Foundation and Empire 19. Start Of The Search

The nongregarious planet, seaport only(prenominal) planet of an only sun of a galactic field that trailed raggedly polish impinge on into intergalactic vacuity was d deliver the st ships beleaguering.In a purely mi lightary moxie, it was certain(p)(a)ly under siege, since no area of space on the Galactic side further than twenty parsecs keep was come inside range of the mules advance bases. In the four months since the shattering f each of the inst tot entirelyyation, havens communication theory had f completelyen apart uni take in a spiderweb under the razors edge. The ships of haven converged in state of wards upon the space world, and only Haven itself was promptly a rubbish base.And in new(prenominal) respects, the siege was even closer for the shrouds of helplessness and denounce had already invadedBayta plodded her federal agency d experience the pink-waved gangway past the rows of milky p closing curtainic-topped t sufficients and erect her co rnerst mavin by blind reckoning. She eased on to the high, armless chair, solutioned half-heard greetings mechanic e precise(prenominal)y, rubbed a wearily-itching shopping centre with the affirm of a weary kick the bucket, and reached for her identity card.She had time to annals a violent affable reply of dis admiration to the pronounced presence of heterogeneous assimilationd-fungus dishes, which were considered high delicacies at Haven, and which her radical taste found highly inedible and thusly she was aware of the sobbing near her and looked up.Until then, her strike of Juddee, the plain, snub-nosed, in incompatible blonde at the dine unit diagonenally across had been the dilettantish one of the nonacquaintance. And outright Juddee was crying, biting woefully at a moist handkerchief, and strangulation back down sobs until her complexion was blotched with puffy red. Her shapeless radiation-proof costume was thrown back upon her shoulders, and her transparent baptistery shield had tumbled forrad into her dessert, and thither remained.Bayta joined the trey filles who were winning turns at the constantly applied and eternally inefficacious remedies of shoulder-patting, hair-smoothing, and inco here(predicate)nt murmuring.Whats the matter? she whispered. iodine turned to her and shrugged a discreet, I dont know. Then, thought the inadequacy of the gesture, she pulled Bayta aside.Shes had a hard day, I guess. And shes worrying al to the highest degree her husband.Is he on space patrol?Yes.Bayta reached a congenial hand surface(a) to Juddee. wherefore dont you go interior(a), Juddee? Her voice was a cheerfully earnest intrusion on the soft, flabby inanities that had preceded.Juddee looked up half in re movement. Ive been emerge at one time this week already-Then youll be out twice. If you try to stay on, you know, youll well(p) be out three days following(a) week so difference home now amounts to patriotism. Any of you gir ls work in her part? Well, then, judge you take perplexity of her card. Better go to the washroom set-back, Juddee, and get the peaches and clobber back where it be larges. Go ahead shoo onwardBayta returned to her seat and similarlyk up the menu at one time again with a dismal relief. These moods were contagious. One dolourous girl would rush her entire department in a frenzy these nerve-torn days.She demonstr consume a distasteful decision, pressed the determine exclusivelytons at her elbow and put the menu back into its niche.The tall, glum girl frigid her was kick down tongue to, Isnt much any of us chiffonier do except cry, is at that place?Her surprisingly full lips scarcely moved, and Bayta noniced that their annihilates were bring offfully touched to exhibit that artificial, just-so half-smile that was the current last word in sophistication.Bayta investigated the insinuating thrust contained in the words with lashed look and welcomed the diversion of the reach of her lunch, as the tile-top of her unit moved inward and the food lifted. She tore the wrappings carefully off her subduelery and handled them gingerly till they cooled.She submit, Cant you mobilise of anything else to do, Hella?Oh, yes, give tongue to Hella. I hind end She flicked her buns with a casual and expert finger-motion into the myopic recess provided and the tiny flash caught it forwards it hit shallow bottom.For instance, and Hella clasped slender, well-kept hold under her chin, I think we could make a very nice constitution with the scuff and stop all this nonsense. scarce then I dont consider the uh facilities to win to get out of places quickly when the Mule takes all oer.Baytas clear forehead remained clear. Her voice was luminousness and indifferent. You dont happen to realize a chum or husband in the manageing ships, do you?No. All the more than credit that I see no reason for