Part Three - Aurora
第三部 奥罗拉
Chapter 8: Forbidden World
第8章 禁忌世界
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"Golan," said Pelorat. "Does it bother you if I watch?"
“葛兰，”裴洛拉特说，“我在一旁看看，会不会打扰你？”
"Not at all, Janov," said Trevize.
“一点都不会，詹诺夫。”崔维兹说。
"If I ask questions?"
“如果问些问题呢？”
Go ahead.
“问吧。”
Pelorat said, "What are you doing?"
于是裴洛拉特问道：“你到底在做什么？”
Trevize took his eyes off the viewscreen. "I've got to measure thedistance of each star that seems to be near the Forbidden World onthe screen, so that I can determine how near they really are. Theirgravitational fields must be known and for that I need mass anddistance. Without that knowledge, one can't be sure of a clean Jump."
崔维兹将视线从显像屏幕移开。“凡是屏幕上看起来很接近那个禁忌世界的恒星，每一颗的距离我都得测量出来，这样才能断定它们真正有多近。我必须知道它们的重力场，而这就需要质量和距离的数据。如果缺乏这些资料，便无法保证一次成功的跃迁。”
"How do you do that?"
“你怎么做呢？”
"Well, each star I see has its co-ordinates in the computer's memorybanks and these can be converted into co-ordinates on the Comporelliansystem. That can, in turn, be slightly corrected for the actual positionof the For Star in space relative to Comporellon's sun, and that givesme the distance of each. Those red dwarfs all look quite near theForbidden World on the screen, but some might be much closer and somemuch farther. We need their three-dimensional position, you see."
“嗯，我看到的每一颗恒星，电脑记忆库中都有它的坐标，不难转换成康普隆的坐标系统。接下来，根据远星号在太空中相对于康普隆之阳的位置，作小幅度的修正，就能得到每颗恒星和我们的距离。屏幕上看来，那些红矮星都很接近那个禁忌世界，但事实上有些可能更近，有些其实更远。我们需要知道它们的三维位置，你懂了吧。”
Pelorat nodded, and said, "And you already have the co-ordinates ofthe Forbidden World "
裴洛拉特点了点头。“你已经有了那个禁忌世界的坐标……”
"Yes, but that's not enough. I need the distances of the otherstars to within a percent or so. Their gravitational intensity in theneighborhood of the Forbidden World is so small that a slight errormakes no perceptible difference. The sun about which the Forbidden Worldrevolves or might revolve possessss an enormously intensegravitational field in the neighborhood of the Forbidden World and Imust know its distance with perhaps a thousand times the accuracy ofthat of the other stars. The co-ordinatss alone won't do."
“没错，但那还不够，我还需要知道其他恒星的距离，误差可在百分之一左右。在那个禁忌世界附近，那些恒星的重力场一律很弱，些许误差不会造成明显的差别。而那个禁忌世界所环绕的太阳，在禁忌世界附近产生的重力场则很强，我必须知道它的精确距离，精确度至少是其他恒星的一千倍，单有坐标无法做到这一点。”
"Then what do you do?"
“那你怎么办呢？”
"I measure the apparent separation of the Forbidden World or,rather, its star from three nearby stars which are so dim it takesconsiderable magnification to make them out at all. Presumably, thosethree are very far away. We then keep one of those three stars centered onthe screen and Jump a tenth of a parsec in a direction at right angles tothe line of vision to the Forbidden World. We can do that safely enougheven without knowing distances to comparatively far-off stars.
“我测量出那个禁忌世界——或者应该说它的恒星——和附近三颗恒星的视距离。那三颗恒星都很暗，需要放大许多倍才看得清楚，因此，它们的距离想必非常非常远。然后，我们将其中一颗摆在屏幕中央，再向一侧跃迁十分之一秒差距，跃迁的方向垂直于我们对禁忌世界的视线。由于附近没有其他恒星，即使我们不知道远方星体的距离，这样的跃迁仍然很安全。
"The reference star which is centered would still be centered afterthe Jump. The two other dim stars, if all three are truly very distant,do not change their positions measurably. The Forbidden World, however,is close enough to change its apparent position in parallactic shift. Fromthe size of the shift, we can determine its distance. If I want to makedoubly certain, I choose three other stars and try again."
“跃迁之后，位于中央的那颗参考恒星仍会留在原处。如果三颗恒星距离我们真的都非常远，其他两颗暗星的位置也不会有什么变化。然而，那个禁忌世界的恒星由于距离较近，因此会有视差移位。从移位的大小，便能决定它和我们之间的距离。假如我想做个验证，可以另选三颗恒星，重新再试一遍。”
Pelorat said, "How long doss all that take?"
裴洛拉特说：“总共要花多久时间？”
"Not very long. The computer doss the heavy work. I just tell it whatto do. What really takes the time is that I have to study the resultsand make sure they look right and that my instructions aren't at faultsomehow. If I were one of those daredevils with utter faith in themselvesand the computer, it could all be done in a few minutes."
“不会太久，繁重的工作都由电脑负责，我只要发号施令就行了。真正花时间的工作，是我必须研究测量的结果，确定它们都没问题，还有我的指令也没有任何失误。如果我是那种蛮勇之徒，对自己和电脑具有完全的信心，那么几分钟内就能完成。”
Pelorat said, "It's really astonishing. Think how much the computerdoes for us."
裴洛拉特说：“真是太奇妙了，想想电脑能帮我们做多少事。”
"I think of it all the time."
“这点我一向心里有数。”
"What would you do without it?"
“假如没有电脑，你要怎么办？”
"What would I do without a gravitic ship? What would I do withoutmy astronautic training? What would I do without twenty thousandyears of hyperspatial technology behind me? The fact is that I'mmyself here now. Suppose weeeere to imagine ourselves twentythousand additional years into the future. What technological marvelswould we have to be grateful for? Or might it be that twenty thousandyears hence humanity would not exist?"
“假如没有重力太空艇，我要怎么办？假如我未曾受过太空航行训练，我要怎么办？假如没有两万年的超空间科技做我的后盾，我又要怎么办？事实上我就是此时此地这个我。倘若我们想象自己身处两万年后的未来，我们又将赞叹什么样的科技奇迹？或者有没有可能，两万年后人类早已不复存在？”
Scarcely that, said Pelorat. "Scarcely not exist. Even if wedon't become part of Galaxia, we would still have psychohistory toguide us."
“几乎不可能，”裴洛拉特说，“不可能不复存在。即使我们没有成为盖娅星系的一部分，我们仍有心理史学指导我们。”
Trevize turned in his chair, releasing his handhold on thecomputer. "Let it work out distances," he said, "and let it check thematter a number of times. There's no hurry."
崔维兹双手松开电脑，在椅子上转过身来。“让它计算距离吧，”他说，“让它重复检查几遍，反正我们不急。”
He looked quizzically at Pelorat, and said, "Psychohistory! You know,Janov, twice that subject came up on Comporellon, and twice it wasdescribed as a superstition. I said so once, and then Deniador said italso. After all, how can you define psychohistory but as a superstitionof the Foundation? Isn't it a belief without proof or evidence? What doyou think, Janov? It's more your field than mine."
他用怪异的目光望着裴洛拉特，又说：“心理史学！你知道的，詹诺夫，在康普隆上，这个话题出现了两次，每次都被斥为迷信。我自己说过一次，后来丹尼亚多也提到了。毕竟，除了说它是基地的迷信，你又能怎样定义心理史学？它难道不是一种没有证明和证据的信仰吗？你怎么想，詹诺夫？这个问题应该比较接近你的领域。”
Pelorat said, "Why do you say there's no evidence, Golan? Thesimulacrum of Hari Seldon has appeared in the Time Vault many times andhas discussed events as they happened. He could not have known whatthose events would be, in his time, had he not been able to predictthem psychohistorically."
