Compensation Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Compensation - Coursework Example This discourse delves into analyzing these problems in addition, recommends solutions that the management needs take to sort out the problem. It is crucial for the management because the modern economic environment poses additional problems that would make the situation complex. Several questions concerning compensation of employees at the workplace generate complex answers. Among them, who handles employee compensation, what it entails, as well as why it is necessary for employers to carry it out (Mizell, 2010). This discourse delves into explaining the definition of employee compensation, its elements, ways through which institutions comprehend the needs of users, and reasons explaining the need for compensation. Mainly, the paper deals with ethical and legal issues pertaining to compensation a person while discharging his or her duties. The biggest question surrounds appropriate issues to consider while undertaking employee compensation. Is it legal and ethical for organizations to remunerate employees while they discharge their duties? What components should the institutions consider while setting standards of remuneration? What aspects of compensation are acceptable both ethically and legally? In the process, various theories assess whether the employe es have any privacy over what they earn at while at work. Many issues exist to support the privacy of employees terms while at work. However, opposing stands on organizations granting rights to employees are equally strong. The development of technology leads to the need to create new rules with the best example being the U.S postal system. The type of employer also carries the potential to determine the protection extended to employees. While legal issues relating to employee compensation come under extreme assessment, the same issue raises many ethical questions that the discourse will address in detail. To keep an efficient and safe work

Green Marketing In India: Importance and Challenges

Green Marketing In India: Importance and Challenges This paper explains the concept, importance, challenges of green marketing. It also includes some green marketing cases and its future in India. Green marketing is a new concept which has developed particular importance in the modern market. Green marketing is the marketing of products that are presumed to be environmentally safe. Other similar terms used are Environmental Marketing and Ecological Marketing. Firms may choose to green their systems, policies products due to economic and non- economic pressures from their consumers; business partners, regulators, citizen groups other stakeholders. Indian literate and urban consumer is getting more aware about the merits of green products. As a result of this businesses have increased their rate of targeting consumers who are concerned about the environment. 1. Introduction Environmental issues have gained importance in business as well as in public life through out the world. It is not like that a few leaders of different countries or few big renowned business houses are concerned about the day to day deterioration of oxygen level in our atmosphere but every common citizen of our country and the world is concerned about this common threat of global warming. So in this scenario of global concern, corporate houses has taken green-marketing as a part of their strategy to promote products by employing environmental claims either about their attributes or about the systems, policies and processes of the firms that manufacture or sell them. Clearly green marketing is part and parcel of over all corporate strategy; along with manipulating the traditional marketing mix (product, price, promotion and place), it require an understanding of public policy process. So we can say green marketing covers a broad range of activities. 1.1 What is Green Marketing? Green or Environmental Marketing consists of all activities designed to generate and facilitate any exchanges intended to satisfy human needs or wants, such that the satisfaction of these needs and wants occurs, with minimal detrimental impact on the natural environment. According to the American Marketing Association, green marketing is the marketing of products that are presumed to be environmentally safe. Thus green marketing incorporates a broad range of activities, including product modification, changes to the production process, packaging changes, as well as modifying advertising. Other similar terms used are Environmental Marketing and Ecological Marketing. Firms use green marketing in an attempt to address cost or profit related issues. In implementing green marketing, consumers, corporate and the government play a very important role. But there are few constraints in implementing it like lack of consumer awareness, financial constraints, limited scientific knowledge, lack of stringent rules and competitive pressures. Green marketing involves developing and promoting products and Services that satisfy your customer wants and needs for quality, performance, affordable pricing and convenience without having a detrimental impact on the environment 2. Four Ps of Green Marketing Product A firm needs to develop environmentally safe products to have more impact on consumers than competitors. For this, it needs to identify customers environmental needs and develop products to address these needs. Price Usually environmental benefit is an added bonus but will often be the deciding factor between products of equal value and quality. Most customers will only be prepared to pay a premium if there is a perception of additional product value. Place Green products, in most cases, positioned broadly in the market place but very few customers will go out of their way to buy green products merely for the sake of it. For this, In-store promotions and visually appealing displays or using recycled materials to emphasize the environmental and other benefits. Promotion Promotion includes paid advertising, public relations, sales promotions, direct marketing and on-site promotions. Green marketers will be able to reinforce environmental credibility by using sustainable marketing and communications tools and practices. 3. Why do firms go green? Firms may choose to green their systems, policies and products due to economic and noneconomic pressures from their consumers, business partners, regulators, citizen groups and other stakeholders(non market environment).Some other reasons may includes: Some scholar claim that Green policies/products are profitable: Green policies can reduce costs; green firms can shape future regulations and reap first mover advantage. Now a days firms are becoming more concerned about their social responsibilities (S.R). They have taken S.R as a good strategic move to build up an image in the heart of consumers. Even the socially responsible firms are getting leverage, whenever they intend to enter into foreign countries. There are example of firms like ITC, HLL (Surf excel) who are heavily promoting them as an environmentally concerned firms, where as there is example of firms who are working in this direction in a silence manner like Coca-Cola, who have invested crores of money in various recycling activities, as well as having modified their packaging to minimize its environmental impact. While being concerned about the environment coke has not use their concern as a marketing tool. Another big organization who is also working in this field without claiming any credit is Walt Disney World (WDW). So we can see that firms in this situation have taken two perspectives: They are using green marketing as marketing tool. They are working in this field without promoting the fact. Change in customers attitude: With increasing concern about environment, consumers attitude towards firms having green policies or green products are becoming motivating factor. Governmental pressure: In all most all civilized countries Govt. has the law to protect the consumers and the environment from the harmful goods or by products and ensure through law that all types of consumers have the ability to evaluate the environmental composition of goods. Govt. established several regulations to control the hazardous waste produced by firms and many by-products of production are controlled through the issuing of various environmental licenses, thus shaping the behavior of