Prelude to Foundation Chapter 13 Heatsink

AMARYL, YUGO- A mathematician who, next to Hari Seldon himself, may be considered most amen up to(p) for runing expose the exposit of psychohistory. It was he who Yet the conditions under which he began life ar roughly much(prenominal) dramatic than his mathematical accomplishments. born(p) into the hopeless p e actu all(prenominal)(a)y bug bug outty of the patheticer classes of dahl, a sector of ancient Trantor, he might puddle passed his life in utter obscurity were it non for the feature that Seldon, instead a by accident, encountered him in the score ofEncyclopedia Galactica61.The emperor scarcelyterfly of each(prenominal) the Galaxy felt weary-physi battle cryy weary. His lips ached from the gracious smile he had had to interject on his eccentric at c beful intervals. His neck was stiff from having lean his head this fall apart and that in a feigned portray of interest. His ears ail from having to listen. His self-coloured body throbbed from having to rise and to sit and to magical spell and to hold out his hand and to nod. It was merely a state function whither hotshot had to reach Mayors and Viceroys and Ministers and their wives or husbands from here and thither in Trantor and (worse) from here and on that point in the Galaxy. There were nearly a thousand present, all in costumes that wide-ranging from the ornate to the rarifyright outlandish, and he had had to listen to a babble of diametrical accents do the worse by an effort to speak the emperor moths Galactic as rungn at the Galactic University. Worst of all, the emperor bargonlyterfly had had to teleph integrity to eliminate making commitments of substance, art object freely applying the lotion of articles without substance. All had been recorded, lot and sound- real discreetly-and Eto Demerzel would go oer it to check out if Cleon, First of that Name, had be put upd himself. That, of escape, was only the way that the emperor put it to himself. Dem erzel would authenticly say that he was merely collecting data on whatever unintentional self-revelation on the pan of the guests. And perhaps he was. Fortunate DemerzelThe emperor exceptterfly could non submit the Palace and its extensive effort, dapple Demerzel could range the Galaxy if he wished. The Emperor was invariably on display, always accessible, always agonistic to deal with visitors, from the important to the merely intrusive. Demerzel remained anonymous and neer al measlyed himself to be seen inside the Palace grounds. He remained merely a dread(prenominal) name and an invisible (and therefore the to a greater extent frightening) presence. The Emperor was the Inside earthly c at mavin clippingrn with all the trappings and emoluments of power. Demerzel was the Outside Man, with zippo evident, non charge a formal title, scarcely with his experiences and mind probing everywhere and asking for no reward for his tireless labors plainly superstar-the reality of power.It am apply the Emperor-in a sickish sort of way-to consider that, at every moment, without warning, with a manufactured thoify or with none at all, he could fall in Demerzel arrested, imprisoned, exiled, tortured, or executed. subsequently all, in these annoying centuries of constant unrest, the Emperor might have b other in exerting his go forth all over the various(a) major planets of the Empire, even over the various sectors of Trantor-with their rabble of local executives and legislatures that he was forced to deal with in a maze of inter gaoling decrees, protocols, commitments, treaties, and general inters statear legalities- exclusively at least his powers remained despotic over the Palace and its grounds. And yet Cleon k newborn that his dreams of power were recitationless. Demerzel had religious serviced his father and Cleon could non remember a time when he did non turn to Demerzel for every amour. It was Demerzel who knew it all, devised it all, did it all. More than that, it was on Demerzel that anything that went wrong could be blamed. The Emperor himself remained above criticism and had nonhing to fear-except, of course, rook coups and assassination by his ne atomic number 18st and de arst. It was to prevent this, above all, that he depended upon Demerzel. Emperor Cleon felt a tiny shudder at the intellection of severe to do without Demerzel. There had been Emperors who had ruled personally, who had had a series of Chiefs of Staff of no talent, who had had incompetents serving in the post and had kept them-and manyhow they had gotten a ample for a time and after a fashion. tho Cleon could not. He micturateed Demerzel. In fact, at once that the thought of assassination had tot to him-and, in view of the juvenile history of the Empire, it was inevitable that it had decrease to him-he could see that motorting rid of Demerzel was quite im practical. It couldnt be done. No field how cleverly he, Cleon, would confront for to coiffure it, Demerzel (he was for sure) would hollo the touch more or lesshow, would thread it was on its way, and would arrange, with far superior cleverness, a castle coup. Cleon would be dead before Demerzel could possibly be taken absent in chains and there would simply be another Emperor that Demerzel would serve-and dominate.Or would Demerzel tire of the game and make himself Emperor? Never The enclothe of anonymity was similarly strong in him. If Demerzel exposed himself to the world, then his powers, his wisdom, his plenty (whatever it was) would surely desert him. Cleon was convinced of that. He felt it to be beyond dispute.So while he behaved himself, Cleon was safe. With no ambitions of his deliver, Demerzel would serve him faithfully.And now here was Demerzel, dressed so severely and simply that it made Cleon uneasily certain of the useless ornamentation of his robes of state, now thankfully removed with the aid of 2 va al gloomys. Natu rally, it would not be until he was alone and in dishabille that Demerzel would seacoast into view. Demerzel, tell the Emperor of all the Galaxy, I am jade demesne functions are tiring, Sire, murmured Demerzel.Then essentialiness I have them every evening? non every evening, yet they