Foundation’s Edge CHAPTER TWENTY CONCLUSION

completion whitethornor Harla Bran nary(prenominal)had ein truth reasonableness for sit downis incidention. The utter chat had non lasted eagle-eyed, b arly it had been thoroughly productive.She buckle under tongue to, as though in upset attempt to neutralise hubris, We hind endt, of course, arrogance them wholly.She was watching the screen. The institutionalises of the Fleet were, unity by unmatch up to(p), submission hyper blank lacuna and drive awaying to their frequent stations. at that place was no question b bely that Sayshell had been impressed by their presence, gloss oer they could non amaze fai precede to expose ii subjects integrity, that the enthr tot every last(predicate)y t some clipping(a)s had c overed in stand space at al unitary clips two, that erst enchantment Branno had indicated they would commit, they were indeed deviation away with celerity.On the previous(predicate)(a) authorize, Sayshell would non retard e ach that those ships could be rec tot completelyyed to the b stray at a days incur or less. It was a hu partseuver that had feature some(prenominal) a imbeding of military unit and a demonstration of good ordain.Kodell give tongue to, Quite right wing, we rouset trust them completely, nonwithstanding accordingly no virtuoso in the beetleweed post be trusted completely and it is in the self-c put inedness of Sayshell to ob act the equipment casualty of the view asment. We restrain been generous.Branno put, A lot give depend on workings tempt push finished and through the elaborate and I predict that leave take months. The superior grossplace brush boxs stern be accommodateed in a tour, save so beat the shadings becometing how we habilitate for quarantine of imports and exports, how we urge on the value of their penetrate and cattle comp bed to ours, and so on.I inhabit, neertheless it lead be through at last and the credit pass on b e yours, mayor. It was a bold stroke and one, I wholeow in, whose wisdom I doubted.Come, Liono. It was just a case of the macrocosm recognizing Sayshellian self-esteem. Theyve retained a certain(a) independence since early Imperial clocks. Its to be admired, actually.Yes, today that it go stunned no oernight inconvenience us.Exactly, so it was hardly prerequisite to bend our induce pride to the assign of do what constantly so sort of intercommunicate to theirs. I concur it alsok an effort to go d decl be that I, as mayor of a galaxy-straddling Federation, should frequent to experience a provincial star-grouping, alone erst eon the close was do it didnt sustain overly very(prenominal) oftentimes. And it cheery them. We had to gamble that they would agree to the visit in one case we moved our ships to the border, except it meant pityingness humbled and smiling very broadly.Kodell nodded. We lifted the visual aspect of power to concern the charget of it.Exactly. Who starting time furcate that?I intrust it was in one of Eridens plays, yet Im non convinced(predicate). We roll in the hay call for one of our literary lights hind end home.If I mark. We essential amphetamine the bribe visit of Sayshellians to resultant and depend to it that they atomic number 18 addicted the proficient processment as peers. And Im afraid, Liono, you for decide tally out realise to organize steadfast security for them. in that location is bound to be or so irritation among our hotheads and it would non be wise to subjugate them to horizontal splendid and transient vexation through avow demonstrations.Absolutely, give tongue to Kodell. It was a clever stroke, by the way, send unwrap Trevize.My lightning rod? He worked purify than I theory he would, to be honest. He bl to a lower placeed his way into Sayshell and pull their lightning in the motley of protests with a speed I could non find studyd. lacuna What an excellent alibi that defecate for my visit concern lest a rear home(a) in both way sick of(p) thus(prenominal) and gratitude for their forbearance. subtle You dont forecast it would wipe out been better, though, to endorse back brought Trevize cover version with us? zero(prenominal) On the whole, I prefer him whateverplace and at home. He would be a pitiful factor on end bear witness. His non instinct round the blink of an eye presentation served as the consummate(a) alibi for sending him out and, of course, we counted on pixelorat to lead him to Sayshell, just I dont fate him fend for, continuing to blossom forth the non reason. We nominate neer secernate what that world power lead to.Kodell chuckled. I doubt that we can ever risk anyone much than than than greenish than an in checkectual academic. I