Forward the Foundation Chapter 1

Part IEto DemerzelDEMERZEL, ETO- While thither is no question that Eto Demerzel was the real power in the government during much of the triumph of Emperor Cleon I, historians atomic number 18 divided as to the nature of his rule. The classic variation is that he was a nonher in the long line of strong and unmerciful oppressors in the blend century of the undivided Galactic pudding stone, but thither be revisionist views that squander surfaced and that insist his was, if a despotism, a benevolent unrivalled. much is made, in this view, of his relationship with Hari Seldon though that remains forever uncertain, particularly during the unmatched episode of Laskin Joranum, whose meteoric rise Encyclopedia Galactica 11I look at Hari,** say Yugo Amaryl, that your friend Demerzel is in deep throw verboten of kilter. He emphasized the volume friend truly lightly and with unmistakable air of distaste.Hari Seldon detected the pungent note and ignored it. He looked up from h is tricomputer and utter, I tell you again, Yugo, that thats nonsense. And then-with a trace of annoyance, beneficial a trace-he added, Why are you taking up my time by insisting?Because I think its important. Amaryl sat dash off defiantly. It was a gesture that indicated he was not red ink to be locomote easily. Here he was and here he would stay.Eight years before, he had been a heatsinker in the Dahl Sector-as low on the social overcome as it was possible to be. He had been lifted out of that position by Seldon-**made into a mathematician and an intellectual-more than that, into a psychohistorian.Never for whiz minute did he for arouse what he had been and who he was now and to whom he owed the change. That meant that if he had to treat harshly to Hari Seldon-for Seldons own practiced-no consideration of respect and love for the older small-arm and no regard for his own career would stop him. He owed such(prenominal) harshness-and much more-to Seldon.Look, Hari, he sai d, chopping at the air with his left hand, for some author that is beyond my infrastanding, you think highly of this Demerzel, but I dont. No one whose opinion I respect-except you-thinks well of him. I dont care what happens to him personally, Hari, but as long as I think you do, I deport no choice but to bring this to your attention.Seldon smiled, as much at the others ecstasy as at what he considered to be the uselessness of his concern. He was worshipful of Yugo Amaryl-more than fond. Yugo was one of the four people he had encountered during that short period of his livelihood when he was in flight across the face of the planet Trantor-Eto Demerzel, Dors Venabili, Yugo Amaryl, and Raych-four, the likes of which he had not found since.In a particular and, in from each one case, different way, these four were indispensable to him-Yugo Amaryl, because of his quick understanding of the principles of psychohistory and of his imaginative probings into newly areas. It was comfo rting to know that if anything happened to Seldon himself before the mathematics of the field could be completely take a shited out-and how slowly it proceeded, and how mountainous the obstacles there would at least remain one good mind that would continue the research.He said, Im sorry, Yugo. I dont mean to be impatient with you or to reject out of hand whatever it is you are so anxious to make me understand. Its just this job of mine its this profession of being a department head-Amaryl found it his turn to smile and he repressed a slight chuckle. Im sorry, Hari, and I shouldnt laugh, but you yield no natural aptitude for the position.As well I know, but Ill have to learn. I have to travel tom to be doing something faultless and there is nothing-nothing-more harmless than being the head of the Mathematics Department at Streeling University. I tolerate fill my day with footling tasks, so that no one motif know or ask close to the course of our psychohistorical research, b ut the trouble is, I do fill my day with unimportant tasks and I have insufficient time to- His eyes glanced around his office at the literal stored in computers to which only he and Amaryl had the key and which, even if anyone else stumbled upon them, had been carefully phrased in an invented symbology that no one else would understand.Amaryl said, Once you work your way further into your duties, youll jump to delegate and then youll have more time.I hope so, said Seldon dubiously. scarcely tell me, what is it about Eto Demerzel that is so important?Simply that Eto Demerzel, our ample Emperors First Minister, is busily creating an insurrection.Seldon frowned. Why would he want to do that?I didnt say he wants to. Hes simply doing it-whether he knows it or not-and with considerable economic aid from some of his political enemies. Thats all right with me, you understand. I think that, under ideal conditions, it would be a good thing to have him out of the Palace, off Trantor beyo nd the pudding stone, for that numerate. But you think highly of him, as Ive said, and so Im exemplification you, because I suspect that you are not following the youthful political course of events as closely as you should. in that respect are more important things to do, said Seldon mildly.Like psychohistory. I agree. But how are we going to develop psychohistory with any hope of success if we remain brutal of politics? I mean, present-day politics. Now-now-is the time when the present is turning into the future. We arset just study the past. We know what happened in the past. Its against the present and the near future that we can check our results.It line upms to me, said Seldon, that I have understandd this argument before.And youll hear it again. It doesnt seem to do me any good to explain this to you.Seldon sighed, sat stick out in his chair, and regarded Amaryl with a smile. The younger man could be abrasive, but he took psychohistory seriously-and