Forty! He was not young any longer. Life no longer stretched before him as a vast uncharted field, its horizon lost in the distance. He had been on Trantor for eight years and the time had passed quickly. Another eight years and he would be nearly fifty. Old age would be looming1.
And he had not even made a decent beginning in psychohistory? Yugo Amaryl spoke2 brightly of laws and worked out his equations by making daring assumptions based on intuition. But how could one possibly test those assumptions? Psychohistory was not yet an experimental science. The complete study of psychohistory would require experiments that would involve worlds of people, centuries of time-and a total lack of ethical3 responsibility.
It posed an impossible problem and he resented having to spend any time whatever on departmental tasks, so he walked home at the end of the day in a morose4 mood.
Ordinarily he could always count on a walk through the campus to rouse his spirits. Streeling University was high-domed and the campus gave the feeling of being out in the open without the necessity of enduring the kind of weather he had experienced on his one (and only) visit to the Imperial Palace. There were trees, lawns, walks, almost as though he were on the campus of his old college on his home world of Helicon.
The illusion of cloudiness had been arranged for the day with the sunlight (no sun, of course, just sunlight) appearing and disappearing at odd intervals5. And it was a little cool, just a little.
It seemed to Seldon that the cool days came a little more frequently than they used to. Was Trantor saving energy? Was it increasing inefficiency6? Or (and he scowled7 inwardly as he thought it) was he getting old and was his blood getting thin? He placed his hands in his jacket pockets and hunched8 up his shoulders.
Usually he did not bother guiding himself consciously. His body knew the way perfectly9 from his offices to his computer room and from there to his apartment and back. Generally he negotiated the path with his thoughts elsewhere, but today a sound penetrated10 his consciousness. A sound without meaning.
"Jo . JJJJJJJJJJo . JJ . "
It was rather soft and distant, but it brought back a memory. Yes, Amaryl's warning. The demagogue. Was he here on campus?
His legs swerved11 without Seldon's making a conscious decision and brought him over the low rise to the University Field, which was used for calisthenics, sports, and student oratory12.
In the middle of the Field was a moderate-sized crowd of students who were chanting enthusiastically. On a platform was someone he didn't recognize, someone with a loud voice and a swaying rhythm.
It wasn't this man, Joranum, however. He had seen Joranum on holovision a number of times. Since Amaryl's warning, Seldon had paid close attention JJranum was large and smiled with a kind of vicious camaraderie13. He had thick sandy hair and light blue eyes.
This speaker was small, if anything-thin, wide-mouthed, dark-haired, and loud. Seldon wasn't listening to the words, though he did hear the phrase "power from the one to the many" and the many-voiced shout in response.
Fine, thought Seldon, but just how does he intend to bring this about -and is he serious?
He was at the outskirts14 of the crowd now and looked around far someone he knew. He spotted15 Finangelos, a pret-math undergraduate. Not a bad young man, dark and woolly-haired.
"Finangelos," he called out.
"Professor Seldon" said Finangelos after a moment of staring as though unable to recognize Seldon without a keyboard at his fingertips he trotted16 over. "Did you come to listen to this guy?"
"I didn't come for any purpose but to find out what the noise was. Who is he?"
"His name is Namarti, Professor. He's speaking for Jo-Jo "
"I hear that, " said Seldon as he listened to the chant again It began each time the speaker made a telling point, apparently17. "But who is this Namarti? I don't recognize the name. What department is he in?"
"He's not a member of the University, Professor. He's one of Jo-Jo's men "
"If he's not a member of the University, he has no right to speak here without a permit. Does he have one, do you suppose?"
"I wouldn't know, Professor "
"Well then, let's find out "
Seldon started into the crowd, but Finangelos caught his sleeve. "Don't start anything, Professor. He's got goons with him "
There were six young men behind the speaker, spaced rather widely, legs apart, arms folded, scowling18.
"Goons?"
"For rough stuff, in case anyone tries anything funny "
"Then he's certainly not a member of the University and even a permit wouldn't cover what you call his `goons'. -Finangelos, signal through to the University security officers. They should have been here by now without a signal "
"I guess they don't want trouble," muttered Finangelos. "Please, Professor, don't try anything If you want me to get the security officers, I will, but you just wait till they come "
"Maybe I can break this up before they come "
He began pushing his way through It wasn't difficult. Some of those present recognized him and all could see the professorial shoulder patch He reached the platform, placed his hands on it, and vaulted19 up the three feet with a small grunt20. He thought, with chagrin21, that he could have done it with one hand ten years before and without the grunt.
He straightened up. The speaker had stopped talking and was looking at him with wary22 and ice-hard eyes.
Seldon said calmly, "Your permit to address the students, sir."
"Who are you?" said the speaker. He said it loudly, his voice carrying.
"I'm a member of the faculty23 of this University," said Seldon, equally loudly. "Your permit, sir?"
"I deny your right to question me on the matter." The young men behind the speaker had gathered closer.
"If you have none, I would advise you to leave the University grounds immediately."
