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基地系列:第二基地|Second Foundation

第四章 二人与长老|Chapter 4

属类： 双语小说 【分类】魔幻小说 -[作者: 艾萨克-阿西莫夫] 阅读：[15310]
《第二基地》是“基地”系列三部曲的最后一部。“谜”一般的第二基地的存在成了众矢之的，骡要铲除它，而第一基地的移民为了一个完全不同的理由也必须找到它，但是它究竟在哪里呢？这部故事就是各方人马找寻第二基地的传奇。骡倾全力寻找并铲除第二基地，却失败了。随后，基地人员也千方百计寻找第二基地，因为他们不愿把建立新帝国的功业拱手让人。谁也没想到，寻找的线索竟维系在一位小女孩身上。十四岁的艾嘉蒂娅怕得要死，她究竟发现了有关第二基地的什么秘密呢？
《 字+字- 行+行- 页+页- 字+字- 行+行- 页+页- 》
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罗珊世界这个区域的长老们，形象与外人的想像完全不同。他们并不是较年长或较年老的农民，也不会显得权威而不甚友善。

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完全不是那么回事。

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初次见面时，他们总会令人留下相当有尊严的印象，让人了解到他们的地位是如何重要。

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他们现在围坐在椭圆形长桌旁，像是许多严肃而动作迟缓的哲人。大多数人看来才刚刚步入中年，只有少数几位留着修剪整齐的短胡须；每个人显然都还不到四十岁。因此“长老”这个头衔其实只是一种尊称，并不完全是对年龄的描述。

4
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从外太空来的那两位客人，如今正坐在上座与长老共餐。此时的气氛相当肃静，食物也十分简素，看来这只是一种仪式，而非真正的宴客。他们一面吃，一面体察着一种新的、对比强烈的气氛。

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当他们吃完之后，几位显然最受敬重的长老说了一两句客套话——由于实在太短、太简单，所以不能称之为“致辞”。接着，正式而拘谨的气氛就不知不觉消失无踪。

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欢迎外来访客而刻意做作出来的尊严，仿佛终于功成身退。长老们开始对客人表现出亲切与好奇，将乡下人的敦厚淳朴表露无遗。

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他们围在两位异邦人身边，提出了一个接一个的问题。

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他们的问题五花八门，诸如：驾驶太空船或星舰是否很困难？总共需要多少人手？有没有可能帮他们的车辆换装较好的发动机？听说达辛德很少下雪，其他世界是不是也都这样？他们的世界住了多少人？是不是和达辛德一般大？是不是非常遥远？他们穿的衣服布料是如何织成的？为何会有金属光泽？他们为什么不穿毛皮？

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他们是不是每天都刮脸？普利吉手上戴的戒指是什么矿物……以及其他数不胜数的怪问题。

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所有的问题几乎都是向普利吉提出来的，好像由于他年纪较大，他们就自然而然地认为他较有权威。普利吉发觉自己不得不回答得越来越详细，好像被一群小孩子包围一般。那些问题全然出于毫无心机的好奇，他们热切的求知欲实在令人无法拒绝。

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于是，普利吉耐着性子，逐一解答他们的问题：驾驶船舰并不困难，所需的人员决定于船舰的大小，从一个人到很多人都有可能。自己对此地车辆所用的发动机并不熟悉，但想必一定可以改进。每个世界的气候都不尽相同。他们的世界上住了几亿人，不过与伟大的达辛德“帝国”相比，根本就微不足道：他们的确来自很远的地方。他们的衣服是用矽胶纺织成的，布料表面经过特殊加工，使得表面分子具有固定的排列方向，因此会产生金属光泽。由于衣服附有加热装置，因此他们不用再穿毛皮。他们的确每天都刮胡子，他的戒指上面镶的是紫水晶……不知不觉间，普利吉发现自己竟然和这些乡下人打成一片，而这根本就违反了他的本意。

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每当他回答一个问题之后，必定会引起长老们一阵迅速的交头接耳，好像是在讨论这些最新的资讯一样。外人很难听得懂他们彼此间的讨论，因为此时他们又恢复了特有的口音。虽然他们讲的仍是通用的银河标准语，但是由于长期未与现代语言交流，因而显得古老而过时。

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或许可以这样说，他们互相之间的简短评论，仅仅能让外人知道他们在说些什么，却能避免外人了解他们交谈的真正内容。

