1 files changed, 350 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/30405-0.txt b/30405-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2dd013
--- /dev/null
+++ b/30405-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,350 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30405 ***
+
+    _Utopia had been reached. All the problems of mankind had been
+    solved. It was the perfect State. If you doubted it, you died._
+
+
+The Clean and Wholesome Land
+
+By Ralph Sholto
+
+
+While Professor Cargill lectured from the rostrum, Neal Pardeau prowled
+the dark auditorium. This, he knew, was the place to find them. Here was
+where they whispered and plotted and schemed--feeling safe in this pure,
+hard core of patriotism.
+
+Safe because Cargill was the Director of Education in the New State,
+just as Pardeau was the Director of Public Security. Safe because
+Cargill's lectures were given before a commanded audience, with
+attendance strictly mandatory.
+
+The insistence was not really necessary of course. The people would have
+come to hear Cargill regardless. His was a compelling, magnetic
+personality. Even now his great voice was booming out:
+
+"--and upon this anniversary of the New State, we can look out with
+great pride upon a clean and wholesome land. With strong emotion, we can
+look upon the physical manifestation of our glorious principles--that
+only through self-effacement--through fanatic love for the state--can
+the individual come to complete physical and mental fruition. Upon this
+anniversary we see our enemies, both within and without, broken, and
+completely subjugated--"
+
+This was the place they whispered and schemed and plotted. Pardeau
+prowled the aisles, his eyes piercing the darkness--spotting them,
+cataloguing them. And thus he came upon Emil Hillerman, his Deputy of
+Vital Intelligence sitting dutifully in the end seat of a middle aisle.
+Hillerman's thick lips hung lax, his eyes squinted laboriously as he
+sought to follow the thread of Cargill's lecture.
+
+Pardeau tapped Hillerman on the shoulder. The latter started guiltily.
+He whirled and sought to identify Pardeau in the semi-darkness. Pardeau
+said, "Please step outside with me. I have some questions."
+
+There was fear in Hillerman's bearing as he got clumsily to his feet and
+followed Pardeau. But none of Cargill's speech was missed. A battery of
+loudspeakers carried it even into the foyer where Pardeau stopped and
+turned on Hillerman. He regarded the man through cold, calculating eyes.
+He seemed to be both enjoying Hillerman's discomfort and also listening
+to Cargill's booming words.
+
+"--these pale weaklings, these traitors with twitching muscles and
+twitching minds who skulked in dark places have been finally and
+decisively defeated. Even their vaunted leader--"
+
+"What have you been doing," Pardeau asked, "relative to Karl Lenster?"
+
+The frightened Hillerman licked his fat lower lip as he sought for
+words. "Everything--everything possible. But Lenster is clever. You know
+that. You know that yourself."
+
+Pardeau's eyes bored into those of the Intelligence Director. They were
+noted for their icy penetration, but upon this night they were like
+steel knives. It was as though he surveyed Hillerman from behind the
+bulwark of some new and hostile information. Even as he stared, Cargill
+was booming from the rostrum:
+
+"--Karl Lenster, their _peerless_ leader--"
+
+And Cargill's voice crackled with the inflections of pure contempt.
+
+"--a degenerate--a dope addict whose greatness lay only in the realms of
+his sensual dreams. A weak, pitiful figure bereft of followers, cringing
+alone in--"
+
+When Pardeau spoke, his voice held a new sharpness to complement the new
+ice in his eyes. He said, "In half an hour I am attending a meeting of
+the Council. They will want a report. What about Lenster?"
+
+Hillerman looked quickly to right and left, then back at his Chief. He
+hesitated as though fearing the consequences of what he was about to
+reveal. "You know of the Wyckoff Chemical Transformation Process--"
+
+"Certainly I know of it," Pardeau blazed. "What about it?"
+
+"I--I--" But Hillerman seemed to lose the courage he'd screwed up to
+continue in this direction. He straightened and a little of the hangdog
+servility dropped away. "I am doing all that is humanly possible to
+apprehend Lenster. All that any man could do. The secret jails are full.
+My interrogators work night and day. Even a superficial check of my
+records would show that more has been done in the last six months and is
+being done now than--"
+
+Pardeau raised an impatient hand, opening a gap of silence into which
+the voice of Cargill poured.
+
+"--land in which the voice of dissenter is not heard; in which Lenster
+and men of his despicable ilk are forever crushed and beaten--"
+
+Pardeau was scowling. Almost unconsciously he had held the pause, with
+hand upraised, until Cargill finished his passage. As Cargill stopped
+for breath, Pardeau jerked his hand down sharply, completing the
+gesture. "I have no time for any more of this. And I resent having to
+seek you out. Next time report to my office as is proper and keep me
+posted as to your activities. Next--"
+
+Pardeau eyed Hillerman for one blank moment and allowed the threat to
+reflect clearly that possibly there would not be many more next times.
