Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)+Multi-objective analysis or Essay
Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)+Multi-objective analysis or indicators - Essay Example Therefore it is a key factor contributing to project success. Nevertheless, procurement strategy selection decisions have been mostly judgmental, and hence subject to biases of the decision-maker. In this respect, the need to have a more objective and systematic selection model is self-evident. Developing a model for procurement selection is therefore of strategic importance and several leading research works have been reported (Masterman and Gameson, 84; Skitmore and Marsden, 121; Love et al., 221). This paper reports a study conducted in Hong Kong on the development of a procurement selection model based on multi-attribute utility technology (MAUT). The robustness of the model is enhanced with the use of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to determine the importance weightings for the selection criteria. The proposed method seeks to improve the objectivity of the procurement selection process by utilizing the expertise of industrial experts to determine the utility factors. The analytical hierarchy process is used also to determine the importance weightings of the selection criteria. When construction clients face the problem of selecting a procurement method for a project, the clients’ previous experience plays an influential role. As well as the degree of subjectivity, the decision is complicated by the multitude of decision criteria and options available. The nature of the problem fits nicely with multi-attribute utility technology (Edwards, 3; Green, 1992). MAUT is a methodology that can be used as a tool for measuring objectivity in an otherwise subjective area of management (Fellows et al., 27). MAUT is considered to be appropriate as it enables the integration of both the effects of the priority rating and the utilities derived from the respective procurement options. The approach involves first assigning a rating to each of the selection criteria. The ratings are then applied to the utilities derived from a particular procurement method against
Gothic conventions Essay Example for Free
Gothic conventions Essay Dracula, as described in the play, can take many forms of different creatures. Ranging from a wolf to a mist. These creatures are described well in the play and create an atmosphere of suspense for the reader. It also shows just how strong Dracula is. This vampire which is amongst us is of himself so strong in person as twenty men This quotation shows us just how strong Dracula is and Bram Stoker describes this well by comparing Dracula to a living thing such as man. It gives us a good idea of just how strong Dracula is/becomes. In the play it describes the many forms that Dracula can take: The storm, the fog, and the wolf; he can grow and become small; and he can at times vanish and come unknown. This describes very well the different forms that Dracula can take and the last bit of the sentence just creates that extra bit of suspense, which can take this play to the next level. and he can at times vanish and come unknown This is the phrase which kicks in that extra bit of suspense and gets the reader wondering what this means and how Dracula does it. It overall draws a better picture of the creature himself and what is achievable for him. He can transform himself to wolf, as we gather from the ship arrival in Whitby, when he tear open the dog; he can be as bat He can come in mist which he create This is another of the forms that Dracula can take and as you progress on with the story you get a better and better image of Dracula and the powers that he has within him. Another one of the conventions is the weirdness of Dracula and how different he is in relation to the rest of mankind. He eat not as others. Even friend Jonathan, who lived with him for weeks, did never see him to eat, never! This is very weird, as we all know because every living thing needs to consume something in order for its body to keep functioning and to stay alive. But it seems as though Dracula is very different compared to humans as Jonathan, who had lived with him, had never seen him eat. This must mean that there is another way in, which Dracula consumes which has not yet been discovered. This part of the story creates suspense and gets the reader thinking about what Dracula exactly is and how he differs humans. It gets the reader thinking about how Dracula survives and what he survives on. He throws no shadow; he make in the mirror no reflect This is another phrase, which creates suspense for the reader and shoes just how weird Dracula is and once again it gets the readers thinking just what Dracula is. As we know everything and anything can throw a shadow as long as it is solid. The laws of physics tell us that. But Dracula somehow doesnt throw a shadow. This means that he is defying the laws of Physics, which once again shows how unusual and how inhuman like Dracula is. The last quotation which gets the reader wondering about Dracula is He can see in the dark-no small power this It isnt a small power indeed as no human can do this, which ultimately confirms just how inhuman Dracula is. The convention of the journal will be looked at next. Minas journal has a lot to reveal about Dracula and her encounter with him. The first quotation I will take is the parted red lips, with the sharp white teeth showing between; and red eyes This is a quote which strikes fear into the mind of the readers and it gives a fairly good description of Dracula. The sharp teeth instantly gets you thinking and gives u a sense of fear as u begin to picture what this person may look like. The red eyes also instantly puts fear into the minds of the readers as it describes Dracula in a very fiery/inhuman way. The word monster may come into the readers minds as they read this phrase. Silence! If u make a sound I shall take him and dash his brains out before your very eyes Here we are getting pretty gruesome as the writer takes a more graphic approach to the threat that Dracula makes to Mina. The very thought of someones brains being dashed before you instantly sends a shiver up your spine and gets you very involved in the passage as your brain instantly gathers an image of what it would look like if you were to be there. This slowly paints a better picture of Dracula and what he is capable of and what he has done before. Another chilling quote from Dracula is: You may as well be quiet; it is not the first time your veins have appeased my thirst This is a very chilling quote, which refers to the blood in Minas body. It gets the reader thinking about whether or not Dracula is about to do what they think he is about to do. But straight after there is another quote, which describes just how unusual and powerful Dracula is: strangely enough I did not want to hinder him. I suppose it is a part of the horrible curse that this happens when his touch is on his victim This quote gives an image of Dracula to be very inhuman like just like the others. It gets the reader into the story line and makes the reader believe more and more that Dracula is truly supernatural. But it seemed that a long time had passed before he took his awful sneering mouth away. I saw it drip with the fresh blood This can only be the action of a supernatural, as no human would even think of consuming someone elses blood. Dracula is a natural vampire as this sentence finally suggests and just shows what lengths the supernatural go to. Once again here a monster like image is created of Dracula and the instant feeling of fear kicks in as you read the sentence. The main reason that this sense of fear is created by the writer is because of how graphic the script becomes and how detailed it is and once again this instantly creates a picture in your mind of Dracula commencing with these gruesome acts. When my brain says Come! to you, you shall cross land or sea to do my bidding This describes a sense of power, which comes from Dracula. This is typical as power is one of the Gothic conventions, which is used in this story to good effect as Dracula commands his presence and shows his power. Straight after this we go from power to the gruesome side of Dracula: With that he pulled open his shirt and with his sharp nails opened a vein in his breast This is very gruesome and creates a sense of sickness for the reader but its all in the nature of Dracula as the story shows and Bram Stoker makes this very graphic once again which sends shivers up the readers spine. But even this is not enough. The writer goes one step further here as he goes into more graphic content When the blood began to spurt out, he took my hands in one of his, holding them tight, and with the other seized my neck and pressed my mouth to the wound, so that I must suffocate or swallow This once again is very sickening as it goes into great detail of how she is made to press her mouth against the blood spurting breast of Dracula. This creates a sickening image, which causes the reader to react in a way where he/she just wants to put the book down. As we move on to another extract in the story. We come to the part of the story where the Professor encounters Dracula himself.