organization towards more socially responsible one. Competitive pressure: Competition is the integral part of business; and you cannot over look any competitive action taken by your competitor. So to be in the market you have to have a vigil over your competitors move for marketing its products. Some firms have taken green-marketing as a strategy to build up its image rather than inculcate it as a part of the policy and work silence. In some instances this competitive pressure has caused an entire industry to modify and thus reduce its detrimental environmental behavior. Cost or profit issue:Firms may also use green marketing in an attempt to address cost or profit related issues. Disposing of environmentally harmful byproducts, such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated oil are becoming increasingly costly and in some cases difficult. Therefore firms that can reduce harmful wastes may incur substantial cost savings. When attempting to minimize waste, firms are often forced to re-examine their production processes. In these cases they often develop more effective production processes that not only reduce waste, but reduce the need for some raw materials. This serves as a double cost savings, since both waste and raw material are reduced. In other cases firms attempt to find end of pipe solutions, instead of minimizing waste. In these situations firms try to find markets or uses for their waste materials, where one firms waste becomes another firms input of production. One Australian example of this is a firm who produces acidic waste water as a by-product of production and sells it to a firm involved in neutralizing base materials. 4. Challenges of Green Marketing Need for Standardization It is found that only 5% of the marketing messages from â€Å"Green† campaigns are entirely true and there is a lack of standardization to authenticate these claims. There is no standardization to authenticate these claims. There is no standardization currently in place to certify a product as organic. Unless some regulatory bodies are involved in providing the certifications there will not be any verifiable means. A standard quality control board needs to be in place for such labeling and licensing. New Concept Indian literate and urban consumer is getting more aware about the merits of Green products. But it is still a new concept for the masses. The consumer needs to be educated and made aware of the environmental threats. The new green movements need to reach the masses and that will take a lot of time and effort. By Indias ayurvedic heritage, Indian consumers do appreciate the importance of using natural and herbal beauty products. Indian consumer is exposed to healthy living lifestyles such as yoga and natural food consumption. In those aspects the consumer is already aware and will be inclined to accept the green products. Patience and Perseverance The investors and corporate need to view the environment as a major long-term investment opportunity, the marketers need to look at the long-term benefits from this new green movement. It will require a lot of patience and no immediate results. Since it is a new concept and idea, it will have its own acceptance period. Avoiding Green Myopia The first rule of green marketing is focusing on customer benefits i.e. the primary reason why consumers buy certain products in the first place. Do this right, and motivate consumers to switch brands or even pay a premium for the greener alternative. It is not going to help if a product is developed which is absolutely green in various aspects but does not pass the customer satisfaction criteria. This will lead to green myopia. Also if the green products are priced very high then again it will lose its market acceptability. 5. Golden Rules of Green Marketing Know youre Customer: Make sure that the consumer is aware of and concerned about the issues that your product attempts to address, (Whirlpool learned the hard way that consumers wouldnt pay a premium for a CFC-free refrigerator because consumers dint know what CFCs were.). Educating your customers: Isnt just a matter of letting people know youre doing whatever youre doing to protect the environment, but also a matter of letting them know why it matters. Otherwise, for a significant portion of your target market, its a case of So what? and your green marketing campaign goes nowhere. Being Genuine Transparent: Means that a) you are actually doing what you claim to be doing in your green marketing campaign and b) the rest of your business policies are consistent with whatever you are doing thats environmentally friendly. Both these conditions have to be met for your business to establish the kind of environmental credentials that will allow a green marketing campaign to succeed Reassure the Buyer: Consumers must be made to believe that the product performs the job its supposed to do-they wont forego product quality in the name of the environment. Consider Your Pricing: If youre charging a premium for your product-and many environmentally preferable products cost more due to economies of scale and use of higher-quality ingredients-make sure those consumers can afford the premium and feel its worth it. Giving your customers an opportunity to participate: Means personalizing the benefits of your environmentally friendly actions, normally through letting the customer take part in positive environmental action Thus leading brands should recognize that consumerexpectations have changed:It is not enough for acompany to green its products; consumers expect theproducts that they purchase pocket friendly and also tohelp reduce the environmental impact in their own livestoo. 6. Green Marketing Cases Interestingly, green marketing continues to be an issue of global interest. In fact, Google Trends reports that, on a relative basis, more searches for â€Å"green marketing† originated from India than from any other country Many companies are adopting green for capturing market opportunity of green marketing. Some cases are: CASE 1: Best Green IT Project: State Bank ofIndia: Green [emailprotected] By using eco and power friendly equipment in its 10,000 newATMs, the banking giant has not only saved power costs andearned carbon credits, but also set the right example forothers to follow. SBI is also entered into green service known as â€Å"Green Channel Counter†. SBI is providing many services like; paper less banking, no deposit slip, no withdrawal form, no checks, no money transactions form all these transaction are done through SBI shopping ATM cards. State Bank of India turns to wind energy to reduce emissions: The State Bank of India became the first Indian bank to harness wind energy through a 15-megawatt wind farm developed by Suzlon Energy. The wind farm located in Coimbatore uses 10 Suzlon wind turbines, each with a capacity of 1.5 MW. The wind farm is spread across three states Tamil Nadu, with 4.5 MW of wind capacity; Maharashtra, with 9 MW; and Gujarat, with 1.5 MW. The wind project is the first step in the State Bank of Indias green banking program dedicated to the reduction of its carbon footprint and promotion of energy efficient processes, especially among the banks clients. CASE 2: Lead Free Paints from Kansai Nerolac Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd. has always been committed to the welfare of society and environment and as a responsible corporate has always taken initiatives in the areas of health, education, community development and environment preservation. Kansai Nerolac has worked on removing hazardous heavy metals from their paints. The hazardous heavy metals like lead, mercury, chromium, arsenic and antimony can have adverse effects on humans. Lead in paints especially poses danger to human health where it can cause damage to Central Nervous System, kidney and reproductive system. Children are more prone to lead poisoning leading to lower intelligence levels and memory loss. CASE 3: Indias 1st Green Stadium The Thyagaraja Stadium stands tall in the quiet residential colony behind the Capitals famous INA Market. It was jointly dedicated by Union Sports Minister MS Gill and Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. Dikshit said that the stadium is going to be the first green stadium in India, which has taken a series of steps to ensure energy conservation and this stadium has been constructed as per the green building concept with eco-friendly materials. CASE 