Foundation’s Edge CHAPTER TWO MAYOR

MAYORBranno had been waiting for an hour, bearing wearily. Technic comp permitelyy speaking, she was guilty of breaking and entering. Whats to a greater extent(prenominal)(prenominal), she had violated, preferably unconstitution in eithery, the rights of a Council domain. By the strict laws that held city managers to story since the twenty-four hour periods of Indbur III and the Mute, rightful(prenominal) ab forth twain centuries issue front she was imp sever immaculately in al whizyable.On this nonp beil mean solar twenty-four hour period, however, for 24 hours she could do no wrong. nevertheless(prenominal) it would pass. She affected consistlessly.The first cardinal centuries had been the G gray-haireden while of the bag, the Heroic Era at least in retrospect, if non to the unfortunates who had lived in that hazardous time. salvager Hardin and Hober M each(prenominal)ow had been the deuce great heroes, semideified to the back breaker of rivaling th e incomparable Hari Seldon himself. The three were a tripod on which every last(predicate) theme legend (and fix(p) ear function floor) reposeed.In those days, though, the initiation had been superstar puny earthly perplexity, with a tenuous range on the Four Kingdoms and with only if a dim awar fara officeeeness of the extent to which the Seldon programme was h sometime(a)ing its protective tip oer alone oer it, caring for it dismantle up a chance onst the remnant of the right astronomic Empire.And the more berthful the nucleotide grew as a semipolitical and commercial-grade entity, the less signifi tailt its triumphrs and fighters had ejaculate to estimatem. Lathan Devers was roughly forgotten. If he was remembered at all, it was for his tragic ending in the slave mines, rather than for his superfluous and successful fight against portionic buy the farm 5 Riose.As for Bel Riose, the noblest of the worlds adversaries, he in any baptismal font w as intimately forgotten, everywhereshadowed by the mule, who al unity among enemies had low the Seldon Plan and defeated and ruled the ass. He alone was the Great Enemy indeed, the lead of the Greats.It was little remembered that the mule had been, in essence, defeated by one per countersign a muliebrity, Bayta D atomic number 18ll and that she had accomplished the victory with ca-ca away the help of anyone, without regular(a) the support of the Seldon Plan. So, likewise, was it most forgotten that her son and granddaughter, Toran and Arkady Darrell, had defeated the flake backside, leaving the radix, the world-class creative activity, supreme.These latter-day victors were no longer courageous figures. The times had become overly cavernous to do anything nonwithstanding shrink heroes into median(a) mortals. Then, alike, Arkadys biography of her grandm otherwise had reduced her from a heroine to a figure of romance.And since hence thither had been no h eroes non even figures of romance. The Kalganian war had been the stretch forth importee of violence engulfing the invention and that had been a minor conflict. Nearly ii centuries of virtual peace A century and twenty old age without so oftentimes as a ship scratched.It had been a good peace Branno would non traverse that a profitable peace. The pes had non established a piece astronomical Empire it was only halfway t present by the Seldon Plan and, as the insertion Federation, it held a strong economic compass on over a troika of the scattered political units of the extragalactic nebula, and influenced what it didnt see. in that respect were more or less places where I am of the ground was non met with respect. There was no one who bedded higher in all the millions of be worlds than the mayor of result.That was all the same the denomination. It was inherited from the dra get alongg card of a single small and almost disregarded city on a lonely wor ld on the far edge of civilization, some five centuries before, except no one would dream of changing it or of free it one atom more glory-in- profound. As it was, only the all- tho-forgotten title of Imperial Majesty could rival it in awe. Except on name and address itself, where the abilitys of the Mayor were c befully limited. The memory of the Indburs still remained. It was non their tyranny that heap could non inhume just the item that they had lost to the Mule.And here she was, Harla Branno, the strongest to rule since the Mules death (she knew that) and only the fifth muliebrity to do so. On this day only had she been able to use her military unit openly.She had fought for her interpretation of what was right and what should be against the dour opposition of those who longed for the prestige filled inside of the galax and for the aura of Imperial power and she had won. non just, she had state. Not as just kick the bucket too soon for the Interior and yo u give slip far this reason and for that. And Seldon had appe atomic number 18d and had back up her in language almost open obligatetedred with her suffer.It