Chapter 10 first quarter

Janov Pelorat has white hair, and when he doesn't have any expression, his face looks very empty, but he rarely shows any expression.He is of medium height and weight, acts slowly and speaks thoughtfully.Although only fifty-two years old, he looked much older than his actual age. He has never left Terminus in his life, which is extremely unusual, especially for a person of his profession.Even he himself couldn't understand whether he behaved like an old monk in meditation because he was too obsessed with history. His fascination with history began quite by accident at the age of fifteen.That time he had a minor illness, so he had to entertain himself with a book about early legends.In that book, there are constant references to an isolated world; a world that doesn't even know it's isolated because its inhabitants have never heard of other worlds at all.

His illness improved immediately.In two days, he read the book from cover to cover three times, and almost recovered from an illness.Another day later, he was already sitting in front of his own computer terminal, connected to the Endpoint University library, and inquired about the collection of books similar to legends. From then on, such legends became the whole focus of his life.Although Duandian University Library has collected a lot in this area, when he was a little older, he discovered the joy of collecting materials through "inter-library cooperation".Among the information he collected, some were sent from Ivnia via super-radiation wave signals.

Today, thirty-seven years later, he is a professor specializing in ancient history.Now, he is taking his first long vacation.He planned to use this year's vacation to take a trip to Trantor, which would be his first space travel. Pelorat himself knew very well that a person like him who had never been to space was quite a rare animal on Terminus.However, he did not intend to be so maverick, nor did he use it to gain fame.It's just that every time he has the opportunity to go to space, there will always be some new books, new research results, and new analysis reports, which makes him have to postpone the planned trip until he has thoroughly obtained those new materials. until digested.Then, if possible, he would add a "fact," "conjecture," or "imagination" to the already piled-up data.Because of this, his research has never had any regrets. The only regret is that the trip to Trantor never took place.

Trantor was once the capital of the First Galactic Empire, and it has been the capital of successive emperors of the Galactic Empire for 12,000 years.Before the Empire, Trantor was the capital of a very important kingdom - a kingdom that gradually devoured other kingdoms, and finally established the unprecedented galactic empire. Trantor is a single metropolis around the globe, a city clad in metal.Pelorat had read all about Trantor from Gail Donick's writings.The author was a contemporary of Hari Seldon, and had traveled to Trantor in his youth.Donick's book is now out of print, and the one in Pelorat's collection, if he is willing to sell it, should be able to earn half a year's salary of a history professor.But the mere thought that this rare copy might never be seen again is enough to make the historian terrified.

Of course, the only place Pelorat was interested in Trantor was the "Galactic Library" there.During the Imperial Age, it was the largest library in the galaxy (then known as the "Imperial Library").The First Galactic Empire is the largest and most populous empire in human history, and Trantor, the capital of the empire, is a single city composed of one world, with a population of more than 40 billion.The collection in that library covers all the original (or plagiarized) wisdom crystallization of human beings, which can be described as the sum of all human knowledge.The internal operations of the library are completely computerized. Because the computer system is too complicated, only experts know how to operate it.

And more importantly, the Galaxy Library is still there today.For Pelorat, this is the most surprising fact.More than two hundred years ago, when Trantor fell to the enemy and was plundered, there was a bloody day.All parts of Trantor were severely damaged, and countless stories of burning, killing, looting, and horrific events are too painful to repeat.Luckily, however, the Galactic Library survived, and it was (supposedly) the result of Trantor University students defending it to the death.These college students invented some mysterious weapons, so they were able to fight to the end with outnumbered enemies. (However, some people think that this kind of student volunteer army is probably just nonsense.)

Regardless of the truth, in short, the Galaxy Library survived a catastrophe.Later, Aiblin Mies came to this ruined world, got into the library that was still intact, and conducted exhaustive research there, and almost found the exact location of the second base (people at the base still believe that A theory, but historians have always dismissed it).Three generations of the Darryl family—Beda, Durham, and Ikaty—had also been to Trantor.But Ikadi never visited the Galactic Library, and the library hasn't leapt onto the stage of galactic history since her day. No Foundation person had been to Trantor in the past 120 years, but that didn't mean the Galactic Library no longer existed.The fact that there is no news about it in the galaxy is the best proof that it still exists.If it were destroyed, it would surely cause an uproar in the galaxy.

