Foundation and Empire 19. Start Of The Search

The l mavenly planet, harbor just now planet of an only sun of a Galactic Sector that trailed raggedly off into intergalactic vacuum was on a lower floor siege.In a strictly military sense, it was certainly down the stairs siege, since no atomic number 18a of space on the Galactic side still than twenty parsecs distance was issueside range of the Mules advance bases. In the four months since the shattering fall of the invertebrate foot, Havens communications had fallen apart like a spiderweb to a lower place the razors edge. The ships of Haven converged inwards upon the home world, and only Haven itself was now a fighting base.And in other respects, the siege was even closer for the shrouds of helplessness and assign had already invadedBayta plodded her way down the pink-waved aisle past the rows of milky plastic-topped t satisfactorys and found her seat by blind reckoning. She eased on to the high, armless chair, answered half-heard greetings mechanically, rubbed a weari ly-itching fondness with the back of a weary hand, and reached for her menu.She had condemnation to register a violent mental reaction of distaste to the pronounced presence of various cultured-fungus dishes, which were considered high delicacies at Haven, and which her Foundation taste found highly inedible and then(prenominal) she was aware of the sobbing near her and looked up.Until then, her notice of Juddee, the plain, snub-nosed, indifferent blonde at the dining whole of measurement diagonally across had been the superficial one of the nonacquaintance. And now Juddee was crying, morseling woefully at a moist handkerchief, and choking back sobs until her complexion was blotched with great(p) red. Her shapeless radiation-proof costume was thrown back upon her shoulders, and her transparent face shield had tumbled frontwards into her dessert, and in that respect remained.Bayta joined the three girls who were taking turns at the eternally utilise and eternally inefficaci ous remedies of shoulder-patting, hair-smoothing, and incoherent murmuring.Whats the matter? she whispered.One turned to her and shrugged a discreet, I dont know. Then, feeling the inadequacy of the gesture, she pulled Bayta aside.Shes had a hard day, I guess. And shes worrying astir(predicate) her husband.Is he on space patrol?Yes.Bayta reached a friendly hand out to Juddee.Why dont you go home, Juddee? Her voice was a cheerfully businesslike misdemeanor on the soft, flabby inanities that had preceded.Juddee looked up half in resentment. Ive been out at a time this week already-Then youll be out twice. If you try to stay on, you know, youll honorable be out three days next week so going home now amounts to patriotism. Any of you girls work in her department? Well, then, look you fuck off care of her card. Better go to the washroom first, Juddee, and get the peaches and cream back where it belongs. Go ahead ShooBayta returned to her seat and took up the menu again with a sat urnine relief. These moods were contagious. One weeping girl would necessitate 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 opposite her was saying, Isnt much any of us can do except cry, is there?Her surprisingly full lips scarcely moved, and Bayta noticed that their ends were carefully 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 eyes and welcomed the enjoyment 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 till they cooled.She said, Cant you think of anything else to do, Hella?Oh, yes, said Hella. I can She flicked her cigarette with a casual and expert finger-motion into the little reces s provided and the tiny flash caught it before it hit shallow bottom.For instance, and Hella clasped slender, well-kept hands under her chin, I think we could make a very nice arrangement with the Mule and stop all this nonsense. But then I dont have the uh facilities to argue to get out of places quickly when the Mule takes all over.Baytas clear forehead remained clear. Her voice was decrepit and indifferent. You dont happen to have a brother or husband in the fighting ships, do you?No. All the more credit that I throw no reason for the sacrifice of the brothers and husbands of others.The sacrifice allow for come the more surely for surrender.The Foundation 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 dank realization of the silence about her. No one in ear-shot had cared to answer Hellas cynicism.Sh e left quickly, after stabbing at the button which cleared her dining unit for the next 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 fashionable to be patriotic? Its all so democratic, it makes me retch.Now, Hella, said the plump girl to her right. Shes never 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 yack away of the bright-eyed accountant opposite. The words 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 effervescing 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 most tha-rilling escape had to go through the blockade, and all and I do peculiarity 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 cave easygoings were being protect group-wise in the gradual descent towards the darkness that meant 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-muffled. 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 hole d 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 believably 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 repast that definitely bore signs of having been rassled-up. She cut the sandwiches in devil 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 forget Magnifico.Bayta answered from the depths of her sandwich, Strikes me that youre all the stirring my mother-complex can stand.And then she laid the sandwich down, and was gravely serious in a moment.Torie.M-m-m?Torie, I was at City Hall today at the Bureau of Production. That is why I was so late 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 particular reason. Those who dont get sick become sullen. Even the little mousie types pout. In my particular section, production 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 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 because I was the co-ordinators niece and said it was beyond him. Frankly, I dont think he cared.Now, dont go off base, B ay.I dont think he did. She was strenuously fiery. I tell you theres something wrong. Its that same horrible frustration that hit me in the Time Vault when Seldon deserted us. You matt-up 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 lack 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 wound 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 post of the confederation of cities on Haven, had been assigned, at his own request, to an swiftness room, out o f 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 greenback 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 Theres 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 people on Haven condition themselves pretty strictly on the lack of light meaning sleep. Myself, too. But its different now-Youre hiding, said Mis, flatly. Youre surrounded by people 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 waitress? Here 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, and you know what that means.Not a bit.Mis was not enthusiastic about the compulsion 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 move 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 atrophied to where we can not stand without it.Thats it. Sort o f a incapable 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 independent thinking.And you see a way out?No, but there must be one. Maybe Seldon made no furnish for the Mule. Maybe he didnt guarantee our victory. But, then, neither 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 natural in the Galaxy every day. Of the several million, a ll 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 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, dominion 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 undoubtedly 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. 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 somebody who might have been the Mule in infancy and early childhood. Pritcher worked on slim pickings there, and what certify 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 repute 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 capable of depressing mental energy just as he is in possession of one which depresses thermonuclear 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 clown.And now Ebling Mis hesitated. Useless as yet. I spoke bravely to the mayor previous to the F oundations collapse, mainly to keep his courage up partly to keep my own up as well. But, Randu, if my numerical 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 plain-spoken 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. The 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 f actors 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 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 through nothing of consequence. The Mule has been politic ample to promise to safeguard the property and profits of the great Traders and they have gone over to him.Ebling Mis said stubbornly, The plutocrats have incessantly 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 temptation to give up endangered political 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 yo u. I want you to leave Haven.Ebling Mis puffed up his plump checks in amazement. Already?Randu felt horribly 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 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 Foundatio n.