4: Eco-friendly Rickshaws before CWG Chief minister Shiela Dikshit launched a battery operated rickshaw, â€Å"E-rick†, sponsored by a cellular services provider, to promote eco-friendly transportation in the city ahead of the Commonwealth Games. CASE 5: Wipro Green It Wipro can do for you in your quest for a sustainable tomorrow reduce costs, reduce your carbon footprints and become more efficient all while saving the environment. Wipros Green Machines (In India Only) Wipro Infotech was Indias first company to launch environment friendly computer peripherals. For the Indian market, Wipro has launched a new range of desktops and laptops called Wipro Greenware. These products are RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant thus reducing e-waste in the environment. CASE 6: Phillipss Marathon CFL light bulb Philips Lightings first shot at marketing a standalone compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb was Earth Light, at $15 each versus 75 cents for incandescent bulbs. The product had difficulty climbing out of its deep green niche. The company re-launched the product as Marathon, underscoring its new super long life positioning and promise of saving $26 in energy costs over its five-year lifetime. Finally, with the U.S. EPAs Energy Star label to add credibility as well as new sensitivity to rising utility costs and electricity shortages, sales climbed 12 percent in an otherwise flat market. 8. The Future of Green Marketing The question that remains, however, is, what is green marketings future? Business scholars have viewed it as a â€Å"fringe† topic, given that environmentalisms acceptance of limits and conservation does not mesh well with marketings traditional axioms of â€Å"give customer what they want† and â€Å"sell as much as you can†. Evidence indicates that successful green products have avoided green marketing myopia by following three important principles: Consumer Value Positioning Design environmental products to perform as well as (or better than) alternatives. Promote and deliver the consumer desired value of environmental products and target relevant consumer market segments. Broaden mainstream appeal by bundling consumer desired value into environmental products. Calibration of Consumer Knowledge Educate consumers with marketing messages that connect environmental attributes with desired consumer value. Frame environmental product attributes as â€Å"solutions† for consumer needs. Create engaging and educational internet sites about environmental products desired consumer value. Credibility of Product Claim Employ environmental product and consumer benefit claims that are specific and meaningful. Procure product endorsements or eco-certifications from trustworthy third parties and educate consumers about the meaning behind those endorsements and eco certifications. Encourage consumer evangelism via consumers social and internet communication network with compelling, interesting and entertaining information about environmental products. 9. Some Eco- friendly products in India HANDMADE PAPERS ECO WHEELS ECO-FURNITURE HANDICRAFT PRODUCTS PAPER BAGS 10. Conclusion Now this is the right time to select â€Å"Green Marketing† globally. It will come with drastic change in the world of business if all nations will make strict roles because green marketing is essential to save world from pollution. From the business point of view because a clever marketer is one who not only convinces the consumer, but also involves the consumer in marketing his product. Green marketing should not be considered as just one more approach to marketing, but has to be pursued with much greater vigor, as it has an environmental and social dimension to it. With the threat of global warming looming large, it is extremely important that green marketing becomes the norm rather than an exception or just a fad. Recycling of paper, metals, plastics, etc., in a safe and environmentally harmless manner should become much more systematized and universal. It has to become the general norm to use energy-efficient lamps and other electrical goods. Marketers also have the responsibility to make the consumers understand the need for and benefits of green products as compared to non-green ones. In green marketing, consumers are willing to pay more to maintain a cleaner and greener environment. Finally, consumers, industrial buyers and suppliers need to pressurize effects on minimize the negative effects on the environment-friendly. Green marketing assumes even more importance and relevance in developing countries like India. Live a green life and let the greenery of nature live for ever

Shakespeares Macbeth is a Tragic Hero Essay -- GCSE English Literatur

Macbeth is a Tragic Hero In many respects Macbeth, of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is the least admirable tragic hero of literature. Typical tragic heroes have at least a few admirable character traits. One may, or may not like the hero, but there is something in their characters or their situation on which one can hang some sympathy, even if there is not enough for us to rationalize away their actions. But Macbeth is a mass murderer, who does away with friends, colleagues, women and children, often for no apparent reason other than his own desires. Why should Macbeth be considered a tragic hero?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The answer, has to do with the quality of his mind, his horrible determination to see the entire evil business through. Having, with the murder of Duncan, taken charge of the events which shape his life, he is not now going to relinquish the responsibility for securing his desires. The most remarkable quality of the man in this process is the clear-eyed awareness of what is happening to him personally. He is suffering horribly throughout, but he will not crack or seek any other remedy than what he alone can deliver. If that means damning himself even further, then so be it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This stance certainly does not make Macbeth likable or (from our perspective) in many respects admirable. But it does confer a heroic quality upon his tragic course of action. He simply will not compromise with the world, and he will pay whatever price that decision exacts from him, even though as his murderous career continues he becomes increasingly aware of what it is costing him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It seems clear that what his murder has cost him is the very thing that made him great in the first place. For no soon... ...use he has any desire to win but because wants to take charge of the final event, his own death. The life he has created for himself leaves him with nothing else to do.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This last point about Macbeth's bringing about his own death is an important element in his tragedy. Having set himself above all conventional morality and prudence to tackle life on his own terms in answer to his desires, Macbeth will remain in charge until the end. Like so many other great tragic heroes (Oedipus, King Lear, Othello), he self-destructs. He has come to the full recognition of what taking full charge of his own life, without any concessions to his community, really means. And that realization fills him with a sense of bitterness, futility, and meaninglessness. Work Cited Shakespeare, William. Macbeth, ed. Carroll, W. C., Boston, MA: Bedford/ St.Martin's, 1999.

Historical Example of Supply and Demand

The Great Depression happened because the stock market in the United States dropped dramatically. A major factor in bringing about the depression was a direct result of supply and demand. Supply and demand rely on each other and should be equal in a stable economy. Too much supply demand drops, demand goes up supply should go up to meet it. There was a large overage of products that the U. S. people could not consume. The overage happened because a technological advance changed how they produced goods. They were able to produce products more efficiently, however they did not increase employees wages. Therefore, people could not afford to buy the amounts of products that were being produced. This was a direct result. There was no equilibrium. When there was an overage of products there were less demands for laborers because they could not even sell the products that they had let alone produce more. The employers could have increased the employees wages to help the situation. This would not have completely fixed the problem. The industries would be forced by the law of supply and demand to drop their level of output to compensate in their loss of overall profit. Now there was less work, overage of products, and a failing economy. The Great Depression came to an end when the U. S. started making war goods for Britain. This created many jobs for U. S. citizens. This allowed people to earn money and begin spending again. President Roosevelt also had an impact on the recovery of the Great Depression. He made new policies, and changed how things in the economy went. He created different agencies to help with the situation. This in turn helped to create more jobs as well. The demand eventually caught up with the supply due to the labor market increase.

