Destination Unknown Part 13

"It is a pleasure," he said at last, "to deal with someone (if you will excuse me, Madame, and not to take amiss what I am going to say), excuse me, Madame, and not to take amiss what I am going to say), to deal with someone who is not in any way a genius!" to deal with someone who is not in any way a genius!"

Hilary laughed.

"Oh, I'm certainly not a genius," she said.

"Fortunately for you," said Dr. Rubec. "I can a.s.sure you your existence will be far more tranquil." He sighed. "Here, as you existence will be far more tranquil." He sighed. "Here, as you probably understand, I deal mostly with keen intellects, but with the probably understand, I deal mostly with keen intellects, but with the type of sensitive intellect that is apt to become easily unbalanced, type of sensitive intellect that is apt to become easily unbalanced, and where the emotional stress is strong. The man of science, and where the emotional stress is strong. The man of science, Madame, is not the cool, calm individual he is made out to be in Madame, is not the cool, calm individual he is made out to be in fiction. In fact," said Dr. Rubec, thoughtfully, "between a first-cla.s.s fiction. In fact," said Dr. Rubec, thoughtfully, "between a first-cla.s.s tennis player, an operatic prima-donna and a nuclear physicist tennis player, an operatic prima-donna and a nuclear physicist there is really very little difference as far as emotional instability there is really very little difference as far as emotional instability goes." goes."

"Perhaps you are right," said Hilary, remembering that she was supposed to have lived for some years in close proximity to supposed to have lived for some years in close proximity to scientists. "Yes, they are rather temperamental sometimes." scientists. "Yes, they are rather temperamental sometimes."

Dr. Rubec threw up a pair of expressive hands.

"You would not believe," he said, "the emotions that arise here! The quarrels, the jealousies, the touchiness! We have to take steps to quarrels, the jealousies, the touchiness! We have to take steps to deal with all that. But you, Madame," he smiled. "You are in a cla.s.s deal with all that. But you, Madame," he smiled. "You are in a cla.s.s that is in a small minority here. A fortunate cla.s.s, if I may so express that is in a small minority here. A fortunate cla.s.s, if I may so express myself." myself."

"I don't quite understand you. What kind of a minority?"

"Wives," said Dr. Rubec. "We have not many wives here. Very few are permitted. One finds them, on the whole, refres.h.i.+ngly free from are permitted. One finds them, on the whole, refres.h.i.+ngly free from the brainstorms of their husbands and their husbands' colleagues." the brainstorms of their husbands and their husbands' colleagues."

"What do wives do here?" asked Hilary. She added apologetically, "You see it's all so new to me. I don't understand anything yet."

"Naturally not. Naturally. That is bound to be the case. There are hobbies, recreations, amus.e.m.e.nts, instructional courses. A wide hobbies, recreations, amus.e.m.e.nts, instructional courses. A wide field. You will find it, I hope, an agreeable life." field. You will find it, I hope, an agreeable life."

"As you do?"

It was a question, and rather an audacious one and Hilary wondered a moment or two later whether she had been wise to ask wondered a moment or two later whether she had been wise to ask it. But Dr. Rubec merely seemed amused. it. But Dr. Rubec merely seemed amused.

"You are quite right, Madame," he said. "I find life here peaceful and interesting in the extreme." and interesting in the extreme."

"You don't ever regret - Switzerland?"

"I am not homesick. No. That is partly because, in my case, my home conditions were bad. I had a wife and several children. I was home conditions were bad. I had a wife and several children. I was not cut out, Madame, to be a family man. Here conditions are not cut out, Madame, to be a family man. Here conditions are infinitely more pleasant. I have ample opportunity of studying infinitely more pleasant. I have ample opportunity of studying certain aspects of the human mind which interest me and on which certain aspects of the human mind which interest me and on which I am writing a book. I have no domestic cares, no distractions, no I am writing a book. I have no domestic cares, no distractions, no interruptions. It all suits me admirably." interruptions. It all suits me admirably."

"And where do I go next?" asked Hilary, as he rose and shook her courteously and formally by the hand. courteously and formally by the hand.

"Mademoiselle La Roche will take you to the dress department. The result, I am sure -" he bowed "-will be admirable." result, I am sure -" he bowed "-will be admirable."

After the severe Robotlike females she had met so far, Hilary was agreeably surprised by Mademoiselle La Roche. Mademoiselle La agreeably surprised by Mademoiselle La Roche. Mademoiselle La Roche had been a vendeuse in one of the Paris houses of haute Roche had been a vendeuse in one of the Paris houses of haute couture and her manner was thrillingly feminine. couture and her manner was thrillingly feminine.