裴洛拉特说：“你为什么要说没有证据呢，葛兰？哈里·谢顿的拟像曾在时光穹窿中出现许多次，每当有重大事件发生，他就会针对时势侃侃而谈。当年，他若无法利用心理史学作出预测，就不可能知道未来才会发生的事件。”
Trevize nodded. "That sounds impressive. He was wrong about theMule, but even allowing for that, it's impressive. Still, it has anuncomfortable magical feel to it. Any conjurer can do tricks."
崔维兹点了点头。“听起来的确不简单，他虽然没有预测到骡，即便如此还是很不简单。话说回来，它还是令人感到邪门，有点像魔术，任何术士都会玩这种把戏。”
"No conjurer could predict centuries into the future."
“没有任何术士能预测几世纪后的事。”
"No conjurer could really do what he makes you think he does."
“也没有任何术士能创造奇迹，他们只是让你信以为真罢了。”
"Come, Golan. I can't think of any trick that would allow me topredict what will happen five centuries from now."
“拜托，葛兰，我想不出有什么伎俩，能让我预测五世纪后会发生什么事。”
"Nor can you think of a trick that will allow a conjurer to readthe contents of a message hidden in a pseudo-tesseract on an unmannedorbiting satellite. Just the same, I've seen a conjurer do it. Has itever occurred to you that the Time Capsule, along with the Hari Seldonsimulacrum, may be rigged by the government?"
“你也无法想象有什么伎俩，能让一个术士读取藏在无人卫星中的讯息。然而，我曾目睹一个术士做到这一点。你有没有想到过，定时信囊以及哈里·谢顿的拟像，或许都是政府自导自演的？”
Pelorat looked as though he were revolted by the suggestion. "Theywouldn't do that."
裴洛拉特对这种说法显得相当反感。“他们不会那么做。”
Trevize made a scornful sound.
崔维兹发出一下轻蔑的嘘声。
Pelorat said, "And they'd be caught if they tried."
裴洛拉特说：“假如他们企图那么做，一定会被逮到的。”
"I'm not at all sure of that. The point is, though, that we don'tknow how psychohistory works at all."
“这点我不敢肯定。不过，问题是我们不知道心理史学如何运作。”
"I don't know how that computer works, but I know it works."
“我也不知道那台电脑如何运作，可是我知道它的确有用。”
"That's because others know how it works. How would it be if noone knew how it worked? Then, if it stopped working for any reason, wewould be helpless to do anything about it. And if psychohistory suddenlystopped working "
“那是因为还有别人知道它如何运作，如果没有任何人知道，又会是什么样的情况？那样的话，要是它由于某种原因停摆，我们都会一筹莫展。如果心理史学突然失灵……”
"The Second Foundationers know the workings of psychohistory."
“第二基地分子知道心理史学的运作方式。”
"How do you know that, Janov?"
“你又怎么晓得，詹诺夫？”
"So it is said."
“大家都这么说。”
"Anything can be said. Ah, we have the distance of theForbidden World's star, and, I hope, very accurately. Let's considerthe figures."
“大家什么事都可以说——啊，那个禁忌世界的恒星和我们之间的距离算出来了，我希望算得非常精确。我们来推敲一下这组数字。”
He stared at them for a long time, his lips moving occasionally,as though he were doing some rough calculations in his head. Finally,he said, without lifting his eyes, "What's Bliss doing?"
他盯着那组数字良久，嘴唇还不时嚅动，仿佛在心中进行一些概略的计算。最后，他终于开口，不过眼睛并未扬起来。“宝绮思在做什么？”
"Sleeping, old chap," said Pelorat. Then, defensively, "Sheneeds sleep, Golan. Maintaining herself as part of Gaiaacross hyperspace is energy-consuming."
“在睡觉，老弟。”然后，裴洛拉特又为她辩护道，“她很需要睡眠，葛兰。跨越超空间而维持身为盖娅的一部分，是很消耗精力的一件事。”
"I suppose so," said Trevize, and turned back to the computer. Heplaced his hands on the desk and muttered, "I'll let it go in severalJumps and have it recheck each time." Then he withdrew them againand said, "I'm serious, Janov. What do you know aboutpsychohistory?"
“我也这么想。”崔维兹说完，又转身面对电脑。他将双手放在桌面上，喃喃说道：“我要让它分成几次来跃迁，每次都要重新检查。”然后他将双手又收回来，“我是说真的，詹诺夫，你对心理史学知道多少？”
Pelorat looked taken aback. "Nothing. Being a historian,which I am, after a fashion, is worlds different from being apsychohistorian. Of course, I know the two fundamental basics ofpsychohistory, but everyone knows that."
裴洛拉特好像有点意外。“一窍不通。身为历史学家，例如我自己，和身为心理史学家简直有天壤之别。当然啦，我知道心理史学的两大基石，但是每个人也都知道。”
"Even I do. The first requirement is that the number of human beingsinvolved must be large enough to make statistical treatment valid. Buthow large is `large enough'?"
“连我都知道。第一个条件是涉及的人口数目必须足够庞大，才能使用统计方式处理。可是多大才算‘足够庞大’呢？”
Pelorat said, "The latest estimate of the Galactic populationis something like ten quadrillion, and that's probably anunderestimate. Surely, that's large enough."
裴洛拉特说：“银河人口的最新估计值是一万兆左右，也许还低估了。当然啦，这绝对够大了。”
"How do you know?"
“你怎么知道？”
"Because psychohistory does work, Golan. No matter howyou chop logic, it does work."
“因为心理史学的确有效，葛兰。不论你如何强词夺理，它的确有效啊。”
"And the second requirement," said Trevize, "is that human beingsnot be aware of psychohistory, so that the knowledge does not skew theirreactions. But they are aware of psychohistory."
“而第二个条件，”崔维兹又说，“是人类并不知晓心理史学，否则他们的反应就会产生偏差——可是大家都晓得有心理史学啊。”
"Only of its bare existence, old chap. That's not whatcounts. The second requirement is that human beings not be awareof the predictions of psychohistory and that they arenot except that the Second Foundationers are supposed to be awareof them, but they're a special case."
“只是知道它的存在罢了，老弟，那不能算数。第二个条件其实是说，人类并不知晓心理史学所作的预测，这点大家的确不知道。唯有第二基地分子才应该晓得，但他们是特例。”
"And upon those two requirements alone , the science ofpsychohistory has been developed. That's hard to believe."
“仅仅以这两个条件为基础，就能建立起心理史学这门科学，实在令人难以置信。”
"Not out of those two requirements alone, " said Pelorat. "Thereare advanced mathematics and elaborate statistical methods. Thestory is if you want tradition that Hari Seldon devisedpsychohistory by modeling it upon the kinetic theory of gases. Each atomor molecule in a gas moves randomly so that we can't know the position orvelocity of any one of them. Nevertheless, using statistics, we can workout the rules governing their overall behavior with great precision. Inthe same way, Seldon intended to work out the overall behavior of humansocieties even though the solutions would not apply to the behavior ofindividual human beings."
“并非仅仅根据这两个条件，”裴洛拉特说，“其中还牵涉到高等数学和精密的统计方法。据说——如果你想听听口述历史——哈里·谢顿当初开创心理史学，是以气体运动论为蓝本。气体中的每个原子或分子都在做随机运动，因此我们无法知道其中任何一个的位置或速度。然而，利用统计学，我们能导出描述它们整体行为的精确规律。根据这个原则，谢顿企图解出人类社会的整体行为，虽然他的解不适用于人类个体。”
"Perhaps, but human beings aren't atoms."
“或许如此，但人类并不是原子。”
"True," said Pelorat. "A human being has consciousness and his behavioris sufficiently complicated to make it appear to be free will. How Seldonhandled that I haven't any idea, and I'm sure I couldn't understandit even if someone who knew tried to explain it to me but hedid it."
“没错。”裴洛拉特说，“人类具有意识，行为复杂到足以显现自由意志。谢顿究竟如何处理这个问题，我完全没概念，即使有懂得的人设法向我解释，我也确定自己无法了解。可是无论如何，他的确成功了。”
Trevize said, "And the whole thing depends on dealing with people whoare both numerous and unaware. Doesn't that seem to you a quicksandishfoundation on which to build an enormous mathematical structure? Ifthose requirements are not truly met, then everything collapses."
