Destination Unknown Part 17

But immediately his face grew rather grim.

"Don't count on that," he said. "It's still there - underneath. I can still hate. There are things, believe me, that should be hated." hate. There are things, believe me, that should be hated."

The Reunion, as Miss Jennsen had called it, took place after dinner. All members of the Unit a.s.sembled in the large lecture room. All members of the Unit a.s.sembled in the large lecture room.

The audience did not include what might be called the technical staff: the laboratory a.s.sistants, the corps de ballet, the various staff: the laboratory a.s.sistants, the corps de ballet, the various service personnel, and the small a.s.sembly of handsome prost.i.tutes service personnel, and the small a.s.sembly of handsome prost.i.tutes who also served the Unit as purveyors of s.e.x to those men who had who also served the Unit as purveyors of s.e.x to those men who had no wives with them and had formed no particular attachments with no wives with them and had formed no particular attachments with the female workers. the female workers.

Sitting next to Betterton, Hilary awaited with keen curiosity the arrival on the platform of that almost mythical figure, the Director. arrival on the platform of that almost mythical figure, the Director. Questioned by her, Tom Betterton had given unsatisfactory, almost Questioned by her, Tom Betterton had given unsatisfactory, almost vague answers, about the personality of the man who controlled the vague answers, about the personality of the man who controlled the Unit. Unit.

"He's nothing much to look at," he said. "But he has tremendous impact. Actually I've only seen him twice. He doesn't show up often. impact. Actually I've only seen him twice. He doesn't show up often. He's remarkable, of course, one feels that, but honestly I don't He's remarkable, of course, one feels that, but honestly I don't know why." know why."

From the reverent way Miss Jennsen and some of the other women spoke about him, Hilary had formed a vague mental figure of a tall man with a golden beard wearing a white robe - a kind of G.o.dlike man with a golden beard wearing a white robe - a kind of G.o.dlike abstraction. abstraction.

She was almost startled when, as the audience rose to their feet, a dark rather heavily built man of middle age came quietly onto the dark rather heavily built man of middle age came quietly onto the platform. In appearance he was quite undistinguished, he might platform. In appearance he was quite undistinguished, he might have been a business man from the Midlands. His nationality was have been a business man from the Midlands. His nationality was not apparent. He spoke to them in three languages, alternating one not apparent. He spoke to them in three languages, alternating one with the other, and never exactly repeating himself. He used with the other, and never exactly repeating himself. He used French, German and English, and each was spoken with equal French, German and English, and each was spoken with equal fluency. fluency.

"Let me first," he began, "welcome our new colleagues who have come to join us here." come to join us here."

He then paid a few words of tribute to each of the new arrivals.

After that he went on to speak of the aims and beliefs of the Unit.

Trying to remember his words later, Hilary found herself unable to do so with any accuracy. Or perhaps it was that the words, as do so with any accuracy. Or perhaps it was that the words, as remembered, seemed trite and ordinary. But listening to them was remembered, seemed trite and ordinary. But listening to them was a very different thing. a very different thing.

Hilary remembered once being told by a friend who had lived in Germany in the days before the war, how she had gone to a Germany in the days before the war, how she had gone to a meeting in mere curiosity to listen "to that absurd Hitler" - and how meeting in mere curiosity to listen "to that absurd Hitler" - and how she had found herself crying hysterically, swept away by intense she had found herself crying hysterically, swept away by intense emotion. She had described how wise and inspiring every word had emotion. She had described how wise and inspiring every word had seemed, and how, afterwards, the remembered words in their seemed, and how, afterwards, the remembered words in their actuality had seemed commonplace enough. actuality had seemed commonplace enough.

Something of the same kind was happening now. In spite of herself, Hilary was stirred and uplifted. The Director spoke very simply. He Hilary was stirred and uplifted. The Director spoke very simply. He spoke primarily of Youth. With Youth lay the future of mankind. spoke primarily of Youth. With Youth lay the future of mankind.

