Prelude to Foundation Chapter 2 Flight

TRANTOR- The capital of the First Galactic Empire nether Cleon I, it had its twilight glow. To all appearances, it was then at its peak. Its land sur view of cc million squ be kilometers was entirely domed (except for the purple Palace ara) and underlaid with an everlasting city t point on ext abateed beneath the continental shelves. The population was 40 jillion and although the signs were plentiful (and clearly visible in hindsight) that at that place were gathering problems, those who lived on Trantor undoubtedly prep be it still the Eternal World of legend and did non expect it would everEncyclopedia Galactica6.Seldon requireed up. A girlish valet was stand up a go him, smell spate at him with an expression of amused contempt. following to him was an opposite immature military man-a bit earlyer, perhaps. Both were large and appeared to be strong. They were habilimented in an extreme of Trantorian fashion, Seldon judged-boldly clashing colors, broad fringed bel ts, round hats with all-embracing brims all ab proscribed and the deuce ends of a b decline pink thread extending from the brim to the masking of the cervix uteri.In Seldons eye, it was amusing and he smiled.The young man in the first place him dieped, Whatre you grinning at, misfit? Seldon ignored the manner of address and verbalise gently, ravish pardon my smile. I was that enjoying your approachume.My costume? So? And what are you tiring? Whats that awful offal you call clothes? His incur went extinct and his finger flicked at the lapel of Seldons jacket-disgracefully heavy and dull, Seldon himself idea, in comparison to the an early(a)wise(prenominal)s lighthe artistryed colors.Seldon utter, Im shitless its my Out pieceer clothes. Theyre all I switch. He couldnt help nonice that the close to new(prenominal)s who were sitting in the diminutive delegate were rising to their feet and paseo off. It was as though they were expecting anaesthetize and had no desire to remain in the vicinity. Seldon wondered if his sassy friend, Hummin, was leaving too, unless he tangle it injudicious to expunge his eyeball past from the young man who was confronting him. He teetered confirm on his direct lissomly.The young man verbalise, You an Outworlder?Thats right. thence my clothes.Hence? What build of words that? Outworld word?What I remembert was, that was whitherfore my clothes come out peculiar to you. Im a visitor here.From what orbiter? bombardon.The young mans eyebrows drew to lowerher. neer perceive of it.Its non a large planet. wherefore dont you go back in that respect?I intend to. Im leaving tomorrow.So starr NowThe young man looked at his partner. Seldon followed the look and caught a glimpse of Hummin. He had non left, exclusively the park was outright empty except for himself, Hummin, and the two young men.Seldon said, Id thought Id spend today sight-seeing.No. You dont regard to do that. You go home now.Seld on smiled. Sorry. I wont.The young man said to his partner. You like his clothes, Marbie?Marbie verbalise for the first metre. No. Disgusting. Turns the stomach.Cant let him go around turning stomachs, Marbie. not good for packs health.No, not by no means, Alem, said Marbie.Alem grinned. Well now. You comprehend what Marbie said.And now Hummin spoke. He said, Look, you two, Alem, Marbie, whatever your names are. Youve had your fun. Why dont you go a focus?Alem, who had been leaning slightly toward Seldon, straightened and sour. Who are you?Thats not your business, snapped Hummin.Youre Trantorian? asked Alem.Also not your business.Alem frowned and said, Youre garbed Trantorian. Were not interested in you, so dont go looking for problems.I intend to hold truehearted. That means at that place are two of us. Two against two doesnt sound like your kind of fight. Why dont you go away and agnize some(a) friends so you gage handle two deal?Seldon said, I strongly destine you ought to experience away if you end, Hummin. Its kind of you to try to hold dear me, that I dont want you h secti unmatched and entirely(a)d.These are not hazardous people, Seldon. righteous half-credit lackeys.Lackeys The word fronted to infuriate Alem, so that Seldon thought it must view as a more than insulting meaning on Trantor than it had on Helicon.Here, Marbie, said Alem with a growl. You take fretfulness of that other motherlackey and Ill rip the clothes off this Seldon. Hes the integrity we want. Now-His hands came crush acutely to seize Seldons lapels and jerk him upright.Seldon pushed away, instinctively it would seem, and his ch walkover tipped backward. He seized the hands stretched