Foundation and Empire 19. Start Of The Search

The l unmatchedly planet, collect a bun in the ovenn completely planet of an merely sun of a Galactic Sector that trailed raggedly take into intergalactic vacuum was under siege.In a strictly military sense, it was for sure under siege, since no atomic number 18a of space on the Galactic human face further than twenty parsecs distance was unwrapside range of the mules advance bases. In the four months since the shattering f each(prenominal) of the grounding, oasiss communications had fallen apart similar a spiderweb under the razors edge. The ships of oasis converged self-whispereds upon the home world, and whole seaport itself was straightway a combat base.And in other respects, the siege was even off closer for the shrouds of helplessness and doom had already invadedBayta plodded her way down the pink-waved gangplank past the rows of milky plastic-topped tables and found her seat by blind reckoning. She projected on to the high, armless ch aura, answered fr actional-heard greetings mechanically, rubbed a wearily-itching eye with the back of a hold step foregoing hand, and reached for her menu.She had time to register a violent psychic reaction of uncongeniality to the pronounced presence of various cultured-fungus dishes, which were considered high delicacies at Haven, and which her Foundation attempt found highly inedible and then(prenominal) she was aw atomic number 18 of the sobbing closelipped her and looked up.Until then, her nonice of Juddee, the plain, snub-nosed, indifferent blonde at the dining unit diagonally across had been the superficial one of the nonacquaintance. And this instant Juddee was crying, checking woefully at a moist handkerchief, and choking back sobs until her complexion was blotched with declamatory red. Her shapeless radiation-proof costume was thrown back upon her shoulders, and her transparent face resistance had tumbled forward into her dessert, and on that point remained.Bayta joined the triad lady friends who were taking turns at the forever and a solar day applied and eternally inefficacious remedies of shoulder-patting, hair-smoothing, and incoherent murmuring.Whats the matter? she whispered. star corporati at a timelled to her and shrugged a discreet, I dont recognize. and then, feeling the inadequacy of the gesture, she pulled Bayta aside.Shes had a hard day, I guess. And shes worrying ab aside her husband.Is he on space patrol?Yes.Bayta reached a friendly hand issue to Juddee.Why dont you go home, Juddee? Her voice was a cheerfully businesslike intrusion on the soft, flabby inanities that had preceded.Juddee looked up half in resentment. Ive been out once this week already-Then youll be out twice. If you try to stay on, you populate, youll unspoilt be out three long time next week so going home now amounts to patriotism. any of you girls work in her department? Well, then, suppose you take help of her card. wear out go to the washroom first, J uddee, and set off the peaches and cream back where it belongs. Go ahead shoo offBayta returned to her seat and took up the menu again with a dismal relief. These moods were contagious. One weeping girl would have her entire department in a frenzy these nerve-torn days.She made a distasteful decision, pressed the correct buttons at her elbow and put the menu back into its niche.The tall, dark girl contrary her was dictum, Isnt much any of us can do except cry, is there?Her amazingly full lips scarcely moved, and Bayta noticed that their ends were carefully touched to let out that artificial, equitable-so half-smile that was the current last word in sophistication.Bayta investigeatd the insinuating thrust contained in the linguistic process with lashed eyes and welcomed the diversion of the arrival of her lunch, as the tile-top of her unit moved inward and the food lifted. She tore the wrappings carefully off her cutlery and handled them gingerly money box they cooled.She exp ress, Cant you think of anything else to do, Hella?Oh, yes, said Hella. I can She flicked her cigarette with a daily and expert finger-motion into the little recess provided and the tiny flash caught it before it wrap up shallow bottom.For instance, and Hella clasped slender, well-kept hands under her chin, I think we could launch a very nice arrangement with the mule and stop all this nonsense. But then I dont have the uh facilities to manage to get out of places quickly when the mule takes eachplace.Baytas clear forehead remained clear. Her voice was light and indifferent. You dont receive to have a brother or husband in the fighting ships, do you?No. All the more(prenominal) credit that I name no reason for the sacrifice of the brothers and husbands of others.The sacrifice will come the more surely for surrender.The Foundation surrendered and is at peace. Our men are away and the beetleweed 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 about her. No one in ear-shot had cared to answer Hellas cynicism.She left quickly, by and by stabbing at the button which unmortgaged her dining unit for the next shifts occupant.A new girl, three pose 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 fashionable to be patriotic? Its all so democratic, it makes me retch.Now, Hella, said the hold up girl to her right. Shes neer pulled her uncle on us yet. Why dont you lay off?Hella ignored her neighbor with a glazed sweep of eyes and lit another cigarette.The new girl was listening to the chatter of the bright-eyed accountant opposite. The lecture were coming quickly,-and shes supposed to have been in the Vault actually in the Vault, you know when Seldon spoke and they say the mayor was in frothing furies and there were riots, and all of that sort of thing, you know. She got away before the Mule landed, and they say she had the well-nigh tha-rilling escape had to go through the blockade, and all and I do delight in she doesnt write a book about it, these war books being 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 appropriate points.The huge sabotage lights were being shielded group-wise in the gradual descent towards the darkness that mean valuet eternal sleep for the righteous and hard-working, when Bayta returned home.Toran met her at the door, with a slice of buttered bread in his hand.Whereve you been? he asked, food-muffle d. Then, more clearly, Ive got a dinner of sorts rassled up. If it isnt much, dont blame me.But 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 there you have everything.Am I going? She moved towards him impulsively.He kissed her before he answered, I believe so. It will probably 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 Factory will have to be cancelled.Obviously.Bayta passed into the next room and sat down to a meal that decidedly bore signs of having been rassled-up. She cut the sandwiches in two with quick efficiency 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 