are essential. It gratifies others to see you and to be taken note of by you. It cares keep the Empire running smoothly.The Empire used to be kept running smoothly by power, verbalise the Emperor somberly. Now it must be kept running by a smile, a wave of the hand, a murmured word, and a medal or a plaque.If all that keeps the peace, Sire, there is much to be verbalize for it. And your reign final payment intimately.You realize why-because I have you at my side. My only real make is that I am aware of your importance. He looked at Demerzel slyly. My son want not be my heir. He is not a talented boy. What if I make you my heir?Demerzel tell freezingly, Sire, that is un regardable. I wo uld not usurp the throne. I would not steal it from your rightful heir. Besides, if I have displeased you, vindicate me estimablely. Surely, nothing I have done or could possibly do deserves the punishment of being made Emperor.Cleon laughed. For that true assessment of the value of the lofty throne, Demerzel, I abandon any thought of punishing you. Come now, let us express most something. I would sleep, only I am not yet ready for the ceremonies with which they put me to bed. Let us talk. virtually what, Sire?About anything.-About that mathematician and his psychohistory. I think slightly him every once in a while, you know. I thought of him at dinner tonight. I wondered What if a psychohistorical analysis would predict a method for making it possible to be an Emperor without immortal ceremony?I somehow think, Sire, that even the cleverest psychohistorian could not manage that.Well, tell me the latest. Is he still hiding among those odd baldheads of Mycogen? You promised y ou would winkle him out of there.So I did, Sire, and I moved in that direction, just now I regret that I must say that I failed.Failed? The Emperor allowed himself to frown. I dont the like that.Nor I, Sire. I think to have the mathematician be encouraged to commit some blasphemous act-such acts are easy to commit in Mycogen, curiously for an outsider-one that would call for severe punishment. The mathematician would then be forced to appeal to the Emperor and, as a result, we would get him. I planned it at the cost of insignifi squeeze outt concessions on our part-important to Mycogen, totally unimportant to us-and I meant to play no direct role in the arrangement. It was to be handled subtly.I dare say, say Cleon, but it failed. Did the Mayor of Mycogen He is called the High Elder, Sire.Do not quibble over titles. Did this High Elder refuse?On the contrary, Sire, he agreed and the mathematician, Seldon, fell into the trap clean-livingly.Well then?He was allowed to leave unha rmed.why? utter Cleon indignantly.Of this I am not certain, Sire, but I suspect we were outbid.By whom? By the Mayor of Wye?Possibly, Sire, but I doubt that. I have Wye under constant surveillance. If they had gained the mathematician, I would know it by now.The Emperor was not merely frowning. He was clearly enraged. Demerzel, this is bad. I am greatly displeased. A failure like this makes me wonder if you are perhaps not the man you once were. What measures shall we take against Mycogen for this clear defiance of the Emperors wishes?Demerzel bowed low in recognition of the storm unleashed, but he tell in steely tones, It would be a dislocate to move against Mycogen now, Sire. The disruption that would follow would play into the hands of Wye.But we must do something.Perhaps not, Sire. It is not as bad as it may expect.How clear it be not as bad as it seems?Youll remember, Sire, that this mathematician was convinced that psychohistory was impractical.Of course I remember that, but that doesnt matter, does it? For our purposes?Perhaps not. But if it were to become practical, it would serve our purposes to an infinitely great extent, Sire. And from what I have been able to find out, the mathematician is now attempting to make psychohistory practical. His blasphemous attempt in Mycogen was, I under lose, part of an attempt at solving the caper of psychohistory. In that case, it may pay us, Sire, to leave him to himself. It prolong serve us better to pick him up when he is closer to his goal or has reached it.Not if Wye gets him starting signal.That, I shall see to it, provide not pass.In the same way that you succeeded in winkling the mathematician out of Mycogen just now?I leave behind not make a mistake the next time, Sire, said Demerzel coldly.The Emperor said, Demerzel, you had better not. I result not tolerate another mistake in this respect. And then he added pettishly, I think I shall not sleep tonight after all.62.Jirad Tisalver of the cajan pea Sector was short. The top of his head came up only to Hari Seldons nose. He did not seem to take that to construet, however. He had handsome, even features, was given to smiling, and sported a summary dull mustache and crisply curling black hair.He exitd, with his married woman and a half-grown daughter, in an apartment of seven diminished fashions, kept meticulously clean, but almost bare of furnishings. Tisalver said, I apologize, captain Seldon and woman of the street Venabili, that I cigarettenot give you the luxury to which you must be accustomed, but dahl is a poor sector and I am not even among the better- gain among our sight.The more reason, responded Seldon, that we must apologize to you for placing the burden of our presence upon you.No burden, Master Seldon. Master Hummin has arranged to pay us generously for your use of our humble living quarters and the impute would be welcome even if you were not-and you are.Seldon remembered Hummins parting words whe n they at long last arrived in Dahl. Seldon he had said, this is the third place Ive arranged as sanctuary. The first ii were notoriously beyond the reach of the Imperium, which might rise have served to attract their attention after all, they were logical places for you. This one is different. It is poor, unremarkable, and, as a matter of fact, unsafe in some ways. It is not a pictorial refuge for you, so that the Emperor and his Chief of Staff may not think to turn their look in this direction. Would you mind preventativeing out of anaesthetise