? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?第三章

2300小時(shí) 2517年9月23日（軍事日歷）/波江座ε星系，致遠(yuǎn)星軍事堡壘，致遠(yuǎn)星。

2300 Hours September 23, 2517 (Military Calendar ) / Epsilon Eridani System, Reach MilitaryComplex,planet Reach.

哈爾西博士站在圓形劇場(chǎng)中央的平臺(tái)上。四周環(huán)繞著灰色的看臺(tái)——暫時(shí)是空的。頭頂?shù)木酃鉄糁鄙湓谒陌咨珜?shí)驗(yàn)室外套上，但她仍然覺得很冷。

Dr. Halsey stood on a platform in the center of the amphitheater. Concentric rings of slate-gray riserssurrounded her—empty for now. Overhead?spotlights1?focused and reflected off her white lab coat, butshe still was cold.

她應(yīng)該在這里感到安全。Reach是UNSC最大的工業(yè)基地之一，周圍環(huán)繞著高軌道防御炮臺(tái)，太空船塢和全副武裝的主力艦艦隊(duì)。在行星的表面是海軍陸戰(zhàn)隊(duì)和海軍特種作戰(zhàn)訓(xùn)練場(chǎng)，OCS學(xué)校，在她的地下設(shè)施和表面之間是三百米的硬化鋼和混凝土。她現(xiàn)在站立的房間可以承受80兆噸核彈的直接打擊。

She should feel safe here. Reach was one of the UNSC’s largest industrial bases, ringed with high-orbit gun batteries, space docks, and a fleet of heavily armed capital ships. On the planet’s surface were Marine and Navy Special Warfare2training grounds, OCS schools, and between her underground facilities and the surface were three hundred meters of hardened steel and concrete. The room where she now stood could withstand a direct hit from an 80-megaton nuke.

那么，她為什么依然會(huì)覺得危機(jī)四伏呢？

So why did she feel so vulnerable?

哈爾西博士知道她必須這么做。這是她的職責(zé)。這是為了更大的利益。全人類都將受益。即使他們中的極少數(shù)人不得不為此受苦。盡管如此，當(dāng)她走進(jìn)來(lái)并面對(duì)她的共犯時(shí)，她還是感到反感。

Dr. Halsey knew what she had to do. Her duty. It was for the greater good. All humanity would be served . . . even if a tiny handful of them had to suffer for it. Still, when she turned inward and faced her complicity in this—she was revolted by what she saw.

她希望凱斯中尉還在這里。在過(guò)去的一個(gè)月里，他證明了自己是一個(gè)有能力的助手。但他已經(jīng)開始了解這個(gè)項(xiàng)目的本質(zhì)——至少看到了真相的一角。

She wished she still had Lieutenant Keyes. He had proven himself a capable assistant during the last month. But he had begun to understand the nature of the project—at least seen the edges of the truth.

哈爾西將他重新分配到麥哲倫號(hào)上去，以免中尉引出麻煩。

Halsey had him reassigned to the Magellan with a commission to full Lieutenant for his troubles.

“你準(zhǔn)備好了嗎，博士？”一個(gè)冰冷冷聲音問(wèn)道。

“Are you ready, Doctor?” a disembodied woman’s voice asked.

“差不多了，德雅?！?哈爾西博士嘆了口氣?！罢?qǐng)叫下門德斯軍士長(zhǎng)。我希望你們?cè)谖抑v話時(shí)在場(chǎng)。

“Almost, Déjà.” Dr. Halsey sighed. “Please summon Chief Petty Officer Mendez. I’d like you both present when I address them.”

