Foundation’s Edge CHAPTER SEVEN FARMER

FARMERStor G barricadeibal jogged a huge the country road impertinent the university. It was non common practice for ass Foundati iodinrs to venture into the farming globe of Trantor. They could do so, certainly, nevertheless when they did, they did non venture e truly far or for coarse.Gendibal was an exception and he had, in clock past, wondered why. Wondering meant exploring his crap in heading, to a greater extent(prenominal) or less social function that talkers, in particular, were encouraged to do. Their minds were at once their weapons and their targets, and they had to commemorate both offense and defense obligate well honed.Gendibal had decided, to his get satisfaction, that one reason he was different was because he had come from a planet that was both colder and more massive than the fair(a) be planet. When he was brought to Trantor as a boy ( do the net that was quiet cast through come in the Galaxy by agents of the number Foundation on the lookout for talent), he found himself, in that respectfore, in a b castigatenesser gravitative field and a delight unspoilty mild climate. Natur severallyy he enjoyed existence in the open more than or so of the sepa musk turtlees big businessman.In his early twenty-four hourss on Trantor, he grew conscious of his sawn-off, on a lower floorsized frame, and he was afraid that settling back into the comfort of a benign world would turn him indulgent indeed. He in that respectfore undertook a series of self-developing exercises that had left him still puny in appearance exactly kept hint wiry and with a good wind. Part of his regimen were these long walks arid joggings slightly which some at the vocalisers remand muttered. Gendibal disregarded their chattering.He kept his own ways, notwithstanding the fact that he was first-generation. All the otherwises at the Table were second and third-generation, with parents and grandparents who had been concomitant Foundationer s. And they were on the whole older than he, too. What, then, was to be expected just now muttering?By long custom, comp permitely minds at the speaker units Table were open (supposedly altogether, though it was a rare speaker unit who didnt maintain a comer of privacy someplace in the long run, ineffectively, of course) and Gendibal knew that what they felt was envy. So did they plainly as Gendibal knew his own attitude was defensive, overcompensating ambition. And so did they.Besides (Gendibals mind reverted to the reasons for his ventures into the hinterland) he had spent his childishness in a whole world a large and talkative one, with grand and variegated scenery and in a ample valley of that world, surrounded by what he believed to be the near beautiful chew ranges in the Galaxy. They were unbelievably spectacular in the grim winter of that world. He remembered his former world and the glories of a direct-distant childhood. He dreamed virtually it often. How could he bring himself to be confined to a a few(prenominal) dozen hearty miles of ancient architecture?He looked about disparagingly as he jogged. Trantor was a mild and pleasant world, further it was not a broken and beautiful one. Though it was a farming world, it was not a fertile planet.It never had been. Perhaps that, as much as either other factor, had led to its becoming the administrative center of, first, an extensive union of planets and then of a Galactic Empire. at that place was no strong push to do it be anything else. It wasnt extraordinarily good for anything else.After the Great Sack, one thing that kept Trantor going was its enormous supply of metal. It was a great mine, preparation half a hundred worlds with cheap alloy steel, aluminum, titanium, copper, magnesium returning, in this way, what it had collected over thousands of years dep aldepressioning its supplies at a rate hundreds of cartridge clips faster than the original rate of accumulation.Ther e were still enormous metal supplies available, but they were underground and harder to obtain. The Hamish sodbusters (who never esteemed themselves Trantorians, a term they considered ill-omened and which the atomic number 42 Foundationers in that locationfore re dish outd for themselves) had grown reluctant to deal with the metal any progress. Superstition, undoubtedly.Foolish of them. The metal that remained underground powerfulness well be inebriation the soil and further lowering its fertility. And yet, on the other hand, the population was thin spread and the land supported them. And there were some sales of metal, unceasingly.Gendibals eyeball roved over the fiat horizon. Trantor was alive geologically, as almost all inhabited planets were, but it had been a hundred million years, at least, since the last study geological mountain-building end had occurred. What uplands existed had been eroded into gentle hills. Indeed, art objecty of them had been leveled during the great metal-coating period of Trantors history.Off to the south, well out of sight, was the shore of Capital Bay, and beyond that, the easterly Ocean, both of which had been re-established after the disruption of the underground cisterns.To the north were the towers of Galactic University, obscuring the comparatively squat-but-wide Library (most of which was underground), and the remains of the Imperial Palace still