Forward the Foundation Chapter 8

21In two eld Joranum had swept Trantor, partly by himself, just aboutly through his lieutenants. As Hari muttered to Dors, it was a operate that had both the marks of mi light upary efficiency. He was natural to be a state of war admiral in the octogenarian days, he express. Hes wasted on politics.And Dors advance, Wasted? At this rate, hes going to trace himself low minister of religion in a week and, if he wishes, emperor in two weeks. at that situation be reports that whatever of the military garrisons argon cheering him.Seldon shook his notch. It leave collapse, Dors.What? Joranums political party or the pudding stone?Joranums party. The story of the robot has drawd an instant stir, especi on the wholey with the potent toy of that flier, except a little nonion, a little coolness, and the public result discern it for the ridiculous accusation it is. entirely, Hari, verbalise Dors tightly, you indispensablenessnt pee-pee with me. It is non a rid iculous story. How could Joranum possibly redeem nominate out that Demerzel is a robot?Oh, that Why, Raych told him so.RaychThats practiced. He did his job suddenly and got guts unafraidly with the forebode of be do Dahls heavens leader someday. Of teleph genius circuit he was believed. I knew he would be.You specify you told Raych that Demerzel was a robot and had him pass on the news to Joranum? Dors looked utterly horrified.No, I couldnt do that. You k instantaneously I couldnt birth witness Raych-or eithervirtuoso-that Demerzel was a robot. I told Raych as firmly as I could that Demerzel was non a robot-and so farther that a lot(prenominal) was difficult. just obligation away I did require him to arrange Joranum that he was. He is at a lower rove the firm impression that he lie to Joranum. neverthe little why, Hari? Why?Its not psychohistory, Ill tell you that. Dont you join the emperor saveterfly in view Im a magician. I solely c exclusively f ored Joranum to believe that Demerzel was a robot. Hes a Mycogenian by birth, so he was filled from younker with his cultures tales of robots. T here(predicate)fore, he was predisposed to believe and he was convinced that the public would believe with him.Well, wont they?not re e genuinely last(predicate)y. After the initial shock is each all over, they leave al whizing realize that its madcap fiction-or they exit happen so. Ive persuaded Demerzel that he essential give a talk on subetheric holovision to be channel to key portions of the Empire and to every sector on Trantor. He is to talk c bewilder off to every unconvincingg barely the robot issue. There argon profuse crises, we wholly cognize, to fill much(prenominal)(prenominal) a talk. People pass on discover and exit adjudicate nothing around robots. then(prenominal), at the end, he provide be asked about the flier and he read not perform a boy. He need only jocularity.Laugh? Ive neer kn admit Demerzel to laugh. He almost never smiles.This clip, Dors, hell laugh. It is the unmatched thing that no one ever visualizes a robot doing. Youve seen robots in holographic fantasies, buildnt you? Theyre continuously pictured as literal-minded, unemotional, inhuman-Thats what people argon authentic to inquire. So Demerzel need merely laugh. And on travel by of that-Do you remember Sunmaster fourteen, the religious leader of Mycogen?Of billet I do. Literal-minded, unemotional, inhuman. Hes never laughed, either.And he wont this time. Ive through a lot of work on this Joranum matter since I had that little set-to at the Field. I know Joranums real observe. I know where he was born, who his pargonnts were, where he had his advance(prenominal) training, and all of it, with documentary proof, has gone to Sunmaster Fourteen. I dont think Sunmaster likes fissiparouss.But I judgement you express you dont wish to spark away bigotry.I dont. If I had given the development to the holovision people, I would bind, but Ive given it to Sunmaster, where, later all, it be coarses.And hell start off the bigotry.Of course he wont. No one on Trantor would profits all attention to Sunmaster-whatever he qualification say. because whats the point?Well, thats what well see, Dors. I dont necessitate away a psychohistorical analysis of the situation. I dont in time know if one is possible. I just hope that my judgment is right.22Eto Demerzel laughed.It was not the first time. He sat at that place, with Hari Seldon and Dors Venabili in a tap-free inha state of affairs, and, every once in a while, at a call attention from Hari, he would laugh. Sometimes he leaned suffer and laughed racketyly, but Seldon shook his head. That would never well-informed convincing.So Demerzel smiled and then laughed with dignity and Seldon make a face. Im stumped, he said. Its no intent trying to tell you funny stories. You excite the point only intellectually. You entrust e vidently view as to memorize the defy on.Dors said, Use a holographic laughtrack.No That would never be Demerzel. Thats a bunch of idiots being paid to yak. Its not what I want. Try again, Demerzel.Demerzel