foundation and earth - asimov isaac

8/13/2019 Foundation and Earth - Asimov Isaac

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Foundation and Earth

Foundation Saga Book 5

Chapter I

The Search Begins

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WHY I I do it"# asked $o%an Tre&i'e.

It (asn)t a ne( *uestion. Since he had arri&ed at $aia+ he had asked

it o, hi-se%, ,re*uent%. He (ou%d (ake up ,ro- a sound s%eep in the

p%easant coo%ness o, the night and ,ind the *uestion sounding noise%ess%in his -ind+ %ike a tin dru-/eat0 Wh did I do it" Wh did I do it"

o(+ though+ ,or the ,irst ti-e+ he -anaged to ask it o, o-+ the

ancient o, $aia.

o- (as (e%% a(are o, Tre&i'e)s tension ,or he cou%d sense the

,a/ric o, the Counci%-an)s -ind. He did not respond to it. $aia -ust in

no (a e&er touch Tre&i'e)s -ind+ and the /est (a o, re-aining

i--une to the te-ptation (as to painstaking% ignore (hat he sensed.

o (hat+ Tre&"# he asked. He ,ound it di,,icu%t to use -ore than

one s%%a/%e in addressing a person+ and it didn)t -atter. Tre&i'e (as

gro(ing so-e(hat used to that.The decision I -ade+# said Tre&i'e. Choosing $aia as the ,uture.#

You (ere right to do so+# said o-+ seated+ his aged deep2set ees

%ooking earnest% up at the -an o, the Foundation+ (ho (as standing.

You sa I a- right+# said Tre&i'e i-patient%.

I3(e3$aia kno( ou are. That)s our (orth to us. You ha&e the

capacit ,or -aking the right decision on inco-p%ete data+ and ou ha&e

-ade the decision. You chose $aia You re6ected the anarch o, a

$a%actic E-pire /ui%t on the techno%og o, the First Foundation+ as (e%%

as the anarch o, a $a%actic E-pire /ui%t on the -enta%ics o, the SecondFoundation. You decided that neither cou%d /e %ong sta/%e. So ou chose

$aia.#

Yes+# said Tre&i'e. E7act% I chose $aia+ a superorganis-8 a (ho%e

p%anet (ith a -ind and persona%it in co--on+ so that one has to sa

9I3(e3 $aia) as an in&ented pronoun to e7press the ine7pressi/%e.# He

paced the ,%oor rest%ess%. :nd it (i%% /eco-e e&entua%% $a%a7ia+ a

super2superorganis- e-/racing a%% the s(ar- o, the ;i%k Wa.#

He stopped+ turned a%-ost sa&age% on o-+ and said+ I ,ee% I)-

right+ as ou ,ee% it+ /ut ou (ant the co-ing o, $a%a7ia+ and so are

satis,ied (ith the Id on. There)s so-ething in -e+ ho(e&er+ that doesn)t(ant it+ and ,or that reason I)- not satis,ied to accept the rightness so

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easi%. I (ant to kno( (h I ;ade the decision+ I (ant to (eigh and

6udge the rightness and /e satis,ied (ith it. ;ere% ,ee%ing right isn)t

enough. Ho( can I kno( I a- right" What / the de&ice that -akes -e

right"#

I3(e3$aia do not kno( ho( it is that ou co-e to the right

decision. Is it i-portant to kno( that as %ong as (e ha&e the decision"#

You speak ,or the (ho%e p%anet+ do ou" For the co--on

consciousness o, e&er de(drop+ o, e&er pe//%e+ o, e&en the %i*uid

centra% core o, the p%anet"#

I do+ and so can an portion o, the p%anet in (hich the intensit o,

the co--on consciousness is great enough.#

:nd is a%% this co--on consciousness satis,ied to use -e as a /%ack

/o7" Since the /%ack /o7 (orks+ is it uni-portant to kno( (hat is inside"

2That doesn)t suit -e. I don)t en6o /eing a /%ack /o7. I (ant to kno(

(hat)s inside. I (ant to kno( ho( and (h I chose $aia and $a%a7ia as

the ,uture+ so that I can rest and /e at peace.#

But (h do ou dis%ike or distrust our decision so"#

Tre&i'e dre( a deep /reath and said s%o(%+ in a %o( and ,orce,u%&oice+ Because I don)t (ant to /e part o, a superorganis-. I don)t (ant

to /e a dispensa/%e part to /e done a(a (ith (hene&er the

superorganis- 6udges that doing a(a (ou%d /e ,or the good o, the

(ho%e.#

o- %ooked at Tre&i'e thought,u%%. o ou (ant to change our

decision+ then+ Tre&" You can+ ou kno(.#

I %ong to change the decision+ /ut I can)t do that -ere% /ecause I

dis%ike it. To do so-ething no(+ I ha&e to kno( (hether the decision is

(rong or right. It)s not enough -ere% to ,ee% it)s right.#

I, ou ,ee% ou are right+ ou are right.# :%(as that s%o(+ gent%e

&oice that so-eho( -ade Tre&i'e ,ee% (i%der / its &er contrast (ith

his o(n inner tur-oi%.

Then Tre&i'e said+ in ha%, a (hisper+ /reaking out o, the inso%u/%e

osci%%ation /et(een ,ee%ing and kno(ing+ I -ust ,ind Earth.#

Because it has so-ething to do (ith this passionate need o, ours

to kno("#

Because it is another pro/%e- that trou/%es -e un/eara/% and

/ecause I ,ue% there is a connection /et(een the t(o. :- I not a /%ack

/o7" I ,ee% there is a connection. Isn)t that enough to -ake ou accept itas a ,act"#

Aerhaps+# said o-+ (ith e*uani-it.

$ranted it is no( thousands o, ears2t(ent thousand perhaps2

since the peop%e o, the $a%a7 ha&e concerned the-se%&es (ith Earth+

ho( is it possi/%e that (e ha&e a%% ,orgotten our p%anet o, origin"#

T(ent thousand ears is a %onger ti-e than ou rea%i'e. There are

-an aspects o, the ear% E-pire (e kno( %itt%e o,8 -an %egends that

are a%-ost sure% ,ictitious /ut that (e keep repeating+ and e&en

/e%ie&ing+ /ecause o, %ack o, anthing to su/stitute. :nd Earth is o%der

than the E-pire.#

But sure% there are so-e records. ; good ,riend+ Ae%orat+ co%%ects

-ths and %egends o, ear% Earth8 anthing he can scrape up ,ro- an

source. It is his pro,ession and+ -ore i-portant+ his ho//. Those -ths

and %egends are a%% there are. There are no actua% records+ no

docu-ents.#

ocu-ents t(ent thousand ears o%d" Things deca+ perish+ are

destroed through ine,,icienc or (ar.#

But there shou%d /e records o, the records8 copies+ copies o, the

copies+ and copies o, the copies o, the copies8 use,u% -ateria% -uchounger than t(ent -i%%ennia. The ha&e /een re-o&ed. The $a%actic

i/rar at Trantor -ust ha&e had docu-ents concerning Earth. Those

docu-ents are re,erred to in kno(n historica% records+ /ut the

docu-ents no %onger e7ist in the $a%actic i/rar. The re,erences to

the- -a e7ist+ /ut an *uotations ,ro- the- do not e7ist.#

>e-e-/er that Trantor (as sacked a ,e( centuries ago+#

The i/rar (as %e,t untouched. It (as protected / the personne%

o, the Second Foundation. :nd it (as those personne% (ho recent%

disco&ered that -ateria% re%ated to Earth no %onger e7ists. The -ateria%

(as de%i/erate% re-o&ed in recent ti-es. Wh"# Tre&i'e ceased his

pacing and %ooked intent% at o-. I, I ,ind Earth+ I (i%% ,ind out (hat it

is hiding2

Hiding"#

Hiding or /eing hidden.


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-a /e %ocated a-ong the i--ense (i%derness o, (or%ds that -ake up

the $a%a7.#

E&en so+# said Tre&i'e+ I -ust search. 2E&en i, the end%ess

po(dering o, stars in the $a%a7 -akes the *uest see- hope%ess+ and

e&en i, I -ust do it a%one.

@

T>E=IDE W:S surrounded / the ta-eness o, $aia. The te-perature+

as a%(as+ (as co-,orta/%e+ and the air -o&ed p%easant%+ re,reshing /ut

not chi%%ing. C%ouds dri,ted across the sk+ interrupting the sun%ight no(

and then+ and+ no dou/t+ i, the (ater &apor %e&e% per -eter o, open %and

sur,ace dropped su,,icient% in this p%ace or that+ there (ou%d /e enough

rain to restore it.

The trees gre( in regu%ar spacings+ %ike an orchard+ and did so+ no

dou/t+ a%% o&er the (or%d. The %and and sea (ere stocked (ith p%ant and

ani-a% %i,e in proper nu-/ers and in the proper &ariet to pro&ide an

appropriate eco%ogica% /a%ance+ and a%% o, the-+ no dou/t+ increased and

decreased in nu-/ers in a s%o( s(a a/out the recogni'ed opti-u-. 2:s

did the nu-/er o, hu-an /eings+ too.


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and his %ong so%e-n ,ace retained its %ength and so%e-nit in ,u%%.

:ctua%%+ o%d chap+ it (as she that suggested I see ou2a/out2a/out

(hat I (ant to discuss. ot that I (ou%dn)t ha&e (anted to see ou on

- o(n+ o, course+ /ut she see-s to think -ore *uick% than I do.#

Tre&i'e s-i%ed. It)s a%% right+ ano&. You)re here to sa good2/e+ I

ta1i1 it.

We%%+ no+ not e7act%. In ,act+ -ore near% the re&erse. $o%an+ (hen

(1 %e,t Ter-inus+ ou and I+ I (as intent on ,inding Earth. I)&e spent

&irtua%% - entire adu%t %i,e at that task.#

:nd I (i%% carr on+ ano&. The task is -ine no(.#

Yes+ /ut it)s -ine+ a%so8 -ine+ sti%%.#

But2# Tre&i'e %i,ted an ar- in a &ague a%%2inc%usi&e gesture o, the

(or%d a/out the-.

Ae%orat said+ in a sudden urgent gasp+ I (ant to go (ith ou.#

Tre&i'e ,e%t astonished. You can)t -ean that+ ano&. You ha&e $a%a

no(.#

I)%% co-e /ack to $aia so-eda+ /ut I cannot %et ou go a%one.#

Certain% ou can. I can take care o, -se%,.#o o,,ense+ $o%an+ /ut ou don)t kno( enough. It is I (ho kno( the

-ths and %egends. I can direct ou.#

:nd ou)%% %ea&e B%iss" Co-e+ no(.#

: ,aint pink co%ored Ae%orat)s cheeks. I don)t e7act% (ant to do

that+ o%d chap+ /ut she said2

Tre&i'e ,ro(ned. Is it that she)s tring to get rid o, ou+ ano&. She

pro-ised -e2

o+ ou don)t understand. A%ease %isten to -e+ $o%an. You do ha&e

this unco-,orta/%e e7p%osi&e (a o, 6u-ping to conc%usions /e,ore ou

hear one out. It)s our specia%t+ I kno(+ and I see- to ha&e a certain

di,,icu%t in e7pressing -se%, concise%+ /ut2

We%%+# said Tre&i'e gent%+ suppose ou te%% -e e7act% (hat it is

that B%iss has on her -ind in 6ust an (a ou p%ease+ and I pro-ise to

/e &er patient.#

Thank ou+ and as %ong as ou)re going to /e patient+ I think I can

co-e out (ith it right a(a. You see+ B%iss (ants to co-e+ too.#

B%iss (ants to co-e"# said Tre&i'e. o+ I)- e7p%oding again. I (on)t

e7p%ode. Te%% -e+ ano&+ (h (ou%d B%iss (ant to co-e a%ong" I)- asking

it *uiet%.#She didn)t sa. She said she (ants to ta%k to ou.#

Then (h isn)t she here+ eh"#

Ae%orat said+ I think2I sa I think2that she is rather o, the opinion

that ou are not ,ond o, her+ $o%an+ and she rather hesitates to

approach ou. I ha&e done - /est+ o%d -an+ to assure her that ou ha&e

nothing against her. I cannot /e%ie&e anone (ou%d think anthing /ut

high% o, her. Sti%%+ she (anted -e to /roach the su/6ect (ith ou+ so to

speak. ;a I te%% her that ou)%% /e (i%%ing to see her+ $o%an"#


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a%-ost unnoticea/%+ o&er the second s%%a/%e.

