to getthrough. Kendray must have reported that as well and that would rouse all sorts of interest.
慢着，他曾经告诉那个海关人员肯德瑞，自己有重要公事要与康普隆政府交涉。为了顺利通关，他特别强调这一点。肯德瑞的报告中一定也提到这件事，这当然会引起各方面的注意。
He hadn't anticipated that, and he certainly should have.
他未曾预料到会有这个结果，他早该想到的。
What, then, about his supposed gift of rightness? Was he beginningto believe that he was the black box that Gaia thought he was orsaid it thought he was. Was he being led into a quagmire by the growthof an overconfidence built on superstition?
那么，他那所谓正确无比的判断力呢？难道他也开始相信自己是个黑盒子，就像盖娅所认为（或声称所认为）的那样。是否由于建立在迷信上的过度自信不断膨胀，使自己陷入泥沼而无法自拔？
How could he for one moment be trapped in that folly? Had he never inhit life been wrong? Did he know what the weather would be tomorrow? Didhe win large amounts in games of chance? The answers were no, no,and no.
他怎么会突然变得那么蠢？他一生之中难道没犯过错吗？他能预知明日的天气吗？他在赌运气的游戏中大赢过吗？答案都是否定的，否定的，否定的。
Well, then, was it only in the large, inchoate things that he wasalways right? How could he tell?
那么，是否只有尚在酝酿中的大事，他的想法才会永远正确？他又怎能分辨呢？
Forget that! After all, the mere fact that he had stated hehad important state business no, it was "Foundation security"that he had said……
算了吧！反正当初他只不过提到，自己身负重要的公务——不，他用的字眼是“基地安全事宜”……
Well, then, the mere fact that he was there on a matter of Foundationsecurity, coming, as he had, secretly and unheralded, would surelyattract their attention. Yes, but until they knew what it was allabout they would surely act with the utmost circumspection. They would beceremonious and treat him as a high dignitary. They would not kidnap him and make use of threats.
那么，光是他为基地安全事宜而来这一点——而且是秘密行动，事先未曾知会对方——就足以引起他们的注意。可是，他们在弄清楚究竟之前，行动一定会万分谨慎，应该对自己相当礼遇，将自己奉为上宾。他们不该使用绑架的手法，也不该对自己威胁恫吓。
Yet that was exactly what they had done. Why?
但他们正是这样做的，为什么呢？
What made them feel strong enough and powerful enough to treat aCouncilman of Terminus in such a fashion?
是什么因素，让他们感到已有足够强大的力量，胆敢采取这种方式对待端点星的议员？
Could it be Earth? Was the same force that hid the world of origin soeffectively, even against the great mentalists of the Second Foundation,now working to circumvent his search for Earth in the very first stageof that search? Was Earth omniscient? Omipotent?
会不会是地球？会不会是那个将起源世界成功隐藏起来的力量？甚至第二基地那些伟大的精神学家，都不是那个力量的对手。如今，是不是他刚踏上寻找地球的第一站，那个力量就先发制人？地球难道无所不知、无所不能吗？
Trevize shook his head. That way lay paranoia. Was he going toblame Earth for everything? Was every quirk of behavior, every bend inthe road, every twist of circumstance, to be the result of the secretmachinations of Earth? As soon as he began to think in that fashion,he was defeated.
崔维兹摇了摇头，这样会导致妄想的。难道要将每件事都记到地球账上？难道他遇到的每一个古怪行动、每一条歧路、每一项情势的逆转，都是地球秘密策划的结果？一旦开始有这样的想法，他就已经不战而败了。
At that point, he felt the vehicle decelerating and was brought backto reality at a stroke.
这时，他觉得车子开始减速，思绪一下子被拉回现实。
It occurred to him that he had never, even for one moment, lookedat the city through which they had been passing. He looked about now, atouch wildly. The buildings were low, but it was a cold planet mostof the structures were probably underground.
