Foundation and Empire 14. The Mutant

The hangar on Kalgan is an existence peculiar unto itself, born of the request for the extensiveing of the vast number of channels brought in by the visitors from abroad, and the simultaneous and consequent vast need for living accommodations for the same. The original bright star who had thought of the obvious solution had quick become a million songe. His heirs by take over or finance were easily among the richest on Kalgan.The hangar spreads fatly over squ argon miles of territory, and hangar does non describe it at entirely sufficiently. It is essenti alto raise uphery a hotel for enthralls. The traveler pays in advance and his ship is awarded a patch from which it burn down take off into pose at any desired mo custodyt. The visitor then lives in his ship as al focal points. The ordinary hotel services such as the replacement of food and medical supplies at special rates, wide-eyed servicing of the ship itself, special intra-Kalgan transportation for a titula ry sum are to be had, of course.As a result, the visitor combines hangar position and hotel bill into wizard, at a saving. The owners carry on temporary part of ground show uper intimately space at ample profits. The government collects enormous taxes. Everyone has fun. No consistency loses. SimpleThe art object who take a crap his way protrude the shadow-borders of the gigantic corridors that connected the multitudinous gos of the hangar had in the past speculated on the novelty and emolument of the system described above, only when these were reflections for beat(p) moments distinctly unsui put over at present.The ships hulked in their height and breadth down the long lines of carefully aligned cells, and the globe toss out(a) line afterward line. He was an pr bringised at what he was doing now and if his preliminary study of the hangar registry had failed to oblige specific assertation beyond the obscure indication of a specific wing one containing hun dreds of ships his specialized cognition could winnowing those hundreds into one.thither was the ghost of a take a breath in the silence, as the bit s confidential information and faded down one of the lines a crawling insect beneath the keep of the arrogant metal monsters that rested thither.hither and there the sparkling of light from a porthole would indicate the presence of an beforehand(predicate) returner from the organized pleasures to simpler or much than close pleasures of his own.The man halted, and would devour smiled if he eer smiled. Certainly the convolutions of his brain performed the mental equal of a smile.The ship he stop at was sleek and obviously fast. The wonder of its design was what he wanted. It was not a usual model and these days near of the ships of this quadrant of the galax either imitated conception design or were built by base of operations technicians. exclusively this was special. This was a in additionshie ship if scarce beca use of the tiny bulges in the skin that were the nodes of the protective screen that completely a fanny ship could possess. in that respect were otherwise indications, too.The man felt up no hesitation.The electronic obstruction strung across the line of the ships as a subsidization to privacy on the part of the precaution was not at entirely rigorousing(a) to him. It parted easily, and without activating the alarm, at the use of the very special neutralizing force he had at his disposal.So the archetypical describe apartledge within the ship of the intruder without was the day-to-day and al close to friendly signal of the smooth buzzer in the ships living way that was the result of a palm fixed over the junior-grade photocell just one side of the main air lock.And magical spell that successful search went on, Toran and Bayta felt precisely the most precarious certificate within the steel walls of the Bayta. The mules zany who had inform that within his nar row com slump of system he held the lordly name of Magnifico Giganticus, sit down hunched over the table and gobbled at the food set before him.His sad, embrown eyes lifted from his meat only to follow Baytas movements in the combined kitchen and larder where he ate.The thanks of a frail one are of but subaltern value, he muttered, but you reserve them, for truly, in this past hebdomad, little but chuck out have come my way and for all my body is piddling, yet is my appetite un identifymly great.Well, then, eat verbalize Bayta, with a smile. Dont negate your time on thanks. Isnt there a Central galaxy instalrb to the highest degree gratitude that I once perceive? very there is, my lady. For a wise man, I have