"None. The scouting1 party has quartered space, but the instruments have detected nothing. Commander Yume has reported that the Fleet is ready for an immediate2 attack in retaliation3."
The general shook his head. "No, not for a patrol ship. Not yet. Tell him to double ?Wait! I'll write out the message. Have it coded and transmitted by tight beam."
He wrote as he talked and thrust the paper at the waiting officer. "Has the Siwennian arrived yet?"
"Not yet."
"Well, see to it that he is brought in here as soon as he does arrive."
The aide saluted4 crisply and left. Riose resumed his caged stride.
When the door opened a second time, it was Ducem Barr that stood on the threshold. Slowly, in the footsteps of the ushering5 aide, he stepped into the garish6 room whose ceiling was an ornamented7 holographic model of the Galaxy8, and in the center of which Bel Riose stood in field uniform.
"Patrician9, good day!" The general pushed forward a chair with his foot and gestured the aide away with a "That door is to stay closed till I open it."
He stood before the Siwennian, legs apart, hand grasping wrist behind his back, balancing himself slowly, thoughtfully, on the balls of his feet.
Then, harshly, "Patrician, are you a loyal subject of the Emperor?"
Barr, who had maintained an indifferent silence till then, wrinkled a noncommittal brow. "I have no cause to love Imperial rule."
"Which is a long way from saying that you would be a traitor10."
"True. But the mere11 act of not being a traitor is also a long way from agreeing to be an active helper."
"Ordinarily also true. But to refuse your help at this point," said Riose, deliberately12, "will be considered treason and treated as such."
Barr's eyebrows13 drew together. "Save your verbal cudgels for your subordinates. A simple statement of your needs and wants will suffice me here."
Riose sat down and crossed his legs. "Barr, we had an earlier discussion half a year ago."
"About your magicians?"
"Yes. You remember what I said I would do."
Barr nodded. His arms rested limply in his lap. "You were going to visit them in their haunts, and you've been away these four months. Did you find them?"
"Find them? That I did," cried Riose. His lips were stiff as he spoke14. It seemed to require effort to refrain from grinding molars. "Patrician, they are not magicians; they are devils. It is as far from belief as the outer galaxies15 from here. Conceive it! It is a world the size of a handkerchief, of a fingernail; with resources so petty, power so minute, a population so microscopic16 as would never suffice the most backward worlds of the dusty prefects of the Dark Stars. Yet with that, a people so proud and ambitious as to dream quietly and methodically of Galactic rule.
"Why, they are so sure of themselves that they do not even hurry. They move slowly, phlegmatically17; they speak of necessary centuries. They swallow worlds at leisure; creep through systems with dawdling18 complacence.
"And they succeed. There is no one to stop them. They have built up a filthy19 trading community that curls its tentacles20 about the systems further than their toy ships dare reach. For parsecs, their Traders ?which is what their agents call themselves ?penetrate21."
Ducem Barr interrupted the angry flow. "How much of this information is definite; and how much is simply fury?"
The soldier caught his breath and grew calmer. "My fury does not blind me. I tell you I was in worlds nearer to Siwenna than to the Foundation, where the Empire was a myth of the distance, and where Traders were living truths. We ourselves were mistaken for Traders."
"The Foundation itself told you they aimed at Galactic dominion22?"
"Told me!" Riose was violent again. "It was not a matter of telling me. The officials said nothing. They spoke business exclusively. But I spoke to ordinary men. I absorbed the ideas of the common folk; their 'manifest destiny,' their calm acceptance of a great future. It is a thing that can't be hidden; a universal optimism they don't even try to hide."
The Siwennian openly displayed a certain quiet satisfaction. "You will notice that so far it would seem to bear out quite accurately23 my reconstruction24 of events from the paltry25 data on the subject that I have gathered."
"It is no doubt," replied Riose with vexed26 sarcasm27, "a tribute to your analytical28 powers. It is also a hearty29 and bumptious30 commentary on the growing danger to the domains31 of His Imperial Majesty32."
Barr shrugged33 his unconcern, and Riose leaned forward suddenly, to seize the old man's shoulders and stare with curious gentleness into his eyes.
He said, "Now, patrician, none of that. I have no desire to be barbaric. For my part, the legacy34 of Siwennian hostility35 to the Imperium is an odious36 burden, and one which I would do everything in my power to wipe out. But my province is the military and interference in civil affairs is impossible. It would bring about my recall and ruin my usefulness at once. You see that? I know you see that. Between yourself and myself then, let the atrocity37 of forty years ago be repaid by your vengeance38 upon its author and so forgotten. I need your help. I frankly39 admit it."
There was a world of urgency in the young man's voice, but Ducem Barr's head shook gently and deliberately in a negative gesture.
Riose said pleadingly, "You don't understand, patrician, and I doubt my ability to make you. I can't argue on your ground. You're the scholar, not I. But this I can tell you. Whatever you think of the Empire, you will admit its great services. Its armed forces have committed isolated40 crimes, but in the main they have been a force for peace and civilization. It was the Imperial navy that created the Pax Imperium that ruled over all the Galaxy for thousands of years. Contrast the millennia41 of peace under the Sun-and-Spaceship of the Empire with the millennia of interstellar anarchy42 that preceded it. Consider the wars and devastations of those old days and tell me if, with all its faults, the Empire is not worth preserving.
"Consider," he drove on forcefully, "to what the outer fringe of the Galaxy is reduced in these days of their breakaway and independence, and ask yourself if for the sake of a petty revenge you would reduce Siwenna from its position as a province under the protection of a mighty43 Navy to a barbarian44 world in a barbarian Galaxy, all immersed in its fragmentary independence and its common degradation45 and misery46."
