Destination Unknown Part 16

"This type" was a particularly wild-looking Berber.

"I was with my flocks," he said, "at night and I heard a car. It pa.s.sed me and as it did so I saw the sign. The hand of Fatma was pa.s.sed me and as it did so I saw the sign. The hand of Fatma was outlined on one side of it. It gleamed, I tell you, in the darkness." outlined on one side of it. It gleamed, I tell you, in the darkness."

"The application of phosphorous on a glove can be very efficacious," murmured Leblanc. "I congratulate you, mon cher, on efficacious," murmured Leblanc. "I congratulate you, mon cher, on that idea." that idea."

"It's effective," said Jessop, "but it's dangerous. It's too easily noticed by the fugitives themselves, I mean." noticed by the fugitives themselves, I mean."

Leblanc shrugged his shoulders.

"It could not be seen in daylight."

"No, but if there was a halt and they alighted from the car in the darkness -" darkness -"

"Even then - it is a notable Arab superst.i.tion. It is painted often on carts and wagons. It would only be thought that some pious Moslem carts and wagons. It would only be thought that some pious Moslem had painted it in luminous paint on his vehicle." had painted it in luminous paint on his vehicle."

"True enough. But we must be on our guard. For if our enemies did notice it, it is highly possible that they will lay a false trail for us, of notice it, it is highly possible that they will lay a false trail for us, of hands of Fatma in phosphorous paint." hands of Fatma in phosphorous paint."

"Ah, as to that I agree with you. One must indeed be on one's guard. Always, always on one's guard." Always, always on one's guard."

On the following morning Leblanc had another exhibit of three false pearls arranged in a triangle, stuck together by a little piece of pearls arranged in a triangle, stuck together by a little piece of chewing gum. chewing gum.

"This should mean," said Jessop, "that the next stage of the journey was by plane." was by plane."

He looked enquiringly at Leblanc.

"You are absolutely right," said the other. "This was found on a disused army airfield, in a remote and desolate place. There were disused army airfield, in a remote and desolate place. There were signs that a plane landed and left there not long ago." He shrugged signs that a plane landed and left there not long ago." He shrugged his shoulders. "An unknown plane," he said, "and once again they his shoulders. "An unknown plane," he said, "and once again they took off for a destination unknown. That brings us once more to a took off for a destination unknown. That brings us once more to a halt and we do not know where next to take up the trail." halt and we do not know where next to take up the trail."

Chapter 15.

"It's incredible," thought Hilary to herself, "incredible that I've been here ten days!" The frightening thing in life, Hilary thought, was here ten days!" The frightening thing in life, Hilary thought, was how easily you adapted yourself. She remembered once being how easily you adapted yourself. She remembered once being shown in France some peculiar torture arrangement of the Middle shown in France some peculiar torture arrangement of the Middle Ages, an iron cage wherein a prisoner had been confined and in Ages, an iron cage wherein a prisoner had been confined and in which he could neither lie, stand nor sit. The guide had recounted which he could neither lie, stand nor sit. The guide had recounted how the last man imprisoned there had lived in it for eighteen years, how the last man imprisoned there had lived in it for eighteen years, had been released and had lived for another twenty after that, had been released and had lived for another twenty after that, before dying, an old man. That adaptability, thought Hilary, was before dying, an old man. That adaptability, thought Hilary, was what differentiated man from the animal world. Man could live in what differentiated man from the animal world. Man could live in any climate and on any food and under any conditions. He could any climate and on any food and under any conditions. He could exist slave or free. exist slave or free.

