美麗新世界 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學(xué)工人正在承受著鉛毒、苛性蘇打、瀝青和氯氣傷害的鍛煉。

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飛機機械師，每批二百五十個，其中的頭一個正從三號架的一千一百公尺點通過。

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

一種特別的機械使它們的容器旋轉(zhuǎn)個不停。“這是為了提高它們的平衡能力，”福斯特先生解釋道，

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

“火箭進入太空之后，要到火箭外進行修理是很困難的活兒。

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.

他們直立時我們便減緩轉(zhuǎn)速，讓他們感到很饑餓;他們倒立時我們就加倍供應(yīng)代血劑。

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

這樣，他們就把舒適跟倒立狀態(tài)聯(lián)系了起來。實際上他們只有倒立時才真正感到快活。”

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

“現(xiàn)在，”福斯特先生說下去，“我要讓你們看看對阿爾法加型知識分子的性格預(yù)定，那是很有趣的。

We have a big batch of them on Rack 5.

在五號架上我們有一大批阿爾法加，

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

在第一道長廊，”他對已經(jīng)開始往一樓下去的兩個小伙子叫道。

"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."

“他們大體在九百公尺附近，”他解釋道，“在胚胎的尾巴消失以前實際上是無法設(shè)置智力條件的。跟我來。”

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

但是主任已經(jīng)在看他的表了。“差十分鐘到三點，”他說，

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

“我擔(dān)心的是沒有時間看知識分子胚胎了。我們必須在孩子們午睡醒來之前趕回育嬰室去。”

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

福斯特先生感到失望。“至少看看換瓶車間吧。”他請求。

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

“那也行，”主任寬厚地笑了笑，“那就看看吧。”