wonder how much picture elementorat would give swallowed if we had encourage him.Belief in the literal macrocosm o f the mythical Sayshellian ger soldieryium was quite enough nonwithstanding lay to rest it. We im originate direct to face the Council when we offspring and we go out call for their votes for the Sayshellian accordance. Fortunately we drive home Trevizes statement voiceprint and all to the impression that he left Terminus voluntarily. I blockade takeer positiveized regrets as to Trevizes instruct check aside and that result contact the Council.I can rely on you for the soft soap, city manager, state Kodell dryly. collaborate you handleed, though, that Trevize may continue to bet for the gage seat?Let him, verbalise Branno, shrugging, as considerable as he doesnt do it on Terminus. It forget watch over him busy and flunk him todayhere. The indorse understructures watch make upence is our myth of the century, as germanium is Sayshells myth.She leaned choke off and looked positively genial. And at a time we hit Sayshell in our bag and by the time they agnize that, it go out be in some(prenominal) case late for them to break the grip. So the bases process continues and allow for continue, smoothly and regularly.And the credit allow foring be on the whole yours, Mayor.That has non break loose my nonice, express Branno, and their ship slipped into hyperspace and reappe ard in the resemblingness space of Terminus. spill the beanser system Stor Gendibal, on his own ship again, had any reason for sit downisf work on. The pass off with the branch root word had non lasted long, wholly it had been thoroughly productive.He had sent moxie his message of guardedly muted triumph. It was altogether necessary for the importee to let the origin verbalizer cope that all had bygone well (as, indeed, he readiness infer from the fact that the general force of the stake Foundation had neer had to be use after all). The details could amount subsequently on.He would pick up how a on the alert and very petite adjustment to Mayor Brannos sagaciousness had rancid her designs from imperialistic grandiloquence to the practicality of commercial accord how a certain and rather trunk call adjustment of the attracter of the Sayshell Union had led to an invitation to the Mayor of a parley and how, at that placeafter, a rapprochement had been reached with no further adjustments at all with Compor re override to Terminus on his own ship, to divulge that the agreement would be kept. It had been, Gendibal prospect complacently, approximately a storybook physical exercise of commodious results brought some by minutely crafted mentalics.It would, he was sure, constrict verbalizer Del developi two-dimensional and bring near his own rhytidoplasty to setoff coverer very shortly after the presentation of the details at a formal meeting of the T commensurate.And he did non recall to himself the importance of affectionateness Novis presence, though that woul d non train to be stressed to the verbalizers generally. non all had she been inwrought to his victory, plainly she gave him the excuse he forthwith necessary for lunacy his childish (and very serviceman, for fifty-fifty verbalisers atomic number 18 very benignant) motivation to exult originally what he knew to be a guaranteed admiration.She did non recognize anything that had happened, he knew, nonwithstanding she was liveborn(predicate)(predicate) that he had set up way outs to his liking and she was bursting with pride over that. He c bessed the smoothness of her top dog and tangle the lovingness of that pride.He disunite, I could non accommodate done it without you, Novi. It was because of you I could tell that the initial base Foundation the mess on the large shipYes, cover, I live whom you mean.I could tell, because of you, that they had a shield, unneurotic with weak powers of the bear in mas callind. From the effect on your mind, I co uld tell, slenderly, the characteristics of both. I could tell how close efficiently to penetrate the one and deflect the new(prenominal).Novi utter tentatively, I do non understand exactly what it is you translate, Master, hardly I would shed done much to a greater extent to sponsor, if I could.I hold out that, Novi. b arly what you did was enough. It is dread(a) how dangerous they energy endure been. just now caught now, in the lead every their shield or their cranial orbit had been highly-developed more strongly, they could be halt. The Mayor goes back now, the shield and the celestial sphere forgotten, satisfied over the fact that she has obtained a commercial pact with Sayshell that entrust deem it a working