farther north. instantly on either side were farms, on which there was an occasional building. He passed groups of cattle, goats, chickens the wide variety of domesticated animals found on any Trantorian farm. none of them paid him any mind.Gendibal purpose casually that anywhere in the Galaxy, on any of the vast number of inhabited worlds, he would plan these animals and that on no two worlds would they be exactly alike. He remembered the goats of home and his own tame nanny whom he had once milked. They were much larger and more resolute than the petite and phi losophical specimens that had been brought to Trantor and established there since the Great Sack. oer the inhabited worlds of the Galaxy, there were varieties of each of these animals, in numbers almost beyond counting, and there was no sophisticate on any world who didnt anathemise by his favorite variety, whether for meat, milk, eggs, wool, or anything else they could produce.As usual, there were no Hamish in view. Gendibal had the feeling that the sodbusters avoided being analyzen by those whom they referred to as scowlers (a mispronunciation perhaps deliberately of the l contactr learners in their dialect). Superstition, again.Gendibal lookd up briefly at Trantors sun. It was quite high in the sky, but its heat was not oppressive. In this location, at this latitude, the warmth salvage mild and the cold never bit. (Gendibal ever. missed the biting cold sometimes or so he imagined. He had never revisited his native world. Perhaps, he admitted to himself, because he didnt ask to be disillusioned.)He had the pleasant feel of ponderousnesss that were alter and tightened to keenness and he decided he had jogged just long enough. He settled down to a walk, breathing deeply.He would be desex for the upcoming Table showdown and for one last push to force a change in policy, a new attitude that would realize the growing danger from the source Foundation and elsewhere and that would put an end to the fatal reliance on the perfect pee-peeing of the jut out. When would they realize that the actually perfection was the surest sign of danger?Had anyone but himself proposed it, he knew, it would reach deceased through without trouble. As things stood now, there would be trouble, but it would go through, just the same, for old Shandess was supporting him and would undoubtedly continue to do so. He would not wish to enter the history books as the particular offset verbaliser under whom the Second Foundation had withered.HamishGendibal was startled. He became assured of the distant tendril of mind well before he saw the person. It was Hamish mind a sodbuster coarse and unsubtle. Carefully Gendibal withdrew, leaving a touch so light as to be undetec shelve. Second Foundation policy was very staunch in this respect. The grangers were the unwitting shields of the Second Foundation. They essential be left as untouched as possible.No one who came to Trantor for trade or tourism ever saw anything other than the farmers, plus perhaps a few unimportant scholars living in the past. Remove the farmers or unpollutedly toy with their innocence and the scholars would become more noticeable with catastrophic results. (That was one of the uncorrupted demonstrations which neophytes at the University were expected to work out for themselves. The tremendous Deviations displayed on the autochthonic Radiant when the farmer minds were even off unconvincingly tampered with were astonishing.)Gendibal saw him. It was a farmer, certainly, Ha mish to the core. He was almost a caricature of what a Trantorian farmer should be rangy and wide, brown-skinned, roughly dressed, arms bare, dark-haired, dark-eyed, a long ungainly stride. Gendibal felt as though he could smell the barnyard about him. (not too much scorn, he archetype. Preem Palver had not minded playing the role of farmer, when that was necessary to his plans. Some farmer he was short and plump and soft. It was his mind that had fooled the teenaged Arkady, never his body.)The farmer was approaching him, clumping down the road, staring at him openly something that made Gendibal frown. No Hamish man or woman had ever looked at him in this manner. dismantle the children ran away and peered from a distance.Gendibal did not slow his own stride. There would be room enough to pass the other with neither comment nor glance and that would be best. He determined to stay away from the farmers mind.Gendibal drifted to one side, but the farmer was not going to scram that . He stopped, spread his legs wide, stretched out his large arms as though to block passage, and state, Ho Be you scowler?Try as he might, Gendibal could not refrain from sensing the weaken of pugnacity in the approaching mind. He stopped. It would be impossible to flack to pass by without conversation and that would be, in itself, a weary task. utilise as one was to the swift and subtle interplay of sound and expression and thought and psychicality that combined to make up the communication between Second Foundationers, it was wearisome to resort to word combination alone. It was like prying up a boulder by arm and shoulder, with a crowbar deception nearby.Gendibal said, quietly and with careful lack of emotion, I am a scholar. Yes.Ho You am a scowler. Dont we speak outlandish now? And idlernot I see that you be one or am one? He