Chapter 1

Wanda was almost eight years old now, going by Galactic Standard Time -as everyone did. She was quite the little lady-grave in manner, with straight light-brown hair. Her eyes were blue but were darkening and she might well end with the brown eyes of her father.
    She sat there, lost in thought. -Sixty.
    That was the number that preoccupied¹ her. Grandfather was going to have a birthday and it was going to be his sixtieth-and sixty was a large number. It bothered her because yesterday she had had a bad dream about it.
    She went in search of her mother. She would have to ask.
    Her mother was not hard to find. She was talking to Grandfather-about the birthday surely. Wanda hesitated. It wouldn't be nice to ask in front of Grandfather.
    Her mother had no trouble whatever sensing Wanda's consternation². She said, "One minute, Hari, and let's see what's bothering Wanda. What is it, dear?"
    Wanda pulled at her hand. "Not here, Mother. Private."
    Manella turned to Hari Seldon. "See how early it starts? Private lives. Private problems. Of course, Wanda, shall we go to your room?"
    "Yes, Mother." Wanda was clearly relieved.
    Hand in hand, they went and then her mother said, "Now what is the problem, Wanda?"
    "It's Grandfather, Mother."
    "Grandfather! I can't imagine him doing anything to bother you."
    "Well, he is." Wanda's eyes filled with sudden tears. "Is he going to die?"
    "Your grandfather? What put that into your head, Wanda?"
    "He's going to be sixty. That's so old."
    "No, it isn't. It's not young, but it's not old, either. People live to be eighty, ninety, even a hundred-and your grandfather is strong and healthy. He'll live a long time."
    "Are you sure?" She was sniffing³.
    Manella grasped her daughter by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "We must all die someday, Wanda. I've explained that to you before. Just the same, we don't worry about it till the someday is much closer." She wiped Wanda's eyes gently. "Grandfather is going to stay alive till you're all grown up and have babies of your own. You'll see. Now come back with me. I want you to talk to Grandfather."
    Wanda sniffed⁴ again.
    Seldon looked at the little girl with a sympathetic expression on her return and said, "What is it, Wanda? Why are you unhappy?"
    Wanda shook her head.
    Seldon turned his gaze to the girl's mother. "Well, what is it, Manella?"
    Manella shook her head. "She'll have to tell you herself."
    Seldon sat down and tapped his lap. "Come, Wanda. Have a seat and tell me your troubles."
    She obeyed and wriggled⁵ a bit, then said, "I'm scared."
    Seldon put his arm around her. "Nothing to be scared of in your old grandfather."
    Manella made a face. "Wrong word."
    Seldon looked up at her. "Grandfather?"
    "No. Old."
    That seemed to break the dike⁶. Wanda burst into tears. "You're old, Grandfather."
    "I suppose so. I'm sixty." He bent⁷ his face down to Wanda's and whispered, "I don't like it, either, Wanda. That's why I'm glad you're only seven going on eight."
    "Your hair is white, Grandpa."
    "It wasn't always. It just turned white recently."
    "White hair means you're going to die, Grandpa."
    Seldon looked shocked. He said to Manella, "What is all this?"
    "I don't know, Hari. It's her own idea."
    "I had a bad dream," said Wanda.
    Seldon cleared his throat. "We all have bad dreams now and then, Wanda. It's good we do. Bad dreams get rid of bad thoughts and then we're better off."
    "It was about you dying, Grandfather."
    "I know. I know. Dreams can be about dying, but that doesn't make them important. Look at me. Don't you see how alive I am-and cheerful-and laughing? Do I look as though I'm dying? Tell me."
    "N-no."
    "There you are, then. Now you go out and play and forget all about this. I'm just having a birthday and everyone will have a good time. Go ahead, dear."
    Wanda left in reasonable cheer, but Seldon motioned to Manella to stay.
   

1 preoccupied   

adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式)

参考例句：

• He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice anything wrong. 他只顾想着心事，没注意到有什么不对。
• The question of going to the Mount Tai preoccupied his mind. 去游泰山的问题盘踞在他心头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 consternation   

n.大为吃惊，惊骇

参考例句：

• He was filled with consternation to hear that his friend was so ill.他听说朋友病得那么厉害，感到非常震惊。
• Sam stared at him in consternation.萨姆惊恐不安地注视着他。

3 sniffing   

n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。
• They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 sniffed   

v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说

参考例句：

• When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 wriggled   

v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）

参考例句：

• He wriggled uncomfortably on the chair. 他坐在椅子上不舒服地扭动着身体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A snake wriggled across the road. 一条蛇蜿蜒爬过道路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 dike   

n.堤，沟；v.开沟排水

参考例句：

• They dug a dike along walls of the school.他们沿校墙挖沟。
• Fortunately,the flood did not break the dike.还好，这场大水没有把堤坝冲坏。

7 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。