Free Foundation and Chaos by Greg Bear Page A

remember now. Demerzel resigned and Cleon the First filled his shoes with another’s feet. With your feet. Correct, Raven?”
    “Yes, sire.”
    “That’s where you acquired the political skills you so ably exercise, isn’t it?”
    “My political skills are minimal, your Highness.”
    “I don’t think so, Raven. You’re alive, and yet Cleon the first was assassinated by…a gardener …who had strong connections to you, correct?”
    “In a way, sire.”
    “Still alive, Raven. Very savvy indeed, perhaps with your own secret and embarrassing files to reveal at key moments to key players. Do you have a secret file on Linge Chen, Raven?”
    Hari, despite himself, let out a chuckle. Klayus seemed amused by this reaction, rather than affronted. “No, Your Highness. Chen is politically very well armored. His personal behavior is above reproach.”
    “Isn’t it, now! Who, then? Who will disgrace me and bring me down?”
    “You have an assistant, a member of your privy council, who believes in robots.” This is what Daneel wanted me to know. For a moment, Hari felt a chill. What if Daneel no longer existed, or had left Trantor, and he was imagining all this? Thestrain of the last few months, his constant gnawing grief…
    “So?”
    “Robots currently existing on Trantor. He is hunting them down and shooting them. With kinetic weapons.”
    Wanda’s information had nested so well with Daneel’s: the link, the gnawing suspicion, had come together. But Hari wanted, desperately needed, to think over his interviews with the tyrants. Something was still missing!
    “Really?” The Emperor’s eyes gleamed. “He’s found real robots?”
    “No, sire. Humans. Your subjects. Citizens of Trantor, even one offworlder, from Helicon, oddly enough, my home world.”
    “How interesting! I did not know he was hunting for robots. Shall I bring him here and question him, in front of you, Raven?”
    “That is of no matter to me, Your Highness.”
    “I assume you refer to Farad Sinter.”
    “Yes, sire.”
    “Shooting and killing subjects! I did not know that. Well, I doubt that, Raven, but if it’s true, I shall stop that part…But as for hunting down robots, surely that gives him something harmless to do.”
    “Linge Chen will let out enough wire for Sinter to entangle himself thoroughly, then he will turn on the power…And there will be many sparks, my Emperor, as Sinter fries. You might get burned.”
    “Ah, I see—Chen will remind everybody of the forgotten Joranum, and of the disgrace of my allowing such a person to run around killing citizens.” Klayus buried his chin in one hand and frowned. “An Emperor, killing citizens…or ignoring their unjust deaths. Very volatile. Highly inflammable. I see it clearly enough, and it’s not an unlikely outcome. Yes.” The Emperor’s expression darkened and his eyes narrowed. “I had plans for tonight, Raven. You’ve spoiled them, I’m afraid. I doubt this is something I can dispose of in a meeting of a few minutes or less.”
    “No, Your Highness.”
    “And Sinter is in Mycogen today, not returning until after dinner. So you will stay with me, and perhaps give me some advice, then, after, Hari—may I call you Hari?”
    “I would be honored, Your Highness.”
    “After, we will celebrate, and I will reward you for your services.”
    Hari showed nothing on his face, but this of all things was the last he wanted to do. The Emperor’s amusements were known to a few, and Linge Chen kept that number small by careful bribing and not-so-subtle pressure. Hari did not want to be one of the number Chen had to pressure, especially now…
    He had to survive long enough for the trial, and beyond, to see the Foundations established…One by edict, the other in secret.
    But he could not just allow Sinter’s odd madness to imperil Wanda and Stettin’s future, and the future of all those who might yet go to Star’s End. Who had to go! The equations demanded it!

14.
    Lodovik, after