第八章
I'm looking forward to Garuda in a way that has nothing to do with what I felt toward either Karbarra or Praxis. All things point to the possibility of our being able to regroup and restrengthen ourselves there, even if we will have to suit up for the visit. God knows Lisa and I need some uninterrupted time together. We spoke of dreams tonight, and made love like we haven't in far too long. It comes down to dreams in the end-holding fast to them no matter what else is thrown in your path. I want to get back to that place in my life, and Garuda sounds like it was made to order.
From the collected journals of Admiral Rick Hunter
此刻我对嘎鲁达星的期盼之心，与向往卡巴拉或普拉西斯时全然不同。所有事情都指示着在那里我们重振旗鼓的可能性，即使我们为了造访它将不得不穿戴整齐。丽莎和我是多么需要无人打扰的时间共处啊。我俩今夜谈起了梦想，随后做爱，似乎我俩太久没有这般亲密了。归于平静后进入了梦乡——紧紧把握梦想，不管前路如何。我想要回到生命中的这种状态，而嘎鲁达星则仿佛专为我的这番心愿而生。
——摘自瑞克·卡特将军的日志
Once again the Expeditionary Mission's Plenipotentiary Council found itself in extraordinary session, the third time in as many days. Ex-colonel Jonathan Wolff and his small band of rebels had stolen a prototype warship and folded from the Valivarre system, after assassinating the Invid Regent. The ruler's body had been taken back to the fleet flagship by his retinue of scientists and soldiers, who were promising a swift and violent response to the Humans' treachery. Ships under General Edwards's command had chased the pirated cruiser, but stopped short of following it into hyperspace. It was believed, although hardly certain at this point, that Wolff was returning to Praxis; but the Sentinels' next destination was anyone's guess. And if their movements were open to question, their motives were positively baffling. Edwards was arguing this very point in the council chambers now, moving through the room like a trial lawyer, his speech angry and impassioned, his reasoning all but unassailable.
远征任务全权大使委员会又召开了特别会议，这已是三天以来的第三次。前上校乔纳森·沃尔夫和他的小股叛军刺杀了因维摄政王之后，窃走了一艘原型战舰，折叠驶离了瓦利瓦星系。摄政王的尸体由他的随行科学家和卫士们带回了舰队旗舰，这些人发誓要迅猛回击人类的背叛行为。爱德华兹将军麾下的战舰先是追击被窃之船，但跟随它进入超太空之后就停下了。尽管现在还很难确定，但大家相信，沃尔夫正在回普拉西斯星的路上；但哨兵同盟的下一个目的地则有很多种可能。而且，如果说他们的行动尚有可讨论的余地，那他们的动机完全可谓是莫名其妙。爱德华兹此刻正在会议室主张这条观点，他踱来踱去，如同庭审中的律师，语调愤怒而充满激情，推理不容置疑。
"Furthermore," he said, a forefinger raised,"it's my belief that Wolff's story was a ruse. The Sentinels sent Wolff here to kill the Regent. All his talk about the destruction of the Farrago and the rescue mission to Praxis was engineered as a diversion."
“再进一步，”他伸出一根食指，继续发话，“我坚信沃尔夫的故事是个诡计。哨兵同盟将沃尔夫送来就是为了杀掉瑞金特。他说的那些法拉戈号摧毁以及普拉西斯的救援任务统统都是编造出来转移视线的。”
"That's arrant nonsense," Lang objected, getting to his feet and turning to face the rest of his group."It was the Regent who first informed us of the destruction of the ship-"
“真是彻头彻尾的胡说八道，”朗提出抗议，站起身来面对其余的委员。“是瑞金特最先通知我们那艘战舰已毁——”
"They allowed his troops to destroy the ship," Edwards cut in, but Thurgood Stinson quickly waved him silent.
“他们故意让他的军队击毁战舰，”爱德华兹打断了他，但瑟古德·斯廷森迅速挥手让他安静。
"What's more," Lang said after settling his gaze on Edwards,"the Sentinels had no way of knowing the Regent's fleet was here."
“还有，”朗瞪了爱德华兹一眼后，又接着说，“哨兵同盟无从得知瑞金特的舰队在这里。”
Edwards laughed."Need I point out that they could have been monitoring our transmissions, even while remaining incommunicado·"
爱德华兹大笑：“需要我来指出，就算他们保持着不与我们接触，也能够一直监视我们的通讯吗？”
"But to what end, General·" Lang asked."Why would they knowingly sabotage the negotiations· Really, this makes no sense whatsoever, and I would caution the council to understand that General Edwards is offering us nothing more than an interpretation of the facts."
“但这么做是什么目的，将军？”朗问道，“他们为何要故意破坏谈判？确实，这无论如何都说不过去，而且我要提醒委员会注意，爱德华兹将军提供的仅仅是对事实的某种演绎。”
"The facts, Doctor, are that the Regent is dead and one of our ships has been stolen. What more do you require·"
“事实，博士，就是瑞金特已死，我方一船已遭窃取。你还需要什么样的事实？”
Tight-lipped, Lang took his seat. Senator Longchamps cleared his throat meaningfully."The council appreciates Dr. Lang's reminder, but I for one would like to hear the general's assessment of the Sentinels' motives."
朗紧闭双唇，坐了下来。隆尚参议员刻意清了清喉咙，说：“委员会感谢朗博士的提醒，但我个人希望听听将军对哨兵同盟动机的估计。”
Edwards sat in silence for a moment, then stood up and said,"They've become a private army. They've liberated Karbarra-Praxis, for all we know-and their plan is to continue in this vein until the entire local group is theirs to command. In the meantime, our efforts here will have been neatly undermined. The Invid will return in force and in the end it will be the Sentinels who will rescue us."
爱德华兹在座位上沉默了片刻，起身说道：“他们已经转变为一支私募武装。他们解放了卡巴拉——还有普拉西斯，众所周知——他们的计划是沿此路线，直到控制整个本星系团。与此同时，我们在这里的努力将会被巧妙地破坏。因维人将杀回这里，而最终会是哨兵同盟前来拯救我们。”
"This is too much," Justine Huxley interjected."Admiral Hunter would never stoop to such measures."
“这么说太离谱了，”贾斯廷·赫胥黎插话道。“卡特将军绝不会堕落到用这种手段的程度。”
"Then why did he resign his command·" Edwards threw back at her."And why is it that the whole RDF apparat decided to follow his lead." Edwards enumerated on his fingers:"The Skull, the Wolff Pack, Vince and Jean Grant, even the Tiresian, Cabell. Hunter didn't like the idea of answering to the council's demands, and now he's out for himself."
“那他为何要辞掉任职？”爱德华兹回击了她。“那又为何整个防卫军组织都决定追随他而去。”爱德华兹用手指头计数，“骷髅中队、沃尔夫战队、文思·格兰特和吉英·格兰特、乃至那个泰雷西亚人卡贝尔。卡特不喜欢要对委员会负责的那一套，如今他在谋求独立。”
Edwards returned to his chair, leaving the council members to argue among themselves. In the seat adjacent, General Reinhardt wore a look of complete disgust.
爱德华兹转身回座，只留委员会成员们之间互相争论。边上坐着的莱因哈特将军脸上则是一副唾弃之相。
After a few minutes of deliberation, Longchamps announced,"The council is not yet fully convinced of the scenario you detail, General Edwards, nor of your interpretations of the Sentinels''master plan,' if you will."
几分钟的评议之后，隆尚宣布：“委员会尚未完全信服你所描述的情境，爱德华兹将军，以及你对哨兵同盟所谓的‘总体计划’的阐释。”
Edwards scowled, waiting for the senator to continue.
爱德华兹眉头紧皱，等着参议员继续说下去。
"However, the fact remains that the actions of ex-Colonel Wolff, whatever their motivation, have placed us in a serious predicament. The council wishes to know if the Invid commanders have indicated to you any steps that can be taken to offset this injustice."
“然而，前上校沃尔夫的行动所造成的事实，不论其动机如何，已将我们置于严峻的困境。委员会希望了解因维人指挥层是否向你有过表示，能采取什么样的举措来抵消这种不公正的结果。”
Edwards stood up, suppressing a self-satisfied grin."Right now they seem willing to accept the facts just as we've presented them: Wolff acted on his own. But I must include this caveat: these are relatively low-echelon personnel we're dealing with, and I'm certain that once the Regis hears of this, we'll see renewed fighting-perhaps on a scale more reminiscent of the Robotech War than anything we've experienced here."
爱德华兹站起身，压制住自己满足的笑容。“此时他们看起来愿意接受我们展现给他们的事实：沃尔夫是独立行动的。但为了防止误解，我必须指出：我们所接触的都是低层次的人物，而我很确定，一旦瑞吉斯听到这个消息，我们必将再次面临战争——其规模或许会超过我们在这里经历的所有战事，堪比那次宇宙大战。”
He waited for this to sink in before continuing."As for what we can do, I would suggest that short of a preemptive strike against their forces right now, or the capture of the Sentinels, we devote all our efforts to the construction of a fleet of ships to rival their own."
他等待着四周平静下来，才继续开口：“至于我们能做什么，此时此刻我们既不能先发制人打击他们，也无法捉拿哨兵同盟，我建议我们尽全力建造一支能与他们匹敌的舰队。”
Again, there were arguments and objections from various council members, but Longchamps silenced these with his gavel."Would you be willing to oversee this project, General, if the council so votes·"
又一次，几个委员会的成员表示反对并辩论起来，但隆尚击槌让他们安静。“你愿意主持这个项目吗，将军，如果委员会投票通过的话？”
Edwards inclined his head slightly."I would be honored, Senator. Of course, I would require the full cooperation of Dr. Lang's Robotech teams and control of the mining operations on Fantoma."
爱德华兹微微点了一下头，说：“我十分荣幸，参议员。当然，我会要求朗博士机器人技术团队的全力配合以及凡托玛采矿行动的控制权。”
"Naturally," Longchamps said."We will adjourn to consider our decision."
“那是自然，”隆尚说，“我们将在休会期间考量裁决。”
Edwards grinned in spite of himself. He shifted his gaze slightly to show Lang the cold hostility in his eye. Lang tried to return it, but could not.
爱德华兹不露声色心中暗笑。他微微瞟了一眼朗，目光中传达出寒冷的敌意。朗也想照此回敬，但他不能。
The round had gone to Edwards.