"Is it so bad ?so soon?" murmured the Siwennian.
"No," admitted Riose. "We would be safe ourselves no doubt, were our lifetimes quadrupled. But it is for the Empire I fight; that, and a military tradition which is something for myself alone, and which I can not transfer to you. It is a military tradition built on the Imperial institution which I serve."
"You are getting mystical, and I always find it difficult to penetrate another person's mysticism."
"No matter. You understand the danger of this Foundation."
"It was I who pointed47 out what you call the danger before ever you headed outward from Siwenna."
"Then you realize that it must be stopped in embryo48 or perhaps not at all. You have known of this Foundation before anyone had heard of it. You know more about it than anyone else in the Empire. You probably know how it might best be attacked; and you can probably forewarn me of its countermeasures. Come, let us be friends."
Ducem Barr rose. He said flatly, "Such help as I could give you means nothing. So I will make you free of it in the face of your strenuous49 demand."
"I will be the judge of its meaning."
"No, I am serious. Not all the might of the Empire could avail to crush this pygmy world."
"Why not?" Bel Riose's eyes glistened50 fiercely. "No, stay where you are. I'll tell you when you may leave. Why not? If you think I underestimate this enemy I have discovered, you are wrong. Patrician," he spoke reluctantly, "I lost a ship on my return. I have no proof that it fell into the hands of the Foundation; but it has not been located since and were it merely an accident, its dead hulk should, certainly have been found along the route we took. It is not an important loss ?less than the tenth part of a fleabite, but it may mean that the Foundation has already opened hostilities51. Such eagerness and such disregard for consequences might mean secret forces of which I know nothing. Can you help me then by answering a specific question? What is their military power?"
"I haven't any notion."
"Then explain yourself on your own terms. Why do you say the Empire can not defeat this small enemy?"
The Siwennian seated himself once more and looked away from Riose's fixed52 glare. He spoke heavily, "Because I have faith in the principles of psychohistory. It is a strange science. It reached mathematical maturity53 with one man, Hari Seldon, and died with him, for no man since has been capable of manipulating its intricacies. But in that short period, it proved itself the most powerful instrument ever invented for the study of humanity. Without pretending to predict the actions of individual humans, it formulated54 definite laws capable of mathematical analysis and extrapolation to govern and predict the mass action of human groups."
"So?
"It was that psychohistory which Seldon and the group he worked with applied55 in full force to the establishment of the Foundation. The place, time, and conditions all conspire56 mathematically and so, inevitably57, to the development of a Second Galactic Empire."
Riose's voice trembled with indignation. "You mean that this art of his predicts that I would attack the Foundation and lose such and such a battle for such and such a reason? You are trying to say that I am a silly robot following a predetermined course into destruction."
"No," replied the old patrician, sharply. "I have already said that the science had nothing to do with individual actions. It is the vaster background that has been foreseen."
"Then we stand clasped tightly in the forcing hand of the Goddess of Historical Necessity."
"Of Psychohistorical Necessity," prompted Barr, softly.
"And if I exercise my prerogative58 of freewill? If I choose to attack next year, or not to attack at all? How pliable59 is the Goddess? How resourceful?"
Barr shrugged. "Attack now or never; with a single ship, or all the force in the Empire; by military force or economic pressure; by candid60 declaration of war or by treacherous61 ambush62. Do whatever you wish in your fullest exercise of freewill. You will still lose."
"Because of Hari Seldon's dead hand?"
"Because of the dead hand of the mathematics of human behavior that can neither be stopped, swerved63, nor delayed."
The two faced each other in deadlock64, until the general stepped back.
He said simply, "I'll take that challenge. It's a dead hand against a living will."
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1
scouting
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| 守候活动，童子军的活动 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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3
retaliation
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| n.报复，反击 | |
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4
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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5
ushering
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的现在分词 ) | |
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garish
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| adj.华丽而俗气的，华而不实的 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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patrician
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| adj.贵族的，显贵的；n.贵族；有教养的人；罗马帝国的地方官 | |
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10
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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12
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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13
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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14
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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galaxies
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| 星系( galaxy的名词复数 )； 银河系； 一群（杰出或著名的人物） | |
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16
microscopic
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| adj.微小的，细微的，极小的，显微的 | |
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17
phlegmatically
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18
dawdling
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| adj.闲逛的，懒散的v.混（时间）( dawdle的现在分词 ) | |
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19
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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tentacles
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| n.触手( tentacle的名词复数 )；触角；触须；触毛 | |
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21
penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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22
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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23
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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reconstruction
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| n.重建，再现，复原 | |
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25
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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26
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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27
sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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28
analytical
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| adj.分析的；用分析法的 | |
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29
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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bumptious
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| adj.傲慢的 | |
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domains
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| n.范围( domain的名词复数 )；领域；版图；地产 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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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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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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35
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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odious
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| adj.可憎的，讨厌的 | |
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atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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38
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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39
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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40
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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41
millennia
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| n.一千年，千禧年 | |
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42
anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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43
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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44
barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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45
degradation
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| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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46
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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47
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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48
embryo
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| n.胚胎，萌芽的事物 | |
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49
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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50
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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52
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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53
maturity
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| n.成熟；完成；(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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54
formulated
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| v.构想出( formulate的过去式和过去分词 )；规划；确切地阐述；用公式表示 | |
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55
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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56
conspire
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| v.密谋，（事件等）巧合，共同导致 | |
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57
inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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58
prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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59
pliable
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| adj.易受影响的；易弯的；柔顺的，易驾驭的 | |
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60
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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61
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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62
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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63
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
deadlock
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| n.僵局，僵持 | |
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