一个萝卜一个坑-----一号萝卜---Columbus Was a Dope

Columbus Was a Dope
Robert A Heinlein

"I do like to wet down a sale," the fat man said happily, raising his voice above the sighing of the air conditioner. "Drink up, Professor, I'm two ahead of you."
“我稀饭大甩货”，胖男人兴高采烈地嚷嚷，大嗓门盖过了嗡嗡的空调声。“干杯，教授，我比你多喝了两杯呢。”
He glanced up from their table as the elevator door opposite them opened. . A man stepped out into the cool dark of the bar and stood blinking, as if he had just come from the desert glare outside.
他抬头瞥了一眼，因为正对着他们的电梯门开了。一个男人迈步进入这冰凉昏暗的酒吧，站在那那么刺眼，就像他刚从外面刺眼的沙漠进来似的。
"Hey, Fred - Fred Nolan," the fat man called out. "Come over!" He turned to his guest. "Man I met on the hop from New York. Siddown, Fred. Shake hands with Professor Appleby, chief engineer of the star ship Pegasus - or will be when she's built. I just sold the professor an order of bum steel for his crate. Have a drink on it."
“嗨，佛瑞德---佛瑞德*诺兰，”胖男人喊了出来。“过来！”他扭头向他的客人说“我从纽约回来的路上认识他的。坐，佛瑞德。跟苹果买教授握握手，他是星际飞船神马号的首席工程师---或者说是飞船建好后的首席工程师。我刚卖给教授一堆对他的箱子来说没用的钢铁。 为这干杯！”
"Glad to, Mr. Barnes," Nolan agreed. "I've met Dr. Appleby. On business - Climax Instrument Company."
“你好，巴恩思先生，”诺兰点头，“我见过苹果买教授，谈过生意--顶点设备公司。
"Huh?" 嗯？
"Climax is supplying us with precision equipment," offered Appleby.
“顶点卖给我们精密的设备。”苹果买教授点头道。
Barnes looked surprised, then grinned. "That's one on me. I took Fred for a government man, or one of you scientific johnnies. What'll it be, Fred? Old fashioned? The same, Professor?"
巴恩思看上去吃了一惊，然后裂开大嘴笑。“我以为佛瑞德是个公务员或者是像你一样是个技术人员。接下来怎么办，佛瑞德？老办法？教授也一样？”
"Right. But please don't call me 'Professor.' I'm not one and it ages me. I'm still young."
“好的。但是不要叫我‘教授’,我不是教授，好像我多老似的。我还年轻。”
"I'll say you are, uh - Doc. Pete! Two old fashioneds and another double Manhattan! I guess I expected a comic book scientist, with a long white beard. But now that I've met you, I can't figure out one thing."
“我会叫你，恩，博士！皮特，2个老派的人和一对Manhattan！我曾幻想遇到一个富有喜剧色彩的科学家，有着长长的白胡子。但是现在遇到了你，我什么事都不能断定了。
"Which is?"“什么事？”
"Well, at your age you bury yourself in this god-forsaken place - "
“好吧，在你这个年纪，你把自己扔到了这个鸟不拉屎的地儿。”
"We couldn't build the Pegasus on Long Island," Appleby pointed out, "and this is the ideal spot for the take off."“我们不能在长岛上建造神马号。”苹果买指出，“这是一个发射的理想地点。”
"Yeah, sure, but that's not it. It's - well, mind you, I sell steel. You want special alloys for a star ship; I sell it to you. But just the same, now that business is out of the way, why do you want to do it? Why try to go to Proxima Centauri, or any other star?"“恩，那是自然，但不是这个原因。那个，恩，看你，我卖铁。你购买飞船需要的特殊合金，我卖给你。但是一样，那桩生意很邪门，为啥你要那样做？为啥想去比邻星或者别的星球？”
Appleby looked amused. "It can't be explained. Why do men try to climb Mount Everest? What took Peary to the North Pole? Why did Columbus get the Queen to hock her jewels? Nobody has ever been to Proxima Centauri - so we're going."苹果买看起来很陶醉：“这很难解释。就像人们为什么要攀登珠穆琅玛峰？peary为什么要去北极？哥伦布使得女王典当珠宝支持他的探险？没有人到过比邻星—所以我们要去。
Barnes turned to Nolan. "Do you get it, Fred?"巴恩思转向诺兰：“你能理解吗？佛瑞德？”
Nolan shrugged. "I sell precision equipment. Some people raise chrysanthemums; some build star ships. I sell instruments."诺兰耸肩：“我卖精密仪器。有人养菊花，有人造星际飞船。而我只卖仪器。”
Barnes's friendly face looked puzzled. "Well - " The bartender put down their drinks. "Say, Pete, tell me something. Would you go along on the Pegasus expedition if you could?"巴恩思友好的脸庞看起来很困惑。：“恩—”男招待送来他们的饮料：“说吧皮特，说点什么。要是有机会你会不会去比邻星探险？”
"Nope."“不会”
"Why not?"“为何不？”
