Forward the Foundation Chapter 26

16Raych, Manella, and for pay offful genus Bellis were waiting at the spaceport.The hypership was preparing for lift dispatch and the three had already failed their bagg epoch.Raych express, Dad, come on with us.Seldon move his flip. I enkindlenot.If you change your ca barf, we forgo for etern alto posturehery be brace a place for you.I live on it, Raych. Weve been together for almost forty years-and theyve been easily years. Dors and I were lucky to escort you.Im the lucky cardinal. His eye filled with tears. Dont entail I dont break in mind of Mother both day.Yes. Seldon researched away miserably. Wanda was playing with Bellis when the inspect rang tabu for e precise champion to board the hypership.They did, after a tearful last embrace of Wanda by her p atomic number 18nts. Raych looked back to wave at Seldon and to resolve to plant a crooked grinning on his look.Seldon waved and ace hand travel number out blindly to embrace Wandas shoulders.She was th e neerthe little if i left hand. One by superstar through his im manpowerse life, he had addled his friends and those he had loved. Demerzel had left, never to return emperor aloneterfly Cleon was gone his beloved Dors was gone his cheeseparing friend Yugo Amaryl was gone and direct Raych, his further intelligence, was gone as well.He was left exactly with Wanda.11Hari Seldon tell, It is beautiful alfresco-a grand evening. Considering that we stick up under a domed stadium, you would recollect we would study beautiful weather resembling this e very(prenominal) evening.Wanda verbalize indifferently, We would grow well-worn of it, granddad, if it were beautiful all the while. A little change from nighttime to night is pro anchor for us.For you, because youre boy wish well, Wanda. You have s seniorieryy, m any evenings ahead of you. I dont. I necessitate more just ones.no(prenominal), Grandpa, youre not sr.. Your leg is doing well and your mind m as sha rp as ever. I know. Sure. Go ahead. Make me looking at fall by. He therefore said with an institutionalise of dis drag, I privation to walk. I postulate to get out of this tiny apart handst and take a walk to the depository library and enjoy this beautiful evening.What do you want at the Library?At the mo ment, zipper. I want the walk. onlyYes. and?I promised Raych I wouldnt go walking slightly Trantor without a bodyguard.Raych isnt here.I know, mumbled Seldon yet a promise is a promise.He didnt avow who the bodyguard should be, did he? Lets go for a walk and Ill be your bodyguard.You? Seldon grinned.Yes, me. I herewith volunteer my services. Get yourself ready and well go for a walk.Seldon was diverted. He had half a mind to go without his fage, since his leg was simply painful of late, nevertheless, on the other hand, he had a up empennagecel derrieree, one in which the head had been filled with lead. It was both heavier and stronger than his old guttere an d, if he was dismissal to have none other than Wanda as a bodyguard, he apprehension he had split up bring his new croupe.The walk was delectable and Seldon was terribly glad he had acceptn up in to the temptation-until they r separatelyed a certain spot.Seldon move his cane in a miscellany of anger and resignation and said, Look at thatWanda lifted her eyes. The dome was glowing, as it everlastingly did in the evening, in order to institute an air of inaugural twilight. It grew darker as night went on, of course.What Seldon was pointing at, however, was a strip of darkness along the dome. A section of lights had gone out.Seldon said, When I first came to Trantor, any function handle that was unthinkable. in that respect were nation tending the lights at all times. The metropolis exited, tho now it is falling apart in all these little slipway and what bothers me most is that no one c ars. why arnt in that respect petitions to the imperial beard Palace? wherefo re arent on that point meetings of indignation? It is as though the pile of Trantor expect the city to be falling apart and therefore they rise up themselves annoyed with me because I am pointing out that this is exactly what is meeting.Wanda said softly, Grandpa, there are devil men base us.They had walked into the shadows below the broken dome lights and Seldon requested, atomic number 18 they further walking?No. Wanda did not look at them. She did not have to. Theyre after you.Can you stop them-push them?Im difficult, plainly there are ii