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diff --git a/old/7cndn10.txt b/old/7cndn10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3458060 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/7cndn10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9763 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of City of Endless Night, by Milo Hastings + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: City of Endless Night + +Author: Milo Hastings + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9862] +[This file was first posted on October 25, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT *** + + + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Susan Woodring, and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + +CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT + +By Milo Hastings + +1920 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. THE RED AND BLACK AND GOLD STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY ON THE CHANGING + MAP OF THE WORLD + + II. I EXPLORE THE POTASH MINES OF STASSFURT AND FIND A DIARY IN A DEAD + MAN'S POCKET + + III. IN A BLACK UTOPIA THE BLOND BROOD BREEDS AND SWARMS + + IV. I GO PLEASURING ON THE LEVEL OF FREE WOMEN AND DRINK SYNTHETIC BEER + + V. I AM DRAFTED FOR PATERNITY AND MAKE EXTRAORDINARY PETITION TO THE + CHIEF OF THE EUGENIC STAFF + + VI. IN WHICH I LEARN THAT COMPETITION IS STILL THE LIFE OF THE OLDEST + TRADE IN THE WORLD + + VII. THE SUN SHINES UPON A KING AND A GIRL READS OF THE FALL OF BABYLON + +VIII. FINDING THEREIN ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN, I HAVE COMPASSION ON BERLIN + + IX. IN WHICH I SALUTE THE STATUE OF GOD, AND A PSYCHIC EXPERT EXPLORES + MY BRAIN AND FINDS NOTHING + + X. A GODDESS WHO IS SUFFERING FROM OBESITY, AND A BRAVE MAN WHO IS + AFRAID OF THE LAW OF AVERAGES + + XI. IN WHICH THE TALKING DELEGATE IS ANSWERED BY THE ROYAL VOICE AND I + LEARN THAT LABOR KNOWS NOT GOD + + XII. THE DIVINE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM THE GREAT GIVE A BENEFIT FOR THE + CANINE GARDENS AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE PIGGERIES + +XIII. IN WHICH A WOMAN ACCUSES ME OF MURDER AND I PLACE A RUBY NECKLACE + ABOUT HER THROAT + + XIV. THE BLACK SPOT IS ERASED FROM THE MAP OF THE WORLD AND THERE IS + DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT ON THE ROOF OF BERLIN + + + +CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE RED AND BLACK AND GOLD STRUGGLE FOR +SUPREMACY ON THE CHANGING MAP OF THE WORLD + + +~1~ + +When but a child of seven my uncle placed me in a private school in +which one of the so-called redeemed sub-sailors was a teacher of the +German language. As I look back now, in the light of my present +knowledge, I better comprehend the docile humility and carefully +nurtured ignorance of this man. In his class rooms he used as a text a +description of German life, taken from the captured submarine. From this +book he had secured his own conception of a civilization of which he +really knew practically nothing. I recall how we used to ask Herr +Meineke if he had actually seen those strange things of which he taught +us. To this he always made answer, "The book is official, man's +observation errs." + +~2~ + +"He can talk it," said my playmates who attended the public schools +where all teaching of the language of the outcast nation was prohibited. +They invariably elected me to be "the Germans," and locked me up in the +old garage while they rained a stock of sun-dried clay bombs upon the +roof and then came with a rush to "batter down the walls of Berlin" by +breaking in the door, while I, muttering strange guttural oaths, would +be led forth to be "exterminated." + +On rainy days I would sometimes take my favoured playmates into my +uncle's library where five great maps hung in ordered sequence on the +panelled wall. + +The first map was labelled "The Age of Nations--1914," and showed the +black spot of Germany, like in size to many of the surrounding +countries, the names of which one recited in the history class. + +The second map--"Germany's Maximum Expansion of the First World +War--1918"--showed the black area trebled in size, crowding into the +pale gold of France, thrusting a hungry arm across the Hellespont +towards Bagdad, and, from the Balkans to the Baltic, blotting out all +else save the flaming red of Bolshevist Russia, which spread over the +Eastern half of Europe like a pool of fresh spilled blood. + +Third came "The Age of the League of Nations, 1919--1983," with the gold +of democracy battling with the spreading red of socialism, for the black +of autocracy had erstwhile vanished. + +The fourth map was the most fascinating and terrible. Again the black of +autocracy appeared, obliterating the red of the Brotherhood of Man, +spreading across half of Eurasia and thrusting a broad black shadow to +the Yellow Sea and a lesser one to the Persian Gulf. This map was +labelled "Maximum German Expansion of the Second World War, 1988," and +lines of dotted white retreated in concentric waves till the line +of 2041. + +This same year was the first date of the fifth map, which was labelled +"A Century of the World State," and here, as all the sea was blue, so +all the land was gold, save one black blot that might have been made by +a single spattered drop of ink, for it was no bigger than the Irish +Island. The persistence of this remaining black on the map of the world +troubled my boyish mind, as it has troubled three generations of the +United World, and strive as I might, I could not comprehend why the +great blackness of the fourth map had been erased and this small blot +alone remained. + +~3~ + +When I returned from school for my vacation, after I had my first year +of physical science, I sought out my uncle in his laboratory and asked +him to explain the mystery of the little black island standing adamant +in the golden sea of all the world. + +"That spot," said my uncle, "would have been erased in two more years if +a Leipzig professor had not discovered The Ray. Yet we do not know his +name nor how he made his discovery." + +"But just what is The Ray?" I asked. + +"We do not know that either, nor how it is made. We only know that it +destroys the oxygen carrying power of living blood. If it were an +emanation from a substance like radium, they could have fired it in +projectiles and so conquered the earth. If it were ether waves like +electricity, we should have been able to have insulated against it, or +they should have been able to project it farther and destroy our +aircraft, but The Ray is not destructive beyond two thousand metres in +the air and hardly that far in the earth." + +"Then why do we not fly over and land an army and great guns and batter +down the walls of Berlin and he done with it?" + +"That, as you know if you studied your history, has been tried many +times and always with disaster. The bomb-torn soil of that black land is +speckled white with the bones of World armies who were sent on landing +invasions before you or I was born. But it was only heroic folly, one +gun popping out of a tunnel mouth can slay a thousand men. To pursue the +gunners into their catacombs meant to be gassed; and sometimes our +forces were left to land in peace and set up their batteries to fire +against Berlin, but the Germans would place Ray generators in the ground +beneath them and slay our forces in an hour, as the Angel of Jehovah +withered the hosts of the Assyrians." + +"But why," I persisted, "do we not tunnel under the Ray generators and +dig our way to Berlin and blow it up?" + +My uncle smiled indulgently. "And that has been tried too, but they can +hear our borings with microphones and cut us off, just as we cut them +off when they try to tunnel out and place new generators. It is too +slow, too difficult, either way; the line has wavered a little with the +years but to no practical avail; the war in our day has become merely a +watching game, we to keep the Germans from coming out, they to keep us +from penetrating within gunshot of Berlin; but to gain a mile of +worthless territory either way means too great a human waste to be worth +the price. Things must go on as they are till the Germans tire of their +sunless imprisonment or till they exhaust some essential element in +their soil. But wars such as you read of in your history, will never +happen again. The Germans cannot fight the world in the air, nor in the +sea, nor on the surface of the earth; and we cannot fight the Germans in +the ground; so the war has become a fixed state of standing guard; the +hope of victory, the fear of defeat have vanished; the romance of war +is dead." + +"But why, then," I asked, "does the World Patrol continue to bomb the +roof of Berlin?" + +"Politics," replied my uncle, "military politics, just futile display of +pyrotechnics to amuse the populace and give heroically inclined young +men a chance to strut in uniforms--but after the election this fall such +folly will cease." + +~4~ + +My uncle had predicted correctly, for by the time I again came home on +my vacation, the newly elected Pacifist Council had reduced the aerial +activities to mere watchful patroling over the land of the enemy. Then +came the report of an attempt to launch an airplane from the roof of +Berlin. The people, in dire panic lest Ray generators were being carried +out by German aircraft, had clamoured for the recall of the Pacifist +Council, and the bombardment of Berlin was resumed. + +During the lull of the bombing activities my uncle, who stood high with +the Pacifist Administration, had obtained permission to fly over Europe, +and I, most fortunate of boys, accompanied him. The plane in which we +travelled bore the emblem of the World Patrol. On a cloudless day we +sailed over the pock-marked desert that had once been Germany and came +within field-glass range of Berlin itself. On the wasted, bomb-torn land +lay the great grey disc--the city of mystery. Three hundred metres high +they said it stood, but so vast was its extent that it seemed as flat +and thin as a pancake on a griddle. + +"More people live in that mass of concrete," said my uncle, "than in the +whole of America west of the Rocky Mountains." His statement, I have +since learned, fell short of half the truth, but then it seemed +appalling. I fancied the city a giant anthill, and searched with my +glass as if I expected to see the ants swarming out. But no sign of life +was visible upon the monotonous surface of the sand-blanketed roof, and +high above the range of naked vision hung the hawk-like watchers of the +World Patrol. + +The lure of unravelled secrets, the ambition for discovery and +exploration stirred my boyish veins. Yes, I would know more of the +strange race, the unknown life that surged beneath that grey blanket of +mystery. But how? For over a century millions of men had felt that same +longing to know. Aviators, landing by accident or intent within the +lines, had either returned with nothing to report, or they had not +returned. Daring journalists, with baskets of carrier pigeons, had on +foggy nights dropped by parachute to the roof of the city; but neither +they nor the birds had brought back a single word of what lay beneath +the armed and armoured roof. + +My own resolution was but a boy's dream and I returned to Chicago to +take up my chemical studies. + + + +CHAPTER II + +I EXPLORE THE POTASH MINES OF STASSFURT +AND FIND A DIARY IN A DEAD MAN'S POCKET + + +~1~ + +When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory +explosion. He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who +had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic +foods of Germany. For some years I had been his trusted assistant. In +our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had +been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me +was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, +which I had read with avidity. With the exception of those relating to +submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that +they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it. + +My uncle had bequeathed me both his work and his fortune, but despairing +of my ability worthily to continue his own brilliant researches on +synthetic food, I turned my attention to the potash problem, in which I +had long been interested. My reading of early chemical works had given +me a particular interest in the reclamation of the abandoned potash +mines of Stassfurt. These mines, as any student of chemical history will +know, were one of the richest properties of the old German state in the +days before the endless war began and Germany became isolated from the +rest of the world. The mines were captured by the World in the year +2020, and were profitably operated for a couple of decades. Meanwhile +the German lines were forced many miles to the rear before the +impregnable barrier of the Ray had halted the progress of the +World Armies. + +A few years after the coming of the Ray defences, occurred what history +records as "The Tragedy of the Mines." Six thousand workmen went down +into the potash mines of Stassfurt one morning and never came up again. +The miners' families in the neighbouring villages died like weevils in +fumigated grain. The region became a valley of pestilence and death, and +all life withered for miles around. Numerous governmental projects were +launched for the recovery of the potash mines but all failed, and for +one hundred and eleven years no man had penetrated those +accursed shafts. + +Knowing these facts, I wasted no time in soliciting government aid for +my project, but was content to secure a permit to attempt the recovery +with private funds, with which my uncle's fortune supplied me in +abundance. + +In April, 2151, I set up my laboratory on the edge of the area of death. +I had never accepted the orthodox view as to the composition of the gas +that issued from the Stassfurt mines. In a few months I was gratified to +find my doubts confirmed. A short time after this I made a more +unexpected and astonishing discovery. I found that this complex and +hitherto misunderstood gas could, under the influence of certain +high-frequency electrical discharges, be made to combine with explosive +violence with the nitrogen of the atmosphere, leaving only a harmless +residue. We wired the surrounding region for the electrical discharge +and, with a vast explosion of weird purple flame, cleared the whole area +of the century-old curse. Our laboratory was destroyed by the explosion. +It was rebuilt nearer the mine shafts from which the gas still slowly +issued. Again we set up our electrical machinery and dropped our cables +into the shafts, this time clearing the air of the mines. + +A hasty exploration revealed the fact that but a single shaft had +remained intact. A third time we prepared our electrical machinery. We +let down a cable and succeeded in getting but a faint reaction at the +bottom of the shaft. After several repeated clearings we risked descent. + +Upon arrival at the bottom we were surprised to find it free from water, +save for a trickling stream. The second thing we discovered was a pile +of huddled skeletons of the workmen who had perished over a century +previous. But our third and most important discovery was a boring from +which the poisonous gas was slowly issuing. It took but a few hours to +provide an apparatus to fire this gas as fast as it issued, and the +potash mines of Stassfurt were regained for the world. + +My associates were for beginning mining operations at once, but I had +been granted a twenty years' franchise on the output of these mines, and +I was in no such haste. The boring from which this poisonous vapour +issued was clearly man-made; moreover I alone knew the formula of that +gas and had convinced myself once for all as to its man-made origin. I +sent for microphones and with their aid speedily detected the sound of +machinery in other workings beneath. + +It is easy now to see that I erred in risking my own life as I did +without the precaution of confiding the secret of my discovery to +others. But those were days of feverish excitement. Impulsively I +decided to make the first attack on the Germans as a private enterprise +and then call for military aid. I had my own equipment of poisonous +bombs and my sapping and mining experts determined that the German +workings were but eighty metres beneath us. Hastily, among the crumbling +skeletons, we set up our electrical boring machinery and began sinking a +one-metre shaft towards the nearest sound. + +After twenty hours of boring, the drill head suddenly came off and +rattled down into a cavern. We saw a light and heard guttural shouting +below and the cracking of a gun as a few bullets spattered against the +roof of our chamber. We heaved down our gas bombs and covered over our +shaft. Within a few hours the light below went out and our microphones +failed to detect any sound from the rocks beneath us. It was then +perhaps that I should have called for military aid, but the uncanny +silence of the lower workings proved too much for my eager curiosity. We +waited two days and still there was no evidence of life below. I knew +there had been ample time for the gas from our bombs to have been +dissipated, as it was decomposed by contact with moisture. A light was +lowered, but this brought forth no response. + +I now called for a volunteer to descend the shaft. None was forthcoming +from among my men, and against their protest I insisted on being lowered +into the shaft. When I was a few metres from the bottom the cable parted +and I fell and lay stunned on the floor below. + +~2~ + +When I recovered consciousness the light had gone out. There was no +sound about me. I shouted up the shaft above and could get no answer. +The chamber in which I lay was many times my height and I could make +nothing out in the dark hole above. For some hours I scarcely stirred +and feared to burn my pocket flash both because it might reveal my +presence to lurking enemies and because I wished to conserve my battery +against graver need. + +But no rescue came from my men above. Only recently, after the lapse of +years, did I learn the cause of their deserting me. As I lay stunned +from my fall, my men, unable to get answer to their shoutings, had given +me up for dead. Meanwhile the apparatus which caused the destruction of +the German gas had gone wrong. My associates, unable to fix it, had fled +from the mine and abandoned the enterprise. + +After some hours of waiting I stirred about and found means to erect a +rough scaffold and reach the mouth of the shaft above me. I attempted to +climb, but, unable to get a hold on the smooth wet rock, I gave up +exhausted and despairing. Entombed in the depths of the earth, I was +either a prisoner of the German potash miners, if any remained alive, or +a prisoner of the earth itself, with dead men for company. + +Collecting my courage I set about to explore my surroundings. I found +some mining machinery evidently damaged by the explosion of our gas +bombs. There was no evidence of men about, living or dead. Stealthily I +set out along the little railway track that ran through a passage down a +steep incline. As I progressed I felt the air rapidly becoming colder. +Presently I stumbled upon the first victim of our gas bombs, fallen +headlong as he was fleeing. I hurried on. The air seemed to be blowing +in my face and the cold was becoming intense. This puzzled me for at +this depth the temperature should have been above that on the surface of +the earth. + +After a hundred metres or so of going I came into a larger chamber. It +was intensely cold. From out another branching passage-way I could hear +a sizzling sound as of steam escaping. I started to turn into this +passage but was met with such a blast of cold air that I dared not face +it for fear of being frozen. Stamping my feet, which were fast becoming +numb, I made the rounds of the chamber, and examined the dead miners +that were tumbled about. The bodies were frozen. + +One side of this chamber was partitioned off with some sort of metal +wall. The door stood blown open. It felt a little warmer in here and I +entered and closed the door. Exploring the room with my dim light I +found one side of it filled with a row of bunks--in each bunk a corpse. +Along the other side of the room was a table with eating utensils and +back of this were shelves with food packages. + +I was in danger of freezing to death and, tumbling several bodies out of +the bunks, I took the mattresses and built of them a clumsy enclosure +and installed in their midst a battery heater which I found. In this +fashion I managed to get fairly warm again. After some hours of huddling +I observed that the temperature had moderated. + +My fear of freezing abated, I made another survey of my surroundings and +discovered something that had escaped my first attention. In the far end +of the room was a desk, and seated before it with his head fallen +forward on his arms was the form of a man. The miners had all been +dressed in a coarse artificial leather, but this man was dressed in a +woven fabric of cellulose silk. + +The body was frozen. As I tumbled it stiffly back it fell from the chair +exposing a ghastly face. I drew away in a creepy horror, for as I looked +at the face of the corpse I suffered a sort of waking nightmare in which +I imagined that I was gazing at my own dead countenance. + +I concluded that my normal mind was slipping out of gear and proceeded +to back off and avail myself of a tube of stimulant which I carried in +my pocket. + +This revived me somewhat, but again, when I tried to look upon the +frozen face, the conviction returned that I was looking at my own +dead self. + +I glanced at my watch and figured out that I had been in the German mine +for thirty hours and had not tasted food or drink for nearly forty +hours. Clearly I had to get myself in shape to escape hallucinations. I +went back to the shelves and proceeded to look for food and drink. +Happily, due to my work in my uncle's laboratory, these synthetic foods +were not wholly strange to me. I drank copiously of a non-alcoholic +chemical liquor and warmed on the heater and partook of some nitrogenous +and some starchy porridges. It was an uncanny dining place, but hunger +soon conquers mere emotion, and I made out a meal. Then once more I +faced the task of confronting this dead likeness of myself. + +This time I was clear-headed enough. I even went to the miners' lavatory +and, jerking down the metal mirror, scrutinized my own reflection and +reassured myself of the closeness of the resemblance. My purpose framed +in my mind as I did this. Clearly I was in German quarters and was +likely to remain there. Sooner or later there must be a rescuing party. + +Without further ado, I set about changing my clothing for that of the +German. The fit of the dead man's clothes further emphasized the closeness +of the physical likeness. I recalled my excellent command of the German +language and began to wonder what manner of man I was supposed to be in +this assumed personality. But my most urgent task was speedily to make +way with the incriminating corpse. With the aid of the brighter +flashlight which I found in my new pockets, I set out to find a place to +hide the body. + +The cold that had so frightened me had now given way to almost normal +temperature. There was no longer the sound of sizzling steam from the +unexplored passage-way. I followed this and presently came upon another +chamber filled with machinery. In one corner a huge engine, covered with +frost, gave off a chill greeting. On the floor was a steaming puddle of +liquid, but the breath of this steam cut like a blizzard. At once I +guessed it. This was a liquid air engine. The dead engineer in the +corner helped reveal the story. With his death from the penetrating gas, +something had gone wrong with the engine. The turbine head had blown +off, and the conveying pipe of liquid air had poured forth the icy blast +that had so nearly frozen me along with the corpses of the Germans. But +now the flow of liquid had ceased, and the last remnants were +evaporating from the floor. Evidently the supply pipe had been shut off +further back on the line, and I had little time to lose for rescuers +were probably on the way. + +Along one of the corridors running from the engine room I found an open +water drain half choked with melting ice. Following this I came upon a +grating where the water disappeared. I jerked up the grating and dropped +a piece of ice down the well-like shaft. I hastily returned and dragged +forth the corpse of my double and with it everything I had myself +brought into the mine. Straightening out the stiffened body I plunged it +head foremost into the opening. The sound of a splash echoed within the +dismal depths. + +I now hastened back to the chamber into which I had first fallen and +destroyed the scaffolding I had erected there. Returning to the desk +where I had found the man whose clothing I wore, I sat down and +proceeded to search my abundantly filled pockets. From one of them I +pulled out a bulky notebook and a number of loose papers. The freshest +of these was an official order from the Imperial Office of Chemical +Engineers. The order ran as follows: + + Capt. Karl Armstadt + Laboratory 186, E. 58. + + Report is received at this office of the sound of sapping + operations in potash mine D5. Go at once and verify the same + and report of condition of gas generators and make analyses + of output of the same. + +Evidently I was Karl Armstadt and very happily a chemical engineer by +profession. My task of impersonation so far looked feasible--I could +talk chemical engineering. + +The next paper I proceeded to examine was an identification folder done +up in oiled fabric. Thanks to German thoroughness it was amusingly +complete. On the first page appeared what I soon discovered to be __ +pedigree for four generations back. The printed form on which all this +was minutely filled out made very clear statements from which I +determined that my father and mother were both dead. + +I, Karl Armstadt, twenty-seven years of age, was the fourteenth child of +my mother and was born when she was forty-two years of age. According to +the record I was the ninety-seventh child of my father and born when he +was fifty-four. As I read this I thought there was something here that I +misunderstood, although subsequent discoveries made it plausible enough. +There was no further record of my plentiful fraternity, but I took heart +that the mere fact of their numerical abundance would make unlikely any +great show of brotherly interest, a presumption which proved +quite correct. + +On the second page of this folder I read the number and location of my +living quarters, the sources from which my meals and clothing were +issued, as well as the sizes and qualities of my garments and numerous +other references to various details of living, all of which seemed +painstakingly ridiculous at the time. + +I put this elaborate identification paper back into its receptacle and +opened the notebook. It proved to be a diary kept likewise in thorough +German fashion. I turned to the last pages and perused them hastily. + +The notes in Armstadt's diary were concerned almost wholly with his +chemical investigations. All this I saw might be useful to me later but +what I needed more immediately was information as to his personal life. +I scanned back hastily through the pages for a time without finding any +such revelations. Then I discovered this entry made some months +previously: + +"I cannot think of chemistry tonight, for the vision of Katrina dances +before me as in a dream. It must be a strange mixture of blood-lines +that could produce such wondrous beauty. In no other woman have I seen +such a blackness of hair and eyes combined with such a whiteness of +skin. I suppose I should not have danced with her--now I see all my +resolutions shattered. But I think it was most of all the blackness of +her eyes. Well, what care, we live but once!" + +I read and re-read this entry and searched feverishly in Armstadt's +diary for further evidence of a personal life. But I only found tedious +notes on his chemical theories. Perhaps this single reference to a woman +was but a passing fancy of a man otherwise engrossed in his science. But +if rescuers came and I succeeded in passing for the German chemist the +presence of a woman in my new role of life would surely undo all my +effort. If no personal acquaintance of the dead man came with the +rescuing party I saw no reason why I could not for the time pass +successfully as Armstadt. I should at least make the effort and I +reasoned I could best do this by playing the malingerer and appearing +mentally incompetent. Such a ruse, I reasoned, would give me opportunity +to hear much and say little, and perhaps so get my bearings in the new +role that I could continue it successfully. + +Then, as I was about to return the notebook to my pocket, my hopes sank +as I found this brief entry which I had at first scanning overlooked: + +"It is twenty days now since Katrina and I have been united. She does +not interfere with my work as much as I feared. She even lets me talk +chemistry to her, though I am sure she understands not one word of what +I tell her. I think I have made a good selection and it is surely a +permanent one. Therefore I must work harder than ever or I shall not +get on." + +This alarmed me. Yet, if Armstadt had married he made very little fuss +about it. Evidently it concerned him chiefly in relation to his work. +But whoever and whatever Katrina was, it was clear that her presence +would be disastrous to my plans of assuming his place in the +German world. + +Pondering over the ultimate difficulty of my situation, but with a +growing faith in the plan I had evolved for avoiding immediate +explanations, I fell into a long-postponed sleep. The last thing I +remember was tumbling from my chair and sprawling out upon the floor +where I managed to snap out my light before the much needed sleep quite +overcame me. + +~3~ + +I was awakened by voices, and opened my eyes to find the place brightly +lighted. I closed them again quickly as some one approached and prodded +me with the toe of his boot. + +"Here is a man alive," said a voice above me. + +"He is Captain Armstadt, the chemist," said another voice, approaching; +"this is good. We have special orders to search for him." + +The newcomer bent over and felt my heart. I was quite aware that it was +functioning normally. He shook me and called me by name. After repeated +shakings I opened my eyes and stared at him blankly, but I said nothing. +Presently he left me and returned with a stretcher. I lay inertly as I +was placed thereon and borne out of the chamber. Other stretcher-bearers +were walking ahead. We passed through the engine room where mechanics +were at work on the damaged liquid air engine. My stretcher was placed +on a little car which moved swiftly along the tunnel. + +We came into a large subterranean station and I was removed and brought +before a bevy of white garbed physicians. They looked at my +identification folder and then examined me. Through it all I lay limp +and as near lifeless as I could simulate, and they succeeded in getting +no speech out of me. The final orders were to forward me post haste to +the Imperial Hospital for Complex Gas Cases. + +After an eventless journey of many hours I was again unloaded and +transferred to an elevator. For several hundred metres we sped upward +through a shaft, while about us whistled a blast of cold, crisp air. At +last the elevator stopped and I was carried out to an ambulance that +stood waiting in a brilliantly lighted passage arched over with grey +concrete. I was no longer beneath the surface of the earth but was +somewhere in the massive concrete structure of the City of Berlin. + +After a short journey our ambulance stopped and attendants came out and +carried my litter through an open doorway and down a long hall into the +spacious ward of a hospital. + +From half closed eyes I glanced about apprehensively for a black-haired +woman. With a sigh of relief I saw there were only doctors and male +attendants in the room. They treated me most professionally and gave no +sign that they suspected I was other than Capt. Karl Armstadt, which +fact my papers so eloquently testified. The conclusion of their +examination was voiced in my presence. "Physically he is normal," said +the head physician, "but his mind seems in a stupor. There is no remedy, +as the nature of the gas is unknown. All that can be done is to await +the wearing off of the effect." + +I was then left alone for some hours and my appetite was troubling me. +At last an attendant approached with some savoury soup; he propped me up +and proceeded to feed me with a spoon. + +I made out from the conversation about me that the other patients were +officers from the underground fighting forces. An atmosphere of military +discipline pervaded the hospital and I felt reassured in the conclusion +that all visiting was forbidden. + +Yet my thoughts turned repeatedly to the black-eyed Katrina of +Armstadt's diary. No doubt she had been informed of the rescue and was +waiting in grief and anxiety to see him. So both she and I were awaiting +a tragic moment--she to learn that her husband or lover was dead, I for +the inevitable tearing off of my protecting disguise. + +After some days the head physician came to my cot and questioned me. I +gazed at him and knit my brows as if struggling to think. + +"You were gassed in the mine," he kept repeating, "can you remember?" + +"Yes," I ventured, "I went to the mine, there was the sound of boring +overhead. I set men to watch; I was at the desk, I heard shouting, after +that I cannot remember." + +"They were all dead but you," said the doctor. + +"All dead," I repeated. I liked the sound of this and so kept on +mumbling "All dead, all dead." + +~4~ + +My plan was working nicely. But I realized I could not keep up this role +for ever. Nor did I wish to, for the idleness and suspense were +intolerable and I knew that I would rather face whatever problems my +recovery involved than to continue in this monotonous and meaningless +existence. So I convalesced by degrees and got about the hospital, and +was permitted to wait on myself. But I cultivated a slowness and brevity +of speech. + +One day as I sat reading the attendant announced, "A visitor to see you, +sir." + +Trembling with excitement and fear I tensely waited the coming of the +visitor. + +Presently a stolid-faced young man followed the attendant into the room. +"You remember Holknecht," said the nurse, "he is your assistant at the +laboratory." + +I stared stupidly at the man, and cold fear crept over me as he, with +puzzled eyes, returned my gaze. + +"You are much changed," he said at last. "I hardly recognize you." + +"I have been very ill," I replied. + +Just then the head physician came into the room and seeing me talking to +a stranger walked over to us. As I said nothing, Holknecht introduced +himself. The medical man began at once to enlarge upon the peculiarities +of my condition. "The unknown gas," he explained, "acted upon the whole +nervous system and left profound effects. Never in the records of the +hospital has there been so strange a case." + +Holknecht seemed quite awed and completely credulous. + +"His memory must be revived," continued the head physician, "and that +can best be done by recalling the dominating interest of his mind." + +"Captain Armstadt was wholly absorbed in his research work in the +laboratory," offered Holknecht. + +"Then," said the physician, "you must revive the activity of those +particular brain cells." + +With that command the laboratory assistant was left in charge. He took +his new task quite seriously. Turning to me and raising his voice as if +to penetrate my dulled mentality, he began, "Do you not remember our +work in the laboratory?" + +"Yes, the laboratory, the laboratory," I repeated vaguely. + +Holknecht described the laboratory in detail and gradually his talk +drifted into an account of the chemical research. I listened eagerly to +get the threads of the work I must needs do if I were to maintain my +role as Armstadt. + +Knowing now that visitors were permitted me, I again grew apprehensive +over the possible advent of Katrina. But no woman appeared, in fact I +had not yet seen a woman among the Germans. Always it was Holknecht and, +strictly according to his orders, he talked incessant chemistry. + +~5~ + +The day I resumed my normal wearing apparel I was shown into a large +lounging room for convalescents. I seated myself a short distance apart +from a group of officers and sat eyeing another group of large, hulking +fellows at the far end of the room. These I concluded to be common +soldiers, for I heard the officers in my ward grumbling at the fact that +they were quartered in the same hospital with men of the ranks. + +Presently an officer came over and took a seat beside me. "It is very +rarely that you men in the professional service are gassed," he said. +"You must have a dull life, I do not see how you can stand it." + +"But certainly," I replied, "it is not so dangerous." + +"And for that reason it must be stupid--I, for one, think that even in +the fighting forces there is no longer sufficient danger to keep up the +military morale. Danger makes men courageous--without danger courage +declines--and without courage what advantage would there be in the +military life?" + +"Suppose," I suggested, "the war should come to an end?" + +"But how can it?" he asked incredulously. "How can there be an end to +the war? We cannot prevent the enemy from fighting." + +"But what," I ventured, "if the enemy should decide to quit fighting?" + +"They have almost quit now," he remarked with apparent disgust; "they +are losing the fighting spirit--but no wonder--they say that the World +State population is so great that only two per cent of its men are in +the fighting forces. What I cannot see is how a people so peaceful can +keep from utter degeneration. And they say that the World State soldiers +are not even bred for soldiering but are picked from all classes. If +they should decide to quit fighting, as you suggest, we also would have +to quit--it would intolerable--it is bad enough now." + +"But could you not return to industrial life and do something +productive?" + +"Productive!" sneered the fighter. "I knew that you professional men had +no courage--it is not to be expected--but I never before heard even one +of your class suggest a thing like that--a military man do something +productive! Why don't you suggest that we be changed to women?" And with +that my fellow patient rose and, turning sharply on his metal heel, +walked away. + +The officer's attitude towards his profession set me thinking, and I +found myself wondering how far it was shared by the common soldiers. The +next day when I came out into the convalescent corridor I walked past +the group of officers and went down among the men whose garments bore no +medals or insignia. They were unusually large men, evidently from some +specially selected regiment. Picking out the most intelligent looking +one of the group I sat down beside him. + +"Is this the first time you have been gassed?" I inquired. + +"Third time," replied the soldier. + +"I should think you would have been discharged." + +"Discharged," said the soldier, in a perplexed tone, "why I am only +forty-four years old, why should I be discharged unless I get in an +explosion and lose a leg or something?" + +"But you have been gassed three times," I said, "I should think they +ought to let you return to civil life and your family." + +The soldier looked hard at the insignia of my rank as captain. "You +professional officers don't know much, do you? A soldier quit and do +common labor, now that's a fine idea. And a family! Do you think I'm a +Hohenzollern?" At the thought the soldier chuckled. "Me with a family," +he muttered to himself, "now that's a fine idea." + +I saw that I was getting on dangerous ground but curiosity prompted a +further question: "Then, I suppose, you have nothing to hope for until +you reach the age of retirement, unless war should come to an end?" + +Again the soldier eyed me carefully. "Now you do have some queer ideas. +There was a man in our company who used to talk like that when no +officers were around. This fellow, his name was Mannteufel, said he +could read books, that he was a forbidden love-child and his father was +an officer. I guess he was forbidden all right, for he certainly wasn't +right in his head. He said that we would go out on the top of the ground +and march over the enemy country and be shot at by the flying planes, +like the roof guards, if the officers had heard him they would surely +have sent him to the crazy ward--why he said that the war would be over +after that, and we would all go to the enemy country and go about as we +liked, and own houses and women and flying planes and animals. As if the +Royal House would ever let a soldier do things like that." + +"Well," I said, "and why not, if the war were over?" + +"Now there you go again--how do you mean the war was over, what would +all us soldiers do if there was no fighting?" + +"You could work," I said, "in the shops." + +"But if we worked in the shops, what would the workmen do?" + +"They would work too," I suggested. + +The soldier was silent for a time. "I think I get your idea," he said. +"The Eugenic Staff would cut down the birth rates so that there would +only be enough soldiers and workers to fill the working jobs." + +"They might do that," I remarked, wishing to lead him on. + +"Well," said the soldier, returning to the former thought, "I hope they +won't do that until I am dead. I don't care to go up on the ground to +get shot at by the fighting planes. At least now we have something over +our heads and if we are going to get gassed or blown up we can't see it +coming. At least--" + +Just then the officer with whom I had talked the day before came up. He +stopped before us and scowled at the soldier who saluted in hasty +confusion. + +"I wish, Captain," said the officer addressing me, "that you would not +take advantage of these absurd hospital conditions to disrupt discipline +by fraternizing with a private." + +At this the soldier looked up and saluted again. + +"Well?" said the officer. + +"He's not to blame, sir," said the soldier, "he's off his head." + + + +CHAPTER III + +IN A BLACK UTOPIA THE BLOND BROOD BREEDS AND SWARMS + + +~1~ + +It was with a strange mixture of eagerness and fear that I received the +head physician's decision that I would henceforth recover my faculties +more rapidly in the familiar environment of my own home. + +A wooden-faced male nurse accompanied me in a closed vehicle that ran +noiselessly through the vaulted interior streets of the completely +roofed-in city. Once our vehicle entered an elevator and was let down a +brief distance. We finally alighted in a street very like the one on +which the hospital was located, and filed down a narrow passage-way. My +companion asked for my keys, which I found in my clothing. I stood by +with a palpitating heart as he turned the lock and opened the door. + +The place we entered was a comfortably furnished bachelor's apartment. +Books and papers were littered about giving evidence of no disturbance +since the sudden leaving of the occupant. Immensely relieved I sat down +in an upholstered chair while the nurse scurried about and put the +place in order. + +"You feel quite at home?" he asked as he finished his task. + +"Quite," I replied, "things are coming back to me now." + +"You should have been sent home sooner," he said. "I wished to tell the +chief as much, but I am only a second year interne and it is forbidden +me to express an original opinion to him." + +"I am sure I will be all right now," I replied. + +He turned to go and then paused. "I think," he said, "that you should +have some notice on you that when you do go out, if you become confused +and make mistakes, the guards will understand. I will speak to Lieut. +Forrester, the Third Assistant, and ask that such a card be sent you." +With that he took his departure. + +When he had gone I breathed joyfully and freely. The rigid face and +staring eye that I had cultivated relaxed into a natural smile and then +I broke into a laugh. Here I was in the heart of Berlin, unsuspected of +being other than a loyal German and free, for the time at least, from +problems of personal relations. + +I now made an elaborate inspection of my surroundings. I found a +wardrobe full of men's clothing, all of a single shade of mauve like the +suit I wore. Some suits I guessed to be work clothes from their cheaper +texture and some, much finer, were evidently dress apparel. + +Having reassured myself that Armstadt had been the only occupant of the +apartment, I turned to a pile of papers that the hospital attendant had +picked up from the floor where they had dropped from a mail chute. Most +of these proved to be the accumulated copies of a daily chemical news +bulletin. Others were technical chemical journals. Among the letters I +found an invitation to a meeting of a chemical society, and a note from +my tailor asking me to call; the third letter was written on a +typewriter, an instrument the like of which I had already discovered in +my study. This sheet bore a neatly engraved head reading "Katrina, +Permit 843 LX, Apartment 57, K Street, Level of the Free Women." The +letter ran: + + "Dear Karl: For three weeks now you have failed to keep + your appointments and sent no explanation. You surely know + that I will not tolerate such rude neglect. I have reported + to the Supervisor that you are dropped from my list." + +So this was Katrina! Here at last was the end of the fears that had +haunted me. + +~2~ + +As I was scanning the chemical journal I heard a bell ring and turning +about I saw that a metal box had slid forth upon a side board from an +opening in the wall. In this box I found my dinner which I proceeded to +enjoy in solitude. The food was more varied than in the hospital. Some +was liquid and some gelatinous, and some firm like bread or biscuit. But +of natural food products there was nothing save a dish of mushrooms and +a single sprig of green no longer than my finger, and which, like a +feather in a boy's cap, was inserted conspicuously in the top of a +synthetic pudding. There was one food that puzzled me, for it was +sausage-like in form and sausage-like in flavour, and I was sure +contained some real substance of animal origin. Presuming, as I did at +that moment, that no animal life existed in Berlin, I ate this sausage +with doubts and misgivings. + +The dinner finished, I looked for a way to dispose of the dishes. +Packing them back in the container I fumbled about and found a switch +which set something going in the wall, and my dishes departed to the +public dishwasher. + +Having cleared the desk I next turned to Armstadt's book shelves. My +attention was caught by a ponderous volume. It proved to be an atlas and +directory of Berlin. In the front of this was a most revealing diagram +which showed Berlin to be a city of sixty levels. The five lowest levels +were underground and all were labelled "Mineral Industries." Above these +were eight levels of Food, Clothing and Miscellaneous industries. Then +came the seven workmen's residence levels, divided by trade groups. +Above this were the four "Intellectual Levels," on one of which I, as a +chemist had my abode. Directly above these was the "Level of Free +Women," and above that the residence level for military officers. The +next was the "Royal Level," double in height of the other levels of the +city. Then came the "Administrative Level," followed by eight maternity +levels, then four levels of female schools and nine levels of male +schools. Then, for six levels, and reaching to within five levels of the +roof of the city, were soldiers' barracks. Three of the remaining floors +were labelled "Swine Levels" and one "Green Gardens." Just beneath the +roof was the defence level and above that the open roof itself. + +It was a city of some three hundred metres in height with mineral +industries at the bottom and the swine levels--I recalled the +sausage--at the top. Midway between, remote from possible attack through +mines or from the roof, Royalty was sheltered, while the other +privileged groups of society were stratified above and below it. + +Following the diagram of levels was a most informing chart arranged like +a huge multiplication table. It gave after each level the words +"permitted," "forbidden," and "permitted as announced," arranged in +columns for each of the other levels. From this I traced out that as a +chemist I was permitted on all the industrial, workmen's and +intellectual levels, and on the Level of Free Women. I was permitted, as +announced, on the Administrative and Royal Levels; but forbidden on the +levels of military officers and soldiers' barracks, maternity and male +and female schools. + +I found that as a chemist I was particularly fortunate for many other +groups were given even less liberty. As for common workmen and soldiers, +they were permitted on no levels except their own. + +The most perplexing thing about this system was the apparent segregation +of such large groups of men from women. Family life in Germany was +evidently wonderfully altered and seemingly greatly restricted, a +condition inconsistent with the belief that I had always held--that the +German race was rapidly increasing. + +Turning to my atlas index I looked up the population statistics of the +city, and found that by the last census it was near three hundred +million. And except for the few millions in the mines this huge mass of +humanity was quartered beneath a single roof. I was greatly surprised, +for this population figure was more than double the usual estimates +current in the outside world. Coming from a world in which the ancient +tendency to congest in cities had long since been overcome, I was +staggered by the fact that nearly as many people were living in this one +city as existed in the whole of North America. + +Yet, when I figured the floor area of the city, which was roughly oval +in shape, being eight kilometres in breadth and eleven in length, I +found that the population on a given floor area was no greater than it +had been in the Island of Manhattan before the reform land laws were put +into effect in the latter part of the Twentieth Century. There was, +therefore, nothing incredible in these figures of total population, but +what I next discovered was a severe strain on credence. It was the +German population by sexes; the figures showed that there were nearly +two and a half males for every female! According to the usual estimate +of war losses the figure should have been at a ratio of six women living +to about five men, and here I found them recorded as only two women to +five men. Inspection of the birth rate showed an even higher proportion +of males. I consulted further tables that gave births by sexes and +groups. These varied somewhat but there was this great preponderance of +males in every class but one. Only among the seventeen thousand members +of Royalty did the proportion of the sexes approach the normal. + +Apparently I had found an explanation of the careful segregation of +German women--there were not enough to go around! + +Turning the further pages of my atlas I came upon an elaborately +illustrated directory of the uniforms and insignia of the various +military and civil ranks and classes. As I had already anticipated, I +found that any citizen in Berlin could immediately be placed in his +proper group and rank by his clothing, which was prescribed with +military exactness. + +Various fabrics and shades indicated the occupational grouping while +trimmings and insignia distinguished the ranks within the groups. In all +there were many hundreds of distinct uniforms. Two groups alone proved +exceptions to this iron clad rule; Royalty and free women were permitted +to dress as they chose and were restricted only in that they were +forbidden to imitate the particular uniforms of other groups. + +I next investigated the contents of Armstadt's desk. My most interesting +find was a checkbook, with receipts and expenditures carefully recorded +on the stubs. From this I learned that, as Armstadt, I was in receipt of +an income of five thousand marks, paid by the Government. I did not know +how much purchasing value that would amount to, but from the account +book I saw that the expenses had not equalled a third of it, which +explained why there was a bank balance of some twenty thousand marks. + +Clearly I would need to master the signature of Karl Armstadt so I +searched among the papers until I found a bundle of returned decks. Many +of the larger checks had been made out to "Katrina," others to the +"Master of Games,"--evidently to cover gambling losses. The smaller +checks, I found by reference to the stubs, were for ornaments or +entertainment that might please a woman. The lack of the more ordinary +items of expenditure was presently made clear by the discovery of a +number of punch marked cards. For intermittent though necessary +expenses, such as tonsorial service, clothing and books. For the more +constant necessities of life, such as rent, food, laundry and +transportation, there was no record whatever; and I correctly assumed +that these were supplied without compensation and were therefore not a +matter of personal choice or permissible variation. Of money in its +ancient form of metal coins and paper, I found no evidence. + +~3~ + +In my mail the next morning I found a card signed by Lieut. Forrester of +the hospital staff. It read: + +"The bearer, Karl Armstadt, has recently suffered from gas poisoning +while defending the mines beneath enemy territory. This has affected his +memory. If he is therefore found disobeying any ruling or straying +beyond his permitted bounds, return him to his apartment and call the +Hospital for Complex Gas Cases." + +It was evidently a very kindly effort to protect a man whose loss of +memory might lead him into infractions of the numerous rulings of German +life. With this help I became ambitious to try the streets of Berlin +alone. The notice from the tailor afforded an excuse. + +Consulting my atlas to get my bearings I now ventured forth. The streets +were tunnel-like passage-ways closed over with a beamed ceiling of +whitish grey concrete studded with glowing light globes. In the +residence districts the smooth side walls were broken only by high +ventilating gratings and the narrow passage halls from which led the +doors of the apartments. + +The uncanny quiet of the streets of this city with its three hundred +million inhabitants awed and oppressed me. Hurriedly I walked along +occasionally passing men dressed like myself. They were pale men, with +blanched or sallow faces. But nowhere were there faces of ruddy tan as +one sees in a world of sun. The men in the hospital had been pale, but +that had seemed less striking for one is used to pale faces in a +hospital. It came to me with a sense of something lost that my own +countenance blanched in the mine and hospital would so remain colourless +like the faces of the men who now stole by me in their felted footwear +with a cat-like tread. + +At a cross street I turned and came upon a small group of shops with +monotonous panelled display windows inserted in the concrete walls. Here +I found my tailor and going in I promptly laid down his notice and my +clothing card. He glanced casually at the papers, punched the card and +then looking up he remarked that my new suit had been waiting some time. +I began explaining the incident in the mine and the stay in the +hospital; but the tailor was either disinterested or did not comprehend. + +"Will you try on your new suit now?" he interrupted, holding forth the +garments. The suit proved a trifle tight about the hips, but I hastened +to assure the tailor that the fit was perfect. I removed it and watched +him do it up in a parcel, open a wall closet, call my house number, and +send my suit on its way through one of the numerous carriers that +interlaced the city. + +As I walked more leisurely back to my apartment by a less direct way, I +found my analytical brain puzzling over the refreshing quality of the +breezes that blew through those tunnel-like streets. With bits of paper +I traced the air flow from the latticed faces of the elevator shafts to +the ventilating gratings of the enclosed apartments, and concluded that +there must be other shafts to the rear of the apartments for its exit. +It occurred to me that it must take an enormous system of ventilating +fans to keep this air in motion, and then I remembered the liquid air +engine I had seen in the mine, and a realization of the economy and +efficiency of the whole scheme dawned upon me. The Germans had solved +the power problem by using the heat of the deeper strata of the earth to +generate power through the agency of liquid air and the exhaust from +their engines had automatically solved their ventilating problem. I +recalled with a smile that I had seen no evidence of heating apparatus +anywhere except that which the miners had used to warm their food. In +this city cooling rather than heating facilities would evidently be +needed, even in the dead of winter, since the heat generated by the +inhabitants and the industrial processes would exceed the radiation from +the exterior walls and roof of the city. Sunshine and "fresh air" they +had not, but our own scientists had taught us for generations that heat +and humidity and not lack of oxygen or sunshine was the cause of the +depression experienced in indoor quarters. The air of Berlin was cool +and the excess of vapor had been frozen out of it. Yes, the "climate" of +Berlin should be more salubrious to the body, if not to the mind, than +the fickle environment of capricious nature. From my reasoning about +these ponderous problems of existence I was diverted to a trivial +matter. The men I observed on the streets all wore their hair clipped +short, while mine, with six weeks' growth, was getting rather long. I +had seen several barber's signs but I decided to walk on for quite a +distance beyond my apartment. I did not want to confront a barber who +had known Karl Armstadt, for barbers deal critically in the matter of +heads and faces. At last I picked out a shop. I entered and asked for +a haircut. + +"But you are not on my list," said the barber, staring at me in a +puzzled way, "why do you not go to your own barber?" + +Grasping the situation I replied that I did not like my barber. + +"Then why do you not apply at the Tonsorial Administrative Office of the +level for permission to change?" + +Returning to my apartment I looked up the office in my directory, went +thither and asked the clerk if I could exchange barbers. He asked for my +card and after a deal of clerical activities wrote thereon the name of a +new barber. With this official sanction I finally got my hair cut and my +card punched, thinking meanwhile that the soundness of my teeth would +obviate any amateur detective work on the part of a dentist. + +Nothing, it seemed, was left for the individual to decide for himself. +His every want was supplied by orderly arrangement and for everything he +must have an authoritative permit. Had I not been classed as a research +chemist, and therefore a man of some importance, this simple business of +getting a hair-cut might have proved my undoing. Indeed, as I afterwards +learned, the exclusive privacy of my living quarters was a mark of +distinction. Had I been one of lower ranking I should have shared my +apartment with another man who would have slept in my bed while I was at +work, for in the sunless city was neither night nor day and the whole +population worked and slept in prescribed shifts--the vast machinery of +industry, like a blind giant in some Plutonic treadmill, toiled +ceaselessly. + +The next morning I decided to extend my travels to the medical level, +which was located just above my own. There were stairs beside the +elevator shafts but these were evidently for emergency as they were +closed with locked gratings. + +The elevator stopped at my ring. Not sure of the proper manner of +calling my floor I was carried past the medical level. As we shot up +through the three-hundred-metre shaft, the names of levels as I had read +them in my atlas flashed by on the blind doors. On the topmost defence +level we took on an officer of the roof guard--strangely swarthy of +skin--and now the car shot down while the rising air rushed by us with a +whistling roar. + +On the return trip I called my floor as I had heard others do and was +let off at the medical level. It was even more monotonously quiet than +the chemical level, save for the hurrying passage of occasional +ambulances on their way between the elevators and the various hospitals. +The living quarters of the physicians were identical with those on the +chemists' level. So, too, were the quiet shops from which the physicians +supplied their personal needs. + +Standing before one of these I saw in a window a new book entitled +"Diseases of Nutrition." I went in and asked to see a copy. The book +seller staring at my chemical uniform in amazement reached quickly under +the counter and pressed a button. I became alarmed and turned to go out +but found the door had been automatically closed and locked. Trying to +appear unconcerned I stood idly glancing over the book shelves, while +the book seller watched me from the corner of his eye. + +In a few minutes the door opened from without and a man in the uniform +of the street guard appeared. The book seller motioned toward me. + +"Your identification folder," said the guard. + +Mechanically I withdrew it and handed it to him. He opened it and +discovered the card from the hospital. Smiling on me with an air of +condescension, he took me by the arm and led me forth and conducted me +to my own apartment on the chemical level. Arriving there he pushed me +gently into a chair and stepped toward the switch of the telephone. + +"Just a minute," I said, "I remember now. I was not on my level--that +was not my book store." + +"The card orders me to call up the hospital," said the guard. + +"It is unnecessary," I said. "Do not call them." + +The guard gazed first at me and then at the card. "It is signed by a +Lieutenant and you are a Captain--" his brows knitted as he wrestled +with the problem--"I do not know what to do. Does a Captain with an +affected memory outrank a Lieutenant?" + +"He does," I solemnly assured him. + +Still a little puzzled, he returned the card, saluted and was gone. It +had been a narrow escape. I got out my atlas and read again the rules +that set forth my right to be at large in the city. Clearly I had a +right to be found in the medical level--but in trying to buy a book +there I had evidently erred most seriously. So I carefully memorized the +list of shops set down in my identification folder and on my cards. + +For the next few days I lived alone in my apartment unmolested except by +an occasional visit from Holknecht, the laboratory assistant, who knew +nothing but chemistry, talked nothing but chemistry, and seemed dead to +all human emotions and human curiosity. Applying myself diligently to +the study of Armstadt's books and notes, I was delighted to find that +the Germans, despite their great chemical progress, were ignorant of +many things I knew. I saw that my knowledge discreetly used, might +enable me to become a great man among them and so learn secrets that +would be of immense value to the outer world, should I later contrive to +escape from Berlin. + +By my discoveries of the German workings in the potash mines I had +indeed opened a new road to Berlin. It was up to me by further +discoveries to open a road out again, not only for my own escape, but +perhaps also to find a way by which the World Armies might enter Berlin +as the Greeks entered Troy. Vague ambitious dreams were these that +filled and thrilled me, for I was young in years, and the romantic +spirit of heroic adventure surged in my blood. + +These days of study were quite uneventful, except for a single +illuminating incident; a further example of the super-efficiency of the +Germans. I found the meals served me at my apartment rather less in +quantity than my appetite craved. While there was a reasonable variety, +the nutritive value was always the same to a point of scientific +exactness, and I had seen no shops where extra food was available. After +I had been in my apartment about a week, some one rang at the door. I +opened it and a man called out the single word, "Weigher." Just behind +him stood a platform scale on small wheels and with handles like a +go-cart. The weigher stood, notebook in hand, waiting for me to act. I +took the hint and stepped upon the scales. He read the weight and as he +recorded it, remarked: + +"Three kilograms over." + +Without further explanation he pushed the scales toward the next door. +The following day I noticed that the portions of food served me were a +trifle smaller than they had been previously. The original Karl Armstadt +had evidently been of such build that he carried slightly less weight +than I, which fact now condemned me to this light diet. + +However, I reasoned that a light diet is conducive to good brain work, +and as I later learned, the object of this systematic weight control was +not alone to save food but to increase mental efficiency, for a fat man +is phlegmatic and a lean one too excitable for the best mental output. +It would also help my disguise by keeping me the exact weight and build +of the original Karl Armstadt. + +After a fortnight of study, I felt that I was now ready to take up my +work in the laboratory, but I feared my lack of general knowledge of the +city and its ways might still betray me. Hence I began further +journeyings about the streets and shops of those levels where a man of +my class was permitted to go. + +~4~ + +After exhausting the rather barren sport of walking about the monotonous +streets of the four professional levels I took a more exciting trip down +into the lower levels of the city where the vast mechanical industries +held sway. I did not know how much freedom might be allowed me, but I +reasoned that I would be out of my supposed normal environment and hence +my ignorance would be more excusable and in less danger of betraying me. + +Alighting from the elevator, I hurried along past endless rows of heavy +columns. I peered into the workrooms, which had no enclosing walls, and +discovered with some misgiving that I seemed to have come upon a race of +giants. The men at the machines were great hulking fellows with thick, +heavy muscles such as one would expect to see in a professional wrestler +or weight-lifter. I paused and tried to gauge the size of these men: I +decided that they were not giants for I had seen taller men in the outer +world. Two officials of some sort, distinguishable by finer garb, +walking among them, appeared to be men of average size, and the tops of +their heads came about to the workers' chins. That there should be such +men among the Germans was not unbelievable, but the strange thing was +that there should be so many of them, and that they should be so +uniformly large, for there was not a workman in the whole vast factory +floor that did not over-top the officials by at least half a head. + +"Of course," I reasoned, "this is part of German efficiency";--for the +men were feeding large plates through stamping mills--"they have +selected all the large men for this heavy work." Then as I continued to +gaze it occurred to me that this bright metal these Samsons were +handling was aluminum! + +I went on and came to a different work hall where men were tending wire +winding machinery, making the coils for some light electrical +instruments. It was work that girls could easily have done, yet these +men were nearly, if not quite, as hulking as their mates in the stamping +mill. To select such men for light-fingered work was not efficiency but +stupidity,--and then it came to me that I had also thought the soldiers +I had seen in the hospital to be men picked for size, and that in a +normal population there could not be such an abundance of men of +abnormal size. The meaning of it all began to clear in my mind--the +pedigree in my own identification folder with the numerous fraternity, +the system of social castes which my atlas had revealed, the +inexplicable and unnatural proportion of the sexes. These gigantic men +were not the mere pick from individual variation in the species, but a +distinct breed within a race wherein the laws of nature, that had kept +men of equal stature for countless centuries, even as wild animals were +equal, had been replaced by the laws of scientific breeding. These heavy +and ponderous labourers were the Percherons and Clydesdales of a +domesticated and scientifically bred human species. The soldiers, +somewhat less bulky and more active, were, no doubt, another distinct +breed. The professional classes which had seemed quite normal in +physical appearance--were they bred for mental rather than physical +qualities? Otherwise why the pedigree, why the rigid castes, the +isolation of women? I shuddered as the whole logical, inevitable +explanation unfolded. It was uncanny, unearthly, yet perfectly +scientific; a thing the world had speculated about for centuries, a +thing that every school boy knew could be done, and yet which I, facing +the fact that it had been done, could only believe by a strained effort +at scientific coolness. + +I walked on and on, absorbed, overwhelmed by these assaulting, +unbelievable conclusions, yet on either side as I walked was the ever +present evidence of the reality of these seemingly wild fancies. There +were miles upon miles of these endless workrooms and everywhere the same +gross breed of great blond beasts. + +The endless shops of Berlin's industrial level were very like those +elsewhere in the world, except that they were more vast, more +concentrated, and the work more speeded up by super-machines and +excessive specialization. Millions upon millions of huge, drab-clad, +stolid-faced workmen stood at their posts of duty, performing over and +over again their routine movements as the material of their labors +shuttled by in endless streams. + +Occasionally among the workmen I saw the uniforms of the petty officers +who acted as foremen, and still more rarely the administrative offices, +where, enclosed in glass panelled rooms, higher officials in more +bespangled uniforms poured over charts and plans. + +In all this colossal business there was everywhere the atmosphere of +perfect order, perfect system, perfect discipline. Go as I might among +the electrical works, among the vast factories of chemicals and goods, +the lighter labor of the textile mills, or the heavier, noisier business +of the mineral works and machine shops the same system of colossal +coordinate mechanism of production throbbed ceaselessly. Materials +flowed in endless streams, feeding electric furnaces, mills, machines; +passing out to packing tables and thence to vast store rooms. Industry +here seemed endless and perfect. The bovine humanity fitted to the +machinery as the ox to the treadmill. Everywhere was the ceaseless +throbbing of the machine. Of the human variation and the free action of +man in labour, there was no evidence, and no opportunity for its +existence. + +Turning from the mere monotonous endlessness of the workshops I made my +way to the levels above where the workers lived in those hours when they +ceased to be a part of the industrial mechanism of production; and +everywhere were drab-coloured men for these shifts of labour were +arranged so that no space at any time was wholly idle. I now passed by +miles of sleeping dormitories, and other miles of gymnasiums, picture +theatres and gaming tables, and, strikingly incongruous with the +atmosphere of the place, huge assembly rooms which were labelled "Free +Speech Halls." I started to enter one of these, where some kind of a +meeting was in progress, but I was thrust back by a great fellow who +grinned foolishly and said: "Pardon, Herr Captain, it is forbidden you." + +Through half-darkened streets, I again passed by the bunk-shelved +sleeping chambers with their cavernous aisles walled with orderly rows +of lockers. Again I came to other barracks where the men were not yet +asleep but were straggling in and sitting about on the lowest bunks of +these sterile makeshift homes. + +I then came into a district of mess halls where a meal was being served. +Here again was absolute economy and perfect system. The men dined at +endless tables and their food like the material for their labours, was +served to the workers by the highly efficient device of an endless +moving belt that rolled up out of a slot in the floor at the end of the +table after the manner of the chained steps of an escalator. + +From the moving belts the men took their portions, and, as they finished +eating, they cleared away by setting the empty dishes back upon the +moving belt. The sight fascinated me, because of the adaptation of this +mechanical principle to so strange a use, for the principle is old and, +as every engineer knows, was instrumental in founding the house of +Detroit Vehicle Kings that once dominated the industrial world. The +founder of that illustrious line gave the poorest citizen a motor car +and disrupted the wage system of his day by paying his men double the +standard wage, yet he failed to realize the full possibilities of +efficiency for he permitted his men to eat at round tables and be served +by women! Truly we of the free world very narrowly escaped the fetish of +efficiency which finally completely enslaved the Germans. + +Each of the long tables of this Berlin dining hall, the ends of which +faced me, was fenced off from its neighbours. At the entrance gates were +signs which read "2600 Calories," "2800 Calories," "3000 Calories"--I +followed down the line to the sign which read "Maximum Diet, 4000 +Calories." The next one read, "Minimum Diet 2000 Calories," and thence +the series was repeated. Farther on I saw that men were assembling +before such gates in lines, for the meal there had not begun. Moving to +the other side of the street I walked by the lines which curved out and +swung down the street. Those before the sign of "Minimum Diet" were not +quite so tall as the average, although obviously of the same breed. But +they were all gaunt, many of them drooped and old, relatively the +inferior specimens and their faces bore a cowering look of fear and +shame, of men sullen and dull, beaten in life's battle. Following down +the line and noting the improvement in physique as I passed on, I came +to the farthest group just as they had begun to pass into the hall. +These men, entering the gate labelled "Maximum Diet, 4000 Calories," +were obviously the pick of the breed, middle-aged, powerful, +Herculean,--and yet not exactly Herculean either, for many of them were +overfull of waistline, men better fed than is absolutely essential to +physical fitness. Evidently a different principle was at work here than +the strict economy of food that required the periodic weighing of the +professional classes. + +Turning back I now encountered men coming out of the dining hall in +which I had first witnessed the meal in progress. I wanted to ask +questions and yet was a little afraid. But these big fellows were +seemingly quite respectful; except when I started to enter the Free +Speech Hall, they had humbly made way for me. Emboldened by their +deference I now approached a man whom I had seen come out of a "3800 +Calories" gate, and who had crossed the street and stood there picking +his teeth with his finger nail. + +He ceased this operation as I approached and was about to step aside. +But I paused and smiled at him, much, I fear, as one smiles at a dog of +unknown disposition, for I could hardly feel that this ungainly creature +was exactly human. He smiled back and stood waiting. + +"Perhaps, I stammered," you will tell me about your system of eating; it +seems very interesting." + +"I eat thirty-eight," he grinned, "pretty good, yes? I am twenty-five +years old and not so tall either." + +I eyed him up--my eyes came just to the top button of his jacket. + +"I began thirty," continued the workman, "I came up one almost every +year, one year I came up two at once. Pretty good, yes? One more +to come." + +"What then?" I asked. + +The big fellow smiled with a childish pride, and doubling up his arm, as +huge as an average man's thigh, he patted his biceps. "I get it all +right. I pass examination, no flaws in me, never been to hospital, not +one day. Yes, I get it." + +"Get what?" + +"Paternity," said the man in a lower voice, as he glanced about to see +if any of his fellows was listening. "Paternity, you know? Women!" + +I thought of many questions but feared to ask them. The worker waited +for some men to pass, then he bent over me, grinning sardonically. "Did +you see them? You have seen women, yes?" + +"Yes," I ventured, "I have seen women." + +"Pretty good, beautiful, yes?" + +"Yes," I stammered, "they are very beautiful." But I was getting nervous +and moved away. The workman, hesitating a little, then followed at +my side. + +"But tell me," I said, "about these calories. What did you do to get the +big meals? Why do some get more to eat than others?" + +"Better man," he replied without hesitation. + +"But what makes a better man?" + +"You don't know; of course, you are an intellectual and don't work. But +we work hard. The harder we work the more we eat. I load aluminum pigs +on the elevator. One pig is two calories, nineteen hundred pigs a day, +pretty good, yes? All kind of work has its calories, so many for each +thing to do. + +"More work, more food it takes to do it. They say all is alike, that no +one can get fat. But all work calories are not alike because some men +get fatter than others. I don't get fat; my work is hard. I ought to get +two and a half calories for each pig I load. Still I do not get thin, +but I do not play hard in gymnasium, see? Those lathe men, they got it +too easy and they play hard in gymnasium. I don't care if you do report. +I got it mad at them; they got it too easy. One got paternity last year +already, and he is not as good a man as I am. I could throw him over my +shoulder in wrestling. Do you not think they get it too easy?" + +"Do the men like this system," I asked; "the measuring of food by the +amount of work one does? Do any of them talk about it and demand that +all be fed alike?" + +"The skinny minimum eaters do," said the workman with a sneer, "when we +let them talk, which isn't often, but when they get a chance they talk +Bellamism. But what if they do talk, it does them no good. We have a red +flag, we have Imperial Socialism; we have the House of Hohenzollern. +Well, then, I say, let them talk if they want to, every man must eat +according to his work; that is socialism. We can't have Bellamism when +we have socialism." + +This speech, so much more informative and evidencing a knowledge I had +not anticipated, quite disturbed me. "You talk about these things," I +ventured, "in your Free Speech Halls?" + +The hitherto pleasant face of the workingman altered to an ugly frown. + +"No you don't," he growled, "you don't think because I talk to you, that +you can go asking me what is not your right to know, even if you are +an officer?" + +I remained discreetly silent, but continued to walk at the side of the +striding giant. Presently I asked: + +"What do you do now, are you going to work?" + +"No," he said, looking at me doubtfully, "that was dinner, not +breakfast. I am going now to the picture hall." + +"And then," I asked, "do you go to bed?" + +"No," he said, "we then go to the gymnasium or the gaming tables. Six +hours' work, six hours' sleep, and four hours for amusement." + +"And what do you do," I asked, "the remainder of the day?" + +He turned and stared at me. "That is all we get here, sixteen hours. +This is the metal workers' level. Some levels get twenty hours. It +depends on the work." + +"But," I said, "a real day has twenty-four hours." + +"I've heard," he said, "that it does on the upper levels." + +"But," I protested, "I mean a real day--a day of the sun. Do you +understand that?" + +"Oh yes," he said, "we see the pictures of the Place in the Sun. That's +a fine show." + +"Oh," I said, "then you have pictures of the sun?" + +"Of course," he replied, "the sun that shines upon the throne. We all +see that." + +At the time I could not comprehend this reference, but I made bold to +ask if it were forbidden me to go to his picture hall. + +"I can't make out," he said, "why you want to see, but I never heard of +any order forbidding it. + +"I go here," he remarked, as we came to a picture theatre. + +I let my Herculean companion enter alone, but followed him shortly and +found a seat in a secluded corner. No one disputed my presence. + +The music that filled the hall from some hidden horn was loud and, in a +rough way, joyous. The pictures--evidently carefully prepared for such +an audience--were limited to the life that these men knew. The themes +were chiefly of athletic contests, of boxing, wrestling and feats of +strength. There were also pictures of working contests, always ending by +the awarding of honours by some much bespangled official. But of love +and romance, of intrigue and adventure, of pathos and mirth, these +pictures were strangely devoid,--there was, in fact, no woman's likeness +cast upon the screen and no pictures depicting emotion or sentiment. + +As I watched the sterile flittings of the picture screen I decided, +despite the glimmering of intelligence that my talking Hercules had +shown in reference to socialism and Bellamism and the secrets of the +Free Speech Halls, that these men were merely great stupid beasts +of burden. + +They worked, they fed, they drank, they played exuberantly in their +gymnasiums and swimming pools, they played long and eagerly at games of +chance. Beyond this their lives were essentially blank. Ambition and +curiosity they had none beyond the narrow circle of their round of +living. But for all that they were docile, contented and, within their +limitations, not unhappy. To me they seemed more and more to be like +well cared for domestic animals, and I found myself wondering, as I left +the hall, why we of the outer world had not thought to produce pictures +in similar vein to entertain our dogs and horses. + +~5~ + +As I returned to my own quarters, I tried to recall the description I +had read of the "Children of the Abyss," the dwellers in ancient city +slums. There was a certain kinship, no doubt, between those former +submerged workers in the democratic world and this labour breed of +Berlin. Yet the enslaved and sweated workers of the old regime were +always depicted as suffering from poverty, as undersized, ill-nourished +and afflicted with disease. The reformers of that day were always +talking of sanitary housing, scientific diet and physical efficiency. +But here was a race of labourers whose physical welfare was as well +taken care of as if they had been prize swine or oxen. There was a +paleness of countenance among these labourers of Berlin that to me +seemed suggestive of ill health, but I knew that was merely due to lack +of sun and did not signify a lack of physical vitality. Mere +sun-darkened skin does not mean physiological efficiency, else the negro +were the most efficient of races. Men can live without sun, without +rain, without contact with the soil, without nature's greenery and the +brotherhood of fellow species in wild haunts. The whole climb of +civilization had been away from these primitive things. It had merely +been an artificial perfecting of the process of giving the living +creature that which is needed for sustenance and propagation in the most +concentrated and most economical form, the elimination of Nature's +superfluities and wastes. + +As I thought of these things it came over me that this unholy +imprisonment of a race was but the logical culmination of mechanical and +material civilization. This development among the Germans had been +hastened by the necessities of war and siege, yet it was what the whole +world had been driving toward since man first used a tool and built a +hut. Our own freer civilization of the outer world had been achieved +only by compromises, by a stubborn resistance against the forces to +which we ascribed our progress. We were merely not so completely +civilized, because we had never been wholly domesticated. + +As I now record these thoughts on the true significance of the perfected +civilization of the Germans I realize that I was even more right than I +then knew, for the sunless city of Berlin is of a truth a civilization +gone to seed, its people are a domesticated species, they are the +logical outcome of science applied to human affairs, with them the +prodigality and waste of Nature have been eliminated, they have stamped +out contagious diseases of every kind, they have substituted for the +laws of Nature the laws that man may pick by scientific theory and +experiment from the multitude of possibilities. Yes, the Germans were +civilized. And as I pondered these things I recalled those fairy tales +that naturalists tell of the stagnant and fixed society of ants in their +subterranean catacombs. These insect species credited for industry and +intelligence, have in their lesser world reached a similar perfection of +civilization. Ants have a royal house, they have a highly specialized +and fixed system of caste, a completely socialized state--yes, a +Utopia--even as Berlin was a Utopia, with the light of the sun and the +light of the soul, the soul of the wild free man, forever shut out. Yes, +I was walking in Utopia, a nightmare at the end of man's long +dream--Utopia--Black Utopia--City of Endless Night--diabolically +compounded of the three elements of civilization in which the Germans +had always been supreme--imperialism, science and socialism. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +I GO PLEASURING ON THE LEVEL OF FREE WOMEN AND DRINK SYNTHETIC BEER + + +~1~ + +I had returned from my adventure on the labour levels in a mood of +sombre depression. Alone again in my apartment I found difficulty in +getting my mind back upon chemical books. With a sense of relief I +reported to Holknecht that I thought myself sufficiently recovered to +return to work. + +My laboratory I found to be almost as secluded as my living quarters. I +was master there, and as a research worker I reported to no man until I +had finished the problem assigned me. From my readings and from +Holknecht's endless talking I had fairly well grasped the problem on +which I was supposed to be working, and I now had Holknecht go carefully +over the work he had done in my absence and we prepared a report. This I +sent to headquarters with a request for permission to start work on +another problem, the idea for which I claimed to have conceived on my +visit to the attacked potash mines. + +Permission to undertake the new problem was promptly granted. I now set +to work to reproduce in a German laboratory the experiments by which I +had originally conquered the German gas that had successfully defended +those mines from the world for over a century. Though loath to make this +revelation, I knew of no other "Discovery" wherewith to gain the stakes +for which I was playing. + +Events shaped themselves most rapidly along the lines of my best hopes. +The new research proved a blanket behind which to hide my ignorance. We +needed new material, new apparatus, and new data and I encouraged +Holknecht to advise me as to where to obtain these things and so gained +requisite working knowledge. + +The experiments and demonstrations finished, I made my report. My +immediate superior evidently quickly recognized it as a matter too +important for his consideration and dutifully passed it up to his own +superiors. In a few days I was notified to prepare for a demonstration +before a committee of the Imperial Chemical Staff. + +They came to my small laboratory with much eager curiosity. From their +manner of making themselves known to me I realized with joy that they +were dealing with a stranger. Indeed it was improbable that it should +have been otherwise for there were upwards of fifty thousand chemists of +my rank in Berlin. + +The demonstration went off with a flourish and the committee were +greatly impressed. Means were at once taken to alter the gas with which +the Stassfurt mines were flooded, but I realized that meant nothing +since I believed that my companions had abandoned the enterprise and the +secret that had enabled me to invade mines had not been shared with any +one in the outer world. + +As I anticipated, my revelation was accepted by the Chemical Staff as +evidence of profound scientific genius. It followed as a logical matter +that I should be promoted to the highest rank of research chemists with +the title of Colonel. Because of my youth the more was made of the +honour. This promotion entitled me to double my previous salary, to a +larger laboratory and larger and better living quarters in a distant +part of the city. + +My assistant would now be of the rank I had previously been and as +Holknecht was not eligible to such promotion I was removed entirely from +all previous acquaintances and surroundings and so greatly decreased the +chance of discovery of my true identity. + +~2~ + +After I had removed to my new quarters I was requested to call at the +office of the Chemical Staff to discuss the line of research I should +next take up. My adviser in this matter was the venerable Herr von Uhl, +a white haired old patriarch whose jacket was a mass of decorations. The +insignia on the left breast indicating the achievements in chemical +science were already familiar to me, but those on the right breast +were strange. + +Perhaps I stared at them a little, for the old man, noting my interest, +remarked proudly, "Yes, I have contributed much glory to the race and +our group,--one hundred and forty-seven children,--one hundred and four +of them sons, fifty-eight already of a captain's rank, and twenty-nine +of them colonels--my children of the second and third generation number +above two thousand. Only three men living in Berlin have more total +descendants--and I am but seventy-eight years of age. If I live to be +ninety I shall break all records of the Eugenic Office. It all comes of +good breeding and good work. I won my paternity right, when I was but +twenty-eight, just about your age. If you pass the physical test, +perhaps you can duplicate my record. For this early promotion you have +won qualifies you mentally." + +Astonished and alarmed beyond measure I could find no reply and sat +staring dumbly, while Herr von Uhl, beginning to speak of chemical +matters, inquired if I had any preference as to the problem I should now +take up. Incapable of any clear thinking I could only ask if he had any +to suggest. + +Immediately the old man's face brightened. "A man of your genius," he +said, "should be permitted to try his brain with the greatest problems +on which the life of Germany depends. The Staff discussed this and has +assigned you to original research for the finding of a better method of +the extraction of protium from the ore. To work on this assignment you +must of necessity share grave secrets, which, should they be disclosed, +might create profound fears, but your professional honour is a sufficient +guarantee of secrecy. In this research you will compete with some of the +most distinguished chemists in Berlin. If you should be successful you +will be decorated by His Majesty and you will receive a liberal pension +commensurate with the value of your discovery." + +I was profoundly impressed. Evidently I had stumbled upon something of +vital importance, the real nature of which I did not in the least +comprehend, and happily was not supposed to. The interview was ended by +my being entrusted with voluminous unpublished documents which I was +told to take home and study. Two armed men were ordered to accompany me +and to stand alternate guard outside my apartment while I had the +documents in my possession. + +~3~ + +In the quiet of my new abode I unsealed the package. The first sheet +contained the official offer of the rewards in store for success with +the research. The further papers explained the occasion for the gravity +and secrecy, and outlined the problem. + +The colossal consequence of the matter with which I was dealing gripped +and thrilled me. Protium, it seemed, was the German name for a rare +element of the radium group, which, from its atomic weight and other +properties, I recognized as being known to the outside world only as a +laboratory curiosity of no industrial significance. + +But, as used by the Germans, this element was the essence of life +itself, for by the influence of its emanations, they had achieved the +synthesis of protein capable of completely nourishing the human body--a +thing that could be accomplished in the outside world only through the +aid of natural protein derived from plants and animals. + +How I wished, as I read, that my uncle could have shared with me this +revelation of a secret that he had spent his life in a fruitless effort +to unravel. We had long since discovered how the Germans had synthesized +the carbohydrate molecule from carbon dioxide and water and built +therefrom the sugars, starches and fat needed for human nutrition. We +knew quite as well how they had created the simpler nitrogen compounds, +that this last step of synthesizing complete food proteins--a step +absolutely essential to the support of human life wholly from synthetic +foods--the chemists of the outer world had never mastered. + +But no less interesting than the mere chemistry of all this was the +history of it all, and the light it threw on the larger story of how +Germany had survived when the scientists of the world had predicted her +speedy annihiliation. The original use of protium had, I found, been +discovered late in the Twentieth Century when the protium ores of the +Ural Mountains were still available to the German chemists. After Russia +had been won by the World Armies, the Germans for a time suffered +chronic nitrogen starvation, as they depended on the protium derived +from what remained of their agriculture and from the fisheries in the +Baltic. As the increasing bombardment from the air herded them within +their fast building armoured city, and drove them beneath the soil in +all other German territory and from the surface of the sea in the +Baltic; they must have perished miserably but for the discovery of a new +source of protium. + +This source they had found in the uninhabited islands of the Arctic, +where the formation of the Ural Mountains extends beneath the sea. +Sending their submarines thence in search of platinum ores they had not +found platinum but a limited supply of ore containing the even more +valuable protium. By this traffic Germany had survived for a century and +a half. The quantity of the rare element needed was small, for its +effect, like that of radium, was out of all proportion to its bulk. But +this little they must have, and it seems that the supply of ore +was failing. + +Nor was that all to interest me. How did the German submarine get to the +Arctic since the World State had succeeded, after half a century of +effort, in damming the Baltic by closing up several passes among the +Danish Islands and the main pass of the sound between Zealand and +Sweden? I remember, as a youngster, the great Jubilee that celebrated +the completion of that monumental task, and the joy that hailed from the +announcement that the world's shipping would at last be freed from an +ancient scourge. + +But little had we of the world known the magnitude of the German fears +as the Baltic dam neared completion. We had thought merely to protect +our commerce from German piracy and perhaps to stop them from getting a +little copper and rubber in some remote corner of the earth. But we did +not realize that we were about to cut them off from an essential element +without which that conceited and defiant race must have speedily run up +the white flag of absolute surrender or have died to the last man, like +rats in a neglected trap. + +But the completion of the Baltic dam evidently had not shut off the +supply of Arctic ore, for the annual importation of ore was given right +up to date though the Baltic had been closed for nearly a score of +years. Eagerly I searched my papers for an item that would give some +hint as to how the submarines got out of the dammed-up Baltic. But on +that point the documents before me were silent. They referred to the +Arctic ore, gave elaborate details as to mineralogy and geology of the +strata from which it came, but as to the ways of its coming into Berlin +there was not the slightest suggestion. That this ore must come by +submarine was obvious. If so, the submarine must be at large in the +Atlantic and Arctic seas, and those occasional reports of periscopes +sighted off the coast of Norway, which have never been credited, were +really true. The submarines, or at least their cargoes, must reach +Berlin by some secret passage. Here indeed was a master mystery, a +secret which, could I unravel it and escape to the outer world with the +knowledge, would put unconditionally within the power of the World State +the very life of the three hundred millions of this unholy race that was +bred and fed by science in the armoured City of Berlin, or that, working +like blind moles of the earth, held the world at bay from off the +sterile and pock-marked soil of all that was left of the one-time +German Empire. + +That night I did not sleep till near the waking hour, and when the +breakfast container bumped into the receiving cupboard I was nodding +over the chemical papers amid strange and wonderful dreams. + +~4~ + +Next day with three assistants, themselves chemists of no mean rank, I +set to work to prepare apparatus for repeating all the known processes +in the extraction and use of the rare and vital element. This work +absorbed me for many weeks, during which time I went nowhere and saw no +one and slept scarce one hour out of four. + +But the steady application told upon me, and, by way of recreation, I +decided to spend an evening on the Level of Free Women, a place to +which, much though it fascinated me, I had not yet mustered the +courage to go. + +My impression, as I stepped from the elevator, was much as that of a man +who alights from a train in a strange city on a carnival night. Before +me, instead of the narrow, quiet streets of the working and living +quarters of the city, there spread a broad and seemingly endless hall of +revelry, broken only by the massive grey pillars that held up the +multi-floored city. The place was thronged with men of varied ranks and +professions. But more numerous and conspicuous were the women, the first +and only women that I had seen among the Germans--the Free Women of +Berlin, dressed in gorgeous and daring costumes; women of whom but few +were beautiful, yet in whose tinted cheeks and sparkling eyes was all +the lure of parasitic love. + +The multi-hued apparel of the throng dazzled and astonished me. +Elsewhere I had found a sterile monotony of dress and even of stature +and features. But here was resplendent variety and display. Men from all +the professional and military classes mingled indiscriminately, their +divers uniforms and decorations suggesting a dress ball in the capital +of the world. But the motley costumes of the women, who dressed with the +license of unrestrained individuality, were even more startling and +bizarre--a kaleidoscopic fantastic masquerade. + +I wondered if the rule of convention and tyranny of style had lost all +hold upon these women. And yet I decided, as I watched more closely, +that there was not an absence of style but rather a warfare of styles. +The costumes varied from the veiled and beruffled displays, that left +one confounded as to what manner of creature dwelt therein, to the other +extreme of mere gaudily ornamented nudity. I smiled as I recalled the +world-old argument on the relative modesty of much or little clothing, +for here immodesty was competing side by side in both extremes, both +seemingly equally successful. + +But it was not alone in the matter of dress that the women of the Free +Level varied. They differed even more strikingly in form and feature, +for, as I was later more fully to comprehend, these women were drawn +from all the artificially specialized breeds into which German science +had wrought the human species. Most striking and most numerous were +those whom I rightly guessed to be of the labour strain. Proportionally +not quite so large as the males of the breed, yet they were huge, +full-formed, fleshly creatures, with milky white skin for the most part +crudely painted with splashes of vermilion and with blued or blackened +brows. The garishness of their dress and ornament clearly bespoke the +poorer quality of their intellect, yet to my disgust they seemed fully +as popular with the men as the smaller and more refined types, evidently +from the intellectual strains of the race. + +Happily these ungainly women of the labour strain were inclined to herd +by themselves and I hastened to direct my steps to avoid as much as +possible their overwhelming presence. + +The smaller women, who seemed to be more nearly human, were even more +variegated in their features and make-up. They were not all blondes, +for some of them were distinctively dark of hair and skin, though +I was puzzled to tell how much of this was inborn and how much +the work of art. Another thing that astonished me was the wide +range of bodily form, as evidently determined by nutrition. Clearly +there was no weight-control here, for the figures varied from extreme +slenderness to waddling fatness. The most common type was that of mild +obesity which men call "plumpness," a quality so prized since the world +began that the women of all races by natural selection become relatively +fatter than men. + +For the most part I found these women unattractive and even repellent, +and yet as I walked about the level I occasionally caught fleeting +glimpses of genuine beauty of face and form, and more rarely expressions +of a seeming high order of intelligence. + +This revelling multitude of men and girls was uproariously engaged in +the obvious business of enjoying themselves by means of every art known +to appeal to the mind of man--when intelligence is abandoned and moral +restraint thrown to the winds. + +I wended my way among the multitude, gay with colour, noisy with chatter +and mingled music, redolent with a hundred varieties of sensuous +perfume. I came upon a dancing floor. Whirling and twisting about the +columns, circling around a gorgeous scented and iridescent fountain, +officers and scientists, chemists and physicians, each clasping in his +arms a laughing girl, danced with abandon to languorous music. + +As I watched the dance I overheard two girls commenting upon the +appearance of the dancers. Whirling by in the arms of a be-medalled +officer, was a girl whose frizzled yellow hair fell about a +dun-brown face. + +"Did you see that, Fedora, tanned as a roof guard and with that hair!" + +"Well, you know," said the other, "it's becoming quite the fashion +again." + +"Why don't you try it? Three baths would tan you adorably and you do +have the proper hair." + +"Oh, yes, I have the hair, all right, but my skin won't stand it. I +tried it three years ago and I blistered outrageously." + +The talk drifted to less informing topics and I moved on and came to +other groups lounging at their ease on rugs and divans as they watched +more skilful girls squirming through some intricate ballet on an +exhibition platform. + +Seeing me stand apart, a milk-white girl with hair dyed pink came +tugging at my arm. Her opalescent eyes looked from out her chalky +countenance; but they were not hard eyes, indeed they seemed the eyes of +innocence. As I shook my head and rebuffed her cordial advance I felt, +not that I was refusing the proffered love of a painted woman, but +rather that I was meanly declining a child's invitation to join her +play. In haste I edged away and wandered on past endless gaming tables +where men in feverish eagerness whirled wheels of chance, while garishly +dressed girls leaned on their shoulders and hung about their necks. + +Announced by shouts and shrieking laughter I came upon a noisy jumble of +mechanical amusement devices where men and girls in whirling upholstered +boxes were being pitched and tumbled about. + +Beyond the noise of the childish whirligigs I came into a space where +the white ceiling lights were dimmed by crimson globes and picture +screens were in operation. It did not take long for me to grasp the +essential difference between these pictured stories and those I had seen +in the workmen's level. There love of woman was entirely absent from the +screen. Here it was the sole substance of the pictures. But unlike the +love romances of the outer world, there were no engagement rings, no +wedding bells, and never once did the face or form of a child appear. + +In seating myself to see the pictures I had carefully chosen a place +where there was only room for myself between a man and one of the +supporting columns. At an interlude the man arose to go. The girl who +had been with him arose also, but he pushed her back upon the bench, +saying that he had other engagements, and did not wish her company. The +moment he was gone the girl moved over and proceeded to crowd +caressingly against my shoulder. She was a huge girl, obviously of the +labour strain. She leaned over me as if I had been a lonely child and +she a lonelier woman. Crowded against the pillar I could not escape and +so tried to appear unconcerned. + +"Did you like that story?" I asked, referring to the picture that had +just ended. + +"No," she replied, "the girl was too timid. She could never have won a +roof guard captain in that fashion. They are very difficult men, those +roof guard officers." + +"And what kind of pictures do you prefer?" I asked. + +"Quartettes," she answered promptly. "Two men and two girls when both +girls want the other man, and both men want the girl they have. That +makes a jolly plot. Or else the ones where there are two perfect lovers +and the man is elected to paternity and leaves her. I had a man like +that once and it makes me sad to see such a picture." + +"Perhaps," I said, speaking in a timorous voice, "you wanted to go with +him and be the mother of his children?" + +She turned her face toward me in the dim light. "He talked like that," +she said, "and then, I hated him. I knew then that he wanted to go and +leave me. That he hadn't tried to avoid the paternity draft. Yes, he +wanted to sire children. And he knew that he would have to leave me. And +so I hated him for ever loving me." + +A strange thrill crept over me at the girl's words. I tried to fathom +her nature, to separate the tangle of reality from the artificial ideas +ingrained by deliberate mis-education. "Did you ever see children? Here, +I mean. Pictures of them, perhaps, on the screen?" + +"Never," said the girl, drawing away from me and straightening up till +my head scarce reached her shoulder. "And I never want to. I hate the +thought of them. I wish I never had been one. Why can't +we--forget them?" + +I did not answer, and the labour girl, who, for some technical flaw in +her physique had been rejected for motherhood, arose and walked +ponderously away. + +After this baffling revelation of the struggle of human souls caught in +the maw of machine-made science, I found the picture screen a dull dead +thing, and I left the hall and wandered for miles, it seemed, past +endless confusion of meaningless revelry. Everywhere was music and +gaming and laughter. Men and girls lounged and danced, or spun the +wheels of fortune or sat at tables drinking from massive steins, a +highly flavoured variety of rather ineffectual synthetic beer. Older +women served and waited on the men and girls, and for every man was at +least one girl and sometimes as many as could crowd about him. And so +they sang, and banged their mugs and sloshed their frothy beverage. + +A lonely stranger amidst the jostling throngs, I wandered on through the +carnival of Berlin's Level of Free Women. Despite my longing for human +companionship I found it difficult to join in this strange recrudescent +paganism with any ease or grace. + +Girls, alone or in groups, fluttered about me with many a covert or open +invitation to join in their merry-making, but something in my halting +manner and constrained speech seemed to repulse them, for they would +soon turn away as if condemning me as a man without appreciation of the +value of human enjoyment. + +My constraint and embarrassment were increased by a certain sense of +guilt, a feeling which no one in this vast throng, either man or woman, +seemed to share. The place had its own standard of ethics, and they were +shocking enough to a man nurtured in a human society founded on the +sanctification of monogamous marriage. But merely to condemn this +recreational life of Germany, by likening it to the licentious freedom +that exists in occasional unrestrained amusement places in the outer +world, would be to give a very incorrect interpretation of Berlin's +Level of Free Women. As we know such places elsewhere in the world there +is always about them some tacit confession of moral delinquency, some +pretence of apology on the part of the participants. The women who so +revel in the outer world consider themselves under a ban of social +disapproval, while the men are either of a type who have no sense of +moral restraint or men who have for the time abandoned it. + +But for this life in Berlin no guilt was felt, no apology offered. The +men considered it as quite a normal and proper part of their life, while +the women looked upon it as their whole life, to which they had been +trained and educated and set apart by the Government; they accepted the +role quite as did the scientist, labourer, soldier, or professional +mother. The state had decreed it to be. They did not question its +morality. Hence the life here was licentious and yet unashamed, much, as +I fancy was the life in the groves of Athens or the baths of +ancient Rome. + + + +CHAPTER V + +I AM DRAFTED FOR PATERNITY AND MAKE EXTRAORDINARY +PETITION TO THE CHIEF OF THE EUGENIC STAFF + + +~1~ + +My research was progressing nicely and I had discovered that in this +field of chemistry also my knowledge of the outer world would give me +tremendous advantages over all competitors. Eagerly I worked at the +laboratory, spending most of my evenings in study. Occasionally I +attended the educational pictures or dined on the Level of Free Women +with my chemical associates and spent an hour or so at dancing or at +cards. My life had settled into routine unbroken by adventure. Then I +received a notice to report for the annual examination at the Physical +Efficiency Laboratory. I went with some misgivings, but the ordeal +proved uneventful. A week later I received a most disturbing +communication, a bulky and official looking packet bearing the imprint +of the Eugenic Office. I nervously slit the envelope and drew forth +a letter: + +"You are hereby notified that you have reached a stage of advancement in +your professional work that marks you a man of superior gifts, and, +having been reported as physically perfect you are hereby honoured with +the high privilege and sacred duties of election to paternity. Full +instructions for your conduct in this duty to the State will be found in +the enclosed folder." + +In nervous haste I scanned the printed folder: + +"Your first duty will be to visit the boys' school for which passport is +here enclosed. The purpose of this is to awaken the paternal instincts +that you may better appreciate and feel the holy obligation and +privilege conferred upon you. You will also find enclosed cards of +introduction to three women whom the Eugenic Office finds to be fitted +as mothers of your children. That natural selection may have a limited +play you are permitted to select only one woman from each three +assigned. Such selection must be made and reported within thirty days, +after which a second trio will be assigned you. Until such final +selection has been recorded you are expressly forbidden to conduct +yourself toward these women in an amorous manner." + +Next followed a set of exacting rules for the proper deportment, in the +carrying out of these duties to which the State had assigned me. + +A crushing sense of revulsion, a feeling of loathing and uncleanliness +overwhelmed me as I pushed aside the papers. Coming from a world where +the right of the individual to freedom and privacy in the matrimonial +and paternal relations was recognized as a fundamental right of man, I +found this officious communication, with its detailed instruction, +appalling and revolting. + +A man cravenly clings to life and yet there are instincts in his soul +which will cause him to sell life defiantly for a mere conception of a +moral principle. To become by official mandate a father of a numerous +German progeny was a thing to which I could not and would not submit. +Many times that day as I automatically pursued my work, I resolved to go +to some one in authority and give myself up to be sent to the mines as a +prisoner of war, or more likely to be executed as a spy. Cold reason +showed me the futility of neglecting or attempting to avoid an assigned +duty. It was a military civilization and I had already seen enough of +this ordered life of Berlin to know that there was no middle ground of +choice between explicit obedience and open rebellion. Nor need I concern +myself with what punishment might be provided for this particular +disobedience for I saw that rebellion for me would mean an investigation +that would result in complete tearing away of the protecting mask of my +German identity. + +But after my first tumultuous feeling subsided I realized that something +more than my own life was at stake. Already possessed of much intimate +knowledge of the life within Berlin I believed that I was in a way to +come into possession of secrets of vast and vital importance to the +world. To gain these secrets, to escape from the walls of Berlin, was a +more than personal ambition; it was an ambition for mankind. + +After a day or two of deliberation I therefore decided against any rash +rebellion. Moreover, as nothing compromising was immediately required of +me, I detached and mailed the four coupons provided, having duly filled +in the time at which I should make the preliminary calls. + +~2~ + +On the day and hour appointed I presented the school card to the +elevator operator, who punched it after the manner of his kind, and duly +deposited me on the level of schools for boys of the professional +groups. A lad of about sixteen met me at the elevator and conducted me +to the school designated. + +The master greeted me with obsequious gravity, and waved me to the +visitor's seat on a raised platform. "You will be asked to speak," he +said, "and I beg that you will tell the boys of the wonderful chemical +discoveries that won you the honours of election to paternity." + +"But," I protested, as I glanced at the boys who were being put through +their morning drill in the gymnasium, "I fear the boys of such age will +not comprehend the nature of my work." + +"Certainly not," he replied, "and I would rather you did not try to +simplify it for their undeveloped minds, merely speak learnedly of your +work as if you were addressing a body of your colleagues. The less the +boys understand of it the more they will be impressed with its +importance, and the more ambitious they will be to become great +chemists." + +This strange philosophy of education annoyed me, but I did not have time +to argue further for the bell had rung and the boys were filing in with +strict military precision. There were about fifty of them, all in their +twelfth year, and of remarkable uniformity in size and development. The +blanched skin, which marked the adult faces of Berlin, was, in the pasty +countenance of those German boys, a more horrifying spectacle. Yet they +stood erect and, despite their lack of colour, were evidently a well +nourished, well exercised group of youngsters. + +As the last boy reached his place the master motioned with his hand and +fifty arms moved in unison in a mechanical salute. + +"We have with us this morning," said the master, "a chemist who has won +the honours of paternity with his original thought. He will tell you +about his work which you cannot understand--you should therefore listen +attentively." + +After a few more sentences of these paradoxical axioms on education, the +master nodded, and, as I had been instructed, I proceeded to talk of the +chemical lore of poison gases. + +"And now," said the master, when I resumed my seat, "we will have a +review lesson. You will first recite in unison the creed of your caste." + +"We are youth of the super-race," began the boys in a sing-song and well +timed chorus. "We belong to the chemical group of the intellectual +levels, being born of sires who were great chemists, born of great +chemists for many generations. It is our duty to learn while we are yet +young all that we may ever need to know, to keep our minds free from +forbidden knowledge and to resist the temptation to think on unnecessary +things. So we may be good Germans, loyal to the House of Hohenzollern +and to the worship of the old German God and the divine blood of William +the Great." + +The schoolmaster, who had nodded his head in unison with the rhythm of +the recitation, now smiled in satisfaction. "That was very good," he +said. "I did not hear one faltering voice. Now you may recite +individually in your alphabetical order. + +"Anton, you may describe the stages in the evolution of the super-man." + +Anton, a flaxen-haired youngster, arose, saluted like a wooden soldier, +and intoned the following monologue: + +"Man is an animal in the process of evolving into a god. The method of +this evolution is a struggle in which the weak perish and the strong +survive. First in this process of man's evolution came the savage, who +lived with the lions and the apes. In the second stage came the dark +races who built the so-called ancient civilizations, and fought among +themselves to possess private property and women and children. Third +came the barbarian Blond Brutes, who were destined to sire the +super-race, but the day had not yet come, and they mixed with the dark +races and produced the mongrel peoples, which make the fourth. The fifth +stage is the pure bred Blond Brutes, uncontaminated by inferior races, +which are the men, who under God's direction, built the Armoured City of +Berlin in which to breed the Supermen who are to conquer the mongrel +peoples. The sixth, last and culminating stage of the evolution of man +is the Divinity in human form which is our noble House of Hohenzollern, +descended physically from William the Great, and spiritually from the +soul of God Himself, whose statue stands with that of the Mighty William +at the portals of the Emperor's palace." + +It had been a noble effort for so young a memory and as the proud master +looked at me expectantly I could do nothing less than nod my +appreciation. + +The master now gave Bruno the following cue: + +"Name the four kinds of government and explain each." + +From the sad-eyed youth of twelve came this flow of wisdom: + +"The first form of government is monarchy, in which the people are ruled +by a man who calls himself a king but who has no divine authority so +that the people sometimes failed to respect him and made revolutions and +tried to govern themselves. The second form of government is a republic, +sometimes called a democracy. It is usually co-existent with the lawyer, +the priest, the family and the greed for gold. But in reality this +government is by the rich men, who let the poor men vote and think they +have a share in the government, thus to keep them contented with their +poverty. The third form of government is proletariat socialism in which +the people, having abolished kings and rich men, attempt to govern +themselves; but this they cannot do for the same reason that a man +cannot lift himself by his shoestraps--" + +At this point Bruno faltered and his face went chalky white. The teacher +being directly in front of the standing pupil did not see what had +happened, while I, with fleeting memory of my own school days, +suppressed my mirth behind a formal countenance, as the stoic Bruno +resumed his seat. + +The master marked zero on the roll and called upon Conrad, next in line, +to finish the recitation. + +"The fourth and last form of government," recited Conrad, "is autocratic +socialism, the perfect government that we Germans have evolved from +proletariat socialism which had destroyed the greed for private property +and private family life, so that the people ceased to struggle +individually and were ready to accept the Royal House, divinely +appointed by God to govern them perfectly and prepare them to make war +for the conquest of the world." + +The recitations now turned to repetitions of the pedigree and ranking of +the various branches of the Royal House. But it was a mere list of names +like the begats of Genesis and I was not able to profit much by this +opportunity to improve my own neglected education. As the morning wore +on the parrot-like monologues shifted to elementary chemistry. + +The master had gone entirely through the alphabet of names and now +called again the apt Anton for a more brilliant demonstration of his +system of teaching. "Since we have with us a chemist who has achieved +powers of original thought, I will permit you, Anton, to demonstrate +that even at the tender age of twelve you are capable of +original thought." + +Anton rose gravely and stood at attention. "And what shall I think +about?" he asked. + +"About anything you like," responded the liberal minded schoolmaster, +"provided it is limited to your permitted field of psychic activity." + +Anton tilted back his head and gazed raptly at a portrait of the Mighty +William. "I think," he said, "that the water molecule is made of two +atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen." + +A number of the boys shook their heads in disapproval, evidently +recognizing the thought as not being original, but the teacher waited in +respectful silence for the founts of originality to burst forth in +Anton's mind. + +"And I think," continued Anton, "that if the water molecule were made of +four atoms of nitrogen and one of oxygen, it would be a great economy, +for after we had bathed in the water we could evaporate it and make air +and breath it, and after we had breathed it we could condense it again +and use it to drink--" + +"But that would be unsanitary," piped a voice from the back of the room. + +To this interruption Anton, without taking his gaze from the face of +William, replied, "Of course it would if we didn't sterilize it, but I +was coming to that. We would sterilize it each time." + +The master now designated two boys to take to the guardhouse of the +school the lad who had spoken without permission. He then produced a red +cardboard cross adorned with the imperial eagle and crossed test-tubes +of the chemists' insignia and I was honoured by being asked to decorate +Anton for his brilliant exploit in original thought. + +"Our intellectual work of the day is over," resumed the master, "but in +honour of our guest we will have, a day in advance, our weekly exercises +in emotion. Heinrich, you may recite for us the category of emotions." + +"The permitted emotions," said Heinrich, "are: First, anger, which we +should feel when a weak enemy offends us. Second, hate, which is a +higher form of anger, which we should feel when a powerful enemy offends +us. Third, sadness, which we should feel when we suffer. Fourth, mirth, +which we should feel when our enemy suffers. Fifth, courage, which we +feel at all times because we believe in our strength. Sixth, humility, +which we should feel only before our superiors. Seventh, and greatest, +is pride, which we should feel at all times because we are Germans. + +"The forbidden emotions are very numerous. The chief ones which we must +guard against are: First, pity, which is a sadness when our enemy +suffers; to feel this is exceedingly wicked. Second, envy, which is a +feeling that some one else is better than we are, which we must not feel +at all because it is destructive of pride. Third, fear, which is a lack +of courage. Fourth, love, which is a confession of weakness, and is +permissible only to women and dogs." + +"Very good," said the master, "I will now grant you permission to feel +some of the permitted emotions. We will first conduct a chemical +experiment. I have in this bottle a dangerous explosive and as I +drop in this pellet it may explode and kill us all, but you must +show courage and not fear." He held the pellet above the mouth of +the bottle, but his eyes were on his pupils. As he dropped the +pellet into the bottle, he knocked over with his foot a slab +of concrete, which fell to the floor with a resounding crash. A +few of the boys jumped in their seats, and the master gravely marked +them as deficient in courage. + +"You now imagine that you are adult chemists and that the enemy has +produced a new form of gas bomb, a gas against which we have no +protection. They are dropping the gas bombs into our ventilating shafts +and are killing our soldiers in the mines. You hate the enemy--hate +hard--make your faces black with hate and rage. Adolph, you are +expressing mere anger. There, that is better. You never can be a good +German until you learn to hate. + +"And now we will have a permitted emotion that you all enjoy; the +privilege to feel mirth is a thing for which you should be grateful. + +"An enemy came flying over Berlin--and this is a true story. I can +remember when it happened. The roof guard shot at him and winged his +plane, and he came down in his parachute, which missed the roof of the +city and fell to the earth outside the walls but within the first ring +of the ray defences. He knew that he could not pass beyond this and he +wandered about for many days within range of the glasses of the roof +guards. When he was nearly starved he came near the wall and waved his +white kerchief, which meant he wished to surrender and be taken into +the city." + +At this point one of the boys tittered, and the master stopped his story +long enough to mark a credit for this first laugh. + +"As the enemy aviator continued to walk about waving his cowardly flag +another enemy plane saw him and let down a line, but the roof guards +shelled and destroyed the plane. Then other planes came and attempted to +pick up the man with lines. In all seven planes were destroyed in +attempting to rescue one man. It was very foolish and very comical. At +last the eighth plane came and succeeded in reaching the man a line +without being winged. The roof batteries shot at the plane in vain--then +the roof gunners became filled with good German hate, and one of them +aimed, not at the plane, but at the man swinging on the unstable wire +line two thousand metres beneath. The shell exploded so near that the +man disappeared as by magic, and the plane flew off with the empty +dangling line." + +As the story was finished the boys who had listened with varying degrees +of mechanical smiles now broke out into a chorus of raucous laughter. It +was a forced unnatural laughter such as one hears from a bad actor +attempting to express mirth he does not feel. + +When the boys had ceased their crude guffaws the master asked, "Why did +you laugh?" + +"Because," answered Conrad, "the enemy were so stupid as to waste seven +planes trying to save one man." + +"That is fine," said the master; "we should always laugh when our enemy +is stupid, because then he suffers without knowing why he suffers. If +the enemy were not stupid they would cease fighting and permit us to +rule them and breed the stupidity out of them, as it has been bred out +of the Germans by our good old God and the divine mind of the House of +Hohenzollern." + +The boys were now dismissed for a recess and went into the gymnasium to +play leap frog. But the sad-eyed Bruno promptly returned and saluted. + +"You may speak," said the master. + +"I wish, Herr Teacher," said Bruno, "to petition you for permission to +fight with Conrad." + +"But you must not begin a fight," admonished the master, "unless you can +attach to your opponent the odium of causing the strife." + +"But he did cause the odium," said Bruno; "he stuck it into my leg with +a pin while I was reciting. The Herr Father saw him do it, "--and the +boy turned his eyes towards me in sad and serious appeal. + +The schoolmaster glanced at me inquiringly and I corroborated the lad's +accusation. + +"Then," said the master, "you have a _casus belli_ that is actually +true, and if you can make Conrad admit his guilt I will exchange your +mark for his." + +Bruno saluted again and started to leave. Then he turned back and said, +"But Conrad is two kilograms heavier than I am, and he may not +admit it." + +"Then," said the teacher, "you must know that I cannot exchange the +marks, for victory in a fight compensates for the fault that caused it. +But if you wish I will change the marks now, but then you cannot fight." + +"But I wish to fight," said Bruno, "and so does Conrad. We arranged it +before recitation that he was to stick me with the pin." + +"Such diplomacy!" exulted the master when the lad had gone, "and to +think that they can only be chemists!" + +~3~ + +As the evening hour drew near which I had set for my call on the first +of the potential mothers assigned me by the Eugenic Staff, I re-read the +rules for my conduct: + +"On the occasion of this visit you must wear a full dress uniform, +including all orders, decorations and badges of rank and service to +which you are entitled. This is very important and you should call +attention thereto and explain the full dignity and importance of your +rank and decorations. + +"When you call you will first present the card of authorization. You +will then present your identification folder and extol the worth and +character of your pedigree. + +"Then you will ask to see the pedigree of the woman, and will not fail +to comment favourably thereon. If she be already a mother you will +inquire in regard to her children. If she be not a mother, you will +supplicate her to speak of her potential children. You will extol the +virtue of her offspring--or her visions thereof,--and will not fail to +speak favourably of their promise of becoming great chemists whose +service will redound to the honour of the German race and the +Royal House. + +"After the above mentioned matters have been properly spoken of, you may +compliment the mother upon her own intelligence and fitness as a mother +of scientists. But you will refrain from all reference to her beauty of +person, lest her thoughts be diverted from her higher purpose to matters +of personal amours. + +"You will not prolong your call beyond the hours consistent with dignity +and propriety, nor permit the mother to perceive your disposition +toward her." + +Surely nothing in such formal procedure could be incompatible with my +own ideals of propriety. Taking with me my card of authorization bearing +the name "Frau Karoline, daughter of Ernest Pfeiffer, Director of the +Perfume Works," I now ventured to the Level of Maternity. + +Countless women passed me as I walked along. They were erect of form and +plain of feature, with expressions devoid of either intelligence or +passion. Garbed in formless robes of sombre grey, like saints +of song and story, they went their way with solemn resignation. Some of +them led small children by the hand; others pushed perambulators +containing white robed infants being taken to or from the nurseries for +their scheduled stays in the mothers' individual apartments. + +The actions of the mothers were as methodical as well trained nurses. In +their faces was the cold, pallid light of the mother love of the +madonnas of art, uncontaminated by the fretful excitement of the mother +love in a freer and more uncertain world. + +Even the children seemed wooden cherubim. They were physically healthy +beyond all blemish, but they cooed and smiled in a subdued manner. +Already the ever present "_verboten_" of an ordered life seemed to have +crept into the small souls and repressed the instincts of anarchy and +the aspirations of individualism. As I walked among these madonnas of +science and their angelic offspring, I felt as I imagined a man of +earthly passions would feel if suddenly loosed in a mediaeval and +orthodox heaven; for everything about me breathed peace, goodness, +and coldness. + +At the door of her apartment Frau Karoline greeted me with formal +gravity. She was a young woman of twenty years, with a high forehead and +piercing eyes. Her face was mobile but her manner possessed the dignity +of the matron assured of her importance in the world. Her only child was +at the nursery at the time, in accordance with the rules of the level +that forbids a man to see his step-children. But a large photograph, +aided by Frau Karoline's fulsome description and eulogies, gave me a +very clear picture of the high order of the young chemist's intelligence +though that worthy had but recently passed his first birthday. + +The necessary matters of the inspection of pedigrees and the signing of +my card of authorization had been conducted by the young mother with the +cool self-possession of a well disciplined school-mistress. Her attitude +and manner revealed the thoroughness of her education and training for +her duties and functions in life. And yet, though she relieved me so +skilfully of what I feared would be an embarrassing situation, I +conceived an intense dislike for this most exemplary young mother, for +she made me feel that a man was a most useless and insignificant +creature to be tolerated as a necessary evil in this maternal world. + +"Surely," said Frau Karoline, as I returned her pedigree, "you could not +do better for your first born child than to honour me with his +motherhood. Not only is my pedigree of the purest of chemical lines, +reaching back to the establishment of the eugenic control, but I myself +have taken the highest honours in the training for motherhood." + +"Yes," I acknowledged, "you seem very well trained." + +"I am particularly well versed," she continued, "in maternal psychology; +and I have successfully cultivated calmness. In the final tests before +my confirmation for maternity I was found to be entirely free from +erotic and sentimental emotions." + +"But," I ventured, "is not maternal love a sentimental emotion?" + +"By no means," replied Frau Karoline. "Maternal love of the highest +order, such as I possess, is purely intellectual; it recognizes only the +passions for the greatness of race and the glory of the Royal House. +Such love must be born of the intellect; that is why we women of the +scientific group are the best of all mothers. Thus, were I not wholly +free from weak sentimentality, I might desire that my second child be +sired by the father of my first, but the Eugenic Office has determined +that I would bear a stronger child from a younger father, therefore I +acquiesced to their change of assignment without emotion, as becomes a +proper mother of our well bred race. My first child is extremely +intellectual but he is not quite perfect physically, and a mother such +as I should bear only perfect children. That alone is the supreme purpose +of motherhood. Do you not see that I am fitted for perfect motherhood?" + +"Yes," I replied, as I recalled that my instructions were to pay +compliments, "you seem to be a perfect mother." + +But the cold and logical perfection of Frau Karoline dampened my +curiosity and oppressed my spirit of adventure, and I closed the +interview with all possible speed and fled headlong to the nearest +elevator that would carry me from the level. + +~4~ + +In my first experience I had suffered nothing worse than an embarrassing +half hour, so, with more confidence I pressed the bell the second +evening, at the apartment of Frau Augusta, daughter of Gustave Schnorr, +Authority on Synthetic Nicotine. + +Frau Augusta was a woman of thirty-five. She was well-preserved, more +handsome and less coldly inhuman than the younger woman. + +"We will get the formalities over since you have been told they are +necessary," said Frau Augusta, as she reached for my card and folder +and, at the same time, handing me her own pedigree. + +Peering over the top of the chart that recorded the antecedents of +Gustave Schnorr, I saw his daughter going through my own folder with the +business-like dispatch of a society dowager examining the "character" of +a new housemaid. + +"Ah, yes," she said, raising her brows. "I thought I knew the family. +Your Uncle Otto was my second mate. He is the father of my third son and +my twin girls. I have no more promising children. Have you ever met him? +He is in the aluminum tempering laboratories." + +I could only stare stupidly, struck dumb with embarrassment. + +"No, I suppose not," went on Frau Augusta, "it is hardly to be expected +since you have upwards of a hundred uncles." She arose and, going toward +a shelf where half a dozen pictures of half a dozen men reposed in an +orderly row, took the second one of the group and handed it to me. + +"He is a fine man," she said, with a very full degree of pride for a +past and partial possession. "I fear the Staff erred in transferring +him, but then of course the twin girls were most unexpected and +unfortunate since the Armstadt line is supposed to sire seventy-five per +cent, male offspring. + +"What do you think? Isn't the Eugenic Office a little unfair at times? +My fifth man thought so. He said it was a case of politics. I don't +know. I thought politics was something ancient that they had in old +books like churches and families." + +"I am sure I do not know," I murmured, as I fumbled the portrait of my +putative uncle. + +"Of course," continued the voluble Fran Augusta, "you must not think I +am criticizing the authorities. It is all very necessary. And for the +most part I think they have done very well by me. My ten children have +six fathers. All of them but the first were men of most gracious manner +and superior intelligence. The first one had his paternity right +revoked, so I feel satisfied on that score, even if his son is not +gifted--and yet the boy has beautiful hair--I think he would make an +excellent violinist. But then perhaps he wouldn't have been able to +play, so maybe it is all right, though I would think music would be more +easily learned than chemistry. But then since I cannot read either I +ought not to judge. I will show you his picture. I may as well show you +all their pictures. I don't see why you elected fathers should not see +our children--but then I suppose it might produce quarrels. Some women +are so foolish and insist on talking about the children they have +already borne in a way that makes a man feel that his own children could +never come up to them. Now I never do that. Why should one? The future +is always more interesting than the past. I haven't a single child that +has not won the porcelain cross for obedience. Even my youngest--he is +only fourteen months--obeys as if he were a full grown man. Some say +mental and physical excellence are not correlated--but that is a +prejudice because of those great labour beasts. There isn't one of my +children that has fallen below the minimum growth standards, except my +third daughter, and her father was undersized, so it is no fault +of mine." + +As the loquacious mother chattered on, she produced an album, through +which I now turned, inspecting the annual photographs of her blond +brood, each of which was labelled with the statistics of physical growth +and the tests of psychic development. + +Strive as I might I could think of no comments to make, but the mother +came to the rescue. Unfastening the binding of the loose leaf album she +hastily shuffled the sheets and brought into an orderly array on the +table before me ten photographs all taken at the age of one year. "That +is the only fair way to view them," she said, "for of course one cannot +compare the picture of a boy of fifteen with an infant of one year. But +at an equal age the comparison is fair to all and now you can surely +tell me which is the most intelligent." + +I gazed hopelessly at the infantile portraits which, despite their +varied paternity, looked as alike as a row of peas in a pod. + +"Oh, well," said Frau Augusta, "after all is it fair to ask you, since +the twins are your cousins?" + +Desperately I wondered which were the twins. + +"They resemble you quite remarkably, don't you think so? Except that +your hair is quite dark for an Armstadt." Frau Augusta turned and +glanced furtively at my identification folder. "Of course! your mother. +I had almost forgotten who your mother was, but now I remember, she had +most remarkably dark hair. It will probably prove a dominant +characteristic and your children will also be dark haired. Now I should +like that by way of a change." + +I became alarmed at this turn of the conversation toward the more +specific function of my visit, and resolved to make my exit with all +possible speed "consistent with dignity and propriety." + +Meanwhile, as she reassembled the scattered sheets of the portrait +album, the official mother chattered on concerning her children's +attributes, while I shifted uneasily in my chair and looked about the +room for my hat--forgetting in my embarrassment that I was dwelling in a +sunless, rainless city and possessed no hat. + +At last there was a lull in the monologue and I arose and said I must be +going. + +Frau Augusta looked pained and I recalled that I had not yet +complimented her upon her intelligence and fitness to be the mother of +coming generations of chemical scientists, but I stubbornly resolved not +to resume my seat. + +"You are young," said Frau Augusta, who had risen and shifted her +position till she stood between me and the door. "Surely you have not +yet made many calls on the maternity level." Then she sighed, "I do not +see why they assign a man only three names to select from. Surely they +could be more liberal." She paused and her face hardened. "And to think +that you men are permitted to call as often as you like upon those +degenerate hussies who have been forbidden the sacred duties of +motherhood. It is a very wicked institution, that level of lust--some +day we women--we mothers of Berlin--will rise in our wrath and see that +they are banished to the mines, for they produce nothing but sin and +misery in this man-made world." + +"Yes," I said, "the system is very wrong, but--" + +"But the authorities, you need not say it, I have heard it all before, +the authorities, always the authorities. Why should men always be the +authorities? Why do we mothers of Berlin have no rights? Why are we not +consulted in these matters? Why must we always submit?" + +Then suddenly, and very much to my surprise, she placed her hands upon +my shoulders and said hoarsely: "Tell me about the Free Level. Are the +women there more beautiful than I?" + +"No," I said, "very few of them are beautiful, and those of the labour +groups are most gross and stupid." + +"Then why," wailed Frau Augusta, "was I not allowed to go? Why was I +penned up here and made to bear children when others revel in the +delights of love and song and laughter?" + +"But," I said, shocked at this unexpected revelation of character, +"yours is the more honourable, more virtuous life. You were chosen for +motherhood because you are a woman of superior intelligence." + +"It's a lie," cried Frau Augusta. "I have no intelligence. I want none. +But I am as beautiful as they. But no, they would not let me go. They +penned me up here with these saintly mothers and these angelic children. +Children, children everywhere, millions and millions of them, and not a +man but doctors, and you elected fathers who are sent here to bring us +pain and sorrow. You say nothing of love--your eyes are cold. The last +one said he loved me--the brute! He came but thrice, when my child was +born he sent me a flower. But that is the official rule. And I hate him, +and hate his child that has his lying eyes." + +The distraught woman covered her face with her hands and burst into +violent weeping. + +When she had ceased her sobs I tried to explain to her the philosophy of +contentment with life's lot. I told her of the seamy side of the gown +that cloaks licentiousness and of the sorrows and bitterness of the +ashes of burned out love. With the most iridescent words at my command I +painted for her the halo of the madonna's glory, and translated for her +the English verse that informs us that there is not a flower in any +land, nor a pearl in any sea, that is as beautiful and lovely as any +child on any mother's knee. + +But I do not think I altogether consoled Frau Augusta for my German +vocabulary was essentially scientific, not poetic. But I made a noble +effort and when I left her I felt very much the preacher, for the +function of the preacher, not unlike death, is to make us cling to those +ills we have when we would fly to others that we know not of. + +~5~ + +There remained but one card unsigned of the three given me. + +Frau Matilda, daughter of Siegfried Oberwinder, Analine Analyst, was +registered as eighteen and evidently an inexperienced mother-elect as I +was a father-elect. The nature of the man is to hold the virgin above +the madonna, and in starting on my third journey to the maternity level, +I found hitherto inexperienced feelings tugging at my heartstrings and +resolved that whatever she might be, I would be dignified and formal yet +most courteous and kind. + +My ring was answered by a slender, frightened girl. She was so shy that +she could only nod for me to enter. I offered my card and folder, +smiling to reassure her, but she retreated precipitously into a far +corner and sat staring at me beseechingly with big grey eyes that seemed +the only striking feature of her small pinched face. + +"I am sorry if I frighten you," I said, "but of course you know that I +am sent by the eugenic authorities. I will not detain you long. All that +is really necessary is for you to sign this card." + +She timidly signed the card and returned it to the corner of the table. + +I felt extremely sorry for the fluttering creature; and, knowing that I +could not alter her lot, I sought to speak words of encouragement. "If +you find it hard now," I said, "it is only because you are young and a +stranger to life, but you will be recompensed when you know the joys of +motherhood." + +At my words a look of consecrated purpose glowed in the girl's white +face. "Oh, yes," she said eagerly. "I wish very much to be a mother. I +have studied so hard to learn. I wish only to give myself to the holy +duties of maternity. But I am so afraid." + +"But you need not be afraid of me," I said. "This is only a formal call +which I have made because the Eugenic Staff ordered it so. But it seems +to me that some better plan might be made for these meetings. Some +social life might be arranged so that you would become acquainted with +the men who are to be the fathers of your children under less +embarrassing circumstances." + +"I try so hard not to be afraid of men, for I know they are necessary to +eugenics." + +"Yes," I said dryly, "I suppose they are, though I think I would prefer +to put it that the love of man and woman is necessary to parenthood." + +"Oh, no," she said in a frightened voice, "not that, that is very +wicked." + +"So you were taught that you should not love men? No wonder you are +afraid of them." + +"I was taught to respect men for they are the fathers of children," she +replied. + +"Then," I asked, deciding to probe the philosophy of the education for +maternity, "why are not the fathers permitted to enjoy their fatherhood +and live with the mother and the children?" + +Frau Matilda now gazed at me with open-mouthed astonishment. "What a +beautiful idea!" she exclaimed with rapture. + +"Yes, I rather like it myself--the family--" + +"The family!" cried the girl in horror. + +"That is what we were talking about." + +"But the family is forbidden. It is very wrong, very uneugenic. You must +be a wicked man to speak to me of that." + +"You have been taught some very foolish ideas," I replied. + +"How dare you!" she cried, in alarm. "I have been taught what is right, +and I want to do what is right and loyal. I passed all my examinations. +I am a good mother-elect, and you say these forbidden things to me. You +talk of love and families. You insult me. And if you select me, I +shall--I shall claim exemption,--" and with that she rose and darted +through the inner door. + +I waited for a time and then gently approached the door, which I saw had +swung to with springs and had neither latch nor lock. My gentle rap upon +the hollow panel was answered by a muffled sob. I realized the +hopelessness of further words and silently turned from the door and left +the apartment. + +The streets of the level were almost deserted for the curfew had rung +and the lights glowed dim as in a hospital ward at night. I hurried +silently along, shut in by enclosing walls and the lowering ceiling of +the street. From everywhere I seemed to feel upon me the beseeching, +haunting grey eyes of Frau Matilda. My soul was troubled, for it seemed +to stagger beneath the burden of its realization of a lost humanity. And +with me walked grey shadows of other men, felt-footed through the gloom, +and they walked hurriedly as men fleeing from a house of death. + +~6~ + +My next duty as a German father-elect was to report to the Eugenic +Office. There at least I could deal with men; and there I went, nursing +rebellion yet trying my utmost to appear outwardly calm. + +To the clerk I offered my three signed cards by way of introduction. + +"And which do you select?" asked the oldish man over his rimless +glasses. + +"None." + +"Ah, but you must." + +"But what if I refuse to do so?" + +"That is most unusual." + +"But does it ever happen?" + +"Well, yes," admitted the clerk, "but only by Petition Extraordinary to +the Chief of the Staff. But it is most unusual, and if he refuses to +grant it you may be dishonoured even to the extent of having your +election to paternity suspended, may be even permanently cancelled." + +"You mean"--I stammered. + +"Exactly--you refuse to accept any one of the three women when all are +most scientifically selected for you. Does it not throw some doubts upon +your own psychic fitness for mating at all? If I may suggest, Herr +Colonel--it would be wiser for you to select some one of the three--you +have yet plenty of time." + +"No," I said, trying to hide my elation. "I will not do so. I will make +the Petition Extraordinary to your chief." + +"Now?" stammered the clerk. + +"Yes, now; how do I go about it?" + +"You must first consult the Investigator." + +After a few formalities I was conducted to that official. + +"You refuse to make selection?" inquired the Investigator. + +"Yes." + +"Why?" + +"Because," I replied, "I am engaged upon some chemical research of most +unusual nature--" + +"Yes," nodded the Investigator, "I have just looked that up. The more +reason you should be honoured with paternity." + +"Perhaps," I said, "you are not informed of the grave importance of the +research. If you will consult Herr von Uhl of the Chemical Staff--" + +"Entirely unnecessary," he retorted; "paternity is also important. +Besides it takes but little time. No more than you need for recreation." + +"But I do not find it recreation. I have not been able to concentrate my +mind on my work since I received notice of my election to paternity." + +"But you were warned against this," he said; "you have no right to +permit the development of disturbing romantic emotions. They may be bad +for your work, but they are worse for eugenics. So, if you have made +romantic love to the mothers of Berlin, your case must be investigated." + +"But I have not." + +"Then why has this disturbed you?" + +"Because," I replied, "this system of scientific paternity offends my +instincts." + +The investigator ogled me craftily. "What system would you prefer +instead?" he asked. + +I saw he was trying to trap me into disloyal admissions. "I have nothing +to propose," I stated. "I only know that I find the paternity system +offensive to me, and that the position I am placed in incapacitates me +for my work." + +The investigator made some notes on a pad. + +"That is all for the present," he said. "I will refer your case to the +Chief." + +Two days later I received an order to report at once to Dr. Ludwig +Zimmern, Chief of the Eugenic Staff. + +The Chief, with whom I was soon cloistered, was a man of about sixty +years. His face revealed a greater degree of intelligence than I had yet +observed among the Germans, nor was his demeanour that of haughty +officiousness, for a kindly warmth glowed in his soft dark eyes. + +"I have a report here," said Dr. Zimmern, "from my Investigator. He +recommends that your rights of paternity be revoked on the grounds that +he believes yours to be a case of atavistic radicalism. In short he +thinks you are rebellious by instinct, and that you are therefore unsafe +to father the coming generation. It is part of the function of this +office to breed the rebellious instinct out of the German race. What +have you to say in answer to these charges?" + +"I do not want to seem rebellious," I stammered, "but I wish to be +relieved of this duty." + +"Very well," said Zimmern, "you may be relieved. If you have no +objection I will sign the recommendation as it stands." + +Surely, I thought, this man does not seem very bitter toward my +traitorous instincts. + +Zimmern smiled and eyed me curiously. "You know," he said, "that to +possess a thought and to speak of it indiscreetly are two +different things." + +"Certainly," I replied, emboldened by his words. "A man cannot do +original work in science if he possesses a mind that never thinks +contrary to the established order of things." + +The clerks in the outer office must have thought my case a grievous one +for I was closeted with their chief for nearly an hour. Though our +conversation was vague and guarded, I knew that I had discovered in Dr. +Ludwig Zimmern, Chief of the Eugenic Staff, a man guilty himself of the +very crime of possessing rebellious instincts for which he had decided +me unfit to sire German children. And when I finally took my leave I +carried with me his private card and an invitation to call at his +apartment to continue our conversation. + +~7~ + +In the weeks that followed, my acquaintance with the Chief of the +Eugenic Staff ripened rapidly into a warm friendship. The frank manner +in which he revealed his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in +Germany pleased me greatly. Zimmern was interested in my chemical +researches and quickly comprehended their importance. + +"I know so little of chemistry," he deplored, "yet on it our whole life +hangs. That is why I am so glad of an opportunity to talk to you. I do +not approve of so much ignorance of each other's work on the part of our +scientists. Our old university system was better. Then a scientist in +any field knew something of the science in all fields. But now we are +specialized from childhood. Take, for example, yourself. You are at work +on a great problem by which all of our labour stands to be undone if you +chemists do not solve it, and yet you do not understand how we will all +be undone. I think you should know more of what it means, then you will +work better. Is it not so?" + +"Perhaps," I said, "but I have little time. I am working too hard now." + +"Then," said Zimmern, "you should spend more time in pleasure on the +Free Level. Two days ago I conferred with the Emperor's Advisory Staff, +and I learned that grave changes are threatened. That is one reason I am +so interested in this protium on which you chemists are working. If you +do not solve this problem and replenish the food supply, the Emperor has +decided that the whole Free Level with its five million women must be +abolished. His Majesty will have no half-way measures. He is afraid to +take part of these women away, lest the intellectual workers rebel like +the labourers did in the last century when their women were taken away +piecemeal." + +"But what will His Majesty do with these five million women?" I +inquired, eagerly desirous to learn more. + +"Do? What can he do with the women?" exclaimed Dr. Zimmern in a low +pitched but vibrant voice. "He thinks he will make workers of them. He +does not seem to appreciate how specialized they are for pleasure. He +will make machine tenders of them to relieve the workmen, who are to be +made soldiers. He would make surface soldiers out of these blind moles +of the earth, put amber glasses on them and train them to run on the +open ground and carry the war again into the sunlight. It is folly, +sheer folly, and madness. His Majesty, I fear, reads too much of old +books. He always was historically inclined." + +On a later occasion Zimmern gave me the broad outlines of the history of +German Eugenics. + +"Our science of applied Eugenics," he said, "began during the Second +World War. Our scientists had long known that the same laws of heredity +by which plants and animals had been bred held true with man, but they +had been afraid to apply those laws to man because the religion of that +day taught that men had souls and that human life was something too +sacred to be supervised by science. But William III was a very fearless +man, and he called the scientists together and asked them to outline a +plan for the perfection of the German race. + +"At first all they advocated was that paternity be restricted to the +superior men. This broke up the old-fashioned family where every man +chose his own wife and sired as many children as he liked. There were +great mutterings about that, and if we had not been at war, there would +have been rebellion. The Emperor told the people it was a military +necessity. The death toll of war then was great and there was urgent +need to increase the birth rate, so the people submitted and women soon +ceased to complain because they could no longer have individual +husbands. The children were supported by the state, and if they had +legitimate fathers of the approved class they were left in the mothers' +care. As all women who were normal and healthy were encouraged to bear +children, there was a great increase in the birth rate, which came near +resulting in the destruction of the race by starvation. + +"As soon as a sufficient number of the older generation that had +believed in the religious significance of the family and marriage system +had died out, the ambitious eugenists set about to make other reforms. +The birth rate was cut down by restricting the privilege of motherhood +to a selected class of women. The other women were instructed in the +arts of pleasing man and avoiding maternity, and that is where we have +the origin of our free women. In those days they were free to associate +with men of all classes. Indeed any other plan would at first have been +impossible. + +"A second fault was that the superior men for whom paternity was +permitted were selected from the official and intellectual classes. The +result was that the quality of the labourers deteriorated. So two +strains were established, the one for the production of the intellectual +workers, and the other for producing manual workers. From time to time +this specialization has increased until now we have as many strains of +inheritance as there are groups of useful characteristics known to be +hereditary. + +"We have produced some effects," mused Zimmern, "which were not +anticipated, and which have been calling forth considerable criticism. +His Majesty sends me memorandums nearly every year, after he reviews the +maternity levels, insisting that the feminine beauty of the race is, as +a whole, deteriorating. And yet this is logical enough. With the +exception of our small actor-model strain, the characteristics for which +we breed have only the most incidental relation to feminine beauty. The +type of the labour female is, as you have seen, a buxom, fleshly beauty; +youth and full nutrition are essential to its display, and it soon fades. +In the scientific strains it seems that the power of original thought +correlates with a feminine type that is certainly not beautiful. +Doubtless not understanding this you may have felt that you were +discriminated against in your assignment. But the clerical mind +with its passion for monotonous repetition of petty mental processes +seems to correlate with the most exquisite and refined feminine +features. Those scintillating beauties on the Free Level who have +ever at their beck our wisest men are from our clerical strain,--but +of course they are only the rejects. It is unfortunate that you cannot +see the more privileged specimens in the clerical maternity level. + +"But I digress to that which is of no consequence. The beauty of women is +unimportant but the number of women is very important. When some women +were specialized for motherhood then there were surplus women. At first +they made workers of them. The war was then conducted on a larger scale +than now. We had not yet fully specialized the soldier class. All the +young men went to war; and, when they came back and went to work, they +became bitterly jealous of the women workers and made an outcry that +those who could not fight should not work. The men workers drove the women +from industry, hoping thereby each to possess a mistress. As a result the +great number of unproductive women was a drain upon the state. All sorts +of schemes were proposed to reduce the number of female births but most of +these were unscientific. In studying the records it was found that the +offspring of certain men were predominantly males. By applying this +principle of selection we have, with successive generations, been able to +reduce the proportion of female births to less than half the old rate. + +"But the sexual impulse of the labourers made them restless and +rebellious, and the support of the free women for these millions of +workers was a great economic waste. When animals had been bred to large +size and great strength their sexuality had decreased, while their power +as beasts of burden increased. The same principle applied to man has +resulted in more docile workers. By beginning with the soldiers and mine +workers, who were kept away from women, and by combining proper training +with the hereditary selection, we solved that problem and removed all +knowledge of women from the minds of the workmen." + +"But how about paternity among the workers?" I asked. + +"Those who are selected are removed to special isolated quarters. They +are told they are being taken to serve as His Majesty's body guard; and +they never go back to mingle with their fellows." + +I then related for the doctor my conversation with the workman who asked +me about women. + +"So," said Zimmern, "there has been a leak somewhere; knowledge is hard +to bottle. Still we have bottled most of it and the labourer accepts his +loveless lot. But it could not be done with the intellectual worker." + +Dr. Zimmern smiled cynically. "At least," he added, "we don't propose to +admit that it can be done. And that, Col. Armstadt, is what I was +remarking about the other evening. Unless you chemists can solve the +protium problem, Germany must cut her population swiftly, if we do not +starve out altogether. His Majesty's plan to turn the workmen into +soldiers and make workers of the free women will not solve it. It is too +serious for that. The Emperor's talk about the day being at hand is all +nonsense. He knows and we know that these mongrel herds, as he calls the +outside enemy, are not so degenerate. + +"We may have improved the German stock in some ways by our scientific +breeding, but science cannot do much in six generations, and what we +have accomplished, I as a member of the Eugenist Staff, can assure you +has really been attained as much by training as by breeding, though the +breeding is given the credit. Our men are highly specialized, and once +outside the walls of Berlin they will find things so different that this +very specialization will prove a handicap. The mongrel peoples are more +adaptable. Our workmen and soldiers are large in physique, but dwarfed +of intellect. The enemy will beat us in open war, and, even if we should +be victorious in war, we could not rule them. Either we solve this food +business or we all turn soldiers and go out into the blinding sunlight +and die fighting." + +I ventured as a wild remark: "At least, if we get outside there will be +plenty of women." + +The older man looked at me with the superiority of age towards youth. +"Young man," he said, "you have not read history; you do not understand +this love and family doctrine; it exists in the outside world today just +as it did two centuries ago. The Germans in the days of the old surface +wars made too free with the enemy's women, and that is why they ran us +into cover here and penned us up. These mongrel people will fight for +their women when they will fight for nothing else. We have not bred all +the lust out of