他突然想到，在通过市区的时候，他连一眼也没有向外望去。现在他才匆匆四下望了望，发现建筑物都相当矮。但这是一颗寒冷的行星，想必建筑结构大部分在地底。
He saw no trace of color and that seemed against human nature.
他看不到任何一丝色彩，这似乎跟人类的天性不合。
Occasionally, he could see a person pass, well bundled. But,then, the people, like the buildings themselves, were probably mostlyunderground.
他偶尔才会看到一个行人，一律全身紧紧裹着。不过，人群或许也跟建筑物一样，大多数都在地底。
The taxi had stopped before a low, broad building, set in a depression,the bottom of which Trevize could not see. Some moments passed and itcontinued to remain there, the driver himself motionless as well. Histall, white hat nearly touched the roof of the vehicle.
计程车在一座低矮、宽阔、位于洼地的建筑物前停下，崔维兹看不到那建筑物的底层。过了一阵子，车子仍旧停在该处，司机自己也纹风不动，他的高筒白帽几乎碰到车顶。
Trevize wondered fleetingly how the driver managed to step in andout of the vehicle without knocking his hat off, then said, with thecontrolled anger one would expect of a haughty and mistreated official,"Well, driver, what now?"
崔维兹突然冒出一个疑问，这司机要怎样进出车子，才不会将帽子碰掉？然后他说：“好啦，司机，现在怎么样？”他压抑着怒气，和任何一位受辱的高傲官员无异。
The Comporellian version of the glittering field-partition thatseparated the driver from the passengers was not at all primitive. Sound waves could pass through though Trevize was quite certain thatmaterial objects, at reasonable energies, could not.
康普隆人用来隔开司机与乘客的力场隔板绝不落后，声波完全能够通过这个闪烁的无形力场。不过崔维兹相当肯定，有形物质若非带有巨大能量，是绝对不可能穿透的。
The driver said, "Someone will be up to get you. Just sit back andtake it easy."
司机说：“有人会上来接你们，现在好好坐着，放轻松点。”
Even as he said this, three heads appeared in a slow, smooth ascentfrom the depression in which the building rested. After that, therecame the rest of the bodies. Clearly, the newcomers were moving up theequivalent of an escalator, but Trevize could not see the details ofthe device from where he sat.
他的话还没说完，就有三个人头从建筑物所在的洼地缓缓且稳稳地冒出来。接着，三人身体的其他部分才逐一出现，显然他们是乘坐类似自动扶梯的装置上来的。不过从崔维兹现在的位置，还无法看清楚那个装置。
As the three approached, the passenger door of the taxi opened anda flood of cold air swept inward.
当那三个人走近时，计程车的客用车门打了开，大量的冷空气立刻刮进去。
Trevize stepped out, seaming his coat to the neck. The other twofollowed him Bliss with considerable reluctance.
崔维兹走出来，顺手将大衣一路拉到领口。另外两人也跟着他下了车，宝绮思显得很不情愿。
The three Comporellians were shapeless, wearing garments that balloonedoutward and were probably electrically heated. Trevize felt scorn atthat. There was little use for such things on Terminus, and the onetime he had borrowed a heat-coat during winter on the nearby planetof Anacreon, he discovered it had a tendency to grow warmer at a slowrate so that by the time he realized he was too warm he was perspiringuncomfortably.
那三个康普隆人完全看不出身材，因为他们穿的衣服像气球般鼓胀，里面或许还有电暖设备。崔维兹对这种服装很不以为然，它们在端点星几乎派不上用场。有一年冬天，他从邻近的安纳克里昂借来一件电暖大衣，结果发现它会一直慢慢加温，当他觉得太热的时候，已经出了一身大汗，令他浑身不舒服。
As the Comporellians approached, Trevize noted with a distinct senseof indignation that they were armed. Nor did they try to conceal thefact. Quite the contrary. Each had a blaster in a holster attached tothe outer garment.
