Chapters 7-8 Summary

Chapter 7, "The Farmer," finds Gendibal jogging on a country road thinking about the meeting he has proposed.. He is a loner at the Table, envied, ambitious, and defensive. A Hamish farmer approaches. They usually avoid "scowlers" ("scholars") and their minds are left untouched, being the Second Foundation's "unwitting shields." Karoll Rufirant blocks Gendibal's way and mocks his speech. Others gather behind Gendibal as he enrages Rufirant by dodging his punches. Rufirant orders him seized. Meanwhile, at the Table, Delora Delarmi challenges Shandess' delaying the meeting. Finally, tired of waiting, Shandess summarizes and commends Gendibal's mathematics but admits to having only an intuition that Gendibal is correct. Back on the road, Gendibal nearly resorts to controlling Rufirant's mind when a stocky woman, Sura Novi, disperses the bullies and cowards. She escorts Gendibal home, saying that she dreams of being a Scowler and...