Second Foundation 17. War

The mayor of the Foundation brushed futilely at the picket close in of hair that rimmed his skull. He sighed. The years that we adopt wasted the chances we have thrown away. I make no recriminations, Dr. Dargonll, but we deserve defeat.D atomic number 18ll study, quietly, I see no reason for neediness of confidence in events, sir. omit of confidence Lack of confidence By the Galaxy, Dr. Darell, on what would you base any other attitude? Come here-He half-led half-forced Darell toward the limpid ovoid cradled graciously on its tiny force-field support. At a touch of the mayors hand, it glowed deep down an finished three-dimensional get of the Galactic double-spiral.In xanthous, said the mayor, excitedly, we have that kingdom of Space under Foundation control in red, that under Kalgan.What Darell precept was a crimson sphere resting within a stretching yellow fist that surrounded it on all sides but that toward the center of the Galaxy.Galactography, said the mayor, is ou r greatest confrontation. Our admirals make no secret of our almost hopeless, strategic position. Observe. The enemy has inner lines of communication. He is concentrated can meet us on all sides with equal ease. He can defend himself with minimum force.We are expanded. The average distance between inhabited systems within the Foundation is close to three times that within Kalgan. To go from Santanni to Locris, for instance, is a voyage of xxv hundred parsecs for us, but precisely eight hundred parsecs for them, if we remain within our respective territories-Darell said, I earn all that, sir.And you do not understand that it may mean defeat.There is more than distance to war. I say we cannot lose. It is quite impossible.And why do you say that?Because of my own interpretation of the Seldon Plan.Oh, the mayors lips twisted, and the hold behind his back flapped one within the other, then you rely, too, on the cryptic help of the Second Foundation.No. Merely on the help of inevi tableness and of courage and persistence.And yet behind his easy confidence, he wondered-What if-Well- What if Anthor were right, and Kalgan were a submit tool of the mental wizards. What if it was their purpose to defeat and destroy the Foundation. No It make no senseAnd yet-He grind bitterly. Always the same. Always that peering and peering through the mirky granite which, to the enemy, was so transparent.Nor were the galactographic verities of the situation lost upon Stettin.***The Lord of Kalgan stood before a pair of the Galactic model which the mayor and Darell had inspected. Except that where the mayor frowned, Stettin smiled.His admirals uniform glistered impressively upon his massive figure. The crimson sash of the Order of the Mule awarded him by the reason First Citizen whom six months later he had replaced somewhat forcefully, spanned his chest diagonally from right shoulder to waist. The Silver Star with Double Comets and Swords sparkled brilliantly upon his lef t over(p) shoulder.He addressed the six men of his general staff whose uniforms were only less grandiloquent than his own, and his First Minister as well, thin and venerable a darkling cobweb, lost in the brightness.Stettin said, I think the decisions are clear. We can afford to wait. To them, every day of delay exit be another blow at their morale. If they attempt to defend all portions of their realm, they will be spread thin and we can strike through in two simultaneous thrusts here and here. He indicated the directions on the Galactic model two lances of pure white shooting through the yellow fist from the red ball it inclosed, cutting Terminus off on all side in a tight arc. In such a manner, we cut their fleet into three parts which can be frustrated in detail. If they concentrate, they give up two-thirds of their dominions voluntarily and will probably pretend rebellion.The First Ministers thin voice alone seeped through the hush that followed. In six months, he said, the Foundation will grow six months stronger. Their resources are greater, as we all know, their navy is numerically stronger their manpower is virtually inexhaustible. by chance a quick thrust would be safer.His was easily the least prestigious voice in the room. Lord Stettin smiled and made a flat apparent movement with his hand. The six months or a year, if necessary will cost us nothing. The men of the Foundation cannot prepare they are ideologically incapable of it. It is in their very philosophy to believe that the Second Foundation will spell them. But not this time, eh?The men in the room stirred uneasily.You lack confidence, I believe, said Stettin, frigidly. Is it necessary once again to describe the reports of our agents in Foundation territory, or to repeat the findings of Mr. Homir Munn, the Foundation agent now in our uh service? Let us adjourn, gentlemen.Stettin returned to his private chambers with a unflinching smile still on his face. He sometimes wondered a b discover this Homir Munn. A queer water-spined fellow who certainly did not bear out his early promise. And yet he crawled with interesting information that carried conviction with it particularly when Callia was present.His smile broadened. That fat fool had her uses, after all. At least, she got more with her wheedling out of Munn than he could, and with less trouble. Why not give her to Munn? He frowned. Callia. She and her monstrous jealousy. Space If he still had the Darell girl- Why hadnt he ground her skull to demolish for that?He couldnt quite put his finger on the reason.Maybe because she got along with Munn. And he needed Munn. It was Munn, for instance, who had demonstrated that, at least in the flavor of the Mule, there was no Second Foundation. His admirals needed that assurance.He would have wish to make the proofs public, but it was better to let the Foundation believe in their nonexistent help. Was it actually Callia who had pointed that out? Thats right. She had said-Oh, nonsense She couldnt have said anything.And yet-He shook his head to clear it and passed on.