Forward the Foundation Chapter 25

12Las Ze this instant express with a true trace of awe in his voice, I didnt hit the hay you were so friendly with the emperor, Professor Seldon.why non? Hes a real democratic fellow for an Emperor and he was interested in my experiences as a First Minister in Cleons cartridge h gray-haireder.It make a chummy impression on us exclusively. We guardnt had an Emperor in our halls for m all old age. Generally, when the Emperor needs some social function from the library-I rear imagine. He calls for it and it is brought to him as a depend of courtesy.thither was once a suggestion, say Zenow chattily, that the Emperor be fitted tabu(p) with a comp permite set of com redacterized equipment in his palace, hooked directly into the Library system, so that he would non need to storage argona for service. This was in the octogenarian days when credits were plentiful, besides, you cognize, it was voted down.Was it?Oh yes, almost the entire Board agreed that it would functio n the Emperor too much a part of the Library and that this would hazard our independence from the g all overnment.And does this Board, which testament non bend to honor an Emperor, consent to let me remain at the Library?At the present moment, yes. in that location is a feeling-and Ive done my best to encourage it-that if we are not polite to a someoneal friend of the Emperor, the chance of a rise in appropriations will be gone alto crushher, so-So credits-or flat the dim prospect of credits-talk.Im hydrophobic so.And can I bring in my colleagues?Zenow looked embarrassed. Im afraid not. The Emperor was seen paseo simply 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, anyhow. For some succession he had hoped to range others like Wanda and he had failed. He, too, would need funding to mount an commensurate search. And he, too, had nothing.13Trantor, the capital world-city of the galactic Empire, had revisiond considerably since the day Hari first stepped come to the hypership from his native Helicon thirty-eight years ago. Was it the pearly haze of an doddery globes memory that made the Trantor of rare shine so brightly in his minds snapper, Hari wondered. Or perhaps it had been the exuberance of youth-how could a vernal man from a provincial Outer World such as Helicon not be impressed by the gleaming towers, sparkling domes, the colorful, rushing good deal of people that had seemed to swirl through Trantor, day and night.Now, Hari thought sadly, the walkship canal are intimately deserted, even in the full light of day. Roving gangs of thugs controlled various areas of the city, competing among themselves for territory. The pledge establishment had dwindled those who were left had their hands full processing complaints at the interchange office. Of course, security officers were dispatched as emergency calls came through, that they mad e it to the scene sole(prenominal) after a crime was committed-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 absorbs that were bankrupting his beloved Empire to destroy him as well.And so Hari Seldon walked along, limping-and thoughtful.Nothing wagered. Nothing. He had been unable to isolate the transmittable pattern that set Wanda by-and without that, he was unable to locate others like her.Wandas powerfulness to read minds had sharpened considerably in the six years since she had set the flaw in Yugo Amaryls summit Radiant. Wanda was special in more delegacys than one. It was as if, once she realized that her mental aptitude set her apart from other people, she was determined to netherstand it, to harness its energy, to direct it. As she had progressed through her teen years, she had matured, thr owing off the girlish 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 about his plan for a Second Foundation and she had committed herself to realizing that coating 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 continue his work-no credits to locate others like Wanda, no credits to pay his workers on the Psychohistory suffer 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 incur been better off taking a gravicab, but he unavoidablenessed to walk-limp or not. He needed time to think.He hear a cry-There he is-but paid no attention.It came again. There he is PsychohistoryThe word forced him to look up. Psychohistory.A group of new(a) men was closing in around him.Automatically Seldon placed his game against the wall and raised his rag. What is it you motive?They laughed. Credits, old man. Do you stimulate any credits?Maybe, but why do you want them from me? You state, Psychohistory Do you make love who I am?Sure, youre Raven Seldon verbalise the young man in the lead. He seemed both comfortable and pleased.Youre a creep, yelled another.What are you waiver to do if I dont give you any credits?Well beat you up, tell the leader, and well perplex them.And if I give you my credits?Well beat you up anyways They all laughed.Hari Seldon raised his cane higher. Stay out-of-door. All of you.By now he had managed to count them. There were eight.He felt himself choking slightly. at once he and Dors and Raych had been attacked by ten and they had had no disturbance. He had been only 32 at the time and Dors-was Dors.Now it was different. He waved his cane.The leader of the hoodlums state, Hey, the old man is expiry to attack us. What are we difference to do?Seldon looked around swiftly. There were no security officers around. Another indication of the deterioration of society. An occasional person or two passed by, but there was no use trade for help. Their footsteps increased in speed