Chapter 11 second quarter

Trevize could barely sleep that night. He felt as if he were locked in a prison that the old woman had built just for him.He kept trying to break through the wall, but he couldn't find a way out. He was doomed to be exiled, but there was nothing he could do.And she's been ruthless throughout, not even bothering to hide flagrant violations of the Constitution.Originally, she relied on the privileges of a member of parliament and the various rights of being a federal citizen, but she didn't buy it at all, and she didn't even say a word of entertainment. Now, there is this strange pedant named Pelorat, who seems to live in another world.And Pelorat told himself that the terrible old woman had arranged everything a few weeks before.

Only then did he feel that he was really a "child" in her mouth. He was about to be deported, to live with a historian who kept calling him "dear mate."And that person's excitement about the upcoming pan-galactic exploration is beyond words-the thing they are going to find is called "Earth"? What is "Earth"? Probably only the mule's grandma knows! He had pressed Pelorat, of course! He had asked immediately. Trevize said: "Sorry, Professor, I don't know much about your major. If I ask you to explain 'Earth' in a simple way, I don't think you would mind?"

Pelorat immediately changed a serious expression, stared at him for 20 seconds, and then said: "It is a planet, the birthplace of human beings, and the earliest human beings appeared on that planet. dear partner." Trevize's eyes widened: "First appeared? Where did it appear from?" "Nowhere. On this planet, humans have gradually evolved from lower animals through the process of evolution." Trevize thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I really don't understand what you're talking about." An angry expression flashed across Pelorat's face, but then disappeared without a trace.He cleared his throat, and then said: "Hundreds of years ago, there were no humans on Terminus. Terminus was just a human colony, and the ancestors of the residents were immigrants from other worlds. I think you should Do you understand?"

"Yes, of course I know that." Trevize said impatiently.The other party suddenly questioned his common sense, which made him very unhappy. "Very well, the situation is exactly the same for other worlds - Anacreon, Santani, Kalgan... every world in the galaxy. All of them were created by humans at some time in the past The colonized worlds that have risen, the inhabitants of which are migrated from other worlds, even Trantor is no exception. Although Trantor, a great city, has a history of 20,000 years, before that, it was it's not true." "Why? What did it look like 20,000 years ago?"

"Empty! At least there aren't any humans on it." "It's unbelievable." "It is true, it is recorded in the ancient records." "Where did the first humans to colonize Trantor come from?" "No one can be sure. There are hundreds of planets in the Milky Way, all claiming that humans lived on them in the distant and vague ancient times, and there are some wonderful legends about the first humans who arrived. But history Scientists generally do not accept those claims and focus only on the 'problem of origin' research." "What's that? I've never heard of it."

"I am not surprised by this. I must admit that it is not a very popular historical topic now. But back then, during the decline of the Galactic Empire, it once attracted the attention of some intellectuals. Seve Ha It was also briefly mentioned in his memoirs. This topic explores which planet the species originated from and where it is located. If we go back to the history of the Milky Way and imagine going back in time, we will find that human beings have The established worlds gradually flow back to those older worlds, and the crowds continue to concentrate on the older worlds, and finally they will gather on a certain world-there is the birthplace of human beings."

Trevize immediately realized that there was an obvious flaw in this inference. "Is it impossible for human beings to originate from many planets?" "Of course it is impossible. All humans in the galaxy belong to the same species. It is impossible for the same species to appear on two planets at the same time. It is absolutely impossible." "And how do you know?" "First of all—" Pelorat tapped the index fingers of his left and right hands together. He undoubtedly wanted to make a long and complicated speech, but suddenly he seemed to think of a simpler way of speaking.Then he put his hands down, and said in a tone of great sincerity: "My dear fellow, I pledge my honor to you."

Trevize immediately bowed to him, "I wouldn't even dream of doubting what you said, Professor Pelorat. Then, according to what you said, there is only one planet on which species originated, but I think at least there is a good planet." Hundreds of worlds may claim this glory as their planet." "It's not possible, in fact they really say that, but none of it counts. The hundreds of worlds that aspire to this glory can't find any remnants of a 'pre-hyperspace society', let alone a low signs of organisms evolving into humans." "So you're saying that there is indeed a planet of human origin, but for some reason, it doesn't show itself?"

"You're absolutely right." "And you're going to find this planet?" "We're going, and that's our mission. Mayor Burano has all the arrangements, and you'll be in charge of piloting the spaceship to take us to Trantor." "Go to Trantor? It's not the origin planet of species, as you clearly said just now." "Of course not Trantor, Earth is." "Then why don't you say you want me to go to Earth in a spaceship?" "I didn't make it clear. Earth is just a legendary name, preserved by ancient myths and legends, and has no meaning other than that. But using it to represent 'the planet from which humans originated' is always a kind of A more convenient term. But no one knows which planet in the Milky Way is what we call 'Earth'."

"Do the people on Trantor know?" "Of course, I hope to find material there. Trantor is home to the Galactic Library, the greatest library in the entire galaxy." "During the time of the First Empire, those of you who were interested in the question of origins must have searched that library." Pelorat nodded, and said in a thoughtful tone: "That's right, but maybe it's not thorough. I have done very in-depth research on the issue of origin, and the imperial scholars five hundred years ago may know less than me." .So when I look through those ancient records, I may be able to understand better than others, you understand. I have been thinking about this question for a long time, and I already have a very likely answer in my mind."

"I suppose you told Mayor Burano all this and she agreed with it?" "Agreed? My dear companion, she was overjoyed. She told me that I must go to Trantor, of course, to find the answers I need." "There is no doubt about it," Trevize murmured. The above conversation was one of the reasons why he tossed and turned that night.Mayor Burano sent him out to try his best to find out the whereabouts of the second base: and she deliberately sent Pelorat to go with him under the banner of searching for "Earth" in order to cover up the real purpose.Using this excuse, he can justifiably rampage through the galaxy.In fact, it was such a perfect cover that he couldn't help admiring the mayor's intelligence. But why go to Trantor? What's the point of going there? Once they get to Trantor, Pelorat will dive into the Galactic Library and never come out again.There must be countless printed books, film books, audio-visual information, and countless computer tapes and symbolic media there. How could he be willing to leave? What's more... Eblyn Meath had been to Trantor once, when the mules had first risen.There, according to a widespread legend, he found out the whereabouts of the Second Foundation, but died before he could reveal it.Later, Ikati Darry also went to Trantor and successfully revealed the secrets of the Second Foundation.However, the second base she discovered was on Terminus, and that base camp had already been wiped out, so the second base that had come back must be hidden somewhere else.In that case, what information could Trantor have? If he wanted to find Second Base, he could go anywhere rather than Trantor. Besides... What other plans Burano had, he didn't know, but he really had no interest in currying favor with her.Buranor was overjoyed that they were going to Trantor? Well, if Buranor wanted them to go to Trantor, they wouldn't! Anywhere—just not Trantor! At this time, the night was almost replaced by dawn, Trevize felt exhausted, and finally fell asleep intermittently for a while.