toward him, his foot went up, and his chair went down.Somehow Alem streaked anywherehead, turning as he did so, and came down hard on his neck and back understructure Seldon.Seldon move as his chair went down and was apace on his feet, staring down at Alem, then looking sharply to one side for Marbie. Alem lay unmoving, his governing body twisted in agony. He had two badly sprained thumbs, excruciating pain in his groin, and a ground getup that had been badly jarred. Hummins left arm had grabbed Marbies neck from behind and his right arm had pulled the others right arm backward at a vicious angle. Marbies face was red as he labored uselessly for breath. A knife, glittering with a small laser inset, lay on the ground beside them.Hummin locomote his apprehend slightly and said, with an air of honest concern, Youve hurt that one badly.Seldon said, Im afraid so. If he had fallen a little differently, he would generate snapped his neck.Hummin said, What kind of a mathematician are you?A Heliconian one. He stooped to survival of the fittest up the knife and, later on examining it, said, Disgusting-and deadly.Hummin said, An ordinary blade would do the job without requiring a power source.-solely lets let these two go. I doubt they want to pr ogress individually further.He released Marbie, who rubbed first his shoulder then his neck. Gasping for air, he off hate-filled eyes on the two men. Hummin said sharply, You two had better support out of here. Otherwise well halt to give evidence against you for assault and move murder. This knife can reliablely be traced to you.Seldon and Hummin watched while Marbie dragged Alem to his feet and then helped him keel away, still bent in pain. They looked back once or twice, still Seldon and Hummin watched impassively.Seldon held out his hand. How do I thank you for coming to the aid of a singularr against two attackers? I doubt I would arrive been fitted to handle them both on my own.Hummin raised his hand in a deprecatory manner. I wasnt afraid of them. Theyre rightful(prenominal) track-brawling lackeys. whole I had to do was fuck off my hands on them-and yours, too, of course.Thats a pretty deadly grip you gather in, Seldon mused.Hummin shrugged. You too. and so, without changing his tone of voice, he said, Come on, wed better get out of here. Were wasting time.Seldon said, Why do we contrive to get away? atomic moment 18 you afraid those two discontinue come back?Not in their lifetime. But some of those brave people who cleared out of the park so quickly in their eagerness to spare themselves a closed sight may make water alerted the police.Fine. We make believe the hoodlums names. And we can describe them priming coatably well.Describe them? Why would the police want them?They committed an assault-Dont be foolish. We dont check a scratch. Theyre around hospital bait, especially Alem. Were the ones who go out be charged.But thats hopeless. Those people witnessed the fact that-No people leave alone be called.-Seldon, get this into your head. Those two came to check you-specifically you. They were told you were wearing Heliconian clothes and you must have been describe precisely. possibly they were nevertheless shown a holo graph. I suspect they were sent by the people who happen to control the police, so lets not wait either longer.Hummin hurried off, his hand gripping Seldons upper arm. Seldon anchor the grip im realizable to shake and, ruleing like a child in the hands of an impetuous nurse, followed.They plunged into an arcade and, onwards Seldons eyes grew accustomed to the dimmer light, they comprehend the burring sound of a ground-cars brakes. on that point they are, muttered Hummin. Faster, Seldon. They hopped onto a moving corridor and lost themselves in the crowd.7.Seldon had tried to persuade Hummin to take him to his hotel room, but Hummin would have none of that. be you mad? he half-whispered. Theyll be waiting for you there.But all my prop are waiting for me there too.Theyll just have to wait.And now they were in a small room in a pleasant apartment structure that magnate be bothwhere for all that Seldon could tell. He looked nearly the one-room building block. Most of it was taken up by a desk and chair, a bed, and a computer outlet. There were no dining facilities or washstand of any kind, though Hummin had directed him to a communal washroom down the hall. Someone had entered before Seldon was figure of through. He had cast one brief and curious look at Seldons clothes, preferably than at Seldon himself, and had then looked away. Seldon mentioned this to Hummin, who shake his head and said, Well have to get rid of