崔维兹说：“因此这个理论想要成立，必须有为数众多而且不明就里的一群人。你难道不觉得，这么巨大的一个数学架构，是建立在松软的基础上吗？如果这两个条件无法真正满足，那么一切都会垮台。”
"But since the Plan hasn't collapsed "
“可是既然谢顿计划没垮……”
"Or, if the requirements are not exactly false or inadequate butsimply weaker than they should be, psychohistory might work adequatelyfor centuries and then, upon reaching some particular crisis, wouldcollapse as it did temporarily in the time of the Mule. Orwhat if there is a third requirement?"
“或者，假如这两个条件并非完全不合或不足，只是弱了一点，心理史学或许也能有效运作好几世纪，然后，在遇到某个特殊危机时，便会在一夕之间垮掉——就像当初骡出现时，它暂时垮掉那样。此外，如果还应该有第三个条件呢？”
"What third requirement?" asked Pelorat, frowning slightly.
“什么第三个条件？”裴洛拉特微微皱起眉头。
"I don't know," said Trevize. "An argument may seem thoroughlylogical and elegant and yet contain unexpressed assumptions. Maybe thethird requirement is an assumption so taken for granted that no one everthinks of mentioning it."
“我也不知道。”崔维兹说，“一个论述也许表面上完全合乎逻辑，而且绝妙无比，却隐含了某些未曾言明的假设。或许这第三个条件，是大家视为理所当然的假设，所以从来没有人想到过。”
"An assumption that is so taken for granted is usually valid enough,or it wouldn't be so taken for granted."
“如果一个假设被视为这么理所当然，通常都相当正确，否则，就不可能被视为这么理所当然。”
Trevize snorted. "If you knew scientific history as well as you knowtraditional history, Janov, you would know how wrong that is. ButI see that we are now in the neighborhood of the sun of the ForbiddenWorld."
崔维兹嗤之以鼻。“如果你对科学史和你对传说历史一样了解，詹诺夫，你就会知道这种说法错得有多严重。不过我想，我们已经来到那个禁忌世界的太阳附近。”
And, indeed, centered on the screen, was a bright star one sobright that the screen automatically filtered its light to the pointwhere all other stars were washed out.
的确，屏幕正中央出现了一颗明亮的恒星。由于太过明亮，屏幕自动将它的光芒滤掉大部分，其他恒星因而尽数从屏幕上消失。
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Facilities for washing and for personal hygiene on boardthe Far Star were compact, and the use of water was always held to areasonable minimum to avoid overloading the recycling facilities. BothPelorat and Bliss had been sternly reminded of this by Trevize.
远星号上的盥洗与个人卫生设备十分精简，用水量永远维持在合理的最小值，以免回收系统超过负荷。这一点，崔维兹曾板着脸提醒裴洛拉特与宝绮思。
Even so, Bliss maintained an air of freshness at all times and herdark, long hair could be counted on to be glossy, her fingernails tosparkle.
尽管如此，宝绮思总有办法随时保持清爽光鲜，乌黑的长发永远有着亮丽的光泽，她的指甲也始终明亮耀眼。
She walked into the pilot-room and said, "There you are!"
此时，她走进驾驶舱，说道：“你们在这儿啊！”
Trevize looked up and said, "No need for surprise. We could scarcelyhave left the ship, and a thirty-second search would be bound touncover us inside the ship, even if you couldn't detect our presencementally."
崔维兹抬起头来。“用不着惊讶。我们几乎不可能离开太空艇，即使你无法用心灵侦测到我们的行踪，只要花上三十秒，也一定能在太空艇中找到我们。”
Bliss said, "The expression was purely a form of greeting and notmeant to be taken literally, as you well know. Where are we? Anddon't say, `In the pilot-room.'"
宝绮思说：“这句话纯然是一种问候，不该照字面解释，你自己其实很清楚。现在我们在哪里？可别说‘在驾驶舱中’。”
Bliss dear, said Pelorat, holding out one arm, "we're at the outerregions of the planetary system of the nearest of the three ForbiddenWorlds."
“宝绮思吾爱，”裴洛拉特一面说，一面伸出手臂，“我们现在，是在那个禁忌世界所属的行星系外围。”
She walked to his side, placing her hand lightly on his shoulder,while his arm moved about her waist. She said, "It can't be veryForbidden. Nothing has stopped us."
她走到裴洛拉特身旁，将一只手轻放在他肩上，他的手臂则搂住她的腰。然后她说：“它不会有什么真正的禁忌，我们并未受到任何阻拦。”
Trevize said, "It is only Forbidden because Comporellon and the otherworlds of the second wave of settlement have voluntarily placed the worldsof the first wave the Spacers out of bounds. If we ourselvesdon't feel bound by that voluntary agreement, what is to stop us?"
崔维兹说：“它之所以成为禁忌，是因为康普隆和其他第二波殖民者所建立的世界，刻意和第一波殖民者‘太空族’所建立的世界隔离。如果我们自己没感受到这种刻意的限制，又有什么能阻止我们呢？”
"The Spacers, if any are left, might have voluntarily placed theworlds of the second wave out of bounds, too. Just because we don't mindintruding upon them doesn't mean that they don't mind it."
“那些太空族，如果还有任何人存留下来，或许也会刻意和第二波殖民世界隔离。虽然我们不介意侵入他们的领域，绝不代表他们也不介意。”
True, said Trevize, "If they exist. But so far we don't even knowif any planet exists for them to live on. So far, all we see are theusual gas giants. Two of them, and not particularly large ones."
“说得很对。”崔维兹道，“如果他们还在，的确会是这样。但直到现在，我们甚至还不知道他们的行星是否存在。目前为止，我们所看到的只有普通的气态巨星，总共有两颗，而且不是特别大。”
Pelorat said hastily, "But that doesn't mean the Spacer worlddoesn't exist. Any habitable world would be much closer to the sunand much smaller and very hard to detect in the solar glare from thisdistance. We'll have to micro-Jump inward to detect such a planet." Heseemed rather proud to be speaking like a seasoned space traveler.
裴洛拉特连忙说：“但这并不代表太空世界并不存在。可住人世界一律很接近太阳，体积又比气态巨星小很多，此外在这个距离，太阳闪焰也使我们极难侦测到它们。我们得通过微跃到达内围，以便侦测这些行星。”能像个老练的太空旅人般说得头头是道，似乎令他相当骄傲。
"In that case," said Bliss, "why aren't we moving inward?"
“这样的话，”宝绮思说，“我们现在为何不向内围前进？”
"Not just yet," said Trevize. "I'm having the computer check as faras it can for any sign of an artificial structure. We'll move inwardby stages a dozen, if necessary checking at each stage. Idon't want to be trapped this time as we were when we first approachedGaia. Remember, Janov?"
“时辰未到。”崔维兹说，“我正在叫电脑尽量侦察人工天体的迹象，我们要分几个阶段向内挺进——如果有必要，分成十几个阶段都行——每次都要停下来侦察一番。我不希望这次又中了圈套，就像我们首度接近盖娅那样。还记得吧，詹诺夫？”
"Traps like that could catch us every day. The one at Gaia broughtme Bliss." Pelorat gazed at her fondly.
“我们每天都有可能落入那种圈套，唯有盖娅的圈套为我带来宝绮思。”裴洛拉特以爱怜的目光凝视着她。
Trevize grinned. "Are you hoping for a new Bliss every day?"
崔维兹咧嘴笑了笑。“你希望每天都有个新的宝绮思吗？”
Pelorat looked hurt, and Bliss said, with a trace of annoyance,"My good chap or whatever it is that Pel insists on callingyou you might as well move in more quickly. While I am with you,you will not be trapped."
裴洛拉特一脸委屈，宝绮思带着微嗔说：“我的好兄弟，我的好——不管裴坚持叫你什么，你最好快些向内围前进。只要有我跟你在一起，你就不会落入圈套。”
"The power of Gaia?"