and they are determined. Its-its wish pushing a wall.How far behind me are they?About three sentences. cloture in?Yes, Grandpa.Tell me when theyre a meter behind me. He slid his hand start his cane bank he was dimension the thin end, leaving the leaded head swinging free.Now, Grandpa hissed Wanda.And Seldon false, swinging his cane. It came garbage implement hard upon the shoulder of one of the men behind him, who went dow n with a scream, writhing on the pavement.Seldon said, Wheres the other guy?He took push into.Seldon looked down on the hu valet de chambrekind on the ground and put his foot on his chest. He said, Go through his pockets, Wanda. psyche must have paid him and Id analogous to fetch his credit file-perhaps I can identify where they came from. He added vistafully, I meant to contact him on the head.Youd have killed him, Grandpa.Seldon nodded. Its what I precious to do. Rather shameful. Im lucky I missed.A harsh voice said, What is all this? A figure in uniform came streak up, perspiring. Give me that cane, youOfficer, said Seldon mildly.You can spend me your story later. Weve got to call an ambulance for this poor man. distressing man, said Seldon angrily. He was going to beleaguer me. I acted in self-defense.I maxim it happen, said the warranter ships removeicer. This guy never laid a finger on you. You moody on him and touch him without provocation. Thats not self- defense. Thats irreverence and battery.Officer, Im controling you that-Dont tell me anything. You can tell it in court.Wanda said in a sweet small voice, Officer, if you will just listen to us-The officer said, You go along home, boy same(p) lady.Wanda drew herself up. I most certainly wont, Officer. Where my grandpa goes, there go I. Her eyes flashed and the earnest officer muttered, easily, come along, then.18Seldon was enraged. Ive never been in custody in the beginning in my broad(a) life. A couple of months ago eighter from Decatur men chargeed me. I was able to competitiveness them off with the cooperate of my son, but spot that was going on was there a security officer in stilt? Did people stop to help me? No. This time, Im better prepared and I knocked a man flat who had been active to ravishment me. Was there a security officer in sight? absolutely. She put the discernment on me. at that place were people watching, too, and they were amused at seeing an old man world taken in for assault and battery. What kind of world do we live on?Civ Novker, Seldons lawyer, sighed and said calmly, A infect world, but dont worry. Nothing will happen to you. Ill get you out on adhesion and then, eventually, youll come back for trial in the first place a gore of your peers and the most youll get-the very most-are some hard words from the bench. Your age and your reputation-Forget my reputation, said Seldon, still angry. Im a psychohistorian and, at the present time, that is a galling word. Theyll be glad to see me in jail.No, they wont, said Novker. There may be some screwballs who have it in for you, but Ill see to it that none of them gets on the jury.Wanda said, Do we really have to subject my grandfather to all this? Hes not a young man anymore. Cant we just appear in the first place the magistrate and not bother with a jury trial?The lawyer turned to her. It can be done. If youre insane, maybe. Magistrates are impatient power-mad people w ho would just as soon put a person into jail for a year as listen to him. No one goes up before a magistrate.I think we should, said Wanda.Seldon said, Well now, Wanda, I think we ought to listen to Civ- entirely as he said that, he felt a strong troubled in his abdomen. It was Wandas push. Seldon said, Well-if you insist.She cant insist, said the lawyer. I wont allow it.Wanda said, My grandfather is your c delusionnt. If he wants something done his way, youve got to do it.I can go down to fight back him.Well then, leave, said Wanda sharply, and well instance the magistrate alone.Novker thought and said, Very well, then-if youre going to be so adamant. Ive represented Hari for years and I hypothecate I wont abandon him now. however I warn you, the chances are hell get a jail sentence and Ill have to campaign corresponding the devil to get it lifted-if I can do it.at all.Im not afraid, said Wanda.Seldon bit his lip and the lawyer turned to him. What about you? Are you willing to let your granddaughter call the shots?Seldon thought a bit, then admitted, much to the old lawyers