Next to  Sermak himself, Lewis Bort  was the most active  in rallying thosedissident elements  which had  fused into the  now-vociferous Action Party.
Yet he had not  been one of the deputation that had called on Salvor Hardinalmost half a year  previously¹. That this was so was not due to any lack ofrecognition of his efforts;  quite the contrary. He was absent for the verygood  reason  that  he  was  on  Anacreon's  capital  world  at  the  time.
He visited  it as a private citizen. He saw no  official and he did nothingof importance. He merely  watched the obscure comers of the busy planet andpoked his stubby nose into dusty crannies.
He arrived home toward  the end of a short winter day that had started withclouds and  was finishing  with snow and  within an hour was  seated at theoctagonal table in Sermak's home.
His  first  words  were  not calculated  to  improve  the  atmosphere of  agathering  already  considerably  depressed  by the  deepening  snow-filledtwilight outside..
"I'm afraid,"  he said,  "that our position  is what is  usually termed, inmelodramatic phraseology, a 'Lost Cause.'""You think so?" said Sermak, gloomily.
"It's gone  past thought, Sermak.  There's no room for  any other opinion.""Armaments? began Dokor Walto,  somewhat officiously, but Bort broke in atonce.
"Forget that.  That's an  old story." His  eyes traveled round  the circle.
"I'm referring  to the people. I admit that it  was my idea originally thatwe attempt  to foster  a palace rebellion  of some sort to  install as kingsomeone more favorable to  the Foundation. It was a good idea. It still is.
The only trifling² flaw  about it is that it is impossible. The great SalvorHardin saw to that."Sermak   said   sourly,   "If   you'd   give   us   the   details,   Bort?
"Details!  There aren't  any! It isn't  as simple  as that. It's  the wholedamned  situation  on  Anacreon.  It's  this religion  the  Foundation  hasestablished. It works!""Well!""You've got  to see  it work to appreciate it. All you  see here is that wehave  a  large  school  devoted  to  the  training  of  priests,  and  thatoccasionally a special show is put on in some obscure comer of the city forthe benefit  of pilgrims and that's all.  The whole business hardly affectsus as a general thing. But on Anacreon?

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