our workmen either. It is merely dormant. Once they are +loosed in the outer world they will not understand this thing and they +will again make free with the enemy's women, and then we shall all be +exterminated." + +Dr. Zimmern got up and filled a pipe with synthetic tobacco and puffed +energetically as he walked about the room. "What do you say about this +protium ore?" he asked; "will you be able to solve the problem?" + +"Yes," I said, "I think I shall." + +"I hope so," replied my host, "and yet sometimes I do not care; somehow +I want this thing to come to an end. I want to see what is outside there. +I think, perhaps, I would like to fly. + +"What troubles me is that I do not see how we can ever do it. We have +bred and trained our race into specialization and stupidity. We wouldn't +know how to go out and join this World State if they would let us." + +Dr. Zimmern paced the room in silence for a time. "Do you know," he +said, "I should like to see a negro, a black man with kinky hair--it +must be queer." + +"Yes," I answered, "there must be many queer things out there." + + + +CHAPTER VI + +IN WHICH I LEARN THAT COMPETITION IS STILL +THE LIFE OF THE OLDEST TRADE IN THE WORLD + + +~1~ + +When I told Dr. Zimmern that I should solve the problem of the increase +of the supply of protium I may have been guilty of speaking of hopes as +if they were certainties. My optimism was based on the discovery that +the exact chemical state of the protium in the ore was unknown, and that +it did not exist equally in all samples of the ore. + +After some further months of labour I succeeded in determining the exact +chemical ingredients of the ore, and from this I worked rapidly toward a +new process of extraction that would greatly increase the total yield of +the precious element. But this fact I kept from my assistants whose work +I directed to futile researches while I worked alone after hours in +following up the lead I had discovered. + +During the progress of this work I was not always in the laboratory. I +had become a not infrequent visitor to the Level of the Free Women. The +continuous carnival of amusement had an attraction for me, as it must +have had for any tired and lonely man. But it was not merely the lure of +sensuous pleasures that appealed to me, for I was also fascinated with +the deeper and more tragic aspect of life beneath the gaudy surface of +hectic joy. + +Some generalities I had picked up from observation and chance +conversations. As a primary essential to life on the level I had quickly +learned that money was needed, and my check book was in frequent demand. +The bank provided an aluminum currency for the pettier needs of the +recreational life, but neither the checks nor the currency had had value +on other levels, since there all necessities were supplied without cost +and luxuries were unobtainable. This strange retention of money +circulation and general freedom of personal conduct exclusively on the +Free Level puzzled me. Thus I found that food and drink were here +available for a price, a seeming contradiction to the strict limitations +of the diet served me at my own quarters. At first it seemed I had +discovered a way to defeat that limitation--but there was the weigher to +be considered. + +It was a queer ensemble, this life in the Black Utopia of Berlin, a +combination of a world of rigid mechanistic automatism in the regular +routine of living with rioting individual license in recreational +pleasure. The Free Level seemed some ancient Bagdad, some Bourbon Court, +some Monte Carlo set here, an oasis of flourishing vice in a desert of +sterile law-made, machine-executed efficiency and puritanically ordered +life. Aided by a hundred ingenious wheels and games of chance, men and +women gambled with the coin and credit of the level. These games were +presided over by crafty women whose years were too advanced to permit of +a more personal means of extracting a living from the grosser passions +of man. Some of these aged dames were, I found, quite highly regarded +and their establishments had become the rendezvous for many younger +women who by some arrangement that I could not fathom plied their +traffic in commercialized love under the guidance of these subtler women +who had graduated from the school of long experience in preying +upon man. + +But only the more brilliant women could so establish themselves for the +years of their decline. There were others, many others, whose beauty had +faded without an increase in wit, and these seemed to be serving their +more fortunate sisters, both old and young, in various menial +capacities. It was a strange anachronism in this world where men's more +weighty affairs had been so perfectly socialized, to find woman +retaining, evidently by men's permission, the individualistic right to +exploit her weaker sister. + +The thing confounded me, and yet I recalled the well known views of our +sociological historians who held that it was woman's greater +individualism that had checked the socialistic tendencies of the world. +Had the Germans then achieved and maintained their rigid socialistic +order by retaining this incongruous vestige of feminine commercialism as +a safety valve for the individualistic instincts of the race? + +They called it the Free Level, and I marvelled at the nature of this +freedom. Freedom for licentiousness, for the getting and losing of money +at the wheels of fortune, freedom for temporary gluttony and the mild +intoxication of their flat, ill-flavoured synthetic beer. A tragic +symbol it seemed to me of the ignobility of man's nature, that he will +be a slave in all the loftier aspects of living if he can but retain his +freedom for his vices and corruptions. Had the Germans then, like the +villain of the moral play, a necessary part in the tragedy of man; did +they exist to show the other races of the earth the way they +should not go? But the philosophy of this conception collapsed when I +recalled that for more than a century the world had lost all sight of +the villain and yet had not in the least deteriorated from a lack of the +horrible example. + +From these vaguer speculations concerning the Free Level of Berlin that +existed like a malformed vestigial organ in the body of that socialized +state, my mind came back to the more human, more personal side of the +problem thus presented me. I wanted to know more of the lives of these +women who maintained Germany's remnant of individualism. + +To what extent, I asked myself, have the true instincts of womanhood and +the normal love of man and child been smothered out of the lives of +these girls? What secret rebellions are they nursing in their hearts? I +wondered, too, from what source they came, and why they were selected +for this life, for Zimmern had not adequately enlightened me on +this point. + +Pondering thus on the secret workings in the hearts of these girls, I +sat one evening amid the sensuous beauty of the Hall of Flowers. I +marvelled at how little the Germans seemed to appreciate it, for it was +far less crowded than were the more tawdry places of revelry. Here +within glass encircling walls, preserved through centuries of artificial +existence, feeding from pots of synthetic soil and stimulated by +perpetual light, marvellous botanical creations flourished and flowered +in prodigal profusion. Ponderous warm-hued lilies floated on the +sprinkled surface of the fountain pool. Orchids, dangling from the metal +lattice, hung their sensuous blossoms in vapour-laden air. Luxurious +vines, climatized to this unreal world, clambered over cosy arbours, or +clung with gripping fingers to the mossy concrete pillars. + +~2~ + +I was sitting thus in moody silence watching the play of the fountain, +when, through the mist, I saw the lonely figure of a girl standing in +the shadows of a viny bower. She was toying idly with the swaying +tendrils. Her hair was the unfaded gold of youth. Her pale dress of +silvery grey, unmarred by any clash of colour, hung closely about a form +of wraith-like slenderness. + +I arose and walked slowly toward her. As I approached she turned toward +me a face of flawless girlish beauty, and then as quickly turned away as +if seeking a means of escape. + +"I did not mean to intrude," I said. + +She did not answer, but when I turned to go, to my surprise, she stepped +forward and walked at my side. + +"Why do you come here alone?" she asked shyly, lifting a pensive +questioning face. + +"Because I am tired of all this tawdry noise. But you," I said, "surely +you are not tired of it? You cannot have been here long." + +"No," she replied, "I have not. Only thirty days"; and her blue eyes +gleamed with childish pride. + +"And that is why you seem so different from them all?" + +Timidly she placed her hand upon my arm. "So you," she said gratefully, +"you understand that I am not like them-that is, not yet." + +"You do not act like them," I replied, "and what is more, you act as if +you did not want to be like them. It surely cannot be merely that you +are new here. The other girls when they come seem so eager for this +life, to which they have long been trained. Were you not trained for +it also?" + +"Yes," she admitted, "they tried to train me for it, but they could not +kill my artist's soul, for I was not like these others, born of a strain +wherein women can only be mothers, or, if rejected for that, come here. +I was born to be a musician, a group where women may be something more +than mere females." + +"Then why are you here?" I asked. + +"Because," she faltered, "my voice was imperfect. I have, you see, the +soul of an artist but lack the physical means to give that soul +expression. And so they transferred me to the school for free women, +where I have been courted by the young men of the Royal House. But of +course you understand all that." + +"Yes," I said, "I know something of it; but my work has always so +absorbed me that I have not had time to think of these matters. In fact, +I come to the Free Level much less than most men." + +For a moment, it seemed, her eyes hardened in cunning suspicion, but as +I returned her intent gaze I could fathom only the doubts and fears of +childish innocence. + +"Please let us sit down," I said; "it is so beautiful here; and then +tell me all about yourself, how you have lived your childhood, and what +your problems are. It may be that I can help you." + +"There is not much to tell," she sighed, as she seated herself beside +me. "I was only eight years old when the musical examiners condemned my +voice and so I do not remember much about the music school. In the other +school where they train girls for the life on the Free Level, they +taught us dancing, and how to be beautiful, and always they told us that +we must learn these things so that the men would love us. But the only +men we ever saw were the doctors. They were always old and serious and I +could not understand how I could ever love men. But our teachers would +tell us that the other men would be different. They would be handsome +and young and would dance with us and bring us fine presents. If we were +pleasing in their sight they would take us away, and we should each have +an apartment of our own, and many dresses with beautiful colours, and +there would be a whole level full of wonderful things and we could go +about as we pleased, and dance and feast and all life would be love and +joy and laughter. + +"Then, on the 'Great Day,' when we had our first individual dresses--for +before we had always worn uniforms--the men came. They were young +military officers and members of the Royal House who are permitted to +select girls for their own exclusive love. We were all very shy at +first, but many of the girls made friends with the men and some of them +went away that first day. And after that the men came as often as they +liked and I learned to dance with them, and they made love to me and +told me I was very beautiful. Yet somehow I did not want to go with +them. We had been told that we would love the men who loved us. I don't +know why, but I didn't love any of them. And so the two years passed and +they told me I must come here alone. And so here I am." + +"And now that you are here," I said, "have you not, among all these men +found one that you could love?" + +"No," she said, with a tremor in her voice, "but they say I must." + +"And how," I asked, "do they enforce that rule? Does any one require +you--to accept the men?" + +"Yes," she replied. "I must do that--or starve." + +"And how do you live now?" I asked. + +"They gave me money when I came here, a hundred marks. And they make me +pay to eat and when my money is gone I cannot eat unless I get more. And +the men have all the money, and they pay. They have offered to pay me, +but I refused to take their checks, and they think me stupid." + +The child-like explanation of her lot touched the strings of my heart. +"And how long," I asked, "is this money that is given you when you come +here supposed to last?" + +"Not more than twenty days," she answered. + +"But you," I said, "have been here thirty days!" + +She looked at me and smiled proudly. "But I," she said, "only eat one +meal a day. Do you not see how thin I am?" + +The realization that any one in this scientifically fed city could be +hungry was to me appalling. Yet here was a girl living amidst luxurious +beauty, upon whom society was using the old argument of hunger to force +her acceptance of the love of man. + +I rose and held out my hand. "You shall eat again today," I said. + +"I would rather not," she demurred. "I have not yet accepted favours +from any man." + +"But you must. You are hungry," I protested. "The problem of your +existence here cannot be put off much longer. We will go eat and then we +will try and find some solution." + +Without further objection she walked with me. We found a secluded booth +in a dining hall. I ordered the best dinner that Berlin had to offer. + +During the intervals of silence in our rather halting dinner +conversation, I wrestled with the situation. I had desired to gain +insight into the lives of these girls. Yet now that the opportunity was +presented I did not altogether relish the role in which it placed me. +The apparent innocence of the confiding girl seemed to open an easy way +for a personal conquest--and yet, perhaps because it was so obvious and +easy, I rebelled at the unfairness of it. To rescue her, to aid her to +escape--in a free world one might have considered these more obvious +moves, but here there was no place for her to escape to, no higher +social justice to which appeal could be made. Either I must accept her +as a personal responsibility, with what that might involve, or desert +her to her fate. Both seemed cowardly--yet such were the horns of the +dilemma and a choice must be made. Here at least was an opportunity to +make use of the funds that lay in the bank to the credit of the name I +bore, and for which I had found so little use. So I decided to offer her +money, and to insist that it was not offered as the purchase price +of love. + +"You must let me help you," I said, "you must let me give you money." + +"But I do not want your money," she replied. "It would only postpone my +troubles. Even if I do accept your money, I would have to accept money +from other men also, for you cannot pay for the whole of a +woman's living." + +"Why not," I asked, "does any rule forbid it?" + +"No rule, but can so young a man as you afford it?" + +"How much does it take for you to live here?" + +"About five marks a day." + +I glanced rather proudly at my insignia as a research chemist of the +first rank. "Do you know," I asked, "how much income that +insignia carries?" + +"Well, no," she admitted, "I know the income of military officers, but +there are so many of the professional ranks and classes that I get all +mixed up." + +"That means," I said, "ten thousand marks a year." + +"So much as that!" she exclaimed in astonishment. "And I can live here +on two hundred a month, but no, I did not mean that--you wouldn't,--I +couldn't--let you give me so much." + +"Much!" I exclaimed; "you may have five hundred if you need it." + +"You make love very nicely," she replied with aloofness. + +"But I am not making love," I protested. + +"Then why do you say these things? Do you prefer some one else? If so +why waste your funds on me?" + +"No, no!" I cried, "it is not that; but you see I want to tell you +things; many things that you do not know. I want to see you often and +talk to you. I want to bring you books to read. And as for money, that +is so you will not starve while you read my books and listen to me talk. +But you are to remain mistress of your own heart and your own person. +You see, I believe there are ways to win a woman's love far better than +buying her cheap when she is starved into selling in this +brutal fashion." + +She looked at me dubiously. "You are either very queer," she said, "or +else a very great liar." + +"But I am neither," I protested, piqued that the girl in her innocence +should yet brand me either mentally deficient or deceitful. "It is +impossible to make you understand me," I went on, "and yet you must +trust me. These other men, they approve the system under which you live, +but I do not. I offer you money, I insist on your taking it because +there is no other way, but it is not to force you to accept me but only +to make it unnecessary for you to accept some one else. You have been +very brave, to stand out so long. You must accept my money now, but you +need never accept me at all--unless you really want me. If I am to make +love to you I want to make love to a woman who is really free; a woman +free to accept or reject love, not starved into accepting it in this +so-called freedom." + +"It is all very wonderful," she repeated; "a minute ago I thought you +deceitful, and now I want to believe you. I can not stand out much +longer and what would be the use for just a few more days?" + +"There will be no need," I said gently, "your courage has done its work +well--it has saved you for yourself. And now," I continued, "we will +bind this bargain before you again decide me crazy." + +Taking out my check book I filled in a check for two hundred marks +payable to--"To whom shall I make it payable?" I asked. + +"To Bertha, 34 R 6," she said, and thus I wrote it, cursing the +prostituted science and the devils of autocracy that should give an +innocent girl a number like a convict in a jail or a mare in a breeder's +herd book. + +And so I bought a German girl with a German check--bought her because I +saw no other way to save her from being lashed by starvation to the +slave block and sold piecemeal to men in whom honour had not even died, +but had been strangled before it was born. + +With my check neatly tucked in her bosom, Bertha walked out of the cafe +clinging to my arm, and so, passing unheeding through the throng of +indifferent revellers, we came to her apartment. + +At the door I said, "Tomorrow night I come again. Shall it be at the +cafe or here?" + +"Here," she whispered, "away from them all." + +I stooped and kissed her hand and then fled into the multitude. + +~3~ + +I had promised Bertha that I would bring her books, but the narrow range +of technical books permitted me were obviously unsuitable, nor did I +feel that the unspeakably morbid novels available on the Level of Free +Women would serve my purpose of awakening the girl to more wholesome +aspirations. In this emergency I decided to appeal to my +friend, Zimmern. + +Leaving the laboratory early, I made my way toward his apartment, +puzzling my brain as to what kind of a book I could ask for that would +be at once suitable to Bertha's child-like mind and also be a volume +which I could logically appear to wish to read myself. As I walked +along the answer flashed into my mind--I would ask for a geography +of the outer world. + +Happily I found Zimmern in. "I have come to ask," I said, "if you could +loan me a book of description of the outer world, one with maps, one +that tells all that is known of the land and seas and people." + +"Oh, yes," smiled Zimmern, "you mean a geography. Your request," he +continued, "does me great honour. Books telling the truth about the +world without are very carefully guarded. I shall be pleased to get the +geography for you at once. In fact I had already decided that when you +came again I would take you with me to our little secret library. +Germany is facing a great crisis, and I know no better way I can serve +her than doing my part to help prepare as many as possible of our +scientists to cope with the impending problems. Unless you chemists +avert it, we shall all live to see this outer world, or die that +others may." + +Dr. Zimmern led the way to the elevator. We alighted on the Level of Free +Women. Instead of turning towards the halls of revelry we took our +course in the opposite direction along the quiet streets among the +apartments of the women. We turned into a narrow passage-way and Dr. +Zimmern rang the bell at an apartment door. But after waiting a moment +for an answer he took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. + +"I am sorry Marguerite is out," he said, as he conducted me into a +reception room. The walls were hung with seal-brown draperies. There +were richly upholstered chairs and a divan piled high with fluffy +pillows. In one corner stood a bookcase of burnished metal filigree. + +Zimmern waved his hand at the case with an expression of disdain. "Only +the conventional literature of the level, to keep up appearances," he +said; "our serious books are in here"; and he thrust open the door of a +room which was evidently a young lady's boudoir. + +Conscious of a profane intrusion, I followed Dr. Zimmern into the dainty +dressing chamber. Stepping across the room he pushed open a spacious +wardrobe, and thrusting aside a cleverly arranged shield of feminine +apparel he revealed, upon some improvised shelves, a library of perhaps +a hundred volumes. He ran his hand fondly along the bindings. "No other +man of your age in Berlin," he said, "has ever had access to such a +complete fund of knowledge as is in this library." + +I hope the old doctor took for appreciation the smile that played upon +my face as I contrasted his pitiful offering with the endless miles of +book stacks in the libraries of the outer world where I had spent so +many of my earlier days. + +"Our books are safer here," said Zimmern, "for no one would suspect a +girl on this level of being interested in serious reading. If perchance +some inspector did think to perform his neglected duties we trust to him +being content to glance over the few novels in the case outside and not +to pry into her wardrobe closet. There is still some risk, but that we +must take, since there is no absolute privacy anywhere. We must trust to +chance to hide them in the place least likely to be searched." + +"And how," I asked, "are these books accumulated?" + +"It is the result of years of effort," explained Zimmern. "There are +only a few of us who are in this secret group but all have contributed +to the collection, and we come here to secure the books that the others +bring. We prefer to read them here, and so avoid the chance of being +detected carrying forbidden books. There is no restriction on the +callers a girl may have at her apartment; the authorities of the level +are content to keep records only of her monetary transactions, and that +fact we take advantage of. Should a man's apartment on another level be +so frequently visited by a group of men an inquiry would be made." + +All this was interesting, but I inferred that I would again have +opportunity to visit the library and now I was impatient to keep my +appointment with Bertha. Making an excuse for haste, I asked Zimmern to +get the geography for me. The stiff back of the book had been removed, +and Zimmern helped me adjust the limp volume beneath my waistcoat. + +"I am sorry you cannot remain and meet Marguerite tonight," he said as I +stepped toward the door. "But tomorrow evening I will arrange for you to +meet Colonel Hellar of the Information Staff, and Marguerite can be with +us then. You may go directly to my booth in the cafe where you last +dined with me." + +~4~ + +After a brief walk I came to Bertha's apartment, and nervously pressed +the bell. She opened the door stealthily and peered out, then +recognizing me, she flung it wide. + +"I have brought you a book," I said as I entered; and, not knowing what +else to do, I went through the ridiculous operation of removing the +geography from beneath my waistcoat. + +"What a big book," exclaimed Bertha in amazement. However, she did not +open the geography but laid it on the table, and stood staring at me +with her child-like blue eyes. + +"Do you know," she said, "that you are the first visitor I ever had in +my apartment? May I show you about?" + +As I followed her through the cosy rooms, I chafed to see the dainty +luxury in which she was permitted to live while being left to starve. +The place was as well adapted to love-making as any other product +of German science is adapted to its end. The walls were adorned +with sensual prints; but happily I recalled that Bertha, having +no education in the matter, was immune to the insult. + +Anticipating my coming she had ordered dinner, and this was presently +delivered by a deaf-and-dumb mechanical servant, and we set it forth on +the dainty dining table. Since the world was young, I mused, woman and +man had eaten a first meal together with all the world shut out, and so +we dined amid shy love and laughter in a tiny apartment in the heart of +a city where millions of men never saw the face of woman--and where +millions of babies were born out of love by the cold degree of science. +And this same science, bartering with licentious iniquity, had provided +this refuge and permitted us to bar the door, and so we accepted our +refuge and sanctified it with the purity that was within our own +hearts--such at least was my feeling at the time. + +And so we dined and cleared away, and talked joyfully of nothing. As the +evening wore on Bertha, beside me upon the divan, snuggled contentedly +against my shoulder. The nearness and warmth of her, and the innocence +of her eyes thrilled yet maddened me. + +With fast beating heart, I realized that I as well as Bertha was in the +grip of circumstances against which rebellion was as futile as were +thoughts of escape. There was no one to aid and no one to forbid or +criticize. Whatever I might do to save her from the fate ordained for +her would of necessity be worked out between us, unaided and unhampered +by the ethics of civilization as I had known it in a freer, saner world. + +In offering Bertha money and coming to her apartment I had thrust myself +between her and the crass venality of the men of her race, but I had now +to wrestle with the problem that such action had involved. If, I +reasoned, I could only reveal to her my true identity the situation +would be easier, for I could then tell her of the rules of the game of +love in the world I had known. Until she knew of that world and its +ideals, how could I expect her to understand my motives? How else could +I strengthen her in the battle against our own impulses? + +And yet, did I dare to confess to her that I was not a German? Would not +deep-seated ideals of patriotism drilled into the mind of a child place +me in danger of betrayal at her hands? Such a move might place my own +life in jeopardy and also destroy my opportunity of being of service to +the world, could I contrive the means of escape from Berlin with the +knowledge I had gained. Small though the possibilities of such escape +might be, it was too great a hope for me to risk for sentimental +reasons. And could she be expected to believe so strange a tale? + +And so the temptation to confess that I was not Karl Armstadt passed, +and with its passing, I recalled the geography that I had gone to so +much trouble to secure, and which still lay unopened upon the table. +Here at least was something to get us away from the tumultuous +consciousness of ourselves and I reached for the volume and spread it +open upon my knees. + +"What a funny book!" exclaimed Bertha, as she gazed at the round maps of +the two hemispheres. "Of what is that a picture?" + +"The world," I answered. + +She stared at me blankly. "The Royal World?" she asked. + +"No, no," I replied. "The world outside the walls of Berlin." + +"The world in the sun," exclaimed Bertha, "on the roof where they fight +the airplanes? A roof-guard officer" she paused and bit her lip-- + +"The world of the inferior races," I suggested, trying to find some +common footing with her pitifully scant knowledge. + +"The world underground," she said, "where the soldiers fight in the +mines?" + +Baffled in my efforts to define this world to her, I began turning the +pages of the geography, while Bertha looked at the pictures in +child-like wonder, and I tried as best I could to find simple +explanations. + +Between the lines of my teaching, I scanned, as it were, the true state +of German ignorance. Despite the evident intended authoritativeness of +the book--for it was marked "Permitted to military staff officers"--I +found it amusingly full of erroneous conceptions of the true state of +affairs in the outer world. + +This teaching of a child-like mind the rudiments of knowledge was an +amusing recreation, and so an hour passed pleasantly. Yet I realized +that this was an occupation of which I would soon tire, for it was not +the amusement of teaching a child that I craved, but the companionship +of a woman of intelligence. + +As we turned the last page I arose to take my departure. "If I leave the +book with you," I said, "will you read it all, very carefully? And then +when I come again I will explain those things you can not understand." + +"But it is so big, I couldn't read it in a day," replied Bertha, as she +looked at me appealingly. + +I steeled myself against that appeal. I wanted very much to get my mind +back on my chemistry, and I wanted also to give her time to read and +ponder over the wonders of the great unknown world. Moreover, I no +longer felt so grievously concerned, for the calamity which had +overshadowed her had been for the while removed. And I had, too, my own +struggle to cherish her innocence, and that without the usual help +extended by conventional society. So I made brave resolutions and +explained the urgency of my work and insisted that I could not see her +for five days. + +Hungrily she pleaded for a quicker return; and I stubbornly resisted the +temptation. "No," I insisted, "not tomorrow, nor the next day, but I +will come back in three days at the same hour that I came tonight." + +Then taking her in my arms, I kissed her in feverish haste and tore +myself from the enthralling lure of her presence. + +~5~ + +When I reached the cafe the following evening to keep my appointment +with Zimmern, the waiter directed me to one of the small enclosed +booths. As I entered, closing the door after me, I found myself +confronting a young woman. + +"Are you Col. Armstadt?" she asked with a clear, vibrant voice. She +smiled cordially as she gave me her hand. "I am Marguerite. Dr. Zimmern +has gone to bring Col. Hellar, and he asked me to entertain you until +his return." + +The friendly candour of this greeting swept away the grey walls of +Berlin, and I seemed again face to face with a woman of my own people. +She was a young woman of distinctive personality. Her features, though +delicately moulded, bespoke intelligence and strength of character that +I had not hitherto seen in the women of Berlin. Framing her face was a +luxuriant mass of wavy brown hair, which fell loosely about her +shoulders. Her slender figure was draped in a cape of deep blue +cellulose velvet. + +"Dr. Zimmern tells me," I said as I seated myself across the table from +her, "that you are a dear friend of his." + +A swift light gleamed in her deep brown eyes. "A very dear friend," she +said feelingly, and then a shadow flitted across her face as she added, +"Without him life for me would be unbearable here." + +"And how long, if I may ask, have you been here?" + +"About four years. Four years and six days, to be exact. I can keep +count you know," and she smiled whimsically, "for I came on the day of +my birth, the day I was sixteen." + +"That is the same for all, is it not?" + +"No one can come here before she is sixteen," replied Marguerite, "and +all must come before they are eighteen." + +"But why did you come at the first opportunity?" I asked, as I mentally +compared her confession with that of Bertha who had so courageously +postponed as long as she could the day of surrender to this life of +shamefully commercialized love. + +"And why should I not come?" returned Marguerite. "I had a chance to +come, and I accepted it. Do you think life in the school for girls of +forbidden birth is an enjoyable one?" + +I wanted to press home the point of my argument, to proclaim my pride in +Bertha's more heroic struggle with the system, for this girl with whom I +now conversed was obviously a woman of superior intelligence, and it +angered me to know that she had so easily surrendered to the life for +which German society had ordained her. But I restrained my speech, for I +realized that in criticizing her way of life I would be criticizing her +obvious relation to Zimmern, and like all men I found myself inclined to +be indulgent with the personal life of a man who was my friend. +Moreover, I perceived the presumptuousness of assuming a superior air +towards an established and accepted institution. Yet, strive as I might +to be tolerant, I felt a growing antagonism towards this attractive and +cultured girl who had surrendered without a struggle to a life that to +me was a career of shame--and who seemed quite content with her +surrender. + +"Do you like it here?" I asked, knowing that my question was stupid, but +anxious to avoid a painful gap in what was becoming, for me, a difficult +conversation. + +Marguerite looked at me with a queer penetrating gaze. "Do I like it +here?" she repeated. "Why should you ask, and how can I answer? Can I +like it or not like it, when there was no choice for me? Can I push out +the walls of Berlin?"--and she thrust mockingly into the air with a +delicately chiselled hand--"It is a prison. All life is a prison." + +"Yes," I said, "it is a prison, but life on this level is more joyful +than on many others." + +Her lip curled in delicate scorn. "For you men--of course--and I suppose +it is for these women too--perhaps that is why I hate it so, because +they do enjoy it, they do accept it. They sell their love for food and +raiment, and not one in all these millions seems to mind it." + +"In that," I remarked, "perhaps you are mistaken. I have not come here +often as most men do, but I have found one other who, like you, rebels +at the system--who in fact, was starving because she would not sell +her love." + +Marguerite flashed on me a look of pitying suspicion as she asked: "Have +you gone to the Place of Records to look up this rebel against the +sale of love?" + +A fire of resentment blazed up in me at this question. I did not know +just what she meant by the Place of Records, but I felt that this woman +who spoke cynically of rebellion against the sale of love, and yet who +had obviously sold her love to an old man, was in no position to +discredit a weaker woman's nobler fight. + +"What right," I asked coldly, "have you to criticize another whom you do +not know?" + +"I am sorry," replied Marguerite, "if I seem to quarrel with you when I +was left here to entertain you, but I could not help it--it angers me to +have you men be so fond of being deceived, such easy prey to this +threadbare story of the girl who claims she never came here until forced +to do so. But men love to believe it. The girls learn to use the story +because it pays." + +A surge of conflicting emotion swept through me as I recalled the +child-like innocence of Bertha and compared it with the critical +scepticism of this superior woman. "It only goes to show," I thought, +"what such a system can do to destroy a woman's faith in the very +existence of innocence and virtue." + +Marguerite did not speak; her silence seemed to say: "You do not +understand, nor can I explain--I am simply here and so are you, and we +have our secrets which cannot be committed to words." + +With idle fingers she drummed lightly on the table. I watched those +slender fingers and the rhythmic play of the delicate muscles of the +bare white arm that protruded from the rich folds of the blue velvet +cape. Then my gaze lifted to her face. Her downcast eyes were shielded +by long curving lashes; high arched silken brows showed dark against a +skin as fresh and free from chemist's pigment as the petal of a rose. In +exultant rapture my heart within me cried that here was something fine +of fibre, a fineness which ran true to the depths of her soul. + +In my discovery of Bertha's innocence and in my faith in her purity and +courage I had hoped to find relief from the spiritual loneliness that +had grown upon me during my sojourn in this materialistic city. But that +faith was shaken, as the impression Bertha had made upon my +over-sensitized emotions, now dimmed by a brighter light, flickered pale +on the screen of memory. The mere curiosity and pity I had felt for a +chance victim singled out among thousands by the legend of innocence on +a pretty face could not stand against the force that now drew me to this +woman who seemed to be not of a slavish race--even as Dr. Zimmern seemed +a man apart from the soulless product of the science he directed. But as +I acknowledged this new magnet tugging at the needle of my floundering +heart, I also realized that my friendship for the lovable and courageous +Zimmern reared an unassailable barrier to shut me into outer darkness. + +The thought proved the harbinger of the reality, for Dr. Zimmerman +himself now entered. He was accompanied by Col. Hellar of the +Information Staff, a man of about Zimmern's age. Col. Hellar bore +himself with a gracious dignity; his face was sad, yet there gleamed +from his eye a kindly humor. + +Marguerite, after exchanging a few pleasantries with Col. Hellar and +myself, tenderly kissed the old doctor on the forehead, and slipped out. + +"You shall see much of her," said Zimmern, "she is the heart and fire of +our little group, the force that holds us together. But tonight I asked +her not to remain"--the old doctor's eyes twinkled with merriment,--"for +a young man cannot get acquainted with a beautiful woman and with ideas +at the same time." + +~6~ + +"And now," said Zimmern, after we had finished our dinner, "I want Col. +Hellar to tell you more of the workings of the Information Service." + +"It is a very complex system," began Hellar. "It is old. Its history +goes back to the First World War, when the military censorship began by +suppressing information thought to be dangerous and circulating +fictitious reports for patriotic purposes. Now all is much more +elaborately organized; we provide that every child be taught only the +things that it is decided he needs to know, and nothing more. Have you +seen the bulletins and picture screens in the quarters for the workers?" + +"Yes," I replied, "but the lines were all in old German type." + +"And that," said Hellar, "is all that the workers and soldiers can read. +The modern type could be taught them in a few days, but we see to it +that they have no opportunity to learn it. As it is now, should they +find or steal a forbidden book, they cannot read it." + +"But is it not true," I asked, "that at one time the German workers were +most thoroughly educated?" + +"It is true," said Hellar, "and because of that universal education +Germany was defeated in the First World War. The English contaminated +the soldiers by flooding the trenches with democratic literature dropped +from airplanes. Then came the Bolshevist regime in Russia with its +passion for revolutionary propaganda. The working men and soldiers read +this disloyal literature and they forced the abdication of William the +Great. It was because of this that his great grandson, when the House of +Hohenzollern was restored to the throne, decided to curtail universal +education. + +"But while William III curtailed general education he increased the +specialized education and established the Information Staff to supervise +the dissemination of all knowledge." + +"It is an atrocious system," broke in Zimmern, "but if we had not +abolished the family, curtailed knowledge and bred soldiers and +workers from special non-intellectual strains this sunless world of +ours could not have endured." + +"Quite so," said Hellar, "whether we approve of it or not certainly +there was no other way to accomplish the end sought. By no other plan +could German isolation have been maintained." + +"But why was isolation deemed desirable?" I enquired. + +"Because," said Zimmern, "it was that or extermination. Even now we who +wish to put an end to this isolation, we few who want to see the world +as our ancestors saw it, know that the price may be annihilation." + +"So," repeated Hellar, "so annihilation for Germany, but better so--and +yet I go on as Director of Information; Dr. Zimmern goes on as Chief +Eugenist; and you go on seeking to increase the food supply, and so we +all go on as part of the diabolic system, because as individuals we +cannot destroy it, but must go on or be destroyed by it. We have riches +here and privileges. We keep the labourers subdued below us, Royalty +enthroned above us, and the World State at bay about us, all by this +science and system which only we few intellectuals understand and which +we keep going because we can not stop it without being destroyed by +the effort." + +"But we shall stop it," declared Zimmern, "we must stop it--with +Armstadt's help we can stop it. You and I, Hellar, are mere cogs; if we +break others can take our places, but Armstadt has power. What he knows +no one else knows. He has power. We have only weakness because others +can take our place. And because he has power let us help him find +a way." + +"It seems to me," I said, "that the way must be by education. More men +must think as we do." + +"But they can not think," replied Hellar, "they have nothing to +think with." + +"But the books," I said, "there is power in knowledge." + +"But," said Hellar, "the labourer can not read the forbidden book and +the intellectual will not, for if he did he would be afraid to talk +about it, and what a man can not talk about he rarely cares to read. The +love or hatred of knowledge is a matter of training. It was only last +week that I was visiting a boy's school in order to study the effect of +a new reader of which complaint had been made that it failed +sufficiently to exalt the virtue of obedience. I was talking with the +teacher while the boys assembled in the morning. We heard a great +commotion and a mob of boys came in dragging one of their companions who +had a bruised face and torn clothing. "Master, he had a forbidden book," +they shouted, and the foremost held out the tattered volume as if it +were loathsome poison. It proved to be a text on cellulose spinning. +Where the culprit had found it we could not discover but he was sent to +the school prison and the other boys were given favours for +apprehending him." + +"But how is it," I asked, "that books are not written by free-minded +authors and secretly printed and circulated?" + +At this question my companions smiled. "You chemists forget," said +Hellar, "that it takes printing presses to make books. There is no press +in all Berlin except in the shops of the Information Staff. Every paper, +every book, and every picture originates and is printed there. Every +news and book distributor must get his stock from us and knows that he +must have only in his possession that which bears the imprint for his +level. That is why we have no public libraries and no trade in +second-hand books. + +"In early life I favoured this system, but in time the foolishness of +the thing came to perplex, then to annoy, and finally to disgust me. But +I wanted the money and honour that promotion brought and so I have won +to my position and power; with my right hand I uphold the system and +with my left hand I seek to pull out the props on which it rests. For +twenty years now I have nursed the secret traffic in books and risked my +life many times thereby, yet my successes have been few and scattered. +Every time the auditors check my stock and accounts I tremble in fear, +for embezzling books is more dangerous than embezzling credit at +the bank." + +"But who," I asked, "write the books?" + +"For the technical books it is not hard to find authors," explained +Hellar, "for any man well schooled in his work can write of it. But the +task of getting the more general books written is not so easy. For then +it is not so much a question of the author knowing the things of which +he writes but of knowing what the various groups are to be permitted +to know. + +"That writing is done exclusively by especially trained workers of the +Information Service. I myself began as such a writer and studied long +under the older masters. The school of scientific lying, I called it, +but strange to say I used to enjoy such work and did it remarkably well. +As recognition of my ability I was commissioned to write the book 'God's +Anointed.' Through His Majesty's approval of my work I now owe my +position on the Staff. + +"His Majesty," continued Hellar, "was only twenty-six years of age when +he came to the throne, but he decided at once that a new religious book +should be written in which he would be proclaimed as 'God's Anointed +ruler of the World.' + +"I had never before spoken with the high members of the Royal House, and +I was trembling with eagerness and fear as I was ushered into His +Majesty's presence. The Emperor sat at his great black table; before him +was an old book. He turned to me and said, 'Have you ever heard of the +Christian Bible?' + +"My Chief had informed me that the new book was to be based on the old +Bible that the Christians had received from the Hebrews. So I said, +'Yes, Your Majesty, I am familiar with many of its words.' + +"He looked at me with a gloating suspicion. 'Ah, ha,' he said, 'then +there is something amiss in the Information Service--you are in the +third rank of your service and the Bible is permitted only to the +first rank.' + +"I saw that my statement unless modified would result in an embarrassing +investigation. 'I have never read the Christian Bible,' I said, 'but my +mother must have read it for when as a child I visited her she quoted to +me long passages from the Bible.' + +"His Majesty smiled in a pleased fashion. 'That is it,' he said, 'women +are essentially religious by nature, because they are trusting and +obedient. It was a mistake to attempt to stamp out religion. It is the +doctrine of obedience. Therefore I shall revive religion, but it shall +be a religion of obedience to the House of Hohenzollern. The God of the +Hebrews declared them to be his chosen people. But they proved a servile +and mercenary race. They traded their swords for shekels and became a +byword and a hissing among the nations--and they were scattered to the +four corners of the earth. I shall revive that God. And this time he +shall chose more wisely, for the Germans shall be his people. The idea +is not mine. William the Great had that idea, but the revolution swept +it away. It shall be revived. We shall have a new Bible, based upon the +old one, a third dispensation, to replace the work of Moses and Jesus. +And I too shall be a lawgiver--I shall speak the word of God.'" + +Hellar paused; a smile crept over his face. Then he laughed softly and +to himself--but Dr. Zimmern only shook his head sadly. + +"Yes, I wrote the book," continued Hellar. "It required four years, for +His Majesty was very critical, and did much revising. I had a long +argument with him over the question of retaining Hell. I was bitterly +opposed to it and represented to His Majesty that no religion had ever +thrived on fear of punishment without a corresponding hope of reward. +'If you are to have no Heaven,' I insisted, 'then you must have +no Hell.' + +"'But we do not need Heaven,' argued His Majesty, 'Heaven is +superfluous. It is an insult to my reign. Is it not enough that a man is +a German, and may serve the House of Hohenzollern?' + +"'Then why,' I asked, 'do you need a Hell?' I should have been shot for +that but His Majesty did not see the implication. He replied coolly: + +"'We must have a Hell because there is one way that my subjects can +escape me. It is a sin of our race that the Eugenics Office should have +bred out--but they have failed. It is an inborn sin for it is chiefly +committed by our children before they come to comprehend the glory of +being German. How else, if you do not have a Hell in your religion, can +you check suicide?' + +"Of course there was logic in his contention and so I gave in and made +the Children's Hell. It is a gruesome doctrine, that a child who kills +himself does not really die. It is the one thing in the whole book that +makes me feel most intellectually unclean for writing it. But I wrote it +and when the book was finished and His Majesty had signed the +manuscript, for the first time in over a century we printed a bible on a +German press. The press where the first run was made we named 'Old +Gutenberg.'" + +"Gutenberg invented the printing press," explained Zimmern, fearing I +might not comprehend. + +"Yes," said Hellar with a curling lip, "and Gutenberg was a German, and +so am I. He printed a Bible which he believed, and I wrote one which I +do not believe." + +"But I am glad," concluded Hellar as he arose, "that I do not believe +Gutenberg's Bible either, for I should very much dislike to think of +meeting him in Paradise." + +~7~ + +After taking leave of my companions I walked on alone, oblivious to the +gay throng, for I had many things on which to ponder. In these two men I +felt that I had found heroic figures. Their fund of knowledge, which +they prized so highly, seemed to me pitifully circumscribed and limited, +their revolutionary plans hopelessly vague and futile. But the +intellectual stature of a man is measured in terms of the average of his +race, and, thus viewed, Zimmern and Hellar were intellectual giants of +heroic proportions. + +As I walked through a street of shops. I paused before the display +window of a bookstore of the level. Most of these books I had previously +discovered were lurid-titled tales of licentious love. But among them I +now saw a volume bearing the title "God's Anointed," and recalled that I +had seen it before and assumed it to be but another like its fellows. + +Entering the store I secured a copy and, impatient to inspect my +purchase, I bent my steps to my favourite retreat in the nearby Hall of +Flowers. In a secluded niche near the misty fountain I began a hasty +perusal of this imperially inspired word of God who had anointed the +Hohenzollerns masters of the earth. Hellar's description had prepared me +for a preposterous and absurd work, but I had not anticipated anything +quite so audacious could be presented to a race of civilized men, much +less that they could have accepted it in good faith as the Germans +evidently did. + +"God's Anointed," as Hellar had scoffingly inferred, not only proclaimed +the Germans as the chosen race, but also proclaimed an actual divinity +of the blood of the House of Hohenzollern. That William II did have some +such notions in his egomania I believe is recorded in authentic history. +But the way Eitel I had adapted that faith to the rather depressing +facts of the failure of world conquest would have been extremely comical +to me, had I not seen ample evidence of the colossal effect of such a +faith working in the credulous child-mind of a people so utterly devoid +of any saving sense of humour. + +Not unfamiliar with the history of the temporal reign of the Popes of +the middle ages, I could readily comprehend the practical efficiency of +such a mixture of religious faith with the affairs of earth. For the God +of the German theology exacted no spiritual worship of his people, but +only a very temporal service to the deity's earthly incarnation in the +form of the House of Hohenzollern. + +The greatest virtue, according to this mundane theology, was obedience, +and this doctrine was closely interwoven with the caste system of German +society. The virtue of obedience required the German to renounce +discontent with his station, and to accept not only the material status +into which he was born, with science aforethought, but the intellectual +limits and horizons of that status. The old Christian doctrine of heresy +was broadened to encompass the entire mental life. To think forbidden +thoughts, to search after forbidden knowledge, that was at once treason +against the Royal House and rebellion against the divine plan. + +German theology, confounding divine and human laws, permitted no dual +overlapping spheres of mundane and celestial rule as had all previous +religious and, social orders since Christ had commanded his disciples to +"Render unto Caesar--" There could be no conscientious objection to +German law on religious grounds; no problem of church and state, for the +church was the state. + +In this book that masqueraded as the word of God, I looked in vain for +some revelation of future life. But it was essentially a one-world +theology; the most immortal thing was the Royal House for which the +worker was asked to slave, the soldier to die that Germany might be +ruled by the Hohenzollerns and that the Hohenzollerns might sometime +rule the world. + +As the freedom of conscience and the institution of marriage had been +discarded so this German faith had scrapped the immortality of the soul, +save for the single incongruous doctrine that a child taking his own +life does not die but lives on in ceaseless torment in a ghoulish +Children's Hell. + +As I closed the cursed volume my mind called up a picture of Teutonic +hordes pouring from the forests of the North and blotting out what +Greece and Rome had builded. From thence my roving fancy tripped over +the centuries and lived again with men who cannot die. I stood with +Luther at the Diet of Worms. With Kant I sounded the deeps of +philosophy. I sailed with Humboldt athwart uncharted seas. I fought with +Goethe for the redemption of a soul sold to the Devil. And with Schubert +and Heine I sang: + + _Du bist wie eine Blume, + So hold und schoen und rein,_ + + * * * * * + + _Betend dass Gott dich erhalte, + So rein und schoen und hold._ + +But what a cankerous end was here. This people which the world had once +loved and honoured was now bred a beast of burden, a domesticated race, +saddled and trained to bear upon its back the House of Hohenzollern as +the ass bore Balaam. But the German ass wore the blinders that science +had made--and saw no angel. + +~8~ + +As I sat musing thus and gazing into the spray of the fountain I +glimpsed a grey clad figure, standing in the shadows of a viney bower. +Although I could not distinguish her face through the leafy tracery I +knew that it was Bertha, and my heart thrilled to think that she had +returned to the site of our meeting. Thoroughly ashamed of the faithless +doubts that I had so recently entertained of her innocence and +sincerity, I arose and hastened toward her. But in making the detour +about the pool I lost sight of the grey figure, for she was standing +well back in the arbour. As I approached the place where I had seen her +I came upon two lovers standing with arms entwined in the path at the +pool's edge. Not wishing to disturb them, I turned back through one of +the arbours and approached by another path. As I slipped noiselessly +along in my felt-soled shoes I heard Bertha's voice, and quite near, +through the leafy tracery, I glimpsed the grey of her gown. + +"Why with your beauty," came the answering voice of a man, "did you not +find a lover from the Royal Level?" + +"Because," Bertha's voice replied, "I would not accept them. I could not +love them. I could not give myself without love." + +"But surely," insisted the man, "you have found a lover here?" + +"But I have not," protested the innocent voice, "because I have sought +none." + +"Now long have you been here?" bluntly asked the man. + +"Thirty days," replied the girl. + +"Then you must have found a lover, your debut fund would all be gone." + +"But," cried Bertha, in a tearful voice, "I only eat one meal a day--do +you not see how thin I am?" + +"Now that's clever," rejoined the man, "come, I'll accept it for what it +is worth, and look you up afterwards," and he laughingly led her away, +leaving me undiscovered in the neighbouring arbour to pass judgment on +my own simplicity. + +As I walked toward the elevator, I was painfully conscious of two ideas. +One was that Marguerite had been quite correct with her information +about the free women who found it profitable to play the role of +maidenly innocence. The other was that Dr. Zimmern's precious geography +was in the hands of the artful, child-eyed hypocrite who had so cleverly +beguiled me with her role of heroic virtue. Clearly, I was trapped, and +to judge better with what I had to deal I decided to go at once to the +Place of Records, of which I had twice heard. + +The Place of Records proved to be a public directory of the financial +status of the free women. Since the physical plagues that are propagated +by promiscuous love had been completely exterminated, and since there +were no moral standards to preserve, there was no need of other +restrictions on the lives of the women than an economic one. + +The rules of the level were prominently posted. As all consequential +money exchanges were made through bank checks, the keeping of the +records was an easy matter. These rules I found forbade any woman to +cash checks in excess of one thousand marks a month, or in excess of two +hundred marks from any one man. That was simple enough, and I smiled as +I recalled that I had gone the legal limit in my first adventure. + +Following the example of other men, I stepped to the window and gave the +name: "Bertha 34 R 6." A clerk brought me a book opened to the page of +her record. At the top of the page was entered this statement, "Bred for +an actress but rejected for both professional work and maternity because +found devoid of sympathetic emotions." I laughed as I read this, but +when on the next line I saw from the date of her entrance to the level +that Bertha's thirty days was in reality nearly three years, my mirth +turned to anger. I looked down the list of entries and found that for +some time she had been cashing each month the maximum figure of a +thousand marks. Evidently her little scheme of pensive posing in the +Hall of Flowers was working nicely. In the current month, hardly half +gone, she already had to her credit seven hundred marks; and last on the +list was my own contribution, freshly entered. + +"She has three hundred marks yet," commented the clerk. + +"Yes, I see,"--and I turned to go. But I paused and stepped again to the +window. "There is another girl I would like to look up," I said, "but I +have only her name and no number." + +"Do you know the date of her arrival?" asked the clerk. + +"Yes, she has been here four years and six days. The name is +Marguerite." + +The clerk walked over to a card file and after some searching brought +back a slip with half a dozen numbers. "Try these," he said, and he +brought me the volumes. The second record I inspected read: "Marguerite, +78 K 4, Love-child." On the page below was a single entry for each +month of two hundred marks and every entry from the first was in the +name of Ludwig Zimmern. + +~9~ + +I kept my appointment with Bertha, but found it difficult to hide my +anger as she greeted me. Wishing to get the interview over, I asked +abruptly, "Have you read the book I left?" + +"Not all of it," she replied, "I found it rather dull." + +"Then perhaps I had better take it with me." + +"But I think I shall keep it awhile," she demurred. + +"No," I insisted, as I looked about and failed to see the geography, "I +wish you would get it for me. I want to take it back, in fact it was a +borrowed book." + +"Most likely," she smiled archly, "but since you are not a staff +officer, and had no right to have that book, you might as well know that +you will get it when I please to give it to you." + +Seeing that she was thoroughly aware of my predicament, I grew +frightened and my anger slipped from its moorings. "See here," I cried, +"your little story of innocence and virtue is very clever, but I've +looked you up and--" + +"And what--," she asked, while through her child-like mask the subtle +trickery of her nature mocked me with a look of triumph--"and what do +you propose to do about it?" + +I realized the futility of my rage. "I shall do nothing. I ask only that +you return the book." + +"But books are so valuable," taunted Bertha. + +Dejectedly I sank to the couch. She came over and sat on a cushion at my +feet. "Really Karl," she purred, "you should not be angry. If I insist +on keeping your book it is merely to be sure that you will not forget +me. I rather like you; you are so queer and talk such odd things. Did +you learn your strange ways of making love from the book about the +inferior races in the world outside the walls? I really tried to read +some of it, but I could not understand half the words." + +I rose and strode about the room. "Will you get me the book?" I +demanded. + +"And lose you?" + +"Well, what of it? You can get plenty more fools like me." + +"Yes, but I would have to stand and stare into that fountain for hours +at a time. It is very tiresome." + +"Just what do you want?" I asked, trying to speak calmly. + +"Why you," she said, placing her slender white hands upon my arm, and +holding up an inviting face. + +But anger at my own gullibility had killed her power to draw me, and I +shook her off. "I want that book," I said coldly, "what are your terms?" +And I drew my check book from my pocket. + +"How many blanks have you there?" she asked with a greedy light in her +eyes--"but never mind to count them. Make them all out to me at two +hundred marks, and date each one a month ahead." + +Realizing that any further exhibition of fear or anger would put me more +within her power, I sat down and began to write the checks. The fund I +was making over to her was quite useless to me but when I had made out +twenty checks I stopped. "Now," I said, "this is enough. You take these +or nothing." Tearing out the written checks I held them toward her. + +As she reached out her hand I drew them back--"Go get the book," I +demanded. + +"But you are unfair," said Bertha, "you are the stronger. You can take +the book from me. I cannot take the checks from you." + +"That is so," I admitted, and handed the checks to her. She looked at +them carefully and slipped them into her bosom, and then, reaching under +the pile of silken pillows, she pulled forth the geography. + +I seized it and turned toward the door, but she caught my arm. "Don't," +she pleaded, "don't go. Don't be angry with me. Why should you dislike +me? I've only played my part as you men make it for us--but I do not +want your money for nothing. You liked me when you thought me innocent. +Why hate me when you find that I am clever?" + +Again those slender arms stole around my neck, and the entrancing face +was raised to mine. But the vision of a finer, nobler face rose before +me, and I pushed away the clinging arms. "I'm sorry," I said, "I am +going now--going back to my work and forget you. It is not your fault. +You are only what Germany has made you--but," I added with a smile, "if +you must go to the Hall of Flowers, please do not wear that grey gown." + +She stood very still as I edged toward the door, and the look of baffled +child-like innocence crept back into her eyes, a real innocence this +time of things she did not know, and could not understand. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE SUN SHINES UPON A KING AND A GIRL READS OF THE FALL OF BABYLON + + +~1~ + +Embittered by this unhappy ending of my romance, I turned to my work +with savage zeal, determined not again to be diverted by a personal +effort to save the Germans from their sins. But this application to my +test-tubes was presently interrupted by a German holiday which was known +as The Day of the Sun. + +From the conversation of my assistants I gathered that this was an +annual occasion of particular importance. It was, in fact, His Majesty's +birthday, and was celebrated by permitting the favoured classes to see +the ruler himself at the Place in the Sun. For this Royal exhibition I +received a blue ticket of which my assistants were curiously envious. +They inspected the number of it and the hour of my admittance to the +Royal Level. "It is the first appearance of the day," they said. "His +Majesty will be fresh to speak; you will be near; you will be able to +see His Face without the aid of a glass; you will be able to hear His +Voice, and not merely the reproducing horns." + +In the morning our news bulletin was wholly devoted to announcements and +patriotic exuberances. Across the sheet was flamed a headline stating +that the meteorologist of the Roof Observatory reported that the sun +would shine in full brilliancy upon the throne. This seemed very +puzzling to me. For the Place in the Sun was clearly located on the +Royal Level and some hundred metres beneath the roof of the city. + +I went, at the hour announced on my ticket, to the indicated elevator; +and, with an eager crowd of fellow scientists, stepped forth into a vast +open space where the vaulted ceiling was supported by massive fluted +columns that rose to twice the height of the ordinary spacing of the +levels of the city. + +An enormous crowd of men of the higher ranks was gathering. Closely +packed and standing, the multitude extended to the sides and the rear of +my position for many hundred metres until it seemed quite lost under the +glowing lights in the distance. Before us a huge curtain hung. +Emblazoned on its dull crimson background of subdued socialism was a +gigantic black eagle, the leering emblem of autocracy. Above and +extending back over us, appeared in the ceiling a deep and +unlighted crevice. + +As the crowd seemed complete the men about me consulted their watches +and then suddenly grew quiet in expectancy. The lights blinked twice and +went out, and we were bathed in a hush of darkness. The heavy curtain +rustled like the mantle of Jove while from somewhere above I heard the +shutters of the windows of heaven move heavily on their rollers. A +flashing brilliant beam of light shot through the blackness and fell in +wondrous splendour upon a dazzling metallic dais, whereon rested the +gilded throne of the House of Hohenzollern. + +Seated upon the throne was a man--a very little man he seemed amidst +such vast and vivid surroundings. He was robed in a cape of dazzling +white, and on his head he wore a helmet of burnished platinum. Before +the throne and slightly to one side stood the round form of a +paper globe. + +His Majesty rose, stepped a few paces forward; and, as he with solemn +deliberation raised his hand into the shaft of burning light, from the +throng there came a frenzied shouting, which soon changed into a sort of +chanting and then into a throaty song. + +His Majesty lowered his hand; the song ceased; a great stillness hung +over the multitude. Eitel I, Emperor of the Germans, now raised his face +and stared for a moment unblinkingly into the beam of sunlight, then he +lowered his gaze toward the sea of upturned faces. + +"My people," he said, in a voice which for all his pompous effort, fell +rather flat in the immensity, "you are assembled here in the Place of +the Sun to do honour to God's anointed ruler of the world." + +From ten thousand throats came forth another raucous shout. + +"Two and a half centuries ago," now spoke His Majesty, "God appointed +the German race, under William the Great, of the House of Hohenzollern, +to be the rulers of the world. + +"For nineteen hundred years, God in his infinite patience, had awaited +the outcome of the test of the Nazarene's doctrine of servile humility +and effeminate peace. But the Christian nations of the earth were +weighed in the balance of Divine wrath and found wanting. Wallowing in +hypocrisy and ignorance, wanting in courage and valour; behind a +pretence of altruism they cloaked their selfish greed for gold. + +"Of all the people of the earth our race alone possessed the two keys to +power, the mastery of science and the mastery of the sword. So the +Germans were called of God to instil fear and reverence into the hearts +of the inferior races. That was the purpose of the First World War under +my noble ancestor, William II. + +"But the envious nations, desperate in their greed, banded together to +defy our old German God, and destroy His chosen people. But this was +only a divine trial of our worth, for the plans of God are for eternity. +His days to us are centuries. And we did well to patiently abide the +complete unfoldment of the Divine plan. + +"Before two generations had passed our German ancestors cast off the +yoke of enslavement and routed the oppressors in the Second World War. +Lest His chosen race be contaminated by the swinish herds of the mongrel +nations God called upon His people to relinquish for a time the fruits +of conquest, that they might be further purged by science and become a +pure-bred race of super-men. + +"That purification has been accomplished for every German is bred and +trained by science as ordained by God. There are no longer any mongrels +among the men of Germany, for every one of you is created for his +special purpose and every German is fitted for his particular place as a +member of the super-race. + +"The time now draws near when the final purpose of our good old German +God is to be fulfilled. The day of this fulfilment is known unto me. The +sun which shines upon this throne is but a symbol of that which has been +denied you while all these things were being made ready. But now the day +draws near when you shall, under my leadership, rule over the world and +the mongrel peoples. And to each of you shall be given a place in +the sun." + +The voice had ceased. A great stillness hung over the multitude. Eitel +I, Emperor of the Germans, threw back his cape and drew his sword. With +a sweeping flourish he slashed the paper globe in twain. + +From the myriad throated throng came a reverberating shout that rolled +and echoed through the vaulted catacomb. The crimson curtain dropped. +The shutters were thrown athwart the reflected beam of sunlight. The +lights of man again glowed pale amidst the maze of columns. + +Singing and marching, the men filed toward the elevators. The guards +urged haste to clear the way, for the God of the Germans could not stay +the march of the sun across the roof of Berlin, and a score of paper +globes must yet be slashed for other shouting multitudes before the +sun's last gleam be twisted down to shine upon a king. + +~2~ + +Although the working hours of the day were scarcely one-fourth gone, it +was impossible for me to return to my laboratory for the lighting +current was shut off for the day. I therefore decided to utilize the +occasion by returning the geography which I had rescued from Bertha. + +Dr. Zimmern's invitation to make use of his library had been cordial +enough, but its location in Marguerite's apartment had made me a little +reticent about going there except in the Doctor's company. Yet I did not +wish to admit to Zimmern my sensitiveness in the matter--and the +geography had been kept overlong. + +This occasion being a holiday, I found the resorts on the Level of Free +Women crowded with merrymakers. But I sought the quieter side streets +and made my way towards Marguerite's apartment. + +"I thought you would be celebrating today," she said as I entered. + +"I feel that I can utilize the time better by reading," I replied. +"There is so much I want to learn, and, thanks to Dr. Zimmern, I now +have the opportunity." + +"But surely you are to see the Emperor in the Place in the Sun," said +Marguerite when she had returned the geography to the secret shelf. + +"I have already seen him," I replied, "my ticket was for the first +performance." + +"It must be a magnificent sight," she sighed. "I should so love to see +the sunlight. The pictures show us His Majesty's likeness, but what is a +picture of sunlight?" + +"But you speak only of a reflected beam; how would you like to see real +sunshine?" + +"Oh, on the roof of Berlin? But that is only for Royalty and the roof +guards. I've tried to imagine that, but I know that I fail as a blind +man must fail to imagine colour." + +"Close your eyes," I said playfully, "and try very hard." + +Solemnly Marguerite closed her eyes. + +For a moment I smiled, and then the smile relaxed, for I felt as one who +scoffs at prayer. + +"And did you see the sunlight?" I asked, as she opened her eyes and +gazed at me with dilated pupils. + +"No," she answered hoarsely, "I only saw man-light as far as the walls +of Berlin, and beyond that it was all empty blackness--and it +frightens me." + +"The fear of darkness," I said, "is the fear of ignorance." + +"You try," and she reached over with a soft touch of her finger tips on +my closing eyelids. "Now keep them closed and tell me what you see. Tell +me it is not all black." + +"I see light," I said, "white light, on a billowy sea of clouds, as from +a flying plane.... And now I see the sun--it is sinking behind a rugged +line of snowy peaks and the light is dimming.... It is gone now, but it +is not dark, for moonlight, pale and silvery, is shimmering on a choppy +sea.... Now it is the darkest hour, but it is never black, only a dark, +dark grey, for the roof of the world is pricked with a million points of +light.... The grey of the east is shot with the rose of dawn.... The +rose brightens to scarlet and the curve of the sun appears--red like the +blood of war.... And now the sky is crystal blue and the grey sands of +the desert have turned to glittering gold." + +I had ceased my poetic visioning and was looking into Marguerite's face. +The light of worship I saw in her eyes filled me with a strange +trembling and holy awe. + +"And I saw only blackness," she faltered. "Is it that I am born blind +and you with vision?" + +"Perhaps what you call vision is only memory," I said--but, as I +realized where my words were leading, I hastened to add--"Memory, from +another life. Have you ever heard of such a thing as the reincarnation +of the soul?" + +"That means," she said hesitatingly, "that there is something in us that +does not die--immortality, is it not?" + +"Well, it is something like that," I answered huskily, as I wondered +what she might know or dream of that which lay beyond the ken of the +gross materialism of her race. "Immortality is a very beautiful idea," I +went on, "and science has destroyed much that is beautiful. But it is a +pity that Col. Hellar had to eliminate the idea of immortality from the +German Bible. Surely such a book makes no pretence of being scientific." + +"So Col. Hellar has told you that he wrote 'God's Anointed'?" exclaimed +Marguerite with eager interest. + +"Yes, he told me of that and I re-read the book with an entirely +different viewpoint since I came to understand the spirit in which it +was written." + +"Ah--I see." Marguerite rose and stepped toward the library. "We have a +book here," she called, "that you have not read, and one that you cannot +buy. It will show you the source of Col. Hellar's inspiration." + +She brought out a battered volume. "This book," she stated, "has given +the inspectors more trouble than any other book in existence. Though +they have searched for thirty years, they say there are more copies of +it still at large than of all other forbidden books combined." + +I gazed at the volume she handed me--I was holding a copy of the +Christian Bible translated six centuries previous by Martin Luther. It +was indeed the very text from which as a boy I had acquired much of my +reading knowledge of the language. But I decided that I had best not +reveal to Marguerite my familiarity with it, and so I sat down and +turned the pages with assumed perplexity. + +"It is a very odd book," I remarked presently. "Have you read it?" + +"Oh, yes," exclaimed Marguerite. "I often read it; I think it is more +interesting than all these modern books, but perhaps that is because I +cannot understand it; I love mysterious things." + +"There is too much of it for a man as busy as I am to hope to read," I +remarked, after turning a few more pages, "and so I had better not +begin. Will you not choose something and read it aloud to me?" + +Marguerite declined at first; but, when I insisted, she took the +tattered Bible and turned slowly through its pages. + +And when she read, it was the story of a king who revelled with his +lords, and of a hand that wrote upon a wall. + +Her voice was low, and possessed a rhythm and cadence that transmuted +the guttural German tongue into musical poetry. + +Again she read, of a man who, though shorn of his strength by the wiles +of a woman and blinded by his enemies, yet pushed asunder the pillars +of a city. + +At random she read other tales, of rulers and of slaves, of harlots and +of queens--the wisdom of prophets--the songs of kings. + +Together we pondered the meanings of these strange things, and exulted +in the beauty of that which was meaningless. And so the hours passed; +the day drew near its close and Marguerite read from the last pages of +the book, of a voice that cried mightily--"Babylon the great is fallen, +is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every +foul spirit." + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FINDING THEREIN ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN I HAVE COMPASSION ON BERLIN + + +~1~ + +My first call upon Marguerite had been followed by other visits when we +had talked of books and read together. On these occasions I had +carefully suppressed my desire to speak of more personal things. But, +constantly reminded by my own troubled conscience, I grew fearful lest +the old doctor should discover that the books were the lesser part of +the attraction that drew me to Marguerite's apartment, and my fear was +increased as I realized that my calls on Zimmern had abruptly ceased. + +Thinking to make amends I went one evening to the doctor's apartment. + +"I was going out shortly," said Zimmern, as he greeted me. "I have a +dinner engagement with Hellar on the Free Level. But I still have a little +time; if it pleases you we might walk along to our library." + +I promptly accepted the invitation, hoping that it would enable me +better to establish my relation to Marguerite and Zimmern in a safe +triangle of mutual friendship. As we walked, Zimmern, as if he read my +thoughts, turned the conversation to the very subject that was uppermost +in my mind. + +"I am glad, Armstadt," he said with a gracious smile, "that you and +Marguerite seem to enjoy each other's friendship. I had often wished +there were younger men in our group, since her duties as caretaker of +our books quite forbids her cultivating the acquaintance of any men +outside our chosen few. Marguerite is very patient with the dull talk of +us old men, but life is not all books, and there is much that youth +may share." + +For these words of Zimmern's I was quite unprepared. He seemed to be +inviting me to make love to Marguerite, and I wondered to what extent +the prevailing social ethics might have destroyed the finer +sensibilities that forbid the sharing of a woman's love. + +When we reached the apartment Marguerite greeted us with a perfect +democracy of manner. But my reassurance of the moment was presently +disturbed when she turned to Zimmern and said: "Now that you are here, I +am going for a bit of a walk; I have not been out for two whole days." + +"Very well," the doctor replied. "I cannot remain long as I have an +engagement with Hellar, but perhaps Armstadt will remain until +you return." + +"Then I shall have him all to myself," declared Marguerite with quiet +seriousness. + +Though I glanced from the old doctor to the young woman in questioning +amazement, neither seemed in the least embarrassed or aware that +anything had been said out of keeping with the customary propriety +of life. + +Marguerite, throwing the blue velvet cape about her bare white +shoulders, paused to give the old doctor an affectionate kiss, and with +a smile for me was gone. + +For a few moments the doctor sat musing; but when he turned to me it was +to say: "I hope that you are making good use of our precious +accumulation of knowledge." + +In reply I assured him of my hearty appreciation of the library. + +"You can see now," continued Zimmern, "how utterly the mind of the race +has been enslaved, how all the vast store of knowledge, that as a whole +makes life possible, is parcelled out for each. Not one of us is +supposed to know of those vital things outside our own narrow field. +That knowledge is forbidden us lest we should understand the workings of +our social system and question the wisdom of it all. And so, while each +is wiser in his own little cell than were the men of the old order, yet +on all things else we are little children, accepting what we are taught, +doing what we are told, with no mind, no souls of our own. Scientists +have ceased to be men, and have become thinking machines, specialized +for their particular tasks." + +"That is true," I said, "but what are we to do about it? You have by +these forbidden books acquired a realization of the enslavement of the +race--but the others, all these millions of professional men, are they +not hopelessly rendered impotent by the systematic Suppression of +knowledge?" + +"The millions, yes," replied Zimmern, "but there are the chosen few; we +who have seen the light must find a way for the liberation of all." + +"Do you mean," I asked eagerly, "that you are planning some secret +rebellion--that you hope for some possible rising of the people to +overthrow the system?" + +Zimmern looked at me in astonishment. "The people," he said, "cannot +rise. In the old order such a thing was possible--revolutions they +called them--the people led by heroes conceived passions for liberty. +But such powers of mental reaction no longer exist in German minds. We +have bred and trained it out of them. One might as well have expected +the four-footed beasts of burden in the old agricultural days to rebel +against their masters." + +"But," I protested, "if the people could be enlightened?" + +"How," exclaimed Zimmern impatiently, "can you enlighten them? You are +young, Armstadt, very young to talk of such things--even if a rebellion +was a possibility what would be the gain? Rebellion means disorder--once +the ventilating machinery of the city and the food processes were +disturbed we should all perish in this trap--we should all die of +suffocation and starvation." + +"Then why," I asked, "do you talk of this thing? If rebellion is +impossible and would, if possible, destroy us all, then is there +any hope?" + +Zimmern paced the floor for a time in silence and then, facing me +squarely, he said, "I have confessed to you my dissatisfaction with the +existing state. In doing this I placed myself in great danger, but I +risked that and now I shall risk more. I ask you now, Are you with us +to the end?" + +"Yes," I replied very gravely, "I am with you although I cannot fully +understand on what you base your hope." + +"Our hope," replied Zimmern, "is out there in the world from whence come +those flying men who rain bombs on the roof of Berlin and for ever keep +us patching it. We must get word to them. We must throw ourselves upon +the humanity of our enemies and ask them to save us." + +"But," I questioned, in my excitement, "what can Germany expect of the +enemy? She has made war against the world for centuries--will that world +permit Germany to live could they find a way to destroy her?" + +"As a nation, no, but as men, yes. Men do not kill men as individuals, +they only make war against a nation of men. As long as Germany is +capable of making war against the world so long will the world attempt +to destroy her. You, Colonel Armstadt, hold in your protium secret the +power of Germany to continue the war against the world. Because you were +about to gain that power I risked my own life to aid you in getting a +wider knowledge. Because you now hold that power I risk it again by +asking you to use it to destroy Germany and save the Germans. The men +who are with me in this cause, and for whom I speak, are but a few. The +millions materially alive, are spiritually dead. The world alone can +give them life again as men. Even though a few million more be destroyed +in the giving have not millions already been destroyed? What if you do +save Germany now--what does it mean merely that we breed millions more +like we now have, soulless creatures born to die like worms in the +ground, brains working automatically, stamping out one sort of idea, +like machines that stamp out buttons--or mere mouths shouting like +phonographs before this gaudy show of royalty?" + +"But," I said, "you speak for the few emancipated minds; what of all +these men who accept the system--you call them slaves, yet are they not +content with their slavery, do they want to be men of the world or +continue here in their bondage and die fighting to keep up their own +system of enslavement?" + +"It makes no difference what they want," replied Zimmern, in a voice +that trembled with emotion; "we bred them as slaves to the _kultur_ of +Germany, the thing to do is to stop the breeding." + +"But how," I asked, "can men who have been beaten into the mould of the +ox ever be restored to their humanity?" + +"The old ones cannot," sighed Zimmern; "it was always so; when a people +has once fallen into evil ways the old generation can never be wholly +redeemed, but youth can always be saved--youth is plastic." + +"But the German race," I said, "has not only been mis-educated, it has +been mis-bred. Can you undo inheritance? Can this race with its vast +horde of workers bred for a maximum of muscle and a minimum of brains +ever escape from that stupidity that has been bred into the blood?" + +"You have been trained as a chemist," said Zimmern, "you despair of the +future because you do not understand the laws of inheritance. A +specialized type of man or animal is produced from the selection of the +extreme individuals. That you know. But what you do not know is that the +type once established does not persist of its own accord. It can only be +maintained by the rigid continuance of the selection. The average +stature of man did not change a centimetre in a thousand years, till we +came in with our meddlesome eugenics. Leave off our scientific meddling +and the race will quickly revert to the normal type. + +"That applies to the physical changes; in the mental powers the +restoration will be even more rapid, because we have made less change in +the psychic elements of the germ plasm. The inborn capacity of the human +brain is hard to alter. Men are created more nearly equal than even the +writers of democratic constitutions have ever known. If the World State +will once help us to free ourselves from these shackles of rigid caste +and cultured ignorance, this folly of scientific meddling with the blood +and brains of man, there is yet hope for this race, for we have changed +far less than we pretend, in the marrow we are human still." + +The old man sank back in his chair. The fire in his soul had burned out. +His hand fumbled for his watch. "I must leave you now," he said; +"Marguerite should be back shortly. From her you need conceal nothing. +She is the soul of our hopes and our dreams. She keeps our books safe +and our hearts fine. Without her I fear we should all have given up +long ago." + +With a trembling handclasp he left me alone in Marguerite's apartment. +And alone too with my conflicting and troubled emotions. He was a +lovable soul, ripe with the wisdom of age, yet youthful in his hopes to +redeem his people from the curse of this unholy blend of socialism and +autocracy that had prostituted science and made a black Utopian +nightmare of man's millennial dream. + +Vaguely I wondered how many of the three hundred millions of German +souls--for I could not accept the soulless theory of Zimmern--were yet +capable of a realization of their humanity. To this query there could be +no answer, but of one conclusion I was certain, it was not my place to +ask what these people wanted, for their power to decide was destroyed by +the infernal process of their making--but here at least, my democratic +training easily gave the answer that Dr. Zimmern had achieved by sheer +genius, and my answer was that for men whose desire for liberty has been +destroyed, liberty must be thrust upon them. + +But it remained for me to work out a plan for so difficult a salvation. +Of this I was now assured that I need no longer work alone, for as I had +long suspected, Dr. Zimmern and his little group of rebellious souls +were with me. But what could so few do amidst all the millions? My +answer, like Zimmern's, was that the salvation of Germany lay in the +enemies' hands--and I alone was of that enemy. Yet never again could I +pray for the destruction of the city at the hands of the outraged +god--Humanity. And I thought of Sodom and Gomorrah which the God of +Abraham had agreed to spare if there be found ten righteous men therein. + +~2~ + +From these far-reaching thoughts my mind was drawn sharply back to the +fact of my presence in Marguerite's apartment and the realization that +she would shortly return to find me there alone. I resented the fact +that the old doctor and the young woman could conspire to place me in +such a situation. I resented the fact that a girl like Marguerite could +be bound to a man three times her age, and yet seem to accept it with +perfect grace. But I resented most of all the fact that both she and +Zimmern appeared to invite me to share in a triangle of love, open and +unashamed. + +My bitter brooding was disturbed by the sound of a key turning in the +lock, and Marguerite, fresh and charming from the exhilaration of her +walk, came into the room. + +"I am so glad you remained," she said. "I hope no one else comes and we +can have the evening to ourselves." + +"It seems," I answered with a touch of bitterness, "that Dr. Zimmern +considers me quite a safe playmate for you." + +At my words Marguerite blushed prettily. "I know you do not quite +understand," she said, "but you see I am rather peculiarly situated. I +cannot go out much, and I can have no girl friends here, and no men +either except those who are in this little group who know of our books. +And they, you see, are all rather old, mostly staff officers like the +doctor himself, and Col. Hellar. You rank quite as well as some of the +others, but you are ever so much younger. That is why the doctor thinks +you are so wonderful--I mean because you have risen so high at so early +an age--but perhaps I think you are rather wonderful just because you +are young. Is it not natural for young people to want friends of +their own age?" + +"It is," I replied with ill-concealed sarcasm. + +"Why do you speak like that?" asked Marguerite in pained surprise. + +"Because a burnt child dreads the fire." + +"I do not understand," she said, a puzzled look in her eyes. "How could +a child be burned by a fire since it could never approach one. They only +have fires in the smelting furnaces, and children could never go +near them." + +Despite my bitter mood I smiled as I said: "It is just a figure of +speech that I got out of an old book. It means that when one is hurt by +something he does not want to be hurt in the same way again. You +remember what you said to me in the cafe about looking up the girl who +played the innocent role? I did look her up, and you were right about +it. She has been, here three years and has a score of lovers." + +"And you dropped her?" + +"Of course I dropped her." + +"And you have not found another?" + +"No, and I do not want another, and I had not made love to this girl +either, as you think I had; perhaps I would have done so, but thanks to +you I was warned in time. I may be even younger than you think I am, +young at least in experience with the free women of Berlin. This is the +second apartment I have ever been in on this level." + +"Why do you tell me this?" questioned Marguerite. + +"Because," I said doggedly, "because I suppose that I want you to know +that I have spent most of my time in a laboratory. I also want you to +know that I do not like the artful deceit that you all seem to +cultivate." + +"And do you think I am trying to deceive you?" cried Marguerite +reproachfully. + +"Your words may be true," I said, "but the situation you place me in is +a false one. Dr. Zimmern brings me here that I may read your books. He +leaves me alone here with you and urges me to come as often as I choose. +All that is hard enough, but to make it harder for me, you tell me that +you particularly want my company because you have no other young +friends. In fact you practically ask me to make love to you and yet you +know why I cannot." + +In the excitement of my warring emotions I had risen and was pacing the +floor, and now as I reached the climax of my bitter speech, Marguerite, +with a choking sob, fled from the room. + +Angered at the situation and humiliated by what I had said, I was on the +point of leaving at once. But a moment of reflection caused me to turn +back. I had forced a quarrel upon Marguerite and the cause for my anger +she perhaps did not comprehend. If I left now it would be impossible to +return, and if I did not come back, there would be explanations to make +to Zimmern and perhaps an ending of my association with him and his +group, which was not only the sole source of my intellectual life +outside my work, but which I had begun to hope might lead to some +enterprise of moment and possibly to my escape from Berlin. + +So calming my anger, I turned to the library and doggedly pulled down a +book and began scanning its contents. I had been so occupied for some +time, when there was a ring at the bell. I peered out into the +reception-room in time to see Marguerite come from another door. Her +eyes revealed the fact that she had been crying. Quickly she closed the +door of the little library, shutting me in with the books. A moment +later she came in with a grey-haired man, a staff officer of the +electrical works. She introduced us coolly and then helped the old man +find a book he wanted to take out, and which she entered on her records. + +After the visitor had gone Marguerite again slipped out of the room and +for a time I despaired of a chance to speak to her before I felt I must +depart. Another hour passed and then she stole into the library and +seated herself very quietly on a little dressing chair and watched me as +I proceeded with my reading. + +I asked her some questions about one of the volumes and she replied with +a meek and forgiving voice that made me despise myself heartily. Other +questions and answers followed and soon we were talking again of books +as if we had no overwhelming sense of the personal presence of +each other. + +The hours passed; by all my sense of propriety I should have been long +departed, but still we talked of books without once referring to my +heated words of the earlier evening. + +She had stood enticingly near me as we pulled down the volumes. My heart +beat wildly as she sat by my side, while I mechanically turned the +pages. The brush of her garments against my sleeve quite maddened me. I +had not dared to look into her eyes, as I talked meaningless, +bookish words. + +Summoning all my self-control, I now faced her. "Marguerite," I said +hoarsely, "look at me." + +She lifted her eyes and met my gaze unflinchingly, the moisture of fresh +tears gleaming beneath her lashes. + +"Forgive me," I entreated. + +"For what?" she asked simply, smiling a little through her tears. + +"For being a fool," I declared fiercely, "for believing your cordiality +toward me as Dr. Zimmern's friend to mean more than--than it +should mean." + +"But I do not understand," she said. "Should I not have told you that I +liked you because you were young? Of course if you don't want me +to--to--" She paused abruptly, her face suffused with a +delicate crimson. + +I stepped toward her and reached out my arms. But she drew back and +slipped quickly around the table. "No," she cried, "no, you have said +that you did not want me." + +"But I do," I cried. "I do want you." + +"Then why did you say those things to me?" she asked haughtily. + +I gazed at her across the narrow table. Was it possible that such a +woman had no understanding of ideals of honour in love? Could it be that +she had no appreciation of the fight I had waged, and so nearly lost, to +respect the trust and confidence that the old doctor had placed in me. +With these thoughts the ardour of my passion cooled and a feeling of +pity swept over me, as I sensed the tragedy of so fine a woman ethically +impoverished by false training and environment. Had she known honour, +and yet discarded it, I too should have been unable to resist the +impulse of youth to deny to age its less imperious claims. + +But either she chose artfully to ignore my struggle or she was truly +unaware of it. In either case she would not share the responsibility for +the breach of faith. I was puzzled and confounded. + +It was Marguerite who broke the bewildering silence. "I wish you would +go now," she said coolly; "I am afraid I misunderstood." + +"And shall I come again?" I asked awkwardly. + +She looked up at me and smiled bravely. "Yes," she said, "if--you are +sure you wish to." + +A resurge of passionate longing to take her in my arms swept over me, +but she held out her hand with such rare and dignified grace that I +could only take the slender fingers and press them hungrily to my +fevered lips and so bid her a wordless adieu. + +~3~ + +But despite wild longing to see her again, I did not return to +Marguerite's apartment for many weeks. A crisis in my work at the +laboratory denied me even a single hour of leisure outside brief +snatches of food and sleep. + +I had previously reported to the Chemical Staff that I had found means +to increase materially the extraction percentage of the precious element +protium from the crude imported ore. I had now received word that I +should prepare to make a trial demonstration before the Staff. + +Already I had revealed certain results of my progress to Herr von Uhl, +as this had been necessary in order to get further grants of the rare +material and of expensive equipment needed for the research, but in +these smaller demonstrations, I had not been called upon to disclose my +method. Now the Staff, hopeful that I had made the great discovery, +insisted that I prepare at once to make a large scale demonstration and +reveal the method that it might immediately be adopted for the wholesale +extraction in the industrial works. + +If I now gave away the full secret of my process, I would receive +compensation that would indeed seem lavish for a man whose mental +horizon was bounded by these enclosing walls; yet to me for whom these +walls would always be a prison, credit at the banks of Berlin and the +baubles of decoration and rank and social honour would be sounding +brass. But I wanted power; and, with the secret of protium extraction in +my possession, I would have control of life or death over three hundred +million men. Why should I sacrifice such power for useless credit and +empty honour? If Eitel I of the House of Hohenzollern would lengthen the +days of his rule, let him deal with me and meet whatever terms I chose +to name, for in my chemical retorts I had brewed a secret before which +vaunted efficiency and hypocritical divinity could be made to bend a +hungry belly and beg for food! + +It was a laudable and rather thrilling ambition, and yet I was not clear +as to just what terms I would dictate, nor how I could enforce the +dictation. To ask for an audience with the Emperor now, and to take any +such preposterous stand would merely be to get myself locked up for a +lunatic. But I reasoned that if I could make the demonstration so that +it would be accepted as genuine and yet not give away my secret, the +situation would be in my hands. Yet I was expected to reveal the process +step by step as the demonstration proceeded. There was but one way out +and that was to make a genuine demonstration, but with falsely +written formulas. + +To plan and prepare such a demonstration required more genuine invention +than had the discovery of the process, but I set about the task with +feverish enthusiasm. I kept my assistants busy with the preparation of +the apparatus and the more simple work which there was no need to +disguise, while night after night I worked alone, altering and +disguising the secret steps on which my great discovery hinged. As these +preparations were nearing completion I sent for Dr. Zimmern and Col. +Hellar to meet me at my apartment. + +"Comrades," I said, "you have endangered your own lives by confiding in +me your secret desires to overthrow the rule of the House of +Hohenzollern as it was overthrown once before. You have done this +because you believed that I would have power that others do not have." + +The two old men nodded in grave assent. + +"And you have been quite fortunate in your choice," I concluded, "for +not only have I pledged myself to your ends, but I shall soon possess +the coveted power. In a few days I shall demonstrate my process on a +large scale before the Chemical Staff. But I shall do this thing without +revealing the method. The formulas I shall give them will be +meaningless. As long as I am in charge in my own laboratory the process +will be a success; when it is tried elsewhere it will fail, until I +choose to make further revelations. + +"So you see, for a time, unless I be killed or tortured into confession, +I shall have great power. How then may I use that power to help you in +the cause to which we are pledged?" + +The older men seemed greatly impressed with my declaration and danced +about me and cried with joy. When they had regained their composure +Zimmern said: "There is but one thing you can do for us and that is to +find some way to get word of the protium mines to the authorities of the +World State. Berlin will then be at their mercy, but whatever happens +can be no worse than the continuance of things as they are." + +"But how," I said, "can a message be sent from Berlin to the outer +world?" + +"There is only one way," replied Hellar, "and that is by the submarines +that go out for this ore. The Submarine Staff are members of the Royal +House. So, indeed, are the captains. We have tried for years to gain the +confidence of some of these men, but without avail. Perhaps through your +work on the protium ore you can succeed where we have failed." + +"And how," I asked eagerly, "do the ore-bringing vessels get from Berlin +to the sea?" + +My visitors glanced at each other significantly. "Do you not know that?" +exclaimed Zimmern. "We had supposed you would have been told when you +were assigned to the protium research." + +By way of answer I explained that I knew the source of the ore but not +the route of its coming. + +"All such knowledge is suppressed in books," commented Hellar; "we older +men know of this by word of mouth from the days when the submarine +tunnel was completed to the sea, but you are younger. Unless this was +told you at the time you were assigned the work it is not to be expected +that you would know." + +I questioned Hellar and Zimmern closely but found that all they knew was +that a submarine tunnel did exist leading from Berlin somewhere into the +open sea; but its exact location they did not know. Again I pressed my +question as to what I could do with the power of my secret and they +could only repeat that they staked their hopes on getting word to the +outer world by way of submarines. + +Much as I might admire the strength of character that would lead men to +rebel against the only life they knew because they sensed that it was +hopeless, I now found myself a little exasperated at the vagueness of +their plans. Yet I had none better. To defy the Emperor would merely be +to risk my life and the possible loss of my knowledge to the world. +Perhaps after all the older heads were wiser than my own rebellious +spirit; and so, without making any more definite plans, I ended the +interview with a promise to let them know of the outcome of the +demonstration. + +Returning once more to my work I finished my preparations and sent word +to the Chemical Staff that all was ready. They came with solemn faces. +The laboratory was locked and guards were posted. The place was examined +thoroughly, the apparatus was studied in detail. All my ingredients were +tested for the presence of extracted protium, lest I be trying to "salt +the mine." But happily for me they accepted my statement as to their +chemical nature in other respects. Then when all had been approved the +test lot of ore was run. It took us thirty hours to run the extraction +and sample and weigh and test the product. But everything went through +exactly as I had planned. + +With solemn faces the Chemical Staff unanimously declared that the +problem had been solved and marvelled that the solution should come from +the brain of so young a man. And so I received their adulation and +worship, for I could not give credit to the chemists of the world +outside to whom I was really indebted for my seeming miraculous genius. +Telling me to take my rest and prepare myself for an audience with His +Majesty three days later, the Chemical Staff departed, carrying, with +guarded secrecy, my false formulas. + +~4~ + +Exultant and happy I left the laboratory. I had not slept for forty +hours and scarcely half my regular allotment for many weeks. And yet I was +not sleepy now but awake and excited. I had won a great victory, and I +wanted to rejoice and share my conquest with sympathetic ears. I could +go to Zimmern, but instead I turned my steps toward the elevator and, +alighting on the Level of the Free Women, I went straightway to +Marguerite's apartment. + +Despite my feeling of exhilaration, my face must have revealed something +of my real state of exhaustion, for Marguerite cried in alarm at the +sight of me. + +"A little tired," I replied, in answer to her solicitous questions; "I +have just finished my demonstration before the Chemical Staff." + +"And you won?" cried Marguerite in a burst of joy. "You deceived them +just as the doctor said you would. And they know you have solved the +protium problem and they do not know how you did it?" + +"That is correct," I said, sinking back into the cushions of the divan. +"I have done all that. I came here first to tell you. You see I could +not come before, all these weeks, I have had no time for sleep or +anything. I would have telephoned or written but I feared it would not +be safe. Did you think I was not coming again?" + +"I missed you at first,--I mean at first I thought you were staying away +because you did not want to see me, and then Dr. Zimmern told me what +you were doing, and I understood--and waited, for I somehow knew you +would come as soon as you could." + +"Yes, of course you knew. Of course, I had to come--Marguerite--" But +Marguerite faded before my vision. I reached out my hand for her--and it +seemed to wave in empty space.... + +~5~ + +When I awoke, I was lying on a couch and a screen bedecked with cupids +was standing before me. At first I thought I was alone and then I +realized that I was in Marguerite's apartment and that Marguerite +herself was seated on a low stool beside the couch and gazing at me out +of dreamy eyes. + +"How did I get here?" I asked. + +"You fell asleep while you were talking, and then some one came for +books, and when the bell rang I hid you with the screen." + +"How long have I slept?" + +"For many hours," she answered. + +"I ought not to have come," I said, but despite my remark I made no +haste to go, but reached out and ran my fingers through her massy hair. +And then I slowly drew her toward me until her luxuriant locks were +tumbled about my neck and face and her head was pillowed on my breast. + +"I am so happy," she whispered. "I am so glad you came first to me." + +For a moment my reason was drugged by the opiate of her touch; and then, +as the realization of the circumstances re-formed in my brain, the +feeling of guilt arose and routed the dreamy bliss. Yet I could only +blame myself, for there was no guile in her act or word, nor could I +believe there was guile in her heart. Gently I pushed her away and +arose, stating that I must leave at once. + +It was plainly evident that Marguerite did not share my sense of +embarrassment, that she was aware of no breach of ethics. But her ease +only served to impress upon me the greater burden of my responsibility +and emphasize the breach of honour of which I was guilty in permitting +this expression of my love to a woman whom circumstances had bound +to Zimmern. + +Pleading need for rest and for time to plan my interview with His +Majesty, I hastened away, feeling that I dare not trust myself alone +with her again. + +~6~ + +I returned to my own apartment, and when another day had passed, food +and sleep had fully restored me to a normal state. I then recalled my +promise to inform Hellar and Zimmern of the outcome of my demonstration. +I called at Zimmern's quarters but he was not at home. Hence I went to +call on Hellar, to ask of Zimmern's whereabouts. + +"I have an appointment to meet him tonight," said Hellar, "on the Level +of Free Women. Will you not come along?" + +I could not well do otherwise than accept, and Hellar led me again to +the apartment from which I had fled twenty-four hours before. There we +found Zimmern, who received me with his usual graciousness. + +"I have already heard from Marguerite," said Zimmern, "of your success." + +I glanced apprehensively at the girl but she was in no wise disturbed, +and proceeded to relate for Hellar's information the story of my coming +to her exhausted from my work and of my falling asleep in her apartment. +All of them seemed to think it amusing, but there was no evidence that +any one considered it the least improper. Their matter-of-fact attitude +puzzled and annoyed me; they seemed to treat the incident as if it had +been the experience of a couple of children. + +This angered me, for it seemed proof that they considered Marguerite's +love as the common property of any and all. + +"Could it be," I asked myself, "that jealousy has been bred and trained +out of this race? Is it possible they have killed the instinct that +demands private and individual property in love?" Even as I pondered the +problem it seemed answered, for as I sat and talked with Zimmern and +Hellar of my chemical demonstration and the coming interview with His +Majesty, Marguerite came and seated herself on the arm of my chair and +pillowed her head on my shoulder. + +Troubled and embarrassed, yet not having the courage to repulse her +caresses, I stared at Zimmern, who smiled on us with indulgence. In fact +it seemed that he actually enjoyed the scene. My anger flamed up against +him, but for Marguerite I had only pity, for her action seemed so +natural and unaffected that I could not believe that she was making +sport of me, and could only conclude that she had been so bred in the +spirit of the place that she knew nothing else. + +My talk with the men ended as had the last one, without arriving at any +particular plan of action, and when Hellar arose first to go, I took the +opportunity to escape from what to me was an intolerable situation. + +~7~ + +I separated from Hellar and for an hour or more I wandered on the level. +Then resolving to end the strain of my enigmatical position I turned +again toward Marguerite's apartment. She answered my ring. I entered and +found her alone. + +"Marguerite," I began, "I cannot stand this intolerable situation. I +cannot share the love of a woman with another man--I cannot steal a +woman's love from a man who is my friend--" + +At this outburst Marguerite only stared at me in puzzled amazement. +"Then you do not want me to love you," she stammered. + +"God knows," I cried, "how I do want you to love me, but it must not be +while Dr. Zimmern is alive and you--" + +"So," said a voice--and glancing up I saw Zimmern himself framed in the +doorway of the book room. The old doctor looked from me to Marguerite, +while a smile beamed on his courtly countenance. + +"Sit down and calm yourself, Armstadt," said Zimmern. "It is time I +spoke to you of Marguerite and of the relation I bear to her. As you +know, I brought her to this level from the school for girls of forbidden +birth. But what you do not know is that she was born on the Royal Level. + +"I knew Marguerite's mother. She was Princess Fedora, a third cousin of +the Empress. I was her physician, for I have not always been in the +Eugenic Service. But Marguerite was born out of wedlock, and the mother +declined to name the father of her child. Because of that the child was +consigned to the school for forbidden love-children, which meant that +she would be fated for the life of a free woman and become the property +of such men as had the price to pay. + +"When her child was taken away from her, the mother killed herself; and +because I declined to testify as to what I knew of the case I lost my +commission as a physician of Royalty. But still having the freedom of +the school levels, I was permitted to keep track of Marguerite. As soon +as she reached the age of her freedom I brought her here, and by the aid +of her splendid birth and the companionship of thinking men she has +become the woman you now find her." + +In my jealousy I had listened to the first words of the old doctor with +but little comprehension. But as he talked on so calmly and kindly an +eager hope leaped up within me. Was it possible that it had been I who +had misunderstood--and that Zimmern's love for Marguerite was of another +sort than mine? + +Tensely I awaited his further words, but I did not dare to look at +Marguerite, who had taken her place beside him. + +"I brought her here," Zimmern continued, "for there was no other place +where she could go except into the keeping of some man. I have given her +the work of guarding our books, and for that I could have well afforded +to pay for her living. + +"You find in Marguerite a woman of intelligence, and there are few +enough like her. And she finds in you a man of rare gifts, and you are +both young, so it is not strange that you two should love each other. +All this I considered before I brought you here to meet her. I was happy +when Marguerite told me that it was so. But your happiness is marred, +because you, Armstadt, think that I am in the way; you have believed +that I bear the relation to Marguerite that the fact of my paying for +her presence on this level would imply. + +"It speaks well of your honour," the doctor went on, "that you have felt +as you did. I should have explained sooner, but I did not wish to speak +of this until it was necessary to Marguerite's happiness. But now that I +have spoken there is nothing to stand in the way of your happiness, for +Marguerite is as worthy of your love as if she had but made her debut on +the Royal Level to which she was born. As for what is to be between you, +I can only leave it to the best that is in yourselves, and whatever that +may be has my blessing." + +As I listened to the doctor's words entranced with rapture, the vision +of Marguerite floated hazily before my eyes as if she were an ethereal +essence that might, at any moment, be snatched away. But as the doctor's +words ceased my eyes met Marguerite's and all else seemed to fade but +the love light that shone from out their liquid depths. + +Forgetting utterly the presence of the man whose words had set us free, +our hearts reached out with hungry arms to claim their own. + +For us, time lost her reckoning amidst our tears and kisses, and when my +brain at last made known to me the existence of other souls than ours, I +looked up and found that we were alone. A saucy little clock ticked +rhythmically on a mantel. I felt an absurd desire to smash it, for the +impudent thing had been running all the while. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +IN WHICH I SALUTE THE STATUE OF GOD AND A PSYCHIC +EXPERT EXPLORES MY BRAIN AND FINDS NOTHING + + +~1~ + +The Chemical Staff called for me at my laboratory to conduct me to the +presence of the Emperor. At the elevator we were met by an electric +vehicle manned fore and aft by pompous guards. Through the wide, high +streets we rolled noiselessly past the decorated facades of the spacious +apartments that housed the seventeen thousand members of the House of +Hohenzollern. + +At times the ample streets broadened into still more roomy avenues where +potted trees alternated with the frescoed columns, and beyond which were +luxurious gardens and vast statuary halls. On the Level of Free Women +the life was one of crowded revelry, of the bauble and delights of +carnival, but on the Royal Level there was an atmosphere of luxurious +leisure, with vast spaces given over to the privacy of aristocratic +idleness. + +An occasional vehicle rolled swiftly past us on the glassy smoothness of +the pavement; more rarely lonely couples strolled among the potted trees +or sat in dreamy indolence beside the fountains. There was no crowding, +no mass of humanity, no narrow halls, no congested apartments. All +structure here was on a scale of magnificent size and distances, while +by comparison the men and women appeared dwarfed, but withal distinctive +in their costumes and regal in their leisurely idleness. + +After some kilometres of travel we came to His Majesty's palace, which +stood detached from all other enclosed structures and was surrounded on +all sides by ever-necessary columns that seemed like a forest of tree +trunks spaced and distanced in geometrical design. + +As we approached the massive doorway of the palace, our party paused, +and stood stiffly erect. Before us were two colossal statues of +glistening white crystal. My fellow scientists faced one of the figures, +which I recognized as that of William II, and I, a little tardily, +saluted with them. And now we turned sharply on our heels and saluted +the second figure of these twin German heroes. For German it was +unmistakably in every feature, save for the one oddity that the Teutonic +face wore a flowing beard not unlike that of Michael Angelo's Moses. As +we moved forward my eye swept in the lettering on the pedestal, _"Unser +Alte Deutche Gott,"_ and I was aware that I had acknowledged my +allegience to the supreme war lord--I had saluted the Statue of God. + +Entering the palace we were conducted through a long hall-way hung with +floral tapestries. We passed through several great metal doors guarded +by stalwart leaden-faced men and came at last into the imperial audience +room, where His Majesty, Eitel I, satellited by his ministers, sat stiff +and upright at the head of the council table. + +Though he had seemed a small man when I had seen him in the dazzling +beam of the reflected sunlight, I now perceived that he was of more than +average stature. He wore no crown and no helmet, but only a crop of +stiff iron grey hair brushed boldly upright. His face was stern, his +nose beak-like, and his small eyes grey and piercing. Over the high back +of his chair was thrown his cape, and he was clad in a jacket of white +cellulose velvet buttoned to the throat with large platinum buttons. + +Formally presented by one of the secretaries we made our stiff bows and +were seated at the table facing His Majesty across the unlittered +surface of black glass. + +The Emperor nodded to the Chief of the Chemical Staff who arose and read +the report of my solution of the protium problem. He ended by advising +that the process should immediately replace the one then in use in the +extraction of the ore in the industrial works and that I was recommended +for promotion to the place to be vacated by the retiring member of the +Chemical Staff and should be given full charge of the protium industry. + +Emperor Eitel listened with solemn nods of approval. When the reading +was finished he arose and proclaimed the retirement with honour, and +because of his advanced age, of Herr von Uhl. The old chemist now +stepped forward and the Emperor removed from von Uhl's breast the +insignia of active Staff service and replaced it with the insignia of +honourable retirement. + +In my turn I also stood before His Majesty, who when he had pinned upon +my breast the Staff insignia said: "I hereby commission you as Member of +the Chemical Staff and Director of the Protium Works. Against the +fortune, to be accredited to you and your descendants, you are +authorized to draw from the Imperial Bank a million marks a year. That +you shall more graciously befit this fortune I confer upon you the title +of 'von' and the social privilege of the Royal Level." + +When the formal ceremonies were ended I again arose and addressed the +Emperor. "Your Majesty," I said, as I looked unflinchingly at his iron +visage, "I beg leave to make a personal petition." + +"State it," commanded the Emperor. + +"I wish to ask that you restore to the Royal Level a girl who is now in +the Level of the Free Women, and known there as Marguerite 78 K 4, but +who was born on the Royal Level as a daughter of Princess Fedora of +the House of Hohenzollern." + +A hush of consternation fell upon those about the table. + +"Your petition," said the Emperor, "cannot be granted." + +"Then," I said, speaking with studied emphasis, "I cannot proceed with +the work of extracting protium." + +An angry cloud gathered on the face of Eitel I. "Herr von Armstadt," he +said, "the title and awards which have just been conferred upon you are +irrevocable. But if you decline to perform the duties of your office +those duties can be performed by others." + +"But others cannot perform them," I replied. "The demonstration I +conducted was genuine, but the formulas I have given were not genuine. +The true formulas for my method of extracting protium are locked within +my brain and I will reveal them only when the petition I ask has +been granted." + +At these words the Emperor pounded on the table with a heavy fist. "What +does this mean?" he demanded of the Chemical Staff. + +"It is a lie," shouted the Chief of the Staff. "We have the formulas and +they are correct, for we saw the demonstration conducted with the +ingredients stated in the formulas which Armstadt gave us." + +"Very well," I cried; "go try your formulas; go repeat the +demonstration, if you can." + +The Emperor, glaring his rage, punched savagely at a signal button on +the arm of his chair. + +Two palace guards answered the summons. "Arrest this man," shouted His +Majesty, "and keep him in close confinement; permit him to see no one." + +Without further ado I was led off by the guards, while the Emperor +shouted imprecations at the Chemical Staff. + +~2~ + +The place to which I was conducted was a suite of rooms in a remote +corner of the Royal Palace. There was a large bedroom and bath, and a +luxurious study or lounging room. Here I found a case of books, which +proved to be novels bearing the imprint of the Royal Level. + +Despite the comfortable surroundings, it was evident that I was securely +imprisoned, for the door was of metal, the ventilating gratings were +long narrow slits, and the walls were of heavy concrete--and there being +no windows, no bars were needed. Any living apartment in the city would +have served equally well the jailor's purpose; for it were only +necessary to turn a key from without to make of it a cell in this +gigantic prison of Berlin. + +The regular appearance of my meals by mechanical carrier was the only +way I had to reckon the passing of time, for it had chanced that I had +forgotten my watch when dressing for the audience with His Majesty. I +wrestled with unmeasured time by perusing the novels which gave me +fragmentary pictures of the social life on the Royal Level. + +As I turned over the situation in my mind I reassured myself that the +secrecy of my formulas was impregnable. The discovery of the process had +been rendered possible by knowledge I had brought with me from the outer +world. The reagents that I had used were synthetic substances, the very +existence of which was unknown to the Germans. I had previously prepared +these compounds and had used and completely destroyed them in making the +demonstration, while I had taken pains to remove all traces of their +preparation. Hence I had little to fear of the Chemical Staff +duplicating my work, though doubtless they were making desperate efforts +to do so, and my imprisonment was very evidently for the purpose of +permitting them to make that effort. + +On that score I felt that I had played my cards well, but there were +other thoughts that troubled me, chief of which was a fear that some +investigation might be set on foot in regard to Marguerite and that her +guardianship of the library of forbidden books might be discovered. With +this worry to torment me, the hours dragged slowly enough. + +I had been some five days in this solitary confinement when the door +opened and a man entered. He wore the uniform of a physician and +introduced himself as Dr. Boehm, explaining that he had been sent by His +Majesty to look after my health. The idea rather amused me; at least, I +thought, the Emperor had decided that the secrets of my brain were well +worth preservation, and I reasoned that this was evidence that the +Chemical Staff had made an effort to duplicate my work and had reported +their failure to do so. + +The doctor made what seemed to me a rather perfunctory physical +examination, which included a very minute inspection of my eyes. Then he +put me through a series of psychological test queries. When he had +finished he sighed deeply and said: "I am sorry to find that you are +suffering from a disturbed balance of the altruistic and the egotistic +cortical impulses; it is doubtless due to the intensive demands made upon +the creative potential before you were completely recovered from the +sub-normal psychosis due to the gas attack in the potash mines." + +This diagnosis impressed me as a palpable fraud, but I became genuinely +alarmed at the mention of the affair at the potash mines. I was somewhat +reassured at the thought that this reference was probably a part of the +record of Karl Armstadt, which was doubtless on file at the medical +headquarters, and had been looked up by Dr. Boehm who was in need of +making out a plausible case for some purpose--perhaps that of confining +me permanently on the grounds of insanity. Whatever might be the move on +foot it was clearly essential for me to keep myself cool and well +in hand. + +The doctor, after eyeing me calmly for a few moments, said: "It will be +necessary for me to go out for a time and secure apparatus for a more +searching examination. Meanwhile be assured you will not be further +neglected. In fact, I shall arrange for the time to share your apartment +with you, as loneliness will aggravate your derangement." + +In a few hours the doctor returned. He brought with him a +complicated-looking apparatus and was followed by two attendants +carrying a bed. + +The doctor pushed the apparatus into the corner, and, after seeing his +bed installed in my sleeping chamber, dismissed the attendants and sat +down and began to entertain me with accounts of various cases of mental +derangement that had come under his care. So far as I could determine +his object, if he had any other than killing time, it was to impress me +with the importance of submitting graciously to his care. + +Tiring of these stories of the doctor's professional successes with meek +and trusting patients, I took the management of the conversation into my +own hands. + +"Since you are a psychic expert, Dr. Boehm, perhaps you can explain to +me the mental processes that cause a man to prize a large bank credit +when there is positively no legal way in which he can expend +the credit." + +The doctor looked at me quizzically. "How do you mean," he asked, "that +there is no legal way in which he can expend the credit?" + +"Well, take my own case. The Emperor has bestowed upon me a credit of a +million marks a year. But I risked losing it by demanding that a young +woman of the Free Level be restored to the Royal Level where she +was born." + +"Of this I am aware," replied the psychic physician. "That is why His +Majesty became alarmed lest your mental equilibrium be disturbed. It +seems to indicate an atavistic reversion to a condition of romantic +altruism, but as your pedigree is normal, I deem it merely a temporary +loss of balance." + +"But why," I asked, "do you consider it abnormal at all? Is there +evidence of any great degree of unselfishness in a man desiring the +bestowal of happiness upon a particular woman in preference to bank +credit which he cannot expend? What should I do with a million marks a +year when I have been unable to expend the ten thousand a year I +have had?" + +"Ah," exclaimed the doctor, the light of a brilliant discovery breaking +over his countenance. "Perhaps this in a measure explains your case. You +have evidently been so absorbed in your work that you have not +sufficiently developed your appetite for personal enjoyment." + +"Perhaps I have not. But just how should I expend more funds; food, +clothing, living quarters are all provided me, there is nothing but a few +tawdry amusements that one can buy, nor is there any one to give the money +to--even if a man had children they cannot inherit his wealth. Just what +is money for, anyway?" + +The doctor nodded his head and smiled in satisfaction. "You ask +interesting questions," he said. "I shall try to answer them. Money or +bank credit is merely a symbol of wealth. In ancient times wealth was +represented by the private ownership of physical property, which was the +basis of capitalistic or competitive society. Racial progress was then +achieved by the mating of the men of superior brain with the most +beautiful women. Women do not appreciate the mental power of man in its +direct expression, or even its social use; they can only comprehend that +power when it is translated into wealth. After the destruction of +private property women refused to accept as mates the men of +intellectual power, but preferred instead men of physical strength and +personal beauty. + +"At first this was considered to be a proof of the superiority of the +proletariat. For, with all men economically equal, the beautiful women +turned from the anemic intellectual and the sons of aristocracy, to the +strong arms of labour. Believing themselves to be the source of all +wealth, and by that right vested with sole political power, and now +finding themselves preferred by the beautiful women, the labourer would +soon have eliminated all other classes from human society. Had unbridled +socialism with its free mating continued, we should have become merely a +horde of handsome savages. + +"Such would have been the destiny of our race had not William III +foreseen the outcome and restored war, the blessings of which had been +all but lost to the world. The progress of peace depended upon the +competition of capitalism, but in peace progress is incidental. In war +it is essential. Because war requires invention, it saved the +intellectual classes, and because war requires authority it made +possible the restoration of our Royal House. Labour, the tyrant of +peace, became again the slave of war, and under the plea of patriotic +necessity eugenics was established, which again restored the beautiful +women to the superior men. And thus by Imperial Socialism the race was +preserved from deterioriation." + +"But surely," I said, "eugenics has more than remedied this defect of +socialism, for the selection of men of superior mentality is much more +rigid than it could have been under the capricious matings of +capitalistic society. Why then this need of wealth?" + +"Eugenics," replied Boehm, "breeds superior children, but eugenic mating +is a cold scientific thing which fails to fan the flame of man's +ambition to do creative work. That is why we have the Level of Free +Women and have not bred the virility out of the intellectual group. That +is also the reason we have retained the Free Level on a competitive +commercial basis, and have given the intellectual man the bank credit, a +symbol of wealth, that he may use it, as men have always used wealth, +for the purpose of increasing his importance in the eyes of woman. This +function of wealth is psychically necessary to the creative impulse, for +the power of sexual conquest and the stimulus to creative thought are +but different expressions of the same instinct. Wealth, or its symbol, +is a medium of translating the one into the other. For example, take +your discovery; it is important to you and to the state. Your fellow +scientists appreciate it, His Majesty appreciates it, but women cannot +appreciate it. But give it a money value and women appreciate it +immediately. They know that the unlimited bank credit will give you the +power to keep as many women on your list as you choose, and this means +that you can select freely those you wish. So the most attractive women +will compete for your preferment. We bow before the Emperor, we salute +the Statue of God, but we make out our checks to buy baubles for women, +and it is that which keeps the wheels of progress turning." + +"So," I said, "this is your philosophy of wealth. I see, and yet I do +not see. The legal limit a man may contribute to a woman is but +twenty-four hundred marks a year, what then does he want with +a million?" + +"But there is no legal limit," replied the Doctor, "to the number of +women a man may have on his list. His relation to them may be the most +casual, but the pursuit is stimulating to the creative imagination. But +you forget, Herr von Armstadt, that with the compensation that was to be +yours goes also the social privilege of the Royal Level. Evidently you +have been so absorbed in your research that you had no time to think of +the magnificent rewards for which you were working." + +"Then perhaps you will explain them to me." + +"With pleasure," said Dr. Boehm; "your social privilege on the Royal +Level includes the right to marry and that means that you should have +children for whom inheritance is permitted. How else did you suppose the +ever-increasing numbers of the House of Hohenzollern should have +maintained their wealth?" + +"The question has never occurred to me," I answered, "but if it had, I +should have supposed that their expenses were provided by appropriations +from the state treasury." + +Dr. Boehm chuckled. "Then they should all be dependents on the state +like cripples and imbeciles. It would be a rather poor way to derive the +pride of aristocracy. That can only come from inherited wealth: the +principle is old, very old. The nobleman must never needs work to live. +Then, if he wishes to give service to the state, he may give it without +pay, and thus feel his nobility. You cannot aspire to full social +equality with the Royal House both because you lack divinity of blood +and because you receive your wealth for that which you have yourself +given to the state. But because of your wealth you will find a wife of +the Royal House, and she will bear you children who, receiving the +divine blood of the Hohenzollerns from the mother and inherited wealth +from the father, will thus be twice ennobled. To have such children is a +rare privilege; not even Herr von Uhl with his thousands of descendants +can feel such a pride of paternity. + +"It is well, Herr von Armstadt, that you talked to me of these matters. +Should you be restored to your full mental powers and be permitted to +assume the rights of your new station, it would be most unfortunate if +you should seem unappreciative of these ennobling privileges." + +"Then, if I may, I shall ask you some further questions. It seems that +the inherited incomes of the Royal Level are from time to time +reinforced by marriage from without. Does that not dilute the +Royal blood?" + +"That question," replied Dr. Boehm, "more properly should be addressed +to a eugenist, but I shall try to give you the answer. The blood of the +House of Hohenzollern is of a very high order for it is the blood of +divinity in human veins. Yet since there is no eugenic control, no +selection, the quality of that blood would deteriorate from inbreeding, +were there no fresh infusion. Then where better could such blood come +than from the men of genius? No man is given the full social privilege +of the Royal Level except he who has made some great contribution to the +state. This at once marks him as a genius and gives his wealth a +noble origin." + +"But how is it," I asked, "that this addition of men from without does +not disturb the balance of the sexes?" + +"It does disturb it somewhat," replied the doctor, "but not seriously, +for genius is rare. There are only a few hundred men in each generation +who are received into Royal Society. Of course that means some of the +young men of the Royal Level cannot marry. But some men decline marriage +of their own free will; if they are not possessed of much wealth they +prefer to go unmarried rather than to accept an unattractive woman as a +wife when they may have their choice of mistresses from the most +beautiful virgins intended for the Free Level. There is always an +abundance of marriageable women on the Royal Level and with your wealth +you will have your choice. Your credit, in fact, will be the largest +that has been granted for over a decade." + +"All that is very splendid," I answered. "I was not well informed on +these matters. But why should His Majesty have been so incensed at my +simple request for the restoration of the rights of the daughter of the +Princess Fedora?" + +"Your request was unusual; pardon if I may say, impudent; it seems to +imply a lack of appreciation on your part of the honours freely +conferred upon you--but I daresay His Majesty did not realize your +ignorance of these things. You are very young and you have risen to your +high station very quickly from an obscure position." + +"And do you think," I asked, "that if you made these facts clear to him, +he would relent and grant my request?" + +Dr. Boehm looked at me with a penetrating gaze. "It is not my function," +he said, "to intercede for you. I have only been commissioned to examine +carefully the state of your mentality." + +I smiled complacently at the psychic expert. "Now, doctor," I said, "you +do not mean to tell me that you really think there is anything wrong +with my mentality?" + +A look of craftiness flashed from Boehm's eyes. "I have given you my +diagnosis," he said, "but it may not be final. I have already +communicated my first report to His Majesty and he has ordered me to +remain with you for some days. If I should alter that opinion too +quickly it would discredit me and gain you nothing. You had best be +patient, and submit gracefully to further examination and treatment." + +"And do you know," I asked, "what the chemical staff is doing about my +formulas?" + +"That is none of my affair," declared Boehm, emphatically. + +There was a vigour in his declaration and a haste with which he began to +talk of other matters that gave me a hint that the doctor knew more of +the doings of the chemical staff than he cared to admit, but I thought +it wise not to press the point. + +~3~ + +The second day of Boehm's stay with me, he unmantled his apparatus and +asked me to submit to a further examination. I had not the least +conception of the purpose of this apparatus and with some misgivings I +lay down on a couch while the psychic expert placed above my eyes a +glass plate, on which, when he had turned on the current, there +proceeded a slow rhythmic series of pale lights and shadows. At the +doctor's command I fixed my gaze upon the lights, while he, in a +monotonous voice, urged me to relax my mind and dismiss all +active thought. + +How long I stood for this infernal proceeding I do not know. But I +recall a realization that I had lost grip on my thoughts and seemed to +be floating off into a misty nowhere of unconsciousness. I struggled +frantically to regain control of myself; and, for what seemed an +eternity, I fought with a horrible nightmare unable to move a muscle or +even close my eyelids to shut out that sickening sequence of creeping +shadows. Then I saw the doctor's hand reaching slowly toward my face. It +seemed to sway in its stealthy movement like the head of a serpent +charming a bird, but in my helpless horror I could not ward it off. + +At last the snaky fingers touched my eyelids as if to close them, and +that touch, light though it was, served to snap the taut film of my +helpless brain and I gave a blood-curdling yell and jumped up, knocking +over the devilish apparatus and nearly upsetting the doctor. + +"Calm yourself," said Boehm, as he attempted to push me again toward the +couch. "There is nothing wrong, and you must surrender to the psychic +equilibrator so that I can proceed with the examination." + +"Examination be damned," I shouted fiercely; "you were trying to +hypnotize me with that infernal machine." + +Boehm did not reply but calmly proceeded to pick up the apparatus and +restore it to its place in the corner, while I paced angrily about the +room. He then seated himself and addressed me as I stood against the +wall glaring at him. "You are labouring under hallucinations," he said. +"I fear your case is even worse than I thought. But calm yourself. I +shall attempt no further examination today." + +I resumed a seat but refused to look at him. He did not talk further of +my supposed mental state, but proceeded to entertain me with gossip of +the Royal Level, and later discussed the novels in the bookcase. + +It was difficult to keep up an open war with so charming a +conversationalist, but I was thoroughly on my guard. I could now readily +see through the whole fraud of my imputed mental derangement. I knew my +mind was sound as a schoolboy's, and that this pretence of examination +and treatment was only a blind. Evidently the Chemical Staff had failed +to work the formulas I had given them and this psychic manipulator had +been sent in here to filch the true formulas from my brain with his +devilish art. I knew nothing of what progress the Germans might have +made with hypnotism, but unless they had gone further than had the outer +world, now that I was on my guard, I believed myself to be safe. + +But there was yet one danger. I might be trapped in my sleep by an +induced somnambulistic conversation. Happily I was fairly well posted on +such things and believed that I could guard against that also. But the +fear of the thing made me so nervous that I did not sleep all of the +following night. + +The doctor, evidently a keen observer, must have detected that fact from +the sound of my breathing, for the lights were turned out and we slept +in the pitchy blackness that only a windowless room can create. + +"You did not sleep well," he remarked, as we breakfasted. + +But I made light of his solicitous concern, and we passed another day in +casual conversation. + +As the sleeping period drew again near, the doctor said, "I will leave +you tonight, for I fear my presence disturbs you because you +misinterpret my purpose in observing you." + +As the doctor departed, I noted that the mechanism of the hinges and the +lock of the door were so perfect that they gave forth no sound. I was +very drowsy and soon retired, but before I went to sleep I practised +snapping off and on the light from the switch at the side of my bed. +Then I repeated over and over to myself--"I will awake at the first +sound of a voice." + +This thought ingrained in my subconscious mind proved my salvation. I +must have been sleeping some hours. I was dreaming of Marguerite. I saw +her standing in an open meadow flooded with sunlight; and heard her +voice as if from afar. I walked towards her and as the words grew more +distinct I knew the voice was not Marguerite's. Then I awoke. + +I did not stir but lay listening. The voice was speaking monotonously +and the words I heard were the words of the protium formulas, the false +ones I had given the Chemical Staff. + +"But these formulas are not correct," purred the voice, "of course, they +are not correct. I gave them to the Staff, but they will never know the +real ones--Yes, the real ones--What are the real ones? Have I +forgotten--? No, I shall never forget. I can repeat them now." Then the +voice began again on one of the fake formulas. But when it reached the +point where the true formula was different, it paused; evidently the +Chemical Staff had found out where the difficulty lay. And so the voice +had paused, hoping my sleeping mind would catch up the thread and supply +the missing words. But instead my arm shot quickly to the switch. The +solicitous Doctor Boehm, flooded with a blaze of light, glared +blinkingly as I leaped from the bed. + +"Oh, I was asleep all right," I said, "but I awoke the instant I heard +you speak, just as I had assured myself that I would do before I fell +asleep. Now what else have you in your bag of tricks?" + +"I only came--" began the doctor. + +"Yes, you only came," I shouted, "and you knew nothing about the work of +the Chemical Staff on my formulas. Now see here, doctor, you had your +try and you have failed. Your diagnosis of my mental condition is just +as much a fraud as the formulas on which the Chemical Staff have been +wasting their time--only it is not so clever. I fooled them and you have +not fooled me. Waste no more time, but go back and report to His Majesty +that your little tricks have failed." + +"I shall do that," said Boehm. "I feared you from the start; your mind +is really an extraordinary one. But where," he said, "did you learn how +to guard yourself so well against my methods? They are very secret. My +art is not known even to physicians." + +"It is known to me," I said, "so run along and get your report ready." +The doctor shook my hand with an air of profound respect and took his +leave. This time I balanced a chair overhanging the edge of a table so +that the opening of the door would push it off, and I lay down and +slept soundly. + +~4~ + +I was left alone in my prison until late the next day. Then came a guard +who conducted me before His Majesty. None of the Chemical Staff was +present. In fact there was no one with the Emperor but a single +secretary. + +His Majesty smiled cordially. "It was fitting, Herr von Armstadt, for me +to order your confinement for your demand was audacious; not that what +you asked was a matter of importance, but you should have made the +request in writing and privately and not before the Chemical Staff. For +that breach of etiquette I had to humiliate you that Royal dignity might +be preserved. As for the fact that you kept the formulas secret, none +need know that but the Chemical Staff and they will have nothing further +to say since you made fools of them." His Majesty laughed. + +"As for the request you made, I have decided to grant it. Nor do I blame +you for making it. The Princess Marguerite is a very beautiful girl. She +is waiting now nearby. I should have sent for her sooner, but it was +necessary to make an investigation regarding her birth. The unfortunate +Princess Fedora never confessed the father. But I have arranged that, as +you shall see." + +The Emperor now pressed his signal button and a door opened and +Marguerite was ushered into the room. I started in fear as I saw that +she was accompanied by Dr. Zimmern. What calamity of discovery and +punishment, I wondered, had my daring move brought to the secret rebel +against the rule of the Hohenzollern? + +Marguerite stepped swiftly toward me and gave me her hand. The look in +her eyes I interpreted as a warning that I was not to recognize Zimmern. +So I appeared the stranger while the secretary introduced us. + +"Dr. Zimmern," said His Majesty, "was physician to Princess Fedora at +the time of the birth of the Princess Marguerite. She confessed to him +the father of her child. It was the Count Rudolph who died unmarried +some years ago. There will be no questions raised. Our society will +welcome his daughter, for both the Count Rudolph and the Princess Fedora +were very popular." + +During this speech, Dr. Zimmern sat rigid and stared into space. Then +the secretary produced a document and read a confession to be signed by +Zimmern, testifying to these statements of Marguerite's birth. + +Zimmern, his features still unmoved, signed the paper and handed it +again to the secretary. + +His Majesty arose and held out his hand to Marguerite. "I welcome you," +he said, "to the House of Hohenzollern. We shall do our best to atone +for what you have suffered. And to you, Herr von Armstadt, I extend my +thanks for bringing us so beautiful a woman. It is my hope that you will +win her as a wife, for she will grace well the fortune that your great +genius brings to us. But because you have loved her under unfortunate +circumstances I must forbid your marriage for a period of two years. +During that time you will both be free to make acquaintances in Royal +Society. Nothing less than this would be fair to either of you, or to +other women that may seek your fortune or to other men who may seek the +beauty of your princess." + + + +CHAPTER X + +A GODDESS WHO IS SUFFERING FROM OBESITY AND +A BRAVE MAN WHO IS AFRAID OF THE LAW OF AVERAGES + + +~1~ + +It was not till we had reached Marguerite's apartment that Zimmern +spoke. Then he and Marguerite both embraced me and cried with joy. + +"Ah, Armstadt," said the old doctor, "you have done a wonderful thing, a +wonderful thing, but why did you not warn us?" + +"Yes," I stammered, "I know. You mean the books. It worried me, but, you +see, I did not plan this thing. I did not know what I should do. It came +to me like a flash as the Emperor was conferring the honours upon me. I +had hoped to use my power to make him do my bidding, and yet we had +contrived no way to use that power in furtherance of our great plans to +free a race; but I could at least use it to free a woman. Let us hope +that it augurs progress to the ultimate goal." + +"It was very noble, but it was dangerous," replied Zimmern. "It was only +through a coincidence that we were saved. Herr von Uhl told me that same +day what you had demanded. I saw Hellar immediately and he declared a +raid on Marguerite's apartment. But he came himself with only one +assistant who is in his confidence, and they boxed the books and carted +them off. They will be turned in as contraband volumes, but the report +will be falsified; no one will ever know from whence they came." + +"Then the books are lost to you," I said; "of that I am sorry, and I +worried greatly while I was imprisoned." + +"Yes," said Zimmern, "we have lost the books, but you have saved +Marguerite. That will more than compensate. For that I can never thank +you enough." + +"And you were called into the matter, not," I said, "as Marguerite's +friend, but as the physician to her mother?" + +"They must have looked up the record," replied Zimmern, "but nothing was +said to me. I received only a communication from His Majesty commanding +me as the physician to Marguerite's mother at the time of Marguerite's +birth, to make statement as to her fatherhood." + +"But why," I asked, "did you not make this confession before, since it +enabled Marguerite to be restored to her rights?" + +The old doctor looked pained at the question. "But you forget," he said, +"that it is the power of your secret and not my confession that has +restored Marguerite. The confession is only a matter of form, to satisfy +the wagging tongues of Royal Society." + +"Do you mean," I asked, "that she will not be well received there +because she was born out of wedlock?" + +"Not at all," replied Zimmern; "it was the failure to confess the +father, not the fact of her unwedded motherhood, that brought the +punishment. There are many love-children born on the Royal Level and +they suffer only a failure of inheritance of wealth from the father. But +if they be girls of charm and beauty, and if, as Marguerite now stands +credited, they be of rich Royal blood, they are very popular and much +sought after. But without the record of the father they cannot be +admitted into Royal Society, for the record of the blood lines would be +lost, and that, you see, is essential. Social precedent, the value in +the matrimonial market, all rest upon it. Marguerite is indeed +fortunate; with His Majesty's signature attesting my confession, she has +nothing more to fear. But I daresay they shall try their best to win her +from you for some shallow-minded prince." + +"But when," I asked, "is she to go? His Majesty seemed very gracious, +but do you realize that I still possess my secret of the protium +formulas?" + +"And do you still hesitate to give them up?" asked Marguerite. + +"For your freedom, dear, I shall reveal them gladly." + +"But," cried Marguerite, "you must not give them up just for me,--if +there is any way you can use them for our great plan." + +"Nothing," spoke up Zimmern, "could be gained now by further secrecy but +trouble for us all; and by acceding, both you and Marguerite win your +places on the Royal Level, where you can better serve our cause. That +is, if you are still with us. It may be harder for you, now that you +have won the richest privileges that Germany has to offer, to remember +those who struggle in the darkness." + +"But I shall remember," I said, giving him my hand. + +"I believe you will," said Zimmern feelingly, "and I know I can count on +Marguerite. You will both have opportunities to see much of the officers +of the Submarine Service. The German race may yet be freed from this +sunless prison, if you can find one among them who can be won to +our cause." + +~2~ + +I reported the next morning to the Chemical Staff, by whom I was treated +with deferential respect. I was immediately installed in my new office, +as Director of the Protium Works. While I set about supervising the +manufacture of apparatus for the new process, other members of the +staff, now furnished with the correct formulas repeated the +demonstration without my assistance. + +When the report of this had been made to His Majesty, I received my +insignia of the social privilege of the Royal Level and a copy of the +Royal Society Bulletin announcing Marguerite's restoration to her place +in the House of Hohenzollern, with the title of Princess Marguerite, +Daughter of Princess Fedora and Count Rudolf. The next day a social +secretary from the Royal Level came for Marguerite and conducted her to +the Apartments of the Countess Luise, under whose chaperonage she was to +make her debut into Royal Society. + +I, also, was furnished with a social secretary, an obsequious but very +wise little man, who took charge of all my affairs outside my chemical +work. Under his guidance I was removed to more commodious quarters and +my wardrobe was supplied with numerous changes all in the uniform of the +Chemical Staff. There was little time to spare from my duties in the +Protium Works, but my secretary, ever alert, snatched upon the odd +moments to coach me in matters of social etiquette and so prepared me to +make my first appearance in Royal Society at the grand ball given by the +Countess Luise in honour of Marguerite's debut. + +Despite the assiduous coaching of my secretary, my ignorance must have +been delightfully amusing to the royal idlers who had little other +thought or purpose in life than this very round of complicated +nothingness. But if I was a blundering amateur in all this, they were +not so much discourteous as envious. They knew that I had won my +position by my achievements as a chemist and in a vague way they +understood that I had saved the empire from impending ruin, and for this +achievement I was lionized. + +The women rustled about me in their gorgeous gowns and plied me with +foolish questions which I had better sense than to try to answer with +the slightest degree of truth. But their power of sustained interest in +such weighty matters was not great and soon the conversation would drift +away, especially if Marguerite was about, when the talk would turn to +the romance of her restoration. + +One group of vivacious ladies discussed quite frankly with Marguerite +the relative advantages of a husband of intellectual genius as compared +with one of a high degree of royal blood. Some contended that the added +prospect of superior intelligence in the children would offset the +lowering of their degree of Hohenzollern blood. The others argued quite +as persistently that the "blood" was the better investment. + +Through such conversation I learned of the two clans within the Royal +House. The one prided themselves wholly in the high degree of their +Hohenzollern blood; the other, styling themselves "Royal Intellectuals" +because of a greater proportion of outside blood lines, were quite as +proud of the fact that, while possessed of sufficient royal blood to be +in "the divinity," they inherited supposedly greater intelligence from +their mundane ancestors. This latter group, to make good their claims, +made a great show of intellectuality, and cultivated most persistently a +dilletante dabbling into all sorts of scientific and artistic matters. + +Because of Marguerite's high credit in Royal blood she was courted by +"purists" by whom I was only tolerated on her account. On the other +hand, the "intellectuals" considered me as a great asset for their cause +and glorified particularly in the prospects of marriage of an outside +scientist to an eighty-degree Hohenzollern princess. This rivalry of the +clans of Royal Society made us much sought after and I was flooded with +invitations. + +It did not take me long to discover, however, that the reason for my +popularity was not altogether a matter of respect for my intellectual +genius. I had at first been inclined to accept all invitations, +innocently supposing that I was being feted as an honorary guest. But my +social secretary advised against this; and, when he began bringing me +checks to sign, I realized that the social privileges of Royal Society +included the honour of paying the bills for one's own entertainment. + +I had already arranged with my banker that a fourth of my income be +turned over to Marguerite until her marriage, for she was without income +of her own, and it was upon my petition that she had been restored to +the Royal Level. At my banker's suggestion I had also made over ten +thousand marks a month to the Countess, under whose motherly wing +Marguerite was being sheltered. I therefore soon discovered that my +income of a million marks a year would be absorbed quite easily by Royal +Society. The entire system appeared to me rather sordid, but such +matters were arranged by bankers and secretaries and the principals were +supposed to be quite innocent of any knowledge of, or concern for, +the details. + +The Countess Luise, who was permitted to entertain so lavishly at my +expense, was playing for the favour of both of the opposing social +clans. Possessing a high degree of Hohenzollern blood she stood well +with the purists. But her income was not all that could be desired, so +she had adroitly discovered in her only son a touch of intellectual +genius, and the young man quite dutifully had become a maker of picture +plots, hoping by this distinction to win as a wife one of the daughters +of some wealthy intellectual interloper. At first I had feared the +Countess had designs upon Marguerite as a wife for her son, but as +Marguerite had no income of her own I saw that in this I was mistaken, +and I developed a feeling of genuine friendliness for the plump and +cordial Countess. + +"Do you know what I was reading last night?" I remarked one evening, as +I chatted with Marguerite and her chaperone. + +"Some work on obesity, I hope," sparkled the Countess. Like many of the +House of Hohenzollern, among whom there was no weight control, she +carried a surplus of adipose tissue not altogether consistent +with beauty. + +"No, indeed," I said gravely. "Nothing about your material being, but a +treatise upon your spiritual nature. I was reading an old school book +that I found among my forgotten relics--a book about the Divinity of the +House of Hohenzollern." + +"Oh, how jolly!" chuckled the Countess. "How very funny that I never +thought before that you, Herr von Armstadt, were once taught all those +delightful fables." + +"And once believed them too," I lied. + +"Oh, dear me," replied the Countess, with a ponderous sigh, "so I +suppose you did. And what a shock I must have been to you with an eighty +centimetre waist." + +"You are not quite Junoesque," I admitted. + +"The more reason you should use your science, Herr Chemist, to aid me to +recover my goddess form." + +"What are you folks talking about?" interrupted Marguerite. + +"About our divinity, my dear," replied Luise archly. + +"But do you feel that it is really necessary," I asked, "that such +fables should be put into the helpless minds of children?" + +"It surely must be. Suppose your own heredity had proven tricky--it does +sometimes, you know--and you had been found incapable of scientific +thought. You would have been deranked and perhaps made a record +clerk--no personal reflections, but such things do happen--and if you +now were filing cards all day you would surely be much happier if you +could believe in our divinity. Why else would you submit to a loveless +life and the dull routine of toil? Did not all the ancients, and do not +all the inferior races now, have objects of religious worship?" + +"But the other races," I said, "do not worship living people but +spiritual divinities and the sainted dead. + +"Quite so," replied the over-plump goddess, "but that is why their +_kulturs_ are so inefficient. Surely the worship was useless to the +spirits and the dead, whereas we find it quite profitable to be +worshipped. But for this wonderful doctrine of the divinity of the blood +of William the Great we should be put to all sorts of inconveniences." + +"You might even have to work," I ventured. + +The Countess bestowed on me one of her most bewitching smiles. "My dear +Herr Chemist," she said in sugary tones, "you with your intellectual +genius can twit us on our psychic lacks and we must fall back on the +divine blood of our Great Ancestor--but would you really wish the slaves +of dull toil to think it as human as their own?" + +"But to me it seems a little gross," I said. + +"Not at all; on the contrary, it is a master stroke of science and +efficiency--inferior creatures must worship; they always have and always +will--then why waste the worship?" + +~3~ + +My position as director of the protium works soon brought me into +conference with Admiral von Kufner who was Chief of the Submarine Staff. +Von Kufner was in his forties and his manner indicated greater talent +for pomp and ceremony than for administrative work. His grandfather had +been the engineer to whose genius Berlin owed her salvation through the +construction of the submarine tunnel. By this service the engineer had +won the coveted "von," a princely fortune and a wife of the Royal Level. +The Admiral therefore carried Hohenzollern blood in his veins, which, +together with his ample fortune and a distinguished position, made him a +man of both social and official consequence. + +It did not take me long to decide that von Kufner was hopeless as a +prospective convert to revolutionary doctrines. Nor did he possess any +great knowledge of the protium mines, for he had never visited them. +Inheriting his position as an honour to his grandfather's genius, he +commanded the undersea vessels from the security of an office on the +Royal Level, for journeys in ice-filled waters were entirely too +dangerous to appeal to one who loved so well the pleasures and +vanities of life. + +I had explained to von Kufner the distinctions I had discovered in the +various samples of the ore brought from the mines and the necessity of +having new surveys of the deposits made on the basis of these +discoveries. After he had had time to digest this information, I +suggested that I should myself go to make this survey. But this idea the +Admiral at once opposed, insisting that the trip through the Arctic ice +fields was entirely too dangerous. + +"Very well," I replied. "I feel that I could best serve Germany by going +to the Arctic mines in person, but if you think that is unwise, will you +not arrange for me to consult at once with men who have been in the +mines and are familiar with conditions there?" + +To this very reasonable request, which was in line with my obvious +duties, no objection could be made and a conference was at once called +of submarine captains and furloughed engineers who had been in the +Arctic ore fields. + +I was impressed by the youthfulness of these men, which was readily +explained by the fact that one vessel out of every five sent out was +lost beneath the Arctic ice floes. With an almost mathematical certainty +the men in the undersea service could reckon the years of their lives on +the fingers of one hand. + +Although the official business of the conference related to ore deposits +and not to the dangers of the traffic, the men were