"I like it here."“我喜欢这。”
Dr. Appleby nodded. "There's your answer, Barnes, in reverse. Some have the Columbus spirit and some haven't"苹果买教授点头：“有答案了，巴恩思，虽然是截然相反的。有的人有哥伦布的精神有的人没有。”
"It's all very well to talk about Columbus," Barnes persisted, "but he expected to come back. You guys don't expect to. Sixty years - you told me it would take sixty years. Why, you may not even live to get there."“说到哥伦布”巴恩思坚持道：“但是他可是盼着探险后回来的。你们这些家伙不是。60年—你说旅行需要60年。甚至你不可能活着到那。”
"No, but our children will. And our grandchildren will come back."“当然，但是我们的孩子会到那，我们的孙子回回来。”
"But - say, you're not married?"“但是你说你还没结婚？”
"Certainly I am. Family men only on the expedition. It's a two-to-three generation job. You know that." He hauled out a wallet. "There's Mrs. Appleby, with Diane. Diane is three-and-a-half."“不，我结婚了，家居男人只在探险中才有。这是2到3代的工作。你知道的”他掏出钱夹。“有苹果买夫人的，还有小黛安，3岁半。”
"She's a pretty baby," Barnes said soberly and passed it on to Nolan, who smiled at it and handed it back to Appleby. Barnes went on. "What happens to her?"“她很可爱”巴恩思严肃地说道同时把钱夹给诺兰，诺兰看了笑笑然后还给苹果买。巴恩思继续：“她怎么办？”
"She goes with us, naturally. You wouldn't want her put in an orphanage, would you?"“跟我们一起走，当然。你不能把她扔在孤儿院，是吧？”
"No, but - " Barnes tossed off the rest of his drink. "I don't get it," he admitted. "Who'll have another drink?"“当然不，但是”巴恩思喝干他剩余的饮料。：“我不知道该怎么办。”他承认，“谁要再来一杯？”
"Not for me, thanks," Appleby declined, finishing his more slowly and standing up. "I'm due home. Family man, you know." He smiled.“我不要了，谢谢”苹果买向前倾了倾身子，慢慢喝光他的酒然后站起身：“我是属于家庭的，家居男人，你知道的”他笑笑。
Barnes did not try to stop him. He said goodnight and watched Appleby leave.巴恩思没有试图阻止他。他道声晚安看着苹果买离开
"My round," said Nolan. "The same?"“我的天”诺兰说：“一样么？”
"Huh? Yeah, sure." Barnes stood up. "Let's get up to the bar, Fred, where we can drink properly. I need about six."“啊？恩”巴恩思站起来：“咱们去酒吧，那可以喝个痛快。我还要喝六瓶。”
"Okay," Nolan agreed, standing up. "What's the trouble?"“好吧”诺兰同意，站起身：“怎么了？”
"Trouble? Did you see that picture?"“怎么了？你没看见那张照片么？”
"Well?"“见了，怎么了？”
"Well, how do you feel about it? I'm a salesman, too, Fred. I sell steel. It don't matter what the customer wants to use it for; I sell it to him. I'd sell a man a rope to hang himself. But I do love kids. I can't stand to think of that cute little kid going along on that - that crazy expedition!"“你感觉如何？我也是个商人，佛瑞德。我卖钢铁。不管买主拿他们做什么我都会卖给他。我曾经卖给一个男人一根上吊的绳。但是我爱孩子。我不能忍受哪怕想一想那么可爱的孩子去那么疯狂的探险。”
"Why not? She's better off with her parents. She'll get as used to steel decks as most kids are to sidewalks."“为何不？她最好和她的父母在一起。她会像别的孩子习惯人行道一样习惯甲板的。”
"But look, Fred. You don't have any silly idea they'll make it, do you?"
"They might."
“但是你看，佛瑞德。你没有他们那样愚蠢的想法，对吧？
“也许他们的想法愚蠢。”
"Well, they won't. They don't stand a chance. I know. I talked it over with out technical staff before I left the home office. Nine chances out of ten they'll burn up on the take off. That' the best that can happen to them. If they get out of the solar system, which ain't likely, they'll still never make it. They'll never reach the stars."“恩，他们没有机会。他们没有一点机会。我知道。我离开办公室前和技术顾问谈过。9/10的可能他们在起飞时爆炸。那是最好的结局。如果他们离开太阳系，当然那是不可能的，他们仍然不行。他们不会到达任何星球。”
Pete put another drink down in front of Barnes. He drained it and said:皮特在巴恩思面前又放了一杯啤酒。巴恩思边喝边说：“再干一杯，皮特。他们不行。这只是技术上的推断。他们会冻死—或者晒死—或者饿死。但是他们不会到那。”
"Set up another one, Pete. They can't. It's a theoretical impossibility. They'll freeze - or they'll roast - or they'll starve. But they'll never get there."
