TRADERS-...  With  psychohistoric inevitability¹.  economic  control of  theFoundation  grew. The  traders grew  rich; and  with riches  came power....
It  is sometimes  forgotten  that Hober  Mallow began  life as  an ordinarytrader. It is never forgotten that he ended it as the first of the MerchantPrinces....
ENCYCLOPEDIA² GALACTICAJorane Sutt put the  tips of carefully-manicured fingers together and said,"It's something  of a  puzzle. In fact  ?and this  is in  the strictest ofconfidence   ? it   may  be   another  one   of  Hari   Seldon's  crises."The  man opposite felt  in the pocket  of his  short Smyrnian jacket  for acigarette.  "Don't know about  that, Sutt.  As a general  rule, politiciansstart   shouting   'Seldon    crisis'   at   every   mayoralty   campaign."Sutt  smiled  very  faintly, "I'm  not  campaigning,  Mallow. We're  facingnuclear   weapons,  and   we  don't   know  where  they're   coming  from."Hober   Mallow   of  Smyrno,   Master   Trader,   smoked  quietly,   almostindifferently. "Go  on. If you have more to say,  get it out." Mallow nevermade the  mistake of being overpolite  to a Foundation man.  He might be anOutlander, but a man's a man for a?that.
Sutt  indicated the  trimensional star-map  on the  table. He  adjusted thecontrols  and a  cluster  of some  half-dozen stellar  systems  blazed red.
'That," he said quietly, "is the Korellian Republic."The trader  nodded, "I've been  there. Stinking³ rathole! I  suppose you cancall it a republic but it's always someone out of the Argo family that getselected Commdor each time. And if you ever don't like it ?things happen toyou."   He   twisted   his   lip   and   repeated,   "I've   been   there.""But  you've come back,  which hasn't  always happened. Three  trade ships,inviolate under  the Conventions, have disappeared  within the territory ofthe  Republic in the  last year. And  those ships  were armed with  all theusual nuclear explosives and force-field defenses.""What was the last word heard from the ships?""Routine reports. Nothing else.""What did Korell say?"Sutt's  eyes  gleamed  sardonically,  "There  was  no way  of  asking.  TheFoundation's greatest  asset throughout the Periphery  is its reputation ofpower.  Do  you  think  we  can  lose  three  ships  and   ask  for  them?""Well, then, suppose you tell me what you want with me."Jorane Sutt did not waste his time in the luxury of

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