“靠盖娅的力量？”
"To detect the presence of other minds? Certainly."
“侦测其他心灵的存在？当然没问题。”
Are you sure you are strong enough, Bliss? I gather you must sleepquite a bit to regain strength expended at maintaining contact with themain body of Gaia. How far can I rely on the perhaps narrow limits ofyour abilities at this distance from the source?
“你确定自己的力量够强吗，宝绮思？你为了和盖娅主体维持联系而消耗的体力，我猜一定得睡很久才能补回来。你现在和力量的源头距离那么远，能力也许大大受限，我又能仰仗你多少呢？”
Bliss flushed. "The strength of the connection is ample."
宝绮思涨红了脸。“联系的力量足够强大。”
Trevize said, "Don't be offended. I'm simply asking. Don't yousee this as a disadvantage of being Gaia? I am not Gaia. I am a completeand independent individual. That means I can travel as far as I wish frommy world and my people, and remain Golan Trevize. What powers I have,and such as they are, I continue to have, and they remain whereverI go. If I were alone in space, parsecs away from any human being,and unable, for some reason, to communicate with anyone in any way,or even to see the spark of a single star in the sky, I would be andremain Golan Trevize. I might not be able to survive, and I might die,but I would die Golan Trevize."
崔维兹说：“别生气，我只不过问问而已。你难道看不出来，这就是身为盖娅的缺点之一吗？我不是盖娅，我是个完整的、独立的个体，这表示我能随心所欲到处旅行，不论离开我的世界、我的同胞多远都行，我始终还是葛兰·崔维兹。我拥有的各种能力，我都会继续保有，无论到哪里都不会有任何变化。假如我孤独地在太空中，几秒差距之内没有任何人类，又由于某种原因，我无法以任何方式跟任何人联络，甚至连天上的星星都看不见一颗，我依旧是葛兰·崔维兹。我也许无法生还，我可能因此死去，但我至死仍是葛兰·崔维兹。”
Bliss said, "Alone in space and far from all others, you would beunable to call on the help of your fellows, on their different talentsand knowledge. Alone, as an isolated individual, you would be sadlydiminished as compared with youself as part of an integrated society. Youknow that."
宝绮思说：“孤独一人在太空中，远离所有的人，你就无法向你的同胞求助，也无法仰赖他们的各种才能和知识。独自一人，身为一个孤立的个体，相较于身为整体社会的一分子，你会变得渺小得可怜。”
Trevize said, "There would nevertheless not be the same diminution asin your case. There is a bond between you and Gaia that is far strongerthan the one between me and my society, and that bond stretches throughhyperspace and requires energy for maintenance, so that you must gasp,mentally, with the effort, and feel yourself to be a diminished entityfar more than I must."
崔维兹说：“然而，那种渺小和你如今的情况不同。你和盖娅之间有个键结，它比我和社会之间的联系强得多，而且这个键结可以一直延伸，甚至能跨越超空间，可是它需要靠能量来维持。因此你一定会累得气喘吁吁，我是指心灵上的，并且感到自己的能力被大大削弱，这种感觉会比我强烈许多。”
Bliss's young face set hard and, for a moment, she looked young nomore or, rather, she appeared ageless more Gaia than Bliss, asthough to refute Trevize's contention. She said, "Even if everything yousay is so, Golan Trevize that is, was, and will be, that cannotperhaps be less, but certainly cannot be more even if everythingyou say is so, do you expect there is no price to be paid for a benefitgained? Is it not better to be a warm-blooded creature such as yourselfthan a cold-blooded creature such as a fish, or whatever?"
宝绮思年轻的脸庞突然显得分外凝重，一时之间，她似乎不再年轻，或说根本看不出年龄。她已经不只是宝绮思，而变得更像盖娅，仿佛借此反驳崔维兹的论点。她说：“即使你说的每件事都对，葛兰·崔维兹——无论过去、现在、未来，你都是你，或许不会减少一分，但也一定不会增加丝毫——即使你说的每件事都对，你以为天下有白吃的午餐吗？比方说，做个像你这样的温血动物，难道不比一条鱼，或是其他的冷血动物要好吗？”
Pelorat said, "Tortoises are cold-blooded. Terminus doesn't have any,but some worlds do. They are shelled creatures, very slow-moving butlong-living."
裴洛拉特说：“陆龟就是冷血动物，端点星上没有，但某些世界上看得到。它们是有壳的动物，动作缓慢而寿命极长。”
"Well, then, isn't it better to be a human being than a tortoise; tomove quickly whatever the temperature, rather than slowly? Isn't it betterto support high-energy activities, quickly contracting muscles, quicklyworking nerve fibers, intense and long-sustained thought than tocreep slowly, and sense gradually, and have only a blurred awareness ofthe immediate surroundings? Isn't it?"
“很好，那么，身为人类难道不比做陆龟好吗？不论在任何温度下，人类都能维持快速行动，不会变得慢吞吞的。人类能够支持高能量的活动，以及迅速收缩的肌肉、迅速运作的神经纤维，还有旺盛而持久的思考——这难道不比爬行缓慢、感觉迟钝、对周遭一切仅有模糊意识的陆龟好得多吗？对不对？”
"Granted," said Trevize. "It is. What of it?"
“我同意。”崔维兹说，“的确是这样，但这又怎么样？”
"Well, don't you know you must pay for warm-bloodedness? To maintainyour temperature above that of your surroundings, you must expend energyfar more wastefully than a tortoise must. You must be eating almostconstantly so that you can pour energy into your body as quickly as itleaks out. You would starve far more quickly than a tortoise would,and die more quickly, too. Would you rather be a tortoise, and livemore slowly and longer? Or would you rather pay the price and be aquick-moving, quick-sensing, thinking organism?"
“嗯，难道你不知道，做个温血动物是要付出代价的？为了使你的体温高于环境温度，你消耗的能量必须比陆龟奢侈许多，你得几乎不停地进食，急速补充从你身上流失的能量。你会比陆龟更容易感到饥饿，也会死得更快。请问你可愿意当一只陆龟，过着迟缓而长寿的生活吗？或是你宁可付出代价，做一个行动迅速、感觉敏锐而且具有思考能力的生物？”
"Is this a true analogy, Bliss?"
“这是个正确的类比吗，宝绮思？”
"No, Trevize, for the situation with Gaia is more favorable. We don'texpend unusual quantities of energy when we are compactly together. It isonly when part of Gaia is at hyperspatial distances from the rest of Gaiathat energy expenditure rises. And remember that what you have votedfor is not merely a larger Gaia, not just a larger individual world. Youhave decided for Galaxia, for a vast complex of worlds. Anywhere in theGalaxy, you will be part of Galaxia and you will be closely surroundedby parts of something that extends from each interstellar atom to thecentral black hole. It would then require small amounts of energy toremain a whole. No part would be at any great distance from all otherparts. It is all this you have decided for, Trevize. How can you doubtthat you have chosen well?"
“不尽然，崔维兹，因为盖娅的情况还要好得多。当我们紧紧连在一起的时候，我们不会耗费太多能量。唯有一部分的盖娅和其他部分相隔超空间距离时，能量的消耗才会升高。别忘了，你所选择的并非只是大型的盖娅，并非较大的单一世界；你所选择的是盖娅星系，一个由众多世界构成的庞大复合体。不论身在银河哪个角落，你都会是盖娅星系的一部分，都会被它某些部分紧紧包围，因为它的范围从每个星际原子一直延伸到中心黑洞。到那个时候，维系整体只需要少许的能量，因为没有任何部分和其他各部分距离太远。你的决定将导致所有这些结果，崔维兹，你怎能怀疑自己的抉择不好？”
Trevize's head was bent in thought. Finally, he looked up and said,"I may have chosen well, but I must be convinced of that. Thedecision I have made it the most important in the history of humanityand it is not enough that it be a good one. I must know it to be a good one."