"I am delighted, Madame, to make your acquaintance. I hope that I can be of a.s.sistance to you. Since you have just arrived and since can be of a.s.sistance to you. Since you have just arrived and since you are, no doubt, tired, I would suggest that you select now just a you are, no doubt, tired, I would suggest that you select now just a few essentials. Tomorrow and indeed during the course of next few essentials. Tomorrow and indeed during the course of next week, you can examine what we have in stock at your leisure. It is week, you can examine what we have in stock at your leisure. It is tiresome I always think, to have to select things rapidly. It destroys tiresome I always think, to have to select things rapidly. It destroys all the pleasure of la toilette. So I would suggest, if you agree, just a all the pleasure of la toilette. So I would suggest, if you agree, just a set of underclothing, a dinner dress, and perhaps a tailor." set of underclothing, a dinner dress, and perhaps a tailor."

"How delightful it sounds," said Hilary. "I cannot tell you how odd it feels to own nothing but a toothbrush and a sponge." feels to own nothing but a toothbrush and a sponge."

Mademoiselle La Roche laughed cheeringly. She took a few rapid measures and led Hilary into a big apartment with built-in measures and led Hilary into a big apartment with built-in cupboards. There were clothes here of every description, made of cupboards. There were clothes here of every description, made of good material and excellent cut and in a large variety of sizes. good material and excellent cut and in a large variety of sizes. When Hilary had selected the essentials of la toilette, they pa.s.sed When Hilary had selected the essentials of la toilette, they pa.s.sed on to the cosmetics department where Hilary made a selection of on to the cosmetics department where Hilary made a selection of powders, creams and various other toilet accessories. These were powders, creams and various other toilet accessories. These were handed to one of the a.s.sistants, a native girl with a s.h.i.+ning dark handed to one of the a.s.sistants, a native girl with a s.h.i.+ning dark face, dressed in spotless white, and she was instructed to see that face, dressed in spotless white, and she was instructed to see that they were delivered to Hilary's apartment. they were delivered to Hilary's apartment.

All these proceedings had seemed to Hilary more and more like a dream. dream.

"And we shall have the pleasure of seeing you again shortly, I hope," said Mademoiselle La Roche, gracefully. "It will be a great hope," said Mademoiselle La Roche, gracefully. "It will be a great pleasure, Madame, to a.s.sist you to select from our models. Entre pleasure, Madame, to a.s.sist you to select from our models. Entre nous my work is sometimes disappointing. These scientific ladies nous my work is sometimes disappointing. These scientific ladies often take very little interest in la toilette. In fact, not half an hour often take very little interest in la toilette. In fact, not half an hour ago I had a fellow traveller of yours." ago I had a fellow traveller of yours."

"Helga Needheim?"

"Ah yes, that was the name. She is, of course, a Boche, and the Boches are not sympathetic to us. She is not actually bad looking if Boches are not sympathetic to us. She is not actually bad looking if she took a little care of her figure; if she chose a flattering line she she took a little care of her figure; if she chose a flattering line she could look very well. But no! She has no interest in clothes. She is a could look very well. But no! She has no interest in clothes. She is a doctor, I understand. A specialist of some kind. Let us hope she doctor, I understand. A specialist of some kind. Let us hope she takes more interest in her patients than she does in her toilette - Ah, takes more interest in her patients than she does in her toilette - Ah, that one, what man will look at her twice?" that one, what man will look at her twice?"

Miss Jennsen, the thin, dark, spectacled girl who had met the party on arrival, now entered the fas.h.i.+on salon. on arrival, now entered the fas.h.i.+on salon.

"Have you finished here, Mrs. Betterton?" she asked.

"Yes, thank you," said Hilary.

"Then perhaps you will come and see the Deputy Director."

Hilary said "au revoir" to Mademoiselle La Roche and followed the earnest Miss Jennsen. earnest Miss Jennsen.

"Who is the Deputy Director?" she asked.

"Doctor Nielson."

Everybody, Hilary reflected, in this place was doctor of something.

"Who exactly is Doctor Nielson?" she asked. "Medical, scientific, what?" what?"

"Oh, he's not medical, Mrs. Betterton. He's in charge of Administration. All complaints have to go to him. He's the Administration. All complaints have to go to him. He's the administrative head of the Unit. He always has an interview with administrative head of the Unit. He always has an interview with everyone when they arrive. After that I don't suppose you'll ever everyone when they arrive. After that I don't suppose you'll ever see him again unless something very important should arise." see him again unless something very important should arise."

