Foundation's Fear Read Free Page B

impeccable for decades.” Cleon eyed Hari. “One would almost think you were trying to avoid appointment as First Minister.”
    “No, sire, but—”
    “Men—and women, for that matter—have killed for far less.”
    “And been killed, once they got it.”
    Cleon chuckled. “True enough. Some First Ministers do get self-important, begin to scheme against their Emperor—but let us not dwell upon the few failures of our system.”
    Hari recalled Demerzel saying, “The succession of crises has reached the point where the consideration of the Three Laws of Robotics paralyzes me.” Demerzel had been unable to make choices becausethere were no good ones left. Every possible move hurt someone, badly. So Demerzel, a supreme intelligence, a clandestine humaniform robot, had suddenly left the scene. What chance did Hari have?
    “I will assume the position, of course,” Hari said quietly, “if necessary.”
    “Oh, it’s necessary. If possible, you mean. Factions on the High Council oppose you. They demand a full discussion.”
    Hari blinked, alarmed. “Will I have to debate?”
    “—and then a vote.”
    “I had no idea the Council could intervene.”
    “Read the Codes. They do have that power. Typically they do not use it, bowing to the superior wisdom of the Emperor.” A dry little laugh. “Not this time.”
    “If it would make it easier for you, I could absent myself while the discussion—”
    “Nonsense! I want to use you to counter them.”
    “I haven’t any ideas how to—”
    “I’ll scent out the issues; you advise me on answers. Division of labor, nothing could be simpler.”
    “Um.” Demerzel had said confidently, “If he believes you have the psychohistorical answer, he will follow you eagerly and that will make you a good First Minister.” Here, in such august surroundings, that seemed quite unlikely.
    “We will have to evade these opponents, maneuver against them.”
    “I have no idea how to do that.”
    “Of course you do not! I do. But you see the Empire and all its history as one unfurling scroll. You have the theory. ”
    Cleon relished ruling. Hari felt in his bones that he did not. As First Minister, his word could determine the fate of millions. That had daunted even Demerzel.
    “There is still the Zeroth Law,” Demerzel had said just before they parted for the last time. It placed the well-being of humanity as a whole above that of any single human. The First Law then read, A robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would violate the Zeroth Law. Fair enough, but how was Hari to carry out a job which not even Demerzel could do? Hari realized that he had been silent for too long, and that Cleon was waiting. What could he say?
    “Um, who opposes me?”
    “Several factions united behind Betan Lamurk.”
    “What’s his objection?”
    To his surprise, the Emperor laughed heartily. “That you aren’t Betan Lamurk.”
    “You can’t simply—”
    “Overrule the Council? Offer Lamurk a deal? Buy him off?”
    “I didn’t mean to imply, sire, that you would stoop to—”
    “Of course I would ‘stoop,’ as you put it. The difficulty lies with Lamurk himself. His price to allow you in as First Minister would be too high.”
    “Some high position?”
    “That, and some estates, perhaps an entire Zone.”
    Turning an entire Zone of the Galaxy over to a single man…“High stakes.”
    Cleon sighed. “We are not as rich, these days. In the reign of Fletch the Furious, he bartered whole Zones simply for seats on the Council.”
    “Your supporters, the Royalists, they can’t outmaneuver Lamurk?”
    “You really must study current politics more, Seldon. Though I suppose you’re so steeped in history, all this seems a bit trivial?”
    Actually, Hari thought, he was steeped in mathematics.Dors supplied the history he needed, or Yugo. “I will do so. So the Royalists—”
    “Have lost the Dahlites, so they cannot