德雅的全息圖象在哈爾西博士旁邊閃過(guò)。這個(gè)人工智能是專門為哈爾西博士的SPARTAN(斯巴達(dá))項(xiàng)目創(chuàng)建的。她呈現(xiàn)出希臘女神的外表：赤腳，裹著長(zhǎng)袍，光塵在她發(fā)光的白發(fā)上舞動(dòng)。她左手拿著一塊泥板。上面流動(dòng)著二進(jìn)制的楔形文字。哈爾西博士不禁驚嘆于人工智能選擇的外觀;每個(gè)AI都“自我分配”了一個(gè)全息外觀，并且每個(gè)都是獨(dú)一無(wú)二的。

Deja’s hologram flicked on next to Dr. Halsey. The AI had been specifically created for Dr. Halsey’s SPARTAN project. She took the appearance of a Greek goddess: barefoot, wrapped in the toga, motes of light dancing about her luminous white hair. She held a clay tablet in her left hand. Binary cuneiform markings scrolled across the tablet. Dr. Halsey couldn’t help but marvel at the AI’s chosen form; each AI “self-assigned” a holographic appearance, and each was unique.

圓形劇場(chǎng)頂部的一扇門打開了，門德斯軍士長(zhǎng)大步走下樓梯。他穿著黑色禮服，胸前布滿了銀色,金色的勛章和彩色的功勛帶。他的短發(fā)在太陽(yáng)穴處有一抹灰色。他既沒有那么高大也沒有多強(qiáng)壯;對(duì)于一個(gè)經(jīng)歷過(guò)如此多戰(zhàn)斗的人來(lái)說(shuō)，他看起來(lái)相當(dāng)普通......除了他的步伐。他的動(dòng)作緩慢而優(yōu)雅，仿佛在半重力中行走。他在哈爾西博士面前停了下來(lái)，等待進(jìn)一步的指示。

One of the doors at the top of the amphitheater opened and Chief Petty Officer Mendez strode down the stairs. He wore a black dress uniform, his chest awash with silver and gold stars and a rainbow of campaign ribbons. His close-shorn hair had a touch of gray at the temples. He was neither tall nor muscular; he looked so ordinary for a man who had seen so much combat . . . except for his stride. The man moved with a slow grace as if he were walking in half gravity. He paused before Dr. Halsey, awaiting? further instructions.

“請(qǐng)站這邊，”她指著右邊的階梯告訴他。

“Up here, please,” she told him, gesturing to the stairs on her right.

門德斯踏上平臺(tái)的臺(tái)階，然后在她旁邊稍息。

Mendez mounted the steps of the platform and then stood at ease next to her.

“您有看過(guò)我作出心理評(píng)估嗎？”德雅問(wèn)哈爾西博士。

“You have read my psychological evaluations?” Déjà asked Dr. Halsey.

“是的。做得非常全面，“她說(shuō)?！爸x謝。”

“Yes. They were quite thorough,” she said. “Thank you.”

“所以您的決定是?”

“And?”

“我還是放棄了你的建議，德雅。我需要告訴他們真相?！?/span>

“I’m forgoing your recommendations, Déjà. I’m going to tell them the truth.”

門德斯發(fā)出了一陣幾乎聽不見的咕噥聲以表示贊同——這已經(jīng)是哈爾西博士從他那里聽到的最長(zhǎng)的言論之一了。作為肉搏和體能教官，門德斯是海軍中最好的人選。然而，他還離被稱為健談?wù)哌h(yuǎn)的很呢。

Mendez gave a nearly inaudible grunt of approval—one of the most verbose acknowledgments Dr.Halsey had heard from him. As a hand-to-hand combat and physical-training DI, Mendez was the best in the Navy. As a conversationalist, however, he left a great deal to be desired.

“真相伴隨著風(fēng)險(xiǎn)”德雅告誡道

“The truth has risks,” Déjà cautioned.

“謊言也是如此，”哈爾西博士回答。“任何為了激勵(lì)孩子們的謊話——聲稱他們的父母被海盜殺害，或者說(shuō)他們星球被的瘟疫摧毀——一旦他們長(zhǎng)大后知道真相，他們就會(huì)起來(lái)反抗我們。

“So do lies,” Dr. Halsey replied. “Any story fabricated to motivate the children—claiming their parents were taken and killed by pirates, or by a plague that devastated their planet—if they learned the truth later, they would turn against us.”