"I see," said Hilary, meekly. She had an amused feeling of having been put severely in her place. been put severely in her place.

Admission to Dr. Nielson was through two ante-chambers where stenographers were working. She and her guide were finally stenographers were working. She and her guide were finally admitted into the inner sanctum where Dr. Nielson rose from admitted into the inner sanctum where Dr. Nielson rose from behind a large executive's desk. He was a big florid man with an behind a large executive's desk. He was a big florid man with an urbane manner. Of trans-Atlantic origin, Hilary thought, though he urbane manner. Of trans-Atlantic origin, Hilary thought, though he had very little American accent. had very little American accent.

"Ah!" he said, rising and coming forward to shake Hilary by the hand. "This is - yes - let me see - yes, Mrs. Betterton. Delighted to hand. "This is - yes - let me see - yes, Mrs. Betterton. Delighted to welcome you here, Mrs. Betterton. We hope you'll be very happy welcome you here, Mrs. Betterton. We hope you'll be very happy with us. Sorry to hear of the unfortunate accident during the course with us. Sorry to hear of the unfortunate accident during the course of your journey, but I'm glad it was no worse. Yes, you were lucky of your journey, but I'm glad it was no worse. Yes, you were lucky there. Very lucky indeed. Well, your husband's been awaiting you there. Very lucky indeed. Well, your husband's been awaiting you impatiently and I hope now you've got here you will settle down and impatiently and I hope now you've got here you will settle down and be very happy amongst us." be very happy amongst us."

"Thank you, Dr. Nielson."

Hilary sat down in the chair he drew forward for her.

"Any questions you want to ask me?" Dr. Nielson leant forward over his desk in an encouraging manner. Hilary laughed a little. his desk in an encouraging manner. Hilary laughed a little.

"That's a most difficult thing to answer," she said. "The real answer is, of course, that I've got so many questions to ask that I don't is, of course, that I've got so many questions to ask that I don't know where to begin." know where to begin."

"Quite, quite. I understand that. If you'll take my advice - this is just advice, you know, nothing more - I shouldn't ask anything. Just advice, you know, nothing more - I shouldn't ask anything. Just adapt yourself and see what comes. That's the best way, believe adapt yourself and see what comes. That's the best way, believe me." me."

"I feel I know so little," said Hilary. "It's all so - so very unexpected."

"Yes. Most people think that. The general idea seems to have been that one was going to arrive in Moscow." He laughed cheerfully. that one was going to arrive in Moscow." He laughed cheerfully.

"Our desert home is quite a surprise to most people."

"It was certainly a surprise to me."

"Well, we don't tell people too much beforehand. They mightn't be discreet, you know, and discretion's rather important. But you'll be discreet, you know, and discretion's rather important. But you'll be comfortable here, you'll find. Anything you don't like - or comfortable here, you'll find. Anything you don't like - or particularly would like to have... just put in a request for it and we'll particularly would like to have... just put in a request for it and we'll see what can be managed. Any artistic requirement, for instance. see what can be managed. Any artistic requirement, for instance. Painting, sculpture, music, we have a department for all that sort of Painting, sculpture, music, we have a department for all that sort of thing." thing."

"I'm afraid I'm not talented that way."

"Well, there's plenty of social life too, of a kind. Games, you know. We have tennis courts, squash courts. It takes a week or two, we We have tennis courts, squash courts. It takes a week or two, we often find, for people to find their feet, especially the wives, if I may often find, for people to find their feet, especially the wives, if I may say so. Your husband's got his job and he's busy with it and it takes say so. Your husband's got his job and he's busy with it and it takes a little time, sometimes, for the wives to find - well - other wives who a little time, sometimes, for the wives to find - well - other wives who are congenial. All that sort of thing. You understand me." are congenial. All that sort of thing. You understand me."

"But does one - does one - stay here?"

"Stay here? I don't quite understand you, Mrs. Betterton."

"I mean, does one stay here or go on somewhere else?"

Dr. Nielson became rather vague.

"Ah," he said. "That depends on your husband. Ah, yes, yes, that depends very much on him. There are possibilities. Various depends very much on him. There are possibilities. Various possibilities. But it's better not to go into all that just now. I'd possibilities. But it's better not to go into all that just now. I'd suggest, you know, that you - well - come and see me again suggest, you know, that you - well - come and see me again perhaps in three weeks' time. Tell me how you've settled down. All perhaps in three weeks' time. Tell me how you've settled down. All that kind of thing." that kind of thing."

