Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen

LeBlanc shrugged and said, "Sure they're out of Africa." "uncertain." The Frenchman shook his head. "Probably left. We know where they're going after all, don't we?" "If their destination is where we think it is, why did they start from Africa? Isn't it easier to start from anywhere in Europe?" "That's right. But there's another side to it. No one could have predicted that they would gather here and set off." Jessop tactfully insisted: "I still think it's more complicated. Besides, only small planes can take off at that airfield. It needs to come down to refuel before flying over the Mediterranean. There will be traces where they refuel .”

"Honey, we've done a thorough investigation. Everywhere..." "The people with the calculators will get the results eventually. There are only a limited number of planes to check, as long as there is a trace of radioactivity. We can track down the plane we are looking for..." "If your men can use sprinklers. Alas, always saying 'if'..." Jessop insisted, "We'll find out. I don't understand..." "what?" "We had assumed they were flying north, towards the Mediterranean, and we had assumed they were flying south."

"Return to their journey? But where are they flying? To the south is the Atlas Mountains, and then the desert." "Sir, can you swear that what you promised will come true? Is it true that you will give me a gas station in Chicago, USA?" "It's true, Muhammad, if I can get out of here, it will happen." "Success depends on the will of God." Peters said, "Then let's hope it's God's will that you'll have a gas station in Chicago. Why go to Chicago?" "Sir, my wife's brother has gone to America. He has a gas pump in Chicago. Am I willing to stay in this backward part of the world for the rest of my life? There's money and good food and nightclubs and women--but it's not modernization, This is not America."

Peters gazed thoughtfully at the stern black face.Muhammad looks majestic in his white robe.What a strange hope harbored in the depths of this man's mind. Peters sighed and said, "I don't know if you're wise, it's settled. But if anyone finds out..." The black man smiled and showed his beautiful and white teeth.He said, "That's a dead end. Of course it is for me. Maybe it's different for you because it works for you." "Are they killing people here?" The negro shrugged contemptuously. "Death? Is this also God's will?"

"Do you know what you're going to do?" "I know, sir, I will take you up to the roof after dark. I will leave a suit of our servant's clothes in your room. And then proceed to the next step." "Yes! Now you'd better tell me to get off the elevator. Somebody might find us going up and down, and that would arouse their suspicion." Dancing is going on.Andy Peters danced with Miss Johnson.He hugged her tightly and whispered in her ear.As they turned slowly around to where Hillary was standing, Peters winked at her playfully. Hilary bit her lip to suppress a smile, and immediately looked away.

She turned and frowned as soon as she saw Betterton talking to Torquil Erickson across the room. "Dance with me, Olive!" said Simon Murchison beside her. "Of course, Simon." He warned her, "I tell you, I'm no good at dancing." Hilary concentrated on not letting him step on her foot. "I think of it as exercise," Murchison said, panting softly. He danced vigorously. "Olive, your dress is beautiful." His words always sounded like words from an old novel. "I'm glad you liked it," Hillary said. "Did you buy it from a boutique?"

She wanted to say to him: "If you don't buy it from there, where can you buy it from?" But she didn't say, just said: "Yes." Murchison gasped and danced, "Have to admit, they didn't treat us badly. My wife Bianca said that once. This place is better than the welfare state in every way. No worries about money, income tax, repair bills and Maintenance bills. It's nothing to worry about. It's wonderful for women, I dare say." "Bianca thinks so, doesn't she?" "Well, she was a bit uneasy at one point. But now she's managed to organize a few committees and hold a seminar or two. She complains about your lack of participation in some of the events."

"I'm afraid I'm not that kind of person, Simon. I don't do much group work." "But you ladies should find a way to have some fun. Of course I don't mean just 'entertainment'..." "Something to do?" Hilary inspired him. "Yes. I mean modern women should have jobs. I am fully aware that women like you and Bianca have sacrificed a lot to come here. You are not scientists, thank God, not those women Scientists. Most of them suck! I said to Bianca: 'You have to give Olive time to get used to it.' It takes some time to get used to the environment. At first, people feel a bit claustrophobic, but it goes away ..."

"You mean people can adapt to any environment?" "Yes, some people are more sensitive than others," said Murchison. "Tom seems to have had enough of it. Where's old Tom tonight? Ah, talk to Torquil over there. The two People are now inseparable!" "I hope they're not inseparable. I mean, I don't think they have much in common." "Young Torquil seems to be fascinated by your husband. He's always with Betterton." "I noticed that too, I don't understand...why?" "Torquil has some queer theories. I can't talk to him. You know, he doesn't speak English very well, but Tom can understand it."

