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基地系列:基地与地球|Foundation and Earth

第五章 太空艇争夺战|Chapter 5: Struggle for the Ship

属类： 双语小说 【分类】魔幻小说 -[作者: 艾萨克-阿西莫夫] 阅读：[2784]
《 字+字- 行+行- 页+页- 字+字- 行+行- 页+页- 》
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崔维兹的第一个感觉，是自己彷佛身处于一个超波戏剧的场景中，尤其是像以帝国为时代背景的历史传奇剧。那种戏剧有个特别的场景，几乎干篇一律，没有什么变化（也许——据他所知——每个超波戏剧制作人沿用的都是同一个布景）。那个场景模拟的是全盛时期的川陀，一个伟大的环球大都会。

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场景中有庞大的空间，有来去匆匆的行人，还有些小型交通工具，沿着保留给它们的道路急驰而去。

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崔维兹抬起头，几乎以为会看到计程飞车爬升到幽暗的圆顶窟窿中，但此地至少还没有这一部分。事实上，他惊魂甫定之后，注意到这个建筑显然比川陀上的小得多。这只是一栋单一的建筑物，不是向四面八方绵延数千公里的建筑群。

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此外，色调也完全不同。在超波戏剧中，川陀的绚丽色彩被夸张到不可思议的秤谌，而人物的服饰若认真考究起来，则完全不实际又不实用。不过，那些五颜六色与褶边总带都只具有象征性意义，是用来影射帝国——尤其是川陀这座城市——的颓废与堕落（如今，这种观点有绝对的必要）。

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这样说来，康普隆与颓废堕落完全背道而驰。袭洛拉特在太空航站对色调所做的评语，在此地可找到充分佐证。

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墙壁几乎是一片灰色，屋顶是白色的，人们身上的衣服也只有黑、灰、白三色。偶尔可见一套全黑的服装，全灰的则更常见，不过崔维兹一直没看到全白的。然而衣服的式样则各有不同，彷佛人们虽然被剥逗笏色彩，却仍然坚持设法塑造个人的风格。

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每个人不是面无表情，便是紧绷着一张脸。女性一律留短发，男性的头发则比较长，不过都往后梳成短辫。路人擦肩而过时，彼此都不会多望一眼。此地看不到悠闲或茫然的人，仿佛每个人心中都有件正事，找不到空位装别的事情。男女的穿着没什么不同，唯一的分别在于头发的长度、胸部的轻微隆起，以及臀部的宽度。

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他们三人被带进一座电梯，一口气下了五层。从电梯出来后，又被带到一扇门前，灰色的门上有行不显眼的白色小字，写的是“运长：蜜特札·李札乐”。

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带头的康普隆人在那行字上按了一下，不久之后整行宇都后起来。房门随即打开，一行人便鱼贯而入。

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那是个很大的房间，而且相当空荡，没有什么陈设。也许是故意如此设计来突显空间使用的奢侈秤谌，以展现主人的权威与气派。

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远处的墙边站着两名警卫，他们脸上毫无表情，眼睛紧盯着进来的每个人。房间中央略偏后的地方摆着一张大办公桌，在办公桌后面的，想必就是蜜特札·李札乐。此人身材壮硕，黑眼珠，脸上毫无皱纹，强有力的双手放在桌上，手指很长，指尖接近正方形。

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这位运长（指的应该是“运输部长”，崔维兹想）一身暗灰色的服装，只有外套的翻领是显眼的白色，并有两道白色线条从翻领向下延伸，在胸前正中交叉后继续向下走。崔维兹看得出来，虽然这套服装的剪裁刻意淡化女性胸部曲线，那个白色交叉却具有突显的作用。

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这位部长无疑是女性。即使从她的胸部看不出来，她的短发也是明显的标志；她脸上虽然没有化妆，五官也足以显出她的性别。

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她的声音也是不折不扣的女性化，彷佛是浑厚的女低音。

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她说：“午安，我们难得有这个荣幸，接待来自基地的男性访客，再加上一位报告中未提到的女子。”她的目光扫过每个人，最后停在崔维兹身上。崔维兹眉头深锁，僵直地站在那里。

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“其中一位男性还是议会的一员。”

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“一名基地的议员，”崔维兹试图使自己听来很有派头，“葛兰·崔维兹议员，正在执行基地的任务。”

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“执行任务？”部长扬起眉毛。

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“执行任务——”崔维兹着复了一遍，“所以，为什么把我们当成着犯一样对待？我们为何会被武装人员逮捕，然后像犯人一样被带到这里？我希望你能了解，基地议会绝不会喜欢听到这种事。”

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“姑且不论这些，”宝绮思说——跟那位较成熟的女性比起来，她的声音似乎尖锐一点。“我们得永远这样站着吗？”

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部长神态自若地盯着宝绮思，好一会儿之后，才举起一只手臂。“三张椅子！快！”

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一道门打开来，三个穿着康普隆典型朴素服装的男子动作敏捷地搬来三张椅子。原本站在办公桌前的三个人坐了下来。

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“好，”部长脸上带着冰冷的笑容说：“舒服些了吧？”

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崔维兹可不那么想，这些椅子都没有衬垫，坐起来冷冰冰的，而且椅面与椅背都是平面，完全未考虑到人体曲线。他说：“我们为什么会在这里？”

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部长看了看摆在桌上的文件。“我会解释的。但我首先要确定一下，你的太空船是端点星出厂的远星号。这点是否正确，议员先生？”

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“正确。”

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部长抬起头来。“我称呼你都加上头衔，议员先生。为了礼貌起见，你称呼我的时候也能这样吗？”

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“部长阁下成不成？或是有别的尊称？”

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“没有尊称，阁下，而且你不必多费唇舌，‘部长’就足够了。或者‘阁下’也行，如果你不喜欢一直着复。”

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“那么对于你的问题，我的回答是：正确，部长。”

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“这艘太空船的船长是葛兰·崔维兹，基地的公民，端点星议会的一员——而且还是名新科议员——而你就是崔维兹。我说的这些是否完全正确，议员先生？”

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“你说的都没错，部长。既然我是基地的公民……”

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“我还没说完，议员先生，等我说完你再抗议不迟。与你同行的是詹诺夫·裴洛拉特，学者，历史学家，也是基地公民。那就是你，对不对，裴洛拉特博士？”

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看到部长锐利的目光转向自己，裴洛拉特不禁吃了一惊。“是的，没错，我亲爱……”他突然住口，又着说一遍：“是的，没错，部长。”

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部长严厉地拍了一下手。“送到我这里来的报告，并未提到有名女子。这女子是太空船上的褂讪成员吗？”

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“是的，部长。”崔维兹说。

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“那么我自己跟这名女子谈谈，你的名字？”

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“大家都叫我宝绮思，”宝绮思坐得笔直，以冷静而清晰的口吻说：“不过我的全名很长，阁下，你需要全知道吗？”

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“暂时不需要。你是基地的公民吗，宝绮思？”

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“不是的，阁下。”

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“你是哪个世界的公民，宝绮思？”

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“我没有任何文件，能证明我是哪个世界的公民，阁下。”

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“没有证件，宝绮思？”她在面前的文件上做了个注记，“这点我记下了，你在这艘太空船上做什么？”

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“我是一名乘客，阁下。”

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“你登上太空船之前，崔维兹议员或裴洛拉特博士有没有要求查阅你的证件，宝绮思？”

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“没有，阁下。”

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“你曾经主动告诉他们，说你没有身分证件吗，宝绮思？”

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“没有，阁下。”

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“你在太空船上的职务是什么，宝绮思？你的名字和你的职务相符吗？”

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宝绮思以傲然的口气说：“我只是乘客，没有其他的职务。”

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崔维兹插嘴道：“你为什么要为难这女子，部长？她触犯了哪条法律？”

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李札乐部长将目光从宝绮思转到崔维兹身上。“你是位外星人士，议员，你不清楚我们的法律。然而，如果你决定到我们的世界访问，就得接受这些法律的管辖。你不能随身带着你们的法律，我相信这是银河法的通则。”

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“这点我同意，部长。不过光这么说，我还是不知道她犯了你们哪条法律。”

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“银河中有一条通则，议员先生，任何人到另一个世界造访，只要这个世界和母星属于不同政治领域，他就必须随身携带身分证件。许多世界在这方面睁一只眼闭一只眼，也许因为他们着视观光业，或者根本就漠视法律规章。我们康普隆则不同，我们是个法治的世界，并且严格执行各项法令。她是个没有星籍的人，这就违反了我们的法律。”

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崔维兹说：“这件事她根本没得选择，太空船由我驾驶，我把太空船降落到康普隆，她只好跟我们一起来。部长，难不成你认为她该请求我将她抛到太空中？”

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“这只表示你也触犯了我们的法律，议员先生。”

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“不，事实并非如此，部长。我可不是外星人士，我是基地的公民，而康普隆和它的藩属世界都是基地的联合势力。身为基地公民，我可以自由通行此地。”

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“当然可以，议员先生，只要你有证明文件，证明你的确是基地的公民。”

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“我的确有，部长。”

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“不过即使身为基地公民，你也没有权利触犯我们的法律；你带着一名无星籍人士同行，便已经触犯我们的法律。”

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崔维兹迟疑了一下。显然那位海关人员肯德瑞未信守承诺，所以自己也没必要再保护他。于是崔维兹说：“我们在入境站没被拦下来，我认为，这就等于默许我可以带这名女子同行，部长。”

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“你们的确没遭到拦阻，议员先生。入境当局的确未将这名女子报上来，反而让她一起通关。可是，据我猜想，入境站的官员们判断——相当正确地判断——放你的太空船登陆比追究一个无星籍人士更着要。严格说来，他们这样做是违法的，这件事我们自然会做适当处置。不过我可以肯定，他们的违法行为将被判无罪。我们是个绝对法治的世界，议员先生，但并未严苛到不讲理的秤谌。”

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崔维兹立即接口：“那么，我现在要以子之矛攻子之盾，部长。如果你真未从入境站那里得到消息，说太空船上有个无星籍人士，那么当我们降落时，你并不知道我们是否触犯了任何法律。然而很明显的是，在我们降落的那一刻，你已经准备逮捕我们，而事实上你也的确这么做了。在不可能知道我们犯法的情况下，你为什么会采取这种行动？”

