美丽新世界 Brave New World 第1章(9)

On Rack 10 rows of next generation's chemicalworkers were being trained in the toleration of lead,caustic soda, tar, chlorine.

第十道架上一排排下一代的化学工人正在承受着铅毒、苛性苏打、沥青和氯气伤害的锻炼。

The first of a batch of two hundred and fiftyembryonic rocket-plane engineers was just passingthe eleven hundred metre mark on Rack 3.

第三排架上是胚胎期的火箭飞机机械师，每批二百五十个，其中的头一个正从三号架的一千一百公尺点通过。

A special mechanism kept their containers in constant rotation. "To improve their sense ofbalance," Mr. Foster explained.

一种特别的机械使它们的容器旋转个不停。“这是为了提高它们的平衡能力，”福斯特先生解释道，

"Doing repairs on the outside of a rocket in mid-air is a ticklish job.

“火箭进入太空之后，要到火箭外进行修理是很困难的活儿。

We slacken off the circulation when they're right way up, so that they're half starved, anddouble the flow of surrogate when they're upside down.

他们直立时我们便减缓转速，让他们感到很饥饿;他们倒立时我们就加倍供应代血剂。

They learn to associate topsy-turvydom with weli-being; in fact, they're only truly happy whenthey're standing on their heads.

这样，他们就把舒适跟倒立状态联系了起来。实际上他们只有倒立时才真正感到快活。”

"And now," Mr. Foster went on, "I'd like to show you some very interesting conditioning forAlpha Plus Intellectuals.

“现在，”福斯特先生说下去，“我要让你们看看对阿尔法加型知识分子的性格预定，那是很有趣的。

We have a big batch of them on Rack 5.

在五号架上我们有一大批阿尔法加，

First Gallery level," he called to two boys who had started to go down to the ground floor.

在第一道长廊，”他对已经开始往一楼下去的两个小伙子叫道。

"They're round about Metre 900," he explained. "You can't really do any useful intellectualconditioning till the foetuses have lost their tails. Follow me."

“他们大体在九百公尺附近，”他解释道，“在胚胎的尾巴消失以前实际上是无法设置智力条件的。跟我来。”

But the Director had looked at his watch. "Ten to three," he said.

但是主任已经在看他的表了。“差十分钟到三点，”他说，

"No time for the intellectual embryos, I'm afraid. We must go up to the Nurseries before thechildren have finished their afternoon sleep."

“我担心的是没有时间看知识分子胚胎了。我们必须在孩子们午睡醒来之前赶回育婴室去。”

Mr. Foster was disappointed. "At least one glance at the Decanting Room," he pleaded.

福斯特先生感到失望。“至少看看换瓶车间吧。”他请求。

"Very well then." The Director smiled indulgently. "Just one glance."

“那也行，”主任宽厚地笑了笑，“那就看看吧。”