"Maybe so."“也许”
"No maybe about it. They're crazy. Hurry up with that drink Pete. Have one yourself."“不是也许。他们疯了。快干了，皮特，再来一杯。”
"Coming up. Don't mind if I do, thanks." Pete mixed the cocktail, drew a glass of beer, and joined them.“说说你的想法。别介意我做什么，谢谢。”皮特调了调鸡尾酒，加了一杯啤酒混在里面。
"Pete, here, is a wise man," Barnes said confidentially. "You don't catch him monkeying around with any trips to the stars. Columbus - Pfui! Columbus was a dope. He shoulda stood in bed."“皮特，呆在这才是一个聪明的人做的事，”巴恩思推心置腹地说：“哥伦布—呸！哥伦布是个傻瓜，他就应该呆在床上。”
The bartender shook his head. "You got me wrong, Mr. Barnes. If it wasn't for men like Columbus, we wouldn't be here today - now, would we? I'm just not the explorer type. But I'm a believer. I got nothing against the Pegasus expedition."男招待摇了摇头：“你使我困惑，巴恩思先生。要是没有像哥伦布一样的英雄，我们今天就不会在这，不是吗？我不是探险家，但是我是个崇拜者。我没有理由反对神马号的探险。”
"You don't approve of them taking kids on it, do you?"“你不会赞成他们带上孩子，你会吗？”
"Well... there were kids on the Mayflower, so they tell me."“恩，五月花号上也有孩子，别人告诉我。”
"It's not the same thing," Barnes looked at Nolan, then back to the bartender. "If the Lord had intended us to go to the stars, he would have equipped us with jet propulsion. Fix me another drink, Pete."
"You've had about enough for a while, Mr. Barnes."“那不一样。”巴恩思看着诺兰，然后转向招待：“如果上帝想让我们去别的星球，他会给我们装备喷气发动机的。再给我一杯，皮特。”
The troubled fat man seemed about to argue, thought better of it.激动的胖男人看起来想说服，使劲想它的好处。
"I'm going up to the Sky Room and find somebody that'll dance with me," he announced. "G'night." He swayed softly toward the elevator.“我要去天房找个人跟我跳舞。”他嘟囔着：“完安。”他蹒跚着走向电梯。
Nolan watched him leave. "Poor old Barnes." He shrugged. "I guess you and I are hard-hearted, Pete."诺兰看着他离开“可怜的老巴恩思。”他耸耸肩“皮特，我猜你和我是硬心肠，”
"No. I believe in progress, that's all. I remember my old man wanted a law passed about flying machines, keep 'em from breaking their fool necks. Claimed nobody ever could fly, and the government should put a stop to it. He was wrong. I'm not the adventurous type myself but I've seen enough people to know they'll try anything once, and that's how progress is made."“不，我相信进步，那就够了。我记得我的祖辈想要通过一项关于飞行器的法律，以防任何人扭断他可怜的脖子。不许任何人飞翔，政府必须阻止飞翔。他错了。我不是冒险型的人，但是我有足够的阅历使我相信必须做事，然后就有了进步
"You don't look old enough to remember when men couldn't fly."你看起来不像记得人们不会飞的日子的年纪
"I've been around a long time. Ten years in this one spot." “附近呆了好长时间，在这呆了10年。”
"Ten years, eh? Don't you ever get a hankering for a job that'll let you breathe a little fresh air?"10年？你不想有份可以呼吸新鲜空气的工作？
"Nope. I didn't get any fresh air when I served drinks on Forty-second Street and I don't miss it now. I like it here. Always something new going on here, first the atom laboratories and then the big observatory and now the star ship. But that's not the real reason. I like it here. It's my home. Watch this."不，自从我在42街做招待我就再没呼吸过新鲜空气。现在我一点也不稀罕它。我喜欢这。这总是有新东西，第一个原子实验室接着是大的天文台然后是星际飞船。但这不是真正的原因，真正的原因是这是我的家，看这
He picked up a brandy inhaler, a great fragile crystal globe, spun it, and threw it straight up toward the ceiling. It rose slowly and gracefully, paused for a long reluctant wait at the top of its rise, then settled slowly, slowly, like a diver in a slow-motion movie. Pete watched it float past his nose, then reached out with thumb and forefinger, nipped it easily by the stem, and returned it to the rack.
"See that" he said. "One-sixth gravity. When I was tending bar on earth, my bunions gave me the dickens all the time. Here I weigh only thirty-five pounds. I like it on the Moon."他拣起一个白兰地酒瓶，转着圈地把它扔向天花板。它上升的很慢很优雅，在上升到最高点时停了很长时间，然后缓缓下落，就像慢镜头里的潜水者。皮特看着它划过他的鼻尖，然后用食指和拇指拨弄它，。
“看那”他说：“1/6的重力。我在地球上的酒吧里时，姆囊炎总是折磨着我。这我只有1/6的重量。我喜欢呆在月球上。