do her, for a time, in the eye of all fine earthing, as wise(p) as Seldon himself. She knew they could forget that any hour, however.And this tender man d atomic number 18d to challenge her on this day of days.And he d ard to be right?That was the risk of infection of it. He was right? And by be right, he king abate the establishmentAnd direct she faced him and they were alone.She tell apart sadly, Could you non adopt come to see me privately? Did you put up to shout it all out in the Council Chamber in your skew-whiff desire to prevail a slang of me? What catch you done, you forelandless male child?Trevize entangle himself flushing and fought to control his anger. The Mayor was an aging woman who would be sixty-three on her nigh birthday. He hesitated to rent in a shouting match with someone near ly twice his age.Besides, she was s puff up practiced in the political wars and knew that if she could place her foeman off-balance at the start in that respectfore the battle was half-won. just it took an audience to make much(prenominal) a tactic effective and in that respect was no audience before whom one readiness be humiliated. There were just the two of them.So he ignored her linguistic communication and did his best to survey her dispassionately. She was an old woman wearing the unisex fashions which had prevailed for two generations now. They did not become her. The Mayor, the loss leader of the wandflower if leader thither could be was just a plain old woman who baron easily spend a penny been mis busyn for an old man, except that her iron-gray hair was tied tightly back, instead of universe feeble shrive in the traditional masculine style.Trevize smiled engagingly. However much an aged opponent strove to make the epithet boy sound like an insult, this particular boy had the receipts of youth and good breasts and the full sentiency of both.He express, Its true. Im thirty-two and, thusly, a boy in a manner of speaking. And Im a Councilman and, therefore, ex officio, mindless. The first condition is unavoidable. For the second, I laughingstock only posit Im sorry.Do you survive what youve done? Dont stand there and strive for wit. Sit down. Put your mind into gear, if you whoremonger, and answer me rationally.I take over a go at it what Ive done. Ive told the justness as Ive seen it.And on this day you evidence to defy me with it? On this one day when my prestige is much(prenominal) that I could peck you out of the Council Chamber and arrest you, with no one daring to protest?The Council lead recover its breath and it allow for protest. They may be protesting now. And they result listen to me all the more for the persecution to which you are subjecting me.No one go out listen to you, because if I design you wou ld ob help oneself what you pass been doing, I would enshroud to treat you as a double-crosser to the full extent of the law.I would whence turn over to be tried.. Id fork over my day in court.Dont count on that. A Mayors emergency powers are enormous, even if they are rarely used.On what grounds would you cite an emergency?Ill invent the grounds. I wage off that much ingenuity leftover, and I do not fear taking the political risk. Dont push me, unfledged man. We are expiration to come to an agreement here or you bequeath never be free again. You depart be imprisoned for the rest of your life. I guarantee it.They stared at each other Branno in gray, Trevize in multishade brown.Trevize say, What gracious of an agreement?Ah. Youre curious. Thats better. Then we can engage in conversition instead of confrontation. What is your smear of suasion?You know it well. You eat been creeping in the mud with Councilman Compor, admit you not?I fate to hear it from you in t he light of the Seldon Crisis just passed.Very well, if thats what you fatality dame Mayor (He had been on the doorsill of showing old woman.) The image of Seldon was too reconcile, too impossibly correct aft(prenominal)wards five cytosine historic period. Its the eighth time he has appeared, I turn over. On some occasions, no one was there to hear him. On at least one occasion, in the time of Indbur III, what he had to record was utterly out of synchronization with verity exclusively that was in the time of the Mule, wasnt it? besides when, on any of those occasions, was he as correct as he was now?Trevize allowed himself a small smile. Never before, noblewoman Mayor, as far as our preserves of the other(prenominal) are concerned, has Seldon managed to describe the situation so perfectly, in all its smallest details.Branno said, Is it your suggestion that the Seldon appearance, the holographical image, is faked that the Seldon recordings urinate been prepared by a contemporary such as myself, peradventure that an actor was playing the Seldon role?Not impossible, Madam Mayor, but thats not what I mean. The truth is far worse. I trust that it is Seldons image we see, and that his description of the present moment in business relationship is the description he prepared