Foundation and Earth

Bliss looked with dismay at the quantity of food before her and was clearly at a loss where to begin. Fallom had no such trouble. She drank the grape juice thirstily and with clear evidence of approval, then chewed away at the fish and potatoes. She was about to use her fingers for the purpose, but Bliss held up a large spoon with tined ends that could serve as a fork as well, and Fallom accepted it.

Pelorat smiled his satisfaction and cut into the eggs at once.

Trevize, saying, "Now to be reminded what real eggs taste like," followed suit.

Hiroko, forgetting to eat her own breakfast in her delight at the manner in which the others ate (for even Bliss finally began, with obvious relish), said, at last, "Is it well?"

"It is well," said Trevize, his voice somewhat muffled. "This island has no shortage of food, apparently. Or do you serve us more than you should, out of politeness?"

Hiroko listened with intent eyes, and seemed to grasp the meaning, for she said, "No, no, respected sir. Our land is bountiful, our sea even more so. Our ducks give eggs, our goats both cheese and milk. And there are our grains. Above all, our sea is filled with countless varieties of fish in numberless quantity. The whole Empire could eat at our tables and consume not the fish of our sea."

Trevize smiled discreetly. Clearly, the young Alphan had not the smallest idea of the true size of the Galaxy.

He said, "You call this island New Earth, Hiroko. Where, then, might Old Earth be?"

She looked at him in bewilderment. "Old Earth, say you? I crave pardon, respected sir. I take not thy meaning."

Trevize said, "Before there was a New Earth, your people must have lived elsewhere. Where was this elsewhere from which they came?"

"I know naught of that, respected sir," she said, with troubled gravity. "This land has been mine all my life, and my mother's and grandmother's before me; and, I doubt not, their grandmother's and great-grandmother's before them. Of any other land, I know naught."

"But," said Trevize, descending to gentle argumentation, "you speak of this land as New Earth. Why do you call it that?"

"Because, respected sir," she replied, equally gentle, "that is what it is called by all since the mind of woman goeth not to the contrary."

"But it is New Earth, and therefore, a later Earth. There must be an Old Earth, a former one, for which it was named. Each morning there is a new day, and that implies that earlier there had existed an old day. Don't you see that this must be so?"

"Nay, respected sir. I know only what this land is called. I know of naught else, nor do I follow this reasoning of thine which sounds very much like what we call here chop-logic. I mean no offense."

And Trevize shook his head and felt defeated.

77.

TREVIZE leaned toward Pelorat, and whispered, "Wherever we go, whatever we do, we get no information."

"We know where Earth is, so what does it matter?" said Pelorat, doing little more than move his lips.

"I want to know something about it."

"She's very young. Scarcely a repository of information."

Trevize thought about that, then nodded. "Right, Janov."

He turned to Hiroko and said, "Miss Hiroko, you haven't asked us why we are here in your land?"

Hiroko's eyes fell, and she said, "That would be but scant courtesy until you have all eaten and rested, respected sir."

"But we have eaten, or almost so, and we have recently rested, so I shall tell you why we are here. My friend, Dr. Pelorat, is a scholar on our world, a learned man. He is a mythologist. Do you know what that means?"

"Nay, respected sir, I do not."

"He studies old tales as they are told on different worlds. Old tales are known as myths or legends and they interest Dr. Pelorat. Are there learned ones on New Earth who know the old tales of this world?"

Hiroko's forehead creased slightly into a frown of thought. She said, "This is not a matter in which I am myself skilled. We have an old man in these parts who loves to talk of ancient days. Where he may have learned these things, I know not, and methinks he may have spun his notions out of air, or heard them from others who did so spin. This is perhaps the material which thy learned companion would hear, yet I would not mislead thee. It is in my mind," she looked to right and left as though unwilling to be overheard, "that the old man is but a prater, though many listen willingly to him."

Trevize nodded. "Such prating is what we wish. Would it be possible for you to take my friend to this old man-"

"Monolee he calls himself."

"-to Monolee, then. And do you think Monolee would be willing to speak to my friend?"

"He? Willing to speak?" said Hiroko scornfully. "Thou must ask, rather, if he be ever ready to cease from speaking. He is but a man, and will therefore speak, if allowed, till a fortnight hence, with no pause. I mean no offense, respected sir."

"No offense taken. Would you lead my friend to Monolee now?"

"That may anyone do at any time. The ancient is ever home and ever ready to greet an ear."