Part 4, Wanda Seldon, Chapters 1-17 Summary

In the Galactic Library, Hari watches three strangers, whom he nicknames Hook Nose, Baldy, and Red Cheeks, studying a three-dimensional model of the Galaxy, and debating a recent Imperial military action that psychohistory shows is useless. Hook Nose claims that Anacreon is harmless and should be left alone. Baldy feels that other border provinces will follow its lead but prefers a compact Empire on which the outer regions remain economically dependent. Humans are sure to reestablish order for their own good. Red Cheeks foresees endless warfare as in the time of the Kingdom of Trantor and notes that this is no ordinary crisis, because the Inner Worlds are so impoverished that they will fall of their own weight, with the government not seeing that the end has come. As talk turns to Hari's theory, Hari...