三名康普隆人走近时，崔维兹注意到他们都带着武器，心中不禁十分恼怒。他们非但无意掩饰，而且恰恰相反，每个人的外衣都大剌剌挂着一个皮套，里面装着一支惹眼的手铳。
One of the Comporellians, having stepped up to confront Trevize, saidgruffly, "Your pardon, Councilman," and then pulled his coat open withrough movement. He had inserted questing hands which moved quickly upand down Trevize's sides, back, chest, and thighs. The coat was shakenand felt. Trevize was too overcome by confused astonishment to realizehe had been rapidly and efficiently searched till it was over.
其中一名康普隆人走到崔维兹面前，粗声道：“失礼了，议员先生。”随即以粗鲁的动作拉开他的大衣，双手伸进去，很快将崔维兹的上下左右、前胸后背，以及两条大腿都摸索了一遍。接着，他还将崔维兹的大衣甩了甩、摸了摸。崔维兹被这突如其来的举动吓得不知所措，直到一切完毕，才明白已被迅速又有效率地搜了身。
Pelorat, his chin drawn down and his mouth in a twisted grimace, wasundergoing a similar indignity at the hands of a second Comporellian.
裴洛拉特则扭曲着脸孔，任由另一个康普隆人对他进行类似的羞辱。
The third was approaching Bliss, who did not wait to be touched. She,at least, knew what to expect, somehow, for she whipped off her coat and,for a moment, stood there in her light clothing, exposed to the whistleof the wind.
第三个康普隆人正走向宝绮思，但她早有心理准备，不等对方伸出手来，便将大衣猛然褪下，身上只剩一层单薄的衣裳，就这样站在呼啸的寒风中。
She said, freezingly enough to match the temperature, "You can seeI'm not armed."
她说：“你看得出来我没有任何武装。”她冰冷的声音恰似四周的低温。
And indeed anyone could. The Comporellian shook the coat, as thoughby its weight he could tell if it contained a weapon perhaps hecould and retreated.
的确，任何人都看得出来。那个康普隆人抖了抖她的大衣，仿佛从它的重量就能判断是否藏有武器（或许他真有这个本事），然后退了开来。
Bliss put on her coat again, huddling into it, and for a momentTrevize admired her gesture. He knew how she felt about the cold, butshe had not allowed a tremor or shiver to escape her as she had stoodthere in thin blouse and slacks. (Then he wondered if, in the emergency,she might not have drawn warmth from the rest of Gaia.)
宝绮思匆匆将大衣裹在身上，一时之间，崔维兹对她的行动不禁肃然起敬。他知道她有多怕冷，但她刚才穿着宽松而单薄的上衣长裤站在那里，却一点也没有发抖或打战。（但他又不禁怀疑，是否在紧急情况下，她能从盖娅的其他部分吸取一些温暖。）
One of the Comporellians gestured, and the three Outworlders followedhim. The other two Comporellians fell behind. The one or two pedestrianswho were on the street did not bother to watch what was happening. Eitherthey were too accustomed to the sight or, more likely, had their mindsoccupied with getting to some indoor destination as soon as possible.
其中一个康普隆人做了个手势，三位外星人士便尾随着他，另外两个康普隆人则走在他们后面。此时街上有一两个行人，根本懒得向这里多望一眼。也许他们对这种事司空见惯，更可能是因为他们心中只有一个念头，那就是尽快走到室内某个目的地。
Trevize saw now that it was a moving ramp up which the Comporellianshad ascended. They were descending now, all six of them, and pastedthrough a lock arrangement almost as complicated as that on aspaceship to keep heat inside, no doubt, rather than air.
崔维兹现在终于知道，那三个康普隆人刚才是用滑动坡道上来的，此时他们一行六人则顺着坡道下滑。不久，他们通过一道闸门——看来简直跟太空船的闸门一样复杂，不过显然并非为了锁住空气，而是避免热量外逸。
And then, at once, they were inside a huge building.
然后，他们立刻置身一座巨大的建筑物中。