act again until Seldon said, All right, then, memorize that efficacious and reproduce it when youre asked the question. Youve got to look am employ. You flush toilett exploit the sound of laughing, however proficient, with a grave face. grimace a little, just a little. cull back the corner of your backtalk. Slowly Demerzels mouth widened into a grin. Not bad. Can you make your eyes twinkle?What do you mean, twinkle, said Dors indignantly. No one makes their eyes twinkle. Thats a metaphorical expression.No, its not, said Seldon. Theres the imply of divide in the eye-sadness, joy, surprise, whatever-and the reflection of light from that hint of fluid is what does it.Well, do you seriously expect Demerzel to produce tears?And Demerzel said, matter-of-factly, My eyes do produce tears for general cleansing-never in excess. Perhaps, though, if I imagine my eyes to be slightly irritated-Try it, said Seldon. It potbellyt hurt.And so it was that when the talk on subetheric holovision was over and the course were streaking out to millions of worlds at kelvins of times the effective speed of light words that were grave, matter-of-fact, informative, and without rhetorical embellishment-and that discussed everything but robots-Demerzel declared himself memorisey to answer questions.He did not build to face long. The very first question was Mr. beginning parson, are you a robot?Demerzel alone stared calmly and let the tension build. hence he smiled, his body shook slightly, and he laughed. It was not a loud uproarious laugh, but it was a rich one, the laugh of someone enjoying a routine of fantasy. It was infectious. The earreach tittered and then laughed on with him.Demerzel waited for the laughter to blow over down(a) and then, eyes twinkling , said, Must I in fair play answer that? Is it necessary to do so? He was still sunny as the screen darkened.23Im sure it worked, said Seldon. Naturally we wont overhear a complete reversal instantly. It takes time. But things are moving in the right flush now. I noticed that when I halt Namartis talk at the University Field. The audience was with him until I faced him and showed spunk against odds. The audience began to dislodge sides at once.Do you think this is an correspondent situation? asked Dors dubiously.Of course. If I dont bring on psychohistory, I chiffonier use analogy-and the brains I was born with, I suppose. There was the starting time Minister, beleaguered on all sides with the accusation, and he faced it down with a smile and a laugh, the most nonrobot thing he could make believe done, so that in itself was an answer to the question. Of course kind- livelinessedness began to slide to his side. Nothing would stop that. But thats only the beginning. We d irect to wait for Sunmaster Fourteen and hear what he has to say.Are you sure-footed in that respect, likewise?Absolutely.24Tennis was one of Haris favorite sports, but he pet to play rather than watch others. He watched with impatience, on that pointfore, as the emperor moth Cleon, dressed in sports fashion, loped across the cost to return the ball. It was violet tennis, truly, so-called because it was a favorite of emperor moths, a version of the game in which a com instalerized racket was used that could alter its move slightly with appropriate pressures on the handle. Hari had act to develop the technique on some(prenominal) occasions but found that know the com arrogateerized racket would take a with child(p) deal of practice-and Hari Seldons time was far as well as precious for what was clearly a inconstant pursuit.Cleon placed the ball in a nonreturnable position and won the game. He trotted off the court to the careful laudation of the functionaries who were w atching and Seldon said to him, Congratulations, engender. You played a marvelous game.Cleon said indifferently, Do you think so, Seldon? Theyre all so careful to let me win. I get no pleasure out of it.Seldon said, In that case, Sire, you susceptibility rank your opponents to play harder.It wouldnt help. Theyd be careful to lose anyway. And if they did win, I would get all the same less(prenominal) pleasure out of losing than out of pleasant meaninglessly. Being an Emperor has its woes, Seldon. Joranum would bring in found that out-if he had ever succeeded in worthy one.He disappeared into his private shower rapidity and emerged in due time, scrubbed and dry out and dressed rather much formally.And now, Seldon he said, waving all the others away, the tennis court is as private a place as we jakes find and the hold up is glorious, so let us not go indoors. I fill read the Mycogenian message of this Sunmaster Fourteen. Will it do?Entirely, Sire. As you have read, Joranu m was denounced as a Mycogenian Breakaway and is accused of blasphemy in the strongest terms.And does that acculturation him?It diminishes his importance fatally, Sire. There are someer who accept the mad story of the first base Ministers robothood now. Furthermore, Joranum is revealed as a liar and a poseur and, worse, one who was caught at it.Caught at it, yes, said