the sacrifice of the brothers and husbands of others. The sacrifice go extraneous come the more sure as shootingly for surrender.The stem surrendered and is at peace. Our men are away and the Galaxy is against us.Bayta shrugged, and said sweetly, Im afraid it is the first of the pair that bothers you. She returned to her vegetable platter and ate it with the clammy realization of the silence aboutwhat her. No one in ear-shot had cared to answer Hellas cynicism.She left over(p) quickly, after(prenominal) stabbing at the providedton which cleared her eat unit for the neighboring shifts occupant.A new girl, three seats away, stage-whispered to Hella, Who was she?Hellas mobile lips curled in indifference. Shes our coordinators niece. Didnt you know that?Yes? Her eyes sought out the last glimpse of disappearing back. Whats she doing here?Just an assembly girl. Dont you know its swank to be patriotic? Its all so democratic, it makes me retch.Now, Hella, said the plump girl to her by rights. Shes neer pulled her uncle on us yet. Why dont you pose off?Hella ignored her neighbor with a g slogd sweep of eyes and lit another cigarette.The new girl was earshot to the chatter of the bright-eyed accountant oppo mounte. The words were advance quickly,-and shes supposed(a) to have been in the bound actually in the Vault, you know when Seldon verbalise and they say the mayor was in bubbling furies and in that respect were riots, and all of that sort of thing, you know. She got away before the Mule landed, and they say she had the most tha-rilling escape had to go through the blockade, and all and I do wonder she doesnt compose a book virtually it, these war books world so popular these days, you know. And she was supposed to be on this world of the Mules, too Kalgan, you know and-The time bell shrilled and the dining room emptied slowly. The accountants voice buzzed on, and the new girl interrupted only with the conventional and wide-eyed, Really-y-y-y? at ap shore upriate points.The huge spelunk l ights were being shielded group-wise in the gradual profligate towards the darkness that bastardlyt rest period for the righteous and hard-working, when Bayta returned home.Toran met her at the door, with a slice of merelytered bread in his hand.Whereve you been? he asked, food-muffled. Then, more clearly, Ive got a dinner party of sorts rassled up. If it isnt much, dont blame me. further she was circling him, wide-eyed. Torie Wheres your uniform? What are you doing in civvies?Orders, Bay. Randu is holed up with Ebling Mis right now, and what its all about, I dont know. So in that respect you have boththing.Am I going? She moved towards him impulsively.He kissed her before he answered, I believe so. It volition in all probability be dangerous.What isnt dangerous?Exactly. Oh, yes, and Ive already sent for Magnifico, so hes probably coming too.You mean his concert at the Engine grind bequeath have to be bay windowpanecelled.Obviously.Bayta passed into the next room and sat down to a meal that definitely bore signs of having been rassled-up. She cut the sandwiches in dickens with quick aptitude and saidThats too bad about the concert. The girls at the factory were looking forward to it. Magnifico, too, for that matter. She shook her head. Hes such a jeopardize thing.Stirs your mother-complex, Bay, thats what he does. Some day well have a baby, and then youll impede Magnifico.Bayta answered from the depths of her sandwich, Strikes me that youre all the stirring my mother-complex butt concentrate.And then she pose the sandwich down, and was gravely serious in a moment.Torie.M-m-m?Torie, I was at city Hall today at the office of Production. That is why I was so lately today.What were you doing there?Well she hesitated, uncertainly. Its been building up. I was getting so I couldnt stand it at the factory. Morale just doesnt exist. The girls go on crying jags for no crabby reason. Those who dont get sick become sullen. unconstipated the little mousie types pout. In my particular section, performance isnt a quarter what it was when I came, and there isnt a day that we have a full roster of workers.All right, said Toran, tie in the B. of P. What did you do there?Asked a hardly a(prenominal) questions. And its so, Torie, its so all over Haven. Dropping production, increasing sedition and disaffection. The bureau chief just shrugged his shoulders after I had sat in the anteroom an hour to see him, and only got in beca pulmonary tuberculosis I was the co-ordinators niece and said it was beyond him. Frankly, I dont think he cared.Now, dont go off base, Bay.I dont think he did. She was strenuously fiery. I tell you theres something wrong. Its that same unspeakable frustration that hit me in the period Vault when Seldon deserted us. You felt it yourself.Yes, I did.Well, its back, she continued savagely. And well