Destination Unknown Part 9

"Yes. They'll arrange the bodies in that plane and then the pilot will fix things and presently, as we're driving away from here, we shall fix things and presently, as we're driving away from here, we shall see in the distance the flames going up in the air. Another plane see in the distance the flames going up in the air. Another plane that has crashed and come down in flames, and no survivors!" that has crashed and come down in flames, and no survivors!"

"But why? How fantastic!"

"But surely -" It was Dr. Barron now who spoke to her. "But surely you know where we are going?" you know where we are going?"

Mrs. Baker, drawing near, said cheerfully, "Of course she knows. But maybe she didn't expect it quite so soon." soon."

Hilary said, after a short bewildered pause, "But you mean - all of us?" She looked round.

"We're fellow travellers," said Peters gently.

The young Norwegian, nodding his head, said with an almost fanatical enthusiasm, fanatical enthusiasm, "Yes, we are all fellow travellers."

Chapter 9.

The pilot came up to them.

"You will start now, please," he said. "As soon as possible. There is much to be done, and we are late on schedule." much to be done, and we are late on schedule."

Hilary recoiled for a moment. She put her hand nervously to her throat. The pearl choker she was wearing broke under the strain of throat. The pearl choker she was wearing broke under the strain of her fingers. She picked up the loose pearls and crammed them into her fingers. She picked up the loose pearls and crammed them into her pocket. her pocket.

They all got into the station wagon. Hilary was on a long bench crowded up with Peters on one side of her and Mrs. Baker the crowded up with Peters on one side of her and Mrs. Baker the other. Turning her head towards the American woman, Hilary said, other. Turning her head towards the American woman, Hilary said, "So you - so you - are what you might call the liaison officer, Mrs. Baker?" Baker?"

"That hits it off exactly. And though I say it myself, I'm well qualified. n.o.body is surprised to find an American woman getting around and n.o.body is surprised to find an American woman getting around and travelling a lot." travelling a lot."

She was still plump and smiling, but Hilary sensed, or thought she sensed, a difference. The slight fatuity and surface conventionality sensed, a difference. The slight fatuity and surface conventionality had gone. This was an efficient, probably ruthless woman. had gone. This was an efficient, probably ruthless woman.

"It will make a fine sensation in the headlines," said Mrs. Baker. She laughed with some enjoyment. "You, I mean, my dear. Persistently laughed with some enjoyment. "You, I mean, my dear. Persistently dogged by ill-luck, they'll say. First nearly losing your life in the dogged by ill-luck, they'll say. First nearly losing your life in the crash at Casablanca, then being killed in this further disaster." crash at Casablanca, then being killed in this further disaster."

Hilary realised suddenly the cleverness of the plan.

"These others?" she murmured. "Are they who they say they are?"

"Why yes. Dr. Barron is a bacteriologist, I believe. Mr. Ericsson a very brilliant young physicist, Mr. Peters is a research chemist, very brilliant young physicist, Mr. Peters is a research chemist, Miss Needheim, of course, isn't a nun, she's an endocrinologist. Me, Miss Needheim, of course, isn't a nun, she's an endocrinologist. Me, as I say, I'm only the liaison officer. I don't belong in this scientific as I say, I'm only the liaison officer. I don't belong in this scientific bunch." She laughed again as she said, "That Hetherington woman bunch." She laughed again as she said, "That Hetherington woman never had a chance." never had a chance."

"Miss Hetherington - was she - was she -"

Mrs. Baker nodded emphatically.

"If you ask me, she's been tailing you. Took over in Casablanca from whoever followed you out." from whoever followed you out."

"But she didn't come with us today although I urged her to?"

"That wouldn't have been in character," said Mrs. Baker. "It would have looked a little too obvious to go back again to Marrakesh after have looked a little too obvious to go back again to Marrakesh after having been there already. No, she'll have sent a telegram or a having been there already. No, she'll have sent a telegram or a phone message through and there'll be someone waiting at phone message through and there'll be someone waiting at Marrakesh to pick you up when you arrive. When you arrive! That's Marrakesh to pick you up when you arrive. When you arrive! That's a good laugh, isn't it? Look! Look there now! Up she goes." a good laugh, isn't it? Look! Look there now! Up she goes."