She had felt first, when introduced into the Unit, a blinding panic, a horrible feeling of imprisonment and frustration, and the fact that horrible feeling of imprisonment and frustration, and the fact that the imprisonment was camouflaged in circ.u.mstances of luxury had the imprisonment was camouflaged in circ.u.mstances of luxury had somehow made it seem all the more horrible to her. And yet now, somehow made it seem all the more horrible to her. And yet now, already, even after a week here she had begun insensibly to accept already, even after a week here she had begun insensibly to accept the conditions of her life as natural. It was a queer, dreamlike the conditions of her life as natural. It was a queer, dreamlike existence. Nothing seemed particularly real, but already she had existence. Nothing seemed particularly real, but already she had the feeling that the dream had gone on a long time and would go on the feeling that the dream had gone on a long time and would go on for a long time more. It would, perhaps, last, forever... She would for a long time more. It would, perhaps, last, forever... She would always live here in the Unit, this was life, and there was nothing always live here in the Unit, this was life, and there was nothing outside. outside.

This dangerous acceptance, she thought, came partly from the fact that she was a woman. Women were adaptable by nature. It was that she was a woman. Women were adaptable by nature. It was their strength and their weakness. They examined their their strength and their weakness. They examined their environment, accepted it, and like realists settled down to make the best of it. What interested her most were the reactions of the best of it. What interested her most were the reactions of the people who had arrived here with her. Helga Needheim she hardly people who had arrived here with her. Helga Needheim she hardly ever saw except sometimes at meals. When they met, the German ever saw except sometimes at meals. When they met, the German woman vouchsafed her a curt nod, but no more. As far as she could woman vouchsafed her a curt nod, but no more. As far as she could judge, Helga Needheim was happy and satisfied. The Unit obviously judge, Helga Needheim was happy and satisfied. The Unit obviously lived up to the picture she had formed in her mind of it. She was the lived up to the picture she had formed in her mind of it. She was the type of woman absorbed by her work, and was comfortably type of woman absorbed by her work, and was comfortably sustained by her natural arrogance. The superiority of herself and sustained by her natural arrogance. The superiority of herself and her fellow scientists was the first article of Helga's creed. She had her fellow scientists was the first article of Helga's creed. She had no views of a brotherhood of man, of an era of peace, Of liberty of no views of a brotherhood of man, of an era of peace, Of liberty of mind and spirit. For her the future was narrow but all conquering. mind and spirit. For her the future was narrow but all conquering. The super race, herself a member of it; the rest of the world in The super race, herself a member of it; the rest of the world in bondage, treated, if they behaved, with condescending kindness. If bondage, treated, if they behaved, with condescending kindness. If her fellow workers expressed different views, if their ideas were her fellow workers expressed different views, if their ideas were Communist rather than Fascist, Helga took little notice. If their work Communist rather than Fascist, Helga took little notice. If their work was good they were necessary, and their ideas would change. was good they were necessary, and their ideas would change.

Dr. Barron was more intelligent than Helga Needheim. Occasionally Hilary had brief conversations with him. He was absorbed in his Hilary had brief conversations with him. He was absorbed in his work, deeply satisfied with the conditions provided for him, but his work, deeply satisfied with the conditions provided for him, but his enquiring Gallic intellect led him to speculate and ponder on the enquiring Gallic intellect led him to speculate and ponder on the media in which he found himself. media in which he found himself.

"It was not what I expected. No, frankly," he said one day, "entre nous, Mrs. Betterton, I do not care for prison conditions. And these nous, Mrs. Betterton, I do not care for prison conditions. And these are prison conditions, though the cage, let us say, is heavily are prison conditions, though the cage, let us say, is heavily gilded." gilded."

"There is hardly the freedom here that you came to seek?" Hilary suggested. suggested.

He smiled at her, a quick, rueful smile.

"But no," he said, "you are wrong. I did not really seek liberty. I am a civilised man. The civilised man knows there is no such thing. a civilised man. The civilised man knows there is no such thing. Only the younger and cruder nations put the word Liberty on their Only the younger and cruder nations put the word Liberty on their banner. There must always be a planned framework of security. banner. There must always be a planned framework of security. And the essence of civilisation is that the way of life should be a And the essence of civilisation is that the way of life should be a moderate one. The middle way. Always one comes back to the moderate one. The middle way. Always one comes back to the middle way. No. I will be frank with you. I came here for money." middle way. No. I will be frank with you. I came here for money."

