Chapter 20 chapter Five

The snow had stopped, but it was still forming a thick layer on the ground.A car with a clean appearance is advancing hard on the deserted street.At dawn, the shrouded light is extremely cold-this is not just a literary metaphor, but also a true fact.Therefore, although the politics of the base is in such a state of turmoil today, neither the ACT Party nor the pro-Harding faction has enough enthusiasm and fighting spirit to start street activities so early. John Lee didn't like the situation very much, and his grunt became audible: "It's going to be bad, Harding, they'll say you slipped away."

"They can talk about adultery all they like. After all, I must go to Anacreon, and do it well. Don't say anything now, John." Harding leaned his head back on the padded seat, trembling a little.The car was equipped with heating equipment, so it wasn't actually cold, but the snow-covered world outside the car, even though he looked through the car window, still made him feel chilly. Harding said thoughtfully: "After we settle this matter, we should start trying to control the climate of Terminus. This is not difficult." John replied: "I would like to do a few other things first. For example, how about controlling the climate for Cermak first? A fine and dry single cell, adjusted to twenty-five degrees Celsius all year round, I think it will be very suitable." he."

"In that case, I really need bodyguards," Harding said, "and not just these two." He pointed to the two John's personal bodyguards sitting next to the front driver-their stern His eyes were fixed on the empty street, and one hand was pressed on the nuclear gun that he carried with him. "You obviously intend to start a civil war," Harding added. "Me? There's already a lot of firewood in the fire, and there's no need to stir it. I can count them one by one for you—" John said with his fat and short fingers: "First, Sir Mike was in the city yesterday. Calls for impeachment in Parliament."

"He's quite entitled to it," said Harding calmly. "But his motion was defeated by two hundred and six votes to one eighty-four, wasn't it?" "Yes, but only by twenty-two votes. We expected to win at least sixty votes. Don't deny it, you obviously thought so." "It was close," Harding admitted. "Okay—the second thing is that after the vote, fifty-nine members of the Action Party immediately resigned in anger and walked out of the city council hall." Harding remained silent, so John continued: "Thirdly, before leaving the meeting, Cermak shouted that you are a traitor, that you went to Anacreon to receive a reward, and refused to impeach you. We are also joining your mutiny. What does he mean by saying that the 'Action Party' is not in name?"

"I think that means trouble." "But you're running away early in the morning like a fugitive. You should face them, Harding, and if necessary, for heaven's sake, declare martial law!" "Force is..." "Last resort for the incompetent—come on!" "Forget it, you will understand later. John, listen carefully to me. Thirty years ago, on the day of the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of the base, the vault was opened, and a video of Hari Seldon appeared, telling us for the first time Part of the truth." "I remember," John nodded his head with a half-smile, remembering the past, "it was the day we took over the government."

"That's right, we encountered the first crisis at that time, and now this is the second time—three weeks later, it will be the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the base. Don't you think there is something mysterious about it?" "You mean he'll show up again?" "I'm not finished yet. Seldon never mentioned whether he would show up again, do you understand? But that was part of his whole plan, and he always tried not to let us know any details of it. We didn't There is no way of knowing when the computer will make the image reappear unless we take the Vault apart, but if we do, the computer will probably destroy itself. Every year since Seldon first appeared, I have been there to touch the By chance, he never reappeared. However, since that time, there is now a real crisis."

"So will he show up again?" "Maybe, I don't know. But that's the point—you announced in the city council today that I'm going to Anacreon, and then you officially announced that Seldon's video will be in Reappeared on March 14th. This video will convey the most important message about this new crisis that has been identified recently. This is very important, John, but no matter how much people ask, don't say more." John stared at Harding and said, "Will they believe it?" "That's all right, but it's bound to confuse them. That's my purpose. They'll doubt the truth of the matter, and guess what my real intentions are if the news is false. So they will I will be hesitant and delay the action until after March 14th, when I have already returned."

John still seems to be hesitant: "But what you said about the 'new crisis that has been confirmed' is simply bluffing!" "It's enough to scare them for a moment - the airfield has arrived!" The huge body of the spaceship was looming in the twilight. Harding walked towards the spaceship through the snow, turned back when he reached the airlock, and waved his hand to John. "Goodbye, John, I really don't want to leave you to suffer in the frying pan. But besides you, I have no one I can trust anymore, so don't add fuel to the fire." "Don't worry, the oil pan is hot enough, I will obey your orders." John stepped back, and the airlock of the spaceship closed.