The library must be old and ancient by now—it had been in the days of Ablin Meath—but it was as good as it was.Whenever Pelorat thought of an old and outdated library, he couldn't help rubbing his hands together with excitement.The older and more dated it is, the more likely it is to keep what he's looking for.He often dreamed that he walked into the Galaxy Library and asked nervously: "Has this library been modernized? Have you discarded those old computer tapes?".And every time in his sleep, he would see a dusty ancient librarian who raised his head and replied, "It hasn't changed at all, Professor, it's still exactly the same as before."

Now, his dream was finally coming true, the mayor himself had promised him.How she had learned of his work was not quite clear to him himself.He did not publish many papers, and most of his research lacked sufficient evidence, so it was rarely accepted by academic journals; and the few articles he published did not arouse any response.However, it is said that "Bronze Man Burano" knows everything about the big and small events on Terminus, and she has eyes and ears in every corner.Pelorat could almost believe this statement, but if she knew about her work, why didn't she see the importance of it earlier and provide him with a little subsidy?

Perhaps the main reason, he thought with great pain, was that the base only knew how to focus on the future, and everyone's attention was focused on the Second Empire and its own destiny.So they don't have the time, nor the thought, to look back at the past history—even they are hostile to those who want to look back. Those people are of course stupid, but he can't wipe out the general ignorance by himself.But then again, it's nice that it gives him a great research job all to himself.One day in the future, future generations will regard him as a great "pioneer". Of course, this also means (and he is too intellectually honest to deny it) that he himself attaches great importance to the future - when everyone will know his name and see him as the same as Hari Seldon. Equally famous hero.In fact, future generations should think him greater, because Seldon only planned the history that can be seen in the next thousand years, but he will unearth a major historical site that has been lost for at least 25,000 years.