Monday, October 14, 2019
Swot And Marketing Analysis Of Philip Morris International Marketing Essay
Swot And Marketing Analysis Of Philip Morris International Marketing Essay SWOT analysis helps one to fine out the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organization or a company. Strength and weakness are internal to organization whereas opportunities and threats are external. Strength and weakness both related to internal environment of organizations but opportunities and threats are the outsiders and can be evaluated using PESTLE analysis. The followings are the Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of Philip Morris International. Strengths: Strong finance: The Company has a base of strong financial situation. According to its corporate website, its operating income in 2008 was $10,284 million, and its net earnings were 6,890. There was an increase as the same for the year 2007 was $8,894 and 6,038 respectively. Well established Brands: The Company produces famous brands like Marlboro, LM, Chesterfield, Philip Morris, Parliament and Virginia Slims. When the product establishes itself as a brand there is a less need of spending money on its promotion. Strong manpower and employees: The Company boasts of more than 75,000 employees throughout the globe from different culture and ethnicity. With the variety in their workforce there is a variety of ideas and concepts, which can be beneficial for the survival in the global environment. Strong Management team: the company under the chairmanship of Mr. Louis C. Camillieri has a strong and efficient management team. David Bernick , a senior Vice president and General counsel is university of Chicago, law graduate, Andrà © Calantzopoulos , chief operating officer ,Kevin Click, chief information officer and Doug Dean, research and development make the strong management team of the company. Leading Markets: The Company boasts of leading 11 markets out of the top 30 international markets. That is equivalent to occupying 33% of total top market shares. This is one of the strength of the company. These are the basic strengths of the company, a strong financial condition with plummeting profits, well established brand names of the product, skilled, well trained and diverse work force, a strong leading management team and the huge share in top international markets. Weaknesses: As far as a weakness of the company is concerned the litigations seem to be the only weakness. Government policy on the promotion and sale of tobacco related product stops the company from aggressive marketing and promotion of its products. It is the weakness of the company. Opportunity: Increasing tobacco market: Although anti tobacco activists are raising their voices against the production and distribution of tobacco, the tobacco market is still lucrative. It raises billions of pounds as revenue to the government as well as the producers. Advantage of globalization: Globalization offers the company an opportunity to take an advantage of cheap labour cost and cheap production cost offered by third world countries. Factories established in China, Nepal offers the company cheap production of its products hence huge profits. Mergers and collaborations: The Company tied its knot with Altria and it recently announced its partnership with fortune Tobacco Corporation. These kinds of mergers and collaboration offer the company an opportunity to expand its market share. Threats: Anti Tobacco activists: The Company has remained a most controversial company because anti tobacco activists have always criticized the tobacco company for being responsible to the death resulting from smoking. For example, activists in Philippines raised their voices against the merger of fortune Tobacco Corporation with Philip Morris. They have feared this merger can draw more smokers in Philippines. (http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/02/25/10/anti-tobacco-group-expects-intensified-marketing-philip-morris-deal 25/03/2010) Government legislations: The governments rule of banning the sales of tobacco related products to people below certain age limits and other rules related to smoking ban on public places can reduce the sales of tobacco. For example research in UK shows that number of smokers has reduced after smoking ban in public places and after the age limit for the sale of tobacco has been set. Public Awareness: People are more aware about the consequences of tobacco consumption because of the advertisement of anti tobacco activists. This has resulted in the reduction of sales in many markets. Strength and weaknesses are considered as internal factors whereas opportunities and threats are considered as External factors. Basically strengths and weaknesses of an organization are related to people, resources, innovation and ideas, marketing, operation and finance, whereas opportunities and threat are associated to the factors that organizations find hard to control sometimes. They are political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental environment in which the organization exists. Now lets examine the external factors of Philip Morris International. Political environment: (http://www.executivehm.com/media/media-news/infographics/091117-EHM-Smoking.png, on 25th April 2010) The details above show that by the year 2009 there are 44 countries with active smoking ban. The data also shows that more than 1 billion people are protected by smoke free laws. These laws mean reduction of sales for the company. The company can either promote its products in these markets or have their sales restricted by severe laws. For example, they do not allow people below 18 to buy cigarettes in England and Wales. They have increased the age limit from 16 1st of October 2007. Politicians are always trying to seek public favour and by introducing laws like smoking ban and binge drinking ban or increasing tax for products like these they are trying to catch public sentiment. These kind of political activities are although favourable to general public, they are not at all favourable for a company like Philip Morris, whose revenues are based on the sales of its tobacco related products. Economical: There is not much difference to Philip Morris International due to the recession. Its profits did not plummet heavily even though the world was hit by economic downturn. Following table show its financial data. (in millions of dollars except per share data)      2009       2008 % Change Net revenues  $62,080       $63,640       (2.5)% Cost of sales      9,022           9,328        (3.3)  Excise taxes on products   37,045          37,935       (2.3) Gross profit   16,013         16,377       (2.2) Operating income   10,040         10,248       ( 2.0) Net earnings     6,342          6,890      (8.0) Basic earnings per share        3.25            3.32      (2.1) Diluted earnings per share Source: Philip Morris Webpage Sociological: Being criticized as a main contributor of smoking related deaths in the World, Philip Morris International has to do a lot to cope up with the sociological issues. Therefore their social responsibility activities are directed to these five areas of society, extreme poverty and hunger, environmental sustainability and living conditions in rural communities, domestic violence, and disaster relief. The company has spent billions of pounds for charity purpose to restore its tarnished image. Legal: Philip Morris had to suffer heavy loss due to several legal proceeding that it had to go through as people blamed of killing people. It