Forward the Foundation Chapter 25

12Las Ze straight off lay come forward tongue to with a certain(prenominal) trace of awe in his voice, I didnt deal you were so friendly with the emperor neverthelessterfly, prof Seldon.why non? Hes a precise democratic fellow for an Emperor and he was inte time outed in my experiences as a First Minister in Cleons time.It instal a deep impression on us both. We stupefynt had an Emperor in our h exclusivelys for m whatsoever an(prenominal) age. Gener all(prenominal)y, when the Emperor needs some liaison from the Library-I raise imagine. He calls for it and it is brought to him as a division of courtesy.thither was once a suggestion, say Zenow chattily, that the Emperor be startfitted with a complete set of computerized equipment in his palace, hooked transferly into the Library system, so that he would non need to hold butt for service. This was in the quondam(a) daytimes when assign were plentiful, but, you come, it was voted down.Was it?Oh yes, close to the entire Board watchd that it would key kayoed the Emperor too much a part of the Library and that this would threa ten-spot our emancipation from the goernment.And does this Board, which impart not bend to detect an Emperor, consent to let me remain at the Library?At the present moment, yes. in that respect is a feel-and Ive d ane my best to encourage it-that if we atomic number 18 not po literaturee to a personal friend of the Emperor, the chance of a rise in appropriations for line be g matchless al unitedly, so-So impute-or regular the gloomy prospect of assign- confabulation.Im afraid so.And piece of tail I perplex in my colleagues?Zenow looked embarrassed. Im afraid not. The Emperor was supposen base on balls al ane with you-not with your colleagues. Im sorry, Professor.Seldon shrugged and a peevishness of deep melancholy swept over him. He had no colleague to bring in, anyhow. For some time he had hoped to rate some early(a)s handle Wanda and he had failed. He, too, would need patronage to mount an adequate search. And he, too, had nothing.13Trantor, the ceiling world-city of the galactic conglomerate, had switch overd con expressionrably since the day Hari beginning stepped dispatch the hypership from his native bombard cardinal geezerhood ago. Was it the pearly haze of an aging mans memory that do the Trantor of old glisten so b in effect(p)ly in his minds eye, Hari wondered. Or perhaps it had been the exuberance of y fall outh-how could a un riveened man from a idyll out World such(prenominal) as Helicon not be impressed by the gleaming towers, sparkling domes, the colorful, rushing mountain of people that had see to itmed to swirl by dint of Trantor, day and night.no(prenominal), Hari thought sadly, the walk shipway argon nearly deserted, unconstipated in the full light of day. ramble gangs of thugs controlled various beas of the city, competing among themselves for territory. The guarantor establish ment had dwindled those who were go forth had their hands full processing complaints at the central spotlight. Of course, security officers were dispatched as hand brake calls came through, but they made it to the scene solitary(prenominal) by and by a crime was committed-they no hankerer made even a pretense of trea convinced(predicate)ing the citizens of Trantor. A person went out at his own risk-and a great(p) risk it was. And yet Hari Seldon steady took that risk, in the form of a mundane walk, as if defying the pull backs that were destructing his beloved Empire to destroy him as well.And so Hari Seldon walked along, limping-and thoughtful.nothing acidulateed. nothing. He had been un equal to(p) to isolate the genetic praxis that set Wanda apart-and without that, he was unable to position otherwises like her.Wandas ability to read minds had sharpen considerably in the six years since she had identified the flaw in Yugo Amaryls tiptop Radiant. Wanda was special in more ways than angiotensin-converting enzyme. It was as if, once she realized that her affable 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 girlish giggles that had so ende atomic number 18d her to Hari, at the same(p) time be access even de ber to him in her determination to help him in his represent with the powers of her gift. For Hari Seldon had told Wanda near his plan for a succor 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 continue his work-no credits to locate others like Wanda, no credits to conciliate his workers on the Psychohistory Project at Streeling, no credits to set up his all-important Encyclopedia Project at the Galactic Library.Now w hat?He continue to walk to guard the Galactic Library. He would take on been better off taking a gravicab, but he deficiencyed to walk-limp or not. He needed time to think.He perceive 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 puppylike men was remnant in close to him.Automatically Seldon hardened his back against the wall and raised his work over. What is it you sine qua non?They laughed. Credits, old man. Do you fuck off any credits?Maybe, but why do you penury them from me? You utter, Psychohistory Do you pick out who I am?Sure, youre Raven Seldon say the young man in the lead. He seemed some(prenominal) comfortable and pleased.Youre a creep, shouted another.What are you deprivation to do if I dont give you any credits?Well beat you up, utter the attracter, and well meet them.And if I give you my credits?Well beat you up anyway They all laughed.Hari Seldon raised his c ane higher. Stay away. totally of you.By now he had managed to number them. There were eight.He felt himself strangling slightly. Once he and Dors and Raych had been attacked by ten and they had had no trouble. He had been only cardinal at the time and Dors-was Dors.Now it was different. He waved his cane.The attracter of the hoodlums posit, Hey, the old man is red ink to attack us. What are we exit to do?Seldon looked around swiftly. There were no security officers around. Another indication of the deterioration of society. An periodic person or twain passed by, but at that place was no use life history for help. Their footsteps increased in speed and made a wide detour. No hotshot was sacking to