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diff --git a/30405-h/30405-h.htm b/30405-h/30405-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6a14520 --- /dev/null +++ b/30405-h/30405-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,597 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Clean and Wholesome Land, by Ralph Sholto + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2,.hd1 {text-align: center;} + h2,.bk1 {margin-bottom: 2em;} + .hd1 {margin-top: 2em;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 2em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + img {border: none;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .bk1 {margin-right: 50%;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 137px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + .sp1 {font-size: 130%;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30405 ***</div> + +<div class="bk1"><p><big><i>Utopia had been reached. All the problems of +mankind had been solved. It was the perfect +State. If you doubted it, you died.</i></big></p></div> + +<h1><span class="sp1">The Clean and<br /> +Wholesome Land</span></h1> + +<h2>By Ralph Sholto</h2> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">While</span> 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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>"—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—"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"—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—"</p> + +<p>"What have you been doing," +Pardeau asked, "relative to Karl +Lenster?"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>"—Karl Lenster, their <i>peerless</i> +leader—"</p> + +<p>And Cargill's voice crackled with +the inflections of pure contempt.</p> + +<p>"—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—"</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>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—"</p> + +<p>"Certainly I know of it," Pardeau +blazed. "What about it?"</p> + +<p>"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—"</p> + +<p>Pardeau raised an impatient +hand, opening a gap of silence into +which the voice of Cargill poured.</p> + +<p>"—land in which the voice of +dissenter is not heard; in which +Lenster and men of his despicable +ilk are forever crushed and beaten—"</p> + +<p>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—"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Cargill's</span> 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:</p> + +<p>"—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—"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>There was Blanchard of Finance; Keeley, +Director of Foreign Education; +Masichek, overlord of the +nation's larder, and seven others.</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>"An interesting report?" Keeley +asked.</p> + +<p>"Amazingly so," Pardeau said. "I +have just unearthed a traitor—a +traitor in a high place."</p> + +<p>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?"</p> + +<p>"That is my intention, but in +order to forestall a great many questions, +let me give you a complete +background."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Pardeau smiled coldly. "Very +well. The name is, Karl Lenster."</p> + +<p>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!"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>Blanchard was not given to outbursts. +But his lips were grim as he +said, "We are waiting for you to +talk sense, Pardeau."</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Talk, man! Talk!"</p> + +<p>"You have all heard of Formula +652, known also as the Wyckoff +Chemical Transformation Process."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Precisely," Pardeau said. "In its +essence, the formula is a process for +taking over a man's brain—his body—his +personality."</p> + +<p>"You mean—"</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"But he gave it to Lenster also?"</p> + +<p>"We were certain, at the time of +his death, that he had not been able +to do that—we are still certain."</p> + +<p>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—"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>"Then if Wyckoff didn't give the +formula to Lenster, it was stolen +from our vaults—or wherever +it was kept?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Pardeau</span> 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."</p> + +<p>"No. I have not."</p> + +<p>"Then get at it, man—get at it."</p> + +<p>"I have no intention of arresting +Hillerman."</p> + +<p>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:</p> + +<p>"—and upon this anniversary of +the New State, we can look with +pride upon a clean and wholesome +land—"</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>Leiderman, almost apoplectic, +ignored the speech. "Not arresting +him! Are you mad?"</p> + +<p>"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."</p> + +<p>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."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll arrest him?" the +boss of the state larder wanted to +know.</p> + +<p>Pardeau came to his feet. His fist +slammed down on the table. "I +shall <i>not</i> 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."</p> + +<p>"—in which Lenster and his ilk +are forever crushed and beaten," +the speaker said.</p> + +<p>Blanchard took the floor. "Gentlemen—I +move a vote of thanks +and confidence for our colleague, +Neal Pardeau."</p> + +<p>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.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>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.</p> + +<p>From the speaker came the third +and final rebroadcast of Cargill's +speech:</p> + +<p>"—a clean and wholesome +land—"</p> + +<p>"A clean and wholesome land," +Lenster murmured, and the tone +of his voice was a prayer.</p> + +<p class="hd1">THE END</p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/001-2.jpg"><img src="images/001-1.jpg" width="137" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><big><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></big></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>If Worlds of Science Fiction</i> 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.</p></div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30405 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30405-h/images/001-1.jpg b/30405-h/images/001-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e87a8b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/30405-h/images/001-1.jpg diff --git a/30405-h/images/001-2.jpg b/30405-h/images/001-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3b603f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/30405-h/images/001-2.jpg |