your clothes. Too bad Helicon is so furtheraway out of fashion-Seldon said impatiently, How overmuch of this might just be your imagination, Hummin? Youve got me half-convinced and heretofore it may be merely a kind of of-Are you fumble for the word paranoia?All right, I am. This may be some strange paranoid notion of yours. Hummin said, Think al some it, bequeath you? I cant get by it out mathematically, but youve seen the emperor. Dont disown it. He wanted some social function from you and you didnt give it to him. Dont deny t hat either. I suspect that details of the future are what he wants and you refused. Perhaps Demerzel bets youre alone pretending not to have the details-that youre holding out for a higher price or that someone else is bidding for it too. Who sleep togethers? I told you that if Demerzel wants you, hell get you wheresoever you are. I told you that before those two splitheads ever appeared on the scene. Im a journalist and a Trantorian. I know how these occasions go. At one point, Alem said, Hes the one we want. Do you remember that?As it happens, said Seldon. I do.To him I was plainly the other motherlackey to be unploughed off, while he went or so the real job of assaulting you.Hummin sat down in the chair and pointed to the bed. Stretch out, Seldon. stir yourself comfort open. Whoever sent those two-it must have been Demerzel, in my opinion-can send others, so well have to get rid of those clothes of yours. I think any other Heliconian in this sector caught in his own world s garb is going to have trouble until he can prove he isnt you.Oh come on.I mean it. Youll have to take off the clothes and well have to micro-cook them-if we can get close passable to a disposal unit without being seen. And before we can do that Ill have to get you a Trantorian outfit. Youre smaller than I am and Ill take that into account. It wont subject area if it doesnt fit exactly-Seldon shook his head. I dont have the impute to pay for it. Not on me. What credits I have-and they arent much-are in my hotel unspoilt.Well worry around that another time. Youll have to stay here for an hour or two while I go out in search of the necessary clothing.Seldon spread his hands and sighed resignedly. All right. If its that important, Ill stay.You wont try to get back to your hotel? Word of honor?My word as a mathematician. But Im really embarrassed by all the trouble youre taking for me. And expense too. afterwards all, despite all this talk just about Demerzel, they werent reall y out to hurt me or carry me off. All I was threatened with was the removal of my clothes.Not all. They were also going to take you to the spaceport and put you on a hypers hip to(predicate) to Helicon.That was a silly threat-not to be taken seriously.Why not?Im going to Helicon. I told them so. Im going tomorrow.And you still plan to go tomorrow? asked Hummin.Certainly. Why not?There are enormous reasons wherefore not.Seldon suddenly felt angry. Come on, Hummin, I cant play this game any further. Im finished here and I want to go home. My tickets are in the hotel room. Otherwise Id try to exchange them for a trip today. I mean it.You cant go back to Helicon.Seldon flushed. Why not? Are they waiting for me there too?Hummin nodded. Dont fire up, Seldon. They would be waiting for you there too.Listen to me. If you go to Helicon, you are as good as in Demerzels hands. Helicon is good, safe gallant territory. Has Helicon ever rebelled, ever fallen into step behind the banner of an ant i-Emperor?No, it hasnt-and for good reason. Its surrounded by larger worlds. It depends on the Imperial peace for security. scarcely Imperial forces on Helicon can and then count on the full cooperation of the local government. You would be under incessant surveillance at all times. Any time Demerzel wants you, he will be adequate to(p) to have you. And, except for the fact that I am now warning you, you would have no knowledge of this and you would be working in the open, filled with a false security.Thats ridiculous. If he wanted me in Helicon, why didnt he simply leave me to myself? I was going there tomorrow. Why would he send those two hoodlums simply to hasten the matter by a fewer hours and risk putting me on my fight down?Why should he think you would be put on your withstand? He didnt know Id be with you, immersing you in what you call my paranoia.Even without the scruple of warning me, why all the fuss to hurry me by a few hours?Perhaps because he was afraid you wo uld change your mind.And go where, if not home? If he could pick me up on Helicon, he could pick me up anywhere. He could pick me up on on Anacreon, a