Tre&i'e he%d up his right hand. That (ou%d /e a good arrange-ent. I

recogni'e the $aian ha/it o, using one2s%%a/%e na-e2portions in the

co--on interchange o, thoughts+ so i, ou shou%d happen to ca%% -e

Tre& no( and then I (i%% not /e o,,ended. Sti%%+ I (i%% /e -ore

co-,orta/%e i, ou tr to sa Tre&i'e as o,ten as ou can2and I sha%% sa

B%iss.#

Tre&i'e studied her+ as he a%(as did (hen he encountered her. :s

an indi&idua%+ she (as a oung (o-an in her ear% t(enties. :s part o,

$ait+ ho(e&er+ she (as thousands o, ears o%d. It -ade no di,,erence in

her appearance+ /ut it -ade a di,,erence in the (a she spoke

so-eti-es+ and in the at-osphere that ine&ita/% surrounded her. id

he (ant it this (a ,or e&erone (ho e7isted" o Sure%+ no+ and et2

B%iss said+ I (i%% get to the point. You stressed our desire to ,ind

Earth2

I spoke to o-+# said Tre&i'e+ deter-ined not to gi&e in to $aia

(ithout a perpetua% insistence on his o(n point o, &ie(.

Yes+ /ut in speaking to o-+ ou spoke to $aia and to e&er part o,it+ so that ou spoke to -e+ ,or instance.#

id ou hear -e as I spoke"#

o+ ,or I (asn)t %istening+ /ut i,+ therea,ter+ I paid attention+ I cou%d

re-e-/er (hat ou said. A%ease accept that and %et us go on. 2You

stressed our desire to ,ind Earth and insisted on its i-portance. I do not

see that i-portance /ut ou ha&e the knack o, /eing right so I3(e3$aia

-ust accept (hat ou sa. I, the -ission is crucia% to our decision

concerning $aia+ It is o, crucia% i-portance to $aia+ and so $aia -ust go

(ith ou+ i, on% to tr to protect ou.#

When ou sa $aia -ust go (ith -e+ ou -ean ou -ust go (ith

-e. :- I correct"#

I a- $aia+# said B%iss si-p%.

But so is e&erthing e%se on and in this p%anet. Wh+ then+ ou" Wh

not so-e other portion o, $aia"#

Because Ae% (ishes to go (ith ou+ and i, he goes (ith ou+ he

(ou%d not /e happ (ith an other portion o, $aia than -se%,.#

Ae%orat+ (ho sat rather uno/trusi&e% on a chair in another corner

(ith his /ack+ Tre&i'e noted+ to his o(n i-ageG said so,t%+ That)s true+

$o%an. B%iss is - portion o, $aia.#B%iss s-i%ed sudden%. It see-s rather e7citing to /e thought o, in

that (a. It)s &er a%ien+ o, course.#

We%%+ %et)s see.# Tre&i'e put his hands /ehind his head and /egan to

%ean /ack(ard in his chair. The thin %egs creaked as he did so+ so that he

*uick% decided the chair (as not sturd enough to endure that ga-e

and /rought it do(n to a%% ,our ,eet. Wi%% ou sti%% /e part o, $aia i, ou

%ea&e her"#

I need not /e. I can iso%ate -se%,+ ,or instance+ i, I see- in danger

o, serious har-+ so that har- (i%% not necessari% spi%% o&er into $aia+ or

i, there is an other o&erriding reason ,or it. That+ ho(e&er+ is a -atter

o, e-ergenc on%. $enera%%+ I (i%% re-ain part o, $aia.#

E&en i, (e u-p through hperspace"#

E&en then+ though that (i%% co-p%icate -atters so-e(hat.#

So-eho( I don)t ,ind that co-,orting.#

Wh not"#

Tre&i'e (rink%ed his nose in the usua% -etaphoric response to a /ad

s-e%%. It -eans that anthing that is said and done on - ship that ou

hear and see (i%% /e heard and seen / a%% o, $aia.#

I a- $aia so (hat I see+ hear+ and sense+ $aia (i%% see+ hear+ andsense.#

E7act%. E&en that (a%% (i%% see+ hear+ and sense.#

B%iss %ooked at the (a%% he pointed to and shrugged. Yes+ that (a%%+

too. It has on% an in,initesi-a% consciousness so that it senses and

understands on% in,initesi-a%%+ /ut I presu-e there are so-e

su/ato-ic shi,ts in response to (hat (e are saing right no(+ ,or

instance+ that ena/%e it to ,it into $aia (ith -ore purpose,u% intent ,or

the good o, the (ho%e.#

But (hat i, I (ish pri&ac" I -a not (ant the (a%% to /e a(are o,

(hat I sa or do.#

B%iss %ooked e7asperated and Ae%orat /roke in sudden%. You kno(+

$o%an+ I don)t (ant to inter,ere+ since I o/&ious% don)t kno( -uch

a/out $aia. Sti%%+ I)&e /een (ith B%iss and I)&e gathered so-eho( so-e

o, (hat it)s a%% a/out. 2I, ou (a%k through a cro(d on Ter-inus+ ou see

and hear a great -an things+ and ou -a re-e-/er so-e o, it. You

-ight e&en /e a/%e to reca%% a%% o, it under the proper cere/ra%

sti-u%ation+ /ut -ost% ou don)t care. You %et it go. E&en i, ou (atch

so-e e-otiona% scene /et(een strangers and e&en i, ou)re interested8

sti%%+ i, it)s o, no great concern to ou2ou %et it go2ou ,orget. It -ust /eso on $aia+ too. E&en i, a%% o, $aia kno(s our /usiness inti-ate%+ that

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doesn)t -ean that $aia necessari% cares. 2Isn)t that so+ B%iss dear"#

I)&e ne&er thought o, it that (a+ Ae%+ /ut there is so-ething in

(hat ou sa. Sti%%+ this pri&ac Tre& ta%ks a/out2I -ean+ Tre&i'e2is

nothing (e &a%ue at a%%. In ,act+ I3(e3$aia ,ind it inco-prehensi/%e. To

(ant to /e not part2to ha&e our &oice unheard2our deeds

un(itnessed2our thoughts unsensed2# B%iss shook her head &igorous%.

I said that (e can /%ock ourse%&es o,, in e-ergencies+ /ut (ho (ou%d

(ant to %i&e that (a+ e&en ,or an hour"#

I (ou%d+# said Tre&i'e. That is (h I -ust ,ind Earth2to ,ind out the

o&erriding reason+ i, an+ that dro&e -e to choose this dread,u% ,ate ,or

hu-anit.#

It is not a dread,u% ,ate+ /ut %et us not de/ate the -atter. I (i%% /e

(ith ou+ not as a sp+ /ut as a ,riend and he%per. $aia (i%% /e (ith ou

not as a sp+ /ut as a ,riend and he%per.#

Tre&i'e said+ so-/er%+ $aia cou%d he%p -e /est / directing -e to

Earth.#

S%o(%+ B%iss shook her head. $aia doesn)t kno( the %ocation o,

Earth. o- has a%read to%d ou that.#I don)t *uite /e%ie&e that. :,ter a%%+ ou -ust ha&e records. Wh

ha&e I ne&er /een a/%e to see those records during - sta here" E&en i,

$aia honest% doesn)t kno( (here Earth -ight /e %ocated+ I -ight gain

so-e kno(%edge ,ro- the records. I kno( the $a%a7 in considera/%e

detai%+ undou/ted% -uch /etter than $aia does. I -ight /e a/%e to

understand and ,o%%o( hints in our records that $aia+ perhaps+ doesn)t

*uite catch.#

But (hat records are these ou ta%k o,+ Tre&i'e"#

:n records. Books+ ,i%-s+ recordings+ ho%ographs+ arti,acts+

(hate&er it is ou ha&e. In the ti-e I)&e /een here I ha&en)t seen one

ite- that I (ou%d consider in an (a a record. 2Ha&e ou+ ano&"#

o+# said Ae%orat hesitant%+ /ut I ha&en)t rea%% %ooked.#

Yet I ha&e+ in - *uiet (a+# said Tre&i'e+ and I)&e seen nothing.

othing I can on% suppose the)re /eing hidden ,ro- -e. Wh+ I

(onder" Wou%d ou te%% -e that"#

B%iss)s s-ooth oung ,orehead (rink%ed into a pu''%ed ,ro(n.

Wh didn)t ou ask /e,ore this" I3(e3$aia hide nothing+ and (e

te%% no %ies. :n Iso%ate 2 an indi&idua% in iso%ation2-ight te%% %ies. He is

%i-ited+ and is ,ear,u% /ecause he is %i-ited. $aia+ ho(e&er+ is a p%anetarorganis- o, great -enta% a/i%it and has no ,ear. For $aia to te%% %ies+ to

create descriptions that are at &ariance (ith rea%it+ is tota%%

unnecessar.#

Tre&i'e snorted. Then (h ha&e I care,u%% /een kept ,ro- seeing

an records" $i&e -e a reason that -akes sense.#


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person. Writing (as e&entua%% in&ented in order to record -e-ories

and trans,er the- across ti-e ,ro- generation to generation. :%%

techno%ogica% ad&ance since then has ser&ed to -ake -ore roo- ,or the

trans,er and storage o, -e-ories and to -ake the reca%% o, desired

ite-s easier. Ho(e&er+ once indi&idua%s 6oined to ,or- $aia+ a%% that

/eca-e o/so%ete. We can return to -e-or+ the /asic sste- o, record2

keeping on (hich a%% e%se is /ui%t. o ou see that"#

Tre&i'e said+ :re ou saing that the su- tota% o, a%% /rains on $aia

can re-e-/er ,ar -ore data than a sing%e /rain can"#


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The data is not %ost. It is s%o(% cro(ded out as the /rain

disorgani'es a,ter death+ /ut there is a-p%e ti-e to distri/ute the

-e-ories into other parts o, $aia. :nd as ne( /rains +appear in /a/ies

and /eco-e -ore organi'ed (ith gro(th+ the not on% de&e%op their

persona% -e-ories and thoughts /ut are ,ed appropriate kno(%edge

,ro- other sources. What ou (ou%d ca%% education is entire% auto-atic

(ith -e3us3$aia.#

Ae%orat said+ Frank%+ $o%an+ it see-s to -e that this notion o, a

%i&ing (or%d has a great dea% to /e said ,or it.#

Tre&i'e ga&e his ,e%%o(2Foundationer a /rie,+ side%ong g%ance. I)-

sure o, that+ ano&+ /ut I)- not i-pressed. The p%anet+ ho(e&er /ig and

ho(e&er di&erse+ represents one /rain.


9/343

%ike% to destro its ear% records. Far ,ro- 6udging the- to /e archaic

and unnecessar+ the are %ike% to treat the- (ith e7aggerated

re&erence and (ou%d %a/or to preser&e the-. I, $aia)s preg%o/a% records

(ere destroed+ B%iss+ that destruction is not %ike% to ha&e /een

&o%untar.#

Ho( (ou%d ou e7p%ain it+ then"#

In the i/rar at Trantor+ a%% re,erences to Earth (ere re-o&ed /

so-eone or so-e ,orce other than that o, the Trantorian Second

Foundationers the-se%&es. Isn)t it possi/%e+ then+ that on $aia+ too+ a%%

re,erences to Earth (ere re-o&ed / so-ething other than $aia itse%,"#

Ho( do ou kno( the ear% records in&o%&ed Earth"#

:ccording to ou+ $aia (as ,ounded at %east eighteen thousand

ears ago. That /rings us /ack to the period /e,ore the esta/%ish-ent o,

the $a%actic E-pire+ to the period (hen the $a%a7 (as /eing sett%ed

and the pri-e source o, Sett%ers (as Earth. Ae%orat (i%% con,ir- that.#

Ae%orat+ caught a %itt%e / surprise / sudden% /eing ca%%ed on+

c%eared his throat. So go the %egends+ - dear. I take those %egends

serious% and I think+ as $o%an Tre&i'e does+ that the hu-an species (asorigina%% con,ined to a sing%e p%anet and that p%anet (as Earth. The

ear%iest Sett%ers ca-e ,ro- Earth.#

I,+ then+# said Tre&i'e+ $aia (as ,ounded in the ear% das o,

hperspatia% tra&e%+ then it is &er %ike% to ha&e /een co%oni'ed /

Earth-en+ or possi/% / nati&es o, a not &er o%d (or%d that had not

%ong /e,ore /een co%oni'ed / Earth-en. For that reason+ the records o,

$aia)s sett%e-ent and o, the ,irst ,e( -i%%ennia therea,ter -ust c%ear%

ha&e in&o%&ed Earth and Earth-en and those records are gone.

