There were not many computers capable of handling the daily news from twenty-five million worlds. There were a number of them at Imperial headquarters, where they were absolutely necessary. Some of the larger Outer World capitals had them as well, though most were satisfied with hyperconnection to the Central Newspost on Trantor.
A computer at an important Mathematics Department could, if it were sufficiently1 advanced, be modified as an independent news source and Seldon had been careful to do that with his computer. It was, after all, necessary for his work on psychohistory, though the computer's capabilities2 were carefully ascribed to other, exceedingly plausible4 reasons.
Ideally the computer would report anything that was out of the ordinary on any world of the Empire. A coded and unobtrusive warning light would make itself evident and Seldon could track it down easily. Such a light rarely showed, for the definition of "out of the ordinary" was tight and intense and dealt with large-scale and rare upheavals5.
What one did in its absence was to ring in various worlds at random6 -not all twenty-five million, of course, but some dozens. It was a depressing and even debilitating7 task, for there were no worlds that didn't have their daily relatively8 minor9 catastrophes10. A volcanic11 eruption12 here, a flood there, an economic collapse13 of one sort or another yonder, and, of course, riots. There had not been a day in the last thousand years that there had not been riots over something or other on each of a hundred or more different worlds.
Naturally such things had to be discounted. One could scarcely worry about riots any more than one could about volcanic eruptions14 when both were constants on inhabited worlds. Rather, if a day should come in which not one riot was reported anywhere, that might be a sign of something so unusual as to warrant the gravest concern.
Concern was what Seldon could not make himself feel. The Outer Worlds, with all their disorders15 and misfortunes, were like a great ocean on a peaceful day, with a gentle swell16 and minor heavings-but no more. He found no evidence of any overall situation that clearly showed a decline in the last eight years or even in the last eighty. Yet Demerzel (in Demerzel's absence, Seldon could no longer think of him as Daneel) said the decline was continuing and he had his finger on the Empire's pulse from day to day in ways that Seldon could not duplicate-until such time as he would have the guiding power of psychohistory at his disposal.
It could be that the decline was so small that it was unnoticeable till some crucial point was reached-like a domicile that slowly wears out and deteriorates17, showing no signs of that deterioration18 until one night when the roof collapses19.
When would the roof collapse? That was the problem and Seldon had no answer.
And on occasion, Seldon would check on Trantor itself. There, the news was always considerably20 more substantial. For one thing, Trantor was the most highly populated of all the worlds, with its forty billion people. For another, its eight hundred sectors21 formed a mini-Empire all its own. For a third, there were the tedious rounds of governmental functions and the doings of the Imperial family to follow.
What struck Seldon's eyes, however, was in the Dahl Sector22. The elections for the Dahl Sector Council had placed five Joranumites into office. This was the first time, according to the commentary, that Joranumites had achieved sector office.
It was not surprising. Dahl was a Joranumite stronghold if any sector was, but Seldon found it a disturbing indication of the progress being made by the demagogue. He ordered a microchip of the item and took it home with him that evening.
Raych looked up from his computer as Seldon entered and apparently23 felt the need to explain himself. "I'm helping24 Mom on some reference material she needs," he said.
"What about your own work?"
"Done, Dad. All done."
"Good. -Look at this." He showed Raych the chip in his hand before slipping it into the microprojector.
Raych glanced at the news item hanging in the air before his eyes and said, "Yes, I know."
"You do?"
"Sure. I usually keep track of Dahl. You know, home sector and all."
"And what do you think about it?"
"I'm not surprised. Are you? The rest of Trantor treats Dahl like dirt. Why shouldn't they go for Joranum's views?"
"Do you go for them also?"
"Well-" Raych twisted his face thoughtfully. "I got to admit some things he says appeal to me. He says he wants equality for all people. What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing at all-if he means it. If he's sincere. If he isn't just using it as a ploy25 to get votes."