so obsessed with the +latter fact, that it crept out in their talk in spite of the Admiral's +obvious displeasure at such confession of fear. I particularly marked +the outspoken frankness of one, Captain Grauble, whose vessel was the +next one scheduled to depart to the mines. + +I therefore asked Grauble to call in person at my office for the +instructions concerning the ore investigations which were to be +forwarded to the Director of the Mines. Free from the restraining +influence of the Admiral, I was able to lead the Captain to talk freely +of the dangers of his work, and was overjoyed to find him frankly +rebellious. + +That I might still further cultivate his acquaintance I withheld some of +the necessary documents; and, using this as a pretext, I later sought +him out at his quarters, which were in a remote and somewhat obscure +part of the Royal Level. + +The official nature of my call disposed of, I led the conversation into +social matters, and found no difficulty in persuading the Captain to +talk of his own life. He was a man well under thirty and like most of +his fellows in the service was one of the sons of a branch of the +Hohenzollern family whose declining fortune denied him all hope of +marriage or social life. In the heroic years of his youth he had +volunteered for the submarine service. But now he confessed that he +regretted the act, for he realized that his death could not be long +postponed. He had made his three trips as commander of an +ore-bringing vessel. + +"I have two more trips," declared Captain Grauble. "Such is the prophecy +of statistical facts: five trips is the allotted life of a Captain; it +is the law of averages. It is possible that I may extend that number a +little, but if so it will be an exception. Trusting to exceptions is a +poor philosophy. I do not like it. Sometimes I think I shall refuse to +go. Disgrace, of course,--banishment to the mines. Report my treasonable +utterances if you like. I am prepared for that; suicide is easy +and certain." + +"But is it not rather cowardly, Captain?" I asked, looking him steadily +in the eye. + +Grauble flung out his hand with a gesture of disdain. "That is an easy +word for you to pronounce," he sneered. "You have hope to live by, you +are on the upward climb, you aspire to marry into the Royal House and +sire children to inherit your wealth. But I was born of the Royal House, +my father squandered his wealth. My sisters were beautiful and they have +married well. My brother was servile; he has attached himself to the +retinue of a wealthy Baroness. But I was made of better stuff than that. +I would play the hero. I would face danger and gladly die to give Berlin +more life and uphold the House of Hohenzollern in its fat and idle +existence; and for me they have taken hope away! + +"Oh, yes, I was proclaimed a hero. The young ladies of this house of +idleness dance with me, but they dare not take me seriously; what one of +them would court the certainty of widowhood without a fortune? So why +should I not tire of their shallow trifling? I find among the girls of +the Free Level more honest love, for they, as I, have no hope. They love +but for the passing hour, and pass on as I pass on, I to death, they to +decaying beauty and an old age of servile slavery." + +Surely, I exulted, here is the rebellious and daring soul that Zimmern +and Hellar have sought in vain. Even as they had hoped, I seemed to have +discovered a man of the submarine service who was amenable to +revolutionary ideas. Could I not get him to consider the myriad life of +Berlin in all its barren futility, to grasp at the hope of succour from +a free and merciful world, and then, with his aid, find a way out of +Berlin, a way to carry the message of Germany's need of help to the +Great God of Humanity that dwelt without in the warmth and joy of +the sun? + +The tide of hope surged high within me. I was tempted to divulge at once +my long cherished plan of escape from Berlin. "Why," I asked, thinking +to further sound his sincerity, "if you feel like this, have you never +considered running your craft to the surface during the sea passage and +beaching her on a foreign shore? There at least is life and hope and +experience." + +"By the Statue of God!" cried Grauble, his body shaking and his voice +quavering, "why do you, in all your hope and comfort here, speak of that +to me? Do you think I have never been tempted to do that very thing? And +yet you call me a coward. Have I not breathed foul air for days, fearful +to poke up our air tube in deserted waters lest by the millionth chance +it might lead to a capture? And yet you speak of deliberate surrender! +Even though I destroyed my charts, the capture of a German submarine in +those seas would set the forces of the outer world searching for the +passage. If they found and blocked the passage I should be guilty of the +destruction of three hundred million lives--Great God! God of +Hohenzollern! God of the World! could this thing be?" + +"Captain," I said, placing my hand on the shoulder of the palsied man, +"you and I have great secrets and the burden of great sorrows in common. +It is well that we have found each other. It is well that we have spoken +of these things that shake our souls. You have confessed much to me and +I have much that I shall confess to you. I must see you again before +you leave." + +Grauble gave me his hand. "You are a strange man," he said. "I have met +none before like you. I do not know at what aims you are driving. If you +plotted my disgrace by leading me into these confessions, you have found +me easy prey. But do not credit yourself too much. I have often vowed I +would go to Admiral von Kufner, and say these things to him. But the +formal exterior of that petty pompous man I cannot penetrate. If I have +confessed to you, it is merely because you are a man without that +protecting shield of bristling authority and cold formality. You seemed +merely a man of flesh and blood, despite your decorations, and so I have +talked. What is to be made of it by you or by me I do not know, but I am +not afraid of you." + +"I shall leave you now," I said, "for I have pressing duties, but I +shall see you soon again. So calm yourself and get hold of your reason. +I shall want you to think clearly when I talk with you again. Perhaps I +can yet show you a gleam of hope beyond this mathematical law of +averages that rattles the dice of death." + + + +CHAPTER XI + +IN WHICH THE TALKING DELEGATE IS ANSWERED BY THE +ROYAL VOICE AND I LEARN THAT LABOUR KNOWS NOT GOD + + +~1~ + +I had delayed in speaking to Grauble of our revolutionary plans, because +I wished first to arrange a meeting with Zimmern and Hellar and secure +the weight of their calmer minds in initiating Grauble into our plans of +sending a message to the World State authorities. I was prevented from +doing this immediately by difficulties in the Protium Works. Meanwhile +unbeknown to me the sailing date of Grauble's vessel was advanced, and +he departed to the Arctic. + +Although my position as Director of the Protium Works had been more of +an honour than an assignment of active duties, I made it my business to +assume the maximum rather than the minimum of the functions of the +office as I wished to learn more of the labour situation in Berlin, of +which as yet I had no comprehensive understanding. + +In a general way I understood that German labour differed not only in +being eugenically created as a distinct breed, but that the labour group +was also a very distinct caste economically and politically. The +labourer, being denied access to the Level of Free Women, had no need +for money or bank credit in any form. This seemed to me to reduce him to +a condition of pure slavery--since he received no pay for his services +other than the bare maintenance supplied by the state. + +Because of this evidence of economic inferiority, I had at first +supposed that labour was in every way an inferior caste. But in this I +had been gravely mistaken, nor had I been able fully to comprehend my +error until this brewing labour trouble revealed in concrete form the +political superiority of labour. In my failure to comprehend the true +state of affairs I had been a little stupid, for the political basis of +German society is revealed to the seeing eye in the Hohenzollern eagle +emblazoned on the red flag, the emblem of the rule of labour. + +Historically I believe this belies the origin of the red flag for it was +first used as the emblem of democratic socialism, a Nineteenth Century +theory of a social order in which all social and economic classes were +to be blended into a true democracy differing somewhat in its economic +organization, but essentially the same politically as the true democracy +which we have achieved in the World State. But with the Bolshevist +regime in Russia after the First World War, the red flag was +appropriated as the emblem of the political supremacy and rule of the +proletariat or labour class. + +I make these references to bygone history because they throw light on +the peculiar status of the German Labour Caste, which is possessed of +political superiority combined with social and economic inferiority. It +was the Bolshevist brand of socialism that finally overran Germany in +the era of loose and ineffective rule of the world by the League of +Nations. Though I make no pretence of being an accurate authority on +history, the League of Nations, if I remember rightly, was humanity's +first timid conception of the World State. Rather weakly born, it was +promptly emasculated by the rise in America of a political party founded +on the ideas of a great national hero who had just died. The +obstructionist policy of this party was inherent in its origin, for it +was inspired and held together by the ideas of a dead man, whose +followers could only repeat as their test of faith a phrase that has +come down to us as an idiom--"What would He do?" + +"He" being dead could do nothing, neither could he change his mind, but +having left an indelible record of his ideas by the strenuous verbiage +of his virile and inspiring rhetoric, there was no room for doubt. As in +all political and religious faiths founded on the ideas of dead heroes, +this made for solidarity and power and quite prevented any adaptation of +the form of government to the needs of the world that had arisen since +his demise. + +I have digressed here from my theme of the political status of the +German labour caste, but it is fascinating to trace things to their +origin to find the links of the chain of cause and effect. So, if I have +read my history aright, the emasculation of the League of Nations by the +American obstructionists caused, or at least permitted the rise, and +dominance of the Bolshevists in Twentieth-Century Germany. Had the +Germans been democrats at heart the pendulum would have swung back as it +did with other peoples, and been stayed at the point of equilibrium +which we recognized as the stable mean of democracy. + +But in the old days before the modern intermingling of the races it +seems that there were certain tastes that had become instinctive in +racial groups. Thus, just as the German stomach craved the rich flavour +of sausage, so the German mind craved the dazzling show of Royal +flummery. Had it not been for this the First World War could have never +been, for the socialists of that time were bitterly opposed to war and +Germany was the world's greatest stronghold of socialism, yet when their +beloved imperial poser, William the Great, called for war the German +socialists, with the exception of a few whom they afterwards murdered, +went forth to war almost without protest. + +When I first began to hear of the political rights of Labour, I went to +my friend Hellar and asked for an explanation. + +"Is not the chain of authority absolute," I asked, "up through the +industrial organization direct to the Emperor and so to God himself?" + +"But," said Hellar, "the workers do not believe in God!" + +"What," I stammered, "workers not believe in God! It is impossible. Have +not the workers simple trusting minds?" + +"Certainly," said Hellar, "it is the natural mind of man! Scepticism, +which is the basis of scientific reasoning, is an artificial thing, +first created in the world under the competitive economic order when it +became essential to self-preservation in a world of trade based on +deceit. In our new order we have had difficulty in maintaining enough of +it for scientific purposes even in the intellectual classes. There is no +scepticism among the labourers now, I assure you. They believe as easily +as they breathe." + +"Then how," I demanded in amazement, "does it come that they do not +believe in God?" + +"Because," said Hellar, "they have never heard of God. + +"The labourer does not know of God because we have restored God since +the perfection of our caste system, and hence it was easy to promulgate +the idea among the intellectuals and not among the workers. It was +necessary to restore God for the intellectuals in order to give them +greater respect for the power of the Royal House, but the labourers need +no God because they believe themselves to be the source from which the +Royal House derives its right to rule. They believe the Emperor to be +their own servant ruling by their permission." + +"The Emperor a servant to labour!" I exclaimed; "this is absurd." + +"Certainly," said Hellar; "why should it be otherwise? We are an absurd +people, because we have always laughed at the wrong things. Still this +principle is very old and has not always been confined to the Germans. +After the revolutions in the Twentieth Century the American plutocrats +employed poverty-stricken European nobility for servants and exalted +them to high stations and obeyed them explicitly in all social matters +with which their service was concerned. + +"The labourers restored William III because they wished to have an +exalted servant. He led them to war and became a hero. He reorganized +the state and became their political servant, also their emperor and +their tyrant. It is not an impossible relation, for it is not unlike the +relation between the mother and the child or between a man and his +mistress. And yet it is different, more formal, with functions +better defined. + +"The Emperor is the administrative head of the government and we +intellectuals are merely his hirelings. We are merely the feathers of +the Royal eagle, our colour is black, we have no part in the red blood +of human brotherhood, we are outcasts from the socialistic labour +world--for we receive money compensation to which labourers would not +stoop. But labour owns the state. This roof of Berlin over our heads and +all that is therein contained, is the property of the workers who +produced it." + +I shook my head in mute admission of my lack of comprehension. + +"And who," asked Hellar, "did you think owned Berlin?" + +I confessed that I had never thought of that. + +"Few of our intellectual class have ever thought of that," replied +Hellar, "unless they are well read in political history. But at the time +of the Hohenzollern restoration labour owned all property in true +communal ownership. They did not release it to the Royal House, but +merely turned over the administration of the property to the Emperor as +an agent." + +These belated explanations of the fundamental ideas of German society +quite confused and confounded me, though Hellar seemed in no wise +surprised at my ignorance, since as a chemist I had originally been +supposed to know only of atoms and valences and such like matters. +Seeking a way out of these contradictions I asked: "How is it then that +labour is so powerless, since you say that it owns the state, and even +the Emperor rules by its permission?" + +"Napoleon--have you ever heard of him?" + +"Yes," I admitted--and then recalling my role as a German chemist I +hastened to add--"Napoleon was a directing chemist who achieved a plan +for increasing the food supply in his day by establishing the sugar beet +industry." + +"Is that so?" exclaimed Hellar. "I didn't know that. I thought he was +only an Emperor--anyway, Napoleon said that if you tell men they are +equal you can do as you please with them. So when William III was +elected to the throne by labour, he insisted that they retain the power +and re-elect him every five years. He was very popular because he +invented the armoured city--our new Berlin--some day I will tell you of +that--and so of course he was re-elected, and his son after him. Though +most of the intellectuals do not know that it exists the ceremony of +election is a great occasion on the labour levels. The Emperor speaks +all day through the horns and on the picture screens. The workers think +he is actually speaking, though of course it is a collection of old +films and records of the Royal Voice. When they have seen and heard the +speeches, the labourers vote, and then go back to their work and are +very happy." + +"But suppose they should sometime fail to re-elect him?" + +"No danger," said Hellar; "there is only one name on the ballot and the +ballots are dumped into the paper mill without inspection." + +"Most extraordinary," I exclaimed. + +"Most ordinary," contradicted Hellar; "it is not even an exclusively +German institution; we have merely perfected it. Voting everywhere is a +very useful device in organized government. In the cruder form used in +democracies there were two or more candidates. It usually made little +difference which was elected; but the system was imperfect because the +voters who voted for the candidate which lost were not pleased. Then +there was the trouble of counting the ballots. We avoid all this." + +"It is all very interesting," I said, "but who is the real authority?" + +"Ah," said Hellar, "this matter of authority is one of our most subtle +conceptions. The weakness of ancient governments was in the fact that +the line of authority was broken. It came somewhere to an end. But now +authority flows up from labour to the Emperor and then descends again to +labour through the administrative line of which we are one link. It is +an unbroken circuit." + +But I was still unsatisfied, for it annoyed me not to be able to +understand the system of German politics, as I had always prided myself +that, for a scientist, I understood politics remarkably well. + +~2~ + +I had gone to Hellar for enlightenment because I was gravely alarmed +over the rumours of a strike among the labourers in the Protium Works. I +had read in the outside world of the murder and destruction of these +former civil wars of industry. With a working population so cruelly held +to the treadmill of industrial bondage the idea of a strike conjured up +in my fancy the beginning of a bloody revolution. With so vast a +population so utterly dependent upon the orderly processes of industry +the possible terrors of an industrial revolution were horrible beyond +imagining; and for the moment all thoughts of escape, or of my own plans +for negotiating the surrender of Berlin to the World State, were swept +aside by the stern responsibilities that devolved upon me as the +Director of Works wherein a terrible strike seemed brewing. + +The first rumour of the strike of the labourers in the Protium Works had +come to me from the Listening-in-Service. Since Berlin was too +complicated and congested a spot for wireless communication to be +practical, the electrical conduct of sound was by antiquated means of +metal wires. The workers' Free Speech Halls were all provided with +receiving horns by which they made their appeals to His Majesty, of +which I shall speak presently. These instruments were provided with +cut-offs in the halls. They had been so designed by the electrical +engineers, who were of the intellectual caste, that not even the workers +who installed and repaired them knew that the cut-offs were a blind and +that the Listening-in-Service heard every word that was said at their +secret meetings, when all but workers were, by law and custom, excluded +from the halls. + +And so the report came to me that the workers were threatening strike. +Their grievance came about in this fashion. My new process had reduced +the number of men needed in the works. This would require that some of +the men be transferred to other industries. But the transfer was a slow +process, as all the workers would have to be examined anatomically and +their psychic reflexes tested by the labour assignment experts and those +selected re-trained for other labour. That work was proceeding +slowly, for there was a shortage of experts because some similar need of +transfers existed in one of the metal industries. Moreover, my labour +psychologist considered it dangerous to transfer too many men, as they +were creatures of habit, and he advised that we ought merely to cease to +take on new workers, but wait for old age and death to reduce the number +of our men, meanwhile retaining the use of the old extraction process in +part of the works. + +"Impossible," I replied, "unless you would have your rations cut and the +city put on a starvation diet. Do you not know that the reserve store of +protium that was once enough to last eight years is now reduced to less +than as many months' supply?" + +"That is none of my affair," said the labour psychologist; "these +chemical matters I do not comprehend. But I advise against these +transfers, for our workers are already in a furor about the change of +operations in the work." + +"But," I protested, "the new operations are easier than the old; besides +we can cut down the speed of operations, which ought to help you take +care of these surplus men." + +"Pardon, Herr Chief," returned the elderly labour psychologist, "you are +a great chemist, a very great chemist, for your invention has upset the +labour operation more than has anything that ever happened in my long +experience, but I fear you do not realize how necessary it is to go slow +in these matters. You ask men who have always opened a faucet from left +to right to now open one that moves in a vertical plane. Here, I will +show you; move your arm so; do you not see that it takes +different muscles?" + +"Yes, of course, but what of it? The solution flows faster and the +operation is easier." + +"It is easy for you to say that; for you or me it would make no +difference since our muscles have all been developed indiscriminately." + +"But what are your labour gymnasiums for, if not to develop all +muscles?" + +"Now do not misunderstand me. I serve as an interpreter between the +minds of the workers and your mind as Director of the Works. As for the +muscles developed in the gymnasium, those were developed for sport and +not for labour. But that is not the worst of it; you have designed the +new benches so low that the mixers must stoop at their work. It is +very painful." + +"Good God," I cried, "what became of the stools? The mixers are to sit +down--I ordered two thousand stools." + +"That I know, Herr Chief, but the equipment expert consulted me about +the matter and I countermanded the order. It would never do. I did not +consult you, it is true, but that was merely a kindness. I did not wish +to expose your lack of knowledge, if I may call it such." + +"Call it what you please," I snapped, for at the time I thought my +labour psychologist was a fool, "but get those stools, immediately." + +"But it would never do." + +"Why not?" + +"Because these men have always stood at their work." + +"But why can they not sit down now?" + +"Because they never have sat down." + +"Do they not sit down to eat?" + +"Yes, but not to work. It is very different. You do not understand the +psychic immobility of labour. Habits grow stronger as the mentality is +simplified. I have heard that there are animals in the zoological garden +that still perform useless operations that their remote ancestors +required in their jungle life." + +"Then do you infer that these men who must stand at their work inherited +the idea from their ancestors?" + +"That is a matter of eugenics. I do not know, but I do know that we are +preparing for trouble with these changes. Still I hope to work it out +without serious difficulty, if you do not insist on these transfers. +When workmen have already been forced to change their habitual method of +work and then see their fellows being removed to other and still +stranger work it breeds dangerous unrest." + +"One thing is certain," I replied; "we cannot delay the installation of +the new method; as fast as the equipment is ready the new operation must +replace the old." + +"But the effect of that policy will be that there will not be enough +work, and besides the work is, as you say, lighter and that will result +in the cutting down of the food rations." + +"But I have already arranged that," I said triumphantly; "the Rationing +Bureau have adjusted the calorie standards so that the men will get as +much food as they have been used to." + +"What! you have done that?" exclaimed the labour psychologist; "then +there will be trouble. That will destroy the balance of the food supply +and the expenditure of muscular energy and the men will get fat. Then +the other men will accuse them of stealing food and we shall have +bloodshed." + +"A moment ago," I smiled, "you told me I did not know your business. Now +I will tell you that you do not know mine. We ordered special food +bulked up in volume; the scheme is working nicely; you need not worry +about that. As for the other matter, this surplus of men, it seems to me +that the only thing is to cut down the working hours temporarily until +the transfers can be made." + +The psychologist shook his head. "It is dangerous," he said, "and very +unusual. I advise instead that you have the operation engineers go over +the processes and involve the operations, both to make them more nearly +resemble the old ones, and to add to the time and energy consumption of +the tasks." + +"No," I said emphatically, "I invented a more economical process for +this industry and I do not propose to see my invention prostituted in +this fashion. I appreciate your advice, but if we cannot transfer the +workers any faster, then the labour hours must be cut. I will issue the +order tomorrow. This is my final decision." + +I was in authority and that settled the matter. The psychologist was +very decent about it and helped me fix up a speech and that next night +the workers were ordered to assemble in their halls and I made my speech +into a transmitting horn. I told them that they had been especially +honoured by their Emperor, who, appreciating their valuable service, had +granted them a part-time vacation and that until further notice their +six-hour shifts were to be cut to four. I further told them that their +rations would not be reduced and advised them to take enough extra +exercise in the gymnasium to offset their shorter hours so they would +not get fat and be the envy of their fellows. + +~3~ + +For a time the workers seemed greatly pleased with their shorter hours. +And then, from the Listening-in-Service, came the rumour of the strike. +The first report of the strike gave me no clue to the grievance and I +asked for fuller reports. When these came the next day I was shocked +beyond belief. If I had anticipated anything in that interval of terror +it was that my workers were to strike because their communications had +been shut off or that they were to strike in sympathy for their fellows +and demand that all hours be shortened like their own. But the grievance +was not that. My men were to go on strike for the simple reason that +their hours had been shortened! + +The catastrophe once started came with a rush, for when I reached the +office the next day the psychologist was awaiting me and told me that +the strike was on. I rushed out immediately and went down to the works. +The psychologist followed me. As I entered the great industrial +laboratories I saw all the men at their usual places and going through +their usual operations. I turned to my companion who was just coming up, +and said: "What do you mean; I thought you told me the strike was on, +that the men had already walked out?" + +"What do you mean by 'walked out'?" he returned, as puzzled as I. + +"Walked out of the works," I explained; "away from their duties, quit +work. Struck!" + +"But they have struck. Perhaps you have never seen a strike before, but +do you not see the strike badges?" + +And then I looked and saw that every workman wore a tiny red flag, and +the flag bore no imperial eagle. + +"It means," I gasped, "that they have renounced the rule of the Royal +House. This is not a strike, this is rebellion, treason!" + +"It is the custom," said the labour psychologist, "and as for rebellion +and treason that you speak of I hardly think you ought to call it that +for rebellion and treason are forbidden." + +"Then just what does it mean?" + +"It means that this particular group of workers have temporarily +withdrawn their allegiance to the Royal House, and they have, in their +own minds, restored the old socialist regime, until they can make +petition to the Emperor and he passes on their grievance. They will do +that in their halls tonight. We, of course, will be connected up and +listen in." + +"Then they are not really on strike?" + +"Certainly they are on strike. All strikes are conducted so." + +"Then why do they not quit work?" + +"But why should they quit work? They are striking because their hours +are already too short--pardon, Herr Chief, but I warned you! + +"I think I know what you mean," he added after a pause; "you have +probably read some fiction of old times when the workers went on strike +by quitting work." + +"Yes, exactly. I suppose that is where I did get my ideas; and that is +now forbidden--by the Emperor?" + +"Not by the Emperor, for you see these men wear the flags without the +eagle. They at present do not acknowledge his authority." + +"Then all this strike is a matter of red badges without eagles and +everything else will go on as usual?" + +"By no means. These men are striking against the descending authority +from the Royal House. They not only refuse to wear the eagle until their +grievance is adjusted but they will refuse to accept further education, +for that is a thing that descends from above. If you will go now to the +picture halls, where the other shift should be, you will find the halls +all empty. The men refuse to go to the moving pictures." + +That night we "listened in." A bull-throated fellow, whom I learned was +the Talking Delegate, addressed the Emperor, and much to my surprise I +thought I heard the Emperor's own voice in reply, stating that he was +ready to hear their grievance. + +Then the bull voice of the Talking Delegate gave the reason for the +strike: "The Director of the Works, speaking for your Majesty, has +granted us a part time vacation, and shortened our hours from six to +four. We thank you for this honour but we have decided we do not like +it. We do not know what to do during those extra two hours. We had our +games and amusements but we had our regular hours for them. If we play +longer we become tired of play. If we sleep longer we cannot sleep as +well. Moreover we are losing our appetite and some of us are afraid to +eat all our portions for fear we will become fat. So we have decided +that we do not like a four-hour day and we have therefore taken the +eagles off our flags and will refuse to replace them or to go to the +educational pictures until our hours are restored to the six-hour day +that we have always had." + +And now the Emperor's voice replied that he would take the matter under +consideration and report his decision in three days and, that meanwhile +he knew he could trust them to conduct themselves as good socialists who +were on strike, and hence needed no king. + +The next day the psychologist brought a representative of the +Information Staff to my office and together we wrote the reply that the +Emperor was to make. It would be necessary to concede them the full six +hours and introduce the system of complicating the labour operations to +make more work. Much chagrined, I gave in, and called in the motion +study engineers and set them to the task. Meanwhile the Royal Voice was +sent for and coached in the Emperor's reply to the striking workmen, and +a picture film of the Emperor, timed to fit the length of the speech, +was ordered from stock. + +The Royal Voice was an actor by birth who had been trained to imitate +His Majesty's speech. This man, who specialized in the Emperor's +speeches to the workers, prided himself that he was the best Royal Voice +in Berlin and I complimented him by telling him that I had been deceived +by him the evening before. But considering that the workers, never +having heard the Emperor's real voice, would have no standard of +comparison, I have never been able to see the necessity of the accuracy +of his imitation, unless it was on the ground of art for art's sake. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE DIVINE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM THE GREAT GIVE A BENEFIT +FOR THE CANINE GARDENS AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE PIGGERIES + + +~1~ + +The strike that I had feared would be the beginning of a bloody +revolution had ended with an actor shouting into a horn and the shadow +of an Emperor waving his arms. But meanwhile Capt. Grauble, on whom I +staked my hopes of escape from Berlin, had departed to the Arctic and +would not return for many months. That he would return I firmly +believed; statistically the chances were in his favour as this was his +fourth trip, and hope was backing the favourable odds of the law of +chance. + +So I set myself to prepare for that event. My faith was strong that +Grauble could be won over to the cause of saving the Germans by +betraying Germany. I did not even consider searching for another man, +for Grauble was that one rare man in thousands who is rebellious and +fearless by nature, a type of which the world makes heroes when their +cause wins and traitors when it fails--a type that Germany had all but +eliminated from the breed of men. + +But, if I were to escape to the outer world through Grauble's +connivance, there was still the problem of getting permission to board +the submarine, ostensibly to go to the Arctic mines. Even in my exalted +position as head of the protium works I could not learn where the +submarine docks or the passage to them was located. But I did learn +enough to know that the way was impenetrable without authoritative +permission, and that thoughts of escape as a stowaway were not worth +considering. I also learned that Admiral von Kufner had sole authority +to grant permission to make the Arctic trip. + +The Admiral had promptly turned down my first proposal to go to the +Arctic ore fields, and had by his pompous manner rebuffed the attempts I +made to cultivate his friendship through official interviews. I +therefore decided to call on Marguerite and the Countess Luise to see +what chance there was to get a closer approach to the man through social +avenues. The Countess was very obliging in the matter, but she warned me +with lifted finger that the Admiral was a gay bachelor and a worshipper +of feminine charms, and that I might rue the day I suggested his being +invited into the admiring circle that revolved about Marguerite. But I +laughingly disclaimed any fears on that score and von Kufner was bidden +to the next ball given by the Countess. + +Marguerite was particularly gracious to the Admiral and speedily led him +into the inner circle that gathered informally in the salon of the +Countess Luise. I made it a point to absent myself on some of these +occasions, for I did not want the Admiral to guess the purpose that lay +behind this ensnaring of him into our group. + +And yet I saw much of Marguerite, for I spent most of my leisure in the +society of the Royal Level, where thought, if shallow, was comparatively +free. I took particular pleasure in watching the growth of Marguerite's +mind, as the purely intellectual conceptions she had acquired from Dr. +Zimmern and his collection of books adjusted itself to the absurd +realities of the celestial society of the descendants of William +the Great. + +It may be that charity is instinctive in the heart of a good woman, or +perhaps it was because she had read the Christian Bible; but whatever +the origin of the impulse, Marguerite was charitably inclined and wished +to make personal sacrifice for the benefit of other beings less well +situated than herself. While she was still a resident of the Free Level +she had talked to me of this feeling and of her desire to help others. +But the giving of money or valuables by one woman to another was +strictly forbidden, and Marguerite had not at the time possessed more +than she needed for her own subsistence. But now that she was relatively +well off, this charitable feeling struggled to find expression. Hence +when she had learned of the Royal Charity Society she had straightway +begged the Countess to present her name for membership, without stopping +to examine into the detail of the Society's activities. + +The Society was at that time preparing to hold a bazaar and sent out +calls for contributions of cast off clothing and ornaments. Marguerite +as yet possessed no clothes or jewelry of Royal quality except the +minimum which the demands of her position made necessary; and so she +timidly asked the Countess if her clothing which she had worn on the +Free Level would suffice as gifts of charity. The Countess had assured +her that it would do nicely as the destination of all the clothing +contributed was for the women of the Free Level. Thinking that an +opportunity had at last arisen for her to express her compassion for the +ill-favoured girls of her own former level, Marguerite hastened to +bundle up such presentable gowns as she had and sent them to the bazaar +by her maid. + +Later she had attended the meeting of the society when the net results +of the collections were announced. To her dismay she found that the +clothing contributed had been sold for the best price it would bring to +the women of the Free Level and that the purpose of the sacrifices, of +that which was useless to the possessors but valuable to others, was the +defraying of the expense of extending the romping grounds for the dogs +of the charitably maintained canine garden. + +Marguerite was vigorously debating the philosophy of charity with the +young Count Rudolph that evening when I called. She was maintaining that +human beings and not animals should be the recipients of charity and the +young Count was expounding to her the doctrine of the evil effects of +charity upon the recipient. + +"Moreover," explained Count Rudolph, "there are no humans in Berlin that +need charity, since every class of our efficiently organized State +receives exactly what it should receive and hence is in need of nothing. +Charity is permissible only when poverty exists." + +"But there is poverty on the Free Level," maintained Marguerite; "many +of the ill-favoured girls suffer from hunger and want better clothes +than they can buy." + +"That may be," said the Count, "but to permit them gifts of charity +would be destructive of their pride; moreover, there are few women on +the Royal Level who would give for such a purpose." + +"But surely," said Marguerite, "there must be somewhere in the city, +other women or children or even men to whom the proceeds of these gifts +would mean more than it does to dogs." + +"If any group needed anything the state would provide it," repeated the +Count. + +"Then why," protested Marguerite, "cannot the state provide also for the +dogs, or if food and space be lacking why are these dogs allowed to +breed and multiply?" + +"Because it would be cruel to suppress their instincts." + +Marguerite was puzzled by this answer, but with my more rational mind I +saw a flaw in the logic of this statement. "But that is absurd," I said, +"for if their number were not checked in some fashion, in a few decades +the dogs would overswarm the city." + +It was now the Count's turn to look puzzled. "You have inferred an +embarrassing question," he stated, "one, in fact, that ought not to be +answered in the presence of a lady, but since the Princess Marguerite +does not seem to be a lover of dogs, I will risk the explanation. The +Medical Level requires dogs for purposes of scientific research. Since +the women are rarely good mathematicians, it is easily possible in this +manner to keep down the population of the Canine Garden." + +"But the dogs required for research," I suggested, "could easily be bred +in kennels maintained for that purpose." + +"So they could," said the Count, "but the present plan serves a double +purpose. It provides the doctors with scalpel practise and it also +amuses the women of the Royal House who are very much in need of +amusement since we men are all so dull." + +"Woman's love," continued Rudolph, waxing eloquent, "should have full +freedom for unfoldment. If it be forcibly confined to her husband and +children it might burst its bounds and express too great an interest in +other humans. The dogs act as a sort of safety valve for this instinct +of charity." + +The facetious young Count saw from Marguerite's horror-stricken face +that he was making a marked impression and he recklessly continued: "The +keepers at the Canine Gardens understand this perfectly. When funds +begin to run low they put the dogs in the outside pens on short rations, +and the brutes do their own begging; then we have another bazaar and +everybody is happy. It is a good system and I would advise you not to +criticize it since the institution is classic. Other schemes have been +tried; at one time women were permitted to knit socks for soldiers--we +always put that in historical pictures--but the socks had to be melted +up again as felted fibre is much more durable; and then, after the women +were forbidden to see the soldiers, they lost interest. But the dog +charity is a proven institution and we should never try to change +anything that women do not want changed since they are the conservative +bulwark of society and our best protection against the danger of +the untried." + +~2~ + +Blocked in her effort to relieve human poverty by the discovery that its +existence was not recognized, Marguerite's next adventure in doing good +in the world was to take up the battle against ignorance by contributing +to the School for the Education of Servants. + +The Servant problem in Berlin, and particularly on the Royal Level, had +been solved so far as male servants were concerned, for these were a +well recognized strain eugenically bred as a division of the +intellectual caste. I had once taken Dr. Zimmern to task on this +classification of the servant as an intellectual. + +"The servant is not intellectual creatively," the Eugenist replied, "yet +it would never do to class him as Labour since he produces nothing. +Moreover, the servant's mind reveals the most specialized development of +the most highly prized of all German intellectual characteristics +--obedience. + +"It might interest you to know," continued Zimmern, "that we use this +servant strain in outcrossing with other strains when they show a +tendency to decline in the virtue of obedience. If I had not chosen to +exempt you from paternity when your rebellious instincts were reported +to me, and the matter had been turned over to our Remating Board they +might have reassigned you to mothers of the servant class. This practice +of out-crossing, though rare, is occasionally essential in all +scientific breeding." + +"Then do you mean," I asked in amazement, "that the highest intellectual +strains have servant blood in them?" + +"Certainly. And why not, since obedience is the crowning glory of the +German mind? Even Royal blood has a dash of the servant strain." + +"You mean, I suppose, from illegitimate children?" + +"Not at all; that sort of illegitimacy is not recognized. I mean from +the admission of servants into Royal Society, just as you have been +admitted." + +"Impossible!" + +"And why impossible, since obedience is our supreme racial virtue? Go +consult your social register. The present Emperor, I believe, has +admitted none, but his father admitted several and gave them princely +incomes. They married well and their children are respected, though I +understand they are not very much invited out for the reason that they +are poor conversationalists. They only speak when spoken to and then +answer, 'Ja, Mein Herr.' I hear they are very miserable; since no one +commands them they must be very bored with life, as they are unable to +think of anything to do to amuse themselves. In time the trait will be +modified, of course, since the Royal blood will soon predominate, and +the strongest inherent trait of Royalty is to seek amusement." + +This specialized class of men servants needed little education, for, as +I took more interest in observing after this talk with Zimmern, they +were the most perfectly fitted to their function of any class in Berlin. +But there was also a much more numerous class of women servants on the +Royal Level. These, as a matter of economy, were not specially bred to +the office, but were selected from the mothers who had been rejected for +further maternity after the birth of one or two children. Be it said to +the credit of the Germans that no women who had once borne a child was +ever permitted to take up the profession of Delilah--a statement which +unfortunately cannot be made of the rest of the world. These mothers +together with those who had passed the child bearing age more than +supplied the need for nurses on the maternity levels and teachers in +girls' schools. + +As a result they swarmed the Royal Level in all capacities of service +for which women are fitted. Originally educated for maternity they had +to be re-educated for service. Not satisfied with the official education +provided by the masculine-ordered state, the women of the Royal Level +maintained a continuation school in the fine art of obedience and the +kindred virtues of the perfect servant. + +So again it was that Marguerite became involved in a movement that in no +wise expressed the needs of her spirit, and from which she +speedily withdrew. + +The next time she came to me for advice. "I want to do something," she +cried. "I want to be of some use in the world. You saved me from that +awful life--for you know what it would have been for me if Dr. Zimmern +had died or his disloyalty had been discovered--and you have brought me +here where I have riches and position but am useless. I tried to be +charitable, to relieve poverty, but they say there is no poverty to be +relieved. I tried to relieve ignorance, but they will not allow that +either. What else is there that needs to be relieved? Is there no good +I can do?" + +"Your problem is not a new one," I replied, thinking of the world-old +experience of the good women yoked to idleness by wealth and position. +"You have tried to relieve poverty and ignorance and find your efforts +futile. There is one thing more I believe that is considered a classic +remedy for your trouble. You can devote yourself to the elimination of +ugliness, to the increase of beauty. Is there no organization devoted to +that work?" + +"There is," returned Marguerite, "and I was about to join it, but I +thought this time I had better ask advice. There is the League to +Beautify Berlin." + +"Then by all means join," I advised. "It is the safest of all such +efforts, for though poverty may not exist and ignorance may not be +relieved, yet surely Berlin can be more beautiful. But of course your +efforts must be confined to the Royal Level as you do not see the rest +of the city." + +So Marguerite joined the League to Beautify Berlin and I became an +auxiliary member much appreciated because of my liberal contributions. +It proved an excellent source of amusement. The League met weekly and +discussed the impersonal aspects of the beauty of the level in open +meetings, while a secret complaint box was maintained into which all +were invited to deposit criticisms of more personal matters. It was +forbidden even in this manner to criticize irremedial ugliness such as +the matter of one's personal form or features, but dress and manners +came within the permitted range and the complaints were regularly mailed +to the offenders. This surprised me a little as I would have thought +that such a practice would have made the League unpopular, but on the +contrary, it was considered the mainstay of the organization, for the +recipient of the complaint, if a non-member, very often joined the +League immediately, hoping thereby to gain sweet revenge. + +But aside from this safety valve for the desire to make personal +criticism, the League was a very creditable institution and it was there +that we met the great critics to whose untiring efforts the rare +development of German art was due. + +Cut off from the opportunity to appropriate by purchase or capture the +works of other peoples, German art had suffered a severe decline in the +first few generations of the isolation, but in time they had developed +an art of their own. A great abundance of cast statues of white crystal +adorned the plazas and gardens and, being unexposed to dust or rain, +they preserved their pristine freshness so that it appeared they had all +been made the day before. Mural paintings also flourished abundantly and +in some sections the endless facade of the apartments was a +continuous pageant. + +But it was in landscape gardening that German art had made its most +wonderful advancement. Having small opportunity for true architecture +because of the narrow engineering limitations of the city's +construction, talent for architecture had been turned to landscape +gardening. I use the term advisedly for the very absence of natural +landscape within a roofed-in city had resulted in greater development of +the artificial product. + +The earlier efforts, few of which remained unaltered, were more inclined +toward imitation of Nature as it exists in the world of sun and rocks +and rain. But, as the original models were forgotten and new generations +of gardeners arose, new sorts of nature were created. Artificial rocks, +artificial soil, artificially bred and cultured plants, were combined in +new designs, unrealistic it is true, but still a very wonderful +development of what might be called synthetic or romantic nature. The +water alone was real and even in some cases that was altered as in the +beautifully dyed rivulets and in the truly remarkable "Fountain of +Blood," dedicated to one of the sons of William the Great--I have +forgotten his name--in honour of his attack upon Verdun in the First +World War. + +In these wondrous gardens, with the Princess Marguerite strolling by my +side, I spent the happiest hours of my sojourn in Berlin. But my joy was +tangled with a thread of sadness for the more I gazed upon this +synthetic nature of German creation the more I hungered to tell her of, +and to take her to see, the real Nature of the outside world--upon +which, in my opinion, with all due respect to their achievements, the +Germans had not been able to improve. + +~3~ + +While the women of the Royal House were not permitted of their own +volition to stray from the Royal Level, excursions were occasionally +arranged, with proper permits and guards. These were social events of +consequence and the invitations were highly prized. Noteworthy among +them was an excursion to the highest levels of the city and to the +roof itself. + +The affair was planned by Admiral von Kufner in Marguerite's honour; +for, having spent her childhood elsewhere, she had never experienced the +wonder of this roof excursion so highly prized by Royalty, and for ever +forbidden to all other women and to all but a few men of the teeming +millions who swarmed like larvae in this vast concrete cheese. + +The formal invitations set no hour for the excursion as it was +understood that the exact time depended upon weather conditions of which +we would later be notified. When this notice came the hour set was in +the conventional evening of the Royal Level, but corresponding to about +three A.M. by solar time. The party gathered at the suite of the +Countess Luise and numbered some forty people, for whom a half dozen +guides were provided in the form of officers of the Roof Guard. The +journey to our romantic destination took us up some hundred metres in an +elevator, a trip which required but two minutes, but would lead to a +world as different as Mount Olympus from Erebus. + +But we did not go directly to the roof, for the hour preferred for that +visit had not yet arrived and our first stop was at the swine levels, +which had so aroused my curiosity and strained belief when I had first +discovered their existence from the chart of my atlas. + +As the door of the elevator shaft slid open, a vast squealing and +grunting assaulted our ears. The hours of the swine, like those of their +masters, were not reckoned by either solar or sidereal time, but had +been altered, as experiment had demonstrated, to a more efficient cycle. +The time of our trip was chosen so that we might have this earthly music +of the feeding time as a fitting prelude to the visioning of the +silent heavens. + +On the visitors' gangway we walked just above the reach of the jostling +bristly backs, and our own heads all but grazed the low ceiling of the +level. To economize power the lights were dim. Despite the masterful +achievement of German cleanliness and sanitation there was a permeating +odour, a mingling of natural and synthetic smells, which added to the +gloom of semi-darkness and the pandemonium of swinish sound produced a +totality of infernal effect that thwarts description. + +But relief was on the way for the automatic feed conveyors were rapidly +moving across our section. First we heard a diminution of sound from one +direction, then a hasty scuffling and a happy grunting beneath us and, +as the conveyors moved swiftly on, the squealing receded into the +distance like the dying roar of a retreating storm. + +The Chief Swineherd, immaculately dressed and wearing his full quota of +decorations and medals, honoured us with his personal presence. With the +excusable pride that every worthy man takes in his work, he expounded +the scientific achievements and economic efficiency of the swinish world +over which he reigned. The men of the party listened with respect to his +explanations of the accomplishments of sanitation and of the economy of +the cycle of chemical transformation by which these swine were +maintained without decreasing the capacity of the city for human +support. Lastly the Swineherd spoke of the protection that the swine +levels provided against the effects of an occasional penetrating bomb +that chanced to fall in the crater of its predecessor before the damage +could be repaired. + +Pursuant to this fact the uppermost swine level housed those unfortunate +animals that were nearest the sausage stage. On the next lower level, to +which we now descended by a spiral stair through a ventilating opening, +were brutes of less advanced ages. On the lowest of the three levels +where special lights were available for our benefit even the women +ceased to shudder and gave expression to ecstatic cries of rapture, as +all the world has ever done when seeing baby beasts pawing contentedly +at maternal founts. + +"Is it not all wonderful?" effused Admiral von Kufner, with a sweeping +gesture; "so efficient, so sanitary, so automatic, such a fine example +of obedience to system and order. This is what I call real science and +beauty; one might almost say Germanic beauty." + +"But I do not like it," replied Marguerite with her usual candour. "I +wish they would abolish these horrid levels." + +"But surely," said the Countess, "you would not wish to condemn us to a +diet of total mineralism?" + +"But the Herr Chemist here could surely invent for us a synthetic +sausage," remarked Count Rudolph. "I have eaten vegetarian kraut made of +real cabbage from the Botanical Garden, but it was inferior to the +synthetic article." + +"Do not make light, young people," spoke up the most venerable member of +our party, the eminent Herr Dr. von Brausmorganwetter, the historian +laureate of the House of Hohenzollern. "It is not as a producer of +sausages alone that we Germans are indebted to this worthy animal. I am +now engaged in writing a book upon the influence of the swine upon +German Kultur. In the first part I shall treat of the Semitic question. +The Jews were very troublesome among us in the days before the +isolation. They were a conceited race. As capitalists, they amassed +fortunes; as socialists they stirred up rebellion; they objected to war; +they would never have submitted to eugenics; they even insisted that we +Germans had stolen their God! + +"We tried many schemes to be rid of these troublesome people, and all +failed. Therefore I say that Germany owes a great debt to the noble +animal who rid us of the disturbing presence of the Jews, for when pork +was made compulsory in the diet they fled the country of their +own accord. + +"In the second part of my book I shall tell the story of the founding of +the New Berlin, for our noble city was modelled on the fortified +piggeries of the private estates of William III. In those days of the +open war the enemy bombed the stock farms. Synthetic foods were as yet +imperfectly developed. Protein was at a premium; the emperor did not +like fish, so he built a vast concrete structure with a roof heavily +armoured with sand that he might preserve his swine from the murderous +attacks of the enemy planes. + +"It was during the retreat from Peking. The German armies were being +crowded back on every side. The Ray had been invented, but William the +III knew that it could not be used to protect so vast a domain and that +Germany would be penned into narrow borders and be in danger of +extermination by aerial bombardment. In those days he went for rest and +consolation to his estates, for he took great pleasure in his +thoroughbred swine. Some traitorous spy reported his move to the enemy +and a bombing squadron attacked the estates. The Emperor took refuge in +his fortified piggery. And so the great vision came to him. + +"I have read the exact words of this thoughts as recorded in his diary +which is preserved in the archives of the Royal Palace: 'As are these +happy brutes, so shall my people be. In safety from the terrors of the +sky--protected from the vicissitudes of nature and the enmity of men, so +shall I preserve them.' + +"That was the conception of the armoured city of Berlin. But that was +not all. For the bombardment kept up for days and the Emperor could not +escape. On the fourth day came the second idea--two new ideas in less +than a week! William III was a great thinker. + +"Thus he recorded the second inspiration: 'And even as I have bred these +swine, some for bacon and some for lard, so shall the German Blond +Brutes be bred the super-men, some specialized for labour and some +for brains.' + +"These two ideas are the foundation of the kultur of our Imperial +Socialism, the one idea to preserve us and the other to re-create us as +the super-race. And both of these ideas we owe to this noble animal. The +swine should be emblazoned with the eagle upon our flag." + +As the Historian finished his eulogy, I glanced surreptitiously at the +faces of his listeners, and caught a twinkle in Marguerite's eyes; but +the faces of the others were as serious as graven images. + +Finally the Countess spoke: "Do I understand, then, that you consider +the swine the model of the German race?" + +"Only of the lower classes," said the aged historian, "but not the House +of Hohenzollern. We are exalted above the necessities of breeding, for +we are divine." + +Eyes were now turned upon me, for I was the only one of the company not +of Hohenzollern blood. Unrelieved by laughter the situation was painful. + +"But," said Count Rudolph, coming to my rescue, "we also seek safety in +the fortified piggeries." + +"Exactly," said the Historian; "so did our noble ancestor." + +~4~ + +From the piggeries, we went to the green level where, growing beneath +eye-paining lights, was a matted mass of solid vegetation from which +came those rare sprigs of green which garnished our synthetic dishes. +But this was too monotonous to be interesting and we soon went above to +the Defence Level where were housed vast military and rebuilding +mechanisms and stores. After our guides had shown us briefly about among +these paraphernalia, we were conducted to one of the sloping ramps which +led through a heavily arched tunnel to the roof above. + +Marguerite clung close to my arm, quivering with expectancy and +excitement, as we climbed up the sloping passage-way and felt on our +faces the breath of the crisp air of the May night. + +The sky came into vision with startling suddenness as we walked out upon +the soft sand blanket of the roof. The night was absolutely clear and my +first impression was that every star of the heavens had miraculously +waxed in brilliancy. The moon, in the last quarter, hung midway between +the zenith and the western horizon. The milky way seemed a floating band +of whitish flame. About us, in the form of a wide crescent, for we were +near the eastern edge of the city, swung the encircling band of +searchlights, but the air was so clear that this stockade of artificial +light beams was too pale to dim the points of light in the +blue-black vault. + +In anticipating this visit to the roof I had supposed it would seem +commonplace to me, and had discussed it very little with Marguerite, +lest I might reveal an undue lack of wonder. But now as I thrilled once +more beneath their holy light, the miracle of unnumbered far-flung +flaming suns stifled again the vanity of human conceit and I stood with +soul unbared and worshipful beneath the vista of incommensurate space +wherein the birth and death of worlds marks the unending roll of time. +And at my side a silent gazing woman stood, contrite and humble and the +thrill and quiver of her body filled me with a joy of wordless delight. + +A blundering guide began lecturing on astronomy and pointing out with +pompous gestures the constellations and planets. But Marguerite led me +beyond the sound of his voice. "It is not the time for listening to +talk," she said. "I only want to see." + +When the astronomer had finished his speech-making, our party moved +slowly toward the East, where we could just discern the first faint +light of the coming dawn. When we reached the parapet of the eastern +edge of the city's roof, the stars had faded and pale pink streaked the +eastern sky. The guides brought folding chairs from a nearby tunnel way +and most of the party sat down on a hillock of sand, very much as men +might seat themselves in the grandstand of a race course. But I was so +interested in what the dawn would reveal beneath the changing colours of +the sky, that I led Marguerite to the rail of the parapet where we could +look down into the yawning depths upon the surface of German soil. + +My first vision over the parapet revealed but a mottled grey. But as the +light brightened the grey land took form, and I discerned a few scraggly +patches of green between the torn masses of distorted soil. + +The stars had faded now and only the pale moon remained in the bluing +sky, while below the land disclosed a sad monotony of ruin and waste, +utterly devoid of any constructive work of man. + +Marguerite, her gaze fixed on the dawn, was beginning to complain of the +light paining her eyes, when one of the guides hurried by with an open +satchel swung from his shoulders. "Here are your glasses," he said; "put +them on at once. You must be very careful now, or you will injure +your eyes." + +We accepted the darkened protecting lenses, but I found I did not need +mine until the sun itself had appeared above the horizon. + +"Did you see it so in your vision?" questioned Marguerite, as the first +beams glistened on the surface of the sanded roof. + +"This," I replied, "is a very ordinary sunrise with a perfectly +cloudless sky. Some day, perhaps, when the gates of this prison of +Berlin are opened, we will be able to see all the sunrises of my +visions, and even more wonderful ones." + +"Karl," she whispered, "how do you know of all these things? Sometimes I +believe you are something more than human, that you of a truth possess +the blood of divinity which the House of Hohenzollern claims." + +"No," I answered; "not divinity,--just a little larger humanity, and +some day very soon I am going to tell you more of the source of +my visions." + +She looked at me through her darkened glasses. "I only know," she said, +"that you are wonderful, and very different from other men." + +Had we been alone on the roof of Berlin, I could not have resisted the +temptation to tell her then that stars and sun were familiar friends to +me and that the devastated soil that stretched beneath us was but the +wasted skeleton of a fairer earth I knew and loved. But we were +surrounded by a host of babbling sightseers and so the moment passed and +I remained to Marguerite a man of mystery and a seer of visions. + +The sun fully risen now, we were led to a protruding observation +platform that permitted us to view the wall of the city below. It was +merely one vast grey wall without interruption or opening in the +monotonous surface. + +Amid the more troubled chaos of the ground immediately below we could +see fragments of concrete blown from the parapet of the roof. The wall +beneath us, we were told, was only of sufficient thickness to withstand +fire of the aircraft guns. The havoc that might be wrought, should the +defence mines ever be forced back and permit the walls of Berlin to come +within range of larger field pieces, was easily imagined. But so long as +the Ray defence held, the massive fort of Berlin was quite impervious to +attacks of the world forces of land and air and the stalemate of war +might continue for other centuries. + +With the coming of daylight we had heard the rumbling of trucks as the +roof repairing force emerged to their task. Now that our party had +become tired of gazing through their goggles at the sun, our guides led +us in the direction where this work was in progress. On the way we +passed a single unfilled crater, a deep pit in the flinty quartz sand +that spread a protecting blanket over the solid structure of the roof. +These craters in the sand proved quite harmless except for the labour +involved in their refilling. Further on we came to another, now +half-filled from a spouting pipe with ground quartz blown from some +remote subterranean mine, so to keep up the wastage from wind +and bombing. + +Again we approached the edge of the city and this time found more of +interest, for here an addition to the city was under construction. It +was but a single prism, not a hundred metres across, which when +completed would add but another block to the city's area. Already the +outer pillars reached the full height and supported the temporary roof +that offered at least a partial protection to the work in progress +beneath. Though I watched but a few minutes I was awed with the evident +rapidity of the building. Dimly I could see the forms below being swung +into place with a clock-like regularity and from numerous spouts great +streams of concrete poured like flowing lava. + +It is at these building sections that the bombs were aimed and here +alone that any effectual damage could be done, but the target was a +small one for a plane flying above the reach of the German guns. The +officer who guided our group explained this to us: these bombing raids +were conducted only at times of particular cloud formations, when the +veil of mist hung thick and low in an even stratum above which the air +was clear. When such formation threatened, the roof of Berlin was +cleared and the expected bombs fell and spent their fury blowing up the +sand. It had been a futile warfare, for the means of defence were equal +to the means of offence. + +Our visit to the roof of Berlin was cut short as the sun rose higher, +because the women, though they had donned gloves and veils, were fearful +of sunburn. So we were led back to the covered ramp into the endless +night of the city. + +"Have we seen it all?" sighed Marguerite, as she removed her veil and +glasses and gazed back blinkingly into the last light of day. + +"Hardly," I said; "we have not seen a cloud, nor a drop of rain nor a +flake of snow, nor a flash of lightning, nor heard a peal of thunder." + +Again she looked at me with worshipful adoration. "I forget," she +whispered; "and can you vision those things also?" + +But I only smiled and did not answer, for I saw Admiral von Kufner +glaring at me. I had monopolized Marguerite's company for the entire +occasion, and I was well aware that his only reason for arranging this, +to him a meaningless excursion, had been in the hopes of being with her. + +~5~ + +But Admiral von Kufner, contending fairly for that share of Marguerite's +time which she deigned to grant him, seemed to bear me no malice; and, +as the months slipped by, I was gratified to find him becoming more +cordial toward me. We frequently met at the informal gatherings in the +salon of the Countess Luise. More rarely Dr. Zimmern came there also, +for by virtue of his office he was permitted the social rights of the +Royal Level. I surmised, however, that this privilege, in his case, had +not included the right to marry on the level, for though the head of the +Eugenic Staff, he had, so far as I could learn, neither wife +nor children. + +But Dr. Zimmern did not seem to relish royal society, for when he +chanced to be caught with me among the members of the Royal House the +flow of his brilliant conversations was checked like a spring in a +drought, and he usually took his departure as soon as it was seemly. + +On one of these occasions Admiral von Kufner came in as Zimmern sat +chatting over cups and incense with Marguerite and me, and the Countess +and her son. The doctor dropped quietly out of the conversation, and for +a time the youthful Count Ulrich entertained us with a technical +elaboration of the importance of the love passion as the dominant appeal +of the picture. Then the Countess broke in with a spirited exposition of +the relation of soul harmony to ardent passion. + +Admiral von Kufner listened with ill-disguised impatience. "But all this +erotic passion," he interrupted, "will soon again be swept away by the +revival of the greater race passion for world rule." + +"My dear Admiral," said the Countess Luise, "your ideas of race passion +are quite proper for the classes who must be denied the free play of the +love element in their psychic life, but your notion of introducing these +ideas into the life of the Royal Level is wholly antiquated." + +"It is you who are antiquated," returned the Admiral, "for now the day +is at hand when we shall again taste of danger. His Majesty has--" + +"Of course His Majesty has told us that the day is at hand," interrupted +the Countess. "Has not His Majesty always preserved this allegorical +fable? It is part of the formal kultur." + +"But His Majesty now speaks the truth," replied the Admiral gravely, +"and I say to you who are so absorbed with the light passions of art and +love that we shall not only taste of danger but will fight again in the +sea and air and on the ground in the outer world. We shall conquer and +rule the world." + +"And do you think, Admiral," inquired Marguerite, "that the German +people will then be free in the outer world?" + +"They will be free to rule the outer world," replied the Admiral. + +"But I mean," said Marguerite calmly, "to ask if they will be free again +to love and marry and rear their own children." + +At this naive question the others exchanged significant glances. + +"My dear child," said the Countess, blushing with embarrassment, "your +defective training makes it extremely difficult for you to understand +these things." + +"Of course it is all forbidden," spoke up the young Count, "but now, if +it were not, the Princess Marguerite's unique idea would certainly make +capital picture material." + +"How clever!" cried the Countess, beaming on her intellectual son. +"Nothing is forbidden for plot material for the Royal Level. You shall +make a picture showing those great beasts of labour again liberated for +unrestricted love." + +"There is one difficulty," Count Rudolph considered. "How could we get +actors for the parts? Our thoroughbred actors are all too light of bone, +too delicate of motion, and our actresses bred for dainty beauty would +hardly caste well for those great hulking round-faced labour mothers." + +"Then," remarked the Admiral, "if you must make picture plays why not +one of the mating of German soldiers with the women of the +inferior races?" + +"Wonderful!" exclaimed the plot maker; "and practical also. Our +actresses are the exact counterpart of those passionate French beauties. +I often study their portraits in the old galleries. They have had no +Eugenics, hence they would be unchanged. Is it not so, Doctor?" + +"Without Eugenics, a race changes with exceeding slowness," answered +Zimmern in a voice devoid of expression. "I should say that the French +women of today would much resemble their ancestral types." + +"But picturing such matings of military necessity would be very +disgusting," reprimanded the Countess. + +"It will be a very necessary part of the coming day of German dominion," +stated the Admiral. "How else can we expect to rule the world? It is, +indeed, part of the ordained plan." + +"But how," I questioned, "is such a plan to be executed? Would the men +of the World State tolerate it?" + +"We will oblige them to tolerate it; the children of the next generation +of the inferior races must be born of German sires." + +"But the Germans are outnumbered ten to one," I replied. + +"Polygamy will take care of that, among the white races; the coloured +races must be eliminated. All breeding of the coloured races must cease. +That, also, is part of the ordained plan." + +The conversation was getting on rather dangerous ground for me as I +realized that I dare not show too great surprise at this talk, which of +all things I had heard in Germany was the most preposterous. + +But Marguerite made no effort to disguise her astonishment. "I thought," +she said, "that the German rule of the world was only a plan for +military victory and the conquering of the World Government. I supposed +the people would be left free to live their personal lives as +they desired." + +"That was the old idea," replied the Admiral, "in the days of open war, +before the possibilities of eugenic science were fully realized. But the +ordained plan revealed to His Majesty requires not only the military and +political rule by the Germans, but the biologic conquest of the inferior +races by German blood." + +"I think our German system of scientific breeding is very brutal," spoke +up Marguerite with an intensity of feeling quite out of keeping with the +calloused manner in which the older members of the Royal House discussed +the subject. + +The Admiral turned to her with a gracious air. "My lovely maiden," he +said, "your youth quite excuses your idealistic sentiments. You need +only to remember that you are a daughter of the House of Hohenzollern. +The women of this House are privileged always to cultivate and cherish +the beautiful sentiments of romantic love and individual maternity. The +protected seclusion of the Royal Level exists that such love may bloom +untarnished by the grosser affairs of world necessity. It was so +ordained." + +"It was so ordained by men," replied Marguerite defiantly, "and what are +these privileges while the German women are prostituted on the Free +Level or forced to bear children only to lose them--and while you plan +to enforce other women of the world into polygamous union with a +conquering race?" + +"My dear child," said the Countess, "you must not speak in this wild +fashion. We women of the Royal House must fully realize our +privileges--and as for the Admiral's wonderful tale of world +conquest--that is only his latest hobby. It is talked, of course, in +military circles, but the defensive war is so dull, you know, especially +for the Royal officers, that they must have something to occupy +their minds." + +"When the day arrives," snapped the Admiral, "you will find the Royal +officers leading the Germans to victory like Atilla and William the +Great himself." + +"Then why," twitted the Countess, "do you not board one of your +submarines and go forth to battle in the sea?" + +"I am not courting unnecessary danger," retorted the Admiral; "but I am +not dead to the realities of war. My apartments are directly connected +with the roof." + +"So you can hear the bomb explosions," suggested the Countess. + +"And why not?" snapped the Admiral; "we must prepare for danger." + +"But you have not been bred for danger," scoffed the Countess. "Perhaps +you would do well to have your reactions to fear tested out in the +psychic laboratories; if you should pass the test you might be elected +as a father of soldiers; it would surely set a good example to our +impecunious Hohenzollern bachelors for whom there are no wives." + +The young Count evidently did not comprehend his mother's spirit of +raillery. "Has that not been tried?" he asked, turning toward +Dr. Zimmern. + +"It has," stated the Eugenist, "more than a hundred years ago. There was +once an entire regiment of such Hohenzollern soldiers in the +Bavarian mines." + +"And how did they turn out?" I asked, my curiosity tempting me into +indiscretion. + +"They mutinied and murdered their officers and then held an election--" +Zimmern paused and I caught his eye which seemed to say, "We have gone +too far with this." + +"Yes, and what happened?" queried the Countess. + +"They all voted for themselves as Colonel," replied the Doctor drily. + +At this I looked for an outburst of indignation from the orthodox +Admiral, but instead he seemed greatly elated. "Of course," he enthused; +"the blood breeds true. It verily has the quality of true divinity. No +wonder we super-men repudiated that spineless conception of the soft +Christian God and the servile Jewish Jesus." + +"But Jesus was not a coward," spoke up Marguerite. "I have read the +story of his life; it is very wonderful; he was a brave man, who met his +death unflinchingly." + +"But where did you read it?" asked the Countess. "It must be very new. I +try to keep up on the late novels but I never heard of this 'Story +of Jesus.'" + +"What you say is true," said the Admiral, turning to Marguerite, "but +since you like to read so well, you should get Prof. Ohlenslagger's book +and learn the explanation of the fact that you have just stated. We have +long known that all those great men whom the inferior races claim as +their geniuses are of truth of German blood, and that the fighting +quality of the outer races is due to the German blood that was scattered +by our early emigrations. + +"But the distinctive contribution that Prof. Ohlenslagger makes to these +long established facts is in regard to the parentage of this man Jesus. +In the Jewish accounts, which the Christians accepted, the truth was +crudely covered up with a most unscientific fable, which credited the +paternity of Jesus to miraculous interference with the laws of nature. + +"But now the truth comes out by Prof. Ohlenslagger's erudite reasoning. +This unknown father of Jesus was an adventurer from Central Asia, a man +of Teutonic blood. On no other conception can the mixed elements in the +character of Jesus be explained. His was the case of a dual personality +of conflicting inheritance. One day he would say: 'Lay up for yourself +treasures'--that was the Jewish blood speaking. The next day he would +say: 'I come to bring a sword'--that was the noble German blood of a +Teutonic ancestor. It is logical, it must be true, for it was reasoned +out by one of our most rational professors." + +The Countess yawned; Marguerite sat silent with troubled brows; Dr. +Ludwig Zimmern gazed abstractedly toward the cold electric imitation of +a fire, above which on a mantle stood two casts, diminutive +reproductions of the figures beside the door of the Emperor's palace, +the one the likeness of William the Great, the other the Statue of the +German God. But I was thinking of the news I had heard that afternoon +from my Ore Chief--that Captain Grauble's vessel had returned to Berlin. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +IN WHICH A WOMAN ACCUSES ME OF MURDER AND +I PLACE A RUBY NECKLACE ABOUT HER THROAT + + +~1~ + +Anxious to renew my acquaintance with Captain Grauble at the earliest +opportunity, I sent my social secretary to invite him to meet me for a +dinner engagement in one of the popular halls of the Free Level. + +When I reached the dining hall I found Captain Grauble awaiting me. But +he was not alone. Seated with him were two girls and so strange a +picture of contrast I had never seen. The girl on his right was an +extreme example of the prevailing blonde type. Her pinkish white skin +seemed transparent, her eyes were the palest blue and her hair was +bright yet pale gold. About her neck was a chain of blue stones linked +with platinum. She was dressed in a mottled gown of light blue and gold, +and so subtly blended were the colours that she and her gown seemed to +be part of the same created thing. But on Grauble's left sat a woman +whose gown was flashing crimson slashed with jetty black. Her skin was +white with a positive whiteness of rare marble and her cheeks and lips +flamed with blood's own red. The sheen of her hair was that of a raven's +wing, and her eyes scintillated with the blackness of polished jade. + +The pale girl, whom Grauble introduced as Elsa, languidly reached up her +pink fingers for me to kiss and then sank back, eyeing me with mild +curiosity. But as I now turned to be presented to the other, I saw the +black-eyed beauty shrink and cower in an uncanny terror. Grauble again +repeated my name and then the name of the girl, and I, too, started in +fear, for the name he pronounced was "Katrina" and there flashed before +my vision the page from the diary that I had first read in the dank +chamber of the potash mine. In my memory's vision the words flamed and +shouted: "In no other woman have I seen such a blackness of hair and +eyes, combined with such a whiteness of skin." + +The girl before me gave no sign of recognition, but only gripped the +table and pierced me with the stare of her beady eyes. Nervously I sank +into a seat. Grauble, standing over the girl, looked down at her in +angry amazement. "What ails you?" he said roughly, shaking her by +the shoulder. + +But the girl did not answer him and annoyed and bewildered, he sat down. +For some moments no one spoke, and even the pale Elsa leaned forward and +seemed to quiver with excitement. + +Then the girl, Katrina, slowly rose from her chair. "Who are you?" she +demanded, in a hoarse, guttural voice, still gazing at me with +terrified eyes. + +I did not answer, and Grauble again reached over and gripped the girl's +arm. "I told you who he was," he said. "He is Herr Karl von Armstadt of +the Chemical Staff." + +But, the girl did not sit down and continued to stare at me. Then she +raised a trembling hand and, pointing an accusing finger at me, she +cried in a piercing voice: + +"You are not Karl Armstadt, but an impostor posing as Karl Armstadt!" + +We were located in a well-filled dancing cafe, and the tragic voice of +the accuser brought a crowd of curious people about our table. Captain +Grauble waved them back. As they pushed forward again, a street guard +elbowed in, brandishing his aluminum club and asking the cause of the +commotion. The bystanders indicated Katrina and the guard, edging up, +gripped her arm and demanded an explanation. + +Katrina repeated her accusation. + +"Evidently," suggested Grauble, "she has known another man of the same +name, and meeting Herr von Armstadt has recalled some tragic memory." + +"Perhaps," said the guard politely, "if the gentleman would show the +young lady his identification folder, she would be convinced of +her error." + +For a moment I hesitated, realizing full well what an inquiry might +reveal. + +"No," I said, "I do not feel that it is necessary." + +"He is afraid to show it," screamed the girl. "I tell you he is trying +to pass for Armstadt but he is some one else. He looks like Karl +Armstadt and at first I thought he was Karl Armstadt, but I know he +is not." + +I looked swiftly at the surrounding faces, and saw upon them suspicion +and accusation. "There may be something wrong," said a man in a military +uniform, "otherwise why should the gentleman of the staff hesitate to +show his folder?" + +"Very well," I said, pulling out my folder. + +The guard glanced at it. "It seems to be all right," he said, addressing +the group about the table; "now will you kindly resume your seats and +not embarrass these gentlemen with your idle curiosity?" + +"Let me see the folder!" cried Katrina. + +"Pardon," said the guard to me, "but I see no harm," and he handed her +the folder. + +She glanced over it with feverish haste. + +"Are you satisfied now?" questioned the guard. + +"Yes," hissed the black-eyed girl; "I am satisfied that this is Karl +Armstadt's folder. I know every word of it, but I tell you that the man +who carries it now is not the real Karl Armstadt." And then she wheeled +upon me and screamed, "You are not Karl Armstadt, Karl Armstadt is dead, +and you have murdered him!" + +In an instant the cafe was in an uproar. Men in a hundred types of +uniform crowded forward; small women, rainbow-garbed, stood on the +chairs and peered over taller heads of ponderous sisters of the labour +caste. Grauble again waved back the crowd and the guard brandished his +club threateningly toward some of the more inquisitive daughters +of labour. + +When the crowd had fallen back to a more respectful distance, the guard +recovered my identification folder from Katrina and returned it to me. +"Perhaps," he said, "you have known the young lady and do not again care +to renew the acquaintance? If so, with your permission, I shall take her +where she will not trouble you again this evening." + +"That may be best," I replied, wondering how I could explain the affair +to Captain Grauble. + +"The incident is most unfortunate," said the Captain, evidently a little +nettled, "but I think this rude force unnecessary. I know Katrina well, +but I did not know she had previously known Herr von Armstadt. This +being the case, and he seeming not to wish to renew the acquaintance, I +suggest that she leave of her own accord." + +But Katrina was not to be so easily dismissed. "No," she retorted, "I +will not leave until this man tells me how he came by that +identification folder and what became of the man I loved, whom he now +represents himself to be." + +At these words the guard, who had been about to leave, turned back. + +I glanced apprehensively at Grauble who, seeing that I was grievously +wrought up over the affair, said quietly to the officer, "You had best +take her away." + +Katrina, with a black look of hatred at Grauble, went without further +words, and the curious crowd quickly melted away. The three of us who +remained at the table resumed our seats and I ordered dinner. + +"My, how Katrina frightened me!" exclaimed the fragile Elsa. + +"She does have temper," admitted Grauble. "Odd, though, that she would +conceive that idea that you were some one else. I have heard of all +sorts of plans of revenge for disappointments in love, but that is a +new one." + +"You really know her?" questioned Elsa, turning her pale eyes upon me. + +"Oh, yes, I once knew her," I replied, trying to seem unconcerned; "but +I did not recognize her at first." + +"You mean you didn't care to," smiled Grauble. "Once a man had known +that woman he would hardly forget her." + +"But you must have had a very emotional affair with her," said Elsa, "to +make her take on like that. Do tell us about it." + +"I would rather not; there are some things one wishes to forget." + +Grauble chided his dainty companion for her prying curiosity and tried +to turn the conversation into less personal channels. But Elsa's +appetite for romance had been whetted and she kept reverting to the +subject while I worried along trying to dismiss the matter. But the +ending of the affair was not to be left in my hands; as we were sitting +about our empty cups, we saw Katrina re-enter the cafe in company with a +high official of the level and the guard who had taken her away. + +"I am sorry to disturb you," said the official, addressing me +courteously, "but this girl is very insistent in her accusation, and +perhaps, if you will aid us in the matter, it may prevent her making +further charges that might annoy you." + +"And what do you wish me to do?" + +"I suggest only that you should come to my office. I have telephoned to +have the records looked up and that should satisfy all and so end +the matter." + +"You might come also," added the official, turning to Grauble, but he +waved back the curious Elsa who was eager to follow. + +When we reached his office in the Place of Records, the official who had +brought us thither turned to a man at a desk. "You have received the +data on missing men?" he inquired. + +The other handed him a sheet of paper. + +The official turned to Katrina. "Will you state again, please, the time +that you say the Karl Armstadt you knew disappeared?" + +Katrina quite accurately named the date at which the man whose identity +I had assumed had been called to the potash mines. + +"Very well," said the official, taking up the sheet of paper, "here we +have the list of missing men for four years compiled from the weighers' +records. There is not recorded here the disappearance of a single +chemist during the whole period. If another man than a chemist should +try to step into a chemist's shoes, he would have a rather difficult +time of it." The official laughed as if he thought himself very clever. + +"But that man is not Karl Armstadt," cried Katrina in a wavering voice. +"Do you think I would not know him when every night for--" + +"Shut up," said the official, "and get out of here, and if I hear +anything more of this matter I shall subtract your credit." + +Katrina, now whimpering, was led from the room. The official beamed upon +Capt. Grauble and myself. "Do you see," he said, "how perfectly our +records take care of these crazy accusations? The black haired one is +evidently touched in the head with jealousy, and now that she has +chanced upon you, she makes up this preposterous story, which might +cause you no end of annoyance, but here we have the absolute refutation +of the charge. Before a man can step into another's shoes, he must step +out of his own. Murdered bodies can be destroyed, although that is +difficult, but one man cannot be two men!" + +We left the official chuckling over his cleverness. + +"The Keeper of Records was wise after his kind," mused Grauble, "but it +never occurred to him that there might be chemists in the world who are +not registered in the card files of Berlin." + +Grauble's voice sounded a note of aloofness and suspicion. Had he +penetrated my secret? Did I dare make full confession? Had Grauble given +me the least encouragement I should have done so, but he seemed to wish +to avoid further discussion and I feared to risk it. + +My hope of a fuller understanding with Grauble seemed destroyed, and we +soon separated without further confidences. + +~2~ + +When I returned home from my offices one evening some days later, my +secretary announced that a visitor was awaiting me. + +I entered the reception-room and found Holknecht, who had been my +chemical assistant in the early days of my work in Berlin. Holknecht had +seemed to me a servile fawning fellow and when I received my first +promotion I had deserted him quite brutally for the very excellent +reason that he had known the other Armstadt and I feared that his dulled +intelligence might at any time be aroused to penetrate my disguise. That +he should look me up in my advancement and prosperity, doubtless to beg +some favour, seemed plausible enough, and therefore with an air of +condescending patronage, I asked what I could do for him. + +"It is about Katrina," he said haltingly, as he eyed me curiously. + +"Well, what about her?" + +"She wants me to bring you to her." + +"But suppose I do not choose to go?" + +"Then there may be trouble." + +"She has already tried to make trouble," I said, "but nothing came of +it." + +"But that," said Holknecht, "was before she saw me." + +"And what have you told her?" + +"I told her about Armstadt's going to the mines and you coming back to +the hospital wearing his clothes and possessed of his folder and of your +being out of your memory." + +"You mean," I replied, determined not to acknowledge his assumption of +my other identity, "that you explained to her how the illness had +changed me; and did that not make clear to her why she did not recognize +me at first?" + +"There is no use," insisted Holknecht, "of your talking like that. I +never could quite make up my mind about you, though I always knew there +was something wrong. At first I believed the doctor's story, and that +you were really Armstadt, though it did seem like a sort of magic, the +way you were changed. But when you came to the laboratory and I saw you +work, I decided that you were somebody else and that the Chemical Staff +was working on some great secret and had a reason for putting some one +else in Armstadt's place. And now, of course, I know very well that that +was so, for the other Karl Armstadt would never have become a von of the +Royal Level. He didn't have that much brains." + +As Holknecht was speaking I had been thinking rapidly. The thing I +feared was that the affair of the mine and hospital should be +investigated by some one with intelligence and authority. Since Katrina +had learned of that, and this Holknecht was also aware that I was a man +of unknown identity, it was very evident that they might set some +serious investigation going. But the man's own remarks suggested a +way out. + +"You are quite right, Holknecht," I said; "I am not Karl Armstadt; and, +just as you have surmised, there were grave reasons why I should have +been put into his place under those peculiar circumstances. But this +matter is a state secret of the Chemical Staff and you will do well to +say nothing about it. Now is there anything I can do for you? A +promotion, perhaps, to a good position in the Protium Works?" + +"No," said Holknecht, "I would rather stay where I am, but I could use a +little extra money." + +"Of course; a check, perhaps; a little gift from an old friend who has +risen to power; there would be no difficulty in that, would there?" + +"I think it would go through all right." + +"I will make it now; say five thousand marks, and if nothing more is +said of this matter by you or Katrina, there will be another one like it +a year later." + +The young man's eyes gloated as I wrote the check, which he pocketed +with greedy satisfaction. "Now," I said, "will this end the affair for +the present?" + +"This makes it all right with me," replied Holknecht, "but what about +Katrina?" + +"But you are to take care of her. She can only accept two hundred marks +a month and I have given you enough for that four times over." + +"But she doesn't want money; she already has a full list." + +"Then what does she want?" + +"Jewels, of course; they all want them; jewels from the Royal Level, and +she knows you can get them for her." + +"Oh, I see. Well, what would please her?" + +"A necklace of rubies, the best they have, one that will cost at least +twenty thousand marks." + +"That's rather expensive, is it not?" + +"But her favourite lover disappeared," fenced Holknecht, "and his death +was never entered on the records. It may be the Chemical Staff knows +what became of him and maybe they do not; whatever happened, you seem to +want it kept still, so you had best get the necklace." + +After a little further arguing that revealed nothing, I went to the +Royal Level, and searching out a jewelry shop, I purchased a necklace of +very beautiful synthetic rubies, for which I gave my check for twenty +thousand marks. + +Returning to my apartment, I found Holknecht still waiting. He insisted +on taking the necklace to Katrina, but I feared to trust a man who +accepted bribes so shamelessly, and decided to go with him and deliver +it in person. + +Sullenly, Holknecht led the way to her apartment. + +Katrina sensuously gowned in flaming red was awaiting the outcome of her +blackmailing venture. She motioned me to a chair near her, while +Holknecht, utterly ignored, sank obscurely into a corner. + +"So you came," said the lady of black and scarlet, leaning back among +her pillows and gazing at me through half closed eyes. + +"Yes," I said, "since you have looked up Holknecht and he has explained +to you the reason for the disappearance of the man you knew, I thought +best to see you and have an understanding." + +"But that dumb fellow explained nothing," declared Katrina, "except that +he told me that Armstadt went to the mines and you came back and took +his place. He wasn't even sure you were not the other Karl Armstadt +until I convinced him, and then he claimed that he had known it all the +time; and yet he had never told it. Some men are as dull as books." + +"On the contrary, Holknecht is very sensible," I replied. "It is a grave +affair of state and one that it is best not to probe into." + +"And just what did become of the other Armstadt?" asked Katrina, and in +her voice was only a curiosity, with no real concern. + +"To tell you the truth, your lover was killed in the mine explosion," I +replied, for I thought it unwise to state that he was still alive lest +she pursue her inquiries for him and so make further trouble. + +"That is too bad," said Katrina. "You see, when I knew him he was only a +chemical captain. And when he deserted me I didn't really care much. But +when the Royal Captain Grauble asked me to meet a Karl von Armstadt of +the Chemical Staff, at first I could not believe that it was the same +man I had known, but I made inquiries and learned of your rapid rise and +traced it back and I thought you really were my old Karl. And when I saw +you, you seemed to be he, but when I looked again I knew that you were +another and I was so disappointed and angry that I lost control of my +temper. I am sorry I made a scene, and that official was so stupid--as +if I would not know one man from another! How I should like to tell him +that I knew more than his stupid records." + +"But that is not best," I said; "your former lover is dead and there are +grave reasons why that death should not be investigated further--" The +argument was becoming a little difficult for me and I hastened to add: +"Since you were so discourteously treated by the official, I feel that I +owe you some little token of reparation." + +I now drew out the necklace and held it out to the girl. + +Her black eyes gleamed with triumph at the sight of the bauble. Greedily +she grasped it and held it up between her and the light, turning it +about and watching the red rays gleaming through the stones. "And now," +she gloated, "that faded Elsa will cease to lord it over me--and to +think that another Karl Armstadt has brought me this--why that stingy +fellow would never have bought me a blue-stone ring, if he had been made +the Emperor's Minister." + +Katrina now rose and preened before her mirror. "Won't you place it +round my neck?" she asked, holding out the necklace. + +Nor daring to give offence, I took the chain of rubies and attempted to +fasten it round her neck. The mechanism of the fastening was strange to +me and I was some time in getting the thing adjusted. Just as I had +succeeded in hooking the clasp, I heard a curdled oath and the neglected +Holknecht hurled himself upon us, striking me on the temple with one +fist and clutching at the throat of the girl with the other hand. + +The blow sent me reeling to the floor but in another instant I was up +and had collared him and dragged him away. + +"Damn you both," he whimpered; "where do I come in?" + +"Put him out," said Katrina, with a glance of disdain at the cowering +man. + +"I will go," snarled Holknecht, and he wrenched from my grasp and darted +toward the door. I followed, but he was fairly running down the passage +and pursuit was too undignified a thing to consider. + +"You should have paid him," said Katrina, "for delivering my message." + +"I have paid him," I replied. "I paid him very well." + +"I wonder if he thought," she laughed, "that I would pay any attention +to a man of his petty rank. Why, I snubbed him unmercifully years ago +when the other Armstadt had the audacity to introduce me." + +"Of course," I replied, "he does not understand." + +And now, as I resumed my seat, I began puzzling my brain as to how I +could get away without giving offence to the second member of my pair of +blackmailers. But a little later I managed it, as it has been managed +for centuries, by looking suddenly at my watch and recalling a forgotten +appointment. + +"You will come again?" purred Katrina. + +"Of course," I said, "I must come again, for you are very charming, but +I am afraid it will not be for some time as I have very important duties +and just at present my leisure is exceedingly limited." + +And so I made my escape, and hastened home. After debating the question +pro and con I typed a note to Holknecht in which I assured him that I +had not the least interest in Katrina. "Perhaps," I wrote, "when she has +tired a bit of the necklace, she would appreciate something else. But it +would not be wise to hurry this; but if you will call around in a month +or so, I think I can arrange for you to get her something and present it +yourself, as I do not care to see her again." + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE BLACK SPOT IS ERASED FROM THE MAP OF THE WORLD AND +THERE IS DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT ON THE ROOF OF BERLIN + + +~1~ + +The relative ease with which I had so long passed for the real Karl +Armstadt had lulled me into a feeling of security. But now that my +disguise had been penetrated, my old fears were renewed. True, the +weigher's records had seemingly cleared me, but I knew that Grauble had +seen the weak spot in the German logic of the stupid official, who had +so lightly dismissed Katrina's accusations. Moreover, I fancied that +Grauble had guessed the full truth and connected this uncertainty of my +identity with the seditious tenor of the suggestions I had made to him. +Even though he might be willing to discuss rebellious plans with a +German, could I count on him to consider the treasonable urging coming +from a man of another and an enemy race? + +So fearing either to confess to him my identity or to proceed without +confessing, I postponed doing anything. The sailing date of his fifth +trip to the Arctic was fast approaching; if I was ever to board a vessel +leaving Berlin I would need von Kufner's permission. Marguerite reported +the growing cordiality of the Admiral. Although I realized that his +infatuation for her was becoming rather serious, with the confidence of +an accepted lover, I never imagined that he could really come between +Marguerite and myself. + +But one evening when I went to call upon Marguerite she was "not at +home." I repeated the call with the same result. When I called her up by +telephone, her secretary bluntly told me that the Princess Marguerite +did not care to speak to me. I hastened to write an impassioned note, +pleading to see her at once, for the days were passing and there was now +but a week before Grauble's vessel was due to depart. + +In desperation I waited two more days, and still no word came. My +letters of pleading, like my calls and telephone efforts, were +still ignored. + +Then a messenger came bearing a note from Admiral von Kufner, asking me +to call upon him at once. + +"I have been considering," began von Kufner, when I entered his office, +"the request you made of me some time ago to be permitted to go in +person to make a survey of the ore deposits. At first I opposed this, as +the trip is dangerous, but more recently I have reconsidered the +importance of it. As others are now fully able to continue your work +here, I can quite conceive that your risking the trip to the mines in +person would be a very courageous and noble sacrifice. So I have taken +the matter up with His Majesty." + +With mocking politeness von Kufner now handed me a document bearing the +imperial seal. + +I held it with a trembling hand as I glanced over the fateful words that +commissioned me to go at once to the Arctic. + +My smouldering jealousy of the oily von Kufner now flamed into +expression. "You have done this thing from personal motives," I cried. +"You have revoked your previous decision because you want me out of your +way. You know I will be gone for six months at least. You hope in your +cowardly heart that I will never come back." + +Von Kufner's lips curled. "You see fit," he answered, "to impugn my +motives in suggesting that the order be issued, although it is the +granting of your own request. But the commission you hold in your hand +bears the Imperial signature, and the Emperor of the Germans never +revokes his orders." + +"Very well," I said, controlling my rage, "I will go." + +~2~ + +Upon leaving the Admiral's office my first thought was to go at once to +Marguerite. Whatever might be the nature of her quarrel with me I was +now sure that von Kufner was at the bottom of it, and that it was in +some way connected with this sudden determination of his to send me to +the Arctic, hoping that I would never return. + +But before I had gone far I began to consider other matters. I was +commissioned to leave Berlin by submarine and that too by the vessel in +command of Captain Grauble, whom I knew to be nursing rebellion and +mutiny in his heart. If deliverance from Berlin was ever to come, it had +come now. To refuse to embrace it would mean to lose for ever this +fortunate chance to escape from this sunless Babylon. + +I would therefore go first to Grauble and determine without delay if he +could be relied on to make the attempt to reach the outer world. Once I +knew that, I could go then to Marguerite with an invitation for her to +join me in flight--if such a thing were humanly possible. + +But recalling the men who had done so much to fill me with hope and +faith in the righteousness of my mission, I again changed my plan and +sought out Dr. Zimmern and Col. Hellar and arranged for them to meet me +that evening at Grauble's quarters. + +At the hour appointed I, who had first arrived at the apartment, sat +waiting for the arrival of Zimmern. When he came, to my surprise and +bewildered joy he was not alone, for Marguerite was with him. + +She greeted me with distress and penitence in her eyes and I exulted in +the belief that whatever her quarrel with me might be it meant no +irretrievable loss of her devotion and love. + +We sat about the room, a very solemn conclave, for I had already +informed Grauble of my commission to go to the Arctic, and he had sensed +at once the revolutionary nature of the meeting. I now gave him a brief +statement of the faith of the older men, who from the fulness of their +lives had reached the belief that the true patriotism for their race was +to be expressed in an effort to regain for the Germans the citizenship +of the world. + +The young Captain gravely nodded. "I have not lived so long," he said, +"but my life has been bitter and full of fear. I am not out of sympathy +with your argument, but before we go further," and he turned to +Marguerite, "may I not ask why a Princess of the House of Hohenzollern +is included in such a meeting as this?" + +I turned expectantly to Zimmern, who now gave Grauble an account of the +tragedy and romance of Marguerite's life. + +"Very well," said Grauble; "she has earned her place with us; now that I +understand her part, let us proceed." + +For some hours Hellar and Zimmern explained their reasons for believing +the life of the isolated German race was evil and defended their faith +in the hope of salvation through an appeal to the mercy and justice of +the World State. + +"Of all this I am easily convinced," said Grauble, "for it is but a +logically thought-out conclusion of the feeling I have nourished in my +blind rebellion. I am ready to go with Herr von Armstadt and surrender +my vessel to the enemy; but the practical question is, will our risk +avail anything? What hope can we have that we will even be able to +deliver the message you wish to send? How are we to know that we will +not immediately be killed?" + +The hour had come. "I will answer that question," I said, and there was +a tenseness in my tone that caused my hearers to look at me with eager, +questioning eyes. + +"Barring," I said, "the possibility of destruction before I can gain +opportunity to speak to some one in authority, there is nothing to fear +in the way of our ungracious reception in the outer world--" As I paused +and looked about me I saw Marguerite's eyes shining with the same +worshipful wonder as when I had visioned for her the sunlight and the +storms of the world outside Berlin--"because I am of that world. I speak +their language. I know their people. I never saw the inside of Berlin +until I was brought here from the potash mines of Stassfurt, wearing the +clothes and carrying the identification papers of one Karl Armstadt who +was killed by gas bombs which I myself had ordered dropped into +those mines." + +At these startling statements the older men could only gasp in +incredulous astonishment, but Captain Grauble nodded wisely--"I half +expected as much," he said. + +I turned to Marguerite. Her eyes were swimming in a mist of tears. + +"Then your visions were real memories," she cried,--"and not miracles. I +knew you had seen other worlds, but I thought it was in some spirit +life." She reached out a trembling hand toward me and then shrinkingly +drew it back. "But you are not Karl Armstadt," she stammered, as she +realized that I was a nameless stranger. + +"No," I said, going to her and placing a reassuring arm about her +shoulder, "I am not Karl Armstadt. My name is Lyman de Forrest. I am an +American, a chemical engineer from the city of Chicago, and if Captain +Grauble does not alter his purpose, I am going back there and will take +you with me." + +Zimmern and Hellar were listening in consternation. "How is it," asked +Hellar, "that you speak German?" + +By way of answer I addressed him in English and in French, while he and +Zimmern glanced at each other as do men who see a miracle and strive to +hold their reason while their senses contradict their logic. + +I now sketched the story of my life and adventures with a fulness of +convincing detail. One incident only I omitted and that was of the near +discovery of my identity by Armstadt's former mistress. Of that I did +not speak for I felt that Marguerite, at least in the presence of the +others, would not relish that part of the story. Nor did I wish to worry +them with the fear that was still upon me that I had not seen the last +of that affair. + +After answering many questions and satisfying all doubts as to the truth +of my story, I again turned the conversation to the practical problem of +the escape from Berlin. "You can now see," I declared, "that I deserve +no credit for genius or courage. I am merely a prisoner in an enemy city +where my life is in constant danger. If any one of you should speak the +word, I would be promptly disposed of as a spy. But if you are sincere +in your desire to send a message to my Government, I am here to take +that message." + +"It almost makes one believe that there is a God," cried Hellar, "and +that he has sent us a deliverer." + +"As for me," spoke up Captain Grauble, "I shall deliver your messenger +into the hands of his friends, and trust that he can persuade them to +deal graciously with me and my men. I should have made this break for +liberty before had I not believed it would be fleeing from one death +to another." + +"Then you will surely leave us," said Zimmern. "It is more than we have +wished and prayed for, but," he added, turning a compassionate glance +toward Marguerite, "it will be hard for her." + +"But she is going with us," I affirmed. "I will not leave her behind. As +for you and Col Hellar, I shall see you again when Berlin is free. But +the risks are great and the time may be long, and if Marguerite will go +I will take her with me as a pledge that I shall not prove false in my +mission for you, her people." + +I read Marguerite's answer in the joy of her eyes, as I heard Col. +Hellar say: "That would be fine, if it were possible." + +But Zimmern shook his head. "No," he said, as if commanding. "Marguerite +must not go now even if it were possible. You may come back for her if +you succeed in your mission, but we cannot lose her now; she must not go +now,--" and his voice trembled with deep emotion. At his words of +authority concerning the girl I loved I felt a resurge of the old +suspicion and jealousy. + +"I am sorry," spoke up Captain Grauble, "but your desire to take the +Princess Marguerite with you is one that I fear cannot be realized. I +would be perfectly willing for her to go if we could once get her +aboard, but the approach of the submarine docks are very elaborately +guarded. To smuggle a man aboard without a proper permit would be +exceedingly difficult, but to get a woman to the vessel is quite +impossible." + +"I suppose that it cannot be," I said, for I saw the futility of arguing +the matter further at the time, especially as Zimmern was opposed to it. + +The night was now far spent and but four days remained in which to +complete my preparations for departure. In this labour Zimmern and +Hellar could be of no service and I therefore took my leave of them, +lest I should not see them again. "Within a year at most," I said, "we +may meet again, for Berlin will be open to the world. Once the passage +is revealed and the protium traffic stopped, the food stores cannot last +longer. When these facts are realized by His Majesty and the Advisory +Council, let us hope they will see the futility of resisting. The +knowledge that Germany possesses will increase the world's food supply +far more than her population will add to the consumptive demands, hence if +reason and sanity prevail on both sides there will be no excuse for war +and suffering." + +~3~ + +And so I took my leave of the two men from whose noble souls I had +achieved my aspirations to bring the century-old siege of Berlin to a +sane and peaceful end without the needless waste of life that all the +world outside had always believed would be an inevitable part of the +capitulation of the armoured city. + +I now walked with Marguerite through the deserted tree-lined avenues of +the Royal Level. + +"And why, dear," I asked, "have you refused to see me these five days +past?" + +"Oh, Karl," she cried, "you must forgive me, for nothing matters now--I +have been crazed with jealousy. I was so hurt that I could see no one, +for I could only fight it out alone." + +"And what do you mean?" I questioned. "Jealous? And of whom could you be +jealous, since there is no other woman in this unhappy city for whom I +have ever cared?" + +"Yes, I believe that. I haven't doubted that you loved me with a nobler +love than the others, but you told me there were no others, and I +believed you. So it was hard, so very hard. The Doctor--I saw Dr. +Zimmern this morning and poured out my heart to him--insisted that I +should accept the fact that until marriage all men were like that, and +it could not be helped. But I never asked you, Karl, about other women; +you yourself volunteered to tell me there were no others, and what you +told me was not true. I must forgive you, for now I may lose you, but +why does a man ever need to lie to a woman? I somehow feel that love +means truth--" + +"But," I insisted, "it was the truth. I bear no personal relation to any +other woman." + +She drew back from me, breathing quickly, faith and doubt fighting a +battle royal in her eyes. "But the checks, Karl?" she stammered; "those +checks the girl on the Free Level cashes each month, and worse than that +the check at the Jeweller's where you bought a necklace for twenty +thousand marks?" + +"Quite right, there are such checks, and I shall explain them. But +before I begin, may I ask just how you came to know about those checks? +Not that I care; I am glad you do know; but the fact of your knowledge +puzzles me, for I thought the privacy of a man's checking account was +one of the unfair privileges that man has usurped for himself and not +granted to women." + +"But I did not pry into the matter. I would never have thought of such a +thing until he forced the facts upon me." + +"He? You mean von Kufner?" + +"Yes, it was five days ago. I was out walking with him and he insisted +on my going into a jewellery store we were passing. I at first refused +to go as I thought he wished to buy me something. But he insisted that +he merely wanted me to look at things and I went in. You see, I was +trying not to offend him." + +"Of course," I said, "there was no harm in that. And--" + +"The Admiral winked at the Jeweller. I saw him do that; and the jeweller +set out a tray of ruby necklaces and began to talk about them, and then +von Kufner remarked that since they were so expensive he must not sell +many. 'Oh, yes,' said the Jeweller, 'I sell a great number to young men +who have just come into money. I sold one the other day to Herr von +Armstadt of the Chemical Staff,' and he reached for his sales book and +opened it to the page with a record of the sale. He had the place +marked, for I saw him remove a slip as he opened the book." + +"Rather clever of von Kufner," I commented; "how do you suppose he got +trail of it?" + +"He admitted his trailing quite frankly," said Marguerite, "for as soon +as we were out of the shop, I accused him of preparing the scene. 'Of +course,' he said, 'but I had to convince you that your chemist was not +so saintly as you thought him. His banker is a friend of mine, and I +asked him about von Armstadt's account. He is keeping a girl on the Free +Level and evidently also making love to one of better caste, or he would +hardly be buying ruby necklaces.' I told von Kufner that he was a +miserable spy, but he only laughed at me and said that all men were +alike and that I ought to find it out while I was young--and then he +asked if I would like him to have the young woman's record sent up from +the Free Level for my inspection. I ordered him to leave me at once and +I have not seen or heard from him since, until I received a note from +him today telling me of the Royal order for you to go to the Arctic." + +I first set Marguerite's mind at ease about the checks to Bertha by +explaining the incident of the geography, and then told the story of +Katrina and the meeting in the cafe, and the later affair of Holknecht +and the necklace. + +"And you will promise me never to see her again?" + +"But you have forgotten," I said, "that I am leaving Berlin in four +days." + +"Oh, Karl," she cried, "I have forgotten everything--I cannot even +remember that new name you gave us--I believe I must be dreaming--or +that it is all a wild story you have told us to see how much we in our +simplicity and ignorance will believe." + +"No," I said gently, "it is not a dream, though I could wish that it +were, for Grauble says that there is no hope of taking you with me; and +yet I must go, for the Emperor has ordered me to the Arctic and von +Kufner will see to it that I make no excuses. If I once leave Berlin by +submarine with Grauble I do not see how I can refuse to carry out my +part of this project to which I am pledged, and make the effort to reach +the free world outside." + +Marguerite turned on me with a bitter laugh. "The free world," she +cried, "your world. You are going back to it and leave me here. You are +going back to your own people--you will not save Germany at all--you +will never come back for me!" + +"You are very wrong," I said gently. "It is because I have known you and +known such men as Dr. Zimmern and Col. Hellar that I do want to carry +the message that will for ever end this sunless life of your +imprisoned race." + +"But," cried Marguerite, "you do not want to take me; you could find a +way if you would--you made the Emperor do your bidding once--you could +do it again if you wanted to." + +"I very much want to take you; to go without you would be but a bitter +success." + +"But have you no wife, or no girl you love among your own people?" + +"No." + +"But if I should go with you, the people of your world would welcome you +but they would imprison me or kill me as a spy." + +"No," and I smiled as I answered, "they do not kill women." + +~4~ + +During four brief days that remained until Capt. Grauble's vessel was +due to depart my every hour was full of hurried preparations for my +survey of the Arctic mines. Clothing for the rigours and rough labour of +that fearful region had to be obtained and I had to get together the +reports of previous surveys and the instruments for the ore analyses +that would be needed. Nor was I altogether faithless in these +preparations for at times I felt that my first duty might be thus to aid +in the further provisioning of the imprisoned race, for how was I to +know that I would be able to end the state of war that had prevailed in +spite of the generations of pacifist efforts? At times I even doubted +that this break for the outer world would ever be made. I doubted that +Capt. Grauble, though he solemnly assured us that he was ready for the +venture, was acting in good faith. Could he, I asked, persuade his men +to their part of the adventure? Would not our traitorous design be +discovered and we both be returned as prisoners to Berlin? Granted even +that Grauble could carry out his part and that the submarine proceeded +as planned to rise to the surface or attempt to make some port, with the +best of intentions of surrendering to the World State authorities, might +not we be destroyed before we could make clear our peaceful and friendly +intentions? Could I, coming out of Germany with Germans prove my +identity? Would my story be believed? Would I have believed such a story +before the days of my sojourn among the Germans? Might I not be +consigned to languish in prison as a merely clever German spy, or be +consigned to an insanity ward? + +At times I doubted even my own desire to escape from Berlin if it meant +the desertion of Marguerite, for there could be no joy in escape for me +without her. Yet I found small relish in looking forward to life as a +member of that futile clan of parasitical Royalty. Had Germany been a +free society where we might hope to live in peace and freedom perhaps I +could have looked forward to a marriage with Marguerite and considered +life among the Germans a tolerable thing. But for such a life as we must +needs live, albeit the most decent Berlin had to offer, I could find no +relish--and the thought of escape and call of duty beyond the bomb proof +walls and poisoned soil called more strongly than could any thought of +love and domesticity within the accursed circle of fraudulent divinity. + +There was also the danger that lurked for me in Holknecht's knowledge of +my identity and the bitterness of his anger born of his insane and +stupid jealousy. + +Rather than remain longer in Berlin I would take any chance and risk any +danger if only Marguerite were not to be left behind. And yet she must +be left behind, for such a thing as getting a woman aboard a submarine +or even to the submarine docks had never been heard of. I thought of all +the usual tricks of disguising her as a man, of smuggling her as a +stowaway amidst the cargo, but Grauble's insistence upon the +impossibility of such plans had made it all too clear that any such wild +attempt would lead to the undoing of us all. + +If escape were possible with Marguerite--! But cold reason said that +escape was improbable enough for me alone. For a woman of the House of +Hohenzollern the prison of Berlin had walls of granite and locks +of steel. + +The time of departure drew nearer. I had already been passed down by the +stealthy guards and through the numerous locked and barred gates to the +subterranean docks where Grauble's vessel, the _Eitel 3_, rested on the +heavy trucks that would bear her away through the tunnel to the +pneumatic lock that would float her into the passage that led to +the open sea. + +My supplies and apparatus were stored on board and the crew were making +ready to be off. But three hours were left until the time of our +departure and these hours I had set aside for my final leave-taking of +Marguerite. I hastened back through the guarded gates to the elevator +and was quickly lifted to the Royal Level where Marguerite was to be +waiting for me. + +With fast beating and rebellious heart I rang the bell of the Countess' +apartment. I could scarcely believe I heard aright when the servant +informed me that the Princess Marguerite had gone out. + +I demanded to see the Countess and was ushered into the reception-room +and suffered unbearably during the few minutes till she appeared. To my +excited question she replied with a teasing smile that Marguerite had +gone out a half hour before with Admiral von Kufner. "I warned you," +said the Countess as she saw the tortured expression of my face, "but +you would not believe me, when I told you the Admiral would prove a +dangerous man." + +"But it is impossible," I cried. "I am leaving for the Arctic mines. I +have only a couple of hours; surely you are hiding something. Did you +see her go? Did she leave no word? Do you know where they have gone or +when they will return?" + +The Countess shook her head. "I only know," she replied more +sympathetically, "that Marguerite seemed very excited all morning. She +talked with me of your leaving and seemed very wrought up over it, and +then but an hour or so ago she rushed into her room and telephoned--it +must have been to the Admiral, for he came shortly afterwards. They +talked together for a little while and then, without a word to me they +went out, seeming to be in a great hurry. Perhaps she felt so upset over +your leaving that she thought it kinder not to risk a parting scene. She +is so honest, poor child, that she probably did not wish to send you +away with any false hopes." + +"But do you mean," I cried, "that you think she has gone out with von +Kufner to avoid seeing me?" + +"I am sorry," consoled the Countess, "but it looks that way. It was +cruel of her, for she might have sent you away with hope to live on till +your return, even if she felt she could not wait for you." + +I strove not to show my anger to the Countess, for, considering her +ignorance of the true significance of the occasion, I could not expect a +full understanding. + +Miserably I waited for two hours as the Countess tried to entertain me +with her misplaced efforts at sympathy while I battled to keep my faith +in Marguerite alive despite the damaging evidence that she had deserted +me at the last hour. + +I telephoned to von Kufner's office and to his residence but could get +no word as to his whereabouts, and Marguerite did not return. + +I dared not wait any longer--asking for envelope and paper, I penned a +hasty note to Marguerite: "I shall go on to the Arctic and come back to +you. The salvation of Berlin must wait till you can go with me. I +cannot, will not, lose you." + +And then I tore myself away and hastened to the elevator and was dropped +to a subterranean level and passed again through the locked and +guarded gates. + +~5~ + +As I came to the vessel no one was in sight but the regular guards +pacing along the loading docks. I mounted the ladder to the deck. The +second officer stood by the open trap. "They are waiting for you," he +said. "The Admiral himself is below. He came with his lady to see +you off." + +I hastened to descend and saw von Kufner and Marguerite chatting with +Captain Grauble. + +"Why the delay?" asked von Kufner. "It is nearly the hour of departure, +and I have brought the Princess to bid you farewell. We have been +showing her the vessel." + +"It is all very wonderful," said Marguerite with a calm voice, but her +eyes spoke the feverish excitement of a great adventure. + +"The Princess Marguerite," said von Kufner, "is the only woman who has +ever seen a submarine since the open sea traffic was closed. But she has +seen it all and now we must take our leave for it is time that you +should be off." + +As he finished speaking the Admiral politely stepped away to give me +opportunity for a farewell word with Marguerite. Grauble followed him +and, as he passed me, he gave me a look of gloating triumph and then +opened the door of his cabin, which the Admiral entered. + +"I am going with you," whispered Marguerite. "Grauble understands." + +There was the sound of a scuffle and a strangled oath. Grauble's head +appeared at the cabin door. "Here, Armstadt; be quick, and keep +him quiet." + +I plunged into the cabin and saw von Kufner crumpled against the bunk; +his hands were manacled behind him and his mouth stuffed with a cloth. + +With an exulting joy I threw myself upon the man as he struggled to +rise. I easily held him down, and whipping out my own kerchief I bound +it tightly across his mouth to more effectively gag him. + +Then rolling him over I planted my knee on his back while I ripped a +sheet from the bunk and bound his feet. + +From without I heard Grauble's voice in command: "Close the hatch." Then +I felt the vessel quiver with machinery in motion and I knew that we +were moving along the tunnel toward the sea. + +Grauble appeared again in the door of the cabin. "The mate understands," +he said, "and the crew will obey. I told them that the Admiral was going +out with us to inspect the lock. But the presence of a woman aboard will +puzzle them. I have placed the Princess in the mate's cabin so no one +can molest her. We have other things to keep us occupied." + +With Grauble's help I now bound von Kufner to the staunch metal leg of +the bunk and we left him alone in the narrow room to ponder on the +meaning of what he had heard. + +Outside Grauble led me over to the instrument board where the mate was +stationed. + +"Any unusual message?" asked Grauble. + +"None," said the mate. "I think we will go through without interruption +at least until we reach the lock; if anything is suspicioned we will be +held up there for examination." + +"Do you think the guards at the dock suspected anything?" questioned +Grauble. + +"It is not likely," replied the mate. "They saw him come aboard, but he +spoke to none of them. They will presume he is going out to the lock. +The presence of a woman will puzzle them; but, as she was with the +Admiral, they will not dare interfere or even report the fact." + +"Then what do you think we have to fear?" asked Grauble. + +"Only the chance that the Admiral's absence may be noted at his office +and inquiry be made." + +"Of that the Princess could tell us something," said Grauble. "We will +talk with her." + +Grauble now led me to the mate's snug cabin, where we found Marguerite +seated on the bunk, looking very pale and anxious. + +"Everything is going nicely, so far," the Captain assured her. "We have +only one thing to fear, and that is that inquiry from the Administration +Office for the Admiral may be addressed to the Commander of the Lock." + +"But how will they know that he is with us?" asked Marguerite. "Will the +guards report it?" + +"I do not think so," said Grauble, "but does any one at his office know +that he came to the docks?" + +"I do not see how they could," replied Marguerite; "he was at his +apartment when I called him. He came to me at once, not knowing why I +wished to see him. I begged him to take me to see you off. I swore that +if he did not I should never speak to him again, and he agreed to do so. +He seemed to think himself very generous and talked much of the +distinctive privilege he was conferring upon me by acceding to my +request. But he told no one where we were going. He communicated with no +one from the time he came to me until we arrived at the vessel. The +guards and gate-keepers let us pass without question." + +"That is fine," cried Grauble; "von Kufner often stays away from his +office for days at a time. Unless some chance information leaks back +from the guards, he will not be missed. Our chance of being passed +speedily out the lock is good--there is a vessel due to lock in this +very day and we could not be held back to block the tunnel. That is why +the Admiral was impatient when Armstadt failed to appear; he knew our +departure ought not be delayed." + +"And what," I asked, "do you propose to do with the Admiral?" + +"I suppose we must take him with us as a prisoner," replied the Captain. +"Your World State Government would appreciate a prisoner of the House of +Hohenzollern." + +At this suggestion Marguerite shook her head emphatically. "I do not +like that," she said. "Is there not some way to leave him behind?" + +"I do not like it either," said Grauble, "because I fear his presence +aboard may make trouble among my men. I do not think they will object to +deserting with us to the free world. Their life in this service is +hopeless enough and this is my fifth trip; they have a belief that the +Captain's fifth trip is an ill-fated one; not a man aboard but trembles +in the dire fear that he will never see Berlin again. They will welcome +with joy a proposal to escape with us, but to ask them to make the +attempt with the Admiral himself on board as a prisoner is a different +thing. These men are cowed by authority and I know not what notions they +might have of their fate if they are to kidnap the Admiral." + +"But," I questioned, "is there no possible way to leave him behind?" + +Grauble sat thinking for a moment. "Yes," he said, "there is one way we +might do it. We could shave his beard and clip his hair, dress him in a +machinist's garb and smear his hands and face with grease. Then I could +drug him and we could carry him off at the lock and put him in a cell. I +would report that one of my men had gone raving mad, and I had drugged +him to keep him from doing injury to himself and others. It would create +no great surprise. Men in this service frequently go mad; and I am +provided with a sleep producing drug for just such emergencies." + +"Then go ahead," I said. + +"But you will lose the satisfaction of delivering him prisoner to your +government," smiled Grauble. + +"I have no love for the Admiral," I replied, "but I think his punishment +will be more appropriately attended to in Berlin. When our escape is +known he will indeed have a rather difficult time explaining to +His Majesty." + +This suggestion of the pompous Admiral's predicament if thus left behind +seemed to amuse Grauble and he at once led the way back to his +own cabin. + +Von Kufner was lying very quietly in his bonds and glared up at us with +a weak and futile rage. Grauble smiled cynically at his prostrate chief. +"I had thought to take you along with us," he said, "but I am afraid the +excitement of the voyage would be unpleasant for you so I have decided +to leave you at the lock to take our farewell back to His Majesty." + +Von Kufner, helpless and gagged was given no opportunity to reply, for +Grauble, unlocking his medicine case took out a small hypodermic syringe +and plunged the needle into the prisoner's thigh. + +In a few minutes the Admiral was unconscious. The Captain now brought a +suit of soiled mechanic's clothes and a clipper and razor, and in a half +hour the prim Admiral in his fancy uniform had been reduced to the +likeness of an oiler. His face roughly shaved, but pale and sallow, gave +a very good simulation of illness of mind and body. + +"He will remain like that for at least twelve hours," said Grauble. "I +gave him a heavy dose." + +Again we went out, locking the unconscious Admiral in the cabin. "You +may go and keep the Princess company," said Grauble, "while I talk with +my men and give them an inkling of what we are planning. If there is any +trouble at the lock it is better that they comprehend that hope of +freedom is in store for them." + +Amid tears of joy Marguerite now told me of her belated conception of +the desperate plan to induce von Kufner to bring her to the docks to see +us depart, and how she had pretended to disbelieve that I was really +going and bargained to marry him within sixty days if she could be +assured by her own eyes that I had really departed for the Arctic. + +As we waited feverishly for the first nerve-racking part of the journey +to be over, we spoke of the hopes and dangers of the great adventure +upon which we were finally embarked. And so the hours passed. + +At last we felt the rumble of the motors die and knew that the movement +of the vessel had ceased. + +~6~ + +The voice of the mate spoke at the door: "Remain quiet inside," he said, +and a key turned and clicked the bolt of the lock. The tense minutes +passed. Again the key turned in the door and the mate stuck his head +inside. "Come quick," he said to me. + +I followed him into Capt. Grauble's cabin, but saw Grauble nowhere. + +"Remove your clothing," said the mate, as he seized a sponge and soap +and began washing the blackened oil from the hands and face of the +unconscious Admiral. "We must dress him in your uniform. The Commander +of the Lock has orders to take you off the vessel. We must pass the +Admiral off for you. He will never be recognized. The Commander has +never seen you." + +Obeying, without fully comprehending, I helped to quickly dress the +unconscious man in my own clothing. We had barely finished when we heard +voices outside. + +"Quick, under the bunk," whispered the mate. As I obediently crawled +into the hiding place, the mate kicked in after me the remainder of the +oiler's clothing which I had been trying to put on and pulled the +disarranged bedding half off the bunk the better to hide me. Then he +opened the door and several men entered. + +"I had to drug him," said Grauble's voice, "because he was so violent +with fear when I had him manacled that I thought he might attempt to +beat out his brains." + +"Let me see his papers," said a strange voice. + +After a brief interval the same voice spoke again--"These are identical +with the description given by His Majesty's secretary. There can be no +doubt that this is the man they want, but I do not see how an enemy spy +could ever pass for a German, even if he had the clothing and +identification. He does not even look like the description in the +folder. The chemists must be very stupid to have accepted him as one +of them." + +"It is strange," replied the voice of Capt. Grauble, "but this man was +very clever." + +"It is only that most men are very dull," replied the other voice. "Now +I should have suspected at once that the man was not a German. But he +shall answer for his cleverness. Let him be removed at once. We have +word from the vessel outside that they are short of oxygen, and you must +be locked out and clear the passage." + +With a shuffling of many feet the form of the third bearer of Karl +Armstadt's pedigree was carried from the cabin, and the door was +kicked shut. + +I was still lying cramped in my hiding place when I felt the vessel +moving again. Then a sailor came, bringing a case from which I took +fresh clothing. As I was dressing I felt my ear drums pain from the +increased air pressure, and I heard, as from a great distance, the roar +of the water being let into the lock. From the quiet swaying of the +floor beneath me I soon sensed that we were afloat. I waited in the +cabin until I felt the quiver of motors, now distinguished by the lesser +throb and smoother running, from the drive on the wheeled trucks through +the tunnel. + +I opened the cabin door and went out. Grauble was at the instrument +board. The mate stood aft among the motor controls; all men were at +their posts, for we were navigating the difficult subterranean passage +that led to the open sea. + +As I approached Grauble he spoke without lifting his eyes from his +instruments. "Go bring the Princess out of her hiding; I want my men to +see her now. It will help to give them faith." + +Marguerite came with me and stood trembling at my side as we watched +Grauble, whose eyes still riveted upon the many dials and indicators +before him. + +"Watch the chart," said Grauble. "The red hand shows our position." + +The chart before him was slowly passing over rolls. For a time we could +only see a straight line thereon bordered by many signs and figures. +Then slowly over the topmost roll came the wavy outlines of a shore, and +the parallel lines marking the depths of the bordering sea. Tensely we +watched the chart roll slowly down till the end of the channel passed +the indicator. + +Grauble breathed a great sigh of relief and for the first time turned +his face towards us. "We are in the open sea," he said, "at a depth of +160 metres. I shall turn north at once and parallel the coast. You had +better get some rest; for the present nothing can happen. It is night +above now but in six more hours will be the dawn, then we shall rise and +take our bearings through the periscope." + +I led Marguerite into the Captain's cabin and insisted that she lie down +on the narrow berth. Seated in the only chair, I related what I knew of +the affair at the locks. "It must have been," I concluded, after much +speculation, "that Holknecht finally got the attention of the Chemical +Staff and related what he knew of the incident of the potash mines. They +had enough data about me to have arrived at the correct conclusion long +ago. It was a question of getting the facts together." + +"It was that," said Marguerite, "or else I am to blame." + +"And what do you mean?" I asked. + +"I mean," she said, "that I took a great risk about which I must tell +you, for it troubles my conscience. After I had sent for the Admiral and +he had promised to come, I telephoned to Dr. Zimmern of my intention to +get von Kufner to take me to the docks and my hope that I could come +with you. And it may be that some one listened in on our conversation." + +"I do not see," I said, "how such a conversation should lead to the +discovery of my identity--the Holknecht theory is more reasonable--but +you did take a risk. Why did you do it?" + +"I wanted to tell him good-bye," said Marguerite. "It was hard enough +that I could not see him." And she turned her face to the pillow and +began to weep. + +"What is it, my dear?" I pleaded, as I knelt beside her. "It was all +right, of course. Why are you crying--you do not think, do you, that Dr. +Zimmern betrayed us?" + +Marguerite raised herself upon her elbow and looked at me with hurt +surprise. "Do you think that?" she demanded, almost fiercely. + +"By no means," I hastened to assure her, "but I do not understand your +grief and I only thought that perhaps when you told him he was +angered--I never understood why he seemed so anxious not to have you +go with me." + +"Oh, my dear," sobbed Marguerite. "Of course you never understood, +because we too had a secret that has been kept from you, and you have +been so apologetic because you feared so long to confide in me and I +have been even slower to confide in you." + +For a moment black rebellion rose in my heart, for though with my +reasoning I had accepted the explanation that Zimmern had given for his +interest in Marguerite, I had never quite accepted it in my unreasoning +heart. And in the depths of me the battle between love and reason and +the dark forces of jealous unreason and suspicion had smouldered, to +break out afresh on the least provocation. + +I fought again to conquer these dark forces, for I had many times +forgiven her even the thing which suspicion charged. And as I struggled +now the sound of Marguerite's words came sweeping through my soul like a +great cleansing wind, for she said--"The secret that I have kept back +from you and that I have wanted so often to tell you is that Dr. Zimmern +is my father!" + +~7~ + +In the early dawn of a foggy morning we beached the _Eitel 3_ on a sandy +stretch of Danish shore within a few kilometres of an airdome of the +World Patrol. A native fisherman took Grauble, Marguerite and myself in +his hydroplane to the post, where we found the commander at his +breakfast. He was a man of quick intelligence. Our strange garb was +sufficient to prove us Germans, while a brief and accurate account of +the attempted rescue of the mines of Stassfurt, given in perfect +English, sufficed to credit my reappearance in the affairs of the free +world as a matter of grave and urgent importance. + +A squad of men were sent at once to guard the vessel that had been left +in charge of the mate. Within a few hours we three were at the seat of +the World Government at Geneva. + +Grauble surrendered his charts of the secret passage and was made a +formal prisoner of state, until the line of the passage could be +explored by borings and the reality of its existence verified. + +I was in daily conference with the Council in regard to momentous +actions that were set speedily a-going. The submarine tunnel was located +and the passage blocked. A fleet of ice crushers and exploring planes +were sent to locate the protium mines of the Arctic. The proclamation of +these calamities to the continued isolated existence of Germany and the +terms of peace and amnesty were sent showering down through the clouds +to the roof of Berlin. + +Marguerite and I had taken up our residence in a cottage on the lake +shore, and there as I slept late into the sunlit hours of a July +morning, I heard the clatter of a telephone annunciator. I sat bolt +upright listening to the words of the instrument-- + +"Berlin has shut off the Ray generators of the defence mines--all over +the desert of German soil men are pouring forth from the ventilating +shafts--the roof of Berlin is a-swarm with a mass of men frolicking in +the sunlight--the planes of the World Patrol have alighted on the roof +and have received and flashed back the news of the abdication of the +Emperor and the capitulation of Berlin--the world armies of the mines +are out and marching forth to police the city--" + +The voice of the instrument ceased. + +I looked about for Marguerite and saw her not. I was up and running +through the rooms of the cottage. I reached the outer door and saw her +in the garden, robed in a gown of gossamer white, her hair streaming +loose about her shoulders and gleaming golden brown in the quivering +light. She was holding out her hands to the East, where o'er the +far-flung mountain craigs the God of Day beamed down upon his +worshipper. + +In a frenzy of wild joy I called to her--"Babylon is fallen--is fallen! +The black spot is erased from the map of the world!" + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT *** + +This file should be named 7cndn10.txt or 7cndn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 7cndn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 7cndn10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: City of Endless Night + +Author: Milo Hastings + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9862] +[This file was first posted on October 25, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT *** + + + + +E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Susan Woodring, and Project Gutenberg +Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + + + +CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT + +By Milo Hastings + +1920 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + + I. THE RED AND BLACK AND GOLD STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY ON THE CHANGING + MAP OF THE WORLD + + II. I EXPLORE THE POTASH MINES OF STASSFURT AND FIND A DIARY IN A DEAD + MAN'S POCKET + + III. IN A BLACK UTOPIA THE BLOND BROOD BREEDS AND SWARMS + + IV. I GO PLEASURING ON THE LEVEL OF FREE WOMEN AND DRINK SYNTHETIC BEER + + V. I AM DRAFTED FOR PATERNITY AND MAKE EXTRAORDINARY PETITION TO THE + CHIEF OF THE EUGENIC STAFF + + VI. IN WHICH I LEARN THAT COMPETITION IS STILL THE LIFE OF THE OLDEST + TRADE IN THE WORLD + + VII. THE SUN SHINES UPON A KING AND A GIRL READS OF THE FALL OF BABYLON + +VIII. FINDING THEREIN ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN, I HAVE COMPASSION ON BERLIN + + IX. IN WHICH I SALUTE THE STATUE OF GOD, AND A PSYCHIC EXPERT EXPLORES + MY BRAIN AND FINDS NOTHING + + X. A GODDESS WHO IS SUFFERING FROM OBESITY, AND A BRAVE MAN WHO IS + AFRAID OF THE LAW OF AVERAGES + + XI. IN WHICH THE TALKING DELEGATE IS ANSWERED BY THE ROYAL VOICE AND I + LEARN THAT LABOR KNOWS NOT GOD + + XII. THE DIVINE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM THE GREAT GIVE A BENEFIT FOR THE + CANINE GARDENS AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE PIGGERIES + +XIII. IN WHICH A WOMAN ACCUSES ME OF MURDER AND I PLACE A RUBY NECKLACE + ABOUT HER THROAT + + XIV. THE BLACK SPOT IS ERASED FROM THE MAP OF THE WORLD AND THERE IS + DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT ON THE ROOF OF BERLIN + + + +CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE RED AND BLACK AND GOLD STRUGGLE FOR +SUPREMACY ON THE CHANGING MAP OF THE WORLD + + +~1~ + +When but a child of seven my uncle placed me in a private school in +which one of the so-called redeemed sub-sailors was a teacher of the +German language. As I look back now, in the light of my present +knowledge, I better comprehend the docile humility and carefully +nurtured ignorance of this man. In his class rooms he used as a text a +description of German life, taken from the captured submarine. From this +book he had secured his own conception of a civilization of which he +really knew practically nothing. I recall how we used to ask Herr +Meineke if he had actually seen those strange things of which he taught +us. To this he always made answer, "The book is official, man's +observation errs." + +~2~ + +"He can talk it," said my playmates who attended the public schools +where all teaching of the language of the outcast nation was prohibited. +They invariably elected me to be "the Germans," and locked me up in the +old garage while they rained a stock of sun-dried clay bombs upon the +roof and then came with a rush to "batter down the walls of Berlin" by +breaking in the door, while I, muttering strange guttural oaths, would +be led forth to be "exterminated." + +On rainy days I would sometimes take my favoured playmates into my +uncle's library where five great maps hung in ordered sequence on the +panelled wall. + +The first map was labelled "The Age of Nations--1914," and showed the +black spot of Germany, like in size to many of the surrounding +countries, the names of which one recited in the history class. + +The second map--"Germany's Maximum Expansion of the First World +War--1918"--showed the black area trebled in size, crowding into the +pale gold of France, thrusting a hungry arm across the Hellespont +towards Bagdad, and, from the Balkans to the Baltic, blotting out all +else save the flaming red of Bolshevist Russia, which spread over the +Eastern half of Europe like a pool of fresh spilled blood. + +Third came "The Age of the League of Nations, 1919--1983," with the gold +of democracy battling with the spreading red of socialism, for the black +of autocracy had erstwhile vanished. + +The fourth map was the most fascinating and terrible. Again the black of +autocracy appeared, obliterating the red of the Brotherhood of Man, +spreading across half of Eurasia and thrusting a broad black shadow to +the Yellow Sea and a lesser one to the Persian Gulf. This map was +labelled "Maximum German Expansion of the Second World War, 1988," and +lines of dotted white retreated in concentric waves till the line +of 2041. + +This same year was the first date of the fifth map, which was labelled +"A Century of the World State," and here, as all the sea was blue, so +all the land was gold, save one black blot that might have been made by +a single spattered drop of ink, for it was no bigger than the Irish +Island. The persistence of this remaining black on the map of the world +troubled my boyish mind, as it has troubled three generations of the +United World, and strive as I might, I could not comprehend why the +great blackness of the fourth map had been erased and this small blot +alone remained. + +~3~ + +When I returned from school for my vacation, after I had my first year +of physical science, I sought out my uncle in his laboratory and asked +him to explain the mystery of the little black island standing adamant +in the golden sea of all the world. + +"That spot," said my uncle, "would have been erased in two more years if +a Leipzig professor had not discovered The Ray. Yet we do not know his +name nor how he made his discovery." + +"But just what is The Ray?" I asked. + +"We do not know that either, nor how it is made. We only know that it +destroys the oxygen carrying power of living blood. If it were an +emanation from a substance like radium, they could have fired it in +projectiles and so conquered the earth. If it were ether waves like +electricity, we should have been able to have insulated against it, or +they should have been able to project it farther and destroy our +aircraft, but The Ray is not destructive beyond two thousand metres in +the air and hardly that far in the earth." + +"Then why do we not fly over and land an army and great guns and batter +down the walls of Berlin and he done with it?" + +"That, as you know if you studied your history, has been tried many +times and always with disaster. The bomb-torn soil of that black land is +speckled white with the bones of World armies who were sent on landing +invasions before you or I was born. But it was only heroic folly, one +gun popping out of a tunnel mouth can slay a thousand men. To pursue the +gunners into their catacombs meant to be gassed; and sometimes our +forces were left to land in peace and set up their batteries to fire +against Berlin, but the Germans would place Ray generators in the ground +beneath them and slay our forces in an hour, as the Angel of Jehovah +withered the hosts of the Assyrians." + +"But why," I persisted, "do we not tunnel under the Ray generators and +dig our way to Berlin and blow it up?" + +My uncle smiled indulgently. "And that has been tried too, but they can +hear our borings with microphones and cut us off, just as we cut them +off when they try to tunnel out and place new generators. It is too +slow, too difficult, either way; the line has wavered a little with the +years but to no practical avail; the war in our day has become merely a +watching game, we to keep the Germans from coming out, they to keep us +from penetrating within gunshot of Berlin; but to gain a mile of +worthless territory either way means too great a human waste to be worth +the price. Things must go on as they are till the Germans tire of their +sunless imprisonment or till they exhaust some essential element in +their soil. But wars such as you read of in your history, will never +happen again. The Germans cannot fight the world in the air, nor in the +sea, nor on the surface of the earth; and we cannot fight the Germans in +the ground; so the war has become a fixed state of standing guard; the +hope of victory, the fear of defeat have vanished; the romance of war +is dead." + +"But why, then," I asked, "does the World Patrol continue to bomb the +roof of Berlin?" + +"Politics," replied my uncle, "military politics, just futile display of +pyrotechnics to amuse the populace and give heroically inclined young +men a chance to strut in uniforms--but after the election this fall such +folly will cease." + +~4~ + +My uncle had predicted correctly, for by the time I again came home on +my vacation, the newly elected Pacifist Council had reduced the aerial +activities to mere watchful patroling over the land of the enemy. Then +came the report of an attempt to launch an airplane from the roof of +Berlin. The people, in dire panic lest Ray generators were being carried +out by German aircraft, had clamoured for the recall of the Pacifist +Council, and the bombardment of Berlin was resumed. + +During the lull of the bombing activities my uncle, who stood high with +the Pacifist Administration, had obtained permission to fly over Europe, +and I, most fortunate of boys, accompanied him. The plane in which we +travelled bore the emblem of the World Patrol. On a cloudless day we +sailed over the pock-marked desert that had once been Germany and came +within field-glass range of Berlin itself. On the wasted, bomb-torn land +lay the great grey disc--the city of mystery. Three hundred metres high +they said it stood, but so vast was its extent that it seemed as flat +and thin as a pancake on a griddle. + +"More people live in that mass of concrete," said my uncle, "than in the +whole of America west of the Rocky Mountains." His statement, I have +since learned, fell short of half the truth, but then it seemed +appalling. I fancied the city a giant anthill, and searched with my +glass as if I expected to see the ants swarming out. But no sign of life +was visible upon the monotonous surface of the sand-blanketed roof, and +high above the range of naked vision hung the hawk-like watchers of the +World Patrol. + +The lure of unravelled secrets, the ambition for discovery and +exploration stirred my boyish veins. Yes, I would know more of the +strange race, the unknown life that surged beneath that grey blanket of +mystery. But how? For over a century millions of men had felt that same +longing to know. Aviators, landing by accident or intent within the +lines, had either returned with nothing to report, or they had not +returned. Daring journalists, with baskets of carrier pigeons, had on +foggy nights dropped by parachute to the roof of the city; but neither +they nor the birds had brought back a single word of what lay beneath +the armed and armoured roof. + +My own resolution was but a boy's dream and I returned to Chicago to +take up my chemical studies. + + + +CHAPTER II + +I EXPLORE THE POTASH MINES OF STASSFURT +AND FIND A DIARY IN A DEAD MAN'S POCKET + + +~1~ + +When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory +explosion. He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who +had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic +foods of Germany. For some years I had been his trusted assistant. In +our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had +been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me +was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, +which I had read with avidity. With the exception of those relating to +submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that +they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it. + +My uncle had bequeathed me both his work and his fortune, but despairing +of my ability worthily to continue his own brilliant researches on +synthetic food, I turned my attention to the potash problem, in which I +had long been interested. My reading of early chemical works had given +me a particular interest in the reclamation of the abandoned potash +mines of Stassfurt. These mines, as any student of chemical history will +know, were one of the richest properties of the old German state in the +days before the endless war began and Germany became isolated from the +rest of the world. The mines were captured by the World in the year +2020, and were profitably operated for a couple of decades. Meanwhile +the German lines were forced many miles to the rear before the +impregnable barrier of the Ray had halted the progress of the +World Armies. + +A few years after the coming of the Ray defences, occurred what history +records as "The Tragedy of the Mines." Six thousand workmen went down +into the potash mines of Stassfurt one morning and never came up again. +The miners' families in the neighbouring villages died like weevils in +fumigated grain. The region became a valley of pestilence and death, and +all life withered for miles around. Numerous governmental projects were +launched for the recovery of the potash mines but all failed, and for +one hundred and eleven years no man had penetrated those +accursed shafts. + +Knowing these facts, I wasted no time in soliciting government aid for +my project, but was content to secure a permit to attempt the recovery +with private funds, with which my uncle's fortune supplied me in +abundance. + +In April, 2151, I set up my laboratory on the edge of the area of death. +I had never accepted the orthodox view as to the composition of the gas +that issued from the Stassfurt mines. In a few months I was gratified to +find my doubts confirmed. A short time after this I made a more +unexpected and astonishing discovery. I found that this complex and +hitherto misunderstood gas could, under the influence of certain +high-frequency electrical discharges, be made to combine with explosive +violence with the nitrogen of the atmosphere, leaving only a harmless +residue. We wired the surrounding region for the electrical discharge +and, with a vast explosion of weird purple flame, cleared the whole area +of the century-old curse. Our laboratory was destroyed by the explosion. +It was rebuilt nearer the mine shafts from which the gas still slowly +issued. Again we set up our electrical machinery and dropped our cables +into the shafts, this time clearing the air of the mines. + +A hasty exploration revealed the fact that but a single shaft had +remained intact. A third time we prepared our electrical machinery. We +let down a cable and succeeded in getting but a faint reaction at the +bottom of the shaft. After several repeated clearings we risked descent. + +Upon arrival at the bottom we were surprised to find it free from water, +save for a trickling stream. The second thing we discovered was a pile +of huddled skeletons of the workmen who had perished over a century +previous. But our third and most important discovery was a boring from +which the poisonous gas was slowly issuing. It took but a few hours to +provide an apparatus to fire this gas as fast as it issued, and the +potash mines of Stassfurt were regained for the world. + +My associates were for beginning mining operations at once, but I had +been granted a twenty years' franchise on the output of these mines, and +I was in no such haste. The boring from which this poisonous vapour +issued was clearly man-made; moreover I alone knew the formula of that +gas and had convinced myself once for all as to its man-made origin. I +sent for microphones and with their aid speedily detected the sound of +machinery in other workings beneath. + +It is easy now to see that I erred in risking my own life as I did +without the precaution of confiding the secret of my discovery to +others. But those were days of feverish excitement. Impulsively I +decided to make the first attack on the Germans as a private enterprise +and then call for military aid. I had my own equipment of poisonous +bombs and my sapping and mining experts determined that the German +workings were but eighty metres beneath us. Hastily, among the crumbling +skeletons, we set up our electrical boring machinery and began sinking a +one-metre shaft towards the nearest sound. + +After twenty hours of boring, the drill head suddenly came off and +rattled down into a cavern. We saw a light and heard guttural shouting +below and the cracking of a gun as a few bullets spattered against the +roof of our chamber. We heaved down our gas bombs and covered over our +shaft. Within a few hours the light below went out and our microphones +failed to detect any sound from the rocks beneath us. It was then +perhaps that I should have called for military aid, but the uncanny +silence of the lower workings proved too much for my eager curiosity. We +waited two days and still there was no evidence of life below. I knew +there had been ample time for the gas from our bombs to have been +dissipated, as it was decomposed by contact with moisture. A light was +lowered, but this brought forth no response. + +I now called for a volunteer to descend the shaft. None was forthcoming +from among my men, and against their protest I insisted on being lowered +into the shaft. When I was a few metres from the bottom the cable parted +and I fell and lay stunned on the floor below. + +~2~ + +When I recovered consciousness the light had gone out. There was no +sound about me. I shouted up the shaft above and could get no answer. +The chamber in which I lay was many times my height and I could make +nothing out in the dark hole above. For some hours I scarcely stirred +and feared to burn my pocket flash both because it might reveal my +presence to lurking enemies and because I wished to conserve my battery +against graver need. + +But no rescue came from my men above. Only recently, after the lapse of +years, did I learn the cause of their deserting me. As I lay stunned +from my fall, my men, unable to get answer to their shoutings, had given +me up for dead. Meanwhile the apparatus which caused the destruction of +the German gas had gone wrong. My associates, unable to fix it, had fled +from the mine and abandoned the enterprise. + +After some hours of waiting I stirred about and found means to erect a +rough scaffold and reach the mouth of the shaft above me. I attempted to +climb, but, unable to get a hold on the smooth wet rock, I gave up +exhausted and despairing. Entombed in the depths of the earth, I was +either a prisoner of the German potash miners, if