Gleb Andorin watched Gambol1 Deen Namarti trudging2 up and down. Namarti was obviously unable to sit still under the driving force of the violence of his passion.
Andorin thought: He's not the brightest man in the Empire or even in the movement, not the shrewdest, certainly not the most capable of rational thought. He has to be held back constantly-but he's driven as none of the rest of us are. We would give up, let go, but he won't. Push, pull, prod3, kick. -Well, maybe we need someone like that. We must have someone like that or nothing will ever happen.
Namarti stopped, as though he felt Andorin's eyes boring into his back. He turned around and said, "If you're going to lecture me again on Kaspalov, don't bother."
Andorin shrugged4 lightly. "Why bother lecturing you? The deed is done. The harm-if any-has been done."
"What harm, Andorin? What harm? If I had not done it, then we would have been harmed. The man was on the edge of being a traitor5. Within a month, he would have gone running "
"I know. I was there. I heard what he said."
"Then you understand there was no choice. No choice. You don't think I liked to have an old comrade killed, do you? I had no choice."
"Very well. You had no choice."
Namarti resumed his tramping, then turned again. "Andorin, do you believe in gods?"
Andorin stared, "In what?"
"In gods."
"I never heard the word. What is it?"
Namarti said, "It's not Galactic Standard. Supernatural influences. How's that?"
"Oh, supernatural influences. Why didn't you say so? No, I don't believe in that sort of thing. By definition, something is supernatural if it exists outside the laws of nature and nothing exists outside the laws of nature. Are you turning into a mystic?" Andorin asked it as though he were joking, but his eyes narrowed with sudden concern.
Namarti stared him down. Those blazing eyes of his could stare anyone down. "Don't be a fool. I've been reading about it. Trillions of people believe in supernatural influences."
"I know," said Andorin. "They always have."
"They've done so since before the beginning of history. The word 'gods' is of unknown origin. It is, apparently6, a hangover from some primeval language of which no trace any longer exists, except that word. -Do you know how many different varieties of beliefs there are in various kinds of gods?"
"Approximately as many as the varieties of fools among the Galactic population, I should say."
Namarti ignored that. "Some people think the word dates back to the time when all humanity existed on but a single world."
"Itself a mythological7 concept. That's just as lunatic as the notion of supernatural influences. There never was one original human world."
"There would have to be, Andorin," said Namarti, annoyed. "Human beings can't have evolved on different worlds and ended as a single species."
"Even so, there's no effective human world. It can't be located, it can't he defined, so it can't be spoken of sensibly, so it effectively doesn't exist."
"These gods," said Namarti, continuing to follow his own line of thought, "are supposed to protect humanity and keep it safe or at least to care for those portions of humanity that know how to make use of the gods. At a time when there was only one human world, it makes sense to suppose they would be particularly interested in caring for that one tiny world with a few people. They would care for such a world as though they were big brothers-or parents."
"Very nice of them. I'd like to see them try to handle the entire Empire."
"What if they could? What if they were infinite?"
"What if the Sun were frozen? What's the use of `what if?"
"I'm just speculating. Just thinking. Haven't you ever let your mind wander freely? Do you always keep everything on a leash8?"
"I should imagine that's the safest way, keeping it on a leash. What does your wandering mind tell you, Chief?"
Namarti's eyes flashed at the other, as though he suspected sarcasm9, but Andorin's face remained good-natured and blank.
Namarti said, "What my mind is telling me is this- If there are gods, they must be on our side."
"Wonderful-if true. Where's the evidence?"
"Evidence? Without the gods, it would just be a coincidence, I suppose, but a very useful one." Suddenly Namarti yawned and sat down, looking exhausted10.
Good, thought Andorin. His galloping11 mind has finally wound itself down and he may talk sense now.
"This matter of internal breakdown12 of the infrastructure-" said Namarti, his voice distinctly lower.
Andorin interrupted. "You know, Chief, Kaspalov was not entirely13 wrong about this. The longer we keep it up, the greater the chance that Imperial forces will discover the cause. The whole program must, sooner or later, explode in our faces."
"Not yet. So far, everything is exploding in the Imperial face. The unrest on Trantor is something I can feel." He raised his hands, rubbing his fingers together. "I can feel it. And we are almost through. We are ready for the next step."