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后来，程尼斯实在忍不住了，遂打岔道：“各位好先生，你们必须花点时间来回答我们的问题。别忘了我们可是异邦人，而且极有兴趣想知道达辛德的一切。”

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这句话才一出口，全场立刻一片鸦雀无声，刚才一直喋喋不休的长老们，一下子全都紧紧闭上嘴巴。他们的手原本都在拼命地不断挥舞，仿佛是为了加强说话的语气，现在却突然都垂了下来。他们心虚地互相望着，显然都非常希望别人能够发言。

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普利吉赶快抢着说：“我的同伴这么问绝对没有恶意，达辛德的盛名早已传遍整个银河，所以我们才会慕名而来。等我们见到总督之后，当然会向他报告罗珊长老们的忠诚与敬爱。”

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虽然没有听到任何松了一口气的吁声，但至少长老们的脸色都缓和下来。一位长老用两根指头缓缓抚着胡须，将卷曲的部分轻轻压平，然后语重心长地说：“我们都是达辛德领主们的忠实仆人。”

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直到这时，普利吉才终于原谅了程尼斯的莽撞言语。虽然他最近感觉自己已经上了年纪，却显然还没有丧失打圆场的能力。

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于是他继续说道：“我们来自极为遥远的地方，对达辛德过去的历史并不太清楚。相信长久以来，那些领主都是以开明的方式治理此地。”

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刚才开口的那位长老，俨然已经自动成了发言人。他又回答道：“此地最老的老者，他的祖父也不记得领主们不存在的时代。”

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“过去是不是一直都很太平呢？”

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“过去一直都很太平。”他迟疑了一下，又说：“总督是位精明强悍的领主，对于惩处叛徒绝对没有丝毫犹豫。当然，我们全都不是叛徒。”

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“我想，他在过去一定曾经惩治过一些意图不轨的人，而那些叛徒个个都是罪有应得。”

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那长老再度犹豫了一下，然后回答：“此地从来没有出过任何叛徒，我们的父辈与祖辈也都没有。可是在其他的世界却曾经出现过，那些人当然很快就被处死。我们对于这些事情毫无兴趣，因为我们只是卑微贫苦的农民，对政治问题一点也不关心。”

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他的声音中透着明显的焦虑，而其他长老的眼中都流露出不安的眼神。

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普利吉便用平稳的口气问道：“请告诉我们，要如何才能晋见你们的总督？”

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这个问题立刻又令长老们讶异不已。

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过了好一阵子，原先那名长老才又开口说道：“啊，你们不知道吗？总督大人明天就会驾临此地，他正在等你们，这是我们绝大的荣幸。我们……我们衷心地希望，你们能向他报告，说我们对他绝对忠诚。”

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普利吉脸上的笑容几乎僵住了，他惊叫道：“在等我们？”

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那长老露出茫然的目光，轮流瞪视着面前的两个异邦人，然后说：“对啊……我们已经等了你们整整一周了。”

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罗珊人为他们准备的房间，以这个世界的标准而言，无疑算是十分豪华的上房。普利吉以前曾经住过更差的地方，程尼斯则对外界的一切都显得漠不关心。

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然而，在他们两人之间，却出现了一种前所未有的紧张关系。普利吉感到需要做出决断的时刻越来越近，可是却又希望能够再拖延一段时间。如果他们先去见总督的话，会将这场赌博推到危险的边缘，可是如果真的能够赢，收获却会比原本预期的丰硕无数倍。他看到程尼斯轻轻皱起眉头，牙齿咬着下唇，显出有些不安的表隋，心中就冒起一股无名火。他已经厌倦了这种无聊的闹剧，希望能够赶快将这一切结束。

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他对程尼斯说：“我们的行动似乎被人料中了。”

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“没错。”程尼斯回答得很干脆。

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“你就只会说‘没错’吗？你难道不能做一点更有用的建议？我们临时起意来这里，却发现那个总督竟然在等我们。很可能当我们见到总督之后，他会说其实等我们的人在达辛德上。这样的话，我们跑这一趟还有什么用处？”

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程尼斯抬起头来：“他们只是在等我们，不一定就代表知道我们是什么人，还有我们到此地来的目的。”他的口气毫不掩饰不耐烦的情绪。

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“你认为这些事情能够瞒得过第二基地吗？”

