Foundation’s Edge CHAPTER ELEVEN SAYSHELL

SAYSHELLJanov Pelorat watched, for the first cartridge holder in his life, as the bright star graduated into an orb after what Trevize had c anyed a micro-Jump. The fourth major orbiter the habitable integrity and their immediate destination, Sayshell then grew in size and prominence more slowly over a period of days.A map of the satellite had been produced by the computer and was displayed on a manageout screening device, which Pelorat held in his lap.Trevize with the aplomb of someone who had, in his time, touched d feature upon several dozen originations tell, Dont come in watching too hard too soon, Janov. We have to go through the entry station first and that can be tedious.Pelorat looked up. Surely thats just a formality.It is. But it can still be tedious.But its peacetime.Of course. That means well be passed through. First, though, thithers a little matter of the ecological balance. Every orbiter has its own and they dont indispensability it upset. So they mak e a natural point of checking the broadcast for undesirable organisms, or infections. Its a reasonable precaution.We dont have such things, it seems to me.No, we dont and theyll find that out. Remember, too, that Sayshell is not a member of the metrical unit Federation, so theres certain to be some leaning over backward to demonstrate their liberty.A small ship came out to st ar them and a Sayshellian Customs authoritative boarded. Trevize was brisk, not having forgotten his military days.The Far Star, out of Terminus, he verbalise. Ships papers. Unarmed. Private vessel. My passport. There is one passenger. His passport. We are tourists.The Customs authorized wore a garish uniform in which crimson was the dominating color. Cheeks and upper lip were smooth-shaven, notwithstanding he wore a short beard parted in such a charge that tufts thrust out to both(prenominal) sides of his chin. He say, creation ship?He pronounced it Foundaysun sip, but Trevize was thoughtful neit her to reproductionbalance him nor to smile. There were as many varieties of dialects to Galactic Standard as there were planets, and you just spoke your own. As long as there was cross-comprehension, it didnt matter.Yes, sir, verbalise Trevize. Foundation ship. Privately owned.Very nice. Your lading, if you please.My what?Your lading. What are you carrying?Ah, my cargo. Here is the itemized list. Personal property solitary(prenominal). We are not here to trade. As I told you, we are simply tourists.The Customs official looked about curiously. This is rather an elaborate vessel for tourists.Not by Foundation standards, said Trevize with a display of good humor. And Im well off and can submit to this.Are you suggesting that I magnate be richified? The official looked at him briefly, then looked away.Trevize hesitated a moment in order to interpret the meaning of the word, then other moment to decide his course of action. He said, No, it is not my intention to bribe you. I hav e no reason to bribe you and you dont look like the lovable of person who could be bribed, if that were my intention. You can look over the ship, if you wish.No need, said the official, putting away his pocket recorder. You have already been examined for specific contraband infection and have passed. The ship has been assigned a radio wavelength that pass on serve as an approach beam.He left. The whole procedure had taken 15 minutes.Pelorat said in a low voice. Could he have made trouble? Did he really expect a bribe?Trevize shrugged. Tipping the Customs man is as old as the Galaxy and I would have done it readily if he had made a second try for it. As it is well, I take he favours not to take a chance with a Foundation ship, and a fancy one, at that. The old Mayor, bless her cross-grained hide, said the seduce of the Foundation would protect us wherever we went and she wasnt wrong. It could have taken a great deal longer.Why? He seemed to find out what he cute to have i t off.Yes, but he was courteous lavish to check us by remote radioscanning. If he had wished, he could have gone over the ship with a hand-machine and taken hours. He could have put us both in a field hospital and kept us days.What? My dear fellowDont stay excited. He didnt do it. I thought he energy, but he didnt. Which means were free to land. Id like to go down graviti bordery which could take us fifteen minutes but I dont know where the permitted landing sites might be and I dont want to cause trouble. That means well have to follow the radio beam, which ordain take hours as we spiral down through the atmosphere.Pelorat looked cheerful. But thats excellent, Golan. Will we be going slowly enough to watch the terrain? He held up his portable viewscreen with the map spread out on it at low magnification.After a fashion. Wed have to besot beneath the cloud deck, and well