surprise, Yes. Yes, I am.19The magistrate looked sourly at Seldon as he gave his story.The magistrate said, What makes you think it was the intention of this man you struck to outpouring you? Did he strike you? Did he threaten you? Did he in any way place you under bodily fear?My granddaughter was aware of his approach and was sooner certain that he was planning to attack me.Surely, sir, that cannot be enough. Is there anything else you can tell me before I pass assessment?Well now, wait a while, said Seldon indignantly. Dont pass judgment so quickly. I was assaulted a few weeks ago by eight men whom I held off with the help of my son. So, you see, I have antecedent to think that I might be assaulted over again.The magistrate shuffled his papers. Assaulted by eight men. Did you report that?There were no security officers around. Not one. asunder from the point. Did you report it?No, sir. why not?For one thing, I was afraid of getting into long drawn-out legal proceedings. Since we had driven off eight men and were safe, it seemed useless to ask for more trouble.How did you manage to ward off eight men just you and your son?Seldon hesitated. My son is now on Santanni and outside Trantorian control. Thus, I can tell you that he had Dahlite knives and was expert in their use. He killed one man and perniciously transgress cardinal others. The rest ran, carrying off the stillborn and wounded. still did you not report the death of a man and the wounding of cardinal others?No, sir. same discernment as before. And we fought in self-defense. However, if you can track down the three dead and wounded, you will have evidence that we were attacked.The magistrate said, lead-in down one dead and two wounded nameless faceless Trantorians? Are you aware that on Trantor over two gee people are found dead every day-by knife wounds alone. Unless these things are r eported to us at once, we are helpless. Your story of being assaulted once before will not hold water. What we must do is deal with the events of today, which were reported and which had a security officer as a witness.So, lets consider the situation as of now. why do you think the fellow was going to attack? Simply because you happened to be walk by? Because you seemed old and defenseless? Because you looked want you might be carrying a extensive deal of credit? What do you think?I think, Magistrate, it was because of who I am.The magistrate looked at his papers. You are Hari Seldon, a prof and a scholar. wherefore should that make you subject to assault, particularly?Because of my views.Your views. Well- The magistrate shuffled some papers perfunctorily. Suddenly he stop and looked up, peering at Seldon. Wait-Hari Seldon. A look of cognition spread across his face. Youre the psychohistory buff, arent you?Yes, Magistrate.Im sorry. I dont know anything about it except the name and the fact that you go around predicting the end of the pudding stone or something equivalent that.Not quite, Magistrate. But my views have become unpopular because they are proving to be true. I believe it is for that reason that there are those who want to assault me or, even more likely, are being paid to assault me.The magistrate stared at Seldon and then called over the arresting security officer. Did you check up on the man who was hurt? Does he have a embark?The security officer cleared her throat. Yes, sir. Hes been arrested some(prenominal) times. Assault, mugging.Oh, hes a repeat offender, is he? And does the professor have a record?No, sir.So we have an old and innocent man fighting off a cognize mugger-and you arrest the old and innocent man. Is that it?The security officer was silent.The magistrate said, You may go, Professor.Thank you, sir. may I have my cane?The magistrate snapped his fingers at the officer, who handed over the cane.But one thing, Professor, said the magistrate. If you use that cane again, you had better be absolutely certain you can prove it was in self-defense. Otherwise-Yes, sir. And Hari Seldon left the magistrates chambers, contention heavily on his cane but with his head held high.20Wanda was crying bitterly, her face wet with tears, her eyes red, her cheeks swollen.Hari Seldon hovered over her, patting her on the back, not knowing quite how to comfort her.Grandpa, Im a execrable failure. I thought I could push people and I could when they didnt mind being pushed too much, like Mom and Dad-and even then it took a long time. I even worked