Hilary in her turn smiled. Her eyebrows rose.

"And what good is money to you here?"

"It pays for very expensive laboratory equipment," said Dr. Barron.

"I am not obliged to put my hand into my own pocket, and so I can serve the cause of science and satisfy my own intellectual curiosity. serve the cause of science and satisfy my own intellectual curiosity. I am a man who loves his work, true, but I do not love it for the sake I am a man who loves his work, true, but I do not love it for the sake of humanity. I have usually found that those who do so are of humanity. I have usually found that those who do so are somewhat woolly headed, and often incompetent workers. No, it is somewhat woolly headed, and often incompetent workers. No, it is the pure intellectual joy of research that I appreciate. For the rest, the pure intellectual joy of research that I appreciate. For the rest, a large sum of money was paid to me before I left France. It is safely a large sum of money was paid to me before I left France. It is safely banked under another name and in due course, when all this comes banked under another name and in due course, when all this comes to an end, I shall have it to spend as I choose." to an end, I shall have it to spend as I choose."

"When all this comes to an end?" Hilary repeated. "But why should it come to an end?" it come to an end?"

"One must have the common sense," said Dr. Barron, "nothing is permanent, nothing endures. I have come to the conclusion that permanent, nothing endures. I have come to the conclusion that this place is run by a madman. A madman, let me tell you, can be this place is run by a madman. A madman, let me tell you, can be very logical. If you are rich and logical and also mad, you can very logical. If you are rich and logical and also mad, you can succeed for a very long time in living out your illusion. But in the succeed for a very long time in living out your illusion. But in the end -" he shrugged, "-in the end this will break up. Because, you end -" he shrugged, "-in the end this will break up. Because, you see, it is not reasonable, what happens here! That which is not see, it is not reasonable, what happens here! That which is not reasonable must always pay the reckoning in the end. In the reasonable must always pay the reckoning in the end. In the meantime -" again he shrugged his shoulders, "-it suits me meantime -" again he shrugged his shoulders, "-it suits me admirably." admirably."

Torquil Ericsson, whom Hilary expected to be violently disillusioned, appeared to be quite content in the atmosphere of the Unit. Less practical than the Frenchman, he existed in a single- Unit. Less practical than the Frenchman, he existed in a single- minded vision of his own. The world in which he lived was one so minded vision of his own. The world in which he lived was one so unfamiliar to Hilary that she could not even understand it. It unfamiliar to Hilary that she could not even understand it. It engendered a kind of austere happiness, an absorption in engendered a kind of austere happiness, an absorption in mathematical calculations, and an endless vista of possibilities. The mathematical calculations, and an endless vista of possibilities. The strange, impersonal ruthlessness of his character frightened strange, impersonal ruthlessness of his character frightened Hilary. He was the kind of young man, she thought, who in a Hilary. He was the kind of young man, she thought, who in a moment of idealism could send three quarters of the world to their moment of idealism could send three quarters of the world to their death in order that the remaining quarter should partic.i.p.ate in an death in order that the remaining quarter should partic.i.p.ate in an impractical Utopia that existed only in Ericsson's mind. impractical Utopia that existed only in Ericsson's mind.

With the American, Andy Peters, Hilary felt herself far more in accord. Possibly, she thought, it was because Peters was a man of accord. Possibly, she thought, it was because Peters was a man of talents but not a genius. From what others said, she gathered he talents but not a genius. From what others said, she gathered he was a first-cla.s.s man at his job, a careful and skilled chemist, but was a first-cla.s.s man at his job, a careful and skilled chemist, but not a pioneer. Peters, like herself, had at once hated and feared the not a pioneer. Peters, like herself, had at once hated and feared the atmosphere of the Unit. atmosphere of the Unit.