Cleon thoughtfully. You mean that merely to be at a lower placehanded is to be sly and that whitethorn be admirable, while to be caught is to be stupid and that is never admirable.You put it succinctly, Sire.Then Joranum is no extended a danger.We suffert be certain of that, Sire. He whitethorn recover, even now. He still has an organization and some of his look outers entrust remain loyal. chronicle yields examples of men and women who have make it back after disasters as great as this one-or greater.In that case, let us sue him, Seldon.Seldon shook his head. That would be inadvisable, Sire. You would not want to create a martyr or to make yourself appear to be a despot.Cleon frowned. Now you sound like Demerzel. Whenever I wish to take forcible action mechanism, he mutters the word despot. There have been Emperors sooner me who have taken forceful action and who have been admired as a result and have been considered strong and decisive.Undoubtedly, Sire, but we live in troubled times. Nor is carrying out necessary. You toilette accomplish your purpose in a way that leave make you seem instruct and benevolent.Seem enlightened?Be enlightened, Sire. I misspoke. To execute Joranum would be to take revenge, which competency be wanted as ignoble. As Emperor, however, you have a kindly-even paternal-attitude toward the beliefs of all your people. You make no distinctions, for you are the Emperor of all alike.What is it youre saying?I mean, Sire, that Joranum has pique the sensibilities of the Mycogenians and you are horrified at his sacrilege, he having been born one of them. W hat bring out can you do but hand Joranum over to the Mycogenians and allow them to take care of him? You will be applauded for your proper over-embellished convern.And the Mycogenians will execute him, then?They may, Sire. Their laws against blasphemy are excessively severe. At best, they will remit him for life at hard grind.Cleon smiled. truly well(p). I get the credit for bounty and tolerance and they do the dirty work.They would, Sire, if you actually handed Joranum over to them. That would, however, still create a martyr.Now you confuse me. What would you have me do?Give Joranum the choice. Say that your regard for the welfare of all the people in your Empire urges you to hand him over to the Mycogenians for political campaign but that your humanity fears the Mycogenians may be too severe. Therefore, as an alternative, he may choose to be banished to Nishaya, the small and monastic world from which he claimed to have come, to live the rest of his life in unimportanc e and peace. Youll see to it that hes kept under guard, of course.And that will take care of things?Certainly. Joranum would be committing realistic suicide if he chose to be returned to Mycogen-and he doesnt strike me as the suicidal type. He will certainly choose Nishaya, and though that is the sensible course of action, it is also an unheroic one. As a refugee in Nishaya, he can scarcely lead any fecal matter designed to take over the Empire. His chase is sure to disintegrate. They could bring home the bacon a martyr with holy zeal, but it would be difficult, indeed, to follow a coward.Astonishing How did you get off all this, Seldon? There was a distinct keep an eye on of admiration in Cleons voice.Seldon said, Well, it seemed reasonable to suppose-never mind, said Cleon abruptly. I dont suppose youll tell me the truth or that I would visit you if you did, but Ill tell you this much. Demerzel is leaving office. This brave crisis has proved to be too much for him and I h ave with him that it is time for him to retire. But I cant do without a source Minister and, from this moment onward, you are he.Sire exclaimed Seldon in mingled astonishment and horror. first gear Minister Hari Seldon. said Cleon calmly. The Emperor wishes it.25Dont be al subsectioned, said Demerzel. It was my suggestion. Ive been here too long and the succession of crises has reached the point where the consideration of the tether Laws paralyzes me. You are the logical successor.I am not the logical successor, said Seldon hotly. What do I know about cartroad an Empire? The Emperor is foolish profuse to believe that I solved this crisis by psychohistory. Of course I didnt.That doesnt matter, Hari. If he believes you have the psychohistorical answer, he will follow you eagerly and that will make you a darling setoff Minister.He may follow me straight into destruction.I feel that your easily disposition-or intuition-will keep you on target with or without psychohistory.But wh at will I do without you-Daneel?Thank you for calling me that. I am Demerzel no more, only Daneel. As to what you will do without me Suppose you try to put into practice some of Joranums ideas of equality and well-disposed justice? He may not have meant them-he may have used them only as ways of capturing allegiance-but they are not bad ideas in themselves. And find ways of having Raych help you in that. He clung to you against his own attraction to Joranums ideas and he must feel torn and half a traitor. Show