Chapter 12 third quarter

The day after Trevize's arrest, Mayor Burano was in a good mood.For her success, everyone spared no effort to praise her; for that unexpected episode, Zhiyi never mentioned it. Even so, she knew that sooner or later the Council would recover from its paralysis and begin to question her actions.The iron must be struck while it is hot, so she put aside many business matters and planned to settle Trevize's matter first. While Trevize was discussing Earth with Pelorat, Burano was in the mayor's office with Senator Mann Lee Comp.At this time, Kang Pu was sitting opposite the mayor's desk, acting very relaxed and natural.And the first sentence the mayor spoke was to praise him again.

Compared with Trevize, Komp is thinner and two years older.Both were newcomers to the Council, young and driven, and that must have been the only reason they were buddies, for otherwise they were so different. Trevize seemed aggressive, but Komp always exuded a steady self-confidence—perhaps because he had the relationship between blond hair and blue eyes, and such people were rare in the Base Federation.Because of these two traits, he displays an almost effeminate delicacy that (in Burano's judgment) makes him far less attractive to women than Trevize.Still, he's clearly very vain about his appearance, and it's purposely brought out to the fullest.His hair is fairly long and carefully curled into waves; there's even a touch of blue eyeshadow under his brows to accentuate his deep blue eyes. (Eye shadows of all shades have become very popular among men over the past decade.)

He is not a butterfly, he has been living a peaceful life with his wife, but so far, the couple have not registered their "willingness to have children".Comp has never had a secret affair, which is completely different from Trevize.Trevize changes his "roommates" as frequently as he replaces those gaudy belts. Regarding the every move of these two young congressmen, the Security Bureau chaired by Cordell has little clarity.And now Cordel was sitting in a corner of the mayor's office, exuding his usual jovial mood. Burano said: "Senator Compu, you have done a great job for the base, but it is a pity that we cannot publicly praise you, nor can we reward you in the usual way."

Kang Pu smiled, showing his white and neat teeth.A sudden thought suddenly flashed in Burano's mind - do all the residents of the Sirius star region look like this? The Sirius star region is quite close to the outer edge of the Milky Way, and it is a very special region, and the relationship between Kang Pu himself and that place , going back to his maternal grandmother—she also had blond hair and blue eyes, and always insisted that her mother was from the Sirius sector.However, according to the results of Cordel's investigation, there is no strong evidence to support this. Cordel once explained it as follows: women are all like this, always like to claim that their ancestors come from distant and exotic places, so as to add a little charm to themselves.Even if they are already fatally attractive, they will never give up this opportunity.

"Is this a common problem for women?" Burano asked sarcastically after hearing this.Cordel then smiled and murmured that of course he was referring to ordinary women. Regarding what Burano said just now, Comm’s answer was: “My contribution does not need to make the base known to everyone, as long as the mayor knows it is enough.” "I know it, and I will never forget it. I also want to emphasize that you don't think your responsibility is over. Now that you have participated in this intricate operation, you must continue to walk - we have to find out more about Choi. Wiz's information."

"I have told you everything I know about him." "What you say may be all you want me to believe, and you may even believe it yourself. Anyway, I want you to answer my question now. You know a man named Janov Pei Lorat's man?" Kamp's brow furrowed suddenly, but then returned to its original shape.Then he said in a cautious tone: "If I saw this person, I might be able to recognize him, but I don't seem to have the slightest impression of this name." "He's a scholar." Comm opened his mouth in a contemptuous "Oh?", as if the mayor had surprised him by expecting him to meet an academic.

Burano continued: "Pelorat is a very interesting person. For his own research work, he wants to go to Trantor. Senator Trevize will go with him. Well, since you are Trevize's My friend, you may know his way of thinking, tell me now—do you think Trevize will go to Trantor?" Comm replied, "If you put Trevize on board a spaceship, and that spaceship was destined for Trantor, what choice would he have but to go there? You certainly wouldn't think He's going to instigate a bloodbath and hijack that spaceship." "You don't understand, there will be only him and Pelorat on that spaceship, and Trevize will be in charge of driving it."

"You mean to ask me, will he fly to Trantor of his own accord?" "Yes, that's what I asked." "Madam Mayor, how can I possibly know what he's going to do?" "Senator Comp, you have been very close to Trevize, and know that he firmly believes that the Second Foundation still exists. Has he never mentioned to you where the Second Foundation is hidden and where to find it?" "Never, Madam Mayor." "Do you think he can find it?" Komp laughed a few times, "I think no matter how sacred the second base is, no matter how important it was in the past, it no longer exists anyway. It was destroyed in the era of Ikaty Darrell, I trust the stories she writes."

"Really? If that's the case, why would you betray your friend? If he's just looking for something that doesn't exist, what harm can he do with his wild theories?" Comm replied, "It's not just true news that can hurt. His claims may be just outlandish nonsense, but they also have the potential to shake people's minds in Terminus and sow doubt and disbelief about the role the base has played in the larger history of the galaxy." Seeds of fear. This will weaken Terminus's leadership in the Federation and erode our sense of mission to build a second Galactic Empire. You have obviously thought of this yourself, otherwise you would not have openly arrested him in the assembly hall, and then Forcibly deporting him without trial. May I ask, Mayor, why are you doing this?"