The dance music is over.Andy Peters asks Hillary to jump off the next one. Peters said, "I see you suffer. I've broken your foot!" "No, I dance more flexibly." "You have noticed that I have shown my skills!" "With Miss Johnson?" "Yeah, I think I can say without shame, I've succeeded, and I've certainly succeeded in that. With a bit of work, these poor looking, skinny, short-sighted girls are hooked right away." "You have evidently given the impression that you have fallen under her apron." "That's what it means. Olive, it will be useful to get hold of that girl. She knows all the arrangements here. For example, there will be a lot of important people coming here tomorrow. Some doctors, government officials, and one or two big things."

"Andy, what chance do you think there might be..." "No, I don't think there's much of a chance. I bet they will. Don't get your hopes up. But this visit is important because we can get some insider details. That'll make it better next time." As long as I catch Jason, I can get all kinds of information from her." "How much do these people here know about the situation here?" "As far as I know, among those of us who don't know anything. They just inspect the place, see the chamber. The place is purposely built like a labyrinth. Those who come can't know what's going on. I know there is a wall that keeps us This one separates." "It's all so unbelievable." "Yes. People seem to be dreaming half the time. There's also something unreal about it, that you never see children. Thank God there are no children, and you should be glad you don't." Suddenly he felt Hilary straighten as he danced with him. "Sorry, I said the wrong thing!" He ushered her off the dance floor and sat down in two chairs. He repeated, "I'm so sorry I hurt you, didn't I?" "It's nothing, it's not your fault. I used to have a child who died...that's it." "You have a child?" he said, dumbfounded. "Haven't you been married to Betterton only six months?" Olive blushed a little, and said quickly, "Yes, but I was married before and divorced my first husband." "Oh, yes. The worst thing about this place is that none of the people know what happened to anyone before they came here, so that one can say the wrong thing. I sometimes feel awkward because I don't know anything about you." "I don't know you at all either. Where did you grow up? Where is your home?" "I was raised in a purely scientific environment, you could say I was raised in a test tube. People around me thought and talked about science, but I wasn't the smart kid at home, the genius belonged to another people." "Who is that?" "A girl, super-intelligent, she could have been a second Madame Curie. She could have opened a new world." "What happened to her then?" He said simply: "Killed." Hilary guessed it must be a wartime tragedy, and said softly, "Do you care about her?" "Care more than anyone." Stand up suddenly. "What's the point of talking! We've got enough troubles right now, right here, right now. Look at our Norwegian friend, he's like a wooden man except for his eyes. And his wonderful A stiff nod—like someone pulling the strings from behind." "That's because he's tall and thin." "He's not very tall. About my height, five foot eleven or six feet, no more." "You can't rely on your height alone." "Yes, as it says in the passport. Take Eriksson, six feet tall, fair-haired, blue-eyed, long-faced, stiff, with a low nose and an ordinary mouth. Add to that the passport Won't put it on: Accurate but pedantic. That's it, you still can't grasp what Eriksson looks like. What's the matter with you?" "nothing." She fixed her eyes on Eriksson across the room.Peters' description just now seems to be referring to Boris Glydel.Almost every word Jessop used to describe him.Could this be the reason for her nervousness at the sight of Torkiel Eriksson?Is it possible... She said suddenly to Peters: "I'm assuming he's Eriksson. Could it be someone else?" Peters said, startled. "Anyone else? Who's that?" "I mean...at least I think I mean...Is this Erickson someone else pretended to be?" Peters thought about it. "I think... no, I don't think that's likely. He must be a scientist... and Eriksson is famous." "But no one here seems to have seen him in the past. I suppose he is Eriksson, but he could be someone else at the same time." You mean Erickson can live a double life?I think that's also possible.But very unlikely. " "No, of course not," Hillary said. Of course Eriksson is no Boris Gledel.But why had Olive Betterton been so persistent in warning Tom about Boris?Was it because she knew that Boris had come to this place too?What if the man who went to London called himself Boris Glydle wasn't Boris Glydle?If he really was Torky Eriksson, that would fit the description.He had paid much attention to Tom since he came to this place.Eriksson was dangerous, she was sure...you couldn't tell what was going on behind his pale dreamy eyes... She trembled. "Oliver, what's the matter? What's the matter?" "It's nothing. Look, the vice president is going to announce something!" Dr. Nelson gestured for silence.Standing in front of a loudspeaker from the podium in the lobby, he announced: "Friends and colleagues. You are requested to be in the Security Wing tomorrow for roll call at eleven o'clock. The emergency lasts only twenty-four hours. I regret the inconvenience. Notice has been