"True enough, Dad, but most Dahlites probably figure: What's there to lose? We don't have equality now, though the laws say we do."
"It's a hard thing to legislate26."
"That's not something to cool you off when you're sweating to death."
Seldon was thinking rapidly. He had been thinking since he had come across this item. He said, "Raych, you haven't been in Dahl since your mother and I took you out of the sector, have you?"
"Sure I was, when I went with you to Dahl five years ago on your visit there."
"Yes yes"-Seldon waved a hand in dismissal-"but that doesn't count. We stayed at an intersector hotel, which was not Dahlite in the least, and, as I recall, Dors never once let you out on the streets alone. After all, you were only fifteen. How would you like to visit Dahl now, alone, in charge of yourself-now that you're fully3 twenty?"
Raych chuckled27. "Mom would never allow that."
"I don't say that I enjoy the prospect28 of facing her with it, but I don't intend to ask her permission. The question is: Would you be willing to do this for me?"
"Out of curiosity? Sure. I'd like to see what's happened to the old place."
"Can you spare the time from your studies?"
"Sure. I'll never miss a week or so. Besides, you can tape the lectures and I'll catch up when I get back. I can get permission. After all, my old man's on the faculty-unless you've been fired, Dad."
"Not yet. But I'm not thinking of this as a fun vacation."
"I'd be surprised if you did. I don't think you know what a fun vacation is, Dad. I'm surprised you know the phrase."
"Don't be impertinent. When you go there, I want you to meet with Laskin Joranum."
Raych looked startled. "How do I do that? I don't know where he's gonna be."
"He's going to be in Dahl. He's been asked to speak to the Dahl Sector Council with its new Joranumite members. We'll find out the exact day and you can go a few days earlier."
"And how do I get to see him, Dad? I don't figure he keeps open house."
"I don't, either, but I'll leave that up to you. You would have known how to do it when you were twelve. I hope your keen edge hasn't blunted too badly in the intervening years."
Raych smiled. "I hope not. But suppose I do see him. What then?"
"Well, find out what you can. What's he's really planning. What he's really thinking."
"Do you really think he's gonna tell me?"
"I wouldn't be surprised if he does. You have the trick of inspiring confidence, you miserable29 youngster. Let's talk about it."
And so they did. Several times.
Seldon's thoughts were painful. He was not sure where all this was leading to, but he dared not consult Yugo Amaryl or Demerzel or (most of all) Dors. They might stop him. They might prove to him that his idea was a poor one and he didn't want that proof. What he planned seemed the only gateway30 to salvation31 and he didn't want it blocked.
But did the gateway exist at all? Raych was the only one, it seemed to Seldon, who could possibly manage to worm himself into Joranum's confidence, but was Raych the proper tool for the purpose? He was a Dahlite and sympathetic to Joranum. How far could Seldon trust him?
Horrible? Raych was his son-and Seldon had never had occasion to mistrust Raych before.
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1
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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2
capabilities
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| n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力 | |
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3
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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4
plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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5
upheavals
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| 突然的巨变( upheaval的名词复数 )； 大动荡； 大变动； 胀起 | |
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6
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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7
debilitating
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| a.使衰弱的 | |
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8
relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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9
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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10
catastrophes
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| n.灾祸( catastrophe的名词复数 )；灾难；不幸事件；困难 | |
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11
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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12
eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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13
collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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14
eruptions
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| n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 ) | |
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15
disorders
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| n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调 | |
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16
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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17
deteriorates
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| 恶化，变坏( deteriorate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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18
deterioration
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| n.退化；恶化；变坏 | |
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19
collapses
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| 折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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sectors
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| n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形 | |
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sector
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| n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形 | |
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23
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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24
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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ploy
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| n.花招，手段 | |
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26
legislate
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| vt.制定法律；n.法规，律例；立法 | |
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27
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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29
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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30
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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31
salvation
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| n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困 | |
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