any remained alive, or +a prisoner of the earth itself, with dead men for company. + +Collecting my courage I set about to explore my surroundings. I found +some mining machinery evidently damaged by the explosion of our gas +bombs. There was no evidence of men about, living or dead. Stealthily I +set out along the little railway track that ran through a passage down a +steep incline. As I progressed I felt the air rapidly becoming colder. +Presently I stumbled upon the first victim of our gas bombs, fallen +headlong as he was fleeing. I hurried on. The air seemed to be blowing +in my face and the cold was becoming intense. This puzzled me for at +this depth the temperature should have been above that on the surface of +the earth. + +After a hundred metres or so of going I came into a larger chamber. It +was intensely cold. From out another branching passage-way I could hear +a sizzling sound as of steam escaping. I started to turn into this +passage but was met with such a blast of cold air that I dared not face +it for fear of being frozen. Stamping my feet, which were fast becoming +numb, I made the rounds of the chamber, and examined the dead miners +that were tumbled about. The bodies were frozen. + +One side of this chamber was partitioned off with some sort of metal +wall. The door stood blown open. It felt a little warmer in here and I +entered and closed the door. Exploring the room with my dim light I +found one side of it filled with a row of bunks--in each bunk a corpse. +Along the other side of the room was a table with eating utensils and +back of this were shelves with food packages. + +I was in danger of freezing to death and, tumbling several bodies out of +the bunks, I took the mattresses and built of them a clumsy enclosure +and installed in their midst a battery heater which I found. In this +fashion I managed to get fairly warm again. After some hours of huddling +I observed that the temperature had moderated. + +My fear of freezing abated, I made another survey of my surroundings and +discovered something that had escaped my first attention. In the far end +of the room was a desk, and seated before it with his head fallen +forward on his arms was the form of a man. The miners had all been +dressed in a coarse artificial leather, but this man was dressed in a +woven fabric of cellulose silk. + +The body was frozen. As I tumbled it stiffly back it fell from the chair +exposing a ghastly face. I drew away in a creepy horror, for as I looked +at the face of the corpse I suffered a sort of waking nightmare in which +I imagined that I was gazing at my own dead countenance. + +I concluded that my normal mind was slipping out of gear and proceeded +to back off and avail myself of a tube of stimulant which I carried in +my pocket. + +This revived me somewhat, but again, when I tried to look upon the +frozen face, the conviction returned that I was looking at my own +dead self. + +I glanced at my watch and figured out that I had been in the German mine +for thirty hours and had not tasted food or drink for nearly forty +hours. Clearly I had to get myself in shape to escape hallucinations. I +went back to the shelves and proceeded to look for food and drink. +Happily, due to my work in my uncle's laboratory, these synthetic foods +were not wholly strange to me. I drank copiously of a non-alcoholic +chemical liquor and warmed on the heater and partook of some nitrogenous +and some starchy porridges. It was an uncanny dining place, but hunger +soon conquers mere emotion, and I made out a meal. Then once more I +faced the task of confronting this dead likeness of myself. + +This time I was clear-headed enough. I even went to the miners' lavatory +and, jerking down the metal mirror, scrutinized my own reflection and +reassured myself of the closeness of the resemblance. My purpose framed +in my mind as I did this. Clearly I was in German quarters and was +likely to remain there. Sooner or later there must be a rescuing party. + +Without further ado, I set about changing my clothing for that of the +German. The fit of the dead man's clothes further emphasized the closeness +of the physical likeness. I recalled my excellent command of the German +language and began to wonder what manner of man I was supposed to be in +this assumed personality. But my most urgent task was speedily to make +way with the incriminating corpse. With the aid of the brighter +flashlight which I found in my new pockets, I set out to find a place to +hide the body. + +The cold that had so frightened me had now given way to almost normal +temperature. There was no longer the sound of sizzling steam from the +unexplored passage-way. I followed this and presently came upon another +chamber filled with machinery. In one corner a huge engine, covered with +frost, gave off a chill greeting. On the floor was a steaming puddle of +liquid, but the breath of this steam cut like a blizzard. At once I +guessed it. This was a liquid air engine. The dead engineer in the +corner helped reveal the story. With his death from the penetrating gas, +something had gone wrong with the engine. The turbine head had blown +off, and the conveying pipe of liquid air had poured forth the icy blast +that had so nearly frozen me along with the corpses of the Germans. But +now the flow of liquid had ceased, and the last remnants were +evaporating from the floor. Evidently the supply pipe had been shut off +further back on the line, and I had little time to lose for rescuers +were probably on the way. + +Along one of the corridors running from the engine room I found an open +water drain half choked with melting ice. Following this I came upon a +grating where the water disappeared. I jerked up the grating and dropped +a piece of ice down the well-like shaft. I hastily returned and dragged +forth the corpse of my double and with it everything I had myself +brought into the mine. Straightening out the stiffened body I plunged it +head foremost into the opening. The sound of a splash echoed within the +dismal depths. + +I now hastened back to the chamber into which I had first fallen and +destroyed the scaffolding I had erected there. Returning to the desk +where I had found the man whose clothing I wore, I sat down and +proceeded to search my abundantly filled pockets. From one of them I +pulled out a bulky notebook and a number of loose papers. The freshest +of these was an official order from the Imperial Office of Chemical +Engineers. The order ran as follows: + + Capt. Karl Armstadt + Laboratory 186, E. 58. + + Report is received at this office of the sound of sapping + operations in potash mine D5. Go at once and verify the same + and report of condition of gas generators and make analyses + of output of the same. + +Evidently I was Karl Armstadt and very happily a chemical engineer by +profession. My task of impersonation so far looked feasible--I could +talk chemical engineering. + +The next paper I proceeded to examine was an identification folder done +up in oiled fabric. Thanks to German thoroughness it was amusingly +complete. On the first page appeared what I soon discovered to be __ +pedigree for four generations back. The printed form on which all this +was minutely filled out made very clear statements from which I +determined that my father and mother were both dead. + +I, Karl Armstadt, twenty-seven years of age, was the fourteenth child of +my mother and was born when she was forty-two years of age. According to +the record I was the ninety-seventh child of my father and born when he +was fifty-four. As I read this I thought there was something here that I +misunderstood, although subsequent discoveries made it plausible enough. +There was no further record of my plentiful fraternity, but I took heart +that the mere fact of their numerical abundance would make unlikely any +great show of brotherly interest, a presumption which proved +quite correct. + +On the second page of this folder I read the number and location of my +living quarters, the sources from which my meals and clothing were +issued, as well as the sizes and qualities of my garments and numerous +other references to various details of living, all of which seemed +painstakingly ridiculous at the time. + +I put this elaborate identification paper back into its receptacle and +opened the notebook. It proved to be a diary kept likewise in thorough +German fashion. I turned to the last pages and perused them hastily. + +The notes in Armstadt's diary were concerned almost wholly with his +chemical investigations. All this I saw might be useful to me later but +what I needed more immediately was information as to his personal life. +I scanned back hastily through the pages for a time without finding any +such revelations. Then I discovered this entry made some months +previously: + +"I cannot think of chemistry tonight, for the vision of Katrina dances +before me as in a dream. It must be a strange mixture of blood-lines +that could produce such wondrous beauty. In no other woman have I seen +such a blackness of hair and eyes combined with such a whiteness of +skin. I suppose I should not have danced with her--now I see all my +resolutions shattered. But I think it was most of all the blackness of +her eyes. Well, what care, we live but once!" + +I read and re-read this entry and searched feverishly in Armstadt's +diary for further evidence of a personal life. But I only found tedious +notes on his chemical theories. Perhaps this single reference to a woman +was but a passing fancy of a man otherwise engrossed in his science. But +if rescuers came and I succeeded in passing for the German chemist the +presence of a woman in my new rôle of life would surely undo all my +effort. If no personal acquaintance of the dead man came with the +rescuing party I saw no reason why I could not for the time pass +successfully as Armstadt. I should at least make the effort and I +reasoned I could best do this by playing the malingerer and appearing +mentally incompetent. Such a ruse, I reasoned, would give me opportunity +to hear much and say little, and perhaps so get my bearings in the new +rôle that I could continue it successfully. + +Then, as I was about to return the notebook to my pocket, my hopes sank +as I found this brief entry which I had at first scanning overlooked: + +"It is twenty days now since Katrina and I have been united. She does +not interfere with my work as much as I feared. She even lets me talk +chemistry to her, though I am sure she understands not one word of what +I tell her. I think I have made a good selection and it is surely a +permanent one. Therefore I must work harder than ever or I shall not +get on." + +This alarmed me. Yet, if Armstadt had married he made very little fuss +about it. Evidently it concerned him chiefly in relation to his work. +But whoever and whatever Katrina was, it was clear that her presence +would be disastrous to my plans of assuming his place in the +German world. + +Pondering over the ultimate difficulty of my situation, but with a +growing faith in the plan I had evolved for avoiding immediate +explanations, I fell into a long-postponed sleep. The last thing I +remember was tumbling from my chair and sprawling out upon the floor +where I managed to snap out my light before the much needed sleep quite +overcame me. + +~3~ + +I was awakened by voices, and opened my eyes to find the place brightly +lighted. I closed them again quickly as some one approached and prodded +me with the toe of his boot. + +"Here is a man alive," said a voice above me. + +"He is Captain Armstadt, the chemist," said another voice, approaching; +"this is good. We have special orders to search for him." + +The newcomer bent over and felt my heart. I was quite aware that it was +functioning normally. He shook me and called me by name. After repeated +shakings I opened my eyes and stared at him blankly, but I said nothing. +Presently he left me and returned with a stretcher. I lay inertly as I +was placed thereon and borne out of the chamber. Other stretcher-bearers +were walking ahead. We passed through the engine room where mechanics +were at work on the damaged liquid air engine. My stretcher was placed +on a little car which moved swiftly along the tunnel. + +We came into a large subterranean station and I was removed and brought +before a bevy of white garbed physicians. They looked at my +identification folder and then examined me. Through it all I lay limp +and as near lifeless as I could simulate, and they succeeded in getting +no speech out of me. The final orders were to forward me post haste to +the Imperial Hospital for Complex Gas Cases. + +After an eventless journey of many hours I was again unloaded and +transferred to an elevator. For several hundred metres we sped upward +through a shaft, while about us whistled a blast of cold, crisp air. At +last the elevator stopped and I was carried out to an ambulance that +stood waiting in a brilliantly lighted passage arched over with grey +concrete. I was no longer beneath the surface of the earth but was +somewhere in the massive concrete structure of the City of Berlin. + +After a short journey our ambulance stopped and attendants came out and +carried my litter through an open doorway and down a long hall into the +spacious ward of a hospital. + +From half closed eyes I glanced about apprehensively for a black-haired +woman. With a sigh of relief I saw there were only doctors and male +attendants in the room. They treated me most professionally and gave no +sign that they suspected I was other than Capt. Karl Armstadt, which +fact my papers so eloquently testified. The conclusion of their +examination was voiced in my presence. "Physically he is normal," said +the head physician, "but his mind seems in a stupor. There is no remedy, +as the nature of the gas is unknown. All that can be done is to await +the wearing off of the effect." + +I was then left alone for some hours and my appetite was troubling me. +At last an attendant approached with some savoury soup; he propped me up +and proceeded to feed me with a spoon. + +I made out from the conversation about me that the other patients were +officers from the underground fighting forces. An atmosphere of military +discipline pervaded the hospital and I felt reassured in the conclusion +that all visiting was forbidden. + +Yet my thoughts turned repeatedly to the black-eyed Katrina of +Armstadt's diary. No doubt she had been informed of the rescue and was +waiting in grief and anxiety to see him. So both she and I were awaiting +a tragic moment--she to learn that her husband or lover was dead, I for +the inevitable tearing off of my protecting disguise. + +After some days the head physician came to my cot and questioned me. I +gazed at him and knit my brows as if struggling to think. + +"You were gassed in the mine," he kept repeating, "can you remember?" + +"Yes," I ventured, "I went to the mine, there was the sound of boring +overhead. I set men to watch; I was at the desk, I heard shouting, after +that I cannot remember." + +"They were all dead but you," said the doctor. + +"All dead," I repeated. I liked the sound of this and so kept on +mumbling "All dead, all dead." + +~4~ + +My plan was working nicely. But I realized I could not keep up this rôle +for ever. Nor did I wish to, for the idleness and suspense were +intolerable and I knew that I would rather face whatever problems my +recovery involved than to continue in this monotonous and meaningless +existence. So I convalesced by degrees and got about the hospital, and +was permitted to wait on myself. But I cultivated a slowness and brevity +of speech. + +One day as I sat reading the attendant announced, "A visitor to see you, +sir." + +Trembling with excitement and fear I tensely waited the coming of the +visitor. + +Presently a stolid-faced young man followed the attendant into the room. +"You remember Holknecht," said the nurse, "he is your assistant at the +laboratory." + +I stared stupidly at the man, and cold fear crept over me as he, with +puzzled eyes, returned my gaze. + +"You are much changed," he said at last. "I hardly recognize you." + +"I have been very ill," I replied. + +Just then the head physician came into the room and seeing me talking to +a stranger walked over to us. As I said nothing, Holknecht introduced +himself. The medical man began at once to enlarge upon the peculiarities +of my condition. "The unknown gas," he explained, "acted upon the whole +nervous system and left profound effects. Never in the records of the +hospital has there been so strange a case." + +Holknecht seemed quite awed and completely credulous. + +"His memory must be revived," continued the head physician, "and that +can best be done by recalling the dominating interest of his mind." + +"Captain Armstadt was wholly absorbed in his research work in the +laboratory," offered Holknecht. + +"Then," said the physician, "you must revive the activity of those +particular brain cells." + +With that command the laboratory assistant was left in charge. He took +his new task quite seriously. Turning to me and raising his voice as if +to penetrate my dulled mentality, he began, "Do you not remember our +work in the laboratory?" + +"Yes, the laboratory, the laboratory," I repeated vaguely. + +Holknecht described the laboratory in detail and gradually his talk +drifted into an account of the chemical research. I listened eagerly to +get the threads of the work I must needs do if I were to maintain my +rôle as Armstadt. + +Knowing now that visitors were permitted me, I again grew apprehensive +over the possible advent of Katrina. But no woman appeared, in fact I +had not yet seen a woman among the Germans. Always it was Holknecht and, +strictly according to his orders, he talked incessant chemistry. + +~5~ + +The day I resumed my normal wearing apparel I was shown into a large +lounging room for convalescents. I seated myself a short distance apart +from a group of officers and sat eyeing another group of large, hulking +fellows at the far end of the room. These I concluded to be common +soldiers, for I heard the officers in my ward grumbling at the fact that +they were quartered in the same hospital with men of the ranks. + +Presently an officer came over and took a seat beside me. "It is very +rarely that you men in the professional service are gassed," he said. +"You must have a dull life, I do not see how you can stand it." + +"But certainly," I replied, "it is not so dangerous." + +"And for that reason it must be stupid--I, for one, think that even in +the fighting forces there is no longer sufficient danger to keep up the +military morale. Danger makes men courageous--without danger courage +declines--and without courage what advantage would there be in the +military life?" + +"Suppose," I suggested, "the war should come to an end?" + +"But how can it?" he asked incredulously. "How can there be an end to +the war? We cannot prevent the enemy from fighting." + +"But what," I ventured, "if the enemy should decide to quit fighting?" + +"They have almost quit now," he remarked with apparent disgust; "they +are losing the fighting spirit--but no wonder--they say that the World +State population is so great that only two per cent of its men are in +the fighting forces. What I cannot see is how a people so peaceful can +keep from utter degeneration. And they say that the World State soldiers +are not even bred for soldiering but are picked from all classes. If +they should decide to quit fighting, as you suggest, we also would have +to quit--it would intolerable--it is bad enough now." + +"But could you not return to industrial life and do something +productive?" + +"Productive!" sneered the fighter. "I knew that you professional men had +no courage--it is not to be expected--but I never before heard even one +of your class suggest a thing like that--a military man do something +productive! Why don't you suggest that we be changed to women?" And with +that my fellow patient rose and, turning sharply on his metal heel, +walked away. + +The officer's attitude towards his profession set me thinking, and I +found myself wondering how far it was shared by the common soldiers. The +next day when I came out into the convalescent corridor I walked past +the group of officers and went down among the men whose garments bore no +medals or insignia. They were unusually large men, evidently from some +specially selected regiment. Picking out the most intelligent looking +one of the group I sat down beside him. + +"Is this the first time you have been gassed?" I inquired. + +"Third time," replied the soldier. + +"I should think you would have been discharged." + +"Discharged," said the soldier, in a perplexed tone, "why I am only +forty-four years old, why should I be discharged unless I get in an +explosion and lose a leg or something?" + +"But you have been gassed three times," I said, "I should think they +ought to let you return to civil life and your family." + +The soldier looked hard at the insignia of my rank as captain. "You +professional officers don't know much, do you? A soldier quit and do +common labor, now that's a fine idea. And a family! Do you think I'm a +Hohenzollern?" At the thought the soldier chuckled. "Me with a family," +he muttered to himself, "now that's a fine idea." + +I saw that I was getting on dangerous ground but curiosity prompted a +further question: "Then, I suppose, you have nothing to hope for until +you reach the age of retirement, unless war should come to an end?" + +Again the soldier eyed me carefully. "Now you do have some queer ideas. +There was a man in our company who used to talk like that when no +officers were around. This fellow, his name was Mannteufel, said he +could read books, that he was a forbidden love-child and his father was +an officer. I guess he was forbidden all right, for he certainly wasn't +right in his head. He said that we would go out on the top of the ground +and march over the enemy country and be shot at by the flying planes, +like the roof guards, if the officers had heard him they would surely +have sent him to the crazy ward--why he said that the war would be over +after that, and we would all go to the enemy country and go about as we +liked, and own houses and women and flying planes and animals. As if the +Royal House would ever let a soldier do things like that." + +"Well," I said, "and why not, if the war were over?" + +"Now there you go again--how do you mean the war was over, what would +all us soldiers do if there was no fighting?" + +"You could work," I said, "in the shops." + +"But if we worked in the shops, what would the workmen do?" + +"They would work too," I suggested. + +The soldier was silent for a time. "I think I get your idea," he said. +"The Eugenic Staff would cut down the birth rates so that there would +only be enough soldiers and workers to fill the working jobs." + +"They might do that," I remarked, wishing to lead him on. + +"Well," said the soldier, returning to the former thought, "I hope they +won't do that until I am dead. I don't care to go up on the ground to +get shot at by the fighting planes. At least now we have something over +our heads and if we are going to get gassed or blown up we can't see it +coming. At least--" + +Just then the officer with whom I had talked the day before came up. He +stopped before us and scowled at the soldier who saluted in hasty +confusion. + +"I wish, Captain," said the officer addressing me, "that you would not +take advantage of these absurd hospital conditions to disrupt discipline +by fraternizing with a private." + +At this the soldier looked up and saluted again. + +"Well?" said the officer. + +"He's not to blame, sir," said the soldier, "he's off his head." + + + +CHAPTER III + +IN A BLACK UTOPIA THE BLOND BROOD BREEDS AND SWARMS + + +~1~ + +It was with a strange mixture of eagerness and fear that I received the +head physician's decision that I would henceforth recover my faculties +more rapidly in the familiar environment of my own home. + +A wooden-faced male nurse accompanied me in a closed vehicle that ran +noiselessly through the vaulted interior streets of the completely +roofed-in city. Once our vehicle entered an elevator and was let down a +brief distance. We finally alighted in a street very like the one on +which the hospital was located, and filed down a narrow passage-way. My +companion asked for my keys, which I found in my clothing. I stood by +with a palpitating heart as he turned the lock and opened the door. + +The place we entered was a comfortably furnished bachelor's apartment. +Books and papers were littered about giving evidence of no disturbance +since the sudden leaving of the occupant. Immensely relieved I sat down +in an upholstered chair while the nurse scurried about and put the +place in order. + +"You feel quite at home?" he asked as he finished his task. + +"Quite," I replied, "things are coming back to me now." + +"You should have been sent home sooner," he said. "I wished to tell the +chief as much, but I am only a second year interne and it is forbidden +me to express an original opinion to him." + +"I am sure I will be all right now," I replied. + +He turned to go and then paused. "I think," he said, "that you should +have some notice on you that when you do go out, if you become confused +and make mistakes, the guards will understand. I will speak to Lieut. +Forrester, the Third Assistant, and ask that such a card be sent you." +With that he took his departure. + +When he had gone I breathed joyfully and freely. The rigid face and +staring eye that I had cultivated relaxed into a natural smile and then +I broke into a laugh. Here I was in the heart of Berlin, unsuspected of +being other than a loyal German and free, for the time at least, from +problems of personal relations. + +I now made an elaborate inspection of my surroundings. I found a +wardrobe full of men's clothing, all of a single shade of mauve like the +suit I wore. Some suits I guessed to be work clothes from their cheaper +texture and some, much finer, were evidently dress apparel. + +Having reassured myself that Armstadt had been the only occupant of the +apartment, I turned to a pile of papers that the hospital attendant had +picked up from the floor where they had dropped from a mail chute. Most +of these proved to be the accumulated copies of a daily chemical news +bulletin. Others were technical chemical journals. Among the letters I +found an invitation to a meeting of a chemical society, and a note from +my tailor asking me to call; the third letter was written on a +typewriter, an instrument the like of which I had already discovered in +my study. This sheet bore a neatly engraved head reading "Katrina, +Permit 843 LX, Apartment 57, K Street, Level of the Free Women." The +letter ran: + + "Dear Karl: For three weeks now you have failed to keep + your appointments and sent no explanation. You surely know + that I will not tolerate such rude neglect. I have reported + to the Supervisor that you are dropped from my list." + +So this was Katrina! Here at last was the end of the fears that had +haunted me. + +~2~ + +As I was scanning the chemical journal I heard a bell ring and turning +about I saw that a metal box had slid forth upon a side board from an +opening in the wall. In this box I found my dinner which I proceeded to +enjoy in solitude. The food was more varied than in the hospital. Some +was liquid and some gelatinous, and some firm like bread or biscuit. But +of natural food products there was nothing save a dish of mushrooms and +a single sprig of green no longer than my finger, and which, like a +feather in a boy's cap, was inserted conspicuously in the top of a +synthetic pudding. There was one food that puzzled me, for it was +sausage-like in form and sausage-like in flavour, and I was sure +contained some real substance of animal origin. Presuming, as I did at +that moment, that no animal life existed in Berlin, I ate this sausage +with doubts and misgivings. + +The dinner finished, I looked for a way to dispose of the dishes. +Packing them back in the container I fumbled about and found a switch +which set something going in the wall, and my dishes departed to the +public dishwasher. + +Having cleared the desk I next turned to Armstadt's book shelves. My +attention was caught by a ponderous volume. It proved to be an atlas and +directory of Berlin. In the front of this was a most revealing diagram +which showed Berlin to be a city of sixty levels. The five lowest levels +were underground and all were labelled "Mineral Industries." Above these +were eight levels of Food, Clothing and Miscellaneous industries. Then +came the seven workmen's residence levels, divided by trade groups. +Above this were the four "Intellectual Levels," on one of which I, as a +chemist had my abode. Directly above these was the "Level of Free +Women," and above that the residence level for military officers. The +next was the "Royal Level," double in height of the other levels of the +city. Then came the "Administrative Level," followed by eight maternity +levels, then four levels of female schools and nine levels of male +schools. Then, for six levels, and reaching to within five levels of the +roof of the city, were soldiers' barracks. Three of the remaining floors +were labelled "Swine Levels" and one "Green Gardens." Just beneath the +roof was the defence level and above that the open roof itself. + +It was a city of some three hundred metres in height with mineral +industries at the bottom and the swine levels--I recalled the +sausage--at the top. Midway between, remote from possible attack through +mines or from the roof, Royalty was sheltered, while the other +privileged groups of society were stratified above and below it. + +Following the diagram of levels was a most informing chart arranged like +a huge multiplication table. It gave after each level the words +"permitted," "forbidden," and "permitted as announced," arranged in +columns for each of the other levels. From this I traced out that as a +chemist I was permitted on all the industrial, workmen's and +intellectual levels, and on the Level of Free Women. I was permitted, as +announced, on the Administrative and Royal Levels; but forbidden on the +levels of military officers and soldiers' barracks, maternity and male +and female schools. + +I found that as a chemist I was particularly fortunate for many other +groups were given even less liberty. As for common workmen and soldiers, +they were permitted on no levels except their own. + +The most perplexing thing about this system was the apparent segregation +of such large groups of men from women. Family life in Germany was +evidently wonderfully altered and seemingly greatly restricted, a +condition inconsistent with the belief that I had always held--that the +German race was rapidly increasing. + +Turning to my atlas index I looked up the population statistics of the +city, and found that by the last census it was near three hundred +million. And except for the few millions in the mines this huge mass of +humanity was quartered beneath a single roof. I was greatly surprised, +for this population figure was more than double the usual estimates +current in the outside world. Coming from a world in which the ancient +tendency to congest in cities had long since been overcome, I was +staggered by the fact that nearly as many people were living in this one +city as existed in the whole of North America. + +Yet, when I figured the floor area of the city, which was roughly oval +in shape, being eight kilometres in breadth and eleven in length, I +found that the population on a given floor area was no greater than it +had been in the Island of Manhattan before the reform land laws were put +into effect in the latter part of the Twentieth Century. There was, +therefore, nothing incredible in these figures of total population, but +what I next discovered was a severe strain on credence. It was the +German population by sexes; the figures showed that there were nearly +two and a half males for every female! According to the usual estimate +of war losses the figure should have been at a ratio of six women living +to about five men, and here I found them recorded as only two women to +five men. Inspection of the birth rate showed an even higher proportion +of males. I consulted further tables that gave births by sexes and +groups. These varied somewhat but there was this great preponderance of +males in every class but one. Only among the seventeen thousand members +of Royalty did the proportion of the sexes approach the normal. + +Apparently I had found an explanation of the careful segregation of +German women--there were not enough to go around! + +Turning the further pages of my atlas I came upon an elaborately +illustrated directory of the uniforms and insignia of the various +military and civil ranks and classes. As I had already anticipated, I +found that any citizen in Berlin could immediately be placed in his +proper group and rank by his clothing, which was prescribed with +military exactness. + +Various fabrics and shades indicated the occupational grouping while +trimmings and insignia distinguished the ranks within the groups. In all +there were many hundreds of distinct uniforms. Two groups alone proved +exceptions to this iron clad rule; Royalty and free women were permitted +to dress as they chose and were restricted only in that they were +forbidden to imitate the particular uniforms of other groups. + +I next investigated the contents of Armstadt's desk. My most interesting +find was a checkbook, with receipts and expenditures carefully recorded +on the stubs. From this I learned that, as Armstadt, I was in receipt of +an income of five thousand marks, paid by the Government. I did not know +how much purchasing value that would amount to, but from the account +book I saw that the expenses had not equalled a third of it, which +explained why there was a bank balance of some twenty thousand marks. + +Clearly I would need to master the signature of Karl Armstadt so I +searched among the papers until I found a bundle of returned decks. Many +of the larger checks had been made out to "Katrina," others to the +"Master of Games,"--evidently to cover gambling losses. The smaller +checks, I found by reference to the stubs, were for ornaments or +entertainment that might please a woman. The lack of the more ordinary +items of expenditure was presently made clear by the discovery of a +number of punch marked cards. For intermittent though necessary +expenses, such as tonsorial service, clothing and books. For the more +constant necessities of life, such as rent, food, laundry and +transportation, there was no record whatever; and I correctly assumed +that these were supplied without compensation and were therefore not a +matter of personal choice or permissible variation. Of money in its +ancient form of metal coins and paper, I found no evidence. + +~3~ + +In my mail the next morning I found a card signed by Lieut. Forrester of +the hospital staff. It read: + +"The bearer, Karl Armstadt, has recently suffered from gas poisoning +while defending the mines beneath enemy territory. This has affected his +memory. If he is therefore found disobeying any ruling or straying +beyond his permitted bounds, return him to his apartment and call the +Hospital for Complex Gas Cases." + +It was evidently a very kindly effort to protect a man whose loss of +memory might lead him into infractions of the numerous rulings of German +life. With this help I became ambitious to try the streets of Berlin +alone. The notice from the tailor afforded an excuse. + +Consulting my atlas to get my bearings I now ventured forth. The streets +were tunnel-like passage-ways closed over with a beamed ceiling of +whitish grey concrete studded with glowing light globes. In the +residence districts the smooth side walls were broken only by high +ventilating gratings and the narrow passage halls from which led the +doors of the apartments. + +The uncanny quiet of the streets of this city with its three hundred +million inhabitants awed and oppressed me. Hurriedly I walked along +occasionally passing men dressed like myself. They were pale men, with +blanched or sallow faces. But nowhere were there faces of ruddy tan as +one sees in a world of sun. The men in the hospital had been pale, but +that had seemed less striking for one is used to pale faces in a +hospital. It came to me with a sense of something lost that my own +countenance blanched in the mine and hospital would so remain colourless +like the faces of the men who now stole by me in their felted footwear +with a cat-like tread. + +At a cross street I turned and came upon a small group of shops with +monotonous panelled display windows inserted in the concrete walls. Here +I found my tailor and going in I promptly laid down his notice and my +clothing card. He glanced casually at the papers, punched the card and +then looking up he remarked that my new suit had been waiting some time. +I began explaining the incident in the mine and the stay in the +hospital; but the tailor was either disinterested or did not comprehend. + +"Will you try on your new suit now?" he interrupted, holding forth the +garments. The suit proved a trifle tight about the hips, but I hastened +to assure the tailor that the fit was perfect. I removed it and watched +him do it up in a parcel, open a wall closet, call my house number, and +send my suit on its way through one of the numerous carriers that +interlaced the city. + +As I walked more leisurely back to my apartment by a less direct way, I +found my analytical brain puzzling over the refreshing quality of the +breezes that blew through those tunnel-like streets. With bits of paper +I traced the air flow from the latticed faces of the elevator shafts to +the ventilating gratings of the enclosed apartments, and concluded that +there must be other shafts to the rear of the apartments for its exit. +It occurred to me that it must take an enormous system of ventilating +fans to keep this air in motion, and then I remembered the liquid air +engine I had seen in the mine, and a realization of the economy and +efficiency of the whole scheme dawned upon me. The Germans had solved +the power problem by using the heat of the deeper strata of the earth to +generate power through the agency of liquid air and the exhaust from +their engines had automatically solved their ventilating problem. I +recalled with a smile that I had seen no evidence of heating apparatus +anywhere except that which the miners had used to warm their food. In +this city cooling rather than heating facilities would evidently be +needed, even in the dead of winter, since the heat generated by the +inhabitants and the industrial processes would exceed the radiation from +the exterior walls and roof of the city. Sunshine and "fresh air" they +had not, but our own scientists had taught us for generations that heat +and humidity and not lack of oxygen or sunshine was the cause of the +depression experienced in indoor quarters. The air of Berlin was cool +and the excess of vapor had been frozen out of it. Yes, the "climate" of +Berlin should be more salubrious to the body, if not to the mind, than +the fickle environment of capricious nature. From my reasoning about +these ponderous problems of existence I was diverted to a trivial +matter. The men I observed on the streets all wore their hair clipped +short, while mine, with six weeks' growth, was getting rather long. I +had seen several barber's signs but I decided to walk on for quite a +distance beyond my apartment. I did not want to confront a barber who +had known Karl Armstadt, for barbers deal critically in the matter of +heads and faces. At last I picked out a shop. I entered and asked for +a haircut. + +"But you are not on my list," said the barber, staring at me in a +puzzled way, "why do you not go to your own barber?" + +Grasping the situation I replied that I did not like my barber. + +"Then why do you not apply at the Tonsorial Administrative Office of the +level for permission to change?" + +Returning to my apartment I looked up the office in my directory, went +thither and asked the clerk if I could exchange barbers. He asked for my +card and after a deal of clerical activities wrote thereon the name of a +new barber. With this official sanction I finally got my hair cut and my +card punched, thinking meanwhile that the soundness of my teeth would +obviate any amateur detective work on the part of a dentist. + +Nothing, it seemed, was left for the individual to decide for himself. +His every want was supplied by orderly arrangement and for everything he +must have an authoritative permit. Had I not been classed as a research +chemist, and therefore a man of some importance, this simple business of +getting a hair-cut might have proved my undoing. Indeed, as I afterwards +learned, the exclusive privacy of my living quarters was a mark of +distinction. Had I been one of lower ranking I should have shared my +apartment with another man who would have slept in my bed while I was at +work, for in the sunless city was neither night nor day and the whole +population worked and slept in prescribed shifts--the vast machinery of +industry, like a blind giant in some Plutonic treadmill, toiled +ceaselessly. + +The next morning I decided to extend my travels to the medical level, +which was located just above my own. There were stairs beside the +elevator shafts but these were evidently for emergency as they were +closed with locked gratings. + +The elevator stopped at my ring. Not sure of the proper manner of +calling my floor I was carried past the medical level. As we shot up +through the three-hundred-metre shaft, the names of levels as I had read +them in my atlas flashed by on the blind doors. On the topmost defence +level we took on an officer of the roof guard--strangely swarthy of +skin--and now the car shot down while the rising air rushed by us with a +whistling roar. + +On the return trip I called my floor as I had heard others do and was +let off at the medical level. It was even more monotonously quiet than +the chemical level, save for the hurrying passage of occasional +ambulances on their way between the elevators and the various hospitals. +The living quarters of the physicians were identical with those on the +chemists' level. So, too, were the quiet shops from which the physicians +supplied their personal needs. + +Standing before one of these I saw in a window a new book entitled +"Diseases of Nutrition." I went in and asked to see a copy. The book +seller staring at my chemical uniform in amazement reached quickly under +the counter and pressed a button. I became alarmed and turned to go out +but found the door had been automatically closed and locked. Trying to +appear unconcerned I stood idly glancing over the book shelves, while +the book seller watched me from the corner of his eye. + +In a few minutes the door opened from without and a man in the uniform +of the street guard appeared. The book seller motioned toward me. + +"Your identification folder," said the guard. + +Mechanically I withdrew it and handed it to him. He opened it and +discovered the card from the hospital. Smiling on me with an air of +condescension, he took me by the arm and led me forth and conducted me +to my own apartment on the chemical level. Arriving there he pushed me +gently into a chair and stepped toward the switch of the telephone. + +"Just a minute," I said, "I remember now. I was not on my level--that +was not my book store." + +"The card orders me to call up the hospital," said the guard. + +"It is unnecessary," I said. "Do not call them." + +The guard gazed first at me and then at the card. "It is signed by a +Lieutenant and you are a Captain--" his brows knitted as he wrestled +with the problem--"I do not know what to do. Does a Captain with an +affected memory outrank a Lieutenant?" + +"He does," I solemnly assured him. + +Still a little puzzled, he returned the card, saluted and was gone. It +had been a narrow escape. I got out my atlas and read again the rules +that set forth my right to be at large in the city. Clearly I had a +right to be found in the medical level--but in trying to buy a book +there I had evidently erred most seriously. So I carefully memorized the +list of shops set down in my identification folder and on my cards. + +For the next few days I lived alone in my apartment unmolested except by +an occasional visit from Holknecht, the laboratory assistant, who knew +nothing but chemistry, talked nothing but chemistry, and seemed dead to +all human emotions and human curiosity. Applying myself diligently to +the study of Armstadt's books and notes, I was delighted to find that +the Germans, despite their great chemical progress, were ignorant of +many things I knew. I saw that my knowledge discreetly used, might +enable me to become a great man among them and so learn secrets that +would be of immense value to the outer world, should I later contrive to +escape from Berlin. + +By my discoveries of the German workings in the potash mines I had +indeed opened a new road to Berlin. It was up to me by further +discoveries to open a road out again, not only for my own escape, but +perhaps also to find a way by which the World Armies might enter Berlin +as the Greeks entered Troy. Vague ambitious dreams were these that +filled and thrilled me, for I was young in years, and the romantic +spirit of heroic adventure surged in my blood. + +These days of study were quite uneventful, except for a single +illuminating incident; a further example of the super-efficiency of the +Germans. I found the meals served me at my apartment rather less in +quantity than my appetite craved. While there was a reasonable variety, +the nutritive value was always the same to a point of scientific +exactness, and I had seen no shops where extra food was available. After +I had been in my apartment about a week, some one rang at the door. I +opened it and a man called out the single word, "Weigher." Just behind +him stood a platform scale on small wheels and with handles like a +go-cart. The weigher stood, notebook in hand, waiting for me to act. I +took the hint and stepped upon the scales. He read the weight and as he +recorded it, remarked: + +"Three kilograms over." + +Without further explanation he pushed the scales toward the next door. +The following day I noticed that the portions of food served me were a +trifle smaller than they had been previously. The original Karl Armstadt +had evidently been of such build that he carried slightly less weight +than I, which fact now condemned me to this light diet. + +However, I reasoned that a light diet is conducive to good brain work, +and as I later learned, the object of this systematic weight control was +not alone to save food but to increase mental efficiency, for a fat man +is phlegmatic and a lean one too excitable for the best mental output. +It would also help my disguise by keeping me the exact weight and build +of the original Karl Armstadt. + +After a fortnight of study, I felt that I was now ready to take up my +work in the laboratory, but I feared my lack of general knowledge of the +city and its ways might still betray me. Hence I began further +journeyings about the streets and shops of those levels where a man of +my class was permitted to go. + +~4~ + +After exhausting the rather barren sport of walking about the monotonous +streets of the four professional levels I took a more exciting trip down +into the lower levels of the city where the vast mechanical industries +held sway. I did not know how much freedom might be allowed me, but I +reasoned that I would be out of my supposed normal environment and hence +my ignorance would be more excusable and in less danger of betraying me. + +Alighting from the elevator, I hurried along past endless rows of heavy +columns. I peered into the workrooms, which had no enclosing walls, and +discovered with some misgiving that I seemed to have come upon a race of +giants. The men at the machines were great hulking fellows with thick, +heavy muscles such as one would expect to see in a professional wrestler +or weight-lifter. I paused and tried to gauge the size of these men: I +decided that they were not giants for I had seen taller men in the outer +world. Two officials of some sort, distinguishable by finer garb, +walking among them, appeared to be men of average size, and the tops of +their heads came about to the workers' chins. That there should be such +men among the Germans was not unbelievable, but the strange thing was +that there should be so many of them, and that they should be so +uniformly large, for there was not a workman in the whole vast factory +floor that did not over-top the officials by at least half a head. + +"Of course," I reasoned, "this is part of German efficiency";--for the +men were feeding large plates through stamping mills--"they have +selected all the large men for this heavy work." Then as I continued to +gaze it occurred to me that this bright metal these Samsons were +handling was aluminum! + +I went on and came to a different work hall where men were tending wire +winding machinery, making the coils for some light electrical +instruments. It was work that girls could easily have done, yet these +men were nearly, if not quite, as hulking as their mates in the stamping +mill. To select such men for light-fingered work was not efficiency but +stupidity,--and then it came to me that I had also thought the soldiers +I had seen in the hospital to be men picked for size, and that in a +normal population there could not be such an abundance of men of +abnormal size. The meaning of it all began to clear in my mind--the +pedigree in my own identification folder with the numerous fraternity, +the system of social castes which my atlas had revealed, the +inexplicable and unnatural proportion of the sexes. These gigantic men +were not the mere pick from individual variation in the species, but a +distinct breed within a race wherein the laws of nature, that had kept +men of equal stature for countless centuries, even as wild animals were +equal, had been replaced by the laws of scientific breeding. These heavy +and ponderous labourers were the Percherons and Clydesdales of a +domesticated and scientifically bred human species. The soldiers, +somewhat less bulky and more active, were, no doubt, another distinct +breed. The professional classes which had seemed quite normal in +physical appearance--were they bred for mental rather than physical +qualities? Otherwise why the pedigree, why the rigid castes, the +isolation of women? I shuddered as the whole logical, inevitable +explanation unfolded. It was uncanny, unearthly, yet perfectly +scientific; a thing the world had speculated about for centuries, a +thing that every school boy knew could be done, and yet which I, facing +the fact that it had been done, could only believe by a strained effort +at scientific coolness. + +I walked on and on, absorbed, overwhelmed by these assaulting, +unbelievable conclusions, yet on either side as I walked was the ever +present evidence of the reality of these seemingly wild fancies. There +were miles upon miles of these endless workrooms and everywhere the same +gross breed of great blond beasts. + +The endless shops of Berlin's industrial level were very like those +elsewhere in the world, except that they were more vast, more +concentrated, and the work more speeded up by super-machines and +excessive specialization. Millions upon millions of huge, drab-clad, +stolid-faced workmen stood at their posts of duty, performing over and +over again their routine movements as the material of their labors +shuttled by in endless streams. + +Occasionally among the workmen I saw the uniforms of the petty officers +who acted as foremen, and still more rarely the administrative offices, +where, enclosed in glass panelled rooms, higher officials in more +bespangled uniforms poured over charts and plans. + +In all this colossal business there was everywhere the atmosphere of +perfect order, perfect system, perfect discipline. Go as I might among +the electrical works, among the vast factories of chemicals and goods, +the lighter labor of the textile mills, or the heavier, noisier business +of the mineral works and machine shops the same system of colossal +coordinate mechanism of production throbbed ceaselessly. Materials +flowed in endless streams, feeding electric furnaces, mills, machines; +passing out to packing tables and thence to vast store rooms. Industry +here seemed endless and perfect. The bovine humanity fitted to the +machinery as the ox to the treadmill. Everywhere was the ceaseless +throbbing of the machine. Of the human variation and the free action of +man in labour, there was no evidence, and no opportunity for its +existence. + +Turning from the mere monotonous endlessness of the workshops I made my +way to the levels above where the workers lived in those hours when they +ceased to be a part of the industrial mechanism of production; and +everywhere were drab-coloured men for these shifts of labour were +arranged so that no space at any time was wholly idle. I now passed by +miles of sleeping dormitories, and other miles of gymnasiums, picture +theatres and gaming tables, and, strikingly incongruous with the +atmosphere of the place, huge assembly rooms which were labelled "Free +Speech Halls." I started to enter one of these, where some kind of a +meeting was in progress, but I was thrust back by a great fellow who +grinned foolishly and said: "Pardon, Herr Captain, it is forbidden you." + +Through half-darkened streets, I again passed by the bunk-shelved +sleeping chambers with their cavernous aisles walled with orderly rows +of lockers. Again I came to other barracks where the men were not yet +asleep but were straggling in and sitting about on the lowest bunks of +these sterile makeshift homes. + +I then came into a district of mess halls where a meal was being served. +Here again was absolute economy and perfect system. The men dined at +endless tables and their food like the material for their labours, was +served to the workers by the highly efficient device of an endless +moving belt that rolled up out of a slot in the floor at the end of the +table after the manner of the chained steps of an escalator. + +From the moving belts the men took their portions, and, as they finished +eating, they cleared away by setting the empty dishes back upon the +moving belt. The sight fascinated me, because of the adaptation of this +mechanical principle to so strange a use, for the principle is old and, +as every engineer knows, was instrumental in founding the house of +Detroit Vehicle Kings that once dominated the industrial world. The +founder of that illustrious line gave the poorest citizen a motor car +and disrupted the wage system of his day by paying his men double the +standard wage, yet he failed to realize the full possibilities of +efficiency for he permitted his men to eat at round tables and be served +by women! Truly we of the free world very narrowly escaped the fetish of +efficiency which finally completely enslaved the Germans. + +Each of the long tables of this Berlin dining hall, the ends of which +faced me, was fenced off from its neighbours. At the entrance gates were +signs which read "2600 Calories," "2800 Calories," "3000 Calories"--I +followed down the line to the sign which read "Maximum Diet, 4000 +Calories." The next one read, "Minimum Diet 2000 Calories," and thence +the series was repeated. Farther on I saw that men were assembling +before such gates in lines, for the meal there had not begun. Moving to +the other side of the street I walked by the lines which curved out and +swung down the street. Those before the sign of "Minimum Diet" were not +quite so tall as the average, although obviously of the same breed. But +they were all gaunt, many of them drooped and old, relatively the +inferior specimens and their faces bore a cowering look of fear and +shame, of men sullen and dull, beaten in life's battle. Following down +the line and noting the improvement in physique as I passed on, I came +to the farthest group just as they had begun to pass into the hall. +These men, entering the gate labelled "Maximum Diet, 4000 Calories," +were obviously the pick of the breed, middle-aged, powerful, +Herculean,--and yet not exactly Herculean either, for many of them were +overfull of waistline, men better fed than is absolutely essential to +physical fitness. Evidently a different principle was at work here than +the strict economy of food that required the periodic weighing of the +professional classes. + +Turning back I now encountered men coming out of the dining hall in +which I had first witnessed the meal in progress. I wanted to ask +questions and yet was a little afraid. But these big fellows were +seemingly quite respectful; except when I started to enter the Free +Speech Hall, they had humbly made way for me. Emboldened by their +deference I now approached a man whom I had seen come out of a "3800 +Calories" gate, and who had crossed the street and stood there picking +his teeth with his finger nail. + +He ceased this operation as I approached and was about to step aside. +But I paused and smiled at him, much, I fear, as one smiles at a dog of +unknown disposition, for I could hardly feel that this ungainly creature +was exactly human. He smiled back and stood waiting. + +"Perhaps, I stammered," you will tell me about your system of eating; it +seems very interesting." + +"I eat thirty-eight," he grinned, "pretty good, yes? I am twenty-five +years old and not so tall either." + +I eyed him up--my eyes came just to the top button of his jacket. + +"I began thirty," continued the workman, "I came up one almost every +year, one year I came up two at once. Pretty good, yes? One more +to come." + +"What then?" I asked. + +The big fellow smiled with a childish pride, and doubling up his arm, as +huge as an average man's thigh, he patted his biceps. "I get it all +right. I pass examination, no flaws in me, never been to hospital, not +one day. Yes, I get it." + +"Get what?" + +"Paternity," said the man in a lower voice, as he glanced about to see +if any of his fellows was listening. "Paternity, you know? Women!" + +I thought of many questions but feared to ask them. The worker waited +for some men to pass, then he bent over me, grinning sardonically. "Did +you see them? You have seen women, yes?" + +"Yes," I ventured, "I have seen women." + +"Pretty good, beautiful, yes?" + +"Yes," I stammered, "they are very beautiful." But I was getting nervous +and moved away. The workman, hesitating a little, then followed at +my side. + +"But tell me," I said, "about these calories. What did you do to get the +big meals? Why do some get more to eat than others?" + +"Better man," he replied without hesitation. + +"But what makes a better man?" + +"You don't know; of course, you are an intellectual and don't work. But +we work hard. The harder we work the more we eat. I load aluminum pigs +on the elevator. One pig is two calories, nineteen hundred pigs a day, +pretty good, yes? All kind of work has its calories, so many for each +thing to do. + +"More work, more food it takes to do it. They say all is alike, that no +one can get fat. But all work calories are not alike because some men +get fatter than others. I don't get fat; my work is hard. I ought to get +two and a half calories for each pig I load. Still I do not get thin, +but I do not play hard in gymnasium, see? Those lathe men, they got it +too easy and they play hard in gymnasium. I don't care if you do report. +I got it mad at them; they got it too easy. One got paternity last year +already, and he is not as good a man as I am. I could throw him over my +shoulder in wrestling. Do you not think they get it too easy?" + +"Do the men like this system," I asked; "the measuring of food by the +amount of work one does? Do any of them talk about it and demand that +all be fed alike?" + +"The skinny minimum eaters do," said the workman with a sneer, "when we +let them talk, which isn't often, but when they get a chance they talk +Bellamism. But what if they do talk, it does them no good. We have a red +flag, we have Imperial Socialism; we have the House of Hohenzollern. +Well, then, I say, let them talk if they want to, every man must eat +according to his work; that is socialism. We can't have Bellamism when +we have socialism." + +This speech, so much more informative and evidencing a knowledge I had +not anticipated, quite disturbed me. "You talk about these things," I +ventured, "in your Free Speech Halls?" + +The hitherto pleasant face of the workingman altered to an ugly frown. + +"No you don't," he growled, "you don't think because I talk to you, that +you can go asking me what is not your right to know, even if you are +an officer?" + +I remained discreetly silent, but continued to walk at the side of the +striding giant. Presently I asked: + +"What do you do now, are you going to work?" + +"No," he said, looking at me doubtfully, "that was dinner, not +breakfast. I am going now to the picture hall." + +"And then," I asked, "do you go to bed?" + +"No," he said, "we then go to the gymnasium or the gaming tables. Six +hours' work, six hours' sleep, and four hours for amusement." + +"And what do you do," I asked, "the remainder of the day?" + +He turned and stared at me. "That is all we get here, sixteen hours. +This is the metal workers' level. Some levels get twenty hours. It +depends on the work." + +"But," I said, "a real day has twenty-four hours." + +"I've heard," he said, "that it does on the upper levels." + +"But," I protested, "I mean a real day--a day of the sun. Do you +understand that?" + +"Oh yes," he said, "we see the pictures of the Place in the Sun. That's +a fine show." + +"Oh," I said, "then you have pictures of the sun?" + +"Of course," he replied, "the sun that shines upon the throne. We all +see that." + +At the time I could not comprehend this reference, but I made bold to +ask if it were forbidden me to go to his picture hall. + +"I can't make out," he said, "why you want to see, but I never heard of +any order forbidding it. + +"I go here," he remarked, as we came to a picture theatre. + +I let my Herculean companion enter alone, but followed him shortly and +found a seat in a secluded corner. No one disputed my presence. + +The music that filled the hall from some hidden horn was loud and, in a +rough way, joyous. The pictures--evidently carefully prepared for such +an audience--were limited to the life that these men knew. The themes +were chiefly of athletic contests, of boxing, wrestling and feats of +strength. There were also pictures of working contests, always ending by +the awarding of honours by some much bespangled official. But of love +and romance, of intrigue and adventure, of pathos and mirth, these +pictures were strangely devoid,--there was, in fact, no woman's likeness +cast upon the screen and no pictures depicting emotion or sentiment. + +As I watched the sterile flittings of the picture screen I decided, +despite the glimmering of intelligence that my talking Hercules had +shown in reference to socialism and Bellamism and the secrets of the +Free Speech Halls, that these men were merely great stupid beasts +of burden. + +They worked, they fed, they drank, they played exuberantly in their +gymnasiums and swimming pools, they played long and eagerly at games of +chance. Beyond this their lives were essentially blank. Ambition and +curiosity they had none beyond the narrow circle of their round of +living. But for all that they were docile, contented and, within their +limitations, not unhappy. To me they seemed more and more to be like +well cared for domestic animals, and I found myself wondering, as I left +the hall, why we of the outer world had not thought to produce pictures +in similar vein to entertain our dogs and horses. + +~5~ + +As I returned to my own quarters, I tried to recall the description I +had read of the "Children of the Abyss," the dwellers in ancient city +slums. There was a certain kinship, no doubt, between those former +submerged workers in the democratic world and this labour breed of +Berlin. Yet the enslaved and sweated workers of the old regime were +always depicted as suffering from poverty, as undersized, ill-nourished +and afflicted with disease. The reformers of that day were always +talking of sanitary housing, scientific diet and physical efficiency. +But here was a race of labourers whose physical welfare was as well +taken care of as if they had been prize swine or oxen. There was a +paleness of countenance among these labourers of Berlin that to me +seemed suggestive of ill health, but I knew that was merely due to lack +of sun and did not signify a lack of physical vitality. Mere +sun-darkened skin does not mean physiological efficiency, else the negro +were the most efficient of races. Men can live without sun, without +rain, without contact with the soil, without nature's greenery and the +brotherhood of fellow species in wild haunts. The whole climb of +civilization had been away from these primitive things. It had merely +been an artificial perfecting of the process of giving the living +creature that which is needed for sustenance and propagation in the most +concentrated and most economical form, the elimination of Nature's +superfluities and wastes. + +As I thought of these things it came over me that this unholy +imprisonment of a race was but the logical culmination of mechanical and +material civilization. This development among the Germans had been +hastened by the necessities of war and siege, yet it was what the whole +world had been driving toward since man first used a tool and built a +hut. Our own freer civilization of the outer world had been achieved +only by compromises, by a stubborn resistance against the forces to +which we ascribed our progress. We were merely not so completely +civilized, because we had never been wholly domesticated. + +As I now record these thoughts on the true significance of the perfected +civilization of the Germans I realize that I was even more right than I +then knew, for the sunless city of Berlin is of a truth a civilization +gone to seed, its people are a domesticated species, they are the +logical outcome of science applied to human affairs, with them the +prodigality and waste of Nature have been eliminated, they have stamped +out contagious diseases of every kind, they have substituted for the +laws of Nature the laws that man may pick by scientific theory and +experiment from the multitude of possibilities. Yes, the Germans were +civilized. And as I pondered these things I recalled those fairy tales +that naturalists tell of the stagnant and fixed society of ants in their +subterranean catacombs. These insect species credited for industry and +intelligence, have in their lesser world reached a similar perfection of +civilization. Ants have a royal house, they have a highly specialized +and fixed system of caste, a completely socialized state--yes, a +Utopia--even as Berlin was a Utopia, with the light of the sun and the +light of the soul, the soul of the wild free man, forever shut out. Yes, +I was walking in Utopia, a nightmare at the end of man's long +dream--Utopia--Black Utopia--City of Endless Night--diabolically +compounded of the three elements of civilization in which the Germans +had always been supreme--imperialism, science and socialism. + + + +CHAPTER IV + +I GO PLEASURING ON THE LEVEL OF FREE WOMEN AND DRINK SYNTHETIC BEER + + +~1~ + +I had returned from my adventure on the labour levels in a mood of +sombre depression. Alone again in my apartment I found difficulty in +getting my mind back upon chemical books. With a sense of relief I +reported to Holknecht that I thought myself sufficiently recovered to +return to work. + +My laboratory I found to be almost as secluded as my living quarters. I +was master there, and as a research worker I reported to no man until I +had finished the problem assigned me. From my readings and from +Holknecht's endless talking I had fairly well grasped the problem on +which I was supposed to be working, and I now had Holknecht go carefully +over the work he had done in my absence and we prepared a report. This I +sent to headquarters with a request for permission to start work on +another problem, the idea for which I claimed to have conceived on my +visit to the attacked potash mines. + +Permission to undertake the new problem was promptly granted. I now set +to work to reproduce in a German laboratory the experiments by which I +had originally conquered the German gas that had successfully defended +those mines from the world for over a century. Though loath to make this +revelation, I knew of no other "Discovery" wherewith to gain the stakes +for which I was playing. + +Events shaped themselves most rapidly along the lines of my best hopes. +The new research proved a blanket behind which to hide my ignorance. We +needed new material, new apparatus, and new data and I encouraged +Holknecht to advise me as to where to obtain these things and so gained +requisite working knowledge. + +The experiments and demonstrations finished, I made my report. My +immediate superior evidently quickly recognized it as a matter too +important for his consideration and dutifully passed it up to his own +superiors. In a few days I was notified to prepare for a demonstration +before a committee of the Imperial Chemical Staff. + +They came to my small laboratory with much eager curiosity. From their +manner of making themselves known to me I realized with joy that they +were dealing with a stranger. Indeed it was improbable that it should +have been otherwise for there were upwards of fifty thousand chemists of +my rank in Berlin. + +The demonstration went off with a flourish and the committee were +greatly impressed. Means were at once taken to alter the gas with which +the Stassfurt mines were flooded, but I realized that meant nothing +since I believed that my companions had abandoned the enterprise and the +secret that had enabled me to invade mines had not been shared with any +one in the outer world. + +As I anticipated, my revelation was accepted by the Chemical Staff as +evidence of profound scientific genius. It followed as a logical matter +that I should be promoted to the highest rank of research chemists with +the title of Colonel. Because of my youth the more was made of the +honour. This promotion entitled me to double my previous salary, to a +larger laboratory and larger and better living quarters in a distant +part of the city. + +My assistant would now be of the rank I had previously been and as +Holknecht was not eligible to such promotion I was removed entirely from +all previous acquaintances and surroundings and so greatly decreased the +chance of discovery of my true identity. + +~2~ + +After I had removed to my new quarters I was requested to call at the +office of the Chemical Staff to discuss the line of research I should +next take up. My adviser in this matter was the venerable Herr von Uhl, +a white haired old patriarch whose jacket was a mass of decorations. The +insignia on the left breast indicating the achievements in chemical +science were already familiar to me, but those on the right breast +were strange. + +Perhaps I stared at them a little, for the old man, noting my interest, +remarked proudly, "Yes, I have contributed much glory to the race and +our group,--one hundred and forty-seven children,--one hundred and four +of them sons, fifty-eight already of a captain's rank, and twenty-nine +of them colonels--my children of the second and third generation number +above two thousand. Only three men living in Berlin have more total +descendants--and I am but seventy-eight years of age. If I live to be +ninety I shall break all records of the Eugenic Office. It all comes of +good breeding and good work. I won my paternity right, when I was but +twenty-eight, just about your age. If you pass the physical test, +perhaps you can duplicate my record. For this early promotion you have +won qualifies you mentally." + +Astonished and alarmed beyond measure I could find no reply and sat +staring dumbly, while Herr von Uhl, beginning to speak of chemical +matters, inquired if I had any preference as to the problem I should now +take up. Incapable of any clear thinking I could only ask if he had any +to suggest. + +Immediately the old man's face brightened. "A man of your genius," he +said, "should be permitted to try his brain with the greatest problems +on which the life of Germany depends. The Staff discussed this and has +assigned you to original research for the finding of a better method of +the extraction of protium from the ore. To work on this assignment you +must of necessity share grave secrets, which, should they be disclosed, +might create profound fears, but your professional honour is a sufficient +guarantee of secrecy. In this research you will compete with some of the +most distinguished chemists in Berlin. If you should be successful you +will be decorated by His Majesty and you will receive a liberal pension +commensurate with the value of your discovery." + +I was profoundly impressed. Evidently I had stumbled upon something of +vital importance, the real nature of which I did not in the least +comprehend, and happily was not supposed to. The interview was ended by +my being entrusted with voluminous unpublished documents which I was +told to take home and study. Two armed men were ordered to accompany me +and to stand alternate guard outside my apartment while I had the +documents in my possession. + +~3~ + +In the quiet of my new abode I unsealed the package. The first sheet +contained the official offer of the rewards in store for success with +the research. The further papers explained the occasion for the gravity +and secrecy, and outlined the problem. + +The colossal consequence of the matter with which I was dealing gripped +and thrilled me. Protium, it seemed, was the German name for a rare +element of the radium group, which, from its atomic weight and other +properties, I recognized as being known to the outside world only as a +laboratory curiosity of no industrial significance. + +But, as used by the Germans, this element was the essence of life +itself, for by the influence of its emanations, they had achieved the +synthesis of protein capable of completely nourishing the human body--a +thing that could be accomplished in the outside world only through the +aid of natural protein derived from plants and animals. + +How I wished, as I read, that my uncle could have shared with me this +revelation of a secret that he had spent his life in a fruitless effort +to unravel. We had long since discovered how the Germans had synthesized +the carbohydrate molecule from carbon dioxide and water and built +therefrom the sugars, starches and fat needed for human nutrition. We +knew quite as well how they had created the simpler nitrogen compounds, +that this last step of synthesizing complete food proteins--a step +absolutely essential to the support of human life wholly from synthetic +foods--the chemists of the outer world had never mastered. + +But no less interesting than the mere chemistry of all this was the +history of it all, and the light it threw on the larger story of how +Germany had survived when the scientists of the world had predicted her +speedy annihiliation. The original use of protium had, I found, been +discovered late in the Twentieth Century when the protium ores of the +Ural Mountains were still available to the German chemists. After Russia +had been won by the World Armies, the Germans for a time suffered +chronic nitrogen starvation, as they depended on the protium derived +from what remained of their agriculture and from the fisheries in the +Baltic. As the increasing bombardment from the air herded them within +their fast building armoured city, and drove them beneath the soil in +all other German territory and from the surface of the sea in the +Baltic; they must have perished miserably but for the discovery of a new +source of protium. + +This source they had found in the uninhabited islands of the Arctic, +where the formation of the Ural Mountains extends beneath the sea. +Sending their submarines thence in search of platinum ores they had not +found platinum but a limited supply of ore containing the even more +valuable protium. By this traffic Germany had survived for a century and +a half. The quantity of the rare element needed was small, for its +effect, like that of radium, was out of all proportion to its bulk. But +this little they must have, and it seems that the supply of ore +was failing. + +Nor was that all to interest me. How did the German submarine get to the +Arctic since the World State had succeeded, after half a century of +effort, in damming the Baltic by closing up several passes among the +Danish Islands and the main pass of the sound between Zealand and +Sweden? I remember, as a youngster, the great Jubilee that celebrated +the completion of that monumental task, and the joy that hailed from the +announcement that the world's shipping would at last be freed from an +ancient scourge. + +But little had we of the world known the magnitude of the German fears +as the Baltic dam neared completion. We had thought merely to protect +our commerce from German piracy and perhaps to stop them from getting a +little copper and rubber in some remote corner of the earth. But we did +not realize that we were about to cut them off from an essential element +without which that conceited and defiant race must have speedily run up +the white flag of absolute surrender or have died to the last man, like +rats in a neglected trap. + +But the completion of the Baltic dam evidently had not shut off the +supply of Arctic ore, for the annual importation of ore was given right +up to date though the Baltic had been closed for nearly a score of +years. Eagerly I searched my papers for an item that would give some +hint as to how the submarines got out of the dammed-up Baltic. But on +that point the documents before me were silent. They referred to the +Arctic ore, gave elaborate details as to mineralogy and geology of the +strata from which it came, but as to the ways of its coming into Berlin +there was not the slightest suggestion. That this ore must come by +submarine was obvious. If so, the submarine must be at large in the +Atlantic and Arctic seas, and those occasional reports of periscopes +sighted off the coast of Norway, which have never been credited, were +really true. The submarines, or at least their cargoes, must reach +Berlin by some secret passage. Here indeed was a master mystery, a +secret which, could I unravel it and escape to the outer world with the +knowledge, would put unconditionally within the power of the World State +the very life of the three hundred millions of this unholy race that was +bred and fed by science in the armoured City of Berlin, or that, working +like blind moles of the earth, held the world at bay from off the +sterile and pock-marked soil of all that was left of the one-time +German Empire. + +That night I did not sleep till near the waking hour, and when the +breakfast container bumped into the receiving cupboard I was nodding +over the chemical papers amid strange and wonderful dreams. + +~4~ + +Next day with three assistants, themselves chemists of no mean rank, I +set to work to prepare apparatus for repeating all the known processes +in the extraction and use of the rare and vital element. This work +absorbed me for many weeks, during which time I went nowhere and saw no +one and slept scarce one hour out of four. + +But the steady application told upon me, and, by way of recreation, I +decided to spend an evening on the Level of Free Women, a place to +which, much though it fascinated me, I had not yet mustered the +courage to go. + +My impression, as I stepped from the elevator, was much as that of a man +who alights from a train in a strange city on a carnival night. Before +me, instead of the narrow, quiet streets of the working and living +quarters of the city, there spread a broad and seemingly endless hall of +revelry, broken only by the massive grey pillars that held up the +multi-floored city. The place was thronged with men of varied ranks and +professions. But more numerous and conspicuous were the women, the first +and only women that I had seen among the Germans--the Free Women of +Berlin, dressed in gorgeous and daring costumes; women of whom but few +were beautiful, yet in whose tinted cheeks and sparkling eyes was all +the lure of parasitic love. + +The multi-hued apparel of the throng dazzled and astonished me. +Elsewhere I had found a sterile monotony of dress and even of stature +and features. But here was resplendent variety and display. Men from all +the professional and military classes mingled indiscriminately, their +divers uniforms and decorations suggesting a dress ball in the capital +of the world. But the motley costumes of the women, who dressed with the +license of unrestrained individuality, were even more startling and +bizarre--a kaleidoscopic fantastic masquerade. + +I wondered if the rule of convention and tyranny of style had lost all +hold upon these women. And yet I decided, as I watched more closely, +that there was not an absence of style but rather a warfare of styles. +The costumes varied from the veiled and beruffled displays, that left +one confounded as to what manner of creature dwelt therein, to the other +extreme of mere gaudily ornamented nudity. I smiled as I recalled the +world-old argument on the relative modesty of much or little clothing, +for here immodesty was competing side by side in both extremes, both +seemingly equally successful. + +But it was not alone in the matter of dress that the women of the Free +Level varied. They differed even more strikingly in form and feature, +for, as I was later more fully to comprehend, these women were drawn +from all the artificially specialized breeds into which German science +had wrought the human species. Most striking and most numerous were +those whom I rightly guessed to be of the labour strain. Proportionally +not quite so large as the males of the breed, yet they were huge, +full-formed, fleshly creatures, with milky white skin for the most part +crudely painted with splashes of vermilion and with blued or blackened +brows. The garishness of their dress and ornament clearly bespoke the +poorer quality of their intellect, yet to my disgust they seemed fully +as popular with the men as the smaller and more refined types, evidently +from the intellectual strains of the race. + +Happily these ungainly women of the labour strain were inclined to herd +by themselves and I hastened to direct my steps to avoid as much as +possible their overwhelming presence. + +The smaller women, who seemed to be more nearly human, were even more +variegated in their features and make-up. They were not all blondes, +for some of them were distinctively dark of hair and skin, though +I was puzzled to tell how much of this was inborn and how much +the work of art. Another thing that astonished me was the wide +range of bodily form, as evidently determined by nutrition. Clearly +there was no weight-control here, for the figures varied from extreme +slenderness to waddling fatness. The most common type was that of mild +obesity which men call "plumpness," a quality so prized since the world +began that the women of all races by natural selection become relatively +fatter than men. + +For the most part I found these women unattractive and even repellent, +and yet as I walked about the level I occasionally caught fleeting +glimpses of genuine beauty of face and form, and more rarely expressions +of a seeming high order of intelligence. + +This revelling multitude of men and girls was uproariously engaged in +the obvious business of enjoying themselves by means of every art known +to appeal to the mind of man--when intelligence is abandoned and moral +restraint thrown to the winds. + +I wended my way among the multitude, gay with colour, noisy with chatter +and mingled music, redolent with a hundred varieties of sensuous +perfume. I came upon a dancing floor. Whirling and twisting about the +columns, circling around a gorgeous scented and iridescent fountain, +officers and scientists, chemists and physicians, each clasping in his +arms a laughing girl, danced with abandon to languorous music. + +As I watched the dance I overheard two girls commenting upon the +appearance of the dancers. Whirling by in the arms of a be-medalled +officer, was a girl whose frizzled yellow hair fell about a +dun-brown face. + +"Did you see that, Fedora, tanned as a roof guard and with that hair!" + +"Well, you know," said the other, "it's becoming quite the fashion +again." + +"Why don't you try it? Three baths would tan you adorably and you do +have the proper hair." + +"Oh, yes, I have the hair, all right, but my skin won't stand it. I +tried it three years ago and I blistered outrageously." + +The talk drifted to less informing topics and I moved on and came to +other groups lounging at their ease on rugs and divans as they watched +more skilful girls squirming through some intricate ballet on an +exhibition platform. + +Seeing me stand apart, a milk-white girl with hair dyed pink came +tugging at my arm. Her opalescent eyes looked from out her chalky +countenance; but they were not hard eyes, indeed they seemed the eyes of +innocence. As I shook my head and rebuffed her cordial advance I felt, +not that I was refusing the proffered love of a painted woman, but +rather that I was meanly declining a child's invitation to join her +play. In haste I edged away and wandered on past endless gaming tables +where men in feverish eagerness whirled wheels of chance, while garishly +dressed girls leaned on their shoulders and hung about their necks. + +Announced by shouts and shrieking laughter I came upon a noisy jumble of +mechanical amusement devices where men and girls in whirling upholstered +boxes were being pitched and tumbled about. + +Beyond the noise of the childish whirligigs I came into a space where +the white ceiling lights were dimmed by crimson globes and picture +screens were in operation. It did not take long for me to grasp the +essential difference between these pictured stories and those I had seen +in the workmen's level. There love of woman was entirely absent from the +screen. Here it was the sole substance of the pictures. But unlike the +love romances of the outer world, there were no engagement rings, no +wedding bells, and never once did the face or form of a child appear. + +In seating myself to see the pictures I had carefully chosen a place +where there was only room for myself between a man and one of the +supporting columns. At an interlude the man arose to go. The girl who +had been with him arose also, but he pushed her back upon the bench, +saying that he had other engagements, and did not wish her company. The +moment he was gone the girl moved over and proceeded to crowd +caressingly against my shoulder. She was a huge girl, obviously of the +labour strain. She leaned over me as if I had been a lonely child and +she a lonelier woman. Crowded against the pillar I could not escape and +so tried to appear unconcerned. + +"Did you like that story?" I asked, referring to the picture that had +just ended. + +"No," she replied, "the girl was too timid. She could never have won a +roof guard captain in that fashion. They are very difficult men, those +roof guard officers." + +"And what kind of pictures do you prefer?" I asked. + +"Quartettes," she answered promptly. "Two men and two girls when both +girls want the other man, and both men want the girl they have. That +makes a jolly plot. Or else the ones where there are two perfect lovers +and the man is elected to paternity and leaves her. I had a man like +that once and it makes me sad to see such a picture." + +"Perhaps," I said, speaking in a timorous voice, "you wanted to go with +him and be the mother of his children?" + +She turned her face toward me in the dim light. "He talked like that," +she said, "and then, I hated him. I knew then that he wanted to go and +leave me. That he hadn't tried to avoid the paternity draft. Yes, he +wanted to sire children. And he knew that he would have to leave me. And +so I hated him for ever loving me." + +A strange thrill crept over me at the girl's words. I tried to fathom +her nature, to separate the tangle of reality from the artificial ideas +ingrained by deliberate mis-education. "Did you ever see children? Here, +I mean. Pictures of them, perhaps, on the screen?" + +"Never," said the girl, drawing away from me and straightening up till +my head scarce reached her shoulder. "And I never want to. I hate the +thought of them. I wish I never had been one. Why can't +we--forget them?" + +I did not answer, and the labour girl, who, for some technical flaw in +her physique had been rejected for motherhood, arose and walked +ponderously away. + +After this baffling revelation of the struggle of human souls caught in +the maw of machine-made science, I found the picture screen a dull dead +thing, and I left the hall and wandered for miles, it seemed, past +endless confusion of meaningless revelry. Everywhere was music and +gaming and laughter. Men and girls lounged and danced, or spun the +wheels of fortune or sat at tables drinking from massive steins, a +highly flavoured variety of rather ineffectual synthetic beer. Older +women served and waited on the men and girls, and for every man was at +least one girl and sometimes as many as could crowd about him. And so +they sang, and banged their mugs and sloshed their frothy beverage. + +A lonely stranger amidst the jostling throngs, I wandered on through the +carnival of Berlin's Level of Free Women. Despite my longing for human +companionship I found it difficult to join in this strange recrudescent +paganism with any ease or grace. + +Girls, alone or in groups, fluttered about me with many a covert or open +invitation to join in their merry-making, but something in my halting +manner and constrained speech seemed to repulse them, for they would +soon turn away as if condemning me as a man without appreciation of the +value of human enjoyment. + +My constraint and embarrassment were increased by a certain sense of +guilt, a feeling which no one in this vast throng, either man or woman, +seemed to share. The place had its own standard of ethics, and they were +shocking enough to a man nurtured in a human society founded on the +sanctification of monogamous marriage. But merely to condemn this +recreational life of Germany, by likening it to the licentious freedom +that exists in occasional unrestrained amusement places in the outer +world, would be to give a very incorrect interpretation of Berlin's +Level of Free Women. As we know such places elsewhere in the world there +is always about them some tacit confession of moral delinquency, some +pretence of apology on the part of the participants. The women who so +revel in the outer world consider themselves under a ban of social +disapproval, while the men are either of a type who have no sense of +moral restraint or men who have for the time abandoned it. + +But for this life in Berlin no guilt was felt, no apology offered. The +men considered it as quite a normal and proper part of their life, while +the women looked upon it as their whole life, to which they had been +trained and educated and set apart by the Government; they accepted the +rôle quite as did the scientist, labourer, soldier, or professional +mother. The state had decreed it to be. They did not question its +morality. Hence the life here was licentious and yet unashamed, much, as +I fancy was the life in the groves of Athens or the baths of +ancient Rome. + + + +CHAPTER V + +I AM DRAFTED FOR PATERNITY AND MAKE EXTRAORDINARY +PETITION TO THE CHIEF OF THE EUGENIC STAFF + + +~1~ + +My research was progressing nicely and I had discovered that in this +field of chemistry also my knowledge of the outer world would give me +tremendous advantages over all competitors. Eagerly I worked at the +laboratory, spending most of my evenings in study. Occasionally I +attended the educational pictures or dined on the Level of Free Women +with my chemical associates and spent an hour or so at dancing or at +cards. My life had settled into routine unbroken by adventure. Then I +received a notice to report for the annual examination at the Physical +Efficiency Laboratory. I went with some misgivings, but the ordeal +proved uneventful. A week later I received a most disturbing +communication, a bulky and official looking packet bearing the imprint +of the Eugenic Office. I nervously slit the envelope and drew forth +a letter: + +"You are hereby notified that you have reached a stage of advancement in +your professional work that marks you a man of superior gifts, and, +having been reported as physically perfect you are hereby honoured with +the high privilege and sacred duties of election to paternity. Full +instructions for your conduct in this duty to the State will be found in +the enclosed folder." + +In nervous haste I scanned the printed folder: + +"Your first duty will be to visit the boys' school for which passport is +here enclosed. The purpose of this is to awaken the paternal instincts +that you may better appreciate and feel the holy obligation and +privilege conferred upon you. You will also find enclosed cards of +introduction to three women whom the Eugenic Office finds to be fitted +as mothers of your children. That natural selection may have a limited +play you are permitted to select only one woman from each three +assigned. Such selection must be made and reported within thirty days, +after which a second trio will be assigned you. Until such final +selection has been recorded you are expressly forbidden to conduct +yourself toward these women in an amorous manner." + +Next followed a set of exacting rules for the proper deportment, in the +carrying out of these duties to which the State had assigned me. + +A crushing sense of revulsion, a feeling of loathing and uncleanliness +overwhelmed me as I pushed aside the papers. Coming from a world where +the right of the individual to freedom and privacy in the matrimonial +and paternal relations was recognized as a fundamental right of man, I +found this officious communication, with its detailed instruction, +appalling and revolting. + +A man cravenly clings to life and yet there are instincts in his soul +which will cause him to sell life defiantly for a mere conception of a +moral principle. To become by official mandate a father of a numerous +German progeny was a thing to which I could not and would not submit. +Many times that day as I automatically pursued my work, I resolved to go +to some one in authority and give myself up to be sent to the mines as a +prisoner of war, or more likely to be executed as a spy. Cold reason +showed me the futility of neglecting or attempting to avoid an assigned +duty. It was a military civilization and I had already seen enough of +this ordered life of Berlin to know that there was no middle ground of +choice between explicit obedience and open rebellion. Nor need I concern +myself with what punishment might be provided for this particular +disobedience for I saw that rebellion for me would mean an investigation +that would result in complete tearing away of the protecting mask of my +German identity. + +But after my first tumultuous feeling subsided I realized that something +more than my own life was at stake. Already possessed of much intimate +knowledge of the life within Berlin I believed that I was in a way to +come into possession of secrets of vast and vital importance to the +world. To gain these secrets, to escape from the walls of Berlin, was a +more than personal ambition; it was an ambition for mankind. + +After a day or two of deliberation I therefore decided against any rash +rebellion. Moreover, as nothing compromising was immediately required of +me, I detached and mailed the four coupons provided, having duly filled +in the time at which I should make the preliminary calls. + +~2~ + +On the day and hour appointed I presented the school card to the +elevator operator, who punched it after the manner of his kind, and duly +deposited me on the level of schools for boys of the professional +groups. A lad of about sixteen met me at the elevator and conducted me +to the school designated. + +The master greeted me with obsequious gravity, and waved me to the +visitor's seat on a raised platform. "You will be asked to speak," he +said, "and I beg that you will tell the boys of the wonderful chemical +discoveries that won you the honours of election to paternity." + +"But," I protested, as I glanced at the boys who were being put through +their morning drill in the gymnasium, "I fear the boys of such age will +not comprehend the nature of my work." + +"Certainly not," he replied, "and I would rather you did not try to +simplify it for their undeveloped minds, merely speak learnedly of your +work as if you were addressing a body of your colleagues. The less the +boys understand of it the more they will be impressed with its +importance, and the more ambitious they will be to become great +chemists." + +This strange philosophy of education annoyed me, but I did not have time +to argue further for the bell had rung and the boys were filing in with +strict military precision. There were about fifty of them, all in their +twelfth year, and of remarkable uniformity in size and development. The +blanched skin, which marked the adult faces of Berlin, was, in the pasty +countenance of those German boys, a more horrifying spectacle. Yet they +stood erect and, despite their lack of colour, were evidently a well +nourished, well exercised group of youngsters. + +As the last boy reached his place the master motioned with his hand and +fifty arms moved in unison in a mechanical salute. + +"We have with us this morning," said the master, "a chemist who has won +the honours of paternity with his original thought. He will tell you +about his work which you cannot understand--you should therefore listen +attentively." + +After a few more sentences of these paradoxical axioms on education, the +master nodded, and, as I had been instructed, I proceeded to talk of the +chemical lore of poison gases. + +"And now," said the master, when I resumed my seat, "we will have a +review lesson. You will first recite in unison the creed of your caste." + +"We are youth of the super-race," began the boys in a sing-song and well +timed chorus. "We belong to the chemical group of the intellectual +levels, being born of sires who were great chemists, born of great +chemists for many generations. It is our duty to learn while we are yet +young all that we may ever need to know, to keep our minds free from +forbidden knowledge and to resist the temptation to think on unnecessary +things. So we may be good Germans, loyal to the House of Hohenzollern +and to the worship of the old German God and the divine blood of William +the Great." + +The schoolmaster, who had nodded his head in unison with the rhythm of +the recitation, now smiled in satisfaction. "That was very good," he +said. "I did not hear one faltering voice. Now you may recite +individually in your alphabetical order. + +"Anton, you may describe the stages in the evolution of the super-man." + +Anton, a flaxen-haired youngster, arose, saluted like a wooden soldier, +and intoned the following monologue: + +"Man is an animal in the process of evolving into a god. The method of +this evolution is a struggle in which the weak perish and the strong +survive. First in this process of man's evolution came the savage, who +lived with the lions and the apes. In the second stage came the dark +races who built the so-called ancient civilizations, and fought among +themselves to possess private property and women and children. Third +came the barbarian Blond Brutes, who were destined to sire the +super-race, but the day had not yet come, and they mixed with the dark +races and produced the mongrel peoples, which make the fourth. The fifth +stage is the pure bred Blond Brutes, uncontaminated by inferior races, +which are the men, who under God's direction, built the Armoured City of +Berlin in which to breed the Supermen who are to conquer the mongrel +peoples. The sixth, last and culminating stage of the evolution of man +is the Divinity in human form which is our noble House of Hohenzollern, +descended physically from William the Great, and spiritually from the +soul of God Himself, whose statue stands with that of the Mighty William +at the portals of the Emperor's palace." + +It had been a noble effort for so young a memory and as the proud master +looked at me expectantly I could do nothing less than nod my +appreciation. + +The master now gave Bruno the following cue: + +"Name the four kinds of government and explain each." + +From the sad-eyed youth of twelve came this flow of wisdom: + +"The first form of government is monarchy, in which the people are ruled +by a man who calls himself a king but who has no divine authority so +that the people sometimes failed to respect him and made revolutions and +tried to govern themselves. The second form of government is a republic, +sometimes called a democracy. It is usually co-existent with the lawyer, +the priest, the family and the greed for gold. But in reality this +government is by the rich men, who let the poor men vote and think they +have a share in the government, thus to keep them contented with their +poverty. The third form of government is proletariat socialism in which +the people, having abolished kings and rich men, attempt to govern +themselves; but this they cannot do for the same reason that a man +cannot lift himself by his shoestraps--" + +At this point Bruno faltered and his face went chalky white. The teacher +being directly in front of the standing pupil did not see what had +happened, while I, with fleeting memory of my own school days, +suppressed my mirth behind a formal countenance, as the stoic Bruno +resumed his seat. + +The master marked zero on the roll and called upon Conrad, next in line, +to finish the recitation. + +"The fourth and last form of government," recited Conrad, "is autocratic +socialism, the perfect government that we Germans have evolved from +proletariat socialism which had destroyed the greed for private property +and private family life, so that the people ceased to struggle +individually and were ready to accept the Royal House, divinely +appointed by God to govern them perfectly and prepare them to make war +for the conquest of the world." + +The recitations now turned to repetitions of the pedigree and ranking of +the various branches of the Royal House. But it was a mere list of names +like the begats of Genesis and I was not able to profit much by this +opportunity to improve my own neglected education. As the morning wore +on the parrot-like monologues shifted to elementary chemistry. + +The master had gone entirely through the alphabet of names and now +called again the apt Anton for a more brilliant demonstration of his +system of teaching. "Since we have with us a chemist who has achieved +powers of original thought, I will permit you, Anton, to demonstrate +that even at the tender age of twelve you are capable of +original thought." + +Anton rose gravely and stood at attention. "And what shall I think +about?" he asked. + +"About anything you like," responded the liberal minded schoolmaster, +"provided it is limited to your permitted field of psychic activity." + +Anton tilted back his head and gazed raptly at a portrait of the Mighty +William. "I think," he said, "that the water molecule is made of two +atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen." + +A number of the boys shook their heads in disapproval, evidently +recognizing the thought as not being original, but the teacher waited in +respectful silence for the founts of originality to burst forth in +Anton's mind. + +"And I think," continued Anton, "that if the water molecule were made of +four atoms of nitrogen and one of oxygen, it would be a great economy, +for after we had bathed in the water we could evaporate it and make air +and breath it, and after we had breathed it we could condense it again +and use it to drink--" + +"But that would be unsanitary," piped a voice from the back of the room. + +To this interruption Anton, without taking his gaze from the face of +William, replied, "Of course it would if we didn't sterilize it, but I +was coming to that. We would sterilize it each time." + +The master now designated two boys to take to the guardhouse of the +school the lad who had spoken without permission. He then produced a red +cardboard cross adorned with the imperial eagle and crossed test-tubes +of the chemists' insignia and I was honoured by being asked to decorate +Anton for his brilliant exploit in original thought. + +"Our intellectual work of the day is over," resumed the master, "but in +honour of our guest we will have, a day in advance, our weekly exercises +in emotion. Heinrich, you may recite for us the category of emotions." + +"The permitted emotions," said Heinrich, "are: First, anger, which we +should feel when a weak enemy offends us. Second, hate, which is a +higher form of anger, which we should feel when a powerful enemy offends +us. Third, sadness, which we should feel when we suffer. Fourth, mirth, +which we should feel when our enemy suffers. Fifth, courage, which we +feel at all times because we believe in our strength. Sixth, humility, +which we should feel only before our superiors. Seventh, and greatest, +is pride, which we should feel at all times because we are Germans. + +"The forbidden emotions are very numerous. The chief ones which we must +guard against are: First, pity, which is a sadness when our enemy +suffers; to feel this is exceedingly wicked. Second, envy, which is a +feeling that some one else is better than we are, which we must not feel +at all because it is destructive of pride. Third, fear, which is a lack +of courage. Fourth, love, which is a confession of weakness, and is +permissible only to women and dogs." + +"Very good," said the master, "I will now grant you permission to feel +some of the permitted emotions. We will first conduct a chemical +experiment. I have in this bottle a dangerous explosive and as I +drop in this pellet it may explode and kill us all, but you must +show courage and not fear." He held the pellet above the mouth of +the bottle, but his eyes were on his pupils. As he dropped the +pellet into the bottle, he knocked over with his foot a slab +of concrete, which fell to the floor with a resounding crash. A +few of the boys jumped in their seats, and the master gravely marked +them as deficient in courage. + +"You now imagine that you are adult chemists and that the enemy has +produced a new form of gas bomb, a gas against which we have no +protection. They are dropping the gas bombs into our ventilating shafts +and are killing our soldiers in the mines. You hate the enemy--hate +hard--make your faces black with hate and rage. Adolph, you are +expressing mere anger. There, that is better. You never can be a good +German until you learn to hate. + +"And now we will have a permitted emotion that you all enjoy; the +privilege to feel mirth is a thing for which you should be grateful. + +"An enemy came flying over Berlin--and this is a true story. I can +remember when it happened. The roof guard shot at him and winged his +plane, and he came down in his parachute, which missed the roof of the +city and fell to the earth outside the walls but within the first ring +of the ray defences. He knew that he could not pass beyond this and he +wandered about for many days within range of the glasses of the roof +guards. When he was nearly starved he came near the wall and waved his +white kerchief, which meant he wished to surrender and be taken into +the city." + +At this point one of the boys tittered, and the master stopped his story +long enough to mark a credit for this first laugh. + +"As the enemy aviator continued to walk about waving his cowardly flag +another enemy plane saw him and let down a line, but the roof guards +shelled and destroyed the plane. Then other planes came and attempted to +pick up the man with lines. In all seven planes were destroyed in +attempting to rescue one man. It was very foolish and very comical. At +last the eighth plane came and succeeded in reaching the man a line +without being winged. The roof batteries shot at the plane in vain--then +the roof gunners became filled with good German hate, and one of them +aimed, not at the plane, but at the man swinging on the unstable wire +line two thousand metres beneath. The shell exploded so near that the +man disappeared as by magic, and the plane flew off with the empty +dangling line." + +As the story was finished the boys who had listened with varying degrees +of mechanical smiles now broke out into a chorus of raucous laughter. It +was a forced unnatural laughter such as one hears from a bad actor +attempting to express mirth he does not feel. + +When the boys had ceased their crude guffaws the master asked, "Why did +you laugh?" + +"Because," answered Conrad, "the enemy were so stupid as to waste seven +planes trying to save one man." + +"That is fine," said the master; "we should always laugh when our enemy +is stupid, because then he suffers without knowing why he suffers. If +the enemy were not stupid they would cease fighting and permit us to +rule them and breed the stupidity out of them, as it has been bred out +of the Germans by our good old God and the divine mind of the House of +Hohenzollern." + +The boys were now dismissed for a recess and went into the gymnasium to +play leap frog. But the sad-eyed Bruno promptly returned and saluted. + +"You may speak," said the master. + +"I wish, Herr Teacher," said Bruno, "to petition you for permission to +fight with Conrad." + +"But you must not begin a fight," admonished the master, "unless you can +attach to your opponent the odium of causing the strife." + +"But he did cause the odium," said Bruno; "he stuck it into my leg with +a pin while I was reciting. The Herr Father saw him do it, "--and the +boy turned his eyes towards me in sad and serious appeal. + +The schoolmaster glanced at me inquiringly and I corroborated the lad's +accusation. + +"Then," said the master, "you have a _casus belli_ that is actually +true, and if you can make Conrad admit his guilt I will exchange your +mark for his." + +Bruno saluted again and started to leave. Then he turned back and said, +"But Conrad is two kilograms heavier than I am, and he may not +admit it." + +"Then," said the teacher, "you must know that I cannot exchange the +marks, for victory in a fight compensates for the fault that caused it. +But if you wish I will change the marks now, but then you cannot fight." + +"But I wish to fight," said Bruno, "and so does Conrad. We arranged it +before recitation that he was to stick me with the pin." + +"Such diplomacy!" exulted the master when the lad had gone, "and to +think that they can only be chemists!" + +~3~ + +As the evening hour drew near which I had set for my call on the first +of the potential mothers assigned me by the Eugenic Staff, I re-read the +rules for my conduct: + +"On the occasion of this visit you must wear a full dress uniform, +including all orders, decorations and badges of rank and service to +which you are entitled. This is very important and you should call +attention thereto and explain the full dignity and importance of your +rank and decorations. + +"When you call you will first present the card of authorization. You +will then present your identification folder and extol the worth and +character of your pedigree. + +"Then you will ask to see the pedigree of the woman, and will not fail +to comment favourably thereon. If she be already a mother you will +inquire in regard to her children. If she be not a mother, you will +supplicate her to speak of her potential children. You will extol the +virtue of her offspring--or her visions thereof,--and will not fail to +speak favourably of their promise of becoming great chemists whose +service will redound to the honour of the German race and the +Royal House. + +"After the above mentioned matters have been properly spoken of, you may +compliment the mother upon her own intelligence and fitness as a mother +of scientists. But you will refrain from all reference to her beauty of +person, lest her thoughts be diverted from her higher purpose to matters +of personal amours. + +"You will not prolong your call beyond the hours consistent with dignity +and propriety, nor permit the mother to perceive your disposition +toward her." + +Surely nothing in such formal procedure could be incompatible with my +own ideals of propriety. Taking with me my card of authorization bearing +the name "Frau Karoline, daughter of Ernest Pfeiffer, Director of the +Perfume Works," I now ventured to the Level of Maternity. + +Countless women passed me as I walked along. They were erect of form and +plain of feature, with expressions devoid of either intelligence or +passion. Garbed in formless robes of sombre grey, like saints +of song and story, they went their way with solemn resignation. Some of +them led small children by the hand; others pushed perambulators +containing white robed infants being taken to or from the nurseries for +their scheduled stays in the mothers' individual apartments. + +The actions of the mothers were as methodical as well trained nurses. In +their faces was the cold, pallid light of the mother love of the +madonnas of art, uncontaminated by the fretful excitement of the mother +love in a freer and more uncertain world. + +Even the children seemed wooden cherubim. They were physically healthy +beyond all blemish, but they cooed and smiled in a subdued manner. +Already the ever present "_verboten_" of an ordered life seemed to have +crept into the small souls and repressed the instincts of anarchy and +the aspirations of individualism. As I walked among these madonnas of +science and their angelic offspring, I felt as I imagined a man of +earthly passions would feel if suddenly loosed in a mediaeval and +orthodox heaven; for everything about me breathed peace, goodness, +and coldness. + +At the door of her apartment Frau Karoline greeted me with formal +gravity. She was a young woman of twenty years, with a high forehead and +piercing eyes. Her face was mobile but her manner possessed the dignity +of the matron assured of her importance in the world. Her only child was +at the nursery at the time, in accordance with the rules of the level +that forbids a man to see his step-children. But a large photograph, +aided by Frau Karoline's fulsome description and eulogies, gave me a +very clear picture of the high order of the young chemist's intelligence +though that worthy had but recently passed his first birthday. + +The necessary matters of the inspection of pedigrees and the signing of +my card of authorization had been conducted by the young mother with the +cool self-possession of a well disciplined school-mistress. Her attitude +and manner revealed the thoroughness of her education and training for +her duties and functions in life. And yet, though she relieved me so +skilfully of what I feared would be an embarrassing situation, I +conceived an intense dislike for this most exemplary young mother, for +she made me feel that a man was a most useless and insignificant +creature to be tolerated as a necessary evil in this maternal world. + +"Surely," said Frau Karoline, as I returned her pedigree, "you could not +do better for your first born child than to honour me with his +motherhood. Not only is my pedigree of the purest of chemical lines, +reaching back to the establishment of the eugenic control, but I myself +have taken the highest honours in the training for motherhood." + +"Yes," I acknowledged, "you seem very well trained." + +"I am particularly well versed," she continued, "in maternal psychology; +and I have successfully cultivated calmness. In the final tests before +my confirmation for maternity I was found to be entirely free from +erotic and sentimental emotions." + +"But," I ventured, "is not maternal love a sentimental emotion?" + +"By no means," replied Frau Karoline. "Maternal love of the highest +order, such as I possess, is purely intellectual; it recognizes only the +passions for the greatness of race and the glory of the Royal House. +Such love must be born of the intellect; that is why we women of the +scientific group are the best of all mothers. Thus, were I not wholly +free from weak sentimentality, I might desire that my second child be +sired by the father of my first, but the Eugenic Office has determined +that I would bear a stronger child from a younger father, therefore I +acquiesced to their change of assignment without emotion, as becomes a +proper mother of our well bred race. My first child is extremely +intellectual but he is not quite perfect physically, and a mother such +as I should bear only perfect children. That alone is the supreme purpose +of motherhood. Do you not see that I am fitted for perfect motherhood?" + +"Yes," I replied, as I recalled that my instructions were to pay +compliments, "you seem to be a perfect mother." + +But the cold and logical perfection of Frau Karoline dampened my +curiosity and oppressed my spirit of adventure, and I closed the +interview with all possible speed and fled headlong to the nearest +elevator that would carry me from the level. + +~4~ + +In my first experience I had suffered nothing worse than an embarrassing +half hour, so, with more confidence I pressed the bell the second +evening, at the apartment of Frau Augusta, daughter of Gustave Schnorr, +Authority on Synthetic Nicotine. + +Frau Augusta was a woman of thirty-five. She was well-preserved, more +handsome and less coldly inhuman than the younger woman. + +"We will get the formalities over since you have been told they are +necessary," said Frau Augusta, as she reached for my card and folder +and, at the same time, handing me her own pedigree. + +Peering over the top of the chart that recorded the antecedents of +Gustave Schnorr, I saw his daughter going through my own folder with the +business-like dispatch of a society dowager examining the "character" of +a new housemaid. + +"Ah, yes," she said, raising her brows. "I thought I knew the family. +Your Uncle Otto was my second mate. He is the father of my third son and +my twin girls. I have no more promising children. Have you ever met him? +He is in the aluminum tempering laboratories." + +I could only stare stupidly, struck dumb with embarrassment. + +"No, I suppose not," went on Frau Augusta, "it is hardly to be expected +since you have upwards of a hundred uncles." She arose and, going toward +a shelf where half a dozen pictures of half a dozen men reposed in an +orderly row, took the second one of the group and handed it to me. + +"He is a fine man," she said, with a very full degree of pride for a +past and partial possession. "I fear the Staff erred in transferring +him, but then of course the twin girls were most unexpected and +unfortunate since the Armstadt line is supposed to sire seventy-five per +cent, male offspring. + +"What do you think? Isn't the Eugenic Office a little unfair at times? +My fifth man thought so. He said it was a case of politics. I don't +know. I thought politics was something ancient that they had in old +books like churches and families." + +"I am sure I do not know," I murmured, as I fumbled the portrait of my +putative uncle. + +"Of course," continued the voluble Fran Augusta, "you must not think I +am criticizing the authorities. It is all very necessary. And for the +most part I think they have done very well by me. My ten children have +six fathers. All of them but the first were men of most gracious manner +and superior intelligence. The first one had his paternity right +revoked, so I feel satisfied on that score, even if his son is not +gifted--and yet the boy has beautiful hair--I think he would make an +excellent violinist. But then perhaps he wouldn't have been able to +play, so maybe it is all right, though I would think music would be more +easily learned than chemistry. But then since I cannot read either I +ought not to judge. I will show you his picture. I may as well show you +all their pictures. I don't see why you elected fathers should not see +our children--but then I suppose it might produce quarrels. Some women +are so foolish and insist on talking about the children they have +already borne in a way that makes a man feel that his own children could +never come up to them. Now I never do that. Why should one? The future +is always more interesting than the past. I haven't a single child that +has not won the porcelain cross for obedience. Even my youngest--he is +only fourteen months--obeys as if he were a full grown man. Some say +mental and physical excellence are not correlated--but that is a +prejudice because of those great labour beasts. There isn't one of my +children that has fallen below the minimum growth standards, except my +third daughter, and her father was undersized, so it is no fault +of mine." + +As the loquacious mother chattered on, she produced an album, through +which I now turned, inspecting the annual photographs of her blond +brood, each of which was labelled with the statistics of physical growth +and the tests of psychic development. + +Strive as I might I could think of no comments to make, but the mother +came to the rescue. Unfastening the binding of the loose leaf album she +hastily shuffled the sheets and brought into an orderly array on the +table before me ten photographs all taken at the age of one year. "That +is the only fair way to view them," she said, "for of course one cannot +compare the picture of a boy of fifteen with an infant of one year. But +at an equal age the comparison is fair to all and now you can surely +tell me which is the most intelligent." + +I gazed hopelessly at the infantile portraits which, despite their +varied paternity, looked as alike as a row of peas in a pod. + +"Oh, well," said Frau Augusta, "after all is it fair to ask you, since +the twins are your cousins?" + +Desperately I wondered which were the twins. + +"They resemble you quite remarkably, don't you think so? Except that +your hair is quite dark for an Armstadt." Frau Augusta turned and +glanced furtively at my identification folder. "Of course! your mother. +I had almost forgotten who your mother was, but now I remember, she had +most remarkably dark hair. It will probably prove a dominant +characteristic and your children will also be dark haired. Now I should +like that by way of a change." + +I became alarmed at this turn of the conversation toward the more +specific function of my visit, and resolved to make my exit with all +possible speed "consistent with dignity and propriety." + +Meanwhile, as she reassembled the scattered sheets of the portrait +album, the official mother chattered on concerning her children's +attributes, while I shifted uneasily in my chair and looked about the +room for my hat--forgetting in my embarrassment that I was dwelling in a +sunless, rainless city and possessed no hat. + +At last there was a lull in the monologue and I arose and said I must be +going. + +Frau Augusta looked pained and I recalled that I had not yet +complimented her upon her intelligence and fitness to be the mother of +coming generations of chemical scientists, but I stubbornly resolved not +to resume my seat. + +"You are young," said Frau Augusta, who had risen and shifted her +position till she stood between me and the door. "Surely you have not +yet made many calls on the maternity level." Then she sighed, "I do not +see why they assign a man only three names to select from. Surely they +could be more liberal." She paused and her face hardened. "And to think +that you men are permitted to call as often as you like upon those +degenerate hussies who have been forbidden the sacred duties of +motherhood. It is a very wicked institution, that level of lust--some +day we women--we mothers of Berlin--will rise in our wrath and see that +they are banished to the mines, for they produce nothing but sin and +misery in this man-made world." + +"Yes," I said, "the system is very wrong, but--" + +"But the authorities, you need not say it, I have heard it all before, +the authorities, always the authorities. Why should men always be the +authorities? Why do we mothers of Berlin have no rights? Why are we not +consulted in these matters? Why must we always submit?" + +Then suddenly, and very much to my surprise, she placed her hands upon +my shoulders and said hoarsely: "Tell me about the Free Level. Are the +women there more beautiful than I?" + +"No," I said, "very few of them are beautiful, and those of the labour +groups are most gross and stupid." + +"Then why," wailed Frau Augusta, "was I not allowed to go? Why was I +penned up here and made to bear children when others revel in the +delights of love and song and laughter?" + +"But," I said, shocked at this unexpected revelation of character, +"yours is the more honourable, more virtuous life. You were chosen for +motherhood because you are a woman of superior intelligence." + +"It's a lie," cried Frau Augusta. "I have no intelligence. I want none. +But I am as beautiful as they. But no, they would not let me go. They +penned me up here with these saintly mothers and these angelic children. +Children, children everywhere, millions and millions of them, and not a +man but doctors, and you elected fathers who are sent here to bring us +pain and sorrow. You say nothing of love--your eyes are cold. The last +one said he loved me--the brute! He came but thrice, when my child was +born he sent me a flower. But that is the official rule. And I hate him, +and hate his child that has his lying eyes." + +The distraught woman covered her face with her hands and burst into +violent weeping. + +When she had ceased her sobs I tried to explain to her the philosophy of +contentment with life's lot. I told her of the seamy side of the gown +that cloaks licentiousness and of the sorrows and bitterness of the +ashes of burned out love. With the most iridescent words at my command I +painted for her the halo of the madonna's glory, and translated for her +the English verse that informs us that there is not a flower in any +land, nor a pearl in any sea, that is as beautiful and lovely as any +child on any mother's knee. + +But I do not think I altogether consoled Frau Augusta for my German +vocabulary was essentially scientific, not poetic. But I made a noble +effort and when I left her I felt very much the preacher, for the +function of the preacher, not unlike death, is to make us cling to those +ills we have when we would fly to others that we know not of. + +~5~ + +There remained but one card unsigned of the three given me. + +Frau Matilda, daughter of Siegfried Oberwinder, Analine Analyst, was +registered as eighteen and evidently an inexperienced mother-elect as I +was a father-elect. The nature of the man is to hold the virgin above +the madonna, and in starting on my third journey to the maternity level, +I found hitherto inexperienced feelings tugging at my heartstrings and +resolved that whatever she might be, I would be dignified and formal yet +most courteous and kind. + +My ring was answered by a slender, frightened girl. She was so shy that +she could only nod for me to enter. I offered my card and folder, +smiling to reassure her, but she retreated precipitously into a far +corner and sat staring at me beseechingly with big grey eyes that seemed +the only striking feature of her small pinched face. + +"I am sorry if I frighten you," I said, "but of course you know that I +am sent by the eugenic authorities. I will not detain you long. All that +is really necessary is for you to sign this card." + +She timidly signed the card and returned it to the corner of the table. + +I felt extremely sorry for the fluttering creature; and, knowing that I +could not alter her lot, I sought to speak words of encouragement. "If +you find it hard now," I said, "it is only because you are young and a +stranger to life, but you will be recompensed when you know the joys of +motherhood." + +At my words a look of consecrated purpose glowed in the girl's white +face. "Oh, yes," she said eagerly. "I wish very much to be a mother. I +have studied so hard to learn. I wish only to give myself to the holy +duties of maternity. But I am so afraid." + +"But you need not be afraid of me," I said. "This is only a formal call +which I have made because the Eugenic Staff ordered it so. But it seems +to me that some better plan might be made for these meetings. Some +social life might be arranged so that you would become acquainted with +the men who are to be the fathers of your children under less +embarrassing circumstances." + +"I try so hard not to be afraid of men, for I know they are necessary to +eugenics." + +"Yes," I said dryly, "I suppose they are, though I think I would prefer +to put it that the love of man and woman is necessary to parenthood." + +"Oh, no," she said in a frightened voice, "not that, that is very +wicked." + +"So you were taught that you should not love men? No wonder you are +afraid of them." + +"I was taught to respect men for they are the fathers of children," she +replied. + +"Then," I asked, deciding to probe the philosophy of the education for +maternity, "why are not the fathers permitted to enjoy their fatherhood +and live with the mother and the children?" + +Frau Matilda now gazed at me with open-mouthed astonishment. "What a +beautiful idea!" she exclaimed with rapture. + +"Yes, I rather like it myself--the family--" + +"The family!" cried the girl in horror. + +"That is what we were talking about." + +"But the family is forbidden. It is very wrong, very uneugenic. You must +be a wicked man to speak to me of that." + +"You have been taught some very foolish ideas," I replied. + +"How dare you!" she cried, in alarm. "I have been taught what is right, +and I want to do what is right and loyal. I passed all my examinations. +I am a good mother-elect, and you say these forbidden things to me. You +talk of love and families. You insult me. And if you select me, I +shall--I shall claim exemption,--" and with that she rose and darted +through the inner door. + +I waited for a time and then gently approached the door, which I saw had +swung to with springs and had neither latch nor lock. My gentle rap upon +the hollow panel was answered by a muffled sob. I realized the +hopelessness of further words and silently turned from the door and left +the apartment. + +The streets of the level were almost deserted for the curfew had rung +and the lights glowed dim as in a hospital ward at night. I hurried +silently along, shut in by enclosing walls and the lowering ceiling of +the street. From everywhere I seemed to feel upon me the beseeching, +haunting grey eyes of Frau Matilda. My soul was troubled, for it seemed +to stagger beneath the burden of its realization of a lost humanity. And +with me walked grey shadows of other men, felt-footed through the gloom, +and they walked hurriedly as men fleeing from a house of death. + +~6~ + +My next duty as a German father-elect was to report to the Eugenic +Office. There at least I could deal with men; and there I went, nursing +rebellion yet trying my utmost to appear outwardly calm. + +To the clerk I offered my three signed cards by way of introduction. + +"And which do you select?" asked the oldish man over his rimless +glasses. + +"None." + +"Ah, but you must." + +"But what if I refuse to do so?" + +"That is most unusual." + +"But does it ever happen?" + +"Well, yes," admitted the clerk, "but only by Petition Extraordinary to +the Chief of the Staff. But it is most unusual, and if he refuses to +grant it you may be dishonoured even to the extent of having your +election to paternity suspended, may be even permanently cancelled." + +"You mean"--I stammered. + +"Exactly--you refuse to accept any one of the three women when all are +most scientifically selected for you. Does it not throw some doubts upon +your own psychic fitness for mating at all? If I may suggest, Herr +Colonel--it would be wiser for you to select some one of the three--you +have yet plenty of time." + +"No," I said, trying to hide my elation. "I will not do so. I will make +the Petition Extraordinary to your chief." + +"Now?" stammered the clerk. + +"Yes, now; how do I go about it?" + +"You must first consult the Investigator." + +After a few formalities I was conducted to that official. + +"You refuse to make selection?" inquired the Investigator. + +"Yes." + +"Why?" + +"Because," I replied, "I am engaged upon some chemical research of most +unusual nature--" + +"Yes," nodded the Investigator, "I have just looked that up. The more +reason you should be honoured with paternity." + +"Perhaps," I said, "you are not informed of the grave importance of the +research. If you will consult Herr von Uhl of the Chemical Staff--" + +"Entirely unnecessary," he retorted; "paternity is also important. +Besides it takes but little time. No more than you need for recreation." + +"But I do not find it recreation. I have not been able to concentrate my +mind on my work since I received notice of my election to paternity." + +"But you were warned against this," he said; "you have no right to +permit the development of disturbing romantic emotions. They may be bad +for your work, but they are worse for eugenics. So, if you have made +romantic love to the mothers of Berlin, your case must be investigated." + +"But I have not." + +"Then why has this disturbed you?" + +"Because," I replied, "this system of scientific paternity offends my +instincts." + +The investigator ogled me craftily. "What system would you prefer +instead?" he asked. + +I saw he was trying to trap me into disloyal admissions. "I have nothing +to propose," I stated. "I only know that I find the paternity system +offensive to me, and that the position I am placed in incapacitates me +for my work." + +The investigator made some notes on a pad. + +"That is all for the present," he said. "I will refer your case to the +Chief." + +Two days later I received an order to report at once to Dr. Ludwig +Zimmern, Chief of the Eugenic Staff. + +The Chief, with whom I was soon cloistered, was a man of about sixty +years. His face revealed a greater degree of intelligence than I had yet +observed among the Germans, nor was his demeanour that of haughty +officiousness, for a kindly warmth glowed in his soft dark eyes. + +"I have a report here," said Dr. Zimmern, "from my Investigator. He +recommends that your rights of paternity be revoked on the grounds that +he believes yours to be a case of atavistic radicalism. In short he +thinks you are rebellious by instinct, and that you are therefore unsafe +to father the coming generation. It is part of the function of this +office to breed the rebellious instinct out of the German race. What +have you to say in answer to these charges?" + +"I do not want to seem rebellious," I stammered, "but I wish to be +relieved of this duty." + +"Very well," said Zimmern, "you may be relieved. If you have no +objection I will sign the recommendation as it stands." + +Surely, I thought, this man does not seem very bitter toward my +traitorous instincts. + +Zimmern smiled and eyed me curiously. "You know," he said, "that to +possess a thought and to speak of it indiscreetly are two +different things." + +"Certainly," I replied, emboldened by his words. "A man cannot do +original work in science if he possesses a mind that never thinks +contrary to the established order of things." + +The clerks in the outer office must have thought my case a grievous one +for I was closeted with their chief for nearly an hour. Though our +conversation was vague and guarded, I knew that I had discovered in Dr. +Ludwig Zimmern, Chief of the Eugenic Staff, a man guilty himself of the +very crime of possessing rebellious instincts for which he had decided +me unfit to sire German children. And when I finally took my leave I +carried with me his private card and an invitation to call at his +apartment to continue our conversation. + +~7~ + +In the weeks that followed, my acquaintance with the Chief of the +Eugenic Staff ripened rapidly into a warm friendship. The frank manner +in which he revealed his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in +Germany pleased me greatly. Zimmern was interested in my chemical +researches and quickly comprehended their importance. + +"I know so little of chemistry," he deplored, "yet on it our whole life +hangs. That is why I am so glad of an opportunity to talk to you. I do +not approve of so much ignorance of each other's work on the part of our +scientists. Our old university system was better. Then a scientist in +any field knew something of the science in all fields. But now we are +specialized from childhood. Take, for example, yourself. You are at work +on a great problem by which all of our labour stands to be undone if you +chemists do not solve it, and yet you do not understand how we will all +be undone. I think you should know more of what it means, then you will +work better. Is it not so?" + +"Perhaps," I said, "but I have little time. I am working too hard now." + +"Then," said Zimmern, "you should spend more time in pleasure on the +Free Level. Two days ago I conferred with the Emperor's Advisory Staff, +and I learned that grave changes are threatened. That is one reason I am +so interested in this protium on which you chemists are working. If you +do not solve this problem and replenish the food supply, the Emperor has +decided that the whole Free Level with its five million women must be +abolished. His Majesty will have no half-way measures. He is afraid to +take part of these women away, lest the intellectual workers rebel like +the labourers did in the last century when their women were taken away +piecemeal." + +"But what will His Majesty do with these five million women?" I +inquired, eagerly desirous to learn more. + +"Do? What can he do with the women?" exclaimed Dr. Zimmern in a low +pitched but vibrant voice. "He thinks he will make workers of them. He +does not seem to appreciate how specialized they are for pleasure. He +will make machine tenders of them to relieve the workmen, who are to be +made soldiers. He would make surface soldiers out of these blind moles +of the earth, put amber glasses on them and train them to run on the +open ground and carry the war again into the sunlight. It is folly, +sheer folly, and madness. His Majesty, I fear, reads too much of old +books. He always was historically inclined." + +On a later occasion Zimmern gave me the broad outlines of the history of +German Eugenics. + +"Our science of applied Eugenics," he said, "began during the Second +World War. Our scientists had long known that the same laws of heredity +by which plants and animals had been bred held true with man, but they +had been afraid to apply those laws to man because the religion of that +day taught that men had souls and that human life was something too +sacred to be supervised by science. But William III was a very fearless +man, and he called the scientists together and asked them to outline a +plan for the perfection of the German race. + +"At first all they advocated was that paternity be restricted to the +superior men. This broke up the old-fashioned family where every man +chose his own wife and sired as many children as he liked. There were +great mutterings about that, and if we had not been at war, there would +have been rebellion. The Emperor told the people it was a military +necessity. The death toll of war then was great and there was urgent +need to increase the birth rate, so the people submitted and women soon +ceased to complain because they could no longer have individual +husbands. The children were supported by the state, and if they had +legitimate fathers of the approved class they were left in the mothers' +care. As all women who were normal and healthy were encouraged to bear +children, there was a great increase in the birth rate, which came near +resulting in the destruction of the race by starvation. + +"As soon as a sufficient number of the older generation that had +believed in the religious significance of the family and marriage system +had died out, the ambitious eugenists set about to make other reforms. +The birth rate was cut down by restricting the privilege of motherhood +to a selected class of women. The other women were instructed in the +arts of pleasing man and avoiding maternity, and that is where we have +the origin of our free women. In those days they were free to associate +with men of all classes. Indeed any other plan would at first have been +impossible. + +"A second fault was that the superior men for whom paternity was +permitted were selected from the official and intellectual classes. The +result was that the quality of the labourers deteriorated. So two +strains were established, the one for the production of the intellectual +workers, and the other for producing manual workers. From time to time +this specialization has increased until now we have as many strains of +inheritance as there are groups of useful characteristics known to be +hereditary. + +"We have produced some effects," mused Zimmern, "which were not +anticipated, and which have been calling forth considerable criticism. +His Majesty sends me memorandums nearly every year, after he reviews the +maternity levels, insisting that the feminine beauty of the race is, as +a whole, deteriorating. And yet this is logical enough. With the +exception of our small actor-model strain, the characteristics for which +we breed have only the most incidental relation to feminine beauty. The +type of the labour female is, as you have seen, a buxom, fleshly beauty; +youth and full nutrition are essential to its display, and it soon fades. +In the scientific strains it seems that the power of original thought +correlates with a feminine type that is certainly not beautiful. +Doubtless not understanding this you may have felt that you were +discriminated against in your assignment. But the clerical mind +with its passion for monotonous repetition of petty mental processes +seems to correlate with the most exquisite and refined feminine +features. Those scintillating beauties on the Free Level who have +ever at their beck our wisest men are from our clerical strain,--but +of course they are only the rejects. It is unfortunate that you cannot +see the more privileged specimens in the clerical maternity level. + +"But I digress to that which is of no consequence. The beauty of women is +unimportant but the number of women is very important. When some women +were specialized for motherhood then there were surplus women. At first +they made workers of them. The war was then conducted on a larger scale +than now. We had not yet fully specialized the soldier class. All the +young men went to war; and, when they came back and went to work, they +became bitterly jealous of the women workers and made an outcry that +those who could not fight should not work. The men workers drove the women +from industry, hoping thereby each to possess a mistress. As a result the +great number of unproductive women was a drain upon the state. All sorts +of schemes were proposed to reduce the number of female births but most of +these were unscientific. In studying the records it was found that the +offspring of certain men were predominantly males. By applying this +principle of selection we have, with successive generations, been able to +reduce the proportion of female births to less than half the old rate. + +"But the sexual impulse of the labourers made them restless and +rebellious, and the support of the free women for these millions of +workers was a great economic waste. When animals had been bred to large +size and great strength their sexuality had decreased, while their power +as beasts of burden increased. The same principle applied to man has +resulted in more docile workers. By beginning with the soldiers and mine +workers, who were kept away from women, and by combining proper training +with the hereditary selection, we solved that problem and removed all +knowledge of women from the minds of the workmen." + +"But how about paternity among the workers?" I asked. + +"Those who are selected are removed to special isolated quarters. They +are told they are being taken to serve as His Majesty's body guard; and +they never go back to mingle with their fellows." + +I then related for the doctor my conversation with the workman who asked +me about women. + +"So," said Zimmern, "there has been a leak somewhere; knowledge is hard +to bottle. Still we have bottled most of it and the labourer accepts his +loveless lot. But it could not be done with the intellectual worker." + +Dr. Zimmern smiled cynically. "At least," he added, "we don't propose to +admit that it can be done. And that, Col. Armstadt, is what I was +remarking about the other evening. Unless you chemists can solve the +protium problem, Germany must cut her population swiftly, if we do not +starve out altogether. His Majesty's plan to turn the workmen into +soldiers and make workers of the free women will not solve it. It is too +serious for that. The Emperor's talk about the day being at hand is all +nonsense. He knows and we know that these mongrel herds, as he calls the +outside enemy, are not so degenerate. + +"We may have improved the German stock in some ways by our scientific +breeding, but science cannot do much in six generations, and what we +have accomplished, I as a member of the Eugenist Staff, can assure you +has really been attained as much by training as by breeding, though the +breeding is given the credit. Our men are highly specialized, and once +outside the walls of Berlin they will find things so different that this +very specialization will prove a handicap. The mongrel peoples are more +adaptable. Our workmen and soldiers are large in physique, but dwarfed +of intellect. The enemy will beat us in open war, and, even if we should +be victorious in war, we could not rule them. Either we solve this food +business or we all turn soldiers and go out into the blinding sunlight +and die fighting." + +I ventured as a wild remark: "At least, if we get outside there will be +plenty of women." + +The older man looked at me with the superiority of age towards youth. +"Young man," he said, "you have not read history; you do not understand +this love and family doctrine; it exists in the outside world today just +as it did two centuries ago. The Germans in the days of the old surface +wars made too free with the enemy's women, and that is why they ran us +into cover here and penned us up. These mongrel people will fight for +their women when they will fight for nothing else. We have not bred all +the lust out of our workmen either. It is merely dormant. Once they are +loosed in the outer world they will not understand this thing and they +will again make free with the enemy's women, and then we shall all be +exterminated." + +Dr. Zimmern got up and filled a pipe with synthetic tobacco and puffed +energetically as he walked about the room. "What do you say about this +protium ore?" he asked; "will you be able to solve the problem?" + +"Yes," I said, "I think I shall." + +"I hope so," replied my host, "and yet sometimes I do not care; somehow +I want this thing to come to an end. I want to see what is outside there. +I think, perhaps, I would like to fly. + +"What troubles me is that I do not see how we can ever do it. We have +bred and trained our race into specialization and stupidity. We wouldn't +know how to go out and join this World State if they would let us." + +Dr. Zimmern paced the room in silence for a time. "Do you know," he +said, "I should like to see a negro, a black man with kinky hair--it +must be queer." + +"Yes," I answered, "there must be many queer things out there." + + + +CHAPTER VI + +IN WHICH I LEARN THAT COMPETITION IS STILL +THE LIFE OF THE OLDEST TRADE IN THE WORLD + + +~1~ + +When I told Dr. Zimmern that I should solve the problem of the increase +of the supply of protium I may have been guilty of speaking of hopes as +if they were certainties. My optimism was based on the discovery that +the exact chemical state of the protium in the ore was unknown, and that +it did not exist equally in all samples of the ore. + +After some further months of labour I succeeded in determining the exact +chemical ingredients of the ore, and from this I worked rapidly toward a +new process of extraction that would greatly increase the total yield of +the precious element. But this fact I kept from my assistants whose work +I directed to futile researches while I worked alone after hours in +following up the lead I had discovered. + +During the progress of this work I was not always in the laboratory. I +had become a not infrequent visitor to the Level of the Free Women. The +continuous carnival of amusement had an attraction for me, as it must +have had for any tired and lonely man. But it was not merely the lure of +sensuous pleasures that appealed to me, for I was also fascinated with +the deeper and more tragic aspect of life beneath the gaudy surface of +hectic joy. + +Some generalities I had picked up from observation and chance +conversations. As a primary essential to life on the level I had quickly +learned that money was needed, and my check book was in frequent demand. +The bank provided an aluminum currency for the pettier needs of the +recreational life, but neither the checks nor the currency had had value +on other levels, since there all necessities were supplied without cost +and luxuries were unobtainable. This strange retention of money +circulation and general freedom of personal conduct exclusively on the +Free Level puzzled me. Thus I found that food and drink were here +available for a price, a seeming contradiction to the strict limitations +of the diet served me at my own quarters. At first it seemed I had +discovered a way to defeat that limitation--but there was the weigher to +be considered. + +It was a queer ensemble, this life in the Black Utopia of Berlin, a +combination of a world of rigid mechanistic automatism in the regular +routine of living with rioting individual license in recreational +pleasure. The Free Level seemed some ancient Bagdad, some Bourbon Court, +some Monte Carlo set here, an oasis of flourishing vice in a desert of +sterile law-made, machine-executed efficiency and puritanically ordered +life. Aided by a hundred ingenious wheels and games of chance, men and +women gambled with the coin and credit of the level. These games were +presided over by crafty women whose years were too advanced to permit of +a more personal means of extracting a living from the grosser passions +of man. Some of these aged dames were, I found, quite highly regarded +and their establishments had become the rendezvous for many younger +women who by some arrangement that I could not fathom plied their +traffic in commercialized love under the guidance of these subtler women +who had graduated from the school of long experience in preying +upon man. + +But only the more brilliant women could so establish themselves for the +years of their decline. There were others, many others, whose beauty had +faded without an increase in wit, and these seemed to be serving their +more fortunate sisters, both old and young, in various menial +capacities. It was a strange anachronism in this world where men's more +weighty affairs had been so perfectly socialized, to find woman +retaining, evidently by men's permission, the individualistic right to +exploit her weaker sister. + +The thing confounded me, and yet I recalled the well known views of our +sociological historians who held that it was woman's greater +individualism that had checked the socialistic tendencies of the world. +Had the Germans then achieved and maintained their rigid socialistic +order by retaining this incongruous vestige of feminine commercialism as +a safety valve for the individualistic instincts of the race? + +They called it the Free Level, and I marvelled at the nature of this +freedom. Freedom for licentiousness, for the getting and losing of money +at the wheels of fortune, freedom for temporary gluttony and the mild +intoxication of their flat, ill-flavoured synthetic beer. A tragic +symbol it seemed to me of the ignobility of man's nature, that he will +be a slave in all the loftier aspects of living if he can but retain his +freedom for his vices and corruptions. Had the Germans then, like the +villain of the moral play, a necessary part in the tragedy of man; did +they exist to show the other races of the earth the way they +should not go? But the philosophy of this conception collapsed when I +recalled that for more than a century the world had lost all sight of +the villain and yet had not in the least deteriorated from a lack of the +horrible example. + +From these vaguer speculations concerning the Free Level of Berlin that +existed like a malformed vestigial organ in the body of that socialized +state, my mind came back to the more human, more personal side of the +problem thus presented me. I wanted to know more of the lives of these +women who maintained Germany's remnant of individualism. + +To what extent, I asked myself, have the true instincts of womanhood and +the normal love of man and child been smothered out of the lives of +these girls? What secret rebellions are they nursing in their hearts? I +wondered, too, from what source they came, and why they were selected +for this life, for Zimmern had not adequately enlightened me on +this point. + +Pondering thus on the secret workings in the hearts of these girls, I +sat one evening amid the sensuous beauty of the Hall of Flowers. I +marvelled at how little the Germans seemed to appreciate it, for it was +far less crowded than were the more tawdry places of revelry. Here +within glass encircling walls, preserved through centuries of artificial +existence, feeding from pots of synthetic soil and stimulated by +perpetual light, marvellous botanical creations flourished and flowered +in prodigal profusion. Ponderous warm-hued lilies floated on the +sprinkled surface of the fountain pool. Orchids, dangling from the metal +lattice, hung their sensuous blossoms in vapour-laden air. Luxurious +vines, climatized to this unreal world, clambered over cosy arbours, or +clung with gripping fingers to the mossy concrete pillars. + +~2~ + +I was sitting thus in moody silence watching the play of the fountain, +when, through the mist, I saw the lonely figure of a girl standing in +the shadows of a viny bower. She was toying idly with the swaying +tendrils. Her hair was the unfaded gold of youth. Her pale dress of +silvery grey, unmarred by any clash of colour, hung closely about a form +of wraith-like slenderness. + +I arose and walked slowly toward her. As I approached she turned toward +me a face of flawless girlish beauty, and then as quickly turned away as +if seeking a means of escape. + +"I did not mean to intrude," I said. + +She did not answer, but when I turned to go, to my surprise, she stepped +forward and walked at my side. + +"Why do you come here alone?" she asked shyly, lifting a pensive +questioning face. + +"Because I am tired of all this tawdry noise. But you," I said, "surely +you are not tired of it? You cannot have been here long." + +"No," she replied, "I have not. Only thirty days"; and her blue eyes +gleamed with childish pride. + +"And that is why you seem so different from them all?" + +Timidly she placed her hand upon my arm. "So you," she said gratefully, +"you understand that I am not like them-that is, not yet." + +"You do not act like them," I replied, "and what is more, you act as if +you did not want to be like them. It surely cannot be merely that you +are new here. The other girls when they come seem so eager for this +life, to which they have long been trained. Were you not trained for +it also?" + +"Yes," she admitted, "they tried to train me for it, but they could not +kill my artist's soul, for I was not like these others, born of a strain +wherein women can only be mothers, or, if rejected for that, come here. +I was born to be a musician, a group where women may be something more +than mere females." + +"Then why are you here?" I asked. + +"Because," she faltered, "my voice was imperfect. I have, you see, the +soul of an artist but lack the physical means to give that soul +expression. And so they transferred me to the school for free women, +where I have been courted by the young men of the Royal House. But of +course you understand all that." + +"Yes," I said, "I know something of it; but my work has always so +absorbed me that I have not had time to think of these matters. In fact, +I come to the Free Level much less than most men." + +For a moment, it seemed, her eyes hardened in cunning suspicion, but as +I returned her intent gaze I could fathom only the doubts and fears of +childish innocence. + +"Please let us sit down," I said; "it is so beautiful here; and then +tell me all about yourself, how you have lived your childhood, and what +your problems are. It may be that I can help you." + +"There is not much to tell," she sighed, as she seated herself beside +me. "I was only eight years old when the musical examiners condemned my +voice and so I do not remember much about the music school. In the other +school where they train girls for the life on the Free Level, they +taught us dancing, and how to be beautiful, and always they told us that +we must learn these things so that the men would love us. But the only +men we ever saw were the doctors. They were always old and serious and I +could not understand how I could ever love men. But our teachers would +tell us that the other men would be different. They would be handsome +and young and would dance with us and bring us fine presents. If we were +pleasing in their sight they would take us away, and we should each have +an apartment of our own, and many dresses with beautiful colours, and +there would be a whole level full of wonderful things and we could go +about as we pleased, and dance and feast and all life would be love and +joy and laughter. + +"Then, on the 'Great Day,' when we had our first individual dresses--for +before we had always worn uniforms--the men came. They were young +military officers and members of the Royal House who are permitted to +select girls for their own exclusive love. We were all very shy at +first, but many of the girls made friends with the men and some of them +went away that first day. And after that the men came as often as they +liked and I learned to dance with them, and they made love to me and +told me I was very beautiful. Yet somehow I did not want to go with +them. We had been told that we would love the men who loved us. I don't +know why, but I didn't love any of them. And so the two years passed and +they told me I must come here alone. And so here I am." + +"And now that you are here," I said, "have you not, among all these men +found one that you could love?" + +"No," she said, with a tremor in her voice, "but they say I must." + +"And how," I asked, "do they enforce that rule? Does any one require +you--to accept the men?" + +"Yes," she replied. "I must do that--or starve." + +"And how do you live now?" I asked. + +"They gave me money when I came here, a hundred marks. And they make me +pay to eat and when my money is gone I cannot eat unless I get more. And +the men have all the money, and they pay. They have offered to pay me, +but I refused to take their checks, and they think me stupid." + +The child-like explanation of her lot touched the strings of my heart. +"And how long," I asked, "is this money that is given you when you come +here supposed to last?" + +"Not more than twenty days," she answered. + +"But you," I said, "have been here thirty days!" + +She looked at me and smiled proudly. "But I," she said, "only eat one +meal a day. Do you not see how thin I am?" + +The realization that any one in this scientifically fed city could be +hungry was to me appalling. Yet here was a girl living amidst luxurious +beauty, upon whom society was using the old argument of hunger to force +her acceptance of the love of man. + +I rose and held out my hand. "You shall eat again today," I said. + +"I would rather not," she demurred. "I have not yet accepted favours +from any man." + +"But you must. You are hungry," I protested. "The problem of your +existence here cannot be put off much longer. We will go eat and then we +will try and find some solution." + +Without further objection she walked with me. We found a secluded booth +in a dining hall. I ordered the best dinner that Berlin had to offer. + +During the intervals of silence in our rather halting dinner +conversation, I wrestled with the situation. I had desired to gain +insight into the lives of these girls. Yet now that the opportunity was +presented I did not altogether relish the rôle in which it placed me. +The apparent innocence of the confiding girl seemed to open an easy way +for a personal conquest--and yet, perhaps because it was so obvious and +easy, I rebelled at the unfairness of it. To rescue her, to aid her to +escape--in a free world one might have considered these more obvious +moves, but here there was no place for her to escape to, no higher +social justice to which appeal could be made. Either I must accept her +as a personal responsibility, with what that might involve, or desert +her to her fate. Both seemed cowardly--yet such were the horns of the +dilemma and a choice must be made. Here at least was an opportunity to +make use of the funds that lay in the bank to the credit of the name I +bore, and for which I had found so little use. So I decided to offer her +money, and to insist that it was not offered as the purchase price +of love. + +"You must let me help you," I said, "you must let me give you money." + +"But I do not want your money," she replied. "It would only postpone my +troubles. Even if I do accept your money, I would have to accept money +from other men also, for you cannot pay for the whole of a +woman's living." + +"Why not," I asked, "does any rule forbid it?" + +"No rule, but can so young a man as you afford it?" + +"How much does it take for you to live here?" + +"About five marks a day." + +I glanced rather proudly at my insignia as a research chemist of the +first rank. "Do you know," I asked, "how much income that +insignia carries?" + +"Well, no," she admitted, "I know the income of military officers, but +there are so many of the professional ranks and classes that I get all +mixed up." + +"That means," I said, "ten thousand marks a year." + +"So much as that!" she exclaimed in astonishment. "And I can live here +on two hundred a month, but no, I did not mean that--you wouldn't,--I +couldn't--let you give me so much." + +"Much!" I exclaimed; "you may have five hundred if you need it." + +"You make love very nicely," she replied with aloofness. + +"But I am not making love," I protested. + +"Then why do you say these things? Do you prefer some one else? If so +why waste your funds on me?" + +"No, no!" I cried, "it is not that; but you see I want to tell you +things; many things that you do not know. I want to see you often and +talk to you. I want to bring you books to read. And as for money, that +is so you will not starve while you read my books and listen to me talk. +But you are to remain mistress of your own heart and your own person. +You see, I believe there are ways to win a woman's love far better than +buying her cheap when she is starved into selling in this +brutal fashion." + +She looked at me dubiously. "You are either very queer," she said, "or +else a very great liar." + +"But I am neither," I protested, piqued that the girl in her innocence +should yet brand me either mentally deficient or deceitful. "It is +impossible to make you understand me," I went on, "and yet you must +trust me. These other men, they approve the system under which you live, +but I do not. I offer you money, I insist on your taking it because +there is no other way, but it is not to force you to accept me but only +to make it unnecessary for you to accept some one else. You have been +very brave, to stand out so long. You must accept my money now, but you +need never accept me at all--unless you really want me. If I am to make +love to you I want to make love to a woman who is really free; a woman +free to accept or reject love, not starved into accepting it in this +so-called freedom." + +"It is all very wonderful," she repeated; "a minute ago I thought you +deceitful, and now I want to believe you. I can not stand out much +longer and what would be the use for just a few more days?" + +"There will be no need," I said gently, "your courage has done its work +well--it has saved you for yourself. And now," I continued, "we will +bind this bargain before you again decide me crazy." + +Taking out my check book I filled in a check for two hundred marks +payable to--"To whom shall I make it payable?" I asked. + +"To Bertha, 34 R 6," she said, and thus I wrote it, cursing the +prostituted science and the devils of autocracy that should give an +innocent girl a number like a convict in a jail or a mare in a breeder's +herd book. + +And so I bought a German girl with a German check--bought her because I +saw no other way to save her from being lashed by starvation to the +slave block and sold piecemeal to men in whom honour had not even died, +but had been strangled before it was born. + +With my check neatly tucked in her bosom, Bertha walked out of the café +clinging to my arm, and so, passing unheeding through the throng of +indifferent revellers, we came to her apartment. + +At the door I said, "Tomorrow night I come again. Shall it be at the +café or here?" + +"Here," she whispered, "away from them all." + +I stooped and kissed her hand and then fled into the multitude. + +~3~ + +I had promised Bertha that I would bring her books, but the narrow range +of technical books permitted me were obviously unsuitable, nor did I +feel that the unspeakably morbid novels available on the Level of Free +Women would serve my purpose of awakening the girl to more wholesome +aspirations. In this emergency I decided to appeal to my +friend, Zimmern. + +Leaving the laboratory early, I made my way toward his apartment, +puzzling my brain as to what kind of a book I could ask for that would +be at once suitable to Bertha's child-like mind and also be a volume +which I could logically appear to wish to read myself. As I walked +along the answer flashed into my mind--I would ask for a geography +of the outer world. + +Happily I found Zimmern in. "I have come to ask," I said, "if you could +loan me a book of description of the outer world, one with maps, one +that tells all that is known of the land and seas and people." + +"Oh, yes," smiled Zimmern, "you mean a geography. Your request," he +continued, "does me great honour. Books telling the truth about the +world without are very carefully guarded. I shall be pleased to get the +geography for you at once. In fact I had already decided that when you +came again I would take you with me to our little secret library. +Germany is facing a great crisis, and I know no better way I can serve +her than doing my part to help prepare as many as possible of our +scientists to cope with the impending problems. Unless you chemists +avert it, we shall all live to see this outer world, or die that +others may." + +Dr. Zimmern led the way to the elevator. We alighted on the Level of Free +Women. Instead of turning towards the halls of revelry we took our +course in the opposite direction along the quiet streets among the +apartments of the women. We turned into a narrow passage-way and Dr. +Zimmern rang the bell at an apartment door. But after waiting a moment +for an answer he took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. + +"I am sorry Marguerite is out," he said, as he conducted me into a +reception room. The walls were hung with seal-brown draperies. There +were richly upholstered chairs and a divan piled high with fluffy +pillows. In one corner stood a bookcase of burnished metal filigree. + +Zimmern waved his hand at the case with an expression of disdain. "Only +the conventional literature of the level, to keep up appearances," he +said; "our serious books are in here"; and he thrust open the door of a +room which was evidently a young lady's boudoir. + +Conscious of a profane intrusion, I followed Dr. Zimmern into the dainty +dressing chamber. Stepping across the room he pushed open a spacious +wardrobe, and thrusting aside a cleverly arranged shield of feminine +apparel he revealed, upon some improvised shelves, a library of perhaps +a hundred volumes. He ran his hand fondly along the bindings. "No other +man of your age in Berlin," he said, "has ever had access to such a +complete fund of knowledge as is in this library." + +I hope the old doctor took for appreciation the smile that played upon +my face as I contrasted his pitiful offering with the endless miles of +book stacks in the libraries of the outer world where I had spent so +many of my earlier days. + +"Our books are safer here," said Zimmern, "for no one would suspect a +girl on this level of being interested in serious reading. If perchance +some inspector did think to perform his neglected duties we trust to him +being content to glance over the few novels in the case outside and not +to pry into her wardrobe closet. There is still some risk, but that we +must take, since there is no absolute privacy anywhere. We must trust to +chance to hide them in the place least likely to be searched." + +"And how," I asked, "are these books accumulated?" + +"It is the result of years of effort," explained Zimmern. "There are +only a few of us who are in this secret group but all have contributed +to the collection, and we come here to secure the books that the others +bring. We prefer to read them here, and so avoid the chance of being +detected carrying forbidden books. There is no restriction on the +callers a girl may have at her apartment; the authorities of the level +are content to keep records only of her monetary transactions, and that +fact we take advantage of. Should a man's apartment on another level be +so frequently visited by a group of men an inquiry would be made." + +All this was interesting, but I inferred that I would again have +opportunity to visit the library and now I was impatient to keep my +appointment with Bertha. Making an excuse for haste, I asked Zimmern to +get the geography for me. The stiff back of the book had been removed, +and Zimmern helped me adjust the limp volume beneath my waistcoat. + +"I am sorry you cannot remain and meet Marguerite tonight," he said as I +stepped toward the door. "But tomorrow evening I will arrange for you to +meet Colonel Hellar of the Information Staff, and Marguerite can be with +us then. You may go directly to my booth in the café where you last +dined with me." + +~4~ + +After a brief walk I came to Bertha's apartment, and nervously pressed +the bell. She opened the door stealthily and peered out, then +recognizing me, she flung it wide. + +"I have brought you a book," I said as I entered; and, not knowing what +else to do, I went through the ridiculous operation of removing the +geography from beneath my waistcoat. + +"What a big book," exclaimed Bertha in amazement. However, she did not +open the geography but laid it on the table, and stood staring at me +with her child-like blue eyes. + +"Do you know," she said, "that you are the first visitor I ever had in +my apartment? May I show you about?" + +As I followed her through the cosy rooms, I chafed to see the dainty +luxury in which she was permitted to live while being left to starve. +The place was as well adapted to love-making as any other product +of German science is adapted to its end. The walls were adorned +with sensual prints; but happily I recalled that Bertha, having +no education in the matter, was immune to the insult. + +Anticipating my coming she had ordered dinner, and this was presently +delivered by a deaf-and-dumb mechanical servant, and we set it forth on +the dainty dining table. Since the world was young, I mused, woman and +man had eaten a first meal together with all the world shut out, and so +we dined amid shy love and laughter in a tiny apartment in the heart of +a city where millions of men never saw the face of woman--and where +millions of babies were born out of love by the cold degree of science. +And this same science, bartering with licentious iniquity, had provided +this refuge and permitted us to bar the door, and so we accepted our +refuge and sanctified it with the purity that was within our own +hearts--such at least was my feeling at the time. + +And so we dined and cleared away, and talked joyfully of nothing. As the +evening wore on Bertha, beside me upon the divan, snuggled contentedly +against my shoulder. The nearness and warmth of her, and the innocence +of her eyes thrilled yet maddened me. + +With fast beating heart, I realized that I as well as Bertha was in the +grip of circumstances against which rebellion was as futile as were +thoughts of escape. There was no one to aid and no one to forbid or +criticize. Whatever I might do to save her from the fate ordained for +her would of necessity be worked out between us, unaided and unhampered +by the ethics of civilization as I had known it in a freer, saner world. + +In offering Bertha money and coming to her apartment I had thrust myself +between her and the crass venality of the men of her race, but I had now +to wrestle with the problem that such action had involved. If, I +reasoned, I could only reveal to her my true identity the situation +would be easier, for I could then tell her of the rules of the game of +love in the world I had known. Until she knew of that world and its +ideals, how could I expect her to understand my motives? How else could +I strengthen her in the battle against our own impulses? + +And yet, did I dare to confess to her that I was not a German? Would not +deep-seated ideals of patriotism drilled into the mind of a child place +me in danger of betrayal at her hands? Such a move might place my own +life in jeopardy and also destroy my opportunity of being of service to +the world, could I contrive the means of escape from Berlin with the +knowledge I had gained. Small though the possibilities of such escape +might be, it was too great a hope for me to risk for sentimental +reasons. And could she be expected to believe so strange a tale? + +And so the temptation to confess that I was not Karl Armstadt passed, +and with its passing, I recalled the geography that I had gone to so +much trouble to secure, and which still lay unopened upon the table. +Here at least was something to get us away from the tumultuous +consciousness of ourselves and I reached for the volume and spread it +open upon my knees. + +"What a funny book!" exclaimed Bertha, as she gazed at the round maps of +the two hemispheres. "Of what is that a picture?" + +"The world," I answered. + +She stared at me blankly. "The Royal World?" she asked. + +"No, no," I replied. "The world outside the walls of Berlin." + +"The world in the sun," exclaimed Bertha, "on the roof where they fight +the airplanes? A roof-guard officer" she paused and bit her lip-- + +"The world of the inferior races," I suggested, trying to find some +common footing with her pitifully scant knowledge. + +"The world underground," she said, "where the soldiers fight in the +mines?" + +Baffled in my efforts to define this world to her, I began turning the +pages of the geography, while Bertha looked at the pictures in +child-like wonder, and I tried as best I could to find simple +explanations. + +Between the lines of my teaching, I scanned, as it were, the true state +of German ignorance. Despite the evident intended authoritativeness of +the book--for it was marked "Permitted to military staff officers"--I +found it amusingly full of erroneous conceptions of the true state of +affairs in the outer world. + +This teaching of a child-like mind the rudiments of knowledge was an +amusing recreation, and so an hour passed pleasantly. Yet I realized +that this was an occupation of which I would soon tire, for it was not +the amusement of teaching a child that I craved, but the companionship +of a woman of intelligence. + +As we turned the last page I arose to take my departure. "If I leave the +book with you," I said, "will you read it all, very carefully? And then +when I come again I will explain those things you can not understand." + +"But it is so big, I couldn't read it in a day," replied Bertha, as she +looked at me appealingly. + +I steeled myself against that appeal. I wanted very much to get my mind +back on my chemistry, and I wanted also to give her time to read and +ponder over the wonders of the great unknown world. Moreover, I no +longer felt so grievously concerned, for the calamity which had +overshadowed her had been for the while removed. And I had, too, my own +struggle to cherish her innocence, and that without the usual help +extended by conventional society. So I made brave resolutions and +explained the urgency of my work and insisted that I could not see her +for five days. + +Hungrily she pleaded for a quicker return; and I stubbornly resisted the +temptation. "No," I insisted, "not tomorrow, nor the next day, but I +will come back in three days at the same hour that I came tonight." + +Then taking her in my arms, I kissed her in feverish haste and tore +myself from the enthralling lure of her presence. + +~5~ + +When I reached the café the following evening to keep my appointment +with Zimmern, the waiter directed me to one of the small enclosed +booths. As I entered, closing the door after me, I found myself +confronting a young woman. + +"Are you Col. Armstadt?" she asked with a clear, vibrant voice. She +smiled cordially as she gave me her hand. "I am Marguerite. Dr. Zimmern +has gone to bring Col. Hellar, and he asked me to entertain you until +his return." + +The friendly candour of this greeting swept away the grey walls of +Berlin, and I seemed again face to face with a woman of my own people. +She was a young woman of distinctive personality. Her features, though +delicately moulded, bespoke intelligence and strength of character that +I had not hitherto seen in the women of Berlin. Framing her face was a +luxuriant mass of wavy brown hair, which fell loosely about her +shoulders. Her slender figure was draped in a cape of deep blue +cellulose velvet. + +"Dr. Zimmern tells me," I said as I seated myself across the table from +her, "that you are a dear friend of his." + +A swift light gleamed in her deep brown eyes. "A very dear friend," she +said feelingly, and then a shadow flitted across her face as she added, +"Without him life for me would be unbearable here." + +"And how long, if I may ask, have you been here?" + +"About four years. Four years and six days, to be exact. I can keep +count you know," and she smiled whimsically, "for I came on the day of +my birth, the day I was sixteen." + +"That is the same for all, is it not?" + +"No one can come here before she is sixteen," replied Marguerite, "and +all must come before they are eighteen." + +"But why did you come at the first opportunity?" I asked, as I mentally +compared her confession with that of Bertha who had so courageously +postponed as long as she could the day of surrender to this life of +shamefully commercialized love. + +"And why should I not come?" returned Marguerite. "I had a chance to +come, and I accepted it. Do you think life in the school for girls of +forbidden birth is an enjoyable one?" + +I wanted to press home the point of my argument, to proclaim my pride in +Bertha's more heroic struggle with the system, for this girl with whom I +now conversed was obviously a woman of superior intelligence, and it +angered me to know that she had so easily surrendered to the life for +which German society had ordained her. But I restrained my speech, for I +realized that in criticizing her way of life I would be criticizing her +obvious relation to Zimmern, and like all men I found myself inclined to +be indulgent with the personal life of a man who was my friend. +Moreover, I perceived the presumptuousness of assuming a superior air +towards an established and accepted institution. Yet, strive as I might +to be tolerant, I felt a growing antagonism towards this attractive and +cultured girl who had surrendered without a struggle to a life that to +me was a career of shame--and who seemed quite content with her +surrender. + +"Do you like it here?" I asked, knowing that my question was stupid, but +anxious to avoid a painful gap in what was becoming, for me, a difficult +conversation. + +Marguerite looked at me with a queer penetrating gaze. "Do I like it +here?" she repeated. "Why should you ask, and how can I answer? Can I +like it or not like it, when there was no choice for me? Can I push out +the walls of Berlin?"