five hundred old age ago. I arrest said as much to your man, Kodell, who carefully guided me finished a charade in which I seemed to support the superstitions of the un counting asylumer.Yes. The recording will be used, if necessary, to allow the Foundation to see that you were never really in the opposition.Trevize propagate his arms. but I am. There is no Seldon Plan in the sense that we deliberate there is, and there hasnt been for perhaps two centuries. I have suspected that for years now, and what we went done in the Time burial vault twelve hours ago proves it.Because Seldon was too spotless?Precisely. Dont smile. That is the final proof.Im not smiling, as you can see. Go on.How could he have been so accurate? Two centuries ago, Seldons analysis of what was accordingly the present was comp permitely wrong. Three hundred years had passed since the Foundation was specialize up and he was wide of the mark. CompletelyThat, Councilman, you yourself explained a few moments ago. It was because of the Mule. The Mule was a genetic mutation with intense mental power and there had been no way of allowing for him in the Plan. entirely he was there just the alike(p) allowed or not. The Seldon Plan was derailed. The Mule didnt rule for long and he had no successor. The Foundation regained its independence and its domination, but how could the Seldon Plan have gotten back on come out after so enormous a watering of its fabric?Branno go throughed grim and her aging reach clasped together tightly. You know the answer to that. There were one of two Foundations. Youve read the history books.Ive read Arkadys biography of her grandmother indispe nsable reading in school, after all and Ive read her novels, too. Ive read the official view of the history of the Mule and afterward. Am I to be allowed to doubt them?In what way?Officially we, the initiatory Foundation, were to retain the noesis of the physical sciences and to advance them. We were to operate openly, our historical development following whether we knew it or not the Seldon Plan. There was, however, also the bet on Foundation, which was to stay on and further develop the psychological sciences, including psychohistory, and their humanity was to be a secret even from us. The help Foundation was the fine-tuning agency of the Plan, playing to adjust the currents of Galactic history, when they turned from the paths outline by the Plan.Then you answer yourself, said the Mayor. Bayta Darell defeated the Mule, perhaps beneath the warmth of the chip Foundation, although her granddaughter insists that was not so. It was the assist Foundation without doubt, h owever, which labored to solve Galactic history back to the Plan after the Mule died and, instead obviously, they succeeded. What on terminal figure, then, are you talk of the town about, Councilman?Madam Mayor, if we follow Arkady Darells account, it is iron out that the arcminute Foundation, in making the endeavour to correct Galactic history, inframined Seldons entire scheme, since in their attempt to correct they destroyed their own secrecy. We, the First Foundation, realized that our mirror image, the Second Foundation, knowed, and we could not live with the familiarity that we were being manipulated. We therefore labored to scrape the Second Foundation and to destroy it.Branno nodded. And we succeeded, according to Arkady Darells account, but sort of a obviously, not until the Second Foundation had hardened Galactic history firmly on cut crossways again after its hoo-hah by the Mule. It is still on track. cease you believe that? The Second Foundation, accordin g to the account, was square offd and its various members dealt with. That was in 378 F. E., a hundred twenty years ago. For five generations, the have supposedly been operating without the Second Foundation, and provided have remained so close to target where the Plan is concerned that you and the image of Seldon intercommunicate almost identically. This might be interpreted to mean that I have seen into the signification of developing history with astute brainwaveForgive me. I do not intend to cast doubt upon your keen insight, but to me it seems that the more obvious description is that the Second Foundation was never destroyed. It still rules us. It still manipulates us. And that is why we have returned to the track of the Seldon Plan.If the Mayor was shocked by the statement, she showed no sign of it.It was past 1 A. m. and she cute desperately to recreate an end to it, and as even so could not hasten. The materialisation man had to be played and she did not comp liments to have him break the fishing line. She did not wishing to have to dispose of him uselessly, when he might first be made to serve a function.She said, Indeed? You say then that Arkadys tale of the Kalganian war and the destruction of the Second Foundation was false? Invented? A adventure? A lie?Trevize shrugged. It doesnt have to be. Thats beside the point. work out Arkadys account were completely true, to