They had been driving rapidly away across the desert, and now as Hilary craned forward to look through the little window, she saw a Hilary craned forward to look through the little window, she saw a great glow behind them. A faint sound of an explosion came to her great glow behind them. A faint sound of an explosion came to her ears. Peters threw his head back and laughed. He said: ears. Peters threw his head back and laughed. He said: "Six people die when plane to Marrakesh crashes!"

Hilary said almost under her breath: "It's - it's rather frightening."

"Stepping off into the unknown?" It was Peters who spoke. He was serious enough now. "Yes, but it's the only way. We're leaving the serious enough now. "Yes, but it's the only way. We're leaving the Past and stepping out towards the Future." His face lit up with Past and stepping out towards the Future." His face lit up with sudden enthusiasm. "We've got to get quit of all the bad, mad old sudden enthusiasm. "We've got to get quit of all the bad, mad old stuff. Corrupt governments and the warmongers. We've got to go stuff. Corrupt governments and the warmongers. We've got to go into the new world - the world of science, clean away from the sc.u.m into the new world - the world of science, clean away from the sc.u.m and the driftwood." and the driftwood."

Hilary drew a deep breath.

"That's like the things my husband used to say," she said, deliberately. deliberately.

"Your husband?" He shot her a quick glance. "Why, was he Tom Betterton?" Betterton?"

Hilary nodded.

"Well that's great. I never knew him out in the States, though I nearly met him more than once. ZE Fission is one of the most nearly met him more than once. ZE Fission is one of the most brilliant discoveries of this age - yes, I certainly take my hat off to brilliant discoveries of this age - yes, I certainly take my hat off to him. Worked with old Mannheim, didn't he?" him. Worked with old Mannheim, didn't he?"

"Yes," said Hilary.

"Didn't they tell me he'd married Mannheim's daughter. But surely you're not -" you're not -"

"I'm his second wife," said Hilary, flus.h.i.+ng a little. "He - his - Elsa died in America." died in America."

"I remember. Then he went to Britain to work there. Then he riled them by disappearing." He laughed suddenly. "Walked slap out of them by disappearing." He laughed suddenly. "Walked slap out of some Paris Conference into nowhere." He added, as though in some Paris Conference into nowhere." He added, as though in further appreciation, "Lord, you can't say they don't organise well." further appreciation, "Lord, you can't say they don't organise well."

Hilary agreed with him. The excellence of their organisation was sending a cold pang of apprehension through her. All the plans, sending a cold pang of apprehension through her. All the plans, codes, signs that had been so elaborately arranged were going to codes, signs that had been so elaborately arranged were going to be useless now, for now there would be no trail to pick up. Things be useless now, for now there would be no trail to pick up. Things had been so arranged that everyone on the fatal plane had been had been so arranged that everyone on the fatal plane had been fellow travellers bound for the Unknown Destination where Thomas fellow travellers bound for the Unknown Destination where Thomas Betterton had gone before them. There would be no trace left. Betterton had gone before them. There would be no trace left. Nothing. Nothing but a burnt-out plane. Could they - was it possible Nothing. Nothing but a burnt-out plane. Could they - was it possible that Jessop and his organisation could guess that she, Hilary, was that Jessop and his organisation could guess that she, Hilary, was not one of those charred bodies? She doubted it. The accident had not one of those charred bodies? She doubted it. The accident had been so convincing, so clever - there would even be charred bodies been so convincing, so clever - there would even be charred bodies in the plane. in the plane.

Peters spoke again. His voice was boyish with enthusiasm. For him there were no qualms, no looking back, only eagerness to go there were no qualms, no looking back, only eagerness to go forward. forward.

"I wonder," he said, "where do we go from here?"

Hilary, too, wondered, because again much depended on that. Sooner or later there must be contacts with humanity. Sooner or Sooner or later there must be contacts with humanity. Sooner or later, if investigation was made, the fact that a station wagon with later, if investigation was made, the fact that a station wagon with six people in it resembling the description of those who had left that six people in it resembling the description of those who had left that morning by plane, might possibly be noted by someone. She turned morning by plane, might possibly be noted by someone. She turned to Mrs. Baker, and asked, trying to make her tone the counterpart to Mrs. Baker, and asked, trying to make her tone the counterpart of the childish eagerness of the young American beside her, of the childish eagerness of the young American beside her, "Where are we going - what happens next?"

"You'll see," said Mrs. Baker, and for all the pleasantness of her voice, there was something somehow ominous in those words. voice, there was something somehow ominous in those words.