"Does one - go out at all?"

"Go out, Mrs. Betterton?"

"I mean outside the walls. The gates."

"A very natural question," said Dr. Nielson. His manner was now rather heavily beneficent. "Yes, very natural. Most people ask it rather heavily beneficent. "Yes, very natural. Most people ask it when they come here. But the point of our Unit is that it's a world in when they come here. But the point of our Unit is that it's a world in itself. There is nothing, if I may so express myself, to go out to. itself. There is nothing, if I may so express myself, to go out to. Outside us there is only desert. Now I'm not blaming you, Mrs. Outside us there is only desert. Now I'm not blaming you, Mrs. Betterton. Most people feel like that when they first get here. Slight Betterton. Most people feel like that when they first get here. Slight claustrophobia. That's how Dr. Rubec puts it. But I a.s.sure you that claustrophobia. That's how Dr. Rubec puts it. But I a.s.sure you that it pa.s.ses off. It's a hangover, if I may so express it, from the world it pa.s.ses off. It's a hangover, if I may so express it, from the world that you have left. Have you ever observed an ant hill, Mrs. that you have left. Have you ever observed an ant hill, Mrs. Betterton? An interesting sight. Very interesting and very Betterton? An interesting sight. Very interesting and very instructive. Hundreds of little black insects hurrying to and fro, so instructive. Hundreds of little black insects hurrying to and fro, so earnest, so eager, so purposeful. And yet the whole thing's such a earnest, so eager, so purposeful. And yet the whole thing's such a muddle. That's the bad old world you have left. Here there is muddle. That's the bad old world you have left. Here there is leisure, purpose, infinite time. I a.s.sure you," he smiled, "an earthly leisure, purpose, infinite time. I a.s.sure you," he smiled, "an earthly paradise." paradise."

Chapter 13.

"It's like a school," said Hilary.

She was back once more in her own suite. The clothes and accessories she had chosen were awaiting her in the bedroom. She accessories she had chosen were awaiting her in the bedroom. She hung the clothes in the cupboard and arranged the other things to hung the clothes in the cupboard and arranged the other things to her liking. her liking.

"I know," said Betterton, "I felt like that at first."

Their conversation was wary and slightly stilted. The shadow of a possible microphone still hung over them. He said in an oblique possible microphone still hung over them. He said in an oblique manner, manner, "I think it's all right, you know. I think I was probably imagining things. But all the same..." things. But all the same..."

He left it at that, and Hilary realised that what he had left unsaid was, "but all the same, we had better be careful." was, "but all the same, we had better be careful."

The whole business was, Hilary thought, like some fantastic nightmare. Here she was, sharing a bedroom with a strange man, nightmare. Here she was, sharing a bedroom with a strange man, and yet so strong was the feeling of uncertainty, and danger, that to and yet so strong was the feeling of uncertainty, and danger, that to neither of them did the intimacy appear embarra.s.sing. It was like, neither of them did the intimacy appear embarra.s.sing. It was like, she thought, climbing a Swiss mountain where you share a hut in she thought, climbing a Swiss mountain where you share a hut in close proximity with guides and other climbers as a matter of close proximity with guides and other climbers as a matter of course. After a minute or two Betterton said, course. After a minute or two Betterton said, "It all takes a bit of getting used to, you know. Let's just be very natural. Very ordinary. More or less as if we were at home still." natural. Very ordinary. More or less as if we were at home still."

She realised the wisdom of that. The feeling of unreality persisted and would persist, she supposed, some little time. The reasons for and would persist, she supposed, some little time. The reasons for Betterton leaving England, his hopes, his disillusionment could not Betterton leaving England, his hopes, his disillusionment could not be touched upon between them at this moment. They were two be touched upon between them at this moment. They were two people playing a part with an undefined menace hanging over them, people playing a part with an undefined menace hanging over them, as it were. She said presently, as it were. She said presently, "I was taken through a lot of formalities. Medical, psychological and all that." all that."

"Yes. That's always done. It's natural I suppose." "Did the same happen to you?" happen to you?"

"More or less."

"Then I went in to see the - Deputy Director I think they called him?"

"That's right. He runs this place. Very capable and a thoroughly good administrator." good administrator."

"But he's not really the head of it all?"

"Oh no, there's the Director himself."

"Does one - do I - shall I see the Director?"

