Chapter 9

The Far Star  was two days out in space, when  Hober Mallow, in his privatequarters with  Senior Lieutenant Drawt,  handed him an envelope,  a roll ofmicrofilm, and a silvery spheroid.
"As of an hour from now, Lieutenant, you're Acting Captain of the Far Star,until I return, 杘r forever."Drawt  made a  motion of  standing but  Mallow waved him  down imperiously.
"Quiet, and listen. The  envelope contains the exact location of the planetto which you're to  proceed. There you will wait for me for two months. If,before the two months  are up, the Foundation locates you, the microfilm ismy report of the trip.
"If, however," and his voice was somber, "I do not return at the end of twomonths, and  Foundation vessels do  not locate you, proceed  to the planet,Terminus, and  hand in  the Time Capsule  as the report.  Do you understandthat?""Yes, sir.""At no time are  you, or any of the men, to amplify in any single instance,my official report.""If we are questioned, sir?""Then you know nothing.""Yes, sir."The interview ended, and fifty minutes later, a lifeboat kicked lightly offthe side of the Far Star.