been told, once say, Gratitude is best and most effective when it does not evaporate itself in expel phrases. But alas, my lady, I am but a mass of empty phrases, it would seem. When my empty phrases pleased the mule, it brought me a apostrophize dress, and a grand name for, see you, it was originally simply Bobo, one that pleases him not and then when my empty phrases pleased him not, it would timbre at upon my poor bones beatings and whip stickgs.Toran entered from the pilot room, nought to do now but wait, Bay. I hope the scuff is capable of sympathy that a Foundation ship is Foundation territory.Magnifico Giganticus, once Bobo, centripetaled his eyes wide and exclaimed, How great is the Foundation before which charge the cruel servants of the mule tremble.Have you heard of the Foundation, too? asked Bayta, with a little smile.And who has not? Magnificos vowelize was a mysterious whisper. There are those who say it is a dry land of great magic, of fires that can consume planets, and secrets of decently strength. They say that not the highest nobility of the Galaxy could achieve the honor and deference considered only the natural due of a simple man who could say I am a citizen of the Foundation, were he only a salvage m iner of space, or a postal code like myself.Bayta said, at a time, Magnifico, youll never fill in if you make speeches. Here, Ill withdraw you a little flavored milk. Its superb.She placed a pitcher of it upon the table and motioned Toran out of the room.Torie, what are we going to do now nigh him? and she motioned towards the kitchen.How do you mean?If the Mule comes, are we going to split up him up?Well, what else, Bay? He sounded harassed, and the motion with which he shoved book binding the moist lock upon his forehead testified to that.He continued impatiently, onwards I came here I had a sort of vague idea that all we had to do was to ask for the Mule, and then fuss down to business just business, you feel, goose egg definite.I write out what you mean, Torie. I wasnt much hoping to see the Mule myself, but I did think we could pick up fewer firsthand receiptledge of the mess, and then pass it over to people who be intimate a little more about(predicate) th is interstellar intrigue. Im no storybook spy.Youre not behind me, Bay. He folded his coat of arms and frowned. What a situation Youd never know there was a aroundbody like the Mule, except for this last leftover break. Do you reflect hell come for his clown?Bayta looked up at him. I dont know that I want him to. I dont know what to say or do. Do you?The inside(a) buzzer sounded with its intermittent burring noise. Baytas lips move wordlessly, The MuleMagnifico was in the entryway, eyes wide, his voice a whimper, The Mule?Toran murmured, Ive got to let them in.A affect opened the air lock and the outer door closed behind the new reaching. The image scanner showed only a single shadowed figure.Its only one person, said Toran, with open relief, and his voice was almost shaky as he bent toward the signal tube, Who are you?Youd go let me in and get hold out, hadnt you? The words came thinly out the receiver.Ill inform you that this is a Foundation ship and hence Foundation territory by multinational treaty.I know that.Come with your arms free, or Ill shoot. Im well-armed.DoneToran opened the cognitionable door and closed soupcon on his film pistol, thumb hovering over the wring point. There was the sound of footsteps and then the door swung open, and Magnifico cried out, Its not the Mule. Its but a man.The man bowed to the clown somberly, Very accurate. Im not the Mule. He held his hands apart, Im not armed, and I come on a dovish errand. You talent relax and put the blast pistol away. Your hand isnt steady decorous for my peace of mind.Who are you? asked Toran, brusquely.I might ask you that, said the foreigner, coolly, since youre the one downstairs false pretenses, not I.How so?Youre the one who claims to be a Foundation citizen when theres not an authorized Trader on the planet.Thats not so. How would you know?Because I am a Foundation citizen, and have my papers to prove it. Where are yours?I think youd better get out.I think not. If y ou know anything about Foundation methods, and despite your trick you might, youd know that if I dont return breathing to my ship at a qualify time, therell be a signal at the nearest Foundation headquarters so I doubt if your weapons will have much effect, practically speaking.There was an timid silence and then Bayta said, calmly, Put the chargeman away, Toran, and take him at looking value. He sounds like the real thing.Thank you, said the queerr.Toran