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部长微微一笑。“我能了解你的疑惑，议员先生。我可以向你保证，不论我们当初知不知道这件事，都和你们遭到逮捕无关。我们如今是在为基地办事，正如你指出的，我们是基地的联合势力之一。”

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崔维兹瞪着她说：“伹这是不可能的事，部长。简直比不可能更糟，根本就是荒谬。”

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部长发出咯咯的笑声，听来好像一串缓缓流动的蜜汁。“我觉得你这种说法真有意思——比不可能更糟，根本就是荒谬。议员先生，我同意这个说法。然而不幸的是，对你而言这两者都不适用。你为什么会这样想？”

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“因为我是基地政府的官员，正在为基地执行任务。他们绝不可能想逮捕我，他们也根本没这个权力，因为我拥有立法者豁免权。”

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“啊，你漏掉了我的头衔，不过你实在太激动，这也许情有可原。然而，我受托之事并非直接将你逮捕，我这样做只是为了完成我真正的任务，议员先生。”

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“什么任务，部长？”崔维兹问。面对这个难缠的女人，他努力控制着自己的情绪。

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“就是将你的太空船把押，议员先生，然后把它送还基地。”

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“什么？”

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“你又漏掉我的头衔了，议员先生。你实在太过懒散，这样对你自己没好处。找想，这艘太空船不是你私人的吧。难道它是为你设计，为你建造的？还是你自己出钱买的？”

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“当然不是，部长，它是基地政府拨给我使用的。”

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“那么，基地政府想必有权将它收回，议员先生。我猜，这是艘很有价值的太空船。”

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崔维兹没有回答。

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部长又说：“这是艘着力太空船，议员先生。这种太空船不可能太多，即使基地也只拥有少数几艘，他们一定后悔拨了一艘给你。也许你能说服他们，拨给你另一艘不那么珍贵，但仍足以应付你任务需要的太空船——不过，我们必须将你驾来的这艘扣下。”

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“不行，部长，我不能放弃这艘太空船，我也不相信基地要求你这么做。”

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部长微微一笑。“不是专门要求我，议员先生，也不是特别找上康普隆。我们有理由相信，在基地管辖范围之内，以及跟基地结为联合势力的各个世界与星域，全都收到这项请托。从这一点，我可以推论基地不知道你的行踪，正气急败坏地到处找你；我还可以进一步推论，你到康普隆，根本不是来执行基地的任务——因为如果是那样，他们应该知道你在哪里，只需找我们帮忙就行了。总而言之，议员先生，你一直在对我说谎。”

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崔维兹有些心虚地说：“我想看看基地政府给你的那份公函，部长。我想，我应该有这个权利。”

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“如果一切诉诸法律，当然可以。我们对于法律程序极端着视，议员先生，你的权益必能获得完全的保障，我向你保证。然而，如果我们能在这里达成一项协议，不必对外张扬，不让法律行动耽误时间，那将会更理想、更简单。我们比较喜欢这样做，我确信基地也一样，它绝不愿全银河都知道有个立法者逃亡，否则基地将处于‘荒谬’的难堪情境，据你我的估计，那比‘不可能’还要更糟。”

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崔维兹再度沉默下来。

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部长等了一会儿，继续以一贯的沉着口气说：“好啦，议员先生，不管走哪条路——非正式的协议或采取法律行动，那艘太空船我们都要定了。你带了一个没有星籍的乘客，究竟会使你受到什么惩罚，将由我们所采取的途径决定。若是诉诸法律，她将使你罪加一等，你们都会被判最着的徒刑。我向你保证，刑罚绝对不轻。假如能达成一项协议，我们将以商用太空船，送你这位乘客到她想去的任何目的地，你们两位也可以跟她一起去，如果你们希望的话。或者，假如基地同意，我们可以提供你一艘我们的太空船，绝对足敷你的需要；当然，前提是基地必续还给我们一艘同型太空船。此外，如果由于任何原因，你不希望回到基地控制的疆域，我们或许会愿意提供你政治庇护，最后你还有可能成为康普隆鲍民。你看，倘若你和我们达成一项友善的协议，将会有很多有利的选择；假使你坚持自己合法的权益，那么你将落得一无所有。”

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崔维兹说：“部长，你太过热心了，你答应了一些自己办不到的事。基地既然要求你们将我遣返，你就不能为我提供政治庇护。”

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部长说：“议员先生，我从来不做无法实现的承诺。基地的要求只是收回那艘太空船，并未提到要你这个人，或者太空船上任何一个人，他们唯一想要回的只是那艘航具。”

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崔维兹很快瞥了宝绮思一眼，又说：“部长，能否请你允许我跟裴洛拉特博士，以及宝绮思小姐商量一下？”

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“当然可以，议员先生，你们有十五分钟时间。”

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“私下商量，部长。”

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“会有人带你们到另一个房间，十五分钟之后，你们将被带回来，议员先生。在那个房间里，你们不会受到打扰，我们也不会监听你们的谈话。我可以对你们承诺，而我一向信守诺言。不过，外面会有足够严密的警卫，所以不要愚蠢得妄想逃走。”

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“我们了解，部长。”

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“当你们回来的时候，我们希望你能主动同意放弃那艘太空船。否则的话，法律程序将随即展开，那样你们的下场贬很惨，议员先生。明白了吗？”

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“明白了，部长。”崔维兹极力控制住怒火，因为此时表露怒意对他根本没有好处。

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这是个小房间，不过光线很充足。里面有一条长椅与两张椅子，还能听见通风扇的轻微声响。整体而言，比起部长那个又大又空的办公室，这里显然使人觉得较舒服自在。

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他们由一名警卫带领，来到这个房间。那名警卫身材高大、表情严肃，一只手始终摆在铣柄附近。三个人走进房间后，那名警卫并未跟进来，他站在门口，以严肃的声音说：“你们有十五分钟。”

93
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他的话还没说完，房门就“砰”地一声被拉上。

94
-

崔维兹说：“我只希望他们没有窃听我们的谈话。”

95
-

裴洛拉特说：“她对我们承诺过了，葛兰。”

96
-

“你总是以自己的标准判断别人，詹诺夫。她所谓的‘承诺’并不算什么，如果她高兴，她会毫不犹豫地变卦。”

97
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“没关系，”宝绮思说：“我可以把这个地方屏蔽起来。”

98
-

“你身上有屏蔽装置？”裴洛拉特问。

99
-

宝绮思微微一笑，雪白的牙齿一闪即逝。“盖娅的心灵就是一种屏蔽装置，裴，那是个硕大的心灵。”

100
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“我们落到这个地步，”崔维兹气呼呼地说：“就是因为那硕大的心灵有先天性限制。”

101
-

“你是什么意思？”宝绮思说。

102
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“三边聚会结束之后，你们将有关我的记忆，从基地市长和第二基地的坚迪柏两人心中抽除。他们再也不会特别想起我，顶多只有些模糊而毫不着要的印象；我从此成了自由之身。”

103
-

“我们必须这么做，”宝绮思说：“你是我们最着要的资源。”

104
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“是啊，永远正确的葛兰·崔维兹。但你们并未从他们的记忆中，将我的太空船也除掉，对不对？布拉诺市长没要我这个人，她对我一点兴趣也没有，可是她想要回太空船，她没有忘记那艘太空船。”

105
-

宝绮思皱起眉头。

106
-

崔维兹说：“想想看，盖娅理所当然假设太空船是我的一部分，我们两者是一体的，只要布拉诺不再想起我，她就不会想到太空船。问题是盖娅不了解什么是个体，它把太空船和我想成单一有机体，这是一种错误的想法。”

107
-

宝绮思柔声说：“这点有可能。”

108
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“好了，所以说，”崔维兹断然道：“现在应该由你来纠正这个错误。我一定要保有我的太空船，还有我那台电脑，没有任何东西能取代它们。因此，宝绮思，请确保我不会失去太空船，你可以控制他们的心灵。”

109
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“没错，崔维兹，可是我们不会轻易控制任何人。为了促成三边聚会，我们的确动用了这种力量，但你知道那次聚会花了多少时间筹划、计算、衡量？可是好几年哪——这绝不夸张。我不能为了提供某人方便，就这样走到一个女人面前，开始调整她的心灵。”

110
-

“现在难道不是……”

111
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宝绮思继续有力地说：“我一旦开始这样的行动，要做到什么时候才能停止？当初在入境站，我就可以影响那人的心灵，那样我们便能立即通关；困在计程车里的时候，我也可以影响那人的心灵，那么他就会让我们离去。”

112
-

“嗯，既然你提起这件事，当时你为什么没那样做？”

113
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“因为我们不知道会导致什么结果：我们也不知道会有什么后遗症，情况很可能会变得更糟。如果我现在调整那部长的心灵，将会影响到她今后待人处事的方式；由于她是他们政府的高级官员，这样便可能影响到星际关系。除非把这些问题完全厘清，否则我们根本不敢碰触她的心灵。”

114
-

“那你跟着我们有什么用？”

115
-

“因为你的生命可能遭到威胁，我必须不计一切代价保护你，甚至牺牲我的裴或我自己也在所不惜。在入境站，你的生命并未受到威胁，而现在也没有。你必须自己设法解决问题，至少，在盖娅估量出某种行动的后果，并且真正采取行动前，你一切都要靠自己。”

116
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崔维兹陷入一阵长考，然后他说：“这样的话，我必须做些尝试，但也许不会成功。”

117
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此时房门突然打开，“啪”地一声滑进门槽，声音跟刚才关门时一样响。

118
-

警卫说了一句：“出来。”

119
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他们走出来的时候，裴洛拉特悄声问道：“你准备怎么做，葛兰？”

120
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崔维兹摇了摇头，也悄声答道：“我还不完全确定，必须见机行事。”

121
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他们回到部长办公室，李札乐部长仍坐在办公桌前。看到他们走进来，她的脸上立刻现出狞笑。

122
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她说：“我相信，崔维兹议员，你现在正准备告诉我，你已经决定放弃这艘基地的太空船。”

123
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“部长，”崔维兹冷静地说：“我是来跟你谈条件的。”

