Ponyets felt the tension, but he was used to the feeling of physicalhelplessness now. He had left city limits under guard. He was in Pherl'ssuburban villa under guard. There was nothing to do but accept it withouteven looking over his shoulder.
Pherl was taller and younger outside the circle of Elders. In nonformalcostume, he seemed no Elder at all.
He said abruptly1, "You're a peculiar2 man." His close-set eyes seemed toquiver. "You've done nothing this last week, and particularly these lasttwo hours, but imply that I need gold. It seems useless labor3, for who doesnot? Why not advance one step?""It is not simply gold," said Ponyets, discreetly4. "Not simply gold. Notmerely a coin or two. It is rather all that lies behind gold.""Now what can lie behind gold?" prodded5 Pherl, with a down-curved smile.
"Certainly this is not the preliminary of another clumsy demonstration6.""Clumsy?" Ponyets frowned slightly.
"Oh, definitely." Pherl folded his hands and nudged them gently with hischin. "I don't criticize you. The clumsiness was on purpose, I am sure. Imight have warned his Veneration7 of that, had I been certain of the motive8.
Now had I been you, I would have produced the gold upon my ship, andoffered it alone. The show you offered us and the antagonism9 you arousedwould have been dispensed10 with.""True," Ponyets admitted, "but since I was myself, I accepted theantagonism for the sake of attracting your attention.""Is that it? Simply that?" Pherl made no effort to hide his contemptuousamusement. "And I imagine you suggested the thirty-day purification periodthat you might assure yourself time to turn the attraction into something abit more substantial. But what if the gold turns out to be impure11?"Ponyets allowed himself a dark humor in return, "When the judgement of thatimpurity depends upon those who are most interested in finding it pure?"Pherl lifted his eyes and stared narrowly at the trader. He seemed at oncesurprised and satisfied.
"A sensible point. Now tell me why you wished to attract me.""This I will do. In the short time I have been here, I have observed usefulfacts that concern you and interest me. For instance, you are young-veryyoung for a member of the council, and even of a relatively12 young family.""You criticize my family?""Not at all. Your ancestors are great and holy; all will admit that. Butthere are those that say you are not a member of one of the Five Tribes."Pherl leaned back, "With all respect to those involved," and he did nothide his venom13, "the Five Tribes have impoverished14 loins and thin blood.
Not fifty members of the Tribes are alive.""Yet there are those who say the nation would not be willing to see any manoutside the Tribes as Grand Master. And so young and newly-advanced afavorite of the Grand Master is bound to make powerful enemies among thegreat ones of the State ?it is said. His Veneration is aging and hisprotection will not last past his death, when it is an enemy of yours whowill undoubtedly be the one to interpret the words of his Spirit."Pherl scowled15, "For a foreigner you hear much. Such ears are made forcropping.""That may be decided16 later.""Let me anticipate." Pherl stirred impatiently in his seat. "You're goingto offer me wealth and power in terms of those evil little machines youcarry in your ship. Well?""Suppose it so. What would be your objection? Simply your standard of goodand evil?"Pherl shook his head. "Not at all. Look, my Outlander, your opinion of usin your heathen agnosticism is what it is ?but I am not the entire slaveof our mythology17, though I may appear so. I am an educated man, sir, and, Ihope, an enlightened one. The full depth of our religious customs, in theritualistic rather than the ethical sense, is for the masses.""Your objection, then?" pressed Ponyets, gently.
"Just that. The masses. I might be willing to deal with you, but yourlittle machines must be used to be useful. How might riches come to me, ifI had to use ?what is it you sell??well, a razor, for instance, only inthe strictest, trembling secrecy18. Even if my chin were more simply and morecleanly shaven, how would I become rich? And how would I avoid death by gaschamber or mob frightfulness if I were ever once caught using it?"Ponyets shrugged20, "You are correct. I might point out that the remedy wouldbe to educate your own people into the use of nucleics for theirconvenience and your own substantial profit. It would be a gigantic pieceof work; I don't deny it; but the returns would be still more gigantic.
Still that is your concern, and, at the moment, not mine at all. For Ioffer neither razor, knife, nor mechanical garbage disposer.""What do you offer?""Gold itself. Directly. You may have the machine I demonstrated last week."And now Pherl stiffened21 and the skin on his forehead moved jerkily. "Thetransmuter?""Exactly. Your supply of gold will equal your supply of iron. That, Iimagine, is sufficient for all needs. Sufficient for the Grand Mastershipitself, despite youth and enemies. And it is safe.""In what way?""In that secrecy is the essence of its use; that same secrecy you describedas the only safety with regard to nucleics. You may bury the transmuter22 inthe deepest dungeon23 of the strongest fortress24 on your furthest estate, andit will still bring you instant wealth. It is the gold you buy, not themachine, and that gold bears no trace of its manufacture, for it cannot betold from the natural creation.""And who is to operate the machine?""Yourself. Five minutes teaching is all you will require. I'll set it upfor you wherever you wish.""And in return?""Well," Ponyets grew cautious. "I ask a price and a handsome one. It is myliving. Let us say,?for it its a valuable machine ?the equivalent of acubic foot of gold in wrought25 iron."Pherl laughed, and Ponyets grew red. "I point out, sir," he added, stiffly,"that you can get your price back in two hours.""True, and in one hour, you might be gone, and my machine might suddenlyturn out to be useless. I'll need a guarantee.""You have my word.""A very good one," Pherl bowed sardonically26, "but your presence would be aneven better assurance. I'll give you my word to pay you one week afterdelivery in working order.""Impossible.""Impossible? When you've already incurred27 the death penalty very handily byeven offering to sell me anything. The only alternative is my word thatyou'll get the gas chamber19 tomorrow otherwise."Ponyet's face was expressionless, but his eyes might have flickered28. Hesaid, "It is an unfair advantage. You will at least put your promise inwriting?""And also become liable for execution? No, sir!" Pherl smiled a broadsatisfaction. "No, sir! Only one of us is a fool."The trader said in a small voice, "It is agreed, then."
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1
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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4
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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prodded
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| v.刺，戳( prod的过去式和过去分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳 | |
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6
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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7
veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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8
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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antagonism
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| n.对抗，敌对，对立 | |
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10
dispensed
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| v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
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11
impure
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| adj.不纯净的，不洁的；不道德的，下流的 | |
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relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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13
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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14
impoverished
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| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
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15
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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mythology
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| n.神话，神话学，神话集 | |
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18
secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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21
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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transmuter
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| n.炼金师 | |
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dungeon
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| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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sardonically
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| adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地 | |
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27
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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