+Then he turned and strode swiftly from the foyer.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Cargill's voice had hardly faded when he picked it up again on his car
+radio. It was a foregone conclusion that every radio in the land would
+be tuned to the lecture. So great was Cargill's popularity that every
+citizen traveling in a car would wish to hear it and turn on his
+receiver. It was foolish not to have a radio properly tuned when Cargill
+spoke. He was saying:
+
+"--and so under the banner of complete solidarity, we will march
+forward, a solid phalanx against which no force can stand. Now that our
+own house is swept clean of vermin--rid forever of carrion like Lenster
+and his ilk, we can--"
+
+Pardeau had traveled swiftly through the streets at the high speed
+reserved for higher servants of the New State. Lesser servants of the
+New State had learned caution and thus no regrettable deaths or maimings
+occurred; the lesser servants having grown wary and fleet of foot.
+
+Pardeau switched off his motor but left his radio blaring. Cargill's
+voice followed him up the broad steps of the Executive Building and was
+just fading out when Pardeau was able to pick it up again from the
+loudspeaker under the great arches.
+
+He entered the building and traversed the vast foyer to a niche which
+housed a private elevator. He entered the lift, deserting it on the
+ninth floor, where he entered an unobtrusive door and joined a group
+which consisted of the New State's well guarded pool of power and
+brains.
+
+There was Blanchard of Finance; Keeley, Director of Foreign Education;
+Masichek, overlord of the nation's larder, and seven others.
+
+When Pardeau entered, all conversation stopped and every man looked up
+from a luxurious overstuffed chair. Pardeau must certainly have swelled
+inwardly with pride at this unconscious tribute. It was well known that
+he held a key position on the chessboard of politics. His was in reality
+the most important job of all. It was to Pardeau that this powerful
+group of men looked for that which they most treasured--their own
+personal safety.
+
+A chair was waiting for Pardeau. He said, "I'm sorry to be late,
+gentlemen. I have been on a personal tour of inspection. I'm sure you
+will forgive me however. I have a most interesting report."
+
+He seated himself, timing the action so it coincided with the ebb of
+applause coming over the speaker--applause from the loyal multitudes
+who had just heard Professor Cargill end his lecture. As it was now
+permissible, Blanchard reached under the table and snapped a button. The
+speaker went silent.
+
+"An interesting report?" Keeley asked.
+
+"Amazingly so," Pardeau said. "I have just unearthed a traitor--a
+traitor in a high place."
+
+Every man in the group strove not to react and this striving was in
+itself a reaction. "Most interesting," Blanchard murmured. "Are you
+ready to name names?"
+
+"That is my intention, but in order to forestall a great many questions,
+let me give you a complete background."
+
+Leiderman, Ambassador without Portfolio, and very close to the Man of
+Almost Sacred Name who never attended these meetings, felt strong enough
+to evince impatience. "The name, man! First the name. Then the details."
+
+Pardeau smiled coldly. "Very well. The name is, Karl Lenster."
+
+Leiderman sprang from his chair, his face bordering on purple. "Is this
+a joke, Pardeau? We all know Lenster is the arch-traitor of our
+times--the leader of the resistance movement. Talk sense!"
+
+Pardeau, not in the least disconcerted, smiled coldly. "I'm sorry.
+Perhaps I should have said Emil Hillerman, my Deputy of Vital
+Intelligence, the man who holds immeasurable power in his two hands."
+
+Blanchard was not given to outbursts. But his lips were grim as he said,
+"We are waiting for you to talk sense, Pardeau."
+
+"The confusion comes from your not allowing me to tell it as I wished.
+There is a gap between Lenster and Hillerman; one which--with your
+permission--I will fill."
+
+"Talk, man! Talk!"
+
+"You have all heard of Formula 652, known also as the Wyckoff Chemical
+Transformation Process."
+
+There were expressions of both understanding and bewilderment. Noting
+these, Pardeau said, "For those of you who haven't made a point of
+looking into the thing, I'll explain. Wyckoff, in case you don't recall,
+was a chemical engineer of more than average ability who stumbled onto
+this formula before he died, most regretfully, four years ago, in 1984."
+
+Leiderman continued to scowl. "We all know each other, Pardeau. Call a
+spade a spade. Wyckoff was a reactionary scoundrel whom you did away
+with for reasons of security."
+
+"Precisely," Pardeau said. "In its essence, the formula is a process for
+taking over a man's brain--his body--his personality."
+
+"You mean--"
+
+Pardeau refused to be interrupted. "We were of the opinion that Wyckoff,
+though he and Lenster were great friends, was not able to impart his
+knowledge to the latter. We took him into custody shortly after he
+perfected the formula and were fortunate in persuading him to give it to
+us."
+
+"But he gave it to Lenster also?"
