"Billibotton" (pp. 305-326) Summary

Venabili is unhappy about a seemingly suicidal mission to chase a universal legend. Seldon reminds her of the hand-on-thigh story and how it flashes through his mind at the Tisalvers'. Something is hovering at the edge of his mind, encompassing all of this. Venabili notes that folklorists, biologists, and mystical historians speculate about a single world but "sober history" never mentions it. Amaryl is a natural mathematician, and his originality and ingenuity may move psychohistory forward. His promise to help Amaryl is more probable than Hummin's to the Mycogenians. Seldon wants to find Mother Rittah and is prepared to go alone. Venabili forbids it. Mistress Tisalver and her daughter return, sniff for traces of Amaryl, and disappear. Dinner passes in silence until Seldon asks about Billibotton. Casilia declares it a slum and denies hearing of a Mother...