崔维兹低头沉思良久，最后终于抬起头来说：“我的抉择也许很好，可是我必须找到切实的证据。我作的决定是人类历史上最重要的事，光说它好还不够，我得知道它的确好才行。”
"What more do you need than what I have told you?"
“我已经跟你讲了这么多，你还需要什么？”
"I don't know, but I will find it on Earth." He spoke with absoluteconviction.
“我也不知道，但我会在地球上找到答案。”他说得斩钉截铁。
Pelorat said, "Golan, the star shows a disc."
裴洛拉特说：“葛兰，那颗恒星成了一个圆盘。”
It did. The computer, busy about its own affairs and not the leastconcerned with any discussion that might swirl about it, had beenapproaching the star in stages, and had reached the distance Trevizehad set for it.
的确如此。电脑一直忙着自己的工作，丝毫不理会周围的任何争论。它指挥太空艇逐步接近那颗恒星，如今已来到崔维兹所设定的距离。
They continued to be well outside the planetary plane and the computersplit the screen to show each of three small inner planets.
此时，他们仍旧远离行星轨道面。电脑将屏幕划分成三部分，以便显示三颗小型的内行星。
It was the innermost that had a surface temperature in the liquid-waterrange, and that had an oxygen atmosphere as well. Trevize waited for itsorbit to be computed and the first crude estimate seemed reasonable. Hekept that computation going, for the longer the planetary movement wasobserved, the more accurate the computation of its orbital elements.
位于最内围那颗，表面温度在液态水范围内，并且具有含氧大气层。崔维兹静候电脑计算出它的轨道，初步的粗估似乎很有希望。他让计算继续做下去，因为对行星的运动观测得愈久，各项轨道参数的计算就能做得愈精确。
Trevize said quite calmly, "We have a habitable planet in view. Verylikely habitable."
崔维兹以相当平静的口吻说：“我们看到了一颗可住人行星，极可能可以住人。”
"Ah." Pelorat looked as nearly delighted as his solemn expressionwould allow.
“啊！”在裴洛拉特一贯严肃的脸上，显露出最接近喜悦的神色。
"I'm afraid, though," said Trevize, "that there's no giantsatellite. In fact, no satellite of any kind has been detected so far. Soit isn't Earth. At least, not if we go by tradition."
“不过，”崔维兹说，“只怕没有巨型的卫星。事实上，直到目前为止，还没侦测到任何类型的卫星。所以它不是地球，至少和传说中的地球不合。”
"Don't worry about that, Golan." said Pelorat. "I rather suspectedwe weren't going to encounter Earth here when I saw that neither of thegas giants had an unusual ring system."
“别担心这点，葛兰。”裴洛拉特说，“当我看到气态巨星都没有不寻常的行星环时，就料到不太可能会在这里发现地球。”
"Very well, then," said Trevize. "The next step is to find out thenature of the life inhabiting it. From the fact that it has an oxygenatmosphere, we can be absolutely certain that there is plant life uponit, but "
“很好。”崔维兹说，“下一步是看看上面有什么样的生命。根据它具有含氧大气层这个事实，我们绝对可以肯定上面有植物生命，不过……”
"Animal life, too," said Bliss abruptly. "And in quantity."
“也有动物生命，”宝绮思突然说，“而且数量很多。”
"What?" Trevize turned to her.
“什么？”崔维兹转头望向她。
"I can sense it. Only faintly at this distance, but the planet isunquestionably not only habitable, but inhabited."
“我能感测到。虽然在这个距离只有模糊的感觉，但我肯定这颗行星不只可以住人，而且无疑已有居民存在。”
33
33
The Far Star was in polar orbit about the Forbidden World,at a distance great enough to keep the orbital period at a little inexcess of six days. Trevize seemed in no hurry to come out of orbit.
远星号目前在这个禁忌世界的绕极轨道上，由于距离地表相当远，轨道周期维持在六天多一点。崔维兹似乎不急着离开这个轨道。
"Since the planet is inhabited," he explained, "and since, according toDeniador, it was once inhabited by human beings who were technologicallyadvanced and who represent a first wave of Settlers the so-calledSpacers they may be technologically advanced still and may haveno great love for us of the second wave who have replaced them. I wouldlike them to show themselves, so that we can learn a little about thembefore risking a landing."
“既然这颗行星已有人居住，”他解释道，“而且根据丹尼亚多的说法，上面的居民一度曾是科技先进的人类，也就是第一波殖民者，所谓的太空族，如今他们仍旧可能拥有先进的科技，对于我们这些取而代之的第二波殖民者，他们大概不会有什么好感。我希望他们会自动现身，这样的话，在我们冒险登陆之前，可以先对他们做点了解。”
"They may not know we are here," said Pelorat.
“他们也许不知道我们在这里。”裴洛拉特说。
"We would, if the situation were reversed. I must assume, then, that,if they exist, they are likely to try to make contact withus. They might even want to come out and get us."
“换成我们的话，我们就会知道。因此我必须假设，如果他们真正存在，很可能会试图跟我们接触，甚至想出动来抓我们。”
"But if they did come out after us and were technologically advanced,we might be helpless to "
“但如果他们真的出来追捕我们，而且他们科技先进，我们也许会束手无策……”
"I can't believe that," said Trevize. "Technological advancement isnot necessarily all one piece. They might conceivably be far beyond us insome ways, but it's clear they don't indulge in interstellar travel. Itis we, not they, who have settled the Galaxy, and in all the history ofthe Empire, I know of nothing that would indicate that they left theirworlds and made themselves evident to us. If they haven't been spacetraveling, how could they be expected to have made serious advances inastronautics? And if they haven't, they can't possibly have anythinglike a gravitic ship. We may be essentially unarmed but even if theycome lumbering after us with a battleship, they couldn't possibly catchus. No, we wouldn't be helpless."
“我可不相信。”崔维兹说，“科技的进步不一定能面面俱到，他们可能在某些方面超越我们许多，但他们对星际旅行显然并不热中。因为开拓整个银河的是我们而不是他们，而且在帝国历史中，我从未见过任何记录提到他们离开自己的世界，出现在我们眼前。如果他们一直未曾进行太空旅行，怎么可能在太空航行学上取得重大进展？我们或许毫无武装，但即使他们出动战舰，大张旗鼓追猎我们，我们也不可能被抓到——不会的，我们不会束手无策。”
"Their advance may be in mentalics. It may be that the Mule was aSpacer……"
“他们的进步也许是在精神力学方面，可能骡就是个太空族……”
Trevize shrugged in clear irritation. "The Mule can't beeverything. The Gaians have described him as an aberrant Gaian. He'salso been considered a random mutant."
崔维兹耸了耸肩，显然很不高兴。“骡不可能什么都是。盖娅人说他是他们的畸变种，也有人认为他是偶发的突变异种。”
Pelorat said, "To be sure, there have also been speculations nottaken very seriously, of course that he was a mechanical artifact. Arobot, in other words, though that word wasn't used."
裴洛拉特说：“事实上，还有些其他的臆测——当然，没有人非常当真——说他是个人造的机械。换句话说，就是个机器人，只不过没有用那个名称。”
"If there is something that seems mentally dangerous, we will haveto depend on Bliss to neutralize that. She can Is she asleep now,by the way?"
“假如真有什么东西，具有危险的精神力量，我们就得靠宝绮思来化解。她可以……对了，她正在睡觉吗？”
"She has been," said Pelorat, "but she was stirring when I cameout here."
“她睡了好一阵子，”裴洛拉特说，“但我出来的时候，看到她动了一下。”
"Stirring, was she? Well, she'll have to be awake on short notice ifanything starts happening. You'll have to see to that, Janov."
“动了一下，是吗？嗯，若有任何事故发生，她必须一叫就醒。这件事你要负责，詹诺夫。”
"Yes, Golan," said Pelorat quietly.