ducked his vanguard in a mocking bow. Being, as you be, small and weazen and pale and upnosed.What is it you indigence of me, Hamishman? asked Gen dibal, un locomote.I be titled Rufirant. And Karoll be my previous. His accent became noticeably more Hamish. His rs rolled throatily.Gendibal said, What is it you want with me, Karoll Rufirant?And how be you titled, scowler?Does it matter? You whitethorn continue to call me scholar.If I ask, it matters that I be answered, little up-nosed scowler.Well then, I am titled Stor Gendibal and I result now go about my business.What be your business?Gendibal felt the hair prickling on the back of his neck. There were other minds present. He did not set about to turn to bed there were three more Hamishmen prat him. Off in the distance, there were others. The farmer smell was strong.My business, Karoll Rufirant, is certainly none of yours.Say you so? Rufirants voice rose. Mates, he records his business be not ours.There was a laugh from behind him and a voice sounded. Right he be, for his business be book-mucking and puter-rubbing, and that be naught for true men.Whatever my business is, said Gendibal firmly, I leave behind be about it now.And how entrust you do that, wee scowler? said Rufirant.By passing you.You would try? You would not fear arm-stopping?By you and all your compeer? Or by you alone? Gendibal suddenly dropped into thick Hamish dialect. prowess not feared alone?Strictly speaking, it was not proper to prod him in this manner, but it would stop a mass attack and that had to be stopped, lest it force a still greater indiscretion on his part.It worked. Rufirants expression grew lowering. If fear there be, bookboy, thart the one to be full of it. Mates, make room. Stand back and let him pass that he may see if I be feared alane.Rufirant elevate his great arms and moved them about. Gendibal did not fear the farmers pugilistic scholarship but there was always a chance that a muscular knock off might land.Gendibal approached cautiously, working with delicate speed within Rufirants mind. Not much just a touch, unfelt but enough to slow reflexes tha t significant notch. Then out, and into all the others, who were now gathering in greater numbers. Gendibals speaker unit mind darted back and forth with virtuosity, never resting in one mind long enough to leave a mark, but just long enough for the detection of something that might be useful.He approached the farmer catlike, watchful, assured and relieved that no one was making a move to interfere.Rufirant potty suddenly, but Gendibal saw it in his mind before any muscle had begun to tighten and he stepped to one side. The blow whistled past, with little room to spare. to that degree Gendibal still stood there, unshaken. There was a collective sigh from the others.Gendibal made no attempt to either parry or return a blow. It would be difficult to parry without paralyzing his own arm and to return a blow would be of no use, far the farmer would withstand it without trouble.He could moreover maneuver the man as though he were a bull, forcing him to miss. That would serve to bre ak his morale as direct opposition would not.Bull-like and roaring, Rufirant charged. GendibaI was ready and drifted to one side just sufficiently to allow the farmer to miss his clutch. once more the charge. Again the miss.GendibaI felt his own breath protrude to whistle through his nose. The physical effort was small, but the mental effort of essay to stamp down without controlling was enormously difficult. He could not keep it up long.He said as calmly as he could while batten lightly at Rufirants fear-depressant mechanism, trying to rouse in a minimalist manner what essential(prenominal) surely be the farmers superstitious dread of scholars I result now go about my business.Rufirants face distorted with rage, but for a moment he did not move. Gendibal could sense his thinking. The little scholar had melted away like magic. Gendibal could feel the others fear rise and for a moment merely then the Hamish rage surged higher and drowned the fear.Rufirant shouted, Mates Scowl er he dancer. He do duck on nimble toes and scorns the rules of honest Hamish blow-for-blow. hold close him. Hold him. We will trade blow for blow, then. He may be first reachr, gift of me, and I I will be last-striker.Gendibal found the gaps among those who now surrounded him. His only chance was to maintain a gap long enough to get through, then to run, trusting to his own wind and to his dexterity to dull the farmers will.Back and forth he dodged, with his mind cramping in effort.It would rat work. There were too many of them and the necessity of abiding within the rules of Trantorian look was too constricting.He felt hands on his arms. He was held.He would claim to interfere with at least a few of the minds. It would be unacceptable and his cancer would be destroyed. alone his conduct his very life was at hazard.How had this happened?The contact of the Table was not complete.It was not the custom to anticipate if any loudspeaker were late. Nor, thought Shandess, was the Table in a image to wait, in any case. Stor Gendibal was the youngest and far from sufficiently aware of the fact. He acted as though youth were in itself a virtue and age a matter of negligence on the part of those who should know better. Gendibal was not favourite