the more delicate nuances.
There was one ‘voice’ predominant, and that belonged to the individual known simply as the First Speaker.
He said: ‘It is apparently quite definite now as to what stopped the Mule in his first mad rush. I can’t say that the matter reflects credit upon … well, upon the organization of the situation. Apparently, he almost located us, by means of the artificially heightened brain-energy of what they call a “psychologist” on the First Foundation. This psychologist was killed just before he could communicate his discovery to the Mule. The events leading to that killing were completely fortuitous for all calculations below Phase Three. Suppose you take over.’
It was the Fifth Speaker who was indicated by an inflection of the voice. He said, in grim nuances: ‘It is certain that the situation was mishandled. We are, of course, highly vulnerable under mass attack, particularly an attack led by such a mental phenomenon as the Mule. Shortly after he first achieved Galactic eminence with the conquest of the First Foundation, half a year after to be exact, he was on Trantor. Within another half year he would have been here and the odds would have been stupendously against us – 96.3 plus or minus 0.05% to be exact. We have spent considerable time analysing the forces that stopped him. We know, of course, what was driving him on so in the first place. The internal ramifications of his physical deformity and mental uniqueness are obvious to all of us. However, it was only through penetration to Phase Three that we could determine – after the fact – the possibility of his anomalous action in the presence of another human being who had an honest affection for him.
‘And since such an anomalous action would depend upon the presence of such another human being at the appropriate time, to that extent the whole affair was fortuitous. Our agents are certain that it was a girl that killed the Mule’s psychologist – a girl for whom the Mule felt trust out of sentiment, and whom he, therefore, did not control mentally – simply because she liked him.
‘Since that event – and for those who want the details, a mathematical treatment of the subject has been drawn up for the Central Library – which warned us, we have held the Mule off by unorthodox methods with which we daily risk Seldon’s entire scheme of history. That is all.’
The First Speaker paused an instant to allow the individuals assembled to absorb the full implications. He said: ‘The situation is then highly unstable. With Seldon’s original scheme bent to the fracture point – and I must emphasize that we have blundered badly in this whole matter, in our horrible lack of foresight – we are faced with an irreversible breakdown of the Plan. Time is passing us by. I think there is only one solution left us – and even that is risky.
‘We must allow the Mule to find us – in a sense.’
Another pause, in which he gathered the reactions, then: ‘I repeat – in a sense!’
The ship was in near-readiness. Nothing lacked, but the destination. The Mule had suggested a return to Trantor – the world that was the hulk of an incomparable Galactic metropolis of the hugest Empire mankind had ever known – the dead world that had been capital of all the stars.
Pritcher disapproved. It was an old path – sucked dry.
He found Bail Channis in the ship’s navigation room. The young man’s curly hair was just sufficiently dishevelled to allow a single curl to droop over the forehead – as if it had been carefully placed there – and even teeth showed in a smile that matched it. Vaguely, the stiff officer felt himself harden against the other.
Channis’ excitement was evident, ‘Pritcher, it’s too far a coincidence.’
The general said coldly: ‘I’m not aware of the subject of conversation.’
‘Oh— Well, then drag up a chair, old man, and let’s get into it. I’ve been going over your notes. I find them excellent.’
‘How … pleasant that you do.’
‘But I’m wondering if you’ve come to the conclusions I have. Have you ever tried analysing the problem deductively? I mean, it’s all very well to comb the stars at random, and to have done all you did in five expeditions is quite a bit of star-hopping. That’s obvious. But have you calculated how long it would take to go through every known world at this rate?’
‘Yes. Several times.’ Pritcher felt no urge to meet the young man halfway, but there was the importance of filching the other’s mind – the other’s uncontrolled, and hence, unpredictable, mind.
‘Well, then, suppose we’re analytical about it and try to decide just what we’re looking for?’
‘The Second Foundation,’ said Pritcher, grimly.
‘A Foundation of psychologists,’ corrected Channis, ‘who are as weak in physical science as the First Foundation was weak in psychology. Well, you’re from the First Foundation, which I’m not. The implications are probably obvious to you. We must find a world which rules by virtue of mental skills, and yet which is very backwards scientifically.’
‘Is that necessarily so?’ questioned Pritcher, quietly. ‘Our own “Union of Worlds” isn’t backwards scientifically, even though our ruler owes his strength to his mental powers.’
‘Because he has the skills of the First Foundation to draw upon,’ came the slightly impatient answer, ‘and that is the only such reservoir of knowledge in the Galaxy. The Second Foundation must live among the dry crumbs of the broken Galactic Empire. There are no pickings there.’
‘So then you postulate mental power sufficient to establish their rule over a group of worlds and physical helplessness as well?’
‘Comparative physical helplessness. Against the decadent neighbouring areas, they are competent to defend themselves. Against the resurgent forces of the Mule, with his background of a mature atomic economy, they cannot stand. Else, why is their location so well-hidden, both at the start by the founder, Hari Seldon, and now by themselves. Your own First Foundation made no secret of its existence and did not have it made for them, when they were an undefended single city on a lonely planet three hundred years ago.’
The smooth lines of Pritcher’s dark face twitched sardonically. ‘And now that you’ve finished your deep analysis, would you like a list of all the kingdoms, republics, planet states and dictatorships of one sort or another in that political wilderness out there that correspond to your description and to several factors besides?’
‘All this has been considered then?’ Channis lost none of his brashness.
‘You won’t find it here, naturally, but we have a completely worked out guide to the political units of the Opposing Periphery. Really, did you suppose the Mule would work entirely hit-and-miss?’
‘Well, then,’ and the young man’s voice rose in a burst of energy, ‘what of the Oligarchy of Tazenda?’
Pritcher touched his ear thoughtfully, ‘Tazenda? Oh, I think I know it. They are not in the Periphery, are they? It seems to me they’re fully a third of the way towards the centre of the Galaxy.’
‘Yes.
