Joranum was a tall man-as tall as Seldon, at any rate-but larger in other directions. It was not due to a muscular physique, for he gave the impression of softness, without quite being fat. A rounded face, a thick head of hair that was sandy rather than yellow, light blue eyes. He wore a subdued4 coverall and his face bore a half-smile that gave the illusion of friendliness5, while making it clear, somehow, that it was only an illusion.
"Professor Seldon"-his voice was deep and under strict control, an orator's voice-"I am delighted to meet you. It is kind of you to permit this meeting. I trust you are not offended that I have brought a companion, my right-hand man, with me, although I have not cleared that with you in advance. He is Gambol6 Deen Namarti-three names, you notice. I believe you have met him."
"Yes, I have. I remember the incident well." Seldon looked at Namarti with a touch of the sardonic7. At the previous encounter, Namarti had been speaking at the University Field. Seldon viewed him carefully now-under relaxed conditions. Namarti was of moderate height, with a thin face, sallow complexion8, dark hair, and a wide mouth. He did not have Joranum's half-smile or any noticeable expression-except for a sense of cautious wariness9.
"My friend Dr. Namarti-his degree is in ancient literature-has come at his own request," said Joranum, his smile intensifying10 a bit, "to apologize."
Joranum glanced quickly at Namarti-and Namarti, his lips tightening11 just at first, said in a colorless voice, "I am sorry, Professor, for what happened at the Field. I was not quite aware of the strict rules governing University rallies and I was a little carried away by my own enthusiasm."
"Understandably so," said Joranum. "Nor was he entirely12 aware of your identity. I think we may all now forget the matter."
"I assure you, gentlemen," said Seldon, "that I have no great desire to remember it. This is my son, Raych Seldon, so you see I have a companion, too."
Raych had grown a mustache, black and abundant-the masculine mark of the Dahlite. He had had none when he first met Seldon eight years before, when he was a street boy, ragged13 and hungry. He was short but lithe14 and sinewy15 and his expression was the haughty16 one he had adopted in order to add a few spiritual inches to his physical height.
"Good morning, young man," said Joranum.
"Good morning, sir," said Raych.
"Please sit down, gentlemen," said Seldon. "May I offer you something to eat or drink?"
Joranum held up his hands in polite refusal. "No, sir. This is not a social call." He seated himself in the place indicated. "Though I hope there will be many such calls in the future."
"If this is to be about business, then let's begin."
"The news reached me, Professor Seldon, of the little incident that you have so kindly17 agreed to forget and I wondered why you took the chance of doing what you did. It was a risk, you must admit."
"I didn't think so, actually."
"But I did. So I took the liberty of finding out everything I could about you, Professor Seldon. You're an interesting man. From Helicon, I discovered."
"Yes, that's where I was born. The records are clear."
"And you've been here on Trantor for eight years."
"That is also a matter of public record."
"And you made yourself quite famous at the start by delivering a mathematical paper on-what do you call it?-psychohistory?"
Seldon shook his head very slightly. How often he had regretted that indiscretion. Of course, he had had no idea at the time that it was an indiscretion. He said, "A youthful enthusiasm. It came to nothing."
"Is that so?" Joranum looked around him with an air of pleased surprise. "Yet here you are, the head of the Mathematics Department at one of Trantor's greatest Universities, and only forty years old, I believe. -I'm forty-two, by the way, so I don't look upon you as very old at all. You must be a very competent mathematician18 to be in this position."
Seldon shrugged19. "I wouldn't care to make a judgment20 in that matter."
"Or you must have powerful friends."
"We would all like to have powerful friends, Mr. Joranum, but I think you will find none here. University professors rarely have powerful friends or, I sometimes think, friends of any kind." He smiled.
And so did Joranum. "Wouldn't you consider the Emperor a powerful friend, Professor Seldon?"
"I certainly would, but what has that to do with me?"
"I am under the impression that the Emperor is a friend of yours."
"I'm sure the records will show, Mr. Joranum, that I had an audience with His Imperial Majesty21 eight years ago. It lasted perhaps an hour or less and I saw no signs of any great friendliness in him at the time. Nor have I spoken to him since--or even seen him-except on holovision, of course."
"But, Professor, it is not necessary to see or speak to the Emperor to have him as a powerful friend. It is sufficient to see or speak to Eto Demerzel, the Emperor's First Minister. Demerzel is your protector and, since he is, we may as well say the Emperor is."
"Do you find First Minister Demerzel's supposed protection of me anywhere in the records? Or anything at all in the records from which you can deduce that protection?"
"Why search the records when it is well known that there is a connection between the two of you. You know it and I know it. Let us take it then as given and continue. And please"-he raised his hands-"do not take the trouble to give me any heartfelt denials. It's a waste of time."
"Actually," said Seldon, "I was going to ask why you should think that he would want to protect me. To what end?"
"Professor? Are you trying to hurt me by pretending to think I am a monster of naivete? I mentioned your psychohistory, which Demerzel wants."
"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 frankly22. I have read your original paper and have tried to understand it with the help of some mathematicians23 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 steadily24. 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 replacement25. 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 assistants."
"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 efficiently26."
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 fixed27 smile seemed to fade a bit. Namarti, at his side, turned his dour28 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 patriot29?"
"Why, of course. The Empire has given humanity millennia30 of peace -mostly peace, at any rate-and fostered steady advancement31."
"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 turmoil32. Imperial reigns33 have been short and sometimes have been shortened further by assassination-"
"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, subdue3 the rebellious34 impulses that seem to be arising everywhere, give the armed forces the natural leadership 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 breakdown35."
"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 wield36 it."
"And you have those, I take it?"
"Yes. I know my own virtues37. 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 wishing to insinuate38 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 desperately39. I do not wish that. You can advise me how to achieve the end smoothly40, 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 assistance, 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 despoiler41 of all the millions of planets of humanity-your friendship. 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 Galaxy42. 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.
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1
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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gambol
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| v.欢呼，雀跃 | |
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sardonic
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| adj.嘲笑的，冷笑的，讥讽的 | |
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8
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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9
wariness
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| n. 注意,小心 | |
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10
intensifying
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉 | |
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tightening
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| 上紧，固定，紧密 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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lithe
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| adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的 | |
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15
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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16
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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17
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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mathematician
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| n.数学家 | |
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19
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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23
mathematicians
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| 数学家( mathematician的名词复数 ) | |
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24
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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25
replacement
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| n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品 | |
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efficiently
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| adv.高效率地，有能力地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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dour
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| adj.冷酷的，严厉的；（岩石）嶙峋的；顽强不屈 | |
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29
patriot
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| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
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millennia
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| n.一千年，千禧年 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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32
turmoil
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| n.骚乱，混乱，动乱 | |
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33
reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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34
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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35
breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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36
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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37
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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38
insinuate
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| vt.含沙射影地说，暗示 | |
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39
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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40
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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41
despoiler
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42
galaxy
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| n.星系；银河系；一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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