"I could cry - like the fountain in City Hall Park," said Bort, earnestly, "when I think of the chance we muffed.
Take the situation thirty years ago, when Hardin saved the Foundation from Anacreon - At that time, the Anacreonian people had no real conception of the fact that the Empire was running down.
They had been more or less running their own affairs since the Zeonian revolt, but even after communications broke down and Lepold's pirate of a grandfather made himself king, they never quite realized the Empire had gone kaput.
"If the Emperor had had the nerve to try, he could have taken over again with two cruisers and with the help of the internal revolt that would have certainly sprung to life.
And we we could have done the same; but no, Hardin established monarch worship.
Personally, I don't understand it.
Why?
Why?
Why?"
"What," demanded Jaim Orsy, suddenly, "does Verisof do?
There was a day when he was an advanced Actionist.
What's he doing there?
Is he blind, too?"
"I don't know," said Bort, curtly.
"He's high priest to them.
As far as I know, he does nothing but act as adviser to the priesthood on technical details.
Figurehead, blast him, figurehead!"
There was silence all round and all eyes turned to Sermak.
The young party leader was biting a fingernail nervously, and then said loudly,
"No good.
It's fishy!"
He looked around him, and added more energetically,
"Is Hardin then such a fool?"
"Seems to be," shrugged Bort.
"Never!
There's something wrong.
To cut our own throats so thoroughly and so hopelessly would require colossal stupidity.
More than Hardin could possibly have even if he were a fool, which I deny.
On the one hand, to establish a religion that would wipe out all chance of internal troubles. On the other hand, to arm Anacreon with all weapons of warfare.
I don't see it."
"The matter is a little obscure, I admit," said Bort, "but the facts are there.
What else can we think?"
Walto said, jerkily, "Outright treason.
He's in their pay."
But Sermak shook his head impatiently.
"I don't see that, either.
The whole affair is as insane and meaningless - Tell me, Bort, have you heard anything about a battle cruiser that the Foundation is supposed to have put into shape for use in the Anacreon navy?"
"Battle cruiser?"
"An old Imperial cruiser-"
"No, I haven't.
But that doesn't mean much.
The navy yards are religious sanctuaries completely inviolate on the part of the lay public.
No one ever hears anything about the fleet.
"Well, rumors have leaked out. Some of the Party have brought the matter up in Council.
Hardin never denied it, you know.
His spokesmen denounced rumor mongers and let it go at that.
It might have significance."
"It's of a piece with the rest," said Bort. "if true, it's absolutely crazy.
But it wouldn't be worse than the rest."
"I suppose," said Orsy, "Hardin hasn't any secret weapon waiting.