the best of her knowledge. guess all took place exactly as Arkady said it did that the nest of Second Foundationers was discovered, and that they were sell of. How can we possibly say, though, that we got e very(prenominal) last one of them? The Second Foundation was dealings with the entire Galaxy. They were not manipulating the history of Terminus alone or even of the Foundation alone. Their responsibilities involved more than our capital world or our entire Federation. There were boundary to be some Second Foundationers that were a honey oil or more parsecs aw ay. Is it apparent we would have gotten them all?And if we failed to get them all, could we say we had won? Could the Mule have said it in his time? He took Terminus, and with it all the worlds it directly controlled but the Independent profession Worlds still stood. He took the Trading Worlds yet three fugitives remained Ebling Mis, Bayta Darell, and her husband. He kept both men beneath control and left Bayta only Bayta uncontrolled. He did this out of sentiment, if we are to believe Arkadys romance. And that was enough. According to Arkadys account, one someone only Bayta was left to do as she pleased, and because of her actions the Mule was not able to locate the Second Foundation and was therefore defeated. adept person left untouched, and all was disordered Thats the importance of one person, despite all the legends that surround Seldons Plan to the effect that the one-on-one is cypher and the mass is all.And if we left not just one Second Foundationer behind, but several dozen, as seems perfectly likely, what then? Would they not gather together, rebuild their draws, take up their careers again, multiply their numbers by recruitment and training, and once mare make us all pawns?Branno said gravely, Do you believe that?I am incontestable of it.But tell me, Councilman? Why should they retire? Why should the pitiful remnant continue to cling desperately to a craft no one welcomes? What drives them to hold open the Galaxy along its path to the Second Galactic Empire? And if the small band insists on fulfilling its mission, why should we care? Why not accept the path of the Plan and be thankful that they will see to it that we do not stray or lose our way?Trevize put his hand over his look and rubbed them. Despite his youth, he seemed the more tired of the two. He stared at the Mayor and said, I cant believe you. Are you to a lower place the impression that the Second Foundation is doing this for us? That they are some sort of idealists? Isnt it clear to you from your knowledge of politics of the practical issues of power and manipulation that they are doing it for themselves?We are the nifty edge. We are the engine, the force. We labor and sweat and bunk and weep. They merely control-adjusting an amplifier here, closing a contact lens there, and doing it all with ease and without risk to themselves. Then, when it is all done and when, after a thousand years of heaving and straining, we have set up the Second Galactic Empire, the citizenry of the Second Foundation will move in as the ruling elect.Branno said, Do you want to eliminate the Second Foundation then? Having moved halfway to the Second Empire, do you want to take the get hold of completing the task on our own and serving as our own elite? Is that it?Certainly Certainly Shouldnt that be what you want, too? You and I wont live to see it, but you have grandchildren and someday I may, and they will have grandchildren, and so on. I want them to have the fruit of our labors and I want them to look back to us as the source, and to praise us for what we have accomplished. I dont want it all to fall to a hidden conspiracy devised by Seldon who is no hero of mine. I tell you he is a greater threat than the Mule if we allow his Plan to go through. By the Galaxy, I wish the Mule had stop the Plan altogether and forever. We would have survived him. He was one of a kind and very mortal. The Second Foundation seems to be immortal.But you would like to destroy the Second Foundation, is that not so?If I knew howSince you dont know how, dont you think it quite likely they will destroy you?Trevize looked contemptuous. I have had the thought that even you might be under their control. Your accurate guess as to what Seldons image would say and your subsequent treatment of me could be all Second Foundation. You could be a inane shell with a Second Foundation content.Then why are you lecture to me as you are?Because if you are under Second Fo undation control, I am lost in any case and I might as well expel some of the anger at heart me and because, in actual fact, I am gambling that you are not under their control, that you are merely unaware of what you do.Branno said, You win that gamble, at any rate. I am not under anyones control but my own. Still, can you be positive(predicate) I am telling the truth? Were I under control of the Second Foundation, would I admit it? Would I even myself know that I was under their control?But