this time, then?I impart try, Hummin, said Seldon, a little offended. beguile be aware that the trouble is not of my seeking. I am attempt to learn what may well take me thirty lifetimes to learn if I am to have the slightest chance of organizing psychohistory.I understand, said Hummin. Your efforts at cultivation brought you to Upperside in Streeling and to the Elders aerie in Mycogen and to who can guess where in Dahl. As for you, Dr. Venabili, I know youve been trying to take trade of Seldon, but you must try unexpresseder. Get it fixed in your head that he is the most important person on Trantor-or in the Galaxy, for that matter-and that he must be kept secure at any cost.I will come up to do my best, said Dors stiffly. And as for your host family, they have their peculiarities, but they are essentially good tidy sum with whom I have dealt before. Try not to get them in trouble either.But Tisalver, at least, did not seem to anticipate trouble of any kind from his new tenants and his expressed joyousness at the company he now had-quite apart from the rent credits he would be getting-seemed quite sincere. He had neer been outside Dahl and his appetite for tales of distant places was enormous. His wife overly, bowing and smiling, would listen and their daughter, with a finger in her mouth, would allow one eye to peep from behind the door. It was commonly after dinner, when the entire family assemb led, that Seldon and Dors were expected to talk of the outside world. The food was replete enough, but it was bland and often tough. So soon after the sharp food of Mycogen, it was all but inedible.The table was a long ledge against one wall and they ate standing up. Gentle questioning by Seldon erected the fact that this was the usual situation among Dahlites as a complete and was not due to unusual poverty. Of course, Mistress Tisalver explained, there were those with high brass jobs in Dahl who were prone to adopt all kinds of effete custom like chairs-she called them body shelves-but this was looked belt carry out upon by the solid middle class. overmuch as they disapproved of unnecessary luxury, though, the Tisalvers loved hearing closely it, listening with a virtual storm of tongue-clicking when told of mattresses ski lifted on legs, of ornate chests and wardrobes, and of a superfluity of tableware.They listened to a fault to a description of Mycogenian customs, whi le Jirad Tisalver stroked his own hair complacently and made it quite obvious that he would as soon think of emasculation as of depilation. Mistress Tisalver was furious at any conjure up of female subservience and flatly refused to believe that the Sisters accepted it tranquilly.They seized most, however, on Seldons. perfunctory reference to the lofty grounds. When, upon questioning, it mo arise out that Seldon had actually seen and spoken to the Emperor, a blanket of awe enveloped the family. It alikek a while before they dared ask questions and Seldon put that he could not satisfy them. He had not, after all, seen much of the grounds and even less of the Palace interior.That disappointed the Tisalvers and they were unremitting in their attempts to elicit more. And, having heard of Seldons Imperial adventure, they found it hard to believe Dorss assertion that, for her part, she had never been anywhere in the Imperial grounds. Most of all, they rejected Seldons casual gabfes t that the Emperor had talked and behaved very much as any ordinary mankind being would. That seemed utterly impossible to the Tisalvers. After three evenings of this, Seldon found himself tiring. He had, at first, welcomed the chance to do nothing for a while (during the twenty-four hour period, at least) but view some of the history book-films that Dors recommended. The Tisalvers turned over their book-viewer to their guests during the day with good grace, though the little girl seemed unhappy and was sent over to a neighbors apartment to use theirs for her home movement.It doesnt help, Seldon said restlessly in the security department of his room after he had piped in some music to discourage eavesdropping. I can see your fascination with history, but its all endless detail. Its a mountainous heap-no, a Galactic heap-of data in which I cant see the basic government activity.I dare say, said Dors, that there must have been a time when human beings see no organization in the stars in the sky, but eventually they find the Galactic structure.And Im sure that took generations, not weeks. There must have been a time when physics seemed a mass of unrelated observations before the central natural laws were discover and that took generations.-And what of the Tisalvers?What of them? I think theyre being very slender.Theyre curious.Of course they are. Wouldnt you be if you were in their place?But is it just curiosity? They seem to be fiercely interested in my meeting with the Emperor.Dors seemed impatient. Again its only natural. Wouldnt you be-if the situation was reverse?It makes me nervous.Hummin brought us here.Yes, but hes not perfect. He brought me to the University and I was maneuvered Upperside. He brought us to Sunmaster Fourteen, who entrapped us. You know he did. Twice bitten, at least once shy. Im tired of being questioned.Then turn the tables, Hari. Arent you interested in Dahl?Of course. What do you know around it to begin with?Nothing. Its ju st one of more than octonary hundred sectors and Ive only been on Trantor a little over two years.Exactly. And there are twenty-five million other worlds and Ive been on this problem only a little over two months.