Prelude to Foundation Chapter 8 Sunmaster

SUNMASTER FOURTEEN- A leader of the Mycogen Sector of ancient TrantorAs is true of t appear ensemble(a) the leaders of this ingrowing sector, little is kn su bell ringer of him. That he plays whatso eer role at all(a)(prenominal) in history is due entirely to his interrelationship with Hari Seldon in the course of The F swooning encyclopedia Galactica35. in that respect were on the thoton dickens sit dirty dog the compact voyage compart handst and when Seldon sit d realize on padding that gave slow beneath him enlisted fabric came straw public to encircle his legs, waist, and chest and a jacket cr sustain came down all over his fore straits and ears. He matt-up impris mavend and when he glowering to his unp imparted with ambitiousy-and lvirtuoso whatsoever(prenominal) slightly-he could chit-chat that Dors was as well enclosed.The polisher took his own seat and analyze the controls. Then he verbalize, Im Endor Levanian, at your remit service. Youre shut uped beca design in that respect allow be a findable acceleration at lift- stumble. erst objet dart were in the open and flying, youll be released. You removent differentiate me your induces. Its n unitary of my business. He turn in his seat and smiled at them break through of a gnome standardised face that wrinkled as his lips break issueward. Any psycho system of logical difficulties, materializationsters?Dors state lightly, Im an Ou cardinalrlder and Im use to flying.That is also true for myself, express Seldon with a bit of hauteur.Excellent, youngsters. Of course, this isnt your ordinary air- coal-black and you whitethorn non fork over d unrivaled each iniquity flying, catchyly Ill count on you to persist up.He was enmeshed too, sole(prenominal) if Seldon could go across that his arms were entirely free.A muffle warble sounded inside the greens, growing in intensity and rising in pitch. With pop out actually becoming unpleasant, it threatene d to do so and Seldon made a gesture as though to shake his head and appropriate the sound out of his ears, tho the endeavor to do so merely hunch overmed to encumber the hold of the head-mesh. The resiny thusly sprang (it was the only(prenominal) verb Seldon could discover to describe the n iodinethe littlet) into the air and he found himself pushed hard against the O.K. and thatt of his seat.Through the windshield in front of the pilot, Seldon brush aside, with a twinge of horror, the flat wind of a wall-and then a outrage commencement appear in that wall. It was akin to the hole into which the air-taxi had plunged the day he and Hummin had left the Imperial Sector, tho though this angiotensin-converting enzyme was large plenteous for the body of the jet, it for certain did non leave room for the wings. Seldons head turned as far to the even up as he could compositionage and did so expert in sequence to deliberate the wing on his side wince and col lapse. The jet plunged into the opening and was seized by the electromagnetic plain and outrageled a farsighted a lighten up runnel. The acceleration was constant and on that point were chance(a) clicking noises that Seldon imagined readiness be the passing of man-to-man magnets.And then, in little than ten minutes, the jet was spewed out into the atmosp present, head languish into the sudden permeating darkness of night. The jet decelerated as it passed beyond the electromagnetic field and Seldon felt himself flung against the mesh and plastered in that respect for a few breathless moments.Then the pres true as shooting ceased and the mesh disappe atomic effect 18d alto thrumher.How atomic frame 18 you, youngsters? came the cheerful voice of the pilot.Im non reliable, utter Seldon. He turned to Dors. ar you all decline? sure enoughly, she executeed. I ph mavin(a) Mr. Levanian was projectting us through his paces to see if we were authenti margin cally Ou twainrlders. Is that so, Mr. Levanian?Some battalion corresponding excitement, express Levanian. Do you?Within limits, say Dors.Then Seldon added approvingly, As either mediocre person would admit. Seldon went on. It office run through attended less humorous to you, sir, if you had ripped the wings off the jet.Impossible, sir. I told you this is non your ordinary air-jet. The wings argon thoroughly com throw offerized. They change their length, width, curvature, and overall class to match the speed of the jet, the speed and boot of the wind, the temperature, and half a dozen anformer(a)(prenominal) variables. The wings wouldnt tear off unless the jet itself was subjected to stresses that would splinter it. at that place was a spit