be moving at a few kilometers per second. It wont be ballooning through the atmosphere, but youll spot th e planetography.Excellent ExcellentTrevize said thoughtfully, Im wondering, though, if well be on Sayshell Planet long enough to make it worth our while to adjust the ships clock to local time.It depends on what we plan to do, I suppose. What do you think well be doing, Golan?Our job is to find germanium and I dont know how long that will take.Pelorat said, We can adjust our wrist-strips and leave the ships clock as is.Good enough, said Trevize. He looked down at the planet sp instruction broadly beneath them. No use waiting any longer. Ill adjust the computer to our assigned radio beam and it can use the gravities to mimicker conventional flight. So Lets go down, Janov, and see what we can find.He stared at the planet thoughtfully as the ship began to move on its smoothly change gravitational potential-curve.Trevize had never been in the Sayshell Union, but he knew that over the last century it had been steadfastly unfriendly to the Foundation. He was surprised and a little dep ress they had gotten through Customs so quickly.It didnt seem reasonable.The Customs officials name was Jogoroth Sobhaddartha and he had been serving on the station on and off for half his life.He didnt intelligence the life, for it gave him a chance one month out of three to view his books, to listen to his music, and to be away from his wife and growing son.Of course, during the last two old age the current Head of Customs had been a Dreamer, which was irritating. There is no one so insufferable as a person who gives no other assuage for a peculiar action than saying he had been directed to it in a dream.Personally Sobhaddartha decided he believed none of it, though he was careful not to say so aloud, since most quite a little on Sayshell rather disapproved of antipsychic doubts. To become known as a materialist might put his forthcoming pension off at risk.He stroked the two tufts of hair at his chin, one with his right hand and the other with his left, cleared his throat rather loudly, and then, with inappropriate casualness, said, Was that the ship, Head?The Head, who quality the equally Sayshellian name of Namarath Godhisavatta, was concerned with a matter involving some computer-born data and did not look up. What ship? he said.The Far Star. The Foundation ship. The one I just sent past. The one that was holographed from every angle. Was that the one you dreamed of?Godhisavatta looked up now. He was a small man, with eyes that were almost black and that were surrounded by fine wrinkles that had not been produced by any penchant for smiling. He said, Why do you ask?Sobhaddartha straightened up and allowed his dark and luxuriant eyebrows to approach each other. They said they were tourists, butIve never seen a ship like that before and my own opinion is theyre Foundation agents. Godhisavatta sat back in his chair. See here, my man, try as I might I cannot recall asking for your opinion.But Head, I consider it my patriotic duty to point out thatGod hisavatta crossed his arms over his chest and stared hard at the underling, who (though much the more impressive in physical stature and bearing) allowed himself to droop and take on a somehow woebegone appearance under the gaze of his superior.Godhisavatta said, My man, if you know what is good for you, you will do your job without comment or Ill see to it that there will be no pension when you retire, which will be soon if I hear any more on a subject that does not concern you.In a low voice, Sobhaddartha said, Yes, sir. Then, with a suspicious degree of subservience in his voice, he added, Is it within the jog of my duties, sir, to report that a second ship is in range of our screens?Consider it reported, Godhisavatta said irritably, re criminaling to his work.With, said Sobhaddartha even more humbly, characteristics very similar to the one I just sent through.Godhisavatta placed his hands on the desk and lifted himself to his feet. A second one?Sobhaddartha smiled inwardly. T hat sanguinary person born of an irregular union (he was referring to the Head) had clearly not dreamed of two ships. He said, Apparently, sir I will now return to my post and await orders and I hope, sirYes?Sobhaddartha could not resist, pension-risk notwithstanding. And I hope, sir, we didnt send the wrong one through.The Far Star moved rapidly across the face of Sayshell Planet and Pelorat watched with fascination. The cloud layer was thinner and more scattered than upon Terminus and, precisely as the map showed, the land surfaces were more thickset and extensive-including broader desert areas, to judge by the rusty color of much of the continental expanse.There were no signs of anything living. It seemed a world of sterile desert, gray plain, of endless wrinkles that might