Andorin smiled humorlessly. "I'm not asking for details, Chief. Kaspalov did and look where that got him. I am not Kaspalov."
"It's precisely14 because you're not Kaspalov that I can tell you. And because I know something now I didn't then."
"I presume," said Andorin, only half-believing what he was saying, "that you intend a strike on the Imperial Palace grounds."
Namarti looked up. "Of course. What else is there to do? The problem, however, is how to penetrate15 the grounds effectively. I have my sources of information there, but they are only spies. I'll need men of action on the spot."
"To get men of action into the most heavily guarded region in all the galaxy16 will not be easy."
"Of course not. That's what has been giving me an unbearable17 headache till now-and then the gods intervened."
Andorin said gently (it was taking all his self-restraint to keep from showing his disgust), "I don't think we need a metaphysical discussion. What has happened-leaving the gods to one side?"
"My information is that His Gracious and Ever to Be Beloved Emperor Cleon I has decided18 to appoint a new Chief Gardener. This is the first new appointee in nearly a quarter of a century."
"And if so?"
"Do you see no significance?"
Andorin thought for a moment. "I am not a favorite of your gods. I don't see any significance."
"If you have a new Chief Gardener, Andorin, the situation is the same as having a new administrator19 of any other type-the same as if you had a new First Minister or a new Emperor. The new Chief Gardener will certainly want his own staff. He will force into retirement20 what he considers dead wood and will hire younger gardeners by the hundreds."
"That's possible."
"It's more than possible. It's certain. Exactly that happened when the present Chief Gardener was appointed and the same when his predecessor21 was appointed and so on. Hundreds of strangers from the Outer Worlds-"
"Why from the Outer Worlds?"
"Use your brains-if you have any, Andorin. What do Trantorians know about gardening when they've lived under domes22 all their lives, tending potted plants, zoos, and carefully arranged crops of grains and fruit trees? What do they know about life in the wild?"
"Ahhh. Now I understand."
"So there will be these strangers flooding the grounds. They will be carefully checked, I presume, but they won't be as tightly screened as they would be if they were Trantorians. And that means, surely, that we should be able to supply just a few of our own people, with false identifications, and get them inside. Even if some are screened out, a few might make it-a few must make it. Our people will enter, despite the supertight security established since the failed coup23 in the early days of First Minister Seldon." (He virtually spat24 out the name, as he always did.) "We'll finally have our chance."
Now it was Andorin who felt dizzy, as if he'd fallen into a spinning vortex. "It seems odd for me to say so, Chief, but there is something to this `gods' business after all, because I have been waiting to tell you something that I now see fits in perfectly25."
Namarti stared at the other suspiciously and looked around the room, as though he suddenly feared for security. But such fear was groundless. The room was located deep in an old-fashioned residential26 complex and was well shielded. No one could overhear and no one, even with detailed27 directions, could find it easily-nor get through the layers of protection provided by loyal members of the organization.
Namarti said, "What are you talking about?"
"I've found a man for you. A young man-very naive28. A quite likable fellow, the kind you feel you can trust as soon as you see him. He's got an open face, wide-open eyes; he's lived in Dahl; he's an enthusiast29 for equality; he thinks Joranum was the greatest thing since Dahlite cokeicers; and I'm sure we can easily talk him into doing anything for the cause."
"For the cause?" said Namarti, whose suspicions were not in the least alleviated30. "Is he one of us?"
"Actually, he's not one of anything. He's got some vague notions in his head that Joranum wanted sector31 equality."
"That was his lure32. Sure."
"It's ours, too, but the kid believes it. He talks about equality and popular participation33 in government. He even mentioned democracy."
Namarti snickered. "In twenty thousand years, democracy has never been used for very long without falling apart."
"Yes, but that's not our concern. It's what drives the young man and I tell you, Chief, I knew we had our tool just about the moment I saw him, but I didn't know how we could possibly use him. Now I know. We can get him onto the Imperial Palace grounds as a gardener."
"How? Does he know anything about gardening?"
"No. I'm sure he doesn't. He's never worked at anything but unskilled labor34. He's operating a hauler right now and I think that he had to be taught how to do that. Still, if we can get him in as a gardener's helper, if he just knows how to hold a pair of shears35, then we've got it."
"Got what?"