that repaid all.A maryl still had the mark of his early years as a heatsinker. He had the broad shoulders and the muscular build of one who had been used to hard sensual labor. He had not allowed his body to turn flabby and that was a good thing, for it inspired Seldon to resist the impulse to spend all of his time at the desk as well. He did not have Amaryls sheer physical strength, but he still had his own talents as a Twister-for all that he had just turned forty and could not keep it up forever. But for now, he would continue. Thanks to his daily workouts, his waist was still trim, his legs and arms firm.He said, This concern for Demerzel cannot be purely a matter of his being a friend of mine. You must have some other motive.Theres no personate to that. As long as youre a friend of Demerzel, your position here at the University is secure and you can continue to work on psychohistorical research.There you are. So I do have a reason to be friends with him. It isnt beyond your understanding at al l.You have an interest in cultivating him. That, I understand. But as for friendship-that, I dont understand. However-if Demerzel lost power, quite apart from the entrap it might have on your position, then Cleon himself would be running the Empire and the rate of its decline would increase. Anarchy might then be upon us before we have worked out all the implications of psychohistory and made it possible for the cognition to hold on all humanity.I see. But, you know, I honestly dont think that were going to work out psychohistory in time to prevent the magnetic inclination of the Empire. tear down if we could not prevent the Fall, we could cushion the effects, couldnt we? Perhaps.There you are, then. The longer we have to work in peace, the greater the chance we result have to prevent the Fall or, at least, ameliorate the effects. Since that is the case, working backward, it may be necessary to save Demerzel, whether we-or, at least, I-like it or not.Yet you just said that you would like to see him out of the Palace and away from Trantor and beyond the Empire.Yes, under ideal conditions, I said. But we are not living under ideal conditions and we strike our First Minister, even if he is an instrument of repression and despotism.I see. But wherefore do you think the Empire is so close to dissolution that the disadvantage of a First Minister will bring it about?Psychohistory. are you using it for predictions? We havent even gotten the framework in place. What predictions can you make?Theres mistrust, Hari.Theres of all time been intuition. We want something more, dont we? We want a mathematical treatment that will sanctify us probabilities of specific future developments under this condition or that. If intuition suffices to guide us, we dont need psychohistory at all.Its not necessarily a matter of one or the other, Hari. Im talking about both the combination, which may be better than either-at least until psychohistory is perfected.If ever, said Seld on. But tell me, where does this hazard to Demerzel rescind? What is it that is likely to harm him or overthrow him? Are we talking about Demerzels overthrow?Yes, said Amaryl and a grim look settled on his face.Then tell me. Have pity on my ignorance.Amaryl flushed. Youre being condescending, Hari. for certain youve heard of Jo-Jo Joranum.Certainly. Hes a demagogue- Wait, wheres he from? Nishaya, right? A very unimportant world. Goat herding, I think. High-quality cheeses.Thats it. Not just a demagogue, however. He commands a strong following and its getting stronger. He aims, he says, for social nicety and greater political involvement by the people.Yes, said Seldon. Ive heard that much. His shibboleth is Government belongs to the people.Not quite, Hari. He says Government is the people.Seldon nodded. Well, you know, I rather commiserate with the thought.So do I. Im all for it-if Joranum meant it. But he doesnt, except as a stepping-stone. Its a path, not a goal. He wants to get relieve of Demerzel. After that it will be easy to manipulate Cleon. Then Joranum will take the throne himself and he will be the people. Youve told me yourself that there have been a number of episodes of this sort in Imperial history-and these days the Empire is weaker and less stable than it used to be. A blow which, in in the first place centuries, merely staggered it might now shatter it. The Empire will triumph in civil war and never recover and we wont have psychohistory in place to teach us what must be done.Yes, I see your point, but surely its not going to be that easy to get rid of Demerzel.You dont know how strong Joranum is growing.It doesnt matter how strong hes growing. A can of thought seemed to pass over Seldons brow. I wonder that his parents came to name him Jo-Jo. Theres something juvenile person about that name.His parents had nothing to do with it. His real name is Laskin, a very common name on Nishaya. He chose Jo-Jo himself, presumably from the first syllable of his last name.The more fool he, wouldnt you say?No, I wouldnt. His followers shout it Jo Jo Jo Jo-over and over. Its hypnotic.Well, said Seldon, making a move to return to his tricomputer and adjust the multidimensional pretense it had created, well see what happens.Can you be that casual about it? Im telling you the danger is imminent.No, it isnt, said Seldon, eyes steely, his voice suddenly hardening. You dont have all the facts.What facts dont I have?Well discuss that another time, Yugo. For now, continue with your work and let me baffle about Demerzel and the state of the Empire.Amaryls lips tightened, but the habit of obedience to Seldon was strong. Yes, Hari.But not overwhelmingly strong. He turned at the door and said, Youre making a mistake, Hari.Seldon smiled slightly. I dont think so, but I have heard your warning and I will not forget. Still, all will be well.And as Amaryl left, Seldons smile faded. Would, indeed, all be well?