"The truth is that I didn't know where I was going," he said. "I thought I knew, but I was wrong. The Party has got nothing to do thought I knew, but I was wrong. The Party has got nothing to do with this place. We're not in touch with Moscow. This is a lone show with this place. We're not in touch with Moscow. This is a lone show of some kind - a Fascist show possibly." of some kind - a Fascist show possibly."

"Don't you think," said Hilary, "that you go in too much for labels?"

He considered this.

"Maybe you're right," he said. "Come to think of it, these words we throw around don't mean much. But I do know this. I want to get out throw around don't mean much. But I do know this. I want to get out of here and I mean to get out of here." of here and I mean to get out of here."

"It won't be easy," said Hilary, in a low voice.

They were walking together after dinner near the splas.h.i.+ng fountains of the roof garden. With the illusion of darkness and the fountains of the roof garden. With the illusion of darkness and the starlit sky they might have been in the private gardens of some starlit sky they might have been in the private gardens of some sultan's palace. The functional concrete buildings were veiled from sultan's palace. The functional concrete buildings were veiled from their sight. their sight.

"No," said Peters, "it won't be easy, but nothing's impossible."

"I like to hear you say that," said Hilary. "Oh, how I like to hear you say that!" say that!"

He looked at her sympathetically.

"Been getting you down?" he asked.

"Very much so. But that's not what I'm really afraid of."

"No? what then?"

"I'm afraid of getting used to it," said Hilary.

"Yes." He spoke thoughtfully. "Yes, I know what you mean. There's a kind of ma.s.s suggestion going on here. I think perhaps you're a kind of ma.s.s suggestion going on here. I think perhaps you're right about that." right about that."

"It would seem to me much more natural for people to rebel," said Hilary. Hilary.

"Yes. Yes, I've thought the same. In fact I've wondered once or twice whether there's not a little hocus-pocus going on." twice whether there's not a little hocus-pocus going on."

"Hocus-pocus? What do you mean by that?"

"Well, to put it frankly, dope."

"Do you mean a drug of some kind?"

"Yes. It might be possible, you know. Something in the food or drink, something that induces - what shall I say - docility?" drink, something that induces - what shall I say - docility?"

"But is there such a drug?"

"Well, that's not really my line of country. There are things that are given to people to soothe them down, to make them acquiescent given to people to soothe them down, to make them acquiescent before operations and that. Whether there is anything that can be before operations and that. Whether there is anything that can be administered steadily over a long period of time - and which at the administered steadily over a long period of time - and which at the same time does not impair efficiency - that I don't know. I'm more same time does not impair efficiency - that I don't know. I'm more inclined to think now that the effect is produced mentally. I mean inclined to think now that the effect is produced mentally. I mean that I think some of these organisers and administrators here are that I think some of these organisers and administrators here are well-versed in hypnosis and psychology and that, without our being well-versed in hypnosis and psychology and that, without our being aware of it, we are continually being offered suggestions of our well aware of it, we are continually being offered suggestions of our well being, of our attaining our ultimate aim (whatever it is), and that all being, of our attaining our ultimate aim (whatever it is), and that all this does produce a definite effect. A lot can be done that way, you this does produce a definite effect. A lot can be done that way, you know, if it's done by people who know their stuff." know, if it's done by people who know their stuff."

"But we mustn't acquiesce," cried Hilary, hotly. "We mustn't feel for one moment that it's a good thing to be here." one moment that it's a good thing to be here."

"What does your husband feel?"

"Tom? I - oh, I don't know. It's so difficult. I -" she lapsed into silence. silence.