good ten thousand parsecs away-if it should fall into my head to go there. Whats hold to hyperspatial ships? Even if I find a world thats not quite as subservient to the Imperial forces as Helicon is, what world is in actual rebellion? The Empire is at peace. Even if some worlds are still resentful of injustices in the past, none are going to have got the Imperial armed forces to protect me. Moreover, anywhere but on Helicon I wont be a local citizen and there wont veritable(a) be that matter of principle to help keep the Empire at bay.Hummin listened patiently, nod slightly, but looking as grave and as imperturbable as ever. He said, Youre right, as far as you go, but theres one world that is not really under the Emperors control. That, I think, is what must be lamentable Demerzel.Seldon thought a while, reviewing recent history and finding himself unable to drive a world on which the Imperial forces might be helpless. He said at last, What world is that?Hummin said, Youre on it, which is what makes the matter so endangermentous in Demerzels eyes, I imagine. It is not so much that he is ardent to have you go to Helicon, as that he is anxious to have you leave Trantor before it occurs to you, for any reason-even if only tourists mania-to stay.The two men sat in silence until Seldon finally said sardonically, Trantor The capital of the Empire, with the home base of the hand on a space station in orbit about it, with the best units of the army quartered here. If you believe that it is Trantor that is the safe world, youre progressing from paranoia to outright fantasy.No Youre an Outworlder, Seldon. You dont know what Trantor is like. Its forty billion people and there are few other worlds with even a tenth of its population. It is of unimaginable technological and cultural complexity. Where we are now is the Imperial Sector-with the highest standard of living in the Galaxy and dwell entirely by Imperial functionaries. Elsewhere on the planet, however, are over eight hundred other sectors, some of them with subcultures totally different from what we have here and most of them invulnerable by Imperial forces.Why untouchable?The Empire cannot seriously exert force against Trantor. To do so would be bound to shake some facet or other of the applied science on which the whole planet depends. The technology is so interrelated that to snap one of the interconnections is to cripple the whole. Believe me, Seldon, we on Trantor observe what happens when there is an quake that wields to escape being damped out, a volcanic eruption that is not give vent in time, a storm that is not defused, or just some world error that escapes notice. The planet totters and every effort must be made to restore the balance at once.I have never perceive of such a thing.A small smile flickered its way ac ross Hummins face. Of course not. Do you want the Empire to advertise the flunk at its core? However, as a journalist, I know what happens even when the Outworlds dont, even when much of Trantor itself doesnt, even when the Imperial pressure is interested in concealing events. Believe me The Emperor knows-and Eto Demerzel knows-even if you dont, that to disturb Trantor may destroy the Empire.Then are you suggesting I stay on Trantor for that reason? Yes. I can take you to a place on Trantor where you will be absolutely safe from Demerzel. You wont have to change your name and you will be able to operate entirely in the open and he wont be able to touch you. Thats why he wanted to force you off Trantor at once and if it hadnt been for the quirk of fate that brought us together and for your surprising qualification to defend yourself, he would have succeeded in doing so.But how long will I have to remain on Trantor?For as long as your safety requires it, Seldon. For the rest of your life, perhaps.8.Hari Seldon looked at the holograph of himself cast by Hummins projector. It was more dramatic and useful than a mirror would have been. In fact, it seemed as though there were two of him in the room.Seldon studied the sleeve of his new tunic. His Heliconian attitudes made him wish the colors were less vibrant, but he was appreciative that, as it was, Hummin had chosen softer colors than were customary here on this world. (Seldon thought of the clothing worn by their two assailants and shuddered inwardly.) He said, And I bet I must wear this hat.In the Imperial Sector, yes. To go unclothed here is a sign of low breeding. Elsewhere, the rules are different.Seldon sighed. The round hat was made of soft material and molded itself to his head when he put it on. The brim was evenly wide all around, but it was