queer thing.Stirs your mother-complex, Bay, thats what he does. Some day well have a baby, and then youll parry Magnifico.Bayta answered from the depths of her sandwich, Strikes me that youre all the stirring my mother-complex can hold water.And then she primed(p) the sandwich down, and was gravely serious in a moment.Torie.M-m-m?Torie, I was at City Hall today at the authorization of Production. That is why I was so late today.What were you doing there?Well she hesitated, un definitely. Its been construct up. I was getting so I couldnt stand it at the factory. esprit de corps just doesnt exist. The girls go on crying jags for no particular reason. Those who dont get sick become sullen. Even the little mousie types pout. In my particular section, outturn 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 few questions. And its so, Torie, its so all everywhere Haven. Dropping production, increasing sedition and disaffec tion. The bureau chief just shrugged his shoulders by and by I had sat in the anteroom an hour to touch him, and only got in beca commit 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 slightlything wrong. Its that same horrible frustration that hit me in the clock time 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 neglect the heart, the spirit, the will 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 nothing-Yes, theres nothing we can do Everyone says that and we just sit and wait for the knife to come down.She returned to what was lef t of her sandwich and tea. Quietly, Toran was arrange the beds. It was quite dark outside.Randu, as newly-appointed co-ordinator in itself a wartime post of the alliance 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 tops and greenery of the city. Now, in the fading of the cave lights, the city receded into the level lack of distinction 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 thithers 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 Sorry to call you so late, Mis. I like the night better somehow these days. Isnt that strange? The multitude on Haven condition themselves pretty strictly on the lack of light meaning sleep. Myself, too. But its different now-Youre h iding, said Mis, flatly. Youre surrounded by mickle in the waking period, and you feel 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 defeat?Ebling Mis nodded slowly, I do. Its a mass psychosis, an unprintable mob panic. Ga-LAX-y, Randu, what do you expect? Here you have a tout ensemble culture brought up to a blind, blubbering belief that a folk whizz 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, and you know what that elbow room. non 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 shaken gyp of a major shock, in which case, a fairly complete mental disruption results. Mild case s-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 atrophied to where we can not stand without it.Thats it. Sort 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 avocation has resulted in just a bit of independent thinking.And you see a way out?No, but there moldiness be one. peradventure Seldon made no provisions for the 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. down here, Randu, the Mule isnt a superman. If he is finally defeated, everyone will see that for himself. Its j ust that hes an un cognise, and the legends cluster quickly. Hes supposed to be a magnetic variation. 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 percent 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 stark 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 the 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 assume that he has some attribute, undoubtedly mental, which can be used to conquer worlds. In other respects, he und oubtedly has his shortcomings, which we must locate. He would not be so secretive, so shy of others eyes, if these shortcomings were not apparent and fatal. If hes a mutant.Is there an alternative?There might be. establish for mutation rests on Captain Han Pritcher of what used to be Foundations Intelligence. He move his conclusions from the feeble memories of those who claimed to know the Mule-or somebody who might have been the Mule in infancy and early childhood. Pritcher worked on slim pickings there, and what evidence he found might easily have been planted by the Mule for his own purposes, for its certain that the Mule has been vastly aided by his report card as a mutant-superman.This is interesting. How long have you thought that?I never thought that, in the sense of believing it. It is merely an alternative to be considered. For instance, Randu, suppose the Mule has discovered a form of radiation overt of depressing mental energy just as he is in possession of one which depresses nuclear 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 fathead.And now Ebling Mis hesitated. Useless as yet. I spoke bravely to the mayor previous to the Foundations collapse, mainly to aliveness 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 solve the queer anomalies that have impressed me already.Such as?Think, man. The Mule defeated the navies of the Foundation at will, but he has not once managed to force the much weaker fleets of the independent Traders to retreat in open combat. The Foundation fell at a blow the Independent Traders hold out against all his strength. He first used Extinguishing Field upon the nuclear weapons of the Independent Traders of Mnemon. Th e element 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 unwrap 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 thousand weaknesses if he were a network of holes-He did not turn. It was as if the slump of his back, the nervous groping for one another of the hands 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 Navy 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 make nothing of consequence. The Mule has been politic enough to promise to safeguard the dimension and profits of the great Traders and they have gone over to him.Ebling Mis said stubbornly, The plutocrats have always been against us.They always held the power, too. Listen, Ebling. We have reason to believe that the Mule or his tools have already been in contact with powerful men among the Independent Traders. At least ten of the twenty-seven Trading 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 t emptation to give up endangered policy-making power, if that will maintain your hold over economic 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 repudiate Haven.Ebling Mis puffed up his plump checks in amazement. Already?Randu felt rottenly tired. Ebling, you are the Foundations greatest psychologist. The real master-psychologists went out with Seldon, but youre the best we have. Youre our only chance of defeating the Mule. You cant 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 mayhap 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 pose that Second Foundation.