They drove on. Behind them the flare of the plane still showed in the sky, showed all the more clearly because the sun was now sky, showed all the more clearly because the sun was now dropping below the horizon. Night fell. Still they drove. The going dropping below the horizon. Night fell. Still they drove. The going was bad since they were obviously not on any main road. was bad since they were obviously not on any main road. Sometimes they seemed to be on field tracks, at other times they Sometimes they seemed to be on field tracks, at other times they drove over open country. drove over open country.

For a long time Hilary remained awake, thoughts and apprehensions turning round in her head excitedly. But at last, shaken and tossed from side to side, exhaustion had its way and shaken and tossed from side to side, exhaustion had its way and she fell asleep. It was a broken sleep. Various ruts and jars in the she fell asleep. It was a broken sleep. Various ruts and jars in the road awoke her. For a moment or two she would wonder confusedly road awoke her. For a moment or two she would wonder confusedly where she was, then reality would come back to her. She would where she was, then reality would come back to her. She would remain awake for a few moments, her thoughts racing round in remain awake for a few moments, her thoughts racing round in confused apprehension, then once more her head would drop confused apprehension, then once more her head would drop forward and nod, and once again she would sleep. forward and nod, and once again she would sleep.

She was awakened suddenly by the car coming to an abrupt stop. Very gently Peters shook her by the arm. Very gently Peters shook her by the arm.

"Wake up," he said, "we seem to have arrived somewhere."

Everyone got out of the station wagon. They were all cramped and weary. It was still dark and they seemed to have drawn up outside a weary. It was still dark and they seemed to have drawn up outside a house surrounded by palm trees. Some distance away they could house surrounded by palm trees. Some distance away they could see a few dim lights as though there were a village there. Guided by see a few dim lights as though there were a village there. Guided by a lantern they were ushered into the house. It was a native house a lantern they were ushered into the house. It was a native house with a couple of giggling Berber women who stared curiously at with a couple of giggling Berber women who stared curiously at Hilary and Mrs. Calvin Baker. They took no interest in the nun. Hilary and Mrs. Calvin Baker. They took no interest in the nun.

The three women were taken to a small upstairs room. There were three mattresses on the floor and some heaps of coverings, but no three mattresses on the floor and some heaps of coverings, but no other furniture. other furniture.

"I'll say I'm stiff," said Mrs. Baker. "Gets you kind of cramped, riding along the way we've been doing." along the way we've been doing."

"Discomfort does not matter," said the nun.

She spoke with a harsh, guttural a.s.surance. Her English, Hilary found, was good and fluent, though her accent was bad. found, was good and fluent, though her accent was bad.

"You're living up to your part, Miss Needheim," said the American woman. "I can just see you in the convent, kneeling on the hard woman. "I can just see you in the convent, kneeling on the hard stones at four in the morning." stones at four in the morning."

Miss Needheim smiled contemptuously.

"Christianity has made fools of women," she said. "Such a wors.h.i.+p of weakness, such snivelling humiliation! Pagan women had of weakness, such snivelling humiliation! Pagan women had strength. They rejoiced and conquered! And in order to conquer, strength. They rejoiced and conquered! And in order to conquer, no discomfort is unbearable. Nothing is too much to suffer." no discomfort is unbearable. Nothing is too much to suffer."

"Right now," said Mrs. Baker, yawning, "I wish I was in my bed at the Palais Jamail at Fez. What about you, Mrs. Betterton? That the Palais Jamail at Fez. What about you, Mrs. Betterton? That shaking hasn't done your concussion any good, I'll bet." shaking hasn't done your concussion any good, I'll bet."

"No, it hasn't," Hilary said.

"They'll bring us something to eat presently, and then I'll fix you up with some aspirin and you'd better get to sleep as fast as you can." with some aspirin and you'd better get to sleep as fast as you can."

Steps were heard coming up the stairs outside and giggling female voices. Presently the two Berber women came into the room. They voices. Presently the two Berber women came into the room. They carried a tray with a big dish of semolina and meat stew. They put it carried a tray with a big dish of semolina and meat stew. They put it down on the floor, came back again with a metal basin "with water down on the floor, came back again with a metal basin "with water in it and a towel. One of them felt Hilary's coat, pa.s.sing the stuff in it and a towel. One of them felt Hilary's coat, pa.s.sing the stuff between her fingers and speaking to the other woman who nodded between her fingers and speaking to the other woman who nodded her head in rapid agreement, and did the same to Mrs. Baker. Neither of them paid any attention to the nun. Neither of them paid any attention to the nun.