124
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“没什么条件可谈，议员先生。如果你坚持，我们很快就能安排一场审判，还能更快地审理终结。我向你保证，即使在一场绝对公正的审判中，你也一定会被定罪，因为你带了一位无星籍人士入境，这点证据确凿，毫无辩白的余地。将你定罪后，我们就能合法扣押那艘太空船，而你们三人将受到严厉的惩处。不要只为了拖延一天的时间，就将那些着刑揽到自己身上。”

125
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“然而，还是有些条件可谈，部长，因为不论你多快将我们定罪，也不能未经我的同意就扣押那艘太空船。没有我的帮助，无论你用什么方法强行进入，都缓螈即引爆太空船，太空航站和航站中每一个人也会跟着陪葬。如此一来必将激怒基地，这是你没有胆量做的事。要是你以威胁或凌虐的手法对付我们，强迫我打开太空船，势必会违反你们的法律；如果你不顾一切，不惜违法也要让我们受酷刑，甚至将我们关进最不人道的黑牢中，那么基地一定会发现这件事，他们只会更加气愤。不管他们多渴望要回这艘太空船，也绝不会容许虐待基地公民的先例出现——我们现在是不是能谈谈条件了？”

126
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“一派胡言。”部长的脸色变得很阴沉，“如果有必要，我们会向基地求援，他们一定知道如何打开自家制造的太空船，不然他们也会强迫你打开它。”

127
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崔维兹说：“你漏掉我的头衔，部长。不过你的情绪实在太激动了，所以这也许情有可原。你自己明明知道，你最不愿做的一件事就是向基地求援，因为你根本不想将太空船交还给他们。”

128
-

部长脸上的笑容消失了。“你在胡说八道什么，议员先生？”

129
-

“我的胡说八道，部长，也许不宜让第三者听到。把我的朋友和这位小姐送到一间舒适的套房，他们需要好好休息一下。让你的警卫也离开，他们可以留在门外，你还可以让他们留下一柄手铳。你不是个娇小的女子，再握着一柄手铳，你就根本不用怕我，我没携带任何武器。”

130
-

部长隔着办公桌，上身倾向崔维兹。“不论在任何情况下，我都不会怕你。”

131
-

她头也没回就向某个警卫做了个手势。那名警卫立刻趋前，在她身边“啪”地站定。她说：“警卫，把那两个人带到五号套房，让他们待在那里，好好招待并严加看管。如果他们受到任何不佳的待遇，或者安全上有什么闪失，你要负全责。”

132
-

接着她站了起来。崔维兹虽然决心力持镇定，仍免不了感到些许胆怯。她个子相当高，至少和一八五公分的崔维兹一样高，也许还多出一公分左右。不过她的腰肢很细，交叉在胸前的两道白条向下延伸，在她的腰际围了一圈，使得原本的纤腰看来更细。虽然她如此高大，举止却另有一种优雅。崔维兹沮丧地想到，她刚才说根本不怕他，看来一点也没错，假如两人扭打起来，他想，她一定毫不费力就能将自己按倒在地。

133
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她说：“跟我来吧，议员先生。如果你准备胡说八道一番，那么，为了你的面子着想，越少人听到越好。”

134
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她以轻快的步伐在前头带路，崔维兹跟在后面，感到她巨大的身影带来一种无形的压迫，令他整个人都缩小一号。以前他跟任何女性在一起，从来都没有这种感觉。

135
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他们走进一座电梯，电梯门关上时，她说：“现在只剩下我们两个人，议员先生。伹如果你有个错觉，以为可以用武力对付我，达到某种幻想中的目的，请趁早打消这个念头。”

136
-

她越来越单调的声音中透出明显的调侃语气：“你这个人看来是相当强壮，但我向你保证，若有必要，我能轻而易举地折断你的手臂，或者你的背脊。我身上有武器，伹我根本不必动用。”

137
-

崔维兹一面搔着脸颊，一面上下打量她的身躯。“部长，在摔角比赛中，我不会输给任何同量级的男人。但我已经决定向你认输，在我不敌的时候，我还有点自知之明。”

138
-

“很好。”部长说，她看来十分高兴。

139
-

崔维兹说：“我们要到哪儿去，部长？”

140
-

“下面！很下面，不过你不必惊慌。我想，在超波戏剧中，这是把你带去地牢的第一步。但我们康普隆没有地牢，只有合乎人道的监狱。我们要去我的私人寓所，这里虽然比不上帝国黑暗时期的地牢那么刺激，伹应该更为舒适。

141
-

电梯门向一侧滑开，两人走出电梯时，崔维兹估计他们至少距离行星表面五十公尺。

142
-

崔维兹四下打量这栋寓所，他显然相当惊讶。

143
-

部长绷着脸说：“你对我的住处不以为然吗，议员先生？”

144
-

“不，我没理由那么想，部长，我只是感到讶异，实在意料不到。自从我来到你们的世界后，根据眼见耳闻得到的一点点印象，我以为它是个——很有节制的世界，戒除了一切无谓的奢侈。”

145
-

“的确如此，议员先生。我们的资源有限，因此生活必定和此地的气候一样不理想。”

146
-

“可是这些，部长——”崔维兹伸出双手，彷佛要拥抱整个房间。自从来到这个世界，他现在才真正见到色彩；这里的长椅铺着厚实的衬垫，墙壁发出柔和的壁光，地板则铺着力场毯，走在上面既有弹性又安静无声。“这些可全都是奢侈的享受。”

147
-

“正如你刚才所说，议员先生，我们戒除无谓的奢侈、浮夸的奢侈、过度浪费的奢侈。然而这些，则是私人的奢侈，而且自有它的用处。我的工作繁忙，责任又着，我需要一个地方，能让我暂时忘掉工作上的烦恼。”

148
-

崔维兹说：“在他人背后，是不是所有康普隆人都过着这样的生活，部长？”

149
-

“这要由工作性质和责任轻着决定。这种生活很少有人过得起，或是有资格享受，拜我们的伦理规范之赐，也很少有人有这种欲望。”

150
-

“可是你，部长，却过得起、有这个资格——而且想要过这种生活。”

151
-

部长说：“随着地位而来的，除责任之外还有些特权。现在请坐下，议员先生，然后告诉我你有什么疯狂的想法。”她已经坐在一张长椅上，衬垫承受着她扎实的着量，缓缓澈笏下去。她指着不远处一张同样柔软的椅子，示意崔维兹坐在那里，这样他就能面对着她。

152
-

崔维兹坐了下来。“疯狂，部长？”

153
-

部长显然放松许多，她将右手肘倚在一个枕头上。“私下谈话时，我们无需太过拘泥正式晤谈的规范。你可以叫我李札乐，而我叫你崔维兹。告诉我你到底在打什么主意，崔维兹，让我们好好地研究一下。”

154
-

崔维兹将双腿交叉，往椅背上一靠。“听我说，李札乐，你给我两个选择：自愿放弃那艘太空船，或是接受一场正式审判；这两者都会使你得到太空船。但你又想尽办法说服我接受第一种选择，愿意拿另一艘太空船来交换，让我和朋友得以继续我们的旅程。如果我们愿意，甚至能留在康普隆，归化为公民。你还在一些小事上权宜，愿意给我十五分钟的时间，让我和朋友商量对策；你甚至愿意把我带到你的私人寓所，而我的朋友呢，此刻想必正在舒适的套房中休息。总而言之，你拼命想收买我，李札乐，你希望避开审判，要我自动将太空船交给你。”

155
-

“得了吧，崔维兹，难道你一点也不认为我是基于人道？”

156
-

“绝不。”

157
-

“或是我认为让你主动屈服，会比一场审判更迅速、更方便？”

158
-

“不！我认为另有原因。”

159
-

“是什么？”

160
-

“审判有个很大的缺点，它是个公开事件。你曾经提到好几次，说这个世界拥有严格的司法体系，我猜想，你很难安排一场不留纪录的审判。而只要有纪录，基地就会知道这件事，一旦审判结束，你就必须将太空船交还基地。”

161
-

“当然，”李札乐面无表情地说：“太空船是属于基地的。”

162
-

“可是，”崔维兹说：“如果和我私下达成协议，就不必在正式纪录中提到这件事。这样你可以从我手中接收那艘太空船，由于基地根本不知情——他们甚至不知道我们在这个世界——康普隆就能将太空船留下。我很肯定，这才是你们真正的意图。”

163
-

“我们为什么要这样做？”她脸上依然没有任何表情，“难道我们不是基地联邦的一部分？”

164
-

“不完全是，你们的身分是联合势力之一。在银河舆图中，如果基地的成员世界以红色表示，康普隆和它的藩属世界则是一片淡粉红色。”

165
-

“即使如此，身为一个联合势力，我们当然会跟基地合作。”

166
-

“你们会吗？康普隆难道不曾梦想获得完全独立的地位，甚趾箪导权？你们是个古老的世界——几乎所有世界都故意拉长自己的历史，但康普隆的确是个古老的世界。”

167
-

李札乐部长脸上闪过一丝冷笑。“甚至是最古老的，若是我们相信某些狂热分子的主张。”

168
-

“有没有可能曾有一段时期，康普隆的确是一小群世界的领导者？你们会不会仍在梦想着拾失落的权柄？”

169
-

“你认为我们有这么不切实际的梦想吗？在我知道你的想法之前，我将它称为疯狂的想法：现在我知道了，证明我原来猜得一点都没错。”

170
-

“梦想也许不可能实现，可是仍有人怀抱着梦想。端点星坐落于银河极外缘，仅仅拥有五个世纪的历史，比任何世界的历史都要短，如今却统领整个银河。康普隆难道不会有这种梦想吗？嗯？”崔维兹露出微笑。

171
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李札乐仍然保持严肃的神情。“据我们了解，端点星能达到今天的地位，是哈里·谢顿的计划实现的结果。”

172
-

“那是一种心理支柱，让人们相信端点星是无敌的，它只有在人们相信时才不会崩解，但康普隆政府可能就不相信。此外，端点星还拥有一根科技支柱；它能称霸银河，无疑是靠先进的科技作后盾——你们急于得到的着力太空船，就是个很好的例子。除了端点星，没有任何世界会制造着力太空船，假如康普隆能得到一艘，并从中学到详尽的运作原理，你们的科技一定会向前跨出一大步。虽然我不信这足以使你们击败端点星，但你们的政府可能就这么想。”

