The man beside him placed a cigar between Mallow's teeth and lit it. Hechamped on one of his own and said, "You must be overworked. Maybe you needa long rest.""Maybe I do, Jael, but I'd rather rest in a council seat. Because I'm goingto have that seat, and you're going to help me."Ankor Jael raised his eyebrows and said, "How did I get into this?""You got in obviously. Firstly, you're an old dog of a politico. Secondly,you were booted out of your cabinet seat by Jorane Sutt, the same fellowwho'd rather lose an eyeball than see me in the council. You don't thinkmuch of my chances, do you?""Not much," agreed the ex-Minister of Education. "You're a Smyrnian.""That's no legal bar. I've had a lay education.""Well, come now. Since when does prejudice follow any law but its own. Now,how about your own man ? this Jaim Twer? What does he say?""He spoke about running me for council almost a year ago," replied Malloweasily, "but I've outgrown2 him. He couldn't have pulled it off in any case.
Not enough depth. He's loud and forceful ?but that's only an expression ofnuisance value. I'm off to put over a real coup3. I need you. ""Jorane Sutt is the cleverest politician on the planet and he'll be againstyou. I don't claim to be able to outsmart him. And don't think he doesn'tfight hard, and dirty.""I've got money.""Mat helps. But it takes a lot to buy off prejudice, you dirty Smyrnian.""I'll have a lot.""Well, I'll look into the matter. But don't ever you crawl up on your hindlegs and bleat that I encouraged you in the matter. Who's that?"Mallow pulled the corners of his mouth down, and said, "Jorane Sutthimself, I think. He's early, and I can understand it. I抳e been dodginghim for a month. Look, Jael, get into the next room, and turn the speakeron low. I want you to listen."He helped the council member out of the room with a shove of his bare foot,then scrambled up and into a silk robe. The synthetic sunlight faded tonormal power.
The secretary to the mayor entered stiffly, while the solemn major-domotiptoed the door shut behind him.
Mallow fastened his belt and said, "Take your choice of chairs, Sutt."Sutt barely cracked a flickering4 smile. The chair he chose was comfortablebut he did not relax into it. From its edge, he said, "If you'll state yourterms to begin with, we'll get down to business.""What terms?""You wish to be coaxed5? Well, then, what, for instance, did you do atKorell? Your report was incomplete.""I gave it to you months ago. You were satisfied then."Yes," Sutt rubbed his forehead thoughtfully with one finger, "but sincethen your activities have been significant. We know a good deal of whatyou're doing, Mallow. We know, exactly, how many factories you're puttingup; in what a hurry you're doing it; and how much it's costing you. Andthere's this palace you have," he gazed about him with a cold lack ofappreciation, "which set you back considerably6 more than my annual salary;and a swathe you've been cutting ?a very considerable and expensive swathe?through the upper layers of Foundation society.""So? Beyond proving that you employ capable spies, what does it show?""It shows you have money you didn't have a year ago. And that can showanything ? for instance, that a good deal went on at Korell that we knownothing of. Where are you getting your money?""My dear Sutt, you can't really expect me to tell you.""I don't.""I didn't think you did. That's why I'm going to tell you. It's straightfrom the treasure-chests of the Commdor of Korell."Sutt blinked.
Mallow smiled and continued. "Unfortunately for you, the money is quitelegitimate. I'm a Master Trader and the money I received was a quantity ofwrought iron and chromite in exchange for a number of trinkets I was ableto supply him with. Fifty per cent of the profit is mine by hideboundcontract with the Foundation. The other half goes to the government at theend of the year when all good citizens pay their income tax.""There was no mention of any trade agreement in your report.""Nor was there any mention of what I had for breakfast that day, or thename of my current mistress, or any other irrelevant detail." Mallow'ssmile was fading into a sneer7. "I was sent ?to quote yourself ?to keep myeyes open. They were never. shut. You wanted to find out what happened tothe captured Foundation merchant ships. I never saw or heard of them. Youwanted to find out if Korell had nuclear power. My report tells of nuclearblasters in the possession of the Commdor's private bodyguard8. I saw noother signs. And the blasters I did see are relics of the old Empire, andmay be show-pieces that do not work, for all my knowledge.