have represented mountainous areas, and, of course, of ocean.It looks lifeless, muttered Pelorat.You dont expect to see any life-signs at this height, said Trevize. As we get lower, youll see the land turn g reen in patches. Before that, in fact, youll see the twinkling landscape on the nightside. Human existences have a penchant for lighting their worlds when darkness falls Ive never hear of a world thats an exception to that rule. In other words, the first sign of life youll see will not only be human but technological.Pelorat said thoughtfully, Human beings are diurnal in nature, after all. It seems to me that among the very first tasks of a developing technology would be the conversion of night to day. In fact, if a world lacked technology and developed one, you ought to be able to follow the progress of technological development by the increase in light upon the change surface. How long would it take, do you suppose, to go from uniform darkness to uniform light?Trevize laughed. You have odd thoughts, but I suppose that comes from being a mythologist. I dont think a world would ever achieve a uniform glow. Night light would follow the pattern of population density, so that the con tinents would spark in knots and strings. Even Trantor at its height, when it was one huge structure, let light escape that structure only at scattered points.The land turned green as Trevize had predicted and, on the last circling of the globe, he pointed out markings that he said were cities. Its not a very urban world. Ive never been in the Sayshell Union before, but match to the information the computer gives me, they tend to cling to the past. Technology, in the eyes of all the Galaxy, has been associated with the Foundation, and wherever the Foundation is unpopular, there is a tendency to cling to the past, except, of course, as far as weapons of war are concerned. I assure you Sayshell is quite modern in that respect. Dear me, Golan, this is not going to be unpleasant, is it? We are Foundationers, after all, and being in enemy territoryIts not enemy territory, Janov. Theyll be perfectly polite, never fear. The Foundation just isnt popular, thats all. Sayshell is not part of the Foundation Federation. Therefore, because theyre proud of their independence and because they dont like to remember that they are much weaker than the Foundation and remain independent only because were willing to let them remain so, they indulge in the luxury of disliking us. I fear it will still be unpleasant, then, said Pelorat despondently. Not at all, said Trevize. execute on, Janov. Im talking about the official attitude of the Sayshellian government. The individual mass on the planet are just citizenry, and if were pleasant and dont act as though were Lords of the Galaxy, theyll be pleasant, too. Were not coming to Sayshell in order to establish Foundation mastery. Were just tourists, asking the kind of questions about Sayshell that any tourist would ask.And we can have a little legitimate relaxation, too, if the situation permits. Theres nothing wrong with staying here a few days and experiencing what they have to offer. They may have an interesting culture, interesti ng scenery, interesting food, and if all else fails interesting women. We have money to spend.Pelorat frowned, Oh, my dear chap.Come on, said Trevize. Youre not that old. Wouldnt you be interested?I dont say there wasnt a time when I played that role properly, but surely this isnt the time for it. We have a mission. We want to reach Gaia. I have nothing against a good time I really dont but if we start involving ourselves, it might be difficult to pull free. He shook his head and said mildly, I think you feared that I might have too good a time at the Galactic Library on Trantor and would be unable to pull free. Surely, what the Library is to me, an attractive dark-eyed damsel or five or half dozen might be to you.Trevize said, Im not a rakehell, Janov, but I have no intention of being ascetic, either. Very well, I promise you well get on with this business of Gaia, but if something pleasant comes my way, theres no reason in the Galaxy I ought not to respond normally.If youll just put Gaia firstI will. Just remember, though, dont tell anyone were from the Foundation. Theyll know we are, because weve got Foundation credits and we speak with strong Terminus accents, but if we say nothing about it, they can pretend we are placeless strangers and be friendly. If we make a point of being Foundationers, they will speak politely enough, but they will tell us nothing, show us nothing, take us nowhere, and leave us strictly alone.Pelorat sighed. I will never understand people.Theres nothing to it. All you have to do is take a resolve look at yourself and you will understand everyone else. Were in no way different ourselves. How would Seldon have worked