posted on the bulletin board up." He walks away smiling and the music starts again. Peters said: "I'm going to pursue Miss Johnson again. I saw her leaning against the pillar so earnestly. I want to know the situation in the security wing." he left.Hilary sat there brooding.Is she in a foolish way of thinking?Torkiel Eriksson?Boris Gledel? The roll call took place in a large lecture hall.Everyone came, and then they set off as a team. The route is the same as in the past, through the winding and maze-like corridors.Hilary walked beside Peters and saw that he was holding a small compass in his hand, which he used to judge his direction. He murmured despondently, "It doesn't work. At least not for a while, maybe sometimes." There was a door at the end of the corridor, and there was a momentary pause when the door opened. Peters took out his cigarette case—but immediately heard Van Heydem's order: "Please don't smoke, everyone has been informed." "sorry sir." Peters stopped with his cigarette case, and they walked on. Hilary said in disgust: "It's like herding sheep." "Don't be angry," Peters said softly, "baa, baa" he imitated the sheep, "there is a black sheep in the flock doing magic." She gave him a thankful look, then smiled. Miss Johnson said, "The women's quarters are on the right." She led the women in the direction indicated. The men walk to the left. The dormitory rooms are large and hygienic, like a hospital ward.The beds are placed against the wall with plastic curtains between each bed and bedside tables next to the beds. "It's fairly basic," said Miss Johnson, "but it's rudimentary and passable. The bathroom is to the right. The group room is over there." They got together again in the group room.The equipment is simple, just like the waiting room of the airport, with a wine cabinet and a snack bar on one side, and a row of bookshelves on the other. The day passed satisfactorily, with two performances on a portable projector. The indoor lighting is a fluorescent lamp, which makes people feel that the room has no windows, as if it is the same during the day, and it is replaced with soft night lighting at night. "That's clever," Peters marvels. "It all helps to reduce the feeling that people are locked up here alive." Hilary thought there was nothing anyone could do about it.Just around here, there is a group of people from the outside world, but there is no way to contact them and ask them for help.As usual, everything was ruthless and well-organized. Peters sat next to Miss Johnson.Hillary suggested bridge to the Murchisons.Tom refused to play, saying he couldn't concentrate, and Dr. Barron later joined. Oddly enough, Hillary found it a joy to play.It was half past eleven when the third set was played.She won with Dr. Barron. She looked at her watch and said, "I'm having a good time, it's so late. I guess if people have already left, are they still here overnight?" "I don't really know, I think one or two specialists will stay until noon tomorrow," Simon Murchison said. "We can't go back until then?" "Yes, it can't be too late. Something like this disrupts our day-to-day work." Bianca praised him and said, "But it was well arranged." She stood up with Hilary and said goodnight to the men.Hilary first let Bianca into the dimly lit dormitory.At this moment, someone touched her arm lightly. She turned her head immediately and found a tall, black-faced servant standing beside her. He whispered in rapid French: "Madame, please come here." "Where are you going?" "Please follow me." She stood there hesitating for a moment. Bianca has entered the dormitory.There were still a few people talking in the group room. Again she felt the man tap her arm lightly. "Madam, please follow me." He stopped after walking a few steps, looked back, and waved to her again. Hilary followed him somewhat suspiciously. She found that this man was much more luxuriously dressed than the other local servants.His robes are embroidered with many patterns in gold thread. He led Hilary out of a small door in the corner of the activity room, and down the obligatory, nameless white corridors.She didn't think it was the same way they had entered the security wing today, but it was hard to be sure because all the passages were exactly the same.Once she tried to ask a question, but the guide shook his head impatiently and hurried on. Finally he stopped at the top of a corridor and pressed a button on the wall.A secret door opens, and inside is a small elevator.He gestured for her to come in, and the elevator drove up. Hilary snapped, "Where are you taking me?" The man looked at her with black reproaching eyes and said: "Madam, it will be a great honor for you to take you to your master." "You mean to go to the dean?" "To the master." The elevator stopped.He led her out, and stopped at a door after walking down another hallway.The servant knocked on the door, and it opened, revealing another dark, expressionless face, another servant in a white robe embroidered with gold. The man led Hilary through the red-carpeted front room and drew back the curtains to let her in.To her surprise, it was an oriental interior room.There were low couches, coffee tables, and beautiful tapestries on the walls.The man sitting on the Turkish sofa left her dumbfounded.Small, yellow, wrinkled, and old, this was Mr. Aristides.He smiled at the silly Hilary.