"So far, I followed orders, but beyond that I was, and. still am, a freeagent. According to the laws of the Foundation, a Master Trader may openwhatever new markets he can, and receive therefrom his due half of theprofits. What are your objections? I don't see them."Sutt bent his eyes carefully towards the wall and spoke with a difficultlack of anger, "It is the general custom of all traders to advance thereligion with their trade.""I adhere to law, and not to custom.""There are times when custom can be the higher law.""Then appeal to the courts."Sutt raised somber9 eyes which seemed to retreat into their sockets10. "You'rea Smyrnian after all. It seems naturalization and education can't wipe outthe taint11 in the blood. Listen, and try to understand, just the same.
"This goes beyond money, or markets. We have the science of the great HariSeldon to prove that upon us depends the future empire of the Galaxy12, andfrom the course that leads to that Imperium we cannot turn. The religion wehave is our all-important instrument towards that end. With it we havebrought the Four Kingdoms under our control, even at the moment when theywould have crushed us. It is the most potent13 device known with which tocontrol men and worlds.
"The primary reason for the development of trade and traders was tointroduce and spread this religion more quickly, and to insure that theintroduction of new techniques and a new economy would be subject to ourthorough and intimate control."He paused for breath, and Mallow interjected quietly, "I know the theory. Iunderstand it entirely14.""Do you? It is more than I expected. Then you see, of course, that yourattempt at trade for its own sake; at mass production of worthless gadgets,which can only affect a world's economy superficially; at the subversion15 ofinterstellar policy to the god of profits; at the divorce of nuclear powerfrom our controlling religion ? can only end with the overthrow16 andcomplete negation of the policy that has worked successfully for acentury.""And time enough, too," said Mallow, indifferently, "for a policy outdated,dangerous and impossible. However well your religion has succeeded in theFour Kingdoms, scarcely another world in the Periphery17 has accepted it. Atthe time we seized control of the Kingdoms, there were a sufficient numberof exiles, Galaxy knows, to spread the story of how Salvor Hardin used thepriesthood and the superstition18 of the people to overthrow the independenceand power of the secular19 monarchs20. And if that wasn't enough, the case ofAskone two decades back made it plain enough. There isn't a ruler in thePeriphery now that wouldn't sooner cut his own throat than let a priest ofthe Foundation enter the territory.
"I don't propose to force Korell or any other world to accept something Iknow they don't want. No, Sutt. If nuclear power makes them dangerous, asincere friendship through trade will be many times better than an insecureoverlordship, based on the hated supremacy21 of a foreign spiritual power,which, once it weakens ever so slightly, can only fall entirely and leavenothing substantial behind except an immortal fear and hate."Suit said cynically, "Very nicely put. So, to get back to the originalpoint of discussion, what are your terms? What do you require to exchangeyour ideas for mine?""You think my convictions are for sale?""Why not?" came the cold response. "Isn't that your business, buying andselling?""Only at a profit," said Mallow, unoffended. "Can you offer me more thanI'm getting as is?""You could have three-quarters of your trade profits, rather than half."Mallow laughed shortly, "A fine offer. The whole of the trade on your termswould fall far below ?a tenth share on mine. Try harder than that.""You could have a council seat.""I'll have that anyway, without and despite you."With a sudden movement, Sutt clenched his fist, "You could also saveyourself a prison term. Of twenty years, if I have my way. Count the profitin that.""No profit at all, but can you fulfill22 such a threat?""How about a trial for murder?""Whose murder?" asked Mallow, contemptuously.
Sutt's voice was harsh now, though no louder than before, "The murder of anAnacreonian priest, in the service of the Foundation.""Is that so now? And what's your evidence?"The secretary to the mayor leaned forward, "Mallow, I'm not bluffing23. Thepreliminaries are over. I have only to sign one final paper and the case ofthe Foundation versus25 Hober Mallow, Master Trader, is begun. You abandoneda subject of the Foundation to torture and death at the hands of an alienmob, Mallow, and you have only five seconds to prevent the punishment dueyou. For myself, I'd rather you decided26 to bluff24 it out. You'd be safer asa destroyed enemy, than as a doubtfully-converted friend."Mallow said solemnly, "You have your wish.""Good!" and the secretary smiled savagely27. "It was the mayor who wished thepreliminary attempt at compromise, not I. Witness that I did not try toohard."The door opened before him, and he left.