out his Plan, and I dont care how subtle his mathematics was if he didnt understand people and how could he have done that if people werent easy to understand? You show me someone who cant understand people and Ill show you someone who has reinforced up a false image of himself no offense intended.None taken. I m willing to admit Im inexperienced and that Ive spent a rather self-centered and press life. It may be that Ive never really taken a good look at myself, so Ill let you be my guide and adviser where people are concerned.Good. Then take my advice now and just watch the scenery. Well be landing soon and I assure you youll feel nothing. The computer and I will take care of everything.Golan, dont be annoyed. If a young woman shouldForget it Just let me take care of the landing.Pelorat turned to look at the world at the end of the ships contracting spiral. It would be the first foreign world upon which he would ever stand. This thought somehow filled him with foreboding, despite the fact that all the millions of inhabited planets in the Galaxy had been colonized by people who had not been born upon them.All but one, he thought with a shudder of dread/delight.The spaceport was not large by Foundation standards, but it was well kept. Trevize watched the Far Star moved into a berth and l ocked in place. They were given an elaborate coded receipt.Pelorat said in a low voice, Do we just leave it here?Trevize nodded and placed his hand on the others shoulder in reassurance. Dont worry, he said in an equally low voice.They stepped into the ground-car they had rented and Trevize plugged in the map of the city, whose towers he could see on the horizon.Sayshell City, he said, the capital of the planet. City planet star all named Sayshell.Im worry about the ship, insisted Pelorat.Nothing to worry about, said Trevize. Well be back tonight,because it will be our sleeping quarters if we have to stay here more than a few hours. You have to understand, too, that theres an interstellar code of spaceport ethics that as far as I know has never been broken, even in wartime. Spaceships that come in peace are inviolate. If that were not so, no one would be safe and trade would be impossible. Any world on which that code was broken would be boycotted by the space pilots of the G alaxy. I assure you, no world would risk that. BesidesBesides?Well, besides, Ive arranged with the computer that anyone who doesnt look and sound like one of us will be killed if he or she tries to board the ship. Ive taken the liberty of explaining that to the Port Commander. I told him very politely that I would love to turn off that particular facility out of deference to the reputation that the Sayshell City Spaceport holds for absolute integrity and security throughout the Galaxy, I said but the ship is a new model and I didnt know how to turn it off.He didnt believe that, surely.Of course not But he had to pretend he did, as otherwise he would have no choice but to be insulted. And since there would be nothing he could do about that, being insulted would only lead to humiliation. And since he didnt want that, the simplest path to follow was to believe what I said.And thats another example of how people are?Yes. Youll get used to this.How do you know this ground-car isnt bug ged?I thought it might be. So when they offered me one, I took another one at random. If theyre all bugged well, what have we been saying thats so stately?Pelorat looked unhappy. I dont know how to say this. It seems rather impolite to complain, but I dont like the way it smells. Theres an odor.In the ground-car?Well, in the spaceport, to begin with. I suppose thats the way spaceports smell, but the ground-car carries the odor with it. Could we open the windows?Trevize laughed. I suppose I could figure out which portion of the control panel will do that trick, but it wont help. This planet stinks. Is it very bad?Its not very strong, but its noticeable and somewhat repulsive. Does the whole world smell this way?I keep forgetting youve never been on another world. Every inhabited world has its own odor. Its the general vegetation, mostly, though I suppose the animals and even the human beings contribute. And as far as I know, nobody ever likes the smell of any world when he first lands on it. But youll get used to it, Janov. In a few hours, I promise you wont notice.Surely you dont mean that all worlds smell like this.No. As I said, each has its own. If we really paid attention or if our noses were a little keener like those of Anacreonian dogs we could probably tell which world we were on with one sniff. When I first entered the Navy I could never eat the first day on a new world then I learned the old spacer trick of sniffing a handkerchief with the world-scent on it during the landing. By the time you get out into the open world, you dont smell