Prelude to Foundation Chapter 17 Wye

WYE-†¦ A sector of the world-city of Trantor†¦ In the latter centuries of the Galactic Empire, Wye was the strongest and stablest portion of the world-city. Its rulers had long aspired to the Imperial throne, justifying that by their descent from early Emperors. Under Mannix IV, Wye was militarized and (Imperial authorities later claimed) was planning a planet-wide coup. Encyclopedia Galactica 82. The man who entered was tall and muscular. He had a long blond mustache that curled up at the tips and a fringe of hair that went down the sides of his face and under his chin, leaving the point of his chin and his lower lip smoothly bare and seeming a little moist. His head was so closely cropped and his hair was so light that, for one unpleasant moment, Seldon was reminded of Mycogen. The newcomer wore what was unmistakably a uniform. It was red and white and about his waist was a wide belt decorated with silver studs. His voice, when he spoke, was a rolling bass and its accent was not like any that Seldon had heard before. Most unfamiliar accents sounded uncouth in Seldon's experience, but this one seemed almost musical, perhaps because of the richness of the low tones. â€Å"I am Sergeant Emmer Thalus,† he rumbled in a slow succession of syllables. â€Å"I have come seeking Dr. Hari Seldon.† Seldon said, â€Å"I am he.† In an aside to Dors, he muttered, â€Å"if Hummin couldn't come himself, he certainly sent a magnificent side of beef to represent him.† The sergeant favored Seldon with a stolid and slightly prolonged look. Then he said, â€Å"Yes. You have been described to me. Please come with me, Dr. Seldon.† Seldon said, â€Å"Lead the way.† The sergeant stepped backward. Seldon and Dors Venabili stepped forward. The sergeant stopped and raised a large hand, palm toward Dors. â€Å"I have been instructed to take Dr. Hari Seldon with me. I have not been instructed to take anyone else.† For a moment, Seldon looked at him uncomprehendingly. Then his look of surprise gave way to anger. â€Å"It's quite impossible that you have been told that, Sergeant. Dr. Dors Venabili is my associate and my companion. She must come with me.† â€Å"That is not in accordance with my instructions, Doctor.† â€Å"I don't care about your instructions in any way, Sergeant Thalus. I do not budge without her.† â€Å"What's more,† said Dors with clear irritation, â€Å"my instructions are to protect Dr. Seldon at all times. I cannot do that unless I am with him. Therefore, where he goes, I go.† The sergeant looked puzzled. â€Å"My instructions are strict that I see to it that no harm comes to you, Dr. Seldon. If you will not come voluntarily, I must carry you to my vehicle. I will try to do so gently.† He extended his two arms as though to seize Seldon by the waist and carry him off bodily. Seldon skittered backward and out of reach. As he did so, the side of his right palm came down on the sergeant's right upper arm where the muscles were thinnest, so that he struck the bone. The sergeant drew a sudden deep breath and seemed to shake himself a bit, but turned, face expressionless, and advanced again. Davan, watching, remained where he was, motionless, but Raych moved behind the sergeant. Seldon repeated his palm stroke a second time, then a third, but now Sergeant Thalus, anticipating the blow, lowered his shoulder to catch it on hard muscle. Dors had drawn her knives. â€Å"Sergeant,† she said forcefully. â€Å"Turn in this direction, I want you to understand I may be forced to hurt you severely if you persist in attempting to carry Dr. Seldon off against his will.† The sergeant paused, seemed to take in the slowly waving knives solemnly, then said, â€Å"It is not in my instructions to refrain from harming anyone but Dr. Seldon.† His right hand moved with surprising speed toward the neuronic whip in the holster at his hip. Dors moved as quickly forward, knives flashing. Neither completed the movement. Dashing forward, Raych had pushed at the sergeant's back with his left hand and withdrew the sergeant's weapon from its holster with his right. He moved away quickly, holding the neuronic whip in both hands now and shouting, â€Å"Hands up, Sergeant, or you're gonna get it!† The sergeant whirled and a nervous look crossed his reddening face. It was the only moment that its stolidity had weakened. â€Å"Put that down, sonny,† he growled. â€Å"You don't know how it works.† Raych howled, â€Å"I know about the safety. It's off and this thing can fire. And it will if you try to rush me.† The sergeant froze. He clearly knew how dangerous it was to have an excited twelve-year-old handling a powerful weapon. Nor did Seldon feel much better. He said, â€Å"Careful, Raych. Don't shoot. Keep your finger off the contact.† â€Å"I ain't gonna let him rush me.† â€Å"He won't.-Sergeant, please don't move. Let's get something straight. You were told to take me away from here. Is that right?† â€Å"That's right,† said the sergeant, eyes somewhat protruding and firmly fixed on Raych (whose eyes were as firmly fixed on the sergeant). â€Å"But you were not told to take anyone else. Is that right?† â€Å"No, I was not, Doctor,† said the sergeant firmly. Not even the threat of a neuronic whip was going to make him weasel. One could see that. â€Å"Very well, but listen to me, Sergeant. Were you told not to take anyone else?† â€Å"I just said-â€Å" â€Å"No, no. Listen, Sergeant. There's a difference. Were your instructions simply ‘Take Dr. Seldon!'? Was that the entire order, with no mention of anyone else, or were the orders more specific? Were your orders as follows: ‘Take Dr. Seldon and don't take anyone else'?† The sergeant turned that over in his head, then he said, â€Å"I was told to take you, Dr. Seldon.† â€Å"Then there was no mention of anyone else, one way or the other, was there?† Pause. â€Å"No.† â€Å"You were not told to take Dr. Venabili, but you were not told not to take Dr. Venabili either. Is that right?† Pause. â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"So you can either take her or not take her, whichever you please?† Long pause. â€Å"I suppose so.† â€Å"Now then, here's Raych, the young fellow who's got a neuronic whip pointing at you-your neuronic whip, remember-and he is anxious to use it.† â€Å"Yay!† shouted Raych. â€Å"Not yet, Raych,† said Seldon. â€Å"And here is Dr. Venabili with two knives that she can use very expertly and there's myself, who can, if I get the chance, break your Adam's apple with one hand so that you'll never speak above a whisper again. Now then, do you want to take Dr. Venabili or don't you want to? Your orders allow you to do either.† And finally the sergeant said in a beaten voice, â€Å"I will take the woman.† â€Å"And the boy, Raych.† â€Å"And the boy.† â€Å"Good. Have I your word of honor-your word of honor as a soldier-that you will do as you have just said†¦ honestly?† â€Å"You have my word of honor as a soldier,† said the sergeant. â€Å"Good. Raych, give back the whip.-Now.-Don't make me wait.† Raych, his face twisted into an unhappy grimace, looked at Dors, who hesitated and then slowly nodded her head. Her face was as unhappy as Raych's. Raych held out the neuronic whip to the sergeant and said, â€Å"They're makin' me, ya big-† His last words were unintelligible. Seldon said, â€Å"Put away your knives, Dors.† Dors shook her head, but put them away. â€Å"Now, Sergeant?† said Seldon. The sergeant looked at the neuronic whip, then at Seldon. He said, â€Å"You are an honorable man, Dr. Seldon, and my word of honor holds.