has a history of being sued by people, distributors or companies. For example, 16 wholesalers filed legal action in a federal court in Tennessee claiming that Philip Morriss wholesale leaders program 2003 constitutes price discrimination and attempts to monopolize. (Financial Times of London, 8th July 2003.) To cope up with these kinds of legal issues, the company has its own legal department that deals with all the legal issues associated with the company. Environmental: Environment is a hot topic in present day world. The problem of thinning of ozone layer or the global warming draws the attention of each and every organization. Most of the organizations have designed their social responsibility programme associating themselves with the environmental issues. Philip Morris international too has done the same. They have set up performance goals for their energy use, water use, and waste water discharge, waste to be sent to landfills and waste to be recycled. The following table show their goals. Source: Philip Morris website can be accessed at http://www.pmusa.com/en/cms/Responsibility/Reducing/Reducing_Our_Environmental_Impact/default.aspx, on 26th March 2010. Competitive analysis using Porters 5 Forces model. Michael E. Porter of Harvard Business School developed a framework for the industry analysis and business strategy development. According to him an attractive industry has all the forces he has developed works for the overall profitability of the industry. The five forces of Porter are, Competitive rivalry Threat of substitute products Threat of new entrants Bargaining power of customers Bargaining power of suppliers In case of Philip Morris, he too has competitive rivalry. He occupies 15.6 percent of the total market share. The rest is occupied by his competitors. It is for the same reason, Philip Morris is focussed on promoting new products. To beat its competitors, it has developed a strong social responsibility plan along with modification of its products. The launch of smoke free cigarettes can be considered as a product of competitive rivalry. Threat of substitute products: Philip Morris is quite free from the threat of substitute products. It has always maintained the standard of its products and priced them reasonably. This has lessened the chances of acceptance for the substitute products that are available in the market. Threat of new entrants: Philip Morris is famous for its cigarettes. No one in the world is unaware about Marlboro. It is a reputed brand name in the field of tobacco industry. But a reputed brand gives Philip Morris an advantage. It is almost free from the threat of new entrants. The reason for this is, cigarette smokers have a strong loyalty to their brands. So, although there is a constant arrival of new products, they do not affect the market share of Philip Morris as it has endorsed its product with heavy promotions and established all of its products as a Brand. Bargaining power of the customer: Bargaining power of the customer does not seem to affect the company. The reason behind it is, the perceived value of Philip Morris products is quite high because they are heavily promoted through media. They have a brand image and are free from the bargaining power of the customer. Moreover most of the customers of tobacco trade are loyal to the products they are used to, and are ready to pay whatever amount of money they are asked to pay. So Bargaining power of the customers doesnt seem to affect the company. Bargaining Power of Suppliers: Bargaining power of supplier affects every company. Philip Morris too is affected by it as it follows strict rules concerned with Fair trade. Moreover it has launched special benefit package to its suppliers. It helps the children of its tobacco supplier with education facilities and other general benefits. It is doing this just to reduce the effects of bargaining power of its supplier. Conclusions: Whatever progress the company made is not just a coincidence. The company did not lose much of its profits even in the economic downturn. The reason behind this can be summarised as the proper knowledge of the strength and weaknesses of the company and summoning all pertaining questions related to its external environment. Its commitment to follow all legal requirements of the government, introducing chewable tobacco instead of smoking ones, commitment to environmental conservations and billions of pounds spent on charitable purposes are activities to keep the external environment favourable for the company. Task 2 Phillip Morris and global political change: Any multinational company that has operations throughout the world has to acclimatize themselves with the political scenario of the concerned country. Politics is stable only in few countries that too limited to the few developed countries. Moreover, as Philip Morris is concerned with producing tobacco related products, it is affected by any kind of political change that occurs in the country. By global political change we understand the political changes that occurred in the world. For example, the First World War, when ended in 1919 brought a lot of changes in the world. Similarly the end of Second World War too brought a lot of changes. One of the biggest changes was the start of cold war between the USA and the Soviet Union. The cold war divided the world into two halves, the capitalists and the socialists. Socialists denied the products of capitalist world to enter their countries, whereas the same thing applied to the capitalists world. Philip Morris thus could not expand his business to Russia and other socialist countries until the cold war was about to end. Philip Morris was able to penetrate the Russian market in 1977 when the socialist country was about to accept some change. Similarly, global terrorism has also affected the policy and decision making of the company as tobacco can be smuggled to developed countries where they have higher prices from the least developed or developing countries. It is said that terrorist have sometimes made tobacco as one of the source of funding to backup their activities. Philip Morris thus has set strict restrictions so as it products are not smuggled. Moreover its factories located in different part of the world restrict its products from being smuggled as they have their own identification number on them. Recession that recently occurred in the world can be the after-effects of the political upheavals in the world. Or economic activities and political change have interdependence. So recession in a way can be seen as an effect of wrong political decisions in terms of economic activities. Philip Morris dealt with it quite perfectly. According to statistics, ongoing earnings of Philip Morris rose by 11% as it coaxed solid grains in its food business and continued to find new market for its cigarette. (http://www.thestreet.com/storycomments/10007704/1/philip-morris-ignores-recession.html, on 27th March 2010) Question that present days political leaders are raising is the phenomenon of climate change. Global warming is a big problem and politicians throughout the world are trying to solve it out through joint efforts. All the countries are imposing their own kind of rules and regulations to reduce carbon emission and help in the reduction of global warming. Philip Morris can help in the reduction of carbon emission by investing in third world developing countries for example in the generation of electricity, or other sources of energy which can reduce deforestation and emission of carbon dioxide in the air.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
