TERMINUS?..  Its location (see  map) was an  odd one  for the role  it wascalled upon to play in Galactic history, and yet as many writers have nevertired of pointing out, an inevitable¹ one. Located on the very fringe of theGalactic spiral,  an only planet of an isolated  sun, poor in resources andnegligible in  economic value, it  was never settled in  the five centuriesafter  its   discovery,  until   the  landing  of   the  Encyclopedists....
It  was inevitable  that as  a new  generation grew, Terminus  would becomesomething more  than an appendage² of  the psychohistorians of Trantor. Withthe Anacreonian revolt and the rise to power of Salvor Hardin, first of thegreat line of...
ENCYCLOPEDIA³ GALACTICALewis Pirenne  was busily engaged at his desk in  the one well-lit comer ofthe room. Work had  to be co-ordinated. Effort had to be organized. Threadshad to be woven into a pattern.
Fifty  years   now;  fifty  years  to   establish  themselves  and  set  upEncyclopedia  Foundation Number  One  into a  smoothly⁴ working  unit. Fiftyyears   to   gather   the   raw   material.   Fifty   years   to   prepare.
It had  been done. Five more  years would see the  publication of the firstvolume of the most  monumental work the Galaxy⁵ had ever conceived. And thenat ten-year  intervals⁶ ?regularly ?like  clockwork ?volume after volume.
And with  them there  would be supplements;  special articles on  events ofcurrent interest, until?
Pirenne  stirred  uneasily, as  the  muted  buzzer⁷ upon  his desk  mutteredpeevishly.  He had  almost forgotten  the appointment.  He shoved  the doorrelease and out of an abstracted comer of one eye saw the door open and thebroad   figure  of  Salvor   Hardin  enter.   Pirenne  did  not   look  up.

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