So-ething see-s to /e seeing to it that Earth is not -entioned

an(here in the records o, the $a%a7. :nd i, so+ there -ust /e so-e

reason ,or it.#

B%iss said indignant%+ This is con6ecture+ Tre&i'e. You ha&e no

e&idence ,or this.#

But it is $aia that insists that - specia% ta%ent is that o, co-ing to

correct conc%usions on the /asis o, insu,,icient e&idence. I,+ then+ I co-e

to a ,ir- conc%usion+ don)t te%% -e I %ack e&idence.#

B%iss (as si%ent.

Tre&i'e (ent on+ :%% the -ore reason then ,or ,inding Earth. I intend

to %ea&e as soon as the Far Star is read. o ou t(o sti%% (ant to co-e"#Yes+# said B%iss at once+ and Yes+# said Ae%orat.

1SI


10/3431

Chapter @

To(ard Co-pore%%on

5.

IT W:S >:II$ %ight%. Tre&i'e %ooked up at the sk+ (hich (as a

so%id graish (hite.

He (as (earing a rain hat that repe%%ed the drops and sent the-

,%ing (e%% a(a ,ro- his /od in a%% directions. Ae%orat+ standing out o,range o, the ,%ing drops+ had no such protection.

Tre&i'e said+ I don)t see the point o, our %etting ourse%, get (et+

ano&.#

The (et doesn)t /other -e+ - dear chap+# said Ae%orat+ %ooking as

so%e-n as he a%(as did. It)s a %ight and (ar- rain. There)s no (ind to

speak o,. :nd /esides+ to *uote the o%d saing0 9In :nacreon+ do as the

:nacreonians do.#X He indicated the ,e( $aians standing near the Far

Star+ (atching *uiet%. The (ere (e%% scattered+ as though the (ere

trees in a $aian gro&e+ and none (ore rain hats.I suppose+# said Tre&i'e+ the don)t -ind /eing (et+ /ecause a%% the

rest o, $aia is getting (et. The trees2the grass2the soi%2a%% (et+ and a%%

e*ua%% part o, $aia+ a%ong (ith the $aians.#

I think it -akes sense+# said Ae%orat. The sun (i%% co-e out soon

enough and e&erthing (i%% dr *uick%. The c%othing (on)t (rink%e or

shrink+ there)s no chi%%ing e,,ect+ and+ since there aren)t an unnecessar

pathogenic -icroorganis-s+ no one (i%% get co%ds+ or ,%u+ or pneu-onia.

Wh (orr a/out a /it o, da-p then"#

Tre&i'e had no trou/%e in seeing the %ogic o, that+ /ut he hated to %et

go o, his grie&ance. He said+ Sti%%+ there is no need ,or it to rain as (eare %ea&ing. :,ter a%%+ the rain is &o%untar. $aia (ou%dn)t rain i, it didn)t

(ant to. It)s a%-ost as though it (ere sho(ing its conte-pt ,or us.#

Aerhaps#2and Ae%orat)s %ip t(itched a /it $aia is (eeping (ith

sorro( at our %ea&ing.#

Tre&i'e said+ That -a /e+ /ut I)- not.#

:ctua%%+# Ae%orat (ent on+ I presu-e that the soi% in this region

needs a (etting do(n+ and that need is -ore i-portant than our desire

to ha&e the sun shine.#

Tre&i'e s-i%ed. I suspect ou rea%% %ike this (or%d+ don)t ou" E&enaside ,ro- B%iss+ I -ean.#

Yes+ I do+# said Ae%orat+ a trace de,ensi&e%. I)&e a%(as %ed a *uiet+

order% %i,e+ and think ho( I cou%d -anage here+ (ith a (ho%e (or%d

%a/oring to keep it *uiet and order%. 2:,ter a%%+ $o%an+ (hen (e /ui%d a

house2or that ship2(e tr to create a per,ect she%ter. We e*uip it (ith

e&erthing (e need8 (e arrange to ha&e its te-perature+ air *ua%it+

i%%u-ination+ and e&erthing e%se o, i-portance+ contro%%ed / us and

-anipu%ated in a (a to -ake it per,ect% acco--odating to us. $aia is

6ust an e7tension o, the desire ,or co-,ort and securit e7tended to an

entire p%anet. What)s (rong (ith that"#

What)s (rong (ith that+# said Tre&i'e+ is that - house or - ship

is engineered to suit -e. I a- not engineered to suit it. I, I (ere part o,

$aia+ then no -atter ho( idea%% the p%anet (as de&ised to suit -e+ I

(ou%d /e great% distur/ed o&er the ,act that I (as a%so /eing de&ised to

suit it.#

Ae%orat pursed his %ips.


11/34311

check (ith o- than I had anticipated.#

Sure%+# said Tre&i'e+ ou kno( e&erthing he kno(s.#

So-eti-es it)s a -atter o, a di,,erence in interpretation. We are

not identica%+ a,ter a%%+ so (e discuss. ook here+# she said+ (ith a touch

o, asperit+ ou ha&e t(o hands. The are each part o, ou+ and the

see- identica% e7cept ,or one /eing the -irror2i-age o, the other. Yet

ou do not use the- entire% a%ike+ do ou" There are so-e things ou

do (ith our right hand -ost o, the ti-e+ and so-e (ith our %e,t.

i,,erences in interpretation+ so to speak.#

She)s got ou+# said Ae%orat+ (ith o/&ious satis,action.

Tre&i'e nodded. It)s an e,,ecti&e ana%og+ i, it (ere re%e&ant+ and I)-

not at a%% sure it is. In an case+ does this -ean (e can /oard the ship

no(" It is raining.#

Yes+ es.


12/343

1@

shut out not e7act% a night-are+ /ut so-ething so serious% a/nor-a%

that it had pre&ented hi- ,ro- /reathing ,ree%.

He (as ,u%% a(are that an e%e-ent o, that a/nor-a%it (as sti%% (ith

hi- in the person o, B%iss. Whi%e she (as there+ $aia (as there2and et

he (as a%so con&inced that her presence (as essentia%. It (as the /%ack

/o7 (orking again+ and earnest% he hoped he (ou%d ne&er /egin

/e%ie&ing in that /%ack /o7 too -uch.

He %ooked a/out the &esse% and ,ound it /eauti,u%. It had /een his

on% since ;aor Har%a Branno o, the Foundation had ,orced hi- into it

and sent hi- out a-ong the stars2a %i&ing %ightning rod designed to dra(

the ,ire o, those she considered ene-ies o, the Foundation. That task

(as done /ut the ship (as sti%% his+ and he had no p%ans to return it.

It had /een his ,or -ere% a -atter o, a ,e( -onths+ /ut it see-ed

%ike ho-e to hi- and he cou%d on% di-% re-e-/er (hat had once

/een his ho-e in Ter-inus.

Ter-inus The o,,2center hu/ o, the Foundation+ destined+ /

Se%don)s A%an+ to ,or- a second and greater E-pire in the course o, the

ne7t ,i&e centuries+ e7cept that he+ Tre&i'e+ had no( derai%ed it. B hiso(n decision he (as con&erting the Foundation to nothing+ and (as

-aking possi/%e instead+ a ne( societ+ a ne( sche-e o, %i,e+ a

,rightening re&o%ution that (ou%d /e greater than an since the

de&e%op-ent o, -u%tice%%u%ar %i,e.

o( he (as engaged in a 6ourne designed to pro&e to hi-se%, or to

dispro&eG that (hat he had done (as right. He ,ound hi-se%, %ost in

thought and -otion%ess+ so that he shook hi-se%, in se%,2irritation. He

hastened to the pi%ot2roo- and ,ound his co-puter sti%% there.

It g%istened8 e&erthing g%istened. There had /een a -ost care,u%

c%eaning. The contacts he c%osed+ near% at rando-+ (orked per,ect%+

and+ it sure% see-ed+ (ith greater ease than e&er. The &enti%ating

sste- (as so noise%ess that he had to put his hand o&er the &ents to

-ake sure he ,e%t air currents.

The circ%e o, %ight on the co-puter g%o(ed in&iting%. Tre&i'e touched

it and the %ight spread out to co&er the desk top and the out%ine o, a

right and %e,t hand appeared on it. He dre( a deep /reath and rea%i'ed

that he had stopped /reathing ,or a (hi%e. The $aians kne( nothing

a/out Foundation techno%og and the -ight easi% ha&e da-aged the

co-puter (ithout -eaning an -a%ice. Thus ,ar the had not2the hands(ere sti%% there.

The crucia% test ca-e (ith the %aing on o, his o(n hands+ ho(e&er+

and+ ,or a -o-ent+ he hesitated. He (ou%d kno(+ a%-ost at once+ i,

anthing (ere (rong2/ut i, so-ething (as+ (hat cou%d he do" For

repairs+ he (ou%d ha&e to go /ack to Ter-inus+ and i, he did+ he ,e%t

*uite con,ident that ;aor Branno (ou%d not %et hi- %ea&e again. :nd i,

he did not. He cou%d ,ee% his heart pounding+ and there (as c%ear% no

point in de%i/erate% %engthening the suspense.

He thrust his hands out+ right+ %e,t+ and p%aced the- on the out%ines

upon the desk. :t once+ he had the i%%usion o, another pair o, hands

ho%ding his. His senses e7tended+ and he cou%d see $aia in a%% directions+

green and -oist+ the $aians sti%% (atching. When he (i%%ed hi-se%, to

%ook up(ard+ he sa( a %arge% c%oud sk. :gain+ at his (i%%+ the c%ouds

&anished and he %ooked at an un/roken /%ue sk (ith the or/ o, $aia)s

sun ,i%tered out. :gain he (i%%ed and the /%ue parted and he sa( the

stars. He (iped the- out+ and (i%%ed and sa( the $a%a7+ %ike a

,oreshortened pin(hee%. He tested the co-puteri'ed i-age+ ad6usting

its orientation+ a%tering the apparent progress o, ti-e+ -aking it spin

,irst in one direction+ then the other. He %ocated the sun o, Sashe%%+ thenearest i-portant star to $aia8 then the sun o, Ter-inus8 then o,

Trantor8 one a,ter the other. He tra&e%ed ,ro- star to star in the $a%actic

-ap that d(e%t in the /o(e%s o, the co-puter.

Then he (ithdre( his hands and %et the (or%d o, rea%it surround

hi- again2and rea%i'ed he had /een standing a%% this ti-e+ ha%,2/o(ing

o&er the co-puter to -ake the hand contact. He ,e%t sti,, and had to

stretch his /ack -usc%es /e,ore sitting do(n.

He stared at the co-puter (ith (ar- re%ie,. It had (orked per,ect%.

It had /een+ i, anthing+ -ore responsi&e+ and (hat he ,e%t ,or it he

cou%d on% descri/e as %o&e. :,ter a%%+ (hi%e he he%d its hands he

reso%ute% re,used to ad-it to hi-se%, that he thought o, it as her handsG

the (ere part o, each other+ and his (i%% directed+ contro%%ed+

e7perienced+ and (as part o, a greater se%,. He and it -ust ,ee%+ in a

s-a%% (a he sudden%+ and distur/ing%+ thoughtG+ (hat $aia did in a

-uch %arger (a. He shook his head. o In the case o, the co-puter

and hi-se%,+ it (as he 2Tre&i'e2(ho (as in entire contro%. The co-puter

(as a thing o, tota% su/-ission.

He rose and -o&ed out to the co-pact ga%%e and dining area. There

(as p%ent o, ,ood o, a%% kinds+ (ith proper re,rigeration and eas2heating ,aci%ities. He had a%read noted that the /ook2,i%-s in his roo-

1SI


13/343

1

(ere in the proper order+ and he (as reasona/% sure2no+ co-p%ete%

sure2that Ae%orat had his persona% %i/rar in sa,e storage. He (ou%d

other(ise sure% ha&e heard ,ro- hi- / no(.

Ae%orat That re-inded hi-. He stepped into Ae%orat)s roo-. Is

there roo- ,or B%iss here+ ano&"#


14/343

1?

I don)t care (hat ou do on p%anets+# interrupted Tre&i'e+ /ut on

this ship+ I a- -aster.#

E7act%+# said Ae%orat.