+
+"We were certain, at the time of his death, that he had not been able to
+do that--we are still certain."
+
+Keeley, with a gesture, requested the floor. "I wonder if you could go
+into a little more detail concerning the formula--for those of us who--"
+
+"Of course," Pardeau said. "The formula is a combination of six
+chemicals and the process of transformation is relatively simple, yet
+highly dangerous to both subjects involved. It means sure death for the
+proposed host, and if not delicately handled will also result in death
+for the usurper. The transformation requires three hours to perform.
+Once completed successfully, the usurper can never return to his own
+body. It must be destroyed. Also, the mentality of the host vanishes
+after it is pushed from its original brain tissue through the influence
+of the formula."
+
+"Then if Wyckoff didn't give the formula to Lenster, it was stolen from
+our vaults--or wherever it was kept?"
+
+"Exactly. Certain investigations I have made prove beyond doubt that
+Lenster got to my Deputy, Hillerman. I never considered Hillerman very
+bright, but I thought him to be honest and loyal. But beyond all doubt,
+with his aid, Lenster stole the formula--possibly got it verbally--and
+used it to take Hillerman's body from him." Pardeau smiled grimly.
+"Therefore, gentlemen, we have a traitor in a high place. My Deputy of
+Vital Intelligence."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Pardeau sat silent now, seeming to enjoy the fear he had engendered in
+his colleagues--sat silent until Leiderman said, "You've arrested him of
+course."
+
+"No. I have not."
+
+"Then get at it, man--get at it."
+
+"I have no intention of arresting Hillerman."
+
+Leiderman's eyes widened as did those of the rest of the company. But
+Blanchard, even under the impact of such a bombshell had the presence of
+mind to glance at his watch. Immediately he snapped on the loudspeaker.
+The voice of Professor Cargill blared forth:
+
+"--and upon this anniversary of the New State, we can look with pride
+upon a clean and wholesome land--"
+
+It was the rebroadcast, from recordings, of Cargill's speech and no man
+in his right mind would have refrained from tuning it in because
+everyone wanted to hear it at least twice.
+
+Leiderman, almost apoplectic, ignored the speech. "Not arresting him!
+Are you mad?"
+
+"I'm quite sane, and the situation is well in hand." Pardeau grinned and
+there was wickedness in the grin--wickedness and intelligence. "As I
+said before, Hillerman was not a smart man. His job was too much for
+him and I would have been faced, soon, with the necessity of replacing
+him regardless. Lenster, on the other hand, is of grade-A intellect.
+But, gentlemen, he is frightened--badly frightened in his new
+environment--and, in order to insure his own safety, is doing an
+excellent job. Ever since the transformation, that department has gained
+in efficiency until it now ranks as one of the highest in our entire
+government."
+
+Slowly, Pardeau's strategy dawned on the group. Blanchard suddenly
+smiled. Then Pardeau scowled and went on with a new and sudden ferocity.
+"I have the proof, and I have Lenster-Hillerman under my palm. So he
+stays--continues to do a good job for us. But he'll be watched,
+gentlemen. He won't be able to go to the bathroom without being under
+surveillance. We will learn a great deal from him. All we need to know."
+
+"Then you'll arrest him?" the boss of the state larder wanted to know.
+
+Pardeau came to his feet. His fist slammed down on the table. "I shall
+_not_ arrest him--ever. When the time comes, I shall personally shoot
+him down in the street like a dog. There will come a day, gentlemen,
+when you will witness this act of vengeance--when I shall make such an
+example of Lenster-Hillerman as the resistance will not forget--a
+morale-crumbling example, I promise you."
+
+"--in which Lenster and his ilk are forever crushed and beaten," the
+speaker said.
+
+Blanchard took the floor. "Gentlemen--I move a vote of thanks and
+confidence for our colleague, Neal Pardeau."
+
+The Director of Public Security stood at attention and assayed a sharp,
+military bow. It was a moment of rare triumph. "Thank you, gentlemen,"
+he said.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+An hour later, Lenster-Pardeau was alone in his apartments. He stripped
+off his uniform with an air of grim satisfaction. While he undressed, he
+thought of the martyrs to the Cause; the men who had died. He thought of
+Wyckoff and wished Wyckoff could have had the pleasure of knowing who
+had usurped the body of Neal Pardeau--Pardeau the Butcher--the infamous
+Pardeau.
+
+From the speaker came the third and final rebroadcast of Cargill's
+speech:
+
+"--a clean and wholesome land--"
+
+"A clean and wholesome land," Lenster murmured, and the tone of his
+voice was a prayer.
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+    This etext was produced from _If Worlds of Science Fiction_
+    September 1952. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
+    the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling
+    and typographical errors have been corrected without note.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Clean and Wholesome Land, by Ralph Sholto
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30405 ***