It didn't often happen. Hari remembered Dors telling him once how this particular area with its cold winters and frequent rains had been chosen as the site.
"It wasn't actually chosen, " she said. "It was a family estate of the Morovian family in the early days of the Kingdom of Trantor. When the Kingdom became an Empire, there were numerous sites where the Emperor could live-summer resorts, winter places, sports lodges2, beach properties. And, as the planet was slowly domed1, one reigning3 Emperor, living here, liked it so much that it remained undomed. And, just because it was the only area left undomed, it became special-a place apart-and that uniqueness appealed to the next Emperor . and the next . and the next. . And so, a tradition was born."
And as always, when hearing something like that, Seldon would think: And how would psychohistory handle this? Would it predict that one area would remain undomed but be absolutely unable to say which area? Could it go even so far? Could it predict that several areas would remain undomed or none-and be wrong? How could it account for the personal likes and dislikes of an Emperor who happened to be on the throne at the crucial time and who made a decision in a moment of whimsy4 and nothing more. That way lay chaos-and madness.
Cleon I was clearly enjoying the good weather.
"I'm getting old, Seldon," he said. "I don't have to tell you that. We're the same age, you and I. Surely it's a sign of age when I don't have the impulse to play tennis or go fishing, even though they've newly restocked the lake, but am willing to walk gently over the pathways."
He was eating nuts as he spoke5, which resembled what on Seldon's native world of Helicon would have been called pumpkin6 seeds, but which were larger and a little less delicate in taste. Cleon cracked them gently between his teeth, peeled the thin shells and popped the kernels7 into his mouth.
Seldon did not like the taste particularly but, of course, when he was offered some by the Emperor, he accepted them and ate a few.
The Emperor had a number of shells in his hand and looked vaguely8 around for a receptacle of some sort that he could use for disposal. He saw none, but he did notice a gardener standing9 not far away, his body at attention (as it should be in the Imperial presence) and his head respectfully bowed.
Cleon said, "Gardener!"
The gardener approached quickly. "Sire!"
"Get rid of these for me," he said, tapping the shells into the gardener's hand.
"Yes, Sire."
Seldon said, "I have a few, too, Gruber."
Gruber held out his hand and said, almost shyly, "Yes, First Minister."
He hurried away and the Emperor looked after him curiously10. "Do you know the fellow, Seldon?"
"Yes, indeed, Sire. An old friend."
"The gardener is an old friend? What is he? A mathematical colleague fallen on hard times?"
"No, Sire. Perhaps you remember the story. It was the time when"-he cleared his throat, searching for the most tactful way to recall the incident-"the sergeant11 threatened my life shortly after I was appointed to my present post through your kindness."
"The assassination12 attempt." Cleon looked up to heaven, as though seeking patience. "I don't know why everyone is so afraid of that word."
"Perhaps," said Seldon smoothly13, slightly despising himself for the ease with which he had become able to flatter, "the rest of us are more perturbed14 at the possibility of something untoward15 happening to our Emperor than you yourself are."
Cleon smiled ironically. "I dare say. And what has this to do with Gruber? Is that his name?"
"Yes, Sire. Mandell Gruber. I'm sure you will recall, if you cast your mind back, that there was a gardener who came rushing up with a rake to defend me against the armed sergeant."
"Ah yes. Was that fellow the gardener who did that?"
"He was the man, Sire. I've considered him a friend ever since and I meet him almost every time I am on the grounds. I think he watches for me, feels proprietary16 toward me. And, of course, I feel kindly17 toward him."
"I don't blame you. -And while we're on the subject, how is your formidable lady, Dr. Venabili? I don't see her often."
"She's a historian, Sire. Lost in the past."
"She doesn't frighten you? She'd frighten me. I've been told how she treated that sergeant. One could almost be sorry for him."
"She grows savage18 on my behalf, Sire, but has not had occasion to do so lately. It's been very quiet."
The Emperor looked after the disappearing gardener. "Have we ever rewarded that man?"
"I have done so, Sire. He has a wife and two daughters and I have arranged that each daughter will have a sum of money put aside for the education of any children she may have."
"Very good. But he needs a promotion19, I think. -Is he a good gardener?"
"Excellent, Sire."
"The Chief Gardener, Malcomber-I'm not quite sure I remember his name-is getting on and is, perhaps, not up to the job anymore. He is well into his late seventies. Do you think this Gruber might be able to take over?"
"I'm certain he can, Sire, but he likes his present job. It keeps him out in the open in all kinds of weather."
"A peculiar20 recommendation for a job. I'm sure he can get used to administration and I do need someone for some sort of renewal21 of the grounds. Hmmm. I must think upon this. Your friend Gruber may be just the man I need. -By the way, Seldon, what did you mean by saying it's been very quiet?"
"I merely meant, Sire, that there has been no sign of discord22 at the Imperial Court. The unavoidable tendency to intrigue23 seems to be as near a minimum as it is ever likely to get."
"You wouldn't say that if you were Emperor, Seldon, and had to contend with all these officials and their complaints. How can you tell me things are quiet when reports seem to reach me every other week of some serious breakdown24 here and there on Trantor?"
"These things are bound to happen."
"I don't recall such things happening so frequently in previous years."
"Perhaps that was because they didn't, Sire. The infrastructure25 grows older with time. To make the necessary repairs properly would take time, labor26, and enormous expense. This is not a time when a rise in taxes will be looked on favorably."
"There's never any such time. I gather that the people are experiencing serious dissatisfaction over these breakdowns27. It must stop and you must see to it, Seldon. What does psychohistory say?"
"It says what common sense says, that everything is growing older."
"Well, all this is quite spoiling the pleasant day for me. I leave it in your hands, Seldon."
"Yes, Sire," said Seldon quietly.
The Emperor strode off and Seldon thought that it was all spoiling the pleasant day for him, too. This breakdown at the center was the alternative he didn't want. But how was he to prevent it and switch the crisis to the Periphery28?
Psychohistory didn't say.
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1
domed
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| adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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2
lodges
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| v.存放( lodge的第三人称单数 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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whimsy
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| n.古怪，异想天开 | |
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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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pumpkin
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| n.南瓜 | |
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kernels
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| 谷粒( kernel的名词复数 )； 仁； 核； 要点 | |
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8
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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9
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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12
assassination
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| n.暗杀；暗杀事件 | |
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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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14
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
untoward
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| adj.不利的，不幸的，困难重重的 | |
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16
proprietary
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| n.所有权，所有的；独占的；业主 | |
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kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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19
promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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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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renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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discord
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| n.不和，意见不合，争论，（音乐）不和谐 | |
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23
intrigue
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| vt.激起兴趣，迷住；vi.耍阴谋；n.阴谋，密谋 | |
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24
breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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25
infrastructure
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| n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施 | |
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26
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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27
breakdowns
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| n.分解( breakdown的名词复数 )；衰竭；（车辆或机器的）损坏；统计分析 | |
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28
periphery
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| n.(圆体的)外面；周围 | |
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