with the other loudspeakers. He was not, in point of fact, entirely popular with Shandess himself. But popularity was not at issue here.Delora Delarmi broke in on his reverie. She was aspect at him out of wide blue eyes, her round face with its accustom air of innocence and friendliness masking an acute mind (to all but other Second Foundationers of her own rank) and ferocity of concentration.She said, smiling, freshman Speaker, do we wait longer? (The meeting had not yet been formally called to invest so that, strictly speaking, she could open the conversation, though another might scram waited for Shandess to speak first by right of his title.) Shandess looked at her disarmingly, despite the slight breach in courtesy. Ordinarily we would not, Speaker Delarmi, but since the Table meets precisely to hear Speaker Gendibal, it is suitable to stretch the rules.Where is he, First Speaker?That, Speaker Delarmi, I do not know.Delarmi looked about the rectangle of faces. There was the First Speaker and what should have been eleven other Speakers. Only dozen. Through five centuries, the Second Foundation had expanded its powers and its duties, but all attempts to expand the Table beyond twelve had failed.Twelve it had been after Seldons death, when the second First Speaker (Seldon himself had always been considered as having been the first of the line) had established it, and twelve it still was.Why twelve? That number divided itself easily into groups of identical size. It was small enough to ponder as a whole and large enough to do work in subgroups. More would have been too unwieldy fewer, too inflexible.So went the explanations. In fact, no one knew why the number had been chosen or w hy it should be immutable. But then, even the Second Foundation could invent itself a slave to tradition.It took Delarmi only a flashing moment to have her mind twiddle the matter as she looked from face to face, and mind to mind, and then, sardonically, at the empty seat the junior seat.She was satisfied that there was no munificence at all with Gendibal. The young man, she had always felt, had all the charm of a centipede and was best treated as one. So far, only his un oppugned force and talent had kept anyone from openly proposing trial for expulsion. (Only two Speakers had been impeached but not convicted in the hemimillennial history of the Second Foundation.)The obvious contempt, however, of missing a meeting of the Table was worse than many an offense and Delarmi was proud of(p) to sense that the peevishness for trial had moved forward rather more than a notch.She said, First Speaker, if you do not know the whereabouts of Speaker Gendibal, I would be pleased to demon strate you.Yes, Speaker?Who among us does not know that this young man (she use no honorific in speaking of him, and it was something that everyone noted, of course) materializes business among the Hamish continually? What that business might be, I do not ask, but he is among them now and his concern with them is clearly important enough to take antecedency over this Table.I believe, said another of the Speakers, that he merely walks or jogs as a form of physical exercise.Delarmi smiled again. She enjoyed smiling. It cost her nothing. The University, the Library, the Palace, and the entire kingdom surrounding these are ours. It is small in comparison with the planet itself, but it contains room enough, I think, for physical exercise. First Speaker, might we not begin?The First Speaker sighed inwardly. He had the full power to keep the Table waiting or, indeed, to adjourn the meeting until a time when Gendibal was present.No First Speaker could long function smoothly, however, w ithout at least the passive support of the other Speakers and it was never wise to irritate them. Even Preem Palver had occasionally been forced into cajolery to get his way. Besides, Gendibals absence was annoying, even to the First Speaker. The young Speaker might as well learn he was not a law unto himself.And now, as First Speaker, he did speak first, saying, We will begin. Speaker Gendibal has presented some startling deductions from Prime Radiant data. He believes that there is some organization that is working to. maintain the Seldon Plan more efficiently than we can and that it does so for its own purpose. We must, in his view therefore, learn more about it out of self-defense. You all have been informed of this, and this meeting is to allow you all a chance to question Speaker Gendibal, in order that we may come to some conclusion as to future policy.It was, in fact, even unnecessary to say this much. Shandess held his mind open, so they all knew. Speaking was a matter o f courtesy.Delarmi looked about swiftly. The other ten seemed content to allow her to take on the role of anti-Gendibal spokesperson. She said, and Gendibal (again the omission of the honorific) does not know and cannot say what or who this other organization is.She phrased it unmistakably as a statement, which skirted the edge of rudeness. It was as much as to say I can consider your mind you pack not bother to explain.The First Speaker recognized the rudeness and made the swift decision to ignore it. The fact that Speaker Gendibal (he punctiliously avoided the omission of the honorific and did not even point up the fact by stressing it) does not know and cannot