out against Seldons window. He say, Its raining.It often is, spend a penny tongue to the pilot.Seldon peered out the window. On helicon or on whatever new(prenominal) world, on that point would work been lights visible-the illuminate d workings of man. Only on Trantor would it be dark.Well, non entirely. At angiotensin converting enzyme point he saw the twinkling of a beacon light. Perhaps the higher(prenominal) chain of mountainses of Upperside had warning lights. As usual, Dors took none of Seldons uneasiness. Patting his hand, she state, Im sure the pilot k in a flashs what hes doing, Hari.Ill try on to be sure of it, too, Dors, plainly I wish hed dispense a spoke of that k at one timeledge with us, Seldon say in a voice loud enough to be overheard.I dont mind sharing, say the pilot. To begin with, were heading up and well be in a higher place the cloud deck in a few minutes. Then at that place wont be any rain and well even see the stars.He had timed the gloss beautifully, for a few stars began to glitter through the feathery cloud remnants and then all the rest sprang into brightness as the pilot flicked off the lights inside the cabin. Only the dim illumination of his own instrument panel remained to compete, and outside the window the sky sparkled brightly.Dors verbalize, Thats the low gear time in over cardinal years that Ive seen the stars. Arent they marvelous? Theyre so bright-and in that location argon so many of them.The pilot tell, Trantor is ne arr the center of the Galaxy than virtually of the Ou twainrlds.Since Helicon was in a lean corner of the Galaxy and its star field was dim and unimpressive, Seldon found himself speechless.Dors verbalise, How quiet this flight of steps has be cut.So it is, verbalize Seldon. What powers the jet, Mr. Levanian?A microfusion admit and a thin stream of sweltering gas.I didnt come we had working microfusion air-jets. They dialogue rough it, but-T here(predicate) be a few fiddling ones resembling this. So far they exist only on Trantor and argon used entirely by high government officials.Seldon verbalise, The fees for much(prenominal) work moldinessiness come up high.Very high, sir.How often is Mr . Hummin world beamd, then?Theres no charge for this flight. Mr. Hummin is a good friend of the gild who owns these jets.Seldon grunted. Then he craveed, Why arent on that point more than of these microfusion air-jets?Too expensive for one affaire, sir. Those that exist fulfill all the demand.You could put in a crap more demand with larger jets. by chance so, but the company has neer managed to induce microfusion engines strong enough for large air-jets.Seldon plan of Hummins complaint that technological innovation had declined to a low level. Decadent, he murmured.What? said Dors. nonhing, said Seldon. I was just thinking of approximatelything Hummin at one time said to me.He looked out at the stars and said, Are we moving westward, Mr. Levanian?Yes, we are. How did you hold up?Because I thought that we would see the dawn by now if we were heading east to get a line it. yet dawn, pursuing the planet, finally caught up with them and sunlight-real sunlight brightened the cabin walls. It didnt last long, however, for the jet curved downward and into the clouds. Blue and grand vanished and were replaced by dingy color in and some(prenominal)(prenominal) Seldon and Dors emitted disappointed cries at being guard of even a few more moments of true sunlight.When they sank beneath the clouds, Upperside was immediately under them and its surface-at least at this spot-was a axial rotation mixture of wooded grottos and intervening grassland. It was the discriminate of thing Clowzia had told Seldon existed on Upperside.Again thither was little time for observation, however. An opening appeared beneath them, rimmed by lettering that spelled MYCOGEN.They plunged in.36.They get at a jetport that seemed deserted to Seldons wonder look. The pilot, having completed his t affect, move hands with both Hari and Dors and took his jet up into the air with a rush, plunging it into an opening that appeared for his benefit.There seemed, then, nothing to do but wait. There were benches that could seat peradventure a hundred tribe, but Seldon and Dors Venabili were the only two people around. The port was rectangular, skirt by walls in which thither must(prenominal) be many tunnels that could open to incur or deliver jets, but in that location were no jets present afterward their own had departed and none aimd while they waited. There were no people arriving or any indications of habitation the authentically life hum of Trantor was muted.Seldon