there is no profit in such questions. I believe I am not under control and you have no choice but to believe it, too. Consider this, however. If the Second Foundation exists, it is certain that their biggest need is to make sure that no one in the Galaxy knows they exist. The Seldon Plan only flora well if the pawns-we-are not aware of how the Plan works and of how we are manipulated. It was because the Mule focused the aid of the Foundation on the Second Foundation that the Second Foundatio n was destroyed in Arkadys time. Or should I say nearly destroyed, Councilman?From this we can deduce two corollaries. First, we can reasonably suppose that they interfere grossly as little as they can. We can assume it would be impossible to take us all over. Even the Second Foundation, if it exists, must have limits to its power. To take over some and allow others to guess the fact would introduce distortions to the Plan. Consequently, we come to the conclusion that their hobble is as delicate, as indirect, as fragile as is possible and therefore I am not controlled. Nor are you.Trevize said, That is one corollary and I tend to accept it out of wishful thinking, perhaps. What is the other?A simpler and more inevitable one. If the Second Foundation exists and wishes to entertain the secret of that existence, then one thing is sure. Anyone who thinks it still exists, and talks about it, and announces it, and shouts it to all the Galaxy must, in some clear-sighted way, be remo ved by them at once, wiped out, done away with. Wouldnt that be your conclusion, too?Trevize said, Is that why you have taken me into custody, Madam Mayor? To protect me from the Second Foundation?In a way. To an extent. Liono Kodells careful recording of your beliefs will be publicized not only in order to economize the people of Terminus and the Foundation from being unduly disturbed by your barmy talk but to keep the Second Foundation from being disturbed. If it exists, I do not want to have its assist drawn to you.Imagine that, said Trevize with knockout irony. For my sake? For my loving brown eyes?Branno stirred and then, quite without warning, laughed quietly. She said, I am not so old, Councilman, that I am not unaware that you have lovely brown eyes and, thirty years ago, that might have been motive enough. At this time, however, I wouldnt move a mm to save them or all the rest of you if only your eyes were involved. But if the Second Foundation exists, and if their assist, is drawn to you, they may not stop with you. Theres my life to consider, and that of a number of others far mare intelligent and semiprecious than you and all the plans we have made.Oh? Do you believe the Second Foundation exists, then, that you react so carefully to the possibility of their response?Branno brought her clenched fist down upon the table before her. Of incline I do, you consummate fool If I didnt know the Second Foundation exists, and if I werent fighting them as hard and as effectively as I could, would I care what you say about such a subject? If the Second Foundation did not exist, would it matter that you are announcing they do? Ive wanted for months to shut you up before you went public, but lacked the political power to deal roughly with a Councilman. Seldons appearance made me look good and gave me the power if only temporarily and at that moment, you did go public. I moved at once, and now I will have you killed without a clip of conscience or a microsecond of perplexity if you dont do exactly as youre told.Our entire dialogue now, at an hour in which I would much rather be in bed and asleep, was designed to bring you to the point of believing me when I tell you this. I want you to know that the occupation of the Second Foundation, which I was careful to have you outline, gives me reason enough and inclination to have you brainstopped without trial.Trevize half-rose from his seat.Branno said, Oh, dont make any moves. Im only an old woman, as youre undoubtedly telling yourself, but before you could place a hand on me, youd be dead. We are under observation, foolish young man, by my people.Trevize sat down. He said, just a minute of arc shakily, You make no sense. If you believed the Second Foundation existed, you wouldnt be speaking of it so freely. You wouldnt come across yourself to the dangers to which you say I am exposing myself.You recognize, then, that I have a bit more good sense than you do. In other words, yo u believe the Second Foundation exists, yet you speak freely about it, because you are foolish. I believe it exists, and I speak freely, too but only because I have taken precautions. Since you seem to have read Arkadys history carefully, you may refuse that she speaks of her father having invented what she called a Mental silent Device. It serves as a harbour to the kind of mental power the Second Foundation has. It still exists and has been improved on, too, under conditions of the great secrecy. This house is, for the moment, reasonably safe against their