这一回合，爱德华兹胜出。
In his hive complex on Optera, the Invid Regent sat alone with his two pet Hellcats, too stunned by the reports of his simulagent's murder to speak. He held his snaillike head in his hands, sunk deep into a sense of despair that was entirely new to him. Once before he had experienced such torment: when his wife had confessed to him her love for Zor. Betrayal, he thought, in the soft glow of the room's commo sphere.
瑞金特坐在奥普特拉上的摄政王大蜂房里，身边只有两只宠物地狱猫。替身被杀的消息让他也是目瞪口呆。他双手捧着自己蜗牛般的头颅，沉浸在对他而言是全新的绝望感之中。之前他也曾经历过一次类似的折磨：那时他的妻子向他坦白了对佐尔的爱恋。背叛，他这样想着，这时房内的通讯球发出微光。
"Your Highness, shall I give the order to attack·" a lieutenant repeated cautiously.
“殿下，我可否下达攻击令？”一名副官谨慎地重复问题。
The Regent regarded the soldier's image in the sphere and sighed heavily."No," he answered quietly."Return the fleet to Optera, and tell no one that I live. It may benefit me to remain hidden for a while longer."
瑞金特朝球里打量着那名士兵的形象，重重地叹息一声。“不，”他平静地回答，“舰队回奥普特拉，不要告诉任何人我还活着。让我隐藏的时间长一点可能更有利。”
"But, Your Highness, are the Humans to go unpunished· And what of Tesla·"
“但是，殿下，人类不该被惩罚么？还有泰斯拉呢？”
The Regent could feel the lieutenant's anger, and it was enough to refresh him momentarily. He had not been completely abandoned, then; loyalty still lived.
瑞金特能感到副官的愤怒，这让他略感振奋。毕竟自己还没有被彻底抛弃；忠诚尚存。
"For the moment do nothing more than let our intentions be known. Inform the Human high command that we hold them responsible for the...Regent's death, and that terms for a cease-fire will not be discussed until the Sentinels have been brought to justice."
“目前除了显露我们的意图不要有别的行动。通知人类高层，我们要他们为……摄政王的死亡负责，将哨兵同盟绳之以法之前，不再讨论停火条款。”
"My liege," the lieutenant returned with a note of reluctance. He offered salute and shut down the link.
“遵命，主君。”副官回答时带着一丝犹豫。他敬礼后关断了通讯。
The Regent placed a hand on the homed shoulder of one of the Inorganics, on its haunches beside his chair."My pet," he said aloud,"will you, too, betray me someday·"
一只无机兽坐在座椅边，瑞金特一只手搭在它肩上。“宠物，”他大声问，“你也会有朝一日背叛我吗？”
Tesla had murdered.
是泰斯拉下的杀手。
He found it almost inconceivable. Had the Sentinels put him up to it somehow, or, worse still, the Regis· They were known to have seen one another on Praxis...Had she promised him something then, her favorite son· Certainly Tesla had undergone some sort of change, if he was to believe the words of the simulagent's guards. Perhaps he and the Regis had made a pact to rule in his place, and as a sign of good faith she had evolved him some. On Praxis· he wondered. Had she gone there to carry on with her dangerous Genesis Pit experiments· He would know soon enough, if her ships suddenly showed up in Opteraspace.
他感到这简直难以想象。是哨兵们教唆了他，还是，更糟糕的情况，有瑞吉斯在背后？要知道他们在普拉西斯曾经会过面……是否她那时向他——她所钟爱的儿子——许诺过什么？当然，泰斯拉经历了某种转变，要是替身卫兵的说法能相信的话。或许他和瑞吉斯已立下协定，取代他的统治，而她也使他进化了一些，作为诚意的表达。普拉西斯星，他想知道，她是否到那儿去开展了危险的起源坑试验？很快他就会知道答案了，如果她的战舰突然出现在奥普特拉空间的话。
But in the meantime the Regent thought it best to allow the Humans to go on thinking that one of their own had assassinated the simulagent. If, as they maintained, the group had acted alone, it showed a definite carelessness on the council's part. But if this Edwards had permitted it to happen-even engineered it, as the Regent was inclined to believe-then the murder had more sinister implications, it was as if Edwards knew all along that the Regent had sent an imposter in his place, and the murder was the Human's way of responding to the substitution.
但同时，瑞金特认为最好还是让人类以为是他们当中的一员刺杀了替身。如果，正如他们所坚持的说法，那个团伙是独立作案，那么委员会在事件里绝对是无心之失。但如果是这位爱德华兹纵容此事发生——甚至是操纵了事件，瑞金特更相信这一点——那么杀手就有着更加险恶的用心，整件事就仿如是爱德华兹从一开始就了解瑞金特派去的是个替身，而谋杀本身就是人类对冒名顶替的回应方式。
He made a note to treat Edwards differently the next time.
他记在心里，下一次要换种方式对待爱德华兹。
The simulagent hadn't been able to learn anything about the Masters' destination, or the location of the Humans' Earth; but it was possible that his death would have a positive side effect. Obviously the Humans were anxious to sue for peace, and although he couldn't grant them this just yet, that fact eased his concern about their presence in the Quadrant. And now it was likely that others besides Edwards would be willing to turn against the Sentinels.
替身没能了解到统治者的去向目标，也没了解到人类地球的位置；但他的死可能会有正面的影响。显然，人类急于求和，尽管他还不能给予他们和平，但这个事实消除了他对该星区存在人类的顾虑。而且现在，爱德华兹之外的其他人也很有可能愿意转而反对哨兵同盟。
The Regent called up a starmap in the sphere and leaned forward to study it."Garuda," he decided after a moment, that's where they would be heading. A miserable world if there ever was one, a world that had its own way of dealing with intruders...The Regent had recalled all of his warships from the planet to strengthen the fleet he had sent to Optera; but there was still a small garrison of soldiers and scientists there tending the orchards and farms and supervising the transport of the nutrient. Sufficiently forewarned, they just might be able to succeed where larger forces had failed.
瑞金特从通讯球中调出了一幅星图，朝前探身研究起来。“嘎鲁达，”他片刻后断定，这就是他们的航向。那里十分糟糕，只能勉强算是个世界。那里对闯入者有着自己的应对之道……瑞金特想起那里所有的战舰已经被抽调，去增强那支派往奥普特拉的舰队了；不过仍然有一小部守卫部队和科学家留在那里，照料果园和农场，监督营养品的运输。尽管更强大的兵力也失败过，但如果有足够的预警，他们也许能够取胜。
The Regent rubbed his hands together in a gesture of renewed excitement. He grunted to the beasts that flanked his chair. Perhaps it wasn't so bad being dead after all.
瑞金特搓着手掌，再次激动起来。他朝着座位两侧的机器兽咆哮着。或许死掉根本不是件坏事。
When news of the Plenipotentiary Council's decision was released, the Expeditionary mission found itself more divided than ever. Everyone on Base Tirol and aboard the SDF-3 now felt compelled to take a stand. The council, by majority if not by unanimous decision, had effectively branded former admirals Hunter and Hayes, along with the rest of the Human and XT Sentinels, outlaws. In due time a ship would be detailed for their capture, but presently they were to receive no help from RDF personnel, and anyone found aiding or abetting the Sentinels' cause would be subject to prosecution to the full extent of the law. Moreover, General Edwards was being placed in full command of the RDF; he would be overseeing both the mining op and construction projects, and his staff would be supervising all aspects of civil defense, including minor police actions.
全权大使委员会的决议新闻发布之后，远征任务面临了前所未有的分裂。泰洛基地和SDF-3舰上的每个人都感到了选择立场的迫切。委员会的大部分成员，也可能是全体成员，通过了决议，成功地将前任将军卡特和海斯、其余人类和外星哨兵成员，都烙上了逃犯之印。在适当的时候，将专门派出一艘船去捉拿他们，但现在他们将不能获得防卫军的任何援助，任何援助哨兵或者鼓吹哨兵事业的人员，将会被依法起诉。此外，任命爱德华兹将军为防卫军总指挥；他将监督采矿运作和建设项目，他的指挥棒还将督导民防部队的方方面面，连不太重要的警察行动也包括在内。
Lang, Exedore, Huxley, Obstat, Reinhardt and a few others had become a cabal overnight, and Lang realized that it wouldn't be long before Edwards's Ghost Riders would be keeping watch on their every move-if in fact this wasn't already the case. There were enough unanswered questions about the Regent's assassination to convince Lang that Edwards had had a hand in the affair. He surmised, too, that Edwards was aware of the assistance Lang had rendered Wolff; but if he had any proof, he was probably saving it for the next occasion the two men went toe-to-toe. Lang could only hope that Wolff had reached Praxis in time to rescue the Sentinels, because in every other way, the plan had done more harm than good. However, by taking such a hard-line stance, the council had inadvertently weakened Edwards-perhaps not now, but in the long run, when those loyal to Hunter would step forward in a show of strength.
朗、爱克西多、赫胥黎、奥博斯坦、莱因哈特等人一夜之间便沦为反动小团体。朗意识到，不久之后爱德华兹的幽灵中队便会监视他们的一举一动——说不定实际上他们已经在监视了。关于瑞金特被刺，足够多的未解之谜使朗相信爱德华兹插手其中。他也推测，爱德华兹知晓朗给予沃尔夫的帮助；但假如他有证据的话，可能会留到二人下一次对峙的时候再出手。朗只能寄希望于沃尔夫及时抵达普拉西斯救出哨兵，否则的话，这整个计划有百害而无一利。然而，采取了这一强硬立场之后，委员会无意间削弱了爱德华兹——或许不是现在，而是从长远来看，在那些忠于卡特的人们上前展示力量的那一刻。
Lang was in his quarters, compiling a mental list of the men and women who could be counted on, when the door tone sounded and Lynn-Minmei begged entry. She was the last person Lang wanted to see, but as he thought about her a plan came to mind. He had persuaded her once into accepting Janice as her partner; now perhaps he could talk her into assuming the android's role as a spy.
朗正在寓所里，脑海里编排着那些能靠得住的男女的名单，这时门铃响了，明美求见。她是朗最不想见的人，但他正考虑她时，突然冒出了一个计划。他曾经说服她接受搭档贾妮斯；现在或许他能够说服她继续承担人造人的间谍角色。
"Dr. Lang, I hope I'm not disturbing you," she said, coming through the door."I just had to talk to someone."
“朗博士，我希望自己没打扰您，”她进门的时候说。“我只是想找人谈谈。”
He could see she was frantic."Don't be silly, my dear. Sit down. Can I fix you something·"
他能看出，她慌乱紧张。“别说傻话，亲爱的。请坐。想喝点什么？”
"No," she said absently."No, thank you. I just need to know if it's true, Dr. Lang-what they're saying about Jonathan and Rick."