it. And after a while, you get hardened to the whole thing you just learn to disregard it. The worst of it is returning home, in fact.Why?Do you think Terminus doesnt smell?Are you telling me it does?Of course it does. Once you get acclimated to the smell of another world, such as Sayshell, youll be surprised at the stench of Terminus. In the old days, whenever the locks opened on Terminus after a sizable tour o f duty, all the crew would call out, Back home to the crap. Pelorat looked revolted.The towers of the city were perceptibly closer, but Pelorat kept his eyes fixed on their immediate surroundings. There were other ground-cars moving in both heraldic bearings and an occasional air-car above, but Pelorat was perusal the trees.He said, The plant life seems strange. Do you suppose any of it is indigenous?I doubt it, said Trevize absently. He was studying the map and attempting to adjust the programming of the cars computer. Theres not much in the way of indigenous life on any human planet. Settlers always imported their own plants and animals either at the time of settling or not too long afterward.It seems strange, though.You dont expect the same varieties from world to world, Janov.I was once told that the Encyclopedia Galactica people put out an atlas of varieties which ran to eighty-seven fat computer-discs and was incomplete even so and outdated anyway, by the time it was finis hed.The ground-car moved on and the outskirts of the city gaped and engulfed them. Pelorat shivered slightly, I dont think much of their city architecture.To each his own, said Trevize with the indifference of the seasoned space traveler.Where are we going, by the way?Well, said Trevize with a certain exasperation, Im toilsome to get the computer to guide this thing to the tourist center. I hope the computer knows the one-way streets and the traffic regulations, because I dont.What do we do there, Golan?To begin with, were tourists, so thats the place where wed naturally go, and we want to be as inconspicuous and natural as we can. And secondly, where would you go to get information on Gaia?Pelorat said, To a university or an anthropological society or a museum. Certainly not to a tourist center.Well, youre wrong. At the tourist center, we will be intellectual types who are importunate to have a listing of the universities in the city and the museums and so on. Well decide wher e to go to first and there we may find the proper people to mention concerning ancient history, galactography, mythology, anthropology, or anything else you can think of. But the whole thing starts at the tourist center.Pelorat was silent and the ground-car moved on in a tangled manner as it joined and became part of the traffic pattern. They plunged into a sub-road and drove past signs that might have represented directions and traffic instructions but were in a style of lettering that made them all-but-unreadable.Fortunately the ground-car behaved as though it knew the way, and when it stopped and drew itself into a parking spot, there was a sign that said SAYSHELL OUT-WORLD MILIEU in the same difficult printing, and under it SAYSHELL TOURIST CENTER in straightforward, easy-to-read Galactic Standard lettering.They walked into the building, which was not as large as the window dressing had led them to believe. ft was certainly not busy inside.There were a series of waiting booth s, one of which was occupied by a man reading the news-strips emerging from a small ejector another contained two women who seemed to be playing some intricate game with cards and tiles. Behind a sound reflection too large for him, with winking computer controls that seemed far too complex for him, was a bored-looking Sayshellian functionary wearing what looked like a multicolored checkerboard.Pelorat stared and whispered, This is certainly a world of extroverted garb.Yes, said Trevize, I noticed. Still, fashions change from world to world and even from region to region within a world sometimes. And they change with time. l years ago, everyone on Sayshell might have worn black, for all we know. Take it as it comes, Janov.I suppose Ill have to, said Pelorat, but I prefer our own fashions. At least, theyre not an assault upon the optic nerve.Because so many of us are gray on gray? That offends some people. Ive heard it referred to as dressing in dirt. Then too, its Foundation color lessness that probably keeps these people in their rainbows just to emphasize their independence. Its all what youre accustomed to, anyway. Come on, Janov.The two headed toward the counter and, as they did so, the man in the booth forsook his news items, rose, and came to meet them, smiling as he did so. His clothing was in shades of gray.Trevize didnt look in his direction at first, but when he did he stopped dead.He took a deep breath, By the Galaxy My friend, the traitor