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“也许吧，难道不可能吗？你已经准备放弃了吗？这也许只是因为我们还在太空时，他们就发现了我们的星舰。一个国家在边境设立前哨观测站，又有什么大不了的？即使我们只是普通的异邦人，他们一样会对我们感兴趣。”

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“哪有那么大的兴趣能让总督亲自前来探望我们，而不等我们去晋见他？”

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程尼斯耸耸肩：“我们暂且不讨论这个问题，先让我们看看总督究竟是何方神圣。”

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普利吉整张脸都垮了下来，看起来一副泄气的模样。他感到整个情况变得荒谬无比。

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程尼斯继续故作轻松地说道：“至少我们现在知道一件事——达辛德正是第二基地，否则的话，几百万件大大小小的证据全都指错了方向。这些本地人显得对达辛德恐惧万分，这点你要如何解释？我根本看不出有政治压迫的迹象，他们的长老们显然可以自由集会，不会受到任何形式的干扰。他们提到的税赋，我认为一点都不苛刻，也根本没有彻底执行。这里人人都在喊穷，然而却个个身强体壮，没有一个面露饥色。虽然他们的房舍家徒四壁，村庄盖得也颇为简陋，可是显然都足敷需要。”

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“事实上，这个世界简直令我着迷。我从来没见过比这儿更难理解的地方，可是我能确定人民都没有受苦，他们单纯的生活刚好提供了和谐的快乐。在那些科技进步的世界上，那些精明世故的人群中，完全找不到这种心灵上的快乐。”

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“这么说，你对田园生活充满向往了。”

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“但是我可没那个命，”程尼斯似乎对这个想法很感兴趣，“我只是指出这些现象的重要性。达辛德人很显然是有效率的管理者——这种效率与旧帝国或第一基地的完全不同，甚至和我们的联邦也不一样。其他的体制都将机械式的效率强加在子民身上，因而牺牲了一些更可贵的无形价值，达辛德人却为他们同时带来快乐与富足。你难道看不出来，他们的统治方式完全不同吗？这不是物理式的，而是心理式的管理统治。”

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“真的吗？”普利吉故意用嘲讽的口气说：“那么长老们提到的对叛徒的惩罚，那些令他们恐惧万分的惩罚，竟然是由仁慈的心理学家所执行的？这一点你又要如何自圆其说？”

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“他们自己曾经受过惩罚吗？他们只是说别人受到过。由于恐惧已经深植在他们心中，所以真正的惩罚反倒从来没有必要。这种精神倾向早已在他们的心灵生根了，所以我可以确定，这个星球上根本没有一个达辛德军人。你难道看不出其中的意义吗？”

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“也许等我见到总督以后，”普利吉以冷淡的口气答道，“我就能看出来了。对了，有没有可能是我们的精神被控制了呢？”

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程尼斯以惹人厌的轻蔑口气回答道：“这种事你应该早就习惯了。”

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普利吉的脸色立刻变得煞白，使尽全身力气才转过身去。当天，他们两人再也没有说过一句话。

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那是一个静寂无风的寒夜。

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普利吉听到程尼斯发出轻缓的鼾声之后，便悄悄地调整着手腕上的发射器，将它调到程尼斯接收不到的超波频带。然后便用指甲轻巧地敲击着发报键，开始与太空中的星舰联络。

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不久之后，他就收到了星舰的回答。那是一阵无声无息的振荡，仅仅刚好超过人体触觉的阀值。

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普利吉连续问了两次：“有没有收到任何信息？”

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而两次的回答都一样：“没有，我们在全天候监听。”

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普利吉从床上爬起来，房间中十分寒冷，他顺手抓了一条毛皮毯裹在身上。然后他坐到椅子上，抬头望着满天的繁星。此地的星空明亮而繁复，与他熟悉的很不相同。在他的故乡——银河外缘，夜空几乎全被朦胧的银河透镜所笼罩。

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那个困扰他多年的问题，解答一定存在于群星间的某个角落。他衷心期望答案早日降临，将这烦人的一切完全结束。

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此时，他突然又对骡的话产生怀疑——真的是“回转”令他丧失了坚强的信心与决心吗？抑或是越来越大的年岁，与过去几年的波折在作祟呢？

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不过他对这个问题的答案并不在乎。

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他感到很疲倦了。

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罗珊总督轻车简从地到来，几乎没有什么排场。他身边惟一的随从，就是那个为他驾车的军人。