--and she thrust mockingly into the air with a +delicately chiselled hand--"It is a prison. All life is a prison." + +"Yes," I said, "it is a prison, but life on this level is more joyful +than on many others." + +Her lip curled in delicate scorn. "For you men--of course--and I suppose +it is for these women too--perhaps that is why I hate it so, because +they do enjoy it, they do accept it. They sell their love for food and +raiment, and not one in all these millions seems to mind it." + +"In that," I remarked, "perhaps you are mistaken. I have not come here +often as most men do, but I have found one other who, like you, rebels +at the system--who in fact, was starving because she would not sell +her love." + +Marguerite flashed on me a look of pitying suspicion as she asked: "Have +you gone to the Place of Records to look up this rebel against the +sale of love?" + +A fire of resentment blazed up in me at this question. I did not know +just what she meant by the Place of Records, but I felt that this woman +who spoke cynically of rebellion against the sale of love, and yet who +had obviously sold her love to an old man, was in no position to +discredit a weaker woman's nobler fight. + +"What right," I asked coldly, "have you to criticize another whom you do +not know?" + +"I am sorry," replied Marguerite, "if I seem to quarrel with you when I +was left here to entertain you, but I could not help it--it angers me to +have you men be so fond of being deceived, such easy prey to this +threadbare story of the girl who claims she never came here until forced +to do so. But men love to believe it. The girls learn to use the story +because it pays." + +A surge of conflicting emotion swept through me as I recalled the +child-like innocence of Bertha and compared it with the critical +scepticism of this superior woman. "It only goes to show," I thought, +"what such a system can do to destroy a woman's faith in the very +existence of innocence and virtue." + +Marguerite did not speak; her silence seemed to say: "You do not +understand, nor can I explain--I am simply here and so are you, and we +have our secrets which cannot be committed to words." + +With idle fingers she drummed lightly on the table. I watched those +slender fingers and the rhythmic play of the delicate muscles of the +bare white arm that protruded from the rich folds of the blue velvet +cape. Then my gaze lifted to her face. Her downcast eyes were shielded +by long curving lashes; high arched silken brows showed dark against a +skin as fresh and free from chemist's pigment as the petal of a rose. In +exultant rapture my heart within me cried that here was something fine +of fibre, a fineness which ran true to the depths of her soul. + +In my discovery of Bertha's innocence and in my faith in her purity and +courage I had hoped to find relief from the spiritual loneliness that +had grown upon me during my sojourn in this materialistic city. But that +faith was shaken, as the impression Bertha had made upon my +over-sensitized emotions, now dimmed by a brighter light, flickered pale +on the screen of memory. The mere curiosity and pity I had felt for a +chance victim singled out among thousands by the legend of innocence on +a pretty face could not stand against the force that now drew me to this +woman who seemed to be not of a slavish race--even as Dr. Zimmern seemed +a man apart from the soulless product of the science he directed. But as +I acknowledged this new magnet tugging at the needle of my floundering +heart, I also realized that my friendship for the lovable and courageous +Zimmern reared an unassailable barrier to shut me into outer darkness. + +The thought proved the harbinger of the reality, for Dr. Zimmerman +himself now entered. He was accompanied by Col. Hellar of the +Information Staff, a man of about Zimmern's age. Col. Hellar bore +himself with a gracious dignity; his face was sad, yet there gleamed +from his eye a kindly humor. + +Marguerite, after exchanging a few pleasantries with Col. Hellar and +myself, tenderly kissed the old doctor on the forehead, and slipped out. + +"You shall see much of her," said Zimmern, "she is the heart and fire of +our little group, the force that holds us together. But tonight I asked +her not to remain"--the old doctor's eyes twinkled with merriment,--"for +a young man cannot get acquainted with a beautiful woman and with ideas +at the same time." + +~6~ + +"And now," said Zimmern, after we had finished our dinner, "I want Col. +Hellar to tell you more of the workings of the Information Service." + +"It is a very complex system," began Hellar. "It is old. Its history +goes back to the First World War, when the military censorship began by +suppressing information thought to be dangerous and circulating +fictitious reports for patriotic purposes. Now all is much more +elaborately organized; we provide that every child be taught only the +things that it is decided he needs to know, and nothing more. Have you +seen the bulletins and picture screens in the quarters for the workers?" + +"Yes," I replied, "but the lines were all in old German type." + +"And that," said Hellar, "is all that the workers and soldiers can read. +The modern type could be taught them in a few days, but we see to it +that they have no opportunity to learn it. As it is now, should they +find or steal a forbidden book, they cannot read it." + +"But is it not true," I asked, "that at one time the German workers were +most thoroughly educated?" + +"It is true," said Hellar, "and because of that universal education +Germany was defeated in the First World War. The English contaminated +the soldiers by flooding the trenches with democratic literature dropped +from airplanes. Then came the Bolshevist regime in Russia with its +passion for revolutionary propaganda. The working men and soldiers read +this disloyal literature and they forced the abdication of William the +Great. It was because of this that his great grandson, when the House of +Hohenzollern was restored to the throne, decided to curtail universal +education. + +"But while William III curtailed general education he increased the +specialized education and established the Information Staff to supervise +the dissemination of all knowledge." + +"It is an atrocious system," broke in Zimmern, "but if we had not +abolished the family, curtailed knowledge and bred soldiers and +workers from special non-intellectual strains this sunless world of +ours could not have endured." + +"Quite so," said Hellar, "whether we approve of it or not certainly +there was no other way to accomplish the end sought. By no other plan +could German isolation have been maintained." + +"But why was isolation deemed desirable?" I enquired. + +"Because," said Zimmern, "it was that or extermination. Even now we who +wish to put an end to this isolation, we few who want to see the world +as our ancestors saw it, know that the price may be annihilation." + +"So," repeated Hellar, "so annihilation for Germany, but better so--and +yet I go on as Director of Information; Dr. Zimmern goes on as Chief +Eugenist; and you go on seeking to increase the food supply, and so we +all go on as part of the diabolic system, because as individuals we +cannot destroy it, but must go on or be destroyed by it. We have riches +here and privileges. We keep the labourers subdued below us, Royalty +enthroned above us, and the World State at bay about us, all by this +science and system which only we few intellectuals understand and which +we keep going because we can not stop it without being destroyed by +the effort." + +"But we shall stop it," declared Zimmern, "we must stop it--with +Armstadt's help we can stop it. You and I, Hellar, are mere cogs; if we +break others can take our places, but Armstadt has power. What he knows +no one else knows. He has power. We have only weakness because others +can take our place. And because he has power let us help him find +a way." + +"It seems to me," I said, "that the way must be by education. More men +must think as we do." + +"But they can not think," replied Hellar, "they have nothing to +think with." + +"But the books," I said, "there is power in knowledge." + +"But," said Hellar, "the labourer can not read the forbidden book and +the intellectual will not, for if he did he would be afraid to talk +about it, and what a man can not talk about he rarely cares to read. The +love or hatred of knowledge is a matter of training. It was only last +week that I was visiting a boy's school in order to study the effect of +a new reader of which complaint had been made that it failed +sufficiently to exalt the virtue of obedience. I was talking with the +teacher while the boys assembled in the morning. We heard a great +commotion and a mob of boys came in dragging one of their companions who +had a bruised face and torn clothing. "Master, he had a forbidden book," +they shouted, and the foremost held out the tattered volume as if it +were loathsome poison. It proved to be a text on cellulose spinning. +Where the culprit had found it we could not discover but he was sent to +the school prison and the other boys were given favours for +apprehending him." + +"But how is it," I asked, "that books are not written by free-minded +authors and secretly printed and circulated?" + +At this question my companions smiled. "You chemists forget," said +Hellar, "that it takes printing presses to make books. There is no press +in all Berlin except in the shops of the Information Staff. Every paper, +every book, and every picture originates and is printed there. Every +news and book distributor must get his stock from us and knows that he +must have only in his possession that which bears the imprint for his +level. That is why we have no public libraries and no trade in +second-hand books. + +"In early life I favoured this system, but in time the foolishness of +the thing came to perplex, then to annoy, and finally to disgust me. But +I wanted the money and honour that promotion brought and so I have won +to my position and power; with my right hand I uphold the system and +with my left hand I seek to pull out the props on which it rests. For +twenty years now I have nursed the secret traffic in books and risked my +life many times thereby, yet my successes have been few and scattered. +Every time the auditors check my stock and accounts I tremble in fear, +for embezzling books is more dangerous than embezzling credit at +the bank." + +"But who," I asked, "write the books?" + +"For the technical books it is not hard to find authors," explained +Hellar, "for any man well schooled in his work can write of it. But the +task of getting the more general books written is not so easy. For then +it is not so much a question of the author knowing the things of which +he writes but of knowing what the various groups are to be permitted +to know. + +"That writing is done exclusively by especially trained workers of the +Information Service. I myself began as such a writer and studied long +under the older masters. The school of scientific lying, I called it, +but strange to say I used to enjoy such work and did it remarkably well. +As recognition of my ability I was commissioned to write the book 'God's +Anointed.' Through His Majesty's approval of my work I now owe my +position on the Staff. + +"His Majesty," continued Hellar, "was only twenty-six years of age when +he came to the throne, but he decided at once that a new religious book +should be written in which he would be proclaimed as 'God's Anointed +ruler of the World.' + +"I had never before spoken with the high members of the Royal House, and +I was trembling with eagerness and fear as I was ushered into His +Majesty's presence. The Emperor sat at his great black table; before him +was an old book. He turned to me and said, 'Have you ever heard of the +Christian Bible?' + +"My Chief had informed me that the new book was to be based on the old +Bible that the Christians had received from the Hebrews. So I said, +'Yes, Your Majesty, I am familiar with many of its words.' + +"He looked at me with a gloating suspicion. 'Ah, ha,' he said, 'then +there is something amiss in the Information Service--you are in the +third rank of your service and the Bible is permitted only to the +first rank.' + +"I saw that my statement unless modified would result in an embarrassing +investigation. 'I have never read the Christian Bible,' I said, 'but my +mother must have read it for when as a child I visited her she quoted to +me long passages from the Bible.' + +"His Majesty smiled in a pleased fashion. 'That is it,' he said, 'women +are essentially religious by nature, because they are trusting and +obedient. It was a mistake to attempt to stamp out religion. It is the +doctrine of obedience. Therefore I shall revive religion, but it shall +be a religion of obedience to the House of Hohenzollern. The God of the +Hebrews declared them to be his chosen people. But they proved a servile +and mercenary race. They traded their swords for shekels and became a +byword and a hissing among the nations--and they were scattered to the +four corners of the earth. I shall revive that God. And this time he +shall chose more wisely, for the Germans shall be his people. The idea +is not mine. William the Great had that idea, but the revolution swept +it away. It shall be revived. We shall have a new Bible, based upon the +old one, a third dispensation, to replace the work of Moses and Jesus. +And I too shall be a lawgiver--I shall speak the word of God.'" + +Hellar paused; a smile crept over his face. Then he laughed softly and +to himself--but Dr. Zimmern only shook his head sadly. + +"Yes, I wrote the book," continued Hellar. "It required four years, for +His Majesty was very critical, and did much revising. I had a long +argument with him over the question of retaining Hell. I was bitterly +opposed to it and represented to His Majesty that no religion had ever +thrived on fear of punishment without a corresponding hope of reward. +'If you are to have no Heaven,' I insisted, 'then you must have +no Hell.' + +"'But we do not need Heaven,' argued His Majesty, 'Heaven is +superfluous. It is an insult to my reign. Is it not enough that a man is +a German, and may serve the House of Hohenzollern?' + +"'Then why,' I asked, 'do you need a Hell?' I should have been shot for +that but His Majesty did not see the implication. He replied coolly: + +"'We must have a Hell because there is one way that my subjects can +escape me. It is a sin of our race that the Eugenics Office should have +bred out--but they have failed. It is an inborn sin for it is chiefly +committed by our children before they come to comprehend the glory of +being German. How else, if you do not have a Hell in your religion, can +you check suicide?' + +"Of course there was logic in his contention and so I gave in and made +the Children's Hell. It is a gruesome doctrine, that a child who kills +himself does not really die. It is the one thing in the whole book that +makes me feel most intellectually unclean for writing it. But I wrote it +and when the book was finished and His Majesty had signed the +manuscript, for the first time in over a century we printed a bible on a +German press. The press where the first run was made we named 'Old +Gutenberg.'" + +"Gutenberg invented the printing press," explained Zimmern, fearing I +might not comprehend. + +"Yes," said Hellar with a curling lip, "and Gutenberg was a German, and +so am I. He printed a Bible which he believed, and I wrote one which I +do not believe." + +"But I am glad," concluded Hellar as he arose, "that I do not believe +Gutenberg's Bible either, for I should very much dislike to think of +meeting him in Paradise." + +~7~ + +After taking leave of my companions I walked on alone, oblivious to the +gay throng, for I had many things on which to ponder. In these two men I +felt that I had found heroic figures. Their fund of knowledge, which +they prized so highly, seemed to me pitifully circumscribed and limited, +their revolutionary plans hopelessly vague and futile. But the +intellectual stature of a man is measured in terms of the average of his +race, and, thus viewed, Zimmern and Hellar were intellectual giants of +heroic proportions. + +As I walked through a street of shops. I paused before the display +window of a bookstore of the level. Most of these books I had previously +discovered were lurid-titled tales of licentious love. But among them I +now saw a volume bearing the title "God's Anointed," and recalled that I +had seen it before and assumed it to be but another like its fellows. + +Entering the store I secured a copy and, impatient to inspect my +purchase, I bent my steps to my favourite retreat in the nearby Hall of +Flowers. In a secluded niche near the misty fountain I began a hasty +perusal of this imperially inspired word of God who had anointed the +Hohenzollerns masters of the earth. Hellar's description had prepared me +for a preposterous and absurd work, but I had not anticipated anything +quite so audacious could be presented to a race of civilized men, much +less that they could have accepted it in good faith as the Germans +evidently did. + +"God's Anointed," as Hellar had scoffingly inferred, not only proclaimed +the Germans as the chosen race, but also proclaimed an actual divinity +of the blood of the House of Hohenzollern. That William II did have some +such notions in his egomania I believe is recorded in authentic history. +But the way Eitel I had adapted that faith to the rather depressing +facts of the failure of world conquest would have been extremely comical +to me, had I not seen ample evidence of the colossal effect of such a +faith working in the credulous child-mind of a people so utterly devoid +of any saving sense of humour. + +Not unfamiliar with the history of the temporal reign of the Popes of +the middle ages, I could readily comprehend the practical efficiency of +such a mixture of religious faith with the affairs of earth. For the God +of the German theology exacted no spiritual worship of his people, but +only a very temporal service to the deity's earthly incarnation in the +form of the House of Hohenzollern. + +The greatest virtue, according to this mundane theology, was obedience, +and this doctrine was closely interwoven with the caste system of German +society. The virtue of obedience required the German to renounce +discontent with his station, and to accept not only the material status +into which he was born, with science aforethought, but the intellectual +limits and horizons of that status. The old Christian doctrine of heresy +was broadened to encompass the entire mental life. To think forbidden +thoughts, to search after forbidden knowledge, that was at once treason +against the Royal House and rebellion against the divine plan. + +German theology, confounding divine and human laws, permitted no dual +overlapping spheres of mundane and celestial rule as had all previous +religious and, social orders since Christ had commanded his disciples to +"Render unto Caesar--" There could be no conscientious objection to +German law on religious grounds; no problem of church and state, for the +church was the state. + +In this book that masqueraded as the word of God, I looked in vain for +some revelation of future life. But it was essentially a one-world +theology; the most immortal thing was the Royal House for which the +worker was asked to slave, the soldier to die that Germany might be +ruled by the Hohenzollerns and that the Hohenzollerns might sometime +rule the world. + +As the freedom of conscience and the institution of marriage had been +discarded so this German faith had scrapped the immortality of the soul, +save for the single incongruous doctrine that a child taking his own +life does not die but lives on in ceaseless torment in a ghoulish +Children's Hell. + +As I closed the cursed volume my mind called up a picture of Teutonic +hordes pouring from the forests of the North and blotting out what +Greece and Rome had builded. From thence my roving fancy tripped over +the centuries and lived again with men who cannot die. I stood with +Luther at the Diet of Worms. With Kant I sounded the deeps of +philosophy. I sailed with Humboldt athwart uncharted seas. I fought with +Goethe for the redemption of a soul sold to the Devil. And with Schubert +and Heine I sang: + + _Du bist wie eine Blume, + So hold und schoen und rein,_ + + * * * * * + + _Betend dass Gott dich erhalte, + So rein und schoen und hold._ + +But what a cankerous end was here. This people which the world had once +loved and honoured was now bred a beast of burden, a domesticated race, +saddled and trained to bear upon its back the House of Hohenzollern as +the ass bore Balaam. But the German ass wore the blinders that science +had made--and saw no angel. + +~8~ + +As I sat musing thus and gazing into the spray of the fountain I +glimpsed a grey clad figure, standing in the shadows of a viney bower. +Although I could not distinguish her face through the leafy tracery I +knew that it was Bertha, and my heart thrilled to think that she had +returned to the site of our meeting. Thoroughly ashamed of the faithless +doubts that I had so recently entertained of her innocence and +sincerity, I arose and hastened toward her. But in making the detour +about the pool I lost sight of the grey figure, for she was standing +well back in the arbour. As I approached the place where I had seen her +I came upon two lovers standing with arms entwined in the path at the +pool's edge. Not wishing to disturb them, I turned back through one of +the arbours and approached by another path. As I slipped noiselessly +along in my felt-soled shoes I heard Bertha's voice, and quite near, +through the leafy tracery, I glimpsed the grey of her gown. + +"Why with your beauty," came the answering voice of a man, "did you not +find a lover from the Royal Level?" + +"Because," Bertha's voice replied, "I would not accept them. I could not +love them. I could not give myself without love." + +"But surely," insisted the man, "you have found a lover here?" + +"But I have not," protested the innocent voice, "because I have sought +none." + +"Now long have you been here?" bluntly asked the man. + +"Thirty days," replied the girl. + +"Then you must have found a lover, your début fund would all be gone." + +"But," cried Bertha, in a tearful voice, "I only eat one meal a day--do +you not see how thin I am?" + +"Now that's clever," rejoined the man, "come, I'll accept it for what it +is worth, and look you up afterwards," and he laughingly led her away, +leaving me undiscovered in the neighbouring arbour to pass judgment on +my own simplicity. + +As I walked toward the elevator, I was painfully conscious of two ideas. +One was that Marguerite had been quite correct with her information +about the free women who found it profitable to play the rôle of +maidenly innocence. The other was that Dr. Zimmern's precious geography +was in the hands of the artful, child-eyed hypocrite who had so cleverly +beguiled me with her rôle of heroic virtue. Clearly, I was trapped, and +to judge better with what I had to deal I decided to go at once to the +Place of Records, of which I had twice heard. + +The Place of Records proved to be a public directory of the financial +status of the free women. Since the physical plagues that are propagated +by promiscuous love had been completely exterminated, and since there +were no moral standards to preserve, there was no need of other +restrictions on the lives of the women than an economic one. + +The rules of the level were prominently posted. As all consequential +money exchanges were made through bank checks, the keeping of the +records was an easy matter. These rules I found forbade any woman to +cash checks in excess of one thousand marks a month, or in excess of two +hundred marks from any one man. That was simple enough, and I smiled as +I recalled that I had gone the legal limit in my first adventure. + +Following the example of other men, I stepped to the window and gave the +name: "Bertha 34 R 6." A clerk brought me a book opened to the page of +her record. At the top of the page was entered this statement, "Bred for +an actress but rejected for both professional work and maternity because +found devoid of sympathetic emotions." I laughed as I read this, but +when on the next line I saw from the date of her entrance to the level +that Bertha's thirty days was in reality nearly three years, my mirth +turned to anger. I looked down the list of entries and found that for +some time she had been cashing each month the maximum figure of a +thousand marks. Evidently her little scheme of pensive posing in the +Hall of Flowers was working nicely. In the current month, hardly half +gone, she already had to her credit seven hundred marks; and last on the +list was my own contribution, freshly entered. + +"She has three hundred marks yet," commented the clerk. + +"Yes, I see,"--and I turned to go. But I paused and stepped again to the +window. "There is another girl I would like to look up," I said, "but I +have only her name and no number." + +"Do you know the date of her arrival?" asked the clerk. + +"Yes, she has been here four years and six days. The name is +Marguerite." + +The clerk walked over to a card file and after some searching brought +back a slip with half a dozen numbers. "Try these," he said, and he +brought me the volumes. The second record I inspected read: "Marguerite, +78 K 4, Love-child." On the page below was a single entry for each +month of two hundred marks and every entry from the first was in the +name of Ludwig Zimmern. + +~9~ + +I kept my appointment with Bertha, but found it difficult to hide my +anger as she greeted me. Wishing to get the interview over, I asked +abruptly, "Have you read the book I left?" + +"Not all of it," she replied, "I found it rather dull." + +"Then perhaps I had better take it with me." + +"But I think I shall keep it awhile," she demurred. + +"No," I insisted, as I looked about and failed to see the geography, "I +wish you would get it for me. I want to take it back, in fact it was a +borrowed book." + +"Most likely," she smiled archly, "but since you are not a staff +officer, and had no right to have that book, you might as well know that +you will get it when I please to give it to you." + +Seeing that she was thoroughly aware of my predicament, I grew +frightened and my anger slipped from its moorings. "See here," I cried, +"your little story of innocence and virtue is very clever, but I've +looked you up and--" + +"And what--," she asked, while through her child-like mask the subtle +trickery of her nature mocked me with a look of triumph--"and what do +you propose to do about it?" + +I realized the futility of my rage. "I shall do nothing. I ask only that +you return the book." + +"But books are so valuable," taunted Bertha. + +Dejectedly I sank to the couch. She came over and sat on a cushion at my +feet. "Really Karl," she purred, "you should not be angry. If I insist +on keeping your book it is merely to be sure that you will not forget +me. I rather like you; you are so queer and talk such odd things. Did +you learn your strange ways of making love from the book about the +inferior races in the world outside the walls? I really tried to read +some of it, but I could not understand half the words." + +I rose and strode about the room. "Will you get me the book?" I +demanded. + +"And lose you?" + +"Well, what of it? You can get plenty more fools like me." + +"Yes, but I would have to stand and stare into that fountain for hours +at a time. It is very tiresome." + +"Just what do you want?" I asked, trying to speak calmly. + +"Why you," she said, placing her slender white hands upon my arm, and +holding up an inviting face. + +But anger at my own gullibility had killed her power to draw me, and I +shook her off. "I want that book," I said coldly, "what are your terms?" +And I drew my check book from my pocket. + +"How many blanks have you there?" she asked with a greedy light in her +eyes--"but never mind to count them. Make them all out to me at two +hundred marks, and date each one a month ahead." + +Realizing that any further exhibition of fear or anger would put me more +within her power, I sat down and began to write the checks. The fund I +was making over to her was quite useless to me but when I had made out +twenty checks I stopped. "Now," I said, "this is enough. You take these +or nothing." Tearing out the written checks I held them toward her. + +As she reached out her hand I drew them back--"Go get the book," I +demanded. + +"But you are unfair," said Bertha, "you are the stronger. You can take +the book from me. I cannot take the checks from you." + +"That is so," I admitted, and handed the checks to her. She looked at +them carefully and slipped them into her bosom, and then, reaching under +the pile of silken pillows, she pulled forth the geography. + +I seized it and turned toward the door, but she caught my arm. "Don't," +she pleaded, "don't go. Don't be angry with me. Why should you dislike +me? I've only played my part as you men make it for us--but I do not +want your money for nothing. You liked me when you thought me innocent. +Why hate me when you find that I am clever?" + +Again those slender arms stole around my neck, and the entrancing face +was raised to mine. But the vision of a finer, nobler face rose before +me, and I pushed away the clinging arms. "I'm sorry," I said, "I am +going now--going back to my work and forget you. It is not your fault. +You are only what Germany has made you--but," I added with a smile, "if +you must go to the Hall of Flowers, please do not wear that grey gown." + +She stood very still as I edged toward the door, and the look of baffled +child-like innocence crept back into her eyes, a real innocence this +time of things she did not know, and could not understand. + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE SUN SHINES UPON A KING AND A GIRL READS OF THE FALL OF BABYLON + + +~1~ + +Embittered by this unhappy ending of my romance, I turned to my work +with savage zeal, determined not again to be diverted by a personal +effort to save the Germans from their sins. But this application to my +test-tubes was presently interrupted by a German holiday which was known +as The Day of the Sun. + +From the conversation of my assistants I gathered that this was an +annual occasion of particular importance. It was, in fact, His Majesty's +birthday, and was celebrated by permitting the favoured classes to see +the ruler himself at the Place in the Sun. For this Royal exhibition I +received a blue ticket of which my assistants were curiously envious. +They inspected the number of it and the hour of my admittance to the +Royal Level. "It is the first appearance of the day," they said. "His +Majesty will be fresh to speak; you will be near; you will be able to +see His Face without the aid of a glass; you will be able to hear His +Voice, and not merely the reproducing horns." + +In the morning our news bulletin was wholly devoted to announcements and +patriotic exuberances. Across the sheet was flamed a headline stating +that the meteorologist of the Roof Observatory reported that the sun +would shine in full brilliancy upon the throne. This seemed very +puzzling to me. For the Place in the Sun was clearly located on the +Royal Level and some hundred metres beneath the roof of the city. + +I went, at the hour announced on my ticket, to the indicated elevator; +and, with an eager crowd of fellow scientists, stepped forth into a vast +open space where the vaulted ceiling was supported by massive fluted +columns that rose to twice the height of the ordinary spacing of the +levels of the city. + +An enormous crowd of men of the higher ranks was gathering. Closely +packed and standing, the multitude extended to the sides and the rear of +my position for many hundred metres until it seemed quite lost under the +glowing lights in the distance. Before us a huge curtain hung. +Emblazoned on its dull crimson background of subdued socialism was a +gigantic black eagle, the leering emblem of autocracy. Above and +extending back over us, appeared in the ceiling a deep and +unlighted crevice. + +As the crowd seemed complete the men about me consulted their watches +and then suddenly grew quiet in expectancy. The lights blinked twice and +went out, and we were bathed in a hush of darkness. The heavy curtain +rustled like the mantle of Jove while from somewhere above I heard the +shutters of the windows of heaven move heavily on their rollers. A +flashing brilliant beam of light shot through the blackness and fell in +wondrous splendour upon a dazzling metallic dais, whereon rested the +gilded throne of the House of Hohenzollern. + +Seated upon the throne was a man--a very little man he seemed amidst +such vast and vivid surroundings. He was robed in a cape of dazzling +white, and on his head he wore a helmet of burnished platinum. Before +the throne and slightly to one side stood the round form of a +paper globe. + +His Majesty rose, stepped a few paces forward; and, as he with solemn +deliberation raised his hand into the shaft of burning light, from the +throng there came a frenzied shouting, which soon changed into a sort of +chanting and then into a throaty song. + +His Majesty lowered his hand; the song ceased; a great stillness hung +over the multitude. Eitel I, Emperor of the Germans, now raised his face +and stared for a moment unblinkingly into the beam of sunlight, then he +lowered his gaze toward the sea of upturned faces. + +"My people," he said, in a voice which for all his pompous effort, fell +rather flat in the immensity, "you are assembled here in the Place of +the Sun to do honour to God's anointed ruler of the world." + +From ten thousand throats came forth another raucous shout. + +"Two and a half centuries ago," now spoke His Majesty, "God appointed +the German race, under William the Great, of the House of Hohenzollern, +to be the rulers of the world. + +"For nineteen hundred years, God in his infinite patience, had awaited +the outcome of the test of the Nazarene's doctrine of servile humility +and effeminate peace. But the Christian nations of the earth were +weighed in the balance of Divine wrath and found wanting. Wallowing in +hypocrisy and ignorance, wanting in courage and valour; behind a +pretence of altruism they cloaked their selfish greed for gold. + +"Of all the people of the earth our race alone possessed the two keys to +power, the mastery of science and the mastery of the sword. So the +Germans were called of God to instil fear and reverence into the hearts +of the inferior races. That was the purpose of the First World War under +my noble ancestor, William II. + +"But the envious nations, desperate in their greed, banded together to +defy our old German God, and destroy His chosen people. But this was +only a divine trial of our worth, for the plans of God are for eternity. +His days to us are centuries. And we did well to patiently abide the +complete unfoldment of the Divine plan. + +"Before two generations had passed our German ancestors cast off the +yoke of enslavement and routed the oppressors in the Second World War. +Lest His chosen race be contaminated by the swinish herds of the mongrel +nations God called upon His people to relinquish for a time the fruits +of conquest, that they might be further purged by science and become a +pure-bred race of super-men. + +"That purification has been accomplished for every German is bred and +trained by science as ordained by God. There are no longer any mongrels +among the men of Germany, for every one of you is created for his +special purpose and every German is fitted for his particular place as a +member of the super-race. + +"The time now draws near when the final purpose of our good old German +God is to be fulfilled. The day of this fulfilment is known unto me. The +sun which shines upon this throne is but a symbol of that which has been +denied you while all these things were being made ready. But now the day +draws near when you shall, under my leadership, rule over the world and +the mongrel peoples. And to each of you shall be given a place in +the sun." + +The voice had ceased. A great stillness hung over the multitude. Eitel +I, Emperor of the Germans, threw back his cape and drew his sword. With +a sweeping flourish he slashed the paper globe in twain. + +From the myriad throated throng came a reverberating shout that rolled +and echoed through the vaulted catacomb. The crimson curtain dropped. +The shutters were thrown athwart the reflected beam of sunlight. The +lights of man again glowed pale amidst the maze of columns. + +Singing and marching, the men filed toward the elevators. The guards +urged haste to clear the way, for the God of the Germans could not stay +the march of the sun across the roof of Berlin, and a score of paper +globes must yet be slashed for other shouting multitudes before the +sun's last gleam be twisted down to shine upon a king. + +~2~ + +Although the working hours of the day were scarcely one-fourth gone, it +was impossible for me to return to my laboratory for the lighting +current was shut off for the day. I therefore decided to utilize the +occasion by returning the geography which I had rescued from Bertha. + +Dr. Zimmern's invitation to make use of his library had been cordial +enough, but its location in Marguerite's apartment had made me a little +reticent about going there except in the Doctor's company. Yet I did not +wish to admit to Zimmern my sensitiveness in the matter--and the +geography had been kept overlong. + +This occasion being a holiday, I found the resorts on the Level of Free +Women crowded with merrymakers. But I sought the quieter side streets +and made my way towards Marguerite's apartment. + +"I thought you would be celebrating today," she said as I entered. + +"I feel that I can utilize the time better by reading," I replied. +"There is so much I want to learn, and, thanks to Dr. Zimmern, I now +have the opportunity." + +"But surely you are to see the Emperor in the Place in the Sun," said +Marguerite when she had returned the geography to the secret shelf. + +"I have already seen him," I replied, "my ticket was for the first +performance." + +"It must be a magnificent sight," she sighed. "I should so love to see +the sunlight. The pictures show us His Majesty's likeness, but what is a +picture of sunlight?" + +"But you speak only of a reflected beam; how would you like to see real +sunshine?" + +"Oh, on the roof of Berlin? But that is only for Royalty and the roof +guards. I've tried to imagine that, but I know that I fail as a blind +man must fail to imagine colour." + +"Close your eyes," I said playfully, "and try very hard." + +Solemnly Marguerite closed her eyes. + +For a moment I smiled, and then the smile relaxed, for I felt as one who +scoffs at prayer. + +"And did you see the sunlight?" I asked, as she opened her eyes and +gazed at me with dilated pupils. + +"No," she answered hoarsely, "I only saw man-light as far as the walls +of Berlin, and beyond that it was all empty blackness--and it +frightens me." + +"The fear of darkness," I said, "is the fear of ignorance." + +"You try," and she reached over with a soft touch of her finger tips on +my closing eyelids. "Now keep them closed and tell me what you see. Tell +me it is not all black." + +"I see light," I said, "white light, on a billowy sea of clouds, as from +a flying plane.... And now I see the sun--it is sinking behind a rugged +line of snowy peaks and the light is dimming.... It is gone now, but it +is not dark, for moonlight, pale and silvery, is shimmering on a choppy +sea.... Now it is the darkest hour, but it is never black, only a dark, +dark grey, for the roof of the world is pricked with a million points of +light.... The grey of the east is shot with the rose of dawn.... The +rose brightens to scarlet and the curve of the sun appears--red like the +blood of war.... And now the sky is crystal blue and the grey sands of +the desert have turned to glittering gold." + +I had ceased my poetic visioning and was looking into Marguerite's face. +The light of worship I saw in her eyes filled me with a strange +trembling and holy awe. + +"And I saw only blackness," she faltered. "Is it that I am born blind +and you with vision?" + +"Perhaps what you call vision is only memory," I said--but, as I +realized where my words were leading, I hastened to add--"Memory, from +another life. Have you ever heard of such a thing as the reincarnation +of the soul?" + +"That means," she said hesitatingly, "that there is something in us that +does not die--immortality, is it not?" + +"Well, it is something like that," I answered huskily, as I wondered +what she might know or dream of that which lay beyond the ken of the +gross materialism of her race. "Immortality is a very beautiful idea," I +went on, "and science has destroyed much that is beautiful. But it is a +pity that Col. Hellar had to eliminate the idea of immortality from the +German Bible. Surely such a book makes no pretence of being scientific." + +"So Col. Hellar has told you that he wrote 'God's Anointed'?" exclaimed +Marguerite with eager interest. + +"Yes, he told me of that and I re-read the book with an entirely +different viewpoint since I came to understand the spirit in which it +was written." + +"Ah--I see." Marguerite rose and stepped toward the library. "We have a +book here," she called, "that you have not read, and one that you cannot +buy. It will show you the source of Col. Hellar's inspiration." + +She brought out a battered volume. "This book," she stated, "has given +the inspectors more trouble than any other book in existence. Though +they have searched for thirty years, they say there are more copies of +it still at large than of all other forbidden books combined." + +I gazed at the volume she handed me--I was holding a copy of the +Christian Bible translated six centuries previous by Martin Luther. It +was indeed the very text from which as a boy I had acquired much of my +reading knowledge of the language. But I decided that I had best not +reveal to Marguerite my familiarity with it, and so I sat down and +turned the pages with assumed perplexity. + +"It is a very odd book," I remarked presently. "Have you read it?" + +"Oh, yes," exclaimed Marguerite. "I often read it; I think it is more +interesting than all these modern books, but perhaps that is because I +cannot understand it; I love mysterious things." + +"There is too much of it for a man as busy as I am to hope to read," I +remarked, after turning a few more pages, "and so I had better not +begin. Will you not choose something and read it aloud to me?" + +Marguerite declined at first; but, when I insisted, she took the +tattered Bible and turned slowly through its pages. + +And when she read, it was the story of a king who revelled with his +lords, and of a hand that wrote upon a wall. + +Her voice was low, and possessed a rhythm and cadence that transmuted +the guttural German tongue into musical poetry. + +Again she read, of a man who, though shorn of his strength by the wiles +of a woman and blinded by his enemies, yet pushed asunder the pillars +of a city. + +At random she read other tales, of rulers and of slaves, of harlots and +of queens--the wisdom of prophets--the songs of kings. + +Together we pondered the meanings of these strange things, and exulted +in the beauty of that which was meaningless. And so the hours passed; +the day drew near its close and Marguerite read from the last pages of +the book, of a voice that cried mightily--"Babylon the great is fallen, +is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every +foul spirit." + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +FINDING THEREIN ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN I HAVE COMPASSION ON BERLIN + + +~1~ + +My first call upon Marguerite had been followed by other visits when we +had talked of books and read together. On these occasions I had +carefully suppressed my desire to speak of more personal things. But, +constantly reminded by my own troubled conscience, I grew fearful lest +the old doctor should discover that the books were the lesser part of +the attraction that drew me to Marguerite's apartment, and my fear was +increased as I realized that my calls on Zimmern had abruptly ceased. + +Thinking to make amends I went one evening to the doctor's apartment. + +"I was going out shortly," said Zimmern, as he greeted me. "I have a +dinner engagement with Hellar on the Free Level. But I still have a little +time; if it pleases you we might walk along to our library." + +I promptly accepted the invitation, hoping that it would enable me +better to establish my relation to Marguerite and Zimmern in a safe +triangle of mutual friendship. As we walked, Zimmern, as if he read my +thoughts, turned the conversation to the very subject that was uppermost +in my mind. + +"I am glad, Armstadt," he said with a gracious smile, "that you and +Marguerite seem to enjoy each other's friendship. I had often wished +there were younger men in our group, since her duties as caretaker of +our books quite forbids her cultivating the acquaintance of any men +outside our chosen few. Marguerite is very patient with the dull talk of +us old men, but life is not all books, and there is much that youth +may share." + +For these words of Zimmern's I was quite unprepared. He seemed to be +inviting me to make love to Marguerite, and I wondered to what extent +the prevailing social ethics might have destroyed the finer +sensibilities that forbid the sharing of a woman's love. + +When we reached the apartment Marguerite greeted us with a perfect +democracy of manner. But my reassurance of the moment was presently +disturbed when she turned to Zimmern and said: "Now that you are here, I +am going for a bit of a walk; I have not been out for two whole days." + +"Very well," the doctor replied. "I cannot remain long as I have an +engagement with Hellar, but perhaps Armstadt will remain until +you return." + +"Then I shall have him all to myself," declared Marguerite with quiet +seriousness. + +Though I glanced from the old doctor to the young woman in questioning +amazement, neither seemed in the least embarrassed or aware that +anything had been said out of keeping with the customary propriety +of life. + +Marguerite, throwing the blue velvet cape about her bare white +shoulders, paused to give the old doctor an affectionate kiss, and with +a smile for me was gone. + +For a few moments the doctor sat musing; but when he turned to me it was +to say: "I hope that you are making good use of our precious +accumulation of knowledge." + +In reply I assured him of my hearty appreciation of the library. + +"You can see now," continued Zimmern, "how utterly the mind of the race +has been enslaved, how all the vast store of knowledge, that as a whole +makes life possible, is parcelled out for each. Not one of us is +supposed to know of those vital things outside our own narrow field. +That knowledge is forbidden us lest we should understand the workings of +our social system and question the wisdom of it all. And so, while each +is wiser in his own little cell than were the men of the old order, yet +on all things else we are little children, accepting what we are taught, +doing what we are told, with no mind, no souls of our own. Scientists +have ceased to be men, and have become thinking machines, specialized +for their particular tasks." + +"That is true," I said, "but what are we to do about it? You have by +these forbidden books acquired a realization of the enslavement of the +race--but the others, all these millions of professional men, are they +not hopelessly rendered impotent by the systematic Suppression of +knowledge?" + +"The millions, yes," replied Zimmern, "but there are the chosen few; we +who have seen the light must find a way for the liberation of all." + +"Do you mean," I asked eagerly, "that you are planning some secret +rebellion--that you hope for some possible rising of the people to +overthrow the system?" + +Zimmern looked at me in astonishment. "The people," he said, "cannot +rise. In the old order such a thing was possible--revolutions they +called them--the people led by heroes conceived passions for liberty. +But such powers of mental reaction no longer exist in German minds. We +have bred and trained it out of them. One might as well have expected +the four-footed beasts of burden in the old agricultural days to rebel +against their masters." + +"But," I protested, "if the people could be enlightened?" + +"How," exclaimed Zimmern impatiently, "can you enlighten them? You are +young, Armstadt, very young to talk of such things--even if a rebellion +was a possibility what would be the gain? Rebellion means disorder--once +the ventilating machinery of the city and the food processes were +disturbed we should all perish in this trap--we should all die of +suffocation and starvation." + +"Then why," I asked, "do you talk of this thing? If rebellion is +impossible and would, if possible, destroy us all, then is there +any hope?" + +Zimmern paced the floor for a time in silence and then, facing me +squarely, he said, "I have confessed to you my dissatisfaction with the +existing state. In doing this I placed myself in great danger, but I +risked that and now I shall risk more. I ask you now, Are you with us +to the end?" + +"Yes," I replied very gravely, "I am with you although I cannot fully +understand on what you base your hope." + +"Our hope," replied Zimmern, "is out there in the world from whence come +those flying men who rain bombs on the roof of Berlin and for ever keep +us patching it. We must get word to them. We must throw ourselves upon +the humanity of our enemies and ask them to save us." + +"But," I questioned, in my excitement, "what can Germany expect of the +enemy? She has made war against the world for centuries--will that world +permit Germany to live could they find a way to destroy her?" + +"As a nation, no, but as men, yes. Men do not kill men as individuals, +they only make war against a nation of men. As long as Germany is +capable of making war against the world so long will the world attempt +to destroy her. You, Colonel Armstadt, hold in your protium secret the +power of Germany to continue the war against the world. Because you were +about to gain that power I risked my own life to aid you in getting a +wider knowledge. Because you now hold that power I risk it again by +asking you to use it to destroy Germany and save the Germans. The men +who are with me in this cause, and for whom I speak, are but a few. The +millions materially alive, are spiritually dead. The world alone can +give them life again as men. Even though a few million more be destroyed +in the giving have not millions already been destroyed? What if you do +save Germany now--what does it mean merely that we breed millions more +like we now have, soulless creatures born to die like worms in the +ground, brains working automatically, stamping out one sort of idea, +like machines that stamp out buttons--or mere mouths shouting like +phonographs before this gaudy show of royalty?" + +"But," I said, "you speak for the few emancipated minds; what of all +these men who accept the system--you call them slaves, yet are they not +content with their slavery, do they want to be men of the world or +continue here in their bondage and die fighting to keep up their own +system of enslavement?" + +"It makes no difference what they want," replied Zimmern, in a voice +that trembled with emotion; "we bred them as slaves to the _kultur_ of +Germany, the thing to do is to stop the breeding." + +"But how," I asked, "can men who have been beaten into the mould of the +ox ever be restored to their humanity?" + +"The old ones cannot," sighed Zimmern; "it was always so; when a people +has once fallen into evil ways the old generation can never be wholly +redeemed, but youth can always be saved--youth is plastic." + +"But the German race," I said, "has not only been mis-educated, it has +been mis-bred. Can you undo inheritance? Can this race with its vast +horde of workers bred for a maximum of muscle and a minimum of brains +ever escape from that stupidity that has been bred into the blood?" + +"You have been trained as a chemist," said Zimmern, "you despair of the +future because you do not understand the laws of inheritance. A +specialized type of man or animal is produced from the selection of the +extreme individuals. That you know. But what you do not know is that the +type once established does not persist of its own accord. It can only be +maintained by the rigid continuance of the selection. The average +stature of man did not change a centimetre in a thousand years, till we +came in with our meddlesome eugenics. Leave off our scientific meddling +and the race will quickly revert to the normal type. + +"That applies to the physical changes; in the mental powers the +restoration will be even more rapid, because we have made less change in +the psychic elements of the germ plasm. The inborn capacity of the human +brain is hard to alter. Men are created more nearly equal than even the +writers of democratic constitutions have ever known. If the World State +will once help us to free ourselves from these shackles of rigid caste +and cultured ignorance, this folly of scientific meddling with the blood +and brains of man, there is yet hope for this race, for we have changed +far less than we pretend, in the marrow we are human still." + +The old man sank back in his chair. The fire in his soul had burned out. +His hand fumbled for his watch. "I must leave you now," he said; +"Marguerite should be back shortly. From her you need conceal nothing. +She is the soul of our hopes and our dreams. She keeps our books safe +and our hearts fine. Without her I fear we should all have given up +long ago." + +With a trembling handclasp he left me alone in Marguerite's apartment. +And alone too with my conflicting and troubled emotions. He was a +lovable soul, ripe with the wisdom of age, yet youthful in his hopes to +redeem his people from the curse of this unholy blend of socialism and +autocracy that had prostituted science and made a black Utopian +nightmare of man's millennial dream. + +Vaguely I wondered how many of the three hundred millions of German +souls--for I could not accept the soulless theory of Zimmern--were yet +capable of a realization of their humanity. To this query there could be +no answer, but of one conclusion I was certain, it was not my place to +ask what these people wanted, for their power to decide was destroyed by +the infernal process of their making--but here at least, my democratic +training easily gave the answer that Dr. Zimmern had achieved by sheer +genius, and my answer was that for men whose desire for liberty has been +destroyed, liberty must be thrust upon them. + +But it remained for me to work out a plan for so difficult a salvation. +Of this I was now assured that I need no longer work alone, for as I had +long suspected, Dr. Zimmern and his little group of rebellious souls +were with me. But what could so few do amidst all the millions? My +answer, like Zimmern's, was that the salvation of Germany lay in the +enemies' hands--and I alone was of that enemy. Yet never again could I +pray for the destruction of the city at the hands of the outraged +god--Humanity. And I thought of Sodom and Gomorrah which the God of +Abraham had agreed to spare if there be found ten righteous men therein. + +~2~ + +From these far-reaching thoughts my mind was drawn sharply back to the +fact of my presence in Marguerite's apartment and the realization that +she would shortly return to find me there alone. I resented the fact +that the old doctor and the young woman could conspire to place me in +such a situation. I resented the fact that a girl like Marguerite could +be bound to a man three times her age, and yet seem to accept it with +perfect grace. But I resented most of all the fact that both she and +Zimmern appeared to invite me to share in a triangle of love, open and +unashamed. + +My bitter brooding was disturbed by the sound of a key turning in the +lock, and Marguerite, fresh and charming from the exhilaration of her +walk, came into the room. + +"I am so glad you remained," she said. "I hope no one else comes and we +can have the evening to ourselves." + +"It seems," I answered with a touch of bitterness, "that Dr. Zimmern +considers me quite a safe playmate for you." + +At my words Marguerite blushed prettily. "I know you do not quite +understand," she said, "but you see I am rather peculiarly situated. I +cannot go out much, and I can have no girl friends here, and no men +either except those who are in this little group who know of our books. +And they, you see, are all rather old, mostly staff officers like the +doctor himself, and Col. Hellar. You rank quite as well as some of the +others, but you are ever so much younger. That is why the doctor thinks +you are so wonderful--I mean because you have risen so high at so early +an age--but perhaps I think you are rather wonderful just because you +are young. Is it not natural for young people to want friends of +their own age?" + +"It is," I replied with ill-concealed sarcasm. + +"Why do you speak like that?" asked Marguerite in pained surprise. + +"Because a burnt child dreads the fire." + +"I do not understand," she said, a puzzled look in her eyes. "How could +a child be burned by a fire since it could never approach one. They only +have fires in the smelting furnaces, and children could never go +near them." + +Despite my bitter mood I smiled as I said: "It is just a figure of +speech that I got out of an old book. It means that when one is hurt by +something he does not want to be hurt in the same way again. You +remember what you said to me in the café about looking up the girl who +played the innocent rôle? I did look her up, and you were right about +it. She has been, here three years and has a score of lovers." + +"And you dropped her?" + +"Of course I dropped her." + +"And you have not found another?" + +"No, and I do not want another, and I had not made love to this girl +either, as you think I had; perhaps I would have done so, but thanks to +you I was warned in time. I may be even younger than you think I am, +young at least in experience with the free women of Berlin. This is the +second apartment I have ever been in on this level." + +"Why do you tell me this?" questioned Marguerite. + +"Because," I said doggedly, "because I suppose that I want you to know +that I have spent most of my time in a laboratory. I also want you to +know that I do not like the artful deceit that you all seem to +cultivate." + +"And do you think I am trying to deceive you?" cried Marguerite +reproachfully. + +"Your words may be true," I said, "but the situation you place me in is +a false one. Dr. Zimmern brings me here that I may read your books. He +leaves me alone here with you and urges me to come as often as I choose. +All that is hard enough, but to make it harder for me, you tell me that +you particularly want my company because you have no other young +friends. In fact you practically ask me to make love to you and yet you +know why I cannot." + +In the excitement of my warring emotions I had risen and was pacing the +floor, and now as I reached the climax of my bitter speech, Marguerite, +with a choking sob, fled from the room. + +Angered at the situation and humiliated by what I had said, I was on the +point of leaving at once. But a moment of reflection caused me to turn +back. I had forced a quarrel upon Marguerite and the cause for my anger +she perhaps did not comprehend. If I left now it would be impossible to +return, and if I did not come back, there would be explanations to make +to Zimmern and perhaps an ending of my association with him and his +group, which was not only the sole source of my intellectual life +outside my work, but which I had begun to hope might lead to some +enterprise of moment and possibly to my escape from Berlin. + +So calming my anger, I turned to the library and doggedly pulled down a +book and began scanning its contents. I had been so occupied for some +time, when there was a ring at the bell. I peered out into the +reception-room in time to see Marguerite come from another door. Her +eyes revealed the fact that she had been crying. Quickly she closed the +door of the little library, shutting me in with the books. A moment +later she came in with a grey-haired man, a staff officer of the +electrical works. She introduced us coolly and then helped the old man +find a book he wanted to take out, and which she entered on her records. + +After the visitor had gone Marguerite again slipped out of the room and +for a time I despaired of a chance to speak to her before I felt I must +depart. Another hour passed and then she stole into the library and +seated herself very quietly on a little dressing chair and watched me as +I proceeded with my reading. + +I asked her some questions about one of the volumes and she replied with +a meek and forgiving voice that made me despise myself heartily. Other +questions and answers followed and soon we were talking again of books +as if we had no overwhelming sense of the personal presence of +each other. + +The hours passed; by all my sense of propriety I should have been long +departed, but still we talked of books without once referring to my +heated words of the earlier evening. + +She had stood enticingly near me as we pulled down the volumes. My heart +beat wildly as she sat by my side, while I mechanically turned the +pages. The brush of her garments against my sleeve quite maddened me. I +had not dared to look into her eyes, as I talked meaningless, +bookish words. + +Summoning all my self-control, I now faced her. "Marguerite," I said +hoarsely, "look at me." + +She lifted her eyes and met my gaze unflinchingly, the moisture of fresh +tears gleaming beneath her lashes. + +"Forgive me," I entreated. + +"For what?" she asked simply, smiling a little through her tears. + +"For being a fool," I declared fiercely, "for believing your cordiality +toward me as Dr. Zimmern's friend to mean more than--than it +should mean." + +"But I do not understand," she said. "Should I not have told you that I +liked you because you were young? Of course if you don't want me +to--to--" She paused abruptly, her face suffused with a +delicate crimson. + +I stepped toward her and reached out my arms. But she drew back and +slipped quickly around the table. "No," she cried, "no, you have said +that you did not want me." + +"But I do," I cried. "I do want you." + +"Then why did you say those things to me?" she asked haughtily. + +I gazed at her across the narrow table. Was it possible that such a +woman had no understanding of ideals of honour in love? Could it be that +she had no appreciation of the fight I had waged, and so nearly lost, to +respect the trust and confidence that the old doctor had placed in me. +With these thoughts the ardour of my passion cooled and a feeling of +pity swept over me, as I sensed the tragedy of so fine a woman ethically +impoverished by false training and environment. Had she known honour, +and yet discarded it, I too should have been unable to resist the +impulse of youth to deny to age its less imperious claims. + +But either she chose artfully to ignore my struggle or she was truly +unaware of it. In either case she would not share the responsibility for +the breach of faith. I was puzzled and confounded. + +It was Marguerite who broke the bewildering silence. "I wish you would +go now," she said coolly; "I am afraid I misunderstood." + +"And shall I come again?" I asked awkwardly. + +She looked up at me and smiled bravely. "Yes," she said, "if--you are +sure you wish to." + +A resurge of passionate longing to take her in my arms swept over me, +but she held out her hand with such rare and dignified grace that I +could only take the slender fingers and press them hungrily to my +fevered lips and so bid her a wordless adieu. + +~3~ + +But despite wild longing to see her again, I did not return to +Marguerite's apartment for many weeks. A crisis in my work at the +laboratory denied me even a single hour of leisure outside brief +snatches of food and sleep. + +I had previously reported to the Chemical Staff that I had found means +to increase materially the extraction percentage of the precious element +protium from the crude imported ore. I had now received word that I +should prepare to make a trial demonstration before the Staff. + +Already I had revealed certain results of my progress to Herr von Uhl, +as this had been necessary in order to get further grants of the rare +material and of expensive equipment needed for the research, but in +these smaller demonstrations, I had not been called upon to disclose my +method. Now the Staff, hopeful that I had made the great discovery, +insisted that I prepare at once to make a large scale demonstration and +reveal the method that it might immediately be adopted for the wholesale +extraction in the industrial works. + +If I now gave away the full secret of my process, I would receive +compensation that would indeed seem lavish for a man whose mental +horizon was bounded by these enclosing walls; yet to me for whom these +walls would always be a prison, credit at the banks of Berlin and the +baubles of decoration and rank and social honour would be sounding +brass. But I wanted power; and, with the secret of protium extraction in +my possession, I would have control of life or death over three hundred +million men. Why should I sacrifice such power for useless credit and +empty honour? If Eitel I of the House of Hohenzollern would lengthen the +days of his rule, let him deal with me and meet whatever terms I chose +to name, for in my chemical retorts I had brewed a secret before which +vaunted efficiency and hypocritical divinity could be made to bend a +hungry belly and beg for food! + +It was a laudable and rather thrilling ambition, and yet I was not clear +as to just what terms I would dictate, nor how I could enforce the +dictation. To ask for an audience with the Emperor now, and to take any +such preposterous stand would merely be to get myself locked up for a +lunatic. But I reasoned that if I could make the demonstration so that +it would be accepted as genuine and yet not give away my secret, the +situation would be in my hands. Yet I was expected to reveal the process +step by step as the demonstration proceeded. There was but one way out +and that was to make a genuine demonstration, but with falsely +written formulas. + +To plan and prepare such a demonstration required more genuine invention +than had the discovery of the process, but I set about the task with +feverish enthusiasm. I kept my assistants busy with the preparation of +the apparatus and the more simple work which there was no need to +disguise, while night after night I worked alone, altering and +disguising the secret steps on which my great discovery hinged. As these +preparations were nearing completion I sent for Dr. Zimmern and Col. +Hellar to meet me at my apartment. + +"Comrades," I said, "you have endangered your own lives by confiding in +me your secret desires to overthrow the rule of the House of +Hohenzollern as it was overthrown once before. You have done this +because you believed that I would have power that others do not have." + +The two old men nodded in grave assent. + +"And you have been quite fortunate in your choice," I concluded, "for +not only have I pledged myself to your ends, but I shall soon possess +the coveted power. In a few days I shall demonstrate my process on a +large scale before the Chemical Staff. But I shall do this thing without +revealing the method. The formulas I shall give them will be +meaningless. As long as I am in charge in my own laboratory the process +will be a success; when it is tried elsewhere it will fail, until I +choose to make further revelations. + +"So you see, for a time, unless I be killed or tortured into confession, +I shall have great power. How then may I use that power to help you in +the cause to which we are pledged?" + +The older men seemed greatly impressed with my declaration and danced +about me and cried with joy. When they had regained their composure +Zimmern said: "There is but one thing you can do for us and that is to +find some way to get word of the protium mines to the authorities of the +World State. Berlin will then be at their mercy, but whatever happens +can be no worse than the continuance of things as they are." + +"But how," I said, "can a message be sent from Berlin to the outer +world?" + +"There is only one way," replied Hellar, "and that is by the submarines +that go out for this ore. The Submarine Staff are members of the Royal +House. So, indeed, are the captains. We have tried for years to gain the +confidence of some of these men, but without avail. Perhaps through your +work on the protium ore you can succeed where we have failed." + +"And how," I asked eagerly, "do the ore-bringing vessels get from Berlin +to the sea?" + +My visitors glanced at each other significantly. "Do you not know that?" +exclaimed Zimmern. "We had supposed you would have been told when you +were assigned to the protium research." + +By way of answer I explained that I knew the source of the ore but not +the route of its coming. + +"All such knowledge is suppressed in books," commented Hellar; "we older +men know of this by word of mouth from the days when the submarine +tunnel was completed to the sea, but you are younger. Unless this was +told you at the time you were assigned the work it is not to be expected +that you would know." + +I questioned Hellar and Zimmern closely but found that all they knew was +that a submarine tunnel did exist leading from Berlin somewhere into the +open sea; but its exact location they did not know. Again I pressed my +question as to what I could do with the power of my secret and they +could only repeat that they staked their hopes on getting word to the +outer world by way of submarines. + +Much as I might admire the strength of character that would lead men to +rebel against the only life they knew because they sensed that it was +hopeless, I now found myself a little exasperated at the vagueness of +their plans. Yet I had none better. To defy the Emperor would merely be +to risk my life and the possible loss of my knowledge to the world. +Perhaps after all the older heads were wiser than my own rebellious +spirit; and so, without making any more definite plans, I ended the +interview with a promise to let them know of the outcome of the +demonstration. + +Returning once more to my work I finished my preparations and sent word +to the Chemical Staff that all was ready. They came with solemn faces. +The laboratory was locked and guards were posted. The place was examined +thoroughly, the apparatus was studied in detail. All my ingredients were +tested for the presence of extracted protium, lest I be trying to "salt +the mine." But happily for me they accepted my statement as to their +chemical nature in other respects. Then when all had been approved the +test lot of ore was run. It took us thirty hours to run the extraction +and sample and weigh and test the product. But everything went through +exactly as I had planned. + +With solemn faces the Chemical Staff unanimously declared that the +problem had been solved and marvelled that the solution should come from +the brain of so young a man. And so I received their adulation and +worship, for I could not give credit to the chemists of the world +outside to whom I was really indebted for my seeming miraculous genius. +Telling me to take my rest and prepare myself for an audience with His +Majesty three days later, the Chemical Staff departed, carrying, with +guarded secrecy, my false formulas. + +~4~ + +Exultant and happy I left the laboratory. I had not slept for forty +hours and scarcely half my regular allotment for many weeks. And yet I was +not sleepy now but awake and excited. I had won a great victory, and I +wanted to rejoice and share my conquest with sympathetic ears. I could +go to Zimmern, but instead I turned my steps toward the elevator and, +alighting on the Level of the Free Women, I went straightway to +Marguerite's apartment. + +Despite my feeling of exhilaration, my face must have revealed something +of my real state of exhaustion, for Marguerite cried in alarm at the +sight of me. + +"A little tired," I replied, in answer to her solicitous questions; "I +have just finished my demonstration before the Chemical Staff." + +"And you won?" cried Marguerite in a burst of joy. "You deceived them +just as the doctor said you would. And they know you have solved the +protium problem and they do not know how you did it?" + +"That is correct," I said, sinking back into the cushions of the divan. +"I have done all that. I came here first to tell you. You see I could +not come before, all these weeks, I have had no time for sleep or +anything. I would have telephoned or written but I feared it would not +be safe. Did you think I was not coming again?" + +"I missed you at first,--I mean at first I thought you were staying away +because you did not want to see me, and then Dr. Zimmern told me what +you were doing, and I understood--and waited, for I somehow knew you +would come as soon as you could." + +"Yes, of course you knew. Of course, I had to come--Marguerite--" But +Marguerite faded before my vision. I reached out my hand for her--and it +seemed to wave in empty space.... + +~5~ + +When I awoke, I was lying on a couch and a screen bedecked with cupids +was standing before me. At first I thought I was alone and then I +realized that I was in Marguerite's apartment and that Marguerite +herself was seated on a low stool beside the couch and gazing at me out +of dreamy eyes. + +"How did I get here?" I asked. + +"You fell asleep while you were talking, and then some one came for +books, and when the bell rang I hid you with the screen." + +"How long have I slept?" + +"For many hours," she answered. + +"I ought not to have come," I said, but despite my remark I made no +haste to go, but reached out and ran my fingers through her massy hair. +And then I slowly drew her toward me until her luxuriant locks were +tumbled about my neck and face and her head was pillowed on my breast. + +"I am so happy," she whispered. "I am so glad you came first to me." + +For a moment my reason was drugged by the opiate of her touch; and then, +as the realization of the circumstances re-formed in my brain, the +feeling of guilt arose and routed the dreamy bliss. Yet I could only +blame myself, for there was no guile in her act or word, nor could I +believe there was guile in her heart. Gently I pushed her away and +arose, stating that I must leave at once. + +It was plainly evident that Marguerite did not share my sense of +embarrassment, that she was aware of no breach of ethics. But her ease +only served to impress upon me the greater burden of my responsibility +and emphasize the breach of honour of which I was guilty in permitting +this expression of my love to a woman whom circumstances had bound +to Zimmern. + +Pleading need for rest and for time to plan my interview with His +Majesty, I hastened away, feeling that I dare not trust myself alone +with her again. + +~6~ + +I returned to my own apartment, and when another day had passed, food +and sleep had fully restored me to a normal state. I then recalled my +promise to inform Hellar and Zimmern of the outcome of my demonstration. +I called at Zimmern's quarters but he was not at home. Hence I went to +call on Hellar, to ask of Zimmern's whereabouts. + +"I have an appointment to meet him tonight," said Hellar, "on the Level +of Free Women. Will you not come along?" + +I could not well do otherwise than accept, and Hellar led me again to +the apartment from which I had fled twenty-four hours before. There we +found Zimmern, who received me with his usual graciousness. + +"I have already heard from Marguerite," said Zimmern, "of your success." + +I glanced apprehensively at the girl but she was in no wise disturbed, +and proceeded to relate for Hellar's information the story of my coming +to her exhausted from my work and of my falling asleep in her apartment. +All of them seemed to think it amusing, but there was no evidence that +any one considered it the least improper. Their matter-of-fact attitude +puzzled and annoyed me; they seemed to treat the incident as if it had +been the experience of a couple of children. + +This angered me, for it seemed proof that they considered Marguerite's +love as the common property of any and all. + +"Could it be," I asked myself, "that jealousy has been bred and trained +out of this race? Is it possible they have killed the instinct that +demands private and individual property in love?" Even as I pondered the +problem it seemed answered, for as I sat and talked with Zimmern and +Hellar of my chemical demonstration and the coming interview with His +Majesty, Marguerite came and seated herself on the arm of my chair and +pillowed her head on my shoulder. + +Troubled and embarrassed, yet not having the courage to repulse her +caresses, I stared at Zimmern, who smiled on us with indulgence. In fact +it seemed that he actually enjoyed the scene. My anger flamed up against +him, but for Marguerite I had only pity, for her action seemed so +natural and unaffected that I could not believe that she was making +sport of me, and could only conclude that she had been so bred in the +spirit of the place that she knew nothing else. + +My talk with the men ended as had the last one, without arriving at any +particular plan of action, and when Hellar arose first to go, I took the +opportunity to escape from what to me was an intolerable situation. + +~7~ + +I separated from Hellar and for an hour or more I wandered on the level. +Then resolving to end the strain of my enigmatical position I turned +again toward Marguerite's apartment. She answered my ring. I entered and +found her alone. + +"Marguerite," I began, "I cannot stand this intolerable situation. I +cannot share the love of a woman with another man--I cannot steal a +woman's love from a man who is my friend--" + +At this outburst Marguerite only stared at me in puzzled amazement. +"Then you do not want me to love you," she stammered. + +"God knows," I cried, "how I do want you to love me, but it must not be +while Dr. Zimmern is alive and you--" + +"So," said a voice--and glancing up I saw Zimmern himself framed in the +doorway of the book room. The old doctor looked from me to Marguerite, +while a smile beamed on his courtly countenance. + +"Sit down and calm yourself, Armstadt," said Zimmern. "It is time I +spoke to you of Marguerite and of the relation I bear to her. As you +know, I brought her to this level from the school for girls of forbidden +birth. But what you do not know is that she was born on the Royal Level. + +"I knew Marguerite's mother. She was Princess Fedora, a third cousin of +the Empress. I was her physician, for I have not always been in the +Eugenic Service. But Marguerite was born out of wedlock, and the mother +declined to name the father of her child. Because of that the child was +consigned to the school for forbidden love-children, which meant that +she would be fated for the life of a free woman and become the property +of such men as had the price to pay. + +"When her child was taken away from her, the mother killed herself; and +because I declined to testify as to what I knew of the case I lost my +commission as a physician of Royalty. But still having the freedom of +the school levels, I was permitted to keep track of Marguerite. As soon +as she reached the age of her freedom I brought her here, and by the aid +of her splendid birth and the companionship of thinking men she has +become the woman you now find her." + +In my jealousy I had listened to the first words of the old doctor with +but little comprehension. But as he talked on so calmly and kindly an +eager hope leaped up within me. Was it possible that it had been I who +had misunderstood--and that Zimmern's love for Marguerite was of another +sort than mine? + +Tensely I awaited his further words, but I did not dare to look at +Marguerite, who had taken her place beside him. + +"I brought her here," Zimmern continued, "for there was no other place +where she could go except into the keeping of some man. I have given her +the work of guarding our books, and for that I could have well afforded +to pay for her living. + +"You find in Marguerite a woman of intelligence, and there are few +enough like her. And she finds in you a man of rare gifts, and you are +both young, so it is not strange that you two should love each other. +All this I considered before I brought you here to meet her. I was happy +when Marguerite told me that it was so. But your happiness is marred, +because you, Armstadt, think that I am in the way; you have believed +that I bear the relation to Marguerite that the fact of my paying for +her presence on this level would imply. + +"It speaks well of your honour," the doctor went on, "that you have felt +as you did. I should have explained sooner, but I did not wish to speak +of this until it was necessary to Marguerite's happiness. But now that I +have spoken there is nothing to stand in the way of your happiness, for +Marguerite is as worthy of your love as if she had but made her début on +the Royal Level to which she was born. As for what is to be between you, +I can only leave it to the best that is in yourselves, and whatever that +may be has my blessing." + +As I listened to the doctor's words entranced with rapture, the vision +of Marguerite floated hazily before my eyes as if she were an ethereal +essence that might, at any moment, be snatched away. But as the doctor's +words ceased my eyes met Marguerite's and all else seemed to fade but +the love light that shone from out their liquid depths. + +Forgetting utterly the presence of the man whose words had set us free, +our hearts reached out with hungry arms to claim their own. + +For us, time lost her reckoning amidst our tears and kisses, and when my +brain at last made known to me the existence of other souls than ours, I +looked up and found that we were alone. A saucy little clock ticked +rhythmically on a mantel. I felt an absurd desire to smash it, for the +impudent thing had been running all the while. + + + +CHAPTER IX + +IN WHICH I SALUTE THE STATUE OF GOD AND A PSYCHIC +EXPERT EXPLORES MY BRAIN AND FINDS NOTHING + + +~1~ + +The Chemical Staff called for me at my laboratory to conduct me to the +presence of the Emperor. At the elevator we were met by an electric +vehicle manned fore and aft by pompous guards. Through the wide, high +streets we rolled noiselessly past the decorated facades of the spacious +apartments that housed the seventeen thousand members of the House of +Hohenzollern. + +At times the ample streets broadened into still more roomy avenues where +potted trees alternated with the frescoed columns, and beyond which were +luxurious gardens and vast statuary halls. On the Level of Free Women +the life was one of crowded revelry, of the bauble and delights of +carnival, but on the Royal Level there was an atmosphere of luxurious +leisure, with vast spaces given over to the privacy of aristocratic +idleness. + +An occasional vehicle rolled swiftly past us on the glassy smoothness of +the pavement; more rarely lonely couples strolled among the potted trees +or sat in dreamy indolence beside the fountains. There was no crowding, +no mass of humanity, no narrow halls, no congested apartments. All +structure here was on a scale of magnificent size and distances, while +by comparison the men and women appeared dwarfed, but withal distinctive +in their costumes and regal in their leisurely idleness. + +After some kilometres of travel we came to His Majesty's palace, which +stood detached from all other enclosed structures and was surrounded on +all sides by ever-necessary columns that seemed like a forest of tree +trunks spaced and distanced in geometrical design. + +As we approached the massive doorway of the palace, our party paused, +and stood stiffly erect. Before us were two colossal statues of +glistening white crystal. My fellow scientists faced one of the figures, +which I recognized as that of William II, and I, a little tardily, +saluted with them. And now we turned sharply on our heels and saluted +the second figure of these twin German heroes. For German it was +unmistakably in every feature, save for the one oddity that the Teutonic +face wore a flowing beard not unlike that of Michael Angelo's Moses. As +we moved forward my eye swept in the lettering on the pedestal, _"Unser +Alte Deutche Gott,"_ and I was aware that I had acknowledged my +allegience to the supreme war lord--I had saluted the Statue of God. + +Entering the palace we were conducted through a long hall-way hung with +floral tapestries. We passed through several great metal doors guarded +by stalwart leaden-faced men and came at last into the imperial audience +room, where His Majesty, Eitel I, satellited by his ministers, sat stiff +and upright at the head of the council table. + +Though he had seemed a small man when I had seen him in the dazzling +beam of the reflected sunlight, I now perceived that he was of more than +average stature. He wore no crown and no helmet, but only a crop of +stiff iron grey hair brushed boldly upright. His face was stern, his +nose beak-like, and his small eyes grey and piercing. Over the high back +of his chair was thrown his cape, and he was clad in a jacket of white +cellulose velvet buttoned to the throat with large platinum buttons. + +Formally presented by one of the secretaries we made our stiff bows and +were seated at the table facing His Majesty across the unlittered +surface of black glass. + +The Emperor nodded to the Chief of the Chemical Staff who arose and read +the report of my solution of the protium problem. He ended by advising +that the process should immediately replace the one then in use in the +extraction of the ore in the industrial works and that I was recommended +for promotion to the place to be vacated by the retiring member of the +Chemical Staff and should be given full charge of the protium industry. + +Emperor Eitel listened with solemn nods of approval. When the reading +was finished he arose and proclaimed the retirement with honour, and +because of his advanced age, of Herr von Uhl. The old chemist now +stepped forward and the Emperor removed from von Uhl's breast the +insignia of active Staff service and replaced it with the insignia of +honourable retirement. + +In my turn I also stood before His Majesty, who when he had pinned upon +my breast the Staff insignia said: "I hereby commission you as Member of +the Chemical Staff and Director of the Protium Works. Against the +fortune, to be accredited to you and your descendants, you are +authorized to draw from the Imperial Bank a million marks a year. That +you shall more graciously befit this fortune I confer upon you the title +of 'von' and the social privilege of the Royal Level." + +When the formal ceremonies were ended I again arose and addressed the +Emperor. "Your Majesty," I said, as I looked unflinchingly at his iron +visage, "I beg leave to make a personal petition." + +"State it," commanded the Emperor. + +"I wish to ask that you restore to the Royal Level a girl who is now in +the Level of the Free Women, and known there as Marguerite 78 K 4, but +who was born on the Royal Level as a daughter of Princess Fedora of +the House of Hohenzollern." + +A hush of consternation fell upon those about the table. + +"Your petition," said the Emperor, "cannot be granted." + +"Then," I said, speaking with studied emphasis, "I cannot proceed with +the work of extracting protium." + +An angry cloud gathered on the face of Eitel I. "Herr von Armstadt," he +said, "the title and awards which have just been conferred upon you are +irrevocable. But if you decline to perform the duties of your office +those duties can be performed by others." + +"But others cannot perform them," I replied. "The demonstration I +conducted was genuine, but the formulas I have given were not genuine. +The true formulas for my method of extracting protium are locked within +my brain and I will reveal them only when the petition I ask has +been granted." + +At these words the Emperor pounded on the table with a heavy fist. "What +does this mean?" he demanded of the Chemical Staff. + +"It is a lie," shouted the Chief of the Staff. "We have the formulas and +they are correct, for we saw the demonstration conducted with the +ingredients stated in the formulas which Armstadt gave us." + +"Very well," I cried; "go try your formulas; go repeat the +demonstration, if you can." + +The Emperor, glaring his rage, punched savagely at a signal button on +the arm of his chair. + +Two palace guards answered the summons. "Arrest this man," shouted His +Majesty, "and keep him in close confinement; permit him to see no one." + +Without further ado I was led off by the guards, while the Emperor +shouted imprecations at the Chemical Staff. + +~2~ + +The place to which I was conducted was a suite of rooms in a remote +corner of the Royal Palace. There was a large bedroom and bath, and a +luxurious study or lounging room. Here I found a case of books, which +proved to be novels bearing the imprint of the Royal Level. + +Despite the comfortable surroundings, it was evident that I was securely +imprisoned, for the door was of metal, the ventilating gratings were +long narrow slits, and the walls were of heavy concrete--and there being +no windows, no bars were needed. Any living apartment in the city would +have served equally well the jailor's purpose; for it were only +necessary to turn a key from without to make of it a cell in this +gigantic prison of Berlin. + +The regular appearance of my meals by mechanical carrier was the only +way I had to reckon the passing of time, for it had chanced that I had +forgotten my watch when dressing for the audience with His Majesty. I +wrestled with unmeasured time by perusing the novels which gave me +fragmentary pictures of the social life on the Royal Level. + +As I turned over the situation in my mind I reassured myself that the +secrecy of my formulas was impregnable. The discovery of the process had +been rendered possible by knowledge I had brought with me from the outer +world. The reagents that I had used were synthetic substances, the very +existence of which was unknown to the Germans. I had previously prepared +these compounds and had used and completely destroyed them in making the +demonstration, while I had taken pains to remove all traces of their +preparation. Hence I had little to fear of the Chemical Staff +duplicating my work, though doubtless they were making desperate efforts +to do so, and my imprisonment was very evidently for the purpose of +permitting them to make that effort. + +On that score I felt that I had played my cards well, but there were +other thoughts that troubled me, chief of which was a fear that some +investigation might be set on foot in regard to Marguerite and that her +guardianship of the library of forbidden books might be discovered. With +this worry to torment me, the hours dragged slowly enough. + +I had been some five days in this solitary confinement when the door +opened and a man entered. He wore the uniform of a physician and +introduced himself as Dr. Boehm, explaining that he had been sent by His +Majesty to look after my health. The idea rather amused me; at least, I +thought, the Emperor had decided that the secrets of my brain were well +worth preservation, and I reasoned that this was evidence that the +Chemical Staff had made an effort to duplicate my work and had reported +their failure to do so. + +The doctor made what seemed to me a rather perfunctory physical +examination, which included a very minute inspection of my eyes. Then he +put me through a series of psychological test queries. When he had +finished he sighed deeply and said: "I am sorry to find that you are +suffering from a disturbed balance of the altruistic and the egotistic +cortical impulses; it is doubtless due to the intensive demands made upon +the creative potential before you were completely recovered from the +sub-normal psychosis due to the gas attack in the potash mines." + +This diagnosis impressed me as a palpable fraud, but I became genuinely +alarmed at the mention of the affair at the potash mines. I was somewhat +reassured at the thought that this reference was probably a part of the +record of Karl Armstadt, which was doubtless on file at the medical +headquarters, and had been looked up by Dr. Boehm who was in need of +making out a plausible case for some purpose--perhaps that of confining +me permanently on the grounds of insanity. Whatever might be the move on +foot it was clearly essential for me to keep myself cool and well +in hand. + +The doctor, after eyeing me calmly for a few moments, said: "It will be +necessary for me to go out for a time and secure apparatus for a more +searching examination. Meanwhile be assured you will not be further +neglected. In fact, I shall arrange for the time to share your apartment +with you, as loneliness will aggravate your derangement." + +In a few hours the doctor returned. He brought with him a +complicated-looking apparatus and was followed by two attendants +carrying a bed. + +The doctor pushed the apparatus into the corner, and, after seeing his +bed installed in my sleeping chamber, dismissed the attendants and sat +down and began to entertain me with accounts of various cases of mental +derangement that had come under his care. So far as I could determine +his object, if he had any other than killing time, it was to impress me +with the importance of submitting graciously to his care. + +Tiring of these stories of the doctor's professional successes with meek +and trusting patients, I took the management of the conversation into my +own hands. + +"Since you are a psychic expert, Dr. Boehm, perhaps you can explain to +me the mental processes that cause a man to prize a large bank credit +when there is positively no legal way in which he can expend +the credit." + +The doctor looked at me quizzically. "How do you mean," he asked, "that +there is no legal way in which he can expend the credit?" + +"Well, take my own case. The Emperor has bestowed upon me a credit of a +million marks a year. But I risked losing it by demanding that a young +woman of the Free Level be restored to the Royal Level where she +was born." + +"Of this I am aware," replied the psychic physician. "That is why His +Majesty became alarmed lest your mental equilibrium be disturbed. It +seems to indicate an atavistic reversion to a condition of romantic +altruism, but as your pedigree is normal, I deem it merely a temporary +loss of balance." + +"But why," I asked, "do you consider it abnormal at all? Is there +evidence of any great degree of unselfishness in a man desiring the +bestowal of happiness upon a particular woman in preference to bank +credit which he cannot expend? What should I do with a million marks a +year when I have been unable to expend the ten thousand a year I +have had?" + +"Ah," exclaimed the doctor, the light of a brilliant discovery breaking +over his countenance. "Perhaps this in a measure explains your case. You +have evidently been so absorbed in your work that you have not +sufficiently developed your appetite for personal enjoyment." + +"Perhaps I have not. But just how should I expend more funds; food, +clothing, living quarters are all provided me, there is nothing but a few +tawdry amusements that one can buy, nor is there any one to give the money +to--even if a man had children they cannot inherit his wealth. Just what +is money for, anyway?" + +The doctor nodded his head and smiled in satisfaction. "You ask +interesting questions," he said. "I shall try to answer them. Money or +bank credit is merely a symbol of wealth. In ancient times wealth was +represented by the private ownership of physical property, which was the +basis of capitalistic or competitive society. Racial progress was then +achieved by the mating of the men of superior brain with the most +beautiful women. Women do not appreciate the mental power of man in its +direct expression, or even its social use; they can only comprehend that +power when it is translated into wealth. After the destruction of +private property women refused to accept as mates the men of +intellectual power, but preferred instead men of physical strength and +personal beauty. + +"At first this was considered to be a proof of the superiority of the +proletariat. For, with all men economically equal, the beautiful women +turned from the anemic intellectual and the sons of aristocracy, to the +strong arms of labour. Believing themselves to be the source of all +wealth, and by that right vested with sole political power, and now +finding themselves preferred by the beautiful women, the labourer would +soon have eliminated all other classes from human society. Had unbridled +socialism with its free mating continued, we should have become merely a +horde of handsome savages. + +"Such would have been the destiny of our race had not William III +foreseen the outcome and restored war, the blessings of which had been +all but lost to the world. The progress of peace depended upon the +competition of capitalism, but in peace progress is incidental. In war +it is essential. Because war requires invention, it saved the +intellectual classes, and because war requires authority it made +possible the restoration of our Royal House. Labour, the tyrant of +peace, became again the slave of war, and under the plea of patriotic +necessity eugenics was established, which again restored the beautiful +women to the superior men. And thus by Imperial Socialism the race was +preserved from deterioriation." + +"But surely," I said, "eugenics has more than remedied this defect of +socialism, for the selection of men of superior mentality is much more +rigid than it could have been under the capricious matings of +capitalistic society. Why then this need of wealth?" + +"Eugenics," replied Boehm, "breeds superior children, but eugenic mating +is a cold scientific thing which fails to fan the flame of man's +ambition to do creative work. That is why we have the Level of Free +Women and have not bred the virility out of the intellectual group. That +is also the reason we have retained the Free Level on a competitive +commercial basis, and have given the intellectual man the bank credit, a +symbol of wealth, that he may use it, as men have always used wealth, +for the purpose of increasing his importance in the eyes of woman. This +function of wealth is psychically necessary to the creative impulse, for +the power of sexual conquest and the stimulus to creative thought are +but different expressions of the same instinct. Wealth, or its symbol, +is a medium of translating the one into the other. For example, take +your discovery; it is important to you and to the state. Your fellow +scientists appreciate it, His Majesty appreciates it, but women cannot +appreciate it. But give it a money value and women appreciate it +immediately. They know that the unlimited bank credit will give you the +power to keep as many women on your list as you choose, and this means +that you can select freely those you wish. So the most attractive women +will compete for your preferment. We bow before the Emperor, we salute +the Statue of God, but we make out our checks to buy baubles for women, +and it is that which keeps the wheels of progress turning." + +"So," I said, "this is your philosophy of wealth. I see, and yet I do +not see. The legal limit a man may contribute to a woman is but +twenty-four hundred marks a year, what then does he want with +a million?" + +"But there is no legal limit," replied the Doctor, "to the number of +women a man may have on his list. His relation to them may be the most +casual, but the pursuit is stimulating to the creative imagination. But +you forget, Herr von Armstadt, that with the compensation that was to be +yours goes also the social privilege of the Royal Level. Evidently you +have been so absorbed in your research that you had no time to think of +the magnificent rewards for which you were working." + +"Then perhaps you will explain them to me." + +"With pleasure," said Dr. Boehm; "your social privilege on the Royal +Level includes the right to marry and that means that you should have +children for whom inheritance is permitted. How else did you suppose the +ever-increasing numbers of the House of Hohenzollern should have +maintained their wealth?" + +"The question has never occurred to me," I answered, "but if it had, I +should have supposed that their expenses were provided by appropriations +from the state treasury." + +Dr. Boehm chuckled. "Then they should all be dependents on the state +like cripples and imbeciles. It would be a rather poor way to derive the +pride of aristocracy. That can only come from inherited wealth: the +principle is old, very old. The nobleman must never needs work to live. +Then, if he wishes to give service to the state, he may give it without +pay, and thus feel his nobility. You cannot aspire to full social +equality with the Royal House both because you lack divinity of blood +and because you receive your wealth for that which you have yourself +given to the state. But because of your wealth you will find a wife of +the Royal House, and she will bear you children who, receiving the +divine blood of the Hohenzollerns from the mother and inherited wealth +from the father, will thus be twice ennobled. To have such children is a +rare privilege; not even Herr von Uhl with his thousands of descendants +can feel such a pride of paternity. + +"It is well, Herr von Armstadt, that you talked to me of these matters. +Should you be restored to your full mental powers and be permitted to +assume the rights of your new station, it would be most unfortunate if +you should seem unappreciative of these ennobling privileges." + +"Then, if I may, I shall ask you some further questions. It seems that +the inherited incomes of the Royal Level are from time to time +reinforced by marriage from without. Does that not dilute the +Royal blood?" + +"That question," replied Dr. Boehm, "more properly should be addressed +to a eugenist, but I shall try to give you the answer. The blood of the +House of Hohenzollern is of a very high order for it is the blood of +divinity in human veins. Yet since there is no eugenic control, no +selection, the quality of that blood would deteriorate from inbreeding, +were there no fresh infusion. Then where better could such blood come +than from the men of genius? No man is given the full social privilege +of the Royal Level except he who has made some great contribution to the +state. This at once marks him as a genius and gives his wealth a +noble origin." + +"But how is it," I asked, "that this addition of men from without does +not disturb the balance of the sexes?" + +"It does disturb it somewhat," replied the doctor, "but not seriously, +for genius is rare. There are only a few hundred men in each generation +who are received into Royal Society. Of course that means some of the +young men of the Royal Level cannot marry. But some men decline marriage +of their own free will; if they are not possessed of much wealth they +prefer to go unmarried rather than to accept an unattractive woman as a +wife when they may have their choice of mistresses from the most +beautiful virgins intended for the Free Level. There is always an +abundance of marriageable women on the Royal Level and with your wealth +you will have your choice. Your credit, in fact, will be the largest +that has been granted for over a decade." + +"All that is very splendid," I answered. "I was not well informed on +these matters. But why should His Majesty have been so incensed at my +simple request for the restoration of the rights of the daughter of the +Princess Fedora?" + +"Your request was unusual; pardon if I may say, impudent; it seems to +imply a lack of appreciation on your part of the honours freely +conferred upon you--but I daresay His Majesty did not realize your +ignorance of these things. You are very young and you have risen to your +high station very quickly from an obscure position." + +"And do you think," I asked, "that if you made these facts clear to him, +he would relent and grant my request?" + +Dr. Boehm looked at me with a penetrating gaze. "It is not my function," +he said, "to intercede for you. I have only been commissioned to examine +carefully the state of your mentality." + +I smiled complacently at the psychic expert. "Now, doctor," I said, "you +do not mean to tell me that you really think there is anything wrong +with my mentality?" + +A look of craftiness flashed from Boehm's eyes. "I have given you my +diagnosis," he said, "but it may not be final. I have already +communicated my first report to His Majesty and he has ordered me to +remain with you for some days. If I should alter that opinion too +quickly it would discredit me and gain you nothing. You had best be +patient, and submit gracefully to further examination and treatment." + +"And do you know," I asked, "what the chemical staff is doing about my +formulas?" + +"That is none of my affair," declared Boehm, emphatically. + +There was a vigour in his declaration and a haste with which he began to +talk of other matters that gave me a hint that the doctor knew more of +the doings of the chemical staff than he cared to admit, but I thought +it wise not to press the point. + +~3~ + +The second day of Boehm's stay with me, he unmantled his apparatus and +asked me to submit to a further examination. I had not the least +conception of the purpose of this apparatus and with some misgivings I +lay down on a couch while the psychic expert placed above my eyes a +glass plate, on which, when he had turned on the current, there +proceeded a slow rhythmic series of pale lights and shadows. At the +doctor's command I fixed my gaze upon the lights, while he, in a +monotonous voice, urged me to relax my mind and dismiss all +active thought. + +How long I stood for this infernal proceeding I do not know. But I +recall a realization that I had lost grip on my thoughts and seemed to +be floating off into a misty nowhere of unconsciousness. I struggled +frantically to regain control of myself; and, for what seemed an +eternity, I fought with a horrible nightmare unable to move a muscle or +even close my eyelids to shut out that sickening sequence of creeping +shadows. Then I saw the doctor's hand reaching slowly toward my face. It +seemed to sway in its stealthy movement like the head of a serpent +charming a bird, but in my helpless horror I could not ward it off. + +At last the snaky fingers touched my eyelids as if to close them, and +that touch, light though it was, served to snap the taut film of my +helpless brain and I gave a blood-curdling yell and jumped up, knocking +over the devilish apparatus and nearly upsetting the doctor. + +"Calm yourself," said Boehm, as he attempted to push me again toward the +couch. "There is nothing wrong, and you must surrender to the psychic +equilibrator so that I can proceed with the examination." + +"Examination be damned," I shouted fiercely; "you were trying to +hypnotize me with that infernal machine." + +Boehm did not reply but calmly proceeded to pick up the apparatus and +restore it to its place in the corner, while I paced angrily about the +room. He then seated himself and addressed me as I stood against the +wall glaring at him. "You are labouring under hallucinations," he said. +"I fear your case is even worse than I thought. But calm yourself. I +shall attempt no further examination today." + +I resumed a seat but refused to look at him. He did not talk further of +my supposed mental state, but proceeded to entertain me with gossip of +the Royal Level, and later discussed the novels in the bookcase. + +It was difficult to keep up an open war with so charming a +conversationalist, but I was thoroughly on my guard. I could now readily +see through the whole fraud of my imputed mental derangement. I knew my +mind was sound as a schoolboy's, and that this pretence of examination +and treatment was only a blind. Evidently the Chemical Staff had failed +to work the formulas I had given them and this psychic manipulator had +been sent in here to filch the true formulas from my brain with his +devilish art. I knew nothing of what progress the Germans might have +made with hypnotism, but unless they had gone further than had the outer +world, now that I was on my guard, I believed myself to be safe. + +But there was yet one danger. I might be trapped in my sleep by an +induced somnambulistic conversation. Happily I was fairly well posted on +such things and believed that I could guard against that also. But the +fear of the thing made me so nervous that I did not sleep all of the +following night. + +The doctor, evidently a keen observer, must have detected that fact from +the sound of my breathing, for the lights were turned out and we slept +in the pitchy blackness that only a windowless room can create. + +"You did not sleep well," he remarked, as we breakfasted. + +But I made light of his solicitous concern, and we passed another day in +casual conversation. + +As the sleeping period drew again near, the doctor said, "I will leave +you tonight, for I fear my presence disturbs you because you +misinterpret my purpose in observing you." + +As the doctor departed, I noted that the mechanism of the hinges and the +lock of the door were so perfect that they gave forth no sound. I was +very drowsy and soon retired, but before I went to sleep I practised +snapping off and on the light from the switch at the side of my bed. +Then I repeated over and over to myself--"I will awake at the first +sound of a voice." + +This thought ingrained in my subconscious mind proved my salvation. I +must have been sleeping some hours. I was dreaming of Marguerite. I saw +her standing in an open meadow flooded with sunlight; and heard her +voice as if from afar. I walked towards her and as the words grew more +distinct I knew the voice was not Marguerite's. Then I awoke. + +I did not stir but lay listening. The voice was speaking monotonously +and the words I heard were the words of the protium formulas, the false +ones I had given the Chemical Staff. + +"But these formulas are not correct," purred the voice, "of course, they +are not correct. I gave them to the Staff, but they will never know the +real ones--Yes, the real ones--What are the real ones? Have I +forgotten--? No, I shall never forget. I can repeat them now." Then the +voice began again on one of the fake formulas. But when it reached the +point where the true formula was different, it paused; evidently the +Chemical Staff had found out where the difficulty lay. And so the voice +had paused, hoping my sleeping mind would catch up the thread and supply +the missing words. But instead my arm shot quickly to the switch. The +solicitous Doctor Boehm, flooded with a blaze of light, glared +blinkingly as I leaped from the bed. + +"Oh, I was asleep all right," I said, "but I awoke the instant I heard +you speak, just as I had assured myself that I would do before I fell +asleep. Now what else have you in your bag of tricks?" + +"I only came--" began the doctor. + +"Yes, you only came," I shouted, "and you knew nothing about the work of +the Chemical Staff on my formulas. Now see here, doctor, you had your +try and you have failed. Your diagnosis of my mental condition is just +as much a fraud as the formulas on which the Chemical Staff have been +wasting their time--only it is not so clever. I fooled them and you have +not fooled me. Waste no more time, but go back and report to His Majesty +that your little tricks have failed." + +"I shall do that," said Boehm. "I feared you from the start; your mind +is really an extraordinary one. But where," he said, "did you learn how +to guard yourself so well against my methods? They are very secret. My +art is not known even to physicians." + +"It is known to me," I said, "so run along and get your report ready." +The doctor shook my hand with an air of profound respect and took his +leave. This time I balanced a chair overhanging the edge of a table so +that the opening of the door would push it off, and I lay down and +slept soundly. + +~4~ + +I was left alone in my prison until late the next day. Then came a guard +who conducted me before His Majesty. None of the Chemical Staff was +present. In fact there was no one with the Emperor but a single +secretary. + +His Majesty smiled cordially. "It was fitting, Herr von Armstadt, for me +to order your confinement for your demand was audacious; not that what +you asked was a matter of importance, but you should have made the +request in writing and privately and not before the Chemical Staff. For +that breach of etiquette I had to humiliate you that Royal dignity might +be preserved. As for the fact that you kept the formulas secret, none +need know that but the Chemical Staff and they will have nothing further +to say since you made fools of them." His Majesty laughed. + +"As for the request you made, I have decided to grant it. Nor do I blame +you for making it. The Princess Marguerite is a very beautiful girl. She +is waiting now nearby. I should have sent for her sooner, but it was +necessary to make an investigation regarding her birth. The unfortunate +Princess Fedora never confessed the father. But I have arranged that, as +you shall see." + +The Emperor now pressed his signal button and a door opened and +Marguerite was ushered into the room. I started in fear as I saw that +she was accompanied by Dr. Zimmern. What calamity of discovery and +punishment, I wondered, had my daring move brought to the secret rebel +against the rule of the Hohenzollern? + +Marguerite stepped swiftly toward me and gave me her hand. The look in +her eyes I interpreted as a warning that I was not to recognize Zimmern. +So I appeared the stranger while the secretary introduced us. + +"Dr. Zimmern," said His Majesty, "was physician to Princess Fedora at +the time of the birth of the Princess Marguerite. She confessed to him +the father of her child. It was the Count Rudolph who died unmarried +some years ago. There will be no questions raised. Our society will +welcome his daughter, for both the Count Rudolph and the Princess Fedora +were very popular." + +During this speech, Dr. Zimmern sat rigid and stared into space. Then +the secretary produced a document and read a confession to be signed by +Zimmern, testifying to these statements of Marguerite's birth. + +Zimmern, his features still unmoved, signed the paper and handed it +again to the secretary. + +His Majesty arose and held out his hand to Marguerite. "I welcome you," +he said, "to the House of Hohenzollern. We shall do our best to atone +for what you have suffered. And to you, Herr von Armstadt, I extend my +thanks for bringing us so beautiful a woman. It is my hope that you will +win her as a wife, for she will grace well the fortune that your great +genius brings to us. But because you have loved her under unfortunate +circumstances I must forbid your marriage for a period of two years. +During that time you will both be free to make acquaintances in Royal +Society. Nothing less than this would be fair to either of you, or to +other women that may seek your fortune or to other men who may seek the +beauty of your princess." + + + +CHAPTER X + +A GODDESS WHO IS SUFFERING FROM OBESITY AND +A BRAVE MAN WHO IS AFRAID OF THE LAW OF AVERAGES + + +~1~ + +It was not till we had reached Marguerite's apartment that Zimmern +spoke. Then he and Marguerite both embraced me and cried with joy. + +"Ah, Armstadt," said the old doctor, "you have done a wonderful thing, a +wonderful thing, but why did you not warn us?" + +"Yes," I stammered, "I know. You mean the books. It worried me, but, you +see, I did not plan this thing. I did not know what I should do. It came +to me like a flash as the Emperor was conferring the honours upon me. I +had hoped to use my power to make him do my bidding, and yet we had +contrived no way to use that power in furtherance of our great plans to +free a race; but I could at least use it to free a woman. Let us hope +that it augurs progress to the ultimate goal." + +"It was very noble, but it was dangerous," replied Zimmern. "It was only +through a coincidence that we were saved. Herr von Uhl told me that same +day what you had demanded. I saw Hellar immediately and he declared a +raid on Marguerite's apartment. But he came himself with only one +assistant who is in his confidence, and they boxed the books and carted +them off. They will be turned in as contraband volumes, but the report +will be falsified; no one will ever know from whence they came." + +"Then the books are lost to you," I said; "of that I am sorry, and I +worried greatly while I was imprisoned." + +"Yes," said Zimmern, "we have lost the books, but you have saved +Marguerite. That will more than compensate. For that I can never thank +you enough." + +"And you were called into the matter, not," I said, "as Marguerite's +friend, but as the physician to her mother?" + +"They must have looked up the record," replied Zimmern, "but nothing was +said to me. I received only a communication from His Majesty commanding +me as the physician to Marguerite's mother at the time of Marguerite's +birth, to make statement as to her fatherhood." + +"But why," I asked, "did you not make this confession before, since it +enabled Marguerite to be restored to her rights?" + +The old doctor looked pained at the question. "But you forget," he said, +"that it is the power of your secret and not my confession that has +restored Marguerite. The confession is only a matter of form, to satisfy +the wagging tongues of Royal Society." + +"Do you mean," I asked, "that she will not be well received there +because she was born out of wedlock?" + +"Not at all," replied Zimmern; "it was the failure to confess the +father, not the fact of her unwedded motherhood, that brought the +punishment. There are many love-children born on the Royal Level and +they suffer only a failure of inheritance of wealth from the father. But +if they be girls of charm and beauty, and if, as Marguerite now stands +credited, they be of rich Royal blood, they are very popular and much +sought after. But without the record of the father they cannot be +admitted into Royal Society, for the record of the blood lines would be +lost, and that, you see, is essential. Social precedent, the value in +the matrimonial market, all rest upon it. Marguerite is indeed +fortunate; with His Majesty's signature attesting my confession, she has +nothing more to fear. But I daresay they shall try their best to win her +from you for some shallow-minded prince." + +"But when," I asked, "is she to go? His Majesty seemed very gracious, +but do you realize that I still possess my secret of the protium +formulas?" + +"And do you still hesitate to give them up?" asked Marguerite. + +"For your freedom, dear, I shall reveal them gladly." + +"But," cried Marguerite, "you must not give them up just for me,--if +there is any way you can use them for our great plan." + +"Nothing," spoke up Zimmern, "could be gained now by further secrecy but +trouble for us all; and by acceding, both you and Marguerite win your +places on the Royal Level, where you can better serve our cause. That +is, if you are still with us. It may be harder for you, now that you +have won the richest privileges that Germany has to offer, to remember +those who struggle in the darkness." + +"But I shall remember," I said, giving him my hand. + +"I believe you will," said Zimmern feelingly, "and I know I can count on +Marguerite. You will both have opportunities to see much of the officers +of the Submarine Service. The German race may yet be freed from this +sunless prison, if you can find one among them who can be won to +our cause." + +~2~ + +I reported the next morning to the Chemical Staff, by whom I was treated +with deferential respect. I was immediately installed in my new office, +as Director of the Protium Works. While I set about supervising the +manufacture of apparatus for the new process, other members of the +staff, now furnished with the correct formulas repeated the +demonstration without my assistance. + +When the report of this had been made to His Majesty, I received my +insignia of the social privilege of the Royal Level and a copy of the +Royal Society Bulletin announcing Marguerite's restoration to her place +in the House of Hohenzollern, with the title of Princess Marguerite, +Daughter of Princess Fedora and Count Rudolf. The next day a social +secretary from the Royal Level came for Marguerite and conducted her to +the Apartments of the Countess Luise, under whose chaperonage she was to +make her début into Royal Society. + +I, also, was furnished with a social secretary, an obsequious but very +wise little man, who took charge of all my affairs outside my chemical +work. Under his guidance I was removed to more commodious quarters and +my wardrobe was supplied with numerous changes all in the uniform of the +Chemical Staff. There was little time to spare from my duties in the +Protium Works, but my secretary, ever alert, snatched upon the odd +moments to coach me in matters of social etiquette and so prepared me to +make my first appearance in Royal Society at the grand ball given by the +Countess Luise in honour of Marguerite's début. + +Despite the assiduous coaching of my secretary, my ignorance must have +been delightfully amusing to the royal idlers who had little other +thought or purpose in life than this very round of complicated +nothingness. But if I was a blundering amateur in all this, they were +not so much discourteous as envious. They knew that I had won my +position by my achievements as a chemist and in a vague way they +understood that I had saved the empire from impending ruin, and for this +achievement I was lionized. + +The women rustled about me in their gorgeous gowns and plied me with +foolish questions which I had better sense than to try to answer with +the slightest degree of truth. But their power of sustained interest in +such weighty matters was not great and soon the conversation would drift +away, especially if Marguerite was about, when the talk would turn to +the romance of her restoration. + +One group of vivacious ladies discussed quite frankly with Marguerite +the relative advantages of a husband of intellectual genius as compared +with one of a high degree of royal blood. Some contended that the added +prospect of superior intelligence in the children would offset the +lowering of their degree of Hohenzollern blood. The others argued quite +as persistently that the "blood" was the better investment. + +Through such conversation I learned of the two clans within the Royal +House. The one prided themselves wholly in the high degree of their +Hohenzollern blood; the other, styling themselves "Royal Intellectuals" +because of a greater proportion of outside blood lines, were quite as +proud of the fact that, while possessed of sufficient royal blood to be +in "the divinity," they inherited supposedly greater intelligence from +their mundane ancestors. This latter group, to make good their claims, +made a great show of intellectuality, and cultivated most persistently a +dilletante dabbling into all sorts of scientific and artistic matters. + +Because of Marguerite's high credit in Royal blood she was courted by +"purists" by whom I was only tolerated on her account. On the other +hand, the "intellectuals" considered me as a great asset for their cause +and glorified particularly in the prospects of marriage of an outside +scientist to an eighty-degree Hohenzollern princess. This rivalry of the +clans of Royal Society made us much sought after and I was flooded with +invitations. + +It did not take me long to discover, however, that the reason for my +popularity was not altogether a matter of respect for my intellectual +genius. I had at first been inclined to accept all invitations, +innocently supposing that I was being fêted as an honorary guest. But my +social secretary advised against this; and, when he began bringing me +checks to sign, I realized that the social privileges of Royal Society +included the honour of paying the bills for one's own entertainment. + +I had already arranged with my banker that a fourth of my income be +turned over to Marguerite until her marriage, for she was without income +of her own, and it was upon my petition that she had been restored to +the Royal Level. At my banker's suggestion I had also made over ten +thousand marks a month to the Countess, under whose motherly wing +Marguerite was being sheltered. I therefore soon discovered that my +income of a million marks a year would be absorbed quite easily by Royal +Society. The entire system appeared to me rather sordid, but such +matters were arranged by bankers and secretaries and the principals were +supposed to be quite innocent of any knowledge of, or concern for, +the details. + +The Countess Luise, who was permitted to entertain so lavishly at my +expense, was playing for the favour of both of the opposing social +clans. Possessing a high degree of Hohenzollern blood she stood well +with the purists. But her income was not all that could be desired, so +she had adroitly discovered in her only son a touch of intellectual +genius, and the young man quite dutifully had become a maker of picture +plots, hoping by this distinction to win as a wife one of the daughters +of some wealthy intellectual interloper. At first I had feared the +Countess had designs upon Marguerite as a wife for her son, but as +Marguerite had no income of her own I saw that in this I was mistaken, +and I developed a feeling of genuine friendliness for the plump and +cordial Countess. + +"Do you know what I was reading last night?" I remarked one evening, as +I chatted with Marguerite and her chaperone. + +"Some work on obesity, I hope," sparkled the Countess. Like many of the +House of Hohenzollern, among whom there was no weight control, she +carried a surplus of adipose tissue not altogether consistent +with beauty. + +"No, indeed," I said gravely. "Nothing about your material being, but a +treatise upon your spiritual nature. I was reading an old school book +that I found among my forgotten relics--a book about the Divinity of the +House of Hohenzollern." + +"Oh, how jolly!" chuckled the Countess. "How very funny that I never +thought before that you, Herr von Armstadt, were once taught all those +delightful fables." + +"And once believed them too," I lied. + +"Oh, dear me," replied the Countess, with a ponderous sigh, "so I +suppose you did. And what a shock I must have been to you with an eighty +centimetre waist." + +"You are not quite Junoesque," I admitted. + +"The more reason you should use your science, Herr Chemist, to aid me to +recover my goddess form." + +"What are you folks talking about?" interrupted Marguerite. + +"About our divinity, my dear," replied Luise archly. + +"But do you feel that it is really necessary," I asked, "that such +fables should be put into the helpless minds of children?" + +"It surely must be. Suppose your own heredity had proven tricky--it does +sometimes, you know--and you had been found incapable of scientific +thought. You would have been deranked and perhaps made a record +clerk--no personal reflections, but such things do happen--and if you +now were filing cards all day you would surely be much happier if you +could believe in our divinity. Why else would you submit to a loveless +life and the dull routine of toil? Did not all the ancients, and do not +all the inferior races now, have objects of religious worship?" + +"But the other races," I said, "do not worship living people but +spiritual divinities and the sainted dead. + +"Quite so," replied the over-plump goddess, "but that is why their +_kulturs_ are so inefficient. Surely the worship was useless to the +spirits and the dead, whereas we find it quite profitable to be +worshipped. But for this wonderful doctrine of the divinity of the blood +of William the Great we should be put to all sorts of inconveniences." + +"You might even have to work," I ventured. + +The Countess bestowed on me one of her most bewitching smiles. "My dear +Herr Chemist," she said in sugary tones, "you with your intellectual +genius can twit us on our psychic lacks and we must fall back on the +divine blood of our Great Ancestor--but would you really wish the slaves +of dull toil to think it as human as their own?" + +"But to me it seems a little gross," I said. + +"Not at all; on the contrary, it is a master stroke of science and +efficiency--inferior creatures must worship; they always have and always +will--then why waste the worship?" + +~3~ + +My position as director of the protium works soon brought me into +conference with Admiral von Kufner who was Chief of the Submarine Staff. +Von Kufner was in his forties and his manner indicated greater talent +for pomp and ceremony than for administrative work. His grandfather had +been the engineer to whose genius Berlin owed her salvation through the +construction of the submarine tunnel. By this service the engineer had +won the coveted "von," a princely fortune and a wife of the Royal Level. +The Admiral therefore carried Hohenzollern blood in his veins, which, +together with his ample fortune and a distinguished position, made him a +man of both social and official consequence. + +It did not take me long to decide that von Kufner was hopeless as a +prospective convert to revolutionary doctrines. Nor did he possess any +great knowledge of the protium mines, for he had never visited them. +Inheriting his position as an honour to his grandfather's genius, he +commanded the undersea vessels from the security of an office on the +Royal Level, for journeys in ice-filled waters were entirely too +dangerous to appeal to one who loved so well the pleasures and +vanities of life. + +I had explained to von Kufner the distinctions I had discovered in the +various samples of the ore brought from the mines and the necessity of +having new surveys of the deposits made on the basis of these +discoveries. After he had had time to digest this information, I +suggested that I should myself go to make this survey. But this idea the +Admiral at once opposed, insisting that the trip through the Arctic ice +fields was entirely too dangerous. + +"Very well," I replied. "I feel that I could best serve Germany by going +to the Arctic mines in person, but if you think that is unwise, will you +not arrange for me to consult at once with men who have been in the +mines and are familiar with conditions there?" + +To this very reasonable request, which was in line with my obvious +duties, no objection could be made and a conference was at once called +of submarine captains and furloughed engineers who had been in the +Arctic ore fields. + +I was impressed by the youthfulness of these men, which was readily +explained by the fact that one vessel out of every five sent out was +lost beneath the Arctic ice floes. With an almost mathematical certainty +the men in the undersea service could reckon the years of their lives on +the fingers of one hand. + +Although the official business of the conference related to ore deposits +and not to the dangers of the traffic, the men were so obsessed with the +latter fact, that it crept out in their talk in spite of the Admiral's +obvious displeasure at such confession of fear. I particularly marked +the outspoken frankness of one, Captain Grauble, whose vessel was the +next one scheduled to depart to the mines. + +I therefore asked Grauble to call in person at my office for the +instructions concerning the ore investigations which were to be +forwarded to the Director of the Mines. Free from the restraining +influence of the Admiral, I was able to lead the Captain to talk freely +of the dangers of his work, and was overjoyed to find him frankly +rebellious. + +That I might still further cultivate his acquaintance I withheld some of +the necessary documents; and, using this as a pretext, I later sought +him out at his quarters, which were in a remote and somewhat obscure +part of the Royal Level. + +The official nature of my call disposed of, I led the conversation into +social matters, and found no difficulty in persuading the Captain to +talk of his own life. He was a man well under thirty and like most of +his fellows in the service was one of the sons of a branch of the +Hohenzollern family whose declining fortune denied him all hope of +marriage or social life. In the heroic years of his youth he had +volunteered for the submarine service. But now he confessed that he +regretted the act, for he realized that his death could not be long +postponed. He had made his three trips as commander of an +ore-bringing vessel. + +"I have two more trips," declared Captain Grauble. "Such is the prophecy +of statistical facts: five trips is the allotted life of a Captain; it +is the law of averages. It is possible that I may extend that number a +little, but if so it will be an exception. Trusting to exceptions is a +poor philosophy. I do not like it. Sometimes I think I shall refuse to +go. Disgrace, of course,--banishment to the mines. Report my treasonable +utterances if you like. I am prepared for that; suicide is easy +and certain." + +"But is it not rather cowardly, Captain?" I asked, looking him steadily +in the eye. + +Grauble flung out his hand with a gesture of disdain. "That is an easy +word for you to pronounce," he sneered. "You have hope to live by, you +are on the upward climb, you aspire to marry into the Royal House and +sire children to inherit your wealth. But I was born of the Royal House, +my father squandered his wealth. My sisters were beautiful and they have +married well. My brother was servile; he has attached himself to the +retinue of a wealthy Baroness. But I was made of better stuff than that. +I would play the hero. I would face danger and gladly die to give Berlin +more life and uphold the House of Hohenzollern in its fat and idle +existence; and for me they have taken hope away! + +"Oh, yes, I was proclaimed a hero. The young ladies of this house of +idleness dance with me, but they dare not take me seriously; what one of +them would court the certainty of widowhood without a fortune? So why +should I not tire of their shallow trifling? I find among the girls of +the Free Level more honest love, for they, as I, have no hope. They love +but for the passing hour, and pass on as I pass on, I to death, they to +decaying beauty and an old age of servile slavery." + +Surely, I exulted, here is the rebellious and daring soul that Zimmern +and Hellar have sought in vain. Even as they had hoped, I seemed to have +discovered a man of the submarine service who was amenable to +revolutionary ideas. Could I not get him to consider the myriad life of +Berlin in all its barren futility, to grasp at the hope of succour from +a free and merciful world, and then, with his aid, find a way out of +Berlin, a way to carry the message of Germany's need of help to the +Great God of Humanity that dwelt without in the warmth and joy of +the sun? + +The tide of hope surged high within me. I was tempted to divulge at once +my long cherished plan of escape from Berlin. "Why," I asked, thinking +to further sound his sincerity, "if you feel like this, have you never +considered running your craft to the surface during the sea passage and +beaching her on a foreign shore? There at least is life and hope and +experience." + +"By the Statue of God!" cried Grauble, his body shaking and his voice +quavering, "why do you, in all your hope and comfort here, speak of that +to me? Do you think I have never been tempted to do that very thing? And +yet you call me a coward. Have I not breathed foul air for days, fearful +to poke up our air tube in deserted waters lest by the millionth chance +it might lead to a capture? And yet you speak of deliberate surrender! +Even though I destroyed my charts, the capture of a German submarine in +those seas would set the forces of the outer world searching for the +passage. If they found and blocked the passage I should be guilty of the +destruction of three hundred million lives--Great God! God of +Hohenzollern! God of the World! could this thing be?" + +"Captain," I said, placing my hand on the shoulder of the palsied man, +"you and I have great secrets and the burden of great sorrows in common. +It is well that we have found each other. It is well that we have spoken +of these things that shake our souls. You have confessed much to me and +I have much that I shall confess to you. I must see you again before +you leave." + +Grauble gave me his hand. "You are a strange man," he said. "I have met +none before like you. I do not know at what aims you are driving. If you +plotted my disgrace by leading me into these confessions, you have found +me easy prey. But do not credit yourself too much. I have often vowed I +would go to Admiral von Kufner, and say these things to him. But the +formal exterior of that petty pompous man I cannot penetrate. If I have +confessed to you, it is merely because you are a man without that +protecting shield of bristling authority and cold formality. You seemed +merely a man of flesh and blood, despite your decorations, and so I have +talked. What is to be made of it by you or by me I do not know, but I am +not afraid of you." + +"I shall leave you now," I said, "for I have pressing duties, but I +shall see you soon again. So calm yourself and get hold of your reason. +I shall want you to think clearly when I talk with you again. Perhaps I +can yet show you a gleam of hope beyond this mathematical law of +averages that rattles the dice of death." + + + +CHAPTER XI + +IN WHICH THE TALKING DELEGATE IS ANSWERED BY THE +ROYAL VOICE AND I LEARN THAT LABOUR KNOWS NOT GOD + + +~1~ + +I had delayed in speaking to Grauble of our revolutionary plans, because +I wished first to arrange a meeting with Zimmern and Hellar and secure +the weight of their calmer minds in initiating Grauble into our plans of +sending a message to the World State authorities. I was prevented from +doing this immediately by difficulties in the Protium Works. Meanwhile +unbeknown to me the sailing date of Grauble's vessel was advanced, and +he departed to the Arctic. + +Although my position as Director of the Protium Works had been more of +an honour than an assignment of active duties, I made it my business to +assume the maximum rather than the minimum of the functions of the +office as I wished to learn more of the labour situation in Berlin, of +which as yet I had no comprehensive understanding. + +In a general way I understood that German labour differed not only in +being eugenically created as a distinct breed, but that the labour group +was also a very distinct caste economically and politically. The +labourer, being denied access to the Level of Free Women, had no need +for money or bank credit in any form. This seemed to me to reduce him to +a condition of pure slavery--since he received no pay for his services +other than the bare maintenance supplied by the state. + +Because of this evidence of economic inferiority, I had at first +supposed that labour was in every way an inferior caste. But in this I +had been gravely mistaken, nor had I been able fully to comprehend my +error until this brewing labour trouble revealed in concrete form the +political superiority of labour. In my failure to comprehend the true +state of affairs I had been a little stupid, for the political basis of +German society is revealed to the seeing eye in the Hohenzollern eagle +emblazoned on the red flag, the emblem of the rule of labour. + +Historically I believe this belies the origin of the red flag for it was +first used as the emblem of democratic socialism, a Nineteenth Century +theory of a social order in which all social and economic classes were +to be blended into a true democracy differing somewhat in its economic +organization, but essentially the same politically as the true democracy +which we have achieved in the World State. But with the Bolshevist +régime in Russia after the First World War, the red flag was +appropriated as the emblem of the political supremacy and rule of the +proletariat or labour class. + +I make these references to bygone history because they throw light on +the peculiar status of the German Labour Caste, which is possessed of +political superiority combined with social and economic inferiority. It +was the Bolshevist brand of socialism that finally overran Germany in +the era of loose and ineffective rule of the world by the League of +Nations. Though I make no pretence of being an accurate authority on +history, the League of Nations, if I remember rightly, was humanity's +first timid conception of the World State. Rather weakly born, it was +promptly emasculated by the rise in America of a political party founded +on the ideas of a great national hero who had just died. The +obstructionist policy of this party was inherent in its origin, for it +was inspired and held together by the ideas of a dead man, whose +followers could only repeat as their test of faith a phrase that has +come down to us as an idiom--"What would He do?" + +"He" being dead could do nothing, neither could he change his mind, but +having left an indelible record of his ideas by the strenuous verbiage +of his virile and inspiring rhetoric, there was no room for doubt. As in +all political and religious faiths founded on the ideas of dead heroes, +this made for solidarity and power and quite prevented any adaptation of +the form of government to the needs of the world that had arisen since +his demise. + +I have digressed here from my theme of the political status of the +German labour caste, but it is fascinating to trace things to their +origin to find the links of the chain of cause and effect. So, if I have +read my history aright, the emasculation of the League of Nations by the +American obstructionists caused, or at least permitted the rise, and +dominance of the Bolshevists in Twentieth-Century Germany. Had the +Germans been democrats at heart the pendulum would have swung back as it +did with other peoples, and been stayed at the point of equilibrium +which we recognized as the stable mean of democracy. + +But in the old days before the modern intermingling of the races it +seems that there were certain tastes that had become instinctive in +racial groups. Thus, just as the German stomach craved the rich flavour +of sausage, so the German mind craved the dazzling show of Royal +flummery. Had it not been for this the First World War could have never +been, for the socialists of that time were bitterly opposed to war and +Germany was the world's greatest stronghold of socialism, yet when their +beloved imperial poser, William the Great, called for war the German +socialists, with the exception of a few whom they afterwards murdered, +went forth to war almost without protest. + +When I first began to hear of the political rights of Labour, I went to +my friend Hellar and asked for an explanation. + +"Is not the chain of authority absolute," I asked, "up through the +industrial organization direct to the Emperor and so to God himself?" + +"But," said Hellar, "the workers do not believe in God!" + +"What," I stammered, "workers not believe in God! It is impossible. Have +not the workers simple trusting minds?" + +"Certainly," said Hellar, "it is the natural mind of man! Scepticism, +which is the basis of scientific reasoning, is an artificial thing, +first created in the world under the competitive economic order when it +became essential to self-preservation in a world of trade based on +deceit. In our new order we have had difficulty in maintaining enough of +it for scientific purposes even in the intellectual classes. There is no +scepticism among the labourers now, I assure you. They believe as easily +as they breathe." + +"Then how," I demanded in amazement, "does it come that they do not +believe in God?" + +"Because," said Hellar, "they have never heard of God. + +"The labourer does not know of God because we have restored God since +the perfection of our caste system, and hence it was easy to promulgate +the idea among the intellectuals and not among the workers. It was +necessary to restore God for the intellectuals in order to give them +greater respect for the power of the Royal House, but the labourers need +no God because they believe themselves to be the source from which the +Royal House derives its right to rule. They believe the Emperor to be +their own servant ruling by their permission." + +"The Emperor a servant to labour!" I exclaimed; "this is absurd." + +"Certainly," said Hellar; "why should it be otherwise? We are an absurd +people, because we have always laughed at the wrong things. Still this +principle is very old and has not always been confined to the Germans. +After the revolutions in the Twentieth Century the American plutocrats +employed poverty-stricken European nobility for servants and exalted +them to high stations and obeyed them explicitly in all social matters +with which their service was concerned. + +"The labourers restored William III because they wished to have an +exalted servant. He led them to war and became a hero. He reorganized +the state and became their political servant, also their emperor and +their tyrant. It is not an impossible relation, for it is not unlike the +relation between the mother and the child or between a man and his +mistress. And yet it is different, more formal, with functions +better defined. + +"The Emperor is the administrative head of the government and we +intellectuals are merely his hirelings. We are merely the feathers of +the Royal eagle, our colour is black, we have no part in the red blood +of human brotherhood, we are outcasts from the socialistic labour +world--for we receive money compensation to which labourers would not +stoop. But labour owns the state. This roof of Berlin over our heads and +all that is therein contained, is the property of the workers who +produced it." + +I shook my head in mute admission of my lack of comprehension. + +"And who," asked Hellar, "did you think owned Berlin?" + +I confessed that I had never thought of that. + +"Few of our intellectual class have ever thought of that," replied +Hellar, "unless they are well read in political history. But at the time +of the Hohenzollern restoration labour owned all property in true +communal ownership. They did not release it to the Royal House, but +merely turned over the administration of the property to the Emperor as +an agent." + +These belated explanations of the fundamental ideas of German society +quite confused and confounded me, though Hellar seemed in no wise +surprised at my ignorance, since as a chemist I had originally been +supposed to know only of atoms and valences and such like matters. +Seeking a way out of these contradictions I asked: "How is it then that +labour is so powerless, since you say that it owns the state, and even +the Emperor rules by its permission?" + +"Napoleon--have you ever heard of him?" + +"Yes," I admitted--and then recalling my rôle as a German chemist I +hastened to add--"Napoleon was a directing chemist who achieved a plan +for increasing the food supply in his day by establishing the sugar beet +industry." + +"Is that so?" exclaimed Hellar. "I didn't know that. I thought he was +only an Emperor--anyway, Napoleon said that if you tell men they are +equal you can do as you please with them. So when William III was +elected to the throne by labour, he insisted that they retain the power +and re-elect him every five years. He was very popular because he +invented the armoured city--our new Berlin--some day I will tell you of +that--and so of course he was re-elected, and his son after him. Though +most of the intellectuals do not know that it exists the ceremony of +election is a great occasion on the labour levels. The Emperor speaks +all day through the horns and on the picture screens. The workers think +he is actually speaking, though of course it is a collection of old +films and records of the Royal Voice. When they have seen and heard the +speeches, the labourers vote, and then go back to their work and are +very happy." + +"But suppose they should sometime fail to re-elect him?" + +"No danger," said Hellar; "there is only one name on the ballot and the +ballots are dumped into the paper mill without inspection." + +"Most extraordinary," I exclaimed. + +"Most ordinary," contradicted Hellar; "it is not even an exclusively +German institution; we have merely perfected it. Voting everywhere is a +very useful device in organized government. In the cruder form used in +democracies there were two or more candidates. It usually made little +difference which was elected; but the system was imperfect because the +voters who voted for the candidate which lost were not pleased. Then +there was the trouble of counting the ballots. We avoid all this." + +"It is all very interesting," I said, "but who is the real authority?" + +"Ah," said Hellar, "this matter of authority is one of our most subtle +conceptions. The weakness of ancient governments was in the fact that +the line of authority was broken. It came somewhere to an end. But now +authority flows up from labour to the Emperor and then descends again to +labour through the administrative line of which we are one link. It is +an unbroken circuit." + +But I was still unsatisfied, for it annoyed me not to be able to +understand the system of German politics, as I had always prided myself +that, for a scientist, I understood politics remarkably well. + +~2~ + +I had gone to Hellar for enlightenment because I was gravely alarmed +over the rumours of a strike among the labourers in the Protium Works. I +had read in the outside world of the murder and destruction of these +former civil wars of industry. With a working population so cruelly held +to the treadmill of industrial bondage the idea of a strike conjured up +in my fancy the beginning of a bloody revolution. With so vast a +population so utterly dependent upon the orderly processes of industry +the possible terrors