The whole fantasy of her life as she lived it she could hardly communicate to the man who was listening to her. For ten days now communicate to the man who was listening to her. For ten days now she had lived in an apartment with a man who was a stranger to she had lived in an apartment with a man who was a stranger to her. They shared a bedroom and when she lay awake at night she her. They shared a bedroom and when she lay awake at night she could hear him breathing in the other bed. Both of them accepted could hear him breathing in the other bed. Both of them accepted the arrangement as inevitable. She was an impostor, a spy, ready the arrangement as inevitable. She was an impostor, a spy, ready to play any part and a.s.sume any personality. Tom Betterton she to play any part and a.s.sume any personality. Tom Betterton she quite frankly did not understand. He seemed to her a terrible quite frankly did not understand. He seemed to her a terrible example of what could happen to a brilliant young man who had example of what could happen to a brilliant young man who had lived for some months in the enervating atmosphere of the Unit. At lived for some months in the enervating atmosphere of the Unit. At any rate there was in him no calm acceptance of his destiny. Far any rate there was in him no calm acceptance of his destiny. Far from taking pleasure in his work, he was, she thought, increasingly from taking pleasure in his work, he was, she thought, increasingly worried by his inability to concentrate on it. Once or twice he had worried by his inability to concentrate on it. Once or twice he had reiterated what he had said on that first evening. reiterated what he had said on that first evening.

"I can't think. It's just as though everything in me has dried up."

Yes, she thought, Tom Betterton, being a real genius, needed liberty more than most. Suggestion had failed to compensate him liberty more than most. Suggestion had failed to compensate him for the loss of freedom. Only in perfect liberty was he able to for the loss of freedom. Only in perfect liberty was he able to produce creative work. produce creative work.

He was a man, she thought, very close to a serious nervous breakdown. Hilary herself he treated with curious inattention. She breakdown. Hilary herself he treated with curious inattention. She was not a woman to him, not even a friend. She even doubted was not a woman to him, not even a friend. She even doubted whether he realised and suffered from the death of his wife. The whether he realised and suffered from the death of his wife. The thing that preoccupied him incessantly was the problem of thing that preoccupied him incessantly was the problem of confinement. Again and again he had said, confinement. Again and again he had said, "I must get away from here. I must, I must." And sometimes, "I didn't know. I'd no idea what it was going to be like. How am I going didn't know. I'd no idea what it was going to be like. How am I going to get out of here? How? I've got to. I've simply got to." to get out of here? How? I've got to. I've simply got to."

It was in essence very much what Peters had said. But it was said with a great deal of difference. Peters had spoken as a young, with a great deal of difference. Peters had spoken as a young, energetic, angry, disillusioned man, sure of himself and determined energetic, angry, disillusioned man, sure of himself and determined to pit his wits against the brains of the establishment in which he to pit his wits against the brains of the establishment in which he found himself. But Tom Betterton's rebellious utterances were found himself. But Tom Betterton's rebellious utterances were those of a man at the end of his tether, a man almost crazed with those of a man at the end of his tether, a man almost crazed with the need for escape. But perhaps, Hilary thought suddenly, that the need for escape. But perhaps, Hilary thought suddenly, that was where she and Peters would be in six months' time. Perhaps was where she and Peters would be in six months' time. Perhaps what began as healthy rebellion and a reasonable confidence in what began as healthy rebellion and a reasonable confidence in one's own ingenuity, would turn at last into the frenzied despair of a one's own ingenuity, would turn at last into the frenzied despair of a rat in a trap. rat in a trap.

She wished she could talk of all this to the man beside her. If only she could say: "Tom Betterton isn't my husband. I know nothing she could say: "Tom Betterton isn't my husband. I know nothing about him. I don't know what he was like before he came here and about him. I don't know what he was like before he came here and so I'm in the dark. I can't help him, for I don't know what to do or so I'm in the dark. I can't help him, for I don't know what to do or say." As it was she had to pick her words carefully. She said, say." As it was she had to pick her words carefully. She said, "Tom seems like a stranger to me now. He doesn't - tell me things. Sometimes I think the confinement, the sense of being penned up Sometimes I think the confinement, the sense of being penned up here, is driving him mad." here, is driving him mad."