“不用了，”她恍惚地回答。“不用了，谢谢您。我只是需要知道，这是不是真的，朗博士——他们说的关于乔纳森和瑞克的事情。”
Lang sat down, even though Minmei remained standing."What do you think, Minmei·"
朗坐了下来，而明美则继续站着。“你怎么想的，明美？”
She threw her hands up in a nervous gesture."I don't know what to think! General Edwards says one thing, you say another..." She looked directly at him."Most of my old friends won't even talk to me anymore. And the way Janice acted..."
她举起双手，显得紧张不安。“我甚至不知道去想什么！爱德华兹将军说的一套，你说的是另一套……”她直视着他。“我的老朋友们大都不再和我说话了。而且，贾妮斯的表现……”
He offered her an understanding nod."Well, maybe you've just ended up on the wrong side somehow. And everyone's waiting for you to return."
他理解地向她点点头。“嗯，也许你就是不知怎地，站错了队。而每个人都在等你回头。”
She sat down, facing him."That's what I want to know: am I on the wrong side· People are saying the most horrible things about General Edwards. But I know him, I know what kind of man he is."
她坐下面对着他：“那就是我想知道的：我站错队了吗？人们把爱德华兹将军说的十分邪恶，但我了解他，了解他是个什么样的人。”
"You may think you know him, Minmei, but I assure you, you don't. It's..." Lang fumbled for the words,"it's as though he has some sort of personal vendetta against Rick. I can't even begin to understand it. I only know that he has turned the council against your friends, and I know they'd be crushed to learn that you're not supporting them."
“你也许以为自己了解他，明美，但我向你保证，你不了解。就……”朗想找些好词，继续说，“就好像他和瑞克之间有某种私仇。我根本就无法理解。我只知道他操纵委员会反对你的朋友们，我还知道如果他们知道你不支持他们的话，会垮掉的。”
Minmei bit her lip."And that's just what Jonathan's going to tell them, too."
明美咬着嘴唇。“而这就是沃尔夫要去告诉他们的事情。”
Lang thought he detected a flash of anger behind the words; he started to reply, but she cut him off, the anger visible now.
朗以为自己抓住了这句话背后的一丝愤意，正要回答，但她打断了他，而此时她已经怒容满面。
"That snake! Who is he to be calling people names· He's a liar!"
“这条毒蛇！他凭什么说三道四？这个骗子！”
"Minmei-"
“明美——”
"Mr. Charm," she said, getting up from the couch."He should talk about loyalty. Ha! What does he know about anything·" She shot Lang a look."What do any of you know·"
“大帅哥，”她说着，从沙发上起身。“他应该谈谈什么是忠实。哈！他到底懂不懂？”她瞪了朗一眼，“你们当中有人懂吗？”
Lang was never good at dealing with theatrics; he knew this much about himself and kept still.
朗一向不善于应付戏剧化的场面；他有自知之明，保持了沉默。
"Liars, murderers, outlaws," Minmei was saying."Things were just too peaceful for them on Tirol. They needed to go find themselves a war."
“骗子，杀手，逃犯，”明美说，“对他们来说，泰洛太过和平了。他们需要为自己找一场战争。”
"That's Edwards talking," Lang managed.
“这是爱德华兹的话，”朗好不容易说了一句。
"This is me talking!" she screamed at him."I hate you! I hate the whole bunch of you!"
“这是我的话！”她对他尖叫着，“我恨你！我恨你们这一帮人！”
She began to cry into her hands. Lang made a move toward her, but she was gone by the time he reached the door.
她捂着脸开始大哭。朗朝她走去，可追到门口时，她已经不见了踪影。
"Go ahead, say it," Rick said to Lisa."I could feel you saying it clear across the hold. So let's clear the air."
“你干脆说出来吧，”瑞克对丽莎说，“我当时在船舱另一头都能明显地感觉到你的意见。不如我们摊开来说说。”
She looked at him and frowned."What are you talking about· Say what·"
她看着他，皱了皱眉：“你说的是什么意思？我说什么？”
They were in the small cabinspace that had been set aside as their quarters aboard the SDF-7. The dreadnought was approaching Garuda from the far side of the planet's massive sun after a brief period in hyperspace.
他俩正在SDF-7上的一间小船舱里，这是分配给他们的住所。这艘战舰在超太空里航行了没多久，现在正从嘎鲁达行星的巨大主星的背面方向朝嘎鲁达接近。
"You wanna say 'I told you so,'" Rick continued."Edwards is getting stronger and now we're in no position to stop him. If we had remained on Tirol, all this would never have happened, and we'd probably have a truce worked out and be a long way toward repairing the SDF-3." Rick snorted."Anything I've left out·"
“你想说‘我早跟你说了，’”瑞克接着说，“‘爱德华兹越来越强大，而现在我们的形势根本无法阻止他。要是我们还留在泰洛，这一切都不会发生，或许我们已经签立了和约，正在为修复SDF-3而努力。’”瑞克不耐烦地哼了一声，“还有没有我没说的？”
"I'm not saying a word, Rick," she told him."You're doing such a fine job without me."
“我什么都没说，瑞克，”她告诉他，“没有我，你干的也很不错。”
"All right, so you think I made a big mistake, and maybe a part of me agrees with you. But the truth is that I would have been going out of my skull back there, and at least now I feel we are accomplishing something-maybe not for ourselves exactly, but for Lron and Crysta and Kami and everyone. You can't argue with that."
“那好吧，你认为我犯了个大错误，而也许我自己也多少同意你的想法。但事实是，或许当时我是出于一时冲动，但至少现在我感觉到，我们正在成就一番事业——未必是为了我们自己，而是为了勒荣和克里斯塔，卡米和每个人。这一点你不能争执。”
Lisa shrugged."Who's arguing·"
丽莎耸耸肩。“是谁再争执？”
"And another thing." Rick put his hands to his hips."You figure that just because I'm suddenly all gung ho and take-charge that I really am a commander after all. But I'll tell you something: the only reason I'm okay with the role is because there's no damned council telling me what to think. We've got a democracy here, not some red-tape portable government, and that suits me fine."
“还有一件事。”瑞克双手扶着髋部，继续说，“就因为我突然间卖力担起责任，你以为我最终真是个司令官了。但我得告诉你：我接受这个角色的唯一理由，就是因为没有什么该死的委员会告诉我该去想什么。在这里我们有民主，没有那些红头文件和官僚小政府，我很适应。”
"Well, I-"
“好，那我——”
"So don't go thinking that I'm going to ask to be reinstated when all this blows over."
“所以，不要认为在这一场风波结束之后，我会要求复职的。”
"Do you think it will, Rick·"
“你认为会结束吗？、，瑞克？”
He heard the desperation in her tone and it took the wind right out of his sails. He leaned over, took her hand, and kissed it."You bet," he said softly."And we'll get back on course."
他意外地听到了她语气里的绝望，这浇灭了他的威风。他朝她探过身，握住她一只手，亲吻着。“当然了，”他温柔地说，“我们会回到正轨上的。”
She reached out to stroke his arm."I don't want us to grow apart, Rick, and I feel that happening sometimes."
她也伸手轻抚着他的手臂，“我不想让我们产生隔阂，而有时候我又能感到它在产生。”
He was tempted to say something about Lisa's involvement with Gnea and Bela, but held his tongue."I won't let that happen."
他本想对丽莎和妮雅、贝拉的交情说几句，但管住了自己的嘴：“我不会让隔阂发生的。”
She sighed fretfully."We used to have so many dreams-remember·"
她心烦意乱地叹口气：“我们以前有很多梦想——记得么？”
"Of course I remember," he said, trying to sound cheerful."And we'll make every one of them come true." He squatted down to face her."Look, let's just see what happens on Garuda. From what Kami says, the Invid never actually conquered the place. And from what Wolff told me, it sounds like they pulled all their troop carriers away. They've got a small garrison there, and that's it. Maybe there won't have to be much fighting. We'll get to have some PT."
“当然记得，”他说道，努力表现得欢快些，“而且我们要让一个个它们实现。”他蹲下身面对着她，“看，让我们瞧瞧嘎鲁达会发生什么。根据卡米说的，因维人其实一直没征服这地方。根据沃尔夫给我的报告，看来敌人已经撤走了所有的运兵船。那儿有很少的守军，仅此而已。可能不需要多少战斗。我们会有些私人时间的。”
She laughed lightly."Now there's a dream if I ever heard one."
她发出了轻轻的笑声：“这正是我现在的梦想。”
"You'll see," he said, bringing her up into his embrace.
“你会看到的，”他说着，拉她起身，抱在怀中。
In the cruiser's med room, Jean Grant was trying to figure out what to do with the now-smooth, football-sized crystal on the gurney-the Spherisian infant Miriya and Bela had brought up from Praxis. The two women were watching Jean's every move, while Teal sat quietly in a corner of the room. Jean gave the crystal a gentle turn; it felt cool to the touch and seemingly inanimate, but scans had indicated a high level of bioenergy, or at least an approximation thereof. God knew the thing was growing fast enough! Jean sensed Miriya and Bela's eyes on her and said,"Well, what do you two expect me to do with this, this...child· She turned sharply to Teal."Teal, get over here! At least tell me what I'm supposed to do."
在巡洋舰的医疗室内，吉英·格兰特正摸索着该如何处理轮床上这块光溜溜的水晶石，它是米莉娅和贝拉从普拉西斯带出来的史菲利思婴儿，现在已经有足球大小了。她俩正看着吉英的一举一动，而缇尔在房间的一角安静地坐着。吉英轻柔地转动了一下水晶；它摸起来凉凉的，似乎没有生机，但扫描结果显示它里面的生物能量（或类似指标）的水平很高。这个东西长得可真快啊！吉英察觉到了米莉娅和贝拉投来的目光，问：“那你们两个希望我对这个，这个……孩子做点什么？”她又转身朝缇尔厉声说道：“缇尔，快到这儿来！至少告诉我应该怎么做。”
Wearily, Teal got to her feet and joined Jean at the gurney. She glanced down at the crystal and fixed her transparent eyes on the infant's saviors."You saved him, Bela. You raise him."
