Professor Raeder beamed. “The philosophy is a trifle crude, but Quasimodo has a certain primitive eloquence, Dr. Badel. I do not think you will recruit him easily to the ranks of pacifism.” He glanced at his watch. “And now there is a little treat in store for us all. In view of the recent political unrest triggered, I imagine, by Vanessa’s escape from Random Hill and the subsequent death of a small boy named Dugal Nemo, Sir Joseph Humboldt is speaking to the nation on his Security of the State Bill. In approximately forty-eight hours he will be dead. Let us therefore do him the courtesy of paying some attention to what may well be his final public utterance. Alfred, kindly wheel in the master tri-di and position it so that we can all see clearly. In about forty seconds, the Prime Minister will doubtless move us all with the nobility of his motives.”
Obediently, Alfred left the room and returned with a very large tri-di which was mounted on a trolley and obviously did not need an external power source. He positioned it carefully so that everyone could see.
“Turkish delight?” suggested Quasimodo hopefully.
Professor Raeder frowned. “Later, dear child. Turkish delight, at this moment, seems quite inappropriate… Channel One, Alfred. Please give us maximum definition. I think it is important that we shall see Sir Joseph with great clarity.”
Alfred adjusted the controls. The announcer, who was already introducing the Prime Minister, seemed to materialise in the holopix like a perfectly real manikin, three foot tall. It was as if he were actually in the room. Then the cameras switched to Sir Joseph Humboldt. He was seated at his desk at Ten, Downing Street. He looked very calm, very confident, very forceful.
“Good evening,” he said. “To everyone, of whatever race, creed or political belief, in this still lovely island of ours, good evening. I speak to you as your Prime Minister and your first servant, of course, but I would greatly prefer to be speaking to you as a friend. Therefore let us forget about internal politics. Indulge my mood. Allow me to talk to you as your friend. I am not seeking votes, nor am I seeking any reward for myself. I am trying to do my duty to you as a friend would, by speaking the truth.”
“Splendid!” exclaimed Professor Raeder. “He really does come across beautifully, doesn’t he?”
Sir Joseph took a rose from the vase on his desk. He held it in his hand. It was a full, red rose, beautiful. He held it to his nose and sniffed ecstatically. “An English rose, my friends. Wonderful, is it not? But such a rose must be protected if it is to flourish.”
He held it a little away from him, and suddenly the petals began to wither. “A trick, my friends, a simple trick. I held the rose in the path of a beam of infra-red radiation. You could not see the beam. You had no means of knowing it was there. The radiation is invisible.” He took another rose and held it up, at the same time using his other hand to hold up a transparent shield. The rose remained fresh and full.
“You see, the shield protects this rose… I hate to see the destruction of roses. As many of you know, I grow roses in the garden at Number Ten. They soothe me in times of stress… Most of all, my friends, I abhor the destruction of the English rose, and I will do all in my power to prevent it.”
“Bravo !”’ exclaimed Professor Raeder. “An appeal to the heart! Like me he is half-German, of course.”
“The rose and the shield are good symbols for the matter which I wish to discuss with you tonight. As you know, in recent years many astounding techniques have been developed in the field of psychology.” Sir Joseph laughed. “Like most of you, I do not pretend to understand them. I leave that to the experts. Telepathy has been with us perhaps since the birth of man; but it is only recently that science has enabled us to develop the techniques to exploit it fully. I use the word exploit with some misgivings. It is an ugly but accurate word. Throughout the history of mankind, the more aggressive nations of the world have ruthlessly exploited scientific discoveries for their own ends.”
“Your own end, Sir Joseph, is somewhat nearer than you may imagine,” interpolated Professor Raeder, rubbing his hands.
“Once it was gunpowder,” continued the Prime Minister, “then it became atomic energy and intercontinental missiles and space exploration. Now it is telergy—telepathic energy. I do not need to name to you—indeed, for the sake of diplomacy, I will not—those nations which seek the overthrow of Great Britain’s traditional, civilising role in international affairs. Sufficient to say that they are exploiting the new discoveries, telergy and the development of paranormal powers, as a means of strengthening their own positions and destroying the security of others.
