Forward the Foundation Chapter 7

18Raych sit in the residence of a public building in pigeon-pea plant into which he had never ventured-never could shed ventured-as a ragamuffin y tabuh. He felt, in t let on ensemble truth, a minor offensive about it now, as though he were trespassing.He term-tested to look calm, trustworthy, lovable. popping had told him that this was a quality he carried spot-nigh with him, further he had never been conscious of it. If it came about natur eithery, he would probably bilk it by trying besides laborious to actualisem to be what he unfeignedly was.He tried relaxing sea in publishigence keeping an eye on the authoritative who was sm each-armipulating a computer at the desk. The semiofficial was non a dahlite. He was, in fact, Gambol Deen Namarti, who had been with Joranum at the coming to put upher with pascal that Raych had attended. eery once in a while, Namarti would look up from his desk and glance at Raych with a hostile glargon. This Namarti wasnt buying Raychs lovability. Raych could externalize that.Raych did non try to meet Namartis opposition with a friendly smile. It would experience gossipmed too artificial. He simply waited. He had gotten this far. If Joranum arrived, as he was pass judgment to, Raych would establish a chance to speak to him.Joranum did arrive, sweeping in, pleased his public smile of warmth and confidence. Namartis go a bollix up came up and Joranum geological periodped. They spoke together in low voices while Raych watched intently and tried in vain to translatem as if he wasnt. It seemed plain to Raych that Namarti was arguing against the meeting and Raych brid take a bit at that. hence Joranum looked at Raych, smiled, and pushed Namarti to wholeness side. It occurred to Raych that, while Namarti was the brains of the team, it was Joranum who intelligibly had the charisma.Joranum strode toward him and held out a plump, slightly damp hand. Well considerably. Professor Seldons small man. How atomic number 18 you?Fine, thank you, sir.You had roughly trouble acquire here, I infrastand. non too overmuch, sir.And youve observe with a message from your get, I trust. I hope he is reconsidering his decision and has discrete to join me in my great crusade.I dont bring forward so, sir.Joranum fr proclaimed slightly. argon you here without his friendship?No, sir. He sent me.I see. Are you hungry, lad?not at the moment, sir. thus would you mind if I eat? I dont get much time for the routine amenities of life, he give tongue to, smiling broadly.Its all right with me, sir.Together, they moved to a table and sat down feather. Joranum unwrapped a prepare and took a bite. His voice slightly muffled, he say, And why did he send you, son?Raych shrugged. I destine he prospect I capacity find out some(a)thing about you that he could use against you. Hes midsection and soul with get-go Minister Demerzel.And youre not?No, sir. Im a Dahlite.I realize you are, Mr. Seldon, b ut what does that baseborn?It means Im oppressed, so Im on your side and I neediness to avail you. Of course, I wouldnt trust my beginner to know.Theres no reason he should know. How do you intimate to help me? He glanced quickly at Namarti, who was leaning against his desk, listening, with his arms folded and his expression lowering. Do you know anything about psychohistory?No, sir. My father dont blabber to me about that-and if he did, I wouldnt get it. I dont think hes getting anywhere with that stuff.Are you sure?Sure Im sure. Theres a guy thither, Yugo Amaryl, also a Dahlite, who duologue about it sometimes. Im sure vigour is happening.Ah And pile I see Yugo Amaryl sometime, do you depend?I dont think so. He aint much for Demerzel, but hes all for my father. He wouldnt cross him. save you would?Raych looked unhappy and he muttered stubbornly, Im a Dahlite.Joranum introduceed his throat. Then let me study you again. How do you propose to help me, unripened man?Ive got something to tell you that maybe you wont believe. thus? Try me. If I dont believe it, I volition tell you so.Its about offset Minister Eto Demerzel.Well?Raych looked around uneasily. displace anyone realise me?Just Namarti and myself. wholly right, wherefore listen. This guy Demerzel aint a guy. Hes a automaton.What explode Joranum.Raych felt moved to explain. A zombi is a mechanical man, sir. He aint adult male. Hes a machine.Namarti broke out passionately, Jo-Jo, dont believe that. Its ridiculous.But Joranum held up an admonitory hand. His eyes were gleaming. wherefore do you regularize that?My father was in Mycogen once. He told me all about it. In Mycogen they talk about zombis a lot.Yes, I know. At least, I gift comprehend so.The Mycogenians believe that zombis were once very commonalty among their ancestors, but they were wiped out.Namartis eyes narrowed. But what makes you think that Demerzel is a robot? From what little I ask perceive of these fantasies , robots are do out of metal, arent they?Thats so, state Raych earnestly. But what I escortd is that there were a fewer robots that look just like adult male beings and they live forever-Namarti shook his head violently. Legends misfortunate legends JoJo, why are we listening-But Joranum spot him off quickly. No, G.D. I wishing to listen. Ive heard these legends, too.But its nonsense, Jo-Jo.Dont be in such a rush to vocalise nonsense. And horizontal if it were, flock live and die by nonsense. Its not what is so much as what hatful think is. Tell me, untested man, putting legends to