† With a military snap, he placed his neuronic whip in his holster. Seldon turned to Davan and said, â€Å"Davan, please forget what you have seen here. We three are going voluntarily with Sergeant Thalus. You tell Yugo Amaryl when you see him that I will not forget him and that, once this is over and I am free to act, I will see that he gets into a University. And if there's anything reasonable I can ever do for your cause, Davan, I will.-Now, Sergeant, let's go.† 83. â€Å"Have you ever been in an air-jet before, Raych?† asked Hari Seldon. Raych shook his head speechlessly. He was looking down at Upperside rushing beneath them with a mixture of fright and awe. It struck Seldon again how much Trantor was a world of Expressways and tunnels. Even long trips were made underground by the general population. Air travel, however common it might be on the Outworlds, was a luxury on Trantor and an air-jet like this- How had Hummin managed it? Seldon wondered. He looked out the window at the rise and fall of the domes, at the general green in this area of the planet, the occasional patches of what were little less than jungles, the arms of the sea they occasionally passed over, with its leaden waters taking on a sudden all-too-brief sparkle when the sun peeped out momentarily from the heavy cloud layer. An hour or so into the flight, Dors, who was viewing a new historical novel without much in the way of apparent enjoyment, clicked it off and said, â€Å"I wish I knew where we were going.† â€Å"If you can't tell,† said Seldon, â€Å"then I certainly can't. You've been on Trantor longer than I have.† â€Å"Yes, but only on the inside,† said Dors. â€Å"Out here, with only Upperside below me, I'm as lost as an unborn infant would be.† â€Å"Oh well.-Presumably, Hummin knows what he's doing.† â€Å"I'm sure he does,† replied Dors rather tartly, â€Å"but that may have nothing to do with the present situation. Why do you continue to assume any of this represents his initiative?† Seldon's eyebrows lifted. â€Å"Now that you ask, I don't know. I just assumed it. Why shouldn't this be his?† â€Å"Because whoever arranged it didn't specify that I be taken along with you. I simply don't see Hummin forgetting my existence. And because he didn't come himself, as he did at Streeling and at Mycogen.† â€Å"You can't always expect him to, Dors. He might well be occupied. The astonishing thing is not that he didn't come on this occasion but that he did come on the previous ones.† â€Å"Assuming he didn't come himself, would he send a conspicuous and lavish flying palace like this?† She gestured around her at the large luxurious jet. â€Å"It might simply have been available. And he might have reasoned that no one would expect something as noticeable as this to be carrying fugitives who were desperately trying to avoid detection. The well-known double-double-cross.† â€Å"Too well-known, in my opinion. And would he send an idiot like Sergeant Thalus in his place?† â€Å"The sergeant is no idiot. He's simply been trained to complete obedience. With proper instructions, he could be utterly reliable.† â€Å"There you are, Hari. We come back to that. Why didn't he get proper instructions? It's inconceivable to me that Chetter Hummin would tell him to carry you out of Dahl and not say a word about me. Inconceivable.† And to that Seldon had no answer and his spirits sank. Another hour passed and Dors said, â€Å"It looks as if it's getting colder outside. The green of Upperside is turning brown and I believe the heaters have turned on.† â€Å"What does that signify?† â€Å"Dahl is in the tropic zone so obviously we're going either north or south-and a considerable distance too. If I had some notion in which direction the nightline was I could tell which.† Eventually, they passed over a section of shoreline where there was a rim of ice hugging the domes where they were rimmed by the sea. And then, quite unexpectedly, the air-jet angled downward. Raych screamed, â€Å"We're goin' to hit! We're goin' to smash up!† Seldon's abdominal muscles tightened and he clutched the arms of his seat. Dors seemed unaffected. She said, â€Å"The pilots up front don't seem alarmed. We'll be tunneling.† And, as she said so, the jet's wings swept backward and under it and, like a bullet, the air-jet entered a tunnel. Blackness swept back over them in an instant and a moment later the lighting system in the tunnel turned on. The walls of the tunnel snaked past the jet on either side. â€Å"I don't suppose I'll ever be sure they know the tunnel isn't already occupied,† muttered Seldon. â€Å"I'm sure they had reassurance of a clear tunnel some dozens of kilometers earlier,† said Dors. â€Å"At any rate, I presume this is the last stage of the journey and soon we'll know where we are.† She paused and then added, â€Å"And I further presume we won't like the knowledge when we have it.† 84. The air-jet sped out of the tunnel and onto a long runway with a roof so high that it seemed closer to true daylight than anything Seldon had seen since he had left the Imperial Sector. They came to a halt in a shorter time than Seldon would have expected, but at the price of an uncomfortable pressure forward. Raych, in particular, was crushed against the seat before him and was finding it difficult to breathe till Dors's hand on his shoulder pulled him back slightly. Sergeant Thalus, impressive and erect, left the jet and moved to the rear, where he opened the door of the passenger compartment and helped the three out, one by one. Seldon was last. He half-turned as he passed the sergeant, saying, â€Å"It was a pleasant trip, Sergeant.† A slow smile spread over the sergeant's large face and lifted his mustachioed upper lip. He touched the visor of his cap in what was half a salute and said, â€Å"Thank you again, Doctor.† They were then ushered into the backseat of a ground-car of lavish design and the sergeant himself pushed into the front seat and drove the vehicle with a surprisingly light touch. They passed through wide roadways, flanked by tall, well-designed buildings, all glistening in broad daylight. As elsewhere on Trantor, they heard the distant drone of an Expressway. The walkways were crowded with what were, for the most part, well-dressed people. The surroundings were remarkably-almost excessively-clean. Seldon's sense of security sank further. Dors's misgivings concerning their destination now seemed justified after all. He leaned toward her and said, â€Å"Do you think we are back in the Imperial Sector?† She said, â€Å"No, the buildings are more rococo in the Imperial Sector and there's less Imperial parkishness to this sector-if you know what I mean.† â€Å"Then where are we, Dors? â€Å"We'll have to ask, I'm afraid, Hari.† It was not a long trip and soon they rolled into a car-bay that flanked an imposing four-story structure. A frieze of imaginary animals ran along the top, decorated with strips of warm pink stone. It was an impressive facade with a rather pleasing design. Seldon said, â€Å"That certainly looks rococo enough.† Dors shrugged uncertainly. Raych whistled and said in a failing attempt to sound unimpressed, â€Å"Hey, look at that fancy place.† Sergeant Thalus gestured to Seldon clearly indicating that he was to follow. Seldon hung back and, also relying on the universal language of gesture, held out both arms, clearly including Dors and Raych. The sergeant hesitated in a slightly hangdog fashion at the impressive pink doorway. His mustache almost seemed to droop. Then he said gruffly, â€Å"All three of you, then. My word of honor holds.-Still, others may not feel obligated by my own obligation, you know.† Seldon nodded. â€Å"I hold you responsible for your own deeds only, Sergeant.