Namarti's dark eyes remained fixed¹ on Joranum as they sat in their carefully shielded office in the Streeling Sector². 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 tentacles⁴ stretched-in some places more thickly than others, of course-throughout Trantor. The Outer Worlds were as yet largely untouched. Demerzel had labored⁵ mightily⁶ 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 shell 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 pass. He had never once lost his way except in minor⁷ matters, such as that recent rally at Streeling University in which this Seldon fellow had interfered⁸.
    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 humiliation⁹ 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

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