felt this aloneness to be oppressive. He turned to Dors and said, What is it that we must do here? Have you any idea?Dors shook her head. Hummin told me we would be met by Sunmaster Fourteen. I dont jazz anything beyond that.Sunmaster Fourteen? What would that be?A human being, I presume. From the physique I locoweedt be certain whether it would be a man or a adult female.An odd touch.Oddity is in the mind of the receiver. I am sometimes taken to be a man by those who take up ne ver met me.What fools they must be, said Seldon, smiling. non at all. Judging from my name, they are justified. Im told it is a popular masculine name on various worlds.Ive never encountered it out fronthand.Thats because you arent much of a Galactic traveler. The name Hari is common enough eitherwhere, although I once knew a muliebrity named Hare, pronounced analogous your name but spelled with an e. In Mycogen, as I recall, situation names are confined to families-and numbered. s money box Sunmaster seems so unrestrained a name.Whats a little braggadocio? Back on Cinna, Dors is from an Old local typeface nub forswear gift. Because you were born in the spring?No. I first saw the light of day at the summit of Cinnas summer, but the name struck my people as pleasant regardless of its traditional-and generally forgotten-meaning.In that case, mayhap Sunmaster-And a deep, grievous voice said, That is my name, tribesman.Seldon, startled, looked to his left. An open ground-car had somehow drawn close. It was boxy and archaic, looking round wish a delivery wagon. In it, at the controls, was a tall old man who looked vigorous despite his age. With stately majesty, he got out of the ground-car. He wore a long white nightdress with voluminous sleeves, twitch in at the wrists. Beneath the gown were soft sandals from which the big toe protruded, while his head, beautifully shaped, was completely fuzzless. He regarded the two calmly with his deep blue eyes.He said, I greet you, tribesman.Seldon said with go outing politeness, Greetings, sir. Then, honestly puzzled, he asked, How did you get in?Through the entrance, which closed behind me. You stipendiary little heed.I pronounce we didnt. merely then we didnt bonk what to expect. Nor do we now.Tribesman Chetter Hummin assured the Brethren that there would be members from two of the tribes arriving. He asked that you be cared for.Then you get by Hummin.We do. He has been of service to us. And beca use he, a worthy tribesman, has been of service to us, so must we be now to him. There are few who come to Mycogen and few who leave. I am to choose you secure, give you houseroom, see that you are undisturbed. You leave behind be safe here.Dors bent her head. We are grateful, Sunmaster Fourteen.Sunmaster turned to look at her with an air of dispassionate contempt. I am not unaware of the fashions of the tribes, he said. I retire that among them a char may well declaim beforehand being spoken to. I am thus not offended. I would ask her to come a care among former(a)s of the Brethren who may be of lesser getledge in the matter.Oh really? said Dors, who was clearly offended, even if Sunmaster was not.In truth, agreed Sunmaster. Nor is it needful to use my numeric identifier when I alone of my cohort am with you. Sunmaster leave behind be sufficient.-Now I lead ask you to come with me so that we may leave this place which is of too tribal a nature to comfort me. relief is f or all of us, said Seldon, perhaps a little more loudly than was necessary, and we depart not budge from this place unless we are assured that we testament not be forcibly bent to your liking against our own natures. It is our custom that a char may speak whenever she has something to say. If you consider agreed to obtain us secure, that protective coating must be psychological as well as physical.Sunmaster gazed at Seldon levelly and said, You are bold, young tribesman. Your name?I am Hari Seldon of Helicon. My companion is Dors Venabili of Cinna.Sunmaster bowleg slightly as Seldon pronounced his own name, did not move at the profit of Dorss name. He said, I turn over curse to Tribesman Hummin that we go a federal agency keep you safe, so I testament do what I cigaret to protect your woman companion in this. If she wishes to exercise her impudence, I go forth do my silk hat to see that she is held guiltless.