† The sergeant was clearly moved and, for a moment, his face lightened as though he was considering the possibility of shaking Seldon's hand or expressing heartfelt his approval in some other way. He decided against it, however, and stepped onto the bottom step of the flight that led to the door. The stairs immediately began a stately upward movement. Seldon and Dors stepped after him at once and kept their balance without much trouble. Raych, who was momentarily staggered in surprise, jumped onto the moving stairs after a short run, shoved both hands into his pockets, and whistled carelessly. The door opened and two women stepped out, one on either side in symmetrical fashion. They were young and attractive. Their dresses, belted tightly about the waist and reaching nearly to their ankles, fell in crisp pleats and rustled when they walked. Both had brown hair that was coiled in thick plaits on either side of their heads. (Seldon found it attractive, but wondered how long it took them each morning to arrange it just so. He had not been aware of so elaborate a coiffure on the women they had passed in the streets.) The two women stared at the newcomers with obvious contempt. Seldon was not surprised. After the day's events, he and Dors looked almost as disreputable as Raych. Yet the women managed to bow decorously and then made a half-turn and gestured inward in perfect unison and with symmetry carefully maintained. (Did they rehearse these things?) It was clear that the three were to enter. They stepped through an elaborate room, cluttered with furniture and decorative items whose use Seldon did not readily understand. The floor was light-colored, springy, and glowed with luminescence. Seldon noted with some embarrassment that their footwear left dusty marks upon it. And then an inner door was flung open and yet another woman emerged. She was distinctly older than the first two (who sank slowly as she came in, crossing their legs symmetrically as they did so in a way that made Seldon marvel that they could keep their balance; it undoubtedly took a deal of practice). Seldon wondered if he too was expected to display some ritualized form of respect, but since he hadn't the faintest notion of what this might consist of, he merely bowed his head slightly. Dors remained standing erect and, it seemed to Seldon, did so with disdain. Raych was staring open-mouthed in all directions and looked as though he didn't even see the woman who had just entered. She was plump-not fat, but comfortably padded. She wore her hair precisely as the young ladies did and her dress was in the same style, but much more richly ornamented-too much so to suit Seldon's aesthetic notions. She was clearly middle-aged and there was a hint of gray in her hair, but the dimples in he r cheeks gave her the appearance of having rather more than a dash of youth. Her light brown eyes were merry and on the whole she looked more motherly than old. She said, â€Å"How are you? All of you.† (She showed no surprise at the presence of Dors and Raych, but included them easily in her greeting.) â€Å"I've been waiting for you for some time and almost had you on Upperside at Streeling. You are Dr. Hari Seldon, whom I've been looking forward to meeting. You, I think, must be Dr. Dors Venabili, for you had been reported to be in his company. This young man I fear I do not know, but I am pleased to see him. But we must not spend our time talking, for I'm sure you would like to rest first.† â€Å"And bathe, Madam,† said Dors rather forcefully, â€Å"Each of us could use a thorough shower.† â€Å"Yes, certainly,† said the woman, â€Å"and a change in clothing. Especially the young man.† She looked down at Raych without any of the look of contempt and disapproval that the two young women had shown. She said, â€Å"What is your name, young man?† â€Å"Raych,† said Raych in a rather choked and embarrassed voice. He then added experimentally, â€Å"Missus.† â€Å"What an odd coincidence,† said the woman, her eyes sparkling. â€Å"An omen, perhaps. My own name is Rashelle. Isn't that odd?-But come. We shall take care of you all. Then there will be plenty of time to have dinner and to talk.† â€Å"Wait, Madam,† said Dors. â€Å"May I ask where we are?† â€Å"Wye, dear. And please call me Rashelle, as you come to feel more friendly. I am always at ease with informality.† Dors stiffened. â€Å"Are you surprised that we ask? Isn't it natural that we should want to know where we are?† Rashelle laughed in a pleasant, tinkling manner. â€Å"Really, Dr. Venabili, something must be done about the name of this place. I was not asking a question but making a statement. You asked where you were and I did not ask you why. I told you, ‘Wye.' You are in the Wye Sector.† â€Å"In Wye?† said Seldon forcibly. â€Å"Yes indeed, Dr. Seldon. We've wanted you from the day you addressed the Decennial Convention and we are so glad to have you now.† 85. Actually, it took a full day to rest and unstiffen, to wash and get clean, to obtain new clothes (satiny and rather loose, in the style of Wye), and to sleep a good deal. It was during the second evening in Wye that there was the dinner that Madam Rashelle had promised. The table was a large one-too large, considering that there were only four dining: Hari Seldon, Dors Venabili, Raych, and Rashelle. The walls and ceiling were softly illuminated and the colors changed at a rate that caught the eye but not so rapidly as in any way to discommode the mind. The very tablecloth, which was not cloth (Seldon had not made up his mind what it might be), seemed to sparkle. The servers were many and silent and when the door opened it seemed to Seldon that he caught a glimpse of soldiers, armed and at the ready, outside. The room was a velvet glove, but the iron fist was not far distant. Rashelle was gracious and friendly and had clearly taken a particular liking to Raych, who, she insisted, was to sit next to her. Raych-scrubbed, polished, and shining, all but unrecognizable in his new clothes, with his hair clipped, cleaned, and brushed-scarcely dared to say a word. It was as though he felt his grammar no longer fit his appearance. He was pitifully ill at ease and he watched Dors carefully as she switched from utensil to utensil, trying to match her exactly in every respect. The food was tasty but spicy-to the point where Seldon could not recognize the exact nature of the dishes. Rashelle, her plump face made happy by her gentle smile and her fine teeth gleaming white, said, â€Å"You may think we have Mycogenian additives in the food, but we do not. It is all homegrown in Wye. There is no sector on the planet more self-sufficient than Wye. We labor hard to keep that so.† Seldon nodded gravely and said, â€Å"Everything you have given us is first-rate, Rashelle. We are much obliged to you.† And yet within himself he thought the food was not quite up to Mycogenian standards and he felt moreover, as he had earlier muttered to Dors, that he was celebrating his own defeat. Or Hummin's defeat, at any rate, and that seemed to him to be the same thing. After all, he had been captured by Wye, the very possibility that had so concerned Hummin at the time of the incident Upperside. Rashelle said, â€Å"Perhaps, in my role as hostess, I may be forgiven if I ask personal questions. Am I correct in assuming that you three do not represent a family; that you, Hari, and you, Dors, are not married and that Raych is not your son?† â€Å"The three of us are not related in any way,† said Seldon. â€Å"Raych was born on Trantor, I on Helicon, Dors on Cinna.† â€Å"And how did you all meet, then?† Seldon explained briefly and with as little detail as he could manage. â€Å"There's nothing romantic or significant in the meetings,† he added. â€Å"Yet I am given to understand that you raised difficulties with my personal aide, Sergeant Thalus, when he wanted to take only you out of Dahl.† Seldon said gravely, â€Å"I had grown fond of Dors and Raych and did not wish to be separated from them.† Rashelle smiled and said, â€Å"You are a sentimental man, I see.† â€Å"Yes, I am. Sentimental. And puzzled too.† â€Å"Puzzled?† â€Å"Why yes. And since you were so kind as to ask personal questions of us, may I ask one as well?† â€Å"Of course, my dear Hari. Ask anything you please.† â€Å"When we first arrived, you said that Wye has wanted me from the day I addressed the Decennial Convention. For what reason might that be?† â€Å"Surely, you are not so simple as not to know. We want you for your psychohistory.† â€Å"That much I do understand. But what makes you think that having me means you have psychohistory?† â€Å"Surely, you have not been so careless as to lose it.† â€Å"Worse, Rashelle. I have never had it.† Rashelle's face dimpled. â€Å"But you said you had it in your talk. Not that I understood your talk. I am not a mathematician. I hate numbers. But I have in my employ mathematicians who have explained to me what it is you said.† â€Å"In that case, my dear Rashelle, you must listen more closely. I can well imagine they have told you that I have proven that psychohistorical predictions are conceivable, but surely they must also have told you that they are not practical.† â€Å"I can't believe that, Hari. The very next day, you were called into an audience with that pseudo-Emperor, Cleon.† â€Å"The pseudo-Emperor?