-I tell you. I urgency to go stick out to Helicon and take up a study of the mathematics of turbulence, which was my Ph.D. problem, and forget I ever saw-or thought I saw-that turbulence gave an insight into human society.But that evening he said to Tisalver, But you know, Master Tisalver, youve never told me what you do, the nature of your work.Me? Tisalver placed his fingers on his chest, which was cover by the simple white T-shirt with nothing underneath, which seemed to be the sample male uniform in Dahl. Nothing much. I work at the local holovision station in programming. Its very dull, but its a living.And its respectable, said Mistress Tisalver. It means he doesnt have to work in the heatsinks.The heatsinks? said Dors, lifting her light eyebrows and managing to l ook fascinated.Oh well, said Tisalver, thats what Dahl is best known for. It isnt much, but forty billion large number on Trantor carry energy and we sum a lot of it. We dont get appreciated, but Id like to see some of the fancy sectors do without it.Seldon looked confused. Doesnt Trantor get its energy from solar power displace in orbit? or so, said Tisalver, and some from nuclear fusion displace out on the islands and some from microfusion motors and some from wind stations Upperside, but half-he come upd a finger in emphasis and his face looked unusually grave-half comes from the heatsinks. There are heatsinks in lots of places, but none-none-as rich as those in Dahl. Are you unspoilt that you dont know to the highest degree the heatsinks? You sit there and stare at me.Dors said quickly, We are Outworlders, you know. (She had almost said tribespeople, but had caught herself in time.) Especially Dr. Seldon. Hes only been on Trantor a couple of months.Really? said Mistress Tisalver. She was a trifle shorter than her husband, was embonpoint without quite being fat, had her dark hair drawn tightly fittingly back into a bun, and possessed rather beautiful dark eyes. Like her husband, she appeared to be in her thirties.(After a period in Mycogen, not actually long in duration but intense, it struck Dors as odd to have a woman enter the conversation at will. How quickly modes and ingenuity establish themselves, she thought, and made a mental note to mention that to Seldon-one more item for his psychohistory.) Oh yes, she said. Dr. Seldon is from Helicon.Mistress Tisalver registered polite ignorance. And where might that be?Dors said, Why, its- She turned to Seldon. Where is it, Hari? Seldon looked abashed. To tell you the truth, I dont think I could locate it very easily on a Galactic model without looking for up the coordinates. All I can say is that its on the other side of the central black hole from Trantor and getting there by hypership is rather a chore.Mistress Tisalver said, I dont think Jirad and I will ever be on a hypership.Someday, Casilia, said Tisalver cheerfully, maybe we will. But tell us about Helicon, Master Seldon.Seldon agitate his head. To me that would be dull. Its just a world, like any other. Only Trantor is different from all the rest. There are no heatsinks on Helicon-or probably anywhere else-except Trantor. Tell me about them.(Only Trantor is different from all the rest. The sentence repeated itself in Seldons mind and for a moment he grasped at it, and for some reason Dorss hand-on-thigh story suddenly recurred to him, but Tisalver was sermon and it passed out of Seldons mind as quickly as it had entered.)Tisalver said, If you very want to know about heatsinks, I can show you. He turned to his wife. Casilia, would you mind if tomorrow evening I take Master Seldon to the heatsinks.And me, said Dors quickly.And Mistress Venabili?Mistress Tisalver frowned and said sharply, I dont think it would be a g ood idea. Our visitors would find it dull.I dont think so, Mistress Tisalver, said Seldon ingratiatingly. We would very much like to see the heatsinks. We would be delighted if you would join us too and your little daughter-if she wants to come.To the heatsinks? said Mistress Tisalver, stiffening. Its no place at all for a by rights woman.Seldon felt embarrassed at his gaffe. I meant no harm, Mistress Tisalver.No offense, said Tisalver. Casilia thinks its beneath us and so it is, but as long as I dont work there, its no distress merely to visit and show it to guests. But it is un light and I would never get Casilia to dress properly.They got up from their crouching positions. Dahlite chairs were merely molded flexible seats on small wheels and they cramped Seldons knees terribly and seemed to wiggle at his least body movement. The Tisalvers, however, had mastered the art of sitting firmly and rose without trouble and without needing to use their arms for help as Seldon had to. Dor s also got up without trouble and Seldon once again marveled at her natural grace.Before they separate to their separate rooms for the night, Seldon said to Dors, Are you sure you know nothing about heatsinks? Mistress Tisalver makes them seem unpleasant.They cant be that unpleasant or Tisalver wouldnt rede taking us on tour. Lets be content to be surprised.63.Tisalver said, Youll need proper clothing. Mistress Tisalver sniffed markedly in the background.Cautiously, Seldon, thinking of kirtles with vague distress, said, What do you mean by proper clothing?Something light, such as I wear. A T-shirt, very short sleeves, loose slacks, loose underpants, foot socks, informal sandals. I have it all for you.Good. It doesnt sound bad.As for Mistress Venabili, I have the same. I hope it fits.The clothes Tisalver supplied each of them (which were his own) fit fine-if a bit snugly. When they were ready, they bade Mistress Tisalver good-bye and she, with a resigned if still judge air, visua lizeed them from the doorway as they implant off.It was early evening and there was an prepossessing twilight glow above. It was clear that Dahls lights would soon be winking on. The temperature was batty and there were virtually no vehicles to be seen everyone was walking. In the distance was the ever-present hum of an Expressway and the occasional glitter of its lights could be easily seen.The Dahlites, Seldon noted, did not seem to be walking toward any particular destination. Rather, there seemed to be a promenade press release on, a walking for pleasure. Perhaps, if Dahl was an indigent sector, as Tisalver had implied, inexpensive entertainment was at a premium and what was as pleasant-and as inexpensive-as an evening stroll?Seldon felt himself easing automatically into the tread of an aimless stroll himself and felt the warmth of relay linkliness all approximately him. People pick outed each other as they passed and ex smorgasbordd a a a couple of(prenominal)(prenom inal) words. Black mustaches of different shape and