narrower than on the hats his attackers had worn. Seldon consoled himself by noticing that when he wore the hat the brim curved rather gracefully. It doesnt have a strap under the chin.Of course not. Thats advanced fashion for young lanks.For young what?A lank is someone who wears things for their shock value. Im sure you have such people on Helicon.Seldon snorted. There are those who wear their hair shoulder-length on one side and shave the other. He laughed at the memory. Hummins mouth twisted slightly. I imagine it looks uncommonly ugly.Worse. There are lefties and righties, apparently, and each finds the other version highly offensive. The two groups often engage in street brawls.Then I think you can stand the hat, especially without the strap.Seldon said, Ill get used to it.It will attract some attention. Its subdued for one thing and makes you look as if youre in mourning. And it doesnt quite fit. Then, too, you wear it with obvious discomfort. However, we wont be in the Imperial Sector long.-Seen enough? And the holograph flickered out.Seldon said, How much did this cost you?Whats the difference?It bothers me to be in your debt.Dont worry about it. This is my choice. But weve been here long enough. I will have been described, Im quite certain. Theyll track me down and theyll come here.In that case, said Seldon, the credits youre spending are a minor matter. Youre putting yourself into personal danger on my account. Personal dangerI know that. But its my free choice and I can take care of myself.But why-Well discuss the philosophy of it later.-Ive atomized your clothes, by the way, and I dont think I was seen. There was an energy surge, of course, and that would be come ined. Someone might guess what happened from that-its hard to obscure any action when probing eyes and mind are sharp enough. However, let us hope well be safely away before they put it all together.9.They traveled along walkways where the light was soft and yellow. Hummins eyes moved this way and that, watchful, and he kept their pace at crowd speed, neither passing nor being passed.He kept up a mild but steady talk on indifferent topics. Seld on, edgy and unable to do the said(prenominal), said, There seems to be a great deal of walking here. There are unending lines in both directions and along the interbreedings.Why not? said Hummin. travel is still the best form of short-distance transportation. Its the most convenient, the cheapest, and the most healthful. Countless old age of technological advance have not changed that.-Are you acrophobic, Seldon?Seldon looked over the railing on his right into a deep declivity that separated the two walking lanes-each in an opposite direction between the regularly spaced crossovers. He shuddered slightly. If you mean fear of heights, not ordinarily. Still, looking down isnt pleasant. How far does it go down?Forty or fifty levels at this point, I think. This sort of thing is common in the Imperial Sector and a few other highly developed regions. In most places, one walks at what might be considered ground level.I should imagine this would encourage felo-de-se attempts.Not ofte n. There are far easier methods. Besides, suicide is not a matter of social obloquy on Trantor. One can end ones life by various recognized methods in centers that come through for the purpose-if one is willing to go through some psychotherapy at first. There are, occasional accidents, for that matter, but thats not why I was asking about acrophobia. Were heading for a move renting where they know me as a journalist. Ive done favors for them occasionally and sometimes they do favors for me in return. Theyll forget to record me and wont notice that I have a companion. Of course, Ill have to pay a premium and, again of course, if Demerzels people lean on them hard enough, theyll have to tell the right and put it down to slovenly accounting, but that may take considerable time.Where does the acrophobia come in?Well, we can get there a lot faster if we use a gravitic lift. Not many another(prenominal) people use it and I must tell you that Im not overjoy at the idea myself, but if you think you can handle it, we had better.Whats a gravitic lift?Its experimental. The time may come when it will be general over Trantor, provided it becomes psychologically acceptable-or can be made so to enough people. Then, maybe, it will spread to other worlds too. Its an elevator shaft without an elevator cab, so to speak. We just step into empty space and drop slowly-or rise slowly-under the call for of antigravity. Its about the only application of antigravity thats been established so far, largely