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他的座车设计得很花巧，但是在普利吉看来，性能却一点也不好。它转弯时动作笨拙，有好几次可能是由于换档太急，车子突然之间就走不动了。此外，普利吉还可以从它的外形，一眼就看出它使用的是化学燃料，绝对不是核能。

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达辛德籍的总督步出座车，轻轻踏着薄薄的积雪，从列队欢迎的两排长老之间向前走去。他根本没有朝两边看上一眼，就快步走进房舍，长老们尾随其后鱼贯跟了进去。

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骡所派出的那两名手下，此时正从自己的房间向外窥探。他们发现那位总督的外形矮胖，虽然体格还算结实，不过无论如何毫不起眼。

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可是这又怎么样呢？

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普利吉暗中埋怨自己的神经太过紧张。事实上，他的表情仍是一片严霜，并没有在程尼斯的面前丢脸。可是他也清楚地知道，此刻自己的血压已经升高，喉咙也感到异常的干燥。

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这并不是一种肉体上的恐惧。他并非一个愚鲁麻木的人，当然不会笨得连害怕都不懂。对于肉体上的恐惧，他有足够的勇气应付，有许多办法能够压抑。

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但是如今的情况完全不同，他现在面临的是另一种恐惧。

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他迅速瞥了程尼斯一眼，却发现他正若无其事地端详着自己的指甲，悠闲地将某些不整齐的地方锉平。

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普利吉心中突然冒出一股强烈的怒意，程尼斯又怎么会害怕精神被控制呢？

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普利吉集中精神，试图回溯自己过去的历史……

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在骡尚未使他回转之前，在他还是一名死硬派的民主分子时，他当时的心境究竟如何？这实在很难回想。他无法控制自己的精神，无法挣脱将他的情感缚在骡身上的那些无形黏丝。他的理智还记得自己曾经试图暗杀骡，但是任凭他绞尽脑汁，也想不起当时的情绪。然而，这种现象也许是他的心灵所表现的自卫行为，因为当他刚想重温那些情绪，只不过才想到了当时的心理倾向，根本还没体会到任何实质内容，他就已经开始觉得反胃恶心。

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会不会是那个总督在干扰他的心灵？

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是不是第二基地伸出的无形精神触须，已经迂回地钻进了他的心灵隙缝，将他固有的情感扯散，又重新加以组合……

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当时一点感觉也没有，没有肉体上的痛苦，也没有精神上的折磨，甚至连一点过程都感觉不到。他始终对骡充满了敬爱，如果在遥远的过去——比短短的五年更长久的一段时间——他的心中不曾存在对骡的敬爱，甚至还曾憎恨过骡，那也一定只是可恶的幻觉。光是想到这种幻觉，就足以使他感到羞愧不已。

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可是，从来就不曾有过痛苦。

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与总督会面之后，这一切是否会重演呢？过去的一切——他为骡效忠的那些日子、他这一辈子的人生方向，将会与那个信守民主的模糊梦境融为一体吗？会不会连骡都是一场梦，而他自始至终效忠的对象只有达辛德……他猛然转过身去。

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一阵强烈的恶心涌了上来。

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然后，程尼斯的声音在他的耳边响起：“我想这回就是了，将军。”

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普利吉再度转身，看到一位长老轻轻将门打开，恭敬而严肃地站在门槛处。

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他说：“达辛德领主的代表，驻罗珊总督阁下，乐意允许你们的晋见，请两位跟我来。”

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“当然，”程尼斯顺手拉了一下皮带，还调整了一下头上戴的罗珊式头巾。

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普利吉咬紧牙根，真正的赌博立刻就要开始了。

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罗珊总督看起来并不是个狠角色，这主要是因为他没有戴帽子，稀疏的头发已有部分由淡棕色褪为灰白，为他增添了几许和气。他眯着眼睛，双眼被细密的皱纹包围，看起来相当精明。刚刚刮过的下巴轮廓平缓而不显著，根据面相学这门伪科学的信徒公认的说法，那应该是属于一个弱者的下巴。

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普利吉避开了那双眼睛，凝视着他的下巴。他不知道这样做是否有效——如果真的会有什么事发生的话。

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总督的声音听来尖细而冷淡：“欢迎来到达辛德，我们以平和之心欢迎两位，你们用过餐了吗？”

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两位发言者在路上擦肩而过，其中一位叫住了另一位。

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“我带来了首席发言者的口信。”

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对方的眼中闪着会意的光芒，问道：“交会点？”

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“是的！希望我们还能看到明天的日出。”

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The Elders of this particular region of Rossem were not exactly what one might have expected. They were not a mere extrapolation of the peasantry; older, more authoritative , less friendly.