缇尔疲倦地站起身，走到轮床边的吉英那里。她往下瞥了一眼水晶，又把自己透明的双眼紧盯在婴儿的救命恩人身上。“你救了这小子，贝拉。你来养着他。”
"It's a him·" Jean asked, peering at the crystal as though she had missed something."How do you know that·"
“是个男孩？”吉英问道，仿佛之前错过了什么一般，她又仔细打量着这块水晶。“你怎么知道的？”
"Because it is Baldan's child. It is Baldan."
“因为这是鲍丹的孩子。它是鲍丹。”
Miriya made a face."Wait a minute, let's get this straight: is it Baldan, or is it Baldan's child·"
米莉娅做了个怪相，说：“等等啊，让我们说清楚：它是鲍丹，还是鲍丹的孩子？”
"It is both," Teal told her.
“都是。”缇尔回答。
"Well, it sure doesn't look like Baldan," Jean pointed out."Is it, er, he in a state of gestation inside the crystal· Or do we need to incubate him· Speak to me, girl!"
“嗯，不过它看起来可不像鲍丹，”吉英指出这点。“这东西，嗯，他在这块水晶里面是处于孕育的阶段么？还是说我们需要把他孵化出来？快给我说说，姑娘！”
Teal turned away from the gurney."I don't want to care for it!" When she faced them again, it was obvious she was, in some Spherisian fashion, crying."Baldan was not my mate," she explained."It was the Invid Tesla who chose us, it was he who brought us together."
缇尔转身背对着轮床。“我不想照顾它！”她面对她们时，很明显能看出她哭了，以史菲利思人的方式。“鲍丹不是我的配偶，”她解释道，“是因维人泰斯拉挑选了我俩，是他才把我俩带到一起的。”
Jean put a hand on Teal's shoulder."But I don't understand, honey. What does all this have to do with caring for the child·"
吉英搭了一只手在缇尔肩上。“但我不明白，亲爱的。这些和照顾这个小孩有什么关系？”
"He must be shaped." Teal answered her."And to do so I must enter into a rapport with Baldan-I must become his mate."
“必须要塑造他。”缇尔回答，“要这么做的话，我必须和鲍丹和谐交融——我必须要成为他的配偶。”
No one said anything for a moment."And if we do nothing·" Bela asked.
所有人都沉默了一会儿。“如果我们什么都不做呢？”贝拉问。
"Baldan will die." Teal continued to cry, muttering to herself in her own tongue-praying, Jean ventured. Then suddenly she produced a kind of crystalline paring knife from the bodice of her garment.
“鲍丹会死的。”缇尔继续哭着，用她的语言喃喃自语——她在祈祷，吉英猜测。突然间，她从自己身穿的紧身胸衣里制造出一把水晶削皮小刀。
"Teal, no!" Jean started to say, but before she could stop her, Teal had struck the infant with the edge of the blade, as one might bring a tool to bear on a piece of ore. A chip broke away from the crystal, revealing a dazzling facet. Teal struck again and again, each stroke sure of its mark, each rendering the inanimate thing gemlike and complete. Crying all the while, Teal took the infant in her hands and began to carve away more of its extraneous crust. Miriya, Bela, and Jean could hardly believe their eyes when a polished face slowly emerged, then a miniature torso of sorts.
“缇尔，别这样！”吉英刚说个开头，还来不及制止她，缇尔已经用刀锋向婴儿敲去，动作就像人们在用工具凿一块矿石。水晶掉下了一片碎屑，露出了眩目的断面。缇尔一次接一次地敲击，每一下都位置准确，每一下都让这个没有生气的东西变得更完整，更像宝石。她始终都在哭着，缇尔把婴儿捧在手里，开始进一步地切削粗壳。米莉娅、贝拉和吉英几乎不敢相信自己的眼睛，一张光滑的面庞缓缓出现了，随后出现的勉强可算是微型化的身躯。
It was Baldan.
他就是鲍丹。
If the Sentinels remained divided on any one issue, it was what was to be done with Tesla. While certain they would exercise more caution the next time the Invid volunteered for a mission, they had as yet no clear-cut policy toward him. Was he a prisoner, a hostage, perhaps an ally in some sense· After the meeting in which the Sentinels' direction had been put to a vote, Tesla and Burak had had a chance to answer the "charges" Wolff brought against them. They were accomplices, Wolff maintained, in the laconic and cynical fashion that had everyone aboard guessing.(That Minmei was the cause of Wolff's distress was no secret, but he kept to himself the fact that she had been seeing Edwards.)
如果说哨兵同盟当中存在分歧的话，那就是如何处置泰斯拉的问题。当然，尽管若是下一次因维人自告奋勇参加任务时他们会更谨慎些，但现在针对他仍然没有一个清晰的应对策略。他是俘虏，是人质，或许某种意义上也是个盟友？哨兵同盟的会议倾向于投票表决，这就给了泰斯拉和伯拉克一个在会后应答沃尔夫对他们的“指控”的机会。他们是共犯，沃尔夫用一种简洁又愤世嫉俗的态度坚持着，这态度让船上的每个人都猜不透。（明美是沃尔夫苦恼的原因，这点众所周知，但她已和爱德华兹交往的事实，他当成秘密保留给了自己。）
Tesla didn't deny that he had tried to commandeer the module; his actions, however, had not been directed against the Sentinels. In fact, quite the contrary."I am your comrade in this war of liberation," he told the Human and XT assembly."I am as eager for peace as the rest of you, and my aim in taking over the ship was simply to speed to Optera to convince the Regent of the error of his ways."
泰斯拉没有否认他试图操纵模块的企图；而他的行动，不管怎么说，也没有用来对抗哨兵同盟。实际上，刚好相反。“在这场解放的战争里，我是你们的同志，”他对人类和外星人哨兵说，“我和你们其它人同样渴望和平，而我控制这艘船的目标是为了加快前往奥普特拉，说服瑞金特认识到他这种方式的错误。”
Burak, though, was innocent to hear Tesla tell it, and had merely been overpowered, as Janice had. And much to Tesla's surprise, Janice backed up the story. But what Tesla didn't realize was that Janice had briefed the Sentinels beforehand on the stand she would take, suggesting that they allow Burak and Tesla their partnership, which she herself would monitor. There was more here than met the eye, she had explained; and the arrangement would have the added benefit of keeping the Perytonian out of everyone's way.
尽管听了泰斯拉的那些话，但伯拉克是无辜的，他当时只是被制服而已，正如贾妮斯那样。令泰斯拉十分诧异的是贾妮斯也支持这种说法。但泰斯拉不知道的是贾妮斯事先已经向哨兵同盟报告过她将在其中采取的立场，建议他们允许伯拉克和泰斯拉之间的伙伴关系，而她可以暗中监视。她的解释是，这事情远没那么简单；而且这种安排还有个额外好处，这个佩里顿人也不会再档着其他人的道了。
This was the voice of Lang's reprogramming, but no one recognized it as such, least of all Janice. Tesla, Lang had established, was worthy of study.
这是朗重新安排的程序所表达的观点，但没有人认识到这个秘密，尤其是贾妮斯自己。朗的指令是：泰斯拉，值得研究。
So in the end it was decided that things would remain much as they had been before the attempted mutiny: Tesla was neither prisoner nor ally, but more in the way of "ambassador." And Burak was to remain the Invid's aide/jailer/ keeper.
所以，最后的决定是依然保持他们在企图叛变之前的状态：泰斯拉既不是囚犯也不是盟友，而更像一个“大使”。而伯拉克依然是这个因维人的助手兼看守兼管理员。
The two XTs were in one of the ship's cargo holds now, a place well-suited to Tesla's size. Only a few morsels of fruit remained, but Tesla knew that more would be available to him on Garuda-a crop as different from the Praxian variety as those had been from the Karbarran. He still hadn't gotten over his case of the guilts, and was in fear of the moment the Sentinels learned of the Regent's assassination. With luck, though, that news could be months off. The beauty of it was that there was no one who could even tie him to the act-not as long as the SDF-7 remained incommunicado. Even that little Zentraedi, Exedore, would have no proof."Circumstantial" was the Human word for such evidence. So in spite of his anxiety, his spirits had improved.
这两个外星人现在待在船上的一间货舱里，这儿比较适合泰斯拉的身材。果子所剩无几了，但泰斯拉知道嘎鲁达星上还有更多的果子等着他——它们和普拉西斯或者卡巴拉的变种之间的差别都很大。他还没有完全从那个案件的负罪感中恢复，一直畏惧着哨兵们得知瑞金特已被杀害的那一刻的来临。运气好的话，这消息可能要几个月才会传来。这件事的妙处在于，谁也不能把他和这一幕强行关联起来——只要SDF-7不和外界通讯。即使那个小天顶星人爱克西多，也没有任何实际证据。“间接证据”，这个人类用词说的就是这种情况。于是，尽管还有些焦虑，他的精神状态已经好多了。
Burak's, however, had not. Although pleased (albeit baffled) that he had been absolved of any wrongdoing, he felt as though the Sentinels had simply dismissed him and Peryton's cause.
然而伯拉克却不行。他的所有不当行为都已宣布免罪，这让他既高兴又困惑，但他感到哨兵们轻易地打发了他和佩里顿的大计。
"You mustn't be so glum about it, my friend," Tesla told him, while he contemplated one of the tidbits."Your world is as good as freed."
“你一定不能对这件事闷闷不乐，朋友，”泰斯拉仔细端详着那一小块珍馐时，告诉他，“你的星球和自由世界一样好。”
"What makes you so certain·" Burak asked, his face a true devil's mask now.
“你为什么这么肯定？”伯拉克问道，这时他的面孔活像戴了一幅魔鬼面具。
Tesla popped the fruit into his mouth."Because...I sense something wonderful is about to happen."
泰斯拉把果子噗地一声塞进嘴。“因为……我感到了有些很美妙的事情正要发生。”
Burak regarded him with a frown.
波拉特对他皱了皱眉。
"Truly," Tesla continued."You must have faith if you are to assume your proper place in this world. There may be one or two dark spots in our future, but afterward..." Tesla offered an approximation of a smile.
“真的，”泰斯拉接着说，“你必须要有信心，如果你打算在那个世界上得到应有地位的话。我们的未来，或许有一两个暗点，但之后……”泰斯拉给了他一个近似微笑的表情。
"But what about now, Tesla· All these grand events you speak of-they are always one step ahead of us."
“但现在怎么办，泰斯拉？所有这些你说的宏大事件——他们总是在我们前方一步之遥。”
Tesla threw back his shoulders."No, my young friend, you have it backward. It is we who are one step ahead. But change is in the air. Soon the reshapings will catch up with us. And then we can begin to transform the world."