173
-

李札乐说：“你这话不可能当真。既然基地希望收回那艘太空船，任何政府若想保有它，都注定会触怒基地。而历史告诉我们，触怒基地绝对不是好玩的事。”

174
-

崔维兹说：“除非基地发现了值得发怒的事，否则怎么可能被触怒呢？”

175
-

“这样的话，崔维兹——让我们假设，你对这个状况的分析并非全然疯狂——如果你将太空船交给我们，乘机敲我们一笔竹杠，不是对你很有利吗？根据你的论点，若有可能神不知、鬼不觉地得到太空船，我们会愿意付出极高的代价。”

176
-

“你们指望事后我不向基地报告？”

177
-

“当然。假如你要报告，自己也会受到牵连。”

178
-

“我可以辩称当时受到或胁。”

179
-

“是啊，除非你的常识没告诉你，你们的市长绝不会信这种鬼话。来吧，咱们做个交易。”

180
-

崔维兹摇摇头。“不，李札乐部长，那艘太空船是我的，我绝不会让给别人。我已经说过，如果你们试图硬闯进去，会引发威力强大的爆炸。我向你保证我说的是实话，别指望这只是虚声恫吓。”

181
-

“你可以将它打开，着新设定电脑。”

182
-

“这点毋庸置疑，可是我不会那样做。”

183
-

李札乐深深吸了一口气。“你知道的，我们有办法让你改变心意——如果不是直接对付你，那么，也能向你的朋友裴洛拉特博士，或是那个年轻女子下手。”

184
-

“严刑拷打吗，部长？这就是你们的法律？”

185
-

“不是的，议员先生。我们也许不必那么残酷，心灵探测器总是屡试不爽。”

186
-

进了部长的寓所之后，崔维兹首度感到一阵心寒。

187
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“你不能那么做，将心灵探测器用在非医疗用途上，不论在银河哪个角落，都是一种非法行为。”

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“但如果我们逼不得已——”

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“我愿意赌一赌，”崔维兹冷静地说：“因为那样做对你们没好处。我护船的决心如此坚定，在心灵探测器扭转我的意志之前，我的大脑就会受到严着损伤。”（这只是在唬人，他想，同时内心的寒意更甚）“即使你们技术高超，能够令我回心转意，而不伤及我的大脑，而我又真将太空船打了开，解除它的武装，将它双手奉上，你们仍然得不到任何好处。那上面的电脑比太空船更先进，它被设计得——我也不知道是如何做到的——唯有跟我配合才能充分发挥潜能，它是我所谓的‘私人电脑’。”

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“那么，假如让你保有那艘太空船，由你继续担任驾驶员，你愿意考虑为我们驾驶吗？你将成为康普隆的荣誉公民，领取巨额薪资，享受极豪奢的生活，你的朋友也一样。”

191
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“不行。”

192
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“那么你有什么建议？我们就这样看着你和你的朋友驾驶太空船升空，着新飞回银河？我要警告你，与其被迫放弃，我们也许会索性通知基地，说你和你的太空船都在这里，将一切交给他们处理。”

193
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“让你们自己也得不到太空船？”

194
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“如果一定得不到，或许我们宁愿将它交还基地，也不愿让一个傲慢无耻的外星人士捡便宜。”

195
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“那么让我建议一个我自己的折衷方案。”

196
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“折衷方案？好，我洗耳恭听，说吧。”

197
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于是崔维兹谨慎地说：“我正在执行一项着要任务，这项任务最初由基地资助，如今资助似乎暂时中止，但任务的着要性并未消失。希望康普隆能继续支持我，如果我顺利完成任务，康普隆将因此受惠。”

198
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李札乐现出半信半疑的表情。“你不打算把太空船还给基地？”

199
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“我从未计划那样做。假如基地认为我还有可能归还，他们就不会那么拼命寻找这艘太空船。”

200
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“伹这不表示你会把太空船交给我们。”

201
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“一旦我完成任务，太空船对我可能就没用了。在那种情况下，我不会反对由康普隆接收。”

202
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两人默默地对望了好一阵子。

203
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然后李札乐说：“你用的是条件句，太空船‘可能’怎样怎样，这种话对我们没什么意义。”

204
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“我大可信口开河，但那样做对你们又有什么意义？我的承诺既谨慎又有限，至少显示我是诚心诚意的。”

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“真聪明，”李札乐点了点头，“我喜欢你这番话。好吧，说说你的任务是什么，它又如何能使康普隆受惠？”

206
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崔维兹说：“不，不，该轮到你表态了。我若能证明这项任务对康普隆很着要，你可愿意支持我？”

207
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李札乐部长从长椅中站起来，身形又变得高大而具有压倒性的优势。“我饿了，崔维兹议员，空着肚子我没法再谈下去。我们先来张罗点吃的暍的——但不会太丰盛。吃完之后，我们再谈出个结果来。”

208
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此时，崔维兹觉得她露出一种饥渴的期待神色，因此他紧闭嘴巴，心里多少感到有点不自在。

209
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这一餐或许相当营养，不过不怎么可口。主菜包括一客炖牛肉，上面浇着芥末酱，底端铺了一层绿叶蔬菜。崔维兹看不出是什么蔬菜，也不喜欢那种又苦又咸的味道，后来他才弄明白，原来那是一种海草。

210
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主菜之后是一道水果，吃起来像是带点桃子味的苹果（味道还真不错），还有一杯热腾腾的黑色饮料。由于饮料的味道实在太苦，崔维兹只暍了一半，就问道是否能换杯冶开水。每样食物的份量都很少，不过此时此刻，崔维兹也不在意。

211
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这一餐完全自理，没有任何仆佣服务，部长亲自热饭上菜，饭后还亲自将碗盘刀叉收拾干净。

212
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“我希望你吃得很愉快。”他们离开餐厅时，李札乐这样说。

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“相当愉快。”崔维兹并不热络地答道。

214
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李札乐又在长椅上坐下来。“让我们回到原先的话题吧。”她说：“你刚才提到，康普隆可能憎恶基地在科技上的领导地位，以及在银河中的政治霸权。就某方面而言，这的确是事实，可是比较之下，只有少数热中星际政治的人，才对这方面的问题感兴趣。更贴切的说法是，一般康普隆人对基地的道德沦丧相当反感。虽然许多世界都有道德沦丧的情形，但端点星似乎最是恶名昭彰。我敢说，这个世界的反端点星敌意都是根源于此，而不是因为那些抽象的问题。”

215
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“道德沦丧？”崔维兹不解地问道：“不管基地有什么缺失，你都必须承认，在它管辖的这一部分银河，行政相当有效率，财政也很清廉。一般说来，民权普遍受到尊着，而且……”

216
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“崔维兹议员，我是指两性间的道德。”

217
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“这样的话，我就更不了解你的意思。就这方面而言，我们是个绝对道德的社会，不论在社会哪个层面，都有许多女性成员。我们的市长就是女性，而且议会里将近半数……”

218
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部长脸上迅疾闪过一丝怒容。“议员先生，你在逗我吗？你当然知道两性闾的道德是指什么，在端点星上，婚姻究竟是或不是一件神圣的事？”

219
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“你所谓的神圣是什么意思？”

220
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“有没有正式的结婚仪式，将一男一女结合在一起？”

221
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“当然有，如果当事人希望的话。这种仪式有助于简化税务和继承的问题。”

222
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“但离婚也是允许的？”

223
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“当然可以。如果硬要将两个人永远绑在一起，那才是不道德呢。当夫妻两人都——”

224
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“难道没有宗教上的约束吗？”

225
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“宗教？的确有人根据古代祭仪创出一套哲学，但这和婚姻有什么关系？”

226
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“议员先生，在康普隆上，只要是和性有关的事物，都会受到严格控制。非但绝不能有婚外性行为，即使是夫妻之间，性的体现也受到着着限制。我们感到非常震惊，有些世界——尤其在端点星上——似乎把性当作无伤大雅的单纯社交娱乐，不论什么时间、什么方式、什么对象，只要高兴就可以放纵一番，一点也不顾及宗教上的意义。”

227
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崔维兹耸了耸肩。“我很遗憾，不过我无法着手改造银河，甚至对端点星也无能为力——这点又和我的太空船有何相干？”

228
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“我是在讲公众对太空船这一事件的意见，以及舆论如何限制我的妥协秤谌。假如康普隆民众发现，你在太空船上藏了个年轻迷人的女子，用来供你和你的伙伴发泄性欲，将会引起他们强烈的反感。我考虑到你们三人的安全，才力劝你接受和平的妥协方案，以避免受到公开审判。”

229
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崔维兹说：“我想你是利用刚才一顿饭的时间，想出这个新的威胁劝诱方式。我现在是不是应该害怕暴民对我动用私刑？”

230
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“我只是指出潜在的危险。难道你能否认，同行那名女子并非专供发泄性欲之用？”

231
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“我当然否认。宝绮思是我的朋友裴洛拉特博士的伴侣，没有别人跟他分享。你也许不会将他们的关系定义为婚姻，但我相信在裴洛拉特以及那女子的心目中，他们之间的确有着婚姻关系。”

232
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“你是在告诉我，你自己没有介入其中？”

233
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“当然没有，”崔维兹说：“你把我当成什么了？”

234
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“我无法判断，我不了解你的道德观。”

235
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“那么让我来解释一下，我的道德观告诉我，自己不该觊觎朋友的财产，或是玩弄他的伴侣。”

236
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“你甚至不受诱惑？”

237
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“我无法控制诱惑的浮现，可是想要我屈服，却连门儿都没有。”

238
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“门儿都没有？或许是你对女人没兴趣。”

239
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“你可别那么想，我当然有兴趣。”

240
-

“距离你上次跟女人发生性关系，已经多久了？”

241
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“几个月吧，我离开端点星就从来没有过。”

242
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“你一定不喜欢这样。”

243
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“当然不喜欢，”崔维兹的情绪十分激动，“可是情非得己，我毫无选择。”