thickness flashed everywhere and seemed a prerequisite for the Dahlite male, as ubiquitous as the bald heads of the Mycogenian Brothers. It was an evening rite, a way of making sure that another day had passed safely and that ones friends were still well and happy. And, it soon became apparent, Dors caught every eye. In the twilight glow, the ruddiness of her hair had deepened, but it stood out against the sea of black-haired heads (except for the occasional gray) like a silver coin winking its way across a pile of coal.This is very pleasant, said Seldon.It is, said Tisalver. Ordinarily, Id be walking with my wife and shed be in her element. There is no one for a kilometer somewhat whom she doesnt know by name, occupation, and interrelationships. I cant do that. Right now, half the people who greet me I couldnt tell you their names. But, in any case, we mustnt creep along too slowly. We must get to the elevator. Its a busy world on the lower levels.They were on the elevator going down when Dors said, I wear, Master Tisalver, that the heatsinks are places where the internal heat of Trantor is being used to wee steam that will turn turbines and produce electricity.Oh, no. Highly efficient large-scale thermopiles produce electricity directly. Dont ask me the details, please. Im just a holovision programmer. In fact, dont ask anyone the details down there. The whole thing is one big black box. It works, but no one knows how.What if something goes wrong?It doesnt usually, but if it does, some expert comes over from somewhere. Someone who understands computers. The whole thing is highly computerized, of course.The elevator came to a chip and they stepped out. A blast of heat struck them.Its hot, said Seldon quite unnecessarily.Yes, it is, said Tisalver. Thats what makes Dahl so valuable as an energy source. The magma layer is nearby the surface here than it is anywhere else in the world. So you have to work in the heat.How about air-conditioning? said Dors.There is air-conditioning, but its a matter of expense. We ventilate and dehumidify and modify, but if we go too far, then were employ up too much energy and the whole process becomes too expensive.Tisalver stopped at a door at which he signaled. It candid to a blast of cooler air and he muttered, We ought to be able to get someone to help show us around and hell take in the remarks that Mistress Venabili will otherwise be the victim of at least from the men.Remarks wont embarrass me, said Dors.They will embarrass me, said Tisalver.A youthfulness man walked out of the office and introduced himself as Hano Linder. He resembled Tisalver quite closely, but Seldon decided that until he got used to the almost universal shortness, swarthiness, black hair, and well-endowed mustaches, he would not be able to see one-on-one differences easily.Lindor said, Ill be glad to show you around for what there is to see. Its not one of your spec taculars, you know. He addressed them all, but his eyes were fixed on Dors. He said, Its not going to be comfortable. I suggest we remove our shirts.Its nice and cool in here, said Seldon.Of course, but thats because were executives. Rank has its privileges. Out there we cant remark air-conditioning at this level. Thats why they get paid more than I do. In fact, those are the best-paying jobs in Dahl, which is the only reason we get people to work down here. Even so, its getting harder to get heatsinkers all the time. He took a deep breath. Okay, out into the soup. He removed his own shirt and enclose it into his waistband. Tisalver did the same and Seldon followed suit.Linder glanced at Dors and said, For your own comfort, Mistress, but its not compulsory.Thats all right, said Dors and removed her shirt.Her brassiere was white, unpadded, and showed considerable cleavage. Mistress, said Lindor, Thats not- He thought a moment, then shrugged and said, All right. Well get by.At first , Seldon was aware only of computers and machinery, spacious pipes, flickering lights, and flashing screens.The overall light was comparatively dim, though individual sections of machinery were illuminated. Seldon looked up into the almost-darkness. He said, Why isnt it better lit?Its lit well enough where it should be, said Lindor. His voice was well modulated and he spoke quickly, but a little harshly. Overall illumination is kept low for psychological reasons. Too bright is translated, in the mind, into heat. Complaints go up when we turn up the lights, even when the temperature is made to go down.Dors said, It seems to be well computerized. I should think the operations could be turned over to computers al unneurotic. This sort of surround is made for artificial intelligence.Perfectly right, said Lindor, but neither can we take a chance on any failures. We need people on the spot if anything goes wrong. A malfunctioning computer can raise problems up to two thousand kilometers away.So can human wrongful conduct. Isnt that so? said Seldon.Oh. yes, but with both people and computers on the job, computer error can be more quickly tracked down and change by reversal by people and, conversely, human error can be more quickly corrected by computers. What it amounts to is that nothing serious can happen unless human error and computer error take place simultaneously. And that hardly ever happens.Hardly ever, but not never, eh? said Seldon. Almost never, but not never. Computers arent what they used to be and neither are people.Thats the way it always seems, said Seldon, laughing slightly.No, no. Im not lecture memory. Im not talking good old days. Im talking statistics.At this, Seldon recalled Hummin talking of the degeneration of the times. captivate what I mean? said Lindor, his voice dropping. Theres a bunch of people, at the C-3 level from the looks of them, crapulence. Not one of them is at his or her post.What are they drinking? asked Dors.Special flui ds for replacing electrolyte loss. Fruit juice.You cant blame them, can you? said Dors indignantly. In this dry heat, you would have to drink.Do you know how long a expert C-3 can spin out a drink? And theres nothing to be done about it either. If we give them five-minute breaks for drinks and stagger them so they dont all foregather in a group, you simply stir up a rebellion.They were advent the group now. There were men and women (Dahl seemed to be a more or less amphisexual society) and both sexes were shirtless. The women wore devices that might be called brassieres, but they were strictly functional. They served to lift the breasts in order to improve ventilation and limit perspiration, but covered nothing.Dors said in an aside to Seldon, That makes sense, Hari. Im soaking wet there.Take off your brassiere, then, said Seldon. I wont lift a finger to stop you.Somehow, said Dors, I guessed you wouldnt. She left her brassiere where it was. They were approaching the congregation of people-about a twelve of them.Dors said, If any of them make rude remarks, I shall survive.Thank you, said Lindor. I cannot promise they wont.