Then+ (ith that straightened out+ it is ti-e to take o,,.#

But (ait.# Ae%orat reached out to tug at Tre&i'e)s s%ee&e. Take o,,

,or (here" You don)t kno( (here Earth is+ nor do I+ nor does B%iss. or

does our co-puter+ ,or ou to%d -e %ong ago that it %acks an

in,or-ation on Earth. What do ou intend doing+ then" You can)t si-p%

dri,t through space at rando-+ - dear chap.#

:t that+ Tre&i'e s-i%ed (ith (hat (as a%-ost 6o. For the ,irst ti-e

since he had ,a%%en into the grip o, $aia+ he ,e%t -aster o, his o(n ,ate.

I assure ou+# he said+ that it is not - intention to dri,t+ ano&. I

kno( e7act% (here I a- going.#

.

AE:T (a%ked *uiet% into the pi%ot2roo- a,ter he had (aited %ong

-o-ents (hi%e his s-a%% tap on the door had gone unans(ered. He

,ound Tre&i'e %ooking (ith keen a/sorption at the star,ie%d.

Ae%orat said+ $o%an2# and (aited.Tre&i'e %ooked up. ano& Sit do(n. 2Where)s B%iss"#

S%eeping. 2We)re out in space+ I see.#

You see correct%.# Tre&i'e (as not surprised at the other)s -i%d

surprise. In the ne( gra&itic ships+ there (as si-p% no (a o, detecting

takeo,,. There (ere no inertia% e,,ects8 no acce%erationa% push8 no noise8

no &i/ration.

Aossessing the capacit to insu%ate itse%, ,ro- outside gra&itationa%

,ie%ds to an degree up to tota%+ the Far Star %i,ted ,ro- a p%anetar

sur,ace as though it (ere ,%oating on so-e cos-ic sea. :nd (hi%e it did

so+ the gra&itationa% e,,ect (ithin the ship+ parado7ica%%+ re-ained

nor-a%.

Whi%e the ship (as (ithin the at-osphere+ o, course+ there (as no

need to acce%erate so that the (hine and &i/ration o, rapid% passing air

(ou%d /e a/sent. :s the at-osphere (as %e,t /ehind+ ho(e&er+

acce%eration cou%d take p%ace+ and at rapid rates+ (ithout a,,ecting the

passengers.

It (as the u%ti-ate in co-,ort and Tre&i'e did not see ho( it cou%d

/e i-pro&ed upon unti% such ti-e as hu-an /eings disco&ered a (a o,

(hisking through hperspace (ithout ships+ and (ithout concern a/outnear/ gra&itationa% ,ie%ds that -ight /e too intense. >ight no(+ the Far

Star (ou%d ha&e to speed a(a ,ro- $a%a)s sun ,or se&era% das /e,ore

the gra&itationa% intensit (as (eak enough to atte-pt the u-p.

$o%an+ - dear ,e%%o(+# said Ae%orat. ;a I speak (ith ou ,or a

-o-ent or t(o" You are not too /us"#

ot at a%% /us. The co-puter hand%es e&erthing once I instruct it

proper%. :nd so-eti-es it see-s to guess (hat - instructions (i%% /e+

and satis,ies the- a%-ost /e,ore I can articu%ate the-.# Tre&i'e /rushed

the top o, the desk %o&ing%.

Ae%orat said+ We)&e gro(n &er ,riend%+ $o%an+ in the short ti-e

(e)&e kno(n each other+ a%though I -ust ad-it that it scarce% see-s a

short ti-e to -e. So -uch has happened. It)s rea%% pecu%iar (hen I stop

to think o, - -oderate% %ong %i,e+ that ha%, o, a%% the e&ents I ha&e

e7perienced (ere s*uee'ed into the %ast ,e( -onths.


15/343

15

ad-it so-ething. When B%iss and I are inti-ate+ she so-eti-es %ets -e

share her -ind ,or a -inute or so. ot ,or -ore than that /ecause she

sas I)- too o%d to adapt to it. 2


16/343

1

Tre&i'e %ooked up+ ee/ro(s %i,ted. I)- sorr. I ha&e /een hugging

the secret to - o(n /oso-+ ha&en)t I"#

Yes+ /ut (h"#

Tre&i'e said+ Wh+ indeed. I (onder+ - ,riend+ i, it isn)t a -atter o,

B%iss.#

B%iss" Is it that ou don)t (ant her to kno(. >ea%%+ o%d ,e%%o(+ she is

co-p%ete% to /e trusted.#

It)s not that. What)s the use o, not trusting her" I suspect she can

t(eak an secret out o, - -ind i, she (ishes to. I think I ha&e a -ore

chi%dish reason than that. I ha&e the ,ee%ing that ou are paing attention

on% to her and that I no %onger rea%% e7ist.#

Ae%orat %ooked horri,ied. But that)s not true+ $o%an.#

I kno(+ /ut I)- tring to ana%'e - o(n ,ee%ings. You ca-e to -e

6ust no( (ith ,ears ,or our ,riendship+ and thinking a/out it+ I ,ee% as

though I)&e had the sa-e ,ears. I ha&en)t open% ad-itted it to -se%,+

/ut I think I ha&e ,e%t cut out / B%iss. Aerhaps I seek to 9get e&en) /

petu%ant% keeping things ,ro- ou. Chi%dish+ I suppose.#

$o%an#I said it (as chi%dish+ didn)t I" But (here is the person (ho isn)t

chi%dish no( and then" Ho(e&er+ (e are ,riends. We)&e sett%ed that and

there,ore I (i%% p%a no ,urther ga-es. We)re going to Co-pore%%on.#

Co-pore%%on"# said Ae%orat+ ,or the -o-ent not re-e-/ering.

Sure% ou reca%% - ,riend+ the traitor+ ;unn i Co-por. We three

-et on Sashe%%.#

Ae%orat)s ,ace assu-ed a &isi/%e e7pression o, en%ighten-ent.


17/343

1

has a %ong histor during (hich it -a ha&e /een part o, -an %i&ing

things+ inc%uding hu-an /eings+ and during (hich it -a a%so ha&e spent

%ong periods as part o, the sea+ or in a %u-p o, coa%+ or in a rock+ or as a

portion o, the (ind /%o(ing upon us.#


18/343

1U

sector in *uestion had a%%ied Itse%, to the E-pire or /een anne7ed / it.#

I shou%dn)t think that histor (ou%d /e that eas to eradicate+# said

Tre&i'e.

In -an (as+ it isn)t+# said Ae%orat+ /ut a deter-ined and

po(er,u% go&ern-ent can (eaken it great%. I, it is su,,icient%

(eakened+ ear% histor co-es to depend on scattered -ateria% and

tends to degenerate into ,o%k ta%es. In&aria/% such ,o%k ta%es (i%% ,i%% (ith

e7aggeration and co-e to sho( the sector to /e o%der and -ore

po(er,u% than+ in a%% %ike%ihood+ it e&er rea%% (as. :nd no -atter ho(

si%% a particu%ar %egend is+ or ho( i-possi/%e it -ight /e on the &er ,ace

o, it+ it /eco-es a -atter o, patriotis- a-ong the %oca%s to /e%ie&e it. I

can sho( ou ta%es ,ro- e&er corner o, the $a%a7 that speak o,

origina% co%oni'ation as ha&ing taken p%ace ,ro- Earth itse%,+ though that

is not a%(as the na-e the gi&e the parent p%anet.#

What e%se do the ca%% it"#

:n o, a nu-/er o, na-es. The ca%% it the


19/343

1

:t the Entr Station

.

BISS+ entering their cha-/er+ said+ id Tre&i'e te%% ou that (e are

going -ake the u-p and go through hperspace an -o-ent no("#

Ae%orat+ (ho (as /ent o&er his &ie(ing disk+ %ooked up+ and said+

:ctua%%+ he 6ust %ooked in and to%d -e 9(ithin the ha%,2hour.#X

I don)t %ike the thought o, it+ Ae%. I)&e ne&er %iked the u-p. I get a

,unn inside2out ,ee%ing.#

Ae%orat %ooked a /it surprised. I had not thought o, ou as a space

tra&e%er+ B%iss dear.#

I)- not particu%ar%+ and I don)t -ean that this is so on% in -

aspect as a co-ponent. $aia itse%, has no occasion ,or regu%ar space

tra&e%. B -3our3$aia)s &er nature+ I3(e3$aia don)t e7p%ore+ trade+ or

space 6unket. Sti%%+ there is the necessit o, ha&ing so-eone at the entr

stations2

:s (hen (e (ere ,ortunate enough to -eet ou.#Yes+ Ae%.# She s-i%ed at hi- a,,ectionate%.


20/343

@

-e e7p%ain. Tre&2a%% right+ Tre&i'e2thinks I)- a ro/ot.#

: %ook o, astonish-ent su,,used Ae%orat)s ordinari% sto%id ,eatures.

He said+ Sure% he can)t think ou)re an arti,icia% hu-an /eing.#

Wh is that so surprising" $aia (as sett%ed (ith the he%p o, ro/ots.

That)s a kno(n ,act.#

>o/ots -ight he%p+ as -achines night+ /ut it (as peop%e (ho sett%ed

$aia8 peop%e ,ro- Earth. That)s (hat Tre&i'e thinks. I kno( he does.#

There is nothing in $aia)s -e-or a/out Earth as I to%d ou and

Tre&i'e. Ho(e&er+ in our o%dest -e-ories there are sti%% so-e ro/ots+e&en a,ter three thousand ears+ (orking at the task o, co-p%eting the

-odi,ication o, $aia into a ha/ita/%e (or%d. We (ere at that ti-e a%so

,or-ing $aia as a p%anetar consciousness2that took a %ong ti-e+ Ae%

dear+ and that)s another reason (h our ear% -e-ories are di-+ and

perhaps it (asn)t a -atter o, Earth (iping the- out+ as Tre&i'e thinks2

Yes+ B%iss+# said Ae%orat an7ious%+ /ut (hat o, the ro/ots"#

We%%+ as $aia ,or-ed+ the ro/ots %e,t. We did not (ant a $aia that

inc%uded ro/ots+ ,or (e (ere+ and are+ con&inced that a ro/otic

co-ponent is+ in the %ong run+ har-,u% to a hu-an societ+ (hetherIso%ate in nature or A%anetar. I don)t kno( ho( (e ca-e to that

conc%usion /ut it is possi/%e that it is /ased on e&ents dating /ack to a

particu%ar% ear% ti-e in $a%actic histor+ so that $aia)s -e-or does

not e7tend /ack to it.#

I, the ro/ots %e,t2

Yes+ /ut (hat i, so-e re-ained /ehind" What i, I a- one o, the-2

,i,teen thousand ears o%d perhaps. Tre&i'e suspects that.#

Ae%orat shook his head s%o(%. But ou)re not.#

:re ou sure ou /e%ie&e that"#


21/343

@1

The operationa% de,inition is a%% (e ha&e+ and a%% (e can ha&e.#

She put her ar-s a/out Ae%orat)s neck and kissed hi-. The kiss gre(

-ore passionate+ and pro%onged itse%, unti% Ae%orat -anaged to sa+ in

so-e(hat -u,,%ed ,ashion+ But (e pro-ised Tre&i'e not to e-/arrass

hi- / con&erting this ship into a hone-ooners) ha&en.#

B%iss said coa7ing%+ et)s /e carried a(a and not %ea&e ourse%&es

an ti-e to think o, pro-ises.#

Ae%orat+ trou/%ed+ said+ But I can)t do that+ dear. I kno( it -ust

irritate ou+ B%iss+ /ut I a- constant% thinking and I a- constitutiona%%a&erse to %etting -se%, /e carried a(a / e-otion. It)s a %i,e%ong ha/it+

and pro/a/% &er annoing to others. I)&e ne&er %i&ed (ith a (o-an

(ho didn)t see- to o/6ect to it sooner or %ater. ; ,irst (i,e2/ut I

suppose it (ou%d /e inappropriate to discuss that2

>ather inappropriate+ es+ /ut not ,ata%% so. You)re not - ,irst

%o&er either.#

o/ot or hu-an+

that doesn)t -atter. We agree on that. Ho(e&er+ I a- an Iso%ate and ou

kno( it. I a- not part o, $aia+ and (hen (e are inti-ate+ ou)re sharing

e-otions outside $aia e&en (hen ou %et -e participate in $aia ,or a

short period+ and it -a not /e the sa-e intensit o, e-otion then that

ou (ou%d e7perience i, it (ere $aia %o&ing $aia.#

B%iss said+ o&ing ou+ Ae%+ has its o(n de%ight. I %ook no ,arther than

that.#

But it)s not 6ust a -atter o, ou %o&ing -e. You aren)t -ere% ou.What i, $aia considers it a per&ersion"#

I, it did+ I (ou%d kno(+ ,or I a- $aia. :nd since I ha&e de%ight in ou+

$aia does. When (e -ake %o&e+ a%% o, $aia shares the sensation to so-e

degree or other. When I sa I %o&e ou+ that -eans $aia %o&es ou+

a%though it is on% the part that I a- that is assigned the i--ediate ro%e.