“這確實(shí)是一個(gè)合理的擔(dān)憂，”德雅承認(rèn)，然后她查閱了她的平板電腦?！拔疫€有一個(gè)建議是選擇性神經(jīng)麻痹。它會(huì)產(chǎn)生有針對(duì)性的遺忘癥——”

“It is a legitimate concern,” conceded Déjà, and then she consulted her tablet. “May I suggest selective neural paralysis? It produces a targeted amnesia—”

“那些遺失的記憶可能會(huì)殘存在大腦的其他的部分里。不能這么做，“哈爾西博士說(shuō)，”即使沒有傷害到其心智，這對(duì)他們來(lái)說(shuō)也足夠危險(xiǎn)了。

“A memory loss that may leak into other parts of the brain. No,” Dr. Halsey said, “this will be dangerousenough for them even with intact minds.”

哈爾西博士點(diǎn)了點(diǎn)她的麥克風(fēng)?！艾F(xiàn)在就把他們帶進(jìn)來(lái)吧?！?/span>

Dr. Halsey clicked on her microphone. “Bring them in now.”

“遵命，”一個(gè)聲音從天花板上的揚(yáng)聲器中回答道。

“Aye aye,” a voice replied from the speakers in the ceiling.

“他們會(huì)適應(yīng)的，”哈爾西博士告訴德雅?！爱?dāng)然他們也可能做不到，他們將無(wú)法訓(xùn)練，不適合這個(gè)項(xiàng)目。無(wú)論哪種情況，我都只想解決這個(gè)問(wèn)題。

“They’ll adapt,” Dr. Halsey told Déjà. “Or they won’t, and they will be untrainable and unsuitable for the project. Either way I just want to get this over with.”

圓形劇場(chǎng)頂層的四組雙開門齊齊打開。七十五名兒童走了進(jìn)來(lái)，每個(gè)孩子都由一名穿著迷彩服的海軍教官陪同。

Four sets of double doors at the top tier of the amphitheater swung open. Seventy-five children marched in—each accompanied by a handler, a Naval drill instructor in camouflage pattern fatigues.

孩子們都有著黑眼圈。他們從各地被所謂的“征兆”，穿過(guò)躍遷空間來(lái)到這里，直到最近才從冷凍睡眠中被帶出來(lái)。哈爾西也知道，他們?cè)馐苣ルy對(duì)他們打擊很大。她努力壓住心中之悔意。

The children had circles of fatigue around their eyes. They had all been collected, rushed here through Slipstream space, and only recently brought out of cryo sleep. The shock of their ordeal must be hitting them hard, Halsey realized. She stifled a pang of regret.

當(dāng)他們?cè)谂_(tái)階上坐下后，哈爾西博士清了清嗓子，開口道：“根據(jù)海軍法典45812，特此征召你們參加聯(lián)合國(guó)太空司令部的一項(xiàng)特別項(xiàng)目，代號(hào)為SPARTAN II。

When they had been seated in the risers, Dr. Halsey cleared her throat and spoke: “As per Naval Code45812, you are hereby conscripted into the UNSC Special Project, codenamed SPARTAN II.”

她頓了頓。她也很難說(shuō)下去。他們?cè)趺纯赡芾斫膺@一點(diǎn)？她自己也知道這只是進(jìn)行這一計(jì)劃的合理借口和所謂的道德意義而已。

She paused; the words stuck in her windpipe. How could they possibly understand this? She barely understood the justifications and ethics behind this program.

孩子們面面相覷。有幾個(gè)人試圖站起來(lái)離開，但他們身后的教官用強(qiáng)有力的手按住他們的肩膀把他們推了回去。

They looked so confused. A few tried to stand and leave, but their handlers placed firm hands on their shoulders and pushed them back down.

他們才僅僅六歲。。。這對(duì)他們來(lái)說(shuō)太多了，難以理解。但她必須讓他們明白他們以后所要面臨的，所以就用他們能理解的簡(jiǎn)單語(yǔ)言來(lái)解釋。

Six years old . . . this was too much for them to digest. But she had to make them understand, explain it in simple terms that they could grasp.