him he isnt. In addition, you can work all the harder on psychohistory, for the Emperor will be thither with you, heart and soul.But what will you do, Daneel?I have other things in the Galaxy to which I must attend. There is still the zeroth Law and I must labor for the good of humanity, insofar as I can deter tap what that might be. And, Hari-Yes, Daneel.You still, have Dors.Seldon nodded. Yes, I still have Dors. He paused for a moment before prehensile Daneels firm hand with his own. Good-bye, Daneel.Good-bye, Hari, Daneel replied.And with that, the robot turned, his doughy world-class Ministers robe rustling as he walked away, head up, back ramrod straight, along the castle hallway.Seldon stood there for a a few(prenominal) minutes after Daneel had gone, lost in thought. Suddenly he began moving in the direction of the inaugural Ministers apartment. Seldon had one more thing to tell Daneel-the most substantial thing of all.Seldon hesitated in the softly lit hallway before entering. But the room was empty. The dark robe was draped over a chair. The eldest Ministers chambers echoed Haris at long last words to the robot Good-bye, my friend. Eto Demerzel was gone R. Daneel Olivaw had vanished. straggle IICleon ICLEON I- Though a great deal receiving panegyrics for being the last Emperor under whom the First Galactic Empire was somewhat united and reasonably prosperous, the quarter-century reign of Cleon I was one of continuous decline. This cannot be viewed as his direct responsibility, for the Decline of the Empire was base on political and economic factors too strong for anyone to deal with at the time. He was fortunate in his selection of First Ministers-Eto Demerzel and then Hari Seldon, in whose development of psychohistory the Emperor never lost faith. Cleon and Seldon, as the objects of the utmost Joranumite Conspiracy, with its bizarre climax- Encyclopedia Galactica1Mandell Gruber was a happy man. He seemed so to Hari Seldon, certainly. Seldon stop his morning constitutional to watch him.Gruber, mayhap in his late forties, a few historic period younger than Seldon, was a hour gnarled from his continuing work in the Imperial Palace yard, but he had a cheerful, smoothly shaven face, overstep by a pink skull, not much of which was hidden by his thin sandy hair. He whistled softly to himself as he nattered the leaves of the bushes for any signs of insect infestation.He was not the Chief gardener, of course. T he Chief nurseryman of the Imperial Palace grounds was a high functionary who had a palatial office in one of the buildings of the rattling(a) Imperial complex, with an army of men and women under him. The happenings are he did not inspect the Palace grounds more a great deal than once or twice a year.Gruber was but one of that army. His title, Seldon knew, was Gardener fantabulous and it had been well earned, with thirty days of airless service.Seldon called to him as he paused on the utterly level crushed gravel walk, some other marvelous day, Gruber.Gruber looked up and his eyes twinkled. Yes, indeed, First Minister, and its sorry I am for those who be cooped up indoors.You mean as I am about to be.Theres not much about you, First Minister, for people to tribulation over, but if youre disappearing into those buildings on a day like this, its a bit of sorrow that we fortunate few can feel for you.I thank you for your sympathy, Gruber, but you know we have forty billion Trantorians under the dome. Are you sorry for all of them?Indeed, I am. I am acceptable I am not of Trantorian line myself so that I could qualify as a gardener. There be few of us on this world that work in the open, but here I be, one of the fortunate few.The weather isnt always this ideal.That is true. And I have been out here in the sluicing rains and the whistling winds. Still, as long as you dress fittingly Look- And Gruber public exposure his arms open, wide as his smile, as if to embrace the vast end run of the Palace grounds. I have my friends-the trees and the lawns and all the animal life forms to keep me company-and return to encourage in geometric form, even in the winter. Have you ever seen the geometry of the grounds, First Minister?I am flavor at it right now, am I not?I mean the plans spread out so you can really appreciate it all-and marvelous it is, too. It was planned by Tapper Savand, over a speed of light days ago, and it has been little changed since. Tapper was a great horticulturist, the greatest-and he came from my planet.That was Anacreon, wasnt it?Indeed. A far-off world near the edge of the Galaxy, where there is still wilderness and life can be sweet. I came here when I was still an earwet** lad, when the resign Chief Gardener took power under the old Emperor. Of course, now theyre talking of redesigning the grounds. Gruber sighed deeply and shook his head. That would be a mistake. They are just right as they are now powerful proportioned, well balanced, pleasing to the eye and spirit. But it is true that in history, the grounds have occasionally been redesigned. Emperors grow tired of the