"Sooner or later I expect. But he doesn't often appear. He gives us an address from time to time - he's got a wonderfully stimulating an address from time to time - he's got a wonderfully stimulating personality." personality."

There was a faint frown between Betterton's brows and Hilary thought it wise to abandon the subject. Betterton said, glancing at a thought it wise to abandon the subject. Betterton said, glancing at a watch, watch, "Dinner is at eight. Eight to eight-thirty, that is. We'd better be getting down, if you're ready?" getting down, if you're ready?"

He spoke exactly as though they were staying in a hotel.

Hilary had changed into the dress she had selected. A soft shade of gray-green that made a good background for her red hair. She gray-green that made a good background for her red hair. She clasped a necklace of rather attractive costume jewellery round clasped a necklace of rather attractive costume jewellery round her neck and said she was ready. They went down the stairs and her neck and said she was ready. They went down the stairs and along corridors and finally into a large dining room. Miss Jennsen along corridors and finally into a large dining room. Miss Jennsen came forward and met them. came forward and met them.

"I have arranged a slightly larger table for you, Tom," she said to Betterton. "A couple of your wife's fellow travellers will sit with you - Betterton. "A couple of your wife's fellow travellers will sit with you - and the Murchisons, of course." and the Murchisons, of course."

They went along to the table indicated. The room contained mostly small tables seating four, eight or ten persons. Andy Peters and small tables seating four, eight or ten persons. Andy Peters and Ericsson were already sitting at the table and rose as Hilary and Ericsson were already sitting at the table and rose as Hilary and Tom approached. Hilary introduced her "husband" to the two men. Tom approached. Hilary introduced her "husband" to the two men. They sat down, and presently they were joined by another couple. They sat down, and presently they were joined by another couple. These Betterton introduced as Dr. and Mrs. Murchison. These Betterton introduced as Dr. and Mrs. Murchison.

"Simon and I work in the same lab," he said, in an explanatory fas.h.i.+on. fas.h.i.+on.

Simon Murchison was a thin, anaemic-looking young man of about twenty-six. His wife was dark and stocky. She spoke with a strong twenty-six. His wife was dark and stocky. She spoke with a strong foreign accent and was, Hilary gathered, an Italian. Her Christian foreign accent and was, Hilary gathered, an Italian. Her Christian name was Bianca. She greeted Hilary politely but, or so it seemed name was Bianca. She greeted Hilary politely but, or so it seemed to Hilary, with a certain reserve. to Hilary, with a certain reserve.

"Tomorrow," she said, "I will show you around the place. You are not a scientist, no?" not a scientist, no?"

"I'm afraid," said Hilary, "that I have had no scientific training." She added, "I worked as a secretary before my marriage." added, "I worked as a secretary before my marriage."

"Bianca has had legal training," said her husband. "She has studied economics and commercial law. Sometimes she gives lectures here economics and commercial law. Sometimes she gives lectures here but it is difficult to find enough to do to occupy one's time." but it is difficult to find enough to do to occupy one's time."

Bianca shrugged her shoulders.

"I shall manage," she said. "After all, Simon, I came here to be with you and I think that there is much here that could be better you and I think that there is much here that could be better organised. I am studying conditions. Perhaps Mrs. Betterton, since organised. I am studying conditions. Perhaps Mrs. Betterton, since she will not be engaged on scientific work, can help me with these she will not be engaged on scientific work, can help me with these things." things."

Hilary hastened to agree to this plan. Andy Peters made them all laugh by saying ruefully, laugh by saying ruefully, "I guess I feel rather like a homesick little boy who's just gone to boarding school. I'll be glad to get down to doing some work." boarding school. I'll be glad to get down to doing some work."

"It's a wonderful place for working," said Simon Murchison with enthusiasm. "No interruptions and all the apparatus you want." enthusiasm. "No interruptions and all the apparatus you want."

"What's your line?" asked Andy Peters.

Presently the three men were talking a jargon of their own which Hilary found difficult to follow. She turned to Ericsson who was Hilary found difficult to follow. She turned to Ericsson who was leaning back in his chair, his eyes abstracted. leaning back in his chair, his eyes abstracted.

"And you?" she asked. "Do you feel like a homesick little boy too?"

He looked at her as though from a long way away.

"I do not need a home," he said. "All these things; home, ties of affection, parents, children; all these are a great hindrance. To affection, parents, children; all these are a great hindrance. To work one should be quite free." work one should be quite free."

"And you feel that you will be free here?"

"One cannot tell yet. One hopes so."