"It's possible," said Peters drily, "it could act that way."

"But tell me - you speak so confidently of getting away. How can we get away - what earthly chance is there?" get away - what earthly chance is there?"

"I don't mean we can walk out the day after tomorrow, Olive. The thing's got to be thought out and planned. People have escaped, thing's got to be thought out and planned. People have escaped, you know, under the most unpromising conditions. A lot of our you know, under the most unpromising conditions. A lot of our people, and a lot your side of the Atlantic, too, have written books people, and a lot your side of the Atlantic, too, have written books about escape from fortresses in Germany." about escape from fortresses in Germany."

"That was rather different."

"Not in essence. Where there's a way in there's a way out. Of course tunnelling is out of the question here, so that knocks out a course tunnelling is out of the question here, so that knocks out a good many methods. But as I say, where there's a way in, there's a good many methods. But as I say, where there's a way in, there's a way out. With ingenuity, camouflage, playing a part, deception, way out. With ingenuity, camouflage, playing a part, deception, bribery and corruption, one ought to manage it. It's the sort of thing bribery and corruption, one ought to manage it. It's the sort of thing you've got to study and think about. I'll tell you this. I shall get out of you've got to study and think about. I'll tell you this. I shall get out of here. Take it from me." here. Take it from me."

"I believe you will," said Hilary, then she added, "but shall I?"

"Well, it's different for you."

His voice sounded embarra.s.sed. For a moment she wondered what he meant. Then she realised that presumably her own objective had been attained. She had come here to join the man she had loved, been attained. She had come here to join the man she had loved, and having joined him her own personal need for escape should not and having joined him her own personal need for escape should not be so great. She was almost tempted to tell Peters the truth - but be so great. She was almost tempted to tell Peters the truth - but some instinct of caution forbade that. some instinct of caution forbade that.

She said goodnight and left the roof.

Chapter 16.

"Good evening, Mrs. Betterton."

"Good evening, Miss Jennsen."

The thin spectacled girl was looking excited. Her eyes glinted behind the thick lenses. behind the thick lenses.

"There will be a Reunion this evening," she said. "The Director himself is going to address us!" himself is going to address us!"

She spoke in an almost hushed voice.

"That's good," said Andy Peters who was standing close by. "I've been waiting to catch a glimpse of this Director." been waiting to catch a glimpse of this Director."

Miss Jennsen threw him a glance of shocked reproof.

"The Director," she said austerely, "is a very wonderful man."

As she went away from them down one of the inevitable white corridors, Andy Peters gave a low whistle. corridors, Andy Peters gave a low whistle.

"Now did I, or did I not, catch a hint of the Heil Hitler att.i.tude there?" there?"

"It certainly sounded like it."

"The trouble in this life is that you never really know where you're going. If I'd known when I left the States all full of boyish ardour for going. If I'd known when I left the States all full of boyish ardour for the good old Brotherhood of Man that I was going to land myself in the good old Brotherhood of Man that I was going to land myself in the clutches of yet another Heavenborn Dictator -" he threw out his the clutches of yet another Heavenborn Dictator -" he threw out his hands. hands.

"You don't know that yet," Hilary reminded him.

"I can smell it - in the air," said Peters.

"Oh," cried Hilary, "how glad I am that you're here."

She flushed, as he looked at her quizzically.

"You're so nice and ordinary," said Hilary desperately.

Peters looked amused.

"Where I come from," he said, "the word ordinary doesn't have your meaning. It can stand for being just plain mean." meaning. It can stand for being just plain mean."

"You know I didn't mean it that way. I mean you're like everybody else. Oh dear, that sounds rude, too." else. Oh dear, that sounds rude, too."

"The common man, that's what you're asking for? You've had enough of the genius?" enough of the genius?"

"Yes, and you've changed, too, since you came here. You've lost that streak of bitterness - of hatred." that streak of bitterness - of hatred."