That afternoon Amaryl went to Hari Seldon's office at Streeling University. That in itself was unusual, for Amaryl virtually never left his own office, even to speak with a colleague just down the hall.
    "Hari," said Amaryl, frowning and looking puzzled. "Something very odd has happened. Very peculiar¹."
    Seldon looked at Amaryl with deepest sorrow. He was only fifty-three, but he looked much older, bent², worn down to almost transparency. When forced, he had undergone doctors' examinations and the doctors had all recommended that he leave his work for a period of time (some said permanently) and rest. Only this, the doctors said, might improve his health. Otherwise- Seldon shook his head. "Take him away from his work and he'll die all the sooner-and unhappier. We have no choice."
    And then Seldon realized that, lost in such thoughts, he was not hearing Amaryl speak.
    He said, "I'm sorry, Yugo. I'm a little distracted. Begin again."
    Amaryl said, "I'm telling you that something very odd has happened. Very peculiar."
    "What is it, Yugo?"
    "It was Wanda. She came in to see me-very sad, very upset."
    "Why?"
    "Apparently³ it's the new baby."
    "Oh yes," Hari said with more than a trace of guilt⁴ in his voice.
    "So she said and cried on my shoulder-I actually cried a bit, too, Hari. And then I thought I'd cheer her up by showing her the Prime Radiant." Here Amaryl hesitated, as if choosing his next words carefully.
    "Go on, Yugo. What happened?"
    "Well, she stared at all the lights and I magnified a portion, actually Section 428254. You're acquainted with that?"
    Seldon smiled. "No, Yugo, I haven't memorized the equations quite as well as you have."
    "Well, you should," said Amaryl severely⁵. "How can you do a good job if- But never mind that. What I'm trying to say is that Wanda

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