out a rating system of sorts, base on a ten-point scale-sort of a affable pushing power gauge. Only I assumed too much. I assumed that I was a ten, or at least a nine. But now I realize that, at most, I rate a seven.Wandas crying had stop and she sniffed occasionally as Hari stroked her hand. Usually-usually-I have no trouble. If I concentrate, I can adjudicate peoples thoug hts and when I want, I push them. But those muggers I could hear them all amend, but there was energy I could do to push them away.I thought you did very well, Wanda.I didnt. I had a fan-fantasy. I thought people would come up behind you and in one mightily push Id send them flying. That way I was going to be your bodyguard. Thats why I offered to be your bod-bodyguard. Only I wasnt. Those two guys came up and I couldnt do a thing.But you could. You made the first man hesitate. That gave me a chance to turn and mosh him.No no. I had zip to do with it. All I could do was warn you he was there and you did the rest.The help man ran away.Because you clobbered the first guy. I had cipher to do with it. She broke out again in tears of frustration. And then the magistrate. I insisted on the magistrate. I thought I would push and he would let you go at once.He did let me go and it was practically at once.No. He put you through a miserable routine and saw the light only when he realiz ed who you were. I had zero to do with it. I flopped everywhere. I could have gotten you into so much trouble.No, I refuse to accept that, Wanda. If your pushing didnt work quite as well as you had hoped it would, it was only because you were working under emergency conditions. You couldnt have helped it. But, Wanda, look-I have an idea.Catching the excitement in his voice, she looked up. What kind of idea, Grandpa?Well, its like this, Wanda. You in all probability realize that Ive got to have credits. Psychohistory simply cant come on without it and I cannot bear the thought of having it all come to nothing after so many years of hard work.I cant bear it, either. But how can we get the credits?Well, Im going to request an earshot with the emperor butterfly again. Ive seen him once already and hes a good man and I like him. But hes not exactly drowning in wealth. However, if I take you with me and if you push him-gently-it may be that he will find a bloodline of credits, some source somewhere, and keep me going for a while, till I can think of something else.Do you really think it will work, Grandpa?Not without you. But with you-maybe. Come, isnt it worth trying?Wanda smiled. You know Ill do anything you ask, Grandpa. Besides, its our only hope.21It was not difficult to see the emperor moth. Agiss eyes sparkled as he greeted Hari Seldon. Hello, old friend, he said. Have you come to bring me bad luck?I hope not, said Seldon.Agis unhooked the elaborate cloak he was draining and, with a have a bun in the oveny grunt, threw it into the corner of the room, saying, And you lie there.He looked at Seldon and shook his head. I dislike that thing. Its as heavy as sin and as hot as blazes. I always have to wear it when Im being smothered under nonsensical words, standing there upright like a carved image. Its just plain horrible. Cleon was born to it and he had the appearance for it. I was not and I dont. Its just my chastisement that Im a third cousin of his on my mothers side so that I subject as emperor. Id be glad to trade it for a very small sum. Would you like to be emperor, Hari?No no, I wouldnt stargaze of it, so dont get your hopes up, said Seldon, laughing.But tell me, who is this extraordinarily beautiful young woman you have brought with you today?Wanda cherry-red and the Emperor said genially, You mustnt let me block up you, my dear. One of the few perquisites** an Emperor possesses is the right to say anything he chooses. No one can object or fence in about it. They can only say, Sire. However, I dont want any Sires from you. I hate that word. Call me Agis. That is not my birth name, either. Its my Imperial name and Ive got to get used to it. So tell me whats doing, Hari. Whats been happening to you since the last time we met?Seldon said briefly, Ive been attacked twice.The Emperor didnt seem to be sure whether this was a joke or not. He said, Twice? Really?The Emperors face darkened as Seldon told the story of the assaults. I suppose there wasnt a security officer around when those eight men threatened you.Not one.The Emperor bloom from his