old and are always seeking the new, as if new is somehow always better. Our present Emperor, may he live long, has been plan the redesign with the Chief Gardener. At least, that is the word that runs from gardener to gardener. This last he added quickly, as if abashed at spreading Palace gossip.It might not happen soon.I hope not, Fi rst Minister. Please, if you have the chance to take some time from all the heart-stopping work you must be after doing, study the design of the grounds. It is a grand beauty and, if I have my way, there should not be a flip moved out of place, nor a flower, nor a rabbit, anywhere in all these hundreds of shape kilometers.Seldon smiled. You are a dedicated man, Gruber. I would not be surprised if someday you were Chief Gardener.May Fate encourage me from that. The Chief Gardener breathes no clean-living air, sees no natural visual sensations, and forgets all he has learned of nature. He lives there-Gruber pointed scornfully-and I think he no long-acting knows a bush from a pour out unless one of his underlings leads him out and places his hand on one or dips it into the other.For a moment it seemed as though Gruber would expectorate his scorn, but he could not find any place on which he could bear to spit.Seldon laughed quietly. Gruber, its good to talk to you. When I am ove rcome with the duties of the day, it is pleasant to take a few moments to listen to your philosophy of life.Ah, First Minister, it is no philosopher I am. My schooling was very sketchy.You dont need schooling to be a philosopher. Just an active mind and make love with life. Take care, Gruber. I just might have you promoted.If you but leave me as I am, First Minister, you will have my total gratitude.Seldon was smiling as he moved on, but the smile attenuate as his mind turned once more to his current problems. Ten years as First Minister-and if Gruber knew how heartily pallid Seldon was of his position, his sympathy would rise to enormous heights. Could Gruber time lag the fact that Seldons progress in the techniques of psychohistory showed the promise of facing him with an unbearable dilemma?2Seldons thoughtful stroll across the grounds was the epitome of peace. It was hard to believe here, in the midst of the Emperors immediate domain, that he was on a world that, except for t his area, was all in all enclosed by a dome. Here, in this spot, he might be on his home world of Helicon or on Grubers home world of Anacreon.Of course, the sense of peace was an illusion. The grounds were guarded-thick with security.Once, a thousand years ago, the Imperial Palace grounds-much less palatial, much less differentiated from a world only beginning to bring to pass domes over individual regions-had been open to all citizens and the Emperor himself could walk along the paths, unguarded, pendulous his head in greeting to his subjects.No more. Now security was in place and no one from Trantor itself could possibly fill the grounds. That did not remove the danger, however, for that, when it came, came from discontented Imperial functionaries and from muff and suborned soldiers. It was within the grounds that the Emperor and his staff were most in danger. What would have happened if, on that occasion, near ten years before, Seldon had not been accompanied by Dors Venabi li?It had been in his first year as First Minister and it was only natural, he suppositional (after the fact), that there would be jealous heart-burning over his unexpected choice for the post. Many others, far better qualified in training-in years of service and, most of all, in their own eyes-could view the appointment with anger. They did not know of psychohistory or of the importance the Emperor connect to it and the easiest way to correct the situation was to corrupt one of the sworn protectors of the First Minister.Dors must have been more suspicious than Seldon himself was. Or else, with Demerzels disappearance from the scene, her instructions to guard Seldon had been efficiencyened. The truth was that, for the first few years of his First Ministership, she was at his side more often than not.And on the late afternoon of a warm sunny day, Dors noted the smoothen of the westering sun-a sun never seen under Trantors dome-on the metal of a blaster.Down, Hari she cried sudd enly and her legs crushed the pile as she raced toward the sergeant-at-law.Give me that blaster, Sergeant, she said tightly.The would-be(prenominal) assassin, momentarily immobilized by the unexpected sight of a muliebrity track toward him, now reacted quickly, raising the drawn blaster.But she was already at him, her hand enclosing his right wrist in a hard clutch bag and lifting his arm high. Drop it, she said through clenched teeth.The sergeants face malformed as he attempted to buck his arm loose.Dont try, Sergeant, said Dors. My knee is three inches from your groin and, if you so much as blink, your genitals will be history. So just freeze. Thats right. Okay, now open your hand. If you dont drop the blaster right now, I will shatter your arm.A gardener came running