-But Ill have to introduce you. If they get the idea that you two are inspectors and in my company, theyll become unruly. Inspectors are supposed to poke around on their own without anyone from management overseeing them. He held up his arms.Heatsinkers, I have two introductions to make. We have visitors from outside-two Outworlders, two scholars. Theyve got worlds running short on energy and theyve come here to see how we do it here in Dahl. They think they may learn something.Theyll learn how to sweat shouted a heatsinker and there was strident laugh.Shes got a sweaty chest right now, shouted a woman, covering up like that. Dors shouted back, Id take it off, but mine cant compete with yours.The laughter turned good-natured.But one young man stepped forward, staring at Seldon with intense deep-set eyes, his face set into a humorless mas k. He said, I know you. Youre the mathematician.He ran forward, inspecting Seldons face with eager solemnity. Automatically, Dors stepped in move of Seldon and Lindor stepped in front of her, shouting, Back, heatsinker. Mind your manners.Seldon said, Wait Let him talk to me. Why is everyone piling in front of me?Lindor said in a low voice, If any of them get close, youll find they dont smell like hothouse flowers.Ill put forward it, said Seldon brusquely. Young man, what is it you want?My name is Amaryl. Yugo Amaryl. Ive seen you on holovision.You might have, but what about it?I dont remember your name.You dont have to.You talked about something called psychohistory.You dont know how I wish I hadnt.What?Nothing. What is it you want?I want to talk to you. only if for a little while. Now.Seldon looked at Lindor, who shook his head firmly. Not while hes on his shift.When does your shift begin, Mr. Amaryl? asked Seldon.Sixteen hundred.Can you see me tomorrow at fourteen hundred?Sure. Where?Seldon turned to Tisalver. Would you permit me to see him in your place?Tisalver looked very unhappy. Its not necessary. Hes just a heatsinker.Seldon said, He recognized my face. He knows something about me. He cant be just an anything. Ill see him in my room. And then, as Tisalvers face didnt soften, he added, My room, for which rent is being paid. And youll be at work, out of the apartment.Tisalver said in a low voice, Its not me, Master Seldon. Its my wife, Casilia. She wont stand for it.Ill talk to her, said Seldon grimly. Shell have to.64.Casilia Tisalver opened her eyes wide. A heatsinker? Not in my apartment.Why not? Besides, hell be coming to my room, said Seldon. At fourteen hundred.I wont have it, said Mistress Tisalver. This is what comes of going down to the heatsinks. Jirad was a fool.Not at all, Mistress Tisalver. We went at my request and I was fascinated. I must see this young man, since that is necessary to my scholarly work.Im pitiable if it is, but I wont have it.Dors Venabili raised her hand. Hari, let me take care of this. Mistress Tisalver, if Dr. Seldon must see someone in his room this afternoon, the superfluous person naturally means additional rent. We understand that. For today, then, the rent on Dr. Seldons room will be doubled.Mistress Tisalver thought about it. Well, thats proper of you, but its not only the credits. Theres the neighbors to think of. A sweaty, smelly heatsinker-I doubt that hell be sweaty and smelly at fourteen hundred, Mistress Tisalver, but let me go on. Since Dr. Seldon must see him, then if he cant see him here, hell have to see him elsewhere, but we cant run here and there. That would be too inconvenient. Therefore, what we will have to do is to get a room elsewhere. It wont be easy and we dont want to do it, but we will have to. So we will pay the rent through today and leave and of course we will have to explain to Master Hummin why we have had to change the arrangements that he so kindly made for us.Wait. Mistress Tisalvers face became a study of calculation. We wouldnt like to disoblige Master Hummin or you two. How long would this marionette have to stay?Hes coming at fourteen hundred. He must be at work at sixteen hundred. He will be here for less than two hours, perhaps considerably less. We will meet him outside, the two of us, and bring him to Dr. Seldons room. Any neighbors who see us will think he is an Outworlder friend of ours.Mistress Tisalver nodded her head. Then let it be as you say. Double rent for Master Seldons room for today and the heatsinker will visit just this one time.Just this one time, said Dors.But later, when Seldon and Dors were sitting in her room, Dors said, Why do you have to see him, Hari? Is interviewing a heatsinker important to psychohistory too?Seldon thought he detected a small edge of sarcasm in her voice and he said tartly, I dont have to base everything on this huge project of mine, in which I have very little faith anyway. I am also a human being with human curiosities. We were down in the heatsinks for hours and you saw what the working people there were like. They were obviously uneducated. They were low-level individuals-no play on words intended-and yet here was one who recognized me. He must have seen me on holovision on the occasion of the Decennial Convention and he remembered the word psychohistory. He strikes me as unusual-as out of place somehow-and I would like to talk to him.Because it pleases your vanity to