How to Boat on the Chesapeake :: Expository Process Essays
How to Boat on the Chesapeake An experienced mariner knows that boating can be a very relaxing and rewarding sport that anyone can enjoy. He also knows that there is much more involved in the sport than simply getting into a boat and sailing off on the sun-glistened waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, most people who are new to the sport don' t realize all that is involved in boating, sometimes until it is too late. By taking the time to learn some basic information, picking up some important charts and publications, and buying a valuable marine radio, anyone can enjoy boating safely. Â The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and U.S. Power Squadron are organizations that offer basic boating safety courses in the Chesapeake Bay area. All three organizations are staffed with experts in boating safely. Classes are available through these groups to anyone who wishes to learn more about boating. The operator of a vessel used for recreation is not required to attend any of these classes, but the U.S. Coast Guard strongly recommends that one of these courses be taken before hitting the water. Information about these classes is available by contacting the U.S. Coast Guard Safe Boating Hotline at (800) 368-5647. Â Along with taking a boating safety course, all boaters should have the appropriate charts and publications for the area that they wish to use their boat. All charts and publications that are printed for the Chesapeake Bay area are available from most marine dealers or local marinas. A boater should have at least one chart of the area he is operating in, along with a current listing of all buoys and aids to navigation in that vicinity. Again, for information concerning which chart the operator will need, contact the U.S. Coast Guard Safe Boating Hotline. Listings of aids to navigation are published monthly by the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency, and are available to the public at a small cost. The U.S. Coast Guard also issues Notice to Mariner Statements advising of any local changes to the aids every day at 8:00 am and again at 4:00 pm on marine radio channel 22. Â According to U.S. How to Boat on the Chesapeake :: Expository Process Essays How to Boat on the Chesapeake An experienced mariner knows that boating can be a very relaxing and rewarding sport that anyone can enjoy. He also knows that there is much more involved in the sport than simply getting into a boat and sailing off on the sun-glistened waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, most people who are new to the sport don' t realize all that is involved in boating, sometimes until it is too late. By taking the time to learn some basic information, picking up some important charts and publications, and buying a valuable marine radio, anyone can enjoy boating safely. Â The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and U.S. Power Squadron are organizations that offer basic boating safety courses in the Chesapeake Bay area. All three organizations are staffed with experts in boating safely. Classes are available through these groups to anyone who wishes to learn more about boating. The operator of a vessel used for recreation is not required to attend any of these classes, but the U.S. Coast Guard strongly recommends that one of these courses be taken before hitting the water. Information about these classes is available by contacting the U.S. Coast Guard Safe Boating Hotline at (800) 368-5647. Â Along with taking a boating safety course, all boaters should have the appropriate charts and publications for the area that they wish to use their boat. All charts and publications that are printed for the Chesapeake Bay area are available from most marine dealers or local marinas. A boater should have at least one chart of the area he is operating in, along with a current listing of all buoys and aids to navigation in that vicinity. Again, for information concerning which chart the operator will need, contact the U.S. Coast Guard Safe Boating Hotline. Listings of aids to navigation are published monthly by the U.S. Defense Mapping Agency, and are available to the public at a small cost. The U.S. Coast Guard also issues Notice to Mariner Statements advising of any local changes to the aids every day at 8:00 am and again at 4:00 pm on marine radio channel 22. Â According to U.S.
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Fiscal Policy Essay -- essays papers
Fiscal Policy Supposing the status quo of the United States today states that: there is no real unemployment, the consumer price index is rising at 2 percent annually, and the federal government budget deficit, 200 billion dollars, is equal to 5 percent of the gross national product. Now, the question is how and what changes will result from fiscal and monetary policy. For example, if legislation has just passed which holds government spending constant and raises personal income taxes enough to balance the budget, then obviously the deficit would cease growing, as mentioned, along with other fluctuations of the gross national product as a whole. Because the government will stop borrowing money, it will also cut down on the spending, which will cause the economy to slow down as is illustrated by the equation: Y = C + I + G + X. In the short run people will respond to the raised taxes by decreasing their consumption, while simultaneously the marginal propensity to consume will increase because people will have less money to save. Therefore, the short run effects of this fiscal policy will force companies to lower wages, produce less, and/or lay off a portion of the work force. All the while The Fed is working up their counter cyclical monetary policy to keep deviation from the potential GDP to a minimum. The Federal Reserve Bank goes public with its goal to significantly increase the money supply. Due to rational expectations of the consumer, people might be... Fiscal Policy Essay -- essays papers Fiscal Policy Supposing the status quo of the United States today states that: there is no real unemployment, the consumer price index is rising at 2 percent annually, and the federal government budget deficit, 200 billion dollars, is equal to 5 percent of the gross national product. Now, the question is how and what changes will result from fiscal and monetary policy. For example, if legislation has just passed which holds government spending constant and raises personal income taxes enough to balance the budget, then obviously the deficit would cease growing, as mentioned, along with other fluctuations of the gross national product as a whole. Because the government will stop borrowing money, it will also cut down on the spending, which will cause the economy to slow down as is illustrated by the equation: Y = C + I + G + X. In the short run people will respond to the raised taxes by decreasing their consumption, while simultaneously the marginal propensity to consume will increase because people will have less money to save. Therefore, the short run effects of this fiscal policy will force companies to lower wages, produce less, and/or lay off a portion of the work force. All the while The Fed is working up their counter cyclical monetary policy to keep deviation from the potential GDP to a minimum. The Federal Reserve Bank goes public with its goal to significantly increase the money supply. Due to rational expectations of the consumer, people might be...
