Utopia had been reached. All the problems ofmankind had been solved. It was the perfectState. If you doubted it, you died.
While Professor Cargill lecturedfrom the rostrum,Neal Pardeau prowled the dark auditorium.This, he knew, was theplace to find them. Here was wherethey whispered and plotted andschemed—feeling safe in this pure,hard core of patriotism.
Safe because Cargill was the Directorof Education in the NewState, just as Pardeau was the Directorof Public Security. Safe becauseCargill's lectures were givenbefore a commanded audience,with attendance strictly mandatory.
The insistence was not reallynecessary of course. The peoplewould have come to hear Cargillregardless. His was a compelling,magnetic personality. Even now hisgreat voice was booming out:
"—and upon this anniversary ofthe New State, we can look out withgreat pride upon a clean and wholesomeland. With strong emotion,we can look upon the physicalmanifestation of our glorious principles—thatonly through self-effacement—throughfanatic love forthe state—can the individual cometo complete physical and mentalfruition. Upon this anniversarywe see our enemies, both within andwithout, broken, and completelysubjugated—"
This was the place they whisperedand schemed and plotted.Pardeau prowled the aisles, hiseyes piercing the darkness—spottingthem, cataloguing them. Andthus he came upon Emil Hillerman,his Deputy of Vital Intelligence sittingdutifully in the end seat of amiddle aisle. Hillerman's thick lipshung lax, his eyes squinted laboriouslyas he sought to follow thethread of Cargill's lecture.
Pardeau tapped Hillerman on theshoulder. The latter started guiltily.He whirled and sought to identifyPardeau in the semi-darkness. Pardeausaid, "Please step outside withme. I have some questions."
There was fear in Hillerman'sbearing as he got clumsily to hisfeet and followed Pardeau. Butnone of Cargill's speech was missed.A battery of loudspeakers carriedit even into the foyer where Pardeaustopped and turned on Hillerman.He regarded the man through cold,calculating eyes. He seemed to beboth enjoying Hillerman's discomfortand also listening to Cargill'sbooming words.
"—these pale weaklings, thesetraitors with twitching muscles andtwitching minds who skulked indark places have been finally anddecisively defeated. Even theirvaunted leader—"
"What have you been doing,"Pardeau asked, "relative to KarlLenster?"
The frightened Hillerman lickedhis fat lower lip as he soughtfor words. "Everything—everythingpossible. But Lenster is clever. Youknow that. You know that yourself."
Pardeau's eyes bored into thoseof the Intelligence Director. Theywere noted for their icy penetration,but upon this night they werelike steel knives. It was as thoughhe surveyed Hillerman from behindthe bulwark of some new andhostile information. Even as hestared, Cargill was booming fromthe rostrum:
"—Karl Lenster, their peerlessleader—"
And Cargill's voice crackled withthe inflections of pure contempt.
"—a degenerate—a dope addictwhose greatness lay only in therealms of his sensual dreams. Aweak, pitiful figure bereft of followers,cringing alone in—"
When Pardeau spoke, his voiceheld a new sharpness to complementthe new ice in his eyes. Hesaid, "In half an hour I am attendinga meeting of the Council. Theywill want a report. What aboutLenster?"
Hillerman looked quickly to rightand left, then back at his Chief. Hehesitated as though fearing the consequencesof what he was about toreve