He had waited until this day, and this day finally came. The mayor once told him that he could start work officially after the image of Seldon appeared.That was the only reason why Pelorat would be interested in this Seldon crisis.For the past few months, the residents of Terminus, and everyone in the Federation, have focused their attention on this crisis. In his opinion, it really doesn't make any difference whether the capital of the base should stay on Terminus or move elsewhere.Now that the crisis has been resolved satisfactorily, he still doesn't know which side Hari Seldon supports, and he doesn't even know at all whether the Seldon video has mentioned this turbulent issue. As long as Seldon appeared, the long-awaited day had finally come. Just after two o'clock in the afternoon, a car stopped in front of Pelorat's rather secluded residence on the outskirts of Terminal City. The back door of the car slid open immediately, and a guard got out of the car first.From the uniform he wears, it can be seen that he belongs to the mayor's security guard.A young man got out of the car next, followed by two guards. It was rare for Pelorat to feel such a flattered feeling - the mayor not only understood his work, but obviously also attached great importance to him, and the young man who was going to accompany him was actually accompanied by guards.In addition, the mayor had promised him a first-class spaceship, which the young man must have piloted.It's just too much face! It's just... The butler of Pelorat opened the door, and the young man walked in by himself, while two guards stood guard on both sides of the entrance.Pelorat looked out of the window and saw that the third guard was still outside, and at this moment another cart was coming, bringing more guards. what happened? He turned and saw that the young man had entered the room.Only now did he realize that this person was no stranger, and he had seen him on Quanxun TV, which surprised Pelorat again, and he immediately said: "You are that congressman, you are Trevize!" "Glen Trevize is here. Are you Professor Janov Pelorat?" "Yes, yes," said Pelorat, "you are the one who will—" "The two of us are going to travel together," Trevize said dully, "at least as far as I know." "But you are not a historian." "No, I'm not. As you say, I'm an MP, a politician." "Yes!—yes—what the hell is going on in my head? I'm a historian myself, why would I need another? Can you pilot a spaceship?" "Yes, I'm very good at it." "Great, that's exactly what we need. Great! I was worried because I'm not a practical guy, young man. So as long as you are, we could be a good team." "At this moment, I don't have much confidence in my own abilities," Trevize said. "But we seem to have no choice but to coordinate and cooperate as much as possible." "Well, hopefully I'll get over my skepticism about space myself. You know, Congressman, I've never been in space in my life. I'm a groundhog, or that's what you call us. Yes. Now, would you like a cup of tea? I can ask Koloda to get us something to eat. Anyway, as far as I understand, we won't be leaving in a few hours. But I'm ready now, and we both need everything It’s in place. The mayor has been extremely cooperative and I’ve been amazed by her interest in this plan.” "So you already knew about this? How long have you known?" Trevize asked. "The Mayor came to see me—" (Peilorat frowned slightly, as if counting the days) "It was two weeks ago, maybe three weeks ago, and I was so happy that day. Now I figured it out , I need a driver, not another historian, and I am very glad to be traveling with you, my dear companion." "Two or three weeks ago..." Trevize repeated, his voice a little dazed. "Then she's already prepared, and I—" His voice trailed off. "Excuse me, what are you talking about?" "It's nothing, Professor, I've always had a bad habit of talking to myself. If our journey drags on, you'll have to try and bear with me along the way." "It will definitely be a long journey, it will be." Pelorat said while pulling him into the dining room, where the butler had already prepared exquisite refreshments on the table. "This time the itinerary is very free, the mayor said we can go as long as we want, wherever we like in the Milky Way. And, wherever we go, we can use federal funds. Of course, she said , our expenses must be reasonable, and I will agree to it immediately." He giggled a few times, rubbed his hands together, and said, "Sit down, my good mate, sit down. We won't be returning to Terminus until we're done with this meal. " Trevize sat down as promised, and then asked, "Do you have a family, Professor?" "I have a son who is now a professor at Santani University. I think he studies chemistry, or at least something similar. He followed his mother's path. My wife has been separated from me for a long time, so you You can see, too, that I've got nothing to worry about, and I've got nothing to worry about. I'm sure you haven't either—have a sandwich, my boy." "I don't have a family now. I have had a few women in the past, but they always come and go." "Well, well, it's the easiest and most pleasant way, and it's easier and more pleasant if you figure out you don't have to take this kind of thing seriously—no kids, I suppose." "No." "Excellent! I'm in such a good mood, you know. I admit I was taken aback when you first walked in. But the more I look at you now, the more pleasant you are. What I need is someone like you - fresh, passionate, and capable of flying across the galaxy. We're going on a quest, you know, a great quest." Pelorat always The stable face and voice suddenly became full of life at this time, but his expression and tone did not change significantly. "I don't know if you know the details." Trevize narrowed his eyes and asked, "An amazing exploration?" "It is true that there is a pearl of great price hidden among the inhabited worlds of the galaxy, of which we have only the faintest clues. However, if we can find it, there will be an incredible reward. If you If I succeed, my boy—Trevize, I daresay—we'll both be immortalized in history. And I don't mean to ask you to thank me." "The reward you speak of—the pearl of great price..." "I sound like Ikaty Darrell—the famous writer, you know—that's the way she talks about Second Foundation, don't you think? No wonder you So surprised." Pelorat threw her head back, and was about to laugh a few times, but only smiled. "It's not something so stupid and trivial, I can assure you." Trevize asked again: "Since you don't mean the Second Foundation, Professor, what exactly are you talking about?" Pelorat's expression suddenly became serious, even slightly apologetic. "Ah, so the mayor hasn't told you yet? You know, that's kind of weird. I've been very upset with the government for decades because they haven't been able to understand what I do. Now, the mayor of Burano is generous Incredibly." "That's right," Trevize said deliberately teasingly. "She has a disgusting and kind face, and she is a good person in her bones, but she didn't tell me all the ins and outs." "So, you don't know anything about my research work?" "Yes, sorry." "Don't feel sorry, it's absolutely fine, I haven't accomplished anything really amazing anyway. Let me tell you, you and I are going to find 'Earth', and we will find it, because I already have a very likely answer in mind .”