2You see- con,used.#

Being an Iso%ate+ B%iss+ I don)t *uite grasp it.#


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@@

(or%d ,ro- space -eant seeing an out%ine o, its continents against a

surrounding sea8 or+ i, it (ere a dr (or%d+ the out%ine o, its %akes against

a surrounding /od o, %and.

It (as ne&er so.

I, a (or%d (as ha/ita/%e+ it had an at-osphere as (e%% as a

hdrosphere. :nd i, it had /oth air and (ater+ it had c%ouds8 and i, it had

c%ouds+ it had an o/scured &ie(.


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Hu-an /eings+ o, course. :%% parts o, $aia are a%i&e and e*ua% in

that respect+ /ut so-e+ %ike hu-an /eings+ are o/&ious% -ore e*ua%

than other+#

on)t /e ,oo%ish% sarcastic+# said B%iss+ (ith a trace o, (aspishness.

The %e&e% and intensit o, consciousness and a(areness are i-portant.

: hu-an /eing is a -ore use,u% portion o, $aia than a rock o, the sa-e

(eight (ou%d /e+ and the properties and ,unctions o, $aia as a (ho%e

are necessari% (eighted in the direction o, the hu-an /eing2not as

-uch so as on our Iso%ate (or%ds+ ho(e&er. What)s -ore+ there areti-es (hen it is (eighted in other directions+ (hen that is needed ,or

$aia as a (ho%e. It -ight e&en+ at %ong inter&a%s+ /e (eighted in the

direction o, the rock interior. That+ too+ de-ands attention or+ in the

%ack o, that attention a%% parts o, $aia -ight su,,er. We (ou%dn)t (ant an

unnecessar &o%canic eruption+ (ou%d (e"#

o+# said Tre&i'e. ot an unnecessar one.#

You)re not i-pressed+ are ou"#

ook+# said Tre&i'e. We ha&e (or%ds that are co%der than a&erage

and (or%ds that are (ar-er8 (or%ds that are tropica% ,orests to a %argee7tent+ and (or%ds that are &ast sa&annahs. o t(o (or%ds are a%ike+ and

e&er one o, the- is ho-e to those (ho are used to it. I a- used to the

re%ati&e -i%dness o, Ter-inus2(e)&e ta-ed it to an a%-ost $aian

-oderation+ actua%%2/ut I %ike to get a(a+ at %east te-porari%+ to

so-ething di,,erent. What (e ha&e+ B%iss+ that $aia doesn)t ha&e+ is

&ariation. I, $aia e7pands into $a%a7ia+ (i%% e&er (or%d in the $a%a7 /e

,orced into -i%dness" The sa-eness (ou%d /e un/eara/%e.#

B%iss said+ I, that is so+ and i, &ariet see-s desira/%e+ &ariet (i%% /e

-aintained.#

:s a gi,t ,ro- the centra% co--ittee+ so to speak"# said Tre&i'edr%. :nd as %itt%e o, it as the can /ear to part (ith" I)d rather %ea&e it

to nature.#

But ou ha&en)t %e,t it to nature. E&er ha/ita/%e (or%d in the $a%a7

has /een -odi,ied. E&er sing%e one (as ,ound in a state o, nature that

(as unco-,orta/%e ,or hu-anit+ and e&er sing%e one (as -odi,ied

unti% it (as as -i%d as cou%d /e -anaged. I, this (or%d here is co%d+ I a-

certain that is /ecause its inha/itants cou%dn)t (arit an ,urther

(ithout unaccepta/%e e7pense. :nd e&en so+ the portions the actua%%

inha/it (e can /e sure are arti,icia%% (ar-ed into -i%dness. So don)t /eso %o,ti% &irtuous a/out %ea&ing it to nature.#

Tre&i'e said+ You speak ,or $aia+ I suppose.#

I a%(as speak ,or $aia. I a- $aia.#

Then i, $aia is so certain o, its o(n superiorit+ (h did ou re*uire

- decision" Wh ha&e ou not gone ahead (ithout -e"#

B%iss paused+ as though to co%%ect her thoughts. She said+ Because it

is not (ise to trust one)s se%, o&er-uch. We natura%% see our &irtues

(ith c%earer ees than (e see our de,ects. We are an7ious to do (hat is

right8 not necessari% (hat see-s right to us+ /ut (hat is right+

o/6ecti&e%+ i, such a thing as o/6ecti&e right e7ists. You see- to /e thenearest approach to o/6ecti&e right that (e can ,ind+ so (e are guided

/ ou.#

So o/6ecti&e% right+# said Tre&i'e sad%+ that I don)t e&en

understand - o(n decision and I seek its 6usti,ication.#

You)%% ,ind it+# said B%iss.

I hope so+# said Tre&i'e.

:ctua%%+ o%d chap+# said Ae%orat+ it see-s to -e that this recent

e7change (as (on rather handi% / B%iss. Wh don)t ou recogni'e the

,act that her argu-ents 6usti, our decision that $aia is the (a&e o, the,uture ,or hu-anit"#

Because+# said Tre&i'e harsh%+ I did not kno( those argu-ents at

the ti-e I -ade - decision. I kne( none o, these detai%s a/out $aia.

So-ething e%se in,%uenced -e+ at %east unconscious%+ so-ething that

doesn)t depend upon $aian detai%+ /ut -ust /e -ore ,unda-enta%. It is

that (hich I -oi% ,ind out.#

Ae%orat he%d up a p%acating hand. on)t /e angr+ $o%an.#

I)- not angr. I)- 6ust under rather un/eara/%e tension. I don)t

(ant to

/e the ,ocus o, the $a%a7.#B%iss said+ I don)t /%a-e ou ,or that+ Tre&i'e+ and I)- tru% sorr

that our o(n -akeup has so-eho( ,orced ou into the post. 2When

(i%% (e /e %anding on Co-pore%%on"#

In three das+# said Tre&i'e+ and on% a,ter (e stop at one o, the

entr stations in or/it a/out it.#

Ae%orat said+ There shou%dn)t /e an pro/%e- (ith that+ shou%d

there"#

Tre&i'e shrugged. It depends on the nu-/er o, ships approaching ,t

(or%d+ the nu-/er o, entr stations that e7ist+ and+ -ost o, a%%+ on theparticu%ar ru%es ,or per-itting and re,using ad-ittance. Such ru%es

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@?

change ,ro- ti-e to ti-e.#

Ae%orat said indignant%+ What do ou -ean re,using ad-ittance" 1

can the re,use ad-ittance to citi'ens o, the Foundation" Isn)t

Co-pore%%an part o, the Foundation do-inion"#

We%%+ es2and no. There)s a de%icate -atter o, %ega%is- a/out the

point and I)- not sure ho( Co-pore%%on interprets it. I suppose there)s

a chance (e)%% /e re,used ad-ission+ /ut I don)t think it)s a %arge

chance.#

:nd i, (e are re,used+ (hat do (e do"#I)- not sure+# said Tre&i'e. et)s (ait and see (hat happens /e,ore

(e (ear ourse%&es out -aking contingenc p%ans.#

11.

THEY WE>E c%ose enough to Co-pore%%on no( ,or it to appear as a

su/stantia% g%o/e (ithout te%escopic en%arge-ent. When such

en%arge-ent (as added+ ho(e&er+ the entr stations the-se%&es cou%d

/e seen. The (ere ,arther out than -ost o, the or/iting structures

a/out the p%anet and the (ere (e%% %it.

:pproaching as the Far Star (as ,ro- the direction o, the p%anet)ssouthern po%e+ ha%, its g%o/e (as sun%it constant%. The entr stations on

its night side (ere natura%% -ore c%ear% seen as sparks o, %ight. The

(ere e&en% spaced in an arc a/out the p%anet. Si7 o, the- (ere &isi/%e

p%us si7 on the da side undou/ted%G and a%% (ere circ%ing the p%anet at

e&en and identica% speeds.

Ae%orat+ a %itt%e a(ed at the sight+ said+ There are other %ights c%oser

to the p%anet. What are the"#

Tre&i'e said+ I don)t kno( the p%anet in detai% so I can)t te%% ou.

So-e -ight /e or/iting ,actories or %a/oratories or o/ser&atories+ or

e&en popu%ated to(nships. So-e p%anets pre,er to keep a%% or/itingo/6ects out(ard% dark+ e7cept ,or the entr stations. Ter-inus does+ ,or

instance. Co-pore%%on conducts itse%, on a -ore %i/era% princip%e+

o/&ious%.#

Which entr station do (e go to+ $o%an"#

It depends on the-. I)&e sent in - re*uest to %and on Co-pore%%on

and (e)%% e&entua%% get our directions as to (hich entr station to go to+

and (hen. ;uch depends on ho( -an inco-ing ships are tring to

-ake entr at present. I, there are a do'en ships %ined up at each

station+ (e (i%% ha&e no choice /ut to /e patient.#B%iss said+ I)&e on% /een at hperspatia% distances ,ro- $aia t(ice

/e,ore+ and those (ere /oth (hen I (as at or near Sashe%%. I)&e ne&er

/een at anthing %ike this distance.#

Tre&i'e %ooked at her sharp%. oes it -atter" You)re sti%% $aia+

aren)t ou"#

For a -o-ent+ B%iss %ooked irritated+ /ut then disso%&ed into (hat

(as a%-ost an e-/arrassed titter. I -ust ad-it ou)&e caught -e this

ti-e+ Tre&i'e. There is a dou/%e -eaning in the (ord 9$aia.) It can /e

used to re,er to the phsica% p%anet as a so%id g%o/u%ar o/6ect in space. It

can a%so /e used to re,er to the %i&ing o/6ect that inc%udes that g%o/e.Aroper% speaking+ (e shou%d use t(o di,,erent (ords ,or these t(o

di,,erent concepts+ /ut $aians a%(as kno( ,ro- the conte7t (hat is

/eing re,erred to. I ad-it that an Iso%ate -ight /e pu''%ed at ti-es.#

We%%+ then+# said Tre&i'e+ ad-itting that ou are -an thousands

o, parsecs ,ro- $aia as g%o/e+ are ou sti%% part o, $aia as organis-"#

>e,erring to the organis-+ I a- sti%% $aia.#

o attenuation"#

ot in essence. I)- sure I)&e a%read to%d ou there is so-e added

co-p%e7it in re-aining $aia across hperspace+ /ut I re-ain $aia.#Tre&i'e said+ oes it occur to ou that $aia -a /e &ie(ed as a

$a%actic kraken2the tentac%ed -onster o, the %egends2(ith its tentac%es

reaching e&er(here. You ha&e /ut to put a ,e( $aians on each o, the

popu%ated (or%ds and ou (i%% &irtua%% ha&e $a%a7ia right there. In ,act.

ou ha&e pro/a/% done e7act% that. Where are our $aians %ocated" I

presu-e that one or -ore are on Ter-inus and one or -ore are on

Trantor. Ho( -uch ,arther does this go"#

B%iss %ooked distinct% unco-,orta/%e. I ha&e said I (on)t %ie to ou+

Tre&i'e+ /ut that doesn)t -ean I ,ee% co-pe%%ed to gi&e ou the (ho%e

truth. There are so-e things ou ha&e no need to kno(+ and theposition and identit o, indi&idua% /its o, $aia are a-ong the-.#

o I need to kno( the reason ,or the e7istence o, those tentac%es+

B%iss+ e&en i, I don)t kno( (here the are"#

It is the opinion o, $aia that ou do not.#

I presu-e+ though+ that I -a guess. You /e%ie&e ou ser&e as the

guardians o, the $a%a7.#

We are an7ious to ha&e a sta/%e and secure $a%a78 a peace,u% and

prosperous one. The Se%don A%an+ as origina%% (orked out / Hari Se%don

at %east+ is designed to de&e%op a Second $a%actic E-pire+ one that is-ore sta/%e and -ore (orka/%e than the First (as. The A%an+ (hich has

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@5

/een continua%% -odi,ied and i-pro&ed / the Second Foundation+ has

appeared to /e (orking (e%% so ,ar.#

But $aia doesn)t (ant a Second $a%actic E-pire in the c%assic sense+

does it" You (ant $a%a7ia2a %i&ing $a%a7.#

Since ou per-it it+ (e hope+ in ti-e+ to ha&e $a%a7ia. I, ou had

not per-itted it+ (e (ou%d ha&e stri&en ,or Se%don)s Second E-pire and

-ade it as secure as (e cou%d.#

But (hat is (rong (ith2

His ear caught the so,t+ /urring signa%. Tre&i'e said+ The co-puter issigna%ing -e. I suppose it is recei&ing directions concerning the entr

station. I)%% /e /ack.#

He stepped into the pi%ot2roo- and p%aced his hands on those

-arked out on the desk top and ,ound that there (ere directions ,or the

speci,ic entr station he (as to approach2its co2ordinates (ith re,erence

to the %ine ,ro- Co-pore%%on)s center to its north po%e2the prescri/ed

route o, approach.

