Foundation And Chaos Read Free Page A

interest in the
     response to a supernova explosion near four relatively loyal Imperial worlds, including
     beautiful and productive Sarossa.
    He had sent his most reliable and ingenious councilor to oversee what little rescuing
     could be done at Sarossa. His brows furrowed at the thought of the inadequacy of this
     response... And what political dangers the Commission, and Trantor, might face if nothing
     at all could be accomplished. Empire after all was a matter of quid pro quo; if there was
     no quo then there might as well be no quid.
    Public Safety was more than just a political catchphrase; in this endless painful age of
     decay, an aristocratic official such as Chen still had an important function. The public
     image of the Commissioners seemed to be one of irresponsible luxury, but Chen took his
     duties very seriously. He harked back to a better time, when the Empire could and did look
     after its many children, the citizens of its far reaches, with established peacemaking,
     policing, financial and technical aid, and rescue.
    Chen felt a presence at his elbow and his hair stood on end. He turned with a sudden flash
     of irritation (or was it fear?) to see his chief personal secretary, small and mild Kreen.
     Kreen's usually pleasant face was almost bloodless and he did not seem to want to convey
     his message.
    “Sorry, ” Chen said. “You startled me. I was enjoying a relatively peaceful moment on this
     infernal device. What is it, Kreen?”
    “My apologies... for the grief we must all feel... I did not want this news to come to you
     through your machine. ” Kreen was naturally suspicious of the informer, which could do so
     many of his own functions so quickly and anonymously.
    “Yes, damn it, what is it?”
    “The Imperial survey ship Spear of Glory, Your Honor... ” Kreen swallowed. His people,
     from the small southern hemisphere Lavrenti Sector, had worked as servants to the Imperial
     courts for thousands of years. It was in his blood to feel his master's pain. Sometimes
     Kreen seemed less a human being than a shadow... though a very useful shadow.
    “Yes? What is it-blown to smithereens?”
    Kreen's face crinkled with anticipated distress. “No! Your Honor... That is, we do not
     know. It is a day overdue, and there are no communications, not even an emergency beacon. ”
    Chen listened with a sinking heart and a twist in his stomach. Lodovik Trema...
    And of course a fine captain and crew.
    Chen opened and closed his mouth. He needed more information desperately, but of course
     Kreen would have given him all that there was, so there was no more.
    “And Sarossa?”
    “The shock front is less than five days from Sarossa, Your Honor. ”
    “I know that. Have any other ships been dispatched?”
    “Yes, sire. Four much smaller ships have been deflected from the missions to save Kisk,
     Purna, and Transdal. ”
    “Sky, no!” Chen stood and fumed. “I wasn't consulted. They must not reduce those rescue
     forces... they're at minimum already. ”
    "Commissioner, the representative from Sarossa was received by the Emperor just two hours
     ago... without our
    knowledge. He convinced the Emperor and Farad Sinter that-"
    “Sinter is a fool. Three worlds neglected for one, an Imperial favorite! He'll get his
     Emperor killed someday. ” But then Chen calmed himself, closing his eyes, focusing inward,
     drawing on six decades of special training to set his mind calmly and quickly to finding
     the best path through this morass.
    To lose Lodovik, ugly, faithful, and supremely resourceful Lodovik...
    Let the opposing force pull you down, gather its energy for the spring back.
    “Can you get me a summary or an actual recording of these meetings, Kreen?”
    “Yes, sire. They will not yet be subject to review and interdiction by the court
     historians. There is commonly a backlog of two days on these rewritings, sire. ”
    “Good. When an inquiry is held, and questions