Friday, October 11, 2019
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal Chapter 6
Chapter 6 When we got back to Nazareth we expected to find Joshua's mother hysterical with worry, but on the contrary, she had gathered Joshua's brothers and sisters outside of their house, lined them up, and was washing their faces and hands as if preparing them for the Sabbath meal. â€Å"Joshua, help me get the little ones ready, we are all going to Sepphoris.†Joshua was shocked. â€Å"We are?†â€Å"The whole village is going to ask the Romans to release Joseph.†James was the only one of the children who seemed to understand what had happened to their father. There were tear tracks on his cheeks. I put my arm around his shoulders. â€Å"He'll be fine,†I said, trying to sound cheerful. â€Å"Your father is strong, they'll have to torture him for days before he gives up the ghost.†I smiled encouragingly. James broke out of my embrace and ran into the house crying. Mary turned and glared at me. â€Å"Shouldn't you be with your family, Biff?†Oh my breaking heart, my bruised ego. Even though Mary had taken position as my emergency backup wife, I was crestfallen at her disapproval. And to my credit, not once during that time of trouble did I wish harm to come to Joseph. Not once. After all, I was still too young to take a wife, and some creepy elder would swoop Mary up before I had a chance to rescue her if Joseph died before I was fourteen. â€Å"Why don't you go get Maggie,†Joshua suggested, taking only a second from his mission of scrubbing the skin off his brother Judah's face. â€Å"Her family will want to go with us.†â€Å"Sure,†I said, and I scampered off to the blacksmith's shop in search of approval from my primary wife-to-be. When I arrived, Maggie was sitting outside of her father's shop with her brothers and sisters. She looked as frightened as she had when we first witnessed the murder. I wanted to throw my arms around her to comfort her. â€Å"We have a plan,†I said. â€Å"I mean, Joshua has a plan. Are you going to Sepphoris with everyone else?†â€Å"The whole family,†she said. â€Å"My father has made nails for Joseph, they're friends.†She tossed her head, pointing toward the open shed that housed her father's forge. Two men were working over the forge. â€Å"Go ahead, Biff. You and Joshua go on ahead. We'll be along later.†She started waving me away and mouthing words silently to me, which I didn't pick up. â€Å"What are you saying? What? What?†â€Å"And who is your friend, Maggie?†A man's voice, coming from near the forge. I looked over and suddenly realized what Maggie had been trying to tell me. â€Å"Uncle Jeremiah, this is Levi bar Alphaeus. We call him Biff. He has to go now.†I started backing away from the killer. â€Å"Yes, I have to go.†I looked at Maggie, not knowing what to do. â€Å"I'll – we – I have to – â€Å" â€Å"We'll see you in Sepphoris,†Maggie said. â€Å"Right,†I said, then I turned and dashed away, feeling more like a coward than I ever have in my life. When we got back to Sepphoris there was a large gathering of Jews, perhaps two hundred, outside of the city walls, most I recognized as being from Nazareth. No mob mentality here, more a fearful gathering. More than half of those gathered were women and children. In the middle of the crowd, a contingent of a dozen Roman soldiers pushed back the onlookers while two slaves dug a grave. Like my own people, the Romans did not dally with their dead. Unless there was a battle ongoing, Roman soldiers were often put in the ground before the corpse was cool. Joshua and I spotted Maggie standing between her father and her murderous uncle at the edge of the crowd. Joshua took off toward her. I followed, but before I got close, Joshua had taken Maggie's hand and dragged her into the midst of the crowd. I could see Jeremiah trying to follow them. I dove into the mass and crawled under people's feet until I came upon a pair of hobnail boots which indicated the lower end of a Roman soldier. The other end, equally Roman, was scowling at me. I stood up. â€Å"Semper fido,†I said in my best Latin, followed by my most charming smile. The soldier scowled further. Suddenly there was a smell of flowers in my nose and sweet, warm lips brushed my ear. â€Å"I think you just said ‘always dog,'†Maggie whispered. â€Å"That would be why he's looking so unpleasant then?†I said out the side of my charming smile. In my other ear another familiar, if not so sweet whisper, â€Å"Sing, Biff. Remember the plan,†Joshua said. â€Å"Right.†And so I let loose with one of my famous dirges. â€Å"La-la-la. Hey Roman guy, too bad about your getting stabbed. La-la-la. It's probably not a message from God or nothing. La-la-la. Telling you that maybe you should have gone home, la, la, la. Instead of oppressing the chosen people who God hisownself has said that he likes better than you. Fa, la, la, la.†The soldier didn't speak Aramaic, so the lyrics didn't move him as I had hoped. But I think the hypnotic toe-tappiness of the melody was starting to get him. I plunged into my second verse. â€Å"La-la-la, didn't we tell you that you shouldn't eat pork, la-la. Although looking at wounds in your chest, a dietary change might not have made that big a difference. Boom shaka-laka-laka-laka, boom shaka-laka-lak. Come on, you know the words!†â€Å"Enough!†The soldier was yanked aside and Gaius Justus Gallicus stood before us, flanked by two of his officers. Behind him, stretched out on the ground, was the body of the dead soldier. â€Å"Well done, Biff,†Joshua whispered. â€Å"We're offering our services as professional mourners,†I said with a grin, which the centurion was eager not to return. â€Å"That soldier doesn't need mourners, he has avengers.†A voice from the crowd. â€Å"See here, Centurion, release Joseph of Nazareth. He is no murderer.†Justus turned and the crowd parted, leaving a path between him and the man who had spoken up. It was Iban the Pharisee, standing with several other Pharisees from Nazareth. â€Å"Would you take his place?†Justus asked. The Pharisee backed away, his resolve melting quickly under the threat. â€Å"Well?†Justus stepped forward and the crowd parted around him. â€Å"You speak for your people, Pharisee. Tell them to give me a killer. Or would you rather I crucify Jews until I get the right one?†Iban was flustered now, and began jabbering a mishmash of verses from the Torah. I looked around and saw Maggie's uncle Jeremiah standing only a few paces behind me. When I caught his eye he slipped his hand under his shirt – to the haft of a knife, I had no doubt. â€Å"Joseph didn't kill that soldier!†Joshua shouted. Justus turned to him and the Pharisees took the opportunity to scramble to the back of the crowd. â€Å"I know that,†Justus said. â€Å"You do?†â€Å"Of course, boy. No carpenter killed that soldier.†â€Å"How do you know that?†I asked. Justus motioned to one of his legionnaires and the soldier came forward carrying a small basket. The centurion nodded and the soldier upended the basket. The stone effigy of Apollo's severed penis thudded to the ground in front of us. â€Å"Uh-oh,†I said. â€Å"Because it was a stonecutter,†Justus said. â€Å"My, that is impressive,†Maggie said. I noticed that Joshua was edging toward the body of the soldier. I needed to distract Justus. â€Å"Aha,†I said, â€Å"someone beat the soldier to death with a stone willie. Obviously the work of a Greek or a Samaritan – no Jew would touch such a thing.†â€Å"They wouldn't?†Maggie asked. â€Å"Jeez, Maggie.