“好的，葛兰。”裴洛拉特以平静的口吻答道。
Trevize shifted his attention to the computer. "One thing that bothersme are the entry stations. Ordinarily, they are a sure sign of a planetinhabited by human beings with a high technology. But these……"
崔维兹又将注意力转向电脑。“有件事困扰着我，就是那些入境站。一般说来，它们是一种确切的迹象，代表行星上住着拥有高科技的人类。可是这些——”
"Is there something wrong with them?"
“有什么不对劲吗？”
"Several things. In the first place, they're very archaic. Theymight be thousands of years old. In the second, there's no radiationbut thermals."
“有几个问题。第一，它们的式样古老，可能已有几千年的历史。第二，除了热辐射，没有其他任何辐射。”
"What are thermals?"
“什么是热辐射？”
"Thermal radiation is given off by any object warmer than itssurroundings. It's a familiar signature that everything yields and itconsists of a broad band of radiation following a fixed pattern dependingon temperature. That is what the entry stations are radiating. If thereare working human devices aboard the stations, there is bound to bea leakage of nonthermal, nonrandom radiation. Since only thermals arepresent we can assume that either the stations are empty, and have been,perhaps, for thousands of years; or, if occupied, it is by people with atechnology so advanced in this direction that they leak no radiation."
“温度高于周遭环境的任何物体，都会发射热辐射。每样东西都能产生这种熟悉的讯号，它具有宽广的频带，由温度决定能量的分布模式，而那些入境站射出的就是这种辐射。如果上面有运转中的人工设备，必定会漏出其他一些非随机的辐射。既然现在只有热辐射，我们可以假设入境站是空的，也许已经空置了几千年；反之，上面若是有人，他们在这方面的科技就极其先进，有办法不让其他辐射外泄。”
"Perhaps," said Pelorat, "the planet has a high civilization,but the entry stations are empty because the planet has been left sostrictly alone for so long by our kind of Settlers that they are nolonger concerned about any approach."
“也有可能，”裴洛拉特说，“这颗行星拥有高度文明，但入境站遭到空置，因为我们这些银河殖民者让这颗行星遗世独立太久，他们早已不再担心会有任何外人接近。”
"Perhaps. Or perhaps it is a lure of some sort."
“可能吧。或者，也可能是某种诱饵。”
Bliss entered, and Trevize, noting her out of the corner of his eyes,said grumpily, "Yes, here we are."
此时宝绮思走进来，崔维兹从眼角瞥见她，没好气地说：“没错，我们在这里。”
"So I see," said Bliss, "and still in an unchanged orbit. I can tellthat much."
“我知道，”宝绮思说，“而且仍在原来的轨道上，这点我还看得出来。”
Pelorat explained hastily. "Golan is being cautious, dear. Theentry stations seem unoccupied and we're not sure of the significanceof that."
裴洛拉特连忙解释：“亲爱的，葛兰十分谨慎。那些入境站似乎没有人，我们还不确定这代表什么。”
"There's no need to worry about it," said Bliss indifferently. "Thereare no detectable signs of intelligent life on the planet we'reorbiting."
“这点根本不必操心。”宝绮思以毫不在乎的口气说，“我们如今环绕的这颗行星，上面没有可侦测的智慧生命迹象。”
Trevize bent an astonished glare at her. "What are you talkingabout? You said……"
崔维兹低头瞪着她，显得惊讶万分。“你在说些什么？你说过……”
"I said there was animal life on the planet, and so there is, butwhere in the Galaxy were you taught that animal life necessarily implieshuman life?"
“我说过这颗行星上有动物生命，这点的确没错，可是银河中究竟哪个人告诉过你，动物一定就是指人类？”
"Why didn't you say this when you first detected animal life?"
“你当初侦测到动物生命的时候，为什么不说清楚？”
"Because at that distance, I couldn't tell. I could barely detectthe unmistakable wash of animal neural activity, but there was no wayI could, at that intensity, tell butterflies from human beings."
“因为在那么远的距离，我还没办法判别。我只能确定侦测到了动物神经活动的脉动，可是在那种强度下，我无法分辨蝴蝶和人类。”
"And now?"
“现在呢？”
"We're much closer now, and you may have thought I was asleep, but Iwasn't or, at least, only briefly. I was, to use an inappropriateword, listening as hard as I could for any sign of mental activitycomplex enough to signify the presence of intelligence."
“现在我们近多了。你也许以为我刚才在睡觉，事实上我没有——或者说，顶多睡了一下子。我刚才，用个不太恰当的说法，正在竭尽全力倾听，想要听到足够复杂而能代表智慧生命的精神活动迹象。”
"And there isn't any?"
“结果什么都没有？”
"I would suppose," said Bliss, with sudden caution, "that if Idetect nothing at this distance, there can't possibly be more than a fewthousand human beings on the planet. If we come closer, I can judge itstill more delicately."
“我敢说，”宝绮思的口气突然变得谨慎，“如果我在这个距离还侦测不到什么，那么在这颗行星上，人类的数目顶多不过几千。如果我们再靠近点，我就能判断得更精确。”
"Well, that changes things," said Trevize, with some confusion.
“嗯，这就使得情况大不相同。”崔维兹说，声音中带着几许困惑。
I suppose, said Bliss, who looked distinctly sleepy and, therefore,irritable. "You can now discard all this business of analyzingradiation and inferring and deducing and who knows what else you mayhave been doing. My Gaian senses do the job much more efficiently andsurely. Perhaps you see what I mean when I say it is better to be a Gaian than an Isolate."
“我认为，”宝绮思看来很困，因此脾气十分暴躁，“你可以中止那些什么辐射分析啦，推理啦，演绎啦，还有天晓得你在做些什么别的。我的盖娅知觉能做得更准确且更有效率。也许你现在可以明白，为什么我说当盖娅人要比孤立体好。”
Trevize waited before answering, clearly laboring to hold histemper. When he spoke, it was with a polite, and almost formal tone, "Iam grateful to you for the information. Nevertheless, you must understandthat, to use an analogy, the thought of the advantage of improving mysense of smell would be insufficient motive for me to decide to abandonmy humanity and become a bloodhound."
崔维兹没有立刻答话，显然是在努力克制自己的火气。当他再度开口时，竟然是用很客气，而且几乎正式的口吻。“我很感谢您提供这些消息，然而，您必须知道一件事。打个比方吧，即使我想让嗅觉变得更灵敏，因为这样有很多好处，这个动机却不足以令我放弃人身，甘心变成一只猎犬。”
34
34
They could see the Forbidden World now, as they movedbelow the cloud layer and drifted through the atmosphere. It lookedcuriously moth-eaten.
当太空艇来到云层下方，在大气层中飘移之际，那个禁忌世界终于呈现他们眼前，看起来出奇老旧。
The polar regions were icy, as might be expected, but they were notlarge in extent. The mountainous regions were barren, with occasionalglaciers, but they were not large in extent, either. There were smalldesert areas, well scattered.
极地是一片冰雪，跟他们预料的一样，不过范围不太大。山区都是不毛之地，偶尔还能看到冰河，但冰河的范围同样不大。此外还有些小规模的沙漠地带，在各处散布得相当均匀。
Putting all that aside, the planet was, in potential, beautiful. Itscontinental areas were quite large, but sinuous, so that there werelong shorelines, and rich coastal plains of generous extent. Therewere lush tracts of both tropical and temperate forests, rimmed bygrasslands and yet the moth-eaten nature of it all was evident.
如果忽略这些事实，这颗行星其实可说十分美丽。它的陆地面积相当广大，不过形状歪歪扭扭，因此具有极长的海岸线，以及非常辽阔的沿岸平原。它还拥有苍翠茂盛的热带与温带森林，周围环绕着草原。纵然如此，它的老旧面貌仍极其明显。
Scattered through the forests were semibarren areas, and parts ofthe grasslands were thin and sparse.
森林中有许多半秃的区域，部分的草原也显得稀疏干瘦。
"Some sort of plant disease?" said Pelorat wonderingly.
“某种植物病虫害吗？”裴洛拉特感到很奇怪。
"No," said Bliss slowly. "Something worse than that, and morepermanent."