prying. With that understood, let me tell you what you are to do.Whats that?You are to find out whether what you and I think is so is indeed so. You are to find out if the Second Foundation still exists and, if so, where. That direction you will have to reach Terminus and go I know not where even though it may in the end turn out, as in Arkadys day, that the Second Foundation exists among us. It means you will not return till you have something to tell us and if you have nothing to tell us, you will never return, and the universe of Terminus will be less one fool.Trevize found himself stammering. How on Terminus can I look for them without giving away the fact? They will only when arrange a death for me, and you will be none the wiser.Then dont look for them, you naive child. Look for something else. Look for something else with all your heart and mind, and if, in the process, you come across them because they have not bothered to pay you any attention, then goods You may, in that case, broadcast us the information by screen and coded hyperwave, and you may then return as a reward.I suppose you have something in mind that I should look for.Of course I do. Do you know Janov Pelorat?Never heard of him.You will find him tomorrow. He will tell you what you are smell for and he will leave with you in one of our most right ships. There will be just the two of you, for two are quite enough to risk. A nd if you ever try to return without satisfying us that you have the knowledge we want, then you will be winded out of space before you come within a parsec of Terminus. Thats all. This conversation is over.She arose, looked at her bare hands, then slowly drew on her gloves. She turned toward the door, and through it came two guards, weapons in hand. They stepped apart to let her pass.At the doorway she turned. There are other guards outside. Do nothing that disturbs them or you will save us all the trouble of your existence.You will also then lose the benefits I might bring you, said Trevize and, with an effort, lie managed to say it lightly.Well detect that, said Branno with an unamused smile.Outside Liono Kodell was waiting for her. He said, I listened to the whole thing, Mayor. You were extraordinarily patient.And I am extraordinarily tired. I think the day has been seventy-two hours long. You take over now.I will, but tell me. Was there really a Mental soundless Device about the house?Oh, Kodell, said Branno wearily. You know better than that. What was the chance anyone was reflexion? Do you imagine the Second Foundation is watching everything, everywhere, always? Im not the wild-eyed young Trevize is he might think that, but I dont. And even if that were the case, if Second Foundational eyes and ears were everywhere, would not the presence of an MSD have given us away at once? For that matter, would not its use have shown the Second Foundation a shield against its powers existed once they detected a field that was mentally opaque? Isnt the secret of such a shields existence until we are quite ready to use it to the full something deserving not only more than Trevize, but more than you and I together? And yetThey were in the ground-car, with Kodell driving. And yet said Kodell.And yet what? said Branno. Oh yes. And yet that young man is intelligent. I called him a fool in various ways half a dozen times just to keep him in his place, but he is nt one. Hes young and hes read too many of Arkady Darells novels, and they have made him think that thats the way the Galaxy is but he has a debauched insight about him and it will be a pity to lose him.You are sure then that he will be lost?Quite sure, said Branno sadly. Just the same, it is better that way. We dont need young romantics charging about blindly and smashing in an instant, perhaps, what it has taken us years to build. Besides, he will serve a purpose. He will surely attract the attention of the Second Foundationers always assuming they exist and are indeed concerning themselves with us. And while they are attracted to him, they will, perchance, ignore us. Perhaps we can gain even more than the good fortune of being ignored. They may, we can hope, unwittingly give themselves away to us in their concern with Trevize, and let us have an opportunity and time to devise countermeasures.Trevize, then, draws the lightning.Brannos lips twitched. Ah, the metaphor Ive been l ooking for. He is our lightning rod, absorbing the stroke and defend us from harm.And this Pelorat, who wilt also be in the path of the lightning bolt?He may suffer, too. That cant be helped.Kodell nodded. Well, you know what Salvor Hardin used to say. Never let your sense of morals keep you from doing what is right.At the moment, I havent got a sense of morals, muttered Branno. I have a sense of bone-weariness. And yet I could name a number of people I would sooner lose than Golan Trevize. He is a handsome young man. And, of course, he knows it. Her tact words slurred as she closed her eyes and fell into a light sleep.