†â€Å"I think you have something to tell me, boy,†Justus said. Joshua had laid hands on the dead soldier. I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I wondered where Jeremiah was now. Was he behind me, ready to silence me with a knife, or had he made his escape? Either way, I couldn't say a word. The Sicarii did not work alone. If I gave up Jeremiah I'd be dead by a Sicarii dagger before the Sabbath. â€Å"He can't tell you, Centurion, even if he knew,†said Joshua, who had moved back to Maggie's side. â€Å"For it is written in our holy books that no Jew shall rat out another Jew, regardless of what a weasel one or the other shall be.†â€Å"Is that written?†Maggie whispered. â€Å"Is now,†Joshua whispered back. â€Å"Did you just call me a weasel?†I asked. â€Å"Behold!†A woman at the front of the crowd was pointing to the dead soldier. Another screamed. The corpse was moving. Justus turned toward the commotion and I took the opportunity to look around for Jeremiah. He was still there behind me, only a few people back, but he was staring gape-jawed at the dead soldier, who was currently standing up and dusting off his tunic. Joshua was concentrating intently on the soldier, but there was none of the sweating or trembling that we had seen at the funeral in Japhia. To his credit, Justus, although he seemed frightened at first, stood his ground as the corpse ambled stiff-legged toward him. The other soldiers were backing away, along with all of the Jews except Maggie, Joshua, and me. â€Å"I need to report an attack, sir,†the once-dead soldier said, performing a very jerky Roman salute. â€Å"You're – you're dead,†Justus said. â€Å"Am not.†â€Å"You have knife wounds all over your chest.†The soldier looked down, touched the wounds gingerly, then looked back to his commander. â€Å"Seems I have been nicked, sir.†â€Å"Nicked? Nicked? You've been stabbed half a dozen times. You're dead as dirt.†â€Å"I don't think so, sir. Look, I'm not even bleeding.†â€Å"That's because you've bled out, son. You're dead.†The soldier began to stagger now, started to fall, and caught himself. â€Å"I am feeling a little woozy. I was attacked last night sir, near where they are building that Greek's house. There, he was there.†He pointed to me. â€Å"And him too.†He pointed to Joshua. â€Å"And the little girl.†â€Å"These boys attacked you?†I could hear scuffling behind me. â€Å"No, not them, that man over there.†The soldier pointed to Jeremiah, who looked around like a trapped animal. Everyone was so intent on watching the miracle of the talking corpse that they had frozen in place. The killer couldn't push his way through the crowd to get away. â€Å"Arrest him!†Justus commanded, but his soldiers were equally stunned by the resurrection of their cohort. â€Å"Now that I think of it,†the dead soldier said, â€Å"I do remember being stabbed.†No outlet from the crowd, Jeremiah turned toward his accuser and drew a blade from under his shirt. This seemed to snap the other soldiers out of their trance, and they began advancing on the killer from different angles, swords drawn. At the sight of the blade, everyone had moved away from the killer, leaving him isolated with no path open but toward us. â€Å"No master but God!†he shouted, then three quick steps and he leapt toward us, his knife raised. I dove on top of Maggie and Joshua, hoping to shield them, but even as I waited for the sharp pain between my shoulder blades, I heard the killer scream, then a grunt, then a protracted moan that ran out of air with a pathetic squeal. I rolled over to see Gaius Justus Gallicus with his short sword sunk to the hilt in the solar plexus of Jeremiah. The killer had dropped his knife and was standing there looking at the Roman's sword hand, looking somewhat offended by it. He sank to his knees. Justus yanked his sword free, then wiped the blade on Jeremiah's shirt before stepping back and letting the killer fall forward. â€Å"That was him,†the dead soldier said. â€Å"Bastard kilt me.†He fell forward next to his killer and lay still. â€Å"Much better than last time, Josh,†I said. â€Å"Yes, much better,†Maggie said. â€Å"Walking and talking. You had him going.†â€Å"I felt good, confident, but it was a team effort,†Joshua said. â€Å"I couldn't have done it without everyone giving it their all, including God.†I felt something sharp against my cheek. With the tip of his sword, Justus guided my gaze to Apollo's stone penis, which lay in the dirt next to the two corpses. â€Å"And do you want to explain how that happened?†â€Å"The pox?†I ventured. â€Å"The pox can do that,†Maggie said. â€Å"Can rot it right off.†â€Å"How do you know that?†Joshua asked her. â€Å"Just guessing. I'm sure glad that's all over.†Justus let his sword fall to his side with a sigh. â€Å"Go home. All of you. By order of Gaius Justus Gallicus, under-commander of the Sixth Legion, commander of the Third and Fourth Centuries, under authority of Emperor Tiberius and the Roman Empire, you are all commanded to go home and perpetrate no weird shit until I have gotten well drunk and had several days to sleep it off.†â€Å"So you're going to release Joseph?†Maggie asked. â€Å"He's at the barracks. Go get him and take him home.†â€Å"Amen,†said Joshua. â€Å"Semper fido,†I added in Latin. Joshua's little brother Judah, who was seven by then, ran around the Roman barracks screaming â€Å"Let my people go! Let my people go!†until he was hoarse. (Judah had decided early on that he was going to be Moses when he grew up, only this time Moses would get to enter the promised land – on a pony.) As it turned out, Joseph had been waiting for us at the Venus Gate. He looked a little confused, but otherwise unharmed. â€Å"They say that a dead man spoke,†Joseph said. Mary was ecstatic. â€Å"Yes, and walked. He pointed out his murderer, then he died again.†â€Å"Sorry,†Joshua said, â€Å"I tried to make him live on, but he only lasted a minute.†Joseph frowned. â€Å"Did everyone see what you did, Joshua?†â€Å"They didn't know it was my doing, but they saw it.†â€Å"I distracted everyone with one of my excellent dirges,†I said. â€Å"You can't risk yourself like that,†Joseph said to Joshua. â€Å"It's not the time yet.†â€Å"If not to save my father, when?†â€Å"I'm not your father.†Joseph smiled. â€Å"Yes you are.†Joshua hung his head. â€Å"But I'm not the boss of you.†Joseph's smile widened to a grin. â€Å"No, I guess not,†Joshua said. â€Å"You needn't have worried, Joseph,†I said. â€Å"If the Romans had killed you I would have taken good care of Mary and the children.†Maggie punched me in the arm. â€Å"Good to know,†Joseph said. On the road to Nazareth, I got to walk with Maggie a few paces behind Joseph and his family. Maggie's family was so distraught over what had happened to Jeremiah that they didn't even notice she wasn't with them. â€Å"He's much stronger than he was the last time,†Maggie said. â€Å"Don't worry, he'll be a mess tomorrow: ‘Oh, what did I do wrong. Oh, my faith wasn't strong enough. Oh, I am not worthy of my task.' He'll be impossible to be around for a week or so. We'll be lucky if he stops praying long enough to eat.†â€Å"You shouldn't make fun of him. He's trying very hard.†â€Å"Easy for you to say, you won't have to hang out with the village idiot until Josh gets over this.†â€Å"But aren't you touched by who he is? What he is?†â€Å"What good would that do me? If I was basking in the light of his holiness all of the time, how would I take care of him? Who would do all of his lying and cheating for him? Even Josh can't think about what he is all of the time, Maggie.†â€Å"I think about him all of the time. I pray for him all of the time.†â€Å"Really? Do you ever pray for me?†â€Å"I mentioned you in my prayers, once.†â€Å"You did? How?†â€Å"I asked God to help you not to be such a doofus, so you could watch over Joshua.†â€Å"You meant doofus in an attractive way, right?†â€Å"Of course.â€