because its the simplest operable application.What happens if the power blinks out while were in transit?Exactly what you would think. We fall and-unless were quite near the bottom to begin with-we die. I havent heard of it happening yet and, believe me, if it had happened I would know. We might not be able to give out the news for security reasons-thats the excuse they endlessly advance for hiding bad news-but I would know. Its just up ahead. If you cant manage it, we wont do it, but the corridors are slow and tedious and many find them nauseating after a while. Hummin turned down a crossover and into a large recess where a line of men and women were waiting, one or two with children.Seldon said in a low voice, I heard nothing of this back home. Of course, our own news media are horribly local, but youd think thered be some mention that this sort of thing exists.Hummin said. Its strictly experimental and is confined to the Imperial Sector. It uses more energy than its worth, so the government is not really anxious to push it right now by giving it publicity. The old Emperor, Stanel VI, the one before Cleon who amazed everyone by dying in his bed, insisted on having it installed in a few places. He wanted his name associated with antigravity, they say, because he was concerned with his place in history, as old men of no great attainments frequently are. As I said, the technique may spread, but, on the other hand, it is possible that nothing much more than the gravitic lift will ever come of it.What do they want to come of it? asked Seldon.Antigrav spaceflight. That, however, will require many breakthroughs and most physicists, as far as I know, are firmly convinced it is out of the question. But, then, most thought that even gravitic lifts were out of the question.The line ahead was rapidly exploitation shorter and Seldon found himself standing with Hummin at the edge of the floor with an open quip before him. The air ahead faintly glittered. Automatically, he reached out his hand and felt a light shock. It didnt hurt, but he snatched his hand back quickly.Hummin grunted. An elementary precaution to prevent anyone walking over the edge before activating the controls. He punched some numbers on the control climb on and the glitter vanished.Seldon peered over the edge, down the deep shaft. You might find it better-or easier, said Hummin, if we link arms and if you close your eyes. It wont take more than a few seconds.He gave Se ldon no choice, actually. He took his arm and once again there was no hanging back in that firm grip. Hummin stepped into nothingness and Seldon (who heard himself, to his own embarrassment, emit a small squeak) shuffled off with a lurch.He closed his eyes tightly and experienced no sense of falling, no feeling of air vogue. A few seconds passed and he was pulled ahead. He tripped slightly, caught his balance, and found himself on solid ground. He opened his eyes, Did we make it?Hummin said dryly, Were not dead, then walked away, his grip forcing Seldon to follow.I mean, did we get to the right level?Of course.What would have happened if we were dropping down and someone else was moving upward?There are two separate lanes. In one lane everyone drops at the similar speed in the other everyone rises at the same speed. The shaft clears only when there are no people within ten meters of each other. There is no chance of a collision if all workings well.I didnt feel a thing.Why shoul d you? There was no acceleration. After the first tenth of a second, you were at constant speed and the air in your immediate vicinity was moving down with you at the same speed.Marvelous.Absolutely. But uneconomic. And there seems no great pressure to increase the talent of the procedure and make it worthwhile. Everywhere one hears the same refrain. We cant do it. It cant be done. It applies to everything. Hummin shrugged in obvious anger and said, But were here at the taxi rental.Lets get on with it.10.Seldon tried to look inconspicuous at the air-taxi rental terminus, which he found difficult. To look ostentatiously inconspicuous-to slink about, to turn his face away from all who passed, to study one of the vehicles overintently-was surely the way to invite attention. The way to behave was merely to assume an innocent normality.But what was normality? He felt uncomfortable in his clothes. There were no pockets, so he had no place to put his hands. The two pouches, which dangled from his belt on either side, distracted him by hitting against him as he moved, so that he was continually thinking someone had nudged him. He tried looking at women as they passed. They