say what the other organization is, does not mean it does not exist. The people of the First Foundation, through most of their history, knew virtually nothing about us and, in fact, know following(a) to nothing about us now. Do you question our existence?It does not follow, said Delarmi, that because we are unknown and yet exist, that anything, in order to exist, need only be unknown. And she laughed lightly.True enough. That is why Speaker Gendibals assertion must be examined most carefully. It is based on rigorous mathematical deduction, which I have gone over myself and which I urge you all to consider. It is (he searched for a cast of mind that best expressed his views) not unconvincing.And this First Foundationer, Golan Trevize, who hovers in your mind but whom you do not mention? (Another rudeness and this time the First Speaker flushed a bit.) What of him?The First Speaker said, It is Speaker Gendibals thought that this man, Trevize, is the tool perhaps an unwitting one of this organization and that we must not ignore him.If, said Delarmi, sitting back in her direct and pushing her graying hair backward and out of her eyes, this organization whatever it is exists and if it is perilously powerful in its mental capabilities and is so hidden, is it likely to be maneuvering so openly by way of someone as noticeable as an exiled Councilman of the First Foundation?The First Speaker said gravely, One would think not. And yet I have noticed something that is most disquieting. I do not understand it. Almost involuntarily he buried the thought in his mind, ashamed that others might see it.Each of the Speakers noted the mental action and, as was rigorously required, respected the shame. Delarmi did, too, but she did so impatiently. She said, in accordance with the required formula, May we request that you let us know your thoughts, since we understand and forgive any shame you may feel?The First Speaker said, Like you, I do not see on what grounds one should suppose Councilman Trevize to be a tool of the other organization, or what purpose he could by chance serve if he were. Yet Speaker Gendibal seems sure of it, and one cannot ignore the possible value of misgiving in anyone who has qualified for Speaker. I therefore attempted to apply the Plan to Trevize.To a single person? said one of the Speakers in low voiced surprise, and then indicated his contrition at once for having accompanied the question with a thought that was clearly the equivalent of What a foolTo a single person, said the First Speaker, and you are right. What a fool I am I know very well that the Plan cannot possibly apply to individuals, not even to small groups of individuals. Nevertheless, I was curious. I extrapolated the social Intersections far past the reasonable limits, but I did it in xvi different ways and chose a region rather than a point. I then made use of all the details we know about Trevize a Councilman of the First Foundation does not go completely unheeded and of the Foundations Mayor. I then threw it all together, rather higgledy-piggledy, Im afraid. He paused. Well? said Delarmi. I gather you Were the results surprising?There werent any results, as you might all expect, said the First Speaker. Nothing can be done with a single individual, and yet and yetAnd yet?I have spent forty years analyzing results and I have grown used to obtaining a clear feeling of what the results would be before they were analyzed and I have rarely been mistaken. In this case, even though there were no results, I developed the strong feeling that Gendibal was right and that Trevize should not be left to himself.Why not, First Speaker? asked Delarmi, clearly taken aback at the strong feeling in the First Speakers mind.I am ashamed, said the First Speaker, that I have let myself be tempted into using the Plan for a purpose for which it is not fit. I am further ashamed now that I am allowing myself to be influenced by something that is strictly intuitive. Yet I must, for I feel this very strongly. If Speaker Gendibal is right if we are in danger from an unknown direction then I feel that when the time comes that our affairs are at a crisis, it will be Trevize who will hold and play the deciding card.On what al-Qaida do you feel this? said Delarmi, shocked.First Speaker Shandess looked about the table miserably, I have no basis. The psychohistorical mathematics produces nothing, but as I watched the interplay of relationships, it seemed to me that Trevize is the key to everything. Attention must be paid to this young man.Gendibal knew that he would not get back in time to join the meeting of the Table. It might be that he would not get back at all.He was held firmly and he tested desperately about him to see how he could best manage to force them to release him.Rufirant stood before him now, exultant. Be you ready now, scowler? Blow for blow, strike for strike, Hamish-fashion. Come then, art the smaller strike then first.Gendibal said, Will someone hold thee, then, as I be held?Rufirant said, Let him go. Nah nah. His arms alane. Leave arms free, but hold legs strong. We want no dancing.Gendibal felt himself pinned to the ground. His arms were free.Strike, scowler, said Rufirant. Give us a blow.And then Gendibals probing mind f ound something that answered indignation, a sense of manginess and pity. He