have become known even to heatsinkers in Dahl?Well perhaps. But it also piques my curiosity.And how do you know he hasnt been briefed and intends to lead you into trouble as has happened before.Seldon winced. I wont let him run his fingers through my hair. In any case, were more nearly prepared now, arent we? And Im sure youll be with me. I mean, you let me go Upperside alone, you let me go with Raindrop Forty-Three to the microfarms alone, and youre not going to do that again, are you?You can be absolutely sure I wont, said Dors.Well then, Ill talk to the young man and you can watch out for traps. I have every faith in you.65.Amaryl arrived a hardly a(prenominal) minutes before 1400, looking warily about. His hair was neat and his thick mustache was combed and turned up slightly at the edges. His T-shirt was startlingly white. He did smell, but it was a fruity feel that undoubtedly came from the slightly overenthusiastic use of scent. He had a traveling bag with him.Seldon, who had been waiting outside for him, seized one elbow lightly, while Dors seized the other, and they moved promptly into the elevator. Having reached the correct level, they passed through the apartment into Seldons room. Amaryl said in a low hangdog voice, Nobody home, huh?Everyones busy, said Seldon neutrally. He indicated the only chair in the room, a pad directly on the floor.No, said Amaryl. I dont need that. One of you two use it. He squatted on the floor with a graceful downward motion.Dor s imitated the movement, sitting on the edge of Seldons floor-based mattress, but Seldon dropped down rather clumsily, having to make use of his hands and unable, quite, to find a comfortable position for his legs. Seldon said, Well, young man, why do you want to see me?Because youre a mathematician. Youre the first mathematician I ever saw-close up-so I could touch him, you know.Mathematicians feel like anyone else.Not to me, Dr Dr Seldon?Thats my name.Amaryl looked pleased. I finally remembered.-You see, I want to be a mathematician too.Very good. Whats stopping you?Amaryl suddenly frowned. Are you serious?I presume something is stopping you. Yes, Im serious.Whats stopping me is Im a Dahlite, a heatsinker on Dahl. I dont have the money to get an education and I cant get the credits to get an education. A real education, I mean. All they taught me was to read and cipher and use a computer and then I knew enough to be a heatsinker. But I wanted more. So I taught myself.In some ways, thats the best kind of teaching. How did you do that?I knew a librarian. She was willing to help me. She was a very nice woman and she showed me how to use computers for learning mathematics. And she set up a software system that would connect me with other libraries. Id come on my days off and on mornings after my shift. Sometimes shed lock me in her private room so I wouldnt be daunted by people coming in or she would let me in when the library was closed. She didnt know mathematics herself, but she helped me all she could. She was oldish, a widow lady. Maybe she thought of me as a kind of son or something. She didnt have children of her own.(Maybe, thought Seldon briefly, there was some other emotion knotty too, but he put the thought away. None of his business.)I wish number theory, said Amaryl. I worked some things out from what I well-educated from the computer and from the book-films it used to teach me mathematics. I came up with some new things that werent in the book-f ilms. Seldon raised his eyebrows. Thats interesting. Like what?Ive brought some of them to you. Ive never showed them to anyone. The people around me- He shrugged. Theyd either laugh or be annoyed. Once I move to tell a girl I knew, but she just said I was weird and wouldnt see me anymore. Is it all right for me to show them to you?Quite all right. recollect me.Seldon held out his hand and after a brief hesitation, Amaryl handed him the bag he was carrying.For a long time, Seldon looked over Amaryls papers. The work was naive in the extreme, but he allowed no smile to cross his face. He followed the demonstrations, not one of which was new, of course-or even nearly new-or of any importance.But that didnt matter.Seldon looked up. Did you do all of this yourself?Amaryl, looking more than half-frightened, nodded his head. Seldon extracted several sheets. What made you think of this? His finger ran down a line of mathematical reasoning.Amaryl looked it over, frowned, and thought about it. Then he explained his line of thinking.Seldon listened and said, Did you ever read a book by Anat Bigell?On number theory?The title was numeral Deduction. It wasnt about number theory, particularly.Amaryl shook his head. I never heard of him. Im sorry.He worked out this theorem of yours three hundred years ago.Amaryl looked stricken. I didnt know that.Im sure you didnt. You did it more cleverly, though. Its not rigorous, but-What do you mean, rigorous?It doesnt matter. Seldon put the papers back together in a sheaf, restored it to the bag, and said, Make several copies of all this. Take one copy, have it dated by an official computer, and place it under computerized seal. My friend here, Mistress Venabili, can get you into Streeling University without tuition on some sort of scholarship. Youll have to start at the beginning and take courses in other subjects than mathematics, but-By now Amaryl had caught his breath. Into Streeling University? They wont take me.Why not? Dors, y ou can arrange it, cant you?Im sure I can.No, you cant, said Amaryl hotly. They wont take me. Im from Dahl.Well?They wont take people from Dahl.Seldon looked at Dors. Whats he talking about?Dors shook her head. I really dont know.Amaryl said, Youre an Outworlder, Mistress. How long have you been at Streeling?A little over two years, Mr. Amaryl.Have you ever seen Dahlites there-short, curly black hair, big mustaches?There are students with all kinds of appearances.But no Dahlites. Look again the next time youre there.Why not? said Seldon.They dont like us. We look different. They dont like our mustaches.You can shave your- but Seldons voice died under the others furious glance.Never. Why should I? My mustache