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Foundation and Empire 9. On Trantor
The stars were as thick as weeds in an unkempt field, and for the first time, Lathan Devers found the figures to the right of the decimal point of prime importance in calculating the cuts through the hyper-regions. There was a claustrophobic sensation about the necessity for leaps of not more than a light-year. There was a frightening harshness about a sky which glittered unbrokenly in every direction. It was being lost in a sea of radiation. And in the center of an open cluster of ten thousand stars, whose light tore to shreds the feebly encircling darkness, there circled the huge Imperial planet, Trantor. But it was more than a planet; it was the living pulse beat of an Empire of twenty million stellar systems. It had only one, function, administration; one purpose, government; and one manufactured product, law. The entire world was one functional distortion. There was no living object on its surface hut man, his pets, and his parasites. No blade of grass or fragment of uncovered soil could be found outside the hundred square miles of the Imperial Palace. No fresh water outside the Palace grounds existed but in the vast underground cisterns that held the water supply of a world. The lustrous, indestructible, incorruptible metal that was the unbroken surface of the planet was the foundation of the huge, metal structures that mazed the planet. They were structures connected by causeways; laced by corridors; cubbyholed by offices; basemented by the huge retail centers that covered square miles; penthoused by the glittering amusement world that sparkled into life each night. One could walk around the world of Trantor and never leave that one conglomerate building, nor see the city. A fleet of ships greater in number than all the war fleets the Empire had ever supported landed their cargoes on Trantor each day to feed the forty billions of humans who gave nothing in exchange but the fulfillment of the necessity of untangling the myriads of threads that spiraled into the central administration of the most complex government Humanity had ever known. Twenty agricultural worlds were the granary of Trantor. A universe was its servant. Tightly held by the huge metal arms on either side, the trade ship was gently lowered down the huge ramp that led to the hangar. Already Devers had fumed his way through the manifold complications of a world conceived in paper work and dedicated to the principle of the form-in-quadruplicate. There had been the preliminary halt in space, where the first of what had grown into a hundred questionnaires had been filled out. There were the hundred cross-examinations, the routine administration of a simple Probe, the photographing of the ship, the Characteristic-Analysis of the two men, and the subsequent recording of the same, the search for contraband, the payment of the entry tax – and finally the question of the identity cards and visitor's visa. Ducem Barr was a Siwennian and subject of the Emperor, but Lathan Devers was an unknown without the requisite documents. The official in charge at the moment was devastated with sorrow, but Devers could not enter. In fact, he would have to be held for official investigation. From somewhere a hundred credits in crisp, new bills backed by the estates of Lord Brodrig made their appearance, and changed bands quietly. The official hemmed importantly and the devastation of his sorrow was assuaged. A new form made its appearance from the appropriate pigeonhole. It was filled out rapidly and efficiently, with the Devers characteristic thereto formally and properly attached. The two men, trader and patrician, entered Siwenna. In the hangar, the trade ship was another vessel to be cached, photographed, recorded, contents noted, identity cards of passengers facsimiled, and for which a suitable fee was paid, recorded, and receipted. And then Devers was on a huge terrace under the bright white sun, along which women chattered, children shrieked, and men sipped drinks languidly and listened to the huge televisors blaring out the news of the Empire. Barr paid a requisite number of iridium coins and appropriated the uppermost member of a pile of newspapers. It was the Trantor Imperial News, official organ of the government. In the back of the news room, there was the soft clicking noise of additional editions being printed in long-distance sympathy with the busy machines at the Imperial News offices ten thousand miles away by corridor – six thousand by air-machine – just as ten million sets of copies were being likewise printed at that moment in ten million other news rooms all over the planet. Barr glanced at the headlines and said softly, â€Å"What shall we do first?†Devers tried to shake himself out of his depression. He was in a universe far removed from his own, on a world that weighted him down with its intricacy, among people whose doings were incomprehensible and whose language was nearly so. The gleaming metallic towers that surrounded him and continued onwards in never-ending multiplicity to beyond the horizon oppressed him; the whole busy, unheeding life of a world-metropolis cast him into the horrible gloom of isolation and pygmyish unimportance. He said, â€Å"I better leave it to you, doc.†Barr was calm, low-voice. â€Å"I tried to tell you, but it's hard to believe without seeing for yourself, I know that. Do you know how many people want to see the Emperor every day? About one million. Do you know how many he sees? About ten. We'll have to work through the civil service, and that makes it harder. But we can't afford the aristocracy.†â€Å"We have almost one hundred thousand.†â€Å"A single Peer of the Realm would cost us that, and it would take at least three or four to form an adequate bridge to the Emperor. It may take fifty chief commissioners and senior supervisors to do the same, but they would cost us only a hundred apiece perhaps. I'll do the talking. In the first place, they wouldn't understand your accent, and in the second, you don't know the etiquette of Imperial bribery. It's an art, I assure you. Ah!†The third page of the Imperial News had what he wanted and he passed the paper to Devers. Devers read slowly. The vocabulary was strange, but he understood. He looked up, and his eyes were dark with concern. He slapped the news sheet angrily with the back of his hand. â€Å"You think this can be trusted?†â€Å"Within limits,†replied Barr, calmly. â€Å"It's highly improbable that the Foundation fleet was wiped out. They've probably reported that several times already, if they've gone by the usual war-reporting technique of a world capital far from the actual scene of fighting. What it means, though, is that Riose has won another battle, which would be none-too-unexpected. It says he's captured Loris. Is that the capital planet of the Kingdom of Loris?†â€Å"Yes,†brooded Devers, â€Å"or of what used to be the Kingdom of Loris. And it's not twenty parsecs from the Foundation. Doc, we've got to work fast.†Barr shrugged, â€Å"You can't go fast on Trantor. If you try, you'll end up at the point of an atom-blaster, most likely.†â€Å"How long will it take?