"Got someone who can approach anyone we wish-and do so without raising the flutter of a suspicion-and get close enough to strike. I'm telling you he simply exudes36 a kind of honorable stupidity, a kind of foolish virtue37 that inspires confidence."
"And he'll do what we tell him to do?"
"Absolutely."
"How did you meet this person?"
"It wasn't I. It was Manella who really spotted38 him."
"Who?"
"Manella. Manella Dubanqua."
"Oh. That friend of yours." Namarti's face twisted into a look of prissy disapproval39.
"She's the friend of many people," said Andorin tolerantly. "That's one of the things that makes her so useful. She can weigh a man quickly and with very little to go on. She talked to this fellow because she was attracted to him at sight-and I assure you that Manella is not one who is usually attracted by anything but the bottom line-so, you see, this man is rather unusual. She talked to this fellow-his name is Planchet, by the way-and then told me, `I have a live one for you, Gleb.' I'll trust her on the matter of live ones any day of the week."
Namarti said slyly, "And what do you think this wonderful tool of yours would do once he had the run of the grounds, eh, Andorin?"
Andorin took a deep breath. "What else? If we do everything right, he will dispose of our dear Emperor Cleon, First of that Name, for us."
Namarti's face blazed into anger. "What? Are you mad? Why should we want to kill Cleon? He's our hold on the government. He's the facade40 behind which we can rule. He's our passport to legitimacy41. Where are your brains? We need him as a figurehead. He won't interfere42 with us and we'll be stronger for his existence."
Andorin's fair face turned blotchy43 red and his good humor finally exploded. "What do you have in mind, then? What are you planning? I'm getting tired of always having to second-guess."
Namarti raised his hand. "All right. All right. Calm down. I meant no harm. But think a bit, will you? Who destroyed Joranum? Who destroyed our hopes ten years ago? It was that mathematician44. And it is he who rules the Empire now with his idiotic45 talk about psychohistory. Cleon is nothing. It is Hari Seldon we must destroy. It is Hari Seldon whom I've been turning into an object of ridicule46 with these constant breakdowns47. The miseries48 they entail49 are placed at his doorstep. It is all being interpreted as his inefficiency50, his incapacity." There was a trace of spittle in the corners of Namarti's mouth. "When he's cut down, there will be a cheer from the Empire that will drown out every holovision report for hours. It won't even matter if they know who did it." He raised his hand and let it drop, as if he were plunging51 a knife into someone's heart. "We will be looked upon as heroes of the Empire, as saviors. -Eh? Eh? Do you think your youngster can cut down Hari Seldon?"
Andorin had recovered his sense of equanimity-at least outwardly.
"I'm sure he would," he said with forced lightness. "For Cleon, he might have some respect; the Emperor has a mystical aura about him, as you know." (He stressed the "you" faintly and Namarti scowled52.) "He would have no such feelings about Seldon."
Inwardly, however, Andorin was furious. This was not what he wanted. He was being betrayed.
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1
gambol
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| v.欢呼，雀跃 | |
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2
trudging
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的现在分词形式） | |
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prod
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| vt.戳，刺；刺激，激励 | |
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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mythological
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| adj.神话的 | |
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leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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sarcasm
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| n.讥讽，讽刺，嘲弄，反话 （adj.sarcastic） | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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galloping
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| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
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breakdown
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| n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌 | |
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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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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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penetrate
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| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
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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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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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administrator
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| n.经营管理者，行政官员 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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domes
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| n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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residential
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| adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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naive
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| adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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alleviated
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| 减轻，缓解，缓和( alleviate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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shears
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| n.大剪刀 | |
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exudes
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| v.缓慢流出，渗出，分泌出( exude的第三人称单数 )；流露出对（某物）的神态或感情 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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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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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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facade
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| n.(建筑物的)正面，临街正面；外表 | |
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legitimacy
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| n.合法，正当 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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blotchy
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| adj.有斑点的，有污渍的；斑污 | |
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mathematician
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| n.数学家 | |
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idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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47
breakdowns
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| n.分解( breakdown的名词复数 )；衰竭；（车辆或机器的）损坏；统计分析 | |
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48
miseries
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| n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 )；痛苦的事；穷困；常发牢骚的人 | |
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49
entail
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| vt.使承担，使成为必要，需要 | |
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50
inefficiency
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| n.无效率，无能；无效率事例 | |
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51
plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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52
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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