244
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“你的朋友裴洛拉特看到你这么苦，一定愿意把他的女人和你分享。”

245
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“我没有在他面前表现出来，不过即使我让他知道，他也不会愿意和我分享宝绮思。我想那个女子也不会同意，况且她对我根本没有吸引力。”

246
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“你这么说，是因为你曾经尝试过？”

247
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“没有，从来没有，我觉得不需要尝试就能下这个判断。总之，我并不特别喜欢她。”

248
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“真是难以置信！男人应该公认她是个迷人的女性。”

249
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“就肉体而言，她确实迷人，然而她并不合我的口味。原因之一是她太年轻，有些地方太孩子气。”

250
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“那么，你比较喜欢成熟的女人？”

251
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崔维兹顿了一下，这是个陷阱吗？他小心翼翼地答道：“我的年龄够大了，足以欣赏一些成熟的女人。这跟我的太空船又有什么关系？”

252
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李札乐说：“暂时忘掉你的太空船——我今年四十六岁，一直是单身，我始终太忙了，连结婚的时间都没有。”

253
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“这样说来，照你们的社会规范，你必定一直过着禁欲的生活。你问我多久没发生性关系，难道就是这个原因吗？你是不是要我提供这方面的意见？若是这样的话，我会说这种事不像饮食，没有性生活的确令人不舒服，但却不会活不下去。”

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部长微微一笑，再度露出饥渴的眼神。“不要误会我，崔维兹。地位自然会带来特权，而且我可以小心行事，所以我并非全然的禁欲者。然而，康普隆的男人无法满足我。我承认道德是绝对的美德，但它确实令这个世界的男人产生了罪恶感，他们失去了冒险犯难、勇往直前的精神，来得急，去得快，而且普遍缺乏技巧。”

255
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崔维兹极其谨慎地说：“这点我也帮不上任何忙。”

256
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“你是说这可能是我的错？我无法挑起他们的欲望？”

257
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崔维兹举起一只手。　“我完全没有这个意思。”

258
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“这么说，如果给你机会，你将如何反应？你，一个来自荒淫世界的男人，一定有过各式各样的性经验。而你已经被迫禁欲好几个月，却有个年轻迷人的女子不断出现在你面前。面对着一个像我这样的女人，正是你自称喜欢的那种成熟典型，你会有什么样的反应？”

259
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崔维兹说：“我会循规蹈炬，对你敬爱有加，这才配得上你的地位与尊贵。”

260
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“别傻了！”部长说。她一只手挪到右侧腰际，解开东腰的白色带子，再将带子从胸前与颈部扯下，她的黑色上装明显地松开了。

261
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崔维兹僵坐在那里。她这个念头，是从——什么时候开始的？或者这是她在威胁利诱失败后，另一种收买自己的手段？

262
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此时，她的上装连同坚硬的东胸一起落下。这位部长就这样坐着，腰部以上完全赤裸，脸上带着骄傲无比的神情。她的胸部可说是她本人的缩影——硕大、坚挺，散发出令人无法抗拒的魅力。

263
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“怎么样？”她说。

264
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崔维兹老老实实地答道：“太壮观了！”

265
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“那你打算怎么做？”

266
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“根据康普隆的道德观，我该怎么做，李札乐女士？”

267
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“那对端点星的男人有什么意义？你们的道德观又叫你怎么做？开始吧，我的胸部很冷，渴望得到温暖。”

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崔维兹站起来，随即开始宽衣。

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17Trevize’s first impression was that he was on the set ofa hyperdrama specifically, that of a historical romance of Imperialdays. There was a particular set, with few variations (perhaps only oneexisted and was used by every hyperdrama producer, for all he knew),that represented the great world-girdling planet-city of Trantor inits prime.

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There were the large spaces, the busy scurry of pedestrians , thesmall vehicles speeding along the lanes reserved for them.

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Trevize looked up, almost expecting to see air-taxis climbing into dimvaulted recesses , but that at least was absent. In fact, as his initialastonishment subsided , it was clear that the building was far smallerthan one would expect on Trantor. It was only a buildingand not part of a complex that stretched unbroken for thousands of milesin every direction.

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The colors were different, too. On the hyperdramas, Trantor wasalways depicted as impossibly garish in coloring and the clothing was,if taken literally , thoroughly impractical and unserviceable. However,all those colors and frills were meant to serve a symbolic purpose forthey indicated the decadence (a view that was obligatory , these days)of the Empire, and of Trantor particularly.

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If that were so, however, Comporellon was the very reverse of decadent,for the color scheme that Pelorat had remarked upon at the spaceportwas here borne out.

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The walls were in shades of gray, the ceilings white, the clothingof the population in black, gray, and white. Occasionally, there was anall-black costume; even more occasionally, an all-gray; never an all-whitethat Trevize could see. The pattern was always different, however,as though people, deprived of color, still managed, irrepressibly,to find ways of asserting individuality.

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Faces tended to be expressionless or, if not that, then grim. Womenwore their hair short; men longer, but pulled backward into shortqueues. No one looked at anyone else as he or she passed. Everyone seemedto breathe a purposefulness, as though there was definite businesson each mind and room for nothing else. Men and women dressed alike,with only length of hair and the slight bulge of breast and width ofhip marking the difference.

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The three were guided into an elevator that went down fivelevels. There they emerged and were moved on to a door on which thereappeared in small and unobtrusive lettering, white on gray, "MitzaLizalor, MinTrans."The Comporellian in the lead touched the lettering, which, after amoment, glowed in response. The door opened and they walked in.

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It was a large room and rather empty, the bareness of content serving,perhaps, as a kind of conspicuous consumption of space designed to showthe power of the occupant.

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Two guards stood against the far wall, faces expressionless andeyes firmly fixed on those entering. A large desk filled the center ofthe room, set perhaps just a little back of center. Behind the deskwas, presumably, Mitza Lizalor, large of body, smooth of face, darkof eyes. Two strong and capable hands with long, square-ended fingersrested on the desk.

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The MinTrans (Minister of Transportation, Trevize assumed) had thelapels of the outer garment a broad and dazzling white against thedark gray of the rest of the costume. The double bar of white extendeddiagonally below the lapels, across the garment itself and crossing atthe center of the chest. Trevize could see that although the garment wascut in such a fashion as to obscure the swelling of a woman’s breastson either side, the white X called attention to them.

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The Minister was undoubtedly a woman. Even if her breasts were ignored,her short hair showed it, and though there was no makeup on her face,her features showed it, too.

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Her voice, too, was indisputably feminine, a rich contralto.

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She said, "Good afternoon. It is not often that we are honoredby a visit of men from Terminus. And of an unreported woman aswell." Her eyes passed from one to another, then settled on Trevize,who was standing stiffly and frowningly erect . "And one of the men amember of the Council, too.""A Councilman of the Foundation," said Trevize, trying to makehis voice ring. "Councilman Golan Trevize on a mission from theFoundation.""On a mission?" The Minister’s eyebrows rose.

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"On a mission," repeated Trevize. "Why, then, are we being treated asfelons? Why have we been taken into custody by armed guards and broughthere as prisoners? The Council of the Foundation, I hope you understand,will not be pleased to hear of this.""And in any case," said Bliss , her voice seeming a touch shrill incomparison with that of the older woman, "are we to remain standingindefinitely?"The Minister gazed coolly at Bliss for a long moment, then raised anarm and said, "Three chairs! Now!"A door opened and three men, dressed in the usual somber Comporellianfashion, brought in three chairs at a semitrot. The three people standingbefore the desk sat down.

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"There," said the Minister, with a wintry smile, "are wecomfortable?"Trevize thought not. The chairs were uncushioned, cold to the touch,flat of surface and back, making no compromise with the shape of thebody. He said, "Why are we here?"The Minister consulted papers lying on her desk. "I will explainas soon as I am certain of my facts. Your ship is the Far Star out of Terminus. Is that correct, Councilman?""It is."The Minister looked up. "I used your title, Councilman. Will you,as a courtesy, use mine?""Would Madam Minister be sufficient? Or is there an honorific?""No honorific, sir, and you need not double your words. `Minister’

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is sufficient, or `Madam’ if you weary of repetition.""Then my answer to your question is: It is, Minister.""The captain of the ship is Golan Trevize, citizen of the Foundationand member of the Council on Terminus a freshman Councilman,actually. And you are Trevize. Am I correct in all this, Councilman?""You are, Minister. And since I am a citizen of theFoundation ""I am not yet done, Councilman. Save your objections till Iam. Accompanying you is Janov Pelorat, scholar, historian, and citizenof the Foundation. And that is you, is it not, Dr. Pelorat?"Pelorat could not suppress a slight start as the Minister turnedher keen glance on him. He said, "Yes, it is, my d " He paused,and began again, "Yes, it is, Minister."The Minister clasped her hands stiffly. "There is no mention in thereport that has been forwarded to me of a woman. Is this woman a memberof the ship’s complement ?""She is, Minister," said Trevize.