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Not at all.

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The dignity that had marked them at first meeting had grown in impression till it had reached the mark of being their predominant characteristic.

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They sat about their oval table like so many grave and slow-moving thinkers. Most were a trifle past their physical prime, though the few who possessed beards wore them short and neatly arranged. Still, enough appeared younger than forty to make it quite obvious that "Elders" was a term of respect rather than entirely a literal description of age.

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The two from outer space were at the head of the table and in the solemn silence that accompanied a rather frugal meal that seemed ceremonious rather than nourishing, absorbed the new, contrasting atmosphere.

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After the meal and after one or two respectful remarks ?too short and simple to be called speeches ?had been made by those of the Elders apparently held most in esteem , an informality forced itself upon the assembly.

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It was as if the dignity of greeting foreign personages had finally given way to the amiable rustic qualities of curiosity and friendliness .

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They crowded around the two strangers and the flood of questions came.

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They asked if it were difficult to handle a spaceship, how many men were required for the job, if better motors could be made for their ground-cars, if it was true that it rarely snowed on other worlds as was said to be the case with Tazenda, how many people lived on their world, if it was as large as Tazenda, if it was far away, how their clothes were woven and what gave them the metallic shimmer

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, why they did not wear furs, if they shaved every day, what sort of stone that was in Pritcher's ring ?The list stretched out.

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And almost always the questions were addressed to Pritcher as though, as the elder, they automatically invested him with the greater authority. Pritcher found himself forced to answer at greater and greater length. It was like an immersion in a crowd of children. Their questions were those of utter and disarming wonder. Their eagerness to know was completely irresistible and would not be denied.

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Pritcher explained that spaceships were not difficult to handle and that crews varied with the size, from one to many, that the motors of their ground-cars were unknown in detail to him but could doubtless be improved, that the climates of worlds varied almost infinitely , that many hundreds of millions lived on his world but that it was far smaller and more insignificant than the great empire of Tazenda, that their clothes were woven of silicone plastics in which metallic luster was artificially produced by proper orientation of the surface molecules , and that they could be artificially heated so that furs were unnecessary, that they shaved every day, that the stone in his ring was an amethyst . The list stretched out. He found himself thawing to these naive provincials

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against his will.

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And always as he answered there was a rapid chatter among the Elders, as though they debated the information gained. It was difficult to follow these inner discussions of theirs for they lapsed into their own accented version of the universal Galactic language that, through long separation from the currents of living speech, had become archaic .

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Almost, one might say, their curt comments among themselves hovered on the edge of understanding, but just managed to elude the clutching tendrils of comprehension.

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Until finally Channis interrupted to say, "Good sirs, you must answer us for a while, for we are strangers and would be very much interested to know all we can of Tazenda."

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And what happened then was that a great silence fell and each of the hitherto voluble Elders grew silent. Their hands, which had been moving in such rapid and delicate accompaniment to their words as though to give them greater scope and varied shades of meaning, fell suddenly limp. They stared furtively at one another, apparently quite willing each to let the other have all the floor.

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Pritcher interposed quickly, "My companion asks this in friendliness, for the fame of Tazenda fills the Galaxy and we, of course, shall inform the governor of the loyalty and love of the Elders of Rossem."

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No sigh of relief was heard but faces brightened. An Elder stroked his beard with thumb and forefinger , straightening its slight curl with a gentle pressure, and said: "We are faithful servants of the Lords of Tazenda."

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Pritcher's annoyance at Channis' bald question subsided . It was apparent, at least, that the age that he had felt creeping over him of late had not yet deprived him of his own capacity for making smooth the blunders of others.

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He continued: "We do not know, in our far part of the universe, much of the past history of the Lords of Tazenda. We presume they have ruled benevolently here for a long time."

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The same Elder who spoke before, answered. In a soft, automatic way he had become spokesman. He said: "Not the grandfather of the oldest can recall a time in which the Lords were absent."

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"It has been a time of peace?"

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"It has been a time of peace!" He hesitated. "The governor is a strong and powerful Lord who would not hesitate to punish traitors . None of us are traitors, of course."

