Part 3 (1/2)
”And I told you that it was a youthful indiscretion that came to nothing.”
”You may tell me a great many things, Professor. I am not compelled to accept what you tell me. Come, let me speak frankly. I have read your original paper and have tried to understand it with the help of some mathematicians on my staff. They tell me it is a wild dream and quite impossible-”
”I quite agree with them,” said Seldon.
”But I have the feeling that Demerzel is waiting for it to be developed and put to use. And if he can wait, so can I. It would be more useful to you, Professor Seldon, to have me wait.”
”Why so?”
”Because Demerzel will not endure in his position for much longer. Public opinion is turning against him steadily. It may be that when the Emperor wearies of an unpopular First Minister who threatens to drag the throne down with him, he will find a replacement. It may even be my poor self whom the Emperor's fancy will seize upon. And you will still need a protector, someone who can see to it that you can work in peace and with ample funds for whatever you need in the way of equipment and a.s.sistants.”
”And would you be that protector?”
”Of course-and for the same reason that Demerzel is. I want a successful psychohistoric technique so that I can rule the Empire more efficiently.”
Seldon nodded thoughtfully, waited a moment, then said, ”But in that case, Mr. Joranum, why must I concern myself in this? I am a poor scholar, living a quiet life, engaged in out-of-the-way mathematical and pedagogical activities. You say that Demerzel is my present protector and that you will be my future protector. I can go quietly about my business, then. You and the First Minister may fight it out. Whoever prevails, I have a protector still-or, at least, so you tell me.”
Joranum's fixed smile seemed to fade a bit. Namarti, at his side, turned his dour face toward Joranum and made as though to say something, but Joranum's hand moved slightly and Namarti coughed and did not speak.
Joranum said, ”Dr. Seldon. Are you a patriot?”
”Why, of course. The Empire has given humanity millennia of peace -mostly peace, at any rate-and fostered steady advancement.”
”So it has-but at a slower pace in the last century or two.”
Seldon shrugged. ”I have not studied such matters.”
”You don't have to. You know that, politically, the last century or two has been a time of turmoil. Imperial reigns have been short and sometimes have been shortened further by a.s.sa.s.sination-”
”Even mentioning that,” put in Seldon, ”is close to treason. I'd rather you didn't-”
”Well, there.” Joranum threw himself back in his seat. ”See how insecure you are. The Empire is decaying. I'm willing to say so openly. Those who follow me do so because they know only too well it is. We need someone at the Emperor's right hand who can control the Empire, subdue the rebellious impulses that seem to be arising everywhere, give the armed forces the natural leaders.h.i.+p they should have, lead the economy-”
Seldon made an impatient stopping motion with his arm. ”And you're the one to do it, are you?”
”I intend to be the one. It won't be an easy job and I doubt there would be many volunteers-for good reason. Certainly Demerzel can't do it. Under him, the decline of the Empire is accelerating to a total breakdown.”
”But you can stop it?”
”Yes, Dr. Seldon. With your help. With psychohistory.”
”Perhaps Demerzel could stop the breakdown with psychohistory-if psychohistory existed.”
Joranum said calmly, ”It exists. Let us not pretend it does not. But its existence does not help Demerzel. Psychohistory is only a tool. It needs a brain to understand it and an arm to wield it.”
”And you have those, I take it?”
”Yes. I know my own virtues. I want psychohistory.”
Seldon shook his head. ”You may want it all you please. I don't have it.
”You do have it. I will not argue the point.” Joranum leaned closer as though wis.h.i.+ng to insinuate his voice into Seldon's ear, rather than allowing the sound waves to carry it there. ”You say you are a patriot. I must replace Demerzel to avoid Imperial destruction. However, the manner of replacement might itself weaken the Empire desperately. I do not wish that. You can advise me how to achieve the end smoothly, subtly, without harm or damage-for the sake of the Empire.”
Seldon said, ”I cannot. You accuse me of knowledge I do not possess. I would like to be of a.s.sistance, but I cannot.”
Joranum stood up suddenly. ”Well, you know my mind and what it is I want of you. Think about it. And I ask you to think about the Empire. You may feel you owe Demerzel-this despoiler of all the millions of planets of humanity-your friends.h.i.+p. Be careful. What you do may shake the very foundation of the Empire. I ask you to help me in the name of the quadrillions of human beings who fill the Galaxy. Think of the Empire.”
His voice had dropped to a thrilling and powerful half-whisper. Seldon felt himself almost trembling. ”I will always think of the Empire,” he said.
Joranum said, ”Then that is all I ask right now. Thank you for consenting to see me.”
Seldon watched Joranum and his companion leave as the office doors slid open noiselessly and the men strode out.
He frowned. Something was bothering him-and he was not sure what it was.
7
Namarti's dark eyes remained fixed on Joranum as they sat in their carefully s.h.i.+elded office in the Streeling Sector. It was not an elaborate headquarters; they were as yet weak in Streeling, but they would grow stronger.
It was amazing how the movement was growing. It had started from nothing three years back and now its tentacles stretched-in some places more thickly than others, of course-throughout Trantor. The Outer Worlds were as yet largely untouched. Demerzel had labored mightily to keep them content, but that was his mistake. It was here on Trantor that rebellions were dangerous. Elsewhere, they could be controlled. Here, Demerzel could be toppled. Odd that he should not realize that, but Joranum had always held to the theory that Demerzel's reputation was overblown, that he would prove an empty sh.e.l.l if anyone dared oppose him, and that the Emperor would destroy him quickly if his own security seemed at stake.
So far, at least, all of Joranum's predictions had come to pa.s.s. He had never once lost his way except in minor matters, such as that recent rally at Streeling University in which this Seldon fellow had interfered.
That might be why Joranum had insisted on the interview with him. Even a minor toe stub must be taken care of. Joranum enjoyed the feeling of infallibility and Namarti had to admit that the vision of a constant string of successes was the surest way of ensuring the continuation of success. People tended to avoid the humiliation of failure by joining the obviously winning side even against their own opinions.
But had the interview with this Seldon been a success or was it a second stub of the toe to be added to the first? Namarti had not enjoyed having been brought along in order to be made to humbly apologize and he didn't see that it had done any good.
Now Joranum sat there, silent, obviously lost in thought, gnawing at the edge of one thumb as though trying to draw some sort of mental nourishment from it.
”Jo-Jo,” said Namarti softly. He was one of the very few people who could address Joranum by the diminutive that the crowds shouted out endlessly in public. Joranum solicited the love of the mob in this way, among others, but he demanded respect from individuals in private, except for those special friends who had been with him from the start.
”Jo-Jo,” he said again.
Joranum looked up. ”Yes, G.D., what is it?” He sounded a little testy.
”What are we going to do about this Seldon fellow, Jo-Jo?”
”Do? Nothing right now. He may join us.”
”Why wait? We can put pressure on him. We can pull a few strings at the University and make life miserable for him.”
”No no. So far, Demerzel has been letting us go our way. The fool is overconfident. The last thing we want to do,. though, is to push him into action before we are quite ready. And a heavy-handed move against Seldon may do it. I suspect Demerzel places enormous importance on Seldon.”