and made a wide detour. No one was tone ending 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 forwards 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 keystone. He could only wait for the blows. They crowded around him, to each one eager to land a blow or two. Seldon lifted his arms to try to ward them off. He could still Twist-after a fashion. If he were facing only one or two, he might be able to Twist his body, avoid their blows, fret back. But not against eight-surely not against eight.He tried, at any rate, woful quickly to one side to avoid the blows and his right pegleg, with its sciatica, doubled under him. He fell and knew himself to be utterly helpless.Then he heard a stentorian voice shouting, Whats going on here? reward back, you thugs Back or Ill kill you allThe leader said, Well, another old man.Not that old, said the newcomer. With the back of one hand, he struck the leaders face, move 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 present moment knife was withdrawn and he now held one in each hand.Seldon said weakly, Still carrying knives, Raych?Always, said Raych. Nothing will ever take away me stop.Ill stop you, said the leader, drawing out a chargeman.Faster than the eye could follow, o ne of Raychs knives went sailing through the air and struck the leaders pharynx. He made a loud gasp, then a gurgling sound, and fell, while the other sevensome 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, knack 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 wild. There are seven of you standing. Do you represent to stay standing or will you add?Get him shouted one of the hoodlums and the seven made a concerted rush.Raych took a backswept step. One knife flashed and then the other and two of the hoodlums stopped with, in each case, a knife buried in his abdomen.Give me back my knives, said Raych, pulling each out with a cutting move and wiping them.These tw o are still alive, but not for long. 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? wherefore 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 contain Dors with us. mom 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 ther e were evil people lying in wait for you, she told me where they were and I took right off.Didnt you doubt that she knew what she was talking about?Not at all. We know luxuriant about her now to know that she has some break of contact with your mind and with the things around you.Did she tell you how many people were attack me?No. She just said, Quite a a few(prenominal).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 contingency?It was enough of an incident. You cant take care 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 w ere not after simply anyone. They were not aspect for just any unwary person to rip off. They identified you by calling out, Psychohistory And they called you a creep. Why do you suppose 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 descending(prenominal) 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.Sel don looked dreadfully unhappy.Raych softened and said, But not 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 engine room 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 p sychohistory. Are you asking me to abandon 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 well-nigh 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 keep 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 enthusiasm-to support it there.And the men and women who have been working for me so faithfully?Oh bull, Dad. Theyve been difference you because you cant pay them. You hang around here for the rest of your life and youll be alone. Oh, come on, Da d. Do you think I like to talk to you this way? Its because no one has wanted to-because no one has had the mall 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 smear of truth?Never mind the truth. I have no figure 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 evermore did pushing always forward in the development of psychohistory, making plans for the Foundation, examine 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 sit down in his office at Streeling University, Wanda entered. He looked up at her and his heart lifted. Wanda had always been special. Seldon couldnt put his finger on just when he and the others had started pass judgment 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 knowledge of lemonade goal and all through her childhood she had somehow just known things.Although Dr. Endelecki had asseverate that Wandas genome was perfectly normal in every way, Seldon was still positive that his granddaughter feature 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 commence them, these mentalics, what a great contribution they could make to the Foundation. The potential for such splendour all centered in his fine granddaughter. Seldon gazed at her, framed in his office doorway, and he felt as i f 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, gramps.He stared at her. What?Wanda approached him and put her arms around him. Im not going to Santanni.Have your father and obtain 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. low 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 what 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 concern 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- Se ldon paused.Wanda said, Because I love you. Of course. And because-Yes?I must learn psychohistory. I know quite a minute of it already.How?From your mind. From the minds of others at the Project, especially 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.