泰斯拉挺了挺肩膀。“不，年轻的朋友，你说反了。是我们走在前面一步。但现在气氛中已经有了改变。很快，重塑力将追上我们。到了那时，我们就能够开始改变那个世界。“
《沙丘》六部曲合集
《波西杰克逊》系列合集
《猎魔人》合集
From the collected journals of Admiral Rick Hunter
此刻我对嘎鲁达星的期盼之心，与向往卡巴拉或普拉西斯时全然不同。所有事情都指示着在那里我们重振旗鼓的可能性，即使我们为了造访它将不得不穿戴整齐。丽莎和我是多么需要无人打扰的时间共处啊。我俩今夜谈起了梦想，随后做爱，似乎我俩太久没有这般亲密了。归于平静后进入了梦乡——紧紧把握梦想，不管前路如何。我想要回到生命中的这种状态，而嘎鲁达星则仿佛专为我的这番心愿而生。
——摘自瑞克·卡特将军的日志
Once again the Expeditionary Mission's Plenipotentiary Council found itself in extraordinary session, the third time in as many days. Ex-colonel Jonathan Wolff and his small band of rebels had stolen a prototype warship and folded from the Valivarre system, after assassinating the Invid Regent. The ruler's body had been taken back to the fleet flagship by his retinue of scientists and soldiers, who were promising a swift and violent response to the Humans' treachery. Ships under General Edwards's command had chased the pirated cruiser, but stopped short of following it into hyperspace. It was believed, although hardly certain at this point, that Wolff was returning to Praxis; but the Sentinels' next destination was anyone's guess. And if their movements were open to question, their motives were positively baffling. Edwards was arguing this very point in the council chambers now, moving through the room like a trial lawyer, his speech angry and impassioned, his reasoning all but unassailable.
远征任务全权大使委员会又召开了特别会议，这已是三天以来的第三次。前上校乔纳森·沃尔夫和他的小股叛军刺杀了因维摄政王之后，窃走了一艘原型战舰，折叠驶离了瓦利瓦星系。摄政王的尸体由他的随行科学家和卫士们带回了舰队旗舰，这些人发誓要迅猛回击人类的背叛行为。爱德华兹将军麾下的战舰先是追击被窃之船，但跟随它进入超太空之后就停下了。尽管现在还很难确定，但大家相信，沃尔夫正在回普拉西斯星的路上；但哨兵同盟的下一个目的地则有很多种可能。而且，如果说他们的行动尚有可讨论的余地，那他们的动机完全可谓是莫名其妙。爱德华兹此刻正在会议室主张这条观点，他踱来踱去，如同庭审中的律师，语调愤怒而充满激情，推理不容置疑。
"Furthermore," he said, a forefinger raised,"it's my belief that Wolff's story was a ruse. The Sentinels sent Wolff here to kill the Regent. All his talk about the destruction of the Farrago and the rescue mission to Praxis was engineered as a diversion."
“再进一步，”他伸出一根食指，继续发话，“我坚信沃尔夫的故事是个诡计。哨兵同盟将沃尔夫送来就是为了杀掉瑞金特。他说的那些法拉戈号摧毁以及普拉西斯的救援任务统统都是编造出来转移视线的。”
"That's arrant nonsense," Lang objected, getting to his feet and turning to face the rest of his group."It was the Regent who first informed us of the destruction of the ship-"
“真是彻头彻尾的胡说八道，”朗提出抗议，站起身来面对其余的委员。“是瑞金特最先通知我们那艘战舰已毁——”
"They allowed his troops to destroy the ship," Edwards cut in, but Thurgood Stinson quickly waved him silent.
“他们故意让他的军队击毁战舰，”爱德华兹打断了他，但瑟古德·斯廷森迅速挥手让他安静。
"What's more," Lang said after settling his gaze on Edwards,"the Sentinels had no way of knowing the Regent's fleet was here."
“还有，”朗瞪了爱德华兹一眼后，又接着说，“哨兵同盟无从得知瑞金特的舰队在这里。”
Edwards laughed."Need I point out that they could have been monitoring our transmissions, even while remaining incommunicado·"
爱德华兹大笑：“需要我来指出，就算他们保持着不与我们接触，也能够一直监视我们的通讯吗？”
"But to what end, General·" Lang asked."Why would they knowingly sabotage the negotiations· Really, this makes no sense whatsoever, and I would caution the council to understand that General Edwards is offering us nothing more than an interpretation of the facts."
“但这么做是什么目的，将军？”朗问道，“他们为何要故意破坏谈判？确实，这无论如何都说不过去，而且我要提醒委员会注意，爱德华兹将军提供的仅仅是对事实的某种演绎。”
"The facts, Doctor, are that the Regent is dead and one of our ships has been stolen. What more do you require·"
“事实，博士，就是瑞金特已死，我方一船已遭窃取。你还需要什么样的事实？”
Tight-lipped, Lang took his seat. Senator Longchamps cleared his throat meaningfully."The council appreciates Dr. Lang's reminder, but I for one would like to hear the general's assessment of the Sentinels' motives."
朗紧闭双唇，坐了下来。隆尚参议员刻意清了清喉咙，说：“委员会感谢朗博士的提醒，但我个人希望听听将军对哨兵同盟动机的估计。”
Edwards sat in silence for a moment, then stood up and said,"They've become a private army. They've liberated Karbarra-Praxis, for all we know-and their plan is to continue in this vein until the entire local group is theirs to command. In the meantime, our efforts here will have been neatly undermined. The Invid will return in force and in the end it will be the Sentinels who will rescue us."
爱德华兹在座位上沉默了片刻，起身说道：“他们已经转变为一支私募武装。他们解放了卡巴拉——还有普拉西斯，众所周知——他们的计划是沿此路线，直到控制整个本星系团。与此同时，我们在这里的努力将会被巧妙地破坏。因维人将杀回这里，而最终会是哨兵同盟前来拯救我们。”
"This is too much," Justine Huxley interjected."Admiral Hunter would never stoop to such measures."
“这么说太离谱了，”贾斯廷·赫胥黎插话道。“卡特将军绝不会堕落到用这种手段的程度。”
"Then why did he resign his command·" Edwards threw back at her."And why is it that the whole RDF apparat decided to follow his lead." Edwards enumerated on his fingers:"The Skull, the Wolff Pack, Vince and Jean Grant, even the Tiresian, Cabell. Hunter didn't like the idea of answering to the council's demands, and now he's out for himself."
“那他为何要辞掉任职？”爱德华兹回击了她。“那又为何整个防卫军组织都决定追随他而去。”爱德华兹用手指头计数，“骷髅中队、沃尔夫战队、文思·格兰特和吉英·格兰特、乃至那个泰雷西亚人卡贝尔。卡特不喜欢要对委员会负责的那一套，如今他在谋求独立。”
Edwards returned to his chair, leaving the council members to argue among themselves. In the seat adjacent, General Reinhardt wore a look of complete disgust.
爱德华兹转身回座，只留委员会成员们之间互相争论。边上坐着的莱因哈特将军脸上则是一副唾弃之相。
After a few minutes of deliberation, Longchamps announced,"The council is not yet fully convinced of the scenario you detail, General Edwards, nor of your interpretations of the Sentinels''master plan,' if you will."
几分钟的评议之后，隆尚宣布：“委员会尚未完全信服你所描述的情境，爱德华兹将军，以及你对哨兵同盟所谓的‘总体计划’的阐释。”
Edwards scowled, waiting for the senator to continue.
爱德华兹眉头紧皱，等着参议员继续说下去。
"However, the fact remains that the actions of ex-Colonel Wolff, whatever their motivation, have placed us in a serious predicament. The council wishes to know if the Invid commanders have indicated to you any steps that can be taken to offset this injustice."
“然而，前上校沃尔夫的行动所造成的事实，不论其动机如何，已将我们置于严峻的困境。委员会希望了解因维人指挥层是否向你有过表示，能采取什么样的举措来抵消这种不公正的结果。”
Edwards stood up, suppressing a self-satisfied grin."Right now they seem willing to accept the facts just as we've presented them: Wolff acted on his own. But I must include this caveat: these are relatively low-echelon personnel we're dealing with, and I'm certain that once the Regis hears of this, we'll see renewed fighting-perhaps on a scale more reminiscent of the Robotech War than anything we've experienced here."
爱德华兹站起身，压制住自己满足的笑容。“此时他们看起来愿意接受我们展现给他们的事实：沃尔夫是独立行动的。但为了防止误解，我必须指出：我们所接触的都是低层次的人物，而我很确定，一旦瑞吉斯听到这个消息，我们必将再次面临战争——其规模或许会超过我们在这里经历的所有战事，堪比那次宇宙大战。”
He waited for this to sink in before continuing."As for what we can do, I would suggest that short of a preemptive strike against their forces right now, or the capture of the Sentinels, we devote all our efforts to the construction of a fleet of ships to rival their own."
他等待着四周平静下来，才继续开口：“至于我们能做什么，此时此刻我们既不能先发制人打击他们，也无法捉拿哨兵同盟，我建议我们尽全力建造一支能与他们匹敌的舰队。”
Again, there were arguments and objections from various council members, but Longchamps silenced these with his gavel."Would you be willing to oversee this project, General, if the council so votes·"
又一次，几个委员会的成员表示反对并辩论起来，但隆尚击槌让他们安静。“你愿意主持这个项目吗，将军，如果委员会投票通过的话？”
Edwards inclined his head slightly."I would be honored, Senator. Of course, I would require the full cooperation of Dr. Lang's Robotech teams and control of the mining operations on Fantoma."
爱德华兹微微点了一下头，说：“我十分荣幸，参议员。当然，我会要求朗博士机器人技术团队的全力配合以及凡托玛采矿行动的控制权。”
"Naturally," Longchamps said."We will adjourn to consider our decision."
“那是自然，”隆尚说，“我们将在休会期间考量裁决。”
Edwards grinned in spite of himself. He shifted his gaze slightly to show Lang the cold hostility in his eye. Lang tried to return it, but could not.
爱德华兹不露声色心中暗笑。他微微瞟了一眼朗，目光中传达出寒冷的敌意。朗也想照此回敬，但他不能。
The round had gone to Edwards.
这一回合，爱德华兹胜出。
In his hive complex on Optera, the Invid Regent sat alone with his two pet Hellcats, too stunned by the reports of his simulagent's murder to speak. He held his snaillike head in his hands, sunk deep into a sense of despair that was entirely new to him. Once before he had experienced such torment: when his wife had confessed to him her love for Zor. Betrayal, he thought, in the soft glow of the room's commo sphere.