“That is why I ask not only Parliament but the entire nation to endorse my Security of the State Bill. By this means we shall be able to recruit all gifted persons with paranormal talent wherever they may be found. They will be the shield that protects the rose. In the new types of psychological warfare which our enemies both at home and abroad are developing, the paranormals will be our Brigade of Guards, an élite corps, commanding our respect, our devotion, our gratitude. We shall look after them well. Make no mistake about that. We shall look after them well, so that they may protect us and help us retain our commanding political position in Europe, our rightful place in world affairs. But it is not only in the field of security and counter-espionage that they will prove—and, indeed, are already proving—their incalculable value. There are, happily, more peaceful, more constructive ways of using their wonderful talents, such as in space communications, in psychotherapy, in teaching, in criminal reform, even in marriage guidance.
“I know that many of you are anxious about your children. You know that teams of government scientists are already visiting schools throughout the country to test for paranormal talent. You are afraid, perhaps, that if your child is found to be gifted, he or she will be whisked away for intensive training.
“Let me assure you of two things. The first is that, to develop paranormal talent to its full, it must be recognised early and trained by experienced people. The second is that, under no circumstances will a child be alienated from its parents. We in this country still have a great reverence for family life and ties. And I can promise you, with my hand on my heart, that the powers we deem necessary to assume for the security of the state will not be abused. Further—“
“Cut!” said Professor Raeder. “Cut this drivel, Alfred, before I get indigestion.”
Alfred dutifully manipulated the controls. The tri-di image dissolved. There was a brief silence.
“Well, Vanessa,” said Professor Raeder, cheerily, “that is the man we shall shortly destroy. He is the one who, for his own political aims, has publicly announced that you do not exist. He is the one who caused the record of your birth to be erased, ordered your mother to be subjected to humiliating interrogation and made it necessary for you to be murdered. I imagine you will derive some satisfaction when he is taken out.”
“I agree with Roland,” said Vanessa quietly. “I think you are mad.”
“So you are entitled to your opinion, child. But, plainly, you need some encouragement for your role.” The Professor smiled at Quasimodo and at Robert and Sandra. “Are you ready to come together, children? We have practised the drill many times.”
Quasimodo nodded, with a bored expression.
“Yes, Prof,” said Robert. “We are ready.”
“Janine, you will reinforce Sandra. Help her if she wavers. Alfred, be ready to break any block that may develop.”
Professor Raeder turned to Roland. “Dr. Badel, you are now about to participate in an interesting experiment. We have tried it and succeeded several times with mammals small and large. We have not yet tried it on man. But, personally, I am confident of the result…
“Alfred, Janine, Robert, Sandra, Quasimodo, close your eyes now. Seek rapport, find harmony. You are together … You have only one will… It is my will … I will count to five. Then I will utter my command. Execute it instantly. One, two, three, four, five … Kill Dr. Badel!” The final words were uttered with
great ferocity.
Vanessa gazed at five paranormals, their eyes closed, their faces suddenly drained of expression. “Stop,” she called faintly. “Stop this dreadful thing.”
“There is no stopping it now,” said Professor Raeder. “Five is the release word. Watch and take heed.”
Roland Badel, utterly surprised by the course of events, tried to rise from his chair. He uttered a strangled cry, shook himself as if he were grappling with some invisible opponent, then sank back. His limbs twitched and shook. His eyes were staring. Strange gobbling noises came from his throat. Then he gave a great sigh and became limp. His eyes remained wide open, sightless.
“It appears that Dr. Badel is now clinically dead, Vanessa,” said Professor Raeder calmly. “Personally, I had no doubts about the outcome. But confirmation is always gratifying.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “You have about three minutes in which to manifest total enthusiasm for the elimination of Sir Joseph Humboldt.”