"Acc.u.mulated Wealth, Prestige, influential Families - those have been the forces of the past. But today, power lies in the hands of been the forces of the past. But today, power lies in the hands of the young. Power is in Brains. The brains of the chemist, the the young. Power is in Brains. The brains of the chemist, the physicist, the doctor... From the laboratories comes the power to physicist, the doctor... From the laboratories comes the power to destroy on a vast scale. With that power you can say 'Yield - or destroy on a vast scale. With that power you can say 'Yield - or peris.h.!.+' That power should not be given to this or that nation. Power peris.h.!.+' That power should not be given to this or that nation. Power should be in the hands of those who create it. This Unit is a should be in the hands of those who create it. This Unit is a gathering place for the Power of all the world. You come here from gathering place for the Power of all the world. You come here from all parts of the globe, bringing with you your creative scientific all parts of the globe, bringing with you your creative scientific knowledge. And with you, you bring Youth! No one here is over knowledge. And with you, you bring Youth! No one here is over forty-five. When the day comes, we shall create a Trust. The Brains forty-five. When the day comes, we shall create a Trust. The Brains Trust of Science. And we shall administer world affairs. We shall Trust of Science. And we shall administer world affairs. We shall issue our orders to Capitalist and Kings and Armies and Industries. issue our orders to Capitalist and Kings and Armies and Industries. We shall give the World the Pax Scientifica." We shall give the World the Pax Scientifica."

There was more of it - all the same heady intoxicating stuff - but it was not the words themselves - it was the power of the orator that was not the words themselves - it was the power of the orator that carried away an a.s.sembly that could have been cold and critical carried away an a.s.sembly that could have been cold and critical had it not been swayed by that nameless emotion about which so had it not been swayed by that nameless emotion about which so little is known. little is known.

When the Director had ended abruptly: "Courage and Victory! Goodnight!" Hilary left the Hall, half stumbling in a kind of exalted dream, and recognised the same stumbling in a kind of exalted dream, and recognised the same feeling in the faces around her. She saw Ericsson in particular, his feeling in the faces around her. She saw Ericsson in particular, his pale eyes gleaming, his head tossed back in exultation. pale eyes gleaming, his head tossed back in exultation.

Then she felt Andy Peters' hand on her arm and his voice said in her ear: ear: "Come up on the roof. We need some air."

They went up in the lift without speaking and stepped out among the palm trees under the stars. Peters drew a deep breath. the palm trees under the stars. Peters drew a deep breath.

"Yes," he said. "This is what we need. Air to blow away the clouds of glory." of glory."

Hilary gave a deep sigh. She still felt unreal.

He gave her arm a friendly shake.

"Snap out of it, Olive."

"Clouds of glory," said Hilary. "You know - it was like that!"

"Snap out of it, I tell you. Be a woman! Down to earth and basic realities! When the effects of the Glory Gas poisoning pa.s.s off you'll realities! When the effects of the Glory Gas poisoning pa.s.s off you'll realise that you've been listening to the same old mixture as realise that you've been listening to the same old mixture as before." before."

"But it was fine - I mean a fine ideal."

"Nuts to ideals. Take the facts. Youth and Brains - glory glory Alleluia! And what are the youth and brains? Helga Needheim, a Alleluia! And what are the youth and brains? Helga Needheim, a ruthless egoist. Torquil Ericsson, an impractical dreamer. Dr. ruthless egoist. Torquil Ericsson, an impractical dreamer. Dr. Barron who'd sell his grandmother to the knacker's yard to get Barron who'd sell his grandmother to the knacker's yard to get equipment for his work. Take me, an ordinary guy, as you've said equipment for his work. Take me, an ordinary guy, as you've said yourself, good with the test-tube and the microscope but with no yourself, good with the test-tube and the microscope but with no talent whatever for efficient administration of an office, let alone a talent whatever for efficient administration of an office, let alone a World! Take your own husband - yes, I'm going to say it - a man World! Take your own husband - yes, I'm going to say it - a man whose nerves are frayed to nothing and who can think of nothing whose nerves are frayed to nothing and who can think of nothing but the fear that retribution will catch up with him. I've given you but the fear that retribution will catch up with him. I've given you those people we know best - but they're all the same here - or all those people we know best - but they're all the same here - or all that I've come across. Geniuses, some of them, d.a.m.ned good at that I've come across. Geniuses, some of them, d.a.m.ned good at their chosen jobs - but as Administrators of the Universe - h.e.l.l, their chosen jobs - but as Administrators of the Universe - h.e.l.l, don't make me laugh! Pernicious nonsense, that's what we've been don't make me laugh! Pernicious nonsense, that's what we've been listening to." listening to."

