Forward the Foundation Chapter 25

12Las Zenow said with a certain tinge of awe in his voice, I didnt know you were so friendly with the Emperor, Professor Seldon. wherefore not? Hes a very democratic fel crushed for an Emperor and he was interested in my experiences as a first off Minister in Cleons clock time.It made a of late impression on us completely. We havent had an Emperor in our halls for m either years. Generally, when the Emperor needs something from the Library-I plunder imagine. He calls for it and it is brought to him as a matter of courtesy. in that respect was once a suggestion, said Zenow chattily, that the Emperor be byfitted with a complete set of computerized equipment in his palace, hooked directly into the Library system, so that he would not need to wait for service. This was in the former(a) days when credits were plentiful, notwithstanding, you know, it was voted down.Was it?Oh yes, almost the entire Board agreed that it would make the Emperor too more a part of the Library and that this would threaten our independence from the government.And does this Board, which will not bend to honor an Emperor, acquiesce to let me remain at the Library?At the present moment, yes. at that place is a feeling-and Ive d adept my surpass to encourage it-that if we are not polite to a personal friend of the Emperor, the chance of a stick aside in appropriations will be gone alto ca-caher, so-So credits-or even the dim prospect of credits-talk.Im afraid so.And can I bring in my colleagues?Zenow looked embarrassed. Im afraid not. The Emperor was seen walking barely with you-not with your colleagues. Im sorry, Professor.Seldon shrugged and a mood of deep melancholy swept over him. He had no colleague to bring in, whatsoeverhow. For some time he had hoped to locate others like Wanda and he had failed. He, too, would need funding to mount an adequate search. And he, too, had nothing.13Trantor, the capital world-city of the astronomic Empire, had changed considerably since t he day Hari first stepped off the hypership from his native Helicon thirty-eight years ago. Was it the pearly overcast of an old adult males memory that made the Trantor of old shine so brightly in his discernments eye, Hari wondered. Or peradventure it had been the exuberance of youth-how could a young man from a provincial Outer World such as Helicon not be impressed by the gleaming towers, sparkling domes, the colorful, rushing masses of pack that had seemed to swirl through Trantor, day and night. forthwith, Hari thought sadly, the walkways are nearly deserted, even in the full gay of day. Roving gangs of thugs controlled various areas of the city, competing among themselves for territory. The security establishment had dwindled those who were left-hand(a) had their hands full processing complaints at the profound office. Of course, security officers were dispatched as emergency calls came through, exclusively they made it to the scene only after a law-breaking was co mmitted-they no longer made even a pretense of protecting the citizens of Trantor. A person went out at his own risk-and a great risk it was. And yet Hari Seldon still took that risk, in the form of a daily walk, as if defying the forces that were destroying his be have intercoursed Empire to destroy him as well.And so Hari Seldon walked along, limping-and thoughtful. nohing worked. Nothing. He had been unable(p) to isolate the genetic pattern that set Wanda by-and without that, he was unable to locate others like her.Wandas ability to express minds had sharpened considerably in the six years since she had identified the flaw in Yugo Amaryls Prime Radiant. Wanda was peculiar(a) in more ways than one. It was as if, once she realized that her mental ability set her apart from other people, she was determined to understand it, to harness its energy, to direct it. As she had progressed through her teen years, she had matured, throwing off the childlike giggles that had so endeared her to Hari, at the same time becoming even dearer to him in her determination to help him in his work with the powers of her gift. For Hari Seldon had told Wanda somewhat his plan for a Second Foundation and she had committed herself to realizing that goal with him.Today, though, Seldon was in a dark mood. He was coming to the conclusion that Wandas mentalic ability would get him nowhere. He had no credits to concern his work-no credits to locate others like Wanda, no credits to pay his workers on the Psychohistory hold at Streeling, no credits to set up his all-important Encyclopedia Project at the Galactic Library.Now what?He continued to