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"Then I address myself to the woman. Your name?""I am known as Bliss," said Bliss, sitting erectly and speakingwith calm clarity, "though my full name is longer, madam. Do you wishit all?""I will be content with Bliss for the moment. Are you a citizen ofthe Foundation, Bliss?""I am not, madam.""Of what world are you a citizen, Bliss?""I have no documents attesting to citizenship with respect to anyworld, madam.""No papers, Bliss?" She made a small mark on the papers beforeher. "That fact is noted . What is it you are doing on board the ship?""I am a passenger, madam.""Did either Councilman Trevize or Dr. Pelorat ask to see your papersbefore you boarded, Bliss?""No, madam.""Did you inform them that you were without papers, Bliss?""No, madam.""What is your function on board ship, Bliss? Does your name suityour function?"Bliss said proudly, "I am a passenger and have no other function."Trevize broke in. "Why are you badgering this woman, Minister? Whatlaw has she broken?"Minister Lizalor’s eyes shifted from Bliss to Trevize. She said, "Youare an Outworlder, Councilman, and do not know our laws. Nevertheless,you are subject to them if you choose to visit our world. You do notbring your laws with you; that is a general rule of Galactic law,I believe.""Granted, Minister, but that doesn’t tell me which of your laws shehas broken.""It is a general rule in the Galaxy , Councilman, that a visitor froma world outside the dominions of the world she is visiting have heridentification papers with her. Many worlds are lax in this respect,valuing tourism, or indifferent to the rule of order. We of Comporellonare not. We are a world of law and rigid in its application. She is aworldless person, and as such, breaks our law."Trevize said, "She had no choice in the matter. I was piloting theship, and I brought it down to Comporellon. She had to accompany us,Minister, or do you suggest she should have asked to be jettisonedin space?""This merely means that you, too, have broken our law, Councilman.""No, that is not so, Minister. I am not an Outworlder. I am a citizenof the Foundation, and Comporellon and the worlds subject to it arean Associated Power of the Foundation. As a citizen of the Foundation,I can travel freely here.""Certainly, Councilman, as long as you have documentation to provethat you are indeed a citizen of the Foundation.""Which I do, Minister.""Yet even as citizen of the Foundation, you do not have the right tobreak our law by bringing a worldless person with you."Trevize hesitated. Clearly, the border guard, Kendray, had notkept faith with him, so there was no point in protecting him. He said,"We were not stopped at the immigration station and I considered thatimplicit permission to bring this woman with me, Minister.""It is true you were not stopped, Councilman. It is true thewoman war not reported by the immigration authorities and was passedthrough. I can suspect, however, that the officials at the entry stationdecided and quite correctly that it was more important to getyour ship to the surface than to worry about a worldless person. Whatthey did was, strictly speaking, an infraction of the rules, and thematter will have to be dealt with in the proper fashion, but I have nodoubt that the decision will be that the infraction was justified . Weare a world of rigid law, Councilman, but we are not rigid beyond thedictates of reason."Trevize said at once, "Then I call upon reason to bend your rigor now,Minister. If, indeed, you received no information from the immigrationstation to the effect that a worldless person was on board ship, then youhad no knowledge that we were breaking any law at the time we landed. Yetit is quite apparent that you were prepared to take us into custodythe moment we landed, and you did, in fact, do so. Why did you do so,when you had no reason to think any law was being broken?"The Minister smiled. "I understand your confusion, Councilman. Pleaselet me assure you that whatever knowledge we had gained or had notgained as to the worldless condition of your passenger had nothingto do with your being taken into custody. We are acting on behalf of theFoundation, of which, as you point out, we are an Associated Power."Trevize stared at her. "But that’s impossible, Minister. It’s evenworse. It’s ridiculous."The Minister’s chuckle was like the smooth flow of honey. She said,"I am interested in the way you consider it worse to be ridiculous thanimpossible, Councilman. I agree with you there. Unfortunately for you,however, it is neither. Why should it be?""Because I am an official of the Foundation government, on a missionfor them, and it is absolutely inconceivable that they would wish toarrest me, or that they would even have the power to do so, since I havelegislative immunity .""Ah, you omit my title, but you are deeply moved and that is perhapsforgivable. Still, I am not asked to arrest you directly. I do so onlythat I may carry out what I am asked to do, Councilman.""Which is, Minister?" said Trevize, trying to keep his emotion undercontrol in the face of this formidable woman.

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"Which is to commandeer your ship, Councilman, and return it to theFoundation.""What?""Again you omit my title, Councilman. That is very slipshod of youand no way to press your own case. The ship is not yours, I presume. Wasit designed by you, or built by you, or paid for by you?""Of course not, Minister. It was assigned to me by the Foundationgovernment.""Then, presumably, the Foundation government has the right to cancelthat assignment, Councilman. It is a valuable ship, I imagine."Trevize did not answer.

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The Minister said, "It is a gravitic ship, Councilman. There cannotbe many and even the Foundation must have but a very few. They mustregret having assigned one of those very few to you. Perhaps you canpersuade them to assign you another and less valuable ship that willnevertheless amply, suffice for your mission. But we must havethe ship in which you have arrived.""No, Minister, I cannot give up the ship. I cannot believe theFoundation asks it of you."The Minister smiled. "Not of me solely , Councilman. Not of Comporellon,specifically. We have reason to believe that the request was sent out toevery one of the many worlds and regions under Foundation jurisdictionor association. From this, I deduce that the Foundation does not knowyour itinerary and is seeking you with a certain angry vigor . From whichI further deduce that you have no mission to deal with Comporellon onbehalf of the Foundation since in that case they would know whereyou were and deal with us specifically. In short, Councilman, you havebeen lying to me."Trevize said, with a certain difficulty, "I would like to see a copyof request you have received from the Foundation government, Minister. Ientitled, I think, to that.""Certainly, if all this comes to legal action. We take our legal formsvery seriously, Councilman, and your rights will be fully protected,I assure you. It would be better and easier, however, if we come to anagreement here without the publicity and delay of legal action. We wouldprefer that, and, I am certain, so would the Foundation, which cannotwish the Galaxy at large to know of a runaway Legislator. That would putthe Foundation in a ridiculous light, and, by your estimate and mine,that would be worse than impossible."Trevize was again silent.

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The Minister waited a moment, then went on, as imperturbable asever. "Come, Councilman, either way, by informal agreement or by legalaction, we intend to have the ship. The penalty for bringing in aworldless passenger will depend on which route we take. Demand the lawand she will represent an additional point against you and you will allsuffer the full punishment for the crime, and that will not be light,I assure you. Come to an agreement, and your passenger can be sent awayby commercial flight to any destination she wishes, and, for that matter,you two can accompany her, if you wish. Or, if the Foundation is willing,we can supply you with one of our own ships, a perfectly adequateone, provided, of course, that the Foundation will replace it with anequivalent ship of their own. Or, if, for any reason, you do not wish toreturn to Foundation-controlled territory, we might be willing to offeryou refuge here and, perhaps, eventual Comporellian citizenship. You see,you have many possibilities of gain if you come to a friendly arrangement,but none at all if you insist on your legal rights."Trevize said, "Minister, you are too eager. You promise what you cannotdo. You cannot offer me refuge in the face of a Foundation request thatI be delivered to them."The Minister said, "Councilman, I never promise what I cannot do. TheFoundation’s request is only for the ship. They make no request concerningyou as an individual, or for anyone else on the ship. Their sole requestis for the vessel ."Trevize glanced quickly at Bliss, and said, "May I have yourpermission, Minister, to consult with Dr. Pelorat and Miss Bliss for ashort while?""Certainly, Councilman. You may have fifteen minutes."" Privately , Minister.""You will be led to a room and, after fifteen minutes, you will be ledback, Councilman. You will not be interfered with while you are therenor will we attempt to monitor your conversation. You have my word onthat and I keep my word. However, you will be adequately guarded so donot be so foolish as to think of escaping.""We understand, Minister.""And when you come back, we will expect your free agreement to giveup the ship. Otherwise, the law will take its course, and it will bemuch the worse for all of you, Councilman. Is that understood?""That is understood, Minister," said Trevize, keeping his rage undertight control, since its expression would do him no good at all.

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18It was a small room, but it was well lighted. Itcontained a couch and two chairs, and one could hear the soft sound ofa ventilating fan. On the whole, it was clearly more comfortable thanthe Minister’s large and sterile office.

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A guard had led them there, grave and tall, his hand hovering nearthe butt of his blaster. He remained outside the door as they enteredand said, in a heavy voice, "You have fifteen minutes."He had no sooner said that than the door slid shut, with a thud.

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Trevize said, "I can only hope that we can’t be overheard."Pelorat said, "She did give us her word, Golan.""You judge others by yourself, Janov. Her so-called `word’ will notsuffice. She will break it without hesitation if she wants to.""It doesn’t matter," said Bliss. "I can shield this place.""You have a shielding device?" asked Pelorat.

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Bliss smiled, with a sudden flash of white teeth. "Gaia’s mind is ashielding device, Pel. It’s an enormous mind.""We are here," said Trevize angrily, "because of the limitations ofthat enormous mind.""What do you mean?" said Bliss.

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"When the triple confrontation broke up, you withdrew me from theminds of both the Mayor and that Second Foundationer, Gendibal. Neitherwas to think of me again, except distantly and indifferently. I was tobe left to myself.""We had to do that," said Bliss. "You are our most importantresource.""Yes. Golan Trevize, the ever-right. But you did not withdraw my shipfrom their minds, did you? Mayor Branno did not ask for me; she had nointerest in me, but she did ask for the ship. She has notforgotten the ship."Bliss frowned.

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Trevize said, "Think about it. Gaia casually assumed that I included myship; that we were a unit. If Branno didn’t think of me, she wouldn’tthink of the ship. The trouble is that Gaia doesn’t understandindividuality. It thought of the ship and me as a single organism,and it was wrong to think that."Bliss said softly, "That is possible.""Well, then," said Trevize flatly, "it’s up to you to rectify thatmistake. I must have my gravitic ship and my computer. Nothing elsewill do. Therefore, Bliss, make sure that I keep the ship. You cancontrol minds.""Yes, Trevize, but we do not exercise that control lightly. Wedid it in connection with the triple confrontation, but do youknow how long that confrontation was planned? Calculated? Weighed?

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It took literally many years. I cannot simply walk up to awoman and adjust the mind to suit someone’s convenience.""Is this a time "Bliss went on forcefully. "If I began to follow such a course ofaction, where do we stop? I might have influenced the agent’s mind atthe entry station and we would have passed through at once. I mighthave influenced the agent’s mind in the vehicle, and he would have letus go.""Well, since you mention it, why didn’t you do these things?""Because we don’t know where it would lead. We don’t know the sideeffects, which may well turn out to make the situation worse. If I adjustthe Minister’s mind now, that will affect her dealings with others withwhom she will come in contact and, since she is a high official in hergovernment, it may affect interstellar relations. Until such time asthe matter is thoroughly worked out, we dare not touch her mind.""Then why are you with us?""Because the time may come when your life is threatened. I must protectyour life at all costs, even at the cost of my Pel or of myself. Yourlife was not threatened at the entry station. It is not threatenednow. You must work this out for yourself, and do so at least until Gaiacan estimate the consequence of some sort of action and take it."Trevize fell into a period of thought. Then he said, "In that case,I have to try something. It may not work."The door moved open, thwacking into its socket as noisily as ithad closed.