"Shoo," said Mrs. Baker, waving them away. "Shoo, shoo."

It was exactly like shooing chickens. The women retreated, still laughing, and left the room. laughing, and left the room.

"Silly creatures," said Mrs. Baker, "it's hard to have patience with them. I suppose babies and clothes are their only interest in life." them. I suppose babies and clothes are their only interest in life."

"It is all they are fit for," said Fraulein Needheim, "they belong to a slave race. They are useful to serve their betters, but no more." slave race. They are useful to serve their betters, but no more."

"Aren't you a little harsh?" said Hilary, irritated by the woman's att.i.tude. att.i.tude.

"I have no patience with sentimentality. There are those that rule, the few; and there are the many that serve." the few; and there are the many that serve."

"But surely..."

Mrs. Baker broke in in an authoritative manner.

"We've all got our own ideas on these subjects, I guess," she said, "and very interesting they are. But this is hardly the time for them. We'll want to get what rest we can." We'll want to get what rest we can."

Mint tea arrived. Hilary swallowed some aspirin willingly enough, since her headache was quite a genuine one. Then the three since her headache was quite a genuine one. Then the three women lay down on the mattresses and fell asleep. women lay down on the mattresses and fell asleep.

They slept late into the following day. They were not to go on again until the evening, so Mrs. Baker informed them. From the room in until the evening, so Mrs. Baker informed them. From the room in which they had slept, there was an outside staircase leading onto a which they had slept, there was an outside staircase leading onto a flat roof where they had a certain amount of view over the flat roof where they had a certain amount of view over the surrounding country. A little distance away was a village, but here surrounding country. A little distance away was a village, but here where they were, the house was isolated in a large palm garden. On where they were, the house was isolated in a large palm garden. On awakening, Mrs. Baker had indicated three heaps of clothing which awakening, Mrs. Baker had indicated three heaps of clothing which had been brought and laid down just inside the door. had been brought and laid down just inside the door.

"We're going native for the next lap," she explained, "we leave our other clothes here." other clothes here."

So the smart little American woman's neat suiting and Hilary's tweed coat and skirt and the nun's habit were all laid aside and tweed coat and skirt and the nun's habit were all laid aside and three native Moroccan women sat on the roof of the house and three native Moroccan women sat on the roof of the house and chatted together. The whole thing had a curiously unreal feeling. chatted together. The whole thing had a curiously unreal feeling.

Hilary studied Miss Needheim more closely now that she had left the anonymity of her nun's habit. She was a younger woman than the anonymity of her nun's habit. She was a younger woman than Hilary had thought her, not more, perhaps, than thirty-three or Hilary had thought her, not more, perhaps, than thirty-three or thirty-four. There was a neat spruceness in her appearance. The thirty-four. There was a neat spruceness in her appearance. The pale skin, the short stubby fingers, and the cold eyes in which pale skin, the short stubby fingers, and the cold eyes in which burned from time to time the gleam of the fanatic, repelled rather burned from time to time the gleam of the fanatic, repelled rather than attracted. Her speech was brusque and uncompromising. than attracted. Her speech was brusque and uncompromising. Towards both Mrs. Baker and Hilary she displayed a certain Towards both Mrs. Baker and Hilary she displayed a certain amount of contempt as towards people unworthy to a.s.sociate with amount of contempt as towards people unworthy to a.s.sociate with her. This arrogance Hilary found very irritating. Mrs. Baker, on the her. This arrogance Hilary found very irritating. Mrs. Baker, on the other hand, seemed hardly to notice it. In a queer way Hilary felt far other hand, seemed hardly to notice it. In a queer way Hilary felt far nearer and more in sympathy with the two giggling Berber women nearer and more in sympathy with the two giggling Berber women who brought them food, than with her two companions of the who brought them food, than with her two companions of the Western world. The young German woman was obviously Western world. The young German woman was obviously indifferent to the impression she created. There was a certain concealed impatience in her manner, and it was obvious that she concealed impatience in her manner, and it was obvious that she was longing to get on with her journey and that she had no interest was longing to get on with her journey and that she had no interest in her two companions. in her two companions.