of an industrial revolution were horrible beyond +imagining; and for the moment all thoughts of escape, or of my own plans +for negotiating the surrender of Berlin to the World State, were swept +aside by the stern responsibilities that devolved upon me as the +Director of Works wherein a terrible strike seemed brewing. + +The first rumour of the strike of the labourers in the Protium Works had +come to me from the Listening-in-Service. Since Berlin was too +complicated and congested a spot for wireless communication to be +practical, the electrical conduct of sound was by antiquated means of +metal wires. The workers' Free Speech Halls were all provided with +receiving horns by which they made their appeals to His Majesty, of +which I shall speak presently. These instruments were provided with +cut-offs in the halls. They had been so designed by the electrical +engineers, who were of the intellectual caste, that not even the workers +who installed and repaired them knew that the cut-offs were a blind and +that the Listening-in-Service heard every word that was said at their +secret meetings, when all but workers were, by law and custom, excluded +from the halls. + +And so the report came to me that the workers were threatening strike. +Their grievance came about in this fashion. My new process had reduced +the number of men needed in the works. This would require that some of +the men be transferred to other industries. But the transfer was a slow +process, as all the workers would have to be examined anatomically and +their psychic reflexes tested by the labour assignment experts and those +selected re-trained for other labour. That work was proceeding +slowly, for there was a shortage of experts because some similar need of +transfers existed in one of the metal industries. Moreover, my labour +psychologist considered it dangerous to transfer too many men, as they +were creatures of habit, and he advised that we ought merely to cease to +take on new workers, but wait for old age and death to reduce the number +of our men, meanwhile retaining the use of the old extraction process in +part of the works. + +"Impossible," I replied, "unless you would have your rations cut and the +city put on a starvation diet. Do you not know that the reserve store of +protium that was once enough to last eight years is now reduced to less +than as many months' supply?" + +"That is none of my affair," said the labour psychologist; "these +chemical matters I do not comprehend. But I advise against these +transfers, for our workers are already in a furor about the change of +operations in the work." + +"But," I protested, "the new operations are easier than the old; besides +we can cut down the speed of operations, which ought to help you take +care of these surplus men." + +"Pardon, Herr Chief," returned the elderly labour psychologist, "you are +a great chemist, a very great chemist, for your invention has upset the +labour operation more than has anything that ever happened in my long +experience, but I fear you do not realize how necessary it is to go slow +in these matters. You ask men who have always opened a faucet from left +to right to now open one that moves in a vertical plane. Here, I will +show you; move your arm so; do you not see that it takes +different muscles?" + +"Yes, of course, but what of it? The solution flows faster and the +operation is easier." + +"It is easy for you to say that; for you or me it would make no +difference since our muscles have all been developed indiscriminately." + +"But what are your labour gymnasiums for, if not to develop all +muscles?" + +"Now do not misunderstand me. I serve as an interpreter between the +minds of the workers and your mind as Director of the Works. As for the +muscles developed in the gymnasium, those were developed for sport and +not for labour. But that is not the worst of it; you have designed the +new benches so low that the mixers must stoop at their work. It is +very painful." + +"Good God," I cried, "what became of the stools? The mixers are to sit +down--I ordered two thousand stools." + +"That I know, Herr Chief, but the equipment expert consulted me about +the matter and I countermanded the order. It would never do. I did not +consult you, it is true, but that was merely a kindness. I did not wish +to expose your lack of knowledge, if I may call it such." + +"Call it what you please," I snapped, for at the time I thought my +labour psychologist was a fool, "but get those stools, immediately." + +"But it would never do." + +"Why not?" + +"Because these men have always stood at their work." + +"But why can they not sit down now?" + +"Because they never have sat down." + +"Do they not sit down to eat?" + +"Yes, but not to work. It is very different. You do not understand the +psychic immobility of labour. Habits grow stronger as the mentality is +simplified. I have heard that there are animals in the zoological garden +that still perform useless operations that their remote ancestors +required in their jungle life." + +"Then do you infer that these men who must stand at their work inherited +the idea from their ancestors?" + +"That is a matter of eugenics. I do not know, but I do know that we are +preparing for trouble with these changes. Still I hope to work it out +without serious difficulty, if you do not insist on these transfers. +When workmen have already been forced to change their habitual method of +work and then see their fellows being removed to other and still +stranger work it breeds dangerous unrest." + +"One thing is certain," I replied; "we cannot delay the installation of +the new method; as fast as the equipment is ready the new operation must +replace the old." + +"But the effect of that policy will be that there will not be enough +work, and besides the work is, as you say, lighter and that will result +in the cutting down of the food rations." + +"But I have already arranged that," I said triumphantly; "the Rationing +Bureau have adjusted the calorie standards so that the men will get as +much food as they have been used to." + +"What! you have done that?" exclaimed the labour psychologist; "then +there will be trouble. That will destroy the balance of the food supply +and the expenditure of muscular energy and the men will get fat. Then +the other men will accuse them of stealing food and we shall have +bloodshed." + +"A moment ago," I smiled, "you told me I did not know your business. Now +I will tell you that you do not know mine. We ordered special food +bulked up in volume; the scheme is working nicely; you need not worry +about that. As for the other matter, this surplus of men, it seems to me +that the only thing is to cut down the working hours temporarily until +the transfers can be made." + +The psychologist shook his head. "It is dangerous," he said, "and very +unusual. I advise instead that you have the operation engineers go over +the processes and involve the operations, both to make them more nearly +resemble the old ones, and to add to the time and energy consumption of +the tasks." + +"No," I said emphatically, "I invented a more economical process for +this industry and I do not propose to see my invention prostituted in +this fashion. I appreciate your advice, but if we cannot transfer the +workers any faster, then the labour hours must be cut. I will issue the +order tomorrow. This is my final decision." + +I was in authority and that settled the matter. The psychologist was +very decent about it and helped me fix up a speech and that next night +the workers were ordered to assemble in their halls and I made my speech +into a transmitting horn. I told them that they had been especially +honoured by their Emperor, who, appreciating their valuable service, had +granted them a part-time vacation and that until further notice their +six-hour shifts were to be cut to four. I further told them that their +rations would not be reduced and advised them to take enough extra +exercise in the gymnasium to offset their shorter hours so they would +not get fat and be the envy of their fellows. + +~3~ + +For a time the workers seemed greatly pleased with their shorter hours. +And then, from the Listening-in-Service, came the rumour of the strike. +The first report of the strike gave me no clue to the grievance and I +asked for fuller reports. When these came the next day I was shocked +beyond belief. If I had anticipated anything in that interval of terror +it was that my workers were to strike because their communications had +been shut off or that they were to strike in sympathy for their fellows +and demand that all hours be shortened like their own. But the grievance +was not that. My men were to go on strike for the simple reason that +their hours had been shortened! + +The catastrophe once started came with a rush, for when I reached the +office the next day the psychologist was awaiting me and told me that +the strike was on. I rushed out immediately and went down to the works. +The psychologist followed me. As I entered the great industrial +laboratories I saw all the men at their usual places and going through +their usual operations. I turned to my companion who was just coming up, +and said: "What do you mean; I thought you told me the strike was on, +that the men had already walked out?" + +"What do you mean by 'walked out'?" he returned, as puzzled as I. + +"Walked out of the works," I explained; "away from their duties, quit +work. Struck!" + +"But they have struck. Perhaps you have never seen a strike before, but +do you not see the strike badges?" + +And then I looked and saw that every workman wore a tiny red flag, and +the flag bore no imperial eagle. + +"It means," I gasped, "that they have renounced the rule of the Royal +House. This is not a strike, this is rebellion, treason!" + +"It is the custom," said the labour psychologist, "and as for rebellion +and treason that you speak of I hardly think you ought to call it that +for rebellion and treason are forbidden." + +"Then just what does it mean?" + +"It means that this particular group of workers have temporarily +withdrawn their allegiance to the Royal House, and they have, in their +own minds, restored the old socialist régime, until they can make +petition to the Emperor and he passes on their grievance. They will do +that in their halls tonight. We, of course, will be connected up and +listen in." + +"Then they are not really on strike?" + +"Certainly they are on strike. All strikes are conducted so." + +"Then why do they not quit work?" + +"But why should they quit work? They are striking because their hours +are already too short--pardon, Herr Chief, but I warned you! + +"I think I know what you mean," he added after a pause; "you have +probably read some fiction of old times when the workers went on strike +by quitting work." + +"Yes, exactly. I suppose that is where I did get my ideas; and that is +now forbidden--by the Emperor?" + +"Not by the Emperor, for you see these men wear the flags without the +eagle. They at present do not acknowledge his authority." + +"Then all this strike is a matter of red badges without eagles and +everything else will go on as usual?" + +"By no means. These men are striking against the descending authority +from the Royal House. They not only refuse to wear the eagle until their +grievance is adjusted but they will refuse to accept further education, +for that is a thing that descends from above. If you will go now to the +picture halls, where the other shift should be, you will find the halls +all empty. The men refuse to go to the moving pictures." + +That night we "listened in." A bull-throated fellow, whom I learned was +the Talking Delegate, addressed the Emperor, and much to my surprise I +thought I heard the Emperor's own voice in reply, stating that he was +ready to hear their grievance. + +Then the bull voice of the Talking Delegate gave the reason for the +strike: "The Director of the Works, speaking for your Majesty, has +granted us a part time vacation, and shortened our hours from six to +four. We thank you for this honour but we have decided we do not like +it. We do not know what to do during those extra two hours. We had our +games and amusements but we had our regular hours for them. If we play +longer we become tired of play. If we sleep longer we cannot sleep as +well. Moreover we are losing our appetite and some of us are afraid to +eat all our portions for fear we will become fat. So we have decided +that we do not like a four-hour day and we have therefore taken the +eagles off our flags and will refuse to replace them or to go to the +educational pictures until our hours are restored to the six-hour day +that we have always had." + +And now the Emperor's voice replied that he would take the matter under +consideration and report his decision in three days and, that meanwhile +he knew he could trust them to conduct themselves as good socialists who +were on strike, and hence needed no king. + +The next day the psychologist brought a representative of the +Information Staff to my office and together we wrote the reply that the +Emperor was to make. It would be necessary to concede them the full six +hours and introduce the system of complicating the labour operations to +make more work. Much chagrined, I gave in, and called in the motion +study engineers and set them to the task. Meanwhile the Royal Voice was +sent for and coached in the Emperor's reply to the striking workmen, and +a picture film of the Emperor, timed to fit the length of the speech, +was ordered from stock. + +The Royal Voice was an actor by birth who had been trained to imitate +His Majesty's speech. This man, who specialized in the Emperor's +speeches to the workers, prided himself that he was the best Royal Voice +in Berlin and I complimented him by telling him that I had been deceived +by him the evening before. But considering that the workers, never +having heard the Emperor's real voice, would have no standard of +comparison, I have never been able to see the necessity of the accuracy +of his imitation, unless it was on the ground of art for art's sake. + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE DIVINE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM THE GREAT GIVE A BENEFIT +FOR THE CANINE GARDENS AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE PIGGERIES + + +~1~ + +The strike that I had feared would be the beginning of a bloody +revolution had ended with an actor shouting into a horn and the shadow +of an Emperor waving his arms. But meanwhile Capt. Grauble, on whom I +staked my hopes of escape from Berlin, had departed to the Arctic and +would not return for many months. That he would return I firmly +believed; statistically the chances were in his favour as this was his +fourth trip, and hope was backing the favourable odds of the law of +chance. + +So I set myself to prepare for that event. My faith was strong that +Grauble could be won over to the cause of saving the Germans by +betraying Germany. I did not even consider searching for another man, +for Grauble was that one rare man in thousands who is rebellious and +fearless by nature, a type of which the world makes heroes when their +cause wins and traitors when it fails--a type that Germany had all but +eliminated from the breed of men. + +But, if I were to escape to the outer world through Grauble's +connivance, there was still the problem of getting permission to board +the submarine, ostensibly to go to the Arctic mines. Even in my exalted +position as head of the protium works I could not learn where the +submarine docks or the passage to them was located. But I did learn +enough to know that the way was impenetrable without authoritative +permission, and that thoughts of escape as a stowaway were not worth +considering. I also learned that Admiral von Kufner had sole authority +to grant permission to make the Arctic trip. + +The Admiral had promptly turned down my first proposal to go to the +Arctic ore fields, and had by his pompous manner rebuffed the attempts I +made to cultivate his friendship through official interviews. I +therefore decided to call on Marguerite and the Countess Luise to see +what chance there was to get a closer approach to the man through social +avenues. The Countess was very obliging in the matter, but she warned me +with lifted finger that the Admiral was a gay bachelor and a worshipper +of feminine charms, and that I might rue the day I suggested his being +invited into the admiring circle that revolved about Marguerite. But I +laughingly disclaimed any fears on that score and von Kufner was bidden +to the next ball given by the Countess. + +Marguerite was particularly gracious to the Admiral and speedily led him +into the inner circle that gathered informally in the salon of the +Countess Luise. I made it a point to absent myself on some of these +occasions, for I did not want the Admiral to guess the purpose that lay +behind this ensnaring of him into our group. + +And yet I saw much of Marguerite, for I spent most of my leisure in the +society of the Royal Level, where thought, if shallow, was comparatively +free. I took particular pleasure in watching the growth of Marguerite's +mind, as the purely intellectual conceptions she had acquired from Dr. +Zimmern and his collection of books adjusted itself to the absurd +realities of the celestial society of the descendants of William +the Great. + +It may be that charity is instinctive in the heart of a good woman, or +perhaps it was because she had read the Christian Bible; but whatever +the origin of the impulse, Marguerite was charitably inclined and wished +to make personal sacrifice for the benefit of other beings less well +situated than herself. While she was still a resident of the Free Level +she had talked to me of this feeling and of her desire to help others. +But the giving of money or valuables by one woman to another was +strictly forbidden, and Marguerite had not at the time possessed more +than she needed for her own subsistence. But now that she was relatively +well off, this charitable feeling struggled to find expression. Hence +when she had learned of the Royal Charity Society she had straightway +begged the Countess to present her name for membership, without stopping +to examine into the detail of the Society's activities. + +The Society was at that time preparing to hold a bazaar and sent out +calls for contributions of cast off clothing and ornaments. Marguerite +as yet possessed no clothes or jewelry of Royal quality except the +minimum which the demands of her position made necessary; and so she +timidly asked the Countess if her clothing which she had worn on the +Free Level would suffice as gifts of charity. The Countess had assured +her that it would do nicely as the destination of all the clothing +contributed was for the women of the Free Level. Thinking that an +opportunity had at last arisen for her to express her compassion for the +ill-favoured girls of her own former level, Marguerite hastened to +bundle up such presentable gowns as she had and sent them to the bazaar +by her maid. + +Later she had attended the meeting of the society when the net results +of the collections were announced. To her dismay she found that the +clothing contributed had been sold for the best price it would bring to +the women of the Free Level and that the purpose of the sacrifices, of +that which was useless to the possessors but valuable to others, was the +defraying of the expense of extending the romping grounds for the dogs +of the charitably maintained canine garden. + +Marguerite was vigorously debating the philosophy of charity with the +young Count Rudolph that evening when I called. She was maintaining that +human beings and not animals should be the recipients of charity and the +young Count was expounding to her the doctrine of the evil effects of +charity upon the recipient. + +"Moreover," explained Count Rudolph, "there are no humans in Berlin that +need charity, since every class of our efficiently organized State +receives exactly what it should receive and hence is in need of nothing. +Charity is permissible only when poverty exists." + +"But there is poverty on the Free Level," maintained Marguerite; "many +of the ill-favoured girls suffer from hunger and want better clothes +than they can buy." + +"That may be," said the Count, "but to permit them gifts of charity +would be destructive of their pride; moreover, there are few women on +the Royal Level who would give for such a purpose." + +"But surely," said Marguerite, "there must be somewhere in the city, +other women or children or even men to whom the proceeds of these gifts +would mean more than it does to dogs." + +"If any group needed anything the state would provide it," repeated the +Count. + +"Then why," protested Marguerite, "cannot the state provide also for the +dogs, or if food and space be lacking why are these dogs allowed to +breed and multiply?" + +"Because it would be cruel to suppress their instincts." + +Marguerite was puzzled by this answer, but with my more rational mind I +saw a flaw in the logic of this statement. "But that is absurd," I said, +"for if their number were not checked in some fashion, in a few decades +the dogs would overswarm the city." + +It was now the Count's turn to look puzzled. "You have inferred an +embarrassing question," he stated, "one, in fact, that ought not to be +answered in the presence of a lady, but since the Princess Marguerite +does not seem to be a lover of dogs, I will risk the explanation. The +Medical Level requires dogs for purposes of scientific research. Since +the women are rarely good mathematicians, it is easily possible in this +manner to keep down the population of the Canine Garden." + +"But the dogs required for research," I suggested, "could easily be bred +in kennels maintained for that purpose." + +"So they could," said the Count, "but the present plan serves a double +purpose. It provides the doctors with scalpel practise and it also +amuses the women of the Royal House who are very much in need of +amusement since we men are all so dull." + +"Woman's love," continued Rudolph, waxing eloquent, "should have full +freedom for unfoldment. If it be forcibly confined to her husband and +children it might burst its bounds and express too great an interest in +other humans. The dogs act as a sort of safety valve for this instinct +of charity." + +The facetious young Count saw from Marguerite's horror-stricken face +that he was making a marked impression and he recklessly continued: "The +keepers at the Canine Gardens understand this perfectly. When funds +begin to run low they put the dogs in the outside pens on short rations, +and the brutes do their own begging; then we have another bazaar and +everybody is happy. It is a good system and I would advise you not to +criticize it since the institution is classic. Other schemes have been +tried; at one time women were permitted to knit socks for soldiers--we +always put that in historical pictures--but the socks had to be melted +up again as felted fibre is much more durable; and then, after the women +were forbidden to see the soldiers, they lost interest. But the dog +charity is a proven institution and we should never try to change +anything that women do not want changed since they are the conservative +bulwark of society and our best protection against the danger of +the untried." + +~2~ + +Blocked in her effort to relieve human poverty by the discovery that its +existence was not recognized, Marguerite's next adventure in doing good +in the world was to take up the battle against ignorance by contributing +to the School for the Education of Servants. + +The Servant problem in Berlin, and particularly on the Royal Level, had +been solved so far as male servants were concerned, for these were a +well recognized strain eugenically bred as a division of the +intellectual caste. I had once taken Dr. Zimmern to task on this +classification of the servant as an intellectual. + +"The servant is not intellectual creatively," the Eugenist replied, "yet +it would never do to class him as Labour since he produces nothing. +Moreover, the servant's mind reveals the most specialized development of +the most highly prized of all German intellectual characteristics +--obedience. + +"It might interest you to know," continued Zimmern, "that we use this +servant strain in outcrossing with other strains when they show a +tendency to decline in the virtue of obedience. If I had not chosen to +exempt you from paternity when your rebellious instincts were reported +to me, and the matter had been turned over to our Remating Board they +might have reassigned you to mothers of the servant class. This practice +of out-crossing, though rare, is occasionally essential in all +scientific breeding." + +"Then do you mean," I asked in amazement, "that the highest intellectual +strains have servant blood in them?" + +"Certainly. And why not, since obedience is the crowning glory of the +German mind? Even Royal blood has a dash of the servant strain." + +"You mean, I suppose, from illegitimate children?" + +"Not at all; that sort of illegitimacy is not recognized. I mean from +the admission of servants into Royal Society, just as you have been +admitted." + +"Impossible!" + +"And why impossible, since obedience is our supreme racial virtue? Go +consult your social register. The present Emperor, I believe, has +admitted none, but his father admitted several and gave them princely +incomes. They married well and their children are respected, though I +understand they are not very much invited out for the reason that they +are poor conversationalists. They only speak when spoken to and then +answer, 'Ja, Mein Herr.' I hear they are very miserable; since no one +commands them they must be very bored with life, as they are unable to +think of anything to do to amuse themselves. In time the trait will be +modified, of course, since the Royal blood will soon predominate, and +the strongest inherent trait of Royalty is to seek amusement." + +This specialized class of men servants needed little education, for, as +I took more interest in observing after this talk with Zimmern, they +were the most perfectly fitted to their function of any class in Berlin. +But there was also a much more numerous class of women servants on the +Royal Level. These, as a matter of economy, were not specially bred to +the office, but were selected from the mothers who had been rejected for +further maternity after the birth of one or two children. Be it said to +the credit of the Germans that no women who had once borne a child was +ever permitted to take up the profession of Delilah--a statement which +unfortunately cannot be made of the rest of the world. These mothers +together with those who had passed the child bearing age more than +supplied the need for nurses on the maternity levels and teachers in +girls' schools. + +As a result they swarmed the Royal Level in all capacities of service +for which women are fitted. Originally educated for maternity they had +to be re-educated for service. Not satisfied with the official education +provided by the masculine-ordered state, the women of the Royal Level +maintained a continuation school in the fine art of obedience and the +kindred virtues of the perfect servant. + +So again it was that Marguerite became involved in a movement that in no +wise expressed the needs of her spirit, and from which she +speedily withdrew. + +The next time she came to me for advice. "I want to do something," she +cried. "I want to be of some use in the world. You saved me from that +awful life--for you know what it would have been for me if Dr. Zimmern +had died or his disloyalty had been discovered--and you have brought me +here where I have riches and position but am useless. I tried to be +charitable, to relieve poverty, but they say there is no poverty to be +relieved. I tried to relieve ignorance, but they will not allow that +either. What else is there that needs to be relieved? Is there no good +I can do?" + +"Your problem is not a new one," I replied, thinking of the world-old +experience of the good women yoked to idleness by wealth and position. +"You have tried to relieve poverty and ignorance and find your efforts +futile. There is one thing more I believe that is considered a classic +remedy for your trouble. You can devote yourself to the elimination of +ugliness, to the increase of beauty. Is there no organization devoted to +that work?" + +"There is," returned Marguerite, "and I was about to join it, but I +thought this time I had better ask advice. There is the League to +Beautify Berlin." + +"Then by all means join," I advised. "It is the safest of all such +efforts, for though poverty may not exist and ignorance may not be +relieved, yet surely Berlin can be more beautiful. But of course your +efforts must be confined to the Royal Level as you do not see the rest +of the city." + +So Marguerite joined the League to Beautify Berlin and I became an +auxiliary member much appreciated because of my liberal contributions. +It proved an excellent source of amusement. The League met weekly and +discussed the impersonal aspects of the beauty of the level in open +meetings, while a secret complaint box was maintained into which all +were invited to deposit criticisms of more personal matters. It was +forbidden even in this manner to criticize irremedial ugliness such as +the matter of one's personal form or features, but dress and manners +came within the permitted range and the complaints were regularly mailed +to the offenders. This surprised me a little as I would have thought +that such a practice would have made the League unpopular, but on the +contrary, it was considered the mainstay of the organization, for the +recipient of the complaint, if a non-member, very often joined the +League immediately, hoping thereby to gain sweet revenge. + +But aside from this safety valve for the desire to make personal +criticism, the League was a very creditable institution and it was there +that we met the great critics to whose untiring efforts the rare +development of German art was due. + +Cut off from the opportunity to appropriate by purchase or capture the +works of other peoples, German art had suffered a severe decline in the +first few generations of the isolation, but in time they had developed +an art of their own. A great abundance of cast statues of white crystal +adorned the plazas and gardens and, being unexposed to dust or rain, +they preserved their pristine freshness so that it appeared they had all +been made the day before. Mural paintings also flourished abundantly and +in some sections the endless facade of the apartments was a +continuous pageant. + +But it was in landscape gardening that German art had made its most +wonderful advancement. Having small opportunity for true architecture +because of the narrow engineering limitations of the city's +construction, talent for architecture had been turned to landscape +gardening. I use the term advisedly for the very absence of natural +landscape within a roofed-in city had resulted in greater development of +the artificial product. + +The earlier efforts, few of which remained unaltered, were more inclined +toward imitation of Nature as it exists in the world of sun and rocks +and rain. But, as the original models were forgotten and new generations +of gardeners arose, new sorts of nature were created. Artificial rocks, +artificial soil, artificially bred and cultured plants, were combined in +new designs, unrealistic it is true, but still a very wonderful +development of what might be called synthetic or romantic nature. The +water alone was real and even in some cases that was altered as in the +beautifully dyed rivulets and in the truly remarkable "Fountain of +Blood," dedicated to one of the sons of William the Great--I have +forgotten his name--in honour of his attack upon Verdun in the First +World War. + +In these wondrous gardens, with the Princess Marguerite strolling by my +side, I spent the happiest hours of my sojourn in Berlin. But my joy was +tangled with a thread of sadness for the more I gazed upon this +synthetic nature of German creation the more I hungered to tell her of, +and to take her to see, the real Nature of the outside world--upon +which, in my opinion, with all due respect to their achievements, the +Germans had not been able to improve. + +~3~ + +While the women of the Royal House were not permitted of their own +volition to stray from the Royal Level, excursions were occasionally +arranged, with proper permits and guards. These were social events of +consequence and the invitations were highly prized. Noteworthy among +them was an excursion to the highest levels of the city and to the +roof itself. + +The affair was planned by Admiral von Kufner in Marguerite's honour; +for, having spent her childhood elsewhere, she had never experienced the +wonder of this roof excursion so highly prized by Royalty, and for ever +forbidden to all other women and to all but a few men of the teeming +millions who swarmed like larvae in this vast concrete cheese. + +The formal invitations set no hour for the excursion as it was +understood that the exact time depended upon weather conditions of which +we would later be notified. When this notice came the hour set was in +the conventional evening of the Royal Level, but corresponding to about +three A.M. by solar time. The party gathered at the suite of the +Countess Luise and numbered some forty people, for whom a half dozen +guides were provided in the form of officers of the Roof Guard. The +journey to our romantic destination took us up some hundred metres in an +elevator, a trip which required but two minutes, but would lead to a +world as different as Mount Olympus from Erebus. + +But we did not go directly to the roof, for the hour preferred for that +visit had not yet arrived and our first stop was at the swine levels, +which had so aroused my curiosity and strained belief when I had first +discovered their existence from the chart of my atlas. + +As the door of the elevator shaft slid open, a vast squealing and +grunting assaulted our ears. The hours of the swine, like those of their +masters, were not reckoned by either solar or sidereal time, but had +been altered, as experiment had demonstrated, to a more efficient cycle. +The time of our trip was chosen so that we might have this earthly music +of the feeding time as a fitting prelude to the visioning of the +silent heavens. + +On the visitors' gangway we walked just above the reach of the jostling +bristly backs, and our own heads all but grazed the low ceiling of the +level. To economize power the lights were dim. Despite the masterful +achievement of German cleanliness and sanitation there was a permeating +odour, a mingling of natural and synthetic smells, which added to the +gloom of semi-darkness and the pandemonium of swinish sound produced a +totality of infernal effect that thwarts description. + +But relief was on the way for the automatic feed conveyors were rapidly +moving across our section. First we heard a diminution of sound from one +direction, then a hasty scuffling and a happy grunting beneath us and, +as the conveyors moved swiftly on, the squealing receded into the +distance like the dying roar of a retreating storm. + +The Chief Swineherd, immaculately dressed and wearing his full quota of +decorations and medals, honoured us with his personal presence. With the +excusable pride that every worthy man takes in his work, he expounded +the scientific achievements and economic efficiency of the swinish world +over which he reigned. The men of the party listened with respect to his +explanations of the accomplishments of sanitation and of the economy of +the cycle of chemical transformation by which these swine were +maintained without decreasing the capacity of the city for human +support. Lastly the Swineherd spoke of the protection that the swine +levels provided against the effects of an occasional penetrating bomb +that chanced to fall in the crater of its predecessor before the damage +could be repaired. + +Pursuant to this fact the uppermost swine level housed those unfortunate +animals that were nearest the sausage stage. On the next lower level, to +which we now descended by a spiral stair through a ventilating opening, +were brutes of less advanced ages. On the lowest of the three levels +where special lights were available for our benefit even the women +ceased to shudder and gave expression to ecstatic cries of rapture, as +all the world has ever done when seeing baby beasts pawing contentedly +at maternal founts. + +"Is it not all wonderful?" effused Admiral von Kufner, with a sweeping +gesture; "so efficient, so sanitary, so automatic, such a fine example +of obedience to system and order. This is what I call real science and +beauty; one might almost say Germanic beauty." + +"But I do not like it," replied Marguerite with her usual candour. "I +wish they would abolish these horrid levels." + +"But surely," said the Countess, "you would not wish to condemn us to a +diet of total mineralism?" + +"But the Herr Chemist here could surely invent for us a synthetic +sausage," remarked Count Rudolph. "I have eaten vegetarian kraut made of +real cabbage from the Botanical Garden, but it was inferior to the +synthetic article." + +"Do not make light, young people," spoke up the most venerable member of +our party, the eminent Herr Dr. von Brausmorganwetter, the historian +laureate of the House of Hohenzollern. "It is not as a producer of +sausages alone that we Germans are indebted to this worthy animal. I am +now engaged in writing a book upon the influence of the swine upon +German Kultur. In the first part I shall treat of the Semitic question. +The Jews were very troublesome among us in the days before the +isolation. They were a conceited race. As capitalists, they amassed +fortunes; as socialists they stirred up rebellion; they objected to war; +they would never have submitted to eugenics; they even insisted that we +Germans had stolen their God! + +"We tried many schemes to be rid of these troublesome people, and all +failed. Therefore I say that Germany owes a great debt to the noble +animal who rid us of the disturbing presence of the Jews, for when pork +was made compulsory in the diet they fled the country of their +own accord. + +"In the second part of my book I shall tell the story of the founding of +the New Berlin, for our noble city was modelled on the fortified +piggeries of the private estates of William III. In those days of the +open war the enemy bombed the stock farms. Synthetic foods were as yet +imperfectly developed. Protein was at a premium; the emperor did not +like fish, so he built a vast concrete structure with a roof heavily +armoured with sand that he might preserve his swine from the murderous +attacks of the enemy planes. + +"It was during the retreat from Peking. The German armies were being +crowded back on every side. The Ray had been invented, but William the +III knew that it could not be used to protect so vast a domain and that +Germany would be penned into narrow borders and be in danger of +extermination by aërial bombardment. In those days he went for rest and +consolation to his estates, for he took great pleasure in his +thoroughbred swine. Some traitorous spy reported his move to the enemy +and a bombing squadron attacked the estates. The Emperor took refuge in +his fortified piggery. And so the great vision came to him. + +"I have read the exact words of this thoughts as recorded in his diary +which is preserved in the archives of the Royal Palace: 'As are these +happy brutes, so shall my people be. In safety from the terrors of the +sky--protected from the vicissitudes of nature and the enmity of men, so +shall I preserve them.' + +"That was the conception of the armoured city of Berlin. But that was +not all. For the bombardment kept up for days and the Emperor could not +escape. On the fourth day came the second idea--two new ideas in less +than a week! William III was a great thinker. + +"Thus he recorded the second inspiration: 'And even as I have bred these +swine, some for bacon and some for lard, so shall the German Blond +Brutes be bred the super-men, some specialized for labour and some +for brains.' + +"These two ideas are the foundation of the kultur of our Imperial +Socialism, the one idea to preserve us and the other to re-create us as +the super-race. And both of these ideas we owe to this noble animal. The +swine should be emblazoned with the eagle upon our flag." + +As the Historian finished his eulogy, I glanced surreptitiously at the +faces of his listeners, and caught a twinkle in Marguerite's eyes; but +the faces of the others were as serious as graven images. + +Finally the Countess spoke: "Do I understand, then, that you consider +the swine the model of the German race?" + +"Only of the lower classes," said the aged historian, "but not the House +of Hohenzollern. We are exalted above the necessities of breeding, for +we are divine." + +Eyes were now turned upon me, for I was the only one of the company not +of Hohenzollern blood. Unrelieved by laughter the situation was painful. + +"But," said Count Rudolph, coming to my rescue, "we also seek safety in +the fortified piggeries." + +"Exactly," said the Historian; "so did our noble ancestor." + +~4~ + +From the piggeries, we went to the green level where, growing beneath +eye-paining lights, was a matted mass of solid vegetation from which +came those rare sprigs of green which garnished our synthetic dishes. +But this was too monotonous to be interesting and we soon went above to +the Defence Level where were housed vast military and rebuilding +mechanisms and stores. After our guides had shown us briefly about among +these paraphernalia, we were conducted to one of the sloping ramps which +led through a heavily arched tunnel to the roof above. + +Marguerite clung close to my arm, quivering with expectancy and +excitement, as we climbed up the sloping passage-way and felt on our +faces the breath of the crisp air of the May night. + +The sky came into vision with startling suddenness as we walked out upon +the soft sand blanket of the roof. The night was absolutely clear and my +first impression was that every star of the heavens had miraculously +waxed in brilliancy. The moon, in the last quarter, hung midway between +the zenith and the western horizon. The milky way seemed a floating band +of whitish flame. About us, in the form of a wide crescent, for we were +near the eastern edge of the city, swung the encircling band of +searchlights, but the air was so clear that this stockade of artificial +light beams was too pale to dim the points of light in the +blue-black vault. + +In anticipating this visit to the roof I had supposed it would seem +commonplace to me, and had discussed it very little with Marguerite, +lest I might reveal an undue lack of wonder. But now as I thrilled once +more beneath their holy light, the miracle of unnumbered far-flung +flaming suns stifled again the vanity of human conceit and I stood with +soul unbared and worshipful beneath the vista of incommensurate space +wherein the birth and death of worlds marks the unending roll of time. +And at my side a silent gazing woman stood, contrite and humble and the +thrill and quiver of her body filled me with a joy of wordless delight. + +A blundering guide began lecturing on astronomy and pointing out with +pompous gestures the constellations and planets. But Marguerite led me +beyond the sound of his voice. "It is not the time for listening to +talk," she said. "I only want to see." + +When the astronomer had finished his speech-making, our party moved +slowly toward the East, where we could just discern the first faint +light of the coming dawn. When we reached the parapet of the eastern +edge of the city's roof, the stars had faded and pale pink streaked the +eastern sky. The guides brought folding chairs from a nearby tunnel way +and most of the party sat down on a hillock of sand, very much as men +might seat themselves in the grandstand of a race course. But I was so +interested in what the dawn would reveal beneath the changing colours of +the sky, that I led Marguerite to the rail of the parapet where we could +look down into the yawning depths upon the surface of German soil. + +My first vision over the parapet revealed but a mottled grey. But as the +light brightened the grey land took form, and I discerned a few scraggly +patches of green between the torn masses of distorted soil. + +The stars had faded now and only the pale moon remained in the bluing +sky, while below the land disclosed a sad monotony of ruin and waste, +utterly devoid of any constructive work of man. + +Marguerite, her gaze fixed on the dawn, was beginning to complain of the +light paining her eyes, when one of the guides hurried by with an open +satchel swung from his shoulders. "Here are your glasses," he said; "put +them on at once. You must be very careful now, or you will injure +your eyes." + +We accepted the darkened protecting lenses, but I found I did not need +mine until the sun itself had appeared above the horizon. + +"Did you see it so in your vision?" questioned Marguerite, as the first +beams glistened on the surface of the sanded roof. + +"This," I replied, "is a very ordinary sunrise with a perfectly +cloudless sky. Some day, perhaps, when the gates of this prison of +Berlin are opened, we will be able to see all the sunrises of my +visions, and even more wonderful ones." + +"Karl," she whispered, "how do you know of all these things? Sometimes I +believe you are something more than human, that you of a truth possess +the blood of divinity which the House of Hohenzollern claims." + +"No," I answered; "not divinity,--just a little larger humanity, and +some day very soon I am going to tell you more of the source of +my visions." + +She looked at me through her darkened glasses. "I only know," she said, +"that you are wonderful, and very different from other men." + +Had we been alone on the roof of Berlin, I could not have resisted the +temptation to tell her then that stars and sun were familiar friends to +me and that the devastated soil that stretched beneath us was but the +wasted skeleton of a fairer earth I knew and loved. But we were +surrounded by a host of babbling sightseers and so the moment passed and +I remained to Marguerite a man of mystery and a seer of visions. + +The sun fully risen now, we were led to a protruding observation +platform that permitted us to view the wall of the city below. It was +merely one vast grey wall without interruption or opening in the +monotonous surface. + +Amid the more troubled chaos of the ground immediately below we could +see fragments of concrete blown from the parapet of the roof. The wall +beneath us, we were told, was only of sufficient thickness to withstand +fire of the aircraft guns. The havoc that might be wrought, should the +defence mines ever be forced back and permit the walls of Berlin to come +within range of larger field pieces, was easily imagined. But so long as +the Ray defence held, the massive fort of Berlin was quite impervious to +attacks of the world forces of land and air and the stalemate of war +might continue for other centuries. + +With the coming of daylight we had heard the rumbling of trucks as the +roof repairing force emerged to their task. Now that our party had +become tired of gazing through their goggles at the sun, our guides led +us in the direction where this work was in progress. On the way we +passed a single unfilled crater, a deep pit in the flinty quartz sand +that spread a protecting blanket over the solid structure of the roof. +These craters in the sand proved quite harmless except for the labour +involved in their refilling. Further on we came to another, now +half-filled from a spouting pipe with ground quartz blown from some +remote subterranean mine, so to keep up the wastage from wind +and bombing. + +Again we approached the edge of the city and this time found more of +interest, for here an addition to the city was under construction. It +was but a single prism, not a hundred metres across, which when +completed would add but another block to the city's area. Already the +outer pillars reached the full height and supported the temporary roof +that offered at least a partial protection to the work in progress +beneath. Though I watched but a few minutes I was awed with the evident +rapidity of the building. Dimly I could see the forms below being swung +into place with a clock-like regularity and from numerous spouts great +streams of concrete poured like flowing lava. + +It is at these building sections that the bombs were aimed and here +alone that any effectual damage could be done, but the target was a +small one for a plane flying above the reach of the German guns. The +officer who guided our group explained this to us: these bombing raids +were conducted only at times of particular cloud formations, when the +veil of mist hung thick and low in an even stratum above which the air +was clear. When such formation threatened, the roof of Berlin was +cleared and the expected bombs fell and spent their fury blowing up the +sand. It had been a futile warfare, for the means of defence were equal +to the means of offence. + +Our visit to the roof of Berlin was cut short as the sun rose higher, +because the women, though they had donned gloves and veils, were fearful +of sunburn. So we were led back to the covered ramp into the endless +night of the city. + +"Have we seen it all?" sighed Marguerite, as she removed her veil and +glasses and gazed back blinkingly into the last light of day. + +"Hardly," I said; "we have not seen a cloud, nor a drop of rain nor a +flake of snow, nor a flash of lightning, nor heard a peal of thunder." + +Again she looked at me with worshipful adoration. "I forget," she +whispered; "and can you vision those things also?" + +But I only smiled and did not answer, for I saw Admiral von Kufner +glaring at me. I had monopolized Marguerite's company for the entire +occasion, and I was well aware that his only reason for arranging this, +to him a meaningless excursion, had been in the hopes of being with her. + +~5~ + +But Admiral von Kufner, contending fairly for that share of Marguerite's +time which she deigned to grant him, seemed to bear me no malice; and, +as the months slipped by, I was gratified to find him becoming more +cordial toward me. We frequently met at the informal gatherings in the +salon of the Countess Luise. More rarely Dr. Zimmern came there also, +for by virtue of his office he was permitted the social rights of the +Royal Level. I surmised, however, that this privilege, in his case, had +not included the right to marry on the level, for though the head of the +Eugenic Staff, he had, so far as I could learn, neither wife +nor children. + +But Dr. Zimmern did not seem to relish royal society, for when he +chanced to be caught with me among the members of the Royal House the +flow of his brilliant conversations was checked like a spring in a +drought, and he usually took his departure as soon as it was seemly. + +On one of these occasions Admiral von Kufner came in as Zimmern sat +chatting over cups and incense with Marguerite and me, and the Countess +and her son. The doctor dropped quietly out of the conversation, and for +a time the youthful Count Ulrich entertained us with a technical +elaboration of the importance of the love passion as the dominant appeal +of the picture. Then the Countess broke in with a spirited exposition of +the relation of soul harmony to ardent passion. + +Admiral von Kufner listened with ill-disguised impatience. "But all this +erotic passion," he interrupted, "will soon again be swept away by the +revival of the greater race passion for world rule." + +"My dear Admiral," said the Countess Luise, "your ideas of race passion +are quite proper for the classes who must be denied the free play of the +love element in their psychic life, but your notion of introducing these +ideas into the life of the Royal Level is wholly antiquated." + +"It is you who are antiquated," returned the Admiral, "for now the day +is at hand when we shall again taste of danger. His Majesty has--" + +"Of course His Majesty has told us that the day is at hand," interrupted +the Countess. "Has not His Majesty always preserved this allegorical +fable? It is part of the formal kultur." + +"But His Majesty now speaks the truth," replied the Admiral gravely, +"and I say to you who are so absorbed with the light passions of art and +love that we shall not only taste of danger but will fight again in the +sea and air and on the ground in the outer world. We shall conquer and +rule the world." + +"And do you think, Admiral," inquired Marguerite, "that the German +people will then be free in the outer world?" + +"They will be free to rule the outer world," replied the Admiral. + +"But I mean," said Marguerite calmly, "to ask if they will be free again +to love and marry and rear their own children." + +At this naïve question the others exchanged significant glances. + +"My dear child," said the Countess, blushing with embarrassment, "your +defective training makes it extremely difficult for you to understand +these things." + +"Of course it is all forbidden," spoke up the young Count, "but now, if +it were not, the Princess Marguerite's unique idea would certainly make +capital picture material." + +"How clever!" cried the Countess, beaming on her intellectual son. +"Nothing is forbidden for plot material for the Royal Level. You shall +make a picture showing those great beasts of labour again liberated for +unrestricted love." + +"There is one difficulty," Count Rudolph considered. "How could we get +actors for the parts? Our thoroughbred actors are all too light of bone, +too delicate of motion, and our actresses bred for dainty beauty would +hardly caste well for those great hulking round-faced labour mothers." + +"Then," remarked the Admiral, "if you must make picture plays why not +one of the mating of German soldiers with the women of the +inferior races?" + +"Wonderful!" exclaimed the plot maker; "and practical also. Our +actresses are the exact counterpart of those passionate French beauties. +I often study their portraits in the old galleries. They have had no +Eugenics, hence they would be unchanged. Is it not so, Doctor?" + +"Without Eugenics, a race changes with exceeding slowness," answered +Zimmern in a voice devoid of expression. "I should say that the French +women of today would much resemble their ancestral types." + +"But picturing such matings of military necessity would be very +disgusting," reprimanded the Countess. + +"It will be a very necessary part of the coming day of German dominion," +stated the Admiral. "How else can we expect to rule the world? It is, +indeed, part of the ordained plan." + +"But how," I questioned, "is such a plan to be executed? Would the men +of the World State tolerate it?" + +"We will oblige them to tolerate it; the children of the next generation +of the inferior races must be born of German sires." + +"But the Germans are outnumbered ten to one," I replied. + +"Polygamy will take care of that, among the white races; the coloured +races must be eliminated. All breeding of the coloured races must cease. +That, also, is part of the ordained plan." + +The conversation was getting on rather dangerous ground for me as I +realized that I dare not show too great surprise at this talk, which of +all things I had heard in Germany was the most preposterous. + +But Marguerite made no effort to disguise her astonishment. "I thought," +she said, "that the German rule of the world was only a plan for +military victory and the conquering of the World Government. I supposed +the people would be left free to live their personal lives as +they desired." + +"That was the old idea," replied the Admiral, "in the days of open war, +before the possibilities of eugenic science were fully realized. But the +ordained plan revealed to His Majesty requires not only the military and +political rule by the Germans, but the biologic conquest of the inferior +races by German blood." + +"I think our German system of scientific breeding is very brutal," spoke +up Marguerite with an intensity of feeling quite out of keeping with the +calloused manner in which the older members of the Royal House discussed +the subject. + +The Admiral turned to her with a gracious air. "My lovely maiden," he +said, "your youth quite excuses your idealistic sentiments. You need +only to remember that you are a daughter of the House of Hohenzollern. +The women of this House are privileged always to cultivate and cherish +the beautiful sentiments of romantic love and individual maternity. The +protected seclusion of the Royal Level exists that such love may bloom +untarnished by the grosser affairs of world necessity. It was so +ordained." + +"It was so ordained by men," replied Marguerite defiantly, "and what are +these privileges while the German women are prostituted on the Free +Level or forced to bear children only to lose them--and while you plan +to enforce other women of the world into polygamous union with a +conquering race?" + +"My dear child," said the Countess, "you must not speak in this wild +fashion. We women of the Royal House must fully realize our +privileges--and as for the Admiral's wonderful tale of world +conquest--that is only his latest hobby. It is talked, of course, in +military circles, but the defensive war is so dull, you know, especially +for the Royal officers, that they must have something to occupy +their minds." + +"When the day arrives," snapped the Admiral, "you will find the Royal +officers leading the Germans to victory like Atilla and William the +Great himself." + +"Then why," twitted the Countess, "do you not board one of your +submarines and go forth to battle in the sea?" + +"I am not courting unnecessary danger," retorted the Admiral; "but I am +not dead to the realities of war. My apartments are directly connected +with the roof." + +"So you can hear the bomb explosions," suggested the Countess. + +"And why not?" snapped the Admiral; "we must prepare for danger." + +"But you have not been bred for danger," scoffed the Countess. "Perhaps +you would do well to have your reactions to fear tested out in the +psychic laboratories; if you should pass the test you might be elected +as a father of soldiers; it would surely set a good example to our +impecunious Hohenzollern bachelors for whom there are no wives." + +The young Count evidently did not comprehend his mother's spirit of +raillery. "Has that not been tried?" he asked, turning toward +Dr. Zimmern. + +"It has," stated the Eugenist, "more than a hundred years ago. There was +once an entire regiment of such Hohenzollern soldiers in the +Bavarian mines." + +"And how did they turn out?" I asked, my curiosity tempting me into +indiscretion. + +"They mutinied and murdered their officers and then held an election--" +Zimmern paused and I caught his eye which seemed to say, "We have gone +too far with this." + +"Yes, and what happened?" queried the Countess. + +"They all voted for themselves as Colonel," replied the Doctor drily. + +At this I looked for an outburst of indignation from the orthodox +Admiral, but instead he seemed greatly elated. "Of course," he enthused; +"the blood breeds true. It verily has the quality of true divinity. No +wonder we super-men repudiated that spineless conception of the soft +Christian God and the servile Jewish Jesus." + +"But Jesus was not a coward," spoke up Marguerite. "I have read the +story of his life; it is very wonderful; he was a brave man, who met his +death unflinchingly." + +"But where did you read it?" asked the Countess. "It must be very new. I +try to keep up on the late novels but I never heard of this 'Story +of Jesus.'" + +"What you say is true," said the Admiral, turning to Marguerite, "but +since you like to read so well, you should get Prof. Ohlenslagger's book +and learn the explanation of the fact that you have just stated. We have +long known that all those great men whom the inferior races claim as +their geniuses are of truth of German blood, and that the fighting +quality of the outer races is due to the German blood that was scattered +by our early emigrations. + +"But the distinctive contribution that Prof. Ohlenslagger makes to these +long established facts is in regard to the parentage of this man Jesus. +In the Jewish accounts, which the Christians accepted, the truth was +crudely covered up with a most unscientific fable, which credited the +paternity of Jesus to miraculous interference with the laws of nature. + +"But now the truth comes out by Prof. Ohlenslagger's erudite reasoning. +This unknown father of Jesus was an adventurer from Central Asia, a man +of Teutonic blood. On no other conception can the mixed elements in the +character of Jesus be explained. His was the case of a dual personality +of conflicting inheritance. One day he would say: 'Lay up for yourself +treasures'--that was the Jewish blood speaking. The next day he would +say: 'I come to bring a sword'--that was the noble German blood of a +Teutonic ancestor. It is logical, it must be true, for it was reasoned +out by one of our most rational professors." + +The Countess yawned; Marguerite sat silent with troubled brows; Dr. +Ludwig Zimmern gazed abstractedly toward the cold electric imitation of +a fire, above which on a mantle stood two casts, diminutive +reproductions of the figures beside the door of the Emperor's palace, +the one the likeness of William the Great, the other the Statue of the +German God. But I was thinking of the news I had heard that afternoon +from my Ore Chief--that Captain Grauble's vessel had returned to Berlin. + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +IN WHICH A WOMAN ACCUSES ME OF MURDER AND +I PLACE A RUBY NECKLACE ABOUT HER THROAT + + +~1~ + +Anxious to renew my acquaintance with Captain Grauble at the earliest +opportunity, I sent my social secretary to invite him to meet me for a +dinner engagement in one of the popular halls of the Free Level. + +When I reached the dining hall I found Captain Grauble awaiting me. But +he was not alone. Seated with him were two girls and so strange a +picture of contrast I had never seen. The girl on his right was an +extreme example of the prevailing blonde type. Her pinkish white skin +seemed transparent, her eyes were the palest blue and her hair was +bright yet pale gold. About her neck was a chain of blue stones linked +with platinum. She was dressed in a mottled gown of light blue and gold, +and so subtly blended were the colours that she and her gown seemed to +be part of the same created thing. But on Grauble's left sat a woman +whose gown was flashing crimson slashed with jetty black. Her skin was +white with a positive whiteness of rare marble and her cheeks and lips +flamed with blood's own red. The sheen of her hair was that of a raven's +wing, and her eyes scintillated with the blackness of polished jade. + +The pale girl, whom Grauble introduced as Elsa, languidly reached up her +pink fingers for me to kiss and then sank back, eyeing me with mild +curiosity. But as I now turned to be presented to the other, I saw the +black-eyed beauty shrink and cower in an uncanny terror. Grauble again +repeated my name and then the name of the girl, and I, too, started in +fear, for the name he pronounced was "Katrina" and there flashed before +my vision the page from the diary that I had first read in the dank +chamber of the potash mine. In my memory's vision the words flamed and +shouted: "In no other woman have I seen such a blackness of hair and +eyes, combined with such a whiteness of skin." + +The girl before me gave no sign of recognition, but only gripped the +table and pierced me with the stare of her beady eyes. Nervously I sank +into a seat. Grauble, standing over the girl, looked down at her in +angry amazement. "What ails you?" he said roughly, shaking her by +the shoulder. + +But the girl did not answer him and annoyed and bewildered, he sat down. +For some moments no one spoke, and even the pale Elsa leaned forward and +seemed to quiver with excitement. + +Then the girl, Katrina, slowly rose from her chair. "Who are you?" she +demanded, in a hoarse, guttural voice, still gazing at me with +terrified eyes. + +I did not answer, and Grauble again reached over and gripped the girl's +arm. "I told you who he was," he said. "He is Herr Karl von Armstadt of +the Chemical Staff." + +But, the girl did not sit down and continued to stare at me. Then she +raised a trembling hand and, pointing an accusing finger at me, she +cried in a piercing voice: + +"You are not Karl Armstadt, but an impostor posing as Karl Armstadt!" + +We were located in a well-filled dancing café, and the tragic voice of +the accuser brought a crowd of curious people about our table. Captain +Grauble waved them back. As they pushed forward again, a street guard +elbowed in, brandishing his aluminum club and asking the cause of the +commotion. The bystanders indicated Katrina and the guard, edging up, +gripped her arm and demanded an explanation. + +Katrina repeated her accusation. + +"Evidently," suggested Grauble, "she has known another man of the same +name, and meeting Herr von Armstadt has recalled some tragic memory." + +"Perhaps," said the guard politely, "if the gentleman would show the +young lady his identification folder, she would be convinced of +her error." + +For a moment I hesitated, realizing full well what an inquiry might +reveal. + +"No," I said, "I do not feel that it is necessary." + +"He is afraid to show it," screamed the girl. "I tell you he is trying +to pass for Armstadt but he is some one else. He looks like Karl +Armstadt and at first I thought he was Karl Armstadt, but I know he +is not." + +I looked swiftly at the surrounding faces, and saw upon them suspicion +and accusation. "There may be something wrong," said a man in a military +uniform, "otherwise why should the gentleman of the staff hesitate to +show his folder?" + +"Very well," I said, pulling out my folder. + +The guard glanced at it. "It seems to be all right," he said, addressing +the group about the table; "now will you kindly resume your seats and +not embarrass these gentlemen with your idle curiosity?" + +"Let me see the folder!" cried Katrina. + +"Pardon," said the guard to me, "but I see no harm," and he handed her +the folder. + +She glanced over it with feverish haste. + +"Are you satisfied now?" questioned the guard. + +"Yes," hissed the black-eyed girl; "I am satisfied that this is Karl +Armstadt's folder. I know every word of it, but I tell you that the man +who carries it now is not the real Karl Armstadt." And then she wheeled +upon me and screamed, "You are not Karl Armstadt, Karl Armstadt is dead, +and you have murdered him!" + +In an instant the café was in an uproar. Men in a hundred types of +uniform crowded forward; small women, rainbow-garbed, stood on the +chairs and peered over taller heads of ponderous sisters of the labour +caste. Grauble again waved back the crowd and the guard brandished his +club threateningly toward some of the more inquisitive daughters +of labour. + +When the crowd had fallen back to a more respectful distance, the guard +recovered my identification folder from Katrina and returned it to me. +"Perhaps," he said, "you have known the young lady and do not again care +to renew the acquaintance? If so, with your permission, I shall take her +where she will not trouble you again this evening." + +"That may be best," I replied, wondering how I could explain the affair +to Captain Grauble. + +"The incident is most unfortunate," said the Captain, evidently a little +nettled, "but I think this rude force unnecessary. I know Katrina well, +but I did not know she had previously known Herr von Armstadt. This +being the case, and he seeming not to wish to renew the acquaintance, I +suggest that she leave of her own accord." + +But Katrina was not to be so easily dismissed. "No," she retorted, "I +will not leave until this man tells me how he came by that +identification folder and what became of the man I loved, whom he now +represents himself to be." + +At these words the guard, who had been about to leave, turned back. + +I glanced apprehensively at Grauble who, seeing that I was grievously +wrought up over the affair, said quietly to the officer, "You had best +take her away." + +Katrina, with a black look of hatred at Grauble, went without further +words, and the curious crowd quickly melted away. The three of us who +remained at the table resumed our seats and I ordered dinner. + +"My, how Katrina frightened me!" exclaimed the fragile Elsa. + +"She does have temper," admitted Grauble. "Odd, though, that she would +conceive that idea that you were some one else. I have heard of all +sorts of plans of revenge for disappointments in love, but that is a +new one." + +"You really know her?" questioned Elsa, turning her pale eyes upon me. + +"Oh, yes, I once knew her," I replied, trying to seem unconcerned; "but +I did not recognize her at first." + +"You mean you didn't care to," smiled Grauble. "Once a man had known +that woman he would hardly forget her." + +"But you must have had a very emotional affair with her," said Elsa, "to +make her take on like that. Do tell us about it." + +"I would rather not; there are some things one wishes to forget." + +Grauble chided his dainty companion for her prying curiosity and tried +to turn the conversation into less personal channels. But Elsa's +appetite for romance had been whetted and she kept reverting to the +subject while I worried along trying to dismiss the matter. But the +ending of the affair was not to be left in my hands; as we were sitting +about our empty cups, we saw Katrina re-enter the café in company with a +high official of the level and the guard who had taken her away. + +"I am sorry to disturb you," said the official, addressing me +courteously, "but this girl is very insistent in her accusation, and +perhaps, if you will aid us in the matter, it may prevent her making +further charges that might annoy you." + +"And what do you wish me to do?" + +"I suggest only that you should come to my office. I have telephoned to +have the records looked up and that should satisfy all and so end +the matter." + +"You might come also," added the official, turning to Grauble, but he +waved back the curious Elsa who was eager to follow. + +When we reached his office in the Place of Records, the official who had +brought us thither turned to a man at a desk. "You have received the +data on missing men?" he inquired. + +The other handed him a sheet of paper. + +The official turned to Katrina. "Will you state again, please, the time +that you say the Karl Armstadt you knew disappeared?" + +Katrina quite accurately named the date at which the man whose identity +I had assumed had been called to the potash mines. + +"Very well," said the official, taking up the sheet of paper, "here we +have the list of missing men for four years compiled from the weighers' +records. There is not recorded here the disappearance of a single +chemist during the whole period. If another man than a chemist should +try to step into a chemist's shoes, he would have a rather difficult +time of it." The official laughed as if he thought himself very clever. + +"But that man is not Karl Armstadt," cried Katrina in a wavering voice. +"Do you think I would not know him when every night for--" + +"Shut up," said the official, "and get out of here, and if I hear +anything more of this matter I shall subtract your credit." + +Katrina, now whimpering, was led from the room. The official beamed upon +Capt. Grauble and myself. "Do you see," he said, "how perfectly our +records take care of these crazy accusations? The black haired one is +evidently touched in the head with jealousy, and now that she has +chanced upon you, she makes up this preposterous story, which might +cause you no end of annoyance, but here we have the absolute refutation +of the charge. Before a man can step into another's shoes, he must step +out of his own. Murdered bodies can be destroyed, although that is +difficult, but one man cannot be two men!" + +We left the official chuckling over his cleverness. + +"The Keeper of Records was wise after his kind," mused Grauble, "but it +never occurred to him that there might be chemists in the world who are +not registered in the card files of Berlin." + +Grauble's voice sounded a note of aloofness and suspicion. Had he +penetrated my secret? Did I dare make full confession? Had Grauble given +me the least encouragement I should have done so, but he seemed to wish +to avoid further discussion and I feared to risk it. + +My hope of a fuller understanding with Grauble seemed destroyed, and we +soon separated without further confidences. + +~2~ + +When I returned home from my offices one evening some days later, my +secretary announced that a visitor was awaiting me. + +I entered the reception-room and found Holknecht, who had been my +chemical assistant in the early days of my work in Berlin. Holknecht had +seemed to me a servile fawning fellow and when I received my first +promotion I had deserted him quite brutally for the very excellent +reason that he had known the other Armstadt and I feared that his dulled +intelligence might at any time be aroused to penetrate my disguise. That +he should look me up in my advancement and prosperity, doubtless to beg +some favour, seemed plausible enough, and therefore with an air of +condescending patronage, I asked what I could do for him. + +"It is about Katrina," he said haltingly, as he eyed me curiously. + +"Well, what about her?" + +"She wants me to bring you to her." + +"But suppose I do not choose to go?" + +"Then there may be trouble." + +"She has already tried to make trouble," I said, "but nothing came of +it." + +"But that," said Holknecht, "was before she saw me." + +"And what have you told her?" + +"I told her about Armstadt's going to the mines and you coming back to +the hospital wearing his clothes and possessed of his folder and of your +being out of your memory." + +"You mean," I replied, determined not to acknowledge his assumption of +my other identity, "that you explained to her how the illness had +changed me; and did that not make clear to her why she did not recognize +me at first?" + +"There is no use," insisted Holknecht, "of your talking like that. I +never could quite make up my mind about you, though I always knew there +was something wrong. At first I believed the doctor's story, and that +you were really Armstadt, though it did seem like a sort of magic, the +way you were changed. But when you came to the laboratory and I saw you +work, I decided that you were somebody else and that the Chemical Staff +was working on some great secret and had a reason for putting some one +else in Armstadt's place. And now, of course, I know very well that that +was so, for the other Karl Armstadt would never have become a von of the +Royal Level. He didn't have that much brains." + +As Holknecht was speaking I had been thinking rapidly. The thing I +feared was that the affair of the mine and hospital should be +investigated by some one with intelligence and authority. Since Katrina +had learned of that, and this Holknecht was also aware that I was a man +of unknown identity, it was very evident that they might set some +serious investigation going. But the man's own remarks suggested a +way out. + +"You are quite right, Holknecht," I said; "I am not Karl Armstadt; and, +just as you have surmised, there were grave reasons why I should have +been put into his place under those peculiar circumstances. But this +matter is a state secret of the Chemical Staff and you will do well to +say nothing about it. Now is there anything I can do for you? A +promotion, perhaps, to a good position in the Protium Works?" + +"No," said Holknecht, "I would rather stay where I am, but I could use a +little extra money." + +"Of course; a check, perhaps; a little gift from an old friend who has +risen to power; there would be no difficulty in that, would there?" + +"I think it would go through all right." + +"I will make it now; say five thousand marks, and if nothing more is +said of this matter by you or Katrina, there will be another one like it +a year later." + +The young man's eyes gloated as I wrote the check, which he pocketed +with greedy satisfaction. "Now," I said, "will this end the affair for +the present?" + +"This makes it all right with me," replied Holknecht, "but what about +Katrina?" + +"But you are to take care of her. She can only accept two hundred marks +a month and I have given you enough for that four times over." + +"But she doesn't want money; she already has a full list." + +"Then what does she want?" + +"Jewels, of course; they all want them; jewels from the Royal Level, and +she knows you can get them for her." + +"Oh, I see. Well, what would please her?" + +"A necklace of rubies, the best they have, one that will cost at least +twenty thousand marks." + +"That's rather expensive, is it not?" + +"But her favourite lover disappeared," fenced Holknecht, "and his death +was never entered on the records. It may be the Chemical Staff knows +what became of him and maybe they do not; whatever happened, you seem to +want it kept still, so you had best get the necklace." + +After a little further arguing that revealed nothing, I went to the +Royal Level, and searching out a jewelry shop, I purchased a necklace of +very beautiful synthetic rubies, for which I gave my check for twenty +thousand marks. + +Returning to my apartment, I found Holknecht still waiting. He insisted +on taking the necklace to Katrina, but I feared to trust a man who +accepted bribes so shamelessly, and decided to go with him and deliver +it in person. + +Sullenly, Holknecht led the way to her apartment. + +Katrina sensuously gowned in flaming red was awaiting the outcome of her +blackmailing venture. She motioned me to a chair near her, while +Holknecht, utterly ignored, sank obscurely into a corner. + +"So you came," said the lady of black and scarlet, leaning back among +her pillows and gazing at me through half closed eyes. + +"Yes," I said, "since you have looked up Holknecht and he has explained +to you the reason for the disappearance of the man you knew, I thought +best to see you and have an understanding." + +"But that dumb fellow explained nothing," declared Katrina, "except that +he told me that Armstadt went to the mines and you came back and took +his place. He wasn't even sure you were not the other Karl Armstadt +until I convinced him, and then he claimed that he had known it all the +time; and yet he had never told it. Some men are as dull as books." + +"On the contrary, Holknecht is very sensible," I replied. "It is a grave +affair of state and one that it is best not to probe into." + +"And just what did become of the other Armstadt?" asked Katrina, and in +her voice was only a curiosity, with no real concern. + +"To tell you the truth, your lover was killed in the mine explosion," I +replied, for I thought it unwise to state that he was still alive lest +she pursue her inquiries for him and so make further trouble. + +"That is too bad," said Katrina. "You see, when I knew him he was only a +chemical captain. And when he deserted me I didn't really care much. But +when the Royal Captain Grauble asked me to meet a Karl von Armstadt of +the Chemical Staff, at first I could not believe that it was the same +man I had known, but I made inquiries and learned of your rapid rise and +traced it back and I thought you really were my old Karl. And when I saw +you, you seemed to be he, but when I looked again I knew that you were +another and I was so disappointed and angry that I lost control of my +temper. I am sorry I made a scene, and that official was so stupid--as +if I would not know one man from another! How I should like to tell him +that I knew more than his stupid records." + +"But that is not best," I said; "your former lover is dead and there are +grave reasons why that death should not be investigated further--" The +argument was becoming a little difficult for me and I hastened to add: +"Since you were so discourteously treated by the official, I feel that I +owe you some little token of reparation." + +I now drew out the necklace and held it out to the girl. + +Her black eyes gleamed with triumph at the sight of the bauble. Greedily +she grasped it and held it up between her and the light, turning it +about and watching the red rays gleaming through the stones. "And now," +she gloated, "that faded Elsa will cease to lord it over me--and to +think that another Karl Armstadt has brought me this--why that stingy +fellow would never have bought me a blue-stone ring, if he had been made +the Emperor's Minister." + +Katrina now rose and preened before her mirror. "Won't you place it +round my neck?" she asked, holding out the necklace. + +Nor daring to give offence, I took the chain of rubies and attempted to +fasten it round her neck. The mechanism of the fastening was strange to +me and I was some time in getting the thing adjusted. Just as I had +succeeded in hooking the clasp, I heard a curdled oath and the neglected +Holknecht hurled himself upon us, striking me on the temple with one +fist and clutching at the throat of the girl with the other hand. + +The blow sent me reeling to the floor but in another instant I was up +and had collared him and dragged him away. + +"Damn you both," he whimpered; "where do I come in?" + +"Put him out," said Katrina, with a glance of disdain at the cowering +man. + +"I will go," snarled Holknecht, and he wrenched from my grasp and darted +toward the door. I followed, but he was fairly running down the passage +and pursuit was too undignified a thing to consider. + +"You should have paid him," said Katrina, "for delivering my message." + +"I have paid him," I replied. "I paid him very well." + +"I wonder if he thought," she laughed, "that I would pay any attention +to a man of his petty rank. Why, I snubbed him unmercifully years ago +when the other Armstadt had the audacity to introduce me." + +"Of course," I replied, "he does not understand." + +And now, as I resumed my seat, I began puzzling my brain as to how I +could get away without giving offence to the second member of my pair of +blackmailers. But a little later I managed it, as it has been managed +for centuries, by looking suddenly at my watch and recalling a forgotten +appointment. + +"You will come again?" purred Katrina. + +"Of course," I said, "I must come again, for you are very charming, but +I am afraid it will not be for some time as I have very important duties +and just at present my leisure is exceedingly limited." + +And so I made my escape, and hastened home. After debating the question +pro and con I typed a note to Holknecht in which I assured him that I +had not the least interest in Katrina. "Perhaps," I wrote, "when she has +tired a bit of the necklace, she would appreciate something else. But it +would not be wise to hurry this; but if you will call around in a month +or so, I think I can arrange for you to get her something and present it +yourself, as I do not care to see her again." + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE BLACK SPOT IS ERASED FROM THE MAP OF THE WORLD AND +THERE IS DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT ON THE ROOF OF BERLIN + + +~1~ + +The relative ease with which I had so long passed for the real Karl +Armstadt had lulled me into a feeling of security. But now that my +disguise had been penetrated, my old fears were renewed. True, the +weigher's records had seemingly cleared me, but I knew that Grauble had +seen the weak spot in the German logic of the stupid official, who had +so lightly dismissed Katrina's accusations. Moreover, I fancied that +Grauble had guessed the full truth and connected this uncertainty of my +identity with the seditious tenor of the suggestions I had made to him. +Even though he might be willing to discuss rebellious plans with a +German, could I count on him to consider the treasonable urging coming +from a man of another and an enemy race? + +So fearing either to confess to him my identity or to proceed without +confessing, I postponed doing anything. The sailing date of his fifth +trip to the Arctic was fast approaching; if I was ever to board a vessel +leaving Berlin I would need von Kufner's permission. Marguerite reported +the growing cordiality of the Admiral. Although I realized that his +infatuation for her was becoming rather serious, with the confidence of +an accepted lover, I never imagined that he could really come between +Marguerite and myself. + +But one evening when I went to call upon Marguerite she was "not at +home." I repeated the call with the same result. When I called her up by +telephone, her secretary bluntly told me that the Princess Marguerite +did not care to speak to me. I hastened to write an impassioned note, +pleading to see her at once, for the days were passing and there was now +but a week before Grauble's vessel was due to depart. + +In desperation I waited two more days, and still no word came. My +letters of pleading, like my calls and telephone efforts, were +still ignored. + +Then a messenger came bearing a note from Admiral von Kufner, asking me +to call upon him at once. + +"I have been considering," began von Kufner, when I entered his office, +"the request you made of me some time ago to be permitted to go in +person to make a survey of the ore deposits. At first I opposed this, as +the trip is dangerous, but more recently I have reconsidered the +importance of it. As others are now fully able to continue your work +here, I can quite conceive that your risking the trip to the mines in +person would be a very courageous and noble sacrifice. So I have taken +the matter up with His Majesty." + +With mocking politeness von Kufner now handed me a document bearing the +imperial seal. + +I held it with a trembling hand as I glanced over the fateful words that +commissioned me to go at once to the Arctic. + +My smouldering jealousy of the oily von Kufner now flamed into +expression. "You have done this thing from personal motives," I cried. +"You have revoked your previous decision because you want me out of your +way. You know I will be gone for six months at least. You hope in your +cowardly heart that I will never come back." + +Von Kufner's lips curled. "You see fit," he answered, "to impugn my +motives in suggesting that the order be issued, although it is the +granting of your own request. But the commission you hold in your hand +bears the Imperial signature, and the Emperor of the Germans never +revokes his orders." + +"Very well," I said, controlling my rage, "I will go." + +~2~ + +Upon leaving the Admiral's office my first thought was to go at once to +Marguerite. Whatever might be the nature of her quarrel with me I was +now sure that von Kufner was at the bottom of it, and that it was in +some way connected with this sudden determination of his to send me to +the Arctic, hoping that I would never return. + +But before I had gone far I began to consider other matters. I was +commissioned to leave Berlin by submarine and that too by the vessel in +command of Captain Grauble, whom I knew to be nursing rebellion and +mutiny in his heart. If deliverance from Berlin was ever to come, it had +come now. To refuse to embrace it would mean to lose for ever this +fortunate chance to escape from this sunless Babylon. + +I would therefore go first to Grauble and determine without delay if he +could be relied on to make the attempt to reach the outer world. Once I +knew that, I could go then to Marguerite with an invitation for her to +join me in flight--if such a thing were humanly possible. + +But recalling the men who had done so much to fill me with hope and +faith in the righteousness of my mission, I again changed my plan and +sought out Dr. Zimmern and Col. Hellar and arranged for them to meet me +that evening at Grauble's quarters. + +At the hour appointed I, who had first arrived at the apartment, sat +waiting for the arrival of Zimmern. When he came, to my surprise and +bewildered joy he was not alone, for Marguerite was with him. + +She greeted me with distress and penitence in her eyes and I exulted in +the belief that whatever her quarrel with me might be it meant no +irretrievable loss of her devotion and love. + +We sat about the room, a very solemn conclave, for I had already +informed Grauble of my commission to go to the Arctic, and he had sensed +at once the revolutionary nature of the meeting. I now gave him a brief +statement of the faith of the older men, who from the fulness of their +lives had reached the belief that the true patriotism for their race was +to be expressed in an effort to regain for the Germans the citizenship +of the world. + +The young Captain gravely nodded. "I have not lived so long," he said, +"but my life has been bitter and full of fear. I am not out of sympathy +with your argument, but before we go further," and he turned to +Marguerite, "may I not ask why a Princess of the House of Hohenzollern +is included in such a meeting as this?" + +I turned expectantly to Zimmern, who now gave Grauble an account of the +tragedy and romance of Marguerite's life. + +"Very well," said Grauble; "she has earned her place with us; now that I +understand her part, let us proceed." + +For some hours Hellar and Zimmern explained their reasons for believing +the life of the isolated German race was evil and defended their faith +in the hope of salvation through an appeal to the mercy and justice of +the World State. + +"Of all this I am easily convinced," said Grauble, "for it is but a +logically thought-out conclusion of the feeling I have nourished in my +blind rebellion. I am ready to go with Herr von Armstadt and surrender +my vessel to the enemy; but the practical question is, will our risk +avail anything? What hope can we have that we will even be able to +deliver the message you wish to send? How are we to know that we will +not immediately be killed?" + +The hour had come. "I will answer that question," I said, and there was +a tenseness in my tone that caused my hearers to look at me with eager, +questioning eyes. + +"Barring," I said, "the possibility of destruction before I can gain +opportunity to speak to some one in authority, there is nothing to fear +in the way of our ungracious reception in the outer world--" As I paused +and looked about me I saw Marguerite's eyes shining with the same +worshipful wonder as when I had visioned for her the sunlight and the +storms of the world outside Berlin--"because I am of that world. I speak +their language. I know their people. I never saw the inside of Berlin +until I was brought here from the potash mines of Stassfurt, wearing the +clothes and carrying the identification papers of one Karl Armstadt who +was killed by gas bombs which I myself had ordered dropped into +those mines." + +At these startling statements the older men could only gasp in +incredulous astonishment, but Captain Grauble nodded wisely--"I half +expected as much," he said. + +I turned to Marguerite. Her eyes were swimming in a mist of tears. + +"Then your visions were real memories," she cried,--"and not miracles. I +knew you had seen other worlds, but I thought it was in some spirit +life." She reached out a trembling hand toward me and then shrinkingly +drew it back. "But you are not Karl Armstadt," she stammered, as she +realized that I was a nameless stranger. + +"No," I said, going to her and placing a reassuring arm about her +shoulder, "I am not Karl Armstadt. My name is Lyman de Forrest. I am an +American, a chemical engineer from the city of Chicago, and if Captain +Grauble does not alter his purpose, I am going back there and will take +you with me." + +Zimmern and Hellar were listening in consternation. "How is it," asked +Hellar, "that you speak German?" + +By way of answer I addressed him in English and in French, while he and +Zimmern glanced at each other as do men who see a miracle and strive to +hold their reason while their senses contradict their logic. + +I now sketched the story of my life and adventures with a fulness of +convincing detail. One incident only I omitted and that was of the near +discovery of my identity by Armstadt's former mistress. Of that I did +not speak for I felt that Marguerite, at least in the presence of the +others, would not relish that part of the story. Nor did I wish to worry +them with the fear that was still upon me that I had not seen the last +of that affair. + +After answering many questions and satisfying all doubts as to the truth +of my story, I again turned the conversation to the practical problem of +the escape from Berlin. "You can now see," I declared, "that I deserve +no credit for genius or courage. I am merely a prisoner in an enemy city +where my life is in constant danger. If any one of you should speak the +word, I would be promptly disposed of as a spy. But if you are sincere +in your desire to send a message to my Government, I am here to take +that message." + +"It almost makes one believe that there is a God," cried Hellar, "and +that he has sent us a deliverer." + +"As for me," spoke up Captain Grauble, "I shall deliver your messenger +into the hands of his friends, and trust that he can persuade them to +deal graciously with me and my men. I should have made this break for +liberty before had I not believed it would be fleeing from one death +to another." + +"Then you will surely leave us," said Zimmern. "It is more than we have +wished and prayed for, but," he added, turning a compassionate glance +toward Marguerite, "it will be hard for her." + +"But she is going with us," I affirmed. "I will not leave her behind. As +for you and Col Hellar, I shall see you again when Berlin is free. But +the risks are great and the time may be long, and if Marguerite will go +I will take her with me as a pledge that I shall not prove false in my +mission for you, her people." + +I read Marguerite's answer in the joy of her eyes, as I heard Col. +Hellar say: "That would be fine, if it were possible." + +But Zimmern shook his head. "No," he said, as if commanding. "Marguerite +must not go now even if it were possible. You may come back for her if +you succeed in your mission, but we cannot lose her now; she must not go +now,--" and his voice trembled with deep emotion. At his words of +authority concerning the girl I loved I felt a resurge of the old +suspicion and jealousy. + +"I am sorry," spoke up Captain Grauble, "but your desire to take the +Princess Marguerite with you is one that I fear cannot be realized. I +would be perfectly willing for her to go if we could once get her +aboard, but the approach of the submarine docks are very elaborately +guarded. To smuggle a man aboard without a proper permit would be +exceedingly difficult, but to get a woman to the vessel is quite +impossible." + +"I suppose that it cannot be," I said, for I saw the futility of arguing +the matter further at the time, especially as Zimmern was opposed to it. + +The night was now far spent and but four days remained in which to +complete my preparations for departure. In this labour Zimmern and +Hellar could be of no service and I therefore took my leave of them, +lest I should not see them again. "Within a year at most," I said, "we +may meet again, for Berlin will be open to the world. Once the passage +is revealed and the protium traffic stopped, the food stores cannot last +longer. When these facts are realized by His Majesty and the Advisory +Council, let us hope they will see the futility of resisting. The +knowledge that Germany possesses will increase the world's food supply +far more than her population will add to the consumptive demands, hence if +reason and sanity prevail on both sides there will be no excuse for war +and suffering." + +~3~ + +And so I took my leave of the two men from whose noble souls I had +achieved my aspirations to bring the century-old siege of Berlin to a +sane and peaceful end without the needless waste of life that all the +world outside had always believed would be an inevitable part of the +capitulation of the armoured city. + +I now walked with Marguerite through the deserted tree-lined avenues of +the Royal Level. + +"And why, dear," I asked, "have you refused to see me these five days +past?" + +"Oh, Karl," she cried, "you must forgive me, for nothing matters now--I +have been crazed with jealousy. I was so hurt that I could see no one, +for I could only fight it out alone." + +"And what do you mean?" I questioned. "Jealous? And of whom could you be +jealous, since there is no other woman in this unhappy city for whom I +have ever cared?" + +"Yes, I believe that. I haven't doubted that you loved me with a nobler +love than the others, but you told me there were no others, and I +believed you. So it was hard, so very hard. The Doctor--I saw Dr. +Zimmern this morning and poured out my heart to him--insisted that I +should accept the fact that until marriage all men were like that, and +it could not be helped. But I never asked you, Karl, about other women; +you yourself volunteered to tell me there were no others, and what you +told me was not true. I must forgive you, for now I may lose you, but +why does a man ever need to lie to a woman? I somehow feel that love +means truth--" + +"But," I insisted, "it was the truth. I bear no personal relation to any +other woman." + +She drew back from me, breathing quickly, faith and doubt fighting a +battle royal in her eyes. "But the checks, Karl?" she stammered; "those +checks the girl on the Free Level cashes each month, and worse than that +the check at the Jeweller's where you bought a necklace for twenty +thousand marks?" + +"Quite right, there are such checks, and I shall explain them. But +before I begin, may I ask just how you came to know about those checks? +Not that I care; I am glad you do know; but the fact of your knowledge +puzzles me, for I thought the privacy of a man's checking account was +one of the unfair privileges that man has usurped for himself and not +granted to women." + +"But I did not pry into the matter. I would never have thought of such a +thing until he forced the facts upon me." + +"He? You mean von Kufner?" + +"Yes, it was five days ago. I was out walking with him and he insisted +on my going into a jewellery store we were passing. I at first refused +to go as I thought he wished to buy me something. But he insisted that +he merely wanted me to look at things and I went in. You see, I was +trying not to offend him." + +"Of course," I said, "there was no harm in that. And--" + +"The Admiral winked at the Jeweller. I saw him do that; and the jeweller +set out a tray of ruby necklaces and began to talk about them, and then +von Kufner remarked that since they were so expensive he must not sell +many. 'Oh, yes,' said the Jeweller, 'I sell a great number to young men +who have just come into money. I sold one the other day to Herr von +Armstadt of the Chemical Staff,' and he reached for his sales book and +opened it to the page with a record of the sale. He had the place +marked, for I saw him remove a slip as he opened the book." + +"Rather clever of von Kufner," I commented; "how do you suppose he got +trail of it?" + +"He admitted his trailing quite frankly," said Marguerite, "for as soon +as we were out of the shop, I accused him of preparing the scene. 'Of +course,' he said, 'but I had to convince you that your chemist was not +so saintly as you thought him. His banker is a friend of mine, and I +asked him about von Armstadt's account. He is keeping a girl on the Free +Level and evidently also making love to one of better caste, or he would +hardly be buying ruby necklaces.' I told von Kufner that he was a +miserable spy, but he only laughed at me and said that all men were +alike and that I ought to find it out while I was young--and then he +asked if I would like him to have the young woman's record sent up from +the Free Level for my inspection. I ordered him to leave me at once and +I have not seen or heard from him since, until I received a note from +him today telling me of the Royal order for you to go to the Arctic." + +I first set Marguerite's mind at ease about the checks to Bertha by +explaining the incident of the geography, and then told the story of +Katrina and the meeting in the café, and the later affair of Holknecht +and the necklace. + +"And you will promise me never to see her again?" + +"But you have forgotten," I said, "that I am leaving Berlin in four +days." + +"Oh, Karl," she cried, "I have forgotten everything--I cannot even +remember that new name you gave us--I believe I must be dreaming--or +that it is all a wild story you have told us to see how much we in our +simplicity and ignorance will believe." + +"No," I said gently, "it is not a dream, though I could wish that it +were, for Grauble says that there is no hope of taking you with me; and +yet I must go, for the Emperor has ordered me to the Arctic and von +Kufner will see to it that I make no excuses. If I once leave Berlin by +submarine with Grauble I do not see how I can refuse to carry out my +part of this project to which I am pledged, and make the effort to reach +the free world outside." + +Marguerite turned on me with a bitter laugh. "The free world," she +cried, "your world. You are going back to it and leave me here. You are +going back to your own people--you will not save Germany at all--you +will never come back for me!" + +"You are very wrong," I said gently. "It is because I have known you and +known such men as Dr. Zimmern and Col. Hellar that I do want to carry +the message that will for ever end this sunless life of your +imprisoned race." + +"But," cried Marguerite, "you do not want to take me; you could find a +way if you would--you made the Emperor do your bidding once--you could +do it again if you wanted to." + +"I very much want to take you; to go without you would be but a bitter +success." + +"But have you no wife, or no girl you love among your own people?" + +"No." + +"But if I should go with you, the people of your world would welcome you +but they would imprison me or kill me as a spy." + +"No," and I smiled as I answered, "they do not kill women." + +~4~ + +During four brief days that remained until Capt. Grauble's vessel was +due to depart my every hour was full of hurried preparations for my +survey of the Arctic mines. Clothing for the rigours and rough labour of +that fearful region had to be obtained and I had to get together the +reports of previous surveys and the instruments for the ore analyses +that would be needed. Nor was I altogether faithless in these +preparations for at times I felt that my first duty might be thus to aid +in the further provisioning of the imprisoned race, for how was I to +know that I would be able to end the state of war that had prevailed in +spite of the generations of pacifist efforts? At times I even doubted +that this break for the outer world would ever be made. I doubted that +Capt. Grauble, though he solemnly assured us that he was ready for the +venture, was acting in good faith. Could he, I asked, persuade his men +to their part of the adventure? Would not our traitorous design be +discovered and we both be returned as prisoners to Berlin? Granted even +that Grauble could carry out his part and that the submarine proceeded +as planned to rise to the surface or attempt to make some port, with the +best of intentions of surrendering to the World State authorities, might +not we be destroyed before we could make clear our peaceful and friendly +intentions? Could I, coming out of Germany with Germans prove my +identity? Would my story be believed? Would I have believed such a story +before the days of my sojourn among the Germans? Might I not be +consigned to languish in prison as a merely clever German spy, or be +consigned to an insanity ward? + +At times I doubted even my own desire to escape from Berlin if it meant +the desertion of Marguerite, for there could be no joy in escape for me +without her. Yet I found small relish in looking forward to life as a +member of that futile clan of parasitical Royalty. Had Germany been a +free society where we might hope to live in peace and freedom perhaps I +could have looked forward to a marriage with Marguerite and considered +life among the Germans a tolerable thing. But for such a life as we must +needs live, albeit the most decent Berlin had to offer, I could find no +relish--and the thought of escape and call of duty beyond the bomb proof +walls and poisoned soil called more strongly than could any thought of +love and domesticity within the accursed circle of fraudulent divinity. + +There was also the danger that lurked for me in Holknecht's knowledge of +my identity and the bitterness of his anger born of his insane and +stupid jealousy. + +Rather than remain longer in Berlin I would take any chance and risk any +danger if only Marguerite were not to be left behind. And yet she must +be left behind, for such a thing as getting a woman aboard a submarine +or even to the submarine docks had never been heard of. I thought of all +the usual tricks of disguising her as a man, of smuggling her as a +stowaway amidst the cargo, but Grauble's insistence upon the +impossibility of such plans had made it all too clear that any such wild +attempt would lead to the undoing of us all. + +If escape were possible with Marguerite--! But cold reason said that +escape was improbable enough for me alone. For a woman of the House of +Hohenzollern the prison of Berlin had walls of granite and locks +of steel. + +The time of departure drew nearer. I had already been passed down by the +stealthy guards and through the numerous locked and barred gates to the +subterranean docks where Grauble's vessel, the _Eitel 3_, rested on the +heavy trucks that would bear her away through the tunnel to the +pneumatic lock that would float her into the passage that led to +the open sea. + +My supplies and apparatus were stored on board and the crew were making +ready to be off. But three hours were left until the time of our +departure and these hours I had set aside for my final leave-taking of +Marguerite. I hastened back through the guarded gates to the elevator +and was quickly lifted to the Royal Level where Marguerite was to be +waiting for me. + +With fast beating and rebellious heart I rang the bell of the Countess' +apartment. I could scarcely believe I heard aright when the servant +informed me that the Princess Marguerite had gone out. + +I demanded to see the Countess and was ushered into the reception-room +and suffered unbearably during the few minutes till she appeared. To my +excited question she replied with a teasing smile that Marguerite had +gone out a half hour before with Admiral von Kufner. "I warned you," +said the Countess as she saw the tortured expression of my face, "but +you would not believe me, when I told you the Admiral would prove a +dangerous man." + +"But it is impossible," I cried. "I am leaving for the Arctic mines. I +have only a couple of hours; surely you are hiding something. Did you +see her go? Did she leave no word? Do you know where they have gone or +when they will return?" + +The Countess shook her head. "I only know," she replied more +sympathetically, "that Marguerite seemed very excited all morning. She +talked with me of your leaving and seemed very wrought up over it, and +then but an hour or so ago she rushed into her room and telephoned--it +must have been to the Admiral, for he came shortly afterwards. They +talked together for a little while and then, without a word to me they +went out, seeming to be in a great hurry. Perhaps she felt so upset over +your leaving that she thought it kinder not to risk a parting scene. She +is so honest, poor child, that she probably did not wish to send you +away with any false hopes." + +"But do you mean," I cried, "that you think she has gone out with von +Kufner to avoid seeing me?" + +"I am sorry," consoled the Countess, "but it looks that way. It was +cruel of her, for she might have sent you away with hope to live on till +your return, even if she felt she could not wait for you." + +I strove not to show my anger to the Countess, for, considering her +ignorance of the true significance of the occasion, I could not expect a +full understanding. + +Miserably I waited for two hours as the Countess tried to entertain me +with her misplaced efforts at sympathy while I battled to keep my faith +in Marguerite alive despite the damaging evidence that she had deserted +me at the last hour. + +I telephoned to von Kufner's office and to his residence but could get +no word as to his whereabouts, and Marguerite did not return. + +I dared not wait any longer--asking for envelope and paper, I penned a +hasty note to Marguerite: "I shall go on to the Arctic and come back to +you. The salvation of Berlin must wait till you can go with me. I +cannot, will not, lose you." + +And then I tore myself away and hastened to the elevator and was dropped +to a subterranean level and passed again through the locked and +guarded gates. + +~5~ + +As I came to the vessel no one was in sight but the regular guards +pacing along the loading docks. I mounted the ladder to the deck. The +second officer stood by the open trap. "They are waiting for you," he +said. "The Admiral himself is below. He came with his lady to see +you off." + +I hastened to descend and saw von Kufner and Marguerite chatting with +Captain Grauble. + +"Why the delay?" asked von Kufner. "It is nearly the hour of departure, +and I have brought the Princess to bid you farewell. We have been +showing her the vessel." + +"It is all very wonderful," said Marguerite with a calm voice, but her +eyes spoke the feverish excitement of a great adventure. + +"The Princess Marguerite," said von Kufner, "is the only woman who has +ever seen a submarine since the open sea traffic was closed. But she has +seen it all and now we must take our leave for it is time that you +should be off." + +As he finished speaking the Admiral politely stepped away to give me +opportunity for a farewell word with Marguerite. Grauble followed him +and, as he passed me, he gave me a look of gloating triumph and then +opened the door of his cabin, which the Admiral entered. + +"I am going with you," whispered Marguerite. "Grauble understands." + +There was the sound of a scuffle and a strangled oath. Grauble's head +appeared at the cabin door. "Here, Armstadt; be quick, and keep +him quiet." + +I plunged into the cabin and saw von Kufner crumpled against the bunk; +his hands were manacled behind him and his mouth stuffed with a cloth. + +With an exulting joy I threw myself upon the man as he struggled to +rise. I easily held him down, and whipping out my own kerchief I bound +it tightly across his mouth to more effectively gag him. + +Then rolling him over I planted my knee on his back while I ripped a +sheet from the bunk and bound his feet. + +From without I heard Grauble's voice in command: "Close the hatch." Then +I felt the vessel quiver with machinery in motion and I knew that we +were moving along the tunnel toward the sea. + +Grauble appeared again in the door of the cabin. "The mate understands," +he said, "and the crew will obey. I told them that the Admiral was going +out with us to inspect the lock. But the presence of a woman aboard will +puzzle them. I have placed the Princess in the mate's cabin so no one +can molest her. We have other things to keep us occupied." + +With Grauble's help I now bound von Kufner to the staunch metal leg of +the bunk and we left him alone in the narrow room to ponder on the +meaning of what he had heard. + +Outside Grauble led me over to the instrument board where the mate was +stationed. + +"Any unusual message?" asked Grauble. + +"None," said the mate. "I think we will go through without interruption +at least until we reach the lock; if anything is suspicioned we will be +held up there for examination." + +"Do you think the guards at the dock suspected anything?" questioned +Grauble. + +"It is not likely," replied the mate. "They saw him come aboard, but he +spoke to none of them. They will presume he is going out to the lock. +The presence of a woman will puzzle them; but, as she was with the +Admiral, they will not dare interfere or even report the fact." + +"Then what do you think we have to fear?" asked Grauble. + +"Only the chance that the Admiral's absence may be noted at his office +and inquiry be made." + +"Of that the Princess could tell us something," said Grauble. "We will +talk with her." + +Grauble now led me to the mate's snug cabin, where we found Marguerite +seated on the bunk, looking very pale and anxious. + +"Everything is going nicely, so far," the Captain assured her. "We have +only one thing to fear, and that is that inquiry from the Administration +Office for the Admiral may be addressed to the Commander of the Lock." + +"But how will they know that he is with us?" asked Marguerite. "Will the +guards report it?" + +"I do not think so," said Grauble, "but does any one at his office know +that he came to the docks?" + +"I do not see how they could," replied Marguerite; "he was at his +apartment when I called him. He came to me at once, not knowing why I +wished to see him. I begged him to take me to see you off. I swore that +if he did not I should never speak to him again, and he agreed to do so. +He seemed to think himself very generous and talked much of the +distinctive privilege he was conferring upon me by acceding to my +request. But he told no one where we were going. He communicated with no +one from the time he came to me until we arrived at the vessel. The +guards and gate-keepers let us pass without question." + +"That is fine," cried Grauble; "von Kufner often stays away from his +office for days at a time. Unless some chance information leaks back +from the guards, he will not be missed. Our chance of being passed +speedily out the lock is good--there is a vessel due to lock in this +very day and we could not be held back to block the tunnel. That is why +the Admiral was impatient when Armstadt failed to appear; he knew our +departure ought not be delayed." + +"And what," I asked, "do you propose to do with the Admiral?" + +"I suppose we must take him with us as a prisoner," replied the Captain. +"Your World State Government would appreciate a prisoner of the House of +Hohenzollern." + +At this suggestion Marguerite shook her head emphatically. "I do not +like that," she said. "Is there not some way to leave him behind?" + +"I do not like it either," said Grauble, "because I fear his presence +aboard may make trouble among my men. I do not think they will object to +deserting with us to the free world. Their life in this service is +hopeless enough and this is my fifth trip; they have a belief that the +Captain's fifth trip is an ill-fated one; not a man aboard but trembles +in the dire fear that he will never see Berlin again. They will welcome +with joy a proposal to escape with us, but to ask them to make the +attempt with the Admiral himself on board as a prisoner is a different +thing. These men are cowed by authority and I know not what notions they +might have of their fate if they are to kidnap the Admiral." + +"But," I questioned, "is there no possible way to leave him behind?" + +Grauble sat thinking for a moment. "Yes," he said, "there is one way we +might do it. We could shave his beard and clip his hair, dress him in a +machinist's garb and smear his hands and face with grease. Then I could +drug him and we could carry him off at the lock and put him in a cell. I +would report that one of my men had gone raving mad, and I had drugged +him to keep him from doing injury to himself and others. It would create +no great surprise. Men in this service frequently go mad; and I am +provided with a sleep producing drug for just such emergencies." + +"Then go ahead," I said. + +"But you will lose the satisfaction of delivering him prisoner to your +government," smiled Grauble. + +"I have no love for the Admiral," I replied, "but I think his punishment +will be more appropriately attended to in Berlin. When our escape is +known he will indeed have a rather difficult time explaining to +His Majesty." + +This suggestion of the pompous Admiral's predicament if thus left behind +seemed to amuse Grauble and he at once led the way back to his +own cabin. + +Von Kufner was lying very quietly in his bonds and glared up at us with +a weak and futile rage. Grauble smiled cynically at his prostrate chief. +"I had thought to take you along with us," he said, "but I am afraid the +excitement of the voyage would be unpleasant for you so I have decided +to leave you at the lock to take our farewell back to His Majesty." + +Von Kufner, helpless and gagged was given no opportunity to reply, for +Grauble, unlocking his medicine case took out a small hypodermic syringe +and plunged the needle into the prisoner's thigh. + +In a few minutes the Admiral was unconscious. The Captain now brought a +suit of soiled mechanic's clothes and a clipper and razor, and in a half +hour the prim Admiral in his fancy uniform had been reduced to the +likeness of an oiler. His face roughly shaved, but pale and sallow, gave +a very good simulation of illness of mind and body. + +"He will remain like that for at least twelve hours," said Grauble. "I +gave him a heavy dose." + +Again we went out, locking the unconscious Admiral in the cabin. "You +may go and keep the Princess company," said Grauble, "while I talk with +my men and give them an inkling of what we are planning. If there is any +trouble at the lock it is better that they comprehend that hope of +freedom is in store for them." + +Amid tears of joy Marguerite now told me of her belated conception of +the desperate plan to induce von Kufner to bring her to the docks to see +us depart, and how she had pretended to disbelieve that I was really +going and bargained to marry him within sixty days if she could be +assured by her own eyes that I had really departed for the Arctic. + +As we waited feverishly for the first nerve-racking part of the journey +to be over, we spoke of the hopes and dangers of the great adventure +upon which we were finally embarked. And so the hours passed. + +At last we felt the rumble of the motors die and knew that the movement +of the vessel had ceased. + +~6~ + +The voice of the mate spoke at the door: "Remain quiet inside," he said, +and a key turned and clicked the bolt of the lock. The tense minutes +passed. Again the key turned in the door and the mate stuck his head +inside. "Come quick," he said to me. + +I followed him into Capt. Grauble's cabin, but saw Grauble nowhere. + +"Remove your clothing," said the mate, as he seized a sponge and soap +and began washing the blackened oil from the hands and face of the +unconscious Admiral. "We must dress him in your uniform. The Commander +of the Lock has orders to take you off the vessel. We must pass the +Admiral off for you. He will never be recognized. The Commander has +never seen you." + +Obeying, without fully comprehending, I helped to quickly dress the +unconscious man in my own clothing. We had barely finished when we heard +voices outside. + +"Quick, under the bunk," whispered the mate. As I obediently crawled +into the hiding place, the mate kicked in after me the remainder of the +oiler's clothing which I had been trying to put on and pulled the +disarranged bedding half off the bunk the better to hide me. Then he +opened the door and several men entered. + +"I had to drug him," said Grauble's voice, "because he was so violent +with fear when I had him manacled that I thought he might attempt to +beat out his brains." + +"Let me see his papers," said a strange voice. + +After a brief interval the same voice spoke again--"These are identical +with the description given by His Majesty's secretary. There can be no +doubt that this is the man they want, but I do not see how an enemy spy +could ever pass for a German, even if he had the clothing and +identification. He does not even look like the description in the +folder. The chemists must be very stupid to have accepted him as one +of them." + +"It is strange," replied the voice of Capt. Grauble, "but this man was +very clever." + +"It is only that most men are very dull," replied the other voice. "Now +I should have suspected at once that the man was not a German. But he +shall answer for his cleverness. Let him be removed at once. We have +word from the vessel outside that they are short of oxygen, and you must +be locked out and clear the passage." + +With a shuffling of many feet the form of the third bearer of Karl +Armstadt's pedigree was carried from the cabin, and the door was +kicked shut. + +I was still lying cramped in my hiding place when I felt the vessel +moving again. Then a sailor came, bringing a case from which I took +fresh clothing. As I was dressing I felt my ear drums pain from the +increased air pressure, and I heard, as from a great distance, the roar +of the water being let into the lock. From the quiet swaying of the +floor beneath me I soon sensed that we were afloat. I waited in the +cabin until I felt the quiver of motors, now distinguished by the lesser +throb and smoother running, from the drive on the wheeled trucks through +the tunnel. + +I opened the cabin door and went out. Grauble was at the instrument +board. The mate stood aft among the motor controls; all men were at +their posts, for we were navigating the difficult subterranean passage +that led to the open sea. + +As I approached Grauble he spoke without lifting his eyes from his +instruments. "Go bring the Princess out of her hiding; I want my men to +see her now. It will help to give them faith." + +Marguerite came with me and stood trembling at my side as we watched +Grauble, whose eyes still riveted upon the many dials and indicators +before him. + +"Watch the chart," said Grauble. "The red hand shows our position." + +The chart before him was slowly passing over rolls. For a time we could +only see a straight line thereon bordered by many signs and figures. +Then slowly over the topmost roll came the wavy outlines of a shore, and +the parallel lines marking the depths of the bordering sea. Tensely we +watched the chart roll slowly down till the end of the channel passed +the indicator. + +Grauble breathed a great sigh of relief and for the first time turned +his face towards us. "We are in the open sea," he said, "at a depth of +160 metres. I shall turn north at once and parallel the coast. You had +better get some rest; for the present nothing can happen. It is night +above now but in six more hours will be the dawn, then we shall rise and +take our bearings through the periscope." + +I led Marguerite into the Captain's cabin and insisted that she lie down +on the narrow berth. Seated in the only chair, I related what I knew of +the affair at the locks. "It must have been," I concluded, after much +speculation, "that Holknecht finally got the attention of the Chemical +Staff and related what he knew of the incident of the potash mines. They +had enough data about me to have arrived at the correct conclusion long +ago. It was a question of getting the facts together." + +"It was that," said Marguerite, "or else I am to blame." + +"And what do you mean?" I asked. + +"I mean," she said, "that I took a great risk about which I must tell +you, for it troubles my conscience. After I had sent for the Admiral and +he had promised to come, I telephoned to Dr. Zimmern of my intention to +get von Kufner to take me to the docks and my hope that I could come +with you. And it may be that some one listened in on our conversation." + +"I do not see," I said, "how such a conversation should lead to the +discovery of my identity--the Holknecht theory is more reasonable--but +you did take a risk. Why did you do it?" + +"I wanted to tell him good-bye," said Marguerite. "It was hard enough +that I could not see him." And she turned her face to the pillow and +began to weep. + +"What is it, my dear?" I pleaded, as I knelt beside her. "It was all +right, of course. Why are you crying--you do not think, do you, that Dr. +Zimmern betrayed us?" + +Marguerite raised herself upon her elbow and looked at me with hurt +surprise. "Do you think that?" she demanded, almost fiercely. + +"By no means," I hastened to assure her, "but I do not understand your +grief and I only thought that perhaps when you told him he was +angered--I never understood why he seemed so anxious not to have you +go with me." + +"Oh, my dear," sobbed Marguerite. "Of course you never understood, +because we too had a secret that has been kept from you, and you have +been so apologetic because you feared so long to confide in me and I +have been even slower to confide in you." + +For a moment black rebellion rose in my heart, for though with my +reasoning I had accepted the explanation that Zimmern had given for his +interest in Marguerite, I had never quite accepted it in my unreasoning +heart. And in the depths of me the battle between love and reason and +the dark forces of jealous unreason and suspicion had smouldered, to +break out afresh on the least provocation. + +I fought again to conquer these dark forces, for I had many times +forgiven her even the thing which suspicion charged. And as I struggled +now the sound of Marguerite's words came sweeping through my soul like a +great cleansing wind, for she said--"The secret that I have kept back +from you and that I have wanted so often to tell you is that Dr. Zimmern +is my father!" + +~7~ + +In the early dawn of a foggy morning we beached the _Eitel 3_ on a sandy +stretch of Danish shore within a few kilometres of an airdome of the +World Patrol. A native fisherman took Grauble, Marguerite and myself in +his hydroplane to the post, where we found the commander at his +breakfast. He was a man of quick intelligence. Our strange garb was +sufficient to prove us Germans, while a brief and accurate account of +the attempted rescue of the mines of Stassfurt, given in perfect +English, sufficed to credit my reappearance in the affairs of the free +world as a matter of grave and urgent importance. + +A squad of men were sent at once to guard the vessel that had been left +in charge of the mate. Within a few hours we three were at the seat of +the World Government at Geneva. + +Grauble surrendered his charts of the secret passage and was made a +formal prisoner of state, until the line of the passage could be +explored by borings and the reality of its existence verified. + +I was in daily conference with the Council in regard to momentous +actions that were set speedily a-going. The submarine tunnel was located +and the passage blocked. A fleet of ice crushers and exploring planes +were sent to locate the protium mines of the Arctic. The proclamation of +these calamities to the continued isolated existence of Germany and the +terms of peace and amnesty were sent showering down through the clouds +to the roof of Berlin. + +Marguerite and I had taken up our residence in a cottage on the lake +shore, and there as I slept late into the sunlit hours of a July +morning, I heard the clatter of a telephone annunciator. I sat bolt +upright listening to the words of the instrument-- + +"Berlin has shut off the Ray generators of the defence mines--all over +the desert of German soil men are pouring forth from the ventilating +shafts--the roof of Berlin is a-swarm with a mass of men frolicking in +the sunlight--the planes of the World Patrol have alighted on the roof +and have received and flashed back the news of the abdication of the +Emperor and the capitulation of Berlin--the world armies of the mines +are out and marching forth to police the city--" + +The voice of the instrument ceased. + +I looked about for Marguerite and saw her not. I was up and running +through the rooms of the cottage. I reached the outer door and saw her +in the garden, robed in a gown of gossamer white, her hair streaming +loose about her shoulders and gleaming golden brown in the quivering +light. She was holding out her hands to the East, where o'er the +far-flung mountain craigs the God of Day beamed down upon his +worshipper. + +In a frenzy of wild joy I called to her--"Babylon is fallen--is fallen! +The black spot is erased from the map of the world!" + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT *** + +This file should be named 8cndn10.txt or 8cndn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8cndn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8cndn10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/old/8cndn10.zip b/old/8cndn10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7dca3f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8cndn10.zip diff --git a/old/8cndn10h.htm b/old/8cndn10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..68509a4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/8cndn10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9806 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of City of Endless Night, by Milo Hastings</title> +<meta HTTP-EQUIV="content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 14pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + Table { font-size: 14pt; } + BlockQuote { font-size: 12pt; width: 65% } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + // --> +</style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook of<br> + City of Endless Night, by Milo Hastings</h1> + +<pre> +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. 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You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: City of Endless Night + +Author: Milo Hastings + +Release Date: February, 2006 [EBook #9862] +[This file was first posted on October 25, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: iso-8859-1 + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT *** + + +</pre> +<center> +<h3>E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Susan Woodring,<br> + and Project Gutenberg Distributed Proofreaders</h3> + </center> +<br> +<br> + +<hr style="width: 100%"> +<br> +<br> +<h1>CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT</h1> +<h2>By Milo Hastings +</h2> + +<h3>1920</h3> +<br> +<hr style="width: 25%;"><br><br> +<br> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<p>CHAPTER</p> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">I.</td> + <td>THE RED AND BLACK AND GOLD STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY ON THE CHANGING MAP OF THE WORLD</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">II.</td> + <td>I EXPLORE THE POTASH MINES OF STASSFURT AND FIND A DIARY IN A DEAD MAN'S POCKET</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">III.</td> + <td>IN A BLACK UTOPIA THE BLOND BROOD BREEDS AND SWARMS</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">IV.</td> + <td>I GO PLEASURING ON THE LEVEL OF FREE WOMEN AND DRINK SYNTHETIC BEER</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">V.</td> + <td>I AM DRAFTED FOR PATERNITY AND MAKE EXTRAORDINARY PETITION TO THE CHIEF OF THE EUGENIC STAFF</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">VI.</td> + <td>IN WHICH I LEARN THAT COMPETITION IS STILL THE LIFE OF THE OLDEST TRADE IN THE WORLD</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">VII.</td> + <td>THE SUN SHINES UPON A KING AND A GIRL READS OF THE FALL OF BABYLON</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">VIII.</td> + <td>FINDING THEREIN ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN, I HAVE COMPASSION ON BERLIN</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">IX.</td> + <td>IN WHICH I SALUTE THE STATUE OF GOD, AND A PSYCHIC EXPERT EXPLORES MY BRAIN AND FINDS NOTHING</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">X.</td> + <td>A GODDESS WHO IS SUFFERING FROM OBESITY, AND A BRAVE MAN WHO IS AFRAID OF THE LAW OF AVERAGES</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XI.</td> + <td>IN WHICH THE TALKING DELEGATE IS ANSWERED BY THE ROYAL VOICE AND I LEARN THAT LABOR KNOWS NOT GOD</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XII.</td> + <td>THE DIVINE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM THE GREAT GIVE A BENEFIT FOR THE CANINE GARDENS AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE PIGGERIES</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XIII.</td> + <td>IN WHICH A WOMAN ACCUSES ME OF MURDER AND I PLACE A RUBY NECKLACE ABOUT HER THROAT</td> +</tr> + +<tr> + <td align="right" valign="top">XIV.</td> + <td>THE BLACK SPOT IS ERASED FROM THE MAP OF THE WORLD AND THERE IS DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT ON THE ROOF OF BERLIN</td> +</tr> +</table> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT</h2> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>THE RED AND BLACK AND GOLD STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY ON THE CHANGING MAP OF THE WORLD</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>When but a child of seven my uncle placed me in a private school in +which one of the so-called redeemed sub-sailors was a teacher of the +German language. As I look back now, in the light of my present +knowledge, I better comprehend the docile humility and carefully +nurtured ignorance of this man. In his class rooms he used as a text a +description of German life, taken from the captured submarine. From this +book he had secured his own conception of a civilization of which he +really knew practically nothing. I recall how we used to ask Herr +Meineke if he had actually seen those strange things of which he taught +us. To this he always made answer, "The book is official, man's +observation errs."</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>"He can talk it," said my playmates who attended the public schools +where all teaching of the language of the outcast nation was prohibited. +They invariably elected me to be "the Germans," and locked me up in the +old garage while they rained a stock of sun-dried clay bombs upon the +roof and then came with a rush to "batter down the walls of Berlin" by +breaking in the door, while I, muttering strange guttural oaths, would +be led forth to be "exterminated."</p> + +<p>On rainy days I would sometimes take my favoured playmates into my +uncle's library where five great maps hung in ordered sequence on the +panelled wall.</p> + +<p>The first map was labelled "The Age of Nations--1914," and showed the +black spot of Germany, like in size to many of the surrounding +countries, the names of which one recited in the history class.</p> + +<p>The second map--"Germany's Maximum Expansion of the First World +War--1918"--showed the black area trebled in size, crowding into the +pale gold of France, thrusting a hungry arm across the Hellespont +towards Bagdad, and, from the Balkans to the Baltic, blotting out all +else save the flaming red of Bolshevist Russia, which spread over the +Eastern half of Europe like a pool of fresh spilled blood.</p> + +<p>Third came "The Age of the League of Nations, 1919--1983," with the gold +of democracy battling with the spreading red of socialism, for the black +of autocracy had erstwhile vanished.</p> + +<p>The fourth map was the most fascinating and terrible. Again the black of +autocracy appeared, obliterating the red of the Brotherhood of Man, +spreading across half of Eurasia and thrusting a broad black shadow to +the Yellow Sea and a lesser one to the Persian Gulf. This map was +labelled "Maximum German Expansion of the Second World War, 1988," and +lines of dotted white retreated in concentric waves till the line +of 2041.</p> + +<p>This same year was the first date of the fifth map, which was labelled +"A Century of the World State," and here, as all the sea was blue, so +all the land was gold, save one black blot that might have been made by +a single spattered drop of ink, for it was no bigger than the Irish +Island. The persistence of this remaining black on the map of the world +troubled my boyish mind, as it has troubled three generations of the +United World, and strive as I might, I could not comprehend why the +great blackness of the fourth map had been erased and this small blot +alone remained.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>When I returned from school for my vacation, after I had my first year +of physical science, I sought out my uncle in his laboratory and asked +him to explain the mystery of the little black island standing adamant +in the golden sea of all the world.</p> + +<p>"That spot," said my uncle, "would have been erased in two more years if +a Leipzig professor had not discovered The Ray. Yet we do not know his +name nor how he made his discovery."</p> + +<p>"But just what is The Ray?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"We do not know that either, nor how it is made. We only know that it +destroys the oxygen carrying power of living blood. If it were an +emanation from a substance like radium, they could have fired it in +projectiles and so conquered the earth. If it were ether waves like +electricity, we should have been able to have insulated against it, or +they should have been able to project it farther and destroy our +aircraft, but The Ray is not destructive beyond two thousand metres in +the air and hardly that far in the earth."</p> + +<p>"Then why do we not fly over and land an army and great guns and batter +down the walls of Berlin and he done with it?"</p> + +<p>"That, as you know if you studied your history, has been tried many +times and always with disaster. The bomb-torn soil of that black land is +speckled white with the bones of World armies who were sent on landing +invasions before you or I was born. But it was only heroic folly, one +gun popping out of a tunnel mouth can slay a thousand men. To pursue the +gunners into their catacombs meant to be gassed; and sometimes our +forces were left to land in peace and set up their batteries to fire +against Berlin, but the Germans would place Ray generators in the ground +beneath them and slay our forces in an hour, as the Angel of Jehovah +withered the hosts of the Assyrians."</p> + +<p>"But why," I persisted, "do we not tunnel under the Ray generators and +dig our way to Berlin and blow it up?"</p> + +<p>My uncle smiled indulgently. "And that has been tried too, but they can +hear our borings with microphones and cut us off, just as we cut them +off when they try to tunnel out and place new generators. It is too +slow, too difficult, either way; the line has wavered a little with the +years but to no practical avail; the war in our day has become merely a +watching game, we to keep the Germans from coming out, they to keep us +from penetrating within gunshot of Berlin; but to gain a mile of +worthless territory either way means too great a human waste to be worth +the price. Things must go on as they are till the Germans tire of their +sunless imprisonment or till they exhaust some essential element in +their soil. But wars such as you read of in your history, will never +happen again. The Germans cannot fight the world in the air, nor in the +sea, nor on the surface of the earth; and we cannot fight the Germans in +the ground; so the war has become a fixed state of standing guard; the +hope of victory, the fear of defeat have vanished; the romance of war +is dead."</p> + +<p>"But why, then," I asked, "does the World Patrol continue to bomb the +roof of Berlin?"</p> + +<p>"Politics," replied my uncle, "military politics, just futile display of +pyrotechnics to amuse the populace and give heroically inclined young +men a chance to strut in uniforms--but after the election this fall such +folly will cease."</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>My uncle had predicted correctly, for by the time I again came home on +my vacation, the newly elected Pacifist Council had reduced the aerial +activities to mere watchful patroling over the land of the enemy. Then +came the report of an attempt to launch an airplane from the roof of +Berlin. The people, in dire panic lest Ray generators were being carried +out by German aircraft, had clamoured for the recall of the Pacifist +Council, and the bombardment of Berlin was resumed.</p> + +<p>During the lull of the bombing activities my uncle, who stood high with +the Pacifist Administration, had obtained permission to fly over Europe, +and I, most fortunate of boys, accompanied him. The plane in which we +travelled bore the emblem of the World Patrol. On a cloudless day we +sailed over the pock-marked desert that had once been Germany and came +within field-glass range of Berlin itself. On the wasted, bomb-torn land +lay the great grey disc--the city of mystery. Three hundred metres high +they said it stood, but so vast was its extent that it seemed as flat +and thin as a pancake on a griddle.</p> + +<p>"More people live in that mass of concrete," said my uncle, "than in the +whole of America west of the Rocky Mountains." His statement, I have +since learned, fell short of half the truth, but then it seemed +appalling. I fancied the city a giant anthill, and searched with my +glass as if I expected to see the ants swarming out. But no sign of life +was visible upon the monotonous surface of the sand-blanketed roof, and +high above the range of naked vision hung the hawk-like watchers of the +World Patrol.</p> + +<p>The lure of unravelled secrets, the ambition for discovery and +exploration stirred my boyish veins. Yes, I would know more of the +strange race, the unknown life that surged beneath that grey blanket of +mystery. But how? For over a century millions of men had felt that same +longing to know. Aviators, landing by accident or intent within the +lines, had either returned with nothing to report, or they had not +returned. Daring journalists, with baskets of carrier pigeons, had on +foggy nights dropped by parachute to the roof of the city; but neither +they nor the birds had brought back a single word of what lay beneath +the armed and armoured roof.</p> + +<p>My own resolution was but a boy's dream and I returned to Chicago to +take up my chemical studies.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>I EXPLORE THE POTASH MINES OF STASSFURT AND FIND A DIARY IN A DEAD MAN'S POCKET</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>When I was twenty-four years old, my uncle was killed in a laboratory +explosion. He had been a scientist of renown and a chemical inventor who +had devoted his life to the unravelling of the secrets of the synthetic +foods of Germany. For some years I had been his trusted assistant. In +our Chicago laboratory were carefully preserved food samples that had +been taken from the captured submarines in years gone by; and what to me +was even more fascinating, a collection of German books of like origin, +which I had read with avidity. With the exception of those relating to +submarine navigation, I found them stupidly childish and decided that +they had been prepared to hide the truth and not reveal it.</p> + +<p>My uncle had bequeathed me both his work and his fortune, but despairing +of my ability worthily to continue his own brilliant researches on +synthetic food, I turned my attention to the potash problem, in which I +had long been interested. My reading of early chemical works had given +me a particular interest in the reclamation of the abandoned potash +mines of Stassfurt. These mines, as any student of chemical history will +know, were one of the richest properties of the old German state in the +days before the endless war began and Germany became isolated from the +rest of the world. The mines were captured by the World in the year +2020, and were profitably operated for a couple of decades. Meanwhile +the German lines were forced many miles to the rear before the +impregnable barrier of the Ray had halted the progress of the +World Armies.</p> + +<p>A few years after the coming of the Ray defences, occurred what history +records as "The Tragedy of the Mines." Six thousand workmen went down +into the potash mines of Stassfurt one morning and never came up again. +The miners' families in the neighbouring villages died like weevils in +fumigated grain. The region became a valley of pestilence and death, and +all life withered for miles around. Numerous governmental projects were +launched for the recovery of the potash mines but all failed, and for +one hundred and eleven years no man had penetrated those +accursed shafts.</p> + +<p>Knowing these facts, I wasted no time in soliciting government aid for +my project, but was content to secure a permit to attempt the recovery +with private funds, with which my uncle's fortune supplied me in +abundance.</p> + +<p>In April, 2151, I set up my laboratory on the edge of the area of death. +I had never accepted the orthodox view as to the composition of the gas +that issued from the Stassfurt mines. In a few months I was gratified to +find my doubts confirmed. A short time after this I made a more +unexpected and astonishing discovery. I found that this complex and +hitherto misunderstood gas could, under the influence of certain +high-frequency electrical discharges, be made to combine with explosive +violence with the nitrogen of the atmosphere, leaving only a harmless +residue. We wired the surrounding region for the electrical discharge +and, with a vast explosion of weird purple flame, cleared the whole area +of the century-old curse. Our laboratory was destroyed by the explosion. +It was rebuilt nearer the mine shafts from which the gas still slowly +issued. Again we set up our electrical machinery and dropped our cables +into the shafts, this time clearing the air of the mines.</p> + +<p>A hasty exploration revealed the fact that but a single shaft had +remained intact. A third time we prepared our electrical machinery. We +let down a cable and succeeded in getting but a faint reaction at the +bottom of the shaft. After several repeated clearings we risked descent.</p> + +<p>Upon arrival at the bottom we were surprised to find it free from water, +save for a trickling stream. The second thing we discovered was a pile +of huddled skeletons of the workmen who had perished over a century +previous. But our third and most important discovery was a boring from +which the poisonous gas was slowly issuing. It took but a few hours to +provide an apparatus to fire this gas as fast as it issued, and the +potash mines of Stassfurt were regained for the world.</p> + +<p>My associates were for beginning mining operations at once, but I had +been granted a twenty years' franchise on the output of these mines, and +I was in no such haste. The boring from which this poisonous vapour +issued was clearly man-made; moreover I alone knew the formula of that +gas and had convinced myself once for all as to its man-made origin. I +sent for microphones and with their aid speedily detected the sound of +machinery in other workings beneath.</p> + +<p>It is easy now to see that I erred in risking my own life as I did +without the precaution of confiding the secret of my discovery to +others. But those were days of feverish excitement. Impulsively I +decided to make the first attack on the Germans as a private enterprise +and then call for military aid. I had my own equipment of poisonous +bombs and my sapping and mining experts determined that the German +workings were but eighty metres beneath us. Hastily, among the crumbling +skeletons, we set up our electrical boring machinery and began sinking a +one-metre shaft towards the nearest sound.</p> + +<p>After twenty hours of boring, the drill head suddenly came off and +rattled down into a cavern. We saw a light and heard guttural shouting +below and the cracking of a gun as a few bullets spattered against the +roof of our chamber. We heaved down our gas bombs and covered over our +shaft. Within a few hours the light below went out and our microphones +failed to detect any sound from the rocks beneath us. It was then +perhaps that I should have called for military aid, but the uncanny +silence of the lower workings proved too much for my eager curiosity. We +waited two days and still there was no evidence of life below. I knew +there had been ample time for the gas from our bombs to have been +dissipated, as it was decomposed by contact with moisture. A light was +lowered, but this brought forth no response.</p> + +<p>I now called for a volunteer to descend the shaft. None was forthcoming +from among my men, and against their protest I insisted on being lowered +into the shaft. When I was a few metres from the bottom the cable parted +and I fell and lay stunned on the floor below.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>When I recovered consciousness the light had gone out. There was no +sound about me. I shouted up the shaft above and could get no answer. +The chamber in which I lay was many times my height and I could make +nothing out in the dark hole above. For some hours I scarcely stirred +and feared to burn my pocket flash both because it might reveal my +presence to lurking enemies and because I wished to conserve my battery +against graver need.</p> + +<p>But no rescue came from my men above. Only recently, after the lapse of +years, did I learn the cause of their deserting me. As I lay stunned +from my fall, my men, unable to get answer to their shoutings, had given +me up for dead. Meanwhile the apparatus which caused the destruction of +the German gas had gone wrong. My associates, unable to fix it, had fled +from the mine and abandoned the enterprise.</p> + +<p>After some hours of waiting I stirred about and found means to erect a +rough scaffold and reach the mouth of the shaft above me. I attempted to +climb, but, unable to get a hold on the smooth wet rock, I gave up +exhausted and despairing. Entombed in the depths of the earth, I was +either a prisoner of the German potash miners, if any remained alive, or +a prisoner of the earth itself, with dead men for company.</p> + +<p>Collecting my courage I set about to explore my surroundings. I found +some mining machinery evidently damaged by the explosion of our gas +bombs. There was no evidence of men about, living or dead. Stealthily I +set out along the little railway track that ran through a passage down a +steep incline. As I progressed I felt the air rapidly becoming colder. +Presently I stumbled upon the first victim of our gas bombs, fallen +headlong as he was fleeing. I hurried on. The air seemed to be blowing +in my face and the cold was becoming intense. This puzzled me for at +this depth the temperature should have been above that on the surface of +the earth.</p> + +<p>After a hundred metres or so of going I came into a larger chamber. It +was intensely cold. From out another branching passage-way I could hear +a sizzling sound as of steam escaping. I started to turn into this +passage but was met with such a blast of cold air that I dared not face +it for fear of being frozen. Stamping my feet, which were fast becoming +numb, I made the rounds of the chamber, and examined the dead miners +that were tumbled about. The bodies were frozen.</p> + +<p>One side of this chamber was partitioned off with some sort of metal +wall. The door stood blown open. It felt a little warmer in here and I +entered and closed the door. Exploring the room with my dim light I +found one side of it filled with a row of bunks--in each bunk a corpse. +Along the other side of the room was a table with eating utensils and +back of this were shelves with food packages.</p> + +<p>I was in danger of freezing to death and, tumbling several bodies out of +the bunks, I took the mattresses and built of them a clumsy enclosure +and installed in their midst a battery heater which I found. In this +fashion I managed to get fairly warm again. After some hours of huddling +I observed that the temperature had moderated.</p> + +<p>My fear of freezing abated, I made another survey of my surroundings and +discovered something that had escaped my first attention. In the far end +of the room was a desk, and seated before it with his head fallen +forward on his arms was the form of a man. The miners had all been +dressed in a coarse artificial leather, but this man was dressed in a +woven fabric of cellulose silk.</p> + +<p>The body was frozen. As I tumbled it stiffly back it fell from the chair +exposing a ghastly face. I drew away in a creepy horror, for as I looked +at the face of the corpse I suffered a sort of waking nightmare in which +I imagined that I was gazing at my own dead countenance.</p> + +<p>I concluded that my normal mind was slipping out of gear and proceeded +to back off and avail myself of a tube of stimulant which I carried in +my pocket.</p> + +<p>This revived me somewhat, but again, when I tried to look upon the +frozen face, the conviction returned that I was looking at my own +dead self.</p> + +<p>I glanced at my watch and figured out that I had been in the German mine +for thirty hours and had not tasted food or drink for nearly forty +hours. Clearly I had to get myself in shape to escape hallucinations. I +went back to the shelves and proceeded to look for food and drink. +Happily, due to my work in my uncle's laboratory, these synthetic foods +were not wholly strange to me. I drank copiously of a non-alcoholic +chemical liquor and warmed on the heater and partook of some nitrogenous +and some starchy porridges. It was an uncanny dining place, but hunger +soon conquers mere emotion, and I made out a meal. Then once more I +faced the task of confronting this dead likeness of myself.</p> + +<p>This time I was clear-headed enough. I even went to the miners' lavatory +and, jerking down the metal mirror, scrutinized my own reflection and +reassured myself of the closeness of the resemblance. My purpose framed +in my mind as I did this. Clearly I was in German quarters and was +likely to remain there. Sooner or later there must be a rescuing party.</p> + +<p>Without further ado, I set about changing my clothing for that of the +German. The fit of the dead man's clothes further emphasized +the closeness of the physical likeness. I recalled my excellent command of the German +language and began to wonder what manner of man I was supposed to be in +this assumed personality. But my most urgent task was speedily to make +way with the incriminating corpse. With the aid of the brighter +flashlight which I found in my new pockets, I set out to find a place to +hide the body.</p> + +<p>The cold that had so frightened me had now given way to almost normal +temperature. There was no longer the sound of sizzling steam from the +unexplored passage-way. I followed this and presently came upon another +chamber filled with machinery. In one corner a huge engine, covered with +frost, gave off a chill greeting. On the floor was a steaming puddle of +liquid, but the breath of this steam cut like a blizzard. At once I +guessed it. This was a liquid air engine. The dead engineer in the +corner helped reveal the story. With his death from the penetrating gas, +something had gone wrong with the engine. The turbine head had blown +off, and the conveying pipe of liquid air had poured forth the icy blast +that had so nearly frozen me along with the corpses of the Germans. But +now the flow of liquid had ceased, and the last remnants were +evaporating from the floor. Evidently the supply pipe had been shut off +further back on the line, and I had little time to lose for rescuers +were probably on the way.</p> + +<p>Along one of the corridors running from the engine room I found an open +water drain half choked with melting ice. Following this I came upon a +grating where the water disappeared. I jerked up the grating and dropped +a piece of ice down the well-like shaft. I hastily returned and dragged +forth the corpse of my double and with it everything I had myself +brought into the mine. Straightening out the stiffened body I plunged it +head foremost into the opening. The sound of a splash echoed within the +dismal depths.</p> + +<p>I now hastened back to the chamber into which I had first fallen and +destroyed the scaffolding I had erected there. Returning to the desk +where I had found the man whose clothing I wore, I sat down and +proceeded to search my abundantly filled pockets. From one of them I +pulled out a bulky notebook and a number of loose papers. The freshest +of these was an official order from the Imperial Office of Chemical +Engineers. The order ran as follows:</p> + +<blockquote>Capt. Karl Armstadt<br> + Laboratory 186, E. 58.<br><br> + +Report is received at this office of the sound of sapping operations in +potash mine D5. Go at once and verify the same and report of condition +of gas generators and make analyses of output of the same.</blockquote> + +<p>Evidently I was Karl Armstadt and very happily a chemical engineer by +profession. My task of impersonation so far looked feasible--I could +talk chemical engineering.</p> + +<p>The next paper I proceeded to examine was an identification folder done +up in oiled fabric. Thanks to German thoroughness it was amusingly +complete. On the first page appeared what I soon discovered to be <i>my</i> +pedigree for four generations back. The printed form on which all this +was minutely filled out made very clear statements from which I +determined that my father and mother were both dead.</p> + +<p>I, Karl Armstadt, twenty-seven years of age, was the fourteenth child of +my mother and was born when she was forty-two years of age. According to +the record I was the ninety-seventh child of my father and born when he +was fifty-four. As I read this I thought there was something here that I +misunderstood, although subsequent discoveries made it plausible enough. +There was no further record of my plentiful fraternity, but I took heart +that the mere fact of their numerical abundance would make unlikely any +great show of brotherly interest, a presumption which proved +quite correct.</p> + +<p>On the second page of this folder I read the number and location of my +living quarters, the sources from which my meals and clothing were +issued, as well as the sizes and qualities of my garments and numerous +other references to various details of living, all of which seemed +painstakingly ridiculous at the time.</p> + +<p>I put this elaborate identification paper back into its receptacle and +opened the notebook. It proved to be a diary kept likewise in thorough +German fashion. I turned to the last pages and perused them hastily.</p> + +<p>The notes in Armstadt's diary were concerned almost wholly with his +chemical investigations. All this I saw might be useful to me later but +what I needed more immediately was information as to his personal life. +I scanned back hastily through the pages for a time without finding any +such revelations. Then I discovered this entry made some months +previously:</p> + +<p>"I cannot think of chemistry tonight, for the vision of Katrina dances +before me as in a dream. It must be a strange mixture of blood-lines +that could produce such wondrous beauty. In no other woman have I seen +such a blackness of hair and eyes combined with such a whiteness of +skin. I suppose I should not have danced with her--now I see all my +resolutions shattered. But I think it was most of all the blackness of +her eyes. Well, what care, we live but once!"</p> + +<p>I read and re-read this entry and searched feverishly in Armstadt's +diary for further evidence of a personal life. But I only found tedious +notes on his chemical theories. Perhaps this single reference to a woman +was but a passing fancy of a man otherwise engrossed in his science. But +if rescuers came and I succeeded in passing for the German chemist the +presence of a woman in my new rôle of life would surely undo all my +effort. If no personal acquaintance of the dead man came with the +rescuing party I saw no reason why I could not for the time pass +successfully as Armstadt. I should at least make the effort and I +reasoned I could best do this by playing the malingerer and appearing +mentally incompetent. Such a ruse, I reasoned, would give me opportunity +to hear much and say little, and perhaps so get my bearings in the new +rôle that I could continue it successfully.</p> + +<p>Then, as I was about to return the notebook to my pocket, my hopes sank +as I found this brief entry which I had at first scanning overlooked:</p> + +<p>"It is twenty days now since Katrina and I have been united. She does +not interfere with my work as much as I feared. She even lets me talk +chemistry to her, though I am sure she understands not one word of what +I tell her. I think I have made a good selection and it is surely a +permanent one. Therefore I must work harder than ever or I shall not +get on."</p> + +<p>This alarmed me. Yet, if Armstadt had married he made very little fuss +about it. Evidently it concerned him chiefly in relation to his work. +But whoever and whatever Katrina was, it was clear that her presence +would be disastrous to my plans of assuming his place in the +German world.</p> + +<p>Pondering over the ultimate difficulty of my situation, but with a +growing faith in the plan I had evolved for avoiding immediate +explanations, I fell into a long-postponed sleep. The last thing I +remember was tumbling from my chair and sprawling out upon the floor +where I managed to snap out my light before the much needed sleep quite +overcame me.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>I was awakened by voices, and opened my eyes to find the place brightly +lighted. I closed them again quickly as some one approached and prodded +me with the toe of his boot.</p> + +<p>"Here is a man alive," said a voice above me.</p> + +<p>"He is Captain Armstadt, the chemist," said another voice, approaching; +"this is good. We have special orders to search for him."</p> + +<p>The newcomer bent over and felt my heart. I was quite aware that it was +functioning normally. He shook me and called me by name. After repeated +shakings I opened my eyes and stared at him blankly, but I said nothing. +Presently he left me and returned with a stretcher. I lay inertly as I +was placed thereon and borne out of the chamber. Other stretcher-bearers +were walking ahead. We passed through the engine room where mechanics +were at work on the damaged liquid air engine. My stretcher was placed +on a little car which moved swiftly along the tunnel.</p> + +<p>We came into a large subterranean station and I was removed and brought +before a bevy of white garbed physicians. They looked at my +identification folder and then examined me. Through it all I lay limp +and as near lifeless as I could simulate, and they succeeded in getting +no speech out of me. The final orders were to forward me post haste to +the Imperial Hospital for Complex Gas Cases.</p> + +<p>After an eventless journey of many hours I was again unloaded and +transferred to an elevator. For several hundred metres we sped upward +through a shaft, while about us whistled a blast of cold, crisp air. At +last the elevator stopped and I was carried out to an ambulance that +stood waiting in a brilliantly lighted passage arched over with grey +concrete. I was no longer beneath the surface of the earth but was +somewhere in the massive concrete structure of the City of Berlin.</p> + +<p>After a short journey our ambulance stopped and attendants came out and +carried my litter through an open doorway and down a long hall into the +spacious ward of a hospital.</p> + +<p>From half closed eyes I glanced about apprehensively for a black-haired +woman. With a sigh of relief I saw there were only doctors and male +attendants in the room. They treated me most professionally and gave no +sign that they suspected I was other than Capt. Karl Armstadt, which +fact my papers so eloquently testified. The conclusion of their +examination was voiced in my presence. "Physically he is normal," said +the head physician, "but his mind seems in a stupor. There is no remedy, +as the nature of the gas is unknown. All that can be done is to await +the wearing off of the effect."</p> + +<p>I was then left alone for some hours and my appetite was troubling me. +At last an attendant approached with some savoury soup; he propped me up +and proceeded to feed me with a spoon.</p> + +<p>I made out from the conversation about me that the other patients were +officers from the underground fighting forces. An atmosphere of military +discipline pervaded the hospital and I felt reassured in the conclusion +that all visiting was forbidden.</p> + +<p>Yet my thoughts turned repeatedly to the black-eyed Katrina of +Armstadt's diary. No doubt she had been informed of the rescue and was +waiting in grief and anxiety to see him. So both she and I were awaiting +a tragic moment--she to learn that her husband or lover was dead, I for +the inevitable tearing off of my protecting disguise.</p> + +<p>After some days the head physician came to my cot and questioned me. I +gazed at him and knit my brows as if struggling to think.</p> + +<p>"You were gassed in the mine," he kept repeating, "can you remember?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I ventured, "I went to the mine, there was the sound of boring +overhead. I set men to watch; I was at the desk, I heard shouting, after +that I cannot remember."</p> + +<p>"They were all dead but you," said the doctor.</p> + +<p>"All dead," I repeated. I liked the sound of this and so kept on +mumbling "All dead, all dead."</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>My plan was working nicely. But I realized I could not keep up this rôle +for ever. Nor did I wish to, for the idleness and suspense were +intolerable and I knew that I would rather face whatever problems my +recovery involved than to continue in this monotonous and meaningless +existence. So I convalesced by degrees and got about the hospital, and +was permitted to wait on myself. But I cultivated a slowness and brevity +of speech.