Raych, Manella, and little Bellis were waiting at the spaceport.
The hypership was preparing for liftoff and the three had already checked their baggage.
Raych said, "Dad, come along with us."
Seldon shook his head. "I cannot."
"If you change your mind, we will always have a place for you."
"I know it, Raych. We've been together for almost forty years-and they've been good years. Dors and I were lucky to find you."
"I'm the lucky one." His eyes filled with tears. "Don't think I don't think of Mother every day."
"Yes." Seldon looked away miserably. Wanda was playing with Bellis when the call rang out for everyone to board the hypership.
They did, after a tearful last embrace of Wanda by her parents. Raych looked back to wave at Seldon and to try to plant a crooked smile on his face.
Seldon waved and one hand moved out blindly to embrace Wanda's shoulders.
She was the only one left. One by one through his long life, he had lost his friends and those he had loved. Demerzel had left, never to return; Emperor Cleon was gone; his beloved Dors was gone; his faithful friend Yugo Amaryl was gone; and now Raych, his only son, was gone as well.
He was left only with Wanda.
The hypership was preparing for liftoff and the three had already checked their baggage.
Raych said, "Dad, come along with us."
Seldon shook his head. "I cannot."
"If you change your mind, we will always have a place for you."
"I know it, Raych. We've been together for almost forty years-and they've been good years. Dors and I were lucky to find you."
"I'm the lucky one." His eyes filled with tears. "Don't think I don't think of Mother every day."
"Yes." Seldon looked away miserably. Wanda was playing with Bellis when the call rang out for everyone to board the hypership.
They did, after a tearful last embrace of Wanda by her parents. Raych looked back to wave at Seldon and to try to plant a crooked smile on his face.
Seldon waved and one hand moved out blindly to embrace Wanda's shoulders.
She was the only one left. One by one through his long life, he had lost his friends and those he had loved. Demerzel had left, never to return; Emperor Cleon was gone; his beloved Dors was gone; his faithful friend Yugo Amaryl was gone; and now Raych, his only son, was gone as well.
He was left only with Wanda.