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"He has punished some in the past, I imagine, as they deserve."

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Again hesitation , "None here have ever been traitors, or our fathers or our fathers' fathers. But on other worlds, there have been such, and death followed for them quickly. It is not good to think of for we are humble men who are poor farmers and not concerned with matters of politics."

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The anxiety in his voice, the universal concern in the eyes of all of them was obvious.

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Pritcher said smoothly : "Could you inform us as to how we can arrange an audience with your governor."

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And instantly an element of sudden bewilderment entered the situation.

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For after a long moment, the elder said: "Why, did you not know? The governor will be here tomorrow. He has expected you. It has been a great honor for us. We ... we hope earnestly that you will report to him satisfactorily as to our loyalty to him."

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Pritcher's smile scarcely twitched . "Expected us?"

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The Elder looked wonderingly from one to the other. "Why ... it is now a week since we have been waiting for you."

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Their quarters were undoubtedly luxurious for the world. Pritcher had lived in worse. Channis showed nothing but indifference to externals.

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But there was an element of tension between them of a different nature than hitherto. Pritcher, felt the time approaching for a definite decision and yet there was still the desirability of additional waiting. To see the governor first would be to increase the gamble to dangerous dimensions and yet to win that gamble might multi-double the winnings. He felt a surge of anger at the slight crease between Channis' eyebrows , the delicate uncertainty with which the young man's lower lip presented itself to an upper tooth. He detested the useless play-acting and yearned for an end to it.

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He said: "We seem to be anticipated."

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'Yes," said Channis, simply.

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"Just that? You have no contribution of greater pith to make. We come here and find that the governor expects us. Presumably we shall find from the governor that Tazenda itself expects us. Of what value then is our entire mission?"

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Channis looked up, without endeavoring to conceal the weary note in his voice: "To expect us is one thing; to know who we are and what we came for, is another."

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"Do you expect to conceal these things from men of the Second Foundation?"

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"Perhaps. Why not? Are you ready to throw your hand in? Suppose our ship was detected in space. Is it unusual for a realm to maintain frontier observation posts? Even if we were ordinary strangers, we would be of interest."

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"Sufficient interest for a governor to come to us rather than the reverse?'

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Channis shrugged : "We抣l have to meet that problem later. Let us see what this governor is like."

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Pritcher bared his teeth in a bloodless kind of scowl . The situation was becoming ridiculous.

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Channis proceeded with an artificial animation : "At least we know one thing. Tazenda is the Second Foundation or a million shreds of evidence are unanimously pointing the wrong way. How do you interpret the obvious terror in which these natives hold Tazenda? I see no signs of political domination. Their groups of Elders apparently meet freely and without interference of any sort. The taxation they speak of doesn't seem at all extensive to me or efficiently carried through. The natives speak much of poverty but seem sturdy and well-fed. The houses are uncouth and their villages rude, but are obviously adequate for the purpose.

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"In fact, the world fascinates me. I have never seen a more forbidding one, yet I am convinced there is no suffering among the population and that their uncomplicated lives manage to contain a well-balanced happiness lacking in the sophisticated populations of the advanced centers."

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"Are you an admirer of peasant virtues , then?"

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"The stars forbid." Channis seemed amused at the idea. "I merely point out the significance of all this. Apparently, Tazenda is an efficient administrator ?efficient in a sense far different from the efficiency of the old Empire or of the First Foundation, or even of our own union. All these have brought mechanical efficiency to their subjects at the cost of more intangible values. Tazenda brings happiness and sufficiency. Don't you see that the whole orientation of their domination is different? It is not physical, but psychological."

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"Really?" Pritcher, allowed himself irony . "And the terror with which the Elders spoke of the punishment of treason by these kind hearted psychologist administrators ? How does that suit your thesis?"

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"Were they the objects of the punishment? They speak of punishment only of others. It is as if knowledge of punishment has been so well implanted in them that punishment itself need never be used. The proper mental attitudes are so inserted into their minds that I am certain that not a Tazendian soldier exists on the planet. Don't you see all this?"

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"I抣l see perhaps," said Pritcher, coldly, "when I see the governor. And what, by the way, if our mentalities are handled?"

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Channis replied with brutal contempt: "You should be accustomed to that."

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Pritcher whitened perceptibly, and, with an effort, turned away. They spoke to one another no more that day.