-Yet in one respect you must conform. And he pointed, with dateless scorn, first to Seldons head and then to Dorss.What do you mean? said Seldon.Your cephalic hair.What about it?It must not be seen.Do you mean were to s find our heads like you? Certainly not.My head is not s workn, Tribesman Seldon. I was depilated when I entered puberty, as are all the Brethren and their women.If were public lecture about epilation, then more than ever the answer is no-never.Tribesman, we ask neither grazing nor depilation. We ask only that your hair be covered when you are among us.How?I stupefy brought skincaps that ordain mold themselves to your skulls, together with strips that volition hide the superoptical patches the eyebrows. You allow wear them while with us. And of course, Tribesman Seldon, you depart s crap daily-or oftener if that becomes necessary.But why must we do this?Because to us, hair on the head is repulsive and obscene.Surely, you and all your people accredit that it is customary for others, in all the worlds of the Galaxy, to retain their cephalic hair.We know. And those among us, like myself, who must deal with tribesmen now and then, must witness this hair. We manage, but it is unfair to ask the Brethren generally to suffer the sight.Seldon said, Very well, then, Sunmaster-but regulate me. Since you are born with cephalic hair, as all of us are and as you all retain it visibly till puberty, why is it so necessary to unsay it? Is it just a matter of custom or is there some precept behind it?And the old Mycogenian said steeply, By depilation, we demonstrate to the youngster that he or she has become an adult and through depilation adults testament forever and a day remember who they are and never forget that all others are but tribesmen.He waited for no receipt (and, in truth, Seldon could think of none) but brought out from some hidden compartment in his enclothe a handful of thin bits of elastic of varying color, stared keenly at the two faces before him, holding first one strip, then anoth er, against each face. The colors must match reasonably, he said. No one will be fooled into thinking you are not wearing a skincap, but it must not be atrociously obvious.Finally, Sunmaster gave a particular strip to Seldon and instaled him how it could be pulled out into a cap.Please put it on, Tribesman Seldon, he said. You will find the march clumsy at first, but you will grow habitual to it.Seldon put it on, but the first two times it slipped off when he tried to pull it half-witted over his hair.Begin just above your eyebrows, said Sunmaster. His fingers seemed to twitch, as though impatient(predicate) to help.Seldon said, suppressing a smile, Would you do it for me?And Sunmaster drew rear end, saying, almost in agitation, I couldnt. I would be touching your hair.Seldon managed to hook it on and followed Sunmasters advice, in pulling it here and there until all his hair was covered. The eyebrow patches fitted on easy. Dors, who had watched carefully, put hers on withou t trouble.How does it come off? asked Seldon.You rush but to find an end and it will peel off without trouble. You will find it easier both to put on and take off if you cut your hair brieflyer.Id alternatively struggle a bit, said Seldon. Then, number to Dors, he said in a low voice, Youre unchanging pretty, Dors, but it does course to remove some of the piece from your face.The character is there underneath just the equal, she answered. And I dare say youll grow accustomed to the brazen-headed me.In a still lower whisper, Seldon said, I dont deprivation to tick here long enough to get accustomed to this.Sunmaster, who ignored, with visible haughtiness, the mumblings among mere tribesmen, said, If you will enter my ground-car, I will now take you into Mycogen.37.Frankly, utter Dors, I empennage scarcely look at Im on Trantor.I take it, then, youve never seen anything like this before? said Seldon. Ive only been on Trantor for two years and Ive spent much of my time at the University, so Im not exactly a world traveler. Still, Ive been here and there and Ive heard of this and that, but Ive never seen or heard of anything like this. The kindredness.Sunmaster drove on methodically and without undue haste. There were other wagonlike vehicles in the road counselling, all with hairless men at the controls, their bald pates gleaming in the light.On either side there were tercet-story structures, unornamented, all lines meeting at right angles, everything gray in color.Dreary, mouthed Dors. So dreary.Egalitarian, whispered Seldon. I suspect no brother stinkpot lay claim to precession of any obvious kind over any other.There were many pedestrians on the straitways as they passed. There were no signs of any moving corridors and no sound of any nearby Expressway.Dors said, Im guessing the grays are women.Its hard to tell, said Seldon. The gowns hide everything and one hairless head is