瑞金特坐在奥普特拉上的摄政王大蜂房里，身边只有两只宠物地狱猫。替身被杀的消息让他也是目瞪口呆。他双手捧着自己蜗牛般的头颅，沉浸在对他而言是全新的绝望感之中。之前他也曾经历过一次类似的折磨：那时他的妻子向他坦白了对佐尔的爱恋。背叛，他这样想着，这时房内的通讯球发出微光。
"Your Highness, shall I give the order to attack·" a lieutenant repeated cautiously.
“殿下，我可否下达攻击令？”一名副官谨慎地重复问题。
The Regent regarded the soldier's image in the sphere and sighed heavily."No," he answered quietly."Return the fleet to Optera, and tell no one that I live. It may benefit me to remain hidden for a while longer."
瑞金特朝球里打量着那名士兵的形象，重重地叹息一声。“不，”他平静地回答，“舰队回奥普特拉，不要告诉任何人我还活着。让我隐藏的时间长一点可能更有利。”
"But, Your Highness, are the Humans to go unpunished· And what of Tesla·"
“但是，殿下，人类不该被惩罚么？还有泰斯拉呢？”
The Regent could feel the lieutenant's anger, and it was enough to refresh him momentarily. He had not been completely abandoned, then; loyalty still lived.
瑞金特能感到副官的愤怒，这让他略感振奋。毕竟自己还没有被彻底抛弃；忠诚尚存。
"For the moment do nothing more than let our intentions be known. Inform the Human high command that we hold them responsible for the...Regent's death, and that terms for a cease-fire will not be discussed until the Sentinels have been brought to justice."
“目前除了显露我们的意图不要有别的行动。通知人类高层，我们要他们为……摄政王的死亡负责，将哨兵同盟绳之以法之前，不再讨论停火条款。”
"My liege," the lieutenant returned with a note of reluctance. He offered salute and shut down the link.
“遵命，主君。”副官回答时带着一丝犹豫。他敬礼后关断了通讯。
The Regent placed a hand on the homed shoulder of one of the Inorganics, on its haunches beside his chair."My pet," he said aloud,"will you, too, betray me someday·"
一只无机兽坐在座椅边，瑞金特一只手搭在它肩上。“宠物，”他大声问，“你也会有朝一日背叛我吗？”
Tesla had murdered.
是泰斯拉下的杀手。
He found it almost inconceivable. Had the Sentinels put him up to it somehow, or, worse still, the Regis· They were known to have seen one another on Praxis...Had she promised him something then, her favorite son· Certainly Tesla had undergone some sort of change, if he was to believe the words of the simulagent's guards. Perhaps he and the Regis had made a pact to rule in his place, and as a sign of good faith she had evolved him some. On Praxis· he wondered. Had she gone there to carry on with her dangerous Genesis Pit experiments· He would know soon enough, if her ships suddenly showed up in Opteraspace.
他感到这简直难以想象。是哨兵们教唆了他，还是，更糟糕的情况，有瑞吉斯在背后？要知道他们在普拉西斯曾经会过面……是否她那时向他——她所钟爱的儿子——许诺过什么？当然，泰斯拉经历了某种转变，要是替身卫兵的说法能相信的话。或许他和瑞吉斯已立下协定，取代他的统治，而她也使他进化了一些，作为诚意的表达。普拉西斯星，他想知道，她是否到那儿去开展了危险的起源坑试验？很快他就会知道答案了，如果她的战舰突然出现在奥普特拉空间的话。
But in the meantime the Regent thought it best to allow the Humans to go on thinking that one of their own had assassinated the simulagent. If, as they maintained, the group had acted alone, it showed a definite carelessness on the council's part. But if this Edwards had permitted it to happen-even engineered it, as the Regent was inclined to believe-then the murder had more sinister implications, it was as if Edwards knew all along that the Regent had sent an imposter in his place, and the murder was the Human's way of responding to the substitution.
但同时，瑞金特认为最好还是让人类以为是他们当中的一员刺杀了替身。如果，正如他们所坚持的说法，那个团伙是独立作案，那么委员会在事件里绝对是无心之失。但如果是这位爱德华兹纵容此事发生——甚至是操纵了事件，瑞金特更相信这一点——那么杀手就有着更加险恶的用心，整件事就仿如是爱德华兹从一开始就了解瑞金特派去的是个替身，而谋杀本身就是人类对冒名顶替的回应方式。
He made a note to treat Edwards differently the next time.
他记在心里，下一次要换种方式对待爱德华兹。
The simulagent hadn't been able to learn anything about the Masters' destination, or the location of the Humans' Earth; but it was possible that his death would have a positive side effect. Obviously the Humans were anxious to sue for peace, and although he couldn't grant them this just yet, that fact eased his concern about their presence in the Quadrant. And now it was likely that others besides Edwards would be willing to turn against the Sentinels.
替身没能了解到统治者的去向目标，也没了解到人类地球的位置；但他的死可能会有正面的影响。显然，人类急于求和，尽管他还不能给予他们和平，但这个事实消除了他对该星区存在人类的顾虑。而且现在，爱德华兹之外的其他人也很有可能愿意转而反对哨兵同盟。
The Regent called up a starmap in the sphere and leaned forward to study it."Garuda," he decided after a moment, that's where they would be heading. A miserable world if there ever was one, a world that had its own way of dealing with intruders...The Regent had recalled all of his warships from the planet to strengthen the fleet he had sent to Optera; but there was still a small garrison of soldiers and scientists there tending the orchards and farms and supervising the transport of the nutrient. Sufficiently forewarned, they just might be able to succeed where larger forces had failed.
瑞金特从通讯球中调出了一幅星图，朝前探身研究起来。“嘎鲁达，”他片刻后断定，这就是他们的航向。那里十分糟糕，只能勉强算是个世界。那里对闯入者有着自己的应对之道……瑞金特想起那里所有的战舰已经被抽调，去增强那支派往奥普特拉的舰队了；不过仍然有一小部守卫部队和科学家留在那里，照料果园和农场，监督营养品的运输。尽管更强大的兵力也失败过，但如果有足够的预警，他们也许能够取胜。
The Regent rubbed his hands together in a gesture of renewed excitement. He grunted to the beasts that flanked his chair. Perhaps it wasn't so bad being dead after all.
瑞金特搓着手掌，再次激动起来。他朝着座位两侧的机器兽咆哮着。或许死掉根本不是件坏事。
When news of the Plenipotentiary Council's decision was released, the Expeditionary mission found itself more divided than ever. Everyone on Base Tirol and aboard the SDF-3 now felt compelled to take a stand. The council, by majority if not by unanimous decision, had effectively branded former admirals Hunter and Hayes, along with the rest of the Human and XT Sentinels, outlaws. In due time a ship would be detailed for their capture, but presently they were to receive no help from RDF personnel, and anyone found aiding or abetting the Sentinels' cause would be subject to prosecution to the full extent of the law. Moreover, General Edwards was being placed in full command of the RDF; he would be overseeing both the mining op and construction projects, and his staff would be supervising all aspects of civil defense, including minor police actions.
全权大使委员会的决议新闻发布之后，远征任务面临了前所未有的分裂。泰洛基地和SDF-3舰上的每个人都感到了选择立场的迫切。委员会的大部分成员，也可能是全体成员，通过了决议，成功地将前任将军卡特和海斯、其余人类和外星哨兵成员，都烙上了逃犯之印。在适当的时候，将专门派出一艘船去捉拿他们，但现在他们将不能获得防卫军的任何援助，任何援助哨兵或者鼓吹哨兵事业的人员，将会被依法起诉。此外，任命爱德华兹将军为防卫军总指挥；他将监督采矿运作和建设项目，他的指挥棒还将督导民防部队的方方面面，连不太重要的警察行动也包括在内。
Lang, Exedore, Huxley, Obstat, Reinhardt and a few others had become a cabal overnight, and Lang realized that it wouldn't be long before Edwards's Ghost Riders would be keeping watch on their every move-if in fact this wasn't already the case. There were enough unanswered questions about the Regent's assassination to convince Lang that Edwards had had a hand in the affair. He surmised, too, that Edwards was aware of the assistance Lang had rendered Wolff; but if he had any proof, he was probably saving it for the next occasion the two men went toe-to-toe. Lang could only hope that Wolff had reached Praxis in time to rescue the Sentinels, because in every other way, the plan had done more harm than good. However, by taking such a hard-line stance, the council had inadvertently weakened Edwards-perhaps not now, but in the long run, when those loyal to Hunter would step forward in a show of strength.
朗、爱克西多、赫胥黎、奥博斯坦、莱因哈特等人一夜之间便沦为反动小团体。朗意识到，不久之后爱德华兹的幽灵中队便会监视他们的一举一动——说不定实际上他们已经在监视了。关于瑞金特被刺，足够多的未解之谜使朗相信爱德华兹插手其中。他也推测，爱德华兹知晓朗给予沃尔夫的帮助；但假如他有证据的话，可能会留到二人下一次对峙的时候再出手。朗只能寄希望于沃尔夫及时抵达普拉西斯救出哨兵，否则的话，这整个计划有百害而无一利。然而，采取了这一强硬立场之后，委员会无意间削弱了爱德华兹——或许不是现在，而是从长远来看，在那些忠于卡特的人们上前展示力量的那一刻。
Lang was in his quarters, compiling a mental list of the men and women who could be counted on, when the door tone sounded and Lynn-Minmei begged entry. She was the last person Lang wanted to see, but as he thought about her a plan came to mind. He had persuaded her once into accepting Janice as her partner; now perhaps he could talk her into assuming the android's role as a spy.
朗正在寓所里，脑海里编排着那些能靠得住的男女的名单，这时门铃响了，明美求见。她是朗最不想见的人，但他正考虑她时，突然冒出了一个计划。他曾经说服她接受搭档贾妮斯；现在或许他能够说服她继续承担人造人的间谍角色。
"Dr. Lang, I hope I'm not disturbing you," she said, coming through the door."I just had to talk to someone."
“朗博士，我希望自己没打扰您，”她进门的时候说。“我只是想找人谈谈。”
He could see she was frantic."Don't be silly, my dear. Sit down. Can I fix you something·"
他能看出，她慌乱紧张。“别说傻话，亲爱的。请坐。想喝点什么？”
"No," she said absently."No, thank you. I just need to know if it's true, Dr. Lang-what they're saying about Jonathan and Rick."
