Asimovs future history v.., p.66
Asimov’s Future History Volume 17,
p.66
The captain began slowly, “Have you seen the Mule with your own eyes?”
“I have but too well, respected sir. And felt the weight of his arm with my own body as well.”
“I have no doubt of that. Can you describe him?”
“It is frightening to recall him, respected sir. He is a man of mighty frame. Against him, even you would be but a spindling. His hair is of a burning crimson, and with all my strength and weight I could not pull down his arm, once extended-not a hair’s thickness.” Magnifico’s thinness seemed to collapse upon itself in a huddle of arms and legs. “Often, to amuse his generals or to amuse only himself, he would suspend me by one finger in my belt from a fearful height, while I chattered poetry. It was only after the twentieth verse that I was withdrawn, and each improvised and each a perfect rhyme, or else start over. He is a man of overpowering might, respected sir, and cruel in the use of his power-and his eyes, respected sir, no one sees.”
“What? What’s that last?”
“He wears spectacles, respected sir, of a curious nature. It is said that they are opaque and that he sees by a powerful magic that far transcends human powers. I have heard,” and his voice was small and mysterious, “that to see his eyes is to see death; that he kills with his eyes, respected sir.”
Magnifico’s eyes wheeled quickly from one watching face to another. He quavered, “It is true. As I live, it is true.”
Bayta drew a long breath, “Sounds like you’re right, captain. Do you want to take over?”
“Well, let’s look at the situation. You don’t owe anything here? The hangar’s barrier above is free?”
“I can leave any time.”
“Then leave. The Mule may not wish to antagonize the Foundation, but he runs a frightful risk in letting Magnifico get away. It probably accounts for the hue and cry after the poor devil in the first place. So there may be ships waiting for you upstairs. If you’re lost in space, who’s to pin the crime?”
“You’re right,” agreed Toran, bleakly.
“However, you’ve got a shield and you’re probably speedier than anything they’ve got, so as soon as you’re clear of the atmosphere make the circle in neutral to the other hemisphere, then just cut a track outwards at top acceleration.”
“Yes,” said Bayta coldly, “and when we are back on the Foundation, what then, captain?”
“Why, you are then co-operative citizens of Kalgan, are you not? I know nothing to the contrary, do I?”
Nothing was said. Toran turned to the controls. There was an imperceptible lurch.
It was when Toran had left Kalgan sufficiently far in the rear to attempt his first interstellar jump, that Captain Pritcher’s face first creased slightly-for no ship of the Mule had in any way attempted to bar their leaving.
“Looks like he’s letting us carry off Magnifico,” said Toran. “Not so good for your story.”
“Unless,” corrected the captain, “he wants us to carry him off, in which case it’s not so good for the Foundation.”
It was after the last jump, when within neutral-flight distance of the Foundation, that the first hyperwave news broadcast reached the ship.
And there was one news item barely mentioned. It seemed that a warlord-unidentified by the bored speaker-had made representations to the Foundation concerning the forceful abduction of a member of his court. The announcer went on to the sports news.
Captain Pritcher said icily, “He’s one step ahead of us after all.” Thoughtfully, he added, “He’s ready for the Foundation, and he uses this as an excuse for action. It makes things more difficult for us. We will have to act before we are really ready.”
... Continued in Volume 18
Sources of Dates
(For Volume 17)
AD =Anno Domini
GE =Galactic Era
FE =Foundational Era
Foundation’s Triumph Takes place after “The Psychohistorians”
“Epilogue” Hari Seldon’s death.
“The Originist” Begins shortly after Hari Seldon’s trial, ends several months after Seldon’s death.
“The Encyclopedists” Takes place 50 years after the Foundation is established in 12,068 GE.
“The Mayors” Takes place 30 years after “The Encyclopedists”.
“The Traders” Takes place “two decades” before “The Merchant Princes”.
“The Merchant Princes” Begins “almost 75 years” after “The Mayors”, ends six years later.
“The General” Begins “over 40 years” after Hober Mallow’s meeting with Onum Barr in “The Merchant Princes”.
“Trantor Falls” Takes place forty years before “The Mule”.
“The Mule” Takes place 17 years after Han Pritcher joins the Army in 293 FE.
Table of Contents
Title page
Copyright
Table of Contents
Foundation’s Triumph
Part 3
Secret Crimes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Part 4
A Magnificent Design
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Part 5
A Recurring Rendezvous
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Part 6
Full Circle
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Epilogue
The Originist
The Encyclopedists
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The Mayors
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
The Traders
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The Merchant Princes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
The General
1. Search For Magicians
2. The Magicians
3. The Dead Hand
4. The Emperor
5. The War Begins
6. The Favorite
7. Bribery
8. To Trantor
9. On Trantor
10. The War Ends
Trantor Falls
The Mule
1. Bride And Groom
2. Captain And Mayor
3. Lieutenant And Clown
4. The Mutant
Sources of Dates
Isaac Asimov, Asimov’s Future History Volume 17