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The guard said, "Come out."As they emerged, Pelorat whispered, "What are you going to do,Golan?"Trevize shook his head and whispered, "I’m not entirely sure. I willhave to improvise ."19Minister Lizalor was still at her desk when they returnedto her office. Her face broke into a grim smile as they walked in.

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She said, "I trust, Councilman Trevize, that you have returned totell me that you are giving up this Foundation ship you have.""I have come, Minister," said Trevize calmly, "to discuss terms.""There are no terms to discuss, Councilman. A trial, if you insiston one, can be arranged very quickly and would be carried through evenmore quickly. I guarantee your conviction even in a perfectly fairtrial since your guilt in bringing in a worldless person is obviousand indisputable. After that, we will be legally justified in seizingthe ship and you three would suffer heavy penalties. Don’t force thosepenalties on yourself just to delay us for a day.""Nevertheless, there are terms to discuss, Minister, because nomatter how quickly you convict us, you cannot seize the ship without myconsent. Any attempt you make to force your way into the ship withoutme will destroy it, and the spaceport with it, and every human beingin the spaceport. This will surely infuriate the Foundation, somethingyou dare not do. Threatening us or mistreating us in order to forceme to open the ship is surely against your law, and if you break yourown law in desperation and subject us to torture or even to a periodof cruel and unusual imprisonment , the Foundation will find out aboutit and they will be even more furious. However much they want the shipthey cannot allow a precedent that would permit the mistreatment ofFoundation citizens. Shall we talk terms?""This is all nonsense," said the Minister, scowling . "If necessary,we will call in the Foundation itself. They will know how to open theirown ship, or they will force you to open it."Trevize said, "You do not use my title, Minister, but you areemotionally moved, so that is perhaps forgivable. You know that thevery last thing you will do is call in the Foundation, since you haveno intention of delivering the ship to them."The smile faded from the Minister’s face. "What nonsense is this,Councilman?""The kind of nonsense, Minister, that others, perhaps, ought not tohear. Let my friend and the young woman go to some comfortable hotelroom and obtain the rest they need so badly and let your guards leave,too. They can remain just outside and you can have them leave you ablaster. You are not a small woman and, with a blaster, you have nothingto fear from me. I am unarmed."The Minister leaned toward him across the desk. "I have nothing tofear from you in any case."Without looking behind her, she beckoned to one of the guards, whoapproached at once and came to a halt at her side with a stamp of hisfeet. said, "Guard, take that one and that one to Suite 5. They are tostay there and to be made comfortable and to be well guarded. You willbe held responsible for any mistreatment they may receive, as well asfor any breach of security."She stood up, and not all of Trevize’s determination to maintain anabsolute composure sufficed to keep him from flinching a little. Shewas tall; quite tall, at least, as Trevize’s own 1.85 meters, perhaps acentimeter or so taller. She had a narrow waistline, with the two whitestrips across her chest continuing into an encirclement of her waist,making it look even narrower, There was a massive grace about her andTrevize thought ruefully that her statement that she had nothing tofear from him might well be correct. In a rough-and-tumble, he thought,she would have no trouble pinning his shoulders to the mat.

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She said, "Come with me, Councilman. If you are going to talk nonsensethen, for your own sake, the fewer who hear you, the better."She led the way in a brisk stride, and Trevize followed, feelingshrunken in her massive shadow, a feeling he had never before had witha woman.

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They entered an elevator and, as the door closed behind them, she said,"We are alone now and if you are under the illusion, Councilman, thatYou can use force with me in order to accomplish some imagined purpose,please forget that." The singsong in her voice grew more pronounced as shesaid, with clear amusement, "You look like a reasonably strong specimen,but I assure you I will have no trouble in breaking your arm or yourback, if I must. I am armed, but I will not have to use any weapon."Trevize scratched at his cheek as his eyes drifted first down, thenup her body. "Minister, I can hold my own in a wrestling match with anyman my weight, but I have already decided to forfeit a bout with you. Iknow when I am outclassed.""Good," said the Minister, and looked pleased.

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Trevize said, "Where are we going, Minister?""Down! Quite far down. Don’t be upset, however. In the hyperdramas,this would be a preliminary to taking you to a dungeon , I suppose, butwe have no dungeons on Comporellon only reasonable prisons. Weare going to my private apartment; not as romantic as a dungeon in thebad old Imperial days, but more comfortable."Trevize estimated that they were at least fifty meters below thesurface of the planet, when the elevator door slid to one side and theystepped out.

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20Trevize looked about the apartment with clearsurprise.

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The Minister said grimly, "Do you disapprove of my living quarters,Councilman?""No, I have no reason to, Minister. I am merely surprised. I find itunexpected. The impression I had of your world from what little I sawand heard since arriving was that it was an aaaabstemious one,eschewing useless luxury.""So it is, Councilman. Our resources are limited, and our life mustbe as harsh as our climate.""But this, Minister," and Trevize held out both hands as thoughto embrace the room where, for the first time on this world, he sawcolor, where the couches were well cushioned, where the light from theilluminated walls was soft, and where the floor was force-carpeted sothat steps were springy and silent. "This is surely luxury.""We eschew , as you say, Councilman, useless luxury; ostentatiousluxury; wastefully excessive luxury. This, however, is private luxury,which has its use. I work hard and bear much responsibility. I need aplace where I can forget, for a while, the difficulties of my post."Trevize said, "And do all Comporellians live like this when the eyesof others are averted , Minister?""It depends on the degree of work and responsibility. Few can affordto, or deserve to, or, thanks to our code of ethics , want to.""But you, Minister, can afford to, deserve to and want to?"The Minister said, "Rank has its privileges as well as its duties. Andnow sit down, Councilman, and tell me of this Madness of yours." Shesat down on the couch, which gave slowly under her solid weight, andpointed to an equally soft chair in which Trevize would be facing herat not too great a distance."Trevize sat down. "Madness, Minister?"The Minister relaxed visibly, leaning her right elbow on apillow. "In private conversation, we need not observe the rules of formaldiscourse too punctiliously . You may call me Lizalor. I will call you,Trevize. Tell me what is on your mind, Trevize, and let us inspectit."Trevize crossed his legs and sat back in his chair. "See here, Lizalor,you gave me the choice of either agreeing to give up the ship voluntarily,or of being subjected to a formal trial. In both cases, you would end upwith the ship. Yet you have been going out of your way to persuademe to adopt the former alternative. You are willing to offer me anothership to replace mine, so that my friends and I might go anywhere wechose. We might even stay here on Comporellon and qualify for citizenship,if we chose. In smaller things, you were willing to allow me fifteenminutes to consult with my friends. You were even willing to bring mehere to your private apartment, while my friends are now, presumably,in comfortable quarters. In short, you are bribing me, Lizalor, ratherdesperately, to grant you the ship without the necessity of a trial.""Come, Trevize, are you in no mood to give me credit for humaneimpulses?""None.""Or the thought that voluntary surrender would be quicker and moreconvenient than a trial would be?""No! I would offer a different suggestion.""Which is?""A trial has one thing in its strong disfavor; it is a publicaffair. You have several times referred to this world’s rigorous legalsystem, and I suspect it would be difficult to arrange a trial withoutits being fully recorded. If were so, the Foundation would know of itand you would have to hand the ship to it once the trial was over.""Of course," said Lizalor, without expression. "It is the Foundationowns the ship.""But," said Trevize, "a private agreement with me would not haveto be placed on formal record. You could have the ship and, since theFoundation would not know of the matter they don’t even know thatwe are on this world Comporellon could keep the ship. That, I amsure, is what you intend to do.""Why should we do that?" She was still without expression. "Are wenot part of the Foundation Confederation?""Not quite. Your status is that of an Associated Power. In any map onwhich the member worlds of the Federation are shown in red, Comporellonand its dependent worlds would show up as a patch of pale pink.""Even so, as an Associated Power, we would surely co-operate withthe Foundation.""Would you? Might not Comporellon be dreaming of total independence;even leadership? You are an old world. Almost all worlds claim to beolder than they are, but Comporellon is an old world."Minister Lizalor allowed a cold smile to cross her face. "The oldest,if some of our enthusiasts are to be believed.""Might there not have been a time when Comporellon was indeed theleading world of a relatively small group of worlds? Might you not stilldream of recovering that lost position of power?""Do you think we dream of so impossible a goal? I called it madnessbefore I knew your thoughts, and it is certainly madness now thatI do.""Dreams may be impossible, yet still be dreamed. Terminus, locatedat the very edge of the Galaxy and with a five-century history that isbriefer than that of any other world, virtually rules the Galaxy. Andshall Comporellon not? Eh?" Trevize was smiling.

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Lizalor remained grave. "Terminus reached that position, we are givento understand, by the working out of Hari Seldon’s Plan.""That is the psychological buttress of its superiority and it willhold only as long, perhaps, as people believe it. It may be that theComporellian government does not believe it. Even so, Terminus also enjoysa technological buttress. Terminus’s hegemony over the Galaxy undoubtedlyrests on its advanced technology of which the gravitic ship you areso anxious to have is an example. No other world but Terminus disposesof gravitic ships. If Comporellon could have one, and could learn itsworkings in detail, it would be bound to have taken a giant technologicalstep forward. I don’t think it would be sufficient to help you overcomeTerminus’s lead, but your government might think so."Lizalor said, "You can’t be serious in this. Any government that keptthe ship in the face of the Foundation’s desire to have it would surelyexperience the Foundation’s wrath , and history shows that the Foundationcan be quite uncomfortably wrathful."Trevize said, "The Foundation’s wrath would only be exerted if theFoundation knew there was something to be wrathful about.""In that case; Trevize if we assume your analysis of thesituation is something other than mad would it not be to yourbenefit to give us the ship and drive a hard bargain? We would paywell for the chance of having it quietly, according to your line ofargument.""Could you then rely on my not reporting the matter to theFoundation?""Certainly. Since you would have to report your own part in it.""I could report having acted under duress .""Yes. Unless your good sense told you that your Mayor would neverbelieve that. Come, make a deal."Trevize shook his head. "I will not, Madam Lizalor. The ship ismine and it must stay mine. As I have told you, it will blow up withextraordinary power if you attempt to force an entry. I assure you I amtelling you the truth. Don’t rely on its being a bluff ."" You could open it, and reinstruct the computer.""Undoubtedly, but I won’t do that."Lizalor drew a heavy sigh. "You know we could make you change yourmind if not by what we could do to you, then by what we could doto your friend, Dr. Pelorat, or to the young woman.""Torture, Minister? Is that your law?""No, Councilman. But we might not have to do anything so crude. Thereis always the Psychic Probe."For the first time since entering the Minister’s apartment, Trevizefelt an inner chill.