†â€Å"A month, if we're lucky. A month, and our hundred thousand credits – if even that will suffice. And that is providing the Emperor does not take it into his head in the meantime to travel to the Summer Planets, where he sees no petitioners at all.†â€Å"But the Foundation-â€Å" â€Å"-Will take care of itself, as heretofore. Come, there's the question of dinner. I'm hungry. And afterwards, the evening is ours and we may as well use it. We shall never see Trantor or any world like it again, you know.†The Home Commissioner of the Outer Provinces spread his pudgy hands helplessly and peered at the petitioners with owlish nearsightedness. â€Å"But the Emperor is indisposed, gentlemen. It is really useless to take the matter to my superior. His Imperial Majesty has seen no one in a week.†â€Å"He will see us,†said Barr, with an affectation of confidence. â€Å"It is but a question of seeing a member of the staff of the Privy Secretary.†â€Å"Impossible,†said the commissioner emphatically. â€Å"It would be the worth of my job to attempt that. Now if you could but be more explicit concerning the nature of your business. I'm willing to help you, understand, but naturally I want something less vague, something I can present to my superior as reason for taking the matter further.†â€Å"If my business were such that it could be told to any but the highest,†suggested Barr, smoothly, â€Å"it would scarcely be important enough to rate audience with His Imperial Majesty. I propose that you take a chance. I might remind you that if His Imperial Majesty attaches the importance to our business which we guarantee that he will, you will stand certain to receive the honors you will deserve for helping us now.†â€Å"Yes, but-†and the commissioner shrugged, wordlessly. â€Å"It's a chance,†agreed Barr. â€Å"Naturally, a risk should have its compensation. It is a rather great favor to ask you, but we have already been greatly obliged with your kindness in offering us this opportunity to explain our problem. But if you would allow us to express our gratitude just slightly by-â€Å" Devers scowled. He had heard this speech with its slight variations twenty times in the past month. It ended, as always, in a quick shift of the half-hidden bills. But the epilogue differed here. Usually the bills vanished immediately; here they remained in plain view, while slowly the commissioner counted them, inspecting them front and back as he did so. There was a subtle change in his voice. â€Å"Backed by the Privy Secretary, hey? Good money!†â€Å"To get back to the subject-†urged Barr. â€Å"No, but wait,†interrupted the commissioner, â€Å"let us go back by easy stages. I really do wish to know what your business can be. This money, it is fresh and new, and you must have a good deal, for it strikes me that you have seen other officials before me. Come, now, what about it?†Barr said, â€Å"I don't see what you are driving at.†â€Å"Why, see here, it might be proven that you are upon the planet illegally, since the Identification and Entry Cards of your silent friend are certainly inadequate. He is not a subject of the Emperor.†â€Å"I deny that.†â€Å"It doesn't matter that you do,†said the commissioner, with sudden bluntness. â€Å"The official who signed his Cards for the sum of a hundred credits has confessed – under pressure – and we know more of you than you think.†â€Å"If you are hinting, sir, that the sum we have asked you to accept is inadequate in view of the risks-â€Å" The commissioner smiled. â€Å"On the contrary, it is more than adequate.†He tossed the bills aside. â€Å"To return to what I was saying, it is the Emperor himself who has become interested in your case. Is it not true, sirs, that you have recently been guests of General Riose? Is it not true that you have escaped from the midst of his army with, to put it mildly, astonishing ease? Is it not true that you possess a small fortune in bills backed by Lord Brodrig's estates? In short, is it not true that you are a pair of spies and assassins sent here to – Well, you shall tell us yourself who paid you and for what!†â€Å"Do you know,†said Barr, with silky anger, â€Å"I deny the right of a petty commissioner to accuse us of crimes. We will leave.†â€Å"You will not leave.†The commissioner arose, and his eyes no longer seemed near-sighted. â€Å"You need answer no question now; that will be reserved for a later – and more forceful – time. Nor am I a commissioner; I am a Lieutenant of the Imperial Police. You are under arrest.†There was a glitteringly efficient blast-gun in his fist as he smiled. â€Å"There are greater men than you under arrest this day. It is a hornet's nest we are cleaning up.†Devers snarled and reached slowly for his own gun. The lieutenant of police smiled more broadly and squeezed the contacts. The blasting line of force struck Devers' chest in an accurate blaze of destruction – that bounced harmlessly off his personal shield in sparkling spicules of light. Devers shot in turn, and the lieutenant's head fell from off an upper torso that had disappeared. It was still smiling as it lay in the jag of sunshine which entered through the new-made hole in the wall. It was through the back entrance that they left. Devers said huskily, â€Å"Quickly to the ship. They'll have the alarm out in no time.†He cursed in a ferocious whisper. â€Å"It's another plan that's backfired. I could swear the space fiend himself is against me.†It was in the open that they became aware of the jabbering crowds that surrounded the huge televisors. They had no time to wait; the disconnected roaring words that reached them, they disregarded. But Barr snatched a copy of the Imperial News before diving into the huge barn of the hangar, where the ship lifted hastily through a giant cavity burnt fiercely into the roof. â€Å"Can you get away from them?†asked Barr. Ten ships of the traffic-police wildly followed the runaway craft that had burst out of the lawful, radio-beamed Path of Leaving, and then broken every speed law in creation. Further behind still, sleek vessels of the Secret Service were lifting in pursuit of a carefully described ship manned by two thoroughly identified murderers. â€Å"Watch me,†said Devers, and savagely shifted into hyperspace two thousand miles above the surface of Trantor. The shift, so near a planetary mass, meant unconsciousness for Barr and a fearful haze of pain for Devers, but light-years further, space above them was clear. Devers' somber pride in his ship burst to the surface. He said, â€Å"There's not an Imperial ship that could follow me anywhere.†And then, bitterly, â€Å"But there is nowhere left to run to for us, and we can't fight their weight. What's there to do? What can anyone do?†Barr moved feebly on his cot. The effect of the hypershift had not yet worn off, and each of his muscles ached. He said, â€Å"No one has to do anything. It's all over. Here!†He passed the copy of the Imperial News that he still clutched, and the headlines were enough for the trader. â€Å"Recalled and arrested – Riose and Brodrig,†Devers muttered. He stared blankly at Barr. â€Å"Why?†â€Å"The story doesn't say, but what does it matter? The war with the Foundation is over, and at this moment, Siwenna is revolting. Read the story and see.†His voice was drifting off. â€Å"We'll stop in some of the provinces and find out the later details. If you don't mind, I'll go to sleep now.†And he did. In grasshopper jumps of increasing magnitude, the trade ship was spanning the Galaxy in its return to the Foundation.
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