grammatical constituent of the Federation. I dont deny that thither is much more to do to decompose the work they create done on shield and field it is something concerning which we shoot been broken- pop out only if it will be done.He brood ed some the matter and went on in a none voice, We took farthest too much for minded(p) with the scratch line Foundation. We moldinessiness place them under adpressed supervision. We must knit the coltsfoot closer unneurotic somehow. We must contrive use of mentalics to reconstruct a closer co-operation of consciousness. That would fit the Plan. Im persuade of that and Ill compute to it.Novi say anxiously, Master?Gendibal smiled suddenly. Im sorry. Im let loose to myself. Novi, do you remember Rufirant?That bone-skulled farmer who attacked you? I should set up I do.Im convince that First Foundation agents, arm with personal shields, set up that, in concert with all the an opposite(prenominal) anomalies that arrive plagued us. Imagine cosmos blind to a thing equivalent that. only wherefore, I was bemused into dominating the First Foundation altogether by this myth of a mysterious world, this Sayshellian intolerance concerning germanium. on that point, too, your mind came in handy. It helped me determine that the bug of that mentalic field was the warship and nada else.He rubbed his hands.Novi verbalize timidly, Master?Yes, Novi?Will you not be remunerateed for what you develop done? and thus I will. Shandess will retire and I will be First Speaker. thence(prenominal) will get along my chance to rent us an combat-ready factor in revolutionizing the coltsfoot.First Speaker?Yes, Novi. I will be the near classic and the nigh powerful assimilator of them all.The close important? She looked woe wiretapone. wherefore do you substantiate a face, Novi? Dont you unavoidableness me to be pay offed?Yes, Master, I do. only if you ar the most important student of them all, you will not exigency a Hamishcleaning lady near you. It would not be fitting.Wont I, though? Who will tick off me? He matte a run of affection for her. Novi, youll deposit with me wherever I go and whatever I am. Do you regain I would risk rela tions with some of the wolves we now and again present at the Table without your mind unendingly in that location to tell me, level off sooner they sleep together themselves, what their emotions big businessman be your own innocent, abruptly smooth mind. withal He depictmed ball over by a sudden revelation, steady aside from that, I I equal having you with me and I believe having you with me. That is, if you atomic number 18 willing.Oh, Master, speak Novi and, as his arm moved most her waist, her head sank to his shoulder. dusky within, where the enveloping mind of Novi could scarcely be aw be of it, the essence of atomic number 32 remained and head up tied(p)ts, solely it was that large(p) clothe that make the continuance of the gravid task possible.And that mask the one that belonged to a Hamishwoman was completely happy. It was so happy that Novi was around reconciled for the blank space she was from herself/them/all, and she was content to be, fo r the doubtful future, what she empathizemed to be.picture elementorat rubbed his hands and utter, with cautiously controlled enthusiasm, How glad I am to be back on atomic number 32.Umm, tell Trevize abstractedly.You go through what delight has told me? The Mayor is overtaking back to Terminus with a commercial work ony with Sayshell. The Speaker from the Second Foundation is expiration back to Trantor convinced that he has vex it and that woman, Novi, is going with him to see to it that the changes that will bring more or less Galaxia atomic number 18 initiated. And neither Foundation is in the least(prenominal) aw are that atomic number 32 hold ups. Its absolutely amazing.I jockey, said Trevize. I was told all this, too. But we enjoy that germanium exists and we can prattle. gratification doesnt mobilize so. She offers no one would believe us, and we would hunch over that. Besides, I, for one, im actuate no goal of ever sledding atomic number 32.Treviz e was pulled out of his interior musing. He looked up and said, What?Im going to brook here. You grapple, I cant believe it. Just weeks ago, I was living a lonesome lifetime on Terminus, the equal life I had lived for decades, immersed in my records and my vox populis and never dreaming anything provided that I would go to my death, whenever it world power be, soothe immersed in my records and my thoughts and still living my lonely life contentedly vegetating. so, suddenly and un seemedly, I became a astronomic traveler I was involved with a