"There is no ostentation here, Trader Mallow," he said. "No false show. Inme, you see merely the first citizen of the state. That's what Commdormeans, and that's the only title I have."He seemed inordinately3 pleased with it all, "in fact, I consider that factone of the strongest bonds between Korell and your nation. I understand youpeople enjoy the republican blessings4 we do.""Exactly, Commdor," said Mallow gravely, taking mental exception to thecomparison, "an argument which I consider strongly in favor of continuedpeace and friendship between our governments.""Peace! Ah!" The Commdor's sparse6 gray beard twitched to the sentimentalgrimaces of his face. "I don't think there is anyone in the Periphery7 whohas so near his heart the ideal of Peace, as I have. I can truthfully saythat since I succeeded my illustrious father to the leadership of thestate, the reign8 of Peace has never been broken. Perhaps I shouldn't sayit" 杊e coughed gently? "but I have been told that my people, myfellow-citizens rather, know me as Asper, the Well-Beloved."Mallow's eyes wandered over the well-kept garden. Perhaps the tall men andthe strangely-designed but openly-vicious weapons they carried justhappened to be lurking in odd comers as a precaution against himself. Thatwould be understandable. But the lofty, steel-girdered walls that circledthe place had quite obviously been recently strengthened ? an unfittingoccupation for such a Well-Beloved Asper.
He said, "It is fortunate that I have you to deal with then, Commdor. Thedespots and monarchs9 of surrounding worlds, which haven't the benefit ofenlightened administration, often lack the qualities that would make aruler well-beloved.""Such as?" There was a cautious note in the Commdor's voice.
"Such as a concern for the best interests of their people, You, on theother hand, would understand,"The Commdor kept his eyes on the gravel5 path as they walked leisurely10, Hishands caressed11 each other behind his back.
Mallow went on smoothly12, "Up to now, trade between our two nations hassuffered because of the restrictions placed upon our traders by yourgovernment. Surely, it has long been evident to you that unlimited13 trade?
"Free Trade!" mumbled14 the Commdor.
"Free Trade, then. You must see that it would be of benefit to both of us.
There are things you have that we want, and things we have that you want.
It asks only an exchange to bring increased prosperity. An enlightenedruler such as yourself, a friend of the people ?I might say, a member ofthe people ? needs no elaboration on that theme. I won't insult yourintelligence by offering any.""True! I have seen this. But what would you?" His voice was a plaintivewhine. "Your people have always been so unreasonable15. I am in favor of allthe trade our economy can support, but not on your terms. I am not solemaster here." His voice rose, "I am only the servant of public opinion. Mypeople will not take commerce which carries with it a compulsory16 religion."Mallow drew himself up, "A compulsory religion?""So it has always been in effect. Surely you remember the case of Askonetwenty years ago. First they were sold some of your goods and then yourpeople asked for complete freedom of missionary17 effort in order that thegoods might be run properly; that Temples of Health be set up. There wasthen the establishment of religious schools; autonomous18 rights for allofficers of the religion and with what result? Askone is now an integralmember of the Foundation's system and the Grand Master cannot call hisunderwear his own. Oh, no! Oh, no! The dignity of an independent peoplecould never suffer it.""None of what you speak is at all what I suggest," interposed Mallow.
"No?""No. I'm a Master Trader. Money is my religion. All this mysticism andhocus-pocus of the missionaries annoy me, and I'm glad you refuse tocountenance it. It makes you more my type of man."The Commdor's laugh was high-pitched and jerky, "Well said! The Foundationshould have sent a man of your caliber19 before this."He laid a friendly hand upon the trader's bulking shoulder, "But man, youhave told me only half. You have told me what the catch is not. Now tell mewhat it is.""The only catch, Commdor, is that you're going to be burdened with animmense quantity of riches.""Indeed?" he snuffled. "But what could I want with riches? The true wealthis the love of one's people. I have that.""You can have both, for it is possible to gather gold with one hand andlove with the other.""Now that, my young man, would be an interesting phenomenon, if it werepossible. How would you go about it?""Oh, in a number of ways. The difficulty is choosing among them. Let's see.
Well, luxury items, for instance. This object here, now?
Mallow drew gently out of an inner pocket a flat, linked chain of polishedmetal. "This, for instance.""What is it?""That's got to be demonstrated. Can you get a woman? Any young female willdo. And a mirror, full length.""Hm-mmm. Let's get indoors, then."The Commdor referred to his dwelling place as a house. The populaceundoubtedly would call it a palace. To Mallow's straightforward20 eyes, itlooked uncommonly like a fortress21. it was built on an eminence thatoverlooked the capital. Its walls were thick and reinforced. Its approacheswere guarded, and its architecture was shaped for defense22. Just the type ofdwelling, Mallow thought sourly, for Asper, the Well-Beloved.
A young girl was before them. She bent23 low to the Commdor, who said, "Thisis one of the Commdora's girls. Will she do?""Perfectly24!"The Commdor watched carefully while Mallow snapped the chain about thegirl's waist, and stepped back.