chair and gestured at the other two to keep theirs. He walked back and forth, as though he were trying to work off some anger. Then he turned and faced Seldon.For gigabytes of years, he began, whenever something like this happened, people would say, Why dont we appeal to the Emperor? or Why doesnt the Emperor do something? And, in the end, the Emperor can do something and does do something, even if it isnt always the searching thing to do. But I Hari, Im powerless. Absolutely powerless.Oh yes, there is the so-called Commission of semipublic Safety, but they seem more implicated with my safety than that of the public. Its a wonder were having this auditory sense at all, for you are not at all popular with the Commission.Theres nothing I can do about anything. Do you know whats happened to the status of the Emperor since the fall of the junta and the restoration of-hah-Imperial power?I think I do.Ill bet you dont-fully. Weve got res publica now. Do you know what democracy is?Certainly.Agis frowned. He said, Ill bet you think its a good thing.I think it can be a good thing.Well, there you are. It isnt. Its all upset the Empire.Suppose I want to order more officers onto the streets of Trantor. In the old days, I would pull over a piece of paper prepared for me by the Imperial Secretary and would sign it with a flourish-and there would be more security officers.Now I cant do anything of the sort. I have to put it before the Legislature. There are seventy-five hundred men and women who arcsecondly turn into uncounted gaggles of geese the instant a suggestion is made. In the first place, where is the funding to come from? You cant have, say, ten thousand more officers without having to pay ten thousand more salaries. Then, even if you agreed to something of the sort, who selects the new security officers? Who controls them?The Le gislature shouts at each other, argues, thunders, and lightens, and in the end-nothing is done. Hari, I couldnt even do as small a thing as fix the broken dome lights you noticed. How much will it cost? Whos in charge? Oh, the lights will be fixed, but it can easily take a few months to do it. Thats democracy.Hari Seldon said, As I recall, the Emperor Cleon was forever complaining that he could not do what he wished to do.The Emperor Cleon, said Agis impatiently, had two first-class commencement exercise Ministers-Demerzel and yourself-and you each labored to keep Cleon from doing anything foolish. I have seventy-five hundred introductory Ministers, all of whom are foolish from start to finish. But surely, Hari, you havent come to complain to me about the attacks.No, I havent. Something much worse. Sire-Agis-I need credits.The Emperor stared at him. After what Ive been telling you, Hari? I have no credits. Oh yes, therere credits to run this establishment, of course, but in order to get them I have to face my seventy-five hundred legislators. If you think I can go to them and say, I want credits for my friend, Hari Seldon and if you think Ill get one poop of what I ask for in anything less than two years, youre crazy. It wont happen.He shrugged and said, more gently, Dont get me wrong, Hari. I would like to help you if I could. I would particularly like to help you for the sake of your granddaughter. Looking at her makes me touch sensation as though I should give you all the credits you would like-but it cant be done.Seldon said, Agis, if I dont get funding, psychohistory will go down the drain-after nearly forty years.Its come to nothing in nearly forty years, so why worry?Agis, said Seldon theres nothing more I can do now. The assaults on me were precisely because Im a psychohistorian. passel consider me a predictor of destruction.The Emperor nodded. Youre bad luck, Raven Seldon. I told you this earlier.Seldon stood up wretchedly. Im through, then.Wanda stood, too, next to Seldon the top of her head reach her grandfathers shoulder. She gazed fixedly at the Emperor.As Hari turned to go, the Emperor said, Wait. Wait. Theres a little verse I once memorized Ill fares the devourTo hastening ills a preyWhere wealth accumulatesAnd men decay. What does it mean? asked a dispirited Seldon.It direction that the Empire is steadily deteriorating and falling apart, but that doesnt keep some individuals from growing rich. Why not turn to some of our pie-eyed entrepreneurs? They dont have legislators and can, if they wish, simply sign a credit voucher.Seldon stared. Ill try that.