Hilary sat down on the concrete parapet. She pa.s.sed a hand across her forehead. her forehead.

"You know," she said. "I believe you're right... But the clouds of glory are still trailing. How does he do it? Does he believe it glory are still trailing. How does he do it? Does he believe it himself? He must." himself? He must."

Peters said gloomily, "I suppose it always comes to the same thing in the end. A madman who believes he's G.o.d." who believes he's G.o.d."

Hilary said slowly, "I suppose so. And yet - that seems curiously unsatisfactory."

"But it happens, my dear. Again and again throughout history it happens. And it gets one. It nearly got me, tonight. It did get you. If I happens. And it gets one. It nearly got me, tonight. It did get you. If I hadn't whisked you up here -" his manner changed suddenly. "I hadn't whisked you up here -" his manner changed suddenly. "I suppose I shouldn't have done that. What will Betterton say? He'll suppose I shouldn't have done that. What will Betterton say? He'll think it odd." think it odd."

"I don't think so. I doubt if he'll notice."

He looked at her questioningly.

"I'm sorry, Olive. It must be all pretty fair h.e.l.l for you. Seeing him go down the hill." down the hill."

Hilary said pa.s.sionately, "We must get out of here. We must. We must."

"We shall."

"You said that before - but we've made no progress."

"Oh yes we have. I've not been idle."

She looked at him in surprise.

"No precise plan, but I've initiated subversive activities. There's a lot of dissatisfaction here, far more than our G.o.d-like Herr Director lot of dissatisfaction here, far more than our G.o.d-like Herr Director knows. Amongst the humbler members of the Unit, I mean. Food knows. Amongst the humbler members of the Unit, I mean. Food and money and luxury and women aren't everything, you know. I'll and money and luxury and women aren't everything, you know. I'll get you out of here yet, Olive." get you out of here yet, Olive."

"And Tom, too."

Peters' face darkened.

"Listen, Olive, and believe what I say. Tom will do best to stay on here. He's -" he hesitated, "-safer here than he would be in the here. He's -" he hesitated, "-safer here than he would be in the outside world." outside world."

"Safer? What a curious word."

"Safer," said Peters. "I use the word deliberately."

Hilary frowned.

"I don't really see what you mean. Tom's not - you don't think he's becoming mentally unhinged?" becoming mentally unhinged?"

"Not in the least. He's het up, but I'd say Tom Betterton's as sane as you or I." you or I."

"Then why are you saying he'd be safer here?"

Peters said slowly, "A cage, you know, is a very safe place to be."

"Oh no," cried Hilary. "Don't tell me you're going to believe that too. Don't tell me that ma.s.s hypnotism, or suggestion, or whatever it is, Don't tell me that ma.s.s hypnotism, or suggestion, or whatever it is, is working on you. Safe, tame, content! We must rebel still! We must is working on you. Safe, tame, content! We must rebel still! We must want to be free!" want to be free!"

Peters said slowly, "Yes, I know. But -"

"Tom, at any rate, wants desperately to get away from here."

"Tom mayn't know what's good for him."

Suddenly Hilary remembered what Tom had hinted at to her. If he had disposed of secret information he would be liable, she had disposed of secret information he would be liable, she supposed, to prosecution under the Official Secrets Act - That, no supposed, to prosecution under the Official Secrets Act - That, no doubt, was what Peters was hinting at in his rather embarra.s.sed doubt, was what Peters was hinting at in his rather embarra.s.sed way - but Hilary was clear in her own mind. Better to serve a prison way - but Hilary was clear in her own mind. Better to serve a prison sentence even than remain on here. She said, obstinately, sentence even than remain on here. She said, obstinately, "Tom must come, too."