21
“PLEASE! PLEASE!” CRIED Vanessa. “What do you want me to do?” She gazed round her in horror and misery, unable to glance again at Roland’s body, at the sightless eyes, at the fixed and terrible expression on his face.
The young paranormals had opened their eyes once more. Alfred looked puzzled. Janine now wore a petulant expression. Quasimodo treated Vanessa to a malicious smile. Robert and Sandra gazed with unrestrained curiosity at the body.
“Well, we did it, Prof,” said Quasimodo. “Nothing to it, really. Like you keep telling us, all we need is harmony and will.”
“I did not doubt your ability, children,” said Professor Raeder benignly. “But the result is quite spectacular. To have one’s theories confirmed with such—such precision is most gratifying.”
Hardly knowing what she was doing, Vanessa went on her knees before Professor Raeder.
“Please, please help him! Please do something. I know you can. Please!”
“Do you still think me mad, Vanessa?”
“Yes. No! I don’t know. I don’t know anything at all. Please help him.”
“You think a madman, a person not in possession of his faculties, could develop such a perfect technique?”
She rocked to and fro, the tears streaming from her eyes. “I don’t know! I don’t know. Please don’t torment me. I know you have great power… Give him back his life. I’ll do anything. Only give him back his life!”
“What a soft cow,” said Janine. Professor Raeder silenced her with a glance.
Then he turned to Vanessa. “Death is an interesting phenomenon,” he observed. “Consider Dr. Badel. His heart has stopped. Shortly, his brain cells, deprived of oxygen will begin the irreversible process of corruption. On the other hand, his beard will continue to grow for several hours, and it will take some time before the micro-organisms in his alimentary canal are affected by the demise of their host. Yes, death is an interesting phenomenon.”
“Please,” moaned Vanessa, “I can’t bear any more. Help him. I’ll do anything you ask, anything at all.”
“A carte blanche offer,” observed the Professor. “How gratifying. I hardly required as much… You will do exactly as I say, Vanessa, irrespective of whether you consider me sane or mad?”
“Yes, yes!”
“You will obey me at all times, precisely, and in every detail, knowing that I can use the powers you have seen demonstrated as I choose?”
“Yes. Please, Professor Raeder. I beg you. Help him.”
Professor Raeder yawned, glanced at his watch. “Then remember your promise, Vanessa. Remember also the consequences of breaking it… Alfred, you will find a small black case on the top of my desk. Please bring it to me. I fear I am indulgent enough to be the resurrection and the life. The late Dr. Badel has between fifty and ninety seconds of pseudo-death left. After that, it is likely to be somewhat permanent.” He turned to Dr. Badel’s body and, unmoved by the sightless gaze, began carefully unbuttoning the dead man’s shirt. Vanessa remained on her knees, frozen, watching with an expression in which horror mingled with hope.
Alfred dutifully brought the black case. Professor Raeder unfastened it sufficiently to extract two heavily insulated lengths of flex, each of which was connected to a box inside the case and had a flat copper disc, the size of a penny, at its terminal. Professor Raeder inspected a small dial, visible through a hole cut into the case, then set an external lever carefully and pressed a stud. There was a very faint whirring sound.
“The cardiac stimulator takes about eight seconds to charge,” he said conversationally to Vanessa. “Ideally, Dr. Badel’s skin should be moist for maximum conductivity. I shall pass the charge into his body here and here.” He indicated spots just below the dead man’s nipples and slightly more central on his body. He gazed at Vanessa with a faintly malicious smile. “Perhaps you would like to touch the areas with your tongue. Or, if you do not feel up to it, I am sure Janine will oblige.”
Dumbly, Vanessa did as she was asked. She was oddly amazed at how warm the flesh still was. She wondered at her own surprise.
“Thank you,” said Professor Raeder. “A splendid mechanism, the heart. So simple, A most brilliantly designed pump. Give it a kick and it stops. Give it another kick and it re-starts. At least, let us hope so.”
