Chapters 19 and 20 Summary

Four months pass, and Haven is technically under siege. The communications fall apart and a sense of "helplessness and doom" have invaded. Bayta and Toran are back on Haven, and Bayta is working in a factory. She's dealing with people who are simply giving in to the helpless feeling. When she returns home, she finds Toran there. He says that he has sent for Magnifico and that he believes the three of them are about to be sent on a mission.

Newly appointed committee chairman Randu, talking to Mis, says that he feels that sense of dread more acutely during the day. Mis attributes it to "mob psychosis," and says Randu likely feels better at night as there are fewer people looking at him for answers. Mis says that it's because the people have depended on Seldon for so long that...