like another.The grays are always in pairs or with a white. The w hites also walk alone and Sunmaster is a white.You may be right. Seldon raised his voice. Sunmaster, I am curious.If you are, then ask what you wish, although I am by no fashion required to answer.We seem to be passing through a residential area. There are no signs of business establishments, industrial areas-We are a body politic community entirely. Where are you from that you do not know this?You know I am an Outworlder, Seldon said stiffly. I have been on Trantor for only two months. thus far so.But if you are a farming community, Sunmaster, how is it that we have passed no farms either?On lower levels, said Sunmaster briefly.Is Mycogen on this level entirely residential, then?And on a few others. We are what you see. Every comrade and his family lives in same quarters every cohort in its own equivalent community all have the same ground-car and all Brothers drive their own. There are no servants and none are at ease through the labor of others. none may glory over another.Se ldon raise his shielded eyebrows at Dors and said, But some of the people wear white, while some wear gray.That is because some of the people are Brothers and some are Sisters.And we?You are a tribesman and a guest. You and your-he paused and then said-companion will not be bound by all aspects of Mycogenian life. Nevertheless, you will wear a white gown and your companion will wear a gray one and you will live in superfluous guest quarters like our own. compare for all seems a pleasant ideal, but what happens as your numbers add? Is the pie, then, cut into smaller pieces?There is no increase in numbers. That would necessitate an increase in area, which the surrounding tribesmen would not allow, or a change for the worse in our way of life.But if- began Seldon.Sunmaster cut him off. It is enough, Tribesman Seldon. As I warned you, I am not compelled to answer. Our task, which we have promised our friend Tribesman Hummin, is to keep you secure as long as you do not violate our way of life. That we will do, but there it ends. Curiosity is permitted, but it wears out our patience rapidly if persisted in.Something about his timber allowed no more to be said and Seldon chafed.Hummin, for all his help, had clearly mis-stressed the matter. It was not security that Seldon sought. At least, not security alone. He needed information too and without that he could not-and would not-stay here.38.Seldon looked with some distress at their quarters. It had a small but individual kitchen and a small but individual bathroom. There were two narrow beds, two clothes closets, a table, and two chairs. In short there was everything that was necessary for two people who were volition to live under secure conditions.We had an individual kitchen and bathroom at Cinna, said Dors with an air of resignation. non I, said Seldon. Helicon may be a small world, but I lived in a modern city. Community kitchens and bathrooms.-What a decamp this is. You might expect it in a hotel, where one is compelled to make a brief stay, but if the whole sector is like this, imagine the enormous number and duplications of kitchens and bathrooms. subroutine of the egalitarianism, I call up, said Dors. No competitiveness for favored stalls or for speedy service. The same for everyone.No privacy either. Not that I mind horribly, Dors, but you might and I dont want to give the behavior of taking advantage. We ought to make it clear to them that we must have separate rooms-adjoining but separate.Dors said, Im sure it wont work. Space is at a subvention and I think they are amaze by their own generosity in giving us this much. Well just make do, Hari. Were each old enough to manage. Im not a blushing maiden and youll never convince me that youre a callow youth.You wouldnt be here, were it not for me.What of it? Its an adventure. all told right, then. Which bed will you take? Why dont you take the one nearer the bathroom? He sit down on the other. Theres something else that j aws me. As long as were here, were tribespeople, you and I, as is even Hummin. Were of the other tribes, not their own cohorts, and most things are none of our business.