哈爾西博士試探性地向前邁出了一步?！澳銈儽灰蠓?，”她解釋道。“你們會(huì)接受訓(xùn)練。我們將會(huì)把你們打造為極致。你們將成為地球和她所有殖民地的守護(hù)者。

Dr. Halsey took a tentative step forward. “You have been called upon to serve,” she explained. “You will be trained . . . and you will become the best we can make of you. You will be the protectors of Earth and all her colonies.”

幾個(gè)孩子站了起來(lái)，打起了精神,不再害怕。

A handful of the children sat up straighter, no longer entirely frightened, but now interested.

哈爾西博士看見了約翰，編號(hào)117，這是她第一個(gè)選入的男孩。他依然皺著額頭，一臉迷茫地聽著。

Dr. Halsey spotted John, subject Number 117, the first boy she had confirmed as a viable candidate. He wrinkled his forehead, confused, but he listened with rapt attention.

“我知道這一切很難理解，但有一點(diǎn)是你們不能再回到父母身邊了。

“This will be hard to understand, but you cannot return to your parents.”

孩子們騷動(dòng)起來(lái)。他們的教官牢牢地按住了他們的肩膀。

The children stirred. Their handlers kept a firm grip on their shoulders.

“這個(gè)地方將成為你們的家，”哈爾西博士用她最舒緩聲音說(shuō)。“你們身邊的學(xué)員們現(xiàn)在就是你們的家人了。訓(xùn)練將會(huì)很辛苦。前行的路上會(huì)有許多困難，但我相信你們都會(huì)成功。

“This place will become your home,” Dr. Halsey said in as soothing a voice as she could muster. “Your fellow trainees will be your family now. The training will be difficult. There will be a great deal of hardship on the road ahead, but I know you will all make it.”

? ??真是激情昂揚(yáng)的話語(yǔ)啊，她自己卻覺得這些話無(wú)比虛偽。她想告訴他們真相，卻無(wú)法啟齒。? ??

Patriotic words, but they rang hollow in her ears. She had wanted to tell them the truth—but how could she?

并非所有人都能成功?！翱梢越邮艿膿p失，”海軍情報(bào)局的代表向她保證。但對(duì)她來(lái)說(shuō)這些不能接受。

Not all of them would make it. “Acceptable losses,” the Office of Naval Intelligence representative had assured her. None of it was acceptable.

“現(xiàn)在去休息吧，”哈爾西博士對(duì)他們說(shuō)?！拔覀兠魈炀烷_始?！?/span>

“Rest now,” Dr. Halsey said to them. “We begin tomorrow.”

她轉(zhuǎn)向門德斯?！皫н@些孩子們.....學(xué)員們?nèi)ニ麄兊臓I(yíng)房。給他們吃飯，然后讓他們上床睡覺。

She turned to Mendez. “Have the children . . . the trainees escorted to their barracks. Feed them and put them to bed.”

“是的，夫人，”門德斯說(shuō)?！叭w解散！”他喊道。

“Yes, ma’am,” Mendez said. “Fall out!” he shouted.

孩子們?cè)谒麄兊慕坦俚亩卮傧抡玖似饋?lái)。約翰117站了起來(lái)，但他一直注視著哈爾西博士，仍然堅(jiān)忍不拔。許多受試者似乎驚呆了，少數(shù)人的嘴唇顫抖 - 但沒有一個(gè)人哭泣。

The children rose—at the urging of their handlers. John 117 stood, but he kept his gaze on Dr. Halsey and remained stoic. Many of the subjects seemed stunned, a few had trembling lips—but none of them cried.

?他們確實(shí)適合這個(gè)項(xiàng)目。哈爾茜博士只希望那一天到來(lái)時(shí)，他們還有目前一半的勇氣。? ??

These were indeed the right children for the project. Dr. Halsey only hoped that she had half their courage when the time came.

“讓他們明天忙起來(lái)，”她告訴門德斯和德雅?！?/span>別讓他們有時(shí)間思考我們對(duì)他們做了些什么。”

“Keep them busy tomorrow,” she told Mendez and Déjà. “Keep them from thinking about what we’vejust done to them.”