walk toward the Galactic Library. He would have been better off taking a gravicab, but he penuryed to walk-limp or not. He needed time to think.He heard a cry- in that location he is-but paid no attention.It came once more. There he is PsychohistoryThe word forced him to look up. Psychohistory.A multitude of young men was closing in around him.Automatically Seldon placed his rearward against the wall and increase his cane. What is it you take?They laughed. Credits, old man. Do you have whatever credits?Maybe, but why do you want them from me? You said, Psychohistory Do you know who I am?Sure, youre Raven Seldon said the young man in the lead. He seemed both comfortable and pleased.Youre a creep, shouted another.What are you going to do if I dont give you any credits?Well beat you up, said the leader, and well take them.And if I give you my credits?Well beat you up besides They all laughed.Hari Seldon raised his cane higher. freeze away. All of you.By now he had managed to count them. There were eight.He felt himself choking slightly. Once he and Dors and Raych had been cominged by ten and they had had no trouble. He had been only thirty- cardinal at the time and Dors-was Dors.Now it was different. He waved his cane.The leader of the hoodlums said, Hey, the old man is going to round out us. What are we going to do?Seldon looked around swiftly. There were no security officers around. Another indication of the debasement of society. An occasional person or two passed by, but there was no habituate calling for help. Their footsteps change magnitude in speed and made a wide detour. No one was going to run any risks of getting involved in an imbroglio.Seldon said, The first one of you who approaches gets a cracked head.Yeah? And the leader stepped forth rapidly and seized the cane. There was a short sharp struggle and the cane was wrested from Seldons grip. The leader tossed it to one side.Now what, old man?Seldon shrunk dressing. He could only wait for the blows. They crowded around him, each eager to unload a blow or two. Seldon elevatored his arms to try to ward them off. He could still flexure-after a fashion. If he were facing only one or two, he might be able to Twist his body, avoid their blows, strike back. but not against eight-surely not against eight.He tried, at any deem, moving promptly to one side to avoid the blows and his right leg, with its sciatica, doubled under him. He fell and k naked himself to be utterly helpless.Then he heard a stentorian voice shouting, Whats going on here? pop back, you thugs Back or Ill kill you allThe leader said, Well, another old man.Not that old, said the new deignr. With the back of one hand, he struck the leaders guinea pig, turning it an ugly red.Seldon said in surprise, Raych, its you.Raychs hand swept back. Stay out of this, Dad. Just get up and move away.The leader, rubbing his cheek, said, Well get you for that.No, you wont, said Raych, drawing out a knife of Dahlite manufacture, long and gleaming. A second knife was withdrawn and he now held one in each hand.Seldon said weakly, Still carrying knives, Raych?Always, said Raych. Nothing will ever make me kick downst billets.Ill stop you, said the leader, drawing out a blaster.Faster than the eye could follow, one of Raychs knives went sailing through the air and struck the leaders throat. He made a loud gasp, then a gurgling sound, and fell, while the other septenary stared.Raych approached and said, I want my knife back. He drew it out of the hoodlums throat and wiped it on the mans shirtfront. In doing so, he stepped on the mans hand, bent down, and picked up his blaster.Raych dropped the blaster into one of his capacious pockets. He said, I dont like to use a blaster, you bunch of good-for-nothings, because sometimes I miss. I never miss with a knife, however. Never That man is dead. There are seven of you standing. Do you intend to stay standing or will you submit?Get him shouted one of the hoodlums and the seven made a concerted rush.Raych took a backward step. nonpareil knife flashed and then the other and two of the hoodlums stopped with, in each case, a knife bury in his abdomen.Give me back my knives, said Raych, pulling each out with a cutting apparent movement and wiping them.These two are still alive, but not for lo ng. That leaves five of you on your feet. Are you going to attack again or are you going to leave?They turned and Raych called out, Pick up your dead and dying. I dont want them.Hastily they flung the three bodies over their shoulders, then they turned tail and ran.Raych bent to pick up Seldons cane. Can you walk, Dad?Not very well, said