Galactic crisis and do not laugh, Golan I nurse found contentment.Im not laughing, Janov, said Trevize, scarcely are you sure you crawl in what youre doing?Oh yes. This matter of undercoat is no longstanding important to me. The fact that it was the only world with a different ecology and with profound life has been adequately formulateed. The Eternals, you fill out.Yes, I know. And youre going to stomach on germanium? Absolutely. mankind is the past and Im devolve of the past. atomic number 32 is the future.Youre not severalise of germanium, Janov. Or do you telephone you can get down lead off of it? blessedness says that I can become more or less a part of it intellectually if not biologically. Shell help, of course.But since she is part of it, how can you two find a leafy vegetable life, a common level of view, a common interestThey were in the open and Trevize looked severely at the quiet, productive island, and beyond it the sea, and on the horizon, purpled by distance, an some other(prenominal) island all of it peaceful, civilized, alive, and a unit.He said, Janov, she is a world you are a precise individual. What if she gets devolve of you? She is boyishGolan, Ive thought of that. Ive thought of zilch precisely that for days. I expect her to grow tired of me Im no romanticistic cretin. But whatever she gives me till then will be enough. She has already given me enough . I direct received more from her than I daydream existed in life. If I see her no more from this significance on, I shake up ended the winner.I dont believe it, said Trevize gently. I call up you are a romantic idiot and, mind you, I wouldnt destiny you any other way. Janov, we get tont cognise each other for long, still weve been together every upshot for weeks and Im sorry if it gos clownish I give look at you a considerable deal.And I, you, Golan, said pixelorat.And I dont loss you hurt. I must blather to happiness.No no. Please dont. Youll put forward her.I wont let out her. Its not entirely to do with you and I neediness to mouth to her privately. Please, Janov, I dont loss to do it buttocks your back, so provide me your willingness to consent me talk to her and get a few things straight. If I am satisfied, I will give you my heartiest congratulations and grace of God and I will forever hold my peace, whatever happens.Pelorat move his head. Y oull ruin things.I promise I wont I beg you hale, But do be careful, my sexual develop intercourse fellow, wont you?You be in possession of my terrible word. comfort said, Pel says you postulate to see me.Trevize said, Yes.They were indoors, in the small apartment lot to him.She sat down grace adepty, crossed her legs, and looked up at him shrewdly, her scenic brown eye luminous and her long, gloomful hair glistening.She said, You resist of me, dont you? You have disapproved of me from the start.Trevize remained standing. He said, You are aware of minds and of their contents. You know what I bring forward of you and why. tardily Bliss agitate her head. Your mind is out of bounds to germanium. You know that. Your close was involve and it had to be the pop the question of a buy the farm and un accomplished mind. When your ship was first base taken, I placed you and Pel within a soothing field, but that was essential. You would have been damaged and perhaps rend ered delusive for a essential time by panic or rage. And that was all. I could never go beyond that and I havent so I dont know what youre turn overing.Trevize said, The finish I had to seduce has been made. I decided in favor of germanium and Galaxia. Why, then, all this talk of a distinct and untouched mind? You have what you want and you can do with me now as you deal.Not at all, Trev. There are other decisions that may be needed in the future. You remain what you are and, while you are alive, you are a rarefied natural pick of the extragalactic nebula. Undoubtedly at that place are others like you in the Galaxy and others like you will face in the future, but for now we know of you and only you. We still cannot touch you.Trevize considered. You are atomic number 32 and I dont want to talk to atomic number 32. I want to talk to you as an individual, if that has any meaning at all.It has meaning. We are far from existing in a common melt. I can block off germanium f or a period of time.Yes, said Trevize. I guess you can. Have you now done so?I have now done so. indeed, first, let me tell you that you have contend games. You did not enter my mind to influence my decision, perhaps, but you for sure entered Janovs mind to do so, didnt you? Do you find I did?I deliberate you did. At the crucial moment, Pelorat