Tre&i'e signa%ed his acceptance+ and then sat /ack ,or a -o-ent.

The Se%don A%an He had not thought o, it ,or *uite a ti-e. The Fire$a%actic E-pire had cru-/%ed and ,or ,i&e hundred ears the Foundation

had gro(n+ ,irst in co-petition (ith that E-pire+ and then upon its

ruins2a%% in accordance (ith the A%an.

There had /een the interruption o, the ;u%e+ (hich+ ,or a ti-e+ had

threatened to shi&er the A%an into ,rag-ents+ /ut the Foundation had

pu%%ed through2pro/a/% (ith the he%p o, the e&er2hidden Second

Foundation2possi/% (ith the he%p o, the e&en2/etter2hidden $aia.

o( the A%an (as threatened / so-ething -ore serious than the

;u%e had e&er /een. It (as to /e di&erted ,ro- a rene(a% o, E-pire to

so-ething utter% di,,erent ,ro- anthing in histor2$a%a7ia. :nd hehi-se%, had agreed to that.

But (h" Was there a ,%a( in the A%an" : /asic ,%a("

For one ,%ashing -o-ent+ it see-ed to Tre&i'e that this ,%a( did

indeed e7ist and that he kne( (hat it (as+ that he had kno(n (hat it

(as (hen he -ade his decision2/ut the kno(%edge . . . i, that (ere (hat

it (as . . . &anished as ,ast as it ca-e+ and it %e,t hi- (ith nothing.

Aerhaps it (as a%% on% an i%%usion8 /oth (hen he had -ade his

decision+ and no(. :,ter a%%+ he kne( nothing a/out the A%an /eond the

/asic assu-ptions that &a%idated pschohistor. :part ,ro- that+ hekne( no detai%+ and certain% not a sing%e scrap o, its -athe-atics.

He c%osed his ees and thought2

There (as nothing.

;ight it /e the added po(er he recei&ed ,ro- the co-puter" He

p%aced his hands on the desk top and ,e%t the (ar-th o, the co-puter)s

hands e-/racing the-. He c%osed his ees and once -ore he thought2

There (as sti%% nothing.

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THE C


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cou%d a%-ost te%% the /ack(ardness o, a (or%d at a g%ance / the

/ack(ardness o, its -icrodetector. There (ere no( ,e( (or%ds+

ho(e&er /ack(ard+ that didn)t ha&e one at a%%. The start had co-e (ith

the ,ina% /reakup o, the E-pire+ as each ,rag-ent o, the (ho%e gre(

increasing% an7ious to protect itse%, ,ro- the diseases and a%ien

-icroorganis-s o, a%% the others.

What is that"# asked B%iss+ in a %o( and interested &oice+ craning her

head to see it ,irst on one side+ then the other.

Ae%orat said+ : -icrodetector+ I /e%ie&e the ca%% it.#Tre&i'e added+ It)s nothing -sterious. It)s a de&ice that

auto-atica%% checks a portion o, our /od+ inside and out+ ,or an

-icroorganis- capa/%e o, trans-itting disease.#

This (i%% c%assi, the -icroorganis-s+ too+# said endra+ (ith rather

-ore than a hint o, pride. It)s /een (orked out right here on

Co-pore%%on. 2:nd i, ou don)t -ind+ I sti%% (ant our right hand.#

Tre&i'e inserted his right hand+ and (atched as a series o, s-a%% red

-arkings danced a%ong a set o, hori'onta% %ines. endra touched a

contact and a ,acsi-i%e in co%or appeared at once. I, ou)%% sign that+sir+# he said.

Tre&i'e did so. Ho( /ad% o,, a- I"# he asked. I)- not in an great

danger+ a- I"#

endra said+ I)- not a phsician+ so I can)t sa in detai%+ /ut it

sho(s none o, the -arks that (ou%d re*uire ou to /e turned a(a or to

/e put in *uarantine. That)s a%% I)- interested in.#

What a %uck /reak ,or -e+# said Tre&i'e dr%+ shaking his hand to

rid hi-se%, o, the s%ight ting%e he ,e%t.

You+ sir+# said endra.

Ae%orat inserted his hand (ith a certain hesitanc+ then signed the,acsi-i%e.

:nd ou+ -a)a-"#

: ,e( -o-ents %ater+ endra (as staring at the resu%t+ saing+ I

ne&er sa( anthing %ike this /e,ore.# He %ooked up at B%iss (ith an

e7pression o, a(e. You)re negati&e. :%together.#X

B%iss s-i%ed engaging%. Ho( nice.#

Yes+ -a)a-. I en& ou.# He %ooked /ack at the ,irst ,acsi-i%e+ and

said+ Your identi,ication+ ;r. Tre&i'e.#

Tre&i'e presented it. endra+ g%ancing at it+ again %ooked up insurprise. Counci%-an o, the Ter-inus egis%ature"#

That)s right.#

High o,,icia% o, the Foundation"#

Tre&i'e said coo%%+ E7act% right. So %et)s get through (ith this

*uick%+ sha%% (e"#

You)re captain o, the ship"#

Yes+ I a-.#

Aurpose o, &isit"#

Foundation securit+ and that)s a%% the ans(er I)- going to gi&e ou.

o ou understand that"#Yes+ sir. Ho( %ong do ou intend to sta"#

I don)t kno(. Aerhaps a (eek.#

=er (e%%+ sir. :nd this other gent%e-an"#

He is r. ano& Ae%orat+# said Tre&i'e. You ha&e his signature there

and I &ouch ,or hi-. He is a scho%ar o, Ter-inus and he is - assistant in

this /usiness o, - &isit.#

I understand+ sir+ /ut I -ust see his identi,ication. >u%es are ru%es+

I)- a,raid. I hope ou understand+ sir.#

Ae%orat presented his papers.endra nodded. :nd ou+ -iss"#

Tre&i'e said *uiet%+ o need to /other the %ad. I &ouch ,or her+

too.#

Yes+ sir. But I need the identi,ication.#

B%iss said+ I)- a,raid I don)t ha&e an papers+ sir.#

endra ,ro(ned. I /eg our pardon.#

Tre&i'e said+ The oung %ad didn)t /ring an (ith her. :n o&ersight.

It)s per,ect% a%% right. I)%% take ,u%% responsi/i%it.#

endra said+ I (ish I cou%d %et ou do that+ /ut I)- not a%%o(ed. The

responsi/i%it is -ine. Znder the circu-stances+ it)s not terri/%i-portant. There shou%d /e no di,,icu%t getting dup%icates. The oung

(o-an+ I presu-e+ is ,ro- Ter-inus.#

o+ she)s not.#

Fro- so-e(here in Foundation territor+ then"#

:s a -atter o, ,act+ she isn)t.#

endra %ooked at B%iss keen%+ then at Tre&i'e. That)s a

co-p%ication+ Counci%-an. It -a take additiona% ti-e to o/tain a

dup%icate ,ro- so-e non2Foundation (or%d. Since ou)re not a

Foundation citi'en+ ;iss B%iss+ I -ust ha&e the na-e o, our (or%d o,/irth and o, the (or%d o, (hich ou)re a citi'en. You (i%% then ha&e to

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(ait ,or dup%icate papers to arri&e.#

Tre&i'e said+ See here+ ;r. endra. I see no reason (h there need

/e an de%a (hate&er. I a- a high o,,icia% o, the Foundation

go&ern-ent and I a- here on a -ission o, great i-portance. I -ust not

/e de%aed / a -atter o, tri&ia% paper(ork.#

The choice isn)t -ine+ Counci%-an. I, it (ere up to -e+ I)d %et ou

do(n to Co-pore%%on right no(+ /ut I ha&e a thick /ook o, ru%es that

guides - e&er action. I)&e got to go / the /ook or I get it thro(n at

-e. V, course+I presu-e there -ust /e so-e Co-pore%%ian go&ern-ent ,igure

(ho)s (aiting ,or ou. I, ou)%% te%% -e (ho it is+ I (i%% contact hi-+ and i,

he orders -e to %et ou through+ then that)s it.#

Tre&i'e hesitated a -o-ent. That (ou%d not /e po%itic+ ;r.

endra. ;a I speak (ith our i--ediate superior"#

You certain% -a+ /ut ou can)t 6ust see hi- o,,2hand2

I)- sure he (i%% co-e at once (hen he understands he)s speaking to

a Foundation o,,icia%2

:ctua%%+# said endra+ 6ust /et(een us+ that (ou%d -ake -atters(orse. We)re not part o, the Foundation -etropo%itan territor+ ou

kno(. We co-e under the heading o, an :ssociated Ao(er+ and (e take

it serious%. The peop%e are an7ious not to appear to /e Foundation

puppets2I)- using the popu%ar e7pression on%+ ou understand2and the

/end /ack(ard to de-onstrate independence. ; superior (ou%d

e7pect to get e7tra points i, he resists doing a specia% ,a&or ,or a

Foundation o,,icia%.#

Tre&i'e)s e7pression darkened. :nd ou+ too"#

endra shook his head. I)- /e%o( po%itics+ sir. o one gi&es -e

e7tra points ,or anthing. I)- 6ust %uck i, the pa - sa%ar. :nd thoughI don)t get e7tra points+ I can get de-erits+ and *uite easi%+ too. I (ish

that (ere not so.#

Considering - position+ ou kno(+ I can take care o, ou.#

o+ sir. I)- sorr i, that sounds i-pertinent+ /ut I don)t think ou

can. 2:nd+ sir+ it)s e-/arrassing to sa this+ /ut p%ease don)t o,,er -e

anthing &a%ua/%e. The -ake e7a-p%es o, o,,icia%s (ho accept such

things and the)re prett good at digging the- out+ these das.#

I (asn)t thinking o, /ri/ing ou. I)- on% thinking o, (hat the ;aor

o, Ter-inus can do to ou i, ou inter,ere (ith - -ission.#Counci%-an+ I)%% /e per,ect% sa,e as %ong as I can hide /ehind the

ru%e/ook. I, the -e-/ers o, the Co-pore%%ian Aresidiu- get so-e sort

o, Foundation discip%ine+ that is their concern+ and not -ine. 2But i, it

(i%% he%p+ sir+ I can %et ou and r. Ae%orat through on our ship. I, ou)%%

%ea&e ;iss B%iss /ehind at the entr station+ (e)%% ho%d her ,or a ti-e and

send her do(n to the sur,ace as soon as her dup%icate papers co-e

through. I, her papers shou%d not /e o/taina/%e+ ,or an reason+ (e (i%%

send her /ack to her (or%d on co--ercia% transportation. I)- a,raid+

though+ that so-eone (i%% ha&e to pa her ,are+ in that ease.#

Tre&i'e caught Ae%orat)s e7pression at that+ and said+ ;r. endra+-a I speak to ou pri&ate% in the pi%ot2roo-"#

=er (e%%+ /ut I can)t re-ain on /oard &er -uch %onger+ or I)%% /e

*uestioned.#

This (on)t take %ong+# said Tre&i'e.