Seldon. I twisted my leg.Well then, get into my car. What were you doing walking, anyway?Why not? Nothings ever happened to me.So you waited till something did. Get into my car and Ill give you a lift back to Streeling.He programmed the ground-car quietly, then said, What a shame we didnt have Dors with us. mum would have attacked them with her bare lands and left all eight dead in five minutes.Seldon felt tears stinging his eyelids. I know, Raych, I know. Do you think I dont miss her every day?Im sorry, said Raych in a low voice.Seldon asked, How did you know I was in trouble?Wanda told me. She said there were evil people lying in wait for you, s he told me where they were and I took right off.Didnt you doubt that she knew what she was talking nearly?Not at all. We know tolerable about her now to know that she has some sort of contact with your mind and with the things around you.Did she tell you how some(prenominal) people were attacking me?No. She just said, Quite a few.So you came out all by yourself, did you, Raych?I had no time to put together a posse, Dad. Besides, one of me was enough.Yes, it was. Thank you, Raych.14They were back at Streeling now and Seldons leg was stretched out on a hassock.Raych looked at him somberly. Dad, he began, youre not to go walking around Trantor on your own from now on.Seldon frowned. Why, because of one incident?It was enough of an incident. You cant take wield of yourself any longer. Youre seventy years old and your right leg will not support you in an emergency. And you have enemies-EnemiesYes, indeed. And you know it. Those sewer rats were not after simply anyone. They were not l ooking for just any unwary person to rip off. They identified you by calling out, Psychohistory And they called you a creep. Why do you opine that was?I dont know why.Thats because you live in a world all your own, Dad, and you dont know whats going on on Trantor. Dont you suppose the Trantorians know that their world is going downhill at a rapid rate? Dont you suppose they know that your psychohistory has been predicting this for years? Doesnt it occur to you that they may blame the messenger for the message? If things go bad-and they are going bad-there are many who think that you are responsible for it.I cant believe that.Why do you suppose theres a faction at the Galactic Library that wants you out of there? They dont want to be in the way when you are mobbed. So-youve got to take care of yourself. You cant go out alone. Ill have to be with you or you will have to have bodyguards. Thats the way its going to be, Dad.Seldon looked dreadfully unhappy.Raych softened and said, But n ot for long, Dad. Ive got a new job.Seldon looked up. A new job. What kind?Teaching. At a University.Which University?Santanni.Seldons lips trembled. Santanni Thats nine thousand parsecs away from Trantor. Its a provincial world on the other side of the Galaxy.Exactly. Thats why I want to go there. Ive been on Trantor all my life, Dad, and Im tired of it. Theres no world in all the Empire thats deteriorating the way Trantor is. Its become a haunt of crime with no one to protect us. The economy is limping, the technology is failing. Santanni, on the other hand, is a decent world, still humming along, and I want to be there to build a new life, along with Manella and Wanda and Bellis. Were all going there in two months.All of youAnd you, Dad. And you. We wouldnt leave you behind on Trantor. Youre coming with us to Santanni.Seldon shook his head. Impossible, Raych. You know that.Why impossible?You know why. The Project. My psychohistory. Are you asking me to kick my lifes work?Why not ? Its abandoned you.Youre mad.No, Im not. Where are you going with it? You have no credits. You cant get any. Theres no one left on Trantor whos willing to support you.For nearly forty year-Yes, I admit that. But after all that time, youve failed Dad. Theres no crime in failing. Youve tried so hard and youve gone so far, but youve run into a deteriorating economy, a falling Empire. Its the very thing youve been predicting for so long thats stopping you at last. So-No. I will not stop. Somehow or other, I will spare going.I tell you what, Dad. If youre really going to be so stubborn, then take psychohistory with you. Start it again on Santanni. There may be enough credits-and vehemence-to support it there.And the men and women who have been working for me so faithfully?Oh bull, Dad. Theyve been leaving you because you cant pay them. You hang around here for the rest of your life and youll be alone. Oh, come on, Dad. Do you think I like to talk to you this way? Its because no one