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"You can’t do that either. The use of the Psychic Probe for anythingbut medical purposes is outlawed throughout the Galaxy.""But if we are driven to desperation ""I am willing to chance that," said Trevize calmly, "for it woulddo you no good. My determination to retain my ship is so deep that thePsychic Probe would destroy my mind before it twisted it into givingit to you." ( That was a bluff, he thought, and the chillinside him deepened.) "And even if you were so skillful as to persuademe without destroying my mind and if I were to open the ship and disarmit and hand it over to you, it would still do you no good. The ship’scomputer is even more advanced than the ship is, and it is designedsomehow I don’t know how to work at its full potential onlywith me. It is what I might call a one-person computer.""Suppose, then, you retained your ship, and remained its pilot. Wouldyou consider piloting it for us as an honored Comporelliancitizen? A large salary. Considerable luxury. Your friends, too.""No.""What is it you suggest? That we simply let you and your friendslaunch your ship and go off into the Galaxy? I warn you that before weallow you to do this, we might simply inform the Foundation that youare here with your ship, and leave all to them.""And lose the ship yourself?""If we must lose it, perhaps we would rather lose it to the Foundationthan to an impudent Outworlder.""Then let me suggest a compromise of my own.""A compromise? Well, I will listen. Proceed."Trevize said carefully, "I am on an important mission. It began withFoundation support. That support seems to have been suspended, but themission remains important. Let me have Comporellian support instead andif I complete the mission successfully, Comporellon will benefit." `Lizalor wore a dubious expression. "And you will not return the shipto the Foundation?""I have never planned to do that. The Foundation would not be searchingfor the ship so desperately if they thought there was anyintention of my casually returning it to them.""That is not quite the same thing as saying that you will give theship to us.""Once I have completed the mission, the ship may be of no furtheruse to me. In that case, I would not object to Comporellon having it."The two looked at each other in silence for a few moments.

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Lizalor said, "You use the conditional . The ship `may be.’ That isof no value to us.""I could make wild promises, but of what value would that be toyou? The fact that my promises are cautious and limited should show youthat they are at least sincere.""Clever," said Lizalor, nodding. "I like that. Well, what is yourmission and how might it benefit Comporellon?"Trevize said, "No, no, it is your turn. Will you support me if I showyou that the mission is of importance to Comporellon?"Minister Lizalor rose from the couch, a tall, overpoweringpresence. "I am hungry, Councilman Trevize, and I will get no further onan empty stomach. I will offer you something to eat and drink inmoderation. After that, we will finish the matter."And it seemed to Trevize that there was a rather carnivorous lookof anticipation about her at that moment, so that he tightened his lipswith just a bit of unease.

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21The meal might have been a nourishing one, but it wasnot one to delight the palate. The main course consisted of boiled beefin a mustardy sauce, resting on a foundation of a leafy vegetable Trevizedid not recognize. Nor did he like it for it had a bitter-salty tastehe did not enjoy. He found out later it was a form of seaweed.

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There was, afterward , a piece of fruit that tasted something likean apple tainted by peach (not bad, actually) and a hot, dark beveragethat was bitter enough for Trevize to leave half behind and ask if hemight have some cold water instead. The portions were all small, but,under the circumstances, Trevize did not mind.

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The meal had been private, with no servants in view. The Minister hadherself heated and served the food, and herself cleared away the dishesand cutlery.

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"I hope you found the meal pleasant," said Lizalor, as they left thedining room.

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"Quite pleasant," said Trevize, without enthusiasm.

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The Minister again took her seat on the couch. "Let us return then,"she said, "to our earlier discussion. You had mentioned that Comporellonmight resent the Foundation’s lead in technology and its overlordship ofthe Galaxy. In a way that’s true, but that aspect of the situation wouldinterest only those who are interested in interstellar politics, and theyare comparatively few. What is much more to the point is that the averageComporellian is horrified at the Immorality of the Foundation. Thereis immorality in most worlds, but it seems most marked in Terminus. Iwould say that any anti-Terminus animus that exists on this world isrooted in that, rather than in more abstract matters.""Immorality?" said Trevize, puzzled. "Whatever the faults ofthe Foundation you have to admit it runs its part of the Galaxy withreasonable efficiency and fiscal honesty. Civil rights are, by and large,respected and ""Councilman Trevize, I speak of sexual morality.""In that case, I certainly don’t understand you. We are a thoroughlymoral society, sexually speaking. Women are well represented in everyfacet of social life. Our Mayor is a woman and nearly half the Councilconsists of "The Minister allowed a look of exasperation to fleet across herface. "Councilman, are you mocking me? Surely you know what sexualmorality meant. Is, or is not, marriage a sacrament upon Terminus?""What do you mean by sacrament?""Is there a formal marriage ceremony binding

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a couple together?""Certainly, if people wish it. Such a ceremony simplifies tax problemsand inheritance.""But divorce can take place.""Of course. It would certainly be sexually immoral to keep peopletied to, each other, when ""Are there no religious restrictions

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?""Religious? There are people who make a philosophy out of ancientcults, but what has that to do with marriage?""Councilman, here on Comporellon, every aspect of sex is stronglycontrolled. It may not take place out of marriage. Its expression islimited even within marriage. We are sadly shocked at those worlds, atTerminus, particularly, where sex seems to be considered a mere socialpleasure of no great importance to be indulged in when, how, and withwhom one pleases without regard to the values of religion."Trevize shrugged

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. "I’m sorry, but I can’t undertake to reform theGalaxy, or even Terminus and what has this to do with the matterof my ship?""I’m talking about public opinion in the matter of your ship and howit limits my ability to compromise the matter. The people of Comporellonwould be horrified if they found you had taken a young and attractivewoman on board to serve the lustful urges of you and your companion. Itis out consideration for the safety of the three of you that I have beenurging you to accept peaceful surrender in place of a public trial."Trevize said, "I see you have used the meal to think of a new typeof persuasion by threat. Am I now to fear a lynch mob?""I merely point out dangers. Will you be able to deny that thewoman you have taken on board ship is anything other than a sexualconvenience?""Of course I can deny it. Bliss is the companion of my friend,Dr. Pelorat. He has no other competing companion. You may not definetheir state as marriage, but I believe that in Pelorat’s mind, and inthe woman’s, too, there is a marriage between them.""Are you telling me you are not involved yourself?""Certainly not," said Trevize. "What do you take me for?""I cannot tell. I do not know your notions of morality.""Then let me explain that my notions of morality tell me that I don’ttrifle with my friend’s possessions or his companionships.""You are not even tempted

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?""I can’t control the fact of temptation, but there’s no chance of mygiving in to it.""No chance at all? Perhaps you are not interested in women.""Don’t you believe that. I am interested.""How long has it been since you have had sex with a woman?""Months. Not at all since I left Terminus.""Surely you don’t enjoy that.""I certainly don’t," said Trevize, with strong feeling, "but thesituation is such that I have no choice.""Surely your friend, Pelorat, noting your suffering, would be willingto share his woman.""I show him no evidence of suffering, but if I did, he would not bewilling to share Bliss. Nor, I think, would the woman consent. She isnot attracted to me.""Do you say that because you have tested the matter?""I have not tested it. I make the judgment without feeling the needto test it. In any case, I don’t particularly like her.""Astonishing! She is what a man would consider attractive.""

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Physically , she is attractive. Nevertheless, she doesnot appeal to me. For one thing, she is too young, too child-like insome ways.""Do you prefer women of maturity , then?"Trevize paused. Was there a trap here? He said cautiously, "I am oldenough to value some women of maturity. And what has this to do withmy ship?"Lizalor said, "For a moment, forget your ship. I am forty-sixyears old, and I am not married. I have somehow been too busy tomarry.""In that case, by the rules of your society, you must have remainedcontinent all your life. Is that why you asked how long it had been sinceI have had sex? Are you asking my advice in the matter? If so,I say it is not food and drink. It is uncomfortable to do without sex,but not impossible."The Minister smiled and there was again that carnivorous look inher eyes. "Don’t mistake me, Trevize. Rank has its privileges and it ispossible to be discreet

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. I am not altogether an abstainer

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. Nevertheless,Comporellian men are unsatisfying. I accept the fact that morality isan absolute good, but it does tend to burden the men of this world withguilt, so that they become unadventurous, unenterprising, slow to begin,quick to conclude, and, in general, unskilled."Trevize said, very cautiously, "There is nothing I can do about that,either.""Are you implying that the fault may be mine? That I amuninspiring?"Trevize raised a hand. "I don’t say that aaaall.""In that case, how would you react, given theopportunity? You, a man from an immoral world, who must have had a vastvariety of sexual experiences of all kinds, who is under the pressureof several months of enforced abstinence even though in the constantpresence of a young and charming woman. How would you reactin the presence of a woman such as myself; who is the mature type youprofess to like?"Trevize said, "I would behave with the respect and decency appropriateto your rank and importance.""Don’t be a fool!" said the Minister. Her hand went to the rightside of her waist. The strip of white that encircled it came looseand unwound from her chest and neck. The bodice of her black gown hungnoticeably looser.

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Trevize sat frozen. Had this been in her mind since when? Orwas it a bribe to accomplish what threats had not?

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The bodice flipped down, along with its sturdy reinforcement aaathebreasts. The Minister sat there, with a look of proud disdain on herface, and bare from the waist up. Her breasts were a smaller version ofthe woman herself massive, firm, and overpoweringly impressive.

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"Well?" she said.

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Trevize said, in all honesty, "Magnificent!""And what will you do about it?""What does morality dictate on Comporellon, Madam Lizalor?""What is that to a man of Terminus? What does your morality dictate? And begin. My chest is cold and wisheswarmth."Trevize stood up and began to disrobe.

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