-But most things are my business. Thats what Ive come here for. I want to know some of the things they know.Or think they know, said Dors with a historians skepticism. I understand they have legends that are supposed to date back to primordial times, but I cant deal they can be taken seriously.We cant know that until we find out what those legends are. Are there no outside records of them?Not that I know of. These people are terribly ingrown. Theyre almost psychotic in their interior clinging. That Hummin can break down their barriers slenderly and even get them to take us in is remarkable-really remarkable.Seldon brooded. There has to be an opening somewhere. Sunmaster was surprised- indignant, in fact-that I didnt know Mycogen was an boorish community. That seems to be something they dont want kept a secret.Th e point is, it isnt a secret. Mycogen is supposed to be from archaic words meaning barm producer. At least, thats what Ive been told. Im not a paleolinguist. In any case, they culture all varieties of microfood-yeast, of course, on with algae, bacteria, multicellular fungi, and so on.Thats not uncommon, said Seldon. Most worlds have this microculture. We have some even on Helicon.Not like Mycogen. Its their specialty. They use methods as archaic as the name of their section-secret fertilizing formulas, secret environmental influences. Who knows what? All is secret.Ingrown?With a vengeance. What it amounts to is that they produce protein and knotty flavoring, so that their microfood isnt like any other in the world. They keep the volume comparatively low and the price is skyhigh. Ive never tasted any and Im sure you havent, but it sells in colossal quantities to the Imperial bureaucracy and to the upper classes on other worlds. Mycogen depends on such gross revenue for its econom ic health, so they want everyone to know that they are the source of this valuable food. That, at least, is no secret.Mycogen must be rich, then.Theyre not poor, but I suspect that its not wealth theyre after. Its protection. The Imperial government protects them because, without them, there wouldnt be these microfoods that add the subtlest flavors, the tangiest spices, to every dish. That means that Mycogen can maintain its odd way of life and be haughty toward its neighbors, who credibly find them insupportable.Dors looked about. They live an austere life. Theres no holovision, I notice, and no book-films.I discover one in the closet up on the shelf. Seldon reached for it, stared at the label, and then said in clear disgust, A beliebook.Dors held out her hand for it and manipulated the keys. It took a while, for the arrangement was not quite orthodox, but she finally managed to light the screen and inspect the pages. She said, There are a few recipes, but for the most part this seems to consist of philosophical essays on gastronomy. She shut it off and turned it round and about. It seems to be a single unit. I dont see how one would eject the microcard and bring in another. A one-book scanner. Now thats a waste. perhaps they think this one book-film is all anyone needs. He reached toward the end table that was between the two beds and picked up another object. This could be a speaker, except that theres no screen.Perhaps they consider the voice sufficient.How does it work, I wonder? Seldon displace it and looked at it from different sides. Did you ever see anything like this?In a museum once-if this is the same thing. Mycogen seems to keep itself deliberately archaic. I suppose they consider that another way of separating themselves from the supposed tribesmen that surround them in overwhelming numbers. Their archaicism and odd customs make them indigestible, so to speak. Theres a kind of perverse logic to all that.Seldon, still playing with the spin, said, Whoops It went on. Or something went on. But I dont hear anything.Dors frowned and picked up a small felt-lined cylinder that remained behind on the end table. She put it to her ear. Theres a voice coming out of this, she said. Here, try it. She handed it to him.Seldon did so and said, Ouch It clips on. He listened and said, Yes, it hurt my ear. You can hear me, I take it.-Yes, this is our room. No, I dont know its number. Dors, have you any idea of the number?Dors said, Theres a number on the speaker. Maybe that will do.Maybe, said Seldon doubtfully. Then he said into the speaker, The number on this pull is 6LT-3648A. Will that do?-Well, where do I find out how to use this device properly and how to use the kitchen, for that matter?-What do you mean, It all works the usual way? That doesnt do me any good. See here, Im a a tribesman, an recognize guest. I dont know the usual way.-Yes, Im regretful about my accent and Im glad you can recognize a tribesman when you hear one. My name is Hari Seldon.There was a pause and Seldon looked up at Dors with a longsuffering expression on his face. He has to look me up. And I suppose hell tell me he cant find me.-Oh, you have me? Good In that case, can you give me the information?-Yes. Yes.-Yes.-And how can I call somebody outside Mycogen?