Mallow looked up as Ankor Jael re-entered the room.
Mallow said, "Did you hear him?"The politician flopped28 to the floor. "I never heard him as angry as that,since I've known the snake.""All right. What do you make of it?""Well, I'll tell you. A foreign policy of domination through spiritualmeans is his idee fixe, but it's my notion that his ultimate aims aren'tspiritual. I was fired out of the Cabinet for arguing on the same issue, asI needn't tell you.""You needn't. And what are those unspiritual aims according to yournotion?"Jael grew serious, "Well, he's not stupid, so he must see the bankruptcy29 ofour religious policy, which has hardly made a single conquest for us inseventy years. He's obviously using it for purposes of his own.
"Now any dogma primarily based on faith and emotionalism, is a dangerousweapon to use on others, since it is almost impossible to guarantee thatthe weapon will never be turned on the user. For a hundred years now, we'vesupported a ritual and mythology30 that is becoming more and more venerable,traditional ? and immovable. In some ways, it isn't under our control anymore.""In what ways?" demanded Mallow. "Don't stop. I want your thoughts.""Well, suppose one man, one ambitious man, uses the force of religionagainst us, rather than for us.""You mean Sutt?
"You're right. I mean Sutt. Listen, man, if he could mobilize the varioushierarchies on the subject planets against the Foundation in the name oforthodoxy, what chance would we stand? By planting himself at the head ofthe standards of the pious31, he could make war on heresy32, as represented byyou, for instance, and make himself king eventually. After all, it wasHardin who said: 'A nuclear blaster is a good weapon, but it can point bothways.'"Mallow slapped his bare thigh33, "All right, Jael, then get me in thatcouncil, and I'll fight him."Jael paused, then said significantly, "Maybe not. What was all that abouthaving a priest lynched? Is isn't true, is it?""It's true enough," Mallow said, carelessly.
Jael whistled, "Has he definite proof?""He should have." Mallow hesitated, then added, "Jaim Twer was his man fromthe beginning, though neither of them knew that I knew that. And Jaim Twerwas an eyewitness34."Jael shook his head. "Uh-uh. That's bad.""Bad? What's bad about it? That priest was illegally upon the planet by theFoundation's own laws. He was obviously used by the Korellian government asa bait, whether involuntary or not. By all the laws of common-sense, I hadno choice but one action ?and that action was strictly35 within the law. Ifhe brings me to trial, he'll do nothing but make a prime fool of himself."And Jael shook his head again, "No, Mallow, you've missed it. I told you heplayed dirty. He's not out to convict you; he knows he can't do that. Buthe is out to ruin your standing36 with the people. You heard what he said.
Custom is higher than law, at times. You could walk out of the trialscot-free, but if the people think you threw a priest to the dogs, yourpopularity is gone.
"They'll admit you did the legal thing, even the sensible thing. But justthe same you'll have been, in their eyes, a cowardly dog, an unfeelingbrute, a hard-hearted monster. And you would never get elected to thecouncil. You might even lose your rating as Master Trader by having yourcitizenship voted away from you. You're not native born, you know. Whatmore do you think Sutt can want?" Mallow frowned stubbornly, "So!" "Myboy," said Jael. "I'll stand by you, but I can't help. You're on the spot,杁ead center."
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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outgrown
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| 长[发展] 得超过（某物）的范围( outgrow的过去分词 )； 长[发展]得不能再要（某物）； 长得比…快； 生长速度超过 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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flickering
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| adj.闪烁的，摇曳的，一闪一闪的 | |
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coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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sneer
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| v.轻蔑；嘲笑；n.嘲笑，讥讽的言语 | |
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bodyguard
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| n.护卫，保镖 | |
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somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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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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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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subversion
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| n.颠覆，破坏 | |
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overthrow
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| v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆 | |
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periphery
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| n.(圆体的)外面；周围 | |
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superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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secular
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| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
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monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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fulfill
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| vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意 | |
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bluffing
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| n. 威吓，唬人 动词bluff的现在分词形式 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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versus
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| prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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bankruptcy
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| n.破产；无偿付能力 | |
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mythology
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| n.神话，神话学，神话集 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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heresy
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| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
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thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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eyewitness
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| n.目击者，见证人 | |
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strictly
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standing
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