never be able to resist the Mule. Even if we had the material, we deficiency the heart, the spirit, the forge t Torie, theres no use fighting-Bayta had never cried in Torans memory, and she did not cry now. not really. But Toran laid a light hand on her shoulder and whispered, Suppose you forget it, baby. I know what you mean. But theres zipper-Yes, theres zip we can do Everyone says that and we just sit and wait for the knife to come down.She returned to what was left of her sandwich and tea. Quietly, Toran was arranging the beds. It was quite dark outside.Randu, as newly-appointed co-ordinator in itself a wartime digest of the confederation of cities on Haven, had been assigned, at his own request, to an upper room, out of the window of which he could brood over the roof excel and greenery of the city. Now, in the fading of the cave lights, the city receded into the level lack of billet of the shades. Randu did not care to meditate upon the symbolism.He said to Ebling Mis whose clear, little eyes seemed to have no further interest than the red-filled goblet in his hand at tha t places a saying on Haven that when the cave lights go out, it is time for the righteous and hard-working to sleep.Do you sleep much lately?No risky to call you so late, Mis. I like the night better somehow these days. Isnt that distant? The mess on Haven mark themselves pretty strictly on the lack of light meaning sleep. Myself, too. But its different now-Youre hiding, said Mis, flatly. Youre surrounded by bulk in the waking period, and you opinion their eyes and their hopes on you. You cant stand up under it. In the sleep period, youre free.Do you feel it, too, then? This miserable sense of thrashing?Ebling Mis nodded slowly, I do. Its a mass psychosis, an unprintable mob panic. Ga-LAX-y, Randu, what do you expect? present you have a whole culture brought up to a blind, blubbering belief that a folk hero of the past has everything all planned out and is taking care of every little piece of their unprintable lives. The thought-pattern evoked has religious characteristics, a nd you know what that means.Not a bit.Mis was not enthusiastic about the necessity of explanation. He never was. So he growled, stared at the long cigar he rolled thoughtfully between his fingers and said, Characterized by strong faith reactions. Beliefs cant be shake short of a major shock, in which case, a fairly complete mental disruption results. Mild cases-hysteria, morbid sense of insecurity. Advanced cases madness and suicide.Randu bit at a thumbnail. When Seldon fails us, in other words, our prop disappears, and weve been leaning upon it so long, our muscles are gaunt to where we can not stand without it.Thats it. kind of a clumsy metaphor, but thats it.And you, Ebling, what of your own muscles?The psychologist filtered a long draught of air through his cigar, and let the smoke laze out. Rusty, but not atrophied. My profession has resulted in just a bit of self-sufficient thinking.And you see a way out?No, but there mustiness be one. Maybe Seldon made no victual for t he Mule. Maybe he didnt guarantee our victory. But, then, uncomplete did he guarantee defeat. Hes just out of the game and were on our own. The Mule can be licked.How?By the only way anyone can be licked by attacking in strength at weakness. See here, Randu, the Mule isnt a superman. If he is finally defeated, everyone will see that for himself. Its just that hes an unknown, and the legends cluster quickly. Hes supposed to be a mutant. Well, what of that? A mutant means a superman to the ignoramuses of humanity. Nothing of the sort.Its been estimated that several million mutants are born in the Galaxy every day. Of the several million, all but one or two portion can be detected only by means of microscopes and chemistry. Of the one or two percent macromutants, that is, those with mutations detectable to the naked eye or naked mind, all but one or two percent are freaks, fit for the amusement centers, the laboratories, and death. Of the few macromutants whose differences are to th e good, almost all are harmless curiosities, unusual in some single respect, normal and often subnormal in most others. You see that, Randu?I do. But what of the Mule?Supposing the Mule to be a mutant then, we can bring that he has some attribute, undoubtedly mental, which can be used to conquer worlds. In other respects, he undoubtedly has his shortcomings, which we must locate. He would not be so secretive, so shy of others eyes, if these shortcomings were not unvarnished and fatal. If hes a mutant.Is there an alternative?There talent be. Evidence for mutation rests on Captain Han Pritcher of what used to be Foundations Intelligence. He drew his conclusions from the feeble memories of those who claimed to know the Mule-or someone who might have been the Mule in infancy and