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It was in the silent windlessness of the frigid night, as he listened to the soft, sleeping motions of the other, that Pritcher silently adjusted his wrist-transmitter to the ultrawave region for which Channis' was unadjustable and, with noiseless touches of his fingernail, contacted the ship.

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The answer came in little periods of noiseless vibration that barely lifted themselves above the sensory threshold.

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Twice Pritcher asked: "Any communications at all yet?"

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Twice the answer came: "None. We wait always."

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He got out of bed. It was cold in the room and he pulled the furry blanket around him as he sat in the chair and stared out at the crowding stars so different in the brightness and complexity of their arrangement from the even fog of the Galactic Lens that dominated the night sky of his native Periphery .

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Somewhere there between the stars was the answer to the complications that overwhelmed him, and he felt the yearning for that solution to arrive and end things.

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For a moment he wondered again if the Mule were right ?if Conversion had robbed him of the firm sharp edge of self-reliance. Or was it simply age and the fluctuations of these last years?

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He didn't really care.

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He was tired.

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The governor of Rossem arrived with minor ostentation

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. His only companion was the uniformed man at the controls of the ground-car.

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The ground-car itself was of lush design but to Pritcher it appeared inefficient . It turned clumsily; more than once it apparently balked at what might have been a too-rapid change of gears. It was obvious at once from its design that it ran on chemical, and not on atomic, fuel.

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The Tazendian governor stepped softly on to the thin layer of snow and advanced between two lines of respectful Elders. He did not look at them but entered quickly. They followed after him.

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From the quarters assigned to them, the two men of the Mule's union watched. He ?the governor ?was thickset, rather stocky, short, unimpressive.

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But what of that?

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Pritcher cursed himself for a failure of nerve. His face, to be sure, remained icily calm. There was no humiliation before Channis ?but he knew very well that his blood pressure had heightened and his throat had become dry.

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It was not a case of physical fear. He was not one of those dull-witted, unimaginative men of nerveless meat who were too stupid ever to be afraid ?but physical fear he could account for and discount.

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But this was different. It was the other fear.

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He glanced quickly at Channis. The young man glanced idly at the nails of one hand and poked leisurely at some trifling unevenness

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Something inside Pritcher became vastly indignant. What had Channis to fear of mental handling?

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Pritcher caught a mental breath and tried to think back. How had he been before the Mule had Converted him from the die-hard Democrat that he was. It was hard to remember. He could not place himself mentally. He could not break the clinging wires that bound him emotionally to the Mule. Intellectually, he could remember that he had once tried to assassinate the Mule but not for all the straining he could endure, could he remember his emotions at the time. That might be the self-defense of his own mind, however, for at the intuitive thought of what those emotions might have been ?not realizing the details, but merely comprehending the drift of it ?his stomach grew queasy .

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What if the governor tampered with his mind?

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What if the insubstantial mental tendrils of a Second Foundationer insinuated itself down the emotional crevices of his makeup and pulled them apart and rejoined them?

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There had been no sensation the first time. There had been no pain, no mental jar ?not even a feeling of discontinuity. He had always loved the Mule. If there had ever been a time long before ?as long before as five short years ?when he had thought he hadn't loved him, that he had hated him ?that was just a horrid illusion. The thought of that illusion embarrassed him.

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But there had been no pain.

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Would meeting the governor duplicate that? Would all that had gone before ?all his service for the Mule ?all his life's orientation ?join the hazy , other-life dream that held the word, Democracy. The Mule also a dream, and only to Tazenda, his loyalty?

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Sharply, he turned away.

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There was that strong desire to retch.

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And then Channis' voice clashed on his ear, "I think this iiiit, general."

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Pritcher turned again. An Elder had opened the door silently and stood with a dignified and calm respect upon the threshold.

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He said, "His Excellency, Governor of Rossem, in the name of the Lords of Tazenda, is pleased to present his permission for an audience and request your appearance before him."

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"Sure thing," and Channis tightened his belt with a jerk and adjusted a Rossemian hood over his head.

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Pritcher's jaw set. This was the beginning of the real gamble.

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The governor of Rossem was not of formidable appearance. For one thing, he was bareheaded, and his thinning hair, light brown, tending to gray, lent him mildness. His bony eye-ridges lowered at them, and his eyes, set in a fine network of surrounding wrinkles, seemed calculating, but his fresh-cropped chin was soft and small and, by the universal convention of followers of the pseudoscience of reading character by facial bony structure, seemed "weak."