In the pi%ot2roo-+ Tre&i'e -ade a sho( o, c%osing the door tight%+

then said+ in a %o( &oice+ I)&e /een -an p%aces+ ;r. endra+ /ut I)&e

ne&er /een anp%ace (here there has /een such harsh e-phasis on the

-inutiae o, the ru%es o, i--igration+ particu%ar% ,or Foundation peop%e

and Foundation o,,icia%s But the oung (o-an is not ,ro- the Foundation.#

E&en so.#

endra said+ These things go in rhth-s. We)&e had so-e scanda%s

and+ right no(+ things are tough. I, ou)%% co-e /ack ne7t ear+ ou

-ight not ha&e an trou/%e at a%%+ /ut right no(+ I can do nothing.#

Tr+ ;r. endra+# said Tre&i'e+ his &oice gro(ing -e%%o(. I)-

going to thro( -se%, on our -erc and appea% to ou+ -an to -an.

Ae%orat and I ha&e /een on this -ission ,or *uite a (hi%e. He and I. ust

he and I. We)re good ,riends+ /ut there)s so-ething %one% a/out it+ i,

ou get -e. So-e ti-e ago+ Ae%orat ,ound this %itt%e %ad. I don)t ha&e tote%% ou (hat happened+ /ut (e decided to /ring her a%ong. It keeps us

hea%th to -ake use o, her no( and then.

o( the thing is Ae%orat)s got a re%ationship /ack on Ter-inus. I)-

c%ear+ ou understand+ /ut Ae%orat is an o%der -an and he)s got to the

age (hen the get a %itt%e2desperate. The need their outh /ack+ or

so-ething. He can)t gi&e her up. :t the sa-e ti-e+ i, she)s e&en

-entioned+ o,,icia%%+ there)s going to /e -iser ga%ore on Ter-inus ,or

o%d Ae%orat (hen he gets /ack.

There)s no har- /eing done+ ou understand. ;iss B%iss+ as she ca%%sherse%,2a good na-e considering her pro,ession2is not e7act% a /right

1SI


28/343

@U

kid8 that)s not (hat (e (ant her ,or. o ou ha&e to -ention her at a%%"

Can)t ou 6ust %ist -e and Ae%orat on the ship"


29/343

@

Ae%orat said+ ;a (e co-e in and he%p ou keep it co-pan" I can)t

*uite get used to the ,act that it can get us do(n a%% / itse%,8 that it can

sense other ships+ or stor-s+ or2(hate&er"#

Tre&i'e s-i%ed /road%. $et used to it+ p%ease. The ship is ,ar sa,er

under the co-puter)s contro% than it e&er (ou%d /e under -ine. 2But

certain%+ co-e on. It (i%% do ou good to (atch (hat happens.#

The (ere o&er the sun%it side o, the p%anet no( ,or+ as Tre&i'e

e7p%ained+ the -ap in the co-puter cou%d /e -ore easi% -atched to

rea%it in the sun%ight than in the dark.That)s o/&ious+# said Ae%orat.

ot at a%% o/&ious. The co-puter (i%% 6udge 6ust as rapid% / the

in,rared %ight (hich the sur,ace radiates e&en in the dark. Ho(e&er+ the

%onger (a&es o, in,rared don)t a%%o( the co-puter *uite the reso%ution

that &isi/%e %ight (ou%d. That is+ the co-puter doesn)t see *uite as ,ine%

and sharp% / in,rared+ and (here necessit doesn)t dri&e+ I %ike to -ake

things as eas as possi/%e ,or the co-puter.#

What i, the capita% is on the dark side"#

The chance is ,i,t2,i,t+# said Tre&i'e+ /ut i, it is+ once the -ap is-atched / da%ight+ (e can ski- do(n to the capita% *uite unerring%

e&en i, it is in the dark. :nd %ong /e,ore (e co-e an(here near the

capita%+ (e)11 /e intersecting -icro(a&e /ea-s and (i%% /e recei&ing

-essages directing us to the -ost con&enient spaceport. 2There)s

nothing to (orr a/out.#

:re ou sure"# said B%iss. You)re /ringing -e do(n (ithout papers

and (ithout an nati&e (or%d that these peop%e here (i%% recogni'eVand

I)- /ound and deter-ined not to -ention $aia to the- in an case. So

(hat do (e do+ i, I)- asked ,or - papers once (e)re on the sur,ace"#

Tre&i'e said+ That)s not %ike% to happen. E&erone (i%% assu-e that(as taken care o, at the entr station.#

But i, the ask"#

Then+ (hen that ti-e co-es+ (e)%% ,ace the pro/%e-. ;ean(hi%e+

%et)s not -anu,acture pro/%e-s out o, air.#

B the ti-e (e ,ace the pro/%e-s that -a arise+ it -ight (e%% /e

too %ate to so%&e the-.#

I)%% re% on - ingenuit to keep it ,ro- /eing too %ate.#

Ta%king a/out ingenuit+ ho( did ou get us through the entr

station"#Tre&i'e %ooked at B%iss+ and %et his %ips s%o(% e7pand into a s-i%e that

-ade hi- see- %ike an i-pish teenager. ust /rains.#

Ae%orat said+ What did ou do+ o%d -an"#

Tre&i'e said+ It (as a -atter o, appea%ing to hi- in the correct

-anner. I)d tried threats and su/t%e /ri/es. I had appea%ed to his %ogic

and his %oa%t to the Foundation. othing (orked+ so I ,e%% /ack on the

%ast resort. I said that ou (ere cheating on our (i,e+ Ae%orat.#

; (i,e" Hut+ - dear ,e%%o(+ I don)t ha&e a (i,e at the -o-ent.#

I kno( that+ /ut he didn)t.#

B%iss said+ B 9(i,e+) I presu-e ou -ean a (o-an (ho is aparticu%ar -an)s regu%ar co-panion.#

Tre&i'e said+ : %itt%e -ore than that+ B%iss. : %ega% co-panion+ one

(ith en,orcea/%e rights in conse*uence o, that co-panionship.#

Ae%orat said ner&ous%+ B%iss+ I do not ha&e a (i,e. I ha&e had one

no( and then in the past+ /ut I ha&en)t had one ,or *uite a (hi%e. I, ou

(ou%d care to undergo the %ega% ritua%2


30/343

(h it shou%d -atter to that o,,icia% at the entr station (hether Ae% (as

decei&ing his (i,e or not"#

I, that ,e%%o(+ endra+ had he%d ou /ack+ the ne(s+ I said+ -ight

reach

Ter-inus and+ there,ore+ Ae%orat)s (i,e. Ae%orat (ou%d then /e in

trou/%e. I

didn)t speci, the sort o, trou/%e he (ou%d /e in+ /ut I tried to sound

a1

though it (ou%d /e /ad. 2There is a kind o, ,ree2-asonr a-ong-a%es+#

Tre&i'e (as grinning+ no(+ and one -a%e doesn)t /etra another

,e%%o(

-a%e. -a%e. He (ou%d e&en he%p+ i, re*uested. The reasoning+ I

suppose+ is that it

-ight /e the he%per)s turn ne7t to /e he%ped. I presu-e+# he added+

turning a

/it gra&er+ that there is a si-i%ar ,ree2-asonr a-ong (o-en+ /ut+

not /einga (o-an+ I ha&e ne&er had an opportunit to o/ser&e it c%ose%.#

B%iss)s ,ace rese-/%ed a prett thunderc%oud. Is this a 6oke"# she

de-anded.

o+ I)- serious+# said Tre&i'e. I don)t sa that that endra ,e%%o(

%et us through on% to he%p ano& a&oid angering his (i,e. The -ascu%ine

,ree2-asonr -a si-p% ha&e added the %ast push to - other

argu-ents.#

But that is horri/%e. It is its ru%es that ho%d societ together and /ind

it into a (ho%e. Is it such a %ight thing to disregard the ru%es ,or tri&ia%

reasons"#We%%+# said Tre&i'e+ in instant de,ensi&eness+ so-e o, the ru%es are

the-se%&es tri&ia%. Fe( (or%ds are &er particu%ar a/out passage in and

out o, their space in ti-es o, peace and co--ercia% prosperit+ such as

(e ha&e no(+ thanks to the Foundation. Co-pore%%on+ ,or so-e reason+

is out o, step2pro/a/% /ecause o, an o/scure -atter o, interna% po%itics.

Wh shou%d (e su,,er o&er that"#

That is /eside the point. I, (e on% o/e those ru%es that (e think

are 6ust and reasona/%e+ then no ru%e (i%% stand+ ,or there is no ru%e that

so-e (i%% not think is un6ust and unreasona/%e. :nd i, (e (ish to pushour o(n indi&idua% ad&antage+ as (e see it+ then (e (i%% a%(as ,ind

reason to /e%ie&e that so-a ha-pering ru%e is un6ust and unreasona/%e.

What starts+ then+ as a shre(d trick ends in anarch and disaster+ e&en

,or the shre(d trickster+ since he+ too+ (i%% not sur&i&e the co%%apse o,

societ.#

Tre&i'e said+ Societ (i%% not co%%apse that easi%. You speak as $aia+

and $aia cannot possi/% understand the association o, ,ree indi&idua%s.

>u%es+ esta/%ished (ith reason and 6ustice+ can easi% out%i&e their

use,u%ness as circu-stances change+ et can re-ain in ,orce through

inertia. It is then not on% right+ /ut use,u%+ to /reak those ru%es as a (ao, ad&ertising the ,act that the ha&e /eco-e use%ess2or e&en actua%%

har-,u%.#

Then e&er thie, and -urderer can argue he is ser&ing hu-anit.#

You go to e7tre-es. In the superorganis- o, $aia+ there is

auto-atic consensus on the ru%es o, societ and it occurs to no one to

/reak the-.


31/343

1

What is present in the hidden recesses o, - -ind+# said Tre&i'e+

-ore gri-% sti%%+ is (hat I seek. 2There+ to /egin (ith+# he added+

pointing to the &ie(screen (here a great cit spread out to the hori'on+

a c%uster o, %o( structures c%i-/ing to occasiona% heights+ surrounded /

,ie%ds that (ere /ro(n under a %ight ,rost.

Ae%orat shook his head. Too /ad. I -eant to (atch the approach+

/ut I got caught up in %istening to the argu-ent.#

Tre&i'e said+ e&er -ind+ ano&. You can (atch (hen (e %ea&e. I)%%

pro-ise to keep - -outh shut then+ i, ou can persuade B%iss tocontro% her o(n.#

:nd the Far Star descended a -icro(a&e /ea- to a %anding at the

spaceport.

1?.

E>:Y %ooked gra&e (hen he returned to the entr station and

(atched the Far Star pass through. He (as sti%% c%ear% depressed at the

c%ose o, his shi,t.

He (as sitting do(n to his c%osing -ea% o, the da (hen one o, his

-ates+ a gang%ing ,e%%o( (ith (ide2set ees+ thin %ight hair+ andee/ro(s so /%ond the see-ed a/sent+ sat do(n ne7t to hi-.

What)s (rong+ en"# said the other.

endra)s %ips t(isted. He said+ That (as a gra&itic ship that 6ust

passed through+ $atis.#

The odd2%ooking one (ith 'ero radioacti&it"#

That)s (h it (asn)t radioacti&e. o ,ue%. $ra&itic.#

$atis nodded his head. What (e (ere to%d to (atch ,or+ right"#

>ight.#

:nd ou got it. ea&e it to ou to /e the %uck one.#

ot so %uck. : (o-an (ithout identi,ication (as on it2and I didn)treport her.#

What" ook+ don)t te%% -e. I don)t (ant to kno( a/out it. ot

another (ord. You -a /e a pa%+ /ut I)- not going to -ake -se%, an

acco-p%ice a,ter the ,act.#

I)- not (orried a/out that. ot &er -uch. I had to send the ship

do(n. The (ant that gra&itic]or an gra&itic. You kno( that.#

Sure+ /ut ou cou%d at %east ha&e reported the (o-an.#

idn)t %ike to. She)s not -arried. She (as 6ust picked up ,or2,or use.#

Ho( -an -en on /oard"#T(o.#

:nd the 6ust picked her up ,or2,or that. The -ust /e ,ro-

Ter-inus.# That)s right.#

The don)t care (hat the do on Ter-inus.#

That)s right.#

isgusting. :nd the get a(a (ith it.#


32/343

@

either a- I. But I)- sorr ,or those t(o -en ,ro- Ter-inus.#

15.

To :Y


33/343

Wood and (ar- air (e%%ed up(ard.

B%iss ru//ed her hands and /reathed a %ong sigh o, re%ie,.