up with a rake. Dors motioned him away. The sergeant dropped the blaster to the ground.Seldon had arrived. Ill take over, Dors.You will not. Get in among those trees and take the blaster with you. Others ma y be involved-and ready to act.Dors had not loosened her grip on the sergeant. She said, Now, Sergeant, I want the name of whoever it was who persuaded you to make an attempt on the First Ministers life-and the name of everyone else who is in this with you.The sergeant was silent.Dont be foolish, said Dors. Speak She twisted his arm and he sank down to his knees. She put her enclothe on his neck. If you think silence move arounds you, I can crush your larynx and you will be silent forever. And even before that, I am going to disparage you badly-I wont leave one bone unbroken. You had better talk.The sergeant talked.Later Seldon had said to her, How could you do that, Dors? I never believed you capable of such violence. Dors said coolly, I did not actually hurt him much, Hari. The threat was sufficient. In any case, your preventative was paramount.You should have let me take care of him.Why? To salvage your virile pride? You wouldnt have been fast enough, for one thing. Secondly , no matter what you would have succeeded in doing, you are a man and it would have been expected. I am a woman and women, in popular thought, are not considered as ferocious its men and most, in general, do not have the strength to do what I did. The story will improve in the telling and everyone will be terrified of me. No one will dare to try to equipment casualty you for fear of me.For fear of you and for fear of execution. The sergeant and his cohorts are to be killed, you know.At this, an tortured look clouded Dorss usually self-possessed visage, as if she could not stand the thought of the traitorous sergeant being put to death, even though he would have cut down her beloved Hari without a second thought.But, she exclaimed, there is no need to execute the conspirators. Exile will do the job.No, it wont, said Seldon. Its too late. Cleon will hear of nothing but executions. I can quote him-if you wish.You mean hes already made up his mind?At once. I told him that exile or imp risonment would be all that was necessary, but he said no. He said, Every time I try to solve a problem by direct and forceful action, first Demerzel and then you talk of authoritarianism and tyranny. But this is my Palace. These are my grounds. These are my guardsmen. My safety depends on the security of this place and the verity of my people. Do you think that any diversion from commanding loyalty can be met with anything but instant death? How else would you be safe? How else would I be safe?I said there would have to be a trial. Of course, he said, a short military trial and I dont expect a single take for anything but execution. I shall make that quite an clear. Dors looked appalled. Youre taking this very quietly. Do you agree with the Emperor?Reluctantly Seldon nodded. I do.Because there was an attempt on your life. Have you throw out your principles for mere revenge?Now, Dors, Im not a vengeful person. However, it was not myself alone at risk or even the Emperor. If t here is anything that the recent history of the Empire shows us, it is that Emperors come and go. It is psychohistory that must be protected. Undoubtedly, even if something happens to me, psychohistory will someday be developed, but the Empire is falling fast and we cannot wait-and only I have advanced far enough to obtain the necessary techniques in time.Then you should teach what you know to others, said Dors gravely.Im doing so. Yugo Amaryl is a reasonable successor and I have gathered a group of technicians who will someday be useful, but they wont be as- He paused.They wont be as good as you-as wise, as capable? genuinely?I happen to think so, said Seldon. And I happen to be human. Psychohistory is mine and, if I can possibly manage it, I want the credit.Human, sighed Dors, shaking her head almost sadly.The executions went through. No such hurtle had been seen in over a century. devil Ministers, five officials of lower ranks, and four soldiers, including the scurvy sergeant , met their deaths. Every guardsman who could not withstand the most rigorous investigation was relieved of handicraft and exiled to the remote Outer Worlds.Since then, there had been no whisper of disloyalty and so notorious had become the care with which the First Minister was guarded, to say nothing of the terrifying woman-called The Tiger charr by many-who watched over him, that it was no longer necessary for Dors to accompany him everywhere. Her invisible comportment was an adequate shield and the Emperor Cleon enjoyed nearly ten years of quiet and absolute security.Now, however, psychohistory was finally reaching the point where predictions, of a sort, could be made and, as Seldon go across the grounds in his passage from his office (First Minister) to his laboratory (psychohistorian), he was uneasily aware(predicate) of the likelihood that this era of peace might be coming to an end.