“不是的，”宝绮思缓缓道，“比那更糟，而且更不容易复原。”
"I've seen a number of worlds," said Trevize, "but nothing likethis."
“我见过许多世界，”崔维兹说，“可是从未目睹像这样的。”
"I have seen very few worlds," said Bliss, "but I think the thoughtsof Gaia and this is what you might expect of a world from which humanityhas disappeared."
“我见过的世界非常少，”宝绮思说，“不过我以盖娅的思想来思考，这个世界的人类想必已经绝迹。”
"Why?" said Trevize.
“为什么？”崔维兹说。
"Think about it," said Bliss tartly. "No inhabited world has a trueecological balance. Earth must have had one originally, for if thatwas the world on which humanity evolved, there must have been longages when humanity did not exist, or any species capable of developingan advanced technology and the ability to modify the environment. Inthat case, a natural balance everchanging, of course musthave existed. On all other inhabited worlds, however, human beings havecarefully terraformed their new environments and established plant andanimal life, but the ecological system they introduce is bound to beunbalanced. It would possess only a limited number of species and onlythose that human beings wanted, or couldn't help introducing……"
“想想看吧，”宝绮思的口气相当锋利，“没有一个住人世界拥有真正的生态平衡。地球最初必定有过这种平衡，因为它若正是演化出人类的那个世界，就一定曾有很长一段时期，上面没有任何人类，也没有其他能发展出先进科技、有能力改造环境的物种。在那种情况下，一定会有一种自然平衡——当然，它会不断变化。然而，在其他的住人世界上，人类皆曾仔细改造他们的新环境，并且引进各种动植物，但他们创造的生态系统却注定失衡。它只会保有种类有限的物种，不是人类想要的，就是不得不引进的……”
Pelorat said, "You know what that reminds me of? Pardon me,Bliss, for interrupting, but it so fits that I can't resist tellingyou right now before I forget. There's an old creation myth I once cameacross; a myth in which life was formed on a planet and consisted of onlya limited assortment of species, just those useful to or pleasant forhumanity. The first human beings then did something silly nevermind what, old fellow, because those old myths are usually symbolic andonly confusing if they are taken literally and the planet's soilwas cursed. `Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee,'is the way the curse was quoted though the passage sounds much betterin the archaic Galactic in which it was written. The point is, though,was it really a curse? Things human beings don't like and don't want,such as thorns and thistles, may be needed to balance the ecology."
裴洛拉特说：“你知道这让我想起什么吗？对不起，宝绮思，我插个嘴，但这实在太吻合了，我忍不住现在就要告诉你们，免得待会儿忘了。我曾经读过一则古老的创世神话，根据这则神话，生命是在某颗行星上形成的，那里的物种类别有限，都是对人类有用的，或是人类喜欢的那些。后来，最早一批人类做了一件蠢事——别管那是什么，老伙伴，因为那些古老神话通常都是象征性的，如果对其中的内容太过认真，只会把你搞得更糊涂——结果，那颗行星的土壤受到了诅咒。‘必给你长出荆棘和蒺藜来’，那个诅咒是这么说的。不过这段话是以古银河文写成，如果照原文念会更有味道。然而，问题是它真是诅咒吗？人类不喜欢或不想要的东西，例如荆棘和蒺藜，或许是维持生态平衡所必需的。”
Bliss smiled. "It's really amazing, Pel, how everything reminds youof a legend, and how illuminating they are sometimes. Human beings, interraforming a world, leave out the thorns and thistles, whatever theymay be, and human beings then have to labor to keep the world going. Itisn't a self-supporting organism as Gaia is. It is rather a miscellaneouscollection of Isolates and the collection isn't miscellaneous enoughto allow the ecological balance to persist indefinitely. If humanitydisappears, and if its guiding hands are removed, the world's pattern oflife inevitably begins to fall apart. The planet unterraforms itself."
宝绮思微微一笑。“实在不可思议，裴，怎么每件事都会让你想起一则传说，而它们有时又那么有启发性。人类在改造一个世界时，总是排除了荆棘和蒺藜，姑且不管那是什么东西，然后人类得努力维持这个世界正常发展。它不像盖娅是个自给自足的生命体，而是一群混杂的孤立体所构成的集合，但这个集合又混杂得不够，因此无法使生态平衡永远维持下去。假如人类消失了，就如同指导者的双手不见了，整个世界的生命形态注定会开始崩溃，而行星将‘反改造’成原本的面貌。”
Trevize said skeptically, "If that's what's happening, it doesn'thappen quickly. This world may have been free of human beings for twentythousand years and yet most of it still seems to be very much a goingconcern."
崔维兹以怀疑的口吻说：“假如真会发生这种事，那也不会很快发生。这个世界也许已经两万年毫无人迹，但大部分似乎仍旧‘照常营业’。”
"Surely," said Bliss, "that depends on how well the ecological balancewas set up in the first place. If it is a fairly good balance to beginwith, it might last for a long time without human beings. After all,twenty thousand years, though very long in terms of human affairs,is just overnight when compared to a planetary lifetime."
“当然啦，”宝绮思说，“这要看当初的生态平衡建立得多完善。如果原本是个相当良好的平衡，在失去人类之后，仍然可能维持长久的时间。毕竟，两万年对人类而言虽然极长，跟行星的寿命比较起来，只是一夕之间的事。”
"I suppose," said Pelorat, staring intently at the planetary vista,"that if the planet is degenerating, we can be sure that the human beingsare gone."
“我想，”裴洛拉特一面说，一面专心凝视行星的景观，“如果这颗行星的环境正在恶化，我们就能确定人类都走光了。”
Bliss said, "I still detect no mental activity at the human level andI am willing to suppose that the planet is safely free of humanity. Thereis the steady hum and buzz of lower levels of consciousness, however,levels high enough to represent birds and mammals. Just the same, I'mnot sure that unterraforming is enough to show human beings are gone. Aplanet might deteriorate even if human beings existed upon it, if thesociety were itself abnormal and did not understand the importance ofpreserving the environment."
宝绮思说：“我仍然侦测不到人类层次的精神活动，所以我猜这颗行星确实没有任何人类。不过，一直有些较低层意识所产生的嗡嗡声，层次的高度足以代表鸟类和哺乳动物。可是我仍然无法确定，反改造的程度是否足以显示人类已经绝迹。即使一颗行星有人类居住，如果那个社会不正常，不了解环境保护的重要性，生态环境还是有可能恶化。”
"Surely," said Pelorat, "such a society would quickly be destroyed. Idon't think it would be possible for human beings to fail to understandthe importance of retaining the very factors that are keeping themalive."
“不用说，”裴洛拉特道，“这样的社会很快就会遭到毁灭。我不相信人类不了解保护自己赖以维生的资源有多重要。”
Bliss said, "I don't have your pleasant faith in human reason,Pel. It seems to me to be quite conceivable that when a planetarysociety consists only of Isolates, local and even individual concernsmight easily be allowed to overcome planetary concerns."
宝绮思说：“我没有你那种对人类理性的乐观信心，裴。我觉得，如果一个行星社会完全由孤立体组成，那么可想而知，为了局部的利益，甚至为了个人的利益，很容易使人忘却行星整体的安危。”
"I don't think that's conceivable," said Trevize, "anymore thanPelorat does. In fact, since human-occupied worlds exist by the millionand none of them have deteriorated in an unterraforming fashion, yourfear of Isolatism may be exaggerated, Bliss."
“我并不认为它可想而知，”崔维兹说，“我站在裴洛拉特这一边。事实上，既然有人居住的世界数以千万计，却没一个因为反改造而环境恶化，你对孤立态的恐惧可能夸大了，宝绮思。”
The ship now moved out of the daylit hemisphere into the night. Theeffect was that of a rapidly deepening twilight, and then utter darknessoutside, except for starlight where the sky was clear.