She was startled when Peters said suddenly, in a bitter tone, "Have it your own way. I've warned you. I wish I knew what the h.e.l.l makes you care for that fellow so much?" makes you care for that fellow so much?"

She stared at him in dismay. Words sprang to her lips, but she checked them. She realised that what she wanted to say was, "I checked them. She realised that what she wanted to say was, "I don't care for him. He's nothing to me. He was another woman's don't care for him. He's nothing to me. He was another woman's husband and I've a responsibility to her." She wanted to say, "You husband and I've a responsibility to her." She wanted to say, "You fool, if there's anybody I care about, it's you..." fool, if there's anybody I care about, it's you..."

II.

"Been enjoying yourself with your tame American?"

Tom Betterton threw the words at her as she entered their bedroom. He was lying on his back on his bed, smoking. bedroom. He was lying on his back on his bed, smoking.

Hilary flushed slightly.

"We arrived here together," she said, "and we seem to think alike about certain things." about certain things."

He laughed.

"Oh! I don't blame you." For the first time he looked at her in a new and appraising way. "You're a good-looking woman, Olive," he said. and appraising way. "You're a good-looking woman, Olive," he said.

From the beginning Hilary had urged him always to call her by his wife's name. wife's name.

"Yes," he continued, his eyes raking her up and down. "You're a d.a.m.ned good-looking woman. I'd have noticed that once. As it is, d.a.m.ned good-looking woman. I'd have noticed that once. As it is, nothing of that kind seems to register with me any more." nothing of that kind seems to register with me any more."

"Perhaps it's just as well," said Hilary drily.

"I'm a perfectly normal man, my dear, or I used to be. G.o.d knows what I am now." what I am now."

Hilary sat down by him.

"What is the matter with you, Tom?" she said.

"I tell you. I can't concentrate. As a scientist I'm shot to pieces. This place -" place -"

"The others - or most of them - don't seem to feel like you?"

"Because they're a d.a.m.ned insensitive crowd, I suppose."

"Some of them are temperamental enough," said Hilary, drily. She went on, "If only you had a friend here - a real friend." went on, "If only you had a friend here - a real friend."

"Well, there's Murchison. Though he's a dull dog. And I've seen a good deal of Torquil Ericsson lately." good deal of Torquil Ericsson lately."

"Really?" For some reason Hilary felt surprised.

"Yes. My G.o.d, he's brilliant. I wish I had his brains."

"He's an odd sort of person," said Hilary. "I always find him rather frightening." frightening."

"Frightening? Torquil? He's as mild as milk. Like a child in some ways. No knowledge of the world." ways. No knowledge of the world."

"Well I find him frightening," repeated Hilary obstinately.

"Your nerves must be getting upset, too."

"Not yet. I suspect they will, though. Tom - don't get too friendly with Torquil Ericsson." with Torquil Ericsson."

He stared at her.

"Why ever not?"

"I don't know. It's a feeling I have."

Chapter 17.

LeBlanc shrugged his shoulders.

"They have left Africa, it is certain."

"Not certain."

"The probabilities point that way." The Frenchman shook his head.

"After all, we know, do we not, for where they are bound?"

"If they are bound for where we think, why start the journey from Africa? Anywhere in Europe would be simpler." Africa? Anywhere in Europe would be simpler."

"That is true. But there is the other side of it. No one would expect them to a.s.semble and start from here." them to a.s.semble and start from here."

"I still think there's more to it than that." Jessop was gently insistent. "Besides, only a small plane could have used that airfield. insistent. "Besides, only a small plane could have used that airfield. It would have to come down and refuel before crossing the It would have to come down and refuel before crossing the Mediterranean. And where they refuelled some trace should have Mediterranean. And where they refuelled some trace should have been left." been left."

"Mon cher, we have inst.i.tuted the most searching enquiries - everywhere there has been -" everywhere there has been -"