The Commdor snuffled, "Well. Is that all?""Will you draw the curtain, Commdor. Young lady, there's a little knob justnear the snap. Will you move it upward, please? Go ahead, it won't hurtyou."The girl did so, drew a sharp breath, looked at her hands, and gasped,"Oh!"From her waist as a source she was drowned in a pale, streamingluminescence of shifting color that drew itself over her head in a flashingcoronet of liquid fire. It was as if someone had tom the aurora25 borealisout of the sky and molded it into a cloak.
The girl stepped to the mirror and stared, fascinated.
"Here, take this." Mallow handed her a necklace of dull pebbles26. "Put itaround your neck."The girl did so, and each pebble, as it entered the luminescent fieldbecame an individual flame that leaped and sparkled in crimson27 and gold.
"What do you think of it?" Mallow asked her. The girl didn't answer butthere was adoration28 in her eyes. The Commdor gestured and reluctantly, shepushed the knob down, and the glory died. She left ? with a memory.
"It's yours, Commdor," said Mallow, "for the Commdora. Consider it a smallgift from the Foundation.""Hm-mmm.' The Commdor turned the belt and necklace over in his hand asthough calculating the weight. "How is it done?"Mallow shrugged29, "That's a question for our technical experts. But it willwork for you without ? mark you, without ? priestly help.""Well, it's only feminine frippery after all. What could you do with it?
Where would the money come in?""You have balls, receptions, banquets ? that sort of thing?""Oh, yes.""Do you realize what women will pay for that sort of jewelry30? Ten thousandcredits, at least."The Commdor seemed struck in a heap, "Ah!""And since the power unit of this particular item will not last longer thansix months, there will be the necessity of frequent replacements31. Now wecan sell as many of these as you want for the equivalent in wrought32 iron ofone thousand credits. There's nine hundred percent profit for you."The Commdor plucked at his beard and seemed engaged in awesome33 mentalcalculations, "Galaxy34, how they would fight for them. I'll keep the supplysmall and let them bid. Of course, it wouldn't do to let them know that Ipersonally?
Mallow said, "We can explain the workings of dummy35 corporations, if youwould like. 朤hen, working further at random36, take our complete line ofhousehold gadgets37. We have collapsible stoves that will roast the toughestmeats to the desired tenderness in two minutes. We've got knives that won'trequire sharpening. We've got the equivalent of a complete laundry that canbe packed in a small closet and will work entirely automatically. Dittodish-washers. Ditto-ditto floor-scrubbers, furniture polishers,dust-precipitators, lighting38 fixtures ?oh, anything you like. Think ofyour increased popularity, if you make them available to the public. Thinkof your increased quantity of, uh, worldly goods, if they're available as agovernment monopoly at nine hundred percent profit. It will be worth manytimes the money to them, and they needn't know what you pay for it. And,mind you, none of it will require priestly supervision39. Everybody will behappy.""Except you, it seems. What do you get out of it?""Just what every trader gets by Foundation law. My men and I will collecthalf of whatever profits we take in. Just you buy all I want to sell you,and we'll both make out quite well. Quite well."The Commdor was enjoying his thoughts, "What did you say you wanted to bepaid with? Iron?""That, and coal, and bauxite40. Also tobacco, pepper, magnesium41, hardwood.
Nothing you haven't got enough of.""It sounds well.""I think so. Oh, and still another item at random, Commdor. I could retoolyour factories.""Eh? How's that?""Well, take your steel foundries. I have handy little gadgets that could dotricks with steel that would cut production costs to one percent ofprevious marks. You could cut prices by half, and still split extremely fatprofits with the manufacturers. I tell you, I could show you exactly what Imean, if you allowed me a demonstration42. Do you have a steel foundry inthis city? It wouldn't take long.""It could be arranged, Trader Mallow. But tomorrow, tomorrow. Would youdine with us tonight?""My men? began Mallow.
"Let them all come," said the Commdor, expansively. "A symbolic43 friendlyunion of our nations. It will give us a chance for further friendlydiscussion. But one thing," his face lengthened and grew stem, "none ofyour religion. Don't think that all this is an entering wedge for themissionaries.""Commdor," said Mallow, dryly, "I give you my word that religion would cutmy profits.""Then that will do for now. You'll be escorted back to your ship."
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收听单词发音
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1
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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inordinately
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| adv.无度地，非常地 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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gravel
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| n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石 | |
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sparse
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| adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的 | |
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periphery
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| n.(圆体的)外面；周围 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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missionary
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| adj.教会的，传教(士)的；n.传教士 | |
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autonomous
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| adj.自治的；独立的 | |
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caliber
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| n.能力；水准 | |
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straightforward
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| adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的 | |
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fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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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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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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replacements
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| n.代替( replacement的名词复数 )；替换的人[物]；替代品；归还 | |
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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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awesome
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| adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的 | |
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galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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35
dummy
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| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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gadgets
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| n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ） | |
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38
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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39
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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bauxite
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| n.铝土矿 | |
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41
magnesium
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| n.镁 | |
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42
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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43
symbolic
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| adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的 | |
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