Foundation's Edge - Isaac Asimov [166]
"To ascertain that, I would have to take measurements at widely spaced points in order to see if there is a general spherical symmetry to the field. My unidirectional mental probe made this seem likely but not certain. Yet it would not be wise to investigate further in the presence of the First Foundation warship."
"Surely it is no threat."
"It may be. I cannot as yet be sure that it is not itself the focus of the field, First Speaker."
"But they--"
"First Speaker, with respect, allow me to interrupt. We do not know what technological advances the First Foundation has made. They are acting with a strange self-confidence and may have unpleasant surprises for us. It must be decided whether they have learned to handle mentalics by means of some of their devices. In short, First Speaker, I am facing either a warship of mentalics or a planet of them.
"If it is the warship, then the mentalics may be far too weak to immobilize me, but they might be enough to slow me--and the purely physical weapons on the warship may then suffice to destroy me. On the other hand, if it is the planet that is the focus, then to have the field detectable at such a distance could mean enormous intensity at the surface--more than even I can handle.
"In either case, it will be necessary to set up a network--a total network--in which, at need, the full resources of Trantor can be placed at my disposal."
The First Speaker hesitated. "A total network. This has never been used, never even suggested--except in the time of the Mule."
"This crisis may well be even greater than that of the Mule, First Speaker."
"I do not know that the Table would agree."
"I do not think you should ask them to agree, First Speaker. You should invoke a state of emergency."
"What excuse can I give?"
"Tell them what I have told you, First Speaker."
"Speaker Delarmi will say that you are an incompetent coward, driven to madness by your own fears."
Gendibal paused before answering. Then he said, "I imagine she will say something like that, First Speaker, but let her say whatever she likes and I will survive it. What is at stake now is not my pride or self-love but the actual existence of the Second Foundation."
3.
HARLA BRANNO SMILED GRIMLY, HER LINED FACE setting more deeply into its fleshy crags. She said, "I think we can push on with it. I'm ready for them."
Kodell said, "Do you still feel sure you know what you're doing?"
"If I were as mad as you pretend you think I am, Liono, would you have insisted on remaining on this ship with me?"
Kodell shrugged and said, "Probably. I would then be here on the off chance, Madam Mayor, that I might stop you, divert you, at least slow you, before you went too far. And, of course, if you're not mad--"
"Yes?"
"Why, then I wouldn't want to have the histories of the future give you all the mention. Let them state that I was here with you and wonder, perhaps, to whom the credit really belongs, eh, Mayor?"
"Clever, Liono, clever--but quite futile. I was the power behind the throne through too many Mayoralties for anyone to believe I would permit such a phenomenon in my own administration."
"We shall see."
"No, we won't, for such historical judgments will come after we are dead. However, I have no fears. Not about my place in history and not about that," and she pointed to the screen.
"Compor's ship," said Kodell.
"Compor's ship, true," said Branno, "but without Compor aboard. One of our scoutships observed the changeover. Compor's ship was stopped by another. Two people from the other ship boarded that one and Compor later moved off and entered the other."
Branno rubbed her hands. "Trevize fulfilled his role perfectly. I cast him out into space in order that he might serve as lightning rod and so he did. He drew lightning. The ship that stopped Compor was Second Foundation."
"How can you be sure of that, I wonder?" said Kodell, taking out his pipe and slowly beginning to pack it with tobacco.
"Because I always wondered if Compor might not be under Second Foundation control.