Bliss tried again, for it was clear to her that Hiroko was in a state of a difficult conflict of emotions. "Really, Hiroko, we cannot take your flute."
"No, Fallom must have it." But she seemed on edge just the same.
Trevize continued to look at the sky. The night was truly dark, a darkness that was scarcely affected by the trickle of light from their own chambers; and much less so by the tiny sparks of other houses farther off.
He said, "Hiroko, do you see that star that is so bright? What is it called?" Hiroko looked up casually and said, with no great appearance of interest, "That's the Companion."
"Why is it called that?"
"It circleth our sun every eighty Standard Years. It is an evening star at this time of year. Thou canst see it in daytime, too, when it lieth above the horizon."
Good, thought Trevize. She's not totally ignorant of astronomy. He said, "Do you know that Alpha has another companion, a very small, dim one that's much much farther away than that bright star. You can't see it without a telescope." (He hadn't seen it himself, hadn't bothered to search for it, but the ship's computer had the information in its memory banks.)
She said indifferently, "We were told that in school."
"But now what about that one? You see those six stars in a zigzag line?"
Hiroko said, "That is Cassiopeia."
"Really?" said Trevize, startled. "Which star?"
"All of them. The whole zigzag. It is Cassiopeia."
"Why is it called that?"
"I lack the knowledge. I know nothing of astronomy, respected Trevize."
"Do you see the lowermost star in the zigzag, the one that's brighter than the other stars? What is that?"
"It is a star. I know not its name."
"But except for the two companion stars, it's the closest of all the stars to Alpha. It is only a parsec away."
Hiroko said, "Sayest thou so? I know that not."
"Might it not be the star about which Earth revolves?"
Hiroko looked at the star with a faint flash of interest. "I know not. I have never heard any person say so."
"Don't you think it might be?"
"How can I say? None knoweth where Earth might be. I-I must leave thee, now. I will be taking my shift in the fields tomorrow morning before the beach festival. I'll see you all there, right after lunch. Yes? Yes?"
"Certainly, Hiroko."
She left suddenly, half-running in the dark. Trevize looked after her, then followed the others into the dimly lit cottage.
He said, "Can you tell whether she was lying about Earth, Bliss?"
Bliss shook her head. "I don't think she was. She is under enormous tension, something I was not aware of until after the concert. It existed before you asked her about the stars."
"Because she gave away her flute, then?"
"Perhaps. I can't tell." She turned to Fallom. "Now, Fallom, I want you to go into your room. When you're ready for bed, go to the outhouse, use the potty, then wash your hands, your face, and your teeth."
"I would like to play the flute, Bliss."
"Just for a little while, and very quietly. Do you understand, Fallom? And you must stop when I tell you to."
"Yes, Bliss."
The three were now alone; Bliss in the one chair and the men sitting each on his cot.
Bliss said, "Is there any point in staying on this planet any longer?"
Trevize shrugged. "We never did get to discuss Earth in connection with the ancient instruments, and we might find something there. It might also pay to wait for the fishing fleet to return. The men might know something the stay-at-homes don't."
"Very unlikely, I think," said Bliss. "Are you sure it's not Hiroko's dark eyes that hold you?"
Trevize said impatiently, "I don't understand, Bliss. What have you to do with what I choose to do? Why do you seem to arrogate to yourself the right of sitting in moral judgment on me?"
"I'm not concerned with your morals. The matter affects our expedition. You want to find Earth so that you can finally decide whether you are right in choosing Galaxia over Isolate worlds. I want you to so decide. You say you need to visit Earth to make the decision and you seem to be convinced that Earth revolves about that bright star in the sky. Let us go there, then. I admit it would be useful to have some information about it before we go, but it is clear to me that the information is not forthcoming here. I do not wish to remain simply because you enjoy Hiroko."
"Perhaps we'll leave," said Trevize. "Let me think about it, and Hiroko will play no part in my decision, I assure you."
Pelorat said, "I feel we ought to move on to Earth, if only to see whether it is radioactive or not. I see no point in waiting longer."
"Are you sure it's not Bliss's dark eyes that drive you?" said Trevize, a bit spitefully. Then, almost at once, "No, I take that back, Janov. I was just being childish. Still-this is a charming world, quite apart from Hiroko, and I must say that under other circumstances, I would be tempted to remain indefinitely. Don't you think, Bliss, that Alpha destroys your theory about Isolates?"
"In what way?" asked Bliss.
"You've been maintaining that every truly isolated world turns dangerous and hostile."
"Even Comporellon," said Bliss evenly, "which is rather out of the main current of Galactic activity for all that it is, in theory, an Associated Power of the Foundation Federation."
"But not Alpha. This world is totally isolated, but can you complain of their friendliness and hospitality? They feed us, clothe us, shelter us, put on festivals in our honor, urge us to stay on. What fault is there to find with them?"