</p> + +<p>One day as I sat reading the attendant announced, "A visitor to see you, +sir."</p> + +<p>Trembling with excitement and fear I tensely waited the coming of the +visitor.</p> + +<p>Presently a stolid-faced young man followed the attendant into the room. +"You remember Holknecht," said the nurse, "he is your assistant at the +laboratory."</p> + +<p>I stared stupidly at the man, and cold fear crept over me as he, with +puzzled eyes, returned my gaze.</p> + +<p>"You are much changed," he said at last. "I hardly recognize you."</p> + +<p>"I have been very ill," I replied.</p> + +<p>Just then the head physician came into the room and seeing me talking to +a stranger walked over to us. As I said nothing, Holknecht introduced +himself. The medical man began at once to enlarge upon the peculiarities +of my condition. "The unknown gas," he explained, "acted upon the whole +nervous system and left profound effects. Never in the records of the +hospital has there been so strange a case."</p> + +<p>Holknecht seemed quite awed and completely credulous.</p> + +<p>"His memory must be revived," continued the head physician, "and that +can best be done by recalling the dominating interest of his mind."</p> + +<p>"Captain Armstadt was wholly absorbed in his research work in the +laboratory," offered Holknecht.</p> + +<p>"Then," said the physician, "you must revive the activity of those +particular brain cells."</p> + +<p>With that command the laboratory assistant was left in charge. He took +his new task quite seriously. Turning to me and raising his voice as if +to penetrate my dulled mentality, he began, "Do you not remember our +work in the laboratory?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, the laboratory, the laboratory," I repeated vaguely.</p> + +<p>Holknecht described the laboratory in detail and gradually his talk +drifted into an account of the chemical research. I listened eagerly to +get the threads of the work I must needs do if I were to maintain my +rôle as Armstadt.</p> + +<p>Knowing now that visitors were permitted me, I again grew apprehensive +over the possible advent of Katrina. But no woman appeared, in fact I +had not yet seen a woman among the Germans. Always it was Holknecht and, +strictly according to his orders, he talked incessant chemistry.</p> + +<h3>~5~</h3> + +<p>The day I resumed my normal wearing apparel I was shown into a large +lounging room for convalescents. I seated myself a short distance apart +from a group of officers and sat eyeing another group of large, hulking +fellows at the far end of the room. These I concluded to be common +soldiers, for I heard the officers in my ward grumbling at the fact that +they were quartered in the same hospital with men of the ranks.</p> + +<p>Presently an officer came over and took a seat beside me. "It is very +rarely that you men in the professional service are gassed," he said. +"You must have a dull life, I do not see how you can stand it."</p> + +<p>"But certainly," I replied, "it is not so dangerous."</p> + +<p>"And for that reason it must be stupid--I, for one, think that even in +the fighting forces there is no longer sufficient danger to keep up the +military morale. Danger makes men courageous--without danger courage +declines--and without courage what advantage would there be in the +military life?"</p> + +<p>"Suppose," I suggested, "the war should come to an end?"</p> + +<p>"But how can it?" he asked incredulously. "How can there be an end to +the war? We cannot prevent the enemy from fighting."</p> + +<p>"But what," I ventured, "if the enemy should decide to quit fighting?"</p> + +<p>"They have almost quit now," he remarked with apparent disgust; "they +are losing the fighting spirit--but no wonder--they say that the World +State population is so great that only two per cent of its men are in +the fighting forces. What I cannot see is how a people so peaceful can +keep from utter degeneration. And they say that the World State soldiers +are not even bred for soldiering but are picked from all classes. If +they should decide to quit fighting, as you suggest, we also would have +to quit--it would intolerable--it is bad enough now."</p> + +<p>"But could you not return to industrial life and do something +productive?"</p> + +<p>"Productive!" sneered the fighter. "I knew that you professional men had +no courage--it is not to be expected--but I never before heard even one +of your class suggest a thing like that--a military man do something +productive! Why don't you suggest that we be changed to women?" And with +that my fellow patient rose and, turning sharply on his metal heel, +walked away.</p> + +<p>The officer's attitude towards his profession set me thinking, and I +found myself wondering how far it was shared by the common soldiers. The +next day when I came out into the convalescent corridor I walked past +the group of officers and went down among the men whose garments bore no +medals or insignia. They were unusually large men, evidently from some +specially selected regiment. Picking out the most intelligent looking +one of the group I sat down beside him.</p> + +<p>"Is this the first time you have been gassed?" I inquired.</p> + +<p>"Third time," replied the soldier.</p> + +<p>"I should think you would have been discharged."</p> + +<p>"Discharged," said the soldier, in a perplexed tone, "why I am only +forty-four years old, why should I be discharged unless I get in an +explosion and lose a leg or something?"</p> + +<p>"But you have been gassed three times," I said, "I should think they +ought to let you return to civil life and your family."</p> + +<p>The soldier looked hard at the insignia of my rank as captain. "You +professional officers don't know much, do you? A soldier quit and do +common labor, now that's a fine idea. And a family! Do you think I'm a +Hohenzollern?" At the thought the soldier chuckled. "Me with a family," +he muttered to himself, "now that's a fine idea."</p> + +<p>I saw that I was getting on dangerous ground but curiosity prompted a +further question: "Then, I suppose, you have nothing to hope for until +you reach the age of retirement, unless war should come to an end?"</p> + +<p>Again the soldier eyed me carefully. "Now you do have some queer ideas. +There was a man in our company who used to talk like that when no +officers were around. This fellow, his name was Mannteufel, said he +could read books, that he was a forbidden love-child and his father was +an officer. I guess he was forbidden all right, for he certainly wasn't +right in his head. He said that we would go out on the top of the ground +and march over the enemy country and be shot at by the flying planes, +like the roof guards, if the officers had heard him they would surely +have sent him to the crazy ward--why he said that the war would be over +after that, and we would all go to the enemy country and go about as we +liked, and own houses and women and flying planes and animals. As if the +Royal House would ever let a soldier do things like that."</p> + +<p>"Well," I said, "and why not, if the war were over?"</p> + +<p>"Now there you go again--how do you mean the war was over, what would +all us soldiers do if there was no fighting?"</p> + +<p>"You could work," I said, "in the shops."</p> + +<p>"But if we worked in the shops, what would the workmen do?"</p> + +<p>"They would work too," I suggested.</p> + +<p>The soldier was silent for a time. "I think I get your idea," he said. +"The Eugenic Staff would cut down the birth rates so that there would +only be enough soldiers and workers to fill the working jobs."</p> + +<p>"They might do that," I remarked, wishing to lead him on.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the soldier, returning to the former thought, "I hope they +won't do that until I am dead. I don't care to go up on the ground to +get shot at by the fighting planes. At least now we have something over +our heads and if we are going to get gassed or blown up we can't see it +coming. At least--"</p> + +<p>Just then the officer with whom I had talked the day before came up. He +stopped before us and scowled at the soldier who saluted in hasty +confusion.</p> + +<p>"I wish, Captain," said the officer addressing me, "that you would not +take advantage of these absurd hospital conditions to disrupt discipline +by fraternizing with a private."</p> + +<p>At this the soldier looked up and saluted again.</p> + +<p>"Well?" said the officer.</p> + +<p>"He's not to blame, sir," said the soldier, "he's off his head."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>IN A BLACK UTOPIA THE BLOND BROOD BREEDS AND SWARMS</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>It was with a strange mixture of eagerness and fear that I received the +head physician's decision that I would henceforth recover my faculties +more rapidly in the familiar environment of my own home.</p> + +<p>A wooden-faced male nurse accompanied me in a closed vehicle that ran +noiselessly through the vaulted interior streets of the completely +roofed-in city. Once our vehicle entered an elevator and was let down a +brief distance. We finally alighted in a street very like the one on +which the hospital was located, and filed down a narrow passage-way. My +companion asked for my keys, which I found in my clothing. I stood by +with a palpitating heart as he turned the lock and opened the door.</p> + +<p>The place we entered was a comfortably furnished bachelor's apartment. +Books and papers were littered about giving evidence of no disturbance +since the sudden leaving of the occupant. Immensely relieved I sat down +in an upholstered chair while the nurse scurried about and put the +place in order.</p> + +<p>"You feel quite at home?" he asked as he finished his task.</p> + +<p>"Quite," I replied, "things are coming back to me now."</p> + +<p>"You should have been sent home sooner," he said. "I wished to tell the +chief as much, but I am only a second year interne and it is forbidden +me to express an original opinion to him."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I will be all right now," I replied.</p> + +<p>He turned to go and then paused. "I think," he said, "that you should +have some notice on you that when you do go out, if you become confused +and make mistakes, the guards will understand. I will speak to Lieut. +Forrester, the Third Assistant, and ask that such a card be sent you." +With that he took his departure.</p> + +<p>When he had gone I breathed joyfully and freely. The rigid face and +staring eye that I had cultivated relaxed into a natural smile and then +I broke into a laugh. Here I was in the heart of Berlin, unsuspected of +being other than a loyal German and free, for the time at least, from +problems of personal relations.</p> + +<p>I now made an elaborate inspection of my surroundings. I found a +wardrobe full of men's clothing, all of a single shade of mauve like the +suit I wore. Some suits I guessed to be work clothes from their cheaper +texture and some, much finer, were evidently dress apparel.</p> + +<p>Having reassured myself that Armstadt had been the only occupant of the +apartment, I turned to a pile of papers that the hospital attendant had +picked up from the floor where they had dropped from a mail chute. Most +of these proved to be the accumulated copies of a daily chemical news +bulletin. Others were technical chemical journals. Among the letters I +found an invitation to a meeting of a chemical society, and a note from +my tailor asking me to call; the third letter was written on a +typewriter, an instrument the like of which I had already discovered in +my study. This sheet bore a neatly engraved head reading "Katrina, +Permit 843 LX, Apartment 57, K Street, Level of the Free Women." The +letter ran:</p> + +<blockquote>"Dear Karl: For three weeks now you have failed to keep your +appointments and sent no explanation. You surely know that I will not +tolerate such rude neglect. I have reported to the Supervisor that you +are dropped from my list."</blockquote> + +<p>So this was Katrina! Here at last was the end of the fears that had +haunted me.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>As I was scanning the chemical journal I heard a bell ring and turning +about I saw that a metal box had slid forth upon a side board from an +opening in the wall. In this box I found my dinner which I proceeded to +enjoy in solitude. The food was more varied than in the hospital. Some +was liquid and some gelatinous, and some firm like bread or biscuit. But +of natural food products there was nothing save a dish of mushrooms and +a single sprig of green no longer than my finger, and which, like a +feather in a boy's cap, was inserted conspicuously in the top of a +synthetic pudding. There was one food that puzzled me, for it was +sausage-like in form and sausage-like in flavour, and I was sure +contained some real substance of animal origin. Presuming, as I did at +that moment, that no animal life existed in Berlin, I ate this sausage +with doubts and misgivings.</p> + +<p>The dinner finished, I looked for a way to dispose of the dishes. +Packing them back in the container I fumbled about and found a switch +which set something going in the wall, and my dishes departed to the +public dishwasher.</p> + +<p>Having cleared the desk I next turned to Armstadt's book shelves. My +attention was caught by a ponderous volume. It proved to be an atlas and +directory of Berlin. In the front of this was a most revealing diagram +which showed Berlin to be a city of sixty levels. The five lowest levels +were underground and all were labelled "Mineral Industries." Above these +were eight levels of Food, Clothing and Miscellaneous industries. Then +came the seven workmen's residence levels, divided by trade groups. +Above this were the four "Intellectual Levels," on one of which I, as a +chemist had my abode. Directly above these was the "Level of Free +Women," and above that the residence level for military officers. The +next was the "Royal Level," double in height of the other levels of the +city. Then came the "Administrative Level," followed by eight maternity +levels, then four levels of female schools and nine levels of male +schools. Then, for six levels, and reaching to within five levels of the +roof of the city, were soldiers' barracks. Three of the remaining floors +were labelled "Swine Levels" and one "Green Gardens." Just beneath the +roof was the defence level and above that the open roof itself.</p> + +<p>It was a city of some three hundred metres in height with mineral +industries at the bottom and the swine levels--I recalled the +sausage--at the top. Midway between, remote from possible attack through +mines or from the roof, Royalty was sheltered, while the other +privileged groups of society were stratified above and below it.</p> + +<p>Following the diagram of levels was a most informing chart arranged like +a huge multiplication table. It gave after each level the words +"permitted," "forbidden," and "permitted as announced," arranged in +columns for each of the other levels. From this I traced out that as a +chemist I was permitted on all the industrial, workmen's and +intellectual levels, and on the Level of Free Women. I was permitted, as +announced, on the Administrative and Royal Levels; but forbidden on the +levels of military officers and soldiers' barracks, maternity and male +and female schools.</p> + +<p>I found that as a chemist I was particularly fortunate for many other +groups were given even less liberty. As for common workmen and soldiers, +they were permitted on no levels except their own.</p> + +<p>The most perplexing thing about this system was the apparent segregation +of such large groups of men from women. Family life in Germany was +evidently wonderfully altered and seemingly greatly restricted, a +condition inconsistent with the belief that I had always held--that the +German race was rapidly increasing.</p> + +<p>Turning to my atlas index I looked up the population statistics of the +city, and found that by the last census it was near three hundred +million. And except for the few millions in the mines this huge mass of +humanity was quartered beneath a single roof. I was greatly surprised, +for this population figure was more than double the usual estimates +current in the outside world. Coming from a world in which the ancient +tendency to congest in cities had long since been overcome, I was +staggered by the fact that nearly as many people were living in this one +city as existed in the whole of North America.</p> + +<p>Yet, when I figured the floor area of the city, which was roughly oval +in shape, being eight kilometres in breadth and eleven in length, I +found that the population on a given floor area was no greater than it +had been in the Island of Manhattan before the reform land laws were put +into effect in the latter part of the Twentieth Century. There was, +therefore, nothing incredible in these figures of total population, but +what I next discovered was a severe strain on credence. It was the +German population by sexes; the figures showed that there were nearly +two and a half males for every female! According to the usual estimate +of war losses the figure should have been at a ratio of six women living +to about five men, and here I found them recorded as only two women to +five men. Inspection of the birth rate showed an even higher proportion +of males. I consulted further tables that gave births by sexes and +groups. These varied somewhat but there was this great preponderance of +males in every class but one. Only among the seventeen thousand members +of Royalty did the proportion of the sexes approach the normal.</p> + +<p>Apparently I had found an explanation of the careful segregation of +German women--there were not enough to go around!</p> + +<p>Turning the further pages of my atlas I came upon an elaborately +illustrated directory of the uniforms and insignia of the various +military and civil ranks and classes. As I had already anticipated, I +found that any citizen in Berlin could immediately be placed in his +proper group and rank by his clothing, which was prescribed with +military exactness.</p> + +<p>Various fabrics and shades indicated the occupational grouping while +trimmings and insignia distinguished the ranks within the groups. In all +there were many hundreds of distinct uniforms. Two groups alone proved +exceptions to this iron clad rule; Royalty and free women were permitted +to dress as they chose and were restricted only in that they were +forbidden to imitate the particular uniforms of other groups.</p> + +<p>I next investigated the contents of Armstadt's desk. My most interesting +find was a checkbook, with receipts and expenditures carefully recorded +on the stubs. From this I learned that, as Armstadt, I was in receipt of +an income of five thousand marks, paid by the Government. I did not know +how much purchasing value that would amount to, but from the account +book I saw that the expenses had not equalled a third of it, which +explained why there was a bank balance of some twenty thousand marks.</p> + +<p>Clearly I would need to master the signature of Karl Armstadt so I +searched among the papers until I found a bundle of returned decks. Many +of the larger checks had been made out to "Katrina," others to the +"Master of Games,"--evidently to cover gambling losses. The smaller +checks, I found by reference to the stubs, were for ornaments or +entertainment that might please a woman. The lack of the more ordinary +items of expenditure was presently made clear by the discovery of a +number of punch marked cards. For intermittent though necessary +expenses, such as tonsorial service, clothing and books. For the more +constant necessities of life, such as rent, food, laundry and +transportation, there was no record whatever; and I correctly assumed +that these were supplied without compensation and were therefore not a +matter of personal choice or permissible variation. Of money in its +ancient form of metal coins and paper, I found no evidence.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>In my mail the next morning I found a card signed by Lieut. Forrester of +the hospital staff. It read:</p> + +<p>"The bearer, Karl Armstadt, has recently suffered from gas poisoning +while defending the mines beneath enemy territory. This has affected his +memory. If he is therefore found disobeying any ruling or straying +beyond his permitted bounds, return him to his apartment and call the +Hospital for Complex Gas Cases."</p> + +<p>It was evidently a very kindly effort to protect a man whose loss of +memory might lead him into infractions of the numerous rulings of German +life. With this help I became ambitious to try the streets of Berlin +alone. The notice from the tailor afforded an excuse.</p> + +<p>Consulting my atlas to get my bearings I now ventured forth. The streets +were tunnel-like passage-ways closed over with a beamed ceiling of +whitish grey concrete studded with glowing light globes. In the +residence districts the smooth side walls were broken only by high +ventilating gratings and the narrow passage halls from which led the +doors of the apartments.</p> + +<p>The uncanny quiet of the streets of this city with its three hundred +million inhabitants awed and oppressed me. Hurriedly I walked along +occasionally passing men dressed like myself. They were pale men, with +blanched or sallow faces. But nowhere were there faces of ruddy tan as +one sees in a world of sun. The men in the hospital had been pale, but +that had seemed less striking for one is used to pale faces in a +hospital. It came to me with a sense of something lost that my own +countenance blanched in the mine and hospital would so remain colourless +like the faces of the men who now stole by me in their felted footwear +with a cat-like tread.</p> + +<p>At a cross street I turned and came upon a small group of shops with +monotonous panelled display windows inserted in the concrete walls. Here +I found my tailor and going in I promptly laid down his notice and my +clothing card. He glanced casually at the papers, punched the card and +then looking up he remarked that my new suit had been waiting some time. +I began explaining the incident in the mine and the stay in the +hospital; but the tailor was either disinterested or did not comprehend.</p> + +<p>"Will you try on your new suit now?" he interrupted, holding forth the +garments. The suit proved a trifle tight about the hips, but I hastened +to assure the tailor that the fit was perfect. I removed it and watched +him do it up in a parcel, open a wall closet, call my house number, and +send my suit on its way through one of the numerous carriers that +interlaced the city.</p> + +<p>As I walked more leisurely back to my apartment by a less direct way, I +found my analytical brain puzzling over the refreshing quality of the +breezes that blew through those tunnel-like streets. With bits of paper +I traced the air flow from the latticed faces of the elevator shafts to +the ventilating gratings of the enclosed apartments, and concluded that +there must be other shafts to the rear of the apartments for its exit. +It occurred to me that it must take an enormous system of ventilating +fans to keep this air in motion, and then I remembered the liquid air +engine I had seen in the mine, and a realization of the economy and +efficiency of the whole scheme dawned upon me. The Germans had solved +the power problem by using the heat of the deeper strata of the earth to +generate power through the agency of liquid air and the exhaust from +their engines had automatically solved their ventilating problem. I +recalled with a smile that I had seen no evidence of heating apparatus +anywhere except that which the miners had used to warm their food. In +this city cooling rather than heating facilities would evidently be +needed, even in the dead of winter, since the heat generated by the +inhabitants and the industrial processes would exceed the radiation from +the exterior walls and roof of the city. Sunshine and "fresh air" they +had not, but our own scientists had taught us for generations that heat +and humidity and not lack of oxygen or sunshine was the cause of the +depression experienced in indoor quarters. The air of Berlin was cool +and the excess of vapor had been frozen out of it. Yes, the "climate" of +Berlin should be more salubrious to the body, if not to the mind, than +the fickle environment of capricious nature. From my reasoning about +these ponderous problems of existence I was diverted to a trivial +matter. The men I observed on the streets all wore their hair clipped +short, while mine, with six weeks' growth, was getting rather long. I +had seen several barber's signs but I decided to walk on for quite a +distance beyond my apartment. I did not want to confront a barber who +had known Karl Armstadt, for barbers deal critically in the matter of +heads and faces. At last I picked out a shop. I entered and asked for +a haircut.</p> + +<p>"But you are not on my list," said the barber, staring at me in a +puzzled way, "why do you not go to your own barber?"</p> + +<p>Grasping the situation I replied that I did not like my barber.</p> + +<p>"Then why do you not apply at the Tonsorial Administrative Office of the +level for permission to change?"</p> + +<p>Returning to my apartment I looked up the office in my directory, went +thither and asked the clerk if I could exchange barbers. He asked for my +card and after a deal of clerical activities wrote thereon the name of a +new barber. With this official sanction I finally got my hair cut and my +card punched, thinking meanwhile that the soundness of my teeth would +obviate any amateur detective work on the part of a dentist.</p> + +<p>Nothing, it seemed, was left for the individual to decide for himself. +His every want was supplied by orderly arrangement and for everything he +must have an authoritative permit. Had I not been classed as a research +chemist, and therefore a man of some importance, this simple business of +getting a hair-cut might have proved my undoing. Indeed, as I afterwards +learned, the exclusive privacy of my living quarters was a mark of +distinction. Had I been one of lower ranking I should have shared my +apartment with another man who would have slept in my bed while I was at +work, for in the sunless city was neither night nor day and the whole +population worked and slept in prescribed shifts--the vast machinery of +industry, like a blind giant in some Plutonic treadmill, toiled +ceaselessly.</p> + +<p>The next morning I decided to extend my travels to the medical level, +which was located just above my own. There were stairs beside the +elevator shafts but these were evidently for emergency as they were +closed with locked gratings.</p> + +<p>The elevator stopped at my ring. Not sure of the proper manner of +calling my floor I was carried past the medical level. As we shot up +through the three-hundred-metre shaft, the names of levels as I had read +them in my atlas flashed by on the blind doors. On the topmost defence +level we took on an officer of the roof guard--strangely swarthy of +skin--and now the car shot down while the rising air rushed by us with a +whistling roar.</p> + +<p>On the return trip I called my floor as I had heard others do and was +let off at the medical level. It was even more monotonously quiet than +the chemical level, save for the hurrying passage of occasional +ambulances on their way between the elevators and the various hospitals. +The living quarters of the physicians were identical with those on the +chemists' level. So, too, were the quiet shops from which the physicians +supplied their personal needs.</p> + +<p>Standing before one of these I saw in a window a new book entitled +"Diseases of Nutrition." I went in and asked to see a copy. The book +seller staring at my chemical uniform in amazement reached quickly under +the counter and pressed a button. I became alarmed and turned to go out +but found the door had been automatically closed and locked. Trying to +appear unconcerned I stood idly glancing over the book shelves, while +the book seller watched me from the corner of his eye.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the door opened from without and a man in the uniform +of the street guard appeared. The book seller motioned toward me.</p> + +<p>"Your identification folder," said the guard.</p> + +<p>Mechanically I withdrew it and handed it to him. He opened it and +discovered the card from the hospital. Smiling on me with an air of +condescension, he took me by the arm and led me forth and conducted me +to my own apartment on the chemical level. Arriving there he pushed me +gently into a chair and stepped toward the switch of the telephone.</p> + +<p>"Just a minute," I said, "I remember now. I was not on my level--that +was not my book store."</p> + +<p>"The card orders me to call up the hospital," said the guard.</p> + +<p>"It is unnecessary," I said. "Do not call them."</p> + +<p>The guard gazed first at me and then at the card. "It is signed by a +Lieutenant and you are a Captain--" his brows knitted as he wrestled +with the problem--"I do not know what to do. Does a Captain with an +affected memory outrank a Lieutenant?"</p> + +<p>"He does," I solemnly assured him.</p> + +<p>Still a little puzzled, he returned the card, saluted and was gone. It +had been a narrow escape. I got out my atlas and read again the rules +that set forth my right to be at large in the city. Clearly I had a +right to be found in the medical level--but in trying to buy a book +there I had evidently erred most seriously. So I carefully memorized the +list of shops set down in my identification folder and on my cards.</p> + +<p>For the next few days I lived alone in my apartment unmolested except by +an occasional visit from Holknecht, the laboratory assistant, who knew +nothing but chemistry, talked nothing but chemistry, and seemed dead to +all human emotions and human curiosity. Applying myself diligently to +the study of Armstadt's books and notes, I was delighted to find that +the Germans, despite their great chemical progress, were ignorant of +many things I knew. I saw that my knowledge discreetly used, might +enable me to become a great man among them and so learn secrets that +would be of immense value to the outer world, should I later contrive to +escape from Berlin.</p> + +<p>By my discoveries of the German workings in the potash mines I had +indeed opened a new road to Berlin. It was up to me by further +discoveries to open a road out again, not only for my own escape, but +perhaps also to find a way by which the World Armies might enter Berlin +as the Greeks entered Troy. Vague ambitious dreams were these that +filled and thrilled me, for I was young in years, and the romantic +spirit of heroic adventure surged in my blood.</p> + +<p>These days of study were quite uneventful, except for a single +illuminating incident; a further example of the super-efficiency of the +Germans. I found the meals served me at my apartment rather less in +quantity than my appetite craved. While there was a reasonable variety, +the nutritive value was always the same to a point of scientific +exactness, and I had seen no shops where extra food was available. After +I had been in my apartment about a week, some one rang at the door. I +opened it and a man called out the single word, "Weigher." Just behind +him stood a platform scale on small wheels and with handles like a +go-cart. The weigher stood, notebook in hand, waiting for me to act. I +took the hint and stepped upon the scales. He read the weight and as he +recorded it, remarked:</p> + +<p>"Three kilograms over."</p> + +<p>Without further explanation he pushed the scales toward the next door. +The following day I noticed that the portions of food served me were a +trifle smaller than they had been previously. The original Karl Armstadt +had evidently been of such build that he carried slightly less weight +than I, which fact now condemned me to this light diet.</p> + +<p>However, I reasoned that a light diet is conducive to good brain work, +and as I later learned, the object of this systematic weight control was +not alone to save food but to increase mental efficiency, for a fat man +is phlegmatic and a lean one too excitable for the best mental output. +It would also help my disguise by keeping me the exact weight and build +of the original Karl Armstadt.</p> + +<p>After a fortnight of study, I felt that I was now ready to take up my +work in the laboratory, but I feared my lack of general knowledge of the +city and its ways might still betray me. Hence I began further +journeyings about the streets and shops of those levels where a man of +my class was permitted to go.</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>After exhausting the rather barren sport of walking about the monotonous +streets of the four professional levels I took a more exciting trip down +into the lower levels of the city where the vast mechanical industries +held sway. I did not know how much freedom might be allowed me, but I +reasoned that I would be out of my supposed normal environment and hence +my ignorance would be more excusable and in less danger of betraying me.</p> + +<p>Alighting from the elevator, I hurried along past endless rows of heavy +columns. I peered into the workrooms, which had no enclosing walls, and +discovered with some misgiving that I seemed to have come upon a race of +giants. The men at the machines were great hulking fellows with thick, +heavy muscles such as one would expect to see in a professional wrestler +or weight-lifter. I paused and tried to gauge the size of these men: I +decided that they were not giants for I had seen taller men in the outer +world. Two officials of some sort, distinguishable by finer garb, +walking among them, appeared to be men of average size, and the tops of +their heads came about to the workers' chins. That there should be such +men among the Germans was not unbelievable, but the strange thing was +that there should be so many of them, and that they should be so +uniformly large, for there was not a workman in the whole vast factory +floor that did not over-top the officials by at least half a head.</p> + +<p>"Of course," I reasoned, "this is part of German efficiency";--for the +men were feeding large plates through stamping mills--"they have +selected all the large men for this heavy work." Then as I continued to +gaze it occurred to me that this bright metal these Samsons were +handling was aluminum!</p> + +<p>I went on and came to a different work hall where men were tending wire +winding machinery, making the coils for some light electrical +instruments. It was work that girls could easily have done, yet these +men were nearly, if not quite, as hulking as their mates in the stamping +mill. To select such men for light-fingered work was not efficiency but +stupidity,--and then it came to me that I had also thought the soldiers +I had seen in the hospital to be men picked for size, and that in a +normal population there could not be such an abundance of men of +abnormal size. The meaning of it all began to clear in my mind--the +pedigree in my own identification folder with the numerous fraternity, +the system of social castes which my atlas had revealed, the +inexplicable and unnatural proportion of the sexes. These gigantic men +were not the mere pick from individual variation in the species, but a +distinct breed within a race wherein the laws of nature, that had kept +men of equal stature for countless centuries, even as wild animals were +equal, had been replaced by the laws of scientific breeding. These heavy +and ponderous labourers were the Percherons and Clydesdales of a +domesticated and scientifically bred human species. The soldiers, +somewhat less bulky and more active, were, no doubt, another distinct +breed. The professional classes which had seemed quite normal in +physical appearance--were they bred for mental rather than physical +qualities? Otherwise why the pedigree, why the rigid castes, the +isolation of women? I shuddered as the whole logical, inevitable +explanation unfolded. It was uncanny, unearthly, yet perfectly +scientific; a thing the world had speculated about for centuries, a +thing that every school boy knew could be done, and yet which I, facing +the fact that it had been done, could only believe by a strained effort +at scientific coolness.</p> + +<p>I walked on and on, absorbed, overwhelmed by these assaulting, +unbelievable conclusions, yet on either side as I walked was the ever +present evidence of the reality of these seemingly wild fancies. There +were miles upon miles of these endless workrooms and everywhere the same +gross breed of great blond beasts.</p> + +<p>The endless shops of Berlin's industrial level were very like those +elsewhere in the world, except that they were more vast, more +concentrated, and the work more speeded up by super-machines and +excessive specialization. Millions upon millions of huge, drab-clad, +stolid-faced workmen stood at their posts of duty, performing over and +over again their routine movements as the material of their labors +shuttled by in endless streams.</p> + +<p>Occasionally among the workmen I saw the uniforms of the petty officers +who acted as foremen, and still more rarely the administrative offices, +where, enclosed in glass panelled rooms, higher officials in more +bespangled uniforms poured over charts and plans.</p> + +<p>In all this colossal business there was everywhere the atmosphere of +perfect order, perfect system, perfect discipline. Go as I might among +the electrical works, among the vast factories of chemicals and goods, +the lighter labor of the textile mills, or the heavier, noisier business +of the mineral works and machine shops the same system of colossal +coordinate mechanism of production throbbed ceaselessly. Materials +flowed in endless streams, feeding electric furnaces, mills, machines; +passing out to packing tables and thence to vast store rooms. Industry +here seemed endless and perfect. The bovine humanity fitted to the +machinery as the ox to the treadmill. Everywhere was the ceaseless +throbbing of the machine. Of the human variation and the free action of +man in labour, there was no evidence, and no opportunity for its +existence.</p> + +<p>Turning from the mere monotonous endlessness of the workshops I made my +way to the levels above where the workers lived in those hours when they +ceased to be a part of the industrial mechanism of production; and +everywhere were drab-coloured men for these shifts of labour were +arranged so that no space at any time was wholly idle. I now passed by +miles of sleeping dormitories, and other miles of gymnasiums, picture +theatres and gaming tables, and, strikingly incongruous with the +atmosphere of the place, huge assembly rooms which were labelled "Free +Speech Halls." I started to enter one of these, where some kind of a +meeting was in progress, but I was thrust back by a great fellow who +grinned foolishly and said: "Pardon, Herr Captain, it is forbidden you."</p> + +<p>Through half-darkened streets, I again passed by the bunk-shelved +sleeping chambers with their cavernous aisles walled with orderly rows +of lockers. Again I came to other barracks where the men were not yet +asleep but were straggling in and sitting about on the lowest bunks of +these sterile makeshift homes.</p> + +<p>I then came into a district of mess halls where a meal was being served. +Here again was absolute economy and perfect system. The men dined at +endless tables and their food like the material for their labours, was +served to the workers by the highly efficient device of an endless +moving belt that rolled up out of a slot in the floor at the end of the +table after the manner of the chained steps of an escalator.</p> + +<p>From the moving belts the men took their portions, and, as they finished +eating, they cleared away by setting the empty dishes back upon the +moving belt. The sight fascinated me, because of the adaptation of this +mechanical principle to so strange a use, for the principle is old and, +as every engineer knows, was instrumental in founding the house of +Detroit Vehicle Kings that once dominated the industrial world. The +founder of that illustrious line gave the poorest citizen a motor car +and disrupted the wage system of his day by paying his men double the +standard wage, yet he failed to realize the full possibilities of +efficiency for he permitted his men to eat at round tables and be served +by women! Truly we of the free world very narrowly escaped the fetish of +efficiency which finally completely enslaved the Germans.</p> + +<p>Each of the long tables of this Berlin dining hall, the ends of which +faced me, was fenced off from its neighbours. At the entrance gates were +signs which read "2600 Calories," "2800 Calories," "3000 Calories"--I +followed down the line to the sign which read "Maximum Diet, 4000 +Calories." The next one read, "Minimum Diet 2000 Calories," and thence +the series was repeated. Farther on I saw that men were assembling +before such gates in lines, for the meal there had not begun. Moving to +the other side of the street I walked by the lines which curved out and +swung down the street. Those before the sign of "Minimum Diet" were not +quite so tall as the average, although obviously of the same breed. But +they were all gaunt, many of them drooped and old, relatively the +inferior specimens and their faces bore a cowering look of fear and +shame, of men sullen and dull, beaten in life's battle. Following down +the line and noting the improvement in physique as I passed on, I came +to the farthest group just as they had begun to pass into the hall. +These men, entering the gate labelled "Maximum Diet, 4000 Calories," +were obviously the pick of the breed, middle-aged, powerful, +Herculean,--and yet not exactly Herculean either, for many of them were +overfull of waistline, men better fed than is absolutely essential to +physical fitness. Evidently a different principle was at work here than +the strict economy of food that required the periodic weighing of the +professional classes.</p> + +<p>Turning back I now encountered men coming out of the dining hall in +which I had first witnessed the meal in progress. I wanted to ask +questions and yet was a little afraid. But these big fellows were +seemingly quite respectful; except when I started to enter the Free +Speech Hall, they had humbly made way for me. Emboldened by their +deference I now approached a man whom I had seen come out of a "3800 +Calories" gate, and who had crossed the street and stood there picking +his teeth with his finger nail.</p> + +<p>He ceased this operation as I approached and was about to step aside. +But I paused and smiled at him, much, I fear, as one smiles at a dog of +unknown disposition, for I could hardly feel that this ungainly creature +was exactly human. He smiled back and stood waiting.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, I stammered," you will tell me about your system of eating; it +seems very interesting."</p> + +<p>"I eat thirty-eight," he grinned, "pretty good, yes? I am twenty-five +years old and not so tall either."</p> + +<p>I eyed him up--my eyes came just to the top button of his jacket.</p> + +<p>"I began thirty," continued the workman, "I came up one almost every +year, one year I came up two at once. Pretty good, yes? One more +to come."</p> + +<p>"What then?" I asked.</p> + +<p>The big fellow smiled with a childish pride, and doubling up his arm, as +huge as an average man's thigh, he patted his biceps. "I get it all +right. I pass examination, no flaws in me, never been to hospital, not +one day. Yes, I get it."</p> + +<p>"Get what?"</p> + +<p>"Paternity," said the man in a lower voice, as he glanced about to see +if any of his fellows was listening. "Paternity, you know? Women!"</p> + +<p>I thought of many questions but feared to ask them. The worker waited +for some men to pass, then he bent over me, grinning sardonically. "Did +you see them? You have seen women, yes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I ventured, "I have seen women."</p> + +<p>"Pretty good, beautiful, yes?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I stammered, "they are very beautiful." But I was getting nervous +and moved away. The workman, hesitating a little, then followed at +my side.</p> + +<p>"But tell me," I said, "about these calories. What did you do to get the +big meals? Why do some get more to eat than others?"</p> + +<p>"Better man," he replied without hesitation.</p> + +<p>"But what makes a better man?"</p> + +<p>"You don't know; of course, you are an intellectual and don't work. But +we work hard. The harder we work the more we eat. I load aluminum pigs +on the elevator. One pig is two calories, nineteen hundred pigs a day, +pretty good, yes? All kind of work has its calories, so many for each +thing to do.</p> + +<p>"More work, more food it takes to do it. They say all is alike, that no +one can get fat. But all work calories are not alike because some men +get fatter than others. I don't get fat; my work is hard. I ought to get +two and a half calories for each pig I load. Still I do not get thin, +but I do not play hard in gymnasium, see? Those lathe men, they got it +too easy and they play hard in gymnasium. I don't care if you do report. +I got it mad at them; they got it too easy. One got paternity last year +already, and he is not as good a man as I am. I could throw him over my +shoulder in wrestling. Do you not think they get it too easy?"</p> + +<p>"Do the men like this system," I asked; "the measuring of food by the +amount of work one does? Do any of them talk about it and demand that +all be fed alike?"</p> + +<p>"The skinny minimum eaters do," said the workman with a sneer, "when we +let them talk, which isn't often, but when they get a chance they talk +Bellamism. But what if they do talk, it does them no good. We have a red +flag, we have Imperial Socialism; we have the House of Hohenzollern. +Well, then, I say, let them talk if they want to, every man must eat +according to his work; that is socialism. We can't have Bellamism when +we have socialism."</p> + +<p>This speech, so much more informative and evidencing a knowledge I had +not anticipated, quite disturbed me. "You talk about these things," I +ventured, "in your Free Speech Halls?"</p> + +<p>The hitherto pleasant face of the workingman altered to an ugly frown.</p> + +<p>"No you don't," he growled, "you don't think because I talk to you, that +you can go asking me what is not your right to know, even if you are +an officer?"</p> + +<p>I remained discreetly silent, but continued to walk at the side of the +striding giant. Presently I asked:</p> + +<p>"What do you do now, are you going to work?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said, looking at me doubtfully, "that was dinner, not +breakfast. I am going now to the picture hall."</p> + +<p>"And then," I asked, "do you go to bed?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said, "we then go to the gymnasium or the gaming tables. Six +hours' work, six hours' sleep, and four hours for amusement."</p> + +<p>"And what do you do," I asked, "the remainder of the day?"</p> + +<p>He turned and stared at me. "That is all we get here, sixteen hours. +This is the metal workers' level. Some levels get twenty hours. It +depends on the work."</p> + +<p>"But," I said, "a real day has twenty-four hours."</p> + +<p>"I've heard," he said, "that it does on the upper levels."</p> + +<p>"But," I protested, "I mean a real day--a day of the sun. Do you +understand that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," he said, "we see the pictures of the Place in the Sun. That's +a fine show."</p> + +<p>"Oh," I said, "then you have pictures of the sun?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," he replied, "the sun that shines upon the throne. We all +see that."</p> + +<p>At the time I could not comprehend this reference, but I made bold to +ask if it were forbidden me to go to his picture hall.</p> + +<p>"I can't make out," he said, "why you want to see, but I never heard of +any order forbidding it.</p> + +<p>"I go here," he remarked, as we came to a picture theatre.</p> + +<p>I let my Herculean companion enter alone, but followed him shortly and +found a seat in a secluded corner. No one disputed my presence.</p> + +<p>The music that filled the hall from some hidden horn was loud and, in a +rough way, joyous. The pictures--evidently carefully prepared for such +an audience--were limited to the life that these men knew. The themes +were chiefly of athletic contests, of boxing, wrestling and feats of +strength. There were also pictures of working contests, always ending by +the awarding of honours by some much bespangled official. But of love +and romance, of intrigue and adventure, of pathos and mirth, these +pictures were strangely devoid,--there was, in fact, no woman's likeness +cast upon the screen and no pictures depicting emotion or sentiment.</p> + +<p>As I watched the sterile flittings of the picture screen I decided, +despite the glimmering of intelligence that my talking Hercules had +shown in reference to socialism and Bellamism and the secrets of the +Free Speech Halls, that these men were merely great stupid beasts +of burden.</p> + +<p>They worked, they fed, they drank, they played exuberantly in their +gymnasiums and swimming pools, they played long and eagerly at games of +chance. Beyond this their lives were essentially blank. Ambition and +curiosity they had none beyond the narrow circle of their round of +living. But for all that they were docile, contented and, within their +limitations, not unhappy. To me they seemed more and more to be like +well cared for domestic animals, and I found myself wondering, as I left +the hall, why we of the outer world had not thought to produce pictures +in similar vein to entertain our dogs and horses.</p> + +<h3>~5~</h3> + +<p>As I returned to my own quarters, I tried to recall the description I +had read of the "Children of the Abyss," the dwellers in ancient city +slums. There was a certain kinship, no doubt, between those former +submerged workers in the democratic world and this labour breed of +Berlin. Yet the enslaved and sweated workers of the old regime were +always depicted as suffering from poverty, as undersized, ill-nourished +and afflicted with disease. The reformers of that day were always +talking of sanitary housing, scientific diet and physical efficiency. +But here was a race of labourers whose physical welfare was as well +taken care of as if they had been prize swine or oxen. There was a +paleness of countenance among these labourers of Berlin that to me +seemed suggestive of ill health, but I knew that was merely due to lack +of sun and did not signify a lack of physical vitality. Mere +sun-darkened skin does not mean physiological efficiency, else the negro +were the most efficient of races. Men can live without sun, without +rain, without contact with the soil, without nature's greenery and the +brotherhood of fellow species in wild haunts. The whole climb of +civilization had been away from these primitive things. It had merely +been an artificial perfecting of the process of giving the living +creature that which is needed for sustenance and propagation in the most +concentrated and most economical form, the elimination of Nature's +superfluities and wastes.</p> + +<p>As I thought of these things it came over me that this unholy +imprisonment of a race was but the logical culmination of mechanical and +material civilization. This development among the Germans had been +hastened by the necessities of war and siege, yet it was what the whole +world had been driving toward since man first used a tool and built a +hut. Our own freer civilization of the outer world had been achieved +only by compromises, by a stubborn resistance against the forces to +which we ascribed our progress. We were merely not so completely +civilized, because we had never been wholly domesticated.</p> + +<p>As I now record these thoughts on the true significance of the perfected +civilization of the Germans I realize that I was even more right than I +then knew, for the sunless city of Berlin is of a truth a civilization +gone to seed, its people are a domesticated species, they are the +logical outcome of science applied to human affairs, with them the +prodigality and waste of Nature have been eliminated, they have stamped +out contagious diseases of every kind, they have substituted for the +laws of Nature the laws that man may pick by scientific theory and +experiment from the multitude of possibilities. Yes, the Germans were +civilized. And as I pondered these things I recalled those fairy tales +that naturalists tell of the stagnant and fixed society of ants in their +subterranean catacombs. These insect species credited for industry and +intelligence, have in their lesser world reached a similar perfection of +civilization. Ants have a royal house, they have a highly specialized +and fixed system of caste, a completely socialized state--yes, a +Utopia--even as Berlin was a Utopia, with the light of the sun and the +light of the soul, the soul of the wild free man, forever shut out. Yes, +I was walking in Utopia, a nightmare at the end of man's long +dream--Utopia--Black Utopia--City of Endless Night--diabolically +compounded of the three elements of civilization in which the Germans +had always been supreme--imperialism, science and socialism.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>I GO PLEASURING ON THE LEVEL OF FREE WOMEN AND DRINK SYNTHETIC BEER</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>I had returned from my adventure on the labour levels in a mood of +sombre depression. Alone again in my apartment I found difficulty in +getting my mind back upon chemical books. With a sense of relief I +reported to Holknecht that I thought myself sufficiently recovered to +return to work.</p> + +<p>My laboratory I found to be almost as secluded as my living quarters. I +was master there, and as a research worker I reported to no man until I +had finished the problem assigned me. From my readings and from +Holknecht's endless talking I had fairly well grasped the problem on +which I was supposed to be working, and I now had Holknecht go carefully +over the work he had done in my absence and we prepared a report. This I +sent to headquarters with a request for permission to start work on +another problem, the idea for which I claimed to have conceived on my +visit to the attacked potash mines.</p> + +<p>Permission to undertake the new problem was promptly granted. I now set +to work to reproduce in a German laboratory the experiments by which I +had originally conquered the German gas that had successfully defended +those mines from the world for over a century. Though loath to make this +revelation, I knew of no other "Discovery" wherewith to gain the stakes +for which I was playing.</p> + +<p>Events shaped themselves most rapidly along the lines of my best hopes. +The new research proved a blanket behind which to hide my ignorance. We +needed new material, new apparatus, and new data and I encouraged +Holknecht to advise me as to where to obtain these things and so gained +requisite working knowledge.</p> + +<p>The experiments and demonstrations finished, I made my report. My +immediate superior evidently quickly recognized it as a matter too +important for his consideration and dutifully passed it up to his own +superiors. In a few days I was notified to prepare for a demonstration +before a committee of the Imperial Chemical Staff.</p> + +<p>They came to my small laboratory with much eager curiosity. From their +manner of making themselves known to me I realized with joy that they +were dealing with a stranger. Indeed it was improbable that it should +have been otherwise for there were upwards of fifty thousand chemists of +my rank in Berlin.</p> + +<p>The demonstration went off with a flourish and the committee were +greatly impressed. Means were at once taken to alter the gas with which +the Stassfurt mines were flooded, but I realized that meant nothing +since I believed that my companions had abandoned the enterprise and the +secret that had enabled me to invade mines had not been shared with any +one in the outer world.</p> + +<p>As I anticipated, my revelation was accepted by the Chemical Staff as +evidence of profound scientific genius. It followed as a logical matter +that I should be promoted to the highest rank of research chemists with +the title of Colonel. Because of my youth the more was made of the +honour. This promotion entitled me to double my previous salary, to a +larger laboratory and larger and better living quarters in a distant +part of the city.</p> + +<p>My assistant would now be of the rank I had previously been and as +Holknecht was not eligible to such promotion I was removed entirely from +all previous acquaintances and surroundings and so greatly decreased the +chance of discovery of my true identity.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>After I had removed to my new quarters I was requested to call at the +office of the Chemical Staff to discuss the line of research I should +next take up. My adviser in this matter was the venerable Herr von Uhl, +a white haired old patriarch whose jacket was a mass of decorations. The +insignia on the left breast indicating the achievements in chemical +science were already familiar to me, but those on the right breast +were strange.</p> + +<p>Perhaps I stared at them a little, for the old man, noting my interest, +remarked proudly, "Yes, I have contributed much glory to the race and +our group,--one hundred and forty-seven children,--one hundred and four +of them sons, fifty-eight already of a captain's rank, and twenty-nine +of them colonels--my children of the second and third generation number +above two thousand. Only three men living in Berlin have more total +descendants--and I am but seventy-eight years of age. If I live to be +ninety I shall break all records of the Eugenic Office. It all comes of +good breeding and good work. I won my paternity right, when I was but +twenty-eight, just about your age. If you pass the physical test, +perhaps you can duplicate my record. For this early promotion you have +won qualifies you mentally."</p> + +<p>Astonished and alarmed beyond measure I could find no reply and sat +staring dumbly, while Herr von Uhl, beginning to speak of chemical +matters, inquired if I had any preference as to the problem I should now +take up. Incapable of any clear thinking I could only ask if he had any +to suggest.</p> + +<p>Immediately the old man's face brightened. "A man of your genius," he +said, "should be permitted to try his brain with the greatest problems +on which the life of Germany depends. The Staff discussed this and has +assigned you to original research for the finding of a better method of +the extraction of protium from the ore. To work on this assignment you +must of necessity share grave secrets, which, should they be disclosed, +might create profound +fears, but your professional honour is a sufficient guarantee of +secrecy. In this research you will compete with some of the most +distinguished chemists in Berlin. If you should be successful you will +be decorated by His Majesty and you will receive a liberal pension +commensurate with the value of your discovery."</p> + +<p>I was profoundly impressed. Evidently I had stumbled upon something of +vital importance, the real nature of which I did not in the least +comprehend, and happily was not supposed to. The interview was ended by +my being entrusted with voluminous unpublished documents which I was +told to take home and study. Two armed men were ordered to accompany me +and to stand alternate guard outside my apartment while I had the +documents in my possession.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>In the quiet of my new abode I unsealed the package. The first sheet +contained the official offer of the rewards in store for success with +the research. The further papers explained the occasion for the gravity +and secrecy, and outlined the problem.</p> + +<p>The colossal consequence of the matter with which I was dealing gripped +and thrilled me. Protium, it seemed, was the German name for a rare +element of the radium group, which, from its atomic weight and other +properties, I recognized as being known to the outside world only as a +laboratory curiosity of no industrial significance.</p> + +<p>But, as used by the Germans, this element was the essence of life +itself, for by the influence of its emanations, they had achieved the +synthesis of protein capable of completely nourishing the human body--a +thing that could be accomplished in the outside world only through the +aid of natural protein derived from plants and animals.</p> + +<p>How I wished, as I read, that my uncle could have shared with me this +revelation of a secret that he had spent his life in a fruitless effort +to unravel. We had long since discovered how the Germans had synthesized +the carbohydrate molecule from carbon dioxide and water and built +therefrom the sugars, starches and fat needed for human nutrition. We +knew quite as well how they had created the simpler nitrogen compounds, +that this last step of synthesizing complete food proteins--a step +absolutely essential to the support of human life wholly from synthetic +foods--the chemists of the outer world had never mastered.</p> + +<p>But no less interesting than the mere chemistry of all this was the +history of it all, and the light it threw on the larger story of how +Germany had survived when the scientists of the world had predicted her +speedy annihiliation. The original use of protium had, I found, been +discovered late in the Twentieth Century when the protium ores of the +Ural Mountains were still available to the German chemists. After Russia +had been won by the World Armies, the Germans for a time suffered +chronic nitrogen starvation, as they depended on the protium derived +from what remained of their agriculture and from the fisheries in the +Baltic. As the increasing bombardment from the air herded them within +their fast building armoured city, and drove them beneath the soil in +all other German territory and from the surface of the sea in the +Baltic; they must have perished miserably but for the discovery of a new +source of protium.</p> + +<p>This source they had found in the uninhabited islands of the Arctic, +where the formation of the Ural Mountains extends beneath the sea. +Sending their submarines thence in search of platinum ores they had not +found platinum but a limited supply of ore containing the even more +valuable protium. By this traffic Germany had survived for a century and +a half. The quantity of the rare element needed was small, for its +effect, like that of radium, was out of all proportion to its bulk. But +this little they must have, and it seems that the supply of ore +was failing.</p> + +<p>Nor was that all to interest me. How did the German submarine get to the +Arctic since the World State had succeeded, after half a century of +effort, in damming the Baltic by closing up several passes among the +Danish Islands and the main pass of the sound between Zealand and +Sweden? I remember, as a youngster, the great Jubilee that celebrated +the completion of that monumental task, and the joy that hailed from the +announcement that the world's shipping would at last be freed from an +ancient scourge.</p> + +<p>But little had we of the world known the magnitude of the German fears +as the Baltic dam neared completion. We had thought merely to protect +our commerce from German piracy and perhaps to stop them from getting a +little copper and rubber in some remote corner of the earth. But we did +not realize that we were about to cut them off from an essential element +without which that conceited and defiant race must have speedily run up +the white flag of absolute surrender or have died to the last man, like +rats in a neglected trap.</p> + +<p>But the completion of the Baltic dam evidently had not shut off the +supply of Arctic ore, for the annual importation of ore was given right +up to date though the Baltic had been closed for nearly a score of +years. Eagerly I searched my papers for an item that would give some +hint as to how the submarines got out of the dammed-up Baltic. But on +that point the documents before me were silent. They referred to the +Arctic ore, gave elaborate details as to mineralogy and geology of the +strata from which it came, but as to the ways of its coming into Berlin +there was not the slightest suggestion. That this ore must come by +submarine was obvious. If so, the submarine must be at large in the +Atlantic and Arctic seas, and those occasional reports of periscopes +sighted off the coast of Norway, which have never been credited, were +really true. The submarines, or at least their cargoes, must reach +Berlin by some secret passage. Here indeed was a master mystery, a +secret which, could I unravel it and escape to the outer world with the +knowledge, would put unconditionally within the power of the World State +the very life of the three hundred millions of this unholy race that was +bred and fed by science in the armoured City of Berlin, or that, working +like blind moles of the earth, held the world at bay from off the +sterile and pock-marked soil of all that was left of the one-time +German Empire.</p> + +<p>That night I did not sleep till near the waking hour, and when the +breakfast container bumped into the receiving cupboard I was nodding +over the chemical papers amid strange and wonderful dreams.</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>Next day with three assistants, themselves chemists of no mean rank, I +set to work to prepare apparatus for repeating all the known processes +in the extraction and use of the rare and vital element. This work +absorbed me for many weeks, during which time I went nowhere and saw no +one and slept scarce one hour out of four.</p> + +<p>But the steady application told upon me, and, by way of recreation, I +decided to spend an evening on the Level of Free Women, a place to +which, much though it fascinated me, I had not yet mustered the +courage to go.</p> + +<p>My impression, as I stepped from the elevator, was much as that of a man +who alights from a train in a strange city on a carnival night. Before +me, instead of the narrow, quiet streets of the working and living +quarters of the city, there spread a broad and seemingly endless hall of +revelry, broken only by the massive grey pillars that held up the +multi-floored city. The place was thronged with men of varied ranks and +professions. But more numerous and conspicuous were the women, the first +and only women that I had seen among the Germans--the Free Women of +Berlin, dressed in gorgeous and daring costumes; women of whom but few +were beautiful, yet in whose tinted cheeks and sparkling eyes was all +the lure of parasitic love.</p> + +<p>The multi-hued apparel of the throng dazzled and astonished me. +Elsewhere I had found a sterile monotony of dress and even of stature +and features. But here was resplendent variety and display. Men from all +the professional and military classes mingled indiscriminately, their +divers uniforms and decorations suggesting a dress ball in the capital +of the world. But the motley costumes of the women, who dressed with the +license of unrestrained individuality, were even more startling and +bizarre--a kaleidoscopic fantastic masquerade.</p> + +<p>I wondered if the rule of convention and tyranny of style had lost all +hold upon these women. And yet I decided, as I watched more closely, +that there was not an absence of style but rather a warfare of styles. +The costumes varied from the veiled and beruffled displays, that left +one confounded as to what manner of creature dwelt therein, to the other +extreme of mere gaudily ornamented nudity. I smiled as I recalled the +world-old argument on the relative modesty of much or little clothing, +for here immodesty was competing side by side in both extremes, both +seemingly equally successful.</p> + +<p>But it was not alone in the matter of dress that the women of the Free +Level varied. They differed even more strikingly in form and feature, +for, as I was later more fully to comprehend, these women were drawn +from all the artificially specialized breeds into which German science +had wrought the human species. Most striking and most numerous were +those whom I rightly guessed to be of the labour strain. Proportionally +not quite so large as the males of the breed, yet they were huge, +full-formed, fleshly creatures, with milky white skin for the most part +crudely painted with splashes of vermilion and with blued or blackened +brows. The garishness of their dress and ornament clearly bespoke the +poorer quality of their intellect, yet to my disgust they seemed fully +as popular with the men as the smaller and more refined types, evidently +from the intellectual strains of the race.</p> + +<p>Happily these ungainly women of the labour strain were inclined to herd +by themselves and I hastened to direct my steps to avoid as much as +possible their overwhelming presence.</p> + +<p>The smaller women, who seemed to be more nearly human, were even more +variegated in their features and make-up. They were not all blondes, for +some of them were distinctively dark of hair and +skin, though I was puzzled to tell how much of this was inborn and how +much the work of art. Another thing that astonished me was the wide +range of bodily form, as evidently determined by nutrition. Clearly +there was no weight-control here, for the figures varied from extreme +slenderness to waddling fatness. The most common type was that of mild +obesity which men call "plumpness," a quality so prized since the world +began that the women of all races by natural selection become relatively +fatter than men.</p> + +<p>For the most part I found these women unattractive and even repellent, +and yet as I walked about the level I occasionally caught fleeting +glimpses of genuine beauty of face and form, and more rarely expressions +of a seeming high order of intelligence.</p> + +<p>This revelling multitude of men and girls was uproariously engaged in +the obvious business of enjoying themselves by means of every art known +to appeal to the mind of man--when intelligence is abandoned and moral +restraint thrown to the winds.</p> + +<p>I wended my way among the multitude, gay with colour, noisy with chatter +and mingled music, redolent with a hundred varieties of sensuous +perfume. I came upon a dancing floor. Whirling and twisting about the +columns, circling around a gorgeous scented and iridescent fountain, +officers and scientists, chemists and physicians, each clasping in his +arms a laughing girl, danced with abandon to languorous music.</p> + +<p>As I watched the dance I overheard two girls commenting upon the +appearance of the dancers. Whirling by in the arms of a be-medalled +officer, was a girl whose frizzled yellow hair fell about a +dun-brown face.</p> + +<p>"Did you see that, Fedora, tanned as a roof guard and with that hair!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you know," said the other, "it's becoming quite the fashion +again."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you try it? Three baths would tan you adorably and you do +have the proper hair."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I have the hair, all right, but my skin won't stand it. I +tried it three years ago and I blistered outrageously."</p> + +<p>The talk drifted to less informing topics and I moved on and came to +other groups lounging at their ease on rugs and divans as they watched +more skilful girls squirming through some intricate ballet on an +exhibition platform.</p> + +<p>Seeing me stand apart, a milk-white girl with hair dyed pink came +tugging at my arm. Her opalescent eyes looked from out her chalky +countenance; but they were not hard eyes, indeed they seemed the eyes of +innocence. As I shook my head and rebuffed her cordial advance I felt, +not that I was refusing the proffered love of a painted woman, but +rather that I was meanly declining a child's invitation to join her +play. In haste I edged away and wandered on past endless gaming tables +where men in feverish eagerness whirled wheels of chance, while garishly +dressed girls leaned on their shoulders and hung about their necks.</p> + +<p>Announced by shouts and shrieking laughter I came upon a noisy jumble of +mechanical amusement devices where men and girls in whirling upholstered +boxes were being pitched and tumbled about.</p> + +<p>Beyond the noise of the childish whirligigs I came into a space where +the white ceiling lights were dimmed by crimson globes and picture +screens were in operation. It did not take long for me to grasp the +essential difference between these pictured stories and those I had seen +in the workmen's level. There love of woman was entirely absent from the +screen. Here it was the sole substance of the pictures. But unlike the +love romances of the outer world, there were no engagement rings, no +wedding bells, and never once did the face or form of a child appear.</p> + +<p>In seating myself to see the pictures I had carefully chosen a place +where there was only room for myself between a man and one of the +supporting columns. At an interlude the man arose to go. The girl who +had been with him arose also, but he pushed her back upon the bench, +saying that he had other engagements, and did not wish her company. The +moment he was gone the girl moved over and proceeded to crowd +caressingly against my shoulder. She was a huge girl, obviously of the +labour strain. She leaned over me as if I had been a lonely child and +she a lonelier woman. Crowded against the pillar I could not escape and +so tried to appear unconcerned.</p> + +<p>"Did you like that story?" I asked, referring to the picture that had +just ended.</p> + +<p>"No," she replied, "the girl was too timid. She could never have won a +roof guard captain in that fashion. They are very difficult men, those +roof guard officers."</p> + +<p>"And what kind of pictures do you prefer?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Quartettes," she answered promptly. "Two men and two girls when both +girls want the other man, and both men want the girl they have. That +makes a jolly plot. Or else the ones where there are two perfect lovers +and the man is elected to paternity and leaves her. I had a man like +that once and it makes me sad to see such a picture."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," I said, speaking in a timorous voice, "you wanted to go with +him and be the mother of his children?"</p> + +<p>She turned her face toward me in the dim light. "He talked like that," +she said, "and then, I hated him. I knew then that he wanted to go and +leave me. That he hadn't tried to avoid the paternity draft. Yes, he +wanted to sire children. And he knew that he would have to leave me. And +so I hated him for ever loving me."</p> + +<p>A strange thrill crept over me at the girl's words. I tried to fathom +her nature, to separate the tangle of reality from the artificial ideas +ingrained by deliberate mis-education. "Did you ever see children? Here, +I mean. Pictures of them, perhaps, on the screen?"</p> + +<p>"Never," said the girl, drawing away from me and straightening up till +my head scarce reached her shoulder. "And I never want to. I hate the +thought of them. I wish I never had been one. Why can't +we--forget them?"</p> + +<p>I did not answer, and the labour girl, who, for some technical flaw in +her physique had been rejected for motherhood, arose and walked +ponderously away.</p> + +<p>After this baffling revelation of the struggle of human souls caught in +the maw of machine-made science, I found the picture screen a dull dead +thing, and I left the hall and wandered for miles, it seemed, past +endless confusion of meaningless revelry. Everywhere was music and +gaming and laughter. Men and girls lounged and danced, or spun the +wheels of fortune or sat at tables drinking from massive steins, a +highly flavoured variety of rather ineffectual synthetic beer. Older +women served and waited on the men and girls, and for every man was at +least one girl and sometimes as many as could crowd about him. And so +they sang, and banged their mugs and sloshed their frothy beverage.</p> + +<p>A lonely stranger amidst the jostling throngs, I wandered on through the +carnival of Berlin's Level of Free Women. Despite my longing for human +companionship I found it difficult to join in this strange recrudescent +paganism with any ease or grace.</p> + +<p>Girls, alone or in groups, fluttered about me with many a covert or open +invitation to join in their merry-making, but something in my halting +manner and constrained speech seemed to repulse them, for they would +soon turn away as if condemning me as a man without appreciation of the +value of human enjoyment.</p> + +<p>My constraint and embarrassment were increased by a certain sense of +guilt, a feeling which no one in this vast throng, either man or woman, +seemed to share. The place had its own standard of ethics, and they were +shocking enough to a man nurtured in a human society founded on the +sanctification of monogamous marriage. But merely to condemn this +recreational life of Germany, by likening it to the licentious freedom +that exists in occasional unrestrained amusement places in the outer +world, would be to give a very incorrect interpretation of Berlin's +Level of Free Women. As we know such places elsewhere in the world there +is always about them some tacit confession of moral delinquency, some +pretence of apology on the part of the participants. The women who so +revel in the outer world consider themselves under a ban of social +disapproval, while the men are either of a type who have no sense of +moral restraint or men who have for the time abandoned it.</p> + +<p>But for this life in Berlin no guilt was felt, no apology offered. The +men considered it as quite a normal and proper part of their life, while +the women looked upon it as their whole life, to which they had been +trained and educated and set apart by the Government; they accepted the +rôle quite as did the scientist, labourer, soldier, or professional +mother. The state had decreed it to be. They did not question its +morality. Hence the life here was licentious and yet unashamed, much, as +I fancy was the life in the groves of Athens or the baths of +ancient Rome.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>I AM DRAFTED FOR PATERNITY AND MAKE EXTRAORDINARY PETITION TO THE CHIEF OF THE EUGENIC STAFF</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>My research was progressing nicely and I had discovered that in this +field of chemistry also my knowledge of the outer world would give me +tremendous advantages over all competitors. Eagerly I worked at the +laboratory, spending most of my evenings in study. Occasionally I +attended the educational pictures or dined on the Level of Free Women +with my chemical associates and spent an hour or so at dancing or at +cards. My life had settled into routine unbroken by adventure. Then I +received a notice to report for the annual examination at the Physical +Efficiency Laboratory. I went with some misgivings, but the ordeal +proved uneventful. A week later I received a most disturbing +communication, a bulky and official looking packet bearing the imprint +of the Eugenic Office. I nervously slit the envelope and drew forth +a letter:</p> + +<p>"You are hereby notified that you have reached a stage of advancement in +your professional work that marks you a man of superior gifts, and, +having been reported as physically perfect you are hereby honoured with +the high privilege and sacred duties of election to paternity. Full +instructions for your conduct in this duty to the State will be found in +the enclosed folder."</p> + +<p>In nervous haste I scanned the printed folder:</p> + +<p>"Your first duty will be to visit the boys' school for which passport is +here enclosed. The purpose of this is to awaken the paternal instincts +that you may better appreciate and feel the holy obligation and +privilege conferred upon you. You will also find enclosed cards of +introduction to three women whom the Eugenic Office finds to be fitted +as mothers of your children. That natural selection may have a limited +play you are permitted to select only one woman from each three +assigned. Such selection must be made and reported within thirty days, +after which a second trio will be assigned you. Until such final +selection has been recorded you are expressly forbidden to conduct +yourself toward these women in an amorous manner."</p> + +<p>Next followed a set of exacting rules for the proper deportment, in the +carrying out of these duties to which the State had assigned me.</p> + +<p>A crushing sense of revulsion, a feeling of loathing and uncleanliness +overwhelmed me as I pushed aside the papers. Coming from a world where +the right of the individual to freedom and privacy in the matrimonial +and paternal relations was recognized as a fundamental right of man, I +found this officious communication, with its detailed instruction, +appalling and revolting.</p> + +<p>A man cravenly clings to life and yet there are instincts in his soul +which will cause him to sell life defiantly for a mere conception of a +moral principle. To become by official mandate a father of a numerous +German progeny was a thing to which I could not and would not submit. +Many times that day as I automatically pursued my work, I resolved to go +to some one in authority and give myself up to be sent to the mines as a +prisoner of war, or more likely to be executed as a spy. Cold reason +showed me the futility of neglecting or attempting to avoid an assigned +duty. It was a military civilization and I had already seen enough of +this ordered life of Berlin to know that there was no middle ground of +choice between explicit obedience and open rebellion. Nor need I concern +myself with what punishment might be provided for this particular +disobedience for I saw that rebellion for me would mean an investigation +that would result in complete tearing away of the protecting mask of my +German identity.</p> + +<p>But after my first tumultuous feeling subsided I realized that something +more than my own life was at stake. Already possessed of much intimate +knowledge of the life within Berlin I believed that I was in a way to +come into possession of secrets of vast and vital importance to the +world. To gain these secrets, to escape from the walls of Berlin, was a +more than personal ambition; it was an ambition for mankind.</p> + +<p>After a day or two of deliberation I therefore decided against any rash +rebellion. Moreover, as nothing compromising was immediately required of +me, I detached and mailed the four coupons provided, having duly filled +in the time at which I should make the preliminary calls.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>On the day and hour appointed I presented the school card to the +elevator operator, who punched it after the manner of his kind, and duly +deposited me on the level of schools for boys of the professional +groups. A lad of about sixteen met me at the elevator and conducted me +to the school designated.</p> + +<p>The master greeted me with obsequious gravity, and waved me to the +visitor's seat on a raised platform. "You will be asked to speak," he +said, "and I beg that you will tell the boys of the wonderful chemical +discoveries that won you the honours of election to paternity."</p> + +<p>"But," I protested, as I glanced at the boys who were being put through +their morning drill in the gymnasium, "I fear the boys of such age will +not comprehend the nature of my work."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," he replied, "and I would rather you did not try to +simplify it for their undeveloped minds, merely speak learnedly of your +work as if you were addressing a body of your colleagues. The less the +boys understand of it the more they will be impressed with its +importance, and the more ambitious they will be to become great +chemists."</p> + +<p>This strange philosophy of education annoyed me, but I did not have time +to argue further for the bell had rung and the boys were filing in with +strict military precision. There were about fifty of them, all in their +twelfth year, and of remarkable uniformity in size and development. The +blanched skin, which marked the adult faces of Berlin, was, in the pasty +countenance of those German boys, a more horrifying spectacle. Yet they +stood erect and, despite their lack of colour, were evidently a well +nourished, well exercised group of youngsters.</p> + +<p>As the last boy reached his place the master motioned with his hand and +fifty arms moved in unison in a mechanical salute.</p> + +<p>"We have with us this morning," said the master, "a chemist who has won +the honours of paternity with his original thought. He will tell you +about his work which you cannot understand--you should therefore listen +attentively."</p> + +<p>After a few more sentences of these paradoxical axioms on education, the +master nodded, and, as I had been instructed, I proceeded to talk of the +chemical lore of poison gases.</p> + +<p>"And now," said the master, when I resumed my seat, "we will have a +review lesson. You will first recite in unison the creed of your caste."</p> + +<p>"We are youth of the super-race," began the boys in a sing-song and well +timed chorus. "We belong to the chemical group of the intellectual +levels, being born of sires who were great chemists, born of great +chemists for many generations. It is our duty to learn while we are yet +young all that we may ever need to know, to keep our minds free from +forbidden knowledge and to resist the temptation to think on unnecessary +things. So we may be good Germans, loyal to the House of Hohenzollern +and to the worship of the old German God and the divine blood of William +the Great."</p> + +<p>The schoolmaster, who had nodded his head in unison with the rhythm of +the recitation, now smiled in satisfaction. "That was very good," he +said. "I did not hear one faltering voice. Now you may recite +individually in your alphabetical order.</p> + +<p>"Anton, you may describe the stages in the evolution of the super-man."</p> + +<p>Anton, a flaxen-haired youngster, arose, saluted like a wooden soldier, +and intoned the following monologue:</p> + +<p>"Man is an animal in the process of evolving into a god. The method of +this evolution is a struggle in which the weak perish and the strong +survive. First in this process of man's evolution came the savage, who +lived with the lions and the apes. In the second stage came the dark +races who built the so-called ancient civilizations, and fought among +themselves to possess private property and women and children. Third +came the barbarian Blond Brutes, who were destined to sire the +super-race, but the day had not yet come, and they mixed with the dark +races and produced the mongrel peoples, which make the fourth. The fifth +stage is the pure bred Blond Brutes, uncontaminated by inferior races, +which are the men, who under God's direction, built the Armoured City of +Berlin in which to breed the Supermen who are to conquer the mongrel +peoples. The sixth, last and culminating stage of the evolution of man +is the Divinity in human form which is our noble House of Hohenzollern, +descended physically from William the Great, and spiritually from the +soul of God Himself, whose statue stands with that of the Mighty William +at the portals of the Emperor's palace."</p> + +<p>It had been a noble effort for so young a memory and as the proud master +looked at me expectantly I could do nothing less than nod my +appreciation.</p> + +<p>The master now gave Bruno the following cue:</p> + +<p>"Name the four kinds of government and explain each."</p> + +<p>From the sad-eyed youth of twelve came this flow of wisdom:</p> + +<p>"The first form of government is monarchy, in which the people are ruled +by a man who calls himself a king but who has no divine authority so +that the people sometimes failed to respect him and made revolutions and +tried to govern themselves. The second form of government is a republic, +sometimes called a democracy. It is usually co-existent with the lawyer, +the priest, the family and the greed for gold. But in reality this +government is by the rich men, who let the poor men vote and think they +have a share in the government, thus to keep them contented with their +poverty. The third form of government is proletariat socialism in which +the people, having abolished kings and rich men, attempt to govern +themselves; but this they cannot do for the same reason that a man +cannot lift himself by his shoestraps--"</p> + +<p>At this point Bruno faltered and his face went chalky white. The teacher +being directly in front of the standing pupil did not see what had +happened, while I, with fleeting memory of my own school days, +suppressed my mirth behind a formal countenance, as the stoic Bruno +resumed his seat.</p> + +<p>The master marked zero on the roll and called upon Conrad, next in line, +to finish the recitation.</p> + +<p>"The fourth and last form of government," recited Conrad, "is autocratic +socialism, the perfect government that we Germans have evolved from +proletariat socialism which had destroyed the greed for private property +and private family life, so that the people ceased to struggle +individually and were ready to accept the Royal House, divinely +appointed by God to govern them perfectly and prepare them to make war +for the conquest of the world."</p> + +<p>The recitations now turned to repetitions of the pedigree and ranking of +the various branches of the Royal House. But it was a mere list of names +like the begats of Genesis and I was not able to profit much by this +opportunity to improve my own neglected education. As the morning wore +on the parrot-like monologues shifted to elementary chemistry.</p> + +<p>The master had gone entirely through the alphabet of names and now +called again the apt Anton for a more brilliant demonstration of his +system of teaching. "Since we have with us a chemist who has achieved +powers of original thought, I will permit you, Anton, to demonstrate +that even at the tender age of twelve you are capable of +original thought."</p> + +<p>Anton rose gravely and stood at attention. "And what shall I think +about?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"About anything you like," responded the liberal minded schoolmaster, +"provided it is limited to your permitted field of psychic activity."</p> + +<p>Anton tilted back his head and gazed raptly at a portrait of the Mighty +William. "I think," he said, "that the water molecule is made of two +atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen."</p> + +<p>A number of the boys shook their heads in disapproval, evidently +recognizing the thought as not being original, but the teacher waited in +respectful silence for the founts of originality to burst forth in +Anton's mind.</p> + +<p>"And I think," continued Anton, "that if the water molecule were made of +four atoms of nitrogen and one of oxygen, it would be a great economy, +for after we had bathed in the water we could evaporate it and make air +and breath it, and after we had breathed it we could condense it again +and use it to drink--"</p> + +<p>"But that would be unsanitary," piped a voice from the back of the room.</p> + +<p>To this interruption Anton, without taking his gaze from the face of +William, replied, "Of course it would if we didn't sterilize it, but I +was coming to that. We would sterilize it each time."</p> + +<p>The master now designated two boys to take to the guardhouse of the +school the lad who had spoken without permission. He then produced a red +cardboard cross adorned with the imperial eagle and crossed test-tubes +of the chemists' insignia and I was honoured by being asked to decorate +Anton for his brilliant exploit in original thought.</p> + +<p>"Our intellectual work of the day is over," resumed the master, "but in +honour of our guest we will have, a day in advance, our weekly exercises +in emotion. Heinrich, you may recite for us the category of emotions."</p> + +<p>"The permitted emotions," said Heinrich, "are: First, anger, which we +should feel when a weak enemy offends us. Second, hate, which is a +higher form of anger, which we should feel when a powerful enemy offends +us. Third, sadness, which we should feel when we suffer. Fourth, mirth, +which we should feel when our enemy suffers. Fifth, courage, which we +feel at all times because we believe in our strength. Sixth, +humility, which we +should feel only before our superiors. Seventh, and greatest, is pride, +which we should feel at all times because we are Germans.</p> + +<p>"The forbidden emotions are very numerous. The chief ones which we must +guard against are: First, pity, which is a sadness when our enemy +suffers; to feel this is exceedingly wicked. Second, envy, which is a +feeling that some one else is better than we are, which we must not feel +at all because it is destructive of pride. Third, fear, which is a lack +of courage. Fourth, love, which is a confession of weakness, and is +permissible only to women and dogs."</p> + +<p>"Very good," said the master, "I will now grant you permission to feel +some of the permitted +emotions. We will first conduct a chemical experiment. I have in this +bottle a dangerous explosive and as I drop in this pellet it may explode +and kill us all, but you must show courage and not fear." He held the +pellet above the mouth of the bottle, but his eyes were on his pupils. +As he dropped the pellet into the bottle, he knocked over with his foot +a slab of concrete, which fell to the floor with a resounding crash. A +few of the boys jumped in their seats, and the master gravely marked +them as deficient in courage.</p> + +<p>"You now imagine that you are adult chemists and that the enemy has +produced a new form of gas bomb, a gas against which we have no +protection. They are dropping the gas bombs into our ventilating shafts +and are killing our soldiers in the mines. You hate the enemy--hate +hard--make your faces black with hate and rage. Adolph, you are +expressing mere anger. There, that is better. You never can be a good +German until you learn to hate.</p> + +<p>"And now we will have a permitted emotion that you all enjoy; the +privilege to feel mirth is a thing for which you should be grateful.</p> + +<p>"An enemy came flying over Berlin--and this is a true story. I can +remember when it happened. The roof guard shot at him and winged his +plane, and he came down in his parachute, which missed the roof of the +city and fell to the earth outside the walls but within the first ring +of the ray defences. He knew that he could not pass beyond this and he +wandered about for many days within range of the glasses of the roof +guards. When he was nearly starved he came near the wall and waved his +white kerchief, which meant he wished to surrender and be taken into +the city."</p> + +<p>At this point one of the boys tittered, and the master stopped his story +long enough to mark a credit for this first laugh.</p> + +<p>"As the enemy aviator continued to walk about waving his cowardly flag +another enemy plane saw him and let down a line, but the roof guards +shelled and destroyed the plane. Then other planes came and attempted to +pick up the man with lines. In all seven planes were destroyed in +attempting to rescue one man. It was very foolish and very comical. At +last the eighth plane came and succeeded in reaching the man a line +without being winged. The roof batteries shot at the plane in vain--then +the roof gunners became filled with good German hate, and one of them +aimed, not at the plane, but at the man swinging on the unstable wire +line two thousand metres beneath. The shell exploded so near that the +man disappeared as by magic, and the plane flew off with the empty +dangling line."</p> + +<p>As the story was finished the boys who had listened with varying degrees +of mechanical smiles now broke out into a chorus of raucous laughter. It +was a forced unnatural laughter such as one hears from a bad actor +attempting to express mirth he does not feel.</p> + +<p>When the boys had ceased their crude guffaws the master asked, "Why did +you laugh?"</p> + +<p>"Because," answered Conrad, "the enemy were so stupid as to waste seven +planes trying to save one man."</p> + +<p>"That is fine," said the master; "we should always laugh when our enemy +is stupid, because then he suffers without knowing why he suffers. If +the enemy were not stupid they would cease fighting and permit us to +rule them and breed the stupidity out of them, as it has been bred out +of the Germans by our good old God and the divine mind of the House of +Hohenzollern."</p> + +<p>The boys were now dismissed for a recess and went into the gymnasium to +play leap frog. But the sad-eyed Bruno promptly returned and saluted.</p> + +<p>"You may speak," said the master.</p> + +<p>"I wish, Herr Teacher," said Bruno, "to petition you for permission to +fight with Conrad."</p> + +<p>"But you must not begin a fight," admonished the master, "unless you can +attach to your opponent the odium of causing the strife."</p> + +<p>"But he did cause the odium," said Bruno; "he stuck it into my leg with +a pin while I was reciting. The Herr Father saw him do it, "--and the +boy turned his eyes towards me in sad and serious appeal.</p> + +<p>The schoolmaster glanced at me inquiringly and I corroborated the lad's +accusation.</p> + +<p>"Then," said the master, "you have a <i>casus belli</i> that is actually +true, and if you can make Conrad admit his guilt I will exchange your +mark for his."</p> + +<p>Bruno saluted again and started to leave. Then he turned back and said, +"But Conrad is two kilograms heavier than I am, and he may not +admit it."</p> + +<p>"Then," said the teacher, "you must know that I cannot exchange the +marks, for victory in a fight compensates for the fault that caused it. +But if you wish I will change the marks now, but then you cannot fight."</p> + +<p>"But I wish to fight," said Bruno, "and so does Conrad. We arranged it +before recitation that he was to stick me with the pin."</p> + +<p>"Such diplomacy!" exulted the master when the lad had gone, "and to +think that they can only be chemists!"</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>As the evening hour drew near which I had set for my call on the first +of the potential mothers assigned me by the Eugenic Staff, I re-read the +rules for my conduct:</p> + +<p>"On the occasion of this visit you must wear a full dress uniform, +including all orders, decorations and badges of rank and service to +which you are entitled. This is very important and you should call +attention thereto and explain the full dignity and importance of your +rank and decorations.</p> + +<p>"When you call you will first present the card of authorization. You +will then present your identification folder and extol the worth and +character of your pedigree.</p> + +<p>"Then you will ask to see the pedigree of the woman, and will not fail +to comment favourably thereon. If she be already a mother you will +inquire in regard to her children. If she be not a mother, you will +supplicate her to speak of her potential children. You will extol the +virtue of her offspring--or her visions thereof,--and will not fail to +speak favourably of their promise of becoming great chemists whose +service will redound to the honour of the German race and the +Royal House.</p> + +<p>"After the above mentioned matters have been properly spoken of, you may +compliment the mother upon her own intelligence and fitness as a mother +of scientists. But you will refrain from all reference to her beauty of +person, lest her thoughts be diverted from her higher purpose to matters +of personal amours.</p> + +<p>"You will not prolong your call beyond the hours consistent with dignity +and propriety, nor permit the mother to perceive your disposition +toward her."</p> + +<p>Surely nothing in such formal procedure could be incompatible with my +own ideals of propriety. Taking with me my card of authorization bearing +the name "Frau Karoline, daughter of Ernest Pfeiffer, Director of the +Perfume Works," I now ventured to the Level of Maternity.</p> + +<p>Countless women passed me as I walked along. They were erect of form and +plain of feature, with expressions devoid of either intelligence or +passion. Garbed in formless robes of sombre grey, like saints +of song and story, they went their way with solemn resignation. Some of +them led small children by the hand; others pushed perambulators +containing white robed infants being taken to or from the nurseries for +their scheduled stays in the mothers' individual apartments.</p> + +<p>The actions of the mothers were as methodical as well trained nurses. In +their faces was the cold, pallid light of the mother love of the +madonnas of art, uncontaminated by the fretful excitement of the mother +love in a freer and more uncertain world.</p> + +<p>Even the children seemed wooden cherubim. They were physically healthy +beyond all blemish, but they cooed and smiled in a subdued manner. +Already the ever present "<i>verboten</i>" of an ordered life seemed to have +crept into the small souls and repressed the instincts of anarchy and +the aspirations of individualism. As I walked among these madonnas of +science and their angelic offspring, I felt as I imagined a man of +earthly passions would feel if suddenly loosed in a mediaeval and +orthodox heaven; for everything about me breathed peace, goodness, +and coldness.</p> + +<p>At the door of her apartment Frau Karoline greeted me with formal +gravity. She was a young woman of twenty years, with a high forehead and +piercing eyes. Her face was mobile but her manner possessed the dignity +of the matron assured of her importance in the world. Her only child was +at the nursery at the time, in accordance with the rules of the level +that forbids a man to see his step-children. But a large photograph, +aided by Frau Karoline's fulsome description and eulogies, gave me a +very clear picture of the high order of the young chemist's intelligence +though that worthy had but recently passed his first birthday.</p> + +<p>The necessary matters of the inspection of pedigrees and the signing of +my card of authorization had been conducted by the young mother with the +cool self-possession of a well disciplined school-mistress. Her attitude +and manner revealed the thoroughness of her education and training for +her duties and functions in life. And yet, though she relieved me so +skilfully of what I feared would be an embarrassing situation, I +conceived an intense dislike for this most exemplary young mother, for +she made me feel that a man was a most useless and insignificant +creature to be tolerated as a necessary evil in this maternal world.</p> + +<p>"Surely," said Frau Karoline, as I returned her pedigree, "you could not +do better for your first born child than to honour me with his +motherhood. Not only is my pedigree of the purest of chemical lines, +reaching back to the establishment of the eugenic control, but I myself +have taken the highest honours in the training for motherhood."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I acknowledged, "you seem very well trained."</p> + +<p>"I am particularly well versed," she continued, "in maternal psychology; +and I have successfully cultivated calmness. In the final tests before +my confirmation for maternity I was found to be entirely free from +erotic and sentimental emotions."</p> + +<p>"But," I ventured, "is not maternal love a sentimental emotion?"</p> + +<p>"By no means," replied Frau Karoline. "Maternal love of the highest +order, such as I possess, is purely intellectual; it recognizes only the +passions for the greatness of race and the glory of the Royal House. +Such love must be born of the intellect; that is why we women of the +scientific group are the +best of all mothers. Thus, were I not wholly free from weak +sentimentality, I might desire that my second child be sired by the +father of my first, but the Eugenic Office has determined that I would +bear a stronger child from a younger father, therefore I acquiesced to +their change of assignment without emotion, as becomes a proper mother +of our well bred race. My first child is extremely intellectual but he +is not quite perfect physically, and a mother such as I should bear only +perfect children. That alone is the supreme purpose of motherhood. Do +you not see that I am fitted for perfect motherhood?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied, as I recalled that my instructions were to pay +compliments, "you seem to be a perfect mother."</p> + +<p>But the cold and logical perfection of Frau Karoline dampened my +curiosity and oppressed my spirit of adventure, and I closed the +interview with all possible speed and fled headlong to the nearest +elevator that would carry me from the level.</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>In my first experience I had suffered nothing worse than an embarrassing +half hour, so, with more confidence I pressed the bell the second +evening, at the apartment of Frau Augusta, daughter of Gustave Schnorr, +Authority on Synthetic Nicotine.</p> + +<p>Frau Augusta was a woman of thirty-five. She was well-preserved, more +handsome and less coldly inhuman than the younger woman.</p> + +<p>"We will get the formalities over since you have been told they are +necessary," said Frau Augusta, as she reached for my card and folder +and, at the same time, handing me her own pedigree.</p> + +<p>Peering over the top of the chart that recorded the antecedents of +Gustave Schnorr, I saw his daughter going through my own folder with the +business-like dispatch of a society dowager examining the "character" of +a new housemaid.</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes," she said, raising her brows. "I thought I knew the family. +Your Uncle Otto was my second mate. He is the father of my third son and +my twin girls. I have no more promising children. Have you ever met him? +He is in the aluminum tempering laboratories."</p> + +<p>I could only stare stupidly, struck dumb with embarrassment.</p> + +<p>"No, I suppose not," went on Frau Augusta, "it is hardly to be expected +since you have upwards of a hundred uncles." She arose and, going toward +a shelf where half a dozen pictures of half a dozen men reposed in an +orderly row, took the second one of the group and handed it to me.</p> + +<p>"He is a fine man," she said, with a very full degree of pride for a +past and partial possession. "I fear the Staff erred in transferring +him, but then of course the twin girls were most unexpected and +unfortunate since the Armstadt line is supposed to sire seventy-five per +cent, male offspring.</p> + +<p>"What do you think? Isn't the Eugenic Office a little unfair at times? +My fifth man thought so. He said it was a case of politics. I don't +know. I thought politics was something ancient that they had in old +books like churches and families."</p> + +<p>"I am sure I do not know," I murmured, as I fumbled the portrait of my +putative uncle.</p> + +<p>"Of course," continued the voluble Fran Augusta, "you must not think I +am criticizing the authorities. It is all very necessary. And for the +most part I think they have done very well by me. My ten children have +six fathers. All of them but the first were men of most gracious manner +and superior intelligence. The first one had his paternity right +revoked, so I feel satisfied on that score, even if his son is not +gifted--and yet the boy has beautiful hair--I think he would make an +excellent violinist. But then perhaps he wouldn't have been able to +play, so maybe it is all right, though I would think music would be more +easily learned than chemistry. But then since I cannot read either I +ought not to judge. I will show you his picture. I may as well show you +all their pictures. I don't see why you elected fathers should not see +our children--but then I suppose it might produce quarrels. Some women +are so foolish and insist on talking about the children they have +already borne in a way that makes a man feel that his own children could +never come up to them. Now I never do that. Why should one? The future +is always more interesting than the past. I haven't a single child that +has not won the porcelain cross for obedience. Even my youngest--he is +only fourteen months--obeys as if he were a full grown man. Some say +mental and physical excellence are not correlated--but that is a +prejudice because of those great labour beasts. There isn't one of my +children that has fallen below the minimum growth standards, except my +third daughter, and her father was undersized, so it is no fault +of mine."</p> + +<p>As the loquacious mother chattered on, she produced an album, through +which I now turned, inspecting the annual photographs of her blond +brood, each of which was labelled with the statistics of physical growth +and the tests of psychic development.</p> + +<p>Strive as I might I could think of no comments to make, but the mother +came to the rescue. Unfastening the binding of the loose leaf album she +hastily shuffled the sheets and brought into an orderly array on the +table before me ten photographs all taken at the age of one year. "That +is the only fair way to view them," she said, "for of course one cannot +compare the picture of a boy of fifteen with an infant of one year. But +at an equal age the comparison is fair to all and now you can surely +tell me which is the most intelligent."</p> + +<p>I gazed hopelessly at the infantile portraits which, despite their +varied paternity, looked as alike as a row of peas in a pod.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Frau Augusta, "after all is it fair to ask you, since +the twins are your cousins?"</p> + +<p>Desperately I wondered which were the twins.</p> + +<p>"They resemble you quite remarkably, don't you think so? Except that +your hair is quite dark for an Armstadt." Frau Augusta turned and +glanced furtively at my identification folder. "Of course! your mother. +I had almost forgotten who your mother was, but now I remember, she had +most remarkably dark hair. It will probably prove a dominant +characteristic and your children will also be dark haired. Now I should +like that by way of a change."</p> + +<p>I became alarmed at this turn of the conversation toward the more +specific function of my visit, and +resolved to make my exit with all possible speed "consistent with +dignity and propriety."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, as she reassembled the scattered sheets of the portrait +album, the official mother chattered on concerning her children's +attributes, while I shifted uneasily in my chair and looked about the +room for my hat--forgetting in my embarrassment that I was dwelling in a +sunless, rainless city and possessed no hat.</p> + +<p>At last there was a lull in the monologue and I arose and said I must be +going.</p> + +<p>Frau Augusta looked pained and I recalled that I had not yet +complimented her upon her intelligence and fitness to be the mother of +coming generations of chemical scientists, but I stubbornly resolved not +to resume my seat.</p> + +<p>"You are young," said Frau Augusta, who had risen and shifted her +position till she stood between me and the door. "Surely you have not +yet made many calls on the maternity level." Then she sighed, "I do not +see why they assign a man only three names to select from. Surely they +could be more liberal." She paused and her face hardened. "And to think +that you men are permitted to call as often as you like upon those +degenerate hussies who have been forbidden the sacred duties of +motherhood. It is a very wicked institution, that level of lust--some +day we women--we mothers of Berlin--will rise in our wrath and see that +they are banished to the mines, for they produce nothing but sin and +misery in this man-made world."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, "the system is very wrong, but--"</p> + +<p>"But the authorities, you need not say it, I have heard it all before, +the authorities, always the authorities. Why should men always be the +authorities? Why do we mothers of Berlin have no rights? Why are we not +consulted in these matters? Why must we always submit?"</p> + +<p>Then suddenly, and very much to my surprise, she placed her hands upon +my shoulders and said hoarsely: "Tell me about the Free Level. Are the +women there more beautiful than I?"</p> + +<p>"No," I said, "very few of them are beautiful, and those of the labour +groups are most gross and stupid."</p> + +<p>"Then why," wailed Frau Augusta, "was I not allowed to go? Why was I +penned up here and made to bear children when others revel in the +delights of love and song and laughter?"</p> + +<p>"But," I said, shocked at this unexpected revelation of character, +"yours is the more honourable, more virtuous life. You were chosen for +motherhood because you are a woman of superior intelligence."</p> + +<p>"It's a lie," cried Frau Augusta. "I have no intelligence. I want none. +But I am as beautiful as they. But no, they would not let me go. They +penned me up here with these saintly mothers and these angelic children. +Children, children everywhere, millions and millions of them, and not a +man but doctors, and you elected fathers who are sent here to bring us +pain and sorrow. You say nothing of love--your eyes are cold. The last +one said he loved me--the brute! He came but thrice, when my child was +born he sent me a flower. But that is the official rule. And I hate him, +and hate his child that has his lying eyes."</p> + +<p>The distraught woman covered her face with her hands and burst into +violent weeping.</p> + +<p>When she had ceased her sobs I tried to explain to her the philosophy of +contentment with life's lot. I told her of the seamy side of the gown +that cloaks licentiousness and of the sorrows and bitterness of the +ashes of burned out love. With the most iridescent words at my command I +painted for her the halo of the madonna's glory, and translated for her +the English verse that informs us that there is not a flower in any +land, nor a pearl in any sea, that is as beautiful and lovely as any +child on any mother's knee.</p> + +<p>But I do not think I altogether consoled Frau Augusta for my German +vocabulary was essentially scientific, not poetic. But I made a noble +effort and when I left her I felt very much the preacher, for the +function of the preacher, not unlike death, is to make us cling to those +ills we have when we would fly to others that we know not of.</p> + +<h3>~5~</h3> + +<p>There remained but one card unsigned of the three given me.</p> + +<p>Frau Matilda, daughter of Siegfried Oberwinder, Analine Analyst, was +registered as eighteen and evidently an inexperienced mother-elect as I +was a father-elect. The nature of the man is to hold the virgin above +the madonna, and in starting on my third journey to the maternity level, +I found hitherto inexperienced feelings tugging at my heartstrings and +resolved that whatever she might be, I would be dignified and formal yet +most courteous and kind.</p> + +<p>My ring was answered by a slender, frightened girl. She was so shy that +she could only nod for me to enter. I offered my card and folder, +smiling to reassure her, but she retreated precipitously into a far +corner and sat staring at me beseechingly with big grey eyes that seemed +the only striking feature of her small pinched face.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry if I frighten you," I said, "but of course you know that I +am sent by the eugenic authorities. I will not detain you long. All that +is really necessary is for you to sign this card."</p> + +<p>She timidly signed the card and returned it to the corner of the table.</p> + +<p>I felt extremely sorry for the fluttering creature; and, knowing that I +could not alter her lot, I sought to speak words of encouragement. "If +you find it hard now," I said, "it is only because you are young and a +stranger to life, but you will be recompensed when you know the joys of +motherhood."</p> + +<p>At my words a look of consecrated purpose glowed in the girl's white +face. "Oh, yes," she said eagerly. "I wish very much to be a mother. I +have studied so hard to learn. I wish only to give myself to the holy +duties of maternity. But I am so afraid."</p> + +<p>"But you need not be afraid of me," I said. "This is only a formal call +which I have made because the Eugenic Staff ordered it so. But it seems +to me that some better plan might be made for these meetings. Some +social life might be arranged so that you would become acquainted with +the men who are to be the fathers of your children under less +embarrassing circumstances."</p> + +<p>"I try so hard not to be afraid of men, for I know they are necessary to +eugenics."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said dryly, "I suppose they are, though I think I would prefer +to put it that the love of man and woman is necessary to parenthood."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," she said in a frightened voice, "not that, that is very +wicked."</p> + +<p>"So you were taught that you should not love men? No wonder you are +afraid of them."</p> + +<p>"I was taught to respect men for they are the fathers of children," she +replied.</p> + +<p>"Then," I asked, deciding to probe the philosophy of the education for +maternity, "why are not the fathers permitted to enjoy their fatherhood +and live with the mother and the children?"</p> + +<p>Frau Matilda now gazed at me with open-mouthed astonishment. "What a +beautiful idea!" she exclaimed with rapture.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I rather like it myself--the family--"</p> + +<p>"The family!" cried the girl in horror.</p> + +<p>"That is what we were talking about."</p> + +<p>"But the family is forbidden. It is very wrong, very uneugenic. You must +be a wicked man to speak to me of that."</p> + +<p>"You have been taught some very foolish ideas," I replied.</p> + +<p>"How dare you!" she cried, in alarm. "I have been taught what is right, +and I want to do what is right and loyal. I passed all my examinations. +I am a good mother-elect, and you say these forbidden things to me. You +talk of love and families. You insult me. And if you select me, I +shall--I shall claim exemption,--"and with that she rose and darted +through the inner door.</p> + +<p>I waited for a time and then gently approached the door, which I saw had +swung to with springs and had neither latch nor lock. My gentle rap upon +the hollow panel was answered by a muffled sob. I realized the +hopelessness of further words and silently turned from the door and left +the apartment.</p> + +<p>The streets of the level were almost deserted for the curfew had rung +and the lights glowed dim as in a hospital ward at night. I hurried +silently along, shut in by enclosing walls and the lowering ceiling of +the street. From everywhere I seemed to feel upon me the beseeching, +haunting grey eyes of Frau Matilda. My soul was troubled, for it seemed +to stagger beneath the burden of its realization of a lost humanity. And +with me walked grey shadows of other men, felt-footed through the gloom, +and they walked hurriedly as men fleeing from a house of death.</p> + +<h3>~6~</h3> + +<p>My next duty as a German father-elect was to report to the Eugenic +Office. There at least I could deal with men; and there I went, nursing +rebellion yet trying my utmost to appear outwardly calm.</p> + +<p>To the clerk I offered my three signed cards by way of introduction.</p> + +<p>"And which do you select?" asked the oldish man over his rimless +glasses.</p> + +<p>"None."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you must."</p> + +<p>"But what if I refuse to do so?"</p> + +<p>"That is most unusual."</p> + +<p>"But does it ever happen?"</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," admitted the clerk, "but only by Petition Extraordinary to +the Chief of the Staff. But it is most unusual, and if he refuses to +grant it you may be dishonoured even to the extent of having your +election to paternity suspended, may be even permanently cancelled."</p> + +<p>"You mean"--I stammered.</p> + +<p>"Exactly--you refuse to accept any one of the three women when all are +most scientifically selected for you. Does it not throw some doubts upon +your own psychic fitness for mating at all? If I may suggest, Herr +Colonel--it would be wiser for you to select some one of the three--you +have yet plenty of time."</p> + +<p>"No," I said, trying to hide my elation. "I will not do so. I will make +the Petition Extraordinary to your chief."</p> + +<p>"Now?" stammered the clerk.</p> + +<p>"Yes, now; how do I go about it?"</p> + +<p>"You must first consult the Investigator."</p> + +<p>After a few formalities I was conducted to that official.</p> + +<p>"You refuse to make selection?" inquired the Investigator.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because," I replied, "I am engaged upon some chemical research of most +unusual nature--"</p> + +<p>"Yes," nodded the Investigator, "I have just looked that up. The more +reason you should be honoured with paternity."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," I said, "you are not informed of the grave importance of the +research. If you will consult Herr von Uhl of the Chemical Staff--"</p> + +<p>"Entirely unnecessary," he retorted; "paternity is also important. +Besides it takes but little time. No more than you need for recreation."</p> + +<p>"But I do not find it recreation. I have not been able to concentrate my +mind on my work since I received notice of my election to paternity."</p> + +<p>"But you were warned against this," he said; "you have no right to +permit the development of disturbing romantic emotions. They may be bad +for your work, but they are worse for eugenics. So, if you have made +romantic love to the mothers of Berlin, your case must be investigated."</p> + +<p>"But I have not."</p> + +<p>"Then why has this disturbed you?"</p> + +<p>"Because," I replied, "this system of scientific paternity offends my +instincts."</p> + +<p>The investigator ogled me craftily. "What system would you prefer +instead?" he asked.</p> + +<p>I saw he was trying to trap me into disloyal admissions. "I have nothing +to propose," I stated. "I only know that I find the paternity system +offensive to me, and that the position I am placed in incapacitates me +for my work."</p> + +<p>The investigator made some notes on a pad.</p> + +<p>"That is all for the present," he said. "I will refer your case to the +Chief."</p> + +<p>Two days later I received an order to report at once to Dr. Ludwig +Zimmern, Chief of the Eugenic Staff.</p> + +<p>The Chief, with whom I was soon cloistered, was a man of about sixty +years. His face revealed a greater degree of intelligence than I had yet +observed among the Germans, nor was his demeanour that of haughty +officiousness, for a kindly warmth glowed in his soft dark eyes.</p> + +<p>"I have a report here," said Dr. Zimmern, "from my Investigator. He +recommends that your rights of paternity be revoked on the grounds that +he believes yours to be a case of atavistic radicalism. In short he +thinks you are rebellious by instinct, and that you are therefore unsafe +to father the coming generation. It is part of the function of this +office to breed the rebellious instinct out of the German race. What +have you to say in answer to these charges?"</p> + +<p>"I do not want to seem rebellious," I stammered, "but I wish to be +relieved of this duty."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Zimmern, "you may be relieved. If you have no +objection I will sign the recommendation as it stands."</p> + +<p>Surely, I thought, this man does not seem very bitter toward my +traitorous instincts.</p> + +<p>Zimmern smiled and eyed me curiously. "You know," he said, "that to +possess a thought and to speak of it indiscreetly are two +different things."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," I replied, emboldened by his words. "A man cannot do +original work in science if he possesses a mind that never thinks +contrary to the established order of things."</p> + +<p>The clerks in the outer office must have thought my case a grievous one +for I was closeted with their chief for nearly an hour. Though our +conversation was vague and guarded, I knew that I had discovered in Dr. +Ludwig Zimmern, Chief of the Eugenic Staff, a man guilty himself of the +very crime of possessing rebellious instincts for which he had decided +me unfit to sire German children. And when I finally took my leave I +carried with me his private card and an invitation to call at his +apartment to continue our conversation.</p> + +<h3>~7~</h3> + +<p>In the weeks that followed, my acquaintance with the Chief of the +Eugenic Staff ripened rapidly into a warm friendship. The frank manner +in which he revealed his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in +Germany pleased me greatly. Zimmern was interested in my chemical +researches and quickly comprehended their importance.</p> + +<p>"I know so little of chemistry," he deplored, "yet on it our whole life +hangs. That is why I am so glad of an opportunity to talk to you. I do +not approve of so much ignorance of each other's work on the part of our +scientists. Our old university system was better. Then a scientist in +any field knew something of the science in all fields. But now we are +specialized from childhood. Take, for example, yourself. You are at work +on a great problem by which all of our labour stands to be undone if you +chemists do not solve it, and yet you do not understand how we will all +be undone. I think you should know more of what it means, then you will +work better. Is it not so?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," I said, "but I have little time. I am working too hard now."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Zimmern, "you should spend more time in pleasure on the +Free Level. Two days ago I conferred with the Emperor's Advisory Staff, +and I learned that grave changes are threatened. That is one reason I am +so interested in this protium on which you chemists are working. If you +do not solve this problem and replenish the food supply, the Emperor has +decided that the whole Free Level with its five million women must be +abolished. His Majesty will have no half-way measures. He is afraid to +take part of these women away, lest the intellectual workers rebel like +the labourers did in the last century when their women were taken away +piecemeal."</p> + +<p>"But what will His Majesty do with these five million women?" I +inquired, eagerly desirous to learn more.</p> + +<p>"Do? What can he do with the women?" exclaimed Dr. Zimmern in a low +pitched but vibrant voice. "He thinks he will make workers of them. He +does not seem to appreciate how specialized they are for pleasure. He +will make machine tenders of them to relieve the workmen, who are to be +made soldiers. He would make surface soldiers out of these blind moles +of the earth, put amber glasses on them and train them to run on the +open ground and carry the war again into the sunlight. It is folly, +sheer folly, and madness. His Majesty, I fear, reads too much of old +books. He always was historically inclined."</p> + +<p>On a later occasion Zimmern gave me the broad outlines of the history of +German Eugenics.</p> + +<p>"Our science of applied Eugenics," he said, "began during the Second +World War. Our scientists had long known that the same laws of heredity +by which plants and animals had been bred held true with man, but they +had been afraid to apply those laws to man because the religion of that +day taught that men had souls and that human life was something too +sacred to be supervised by science. But William III was a very fearless +man, and he called the scientists together and asked them to outline a +plan for the perfection of the German race.</p> + +<p>"At first all they advocated was that paternity be restricted to the +superior men. This broke up the old-fashioned family where every man +chose his own wife and sired as many children as he liked. There were +great mutterings about that, and if we had not been at war, there would +have been rebellion. The Emperor told the people it was a military +necessity. The death toll of war then was great and there was urgent +need to increase the birth rate, so the people submitted and women soon +ceased to complain because they could no longer have individual +husbands. The children were supported by the state, and if they had +legitimate fathers of the approved class they were left in the mothers' +care. As all women who were normal and healthy were encouraged to bear +children, there was a great increase in the birth rate, which came near +resulting in the destruction of the race by starvation.</p> + +<p>"As soon as a sufficient number of the older generation that had +believed in the religious significance of the family and marriage system +had died out, the ambitious eugenists set about to make other reforms. +The birth rate was cut down by restricting the privilege of motherhood +to a selected class of women. The other women were instructed in the +arts of pleasing man and avoiding maternity, and that is where we have +the origin of our free women. In those days they were free to associate +with men of all classes. Indeed any other plan would at first have been +impossible.</p> + +<p>"A second fault was that the superior men for whom paternity was +permitted were selected from the official and intellectual classes. The +result was that the quality of the labourers deteriorated. So two +strains were established, the one for the production of the intellectual +workers, and the other for producing manual workers. From time to time +this specialization has increased until now we have as many strains of +inheritance as there are groups of useful characteristics known to be +hereditary.</p> + +<p>"We have produced some effects," mused Zimmern, "which were not +anticipated, and which have been calling forth considerable criticism. +His Majesty sends me memorandums nearly every year, after he reviews the +maternity levels, insisting that the feminine beauty of the race is, as +a whole, deteriorating. And yet this is logical enough. With the +exception of our small actor-model strain, the characteristics for which +we breed have only the most incidental relation to feminine beauty. The +type of the labour female is, as you have seen, a buxom, fleshly beauty; +youth and full nutrition are essential to its display, and it soon +fades. In the scientific strains +it seems that the power of original thought correlates with a feminine +type that is certainly not beautiful. Doubtless not understanding this +you may have felt that you were discriminated against in your +assignment. But the clerical mind with its passion for monotonous +repetition of petty mental processes seems to correlate with the most +exquisite and refined feminine features. Those scintillating beauties on +the Free Level who have ever at their beck our wisest men are from our +clerical strain,--but of course they are only the rejects. It is +unfortunate that you cannot see the more privileged specimens in the +clerical maternity level.</p> + +<p>"But I digress to that which is of no consequence. The beauty of women +is unimportant but the number +of women is very important. When some women were specialized for +motherhood then there were surplus women. At first they made workers of +them. The war was then conducted on a larger scale than now. We had not +yet fully specialized the soldier class. All the young men went to war; +and, when they came back and went to work, they became bitterly jealous +of the women workers and made an outcry that those who could not fight +should not work. The men workers drove the women from industry, hoping +thereby each to possess a mistress. As a result the great number of +unproductive women was a drain upon the state. All sorts of schemes were +proposed to reduce the number of female births but most of these were +unscientific. In studying the records it was found that the offspring of +certain men were predominantly males. By applying this principle of +selection we have, with successive generations, been able to reduce the +proportion of female births to less than half the old rate.</p> + +<p>"But the sexual impulse of the labourers made them restless and +rebellious, and the support of the free women for these millions of +workers was a great economic waste. When animals had been bred to large +size and great strength their sexuality had decreased, while their power +as beasts of burden increased. The same principle applied to man has +resulted in more docile workers. By beginning with the soldiers and mine +workers, who were kept away from women, and by combining proper training +with the hereditary selection, we solved that problem and removed all +knowledge of women from the minds of the workmen."</p> + +<p>"But how about paternity among the workers?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Those who are selected are removed to special isolated quarters. They +are told they are being taken to serve as His Majesty's body guard; and +they never go back to mingle with their fellows."</p> + +<p>I then related for the doctor my conversation with the workman who asked +me about women.</p> + +<p>"So," said Zimmern, "there has been a leak somewhere; knowledge is hard +to bottle. Still we have bottled most of it and the labourer accepts his +loveless lot. But it could not be done with the intellectual worker."</p> + +<p>Dr. Zimmern smiled cynically. "At least," he added, "we don't propose to +admit that it can be done. And that, Col. Armstadt, is what I was +remarking about the other evening. Unless you chemists can solve the +protium problem, Germany must cut her population swiftly, if we do not +starve out altogether. His Majesty's plan to turn the workmen into +soldiers and make workers of the free women will not solve it. It is too +serious for that. The Emperor's talk about the day being at hand is all +nonsense. He knows and we know that these mongrel herds, as he calls the +outside enemy, are not so degenerate.</p> + +<p>"We may have improved the German stock in some ways by our scientific +breeding, but science cannot do much in six generations, and what we +have accomplished, I as a member of the Eugenist Staff, can assure you +has really been attained as much by training as by breeding, though the +breeding is given the credit. Our men are highly specialized, and once +outside the walls of Berlin they will find things so different that this +very specialization will prove a handicap. The mongrel peoples are more +adaptable. Our workmen and soldiers are large in physique, but dwarfed +of intellect. The enemy will beat us in open war, and, even if we should +be victorious in war, we could not rule them. Either we solve this food +business or we all turn soldiers and go out into the blinding sunlight +and die fighting."</p> + +<p>I ventured as a wild remark: "At least, if we get outside there will be +plenty of women."</p> + +<p>The older man looked at me with the superiority of age towards youth. +"Young man," he said, "you have not read history; you do not understand +this love and family doctrine; it exists in the outside world today just +as it did two centuries ago. The Germans in the days of the old surface +wars made too free with the enemy's women, and that is why they ran us +into cover here and penned us up. These mongrel people will fight for +their women when they will fight for nothing else. We have not bred all +the lust out of our workmen either. It is merely dormant. Once they are +loosed in the outer world they will not understand this thing and they +will again make free with the enemy's women, and then we shall all be +exterminated."</p> + +<p>Dr. Zimmern got up and filled a pipe with synthetic tobacco and puffed +energetically as he walked about the room. "What do you say about this +protium ore?" he asked; "will you be able to solve the problem?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, "I think I shall."</p> + +<p>"I hope so," replied my host, "and yet sometimes I do not care; somehow +I want this thing to come to +an end. I want to see what is outside there. I think, perhaps, I would +like to fly.</p> + +<p>"What troubles me is that I do not see how we can ever do it. We have +bred and trained our race into specialization and stupidity. We wouldn't +know how to go out and join this World State if they would let us."</p> + +<p>Dr. Zimmern paced the room in silence for a time. "Do you know," he +said, "I should like to see a negro, a black man with kinky hair--it +must be queer."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered, "there must be many queer things out there."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH I LEARN THAT COMPETITION IS STILL THE LIFE OF THE OLDEST TRADE IN THE WORLD</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>When I told Dr. Zimmern that I should solve the problem of the increase +of the supply of protium I may have been guilty of speaking of hopes as +if they were certainties. My optimism was based on the discovery that +the exact chemical state of the protium in the ore was unknown, and that +it did not exist equally in all samples of the ore.</p> + +<p>After some further months of labour I succeeded in determining the exact +chemical ingredients of the ore, and from this I worked rapidly toward a +new process of extraction that would greatly increase the total yield of +the precious element. But this fact I kept from my assistants whose work +I directed to futile researches while I worked alone after hours in +following up the lead I had discovered.</p> + +<p>During the progress of this work I was not always in the laboratory. I +had become a not infrequent visitor to the Level of the Free Women. The +continuous carnival of amusement had an attraction for me, as it must +have had for any tired and lonely man. But it was not merely the lure of +sensuous pleasures that appealed to me, for I was also fascinated with +the deeper and more tragic aspect of life beneath the gaudy surface of +hectic joy.</p> + +<p>Some generalities I had picked up from observation and chance +conversations. As a primary essential to life on the level I had quickly +learned that money was needed, and my check book was in frequent demand. +The bank provided an aluminum currency for the pettier needs of the +recreational life, but neither the checks nor the currency had had value +on other levels, since there all necessities were supplied without cost +and luxuries were unobtainable. This strange retention of money +circulation and general freedom of personal conduct exclusively on the +Free Level puzzled me. Thus I found that food and drink were here +available for a price, a seeming contradiction to the strict limitations +of the diet served me at my own quarters. At first it seemed I had +discovered a way to defeat that limitation--but there was the weigher to +be considered.</p> + +<p>It was a queer ensemble, this life in the Black Utopia of Berlin, a +combination of a world of rigid mechanistic automatism in the regular +routine of living with rioting individual license in recreational +pleasure. The Free Level seemed some ancient Bagdad, some Bourbon Court, +some Monte Carlo set here, an oasis of flourishing vice in a desert of +sterile law-made, machine-executed efficiency and puritanically ordered +life. Aided by a hundred ingenious wheels and games of chance, men and +women gambled with the coin and credit of the level. These games were +presided over by crafty women whose years were too advanced to permit of +a more personal means of extracting a living from the grosser passions +of man. Some of these aged dames were, I found, quite highly regarded +and their establishments had become the rendezvous for many younger +women who by some arrangement that I could not fathom plied their +traffic in commercialized love under the guidance of these subtler women +who had graduated from the school of long experience in preying +upon man.</p> + +<p>But only the more brilliant women could so establish themselves for the +years of their decline. There were others, many others, whose beauty had +faded without an increase in wit, and these seemed to be serving their +more fortunate sisters, both old and young, in various menial +capacities. It was a strange anachronism in this world where men's more +weighty affairs had been so perfectly socialized, to find woman +retaining, evidently by men's permission, the individualistic right to +exploit her weaker sister.</p> + +<p>The thing confounded me, and yet I recalled the well known views of our +sociological historians who held that it was woman's greater +individualism that had checked the socialistic tendencies of the world. +Had the Germans then achieved and maintained their rigid socialistic +order by retaining this incongruous vestige of feminine commercialism as +a safety valve for the individualistic instincts of the race?</p> + +<p>They called it the Free Level, and I marvelled at the nature of this +freedom. Freedom for licentiousness, for the getting and losing of money +at the wheels of fortune, freedom for temporary gluttony and the mild +intoxication of their flat, ill-flavoured synthetic beer. A tragic +symbol it seemed to me of the ignobility of man's nature, that he will +be a slave in all the loftier aspects of living if he can but retain his +freedom for his vices and corruptions. Had the Germans then, like the +villain of the moral play, a necessary part in the tragedy of man; did +they exist to show the other races of the earth the way they +should not go? But the philosophy of this conception collapsed when I +recalled that for more than a century the world had lost all sight of +the villain and yet had not in the least deteriorated from a lack of the +horrible example.</p> + +<p>From these vaguer speculations concerning the Free Level of Berlin that +existed like a malformed vestigial organ in the body of that socialized +state, my mind came back to the more human, more personal side of the +problem thus presented me. I wanted to know more of the lives of these +women who maintained Germany's remnant of individualism.</p> + +<p>To what extent, I asked myself, have the true instincts of womanhood and +the normal love of man and child been smothered out of the lives of +these girls? What secret rebellions are they nursing in their hearts? I +wondered, too, from what source they came, and why they were selected +for this life, for Zimmern had not adequately enlightened me on +this point.</p> + +<p>Pondering thus on the secret workings in the hearts of these girls, I +sat one evening amid the sensuous beauty of the Hall of Flowers. I +marvelled at how little the Germans seemed to appreciate it, for it was +far less crowded than were the more tawdry places of revelry. Here +within glass encircling walls, preserved through centuries of artificial +existence, feeding from pots of synthetic soil and stimulated by +perpetual light, marvellous botanical creations flourished and flowered +in prodigal profusion. Ponderous warm-hued lilies floated on the +sprinkled surface of the fountain pool. Orchids, dangling from the metal +lattice, hung their sensuous blossoms in vapour-laden air. Luxurious +vines, climatized to this unreal world, clambered over cosy arbours, or +clung with gripping fingers to the mossy concrete pillars.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>I was sitting thus in moody silence watching the play of the fountain, +when, through the mist, I saw the lonely figure of a girl standing in +the shadows of a viny bower. She was toying idly with the swaying +tendrils. Her hair was the unfaded gold of youth. Her pale dress of +silvery grey, unmarred by any clash of colour, hung closely about a form +of wraith-like slenderness.</p> + +<p>I arose and walked slowly toward her. As I approached she turned toward +me a face of flawless girlish beauty, and then as quickly turned away as +if seeking a means of escape.</p> + +<p>"I did not mean to intrude," I said.</p> + +<p>She did not answer, but when I turned to go, to my surprise, she stepped +forward and walked at my side.</p> + +<p>"Why do you come here alone?" she asked shyly, lifting a pensive +questioning face.</p> + +<p>"Because I am tired of all this tawdry noise. But you," I said, "surely +you are not tired of it? You cannot have been here long."</p> + +<p>"No," she replied, "I have not. Only thirty days"; and her blue eyes +gleamed with childish pride.</p> + +<p>"And that is why you seem so different from them all?"</p> + +<p>Timidly she placed her hand upon my arm. "So you," she said gratefully, +"you understand that I am not like them-that is, not yet."</p> + +<p>"You do not act like them," I replied, "and what is more, you act as if +you did not want to be like them. It surely cannot be merely that you +are new here. The other girls when they come seem so eager for this +life, to which they have long been trained. Were you not trained for +it also?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she admitted, "they tried to train me for it, but they could not +kill my artist's soul, for I was +not like these others, born of a strain wherein women can only be +mothers, or, if rejected for that, come here. I was born to be a +musician, a group where women may be something more than mere females."</p> + +<p>"Then why are you here?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"Because," she faltered, "my voice was imperfect. I have, you see, the +soul of an artist but lack the physical means to give that soul +expression. And so they transferred me to the school for free women, +where I have been courted by the young men of the Royal House. But of +course you understand all that."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, "I know something of it; but my work has always so +absorbed me that I have not had time to think of these matters. In fact, +I come to the Free Level much less than most men."</p> + +<p>For a moment, it seemed, her eyes hardened in cunning suspicion, but as +I returned her intent gaze I could fathom only the doubts and fears of +childish innocence.</p> + +<p>"Please let us sit down," I said; "it is so beautiful here; and then +tell me all about yourself, how you have lived your childhood, and what +your problems are. It may be that I can help you."</p> + +<p>"There is not much to tell," she sighed, as she seated herself beside +me. "I was only eight years old when the musical examiners condemned my +voice and so I do not remember much about the music school. In the other +school where they train girls for the life on the Free Level, they +taught us dancing, and how to be beautiful, and always they told us that +we must learn these things so that the men would love us. But the only +men we ever saw were the doctors. They were always old and serious and I +could not understand how I could ever love men. But our teachers would +tell us that the other men would be different. They would be handsome +and young and would dance with us and bring us fine presents. If we were +pleasing in their sight they would take us away, and we should each have +an apartment of our own, and many dresses with beautiful colours, and +there would be a whole level full of wonderful things and we could go +about as we pleased, and dance and feast and all life would be love and +joy and laughter.</p> + +<p>"Then, on the 'Great Day,' when we had our first individual dresses--for +before we had always worn uniforms--the men came. They were young +military officers and members of the Royal House who are permitted to +select girls for their own exclusive love. We were all very shy at +first, but many of the girls made friends with the men and some of them +went away that first day. And after that the men came as often as they +liked and I learned to dance with them, and they made love to me and +told me I was very beautiful. Yet somehow I did not want to go with +them. We had been told that we would love the men who loved us. I don't +know why, but I didn't love any of them. And so the two years passed and +they told me I must come here alone. And so here I am."</p> + +<p>"And now that you are here," I said, "have you not, among all these men +found one that you could love?"</p> + +<p>"No," she said, with a tremor in her voice, "but they say I must."</p> + +<p>"And how," I asked, "do they enforce that rule? Does any one require +you--to accept the men?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied. "I must do that--or starve."</p> + +<p>"And how do you live now?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"They gave me money when I came here, a hundred marks. And they make me +pay to eat and when my money is gone I cannot eat unless I get more. And +the men have all the money, and they pay. They have offered to pay me, +but I refused to take their checks, and they think me stupid."</p> + +<p>The child-like explanation of her lot touched the strings of my heart. +"And how long," I asked, "is this money that is given you when you come +here supposed to last?"</p> + +<p>"Not more than twenty days," she answered.</p> + +<p>"But you," I said, "have been here thirty days!"</p> + +<p>She looked at me and smiled proudly. "But I," she said, "only eat one +meal a day. Do you not see how thin I am?"</p> + +<p>The realization that any one in this scientifically fed city could be +hungry was to me appalling. Yet here was a girl living amidst luxurious +beauty, upon whom society was using the old argument of hunger to force +her acceptance of the love of man.</p> + +<p>I rose and held out my hand. "You shall eat again today," I said.</p> + +<p>"I would rather not," she demurred. "I have not yet accepted favours +from any man."</p> + +<p>"But you must. You are hungry," I protested. "The problem of your +existence here cannot be put off much longer. We will go eat and then we +will try and find some solution."</p> + +<p>Without further objection she walked with me. We found a secluded booth +in a dining hall. I ordered the best dinner that Berlin had to offer.</p> + +<p>During the intervals of silence in our rather halting dinner +conversation, I wrestled with the situation. I had desired to gain +insight into the lives of these girls. Yet now that the opportunity was +presented I did not altogether relish the rôle in which it placed me. +The apparent innocence of the confiding girl seemed to open an easy way +for a personal conquest--and yet, perhaps because it was so obvious and +easy, I rebelled at the unfairness of it. To rescue her, to aid her to +escape--in a free world one might have considered these more obvious +moves, but here there was no place for her to escape to, no higher +social justice to which appeal could be made. Either I must accept her +as a personal responsibility, with what that might involve, or desert +her to her fate. Both seemed cowardly--yet such were the horns of the +dilemma and a choice must be made. Here at least was an opportunity to +make use of the funds that lay in the bank to the credit of the name I +bore, and for which I had found so little use. So I decided to offer her +money, and to insist that it was not offered as the purchase price +of love.</p> + +<p>"You must let me help you," I said, "you must let me give you money."</p> + +<p>"But I do not want your money," she replied. "It would only postpone my +troubles. Even if I do accept your money, I would have to accept money +from other men also, for you cannot pay for the whole of a +woman's living."</p> + +<p>"Why not," I asked, "does any rule forbid it?"</p> + +<p>"No rule, but can so young a man as you afford it?"</p> + +<p>"How much does it take for you to live here?"</p> + +<p>"About five marks a day."</p> + +<p>I glanced rather proudly at my insignia as a research chemist of the +first rank. "Do you know," I asked, "how much income that +insignia carries?"</p> + +<p>"Well, no," she admitted, "I know the income of military officers, but +there are so many of the professional ranks and classes that I get all +mixed up."</p> + +<p>"That means," I said, "ten thousand marks a year."</p> + +<p>"So much as that!" she exclaimed in astonishment. "And I can live here +on two hundred a month, but no, I did not mean that--you wouldn't,--I +couldn't--let you give me so much."</p> + +<p>"Much!" I exclaimed; "you may have five hundred if you need it."</p> + +<p>"You make love very nicely," she replied with aloofness.</p> + +<p>"But I am not making love," I protested.</p> + +<p>"Then why do you say these things? Do you prefer some one else? If so +why waste your funds on me?"</p> + +<p>"No, no!" I cried, "it is not that; but you see I want to tell you +things; many things that you do not know. I want to see you often and +talk to you. I want to bring you books to read. And as for money, that +is so you will not starve while you read my books and listen to me talk. +But you are to remain mistress of your own heart and your own person. +You see, I believe there are ways to win a woman's love far better than +buying her cheap when she is starved into selling in this +brutal fashion."</p> + +<p>She looked at me dubiously. "You are either very queer," she said, "or +else a very great liar."</p> + +<p>"But I am neither," I protested, piqued that the girl in her innocence +should yet brand me either mentally deficient or deceitful. "It is +impossible to make you understand me," I went on, "and yet you must +trust me. These other men, they approve the system under which you live, +but I do not. I offer you money, I insist on your taking it because +there is no other way, but it is not to force you to accept me but only +to make it unnecessary for you to accept some one else. You have been +very brave, to stand out so long. You must accept my money now, but you +need never accept me at all--unless you really want me. If I am to make +love to you I want to make love to a woman who is really free; a woman +free to accept or reject love, not starved into accepting it in this +so-called freedom."</p> + +<p>"It is all very wonderful," she repeated; "a minute ago I thought you +deceitful, and now I want to believe you. I can not stand out much +longer and what would be the use for just a few more days?"</p> + +<p>"There will be no need," I said gently, "your courage has done its work +well--it has saved you for yourself. And now," I continued, "we will +bind this bargain before you again decide me crazy."</p> + +<p>Taking out my check book I filled in a check for two hundred marks +payable to--"To whom shall I make it payable?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"To Bertha, 34 R 6," she said, and thus I wrote it, cursing the +prostituted science and the devils of autocracy that should give an +innocent girl a number like a convict in a jail or a mare in a breeder's +herd book.</p> + +<p>And so I bought a German girl with a German check--bought her because I +saw no other way to save her from being lashed by starvation to the +slave block and sold piecemeal to men in whom honour had not even died, +but had been strangled before it was born.</p> + +<p>With my check neatly tucked in her bosom, Bertha walked out of the café +clinging to my arm, and so, passing unheeding through the throng of +indifferent revellers, we came to her apartment.</p> + +<p>At the door I said, "Tomorrow night I come again. Shall it be at the +café or here?"</p> + +<p>"Here," she whispered, "away from them all."</p> + +<p>I stooped and kissed her hand and then fled into the multitude.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>I had promised Bertha that I would bring her books, but the narrow range +of technical books permitted me were obviously unsuitable, nor did I +feel that the unspeakably morbid novels available on the Level of Free +Women would serve my purpose of awakening the girl to more wholesome +aspirations. In this emergency I decided to appeal to my +friend, Zimmern.</p> + +<p>Leaving the laboratory early, I made my way +toward his apartment, puzzling my brain as to what kind of a book I +could ask for that would be at once suitable to Bertha's child-like mind +and also be a volume which I could logically appear to wish to read +myself. As I walked along the answer flashed into my mind--I would ask +for a geography of the outer world.</p> + +<p>Happily I found Zimmern in. "I have come to ask," I said, "if you could +loan me a book of description of the outer world, one with maps, one +that tells all that is known of the land and seas and people."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," smiled Zimmern, "you mean a geography. Your request," he +continued, "does me great honour. Books telling the truth about the +world without are very carefully guarded. I shall be pleased to get the +geography for you at once. In fact I had already decided that when you +came again I would take you with me to our little secret library. +Germany is facing a great crisis, and I know no better way I can serve +her than doing my part to help prepare as many as possible of our +scientists to cope with the impending problems. Unless you chemists +avert it, we shall all live to see this outer world, or die that +others may."</p> + +<p>Dr. Zimmern led the way to the elevator. We alighted on the Level of Free +Women. Instead of turning towards the halls of revelry we took our +course in the opposite direction along the quiet streets among the +apartments of the women. We turned into a narrow passage-way and Dr. +Zimmern rang the bell at an apartment door. But after waiting a moment +for an answer he took a key from his pocket and unlocked the door.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry Marguerite is out," he said, as he conducted me into a +reception room. The walls were hung with seal-brown draperies. There +were richly upholstered chairs and a divan piled high with fluffy +pillows. In one corner stood a bookcase of burnished metal filigree.</p> + +<p>Zimmern waved his hand at the case with an expression of disdain. "Only +the conventional literature of the level, to keep up appearances," he +said; "our serious books are in here"; and he thrust open the door of a +room which was evidently a young lady's boudoir.</p> + +<p>Conscious of a profane intrusion, I followed Dr. Zimmern into the dainty +dressing chamber. Stepping across the room he pushed open a spacious +wardrobe, and thrusting aside a cleverly arranged shield of feminine +apparel he revealed, upon some improvised shelves, a library of perhaps +a hundred volumes. He ran his hand fondly along the bindings. "No other +man of your age in Berlin," he said, "has ever had access to such a +complete fund of knowledge as is in this library."</p> + +<p>I hope the old doctor took for appreciation the smile that played upon +my face as I contrasted his pitiful offering with the endless miles of +book stacks in the libraries of the outer world where I had spent so +many of my earlier days.</p> + +<p>"Our books are safer here," said Zimmern, "for no one would suspect a +girl on this level of being interested in serious reading. If perchance +some inspector did think to perform his neglected duties we trust to him +being content to glance over the few novels in the case outside and not +to pry into her wardrobe closet. There is still some risk, but that we +must take, since there is no absolute privacy anywhere. We must trust to +chance to hide them in the place least likely to be searched."</p> + +<p>"And how," I asked, "are these books accumulated?"</p> + +<p>"It is the result of years of effort," explained Zimmern. "There are +only a few of us who are in this secret group but all have contributed +to the collection, and we come here to secure the books that the others +bring. We prefer to read them here, and so avoid the chance of being +detected carrying forbidden books. There is no restriction on the +callers a girl may have at her apartment; the authorities of the level +are content to keep records only of her monetary transactions, and that +fact we take advantage of. Should a man's apartment on another level be +so frequently visited by a group of men an inquiry would be made."</p> + +<p>All this was interesting, but I inferred that I would again have +opportunity to visit the library and now I was impatient to keep my +appointment with Bertha. Making an excuse for haste, I asked Zimmern to +get the geography for me. The stiff back of the book had been removed, +and Zimmern helped me adjust the limp volume beneath my waistcoat.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry you cannot remain and meet Marguerite tonight," he said as I +stepped toward the door. "But tomorrow evening I will arrange for you to +meet Colonel Hellar of the Information Staff, and Marguerite can be with +us then. You may go directly to my booth in the café where you last +dined with me."</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>After a brief walk I came to Bertha's apartment, and nervously pressed +the bell. She opened the door stealthily and peered out, then +recognizing me, she flung it wide.</p> + +<p>"I have brought you a book," I said as I entered; and, not knowing what +else to do, I went through the ridiculous operation of removing the +geography from beneath my waistcoat.</p> + +<p>"What a big book," exclaimed Bertha in amazement. However, she did not +open the geography but laid it on the table, and stood staring at me +with her child-like blue eyes.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," she said, "that you are the first visitor I ever had in +my apartment? May I show you about?"</p> + +<p>As I followed her through the cosy rooms, I chafed to see the dainty +luxury in which she was permitted to live while being left to starve. +The place was as well adapted to love-making as any +other product of German science is adapted to its end. The walls were +adorned with sensual prints; but happily I recalled that Bertha, having +no education in the matter, was immune to the insult.</p> + +<p>Anticipating my coming she had ordered dinner, and this was presently +delivered by a deaf-and-dumb mechanical servant, and we set it forth on +the dainty dining table. Since the world was young, I mused, woman and +man had eaten a first meal together with all the world shut out, and so +we dined amid shy love and laughter in a tiny apartment in the heart of +a city where millions of men never saw the face of woman--and where +millions of babies were born out of love by the cold degree of science. +And this same science, bartering with licentious iniquity, had provided +this refuge and permitted us to bar the door, and so we accepted our +refuge and sanctified it with the purity that was within our own +hearts--such at least was my feeling at the time.</p> + +<p>And so we dined and cleared away, and talked joyfully of nothing. As the +evening wore on Bertha, beside me upon the divan, snuggled contentedly +against my shoulder. The nearness and warmth of her, and the innocence +of her eyes thrilled yet maddened me.</p> + +<p>With fast beating heart, I realized that I as well as Bertha was in the +grip of circumstances against which rebellion was as futile as were +thoughts of escape. There was no one to aid and no one to forbid or +criticize. Whatever I might do to save her from the fate ordained for +her would of necessity be worked out between us, unaided and unhampered +by the ethics of civilization as I had known it in a freer, saner world.</p> + +<p>In offering Bertha money and coming to her apartment I had thrust myself +between her and the crass venality of the men of her race, but I had now +to wrestle with the problem that such action had involved. If, I +reasoned, I could only reveal to her my true identity the situation +would be easier, for I could then tell her of the rules of the game of +love in the world I had known. Until she knew of that world and its +ideals, how could I expect her to understand my motives? How else could +I strengthen her in the battle against our own impulses?</p> + +<p>And yet, did I dare to confess to her that I was not a German? Would not +deep-seated ideals of patriotism drilled into the mind of a child place +me in danger of betrayal at her hands? Such a move might place my own +life in jeopardy and also destroy my opportunity of being of service to +the world, could I contrive the means of escape from Berlin with the +knowledge I had gained. Small though the possibilities of such escape +might be, it was too great a hope for me to risk for sentimental +reasons. And could she be expected to believe so strange a tale?</p> + +<p>And so the temptation to confess that I was not Karl Armstadt passed, +and with its passing, I recalled the geography that I had gone to so +much trouble to secure, and which still lay unopened upon the table. +Here at least was something to get us away from the tumultuous +consciousness of ourselves and I reached for the volume and spread it +open upon my knees.</p> + +<p>"What a funny book!" exclaimed Bertha, as she gazed at the round maps of +the two hemispheres. "Of what is that a picture?"</p> + +<p>"The world," I answered.</p> + +<p>She stared at me blankly. "The Royal World?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, no," I replied. "The world outside the walls of Berlin."