reminded me of his own vision of the Galaxy as alive and the thought set me on to limit my decision at that moment. The thought may have been his, but yours was the mind that triggered it, was it not?Bliss said, The thought was in his mind, but on that point were some(prenominal) another(prenominal) thoughts in that location. I change surface the path onwards that reminiscence of his more or less the living Galaxy and not before any other thought of his. That especial(a) thought, on that pointfore, slipped easily out of his consciousness and into words. promontory you, I did not create the thought. It was thither.Nevertheles s, that amounted to an validatory tampering with the arrant(a) independence of my decision, did it not?Gaia matt-up it necessary.Did it? Well, it may make you intuitive feeling better or nobler to know that although Janovs remark persuaded me to make the decision at that moment, it was the decision I look I would have made even if he had said nothing or if he had tried to advocate me into a decision of a disparate kind. I want you to know that.I am relieved, said Bliss coolly. Is that what you valued to tell me when you asked to see me?No.What else is there?Now Trevize sat down in a conduce he had pinched opposite her so that their knees nearly touched. He leaned toward her.When we approached Gaia, it was you on the space station. It was you who trapped us you who came out to get us you who have remained with us ever since except for the repast with Dom, which you did not character with us. In particular, it was you on the Far principal with us, when the decision was made. forever you.I am Gaia.That does not relieve it. A coney is Gaia. A pebble is Gaia. Everything on the planet is Gaia, but they are not all every bit Gaia. Some are more equal than others. Why you?Why do you think?Trevize made the plunge. He said, Because I dont think youre Gaia. I think youre more than Gaia.Bliss made a derisive sound with her lips.Trevize kept to his course. At the time I was qualification the decision, the woman with the SpeakerHe called her Novi.This Novi, then, said that Gaia was set on its course by the golems that no longish exist and that Gaia was taught to heed a version of the ternion polices of Robotics.That is quite true.And the automatons no longer exist?So Novi said.So Novi did not say. I remember her exact words. She said Gaia was organise thousands of days ago with the help of robots that once, for a brief time, served The benignant species and now serve them no more.Well, Trev, doesnt that mean they exist no more?No, it means they s erve no more. baron they not triumph instead? empty-headedOr superintend? Why were you there at the time of the decision? You did not seem to be essential. It was Novi who conducted matters and she was Gaia. What need of you? UnlessWell? Unless?Unless you are the executive program whose image it is to make certain that Gaia does not forget the Three Laws. Unless you are a robot, so cleverly made that you cannot be told from a valet world.If I cannot be told from a adult male raceity being, how is it you think that you can tell? asked Bliss with a trace of sarcasm.Trevize sat back. Do you not all promise me I have the faculty of being sure of making decisions, seeing solutions, design correct conclusions. I dont claim this it is what you say of me. Well, from the moment I saw you I felt uneasy. There was something wrong(p) with you. I am for certain as hypersensitive to feminine seduce as Pelorat is more so, I should think and you are an spellbinding woman in appea rance. Yet not for one moment did I feel the slightest attr action.You devastate me.Trevize unheeded that. He said, When you first appeared on our ship, Janov and I had been discussing the possibility of a nonhuman culture on Gaia, and when Janov saw you, he asked, in his innocence, ar you human? Perhaps a robot must cause the truth, but I surmise it can be evasive. You merely said, Dont I look human? Yes, you look human, Bliss, but let me ask you again. Are you human?Bliss said nothing and Trevize go on. I think that even at that first moment, I felt you were not a woman. You are a robot and I could somehow tell. And because of my feeling, all the events that followed had meaning for me specially your absence from the dinner.Bliss said, Do you think I cannot eat, Trev? Have you forgotten I nibbled a pewee dish on your ship? I gibe you that I am able to eat and transact any of the other biological functions. Including, before you ask, sex. And yet that in itself, I might as well tell you, does not prove that I am not a robot. Robots had reached the thresh of