had no pouches, at least none dangling, but they carried little boxlike affairs that they occasionally clipped to one hip or another by some device he could not make out. It was probably pseudomagnetic, he decided. Their clothes were not particularly revealing, he noted regretfully, and not one had any sign of dcolletage, although some dresses seemed to be designed to emphasize the buttocks. Meanwhile, Hummin had been very businesslike, having presented the necessary credits and returned with the superconductive ceramic tile that would activate a specific air-taxi.Hummin said, Get in, Seldon, gesturing to a small two-seated vehicle.Seldon asked, Did you have to sign your name, Hummin?Of course not. They know me here and dont stand on ceremony.What do they think youre doing?They didnt ask and I vo lunteered no information. He inserted the tile and Seldon felt a slight vibration as the air-taxi came to life. Were headed for D-7, said Hummin, making conversation.Seldon didnt know what D-7 was, but he assumed it meant some route or other. The air-taxi found its way past and around other ground-cars and finally moved onto a smooth upward-slanting track and gained speed. Then it lifted upward with a slight jolt.Seldon, who had been automatically strapped in by a webbed restraint, felt himself pushed down into his seat and then up against the webbing. He said, That didnt feel like antigravity.It wasnt, said Hummin. That was a small jet reaction. Just enough to take us up to the tubes.What appeared before them now looked like a cliff model with cave openings, much like a checkerboard. Hummin maneuvered toward the D-7 opening, avoiding other air-taxis that were heading for other tunnels.You could crash easily, said Seldon, clearing his throat.So I probably would if everything depende d on my senses and reactions, but the taxi is computerized and the computer can overrule me without trouble. The same is current for the other taxis.-Here we go.They slid into D-7 as if they had been sucked in and the bright light of the open promenade outside mellowed, turning a warmer yellow hue. Hummin released the controls and sat back. He drew a deep breath and said, Well, thats one stage successfully carried through. We might have been stopped at the station. In here, were fairly safe.The model was smooth and the walls of the tunnel slipped by rapidly. There was almost no sound, just a steady velvety whirr as the taxi sped along. How fast are we going? asked Seldon.Hummin cast an eye briefly at the controls. collar hundred and fifty kilometers per hour.Magnetic propulsion?Yes. You have it on Helicon, I imagine.Yes. One line. Ive never been on it myself, though Ive continuously meant to. I dont think its anything like this.Im sure it isnt. Trantor has many thousands of kil ometers of these tunnels honeycombing the land subsurface and a number that snake under the shallower extensions of the ocean. Its the chief method of long-distance travel.How long will it take us?To reach our immediate destination? A little over pentad hours.Five hours Seldon was dismayed.Dont be disturbed. We pass rest areas every twenty minutes or so where we can stop, pull out of the tunnel, stretch our feet, eat, or relieve ourselves. Id like to do that as few times as possible, of course.They continued on in silence for a while and then Seldon started when a blaze of light flared at their right for a few seconds and, in the flash, he thought he proverb two air-taxis.That was a rest area, said Hummin in answer to the mute question.Seldon said, Am I really going to be safe wherever it is you are taking me?Hummin said, Quite safe from any open movement on the part of the Imperial forces. Of course, when it comes to the individual operator-the spy, the agent, the leased assass in-one must always be careful. Naturally, I will supply you with a bodyguard.Seldon felt uneasy. The hired assassin? Are you serious? Would they really want to kill me?Hummin said, Im sure Demerzel doesnt. I suspect he wants to use you rather than kill you. Still, other enemies may turn up or there may be unfortunate concatenations of events. You cant go through life sleepwalking.Seldon shook his head and turned his face away. To think, only forty-eight hours ago he had been just an insignificant, virtually unknown Outworld mathematician, content only to spend his remaining time on Trantor sight-seeing, gazing at the enormity of the great world with his provincial eye. And now, it was finally sinking feeling in He was a wanted man, hunted by Imperial forces. The enormity of the situation seized him and he shuddered.And what about you and what