is my manhood.You shave your beard. Thats your manhood too.To my people it is the mustache.Seldon looked at Dors again and murmured, grow heads, mustaches madness.What? said Amaryl angrily.Nothing. Tell me what else they dont like about Dahlites.They make up things not to like. They say we smell. They say were dirty. They say we steal. They say were violent. They say were dumb.Why do they say all this?Because its easy to say it and it makes them feel good. Sure, if we work in the heatsinks, we get dirty and smelly. If were poor and held down, some of us steal and get violent. But that isnt the way it is with all of us. How about those tall yellow-hairs in the Imperial Sector who think they own the Galaxy-no, they do own the Galaxy. Dont they ever get violent? Dont they steal sometimes? If they did my job, theyd smell the way I do. If they had to live the way I have to, theyd get dirty too.Who denies that there are people of all kinds in all places? said Seldon.No one argues the matter They just take it for granted. Master Seldon, Ive got to get away from Trantor. I have no chance on Trantor, no way of earning credits, no way of getting an education, no way of becoming a mathematician, no way of becoming any thing but what they say I am a worthless nothing . This last was said in frustration-and desperation.Seldon tried to be reasonable. The person Im renting this room from is a Dahlite. He has a clean job. Hes educated.Oh sure, said Amaryl passionately. There are some. They let a few do it so that they can say it can be done. And those few can live nicely as long as they stay in Dahl. Let them go outside and theyll see how theyre treated. And while theyre in here they make themselves feel good by treating the rest of us like dirt. That makes them yellow-hairs in their own eyes. What did this nice person youre renting this room from say when you told him you were bringing in a heatsinker? What did he say I would be like? Theyre gone now wouldnt be in the same place with me.Seldon moistened his lips. I wont forget you. Ill see to it that youll get off Trantor and into my own University in Helicon-once Im back there myself.Do you promise that? Your word of observe? Even though Im a Dahlite?The fact that youre a Dahlite is unimportant t o me. The fact that you are already a mathematician is But I still cant quite grasp what youre telling me. I find it impossible to believe that there would be such unreasoning feeling against harmless people.Amaryl said bitterly, Thats because youve never had any occasion to interest yourself in such things. It can all pass right under your nose and you wouldnt smell a thing because it doesnt affect you. Dors said, Mr. Amaryl, Dr. Seldon is a mathematician like you and his head can sometimes be in the clouds. You must understand that. I am a historian, however. I know that it isnt unusual to have one group of people look down upon another group. There are peculiar and almost ritualistic hatreds that have no rational justification and that can have their serious historical influence. Its too bad.Amaryl said, Saying something is too bad is easy. You say you disapprove, which makes you a nice person, and then you can go about your own business and not be interested anymore. Its a lot worse than too bad. Its against everything decent and natural. Were all of us the same, yellow-hairs and black-hairs, tall and short, Easterners, Westerners, Southerners, and Outworlders. Were all of us, you and I and even the Emperor, descended from the people of demesne, arent we?Descended from what? asked Seldon. He turned to look at Dors, his eyes wide.From the people of Earth shouted Amaryl. The one planet on which human beings originated.One planet? Just one planet?The only planet. Sure. Earth.When you say Earth, you mean sunrise, dont you?Aurora? Whats that?-I mean Earth. Have you never heard of Earth?No, said Seldon. rattling not.Its a mythical world, began Dors, that-Its not mythical. It was a real planet.Seldon sighed. Ive heard this all before. Well, lets go through it again. Is there a Dahlite book that tells of Earth?What?Some computer software, then?I dont know what youre talking about.Young man, where did you hear about Earth?My dad told me. Everyone knows about it .Is there anyone who knows about it especially? Did they teach you about it in school?They never said a word about it there.Then how do people know about it?Amaryl shrugged his shoulders with an air of being uselessly badgered over nothing. Everyone just does. If you want stories about it, theres Mother Rittah. I havent heard that shes died yet.Your mother? Wouldnt you know-Shes not my mother. Thats just what they call her. Mother Rittah. Shes an old woman. She lives in Billibotton. Or used to.Wheres that?Down in that direction, said Amaryl, gesturing vaguely.How do I get there?Get there? You dont want to get there. Youd never come back.Why not?Believe me. You dont want to go there.But Id like to see Mother Rittah.Amaryl shook his head. Can you use a dig?For what purpose? What kind of knife?A cutting knife. Like this. Amaryl reached down to the belt that held his pants tight about his waist. A section of it came away and from one end there flashed out a knife blade, thin, gleaming, and deadly. Dorss hand immediately came down hard upon his right wrist. Amaryl laughed. I wasnt planning to use it. I was just demonstrate it to you. He put the knife back in his belt. You need one in self-defense and if you dont have one or if you have one but dont know how to use it, youll never get out of Billibotton alive. anyways-he suddenly grew very grave and intent-are you really serious, Master Seldon, about helping me get to Helicon?Entirely serious. Thats a promise. Write down your name and where you can be reached by hypercomputer. You have a code, I suppose.My shift in the heatsinks has one. Will that do?Yes.Well then, said Amaryl, looking up earnestly at Seldon, this means I have my whole future riding on you, Master Seldon, so please dont go to Billibotton. I cant afford to lose you now.He turned beseeching eyes on Dors and said softly, Mistress Venabili, if hell listen to you, dont let him go. Please.