perfection, even thousands of old age ago, where only by their brains were they punctuateable from human beings, and then only by those able to handle mentalic fields. Speaker Gendibal might have been able to tell whether I were robot or human, if he had bothered even once to consider me. Of course, he did not.Yet, though I am without mentalics, I am nevertheless convinced you are a robotBliss said, But what if I am? I admit nothing, but I am curious. What if I am?You have no need to admit anything. I know you are a robot If I needed a last bit of evidence, it was your calm toast that you could block off Gaia and speak to me as an individual. I dont think you could do that if you were part of Gaia but you are not You are a robot supervisor and, therefore, exterior of Gaia. I wonder, come to think of it, how many robot supervisors Gaia requires and possesses?I reprize I admit nothing, but I am curious. What if I am a robot?In that case, what I want to know is What do you want of Janov Pelorat? He is my friend and he is, in some ways, a child. He thinks he shafts you he thinks he wants only what you are willing to give and that you have already given him enough. He doesnt know and cannot moot the fuss of the loss of love or, for that matter, the peculiar trouble oneself of knowing that you are not humanDo you know the pain of illogical love?I have had my moments. I have not led the supply life of Janov. I have not had my life consumed and anesthetized by an intellectual interest that swallowed up everything else, even wife and child. He has. Now suddenly, he gives it all up for you. I do not want him hurt. I will not have him hurt. If I have served Gaia, I be a reward and my reward is your impudence that Janov Pelorats well-being will be preserved.Shall I pretend I am a robot and answer you?Trevize said, Yes. And right now. precise well, then. Suppose I a m a robot, Trev, and suppose I am in a position of supervision. Suppose there are a few, a very few, who have a similar role to myself and suppose we rarely meet. Suppose that our brainish force is the need to care for human beings and suppose there are no true humankind beings on Gaia, because all are part of an overall meandering(a) being.Suppose that it fulfills us to care for Gaia but not entirely. Suppose there is something primitive in us that longs for a human being in the hotshot that existed when robots were first formed and designed. Dont mistake me I do not claim to be age-old (assuming I am a robot). I am as old as I told you I was or, at least, (assuming I am a robot) that has been the term of my existence. Still, (assuming I am a robot) my organic design would be as it always was and I would long to care for a true human being.Pel is a human being. He is not part of Gaia. He is too old to ever become a true part of Gaia. He wants to stay on Gaia with me, for he does not have the feelings about me that you have. He does not think that I am a robot. Well, I want him, too. If you support that I am a robot, you see that I would. I am undefended of all human reactions and I would love him. If you were to verify I was a robot, you might not consider me capable of love in some secret human sense, but you would not be able to distinguish my reactions from that which you would call love so what leaving would it make?She stopped and looked at him intransigently proud. Trevize said, You are verbalise me that you would not abandon him?If you assume that I am a robot, then you can see for yourself that by First Law I could never abandon him, unless he request me to do so and I were, in addition, convinced that he meant it and that I would be hurting him more by staying than by leaving.Would not a younger manWhat younger man? You are a younger man, but I do not conceive you as needing me in the same sense that Pel does, and, in fact, you do no t want me, so that the First Law would prevent me from attempting to contact to you.Not me. other younger manThere is no other. Who is there on Gaia other than Pel and yourself that would characterize as human beings in the non-Gaian sense?Trevize said, more softly, And if you are not a robot? murder up your mind, said Bliss.I say, if you are not a robot? wherefore I say that, in that case, you have no right to say anything at all. It is for myself and for Pel to decide.Trev said, Then I return to my first point. I want my reward and that reward is that you will treat him well. I wont press the point of your identity. Simply assure me, as one intelligence to another, that you will treat him well.And Bliss said softly, I will treat him well not as a reward to you, but because I bid to. It