He pressed the copper terminals on the flesh that Vanessa had moistened. Roland’s limbs jerked convulsively, his chest heaved, his eyelids fluttered. Professor Raeder lifted the terminals, but the body slumped once more, still lifeless.
“Oh, dear,” said Professor Raeder mildly. “Dr. Badel seems reluctant to return to us. I shall have to increase the voltage.”
“Hurry, please hurry,” said Vanessa. The phrase ‘irreversible process of corruption’ seemed to be written into her mind in letters of fire.
Again Professor Raeder consulted the dial, adjusted the regulator lever and pressed the charge button.
He looked at Vanessa. “Another eight seconds, my dear… You will keep your promise?”
“I will keep my promise. If he lives.”
“And if he does not live?”
She stood up, eyes blazing. “I will kill you, or I will die trying. I hate you!”
“So. We truly understand each other. I thought we might. I need you and you need me. Remember that always… Now, have no fear Vanessa. Dr. Badel is about to re-join us.”
“You were not trying!” Vanessa looked at him, her eyes wide.
“On the contrary, I was succeeding. But now let us see to our late companion.”
Once more, Professor Raeder applied the terminals. Again Roland’s limbs jerked, his eyes fluttered and his chest heaved. But this time he continued to breathe when the terminals were removed. His heart continued to beat and he was returned almost instantaneously to full consciousness.
He lay pale and weak in the chair, staring dully about him.
Professor Raeder smiled. “Welcome, as they say, to the land of the living. Please don’t move or exert yourself for a while, Dr. Badel. Your heart—as you must know—needs a little time to adjust. And in order to set your mind—or should I say brain?—at rest, you will be happy to know that you were resuscitated well within the acceptable limits. There will be no permanent damage.”
“Doc, what did it feel like to be dead?” enquired Quasimodo with malicious interest. “I think I like this game. We could keep on killing you, and the Prof could keep on bringing you back. I wonder how long you would last?”
Roland ignored him. “Professor Raeder, you are a clever and ruthless man, and you have reduced us to the level of puppets. But even you must realise that you cannot evade retribution. Come back to reality. You have demonstrated unprecedented control of telergetic power. Publish an account of your researches and techniques and you will be regarded as the greatest para-psychologist of this century. Leave it at that.”
Vanessa stroked his forehead, held his hand. “Roland, please don’t antagonise him. Please don’t. I can’t bear any more of this.”
&nb
sp; Roland sighed. “What did he demand as the price of my life?”
“Absolute obedience. I promised. I will keep the promise as long as you live.”
“You paid too much. I’m not worth it. Also, you should be old enough to know that the devil always cheats on his bargains.”
Professor Raeder laughed. “Pacts with the devil? My dear Dr. Badel, the trauma of death has clearly distorted your perception somewhat. I trust you will regain your sense of proportion after you have rested. Also, if my knowledge of literature and mythology serves me aright, the devil is renowned for keeping his bargains—to the letter… Now, it is my professional opinion—as you know, I also have a degree in medicine—that you should enjoy relaxed rest for several hours. Alfred, dear boy, will assist you to your room, and I will come along later and give you a mild sedative. The heart is a curious machine, tough yet vulnerable—as is the brain. Interrupt its function, however briefly, and you introduce the possibility of psychosomatic feedback. But I am sure you know all this. So, to bed with you, Dr. Badel. Tomorrow, perhaps, if you feel up to it, as the first man to experience telergetic euthanasia, you may care to give me a subjective account of the experience for the record… Come now, let us help you to your feet. Please enable me to keep my devil’s bargain with Vanessa by not trying to do anything quickly for a time.”
“May I go with him?” asked Vanessa.
“You may, child. But when you have seen that he is comfortable, you will return here. I must explain to you exactly what is needed to accomplish the destruction of Sir Joseph Humboldt.”
When Roland tried to stand up, he realised how weak he was. The psychological trauma that he had experienced was making itself apparent. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He wobbled uncertainly on his legs, like a drunken man, steadied by Alfred and Vanessa.
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