† murmured Dors ironically. â€Å"Why yes,† said Rashelle as though she was answering a serious question. â€Å"Pseudo-Emperor. He has no true claim to the throne.† â€Å"Rashelle,† said Seldon, brushing that aside a bit impatiently, â€Å"I told Cleon exactly what I have just told you and he let me go.† Now Rashelle did nor smile. A small edge crept into her voice. â€Å"Yes, he let you go the way the cat in the fable lets a mouse go. He has been pursuing you ever since-in Streeling, in Mycogen, in Dahl. He would pursue you here if he dared. But come now-our serious talk is too serious. Let us enjoy ourselves. Let us have music.† And at her words, there suddenly sounded a soft but joyous instrumental melody. She leaned toward Raych and said softly, â€Å"My boy, if you are not at ease with the fork, use your spoon or your fingers. I won't mind.† Raych said, â€Å"Yes, mum,† and swallowed hard, but Dors caught his eye and her lips silently mouthed: â€Å"Fork.† He remained with his fork. Dors said, â€Å"The music is lovely, Madam†-she pointedly rejected the familiar form of address â€Å"but it must not he allowed to distract us. There is the thought in my mind that the pursuer in all those places might have been in the employ of the Wye Sector. Surely, you would not be so well acquainted with events if Wye were not the prime mover.† Rashelle laughed aloud. â€Å"Wye has its eyes and ears everywhere, of course, but we were not the pursuers. Had we been, you would have been picked up without fail-as you were in Dahl finally when, indeed, we were the pursuers. When, however, there is a pursuit that fails, a grasping hand that misses, you may be sure that it is Demerzel.† â€Å"Do you think so little of Demerzel?† murmured Dors. â€Å"Yes. Does that surprise you? We have beaten him.† â€Å"You? Or the Wye Sector?† â€Å"The sector, of course, but insofar as Wye is the victor, then I am the victor.† â€Å"How strange,† said Dors. â€Å"There seems to be a prevalent opinion throughout Trantor that the inhabitants of Wye have nothing to do with victory, with defeat, or with anything else. It is felt that there is but one will and one fist in Wye and that is that of the Mayor. Surely, you-or any other Wyan-weigh nothing in comparison.† Rashelle smiled broadly. She paused to look at Raych benevolently and to pinch his cheek, then said, â€Å"If you believe that our Mayor is an autocrat and that there is but one will that sways Wye, then perhaps you are right. But, even so, I can still use the personal pronoun, for my will is of account.† â€Å"Why yours?† said Seldon. â€Å"Why not?† said Rashelle as the servers began clearing the table. â€Å"I am the Mayor of Wye.† 86. It was Raych who was the first to react to the statement. Quite forgetting the cloak of civility that sat upon him so uncomfortably, he laughed raucously and said, â€Å"Hey, lady, ya can't be Mayor. Mayors is guys.† Rashelle looked at him good-naturedly and said in a perfect imitation of his tone of voice, â€Å"Hey, kid, some Mayors is guys and some Mayors is dames. Put that under your lid and let it bubble.† Raych's eyes protruded and he seemed stunned. Finally he managed to say, â€Å"Hey, ya talk regular, lady.† â€Å"Sure thing. Regular as ya want,† said Rashelle, still smiling. Seldon cleared his throat and said, â€Å"That's quite an accent you have, Rashelle.† Rashelle tossed her head slightly. â€Å"I haven't had occasion to use it in many years, but one never forgets. I once had a friend, a good friend, who was a Dahlite-when I was very young.† She sighed. â€Å"He didn't speak that way, of course-he was quite intelligent-but he could do so if he wished and he taught me. It was exciting to talk so with him. It created a world that excluded our surroundings. It was wonderful. It was also impossible. My father made that plain. And now along comes this young rascal, Raych, to remind me of those long-ago days. He has the accent, the eyes, the impudent cast of countenance, and in six years or so he will be a delight and terror to the young women. Won't you, Raych?† Raych said, â€Å"I dunno, lady-uh, mum.† â€Å"I'm sure you will and you will come to look very much like my†¦ old friend and it will be much more comfortable for me not to see you then. And now, dinner's over and it's time for you to go to your room, Raych. You can watch holovision for a while if you wish. I don't suppose you read.† Raych reddened. â€Å"I'm gonna read someday. Master Seldon says I'm gonna.† â€Å"Then I'm sure you will.† A young woman approached Raych, curtsying respectfully in Rashelle's direction. Seldon had not seen the signal that had summoned her. Raych said, â€Å"Can't I stay with Master Seldon and Missus Venabili?† â€Å"You'll see them later,† said Rashelle gently, â€Å"but Master and Missus and I have to talk right now-so you must go.† Dors mouthed a firm â€Å"Go!† at Raych and with a grimace the boy slid out of his chair and followed the attendant. Rashelle turned to Seldon and Dors once Raych was gone and said, â€Å"The boy will be safe, of course, and treated well. Please have no fears about that. And I will be safe too. As my woman approached just now, so will a dozen armed men-and much more rapidly-when summoned. I want you to understand that.† Seldon said evenly, â€Å"We are in no way thinking of attacking you, Rashelle-or must I now say, ‘Madam Mayor'?† â€Å"Still Rashelle. I am given to understand that you are a wrestler of sorts, Hari, and you, Dors, are very skillful with the knives we have removed from your room. I don't want you to rely uselessly on your skills, since I want Hari alive, unharmed, and friendly.† â€Å"It is quite well understood, Madam Mayor,† said Dors, her lack of friendship uncompromised, â€Å"that the ruler of Wye, now and for the past forty years, is Mannix, Fourth of that Name, and that he is still alive and in full possession of his faculties. Who, then, are you really?† â€Å"Exactly who I say I am, Dors. Mannix IV is my father. He is, as you say, still alive and in possession of his faculties. In the eyes of the Emperor and of all the Empire, he is Mayor of Wye, but he is weary of the strains of power and is willing, at last, to let them slip into my hands, which are just as willing to receive them. I am his only child and I was brought up all my life to rule. My father is therefore Mayor in law and name, but I am Mayor in fact. It is to me, now, that the armed forces of Wye have sworn allegiance and in Wye that is all that counts.† Seldon nodded. â€Å"Let it be as you say. But even so, whether it is Mayor Mannix IV or Mayor Rashelle I-it is the First, I suppose-there is no purpose in your holding me. I have told you that I don't have a workable psychohistory and I do not think that either I or anyone else will ever have one. I have told that to the Emperor. I am of no use either to you or to him.† Rashelle said, â€Å"How naive you are. Do you know the history of the Empire?† Seldon shook his head. â€Å"I have recently come to wish that I knew it much better.† Dors said dryly, â€Å"I know Imperial history quite well, though the pre-Imperial age is my specialty, Madam Mayor. But what does it matter whether we do or do not?† â€Å"If you know your history, you know that the House of Wye is ancient and honorable and is descended from the Dacian dynasty.† Dors said, â€Å"The Dacians ruled five thousand years ago. The number of their descendants in the hundred and fifty generations that have lived and died since then may number half the population of the Galaxy-if all genealogical claims, however outrageous, are accepted.† â€Å"Our genealogical claims, Dr. Venabili†-Rashelle's tone of voice was, for the first time, cold and unfriendly and her eyes flashed like steel-â€Å"are not outrageous. They are fully documented. The House of Wye has maintained itself consistently in positions of power through all those generations and there have been occasions when we have held the Imperial throne and have ruled as Emperors.† â€Å"The history book-films,† said Dors, â€Å"usually refer to the Wye rulers as ‘anti-Emperors,' never recognized by the bulk of the Empire.† â€Å"It depends on who writes the history book-films. In the future, we will, for the throne which has been ours will be ours again.† â€Å"To accomplish that, you must bring about civil war.