"And if I don't?"
"Well, for one thing, the University security officers are on their way." He turned to the crowd. "Students," he called out, "we have the right of free speech and freedom of assembly on this campus, but it can be taken away from us if we allow outsiders, without permits, to make unauthorized-"
A heavy hand fell on his shoulder and he winced24. He turned around and found it was one of the men Finangelos had referred to as "goons."
The man said, with a heavy accent whose provenance25 Seldon could not immediately identify, "Get out of here fast. "
"What good will that do?" said Seldon. "The security officers will be here any minute."
"In that case," said Namarti with a feral grin, "there'll be a riot. That doesn't scare us."
"Of course it wouldn't," said Seldon. "You'd like it, but there won't be a riot. You'll all go quietly." He turned again to the students and shrugged26 off the hand on his shoulder. "We'll see to that, won't we?"
Someone in the crowd shouted, "That's Professor Seldon! He's all right! Don't pound him!"
Seldon sensed ambivalence27 in the crowd. There would be some, he knew, who would welcome a dust-up with the University security officers, just on general principles. On the other hand, there had to be some who liked him personally and still others who did not know him but who would not want to see violence against a member of the faculty.
A woman's voice rang out. "Watch out, Professor!"
Seldon sighed and regarded the large young men he faced. He didn't know if he could do it, if his reflexes were quick enough, his muscles sturdy enough, even given his prowess at Twisting.
One goon was approaching him, overconfidently of course. Not quickly, which gave Seldon a little of the time his aging body would need. The goon held out his arm confrontationally, which made it easier.
Seldon seized the arm, whirled, and bent28, arm up, and then down (with a grunt why did he have to grunt?), and the goon went flying through the air, propelled partly by his own momentum29. He landed with a thump30 on the outer edge of the platform, his right shoulder dislocated.
There was a wild cry from the audience at this totally unexpected development. Instantly an institutional pride erupted.
"Take them, Prof!" a lone31 voice shouted. Others took up the cry.
Seldon smoothed back his hair, trying not to puff32. With his foot he shoved the groaning33 fallen goon off the platform.
"Anyone else?" he asked pleasantly. "Or will you leave quietly?"
He faced Namarti and his five henchmen and as they paused irresolutely34, Seldon said, "I warn you. The crowd is on my side now. If you try to rush me, they'll take you apart. -Okay, who's next? Let's go. One at a time."
He had raised his voice with the last sentence and made small come-hither motions with his fingers. The crowd yelled its pleasure.
Namarti stood there stolidly35. Seldon leaped past him and caught his neck in the crook36 of his arm. Students were climbing onto the platform now, shouting "One at a time! One at a time!" and getting between the bodyguards37 and Seldon.
Seldon increased the pressure on the other's windpipe and whispered in his ear, "There's a way to do this, Namarti, and I know how: I've practiced it for years. If you make a move and try to break away, I'll ruin your larynx so that you'll never talk above a whisper again. If you value your voice, do as I say. When I let up, you tell your bunch of bullies38 to leave. If you say anything else, they'll be the last words you'll say normally. And if you ever come back to this campus again, no more Mr. Nice Guy. I'll finish the job."
He released the pressure momentarily. Namarti said huskily, "All of you. Get out." They retreated rapidly, helping39 their stricken comrade.
When the University security officers arrived a few moments later, Seldon said, "Sorry, gentlemen. False alarm."
He left the Field and resumed his walk home with more than a little chagrin. He had revealed a side of himself he did not want to reveal. He was Hari Seldon, mathematician40, not Hari Seldon, sadistic41 twister.
Besides, he thought gloomily, Dors would hear of this. In fact, he'd better tell her himself, lest she hear a version that made the incident seem worse than it really was.
She would not be pleased.
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1
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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2
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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3
ethical
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| adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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5
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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6
inefficiency
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| n.无效率，无能；无效率事例 | |
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7
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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9
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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10
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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11
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
oratory
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| n.演讲术；词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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13
camaraderie
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| n.同志之爱，友情 | |
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14
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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16
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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17
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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18
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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19
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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20
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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21
chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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22
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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23
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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24
winced
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25
provenance
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| n.出处；起源 | |
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26
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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27
ambivalence
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| n.矛盾心理 | |
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28
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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29
momentum
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| n.动力，冲力，势头；动量 | |
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30
thump
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| v.重击，砰然地响；n.重击，重击声 | |
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31
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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32
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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33
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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34
irresolutely
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| adv.优柔寡断地 | |
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35
stolidly
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| adv.迟钝地，神经麻木地 | |
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36
crook
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| v.使弯曲；n.小偷，骗子，贼；弯曲(处) | |
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37
bodyguards
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| n.保镖，卫士，警卫员( bodyguard的名词复数 ) | |
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38
bullies
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| n.欺凌弱小者, 开球 vt.恐吓, 威胁, 欺负 | |
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39
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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40
mathematician
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| n.数学家 | |
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41
sadistic
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| adj.虐待狂的 | |
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