太空艇此时驶出昼半球，进入黑夜的范围。感觉上像是暮色迅疾加深，然后外面就成了一片黑暗，只有在经过晴朗的天空时，还能看到一些星光。
The ship maintained its height by accurately monitoring the atmosphericpressure and gravitational intensity. They were at a height too greatto encounter any upthrusting mountainous massif, for the planet wasat a stage when mountain-building had not recently taken place. Still,the computer felt its way forward with its microwave finger-tips, justin case.
借着精确监看气压与重力强度，远星号得以维持固定的高度。他们目前保持的这个高度，绝对不会撞到隆起的群山，因为这颗行星已经许久未有造山运动。不过为了预防万一，电脑仍然利用“微波指尖”在前面探路。
Trevize regarded the velvety darkness and said, thoughtfully,"Somehow what I find most convincing as the sign of a deserted planet isthe absence of visible light on the dark side. No technological societycould possibly endure darkness. As soon as we get into the dayside,we'll go lower."
崔维兹一面凝视着天鹅绒般的黑夜，一面若有所思地说：“我总是认为，要确定一颗行星毫无人迹，最可靠的征状就是暗面毫无可见光。任何拥有科技的文明，都无法忍受黑暗的环境。一旦进入日面，我们就要降低高度。”
"What would be the use of that?" said Pelorat. "There's nothingthere."
“那样做有什么用？”裴洛拉特说，“下面什么都没有。”
"Who said there's nothing there?"
“谁说什么都没有？”
"Bliss did. And you did."
“宝绮思说的，你也这么说过。”
"No, Janov. I said there's no radiation of technological origin andBliss said there's no sign of human mental activity, but that doesn'tmean there's nothing there. Even if there are no human beings on theplanet, there would surely be relics of some sort. I'm after information,Janov, and the remainders of a technology may have its uses in thatdirection."
“不是的，詹诺夫。我是说没有源自科技的辐射，宝绮思是说没有人类精神活动的迹象，但这并不代表下面什么也没有。即使这颗行星上没有人类，也一定会有某些遗迹。我要寻找的是线索，詹诺夫，就这点而言，科技文明的残留物就可能有用。”
"After twenty thousand years?" Pelorat's voice climbed in pitch. "Whatdo you think can survive twenty thousand years? There will be no films,no paper, no print; metal will have rusted, wood will have decayed,plastic will be in shattered grains. Even stone will have crumbledand eroded."
“经过两万年之后？”裴洛拉特的音调逐渐提高，“你认为有什么东西能维持两万年？这里不会有任何胶卷、纸张、印刷品。金属会生锈，木材会腐烂，塑料会碎成颗粒，甚至石头都会粉碎或遭到侵蚀。”
"It may not be twenty thousand years," said Trevize patiently. "Imentioned that time as the longest period the planet may have beenleft empty of human beings because Comporellian legend has this worldflourishing at that time. But suppose the last human beings had died orvanished or fled only a thousand years ago."
“也许没有两万年那么久。”崔维兹耐心地说，“我所谓的两万年，是说这颗行星上如果没有人类，最长也不会超过这个时间。因为根据康普隆的传说，这个世界两万年前极为繁荣。可是，或许在一千年前，最后一批人类才死亡或消失，或者逃到别处去了。”
They arrived at the other end of the nightside and the dawn came andbrightened into sunlight almost instantaneously.
他们来到夜面的另一头，曙光随即降临，然后几乎在同一瞬间，出现了灿烂夺目的阳光。
The Far Star sank downward and slowed its progress until thedetails of the land surface were clearly visible. The small islands thatdotted the continental shores could now be clearly seen. Most were greenwith vegetation.
远星号一面降低高度，一面慢慢减速，直到地表的一切都清晰可见。大陆沿岸点缀着许多小岛，现在每个都能看得相当清楚，大多数布满了绿油油的植被。
Trevize said, "It's my idea that we ought to study the spoiledareas particularly. It seems to me that those places where human beingswere most concentrated would be where the ecological balance was mostlacking. Those areas might be the nucleus of the spreading blight ofunterraforming. What do you think, Bliss?"
崔维兹说：“照我看来，我们该去研究那些败损特别严重的地区。我认为人类最集中的区域，便是生态最失衡的地方，反改造有可能以那些地方为源头，不断向外扩散。你的意见如何，宝绮思？”
"It's possible. In any case, in the absence of definite knowledge,we might as well look where it's easiest to see. The grasslands andforest would have swallowed most signs of human habitation so thatlooking there might prove a waste of time."
“的确有此可能。总之，我们对此地缺乏了解，还是从最容易的地方下手比较好。草原和森林会吞噬人类活动的迹象，搜寻那些地方可能只是浪费时间。”
"It strikes me," said Pelorat, "that a world might eventuallyestablish a balance with what it has; that new species might develop;and that the bad areas might be recolonized on a new basis."
“我突然想到，”裴洛拉特说，“一个世界不论有些什么东西，最终都应该达到一种平衡，而且可能会发展出新的物种，使恶劣的环境重新改头换面。”
"Possibly, Pel," said Bliss. "It depends on how badly out of balancethe world was in the first place. And for a world to heal itself andachieve a new balance through evolution would take far more than twentythousand years. We'd be talking millions of years."
“是有这个可能，裴，”宝绮思说，“这要看当初那个世界的失衡有多严重。至于说一个世界会自我治疗，经由演化达到新的平衡，所需的时间可要比两万年多得多，恐怕得几百万年才行。”
The Far Star was no longer circling the world. It was driftingslowly across a five-hundred-kilometer-wide stretch of scattered heathand furze, with occasional clumps of trees.
此时远星号不再环绕这个世界飞行，它缓缓滑翔了五百公里，这一带长满了石楠树与刺金雀花，其间还穿插着一些小树丛。
"What do you think of that?" said Trevize suddenly, pointing. Theship came to a drifting halt and hovered in mid-air. There was a low, butpersistent, hum as the gravitic engines shifted into high, neutralizingthe planetary gravitational field almost entirely.
“你们认为那是什么？”崔维兹突然说，同时伸手向前指去。此时太空艇不再飘移，停留在半空中。重力引擎调到了最高挡，将行星重力场几乎完全中和，因而传来一种轻微但持续不断的嗡嗡声。
There was nothing much to see where Trevize pointed. Tumbled moundsbearing soil and sparse grass were all that was visible.
崔维兹所指的地方，其实没什么值得一看的。放眼望去，只有一些乱七八糟的土堆，上面长着稀稀疏疏的杂草。
"It doesn't look like anything to me," said Pelorat.
“我看不出什么名堂。”裴洛拉特说。
"There's a straight-line arrangement to that junk. Parallel lines,and you can make out some faint lines at right angles, too. See? Youcan't get that in any natural formation. That's human architecture,marking out foundations and walls, just as clearly as though they werestill standing there to be looked at."
“那堆破烂中有个四四方方的结构，还有几条平行线，你还能看到一些互相垂直的模糊线条，看到没有？看到没有？那不可能是天然形成的，一定是人工建筑物，看得出原本是地基和围墙，清楚得好像它们依旧耸立在那里。”
"Suppose it is," said Pelorat. "That's just a ruin. If we'regoing to do archeological research, we're going to have to dig anddig. Professionals would take years to do it properly……"
“即使真的是，”裴洛拉特说，“也只不过是个废墟。如果我们要做考古研究，我们就得拼命地挖呀挖，专业人士要花上好几年才能妥善……”
"Yes, but we can't take the time to do it properly. That may bethe faint outline of an ancient city and something of it may still bestanding. Let's follow those lines and see where they take us."
“没错，但我们没时间妥善处理。那也许是一座古城的外围，某些部分可能尚未倾倒。我们跟着那些线条走，看看会把我们带到哪里。”
It was toward one end of the area, at a place where the trees weresomewhat more thickly clumped, that they came to standing walls orpartially standing ones.
在那个区域某一端，树木丛聚较密之处，他们发现几堵耸立的墙垣。或者应该说，只有部分仍旧屹立。
Trevize said, "Good enough for a beginning. We're landing."
崔维兹说：“这是个不错的开始，我们要着陆了。”