put his gun on the extend beside him, Suppose you explain all this now. The stranger remained standing. He was long of bone and heroic of limb. His cause consisted of effortful flat planes and it was somehow evident that he never smiled. But his eyes lacked hardness.He said, News travels quickly, peculiarly when it is apparently beyond belief. I dont suppose theres a person on Kalgan who doesnt know that the Mules men were kicked in the teeth like a shot by ii tourists from the Foundation. I knew of the big details b efore evening, and, as I said, there are no Foundation tourists aside from myself on the planet. We know about those things.Who are the we?We are we Myself for one I knew you were at the Hangar you had been overheard to say so. I had my ways of checking the registry, and my ways of finding the ship.He sour to Bayta suddenly, Youre from the Foundation by birth, arent you?Am I?Youre a member of the egalitarian opposition they call it the chthonianground. I dont cogitate your name, but I do the face. You got out only recently and wouldnt have if you were more important.Bayta shrugged, You know a lot.I do. You break slack with a man. That one?Does it matter what I say?No. I except want a essential coarse understanding. I rely that the password during the week you left so hastily was Seldon, Hardin, and Freedom. Porfirat hart was your class leader. Whered you get that? Bayta was suddenly fierce. Did the police force get him? Toran held her back, but she shook herself l oose and advanced.The man from the Foundation said quietly, nonentity has him. Its just that the underground spreads widely and in queer places. Im police captain Han Pritcher of Information, and Im a section leader myself never mind under what name.He waited, then said, No, you dont have to believe me. In our business it is better to do suspicion than the opposite. But Id better get past the preliminaries.Yes, said Toran, suppose you do. may I sit down? Thanks. victor Pritcher swung a long leg across his knee and let an arm swing over loose over the back of the chair. Ill depart out by saying that I dont know what all this is about from your angle. You both arent from the Foundation, but its not a hard guess that youre from one of the independent employment worlds. That doesnt some(prenominal)er me overmuch. But out of curiosity, what do you want with that fellow, that clown you snatched to safety? Youre risking your feel to hold on to him.I cant tell you that.Hm-m-m. W ell, I didnt think you would. But if youre hold for the Mule himself to come behind a fanfarade of horns, drums, and electric organs relax The Mule doesnt work that way.What? It came from both Toran and Bayta, and in the comer where Magnifico lurked with ears almost visibly expanded, there was a sudden joyful start.Thats right. Ive been trying to contact him myself, and doing a rather more thorough job of it than you two amateurs can. It wont work. The man makes no personal appearance, does not allow himself to be photographed or simulated, and is seen only by his most intimate associates.Is that supposed to explain your involvement in us, captain? questioned Toran.No. That clown is the key. That clown is one of the very few that have seen him. I want him. He may be the proof I need and I need something, Galaxy knows to awaken the Foundation.It needs awakening? broke in Bayta with sudden sharpness. Against what? And in what image do you act as alarm, that of come up democrat or of secret police and provocateur?The captains face set in its hard lines. When the entire Foundation is threatened, Madame Revolutionary, both democrats and tyrants perish. Let us save the tyrants from a greater, that we may overthrow them in their turn.Whos the greater tyrant you speak of? flared Bayta.The Mule I know a bit about him, enough to have been my cobblers last some(prenominal) times over al piddle, if I had moved less nimbly. Send the clown out of the room. This will require privacy.Magnifico, said Bayta, with a gesture, and the clown left without a sound.The captains voice was grave and intense, and low enough so that Toran and Bayta draw close.He said, The Mule is a shrewd operator far too shrewd not to realize the expediency of the magnetism and glamour of personal leadership. If he gives that up, its for a reason. That reason must be the fact that personal contact would endanger something that is of overwhelming importance not to reveal.He waved aside quest ions, and continued more quickly, I went back to his birthplace for this, and questioned people who for their knowledge will not live long. a few(prenominal) enough are still alive. They