† â€Å"There won't be much risk of that,† said Rashelle. She was smiling again. â€Å"That is what I must explain to you because I want Dr. Seldon's help in preventing such a catastrophe. My father, Mannix IV, has been a man of peace all his life. He has been loyal to whomever it might be that ruled in the Imperial Palace and he has kept Wye a prosperous and strong pillar of the Trantorian economy for the good of all the Empire.† â€Å"I don't know that the Emperor has ever trusted him any the more for all that,† said Dors. â€Å"I'm sure that is so,† said Rashelle calmly, â€Å"for the Emperors that have occupied the Palace in my father's time have known themselves to be usurpers of a usurping line. Usurpers cannot afford to trust the true rulers. And yet my father has kept the peace. He has, of course, developed and trained a magnificent security force to maintain the peace, prosperity, and stability of the sector and the Imperial authorities have allowed this because they wanted Wye peaceful, prosperous, stable-and loyal.† â€Å"But is it loyal?† said Dors. â€Å"To the true Emperor, of course,† said Rashelle, â€Å"and we have now reached the stage where our strength is such that we can take over the government quickly-in a lightning stroke, in fact-and before one can say ‘civil war' there will be a true Emperor-or Empress, if you prefer-and Trantor will be as peaceful as before.† Dors shook her head. â€Å"May I enlighten you? As a historian?† â€Å"I am always willing to listen.† And she inclined her head ever so slightly toward Dors. â€Å"Whatever size your security force may be, however well-trained and well-equipped, they cannot possibly equal in size and strength the Imperial forces backed by twenty-five million worlds.† â€Å"Ah, but you have put your finger on the usurper's weakness, Dr. Venabili. There are twenty-five million worlds, with the Imperial forces scattered over them. Those forces are thinned out over incalculable space, under uncounted officers, none of them particularly ready for any action outside their own Provinces, many ready for action in their own interest rather than in the Empire's. Our forces, on the other hand, are all here, all on Trantor. We can act and conclude before the distant generals and admirals can get it through their heads that they are needed.† â€Å"But that response will come-and with irresistible force.† â€Å"Are you certain of that?† said Rashelle. â€Å"We will be in the Palace. Trantor will be ours and at peace. Why should the Imperial forces stir when, by minding their own business, each petty military leader can have his own world to rule, his own Province?† â€Å"But is that what you want?† asked Seldon wonderingly. â€Å"Are you telling me that you look forward to ruling over an Empire that will break up into splinters?† Rashelle said, â€Å"That is exactly right. I would rule over Trantor, over its outlying space settlements, over the few nearby planetary systems that are part of the Trantorian Province. I would much rather be Emperor of Trantor than Emperor of the Galaxy.† â€Å"You would be satisfied with Trantor only,† said Dors in tones of the deepest disbelief. â€Å"Why not?† said Rashelle, suddenly ablaze. She leaned forward eagerly, both hands pressed palms-down on the table. â€Å"That is what my father has been planning for forty years. He is only clinging to life now to witness its fulfillment. Why do we need millions of worlds, distant worlds that mean nothing to us, that weaken us, that draw our forces far away from us into meaningless cubic parsecs of space, that drown us in administrative chaos, that ruin us with their endless quarrels and problems when they are all distant nothings as far as we are concerned? Our own populous world-our own planetary city-is Galaxy enough for us. We have all we need to support ourselves. As for the rest of the Galaxy, let it splinter. Every petty militarist can have his own splinter. They needn't fight. There will be enough for all.† â€Å"But they will fight, just the same,† said Dors. â€Å"Each will refuse to be satisfied with his Province. Each will feel that his neighbor is not satisfied with his Province. Each will feel insecure and will dream of Galactic rule as the only guarantee of safety. This is certain, Madam Empress of Nothing. There will be endless wars into which you and Trantor will be inevitably drawn-to the ruin of all.† Rashelle said with clear contempt, â€Å"So it might seem, if one could see no farther than you do, if one relied on the ordinary lessons of history.† â€Å"What is there to see farther?† retorted Dors. â€Å"What is one to rely on beyond the lessons of history?† â€Å"What lies beyond?† said Rashelle. â€Å"Why, he.† And her arm shot outward, her index finger jabbing toward Seldon. â€Å"Me?† said Seldon. â€Å"I have already told you that psychohistory-â€Å" Rashelle said, â€Å"Do not repeat what you have already said, my good Dr. Seldon. We gain nothing by that.-Do you think, Dr. Venabili, that my father was never aware of the danger of endless civil war? Do you think he did not bend his powerful mind to thinking of some way to prevent that? He has been prepared at any time these last ten years to take over the Empire in a day. It needed only the assurance of security beyond victory.† â€Å"Which you can't have,† said Dors. â€Å"Which we had the moment we heard of Dr. Seldon's paper at the Decennial Convention. I saw at once that that was what we needed. My father was too old to see the significance at once. When I explained it, however, he saw it too and it was then that he formally transferred his power to me. So it is to you, Hari, that I owe my position and to you I will owe my greater position in the future.† â€Å"I keep telling you that it cannot-† began Seldon with deep annoyance. â€Å"It is not important what can or cannot be done. What is important is what people will or will not believe can be done. They will believe you, Hari, when you tell them the psychohistoric prediction is that Trantor can rule itself and that the Provinces can become Kingdoms that will live together in peace.† â€Å"I will make no such prediction,† said Seldon, â€Å"in the absence of true psychohistory. I won't play the charlatan. If you want something like that, you say it.† â€Å"Now, Hari. They won't believe me. It's you they will believe. The great mathematician. Why not oblige them?† â€Å"As it happens,† said Seldon â€Å"the Emperor also thought to use me as a source of self-serving prophecies. I refused to do it for him, so do you think I will agree to do it for you?† Rashelle was silent for a while and when she spoke again her voice had lost its intense excitement and became almost coaxing. â€Å"Hari,† she said, â€Å"think a little of the difference between Cleon and myself. What Cleon undoubtedly wanted from you was propaganda to preserve his throne. It would be useless to give him that, for the throne can't be preserved. Don't you know that the Galactic Empire is in a state of decay, that it cannot endure for much longer? Trantor itself is slowly sliding into ruin because of the ever-increasing weight of administering twenty-five million worlds. What's ahead of us is breakup and civil war, no matter what you do for Cleon.† Seldon said, â€Å"I have heard something like this said. It may even be true, but what then?† â€Å"Well then, help it break into fragments without any war. Help me take Trantor. Help me establish a firm government over a realm small enough to be ruled efficiently. Let me give freedom to the rest of the Galaxy, each portion to go its own way according to its own customs and cultures. The Galaxy will become a working whole again through the free agencies of trade, tourism, and communication and the fate of cracking into disaster under the present rule of force that barely holds it together will be averted. My ambition is moderate indeed; one world, not millions; peace, not war; freedom, not slavery. Think about it and help me.† Seldon said, â€Å"Why should the Galaxy believe me any more than they would believe you? They don't know me and which of our fleet commanders will be impressed by the mere word ‘psychohistory'?† â€Å"You won't be believed now, but I don't ask for action now. The House of Wye, having waited thousands of years, can wait thousands of days more. Cooperate with me and I will make your name famous. I will make the promise of psychohistory glow through all the worlds and at the proper time, when I judge the movement to be the chosen moment, you will pronounce your prediction and we will strike. Then, in a twinkling of history, the Galaxy will exist under a New Order that will render it stable and happy for eons. Come now, Hari, can you refuse me?†