The ta7i pu%%ed out s%o(%+ and the dri&er said+ That ship ou ca-e

in is gra&itic+ isn)t it"#

Tre&i'e said dr%+ Considering the (a it ca-e do(n+ (ou%d ou

dou/t it"#

The dri&er said+ Is it ,ro- Ter-inus+ then"#

Tre&i'e said+ o ou kno( an other (or%d that cou%d /ui%d one"#

The dri&er see-ed to digest that as the ta7i took on speed. He thensaid+ o ou a%(as ans(er a *uestion (ith a *uestion"#

Tre&i'e cou%dn)t resist. Wh not"#

In that case+ ho( (ou%d ou ans(er -e i, I asked i, our na-e (ere

$o%an Tre&i'e"#

I (ou%d ans(er0 What -akes ou ask"#

The ta7i ca-e to a ha%t at the outskirts o, the spaceport and the

dri&er said+ Curiosit I ask again0 :re ou $o%an Tre&i'e"#

Tre&i'e)s &oice /eca-e sti,, and hosti%e. What /usiness is that o,

ours"#; ,riend+# said the dri&er+ We)re not -o&ing ti%% ou ans(er the

*uestion. :nd i, ou don)t ans(er in a c%ear es or no in a/out t(o

seconds+ I)- turning the heat o,, in the passenger co-part-ent and

(e)%% keep on (aiting. :re ou $o%an Tre&i'e+ Counci%-an o, Ter-inus" I,

our ans(er is in the negati&e+ ou (i%% ha&e to sho( -e our

identi,ication papers.#

Tre&i'e said+ Yes+ I a- $o%an Tre&i'e+ and as a Counci%-an o, the

Foundation+ I e7pect to /e treated (ith a%% the courtes due - rank.

Your ,ai%ure to do so (i%% ha&e ou in hot (ater+ ,e%%o(. o( (hat"#

o( (e can proceed a %itt%e -ore %ighthearted%.# The ta7i /egan to-o&e again. I choose - passengers care,u%%+ and I had e7pected to

pick up t(o -en on%. The (o-an (as a surprise and I -ight ha&e -ade

a -istake. :s it is+ i, I ha&e ou+ then I can %ea&e it to ou to e7p%ain the

(o-an (hen ou reach our destination.#

You don)t kno( - destination.#

:s it happens+ I do. You)re going to the epart-ent o,

Transportation.#

That)s not (here I (ant to go.#

That -atters not one %itt%e /it+ Counci%-an. I, I (ere a ta7i2dri&er+ I)dtake ou (here ou (ant to go. Since I)- not+ I take ou (here I (ant

ou to go.#

Aardon -e+# said Ae%orat+ %eaning ,or(ard+ ou certain% see- to

/e a ta7i2dri&er. You)re dri&ing a ta7i.#

:none -ight dri&e a ta7i. ot e&erone has a %icense to do so. :nd

not e&er car that %ooks %ike a ta7i is a ta7i.#

Tre&i'e said+ et)s stop p%aing ga-es. Who are ou and (hat are

ou doing" >e-e-/er that ou)%% ha&e to account ,or this to the

Foundation.#

ot I+# said the dri&er+ ; superiors+ perhaps. I)- an agent o, theCo-pore%%ian Securit Force. I a- under orders to treat ou (ith a%% due

respect to our rank+ /ut ou -ust go (here I take ou. :nd /e &er

care,u% ho( ou react+ ,or this &ehic%e is ar-ed+ and I a- under orders to

de,end -se%, against attack.#

1.

THE =EHICE+ ha&ing reached cruising speed+ -o&ed (ith a/so%ute+

s-ooth *uiet+ and Tre&i'e sat there in *uietness as ,ro'en. He (as

a(are+ (ithout actua%% %ooking+ o, Ae%orat g%ancing at hi- no( and then

(ith a %ook o, uncertaint on his ,ace+ a What do (e do no(" A%easete%% -e# %ook.

B%iss+ a *uick g%ance to%d hi-+ sat ca%-%+ apparent% unconcerned.


34/343

?

to /e%ie&e that he (as the /%ack /o7 that $aia thought he (as2or said it

thought he (as. Was he /eing %ed into a *uag-ire / the gro(th o, an

o&ercon,idence /ui%t on superstition"

Ho( cou%d he ,or one -o-ent /e trapped in that ,o%%" Had he ne&er

in hit %i,e /een (rong" id he kno( (hat the (eather (ou%d /e

to-orro(" id he (in %arge a-ounts in ga-es o, chance" The ans(ers

(ere no+ no+ and no.

We%%+ then+ (as it on% in the %arge+ inchoate things that he (as

a1(as right" Ho( cou%d he te%%"Forget that 2:,ter a%%+ the -ere ,act that he had stated he had

i-portant state /usiness2no+ it (as Foundation securit# that he had

said2

We%%+ then+ the -ere ,act that he (as there on a -atter o,

Foundation securit+ co-ing+ as he had+ secret% and unhera%ded+ (ou%d

sure% attract their attention. 2Yes+ /ut unti% the kne( (hat it (as a%%

a/out the (ou%d sure% act (ith the ut-ost circu-spection. The

(ou%d /e cere-onious and treat hi- as a high dignitar. The (ou%d not

kidnap hi- and -ake use o, threats.Yet that (as e7act% (hat the had done. Wh"

What -ade the- ,ee% strong enough and po(er,u% enough to treat a

Counci%-an o, Ter-inus in such a ,ashion"

Cou%d it /e Earth" Was the sa-e ,orce that hid the (or%d o, origin so

e,,ecti&e%+ e&en against the great -enta%ists o, the Second Foundation+

no( (orking to circu-&ent his search ,or Earth in the &er ,irst stage o,

that search" Was Earth o-niscient"


35/343

5

(ith rough -o&e-ent. He had inserted *uesting hands (hich -o&ed

*uick% up and do(n Tre&i'e)s sides+ /ack+ chest+ and thighs. The coat

(as shaken and ,e%t. Tre&i'e (as too o&erco-e / con,used

astonish-ent to rea%i'e he had /een rapid% and e,,icient% searched ti%%

it (as o&er.

Ae%orat+ his chin dra(n do(n and his -outh in a t(isted gri-ace+

(as undergoing a si-i%ar indignit at the hands o, a second

Co-pore%%ian.

The third (as approaching B%iss+ (ho did not (ait to /e touched.She+ at %east+ kne( (hat to e7pect+ so-eho(+ ,or she (hipped o,, her

coat and+ ,or a -o-ent+ stood there in her %ight c%othing+ e7posed to the

(hist%e o, the (ind.

She said+ ,ree'ing% enough to -atch the te-perature+ You can see

I)- not ar-ed.#

:nd indeed anone cou%d. The Co-pore%%ian shook the coat+ as

though / its (eight he cou%d te%% i, it contained a (eapon2perhaps he

cou%dVand retreated.

B%iss put on her coat again+ hudd%ing into it+2 and ,or a -o-entTre&i'e ad-ired her gesture. He kne( ho( she ,e%t a/out the co%d+ /ut

she had not a%%o(ed a tre-or or shi&er to escape her as she had stood

there in thin /%ouse and s%acks. Then he (ondered i,+ in the e-ergenc+

she -ight not ha&e dra(n (ar-th ,ro- the rest o, $aia.G


36/343

Chapter 5

Strugg%e ,or the Ship

1.

T>E=IDE)S ,irst i-pression (as that he (as on the set o, ahperdra-a2speci,ica%%+ that o, a historica% ro-ance o, I-peria% das.

There (as a particu%ar set+ (ith ,e( &ariations perhaps on% one e7isted

and (as used / e&er hperdra-a producer+ ,or a%% he kne(G+ that

represented the great (or%dgird%ing p%anet2cit o, Trantor in its pri-e.

There (ere the %arge spaces+ the /us scurr o, pedestrians+ the

s-a%% &ehic%es speeding a%ong the %anes reser&ed ,or the-.

Tre&i'e %ooked up+ a%-ost e7pecting to see air2ta7is c%i-/ing into di-

&au%ted recesses+ /ut that at %east (as a/sent. In ,act+ as his initia%

astonish-ent su/sided+ it (as c%ear that the /ui%ding (as ,ar s-a%%er

than one (ou%d e7pect on Trantor. It (as on% a /ui%ding and not part o,

a co-p%e7 that stretched un/roken ,or thousands o, -i%es in e&er

direction.

The co%ors (ere di,,erent+ too.


37/343

*ueues. o one %ooked at anone e%se as he or she passed. E&erone

see-ed to /reathe a purpose,u%ness+ as though there (as de,inite

/usiness on each -ind and roo- ,or nothing e%se. ;en and (o-en

dressed a%ike+ (ith on% %ength o, hair and the s%ight /u%ge o, /reast and

(idth o, hip -arking the di,,erence.

The three (ere guided into an e%e&ator that (ent do(n ,i&e %e&e%s.

There the e-erged and (ere -o&ed on to a door on (hich there

appeared in s-a%% and uno/trusi&e %ettering+ (hite on gra+ ;it'a

i'a%or+ ;inTrans.#The Co-pore%%ian in the %ead touched the %ettering+ (hich+ a,ter a

-o-ent+ g%o(ed in response. The door opened and the (a%ked in.

It (as a %arge roo- and rather e-pt+ the /areness o, content

ser&ing+ perhaps+ as a kind o, conspicuous consu-ption o, space

designed to sho( the po(er o, the occupant.

T(o guards stood against the ,ar (a%%+ ,aces e7pression%ess and ees

,ir-% ,i7ed on those entering. : %arge desk ,i%%ed the center o, the roo-+

set perhaps 6ust a %itt%e /ack o, center. Behind the desk (as+ presu-a/%+

;it'a i'a%or+ %arge o, /od+ s-ooth o, ,ace+ dark o, ees. T(o strong

and capa/%e hands (ith %ong+ s*uare2ended ,ingers rested on the desk.

The ;inTrans ;inister o, Transportation+ Tre&i'e assu-edG had the

%ape%s o, the outer gar-ent a /road and da''%ing (hite against the dark

gra o, the rest o, the costu-e. The dou/%e /ar o, (hite e7tended

diagona%% /e%o( the %ape%s+ across the gar-ent itse%, and crossing at the

center o, the chest. Tre&i'e cou%d see that a%though the gar-ent (as cut

in such a ,ashion as to o/scure the s(e%%ing o, a (o-an)s /reasts on

either side+ the (hite ^ ca%%ed attention to the-.

The ;inister (as undou/ted% a (o-an. E&en i, her /reasts (ere

ignored+ her short hair sho(ed it+ and though there (as no -akeup onher ,ace+ her ,eatures sho(ed it+ too.

Her &oice+ too+ (as indisputa/% ,e-inine+ a rich contra%to.

She said+ $ood a,ternoon. It is not o,ten that (e are honored / a

&isit o, -en ,ro- Ter-inus. 2:nd o, an unreported (o-an as (e%%.# Her

ees passed ,ro- one to another+ then sett%ed on Tre&i'e+ (ho (as

standing sti,,% and ,ro(ning% erect. :nd one o, the -en a -e-/er o,

the Counci%+ too.#

: Counci%-an o, the Foundation+# said Tre&i'e+ tring to -ake his

&oice ring. Counci%-an $o%an Tre&i'e on a -ission ,ro- the

Foundation.#

1SI


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U


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The ;inister c%asped her hands sti,,%. There is no -ention in the

report that has /een ,or(arded to -e o, a (o-an. Is this (o-an a

-e-/er o, the ship)s co-p%e-ent"#

She is+ ;inister+# said Tre&i'e.

Then I address -se%, to the (o-an. Your na-e"#

I a- kno(n as B%iss+# said B%iss+ sitting erect% and speaking (ith

ca%- c%arit+ though - ,u%% na-e is %onger+ -ada-. o ou (ish it a%%"#

I (i%% /e content (ith B%iss ,or the -o-ent. :re ou a citi'en o, the

Foundation+ B%iss"#I a- not+ -ada-.#


40/343

?

(or%d%ess person+ and as such+ /reaks our %a(.

Tre&i'e said+ She had no choice in the -atter. I (as pi%oting the

ship+ and I /rought it do(n to Co-pore%%on. She had to acco-pan us+

;inister+ or do ou suggest she shou%d ha&e asked to /e 6ettisoned in

space"#

This -ere% -eans that ou+ too+ ha&e /roken our %a(+

Counci%-an.#

o+ that is not so+ ;inister. I a- not an


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?1

A%ease %et -e assure ou that (hate&er kno(%edge (e had gained2or

had not gained2as to the (or%d%ess condition o, our passenger had

nothing to do (ith our /eing taken into custod. We are acting on

/eha%, o, the Foundation+ o, (hi

foundation and earth - asimov isaac

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