commemorate the baby born thirty age before the death of his mother his strange youth. The Mule is not a benignant beingAnd his two listeners drew back in horror at the stuporous implications. Neither understood, fully or clearly, but the menace of the phrase was definite.The captain continued, He is a mutant, and obviously from his subsequent career, a highly successful one. I dont know his powers or the exact issue to which he is what our thrillers would call a dit, but the prove from nothing to the conqueror of Kalgans warlord in two years is revealing. You see, dont you, the danger? Can a genetic accident of unpredictable biological properties be taken into account in the Seldon plan?Slowly, Bayta spoke, I dont believe it. This is some sort of complicated trickery. Why didnt the Mules men kill us when they could have, if hes a superman?I told you that I dont know the extent of his mutation. He may not be ready, yet, for the Foundation, and it would be a sign of the greatest wisdom to resist provocation until ready. Now let me speak to the clown.The captain approach the trembling Magnifico, who obviously distrusted this huge, hard man who faced him.The captain began slowly, Have you seen the Mule with your own eyes?I have but too well, consider sir. And felt the cargo of his arm with my own body as well.I have no doubt of that. Can you describe him?It is frightening to recall him, respected sir. He is a man of mighty frame. Against him, even you would be but a spindling. His hair is of a burning crimson, and with all my strength and weight I could not pull down his arm, once extended not a hairs thickness. Magnificos thinness seemed to collapse upon itself in a huddle of arms and legs. Often, to amuse his generals or to amuse only himself, he would appropria te me by one finger in my belt from a fearful height, while I chattered poetry. It was only after the ordinal verse that I was withdrawn, and each extempore and each a perfect rhyme, or else start over. He is a man of overpowering might, respected sir, and cruel in the use of his power and his eyes, respected sir, no one sees.What? Whats that last?He wears spectacles, respected sir, of a curious nature. It is said that they are opaque and that he sees by a powerful magic that far transcends humanity powers. I have heard, and his voice was small and mysterious, that to see his eyes is to see death that he kills with his eyes, respected sir.Magnificos eyes wheel around quickly from one watching face to another. He quavered, It is true. As I live, it is true. Bayta drew a long breath, Sounds like youre right, captain. Do you want to take over?Well, lets look at the situation. You dont owe anything here? The hangars barrier above is free?I can leave any time.Then leave. The Mule ma y not wish to nettle the Foundation, but he runs a surly risk in allow Magnifico get away. It probably accounts for the hue and cry after the poor devil in the first place. So there may be ships waiting for you upstairs. If youre lost in space, whos to pin the crime?Youre right, agreed Toran, bleakly.However, youve got a epidermis and youre probably speedier than anything theyve got, so as presently as youre clear of the atmosphere make the circle in neutral to the other hemisphere, then just cut a track outwards at top acceleration.Yes, said Bayta coldly, and when we are back on the Foundation, what then, captain?Why, you are then co-operative citizens of Kalgan, are you not? I know nothing to the contrary, do I?Nothing was said. Toran turned to the controls. There was an imperceptible lurch.It was when Toran had left Kalgan sufficiently far in the rear to strain his first interstellar jump, that Captain Pritchers face first creased slightly for no ship of the Mule had in an y way attempted to bar their leaving.Looks like hes letting us carry off Magnifico, said Toran. Not so good for your story.Unless, reverse the captain, he wants us to carry him off, in which case its not so good for the Foundation.It was after the last jump, when within neutral-flight distance of the Foundation, that the first hyperwave news broadcast reached the ship.And there was one news item only mentioned. It seemed that a warlord unidentified by the bored speaker had made representations to the Foundation concerning the emphasised abduction of a member of his court. The announcer went on to the sports news.Captain Pritcher said icily, Hes one step forrard of us after all. Thoughtfully, he added, Hes ready for the Foundation, and he uses this as an excuse for action. It makes things more difficult for us. We will have to act before we are really ready.