“不用了，”她恍惚地回答。“不用了，谢谢您。我只是需要知道，这是不是真的，朗博士——他们说的关于乔纳森和瑞克的事情。”
Lang sat down, even though Minmei remained standing."What do you think, Minmei·"
朗坐了下来，而明美则继续站着。“你怎么想的，明美？”
She threw her hands up in a nervous gesture."I don't know what to think! General Edwards says one thing, you say another..." She looked directly at him."Most of my old friends won't even talk to me anymore. And the way Janice acted..."
她举起双手，显得紧张不安。“我甚至不知道去想什么！爱德华兹将军说的一套，你说的是另一套……”她直视着他。“我的老朋友们大都不再和我说话了。而且，贾妮斯的表现……”
He offered her an understanding nod."Well, maybe you've just ended up on the wrong side somehow. And everyone's waiting for you to return."
他理解地向她点点头。“嗯，也许你就是不知怎地，站错了队。而每个人都在等你回头。”
She sat down, facing him."That's what I want to know: am I on the wrong side· People are saying the most horrible things about General Edwards. But I know him, I know what kind of man he is."
她坐下面对着他：“那就是我想知道的：我站错队了吗？人们把爱德华兹将军说的十分邪恶，但我了解他，了解他是个什么样的人。”
"You may think you know him, Minmei, but I assure you, you don't. It's..." Lang fumbled for the words,"it's as though he has some sort of personal vendetta against Rick. I can't even begin to understand it. I only know that he has turned the council against your friends, and I know they'd be crushed to learn that you're not supporting them."
“你也许以为自己了解他，明美，但我向你保证，你不了解。就……”朗想找些好词，继续说，“就好像他和瑞克之间有某种私仇。我根本就无法理解。我只知道他操纵委员会反对你的朋友们，我还知道如果他们知道你不支持他们的话，会垮掉的。”
Minmei bit her lip."And that's just what Jonathan's going to tell them, too."
明美咬着嘴唇。“而这就是沃尔夫要去告诉他们的事情。”
Lang thought he detected a flash of anger behind the words; he started to reply, but she cut him off, the anger visible now.
朗以为自己抓住了这句话背后的一丝愤意，正要回答，但她打断了他，而此时她已经怒容满面。
"That snake! Who is he to be calling people names· He's a liar!"
“这条毒蛇！他凭什么说三道四？这个骗子！”
"Minmei-"
“明美——”
"Mr. Charm," she said, getting up from the couch."He should talk about loyalty. Ha! What does he know about anything·" She shot Lang a look."What do any of you know·"
“大帅哥，”她说着，从沙发上起身。“他应该谈谈什么是忠实。哈！他到底懂不懂？”她瞪了朗一眼，“你们当中有人懂吗？”
Lang was never good at dealing with theatrics; he knew this much about himself and kept still.
朗一向不善于应付戏剧化的场面；他有自知之明，保持了沉默。
"Liars, murderers, outlaws," Minmei was saying."Things were just too peaceful for them on Tirol. They needed to go find themselves a war."
“骗子，杀手，逃犯，”明美说，“对他们来说，泰洛太过和平了。他们需要为自己找一场战争。”
"That's Edwards talking," Lang managed.
“这是爱德华兹的话，”朗好不容易说了一句。
"This is me talking!" she screamed at him."I hate you! I hate the whole bunch of you!"
“这是我的话！”她对他尖叫着，“我恨你！我恨你们这一帮人！”
She began to cry into her hands. Lang made a move toward her, but she was gone by the time he reached the door.
她捂着脸开始大哭。朗朝她走去，可追到门口时，她已经不见了踪影。
"Go ahead, say it," Rick said to Lisa."I could feel you saying it clear across the hold. So let's clear the air."
“你干脆说出来吧，”瑞克对丽莎说，“我当时在船舱另一头都能明显地感觉到你的意见。不如我们摊开来说说。”
She looked at him and frowned."What are you talking about· Say what·"
她看着他，皱了皱眉：“你说的是什么意思？我说什么？”
They were in the small cabinspace that had been set aside as their quarters aboard the SDF-7. The dreadnought was approaching Garuda from the far side of the planet's massive sun after a brief period in hyperspace.
他俩正在SDF-7上的一间小船舱里，这是分配给他们的住所。这艘战舰在超太空里航行了没多久，现在正从嘎鲁达行星的巨大主星的背面方向朝嘎鲁达接近。
"You wanna say 'I told you so,'" Rick continued."Edwards is getting stronger and now we're in no position to stop him. If we had remained on Tirol, all this would never have happened, and we'd probably have a truce worked out and be a long way toward repairing the SDF-3." Rick snorted."Anything I've left out·"
“你想说‘我早跟你说了，’”瑞克接着说，“‘爱德华兹越来越强大，而现在我们的形势根本无法阻止他。要是我们还留在泰洛，这一切都不会发生，或许我们已经签立了和约，正在为修复SDF-3而努力。’”瑞克不耐烦地哼了一声，“还有没有我没说的？”
"I'm not saying a word, Rick," she told him."You're doing such a fine job without me."
“我什么都没说，瑞克，”她告诉他，“没有我，你干的也很不错。”
"All right, so you think I made a big mistake, and maybe a part of me agrees with you. But the truth is that I would have been going out of my skull back there, and at least now I feel we are accomplishing something-maybe not for ourselves exactly, but for Lron and Crysta and Kami and everyone. You can't argue with that."
“那好吧，你认为我犯了个大错误，而也许我自己也多少同意你的想法。但事实是，或许当时我是出于一时冲动，但至少现在我感觉到，我们正在成就一番事业——未必是为了我们自己，而是为了勒荣和克里斯塔，卡米和每个人。这一点你不能争执。”
Lisa shrugged."Who's arguing·"
丽莎耸耸肩。“是谁再争执？”
"And another thing." Rick put his hands to his hips."You figure that just because I'm suddenly all gung ho and take-charge that I really am a commander after all. But I'll tell you something: the only reason I'm okay with the role is because there's no damned council telling me what to think. We've got a democracy here, not some red-tape portable government, and that suits me fine."
“还有一件事。”瑞克双手扶着髋部，继续说，“就因为我突然间卖力担起责任，你以为我最终真是个司令官了。但我得告诉你：我接受这个角色的唯一理由，就是因为没有什么该死的委员会告诉我该去想什么。在这里我们有民主，没有那些红头文件和官僚小政府，我很适应。”
"Well, I-"
“好，那我——”
"So don't go thinking that I'm going to ask to be reinstated when all this blows over."
“所以，不要认为在这一场风波结束之后，我会要求复职的。”
"Do you think it will, Rick·"
“你认为会结束吗？、，瑞克？”
He heard the desperation in her tone and it took the wind right out of his sails. He leaned over, took her hand, and kissed it."You bet," he said softly."And we'll get back on course."
他意外地听到了她语气里的绝望，这浇灭了他的威风。他朝她探过身，握住她一只手，亲吻着。“当然了，”他温柔地说，“我们会回到正轨上的。”
She reached out to stroke his arm."I don't want us to grow apart, Rick, and I feel that happening sometimes."
她也伸手轻抚着他的手臂，“我不想让我们产生隔阂，而有时候我又能感到它在产生。”
He was tempted to say something about Lisa's involvement with Gnea and Bela, but held his tongue."I won't let that happen."
他本想对丽莎和妮雅、贝拉的交情说几句，但管住了自己的嘴：“我不会让隔阂发生的。”
She sighed fretfully."We used to have so many dreams-remember·"
她心烦意乱地叹口气：“我们以前有很多梦想——记得么？”
"Of course I remember," he said, trying to sound cheerful."And we'll make every one of them come true." He squatted down to face her."Look, let's just see what happens on Garuda. From what Kami says, the Invid never actually conquered the place. And from what Wolff told me, it sounds like they pulled all their troop carriers away. They've got a small garrison there, and that's it. Maybe there won't have to be much fighting. We'll get to have some PT."
“当然记得，”他说道，努力表现得欢快些，“而且我们要让一个个它们实现。”他蹲下身面对着她，“看，让我们瞧瞧嘎鲁达会发生什么。根据卡米说的，因维人其实一直没征服这地方。根据沃尔夫给我的报告，看来敌人已经撤走了所有的运兵船。那儿有很少的守军，仅此而已。可能不需要多少战斗。我们会有些私人时间的。”
She laughed lightly."Now there's a dream if I ever heard one."
她发出了轻轻的笑声：“这正是我现在的梦想。”
"You'll see," he said, bringing her up into his embrace.
“你会看到的，”他说着，拉她起身，抱在怀中。
In the cruiser's med room, Jean Grant was trying to figure out what to do with the now-smooth, football-sized crystal on the gurney-the Spherisian infant Miriya and Bela had brought up from Praxis. The two women were watching Jean's every move, while Teal sat quietly in a corner of the room. Jean gave the crystal a gentle turn; it felt cool to the touch and seemingly inanimate, but scans had indicated a high level of bioenergy, or at least an approximation thereof. God knew the thing was growing fast enough! Jean sensed Miriya and Bela's eyes on her and said,"Well, what do you two expect me to do with this, this...child· She turned sharply to Teal."Teal, get over here! At least tell me what I'm supposed to do."
在巡洋舰的医疗室内，吉英·格兰特正摸索着该如何处理轮床上这块光溜溜的水晶石，它是米莉娅和贝拉从普拉西斯带出来的史菲利思婴儿，现在已经有足球大小了。她俩正看着吉英的一举一动，而缇尔在房间的一角安静地坐着。吉英轻柔地转动了一下水晶；它摸起来凉凉的，似乎没有生机，但扫描结果显示它里面的生物能量（或类似指标）的水平很高。这个东西长得可真快啊！吉英察觉到了米莉娅和贝拉投来的目光，问：“那你们两个希望我对这个，这个……孩子做点什么？”她又转身朝缇尔厉声说道：“缇尔，快到这儿来！至少告诉我应该怎么做。”
Wearily, Teal got to her feet and joined Jean at the gurney. She glanced down at the crystal and fixed her transparent eyes on the infant's saviors."You saved him, Bela. You raise him."
缇尔疲倦地站起身，走到轮床边的吉英那里。她往下瞥了一眼水晶，又把自己透明的双眼紧盯在婴儿的救命恩人身上。“你救了这小子，贝拉。你来养着他。”
"It's a him·" Jean asked, peering at the crystal as though she had missed something."How do you know that·"
“是个男孩？”吉英问道，仿佛之前错过了什么一般，她又仔细打量着这块水晶。“你怎么知道的？”
"Because it is Baldan's child. It is Baldan."