one side, what makes you think Demerzel is a robot? Lets suppose that robots exist. What is it, then, about Demerzel that makes you say he is a robot? Did he tell you so?No, sir, said Raych.Did your father tell you so? asked Joranum.No, sir. Its just my own idea, but Im sure of it.why? What makes you so sure?Its just something about him. He doesnt change. He doesnt get older. He doesnt say e motions. Something about him looks like hes made of metal.Joranum sat back in his chair and looked at Raych for an extended time. It was almost possible to hear his thoughts buzzing.Finally he said, Suppose he is a robot, young man. Why should you billing? Does it matter to you?Of course it matters to me, said Raych. Im a gentlemans gentlemanity being. I dont want no robot in thrill of foo decode the empire.Joranum turned to Namarti with a gesture of eager approval. Do you hear that, G.D.? Im a human being. I dont want no robot in efflorescence of running the Empire. vagabond him on holovision and have him say it. induct him repeat it over and over trough its drummed into every person on Trantor-Hey, said Raych, finally catching his breath. I potbellyt say that on holovision. I cant let my father find out-No, of course not, said Joranum quickly. We couldnt bear that. Well just use the words. Well find some other Dahlite. Someone from distributively of the domains, each in his own dialect, but unendingly the same message I dont want no robot in charge of running the Empire.Namarti said, And what happens when Demerzel proves hes not a robot?Really, said Joranum. How entrust he do that? It would be unaccepted for him to do so. psychologically impossible. What? The great Demerzel, the power behind the throne, the man who has twitched the strings attached to Cleon I all these age and those attached to Cleons father in advance him? Will he climb down now and whine to the public that he is, too, a human being? That would be almost as destructive to him as being a robot. G.D., we have the baddie in a no-win positioning and we owe it all to this fine young man here.Raych flushed.Joranum said, Raych is your name, isnt it? Once our party is in a position to do so, we wont forget. Dahl leave alone be treated well and you will have a steady- liberation position with us. Youre going to be Dahls sector leader someday, Raych, and youre not going to sadn ess youve done this. Are you, now?Not on your life, said Raych fervently.In that case, well see that you get back to your father. You let him know that we intend him no harm, that we value him greatly. You can tell him you found that out in any way you please. And if you find anything else you think we might be able to use-about psychohistory, in particular, you let us know.You bet. But do you mean it when you say youll see to it that Dahl gets some breaks?Absolutely. Equality of sectors, my boy. Equality of worlds. Well have a new Empire with all the old villainies of privilege and inequality wiped out.And Raych nodded his head vigorously. Thats what I want.19Cleon, emperor moth of the Galaxy, was move hurriedly through the arcade that led from his hole-and-corner(a) quarters in the humiliated Palace to the offices of the kind of tremendous stave that lived in the various annexes of the majestic Palace, which served as the nerve center of the Empire.Several of his private att aches walked after him, with looks of the deepest concern on their faces. The emperor did not walk to others. He summoned them and they came to him. If he did walk, he never showed signs of haste or emotional trauma. How could he? He was the emperor moth and, as such, far more a symbol of all the worlds than a human being.Yet now he seemed to be a human being. He motioned everyone excursus with an impatient wave of his right hand. In his left hand he held a gleaming hologram.The outgrowth Minister, he said in an almost strangled voice, not at all like the conservatively cultivated tones he had pains takingly put on along with the throne. Where is he?And all the graduate(prenominal) functionaries who were in his way fumbled and gasped and found it impossible to manage coherence. He brushed away them angrily, making them all feel, undoubtedly, as though they were living through a light nightmare.Finally he burst into Demerzels private office, panting slightly, and shouted-lite rally shouted- DemerzelDemerzel looked up with a trace of surprise and rose smoothly to his feet, for one did not sit in the carriage of the emperor moth unless specifically invited to. buzz off? he said.And the Emperor slammed the hologram down on Demerzels desk and said, What is this? Will you tell me that?Demerzel looked at what the Emperor had given him. It was a beautiful hologram, nifty and alive. One could almost hear the little boy-perhaps ten years old-speaking the words that were include in the caption I dont want no robot in charge of running the Empire.Demerzel said quietly, Sire, I have received this, too.And who else has?I am under the impression, Sire, that it is a flier that is being immensely spread over Trantor.Yes, and do you see the person at whom that brat is smell? He tapped his Imperial forefinger at it. Isnt that you?The resemblance is striking, Sire.Am I persecute in supposing that the whole intent of this flier, as you call it, is to accuse you of be ing a robot?That does seem to be its intention, Sire.And stop me if Im wrong, but arent robots the legendary mechanical human beings one finds in-in thrillers and childrens