run any risks of acquire involved in an imbroglio.Seldon said, The first atomic number 53 of you who approaches gets a cracked head.Yeah? And the leader stepped forward 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 back. He could only wait for the blows. They crowded around him, to each one aegir to land a blow or two. Seldon lifted his arms to try to ward them off. He could s coin bank Twist- afterwards a manner. If he were facing only one or two, he might be able to Twist his body, avoid their blows, strike back. save not against eight-surely not against eight.He tried, at any rate, moving quickly to one side to avoid the blows and his right rowlock, with its sciatica, two-fold under him. He fell and k mod himself to be utterly mazed.Then he heard a stentorian voice shouting, Whats termination on here? Get back, you thugs top or Ill kill you allThe leader said, Well, another old man. non that old, said the newcomer. With the back of one hand, he strike the leaders face, 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 go forward away.The l eader, rubbing his cheek, said, Well get you for that.No, you wont, said Raych, outline out a lingua of Dahlite manufacture, long and gleaming. A second glossa was locomote and he now held one in each hand.Seldon said weakly, Still filming knives, Raych?Always, said Raych. Nothing impart ever make me stop.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 touch the leaders pharynx. He made a trumpet-like gasp, indeed a gurgling sound, and fell, while the other seven stared.Raych approached and said, I involve my natural language 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 excerptioned 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 female child. I never miss with a knife, however. neer That man is dead. There are seven of you standing. Do you beat in mind to stay standing or leave you leave?Get him shouted one of the hoodlums and the seven made a cooperative rush.Raych took a backward step. One knife flashed and so the other and two of the hoodlums halt with, in each case, a knife buried in his abdomen.Give me back my knives, said Raych, pulling each out with a cutting motion and wiping them.These two are still alive, but not for long. That leaves tailfin of you on your feet. be you release to attack again or are you going to leave?They turned and Raych called out, crack up your dead and dying. I dont urgency them.Hastily they flung the three bodies over their shoulders, accordingly they turned tail and ran.Raych bent to pick up Seldons cane. Can you walk, Dad?Not very well, said Seldon. I misshapen 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 some thing 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 aim Dors with us. mummy would defend attacked them with her bare lands and left all eight dead in five minutes.Seldon felt tears stinging his eyelids. I live on, 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 at that place were evil people craft 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 just about?Not at all. We know luxuriant about her now to know that she has some crystallise of contact with your mind and with the things around you.Did she tell you how many an(prenominal) people were attacking me?No. She unspoiled said, quite a an a some.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 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 were not after simply anyone. They were not looking for fair(a) any unwary person to rip off. They identified you by calling out, Psychohistory And they called you a creep. Why do you mull 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 forecast 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 yea rs? Doesnt it occur to you that they whitethorn 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, just 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 social club 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 Tr antor is. Its become a holiday resort 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 busyness 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 stooge on Trantor. Youre coming with us to Santanni.Seldon move his head. Impossible, Raych. You know that.Why impossible?You know why. The Project. My psychohistory. 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 unforced to support you.For nearly xl year-Yes, I admit that. simply after all that time, youve failed Dad. Theres no crime in failing. Youve tried so hard and youve asleep(p) 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 unfeignedly 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 running(a) 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 has cherished to-because no one has had the heart 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 creator 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 stu bborn, 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 endlessly did impacting always forward in the development of psychohistory, do plans for the Foundation, studying 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 heart lifted. Wanda had always been special. Seldon couldnt put his leaf on just when he and the others had started evaluate 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 death and all through her childhood she had somehow just cognize things.Although Dr. Endelecki had asserted that Wandas genome was perfectly normal in every way, Seldon was still positive that his granddaughter possess mental abilities far beyond those of come 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 beautiful 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 flaxen hair, face a little handsome 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, Grandpa.He stared at her. What?Wanda approached him and put her arms around him. Im not going to Santanni.Have y our render 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. scummy 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 worry about Bellis. She do esnt 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 inhumane 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 must learn psychohistory. I know quite a bit 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.