“因为这是鲍丹的孩子。它是鲍丹。”
Miriya made a face."Wait a minute, let's get this straight: is it Baldan, or is it Baldan's child·"
米莉娅做了个怪相，说：“等等啊，让我们说清楚：它是鲍丹，还是鲍丹的孩子？”
"It is both," Teal told her.
“都是。”缇尔回答。
"Well, it sure doesn't look like Baldan," Jean pointed out."Is it, er, he in a state of gestation inside the crystal· Or do we need to incubate him· Speak to me, girl!"
“嗯，不过它看起来可不像鲍丹，”吉英指出这点。“这东西，嗯，他在这块水晶里面是处于孕育的阶段么？还是说我们需要把他孵化出来？快给我说说，姑娘！”
Teal turned away from the gurney."I don't want to care for it!" When she faced them again, it was obvious she was, in some Spherisian fashion, crying."Baldan was not my mate," she explained."It was the Invid Tesla who chose us, it was he who brought us together."
缇尔转身背对着轮床。“我不想照顾它！”她面对她们时，很明显能看出她哭了，以史菲利思人的方式。“鲍丹不是我的配偶，”她解释道，“是因维人泰斯拉挑选了我俩，是他才把我俩带到一起的。”
Jean put a hand on Teal's shoulder."But I don't understand, honey. What does all this have to do with caring for the child·"
吉英搭了一只手在缇尔肩上。“但我不明白，亲爱的。这些和照顾这个小孩有什么关系？”
"He must be shaped." Teal answered her."And to do so I must enter into a rapport with Baldan-I must become his mate."
“必须要塑造他。”缇尔回答，“要这么做的话，我必须和鲍丹和谐交融——我必须要成为他的配偶。”
No one said anything for a moment."And if we do nothing·" Bela asked.
所有人都沉默了一会儿。“如果我们什么都不做呢？”贝拉问。
"Baldan will die." Teal continued to cry, muttering to herself in her own tongue-praying, Jean ventured. Then suddenly she produced a kind of crystalline paring knife from the bodice of her garment.
“鲍丹会死的。”缇尔继续哭着，用她的语言喃喃自语——她在祈祷，吉英猜测。突然间，她从自己身穿的紧身胸衣里制造出一把水晶削皮小刀。
"Teal, no!" Jean started to say, but before she could stop her, Teal had struck the infant with the edge of the blade, as one might bring a tool to bear on a piece of ore. A chip broke away from the crystal, revealing a dazzling facet. Teal struck again and again, each stroke sure of its mark, each rendering the inanimate thing gemlike and complete. Crying all the while, Teal took the infant in her hands and began to carve away more of its extraneous crust. Miriya, Bela, and Jean could hardly believe their eyes when a polished face slowly emerged, then a miniature torso of sorts.
“缇尔，别这样！”吉英刚说个开头，还来不及制止她，缇尔已经用刀锋向婴儿敲去，动作就像人们在用工具凿一块矿石。水晶掉下了一片碎屑，露出了眩目的断面。缇尔一次接一次地敲击，每一下都位置准确，每一下都让这个没有生气的东西变得更完整，更像宝石。她始终都在哭着，缇尔把婴儿捧在手里，开始进一步地切削粗壳。米莉娅、贝拉和吉英几乎不敢相信自己的眼睛，一张光滑的面庞缓缓出现了，随后出现的勉强可算是微型化的身躯。
It was Baldan.
他就是鲍丹。
If the Sentinels remained divided on any one issue, it was what was to be done with Tesla. While certain they would exercise more caution the next time the Invid volunteered for a mission, they had as yet no clear-cut policy toward him. Was he a prisoner, a hostage, perhaps an ally in some sense· After the meeting in which the Sentinels' direction had been put to a vote, Tesla and Burak had had a chance to answer the "charges" Wolff brought against them. They were accomplices, Wolff maintained, in the laconic and cynical fashion that had everyone aboard guessing.(That Minmei was the cause of Wolff's distress was no secret, but he kept to himself the fact that she had been seeing Edwards.)
如果说哨兵同盟当中存在分歧的话，那就是如何处置泰斯拉的问题。当然，尽管若是下一次因维人自告奋勇参加任务时他们会更谨慎些，但现在针对他仍然没有一个清晰的应对策略。他是俘虏，是人质，或许某种意义上也是个盟友？哨兵同盟的会议倾向于投票表决，这就给了泰斯拉和伯拉克一个在会后应答沃尔夫对他们的“指控”的机会。他们是共犯，沃尔夫用一种简洁又愤世嫉俗的态度坚持着，这态度让船上的每个人都猜不透。（明美是沃尔夫苦恼的原因，这点众所周知，但她已和爱德华兹交往的事实，他当成秘密保留给了自己。）
Tesla didn't deny that he had tried to commandeer the module; his actions, however, had not been directed against the Sentinels. In fact, quite the contrary."I am your comrade in this war of liberation," he told the Human and XT assembly."I am as eager for peace as the rest of you, and my aim in taking over the ship was simply to speed to Optera to convince the Regent of the error of his ways."
泰斯拉没有否认他试图操纵模块的企图；而他的行动，不管怎么说，也没有用来对抗哨兵同盟。实际上，刚好相反。“在这场解放的战争里，我是你们的同志，”他对人类和外星人哨兵说，“我和你们其它人同样渴望和平，而我控制这艘船的目标是为了加快前往奥普特拉，说服瑞金特认识到他这种方式的错误。”
Burak, though, was innocent to hear Tesla tell it, and had merely been overpowered, as Janice had. And much to Tesla's surprise, Janice backed up the story. But what Tesla didn't realize was that Janice had briefed the Sentinels beforehand on the stand she would take, suggesting that they allow Burak and Tesla their partnership, which she herself would monitor. There was more here than met the eye, she had explained; and the arrangement would have the added benefit of keeping the Perytonian out of everyone's way.
尽管听了泰斯拉的那些话，但伯拉克是无辜的，他当时只是被制服而已，正如贾妮斯那样。令泰斯拉十分诧异的是贾妮斯也支持这种说法。但泰斯拉不知道的是贾妮斯事先已经向哨兵同盟报告过她将在其中采取的立场，建议他们允许伯拉克和泰斯拉之间的伙伴关系，而她可以暗中监视。她的解释是，这事情远没那么简单；而且这种安排还有个额外好处，这个佩里顿人也不会再档着其他人的道了。
This was the voice of Lang's reprogramming, but no one recognized it as such, least of all Janice. Tesla, Lang had established, was worthy of study.
这是朗重新安排的程序所表达的观点，但没有人认识到这个秘密，尤其是贾妮斯自己。朗的指令是：泰斯拉，值得研究。
So in the end it was decided that things would remain much as they had been before the attempted mutiny: Tesla was neither prisoner nor ally, but more in the way of "ambassador." And Burak was to remain the Invid's aide/jailer/ keeper.
所以，最后的决定是依然保持他们在企图叛变之前的状态：泰斯拉既不是囚犯也不是盟友，而更像一个“大使”。而伯拉克依然是这个因维人的助手兼看守兼管理员。
The two XTs were in one of the ship's cargo holds now, a place well-suited to Tesla's size. Only a few morsels of fruit remained, but Tesla knew that more would be available to him on Garuda-a crop as different from the Praxian variety as those had been from the Karbarran. He still hadn't gotten over his case of the guilts, and was in fear of the moment the Sentinels learned of the Regent's assassination. With luck, though, that news could be months off. The beauty of it was that there was no one who could even tie him to the act-not as long as the SDF-7 remained incommunicado. Even that little Zentraedi, Exedore, would have no proof."Circumstantial" was the Human word for such evidence. So in spite of his anxiety, his spirits had improved.
这两个外星人现在待在船上的一间货舱里，这儿比较适合泰斯拉的身材。果子所剩无几了，但泰斯拉知道嘎鲁达星上还有更多的果子等着他——它们和普拉西斯或者卡巴拉的变种之间的差别都很大。他还没有完全从那个案件的负罪感中恢复，一直畏惧着哨兵们得知瑞金特已被杀害的那一刻的来临。运气好的话，这消息可能要几个月才会传来。这件事的妙处在于，谁也不能把他和这一幕强行关联起来——只要SDF-7不和外界通讯。即使那个小天顶星人爱克西多，也没有任何实际证据。“间接证据”，这个人类用词说的就是这种情况。于是，尽管还有些焦虑，他的精神状态已经好多了。
Burak's, however, had not. Although pleased (albeit baffled) that he had been absolved of any wrongdoing, he felt as though the Sentinels had simply dismissed him and Peryton's cause.
然而伯拉克却不行。他的所有不当行为都已宣布免罪，这让他既高兴又困惑，但他感到哨兵们轻易地打发了他和佩里顿的大计。
"You mustn't be so glum about it, my friend," Tesla told him, while he contemplated one of the tidbits."Your world is as good as freed."
“你一定不能对这件事闷闷不乐，朋友，”泰斯拉仔细端详着那一小块珍馐时，告诉他，“你的星球和自由世界一样好。”
"What makes you so certain·" Burak asked, his face a true devil's mask now.
“你为什么这么肯定？”伯拉克问道，这时他的面孔活像戴了一幅魔鬼面具。
Tesla popped the fruit into his mouth."Because...I sense something wonderful is about to happen."
泰斯拉把果子噗地一声塞进嘴。“因为……我感到了有些很美妙的事情正要发生。”
Burak regarded him with a frown.
波拉特对他皱了皱眉。
"Truly," Tesla continued."You must have faith if you are to assume your proper place in this world. There may be one or two dark spots in our future, but afterward..." Tesla offered an approximation of a smile.
“真的，”泰斯拉接着说，“你必须要有信心，如果你打算在那个世界上得到应有地位的话。我们的未来，或许有一两个暗点，但之后……”泰斯拉给了他一个近似微笑的表情。
"But what about now, Tesla· All these grand events you speak of-they are always one step ahead of us."
“但现在怎么办，泰斯拉？所有这些你说的宏大事件——他们总是在我们前方一步之遥。”
Tesla threw back his shoulders."No, my young friend, you have it backward. It is we who are one step ahead. But change is in the air. Soon the reshapings will catch up with us. And then we can begin to transform the world."
泰斯拉挺了挺肩膀。“不，年轻的朋友，你说反了。是我们走在前面一步。但现在气氛中已经有了改变。很快，重塑力将追上我们。到了那时，我们就能够开始改变那个世界。“