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Pritcher, avoided the eyes and watched the chin. He didn't know whether that would be effective ?if anything would be.

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The governor's voice was high-pitched, indifferent: "Welcome to Tazenda. We greet you in peace. You have eaten?"

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His hand ?long fingers, gnarled veins ?waved almost regally at the U-shaped table.

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They bowed and sat down. The governor sat at the outer side of the base of the U, they on the inner; along both arms sat the double row of silent Elders.

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The governor spoke in short, abrupt sentences ?praising the food as Tazendian importations ?and it had indeed a quality different if, somehow, not so much better, than the rougher food of the Elders ? disparaging Rossemian weather, referring with an attempt at casualness to the intricacies of space travel.

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Channis talked little. Pritcher not at all.

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Then it was over. The small, stewed fruits were finished; the napkins used and discarded, and the governor leaned back.

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His small eyes sparkled.

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"I have inquired as to your ship. Naturally, I would like to see that it receives due care and overhaul . I am told its whereabouts are unknown."

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"True." Channis replied lightly. "We have left it in space. It is a large ship, suitable for long journeys in sometimes hostile regions, and we felt that landing it here might give rise to doubts as to our peaceful intentions. We preferred to land alone, unarmed."

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"A friendly act," commented the governor, without conviction. "A large ship, you say?"

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"Not a vessel of war, excellency."

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"Ha, hum. Where is it you come from?"

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"A small world of the Santanni sector , your excellency. It may be you are not aware of its existence for it lacks importance. We are interested in establishing trade relationships."

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"Trade, eh? And what have you to sell?'

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"Machines of all sorts, excellency. In return, food, wood, ores

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"Ha, hum." The governor seemed doubtful. "I know little these matters. Perhaps mutual profit may be arranged. Perhaps, after I have examined your credentials at length ?for much information will be required by my government before matters may proceed, you understand ?and after I have looked over your ship, it would be advisable for you to proceed to Tazenda."

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There was no answer to that, and the governor's attitude iced perceptibly.

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"It is necessary that I see your ship, however."

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Channis said distantly: "The ship, unfortunately, is undergoing repairs at the moment. If your excellency would not object giving us forty-eight hours, it will be at your service."

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"I am not accustomed to waiting."

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For the first time, Pritcher met the glare of the other, eye to eye, and his breath exploded softly inside him. For a moment, he had the sensation of drowning, but then his eyes tore away.

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Channis did not waver. He said: "The ship cannot be landed for forty-eight hours, excellency. We are here and unarmed. Can you doubt our honest intentions?"

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There was a long silence, and then the governor said gruffly, "Tell me of the world from which you come."

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That was all. It passed with that. There was no more unpleasantness. The governor, having fulfilled his official duty, apparently lost interest and the audience died a dull death.

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And when it was all over, Pritcher found himself back in their quarters and took stock of himself.

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Carefully ?holding his breath ?he "felt" his emotions. Certainly he seemed no different to himself, but would he feel any difference? Had he felt different after the Mule's Conversion? Had not everything seemed natural? As it should have been?

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He experimented.

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With cold purpose, he shouted inside the silent caverns of his mind, and the shout was, "The Second Foundation must be discovered and destroyed."

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And the emotion that accompanied it was honest hate. There was not as much as a hesitation involved in it.

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And then it was in his mind to substitute the word "Mule" for the phrase "Second Foundation" and his breath caught at the mere emotion and his tongue clogged

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So far, good.

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But had he been handled otherwise ?more subtly? Had tiny changes been made? Changes that he couldn't detect because their very existence warped his judgment

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There was no way to tell.

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But he still felt absolute loyalty to the Mule! If that were unchanged, nothing else really mattered.

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He turned his mind to action again. Channis was busy at his end of the room. Pritcher's thumbnail idled at his wrist communicator.

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And then at the response that came he felt a wave of relief surge over him and leave him weak.

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The quiet muscles of his face did not betray him, but inside he was shouting with joy ?and when Channis turned to face him, he knew that the farce was about over.

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FOURTH INTERLUDE The two Speakers passed each other on the road and one stopped the other.

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"I have word from the First Speaker."

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There was a half-apprehensive flicker in the other's eyes. "

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Intersection point?"

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"Yes! May we live to see the dawn!"

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