h as wanted to-because no one has had the perfume to-that youre in your present predicament. Lets be honest with each other now. When you walk the streets of Trantor and youre attacked for no reason other than that youre Hari Seldon, dont you think its time for a little bit of truth?Never mind the truth. I have no intention of leaving Trantor.Raych shook his head. I was sure youd be stubborn, Dad. Youve got two months to change your mind. Think about it, will you?15It had been a long time since Hari Seldon had smiled. He had conducted the Project in the same fashion that he always did pushing always forward in the exploitation of psychohistory, making plans for the Foundation, renting the Prime Radiant.But he did not smile. All he did was to force himself through his work without any feeling of impending success. Rather, there was a feeling of impending failure about everything.And now, as he sat in his office at Streeling University, Wanda entered. He looked up at her and his hear t lifted. Wanda had always been special. Seldon couldnt put his finger on just when he and the others had started accepting her pronouncements with more than the usual enthusiasm it just seemed always to have been that way. As a little girl, she had saved his life with her uncanny intimacy of lemonade death and all through her childhood she had somehow just known things.Although Dr. Endelecki had asserted that Wandas genome was perfectly usual in every way, Seldon was still positive that his granddaughter possessed mental abilities far beyond those of average humans. And he was just as sure that there were others like her in the Galaxy-on Trantor, even. If only he could find them, these mentalics, what a great contribution they could make to the Foundation. The potential for such greatness all centered in his bonnie granddaughter. Seldon gazed at her, framed in his office doorway, and he felt as if his heart would break. In a few days, she would be gone.How could he bear it? She was such a beautiful girl-eighteen. Long blond hair, face a little broad but with a tendency to smile. She was even smiling now and Seldon thought, Why not? Shes heading for Santanni and for a new life.He said, Well, Wanda, just a few more days.No. I dont think so, grandfather.He stared at her. What?Wanda approached him and put her arms around him. Im not going to Santanni. extradite your father and mother changed their minds?No, theyre going.And youre not? Why? Where are you going?Im going to stay here, Grandpa. With you. She hugged him. Poor GrandpaBut I dont understand. Why? Are they allowing this?You mean Mom and Dad. Not really. Weve been arguing over this for weeks, but Ive won out. Why not, Grandpa? Theyll go to Santanni and theyll have each other-and theyll have little Bellis, too. But if I go with them and leave you here, youll have no one. I dont think I could stand that.But how did you get them to agree?Well, you know-I pushed.What does that mean?Its my mind. I can see w hat you have in yours and in theirs and, as time goes on, I can see more clearly. And I can push them to do what I want.How do you do that?I dont know. But after a while, they get tired of being pushed and theyre willing to let me have my way. So Im going to stay with you.Seldon looked up at her with helpless love. This is wonderful, Wanda. But Bellis-Dont worry about Bellis. She doesnt have a mind like mine.Are you certain? Seldon chewed at his lower lip.Quite certain. Besides, Mom and Dad have to have someone, too.Seldon wanted to rejoice, but he couldnt do so openly. There were Raych and Manella. What of them?He said, Wanda, what about your parents? Can you be so cold-blooded about them?Im not cold-blooded. They understand. They realize I must be with you.How did you manage that?I pushed, said Wanda simply, and eventually they came to see it my way.You can do that?It wasnt easy.And you did it because- Seldon paused.Wanda said, Because I love you. Of course. And because-Yes?I mus t learn psychohistory. I know quite a bit of it already.How?From your mind. From the minds of others at the Project, in particular from Uncle Yugo before he died. But its in rags and tatters, so far. I want the real thing. Grandpa, I want a Prime Radiant of my own. Her face lit up and her words came quickly, with passion. I want to study psychohistory in great detail. Grandpa, youre quite old and quite tired. Im young and eager. I want to learn all I can, so I can carry on when-Seldon said, Well, that would be wonderful-if you could do it-but there is no funding anymore. Ill teach you all I can, but-we cant do anything.Well see, Grandpa. Well see.