youre doing right now?Hummin said thoughtfully, Well, they wont feel kindly toward me, I suppose. I might have my head laid open or my chest e xploded by some mysterious and never-found assailant.Hummin said it without a tremor in his voice or a change in his calm appearance, but Seldon winced.Seldon said, I rather thought you would assume that might be in store for you. You dont seem to be bothered by it.Im an old Trantorian. I know the planet as well as anybody can. I know many people and many of them are under obligation to me. I like to think that I am shrewd and not easy to outwit. In short, Seldon, I am quite confident that I can take care of myself.Im glad you feel that way and I hope youre justified in thinking so, Hummin, but I cant get it through my head why youre taking this chance at all. What am I to you? Why should you take even the smallest risk for someone who is a stranger to you?Hummin checked the controls in a preoccupied manner and then he approach Seldon squarely, eyes steady and serious.I want to ease you for the same reason that the Emperor wants to use you-for your predictive powers.Seldon felt a deep pang of disappointment. This was not after all a question of being saved. He was merely the helpless and disputed prey of competing predators. He said angrily, I will never live down that presentation at the Decennial Convention. I have ruined my life.No. Dont rush to conclusions, mathematician. The Emperor and his officers want you for one reason only, to make their own lives more secure. They are interested in your abilities only so far as they might be used to save the Emperors rule, preserve that rule for his young son, maintain the positions, status, and power of his officials. I, on the other hand, want your powers for the good of the Galaxy.Is there a distinction? spat Seldon acidly.And Hummin replied with the sick beginning of a frown, If you do not see the distinction, then that is to your shame. The human occupants of the Galaxy existed before this Emperor who now rules, before the dynasty he represents, before the Empire itself. Humanity is far older than the Empire . It may even be far older than the twenty-five million worlds of the Galaxy. There are legends of a time when humanity inhabited a single world.Legends said Seldon, shrugging his shoulders.Yes, legends, but I see no reason why that may not have been so in fact, twenty thousand years ago or more. I presume that humanity did not come into innovation complete with knowledge of hyperspatial travel. Surely, there must have been a time when people could not travel at superluminal velocities and they must then have been imprisoned in a single planetary system. And if we look forward in time, the human beings of the worlds of the Galaxy will surely continue to exist after you and the Emperor are dead, after his whole line comes to an end, and after the institutions of the Empire itself unravel. In that case, it is not important to worry overmuch about individuals, about the Emperor and the young Prince Imperial. It is not important to worry even about the mechanics of Empire. What of the quadrillions of people that exist in the Galaxy? What of them?Seldon said, Worlds and people would continue, I presume.Dont you feel any serious need of probing the possible conditions under which they would continue to exist.One would assume they would exist much as they do now.One would assume. But could one know by this art of prediction that you speak of?Psychohistory is what I call it. In theory, one could.And you feel no pressure to turn that theory into practice.I would love to, Hummin, but the desire to do so doesnt automatically manufacture the ability to do so. I told the Emperor that psychohistory could not be turned into a practical technique and I am forced to tell you the same thing.And you have no intention of even trying to find the technique?No, I dont, any more than I would feel I ought to try to tackle a pile of pebbles the size of Trantor, count them one by one, and invest them in order of decreasing mass. I would know it was not something I could accomplish in a lifetime and I would not be fool enough to make a pretense of trying.Would you try if you knew the truth about humanitys situation?Thats an impossible question. What is the truth about humanitys situation? Do you claim to know it?Yes, I do. And in five words. Hummins eyes faced forward again, turning briefly toward the blank changelessness of the tunnel as it pushed toward them, expanding until it passed and then dwindling as it slipped away. He then spoke those five words grimly.He said, The Galactic Empire is dying.