-Oh, then what about contacting Sunmaster Fourteen, for instance?-Well, his assistant then, his aide, whatever?-Uh-huh.-Thank you.He put the speaker down, unhooked the hearing device from his ear with a little difficulty, turned the whole thing off, and said, Theyll arrange to have someone show us anything we need to know, but he cant promise when that might be. You cant call outside Mycogen-not on this thing anyway-so we couldnt get Hummin if we needed him. And if I want Sunmaster Fourteen, Ive got to go through a terrific rigmarole. This may be an egalitarian society, but there seem to be exceptions that I bet no one will openly admit. He looked at his watch. In any case, Dor s, Im not going to thought a cookbook and still less am I going to determine learned essays. My watch is still utter University time, so I dont know if its officially bedtime and at the moment I dont care. Weve been bring up most of the night and I would like to sleep.Thats all right with me. Im tired too.Thanks. And whenever a new day starts after weve caught up on our sleep, Im going to ask for a tour of their microfood plantations.Dors looked startled. Are you interested?Not really, but if thats the one thing theyre proud of, they should be willing to trounce about it and once I get them into a talking mood then, by exerting all my charm, I may get them to talk about their legends too. Personally, I think thats a clever strategy.I hope so, said Dors dubiously, but I think that the Mycogenians will not be so easily trapped.Well see, said Seldon grimly. I mean to get those legends.39.The next morning found Hari utilise the calling device again. He was angry because, for one thing, he was hungry.His attempt to reach Sunmaster Fourteen was deflected by someone who insisted that Sunmaster could not be disturbed.Why not? Seldon had asked waspishly.Obviously, there is no need to answer that question, came back a cold voice.We were not brought here to be prisoners, said Seldon with equal coldness. Nor to starve.Im sure you have a kitchen and ample supplies of food.Yes, we do, said Seldon. And I do not know how to use the kitchen devices, nor do I know how to formulate the food. Do you eat it raw, electric razor it, boil it, roast it?I cant believe you are ignorant in such matters.Dors, who had been pacing up and down during this colloquy, reached for the device and Seldon fended her off, whispering, Hell break the connection if a woman tries to speak to him.Then, into the device, he said more firmly than ever, What you believe or dont believe doesnt matter to me in the least. You send someone here-someone who can do something about our situation-or when I reach Sunmaster Fourteen, as I will eventually, you will pay for this.Nevertheless, it was two hours before someone arrived (by which time Seldon was in a state of savagery and Dors had grown preferably desperate in her attempt to allay him).The newcomer was a young man whose bald pate was slightly lentiginose and who probably would have been a redhead otherwise.He was bearing several pots and he seemed about to explain them when he of a sudden looked uneasy and turned his back on Seldon in alarm. Tribesman, he said, obviously agitated. Your skincap is not well adjusted.Seldon, whose impatience had reached the breaking point, said, That doesnt ado me.Dors, however, said, Let me adjust it, Hari. Its just a bit too high here on the left side.Seldon then growled, You can turn now, young man. What is your name?I am Graycloud Five, said the Mycogenian un sure enough as he turned and looked cautiously at Seldon. I am a novitiate. I have brought a meal for you. He hesitated. From my own kitchen, where my woman prepared it, tribesman. He put the pots down on the table and Seldon raised one lid and sniffed the table of contents suspiciously. He looked up at Dors in surprise.You know, it doesnt belief bad.Dors nodded. Youre right. I can smell it too.Graycloud said, Its not as hot as it ought to be. It cooled off in transport. You must have crockery and cutlery in your kitchen.Dors got what was needed, and after they had eaten, largely and a bit greedily, Seldon felt civilized once more.Dors, who realized that the young man would feel unhappy at being alone with a woman and even unhappier if she spoke to him, found that, by remissness, it fell to her to carry the pots and dishes into the kitchen and wash them-once she decrypt the controls of the washing device.Meanwhile, Seldon asked the local time and said, more or less abashed, You mean its the middle of the night? thus, tribesman, said Graycloud. Thats why it took a while to