"May I say that -- I'm alert enough to think that what he's saying could still be true. If that's the case, then perhaps there's a concrete and immediate danger posed by his insights." Comm didn't answer this time. So Burano continued: "Actually, I agree with you, but based on my duties, I have to consider that possibility. Let me ask you again, what guesses does he have about the whereabouts of the second base? He may plan to Where? Do you have any concept in mind?" "I have absolutely no idea." "Does it mean that he never gave you any hints in this regard?"

"No, of course not." "No? Don't give up so easily, think about it! Have you ever had it?" "Never." Compete replied firmly. "Never a hint? No joke? No scribbled word? No sudden thoughtful moment? When you think about it now, those actions could have been significant." "No. Let me tell you, Madam Mayor, his so-called fantasy of the existence of the Second Foundation is the most illusory dream. You know this very well. What you are doing now is just wasting your time and energy. .” "You will not suddenly change your position and turn to protect the friend you personally handed over to me?" "No," Kamp said, "I report him to you because I believe it was the right and patriotic act. I have no reason to regret doing so, nor any reason to change my position again." "So, after I hand over the spaceship to him, where will he fly, you can't provide me with any clues?" "I already said..." "But, Senator," said the Mayor, where the lines of the Mayor's face crowded together to give her a look of longing. "I want to know where he's going." "In this case, I think you should install a hyperwave repeater on his spaceship." "I thought so too, Senator. He's a very suspicious man, though, and I'm afraid he'll find the contraption--however cleverly placed, there's still a possibility. Of course, we could fix it somewhere If he insists on dismantling it, it will definitely damage the spacecraft, so he may have to leave the repeater there..." "A very clever move." "It's just that," Burano said, "he'll know he's being watched, that he's not free to move about as he wants, and maybe not go where he's supposed to be. I'd be useless if I knew where he was. No." "In that case, you have no way of finding out his movements." "It is still possible. I intend to use a very primitive method. He thinks that I always use complex and ingenious tricks, so he is always cautious and careful in everything, but he may ignore the primitive method. I will send people to follow up. Trevize." "track?" "Exactly, followed by a pilot on another spaceship. See how surprised you are by the thought? Trevize would have reacted in the same way if he had known. It probably wouldn't have occurred to him, When he was flying around in space, there was another spaceship with him. Anyway, we will never install our most advanced mass detector on his spaceship." Compete added: "Madam Mayor, I don't mean to offend you, but I must point out that you lack practical experience in spaceflight. Attempts to track spacecraft with spacecraft have never been successful, because there is no way to do it." No. Trevize could have escaped with the first hyperspace jump. Even if he didn't know he was being followed, he would be invisible after the first jump. If his spaceship It is absolutely impossible to trace his track without the installation of hyperwave repeaters." "I admit my lack of experience, unlike you and Trevize, who have received fleet training. However, I have many advisors to consult. They have all received complete training just like you. My advisor Tell me that in the instant before a spacecraft makes a jump, if the tracking spacecraft can telemetry its direction, velocity, and acceleration, it is generally possible to estimate where it will jump. Provided the tracker With a good computer and excellent sense of his own, he can make jumps so close that he can bite his opponent's tail - if it is on a stalker spaceship equipped with a good mass detector , it will be more effective.” "Even if this method works, it's only applicable to the first transition." Komp said angrily: "If the tracker is lucky, there may be a second transition, but there will never be a third transition. You can't put your hopes up on that." "Perhaps we can—Senator Comp, you once participated in hyperspace races. You see, I know your background quite well. You are a good pilot. You once bit your opponent with a jump, It's an unprecedented record." Kamp's eyes were wide open, and he almost wanted to jump out of his chair. "That was my activity in college, and now I'm not getting any younger." "Not too old, not yet thirty-five years old. So, Senator, I decided to send you to follow Trevize. No matter where he goes, you must follow him at every step and report to me at any time. Trevize is leaving in a few hours, and after he lifts off, you're on your way. If you refuse this mission, Senator, you'll go to jail for mutiny. We'll provide a spaceship for You, if you get on that ship and you lose Trevize, then you don't have to come back. If you try to force your way, I guarantee you will be destroyed in outer space." Kang Pu suddenly jumped up, and shouted angrily: "I have my own life, my job, and my wife here. I must never leave Terminus." "You have to go. Those of us who volunteer to serve the base must be ready to accept various tasks at any time. If necessary, even if it is extra and hard work, we should be willing to do it." "Of course my wife must come with me." "Do you think I'm an idiot? Of course she has to stay here." "A hostage?" "If you like to say it, say it as you like. But I would rather say that since you are going on a dangerous mission, and my kindness cannot bear to let her go with you, I want her to stay—no What room for bargaining, you are in exactly the same situation as Trevize. I believe you should also understand that I must act as soon as possible. The intoxicating atmosphere on Terminus will soon be exhausted, and I am afraid that my lucky star will soon be gone Gao Zhao."