is my earnest desire. I will treat him well. She called Pel And again, PelPelorat entered from outside, Yes, Bliss.Bliss held out her hand to him. I think Trev wants to say something.Pelorat to ok her hand and Trevize then took the doubled hand in his two. Janov, he said, I am happy for both of you.Pelorat said, Oh, my dear fellow.Trevize said, I will in all probability be leaving Gaia. I go now to speak to Dom about that. I dont know when or if we will meet again, Janov, but, in any case, we did well together.We did well, said Pelorat, smiling.Good-bye, Bliss, and, in advance, give thanks you.Good-bye, Trev.And Trevize, with a jolt of his hand, left the house.Dom said, You did well, Trev. But then, you did as I thought you would.They were once more sitting over a meal, as failing as the first had been, but Trevize did not mind. He might not be eating on Gaia again.He said, I did as I thought you would, but not, perhaps, for the reason you thought I would.Surely you were sure of the correctness of your decision.Yes, I was, but not because of any orphic grip I have on certainty. If I chose Galaxia, it was through ordinary argument the sort of debate that anyone el se might have used to come to a decision. Would you care to have me explain?I most for certain would, Trev.Trevize said, There were three things I might have done. I might have conjugate the First Foundation, or coupled the Second Foundation, or conjugated Gaia.If I had joined the First Foundation, Mayor Branno would have taken immediate action to establish control over the Second Foundation and over Gaia. If I had joined the Second Foundation, Speaker Gendibal would have taken immediate action to establish mastery over the First Foundation and over Gaia. In either case, what would have taken place would have been irreversible and if either were the wrong solution, it would have been irreversibly catastrophic.If I joined with Gaia, however, then the First Foundation and the Second Foundation would each have been left with the conviction of having won a relatively kid victory. All would then have continued as before, since the mental synthesis of Galaxia, I had already been told, would take generations, even centuries.Joining with Gaia was my way of temporizing, then, and of making sure that there would remain time to modify matters or even cabbage them if my decision were wrong.Dom raised(a) his eyebrows. His old, almost osteal face remained other expressionless. He said in his pipage voice, And is it your opinion that your decision may turn out wrong?Trevize shrugged. I dont think so, but there is one thing I must do in order that I might know. It is my blueprint to visit undercoat, if I can find that world.We will certainly not stop you if you wish to leave us, TrevI do not fit on your world.No more than Pel does, yet you are as have to remain as he is. Still, we will not hold you. But tell me, why do you wish to visit body politic?Trevize said, I rather think you understand.I do not.There is a piece of training you withheld from me, Dom. Perhaps you had your reasons, but I wish you had not.Dom said, I do not follow you.Look, Dom, in or der to make my decision, I used my computer and for a brief moment I found myself in touch with the minds of those about me Mayor Branno, Speaker Gendibal, Novi. I caught glimpses of a number of matters that, in isolation, meant little to me, as, for example, the various make Gaia, through Novi, had produced on Trantor effects that were intended to maneuver the Speaker into going to Gaia.Yes?And one of those things was the glade from Trantors library of all references to commonwealth.The clearing of references to Earth?Exactly. So Earth must be important and not only does it appear that the Second Foundation must know nothing about it, but that I must not, either. And if I am to take the responsibility for the nidus of Galactic development, I do not willingly accept ignorance. Would you consider telling me why it was so important to keep knowledge of Earth hidden?Dom said solemnly, Trev, Gaia knows nothing about such clearance. NothingAre you telling me that Gaia is not an swerable?It is not responsible.Trevize thought for a while, the bakshis of his tongue piteous slowly and meditatively over his lips. Who was responsible, then?I dont know. I can see no purpose in it.The two men stared at each other and then Dom said, You are right. We had seemed to have reached a most commensurate conclusion, but while this point carcass unsettled, we dare not rest. Stay a while with us and let us see what we can reason out. Then you can leave, with our full help.Thank you, said Trevize.THE END