The snow had ceased, but it caked the ground deeply now and the sleekground car advanced through the deserted streets with lumbering effort. Themurky gray light of incipient dawn was cold not only in the poetical sensebut also in a very literal way ?and even in the then turbulent state ofthe Foundation's politics, no one, whether Actionist or pro-Hardin foundhis spirits sufficiently ardent to begin street activity that early.
Yohan Lee did not like that and his grumblings grew audible. "It's going tolook bad, Hardin. They're going to say you sneaked away.""Let them say it if they wish. I've got to get to Anacreon and I want to doit without trouble. Now that's enough, Lee."Hardin leaned back into the cushioned seat and shivered slightly. It wasn'tcold inside the well-heated car, but there was something frigid about asnow-covered world, even through glass, that annoyed him.
He said, reflectively, "Some day when we get around to it we ought toweather-condition Terminus. It could be done.""I," replied Lee, "would like to see a few other things done first. Forinstance, what about weather-conditioning Sermak? A nice, dry cell fittedfor twenty-five centigrade all year round would be just fight.""And then I'd really need bodyguards," said Hardin, "and not just thosetwo," He indicated two of Lee's bully-boys sitting up front with thedriver, hard eyes on the empty streets, ready hands at their atom blasts.
"You evidently want to stir up civil war.""I do? There are other sticks in the fire and it won't require muchstirring, I can tell you." He counted off on blunt fingers, "One: Sermakraised hell yesterday in the City Council and called for an impeachment.""He had a perfect right to do so," responded Hardin, coolly. "Besideswhich, his motion was defeated 206 to 184.""Certainly. A majority of twenty-two when we had counted on sixty as aminimum. Don't deny it; you know you did.""It was close," admitted Hardin.
"All right. And two; after the vote, the fifty-nine members of theActionist Party reared upon their hind legs and stamped out of the CouncilChambers."Hardin was silent, and Lee continued, "And three: Before leaving, Sermakhowled that you were a traitor, that you were going to Anacreon to collectyour payment, that the Chamber majority in refusing to vote impeachment hadparticipated in the treason, and that the name of their party was not'Actionist' for nothing. What does that sound like?""Trouble, I suppose.""And now you're chasing off at daybreak, like a criminal. You ought to facethem, Hardin ?and if you have to, declare martial law, by space!""Violence is the last refuge?
I've been there every anniversary since the first appearance, just on thechance. He's never shown up, but this is the first time since then thatthere's really been a crisis.""Then he'll come.""Maybe. I don't know. However, this is the point. At today's session of theCouncil, just after you announce that I have left for Anacreon, you willfurther announce, officially, that on March 14th next, there will beanother Hari Seldon recording, containing a message of the utmostimportance regarding the recent successfully concluded crisis. That's veryimportant, Lee. Don't add anything more no matter how many questions areasked."Lee stared. "Will they believe it?""That doesn't matter. It will confuse them, which is all I want. Betweenwondering whether it is true and what I mean by it if it isn't ?they'lldecide to postpone action till after March 14th. I'll be back considerablybefore then."Lee looked uncertain. "But that 'successfully concluded.' That's bull!""Highly confusing bull. Here's the airport!"The waiting spaceship bulked somberly in the dimness. Hardin stampedthrough the snow toward it and at the open air lock turned about withoutstretched hand.
"Good-by, Lee. I hate to leave you in the frying pan like this, but there'snot another I can trust. Now please keep out of the fire.""Don't worry. The frying pan is hot enough. I'll follow orders." He steppedback, and the air lock closed.
Yohan Lee did not like that and his grumblings grew audible. "It's going tolook bad, Hardin. They're going to say you sneaked away.""Let them say it if they wish. I've got to get to Anacreon and I want to doit without trouble. Now that's enough, Lee."Hardin leaned back into the cushioned seat and shivered slightly. It wasn'tcold inside the well-heated car, but there was something frigid about asnow-covered world, even through glass, that annoyed him.
He said, reflectively, "Some day when we get around to it we ought toweather-condition Terminus. It could be done.""I," replied Lee, "would like to see a few other things done first. Forinstance, what about weather-conditioning Sermak? A nice, dry cell fittedfor twenty-five centigrade all year round would be just fight.""And then I'd really need bodyguards," said Hardin, "and not just thosetwo," He indicated two of Lee's bully-boys sitting up front with thedriver, hard eyes on the empty streets, ready hands at their atom blasts.
"You evidently want to stir up civil war.""I do? There are other sticks in the fire and it won't require muchstirring, I can tell you." He counted off on blunt fingers, "One: Sermakraised hell yesterday in the City Council and called for an impeachment.""He had a perfect right to do so," responded Hardin, coolly. "Besideswhich, his motion was defeated 206 to 184.""Certainly. A majority of twenty-two when we had counted on sixty as aminimum. Don't deny it; you know you did.""It was close," admitted Hardin.
"All right. And two; after the vote, the fifty-nine members of theActionist Party reared upon their hind legs and stamped out of the CouncilChambers."Hardin was silent, and Lee continued, "And three: Before leaving, Sermakhowled that you were a traitor, that you were going to Anacreon to collectyour payment, that the Chamber majority in refusing to vote impeachment hadparticipated in the treason, and that the name of their party was not'Actionist' for nothing. What does that sound like?""Trouble, I suppose.""And now you're chasing off at daybreak, like a criminal. You ought to facethem, Hardin ?and if you have to, declare martial law, by space!""Violence is the last refuge?
I've been there every anniversary since the first appearance, just on thechance. He's never shown up, but this is the first time since then thatthere's really been a crisis.""Then he'll come.""Maybe. I don't know. However, this is the point. At today's session of theCouncil, just after you announce that I have left for Anacreon, you willfurther announce, officially, that on March 14th next, there will beanother Hari Seldon recording, containing a message of the utmostimportance regarding the recent successfully concluded crisis. That's veryimportant, Lee. Don't add anything more no matter how many questions areasked."Lee stared. "Will they believe it?""That doesn't matter. It will confuse them, which is all I want. Betweenwondering whether it is true and what I mean by it if it isn't ?they'lldecide to postpone action till after March 14th. I'll be back considerablybefore then."Lee looked uncertain. "But that 'successfully concluded.' That's bull!""Highly confusing bull. Here's the airport!"The waiting spaceship bulked somberly in the dimness. Hardin stampedthrough the snow toward it and at the open air lock turned about withoutstretched hand.
"Good-by, Lee. I hate to leave you in the frying pan like this, but there'snot another I can trust. Now please keep out of the fire.""Don't worry. The frying pan is hot enough. I'll follow orders." He steppedback, and the air lock closed.