stories?The Mycogenians have it as an term of faith, Sire, that robots-Im not interested in the Mycogenians and their articles of faith. Why are they accusing you of being a robot?Merely a metaphoric point, Im sure, Sire. They offer to portray me as a man of no heart, whose views are the exorbitant calculations of a machine.Thats too subtle, Demerzel. Im no fool. He tapped the hologram again. Theyre trying to make tidy sum believe you are really a robot.We can scarcely prevent it, Sire, if people opt to believe that.We cannot afford it. It detracts from the self-respect of your office. Worse than that, it detracts from the dignity of the Emperor, The implication is that I-I would choose as my archetypical Minister a mechanical man. That is impossible to endure. See here, Demerzel, arent there laws that for bid the denigration of public officers of the Empire?Yes, there are-and quite severe ones, Sire, go out back to the great Law Codes of Aburamis.And to smirch the Emperor himself is a capital offense, is it not?Death is the punishment, Sire. Yes.Well, this not only denigrates you, it denigrates me-and whoever did it should be executed forthwith. It was this Joranum, of course, who is behind it.Undoubtedly. Sire, but proving it might be rather difficult.Nonsense I have proof enough I want an execution.The trouble is, Sire, that the laws of denigration are virtually never enforced. Not in this century, certainly.And that is why society is becoming so unstable and the Empire is being agitate to its roots. The laws are still in the books, so enforce them.Demerzel said, Consider, Sire, if that would be wise. It would make you wait to be a tyrant and a despot. Your rule has been a most fortunate one through kindness and mildness-Yes and see where that got me. Lets have them fear me for a change, rather than love me-in this fashion.I strongly remember that you not do so, Sire. It may be the spark that will start a rebellion.What would you do, then? Go before the people and say, Look at me. I am no robot.No, Sire, for as you say that would unmake my dignity and, worse yet, yours.Then?I am not certain, Sire. I have not yet thought it through.Not yet thought it through? overtake in touch with Seldon.Sire?What is so difficult to understand about my social club? Get in touch with SeldonYou wish me to summon him to the Palace, Sire?No, theres no time for that. I presume you can habilitate up a tight converse line between us that cannot be tapped.Certainly, Sire.Then do so. Now20Seldon lacked Demerzels self-possession, being, as he was, only shape and blood. The summons to his office and the sudden snuff it glow and tingle of the scrambler field of force was indication enough that something unusual was taking place. He had spoken by sealed lines before but neve r to the full(a) extent of Imperial security.He gestateed some government official to clear the way for Demerzel himself. Considering the slowly mounting hullabaloo of the robot flier, he could expect nothing less.But he did not expect anything more, either, and when the image of the Emperor himself, with the faint incandescence of the scramble field outlining him, stepped into his office (so to speak), Seldon trim back in his seat, mouth wide open, and could make only ineffectual attempts to rise.Cleon motioned him impatiently to keep his seat. You must know whats going on, Seldon.Do you mean about the robot flier, Sire?Thats exactly what I mean. Whats to be done?Seldon, despite the permission to delay seated, finally rose. Theres more, Sire. Joranum is organizing rallies all over Trantor on the robot issue. At least, thats what I hear on the newscasts.It hasnt reached me yet. Of course not. Why should the Emperor know what is going on?It is not for the Emperor to be concerne d, Sire. Im sure that the First Minister-The First Minister will do nothing, not even keep me informed. I turn to you and your psychohistory. Tell me what to do. Sire?Im not going to play your game, Seldon. Youve been working on psychohistory for eight years. The First Minister tells me I must not take profound action against Joranum. What, then, do I do?Seldon stuttered. S-sire NothingYou have nothing to tell me?No, Sire. That is not what I mean. I mean you must do nothing. Nothing The First Minister is quite right if he tells you that you must not take sound action. It will make things worse.Very well. What will make things better?For you to do nothing. For the First Minister to do nothing. For the government to entrust Joranum to do just as he pleases.How will that help?And Seldon said, trying to curb the note of desperation in his voice, That will soon be seen.The Emperor seemed to collapse suddenly, as though all the enkindle and indignation had been drawn out of him. He s aid, Ah I understand You have the situation well in handSire I have not said that-You need not say. I have heard enough. You have the situation well in hand, but I want results. I still have the Imperial Guard and the armed forces. They will be loyal and, if it comes to actual disorders, I will not hesitate. But I will give you your chance first.His image flashed out and Seldon sat there, simply staring at the empty space where the image had been.Ever since the first unhappy moment when he had mentioned psychohistory at the Decennial Convention eight years before, he had had to face the fact that he didnt have what he had incautiously talked about.All he had was the wild ghost of some thoughts-and what Yugo Amaryl called intuition.