Appraising Mrs. Baker's att.i.tude, Hilary found more difficult. At first Mrs. Baker seemed a natural and normal person after the Mrs. Baker seemed a natural and normal person after the inhumanity of the German woman specialist. But as the sun sank inhumanity of the German woman specialist. But as the sun sank lower in the sky she felt almost more intrigued and repelled by Mrs. lower in the sky she felt almost more intrigued and repelled by Mrs. Baker than by Helga Needheim. Mrs. Baker's social manner was Baker than by Helga Needheim. Mrs. Baker's social manner was almost robotlike in its perfection. All her comments and remarks almost robotlike in its perfection. All her comments and remarks were natural, normal, everyday currency, but one had a suspicion were natural, normal, everyday currency, but one had a suspicion that the whole thing was like an actor playing a part for perhaps the that the whole thing was like an actor playing a part for perhaps the seven hundredth time. It was an automatic performance, seven hundredth time. It was an automatic performance, completely divorced from what Mrs. Baker might really have been thinking or feeling. Who was Mrs. Calvin Baker, Hilary wondered? thinking or feeling. Who was Mrs. Calvin Baker, Hilary wondered?

Why had she come to play her part with such machinelike perfection? Was she, too, a fanatic? Had she dreams of a brave perfection? Was she, too, a fanatic? Had she dreams of a brave new world - was she in violent revolt against the capitalist system? new world - was she in violent revolt against the capitalist system?

Had she given up all normal life because of her political beliefs and aspirations? Impossible to tell. aspirations? Impossible to tell.

They resumed their journey that evening. It was no longer the station wagon. This time it was an open touring car. Everyone was station wagon. This time it was an open touring car. Everyone was in native dress, the men with white djellabos round them, the in native dress, the men with white djellabos round them, the women with their faces hidden. Packed tightly in, they started off women with their faces hidden. Packed tightly in, they started off once more, driving all through the night. once more, driving all through the night.

"How are you feeling, Mrs. Betterton?"

Hilary smiled up at Andy Peters. The sun had just risen and they had stopped for breakfast. Native bread, eggs, and tea made over a had stopped for breakfast. Native bread, eggs, and tea made over a primus. primus.

"I feel as though I were taking part in a dream," said Hilary.

"Yes, it has rather that quality."

"Where are we?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Who knows? Our Mrs. Calvin Baker, no doubt, but no other."

"It's a very lonely country."

"Yes, practically desert. But then it would have to be, wouldn't it."

"You mean so as to leave no trace?"

"Yes. One realises, doesn't one, that the whole thing must be very carefully thought out. Each stage of our journey is, as it were, quite carefully thought out. Each stage of our journey is, as it were, quite independent of the other. A plane goes up in flames. An old station independent of the other. A plane goes up in flames. An old station wagon drives through the night. If anyone notices it, it has on it a wagon drives through the night. If anyone notices it, it has on it a plate stating that it belongs to a certain archaeological Expedition plate stating that it belongs to a certain archaeological Expedition that is excavating in these parts. The following day there is a that is excavating in these parts. The following day there is a touring car full of Berbers, one of the commonest sights on the road touring car full of Berbers, one of the commonest sights on the road to be seen. For the next stage -" he shrugged his shoulders "-who to be seen. For the next stage -" he shrugged his shoulders "-who knows?" knows?"

"But where are we going?"

Andy Peters shook his head.

"No use to ask. We shall find out."

The Frenchman, Dr. Barron, had joined them.

"Yes," he said, "we shall find out. But how true it is that we cannot but ask? That is our western blood. We can never say 'sufficient for but ask? That is our western blood. We can never say 'sufficient for the day.' It is always tomorrow, tomorrow with us. To leave the day.' It is always tomorrow, tomorrow with us. To leave yesterday behind, to proceed to tomorrow. That is what we yesterday behind, to proceed to tomorrow. That is what we demand." demand."

"You want to hurry the world on, Doctor, is that it?" asked Peters.

"There is so much to achieve," said Dr. Barron, "life is too short. One must have more time. More time, more time." He flung out his One must have more time. More time, more time." He flung out his hands in a pa.s.sionate gesture. hands in a pa.s.sionate gesture.

Peters turned to Hilary.

"What are the four freedoms you talk about in your country?

Freedom from want, freedom from fear..."

The Frenchman interrupted. "Freedom from fools," he said bitterly.

"That is what I want! That is what my work needs. Freedom from incessant, pettifogging economies! Freedom from all the nagging incessant, pettifogging economies! Freedom from all the nagging restrictions that hamper one's work!" restrictions that hamper one's work!"