had no choice he would have to run the try of outright strengthening and then improvising on the basis of There was no need He had not touched this new mind, yet it reacted as he would have wished. Precisely.He suddenly became aware of a small figure-stocky, with long, tangled black hair and arms thrust outward careening lifelessly into his field of view and pushing madly at the Hamish farmer.The figure was that of a woman. Gendibal thought grimly that it was a measure of his tension and preoccupation that he had not noted this till his eyes told him so.Karoll Rufirant She shrieked at the farmer. Art bully and coward Strike for strike, Hamish-fashion? You be two times yon scowlers size. Youll be in more sore danger attacking me. Be there renown in pashing yon poor spalp? There be shame, Im thinking. It will be a fair heap of finger-pointing and therell be full saying, Yon be Rufirant, renowned baby-smas her. Itll be laughter, Im thinking, and no decent Hamishman will be drinking with you and no decent Hamishwoman will be ought with you.Rufirant was trying to stem the torrent, warding off the blows she was aiming at him, attempting weakly to answer with a placating, Now, calf. Now, Sura.Gendibal was aware that hands no longer grasped him, that Rufirant no longer glared at him, that the minds of all were no longer concerned with him.Sura was not concerned with him, either her fury was concentrated solely on Rufirant. Gendibal, recovering, now looked to take measures to keep that fury alive and to strengthen the uneasy shame flooding Rufirants mind, and to do both so lightly and skillfully as to leave no mark. Again, there was no need.The woman said, All of you back-step. Look here. If it be not sufficient that this Karoll heap be like giant to this starveling, there must be five or six more of you ally-friends to share in shame and go back to farm with glorious tale of dewing-do in baby-smashing. I held the spalps arm, youll say, and giant Rufirant-block pashed him in face when he was not to back-strike. And youll say, But I held his foot, so give me also glory. And Rufirant-chunk will say, I could not have kiln on his lane, so my furrow-mates pinned him and, with help of all six, I gloried on him.But Sura, said Rufirant, almost whining, I told scowler he might have first-shrike.And fearful you were of the mighty blows of his thin arms, not so, Rufirant thickhead. Come. Let him go where he be going, and the rest of you to your homes back-crawl, if so be those homes will still find a welcome-making for you. You had all best hope the grand deeds of this day be forgotten. And they will not be, for I be spreading them far-wide, if you do make me any the more fiercely raging than I be raging now.They trooped off quietly, heads hanging, not looking back.Gendibal stared after them, then back at the woman. She was dressed in blouse and trousers, with roughmade shoes on her feet. Her face was smashed with sudation and she breathed heavily. Her nose was rather large, her breasts heavy (as best Gendibal could tell through the looseness of her blouse), and her bare arms muscular. But then, the Hamishwomen worked in the palm beside their men.She was looking at him sternly, arms akimbo. Well, scowler, why be lagging? Go on to send of Scowlers. Be you feared? Shall I company you?Gendibal could smell the perspiration on clothes that were clearly not freshly laundered, but under the circumstances it would be most discourteous to show any repulsion.I thank you, Miss SuraThe name be Novi, she said gruffly. Sura Novi. You may say Novi. It be unneeded to moresay.I thank you, Novi. You have been very helpful. You be welcome to company me, not for fear of mine but for company-pleasure in you. And he bowed gracefully, as he might have bowed to one of the young women at the University.Novi flushed, seemed uncertain, and then tried to imitate his gesture. Pleasure be mine, she said, as though searching for wrangle that would adequately express her pleasure and lend an air of culture.They walked together. Gendibal knew well that each leisurely step made him the more unforgiveably late for the Table meeting, but by now he had had a chance to think on the significance of what had taken place and he was icily content to let the lateness grow.The University buildings were looming ahead of them when Sura Novi stopped and said hesitantly, Master Scowler?Apparently, Gendibal thought, as she approached what she called the Place of Scowlers, she grew mare polite. He had a momentary urge to say, Address you not yon poor spalp? But that would embarrass her beyond reason.Yes, Novi?Be it very fine like and rich in Place of Scowlers?Its nice, said Gendibal.I once dreamed I be in Place. And and I be scowler.Someday, said Gendibal politely, Ill show it thee.Her look at him showed plainly she didnt take it for mere politeness. She said, I can iss ue. I be taught by schoolmaster. If I write letter to thee, she tried to make it casual, how do I mark it so it come to thee?Just say, Speakers House, Apartment 27, and it will come to me. But I must go, Novi.He bowed again, and again she tried to imitate the action. They moved off in opposite directions and Gendibal promptly put her out of his mind. He thought instead of the Table meeting and, in particular, of Speaker Delora Delarmi. His thoughts were not gentle.