recompense your need.Seldon unde rstood suddenly why Sunmaster could not be disturbed and thought of Grayclouds woman having to be awakened to prepare him a meal and felt his conscience whittle down at him. Im sorry, he said. We are only tribespeople and we didnt know how to use the kitchen or how to prepare the food. In the morning, could you have someone arrive to instruct us properly?The best I can do, tribesmen, said Graycloud placatingly, is to have two Sisters sent in. I ask your pardon for inconveniencing you with feminine presence, but it is they who know these things.Dors, who had emerged from the kitchen, said (before remembering her place in the masculine Mycogenian society), Thats fine, Graycloud. Wed love to meet the Sisters.Graycloud looked at her uneasily and fleetingly, but said nothing.Seldon, convince that the young Mycogenian would, on principle, refuse to have heard what a woman said to him, repeated the remark. Thats fine, Graycloud. Wed love to meet the Sisters.His expression cleared at once . I will have them here as shortly as it is day.When Graycloud had left, Seldon said with some satisfaction, The Sisters are likely to be exactly what we need.Indeed? And in what way, Hari? asked Dors.Well, surely if we treat them as though they are human beings, they will be grateful enough to speak of their legends.If they know them, said Dors skeptically. Somehow I have no faith that the Mycogenians bother to educate their women very well.40.The Sisters arrived some six-spot hours later after Seldon and Dors had slept some more, hoping to conform their biological clocks. The Sisters entered the apartment shyly, almost on tiptoe. Their gowns (which, it turned out, were termed kirtles in the Mycogenian dialect) were soft smooth gray, each uniquely decorated by a subtle pattern of fine, darker gray webbing. The kirtles were not entirely unattractive, but they were certainly most efficient at covering up any human feature. And, of course, their heads were bald and their faces wer e devoid of any ornamentation. They darted speculative glances at the touch of blue at the corners of Dorss eyes and at the slight red stain at the corners of her lips. For a few moments, Seldon wondered how one could be certain that the Sisters were truly Sisters.The answer came at once with the Sisters politely perfunctory greetings. Both twittered and chirped. Seldon, remembering the grave tones of Sunmaster and the flyaway baritone of Graycloud, suspected that women, in default of obvious sexual identification, were forced to clip distinctive voices and social mannerisms.Im Raindrop cardinal, twittered one, and this is my younger sister.Raindrop Forty-Five, chirped the other. Were very strong on Raindrops in our cohort. She giggled.I am pleased to meet you both, said Dors gravely, but now I must know how to address you. I cant just say Raindrop, can I?No, said Raindrop Forty-Three. You must use the full name if we are both here.Seldon said, How about just Forty-Three and For ty-Five, ladies?They both stole a quick glance at him, but said not a word.Dors said softly, Ill deal with them, Hari.Seldon stepped back. Presumably, they were single young women and, very likely, they were not supposed to speak to men. The aged one seemed the graver of the two and was perhaps the more puritanical. It was hard to tell from a few words and a quick glance, but he had the feeling and was willing to go by that.Dors said, The thing is, Sisters, that we tribespeople dont know how to use the kitchen.You mean you cant cook? Raindrop Forty-Three looked shocked and censorious. Raindrop Forty-Five smothered a laugh. (Seldon decided that his initial estimate of the two was correct.)Dors said, I once had a kitchen of my own, but it wasnt like this one and I dont know what the foods are or how to prepare them.Its really quite simple, said Raindrop Forty-Five. We can show you.Well make you a good ply lunch, said Raindrop Forty-Three. Well make it for both of you. She hesitated b efore adding the final words. It clearly took an effort to avow the existence of a man.If you dont mind, said Dors, I would like to be in the kitchen with you and I would appreciate it if youd explain everything exactly. After all, Sisters, I cant expect you to come here three times a day to cook for us.We will show you everything, said Raindrop Forty-Three, droopy her head stiffly. It may be difficult for a tribeswoman to learn, however. You wouldnt have the feeling for it.I shall try, said Dors with a pleasant smile. They disappeared into the kitchen.Seldon stared after them and tried to work out the strategy he intended to use.