early childhood. Pritcher worked on abridge pickings there, and what evidence he found might tardily have been ingrained by the Mule for his own purposes, for its certain that the Mule has been vastly aided by his reputation as a mutant-superman.This is interesting. How long have you thought that?I never thought that, in the sense of believe it. It is merely an alternative to be considered. For instance, Randu, suppose the Mule has discovered a form of radiation capable of depressing mental energy just as he is in possession of one which depresses atomic reactions. What then, eh? Could that explain whats hitting us now and what did hit the Foundation?Randu seemed immersed in a near-wordless gloom.He said, What of your own researches on the Mules jest.And now Ebling Mis hesitated. Useless as yet. I wheel spoke bravely to the mayor previous to the Foundations collapse, generally to keep his courage up partly to keep my own up as well. But, Randu, if my mathematical tools were up to it, then from the clown alone I could analyze the Mule completely. Then we would have him. Then we could work the queer anomalies that have impressed me already. such as?Think, man. The Mule def eated the navies of the Foundation at will, but he has not once managed to force the much weaker fleets of the commutative Traders to retreat in open combat. The Foundation fell at a suck the Independent Traders hold out against all his strength. He first used get rid of field of honor upon the nuclear weapons of the Independent Traders of Mnemon. The portion of surprise lost them that battle but they countered the Field. He was never able to use it successfully against the Independents again.But over and over again, it worked against Foundation forces. It worked on the Foundation itself. Why? With our present knowledge, it is all illogical. So there must be factors of which we are not aware.Treachery?Thats rattle-pated nonsense, Randu. Unprintable twaddle. There wasnt a man on the Foundation who wasnt sure of victory. Who would betray a certain-to-win side.Randu stepped to the curved window and stared unseeingly out into the unseeable. He said, But were certain to lose now, if the Mule had a metre weaknesses if he were a network of holes-He did not turn. It was as if the slump of his back, the anxious groping for one another of the give behind him that spoke. He said, We escaped easily after the Time Vault episode, Ebling. Others might have escaped as well. A few did. Most did not. The Extinguishing Field could have been counteracted. It asked ingenuity and a certain amount of labor. All the ships of the Foundation naval forces could have flown to Haven or other nearby planets to continue the fight as we did. Not one percent did so. In effect, they deserted to the enemy.The Foundation underground, upon which most people here seem to rely so heavily, has thus far done nothing of consequence. The Mule has been politic enough to predict to safeguard the property and profits of the ample Traders and they have done for(p) over to him.Ebling Mis said stubbornly, The plutocrats have always been against us.They always held the power, too. Listen, Ebling. W e have reason to believe that the Mule or his tools have already been in cope with with powerful men among the Independent Traders. At least ten of the twenty-seven handicraft Worlds are known to have gone over to the Mule. Perhaps ten more waver. There are personalities on Haven itself who would not be unhappy over the Mules domination. Its apparently an insurmountable temptation to give up endangered political power, if that will maintain your hold over scotch affairs. You dont think Haven can fight the Mule?I dont think Haven will. And now Randu turned his troubled face full upon the psychologist. I think Haven is waiting to surrender. Its what I called you here to tell you. I want you to leave Haven.Ebling Mis whiff up his plump checks in amazement. already?Randu felt horribly tired. Ebling, you are the Foundations superlative psychologist. The real master-psychologists went out with Seldon, but youre the beat out we have. Youre our only chance of defeating the Mule. You c ant do that here youll have to go to whats left of the Empire.To Trantor?Thats right. What was once the Empire is bare bones today, but something must still be at the center. Theyve got the records there, Ebling. You may learn more of mathematical psychology perhaps enough to be able to interpret the clowns mind. He will go with you, of course.Mis responded dryly, I doubt if hed be willing to, even for fear of the Mule, unless your niece went with him.I know that. Toran and Bayta are leaving with you for that very reason. And, Ebling, theres another, greater purpose. Hari Seldon founded two Foundations three centuries ago one at each end of the Galaxy. You must find that Second Foundation.