</p> + +<p>"The world in the sun," exclaimed Bertha, "on the roof where they fight +the airplanes? A roof-guard officer" she paused and bit her lip--</p> + +<p>"The world of the inferior races," I suggested, trying to find some +common footing with her pitifully scant knowledge.</p> + +<p>"The world underground," she said, "where the soldiers fight in the +mines?"</p> + +<p>Baffled in my efforts to define this world to her, I began turning the +pages of the geography, while Bertha looked at the pictures in +child-like wonder, and I tried as best I could to find simple +explanations.</p> + +<p>Between the lines of my teaching, I scanned, as it were, the true state +of German ignorance. Despite the evident intended authoritativeness of +the book--for it was marked "Permitted to military staff officers"--I +found it amusingly full of erroneous conceptions of the true state of +affairs in the outer world.</p> + +<p>This teaching of a child-like mind the rudiments of knowledge was an +amusing recreation, and so an hour passed pleasantly. Yet I realized +that this was an occupation of which I would soon tire, for it was not +the amusement of teaching a child that I craved, but the companionship +of a woman of intelligence.</p> + +<p>As we turned the last page I arose to take my departure. "If I leave the +book with you," I said, "will you read it all, very carefully? And then +when I come again I will explain those things you can not understand."</p> + +<p>"But it is so big, I couldn't read it in a day," replied Bertha, as she +looked at me appealingly.</p> + +<p>I steeled myself against that appeal. I wanted very much to get my mind +back on my chemistry, and I wanted also to give her time to read and +ponder over the wonders of the great unknown world. Moreover, I no +longer felt so grievously concerned, for the calamity which had +overshadowed her had been for the while removed. And I had, too, my own +struggle to cherish her innocence, and that without the usual help +extended by conventional society. So I made brave resolutions and +explained the urgency of my work and insisted that I could not see her +for five days.</p> + +<p>Hungrily she pleaded for a quicker return; and I stubbornly resisted the +temptation. "No," I insisted, "not tomorrow, nor the next day, but I +will come back in three days at the same hour that I came tonight."</p> + +<p>Then taking her in my arms, I kissed her in feverish haste and tore +myself from the enthralling lure of her presence.</p> + +<h3>~5~</h3> + +<p>When I reached the café the following evening to keep my appointment +with Zimmern, the waiter directed me to one of the small enclosed +booths. As I entered, closing the door after me, I found myself +confronting a young woman.</p> + +<p>"Are you Col. Armstadt?" she asked with a clear, vibrant voice. She +smiled cordially as she gave me her hand. "I am Marguerite. Dr. Zimmern +has gone to bring Col. Hellar, and he asked me to entertain you until +his return."</p> + +<p>The friendly candour of this greeting swept away the grey walls of +Berlin, and I seemed again face to face with a woman of my own people. +She was a young woman of distinctive personality. Her features, though +delicately moulded, bespoke intelligence and strength of character that +I had not hitherto seen in the women of Berlin. Framing her face was a +luxuriant mass of wavy brown hair, which fell loosely about her +shoulders. Her slender figure was draped in a cape of deep blue +cellulose velvet.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Zimmern tells me," I said as I seated myself across the table from +her, "that you are a dear friend of his."</p> + +<p>A swift light gleamed in her deep brown eyes. "A very dear friend," she +said feelingly, and then a shadow flitted across her face as she added, +"Without him life for me would be unbearable here."</p> + +<p>"And how long, if I may ask, have you been here?"</p> + +<p>"About four years. Four years and six days, to be exact. I can keep +count you know," and she smiled whimsically, "for I came on the day of +my birth, the day I was sixteen."</p> + +<p>"That is the same for all, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"No one can come here before she is sixteen," replied Marguerite, "and +all must come before they are eighteen."</p> + +<p>"But why did you come at the first opportunity?" I asked, as I mentally +compared her confession with that of Bertha who had so courageously +postponed as long as she could the day of surrender to this life of +shamefully commercialized love.</p> + +<p>"And why should I not come?" returned Marguerite. "I had a chance to +come, and I accepted it. Do you think life in the school for girls of +forbidden birth is an enjoyable one?"</p> + +<p>I wanted to press home the point of my argument, to proclaim my pride in +Bertha's more heroic struggle with the system, for this girl with whom I +now conversed was obviously a woman of superior intelligence, and it +angered me to know that she had so easily surrendered to the life for +which German society had ordained her. But I restrained my speech, for I +realized that in criticizing her way of life I would be criticizing her +obvious relation to Zimmern, and like all men I found myself inclined to +be indulgent with the personal life of a man who was my friend. +Moreover, I perceived the presumptuousness of assuming a superior air +towards an established and accepted institution. Yet, strive as I might +to be tolerant, I felt a growing antagonism towards this attractive and +cultured girl who had surrendered without a struggle to a life that to +me was a career of shame--and who seemed quite content with her +surrender.</p> + +<p>"Do you like it here?" I asked, knowing that my question was stupid, but +anxious to avoid a painful gap in what was becoming, for me, a difficult +conversation.</p> + +<p>Marguerite looked at me with a queer penetrating gaze. "Do I like it +here?" she repeated. "Why should you ask, and how can I answer? Can I +like it or not like it, when there was no choice for me? Can I push out +the walls of Berlin?"--and she thrust mockingly into the air with a +delicately chiselled hand--"It is a prison. All life is a prison."</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, "it is a prison, but life on this level is more joyful +than on many others."</p> + +<p>Her lip curled in delicate scorn. "For you men--of course--and I suppose +it is for these women too--perhaps that is why I hate it so, because +they do enjoy it, they do accept it. They sell their love for food and +raiment, and not one in all these millions seems to mind it."</p> + +<p>"In that," I remarked, "perhaps you are mistaken. I have not come here +often as most men do, but I have found one other who, like you, rebels +at the system--who in fact, was starving because she would not sell +her love."</p> + +<p>Marguerite flashed on me a look of pitying suspicion as she asked: "Have +you gone to the Place of Records to look up this rebel against the +sale of love?"</p> + +<p>A fire of resentment blazed up in me at this question. I did not know +just what she meant by the Place of Records, but I felt that this woman +who spoke cynically of rebellion against the sale of love, and yet who +had obviously sold her love to an old man, was in no position to +discredit a weaker woman's nobler fight.</p> + +<p>"What right," I asked coldly, "have you to criticize another whom you do +not know?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," replied Marguerite, "if I seem to quarrel with you when I +was left here to entertain you, but I could not help it--it angers me to +have you men be so fond of being deceived, such easy prey to this +threadbare story of the girl who claims she never came here until forced +to do so. But men love to believe it. The girls learn to use the story +because it pays."</p> + +<p>A surge of conflicting emotion swept through me as I recalled the +child-like innocence of Bertha and compared it with the critical +scepticism of this superior woman. "It only goes to show," I thought, +"what such a system can do to destroy a woman's faith in the very +existence of innocence and virtue."</p> + +<p>Marguerite did not speak; her silence seemed to say: "You do not +understand, nor can I explain--I am simply here and so are you, and we +have our secrets which cannot be committed to words."</p> + +<p>With idle fingers she drummed lightly on the table. I watched those +slender fingers and the rhythmic play of the delicate muscles of the +bare white arm that protruded from the rich folds of the blue velvet +cape. Then my gaze lifted to her face. Her downcast eyes were shielded +by long curving lashes; high arched silken brows showed dark against a +skin as fresh and free from chemist's pigment as the petal of a rose. In +exultant rapture my heart within me cried that here was something fine +of fibre, a fineness which ran true to the depths of her soul.</p> + +<p>In my discovery of Bertha's innocence and in my faith in her purity and +courage I had hoped to find relief from the spiritual loneliness that +had grown upon me during my sojourn in this materialistic city. But that +faith was shaken, as the impression Bertha had made upon my +over-sensitized emotions, now dimmed by a brighter light, flickered pale +on the screen of memory. The mere curiosity and pity I had felt for a +chance victim singled out among thousands by the legend of innocence on +a pretty face could not stand against the force that now drew me to this +woman who seemed to be not of a slavish race--even as Dr. Zimmern seemed +a man apart from the soulless product of the science he directed. But as +I acknowledged this new magnet tugging at the needle of my floundering +heart, I also realized that my friendship for the lovable and courageous +Zimmern reared an unassailable barrier to shut me into outer darkness.</p> + +<p>The thought proved the harbinger of the reality, for Dr. Zimmerman +himself now entered. He was accompanied by Col. Hellar of the +Information Staff, a man of about Zimmern's age. Col. Hellar bore +himself with a gracious dignity; his face was sad, yet there gleamed +from his eye a kindly humor.</p> + +<p>Marguerite, after exchanging a few pleasantries with Col. Hellar and +myself, tenderly kissed the old doctor on the forehead, and slipped out.</p> + +<p>"You shall see much of her," said Zimmern, "she is the heart and fire of +our little group, the force that holds us together. But tonight I asked +her not to remain"--the old doctor's eyes twinkled with merriment,--"for +a young man cannot get acquainted with a beautiful woman and with ideas +at the same time."</p> + +<h3>~6~</h3> + +<p>"And now," said Zimmern, after we had finished our dinner, "I want Col. +Hellar to tell you more of the workings of the Information Service."</p> + +<p>"It is a very complex system," began Hellar. "It is old. Its history +goes back to the First World War, when the military censorship began by +suppressing information thought to be dangerous and circulating +fictitious reports for patriotic purposes. Now all is much more +elaborately organized; we provide that every child be taught only the +things that it is decided he needs to know, and nothing more. Have you +seen the bulletins and picture screens in the quarters for the workers?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied, "but the lines were all in old German type."</p> + +<p>"And that," said Hellar, "is all that the workers and soldiers can read. +The modern type could be taught them in a few days, but we see to it +that they have no opportunity to learn it. As it is now, should they +find or steal a forbidden book, they cannot read it."</p> + +<p>"But is it not true," I asked, "that at one time the German workers were +most thoroughly educated?"</p> + +<p>"It is true," said Hellar, "and because of that universal education +Germany was defeated in the First World War. The English contaminated +the soldiers by flooding the trenches with democratic literature dropped +from airplanes. Then came the Bolshevist regime in Russia with its +passion for revolutionary propaganda. The working men and soldiers read +this disloyal literature and they forced the abdication of William the +Great. It was because of this that his great grandson, when the House of +Hohenzollern was restored to the throne, decided to curtail universal +education.</p> + +<p>"But while William III curtailed general education he increased the +specialized education and established the Information Staff to supervise +the dissemination of all knowledge."</p> + +<p>"It is an atrocious system," broke in Zimmern, "but if we had not +abolished the family, curtailed knowledge and bred soldiers and +workers from +special non-intellectual strains this sunless world of ours could not +have endured."</p> + +<p>"Quite so," said Hellar, "whether we approve of it or not certainly +there was no other way to accomplish the end sought. By no other plan +could German isolation have been maintained."</p> + +<p>"But why was isolation deemed desirable?" I enquired.</p> + +<p>"Because," said Zimmern, "it was that or extermination. Even now we who +wish to put an end to this isolation, we few who want to see the world +as our ancestors saw it, know that the price may be annihilation."</p> + +<p>"So," repeated Hellar, "so annihilation for Germany, but better so--and +yet I go on as Director of Information; Dr. Zimmern goes on as Chief +Eugenist; and you go on seeking to increase the food supply, and so we +all go on as part of the diabolic system, because as individuals we +cannot destroy it, but must go on or be destroyed by it. We have riches +here and privileges. We keep the labourers subdued below us, Royalty +enthroned above us, and the World State at bay about us, all by this +science and system which only we few intellectuals understand and which +we keep going because we can not stop it without being destroyed by +the effort."</p> + +<p>"But we shall stop it," declared Zimmern, "we must stop it--with +Armstadt's help we can stop it. You and I, Hellar, are mere cogs; if we +break others can take our places, but Armstadt has power. What he knows +no one else knows. He has power. We have only weakness because others +can take our place. And because he has power let us help him find +a way."</p> + +<p>"It seems to me," I said, "that the way must be by education. More men +must think as we do."</p> + +<p>"But they can not think," replied Hellar, "they +have nothing to think with."</p> + +<p>"But the books," I said, "there is power in knowledge."</p> + +<p>"But," said Hellar, "the labourer can not read the forbidden book and +the intellectual will not, for if he did he would be afraid to talk +about it, and what a man can not talk about he rarely cares to read. The +love or hatred of knowledge is a matter of training. It was only last +week that I was visiting a boy's school in order to study the effect of +a new reader of which complaint had been made that it failed +sufficiently to exalt the virtue of obedience. I was talking with the +teacher while the boys assembled in the morning. We heard a great +commotion and a mob of boys came in dragging one of their companions who +had a bruised face and torn clothing. "Master, he had a forbidden book," +they shouted, and the foremost held out the tattered volume as if it +were loathsome poison. It proved to be a text on cellulose spinning. +Where the culprit had found it we could not discover but he was sent to +the school prison and the other boys were given favours for +apprehending him."</p> + +<p>"But how is it," I asked, "that books are not written by free-minded +authors and secretly printed and circulated?"</p> + +<p>At this question my companions smiled. "You chemists forget," said +Hellar, "that it takes printing presses to make books. There is no press +in all Berlin except in the shops of the Information Staff. Every paper, +every book, and every picture originates and is printed there. Every +news and book distributor must get his stock from us and knows that he +must have only in his possession that which bears the imprint for his +level. That is why we have no public libraries and no trade in +second-hand books.</p> + +<p>"In early life I favoured this system, but in time the foolishness of +the thing came to perplex, then to annoy, and finally to disgust me. But +I wanted the money and honour that promotion brought and so I have won +to my position and power; with my right hand I uphold the system and +with my left hand I seek to pull out the props on which it rests. For +twenty years now I have nursed the secret traffic in books and risked my +life many times thereby, yet my successes have been few and scattered. +Every time the auditors check my stock and accounts I tremble in fear, +for embezzling books is more dangerous than embezzling credit at +the bank."</p> + +<p>"But who," I asked, "write the books?"</p> + +<p>"For the technical books it is not hard to find authors," explained +Hellar, "for any man well schooled in his work can write of it. But the +task of getting the more general books written is not so easy. For then +it is not so much a question of the author knowing the things of which +he writes but of knowing what the various groups are to be permitted +to know.</p> + +<p>"That writing is done exclusively by especially trained workers of the +Information Service. I myself began as such a writer and studied long +under the older masters. The school of scientific lying, I called it, +but strange to say I used to enjoy such work and did it remarkably well. +As recognition of my ability I was commissioned to write the book 'God's +Anointed.' Through His Majesty's approval of my work I now owe my +position on the Staff.</p> + +<p>"His Majesty," continued Hellar, "was only twenty-six years of age when +he came to the throne, but he decided at once that a new religious book +should be written in which he would be proclaimed as 'God's Anointed +ruler of the World.'</p> + +<p>"I had never before spoken with the high members of the Royal House, and +I was trembling with eagerness and fear as I was ushered into His +Majesty's presence. The Emperor sat at his great black table; before him +was an old book. He turned to me and said, 'Have you ever heard of the +Christian Bible?'</p> + +<p>"My Chief had informed me that the new book was to be based on the old +Bible that the Christians had received from the Hebrews. So I said, +'Yes, Your Majesty, I am familiar with many of its words.'</p> + +<p>"He looked at me with a gloating suspicion. 'Ah, ha,' he said, 'then +there is something amiss in the Information Service--you are in the +third rank of your service and the Bible is permitted only to the +first rank.'</p> + +<p>"I saw that my statement unless modified would result in an embarrassing +investigation. 'I have never read the Christian Bible,' I said, 'but my +mother must have read it for when as a child I visited her she quoted to +me long passages from the Bible.'</p> + +<p>"His Majesty smiled in a pleased fashion. 'That is it,' he said, 'women +are essentially religious by nature, because they are trusting and +obedient. It was a mistake to attempt to stamp out religion. It is the +doctrine of obedience. Therefore I shall revive religion, but it shall +be a religion of obedience to the House of Hohenzollern. The God of the +Hebrews declared them to be his chosen people. But they proved a servile +and mercenary race. They traded their swords for shekels and became a +byword and a hissing among the nations--and they were scattered to the +four corners of the earth. I shall revive that God. And this time he +shall chose more wisely, for the Germans shall be his people. The idea +is not mine. William the Great had that idea, but the revolution swept +it away. It shall be revived. We shall have a new Bible, based upon the +old one, a third dispensation, to replace the work of Moses and Jesus. +And I too shall be a lawgiver--I shall speak the word of God.'"</p> + +<p>Hellar paused; a smile crept over his face. Then he laughed softly and +to himself--but Dr. Zimmern only shook his head sadly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I wrote the book," continued Hellar. "It required four years, for +His Majesty was very critical, and did much revising. I had a long +argument with him over the question of retaining Hell. I was bitterly +opposed to it and represented to His Majesty that no religion had ever +thrived on fear of punishment without a corresponding hope of reward. +'If you are to have no Heaven,' I insisted, 'then you must have +no Hell.'</p> + +<p>"'But we do not need Heaven,' argued His Majesty, 'Heaven is +superfluous. It is an insult to my reign. Is it not enough that a man is +a German, and may serve the House of Hohenzollern?'</p> + +<p>"'Then why,' I asked, 'do you need a Hell?' I should have been shot for +that but His Majesty did not see the implication. He replied coolly:</p> + +<p>"'We must have a Hell because there is one way that my subjects can +escape me. It is a sin of our race that the Eugenics Office should have +bred out--but they have failed. It is an inborn sin for it is chiefly +committed by our children before they come to comprehend the glory of +being German. How else, if you do not have a Hell in your religion, can +you check suicide?'</p> + +<p>"Of course there was logic in his contention and so I gave in and made +the Children's Hell. It is a gruesome doctrine, that a child who kills +himself does not really die. It is the one thing in the whole book that +makes me feel most intellectually unclean for writing it. But I wrote it +and when the book was finished and His Majesty had signed the +manuscript, for the first time in over a century we printed a bible on a +German press. The press where the first run was made we named 'Old +Gutenberg.'"</p> + +<p>"Gutenberg invented the printing press," explained Zimmern, fearing I +might not comprehend.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Hellar with a curling lip, "and Gutenberg was a German, and +so am I. He printed a Bible which he believed, and I wrote one which I +do not believe."</p> + +<p>"But I am glad," concluded Hellar as he arose, "that I do not believe +Gutenberg's Bible either, for I should very much dislike to think of +meeting him in Paradise."</p> + +<h3>~7~</h3> + +<p>After taking leave of my companions I walked on alone, oblivious to the +gay throng, for I had many things on which to ponder. In these two men I +felt that I had found heroic figures. Their fund of knowledge, which +they prized so highly, seemed to me pitifully circumscribed and limited, +their revolutionary plans hopelessly vague and futile. But the +intellectual stature of a man is measured in terms of the average of his +race, and, thus viewed, Zimmern and Hellar were intellectual giants of +heroic proportions.</p> + +<p>As I walked through a street of shops. I paused before the display +window of a bookstore of the level. Most of these books I had previously +discovered were lurid-titled tales of licentious love. But among them I +now saw a volume bearing the title "God's Anointed," and recalled that I +had seen it before and assumed it to be but another like its fellows.</p> + +<p>Entering the store I secured a copy and, impatient to inspect my +purchase, I bent my steps to my favourite retreat in the nearby Hall of +Flowers. In a secluded niche near the misty fountain I began a hasty +perusal of this imperially inspired word of God who had anointed the +Hohenzollerns masters of the earth. Hellar's description had prepared me +for a preposterous and absurd work, but I had not anticipated anything +quite so audacious could be presented to a race of civilized men, much +less that they could have accepted it in good faith as the Germans +evidently did.</p> + +<p>"God's Anointed," as Hellar had scoffingly inferred, not only proclaimed +the Germans as the chosen race, but also proclaimed an actual divinity +of the blood of the House of Hohenzollern. That William II did have some +such notions in his egomania I believe is recorded in authentic history. +But the way Eitel I had adapted that faith to the rather depressing +facts of the failure of world conquest would have been extremely comical +to me, had I not seen ample evidence of the colossal effect of such a +faith working in the credulous child-mind of a people so utterly devoid +of any saving sense of humour.</p> + +<p>Not unfamiliar with the history of the temporal reign of the Popes of +the middle ages, I could readily comprehend the practical efficiency of +such a mixture of religious faith with the affairs of earth. For the God +of the German theology exacted no spiritual worship of his people, but +only a very temporal service to the deity's earthly incarnation in the +form of the House of Hohenzollern.</p> + +<p>The greatest virtue, according to this mundane theology, was obedience, +and this doctrine was closely interwoven with the caste system of German +society. The virtue of obedience required the German to renounce +discontent with his station, and to accept not only the material status +into which he was born, with science aforethought, but the intellectual +limits and horizons of that status. The old Christian doctrine of heresy +was broadened to encompass the entire mental life. To think forbidden +thoughts, to search after forbidden knowledge, that was at once treason +against the Royal House and rebellion against the divine plan.</p> + +<p>German theology, confounding divine and human laws, permitted no dual +overlapping spheres of mundane and celestial rule as had all previous +religious and, social orders since Christ had commanded his disciples to +"Render unto Caesar--" There could be no conscientious objection to +German law on religious grounds; no problem of church and state, for the +church was the state.</p> + +<p>In this book that masqueraded as the word of God, I looked in vain for +some revelation of future life. But it was essentially a one-world +theology; the most immortal thing was the Royal House for which the +worker was asked to slave, the soldier to die that Germany might be +ruled by the Hohenzollerns and that the Hohenzollerns might sometime +rule the world.</p> + +<p>As the freedom of conscience and the institution of marriage had been +discarded so this German faith had scrapped the immortality of the soul, +save for the single incongruous doctrine that a child taking his own +life does not die but lives on in ceaseless torment in a ghoulish +Children's Hell.</p> + +<p>As I closed the cursed volume my mind called up a picture of Teutonic +hordes pouring from the forests of the North and blotting out what +Greece and Rome had builded. From thence my roving fancy tripped over +the centuries and lived again with men who cannot die. I stood with +Luther at the Diet of Worms. With Kant I sounded the deeps of +philosophy. I sailed with Humboldt athwart uncharted seas. I fought with +Goethe for the redemption of a soul sold to the Devil. And with Schubert +and Heine I sang:</p> + +<blockquote> <i>Du bist wie eine Blume,<br> + So hold und schoen und rein,<br> +<br> + Betend dass Gott dich erhalte,<br> + So rein und schoen und hold.</i><br></blockquote> + +<p>But what a cankerous end was here. This people which the world had once +loved and honoured was now bred a beast of burden, a domesticated race, +saddled and trained to bear upon its back the House of Hohenzollern as +the ass bore Balaam. But the German ass wore the blinders that science +had made--and saw no angel.</p> + +<h3>~8~</h3> + +<p>As I sat musing thus and gazing into the spray of the fountain I +glimpsed a grey clad figure, standing in the shadows of a viney bower. +Although I could not distinguish her face through the leafy tracery I +knew that it was Bertha, and my heart thrilled to think that she had +returned to the site of our meeting. Thoroughly ashamed of the faithless +doubts that I had so recently entertained of her innocence and +sincerity, I arose and hastened toward her. But in making the detour +about the pool I lost sight of the grey figure, for she was standing +well back in the arbour. As I approached the place where I had seen her +I came upon two lovers standing with arms entwined in the path at the +pool's edge. Not wishing to disturb them, I turned back through one of +the arbours and approached by another path. As I slipped noiselessly +along in my felt-soled shoes I heard Bertha's voice, and quite near, +through the leafy tracery, I glimpsed the grey of her gown.</p> + +<p>"Why with your beauty," came the answering voice of a man, "did you not +find a lover from the Royal Level?"</p> + +<p>"Because," Bertha's voice replied, "I would not accept them. I could not +love them. I could not give myself without love."</p> + +<p>"But surely," insisted the man, "you have found a lover here?"</p> + +<p>"But I have not," protested the innocent voice, "because I have sought +none."</p> + +<p>"Now long have you been here?" bluntly asked the man.</p> + +<p>"Thirty days," replied the girl.</p> + +<p>"Then you must have found a lover, your début fund would all be gone."</p> + +<p>"But," cried Bertha, in a tearful voice, "I only eat one meal a day--do +you not see how thin I am?"</p> + +<p>"Now that's clever," rejoined the man, "come, I'll accept it for what it +is worth, and look you up afterwards," and he laughingly led her away, +leaving me undiscovered in the neighbouring arbour to pass judgment on +my own simplicity.</p> + +<p>As I walked toward the elevator, I was painfully conscious of two ideas. +One was that Marguerite had been quite correct with her information +about the free women who found it profitable to play the rôle of +maidenly innocence. The other was that Dr. Zimmern's precious geography +was in the hands of the artful, child-eyed hypocrite who had so cleverly +beguiled me with her rôle of heroic virtue. Clearly, I was trapped, and +to judge better with what I had to deal I decided to go at once to the +Place of Records, of which I had twice heard.</p> + +<p>The Place of Records proved to be a public directory of the financial +status of the free women. Since the physical plagues that are propagated +by promiscuous love had been completely exterminated, and since there +were no moral standards to preserve, there was no need of other +restrictions on the lives of the women than an economic one.</p> + +<p>The rules of the level were prominently posted. As all consequential +money exchanges were made through bank checks, the keeping of the +records was an easy matter. These rules I found forbade any woman to +cash checks in excess of one thousand marks a month, or in excess of two +hundred marks from any one man. That was simple enough, and I smiled as +I recalled that I had gone the legal limit in my first adventure.</p> + +<p>Following the example of other men, I stepped to the window and gave the +name: "Bertha 34 R 6."A clerk brought me a book opened to the page of +her record. At the top of the page was entered this statement, "Bred for +an actress but rejected for both professional work and maternity because +found devoid of sympathetic emotions." I laughed as I read this, but +when on the next line I saw from the date of her entrance to the level +that Bertha's thirty days was in reality nearly three years, my mirth +turned to anger. I looked down the list of entries and found that for +some time she had been cashing each month the maximum figure of a +thousand marks. Evidently her little scheme of pensive posing in the +Hall of Flowers was working nicely. In the current month, hardly half +gone, she already had to her credit seven hundred marks; and last on the +list was my own contribution, freshly entered.</p> + +<p>"She has three hundred marks yet," commented the clerk.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see,"--and I turned to go. But I paused and stepped again to the +window. "There is another girl I would like to look up," I said, "but I +have only her name and no number."</p> + +<p>"Do you know the date of her arrival?" asked the clerk.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she has been here four years and six days. The name is +Marguerite."</p> + +<p>The clerk walked over to a card file and after some searching brought +back a slip with half a dozen numbers. "Try these," he said, and he +brought me the volumes. The second record I inspected read: "Marguerite, +78 K 4, Love-child."On the page below was a single entry for each +month of two hundred marks and every entry from the first was in the +name of Ludwig Zimmern.</p> + +<h3>~9~</h3> + +<p>I kept my appointment with Bertha, but found it difficult to hide my +anger as she greeted me. Wishing to get the interview over, I asked +abruptly, "Have you read the book I left?"</p> + +<p>"Not all of it," she replied, "I found it rather dull."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps I had better take it with me."</p> + +<p>"But I think I shall keep it awhile," she demurred.</p> + +<p>"No," I insisted, as I looked about and failed to see the geography, "I +wish you would get it for me. I want to take it back, in fact it was a +borrowed book."</p> + +<p>"Most likely," she smiled archly, "but since you are not a staff +officer, and had no right to have that book, you might as well know that +you will get it when I please to give it to you."</p> + +<p>Seeing that she was thoroughly aware of my predicament, I grew +frightened and my anger slipped from its moorings. "See here," I cried, +"your little story of innocence and virtue is very clever, but I've +looked you up and--"</p> + +<p>"And what--," she asked, while through her child-like mask the subtle +trickery of her nature mocked me with a look of triumph--"and what do +you propose to do about it?"</p> + +<p>I realized the futility of my rage. "I shall do nothing. I ask only that +you return the book."</p> + +<p>"But books are so valuable," taunted Bertha.</p> + +<p>Dejectedly I sank to the couch. She came over and sat on a cushion at my +feet. "Really Karl," she purred, "you should not be angry. If I insist +on keeping your book it is merely to be sure that you will not forget +me. I rather like you; you are so queer and talk such odd things. Did +you learn your strange ways of making love from the book about the +inferior races in the world outside the walls? I really tried to read +some of it, but I could not understand half the words."</p> + +<p>I rose and strode about the room. "Will you get me the book?" I +demanded.</p> + +<p>"And lose you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, what of it? You can get plenty more fools like me."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I would have to stand and stare into that fountain for hours +at a time. It is very tiresome."</p> + +<p>"Just what do you want?" I asked, trying to speak calmly.</p> + +<p>"Why you," she said, placing her slender white hands upon my arm, and +holding up an inviting face.</p> + +<p>But anger at my own gullibility had killed her power to draw me, and I +shook her off. "I want that book," I said coldly, "what are your terms?" +And I drew my check book from my pocket.</p> + +<p>"How many blanks have you there?" she asked with a greedy light in her +eyes--"but never mind to count them. Make them all out to me at two +hundred marks, and date each one a month ahead."</p> + +<p>Realizing that any further exhibition of fear or anger would put me more +within her power, I sat down and began to write the checks. The fund I +was making over to her was quite useless to me but when I had made out +twenty checks I stopped. "Now," I said, "this is enough. You take these +or nothing." Tearing out the written checks I held them toward her.</p> + +<p>As she reached out her hand I drew them back--"Go get the book," I +demanded.</p> + +<p>"But you are unfair," said Bertha, "you are the stronger. You can take +the book from me. I cannot take the checks from you."</p> + +<p>"That is so," I admitted, and handed the checks to her. She looked at +them carefully and slipped them into her bosom, and then, reaching under +the pile of silken pillows, she pulled forth the geography.</p> + +<p>I seized it and turned toward the door, but she caught my arm. "Don't," +she pleaded, "don't go. Don't be angry with me. Why should you dislike +me? I've only played my part as you men make it for us--but I do not +want your money for nothing. You liked me when you thought me innocent. +Why hate me when you find that I am clever?"</p> + +<p>Again those slender arms stole around my neck, and the entrancing face +was raised to mine. But the vision of a finer, nobler face rose before +me, and I pushed away the clinging arms. "I'm sorry," I said, "I am +going now--going back to my work and forget you. It is not your fault. +You are only what Germany has made you--but," I added with a smile, "if +you must go to the Hall of Flowers, please do not wear that grey gown."</p> + +<p>She stood very still as I edged toward the door, and the look of baffled +child-like innocence crept back into her eyes, a real innocence this +time of things she did not know, and could not understand.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>THE SUN SHINES UPON A KING AND A GIRL READS OF THE FALL OF BABYLON</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>Embittered by this unhappy ending of my romance, I turned to my work +with savage zeal, determined not again to be diverted by a personal +effort to save the Germans from their sins. But this application to my +test-tubes was presently interrupted by a German holiday which was known +as The Day of the Sun.</p> + +<p>From the conversation of my assistants I gathered that this was an +annual occasion of particular importance. It was, in fact, His Majesty's +birthday, and was celebrated by permitting the favoured classes to see +the ruler himself at the Place in the Sun. For this Royal exhibition I +received a blue ticket of which my assistants were curiously envious. +They inspected the number of it and the hour of my admittance to the +Royal Level. "It is the first appearance of the day," they said. "His +Majesty will be fresh to speak; you will be near; you will be able to +see His Face without the aid of a glass; you will be able to hear His +Voice, and not merely the reproducing horns."</p> + +<p>In the morning our news bulletin was wholly devoted to announcements and +patriotic exuberances. Across the sheet was flamed a headline stating +that the meteorologist of the Roof Observatory reported that the sun +would shine in full brilliancy upon the throne. This seemed very +puzzling to me. For the Place in the Sun was clearly located on the +Royal Level and some hundred metres beneath the roof of the city.</p> + +<p>I went, at the hour announced on my ticket, to the indicated elevator; +and, with an eager crowd of fellow scientists, stepped forth into a vast +open space where the vaulted ceiling was supported by massive fluted +columns that rose to twice the height of the ordinary spacing of the +levels of the city.</p> + +<p>An enormous crowd of men of the higher ranks was gathering. Closely +packed and standing, the multitude extended to the sides and the rear of +my position for many hundred metres until it seemed quite lost under the +glowing lights in the distance. Before us a huge curtain hung. +Emblazoned on its dull crimson background of subdued socialism was a +gigantic black eagle, the leering emblem of autocracy. Above and +extending back over us, appeared in the ceiling a deep and +unlighted crevice.</p> + +<p>As the crowd seemed complete the men about me consulted their watches +and then suddenly grew quiet in expectancy. The lights blinked twice and +went out, and we were bathed in a hush of darkness. The heavy curtain +rustled like the mantle of Jove while from somewhere above I heard the +shutters of the windows of heaven move heavily on their rollers. A +flashing brilliant beam of light shot through the blackness and fell in +wondrous splendour upon a dazzling metallic dais, whereon rested the +gilded throne of the House of Hohenzollern.</p> + +<p>Seated upon the throne was a man--a very little man he seemed amidst +such vast and vivid surroundings. He was robed in a cape of dazzling +white, and on his head he wore a helmet of burnished platinum. Before +the throne and slightly to one side stood the round form of a +paper globe.</p> + +<p>His Majesty rose, stepped a few paces forward; and, as he with solemn +deliberation raised his hand into the shaft of burning light, from the +throng there came a frenzied shouting, which soon changed into a sort of +chanting and then into a throaty song.</p> + +<p>His Majesty lowered his hand; the song ceased; a great stillness hung +over the multitude. Eitel I, Emperor of the Germans, now raised his face +and stared for a moment unblinkingly into the beam of sunlight, then he +lowered his gaze toward the sea of upturned faces.</p> + +<p>"My people," he said, in a voice which for all his pompous effort, fell +rather flat in the immensity, "you are assembled here in the Place of +the Sun to do honour to God's anointed ruler of the world."</p> + +<p>From ten thousand throats came forth another raucous shout.</p> + +<p>"Two and a half centuries ago," now spoke His Majesty, "God appointed +the German race, under William the Great, of the House of Hohenzollern, +to be the rulers of the world.</p> + +<p>"For nineteen hundred years, God in his infinite patience, had awaited +the outcome of the test of the Nazarene's doctrine of servile humility +and effeminate peace. But the Christian nations of the earth were +weighed in the balance of Divine wrath and found wanting. Wallowing in +hypocrisy and ignorance, wanting in courage and valour; behind a +pretence of altruism they cloaked their selfish greed for gold.</p> + +<p>"Of all the people of the earth our race alone possessed the two keys to +power, the mastery of science and the mastery of the sword. So the +Germans were called of God to instil fear and reverence into the hearts +of the inferior races. That was the purpose of the First World War under +my noble ancestor, William II.</p> + +<p>"But the envious nations, desperate in their greed, banded together to +defy our old German God, and destroy His chosen people. But this was +only a divine trial of our worth, for the plans of God are for eternity. +His days to us are centuries. And we did well to patiently abide the +complete unfoldment of the Divine plan.</p> + +<p>"Before two generations had passed our German ancestors cast off the +yoke of enslavement and routed the oppressors in the Second World War. +Lest His chosen race be contaminated by the swinish herds of the mongrel +nations God called upon His people to relinquish for a time the fruits +of conquest, that they might be further purged by science and become a +pure-bred race of super-men.</p> + +<p>"That purification has been accomplished for every German is bred and +trained by science as ordained by God. There are no longer any mongrels +among the men of Germany, for every one of you is created for his +special purpose and every German is fitted for his particular place as a +member of the super-race.</p> + +<p>"The time now draws near when the final purpose of our good old German +God is to be fulfilled. The day of this fulfilment is known unto me. The +sun which shines upon this throne is but a symbol of that which has been +denied you while all these things were being made ready. But now the day +draws near when you shall, under my leadership, rule over the world and +the mongrel peoples. And to each of you shall be given a place in +the sun."</p> + +<p>The voice had ceased. A great stillness hung over the multitude. Eitel +I, Emperor of the Germans, threw back his cape and drew his sword. With +a sweeping flourish he slashed the paper globe in twain.</p> + +<p>From the myriad throated throng came a reverberating shout that rolled +and echoed through the vaulted catacomb. The crimson curtain dropped. +The shutters were thrown athwart the reflected beam of sunlight. The +lights of man again glowed pale amidst the maze of columns.</p> + +<p>Singing and marching, the men filed toward the elevators. The guards +urged haste to clear the way, for the God of the Germans could not stay +the march of the sun across the roof of Berlin, and a score of paper +globes must yet be slashed for other shouting multitudes before the +sun's last gleam be twisted down to shine upon a king.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>Although the working hours of the day were scarcely one-fourth gone, it +was impossible for me to return to my laboratory for the lighting +current was shut off for the day. I therefore decided to utilize the +occasion by returning the geography which I had rescued from Bertha.</p> + +<p>Dr. Zimmern's invitation to make use of his library had been cordial +enough, but its location in Marguerite's apartment had made me a little +reticent about going there except in the Doctor's company. Yet I did not +wish to admit to Zimmern my sensitiveness in the matter--and the +geography had been kept overlong.</p> + +<p>This occasion being a holiday, I found the resorts on the Level of Free +Women crowded with merrymakers. But I sought the quieter side streets +and made my way towards Marguerite's apartment.</p> + +<p>"I thought you would be celebrating today," she said as I entered.</p> + +<p>"I feel that I can utilize the time better by reading," I replied. +"There is so much I want to learn, and, thanks to Dr. Zimmern, I now +have the opportunity."</p> + +<p>"But surely you are to see the Emperor in the Place in the Sun," said +Marguerite when she had returned the geography to the secret shelf.</p> + +<p>"I have already seen him," I replied, "my ticket was for the first +performance."</p> + +<p>"It must be a magnificent sight," she sighed. "I should so love to see +the sunlight. The pictures show us His Majesty's likeness, but what is a +picture of sunlight?"</p> + +<p>"But you speak only of a reflected beam; how would you like to see real +sunshine?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, on the roof of Berlin? But that is only for Royalty and the roof +guards. I've tried to imagine that, but I know that I fail as a blind +man must fail to imagine colour."</p> + +<p>"Close your eyes," I said playfully, "and try very hard."</p> + +<p>Solemnly Marguerite closed her eyes.</p> + +<p>For a moment I smiled, and then the smile relaxed, for I felt as one who +scoffs at prayer.</p> + +<p>"And did you see the sunlight?" I asked, as she opened her eyes and +gazed at me with dilated pupils.</p> + +<p>"No," she answered hoarsely, "I only saw man-light as far as the walls +of Berlin, and beyond that it was all empty blackness--and it +frightens me."</p> + +<p>"The fear of darkness," I said, "is the fear of ignorance."</p> + +<p>"You try," and she reached over with a soft touch of her finger tips on +my closing eyelids. "Now keep them closed and tell me what you see. Tell +me it is not all black."</p> + +<p>"I see light," I said, "white light, on a billowy sea of clouds, as from +a flying plane.... And now I see the sun--it is sinking behind a rugged +line of snowy peaks and the light is dimming.... It is gone now, but it +is not dark, for moonlight, pale and silvery, is shimmering on a choppy +sea.... Now it is the darkest hour, but it is never black, only a dark, +dark grey, for the roof of the world is pricked with a million points of +light.... The grey of the east is shot with the rose of dawn.... The +rose brightens to scarlet and the curve of the sun appears--red like the +blood of war.... And now the sky is crystal blue and the grey sands of +the desert have turned to glittering gold."</p> + +<p>I had ceased my poetic visioning and was looking into Marguerite's face. +The light of worship I saw in her eyes filled me with a strange +trembling and holy awe.</p> + +<p>"And I saw only blackness," she faltered. "Is it that I am born blind +and you with vision?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps what you call vision is only memory," I said--but, as I +realized where my words were leading, I hastened to add--"Memory, from +another life. Have you ever heard of such a thing as the reincarnation +of the soul?"</p> + +<p>"That means," she said hesitatingly, "that there is something in us that +does not die--immortality, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it is something like that," I answered huskily, as I wondered +what she might know or dream of that which lay beyond the ken of the +gross materialism of her race. "Immortality is a very beautiful idea," I +went on, "and science has destroyed much that is beautiful. But it is a +pity that Col. Hellar had to eliminate the idea of immortality from the +German Bible. Surely such a book makes no pretence of being scientific."</p> + +<p>"So Col. Hellar has told you that he wrote 'God's Anointed'?" exclaimed +Marguerite with eager interest.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he told me of that and I re-read the book with an entirely +different viewpoint since I came to understand the spirit in which it +was written."</p> + +<p>"Ah--I see." Marguerite rose and stepped toward the library. "We have a +book here," she called, "that you have not read, and one that you cannot +buy. It will show you the source of Col. Hellar's inspiration."</p> + +<p>She brought out a battered volume. "This book," she stated, "has given +the inspectors more trouble than any other book in existence. Though +they have searched for thirty years, they say there are more copies of +it still at large than of all other forbidden books combined."</p> + +<p>I gazed at the volume she handed me--I was holding a copy of the +Christian Bible translated six centuries previous by Martin Luther. It +was indeed the very text from which as a boy I had acquired much of my +reading knowledge of the language. But I decided that I had best not +reveal to Marguerite my familiarity with it, and so I sat down and +turned the pages with assumed perplexity.</p> + +<p>"It is a very odd book," I remarked presently. "Have you read it?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," exclaimed Marguerite. "I often read it; I think it is more +interesting than all these modern books, but perhaps that is because I +cannot understand it; I love mysterious things."</p> + +<p>"There is too much of it for a man as busy as I am to hope to read," I +remarked, after turning a few more pages, "and so I had better not +begin. Will you not choose something and read it aloud to me?"</p> + +<p>Marguerite declined at first; but, when I insisted, she took the +tattered Bible and turned slowly through its pages.</p> + +<p>And when she read, it was the story of a king who revelled with his +lords, and of a hand that wrote upon a wall.</p> + +<p>Her voice was low, and possessed a rhythm and cadence that transmuted +the guttural German tongue into musical poetry.</p> + +<p>Again she read, of a man who, though shorn of his strength by the wiles +of a woman and blinded by his enemies, yet pushed asunder the pillars +of a city.</p> + +<p>At random she read other tales, of rulers and of slaves, of harlots and +of queens--the wisdom of prophets--the songs of kings.</p> + +<p>Together we pondered the meanings of these strange things, and exulted +in the beauty of that which was meaningless. And so the hours passed; +the day drew near its close and Marguerite read from the last pages of +the book, of a voice that cried mightily--"Babylon the great is fallen, +is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils and the hold of every +foul spirit."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>FINDING THEREIN ONE RIGHTEOUS MAN I HAVE COMPASSION ON BERLIN</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>My first call upon Marguerite had been followed by other visits when we +had talked of books and read together. On these occasions I had +carefully suppressed my desire to speak of more personal things. But, +constantly reminded by my own troubled conscience, I grew fearful lest +the old doctor should discover that the books were the lesser part of +the attraction that drew me to Marguerite's apartment, and my fear was +increased as I realized that my calls on Zimmern had abruptly ceased.</p> + +<p>Thinking to make amends I went one evening to the doctor's apartment.</p> + +<p>"I was going out shortly," said Zimmern, as he greeted me. "I have a +dinner engagement with +Hellar on the Free Level. But I still have a little time; if it pleases +you we might walk along to our library."</p> + +<p>I promptly accepted the invitation, hoping that it would enable me +better to establish my relation to Marguerite and Zimmern in a safe +triangle of mutual friendship. As we walked, Zimmern, as if he read my +thoughts, turned the conversation to the very subject that was uppermost +in my mind.</p> + +<p>"I am glad, Armstadt," he said with a gracious smile, "that you and +Marguerite seem to enjoy each other's friendship. I had often wished +there were younger men in our group, since her duties as caretaker of +our books quite forbids her cultivating the acquaintance of any men +outside our chosen few. Marguerite is very patient with the dull talk of +us old men, but life is not all books, and there is much that youth +may share."</p> + +<p>For these words of Zimmern's I was quite unprepared. He seemed to be +inviting me to make love to Marguerite, and I wondered to what extent +the prevailing social ethics might have destroyed the finer +sensibilities that forbid the sharing of a woman's love.</p> + +<p>When we reached the apartment Marguerite greeted us with a perfect +democracy of manner. But my reassurance of the moment was presently +disturbed when she turned to Zimmern and said: "Now that you are here, I +am going for a bit of a walk; I have not been out for two whole days."</p> + +<p>"Very well," the doctor replied. "I cannot remain long as I have an +engagement with Hellar, but perhaps Armstadt will remain until +you return."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall have him all to myself," declared Marguerite with quiet +seriousness.</p> + +<p>Though I glanced from the old doctor to the young woman in questioning +amazement, neither seemed in the least embarrassed or aware that +anything had been said out of keeping with the customary propriety +of life.</p> + +<p>Marguerite, throwing the blue velvet cape about her bare white +shoulders, paused to give the old doctor an affectionate kiss, and with +a smile for me was gone.</p> + +<p>For a few moments the doctor sat musing; but when he turned to me it was +to say: "I hope that you are making good use of our precious +accumulation of knowledge."</p> + +<p>In reply I assured him of my hearty appreciation of the library.</p> + +<p>"You can see now," continued Zimmern, "how utterly the mind of the race +has been enslaved, how all the vast store of knowledge, that as a whole +makes life possible, is parcelled out for each. Not one of us is +supposed to know of those vital things outside our own narrow field. +That knowledge is forbidden us lest we should understand the workings of +our social system and question the wisdom of it all. And so, while each +is wiser in his own little cell than were the men of the old order, yet +on all things else we are little children, accepting what we are taught, +doing what we are told, with no mind, no souls of our own. Scientists +have ceased to be men, and have become thinking machines, specialized +for their particular tasks."</p> + +<p>"That is true," I said, "but what are we to do about it? You have by +these forbidden books acquired a realization of the enslavement of the +race--but the others, all these millions of professional men, are they +not hopelessly rendered impotent by the systematic Suppression of +knowledge?"</p> + +<p>"The millions, yes," replied Zimmern, "but there are the chosen few; we +who have seen the light must find a way for the liberation of all."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean," I asked eagerly, "that you are planning some secret +rebellion--that you hope for some possible rising of the people to +overthrow the system?"</p> + +<p>Zimmern looked at me in astonishment. "The people," he said, "cannot +rise. In the old order such a thing was possible--revolutions they +called them--the people led by heroes conceived passions for liberty. +But such powers of mental reaction no longer exist in German minds. We +have bred and trained it out of them. One might as well have expected +the four-footed beasts of burden in the old agricultural days to rebel +against their masters."</p> + +<p>"But," I protested, "if the people could be enlightened?"</p> + +<p>"How," exclaimed Zimmern impatiently, "can you enlighten them? You are +young, Armstadt, very young to talk of such things--even if a rebellion +was a possibility what would be the gain? Rebellion means disorder--once +the ventilating machinery of the city and the food processes were +disturbed we should all perish in this trap--we should all die of +suffocation and starvation."</p> + +<p>"Then why," I asked, "do you talk of this thing? If rebellion is +impossible and would, if possible, destroy us all, then is there +any hope?"</p> + +<p>Zimmern paced the floor for a time in silence and then, facing me +squarely, he said, "I have confessed to you my dissatisfaction with the +existing state. In doing this I placed myself in great danger, but I +risked that and now I shall risk more. I ask you now, Are you with us +to the end?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I replied very gravely, "I am with you although I cannot fully +understand on what you base your hope."</p> + +<p>"Our hope," replied Zimmern, "is out there in the world from whence come +those flying men who rain bombs on the roof of Berlin and for ever keep +us patching it. We must get word to them. We must throw ourselves upon +the humanity of our enemies and ask them to save us."</p> + +<p>"But," I questioned, in my excitement, "what can Germany expect of the +enemy? She has made war against the world for centuries--will that world +permit Germany to live could they find a way to destroy her?"</p> + +<p>"As a nation, no, but as men, yes. Men do not kill men as individuals, +they only make war against a nation of men. As long as Germany is +capable of making war against the world so long will the world attempt +to destroy her. You, Colonel Armstadt, hold in your protium secret the +power of Germany to continue the war against the world. Because you were +about to gain that power I risked my own life to aid you in getting a +wider knowledge. Because you now hold that power I risk it again by +asking you to use it to destroy Germany and save the Germans. The men +who are with me in this cause, and for whom I speak, are but a few. The +millions materially alive, are spiritually dead. The world alone can +give them life again as men. Even though a few million more be destroyed +in the giving have not millions already been destroyed? What if you do +save Germany now--what does it mean merely that we breed millions more +like we now have, soulless creatures born to die like worms in the +ground, brains working automatically, stamping out one sort of idea, +like machines that stamp out buttons--or mere mouths shouting like +phonographs before this gaudy show of royalty?"</p> + +<p>"But," I said, "you speak for the few emancipated minds; what of all +these men who accept the system--you call them slaves, yet are they not +content with their slavery, do they want to be men of the world or +continue here in their bondage and die fighting to keep up their own +system of enslavement?"</p> + +<p>"It makes no difference what they want," replied Zimmern, in a voice +that trembled with emotion; "we bred them as slaves to the <i>kultur</i> of +Germany, the thing to do is to stop the breeding."</p> + +<p>"But how," I asked, "can men who have been beaten into the mould of the +ox ever be restored to their humanity?"</p> + +<p>"The old ones cannot," sighed Zimmern; "it was always so; when a people +has once fallen into evil ways the old generation can never be wholly +redeemed, but youth can always be saved--youth is plastic."</p> + +<p>"But the German race," I said, "has not only been mis-educated, it has +been mis-bred. Can you undo inheritance? Can this race with its vast +horde of workers bred for a maximum of muscle and a minimum of brains +ever escape from that stupidity that has been bred into the blood?"</p> + +<p>"You have been trained as a chemist," said Zimmern, "you despair of the +future because you do not understand the laws of inheritance. A +specialized type of man or animal is produced from the selection of the +extreme individuals. That you know. But what you do not know is that the +type once established does not persist of its own accord. It can only be +maintained by the rigid continuance of the selection. The average +stature of man did not change a centimetre in a thousand years, till we +came in with our meddlesome eugenics. Leave off our scientific meddling +and the race will quickly revert to the normal type.</p> + +<p>"That applies to the physical changes; in the mental powers the +restoration will be even more rapid, because we have made less change in +the psychic elements of the germ plasm. The inborn capacity of the human +brain is hard to alter. Men are created more nearly equal than even the +writers of democratic constitutions have ever known. If the World State +will once help us to free ourselves from these shackles of rigid caste +and cultured ignorance, this folly of scientific meddling with the blood +and brains of man, there is yet hope for this race, for we have changed +far less than we pretend, in the marrow we are human still."</p> + +<p>The old man sank back in his chair. The fire in his soul had burned out. +His hand fumbled for his watch. "I must leave you now," he said; +"Marguerite should be back shortly. From her you need conceal nothing. +She is the soul of our hopes and our dreams. She keeps our books safe +and our hearts fine. Without her I fear we should all have given up +long ago."</p> + +<p>With a trembling handclasp he left me alone in Marguerite's apartment. +And alone too with my conflicting and troubled emotions. He was a +lovable soul, ripe with the wisdom of age, yet youthful in his hopes to +redeem his people from the curse of this unholy blend of socialism and +autocracy that had prostituted science and made a black Utopian +nightmare of man's millennial dream.</p> + +<p>Vaguely I wondered how many of the three hundred millions of German +souls--for I could not accept the soulless theory of Zimmern--were yet +capable of a realization of their humanity. To this query there could be +no answer, but of one conclusion I was certain, it was not my place to +ask what these people wanted, for their power to decide was destroyed by +the infernal process of their making--but here at least, my democratic +training easily gave the answer that Dr. Zimmern had achieved by sheer +genius, and my answer was that for men whose desire for liberty has been +destroyed, liberty must be thrust upon them.</p> + +<p>But it remained for me to work out a plan for so difficult a salvation. +Of this I was now assured that I need no longer work alone, for as I had +long suspected, Dr. Zimmern and his little group of rebellious souls +were with me. But what could so few do amidst all the millions? My +answer, like Zimmern's, was that the salvation of Germany lay in the +enemies' hands--and I alone was of that enemy. Yet never again could I +pray for the destruction of the city at the hands of the outraged +god--Humanity. And I thought of Sodom and Gomorrah which the God of +Abraham had agreed to spare if there be found ten righteous men therein.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>From these far-reaching thoughts my mind was drawn sharply back to the +fact of my presence in Marguerite's apartment and the realization that +she would shortly return to find me there alone. I resented the fact +that the old doctor and the young woman could conspire to place me in +such a situation. I resented the fact that a girl like Marguerite could +be bound to a man three times her age, and yet seem to accept it with +perfect grace. But I resented most of all the fact that both she and +Zimmern appeared to invite me to share in a triangle of love, open and +unashamed.</p> + +<p>My bitter brooding was disturbed by the sound of a key turning in the +lock, and Marguerite, fresh and charming from the exhilaration of her +walk, came into the room.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad you remained," she said. "I hope no one else comes and we +can have the evening to ourselves."</p> + +<p>"It seems," I answered with a touch of bitterness, "that Dr. Zimmern +considers me quite a safe playmate for you."</p> + +<p>At my words Marguerite blushed prettily. "I know you do not quite +understand," she said, "but you see I am rather peculiarly situated. I +cannot go out much, and I can have no girl friends here, and no men +either except those who are in this little group who know of our books. +And they, you see, are all rather old, mostly staff officers like the +doctor himself, and Col. Hellar. You rank quite as well as some of the +others, but you are ever so much younger. That is why the doctor thinks +you are so wonderful--I mean because you have risen so high at so early +an age--but perhaps I think you are rather wonderful just because you +are young. Is it not natural for young people to want friends of +their own age?"</p> + +<p>"It is," I replied with ill-concealed sarcasm.</p> + +<p>"Why do you speak like that?" asked Marguerite in pained surprise.</p> + +<p>"Because a burnt child dreads the fire."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand," she said, a puzzled look in her eyes. "How could +a child be burned by a fire since it could never approach one. They only +have fires in the smelting furnaces, and children could never go +near them."</p> + +<p>Despite my bitter mood I smiled as I said: "It is just a figure of +speech that I got out of an old book. It means that when one is hurt by +something he does not want to be hurt in the same way again. You +remember what you said to me in the café about looking up the girl who +played the innocent rôle? I did look her up, and you were right about +it. She has been, here three years and has a score of lovers."</p> + +<p>"And you dropped her?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I dropped her."</p> + +<p>"And you have not found another?"</p> + +<p>"No, and I do not want another, and I had not made love to this girl +either, as you think I had; perhaps I would have done so, but thanks to +you I was warned in time. I may be even younger than you think I am, +young at least in experience with the free women of Berlin. This is the +second apartment I have ever been in on this level."</p> + +<p>"Why do you tell me this?" questioned Marguerite.</p> + +<p>"Because," I said doggedly, "because I suppose that I want you to know +that I have spent most of my time in a laboratory. I also want you to +know that I do not like the artful deceit that you all seem to +cultivate."</p> + +<p>"And do you think I am trying to deceive you?" cried Marguerite +reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"Your words may be true," I said, "but the situation you place me in is +a false one. Dr. Zimmern brings me here that I may read your books. He +leaves me alone here with you and urges me to come as often as I choose. +All that is hard enough, but to make it harder for me, you tell me that +you particularly want my company because you have no other young +friends. In fact you practically ask me to make love to you and yet you +know why I cannot."</p> + +<p>In the excitement of my warring emotions I had risen and was pacing the +floor, and now as I reached the climax of my bitter speech, Marguerite, +with a choking sob, fled from the room.</p> + +<p>Angered at the situation and humiliated by what I had said, I was on the +point of leaving at once. But a moment of reflection caused me to turn +back. I had forced a quarrel upon Marguerite and the cause for my anger +she perhaps did not comprehend. If I left now it would be impossible to +return, and if I did not come back, there would be explanations to make +to Zimmern and perhaps an ending of my association with him and his +group, which was not only the sole source of my intellectual life +outside my work, but which I had begun to hope might lead to some +enterprise of moment and possibly to my escape from Berlin.</p> + +<p>So calming my anger, I turned to the library and doggedly pulled down a +book and began scanning its contents. I had been so occupied for some +time, when there was a ring at the bell. I peered out into the +reception-room in time to see Marguerite come from another door. Her +eyes revealed the fact that she had been crying. Quickly she closed the +door of the little library, shutting me in with the books. A moment +later she came in with a grey-haired man, a staff officer of the +electrical works. She introduced us coolly and then helped the old man +find a book he wanted to take out, and which she entered on her records.</p> + +<p>After the visitor had gone Marguerite again slipped out of the room and +for a time I despaired of a chance to speak to her before I felt I must +depart. Another hour passed and then she stole into the library and +seated herself very quietly on a little dressing chair and watched me as +I proceeded with my reading.</p> + +<p>I asked her some questions about one of the volumes and she replied with +a meek and forgiving voice that made me despise myself heartily. Other +questions and answers followed and soon we were talking again of books +as if we had no overwhelming sense of the personal presence of +each other.</p> + +<p>The hours passed; by all my sense of propriety I should have been long +departed, but still we talked of books without once referring to my +heated words of the earlier evening.</p> + +<p>She had stood enticingly near me as we pulled down the volumes. My heart +beat wildly as she sat by my side, while I mechanically turned the +pages. The brush of her garments against my sleeve quite maddened me. I +had not dared to look into her eyes, as I talked meaningless, +bookish words.</p> + +<p>Summoning all my self-control, I now faced her. "Marguerite," I said +hoarsely, "look at me."</p> + +<p>She lifted her eyes and met my gaze unflinchingly, the moisture of fresh +tears gleaming beneath her lashes.</p> + +<p>"Forgive me," I entreated.</p> + +<p>"For what?" she asked simply, smiling a little through her tears.</p> + +<p>"For being a fool," I declared fiercely, "for believing your cordiality +toward me as Dr. Zimmern's friend to mean more than--than it +should mean."</p> + +<p>"But I do not understand," she said. "Should I not have told you that I +liked you because you were young? Of course if you don't want me +to--to--" She paused abruptly, her face suffused with a +delicate crimson.</p> + +<p>I stepped toward her and reached out my arms. But she drew back and +slipped quickly around the table. "No," she cried, "no, you have said +that you did not want me."</p> + +<p>"But I do," I cried. "I do want you."</p> + +<p>"Then why did you say those things to me?" she asked haughtily.</p> + +<p>I gazed at her across the narrow table. Was it possible that such a +woman had no understanding of ideals of honour in love? Could it be that +she had no appreciation of the fight I had waged, and so nearly lost, to +respect the trust and confidence that the old doctor had placed in me. +With these thoughts the ardour of my passion cooled and a feeling of +pity swept over me, as I sensed the tragedy of so fine a woman ethically +impoverished by false training and environment. Had she known honour, +and yet discarded it, I too should have been unable to resist the +impulse of youth to deny to age its less imperious claims.</p> + +<p>But either she chose artfully to ignore my struggle or she was truly +unaware of it. In either case she would not share the responsibility for +the breach of faith. I was puzzled and confounded.</p> + +<p>It was Marguerite who broke the bewildering silence. "I wish you would +go now," she said coolly; "I am afraid I misunderstood."</p> + +<p>"And shall I come again?" I asked awkwardly.</p> + +<p>She looked up at me and smiled bravely. "Yes," she said, "if--you are +sure you wish to."</p> + +<p>A resurge of passionate longing to take her in my arms swept over me, +but she held out her hand with such rare and dignified grace that I +could only take the slender fingers and press them hungrily to my +fevered lips and so bid her a wordless adieu.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>But despite wild longing to see her again, I did not return to +Marguerite's apartment for many weeks. A crisis in my work at the +laboratory denied me even a single hour of leisure outside brief +snatches of food and sleep.</p> + +<p>I had previously reported to the Chemical Staff that I had found means +to increase materially the extraction percentage of the precious element +protium from the crude imported ore. I had now received word that I +should prepare to make a trial demonstration before the Staff.</p> + +<p>Already I had revealed certain results of my progress to Herr von Uhl, +as this had been necessary in order to get further grants of the rare +material and of expensive equipment needed for the research, but in +these smaller demonstrations, I had not been called upon to disclose my +method. Now the Staff, hopeful that I had made the great discovery, +insisted that I prepare at once to make a large scale demonstration and +reveal the method that it might immediately be adopted for the wholesale +extraction in the industrial works.</p> + +<p>If I now gave away the full secret of my process, I would receive +compensation that would indeed seem lavish for a man whose mental +horizon was bounded by these enclosing walls; yet to me for whom these +walls would always be a prison, credit at the banks of Berlin and the +baubles of decoration and rank and social honour would be sounding +brass. But I wanted power; and, with the secret of protium extraction in +my possession, I would have control of life or death over three hundred +million men. Why should I sacrifice such power for useless credit and +empty honour? If Eitel I of the House of Hohenzollern would lengthen the +days of his rule, let him deal with me and meet whatever terms I chose +to name, for in my chemical retorts I had brewed a secret before which +vaunted efficiency and hypocritical divinity could be made to bend a +hungry belly and beg for food!</p> + +<p>It was a laudable and rather thrilling ambition, and yet I was not clear +as to just what terms I would dictate, nor how I could enforce the +dictation. To ask for an audience with the Emperor now, and to take any +such preposterous stand would merely be to get myself locked up for a +lunatic. But I reasoned that if I could make the demonstration so that +it would be accepted as genuine and yet not give away my secret, the +situation would be in my hands. Yet I was expected to reveal the process +step by step as the demonstration proceeded. There was but one way out +and that was to make a genuine demonstration, but with falsely +written formulas.</p> + +<p>To plan and prepare such a demonstration required more genuine invention +than had the discovery of the process, but I set about the task with +feverish enthusiasm. I kept my assistants busy with the preparation of +the apparatus and the more simple work which there was no need to +disguise, while night after night I worked alone, altering and +disguising the secret steps on which my great discovery hinged. As these +preparations were nearing completion I sent for Dr. Zimmern and Col. +Hellar to meet me at my apartment.</p> + +<p>"Comrades," I said, "you have endangered your own lives by confiding in +me your secret desires to overthrow the rule of the House of +Hohenzollern as it was overthrown once before. You have done this +because you believed that I would have power that others do not have."</p> + +<p>The two old men nodded in grave assent.</p> + +<p>"And you have been quite fortunate in your choice," I concluded, "for +not only have I pledged myself to your ends, but I shall soon possess +the coveted power. In a few days I shall demonstrate my process on a +large scale before the Chemical Staff. But I shall do this thing without +revealing the method. The formulas I shall give them will be +meaningless. As long as I am in charge in my own laboratory the process +will be a success; when it is tried elsewhere it will fail, until I +choose to make further revelations.</p> + +<p>"So you see, for a time, unless I be killed or tortured into confession, +I shall have great power. How then may I use that power to help you in +the cause to which we are pledged?"</p> + +<p>The older men seemed greatly impressed with my declaration and danced +about me and cried with joy. When they had regained their composure +Zimmern said: "There is but one thing you can do for us and that is to +find some way to get word of the protium mines to the authorities of the +World State. Berlin will then be at their mercy, but whatever happens +can be no worse than the continuance of things as they are."</p> + +<p>"But how," I said, "can a message be sent from Berlin to the outer +world?"</p> + +<p>"There is only one way," replied Hellar, "and that is by the submarines +that go out for this ore. The Submarine Staff are members of the Royal +House. So, indeed, are the captains. We have tried for years to gain the +confidence of some of these men, but without avail. Perhaps through your +work on the protium ore you can succeed where we have failed."</p> + +<p>"And how," I asked eagerly, "do the ore-bringing vessels get from Berlin +to the sea?"</p> + +<p>My visitors glanced at each other significantly. "Do you not know that?" +exclaimed Zimmern. "We had supposed you would have been told when you +were assigned to the protium research."</p> + +<p>By way of answer I explained that I knew the source of the ore but not +the route of its coming.</p> + +<p>"All such knowledge is suppressed in books," commented Hellar; "we older +men know of this by word of mouth from the days when the submarine +tunnel was completed to the sea, but you are younger. Unless this was +told you at the time you were assigned the work it is not to be expected +that you would know."</p> + +<p>I questioned Hellar and Zimmern closely but found that all they knew was +that a submarine tunnel did exist leading from Berlin somewhere into the +open sea; but its exact location they did not know. Again I pressed my +question as to what I could do with the power of my secret and they +could only repeat that they staked their hopes on getting word to the +outer world by way of submarines.</p> + +<p>Much as I might admire the strength of character that would lead men to +rebel against the only life they knew because they sensed that it was +hopeless, I now found myself a little exasperated at the vagueness of +their plans. Yet I had none better. To defy the Emperor would merely be +to risk my life and the possible loss of my knowledge to the world. +Perhaps after all the older heads were wiser than my own rebellious +spirit; and so, without making any more definite plans, I ended the +interview with a promise to let them know of the outcome of the +demonstration.</p> + +<p>Returning once more to my work I finished my preparations and sent word +to the Chemical Staff that all was ready. They came with solemn faces. +The laboratory was locked and guards were posted. The place was examined +thoroughly, the apparatus was studied in detail. All my ingredients were +tested for the presence of extracted protium, lest I be trying to "salt +the mine." But happily for me they accepted my statement as to their +chemical nature in other respects. Then when all had been approved the +test lot of ore was run. It took us thirty hours to run the extraction +and sample and weigh and test the product. But everything went through +exactly as I had planned.</p> + +<p>With solemn faces the Chemical Staff unanimously declared that the +problem had been solved and marvelled that the solution should come from +the brain of so young a man. And so I received their adulation and +worship, for I could not give credit to the chemists of the world +outside to whom I was really indebted for my seeming miraculous genius. +Telling me to take my rest and prepare myself for an audience with His +Majesty three days later, the Chemical Staff departed, carrying, with +guarded secrecy, my false formulas.</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>Exultant and happy I left the laboratory. I had not slept for forty +hours and scarcely half my regular allotment for many weeks. And yet +I was not +sleepy now but awake and excited. I had won a great victory, and I +wanted to rejoice and share my conquest with sympathetic ears. I could +go to Zimmern, but instead I turned my steps toward the elevator and, +alighting on the Level of the Free Women, I went straightway to +Marguerite's apartment.</p> + +<p>Despite my feeling of exhilaration, my face must have revealed something +of my real state of exhaustion, for Marguerite cried in alarm at the +sight of me.</p> + +<p>"A little tired," I replied, in answer to her solicitous questions; "I +have just finished my demonstration before the Chemical Staff."</p> + +<p>"And you won?" cried Marguerite in a burst of joy. "You deceived them +just as the doctor said you would. And they know you have solved the +protium problem and they do not know how you did it?"</p> + +<p>"That is correct," I said, sinking back into the cushions of the divan. +"I have done all that. I came here first to tell you. You see I could +not come before, all these weeks, I have had no time for sleep or +anything. I would have telephoned or written but I feared it would not +be safe. Did you think I was not coming again?"</p> + +<p>"I missed you at first,--I mean at first I thought you were staying away +because you did not want to see me, and then Dr. Zimmern told me what +you were doing, and I understood--and waited, for I somehow knew you +would come as soon as you could."</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course you knew. Of course, I had to come--Marguerite--" But +Marguerite faded before my vision. I reached out my hand for her--and it +seemed to wave in empty space....</p> + +<h3>~5~</h3> + +<p>When I awoke, I was lying on a couch and a screen bedecked with cupids +was standing before me. At first I thought I was alone and then I +realized that I was in Marguerite's apartment and that Marguerite +herself was seated on a low stool beside the couch and gazing at me out +of dreamy eyes.</p> + +<p>"How did I get here?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"You fell asleep while you were talking, and then some one came for +books, and when the bell rang I hid you with the screen."</p> + +<p>"How long have I slept?"</p> + +<p>"For many hours," she answered.</p> + +<p>"I ought not to have come," I said, but despite my remark I made no +haste to go, but reached out and ran my fingers through her massy hair. +And then I slowly drew her toward me until her luxuriant locks were +tumbled about my neck and face and her head was pillowed on my breast.</p> + +<p>"I am so happy," she whispered. "I am so glad you came first to me."</p> + +<p>For a moment my reason was drugged by the opiate of her touch; and then, +as the realization of the circumstances re-formed in my brain, the +feeling of guilt arose and routed the dreamy bliss. Yet I could only +blame myself, for there was no guile in her act or word, nor could I +believe there was guile in her heart. Gently I pushed her away and +arose, stating that I must leave at once.</p> + +<p>It was plainly evident that Marguerite did not share my sense of +embarrassment, that she was aware of no breach of ethics. But her ease +only served to impress upon me the greater burden of my responsibility +and emphasize the breach of honour of which I was guilty in permitting +this expression of my love to a woman whom circumstances had bound +to Zimmern.</p> + +<p>Pleading need for rest and for time to plan my interview with His +Majesty, I hastened away, feeling that I dare not trust myself alone +with her again.</p> + +<h3>~6~</h3> + +<p>I returned to my own apartment, and when another day had passed, food +and sleep had fully restored me to a normal state. I then recalled my +promise to inform Hellar and Zimmern of the outcome of my demonstration. +I called at Zimmern's quarters but he was not at home. Hence I went to +call on Hellar, to ask of Zimmern's whereabouts.</p> + +<p>"I have an appointment to meet him tonight," said Hellar, "on the Level +of Free Women. Will you not come along?"</p> + +<p>I could not well do otherwise than accept, and Hellar led me again to +the apartment from which I had fled twenty-four hours before. There we +found Zimmern, who received me with his usual graciousness.</p> + +<p>"I have already heard from Marguerite," said Zimmern, "of your success."</p> + +<p>I glanced apprehensively at the girl but she was in no wise disturbed, +and proceeded to relate for Hellar's information the story of my coming +to her exhausted from my work and of my falling asleep in her apartment. +All of them seemed to think it amusing, but there was no evidence that +any one considered it the least improper. Their matter-of-fact attitude +puzzled and annoyed me; they seemed to treat the incident as if it had +been the experience of a couple of children.</p> + +<p>This angered me, for it seemed proof that they considered Marguerite's +love as the common property of any and all.</p> + +<p>"Could it be," I asked myself, "that jealousy has been bred and trained +out of this race? Is it possible they have killed the instinct that +demands private and individual property in love?" Even as I pondered the +problem it seemed answered, for as I sat and talked with Zimmern and +Hellar of my chemical demonstration and the coming interview with His +Majesty, Marguerite came and seated herself on the arm of my chair and +pillowed her head on my shoulder.</p> + +<p>Troubled and embarrassed, yet not having the courage to repulse her +caresses, I stared at Zimmern, who smiled on us with indulgence. In fact +it seemed that he actually enjoyed the scene. My anger flamed up against +him, but for Marguerite I had only pity, for her action seemed so +natural and unaffected that I could not believe that she was making +sport of me, and could only conclude that she had been so bred in the +spirit of the place that she knew nothing else.</p> + +<p>My talk with the men ended as had the last one, without arriving at any +particular plan of action, and when Hellar arose first to go, I took the +opportunity to escape from what to me was an intolerable situation.</p> + +<h3>~7~</h3> + +<p>I separated from Hellar and for an hour or more I wandered on the level. +Then resolving to end the strain of my enigmatical position I turned +again toward Marguerite's apartment. She answered my ring. I entered and +found her alone.</p> + +<p>"Marguerite," I began, "I cannot stand this intolerable situation. I +cannot share the love of a woman with another man--I cannot steal a +woman's love from a man who is my friend--"</p> + +<p>At this outburst Marguerite only stared at me in puzzled amazement. +"Then you do not want me to love you," she stammered.</p> + +<p>"God knows," I cried, "how I do want you to love me, but it must not be +while Dr. Zimmern is alive and you---- "</p> + +<p>"So," said a voice--and glancing up I saw Zimmern himself framed in the +doorway of the book room. The old doctor looked from me to Marguerite, +while a smile beamed on his courtly countenance.</p> + +<p>"Sit down and calm yourself, Armstadt," said Zimmern. "It is time I +spoke to you of Marguerite and of the relation I bear to her. As you +know, I brought her to this level from the school for girls of forbidden +birth. But what you do not know is that she was born on the Royal Level.</p> + +<p>"I knew Marguerite's mother. She was Princess Fedora, a third cousin of +the Empress. I was her physician, for I have not always been in the +Eugenic Service. But Marguerite was born out of wedlock, and the mother +declined to name the father of her child. Because of that the child was +consigned to the school for forbidden love-children, which meant that +she would be fated for the life of a free woman and become the property +of such men as had the price to pay.</p> + +<p>"When her child was taken away from her, the mother killed herself; and +because I declined to testify as to what I knew of the case I lost my +commission as a physician of Royalty. But still having the freedom of +the school levels, I was permitted to keep track of Marguerite. As soon +as she reached the age of her freedom I brought her here, and by the aid +of her splendid birth and the companionship of thinking men she has +become the woman you now find her."</p> + +<p>In my jealousy I had listened to the first words of the old doctor with +but little comprehension. But as he talked on so calmly and kindly an +eager hope leaped up within me. Was it possible that it had been I who +had misunderstood--and that Zimmern's love for Marguerite was of another +sort than mine?</p> + +<p>Tensely I awaited his further words, but I did not dare to look at +Marguerite, who had taken her place beside him.</p> + +<p>"I brought her here," Zimmern continued, "for there was no other place +where she could go except into the keeping of some man. I have given her +the work of guarding our books, and for that I could have well afforded +to pay for her living.</p> + +<p>"You find in Marguerite a woman of intelligence, and there are few +enough like her. And she finds in you a man of rare gifts, and you are +both young, so it is not strange that you two should love each other. +All this I considered before I brought you here to meet her. I was happy +when Marguerite told me that it was so. But your happiness is marred, +because you, Armstadt, think that I am in the way; you have believed +that I bear the relation to Marguerite that the fact of my paying for +her presence on this level would imply.</p> + +<p>"It speaks well of your honour," the doctor went on, "that you have felt +as you did. I should have explained sooner, but I did not wish to speak +of this until it was necessary to Marguerite's happiness. But now that I +have spoken there is nothing to stand in the way of your happiness, for +Marguerite is as worthy of your love as if she had but made her début on +the Royal Level to which she was born. As for what is to be between you, +I can only leave it to the best that is in yourselves, and whatever that +may be has my blessing."</p> + +<p>As I listened to the doctor's words entranced with rapture, the vision +of Marguerite floated hazily before my eyes as if she were an ethereal +essence that might, at any moment, be snatched away. But as the doctor's +words ceased my eyes met Marguerite's and all else seemed to fade but +the love light that shone from out their liquid depths.</p> + +<p>Forgetting utterly the presence of the man whose words had set us free, +our hearts reached out with hungry arms to claim their own.</p> + +<p>For us, time lost her reckoning amidst our tears and kisses, and when my +brain at last made known to me the existence of other souls than ours, I +looked up and found that we were alone. A saucy little clock ticked +rhythmically on a mantel. I felt an absurd desire to smash it, for the +impudent thing had been running all the while.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH I SALUTE THE STATUE OF GOD AND A PSYCHIC EXPERT EXPLORES MY BRAIN AND FINDS NOTHING</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>The Chemical Staff called for me at my laboratory to conduct me to the +presence of the Emperor. At the elevator we were met by an electric +vehicle manned fore and aft by pompous guards. Through the wide, high +streets we rolled noiselessly past the decorated facades of the spacious +apartments that housed the seventeen thousand members of the House of +Hohenzollern.</p> + +<p>At times the ample streets broadened into still more roomy avenues where +potted trees alternated with the frescoed columns, and beyond which were +luxurious gardens and vast statuary halls. On the Level of Free Women +the life was one of crowded revelry, of the bauble and delights of +carnival, but on the Royal Level there was an atmosphere of luxurious +leisure, with vast spaces given over to the privacy of +aristocratic idleness.</p> + +<p>An occasional vehicle rolled swiftly past us on the glassy smoothness of +the pavement; more rarely lonely couples strolled among the potted trees +or sat in dreamy indolence beside the fountains. There was no crowding, +no mass of humanity, no narrow halls, no congested apartments. All +structure here was on a scale of magnificent size and distances, while +by comparison the men and women appeared dwarfed, but withal distinctive +in their costumes and regal in their leisurely idleness.</p> + +<p>After some kilometres of travel we came to His Majesty's palace, which +stood detached from all other enclosed structures and was surrounded on +all sides by ever-necessary columns that seemed like a forest of tree +trunks spaced and distanced in geometrical design.</p> + +<p>As we approached the massive doorway of the palace, our party paused, +and stood stiffly erect. Before us were two colossal statues of +glistening white crystal. My fellow scientists faced one of the figures, +which I recognized as that of William II, and I, a little tardily, +saluted with them. And now we turned sharply on our heels and saluted +the second figure of these twin German heroes. For German it was +unmistakably in every feature, save for the one oddity that the Teutonic +face wore a flowing beard not unlike that of Michael Angelo's Moses. As +we moved forward my eye swept in the lettering on the pedestal, <i>"Unser +Alte Deutche Gott,"</i> and I was aware that I had acknowledged my +allegience to the supreme war lord--I had saluted the Statue of God.</p> + +<p>Entering the palace we were conducted through a long hall-way hung with +floral tapestries. We passed through several great metal doors guarded +by stalwart leaden-faced men and came at last into the imperial audience +room, where His Majesty, Eitel I, satellited by his ministers, sat stiff +and upright at the head of the council table.</p> + +<p>Though he had seemed a small man when I had seen him in the dazzling +beam of the reflected sunlight, I now perceived that he was of more than +average stature. He wore no crown and no helmet, but only a crop of +stiff iron grey hair brushed boldly upright. His face was stern, his +nose beak-like, and his small eyes grey and piercing. Over the high back +of his chair was thrown his cape, and he was clad in a jacket of white +cellulose velvet buttoned to the throat with large platinum buttons.</p> + +<p>Formally presented by one of the secretaries we made our stiff bows and +were seated at the table facing His Majesty across the unlittered +surface of black glass.</p> + +<p>The Emperor nodded to the Chief of the Chemical Staff who arose and read +the report of my solution of the protium problem. He ended by advising +that the process should immediately replace the one then in use in the +extraction of the ore in the industrial works and that I was recommended +for promotion to the place to be vacated by the retiring member of the +Chemical Staff and should be given full charge of the protium industry.</p> + +<p>Emperor Eitel listened with solemn nods of approval. When the reading +was finished he arose and proclaimed the retirement with honour, and +because of his advanced age, of Herr von Uhl. The old chemist now +stepped forward and the Emperor removed from von Uhl's breast the +insignia of active Staff service and replaced it with the insignia of +honourable retirement.</p> + +<p>In my turn I also stood before His Majesty, who when he had pinned upon +my breast the Staff insignia said: "I hereby commission you as Member of +the Chemical Staff and Director of the Protium Works. Against the +fortune, to be accredited to you and your descendants, you are +authorized to draw from the Imperial Bank a million marks a year. That +you shall more graciously befit this fortune I confer upon you the title +of 'von' and the social privilege of the Royal Level."</p> + +<p>When the formal ceremonies were ended I again arose and addressed the +Emperor. "Your Majesty," I said, as I looked unflinchingly at his iron +visage, "I beg leave to make a personal petition."</p> + +<p>"State it," commanded the Emperor.</p> + +<p>"I wish to ask that you restore to the Royal Level a girl who is now in +the Level of the Free Women, and known there as Marguerite 78 K 4, but +who was born on the Royal Level as a daughter of Princess Fedora of +the House of Hohenzollern."</p> + +<p>A hush of consternation fell upon those about the table.</p> + +<p>"Your petition," said the Emperor, "cannot be granted."</p> + +<p>"Then," I said, speaking with studied emphasis, "I cannot proceed with +the work of extracting protium."</p> + +<p>An angry cloud gathered on the face of Eitel I. "Herr von Armstadt," he +said, "the title and awards which have just been conferred upon you are +irrevocable. But if you decline to perform the duties of your office +those duties can be performed by others."</p> + +<p>"But others cannot perform them," I replied. "The demonstration I +conducted was genuine, but the formulas I have given were not genuine. +The true formulas for my method of extracting protium are locked within +my brain and I will reveal them only when the petition I ask has +been granted."</p> + +<p>At these words the Emperor pounded on the table with a heavy fist. "What +does this mean?" he demanded of the Chemical Staff.</p> + +<p>"It is a lie," shouted the Chief of the Staff. "We have the formulas and +they are correct, for we saw the demonstration conducted with the +ingredients stated in the formulas which Armstadt gave us."</p> + +<p>"Very well," I cried; "go try your formulas; go repeat the +demonstration, if you can."</p> + +<p>The Emperor, glaring his rage, punched savagely at a signal button on +the arm of his chair.</p> + +<p>Two palace guards answered the summons. "Arrest this man," shouted His +Majesty, "and keep him in close confinement; permit him to see no one."</p> + +<p>Without further ado I was led off by the guards, while the Emperor +shouted imprecations at the Chemical Staff.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>The place to which I was conducted was a suite of rooms in a remote +corner of the Royal Palace. There was a large bedroom and bath, and a +luxurious study or lounging room. Here I found a case of books, which +proved to be novels bearing the imprint of the Royal Level.</p> + +<p>Despite the comfortable surroundings, it was evident that I was securely +imprisoned, for the door was of metal, the ventilating gratings were +long narrow slits, and the walls were of heavy concrete--and there being +no windows, no bars were needed. Any living apartment in the city would +have served equally well the jailor's purpose; for it were only +necessary to turn a key from without to make of it a cell in this +gigantic prison of Berlin.</p> + +<p>The regular appearance of my meals by mechanical carrier was the only +way I had to reckon the passing of time, for it had chanced that I had +forgotten my watch when dressing for the audience with His Majesty. I +wrestled with unmeasured time by perusing the novels which gave me +fragmentary pictures of the social life on the Royal Level.</p> + +<p>As I turned over the situation in my mind I reassured myself that the +secrecy of my formulas was impregnable. The discovery of the process had +been rendered possible by knowledge I had brought with me from the outer +world. The reagents that I had used were synthetic substances, the very +existence of which was unknown to the Germans. I had previously prepared +these compounds and had used and completely destroyed them in making the +demonstration, while I had taken pains to remove all traces of their +preparation. Hence I had little to fear of the Chemical Staff +duplicating my work, though doubtless they were making desperate efforts +to do so, and my imprisonment was very evidently for the purpose of +permitting them to make that effort.</p> + +<p>On that score I felt that I had played my cards well, but there were +other thoughts that troubled me, chief of which was a fear that some +investigation might be set on foot in regard to Marguerite and that her +guardianship of the library of forbidden books might be discovered. With +this worry to torment me, the hours dragged slowly enough.</p> + +<p>I had been some five days in this solitary confinement when the door +opened and a man entered. He wore the uniform of a physician and +introduced himself as Dr. Boehm, explaining that he had been sent by His +Majesty to look after my health. The idea rather amused me; at least, I +thought, the Emperor had decided that the secrets of my brain were well +worth preservation, and I reasoned that this was evidence that the +Chemical Staff had made an effort to duplicate my work and had reported +their failure to do so.</p> + +<p>The doctor made what seemed to me a rather perfunctory physical +examination, which included a very minute inspection of my eyes. Then +he put me +through a series of psychological test queries. When he had finished he +sighed deeply and said: "I am sorry to find that you are suffering from +a disturbed balance of the altruistic and the egotistic cortical +impulses; it is doubtless due to the intensive demands made upon the +creative potential before you were completely recovered from the +sub-normal psychosis due to the gas attack in the potash mines."</p> + +<p>This diagnosis impressed me as a palpable fraud, but I became genuinely +alarmed at the mention of the affair at the potash mines. I was somewhat +reassured at the thought that this reference was probably a part of the +record of Karl Armstadt, which was doubtless on file at the medical +headquarters, and had been looked up by Dr. Boehm who was in need of +making out a plausible case for some purpose--perhaps that of confining +me permanently on the grounds of insanity. Whatever might be the move on +foot it was clearly essential for me to keep myself cool and well +in hand.</p> + +<p>The doctor, after eyeing me calmly for a few moments, said: "It will be +necessary for me to go out for a time and secure apparatus for a more +searching examination. Meanwhile be assured you will not be further +neglected. In fact, I shall arrange for the time to share your apartment +with you, as loneliness will aggravate your derangement."</p> + +<p>In a few hours the doctor returned. He brought with him a +complicated-looking apparatus and was followed by two attendants +carrying a bed.</p> + +<p>The doctor pushed the apparatus into the corner, and, after seeing his +bed installed in my sleeping chamber, dismissed the attendants and sat +down and began to entertain me with accounts of various cases of mental +derangement that had come under his care. So far as I could determine +his object, if he had any other than killing time, it was to impress me +with the importance of submitting graciously to his care.</p> + +<p>Tiring of these stories of the doctor's professional successes with meek +and trusting patients, I took the management of the conversation into my +own hands.</p> + +<p>"Since you are a psychic expert, Dr. Boehm, perhaps you can explain to +me the mental processes that cause a man to prize a large bank credit +when there is positively no legal way in which he can expend +the credit."</p> + +<p>The doctor looked at me quizzically. "How do you mean," he asked, "that +there is no legal way in which he can expend the credit?"</p> + +<p>"Well, take my own case. The Emperor has bestowed upon me a credit of a +million marks a year. But I risked losing it by demanding that a young +woman of the Free Level be restored to the Royal Level where she +was born."</p> + +<p>"Of this I am aware," replied the psychic physician. "That is why His +Majesty became alarmed lest your mental equilibrium be disturbed. It +seems to indicate an atavistic reversion to a condition of romantic +altruism, but as your pedigree is normal, I deem it merely a temporary +loss of balance."</p> + +<p>"But why," I asked, "do you consider it abnormal at all? Is there +evidence of any great degree of unselfishness in a man desiring the +bestowal of happiness upon a particular woman in preference to bank +credit which he cannot expend? What should I do with a million marks a +year when I have been unable to expend the ten thousand a year I +have had?"</p> + +<p>"Ah," exclaimed the doctor, the light of a brilliant discovery breaking +over his countenance. "Perhaps this in a measure explains your case. You +have evidently been so absorbed in your work that you have not +sufficiently developed your appetite for personal enjoyment."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I have not. But just how should I expend more funds; food, +clothing, living quarters +are all provided me, there is nothing but a few tawdry amusements that +one can buy, nor is there any one to give the money to--even if a man +had children they cannot inherit his wealth. Just what is money +for, anyway?"</p> + +<p>The doctor nodded his head and smiled in satisfaction. "You ask +interesting questions," he said. "I shall try to answer them. Money or +bank credit is merely a symbol of wealth. In ancient times wealth was +represented by the private ownership of physical property, which was the +basis of capitalistic or competitive society. Racial progress was then +achieved by the mating of the men of superior brain with the most +beautiful women. Women do not appreciate the mental power of man in its +direct expression, or even its social use; they can only comprehend that +power when it is translated into wealth. After the destruction of +private property women refused to accept as mates the men of +intellectual power, but preferred instead men of physical strength and +personal beauty.</p> + +<p>"At first this was considered to be a proof of the superiority of the +proletariat. For, with all men economically equal, the beautiful women +turned from the anemic intellectual and the sons of aristocracy, to the +strong arms of labour. Believing themselves to be the source of all +wealth, and by that right vested with sole political power, and now +finding themselves preferred by the beautiful women, the labourer would +soon have eliminated all other classes from human society. Had unbridled +socialism with its free mating continued, we should have become merely a +horde of handsome savages.</p> + +<p>"Such would have been the destiny of our race had not William III +foreseen the outcome and restored war, the blessings of which had been +all but lost to the world. The progress of peace depended upon the +competition of capitalism, but in peace progress is incidental. In war +it is essential. Because war requires invention, it saved the +intellectual classes, and because war requires authority it made +possible the restoration of our Royal House. Labour, the tyrant of +peace, became again the slave of war, and under the plea of patriotic +necessity eugenics was established, which again restored the beautiful +women to the superior men. And thus by Imperial Socialism the race was +preserved from deterioriation."</p> + +<p>"But surely," I said, "eugenics has more than remedied this defect of +socialism, for the selection of men of superior mentality is much more +rigid than it could have been under the capricious matings of +capitalistic society. Why then this need of wealth?"</p> + +<p>"Eugenics," replied Boehm, "breeds superior children, but eugenic mating +is a cold scientific thing which fails to fan the flame of man's +ambition to do creative work. That is why we have the Level of Free +Women and have not bred the virility out of the intellectual group. That +is also the reason we have retained the Free Level on a competitive +commercial basis, and have given the intellectual man the bank credit, a +symbol of wealth, that he may use it, as men have always used wealth, +for the purpose of increasing his importance in the eyes of woman. This +function of wealth is psychically necessary to the creative impulse, for +the power of sexual conquest and the stimulus to creative thought are +but different expressions of the same instinct. Wealth, or its symbol, +is a medium of translating the one into the other. For example, take +your discovery; it is important to you and to the state. Your fellow +scientists appreciate it, His Majesty appreciates it, but women cannot +appreciate it. But give it a money value and women appreciate it +immediately. They know that the unlimited bank credit will give you the +power to keep as many women on your list as you choose, and this means +that you can select freely those you wish. So the most attractive women +will compete for your preferment. We bow before the Emperor, we salute +the Statue of God, but we make out our checks to buy baubles for women, +and it is that which keeps the wheels of progress turning."</p> + +<p>"So," I said, "this is your philosophy of wealth. I see, and yet I do +not see. The legal limit a man may contribute to a woman is but +twenty-four hundred marks a year, what then does he want with +a million?"</p> + +<p>"But there is no legal limit," replied the Doctor, "to the number of +women a man may have on his list. His relation to them may be the most +casual, but the pursuit is stimulating to the creative imagination. But +you forget, Herr von Armstadt, that +with the compensation that was to be yours goes also the social +privilege of the Royal Level. Evidently you have been so absorbed in +your research that you had no time to think of the magnificent rewards +for which you were working."</p> + +<p>"Then perhaps you will explain them to me."</p> + +<p>"With pleasure," said Dr. Boehm; "your social privilege on the Royal +Level includes the right to marry and that means that you should have +children for whom inheritance is permitted. How else did you suppose the +ever-increasing numbers of the House of Hohenzollern should have +maintained their wealth?"</p> + +<p>"The question has never occurred to me," I answered, "but if it had, I +should have supposed that their expenses were provided by appropriations +from the state treasury."</p> + +<p>Dr. Boehm chuckled. "Then they should all be dependents on the state +like cripples and imbeciles. It would be a rather poor way to derive the +pride of aristocracy. That can only come from inherited wealth: the +principle is old, very old. The nobleman must never needs work to live. +Then, if he wishes to give service to the state, he may give it without +pay, and thus feel his nobility. You cannot aspire to full social +equality with the Royal House both because you lack divinity of blood +and because you receive your wealth for that which you have yourself +given to the state. But because of your wealth you will find a wife of +the Royal House, and she will bear you children who, receiving the +divine blood of the Hohenzollerns from the mother and inherited wealth +from the father, will thus be twice ennobled. To have such children is a +rare privilege; not even Herr von Uhl with his thousands of descendants +can feel such a pride of paternity.</p> + +<p>"It is well, Herr von Armstadt, that you talked to me of these matters. +Should you be restored to your full mental powers and be permitted to +assume the rights of your new station, it would be most unfortunate if +you should seem unappreciative of these ennobling privileges."</p> + +<p>"Then, if I may, I shall ask you some further questions. It seems that +the inherited incomes of the Royal Level are from time to time +reinforced by marriage from without. Does that not dilute the +Royal blood?"</p> + +<p>"That question," replied Dr. Boehm, "more properly should be addressed +to a eugenist, but I shall try to give you the answer. The blood of the +House of Hohenzollern is of a very high order for it is the blood of +divinity in human veins. Yet since there is no eugenic control, no +selection, the quality of that blood would deteriorate from inbreeding, +were there no fresh infusion. Then where better could such blood come +than from the men of genius? No man is given the full social privilege +of the Royal Level except he who has made some great contribution to the +state. This at once marks him as a genius and gives his wealth a +noble origin."</p> + +<p>"But how is it," I asked, "that this addition of men from without does +not disturb the balance of the sexes?"</p> + +<p>"It does disturb it somewhat," replied the doctor, "but not seriously, +for genius is rare. There are only a few hundred men in each generation +who are received into Royal Society. Of course that means some of the +young men of the Royal Level cannot marry. But some men decline marriage +of their own free will; if they are not possessed of much wealth they +prefer to go unmarried rather than to accept an unattractive woman as a +wife when they may have their choice of mistresses from the most +beautiful virgins intended for the Free Level. There is always an +abundance of marriageable women on the Royal Level and with your wealth +you will have your choice. Your credit, in fact, will be the largest +that has been granted for over a decade."</p> + +<p>"All that is very splendid," I answered. "I was not well informed on +these matters. But why should His Majesty have been so incensed at my +simple request for the restoration of the rights of the daughter of the +Princess Fedora?"</p> + +<p>"Your request was unusual; pardon if I may say, impudent; it seems to +imply a lack of appreciation on your part of the honours freely +conferred upon you--but I daresay His Majesty did not realize your +ignorance of these things. You are very young and you have risen to your +high station very quickly from an obscure position."</p> + +<p>"And do you think," I asked, "that if you made these facts clear to him, +he would relent and grant my request?"</p> + +<p>Dr. Boehm looked at me with a penetrating gaze. "It is not my function," +he said, "to intercede for you. I have only been commissioned to examine +carefully the state of your mentality."</p> + +<p>I smiled complacently at the psychic expert. "Now, doctor," I said, "you +do not mean to tell me that you really think there is anything wrong +with my mentality?"</p> + +<p>A look of craftiness flashed from Boehm's eyes. "I have given you my +diagnosis," he said, "but it may not be final. I have already +communicated my first report to His Majesty and he has ordered me to +remain with you for some days. If I should alter that opinion too +quickly it would discredit me and gain you nothing. You had best be +patient, and submit gracefully to further examination and treatment."</p> + +<p>"And do you know," I asked, "what the chemical staff is doing about my +formulas?"</p> + +<p>"That is none of my affair," declared Boehm, emphatically.</p> + +<p>There was a vigour in his declaration and a haste with which he began to +talk of other matters that gave me a hint that the doctor knew more of +the doings of the chemical staff than he cared to admit, but I thought +it wise not to press the point.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>The second day of Boehm's stay with me, he unmantled his apparatus and +asked me to submit to a further examination. I had not the least +conception of the purpose of this apparatus and with some misgivings I +lay down on a couch while the psychic expert placed above my eyes a +glass plate, on which, when he had turned on the current, there +proceeded a slow rhythmic series of pale lights and shadows. At the +doctor's command I fixed my gaze upon the lights, while he, in a +monotonous voice, urged me to relax my mind and dismiss all +active thought.</p> + +<p>How long I stood for this infernal proceeding I do not know. But I +recall a realization that I had lost grip on my thoughts and seemed to +be floating off into a misty nowhere of unconsciousness. I struggled +frantically to regain control of myself; and, for what seemed an +eternity, I fought with a horrible nightmare unable to move a muscle or +even close my eyelids to shut out that sickening sequence of creeping +shadows. Then I saw the doctor's hand reaching slowly toward my face. It +seemed to sway in its stealthy movement like the head of a serpent +charming a bird, but in my helpless horror I could not ward it off.</p> + +<p>At last the snaky fingers touched my eyelids as if to close them, and +that touch, light though it was, served to snap the taut film of my +helpless brain and I gave a blood-curdling yell and jumped up, knocking +over the devilish apparatus and nearly upsetting the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Calm yourself," said Boehm, as he attempted to push me again toward the +couch. "There is nothing wrong, and you must surrender to the psychic +equilibrator so that I can proceed with the examination."</p> + +<p>"Examination be damned," I shouted fiercely; "you were trying to +hypnotize me with that infernal machine."</p> + +<p>Boehm did not reply but calmly proceeded to pick up the apparatus and +restore it to its place in the corner, while I paced angrily about the +room. He then seated himself and addressed me as I stood against the +wall glaring at him. "You are labouring under hallucinations," he said. +"I fear your case is even worse than I thought. But calm yourself. I +shall attempt no further examination today."</p> + +<p>I resumed a seat but refused to look at him. He did not talk further of +my supposed mental state, but proceeded to entertain me with gossip of +the Royal Level, and later discussed the novels in the bookcase.</p> + +<p>It was difficult to keep up an open war with so charming a +conversationalist, but I was thoroughly on my guard. I could now readily +see through the whole fraud of my imputed mental derangement. I knew my +mind was sound as a schoolboy's, and that this pretence of examination +and treatment was only a blind. Evidently the Chemical Staff had failed +to work the formulas I had given them and this psychic manipulator had +been sent in here to filch the true formulas from my brain with his +devilish art. I knew nothing of what progress the Germans might have +made with hypnotism, but unless they had gone further than had the outer +world, now that I was on my guard, I believed myself to be safe.</p> + +<p>But there was yet one danger. I might be trapped in my sleep by an +induced somnambulistic conversation. Happily I was fairly well posted on +such things and believed that I could guard against that also. But the +fear of the thing made me so nervous that I did not sleep all of the +following night.</p> + +<p>The doctor, evidently a keen observer, must have detected that fact from +the sound of my breathing, for the lights were turned out and we slept +in the pitchy blackness that only a windowless room can create.</p> + +<p>"You did not sleep well," he remarked, as we breakfasted.</p> + +<p>But I made light of his solicitous concern, and we passed another day in +casual conversation.</p> + +<p>As the sleeping period drew again near, the doctor said, "I will leave +you tonight, for I fear my presence disturbs you because you +misinterpret my purpose in observing you."</p> + +<p>As the doctor departed, I noted that the mechanism of the hinges and the +lock of the door were so perfect that they gave forth no sound. I was +very drowsy and soon retired, but before I went to sleep I practised +snapping off and on the light from the switch at the side of my bed. +Then I repeated over and over to myself--"I will awake at the first +sound of a voice."</p> + +<p>This thought ingrained in my subconscious mind proved my salvation. I +must have been sleeping some hours. I was dreaming of Marguerite. I saw +her standing in an open meadow flooded with sunlight; and heard her +voice as if from afar. I walked towards her and as the words grew more +distinct I knew the voice was not Marguerite's. Then I awoke.</p> + +<p>I did not stir but lay listening. The voice was speaking monotonously +and the words I heard were the words of the protium formulas, the false +ones I had given the Chemical Staff.</p> + +<p>"But these formulas are not correct," purred the voice, "of course, they +are not correct. I gave them to the Staff, but they will never know the +real ones--Yes, the real ones--What are the real ones? Have I +forgotten--? No, I shall never forget. I can repeat them now." Then the +voice began again on one of the fake formulas. But when it reached the +point where the true formula was different, it paused; evidently the +Chemical Staff had found out where the difficulty lay. And so the voice +had paused, hoping my sleeping mind would catch up the thread and supply +the missing words. But instead my arm shot quickly to the switch. The +solicitous Doctor Boehm, flooded with a blaze of light, glared +blinkingly as I leaped from the bed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I was asleep all right," I said, "but I awoke the instant I heard +you speak, just as I had assured myself that I would do before I fell +asleep. Now what else have you in your bag of tricks?"</p> + +<p>"I only came--" began the doctor.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you only came," I shouted, "and you knew nothing about the work of +the Chemical Staff on my formulas. Now see here, doctor, you had your +try and you have failed. Your diagnosis of my mental condition is just +as much a fraud as the formulas on which the Chemical Staff have been +wasting their time--only it is not so clever. I fooled them and you have +not fooled me. Waste no more time, but go back and report to His Majesty +that your little tricks have failed."</p> + +<p>"I shall do that," said Boehm. "I feared you from the start; your mind +is really an extraordinary one. But where," he said, "did you learn how +to guard yourself so well against my methods? They are very secret. My +art is not known even to physicians."</p> + +<p>"It is known to me," I said, "so run along and get your report ready." +The doctor shook my hand with an air of profound respect and took his +leave. This time I balanced a chair overhanging the edge of a table so +that the opening of the door would push it off, and I lay down and +slept soundly.</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>I was left alone in my prison until late the next day. Then came a guard +who conducted me before His Majesty. None of the Chemical Staff was +present. In fact there was no one with the Emperor but a single +secretary.</p> + +<p>His Majesty smiled cordially. "It was fitting, Herr von Armstadt, for me +to order your confinement for your demand was audacious; not that what +you asked was a matter of importance, but you should have made the +request in writing and privately and not before the Chemical Staff. For +that breach of etiquette I had to humiliate you that Royal dignity might +be preserved. As for the fact that you kept the formulas secret, none +need know that but the Chemical Staff and they will have nothing further +to say since you made fools of them." His Majesty laughed.</p> + +<p>"As for the request you made, I have decided to grant it. Nor do I blame +you for making it. The Princess Marguerite is a very beautiful girl. She +is waiting now nearby. I should have sent for her sooner, but it was +necessary to make an investigation regarding her birth. The unfortunate +Princess Fedora never confessed the father. But I have arranged that, as +you shall see."</p> + +<p>The Emperor now pressed his signal button and a door opened and +Marguerite was ushered into the room. I started in fear as I saw that +she was accompanied by Dr. Zimmern. What calamity of discovery and +punishment, I wondered, had my daring move brought to the secret rebel +against the rule of the Hohenzollern?</p> + +<p>Marguerite stepped swiftly toward me and gave me her hand. The look in +her eyes I interpreted as a warning that I was not to recognize Zimmern. +So I appeared the stranger while the secretary introduced us.</p> + +<p>"Dr. Zimmern," said His Majesty, "was physician to Princess Fedora at +the time of the birth of the Princess Marguerite. She confessed to him +the father of her child. It was the Count Rudolph who died unmarried +some years ago. There will be no questions raised. Our society will +welcome his daughter, for both the Count Rudolph and the Princess Fedora +were very popular."</p> + +<p>During this speech, Dr. Zimmern sat rigid and stared into space. Then +the secretary produced a document and read a confession to be signed by +Zimmern, testifying to these statements of Marguerite's birth.</p> + +<p>Zimmern, his features still unmoved, signed the paper and handed it +again to the secretary.</p> + +<p>His Majesty arose and held out his hand to Marguerite. "I welcome you," +he said, "to the House of Hohenzollern. We shall do our best to atone +for what you have suffered. And to you, Herr von Armstadt, I extend my +thanks for bringing us so beautiful a woman. It is my hope that you will +win her as a wife, for she will grace well the fortune that your great +genius brings to us. But because you have loved her under unfortunate +circumstances I must forbid your marriage for a period of two years. +During that time you will both be free to make acquaintances in Royal +Society. Nothing less than this would be fair to either of you, or to +other women that may seek your fortune or to other men who may seek the +beauty of your princess."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>A GODDESS WHO IS SUFFERING FROM OBESITY AND A BRAVE MAN WHO IS AFRAID OF THE LAW OF AVERAGES</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>It was not till we had reached Marguerite's apartment that Zimmern +spoke. Then he and Marguerite both embraced me and cried with joy.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Armstadt," said the old doctor, "you have done a wonderful thing, a +wonderful thing, but why did you not warn us?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I stammered, "I know. You mean the books. It worried me, but, you +see, I did not plan this thing. I did not know what I should do. It came +to me like a flash as the Emperor was conferring the honours upon me. I +had hoped to use my power to make him do my bidding, and yet we had +contrived no way to use that power in furtherance of our great plans to +free a race; but I could at least use it to free a woman. Let us hope +that it augurs progress to the ultimate goal."</p> + +<p>"It was very noble, but it was dangerous," replied Zimmern. "It was only +through a coincidence that we were saved. Herr von Uhl told me that same +day what you had demanded. I saw Hellar immediately and he declared a +raid on Marguerite's apartment. But he came himself with only one +assistant who is in his confidence, and they boxed the books and carted +them off. They will be turned in as contraband volumes, but the report +will be falsified; no one will ever know from whence they came."</p> + +<p>"Then the books are lost to you," I said; "of that I am sorry, and I +worried greatly while I was imprisoned."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Zimmern, "we have lost the books, but you have saved +Marguerite. That will more than compensate. For that I can never thank +you enough."</p> + +<p>"And you were called into the matter, not," I said, "as Marguerite's +friend, but as the physician to her mother?"</p> + +<p>"They must have looked up the record," replied Zimmern, "but nothing was +said to me. I received only a communication from His Majesty commanding +me as the physician to Marguerite's mother at the time of Marguerite's +birth, to make statement as to her fatherhood."</p> + +<p>"But why," I asked, "did you not make this confession before, since it +enabled Marguerite to be restored to her rights?"</p> + +<p>The old doctor looked pained at the question. "But you forget," he said, +"that it is the power of your secret and not my confession that has +restored Marguerite. The confession is only a matter of form, to satisfy +the wagging tongues of Royal Society."</p> + +<p>"Do you mean," I asked, "that she will not be well received there +because she was born out of wedlock?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," replied Zimmern; "it was the failure to confess the +father, not the fact of her unwedded motherhood, that brought the +punishment. There are many love-children born on the Royal Level and +they suffer only a failure of inheritance of wealth from the father. But +if they be girls of charm and beauty, and if, as Marguerite now stands +credited, they be of rich Royal blood, they are very popular and much +sought after. But without the record of the father they cannot be +admitted into Royal Society, for the record of the blood lines would be +lost, and that, you see, is essential. Social precedent, the value in +the matrimonial market, all rest upon it. Marguerite is indeed +fortunate; with His Majesty's signature attesting my confession, she has +nothing more to fear. But I daresay they shall try their best to win her +from you for some shallow-minded prince."</p> + +<p>"But when," I asked, "is she to go? His Majesty seemed very gracious, +but do you realize that I still possess my secret of the protium +formulas?"</p> + +<p>"And do you still hesitate to give them up?" asked Marguerite.</p> + +<p>"For your freedom, dear, I shall reveal them gladly."</p> + +<p>"But," cried Marguerite, "you must not give them up just for me,--if +there is any way you can use them for our great plan."</p> + +<p>"Nothing," spoke up Zimmern, "could be gained now by further secrecy but +trouble for us all; and by acceding, both you and Marguerite win your +places on the Royal Level, where you can better serve our cause. That +is, if you are still with us. It may be harder for you, now that you +have won the richest privileges that Germany has to offer, to remember +those who struggle in the darkness."</p> + +<p>"But I shall remember," I said, giving him my hand.</p> + +<p>"I believe you will," said Zimmern feelingly, "and I know I can count on +Marguerite. You will both have opportunities to see much of the officers +of the Submarine Service. The German race may yet be freed from this +sunless prison, if you can find one among them who can be won to +our cause."</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>I reported the next morning to the Chemical Staff, by whom I was treated +with deferential respect. I was immediately installed in my new office, +as Director of the Protium Works. While I set about supervising the +manufacture of apparatus for the new process, other members of the +staff, now furnished with the correct formulas repeated the +demonstration without my assistance.</p> + +<p>When the report of this had been made to His Majesty, I received my +insignia of the social privilege of the Royal Level and a copy of the +Royal Society Bulletin announcing Marguerite's restoration to her place +in the House of Hohenzollern, with the title of Princess Marguerite, +Daughter of Princess Fedora and Count Rudolf. The next day a social +secretary from the Royal Level came for Marguerite and conducted her to +the Apartments of the Countess Luise, under whose chaperonage she was to +make her début into Royal Society.</p> + +<p>I, also, was furnished with a social secretary, an obsequious but very +wise little man, who took charge of all my affairs outside my chemical +work. Under his guidance I was removed to more commodious quarters and +my wardrobe was supplied with numerous changes all in the uniform of the +Chemical Staff. There was little time to spare from my duties in the +Protium Works, but my secretary, ever alert, snatched upon the odd +moments to coach me in matters of social etiquette and so prepared me to +make my first appearance in Royal Society at the grand ball given by the +Countess Luise in honour of Marguerite's début.</p> + +<p>Despite the assiduous coaching of my secretary, my ignorance must have +been delightfully amusing to the royal idlers who had little other +thought or purpose in life than this very round of complicated +nothingness. But if I was a blundering amateur in all this, they were +not so much discourteous as envious. They knew that I had won my +position by my achievements as a chemist and in a vague way they +understood that I had saved the empire from impending ruin, and for this +achievement I was lionized.</p> + +<p>The women rustled about me in their gorgeous gowns and plied me with +foolish questions which I had better sense than to try to answer with +the slightest degree of truth. But their power of sustained interest in +such weighty matters was not great and soon the conversation would drift +away, especially if Marguerite was about, when the talk would turn to +the romance of her restoration.</p> + +<p>One group of vivacious ladies discussed quite frankly with Marguerite +the relative advantages of a husband of intellectual genius as compared +with one of a high degree of royal blood. Some contended that the added +prospect of superior intelligence in the children would offset the +lowering of their degree of Hohenzollern blood. The others argued quite +as persistently that the "blood" was the better investment.</p> + +<p>Through such conversation I learned of the two clans within the Royal +House. The one prided themselves wholly in the high degree of their +Hohenzollern blood; the other, styling themselves "Royal Intellectuals" +because of a greater proportion of outside blood lines, were quite as +proud of the fact that, while possessed of sufficient royal blood to be +in "the divinity," they inherited supposedly greater intelligence from +their mundane ancestors. This latter group, to make good their claims, +made a great show of intellectuality, and cultivated most persistently a +dilletante dabbling into all sorts of scientific and artistic matters.</p> + +<p>Because of Marguerite's high credit in Royal blood she was courted by +"purists" by whom I was only tolerated on her account. On the other +hand, the "intellectuals" considered me as a great asset for their cause +and glorified particularly in the prospects of marriage of an outside +scientist to an eighty-degree Hohenzollern princess. This rivalry of the +clans of Royal Society made us much sought after and I was flooded with +invitations.</p> + +<p>It did not take me long to discover, however, that the reason for my +popularity was not altogether a matter of respect for my intellectual +genius. I had at first been inclined to accept all invitations, +innocently supposing that I was being fêted as an honorary guest. But my +social secretary advised against this; and, when he began bringing me +checks to sign, I realized that the social privileges of Royal Society +included the honour of paying the bills for one's own entertainment.</p> + +<p>I had already arranged with my banker that a fourth of my income be +turned over to Marguerite until her marriage, for she was without income +of her own, and it was upon my petition that she had been restored to +the Royal Level. At my banker's suggestion I had also made over ten +thousand marks a month to the Countess, under whose motherly wing +Marguerite was being sheltered. I therefore soon discovered that my +income of a million marks a year would be absorbed quite easily by Royal +Society. The entire system appeared to me rather sordid, but such +matters were arranged by bankers and secretaries and the principals were +supposed to be quite innocent of any knowledge of, or concern for, +the details.</p> + +<p>The Countess Luise, who was permitted to entertain so lavishly at my +expense, was playing for the favour of both of the opposing social +clans. Possessing a high degree of Hohenzollern blood she stood well +with the purists. But her income was not all that could be desired, so +she had adroitly discovered in her only son a touch of intellectual +genius, and the young man quite dutifully had become a maker of picture +plots, hoping by this distinction to win as a wife one of the daughters +of some wealthy intellectual interloper. At first I had feared the +Countess had designs upon Marguerite as a wife for her son, but as +Marguerite had no income of her own I saw that in this I was mistaken, +and I developed a feeling of genuine friendliness for the plump and +cordial Countess.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what I was reading last night?" I remarked one evening, as +I chatted with Marguerite and her chaperone.</p> + +<p>"Some work on obesity, I hope," sparkled the Countess. Like many of the +House of Hohenzollern, among whom there was no weight control, she +carried a surplus of adipose tissue not altogether consistent +with beauty.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed," I said gravely. "Nothing about your material being, but a +treatise upon your spiritual nature. I was reading an old school book +that I found among my forgotten relics--a book about the Divinity of the +House of Hohenzollern."</p> + +<p>"Oh, how jolly!" chuckled the Countess. "How very funny that I never +thought before that you, Herr von Armstadt, were once taught all those +delightful fables."</p> + +<p>"And once believed them too," I lied.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear me," replied the Countess, with a ponderous sigh, "so I +suppose you did. And what a shock I must have been to you with an eighty +centimetre waist."</p> + +<p>"You are not quite Junoesque," I admitted.</p> + +<p>"The more reason you should use your science, Herr Chemist, to aid me to +recover my goddess form."</p> + +<p>"What are you folks talking about?" interrupted Marguerite.</p> + +<p>"About our divinity, my dear," replied Luise archly.</p> + +<p>"But do you feel that it is really necessary," I asked, "that such +fables should be put into the helpless minds of children?"</p> + +<p>"It surely must be. Suppose your own heredity had proven tricky--it does +sometimes, you know--and you had been found incapable of scientific +thought. You would have been deranked and perhaps made a record +clerk--no personal reflections, but such things do happen--and if you +now were filing cards all day you would surely be much happier if you +could believe in our divinity. Why else would you submit to a loveless +life and the dull routine of toil? Did not all the ancients, and do not +all the inferior races now, have objects of religious worship?"</p> + +<p>"But the other races," I said, "do not worship living people but +spiritual divinities and the sainted dead.</p> + +<p>"Quite so," replied the over-plump goddess, "but that is why their +<i>kulturs</i> are so inefficient. Surely the worship was useless to the +spirits and the dead, whereas we find it quite profitable to be +worshipped. But for this wonderful doctrine of the divinity of the blood +of William the Great we should be put to all sorts of inconveniences."</p> + +<p>"You might even have to work," I ventured.</p> + +<p>The Countess bestowed on me one of her most bewitching smiles. "My dear +Herr Chemist," she said in sugary tones, "you with your intellectual +genius can twit us on our psychic lacks and we must fall back on the +divine blood of our Great Ancestor--but would you really wish the slaves +of dull toil to think it as human as their own?"</p> + +<p>"But to me it seems a little gross," I said.</p> + +<p>"Not at all; on the contrary, it is a master stroke of science and +efficiency--inferior creatures must worship; they always have and always +will--then why waste the worship?"</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>My position as director of the protium works soon brought me into +conference with Admiral von Kufner who was Chief of the Submarine Staff. +Von Kufner was in his forties and his manner indicated greater talent +for pomp and ceremony than for administrative work. His grandfather had +been the engineer to whose genius Berlin owed her salvation through the +construction of the submarine tunnel. By this service the engineer had +won the coveted "von," a princely fortune and a wife of the Royal Level. +The Admiral therefore carried Hohenzollern blood in his veins, which, +together with his ample fortune and a distinguished position, made him a +man of both social and official consequence.</p> + +<p>It did not take me long to decide that von Kufner was hopeless as a +prospective convert to revolutionary doctrines. Nor did he possess any +great knowledge of the protium mines, for he had never visited them. +Inheriting his position as an honour to his grandfather's genius, he +commanded the undersea vessels from the security of an office on the +Royal Level, for journeys in ice-filled waters were entirely too +dangerous to appeal to one who loved so well the pleasures and +vanities of life.</p> + +<p>I had explained to von Kufner the distinctions I had discovered in the +various samples of the ore brought from the mines and the necessity of +having new surveys of the deposits made on the basis of these +discoveries. After he had had time to digest this information, I +suggested that I should myself go to make this survey. But this idea the +Admiral at once opposed, insisting that the trip through the Arctic ice +fields was entirely too dangerous.</p> + +<p>"Very well," I replied. "I feel that I could best serve Germany by going +to the Arctic mines in person, but if you think that is unwise, will you +not arrange for me to consult at once with men who have been in the +mines and are familiar with conditions there?"</p> + +<p>To this very reasonable request, which was in line with my obvious +duties, no objection could be made and a conference was at once called +of submarine captains and furloughed engineers who had been in the +Arctic ore fields.</p> + +<p>I was impressed by the youthfulness of these men, which was readily +explained by the fact that one vessel out of every five sent out was +lost beneath the Arctic ice floes. With an almost mathematical certainty +the men in the undersea service could reckon the years of their lives on +the fingers of one hand.</p> + +<p>Although the official business of the conference related to ore deposits +and not to the dangers of the traffic, the men were so obsessed with the +latter fact, that it crept out in their talk in spite of the Admiral's +obvious displeasure at such confession of fear. I particularly marked +the outspoken frankness of one, Captain Grauble, whose vessel was the +next one scheduled to depart to the mines.</p> + +<p>I therefore asked Grauble to call in person at my office for the +instructions concerning the ore investigations which were to be +forwarded to the Director of the Mines. Free from the restraining +influence of the Admiral, I was able to lead the Captain to talk freely +of the dangers of his work, and was overjoyed to find him frankly +rebellious.</p> + +<p>That I might still further cultivate his acquaintance I withheld some of +the necessary documents; and, using this as a pretext, I later sought +him out at his quarters, which were in a remote and somewhat obscure +part of the Royal Level.</p> + +<p>The official nature of my call disposed of, I led the conversation into +social matters, and found no difficulty in persuading the Captain to +talk of his own life. He was a man well under thirty and like most of +his fellows in the service was one of the sons of a branch of the +Hohenzollern family whose declining fortune denied him all hope of +marriage or social life. In the heroic years of his youth he had +volunteered for the submarine service. But now he confessed that he +regretted the act, for he realized that his death could not be long +postponed. He had made his three trips as commander of an +ore-bringing vessel.</p> + +<p>"I have two more trips," declared Captain Grauble. "Such is the prophecy +of statistical facts: five trips is the allotted life of a Captain; it +is the law of averages. It is possible that I may extend that number a +little, but if so it will be an exception. Trusting to exceptions is a +poor philosophy. I do not like it. Sometimes I think I shall refuse to +go. Disgrace, of course,--banishment to the mines. Report my treasonable +utterances if you like. I am prepared for that; suicide is easy +and certain."</p> + +<p>"But is it not rather cowardly, Captain?" I asked, looking him steadily +in the eye.</p> + +<p>Grauble flung out his hand with a gesture of disdain. "That is an easy +word for you to pronounce," he sneered. "You have hope to live by, you +are on the upward climb, you aspire to marry into the Royal House and +sire children to inherit your wealth. But I was born of the Royal House, +my father squandered his wealth. My sisters were beautiful and they have +married well. My brother was servile; he has attached himself to the +retinue of a wealthy Baroness. But I was made of better stuff than that. +I would play the hero. I would face danger and gladly die to give Berlin +more life and uphold the House of Hohenzollern in its fat and idle +existence; and for me they have taken hope away!</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I was proclaimed a hero. The young ladies of this house of +idleness dance with me, but they dare not take me seriously; what one of +them would court the certainty of widowhood without a fortune? So why +should I not tire of their shallow trifling? I find among the girls of +the Free Level more honest love, for they, as I, have no hope. They love +but for the passing hour, and pass on as I pass on, I to death, they to +decaying beauty and an old age of servile slavery."</p> + +<p>Surely, I exulted, here is the rebellious and daring soul that Zimmern +and Hellar have sought in vain. Even as they had hoped, I seemed to have +discovered a man of the submarine service who was amenable to +revolutionary ideas. Could I not get him to consider the myriad life of +Berlin in all its barren futility, to grasp at the hope of succour from +a free and merciful world, and then, with his aid, find a way out of +Berlin, a way to carry the message of Germany's need of help to the +Great God of Humanity that dwelt without in the warmth and joy of +the sun?</p> + +<p>The tide of hope surged high within me. I was tempted to divulge at once +my long cherished plan of escape from Berlin. "Why," I asked, thinking +to further sound his sincerity, "if you feel like this, have you never +considered running your craft to the surface during the sea passage and +beaching her on a foreign shore? There at least is life and hope and +experience."</p> + +<p>"By the Statue of God!" cried Grauble, his body shaking and his voice +quavering, "why do you, in all your hope and comfort here, speak of that +to me? Do you think I have never been tempted to do that very thing? And +yet you call me a coward. Have I not breathed foul air for days, fearful +to poke up our air tube in deserted waters lest by the millionth chance +it might lead to a capture? And yet you speak of deliberate surrender! +Even though I destroyed my charts, the capture of a German submarine in +those seas would set the forces of the outer world searching for the +passage. If they found and blocked the passage I should be guilty of the +destruction of three hundred million lives--Great God! God of +Hohenzollern! God of the World! could this thing be?"</p> + +<p>"Captain," I said, placing my hand on the shoulder of the palsied man, +"you and I have great secrets and the burden of great sorrows in common. +It is well that we have found each other. It is well that we have spoken +of these things that shake our souls. You have confessed much to me and +I have much that I shall confess to you. I must see you again before +you leave."</p> + +<p>Grauble gave me his hand. "You are a strange man," he said. "I have met +none before like you. I do not know at what aims you are driving. If you +plotted my disgrace by leading me into these confessions, you have found +me easy prey. But do not credit yourself too much. I have often vowed I +would go to Admiral von Kufner, and say these things to him. But the +formal exterior of that petty pompous man I cannot penetrate. If I have +confessed to you, it is merely because you are a man without that +protecting shield of bristling authority and cold formality. You seemed +merely a man of flesh and blood, despite your decorations, and so I have +talked. What is to be made of it by you or by me I do not know, but I am +not afraid of you."</p> + +<p>"I shall leave you now," I said, "for I have pressing duties, but I +shall see you soon again. So calm yourself and get hold of your reason. +I shall want you to think clearly when I talk with you again. Perhaps I +can yet show you a gleam of hope beyond this mathematical law of +averages that rattles the dice of death."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH THE TALKING DELEGATE IS ANSWERED BY THE ROYAL VOICE AND I LEARN THAT LABOUR KNOWS NOT GOD</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>I had delayed in speaking to Grauble of our revolutionary plans, because +I wished first to arrange a meeting with Zimmern and Hellar and secure +the weight of their calmer minds in initiating Grauble into our plans of +sending a message to the World State authorities. I was prevented from +doing this immediately by difficulties in the Protium Works. Meanwhile +unbeknown to me the sailing date of Grauble's vessel was advanced, and +he departed to the Arctic.</p> + +<p>Although my position as Director of the Protium Works had been more of +an honour than an assignment of active duties, I made it my business to +assume the maximum rather than the minimum of the functions of the +office as I wished to learn more of the labour situation in Berlin, of +which as yet I had no comprehensive understanding.</p> + +<p>In a general way I understood that German labour differed not only in +being eugenically created as a distinct breed, but that the labour group +was also a very distinct caste economically and politically. The +labourer, being denied access to the Level of Free Women, had no need +for money or bank credit in any form. This seemed to me to reduce him to +a condition of pure slavery--since he received no pay for his services +other than the bare maintenance supplied by the state.</p> + +<p>Because of this evidence of economic inferiority, I had at first +supposed that labour was in every way an inferior caste. But in this I +had been gravely mistaken, nor had I been able fully to comprehend my +error until this brewing labour trouble revealed in concrete form the +political superiority of labour. In my failure to comprehend the true +state of affairs I had been a little stupid, for the political basis of +German society is revealed to the seeing eye in the Hohenzollern eagle +emblazoned on the red flag, the emblem of the rule of labour.</p> + +<p>Historically I believe this belies the origin of the red flag for it was +first used as the emblem of democratic socialism, a Nineteenth Century +theory of a social order in which all social and economic classes were +to be blended into a true democracy differing somewhat in its economic +organization, but essentially the same politically as the true democracy +which we have achieved in the World State. But with the Bolshevist +régime in Russia after the First World War, the red flag was +appropriated as the emblem of the political supremacy and rule of the +proletariat or labour class.</p> + +<p>I make these references to bygone history because they throw light on +the peculiar status of the German Labour Caste, which is possessed of +political superiority combined with social and economic inferiority. It +was the Bolshevist brand of socialism that finally overran Germany in +the era of loose and ineffective rule of the world by the League of +Nations. Though I make no pretence of being an accurate authority on +history, the League of Nations, if I remember rightly, was humanity's +first timid conception of the World State. Rather weakly born, it was +promptly emasculated by the rise in America of a political party founded +on the ideas of a great national hero who had just died. The +obstructionist policy of this party was inherent in its origin, for it +was inspired and held together by the ideas of a dead man, whose +followers could only repeat as their test of faith a phrase that has +come down to us as an idiom--"What would He do?"</p> + +<p>"He" being dead could do nothing, neither could he change his mind, but +having left an indelible record of his ideas by the strenuous verbiage +of his virile and inspiring rhetoric, there was no room for doubt. As in +all political and religious faiths founded on the ideas of dead heroes, +this made for solidarity and power and quite prevented any adaptation of +the form of government to the needs of the world that had arisen since +his demise.</p> + +<p>I have digressed here from my theme of the political status of the +German labour caste, but it is fascinating to trace things to their +origin to find the links of the chain of cause and effect. So, if I have +read my history aright, the emasculation of the League of Nations by the +American obstructionists caused, or at least permitted the rise, and +dominance of the Bolshevists in Twentieth-Century Germany. Had the +Germans been democrats at heart the pendulum would have swung back as it +did with other peoples, and been stayed at the point of equilibrium +which we recognized as the stable mean of democracy.</p> + +<p>But in the old days before the modern intermingling of the races it +seems that there were certain tastes that had become instinctive in +racial groups. Thus, just as the German stomach craved the rich flavour +of sausage, so the German mind craved the dazzling show of Royal +flummery. Had it not been for this the First World War could have never +been, for the socialists of that time were bitterly opposed to war and +Germany was the world's greatest stronghold of socialism, yet when their +beloved imperial poser, William the Great, called for war the German +socialists, with the exception of a few whom they afterwards murdered, +went forth to war almost without protest.</p> + +<p>When I first began to hear of the political rights of Labour, I went to +my friend Hellar and asked for an explanation.</p> + +<p>"Is not the chain of authority absolute," I asked, "up through the +industrial organization direct to the Emperor and so to God himself?"</p> + +<p>"But," said Hellar, "the workers do not believe in God!"</p> + +<p>"What," I stammered, "workers not believe in God! It is impossible. Have +not the workers simple trusting minds?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Hellar, "it is the natural mind of man! Scepticism, +which is the basis of scientific reasoning, is an artificial thing, +first created in the world under the competitive economic order when it +became essential to self-preservation in a world of trade based on +deceit. In our new order we have had difficulty in maintaining enough of +it for scientific purposes even in the intellectual classes. There is no +scepticism among the labourers now, I assure you. They believe as easily +as they breathe."</p> + +<p>"Then how," I demanded in amazement, "does it come that they do not +believe in God?"</p> + +<p>"Because," said Hellar, "they have never heard of God.</p> + +<p>"The labourer does not know of God because we have restored God since +the perfection of our caste system, and hence it was easy to promulgate +the idea among the intellectuals and not among the workers. It was +necessary to restore God for the intellectuals in order to give them +greater respect for the power of the Royal House, but the labourers need +no God because they believe themselves to be the source from which the +Royal House derives its right to rule. They believe the Emperor to be +their own servant ruling by their permission."</p> + +<p>"The Emperor a servant to labour!" I exclaimed; "this is absurd."</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said Hellar; "why should it be otherwise? We are an absurd +people, because we have always laughed at the wrong things. Still this +principle is very old and has not always been confined to the Germans. +After the revolutions in the Twentieth Century the American plutocrats +employed poverty-stricken European nobility for servants and exalted +them to high stations and obeyed them explicitly in all social matters +with which their service was concerned.</p> + +<p>"The labourers restored William III because they wished to have an +exalted servant. He led them to war and became a hero. He reorganized +the state and became their political servant, also their emperor and +their tyrant. It is not an impossible relation, for it is not unlike the +relation between the mother and the child or between a man and his +mistress. And yet it is different, more formal, with functions +better defined.</p> + +<p>"The Emperor is the administrative head of the government and we +intellectuals are merely his hirelings. We are merely the feathers of +the Royal eagle, our colour is black, we have no part in the red blood +of human brotherhood, we are outcasts from the socialistic labour +world--for we receive money compensation to which labourers would not +stoop. But labour owns the state. This roof of Berlin over our heads and +all that is therein contained, is the property of the workers who +produced it."</p> + +<p>I shook my head in mute admission of my lack of comprehension.</p> + +<p>"And who," asked Hellar, "did you think owned Berlin?"</p> + +<p>I confessed that I had never thought of that.</p> + +<p>"Few of our intellectual class have ever thought of that," replied +Hellar, "unless they are well read in political history. But at the time +of the Hohenzollern restoration labour owned all property in true +communal ownership. They did not release it to the Royal House, but +merely turned over the administration of the property to the Emperor as +an agent."</p> + +<p>These belated explanations of the fundamental ideas of German society +quite confused and confounded me, though Hellar seemed in no wise +surprised at my ignorance, since as a chemist I had originally been +supposed to know only of atoms and valences and such like matters. +Seeking a way out of these contradictions I asked: "How is it then that +labour is so powerless, since you say that it owns the state, and even +the Emperor rules by its permission?"</p> + +<p>"Napoleon--have you ever heard of him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," I admitted--and then recalling my rôle as a German chemist I +hastened to add--"Napoleon was a directing chemist who achieved a plan +for increasing the food supply in his day by establishing the sugar beet +industry."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" exclaimed Hellar. "I didn't know that. I thought he was +only an Emperor--anyway, Napoleon said that if you tell men they are +equal you can do as you please with them. So when William III was +elected to the throne by labour, he insisted that they retain the power +and re-elect him every five years. He was very popular because he +invented the armoured city--our new Berlin--some day I will tell you of +that--and so of course he was re-elected, and his son after him. Though +most of the intellectuals do not know that it exists the ceremony of +election is a great occasion on the labour levels. The Emperor speaks +all day through the horns and on the picture screens. The workers think +he is actually speaking, though of course it is a collection of old +films and records of the Royal Voice. When they have seen and heard the +speeches, the labourers vote, and then go back to their work and are +very happy."</p> + +<p>"But suppose they should sometime fail to re-elect him?"</p> + +<p>"No danger," said Hellar; "there is only one name on the ballot and the +ballots are dumped into the paper mill without inspection."</p> + +<p>"Most extraordinary," I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Most ordinary," contradicted Hellar; "it is not even an exclusively +German institution; we have merely perfected it. Voting everywhere is a +very useful device in organized government. In the cruder form used in +democracies there were two or more candidates. It usually made little +difference which was elected; but the system was imperfect because the +voters who voted for the candidate which lost were not pleased. Then +there was the trouble +of counting the ballots. We avoid all this."</p> + +<p>"It is all very interesting," I said, "but who is the real authority?"</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Hellar, "this matter of authority is one of our most subtle +conceptions. The weakness of ancient governments was in the fact that +the line of authority was broken. It came somewhere to an end. But now +authority flows up from labour to the Emperor and then descends again to +labour through the administrative line of which we are one link. It is +an unbroken circuit."</p> + +<p>But I was still unsatisfied, for it annoyed me not to be able to +understand the system of German politics, as I had always prided myself +that, for a scientist, I understood politics remarkably well.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>I had gone to Hellar for enlightenment because I was gravely alarmed +over the rumours of a strike among the labourers in the Protium Works. I +had read in the outside world of the murder and destruction of these +former civil wars of industry. With a working population so cruelly held +to the treadmill of industrial bondage the idea of a strike conjured up +in my fancy the beginning of a bloody revolution. With so vast a +population so utterly dependent upon the orderly processes of industry +the possible terrors of an industrial revolution were horrible beyond +imagining; and for the moment all thoughts of escape, or of my own plans +for negotiating the surrender of Berlin to the World State, were swept +aside by the stern responsibilities that devolved upon me as the +Director of Works wherein a terrible strike seemed brewing.</p> + +<p>The first rumour of the strike of the labourers in the Protium Works had +come to me from the Listening-in-Service. Since Berlin was too +complicated and congested a spot for wireless communication to be +practical, the electrical conduct of sound was by antiquated means of +metal wires. The workers' Free Speech Halls were all provided with +receiving horns by which they made their appeals to His Majesty, of +which I shall speak presently. These instruments were provided with +cut-offs in the halls. They had been so designed by the electrical +engineers, who were of the intellectual caste, that not even the workers +who installed and repaired them knew that the cut-offs were a blind and +that the Listening-in-Service heard every word that was said at their +secret meetings, when all but workers were, by law and custom, excluded +from the halls.</p> + +<p>And so the report came to me that the workers were threatening strike. +Their grievance came about in this fashion. My new process had reduced +the number of men needed in the works. This would require that some of +the men be transferred to other industries. But the transfer was a slow +process, as all the workers would have to be examined anatomically and +their psychic reflexes tested by the labour assignment experts and those +selected re-trained for other labour. That work was proceeding +slowly, for there was a shortage of experts because some similar need of +transfers existed in one of the metal industries. Moreover, my labour +psychologist considered it dangerous to transfer too many men, as they +were creatures of habit, and he advised that we ought merely to cease to +take on new workers, but wait for old age and death to reduce the number +of our men, meanwhile retaining the use of the old extraction process in +part of the works.</p> + +<p>"Impossible," I replied, "unless you would have your rations cut and the +city put on a starvation diet. Do you not know that the reserve store of +protium that was once enough to last eight years is now reduced to less +than as many months' supply?"</p> + +<p>"That is none of my affair," said the labour psychologist; "these +chemical matters I do not comprehend. But I advise against these +transfers, for our workers are already in a furor about the change of +operations in the work."</p> + +<p>"But," I protested, "the new operations are easier than the old; besides +we can cut down the speed of operations, which ought to help you take +care of these surplus men."</p> + +<p>"Pardon, Herr Chief," returned the elderly labour psychologist, "you are +a great chemist, a very great chemist, for your invention has upset the +labour operation more than has anything that ever happened in my long +experience, but I fear you do not realize how necessary it is to go slow +in these matters. You ask men who have always opened a faucet from left +to right to now open one that moves in a vertical plane. Here, I will +show you; move your arm so; do you not see that it takes +different muscles?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, of course, but what of it? The solution flows faster and the +operation is easier."</p> + +<p>"It is easy for you to say that; for you or me it would make no +difference since our muscles have all been developed indiscriminately."</p> + +<p>"But what are your labour gymnasiums for, if not to develop all +muscles?"</p> + +<p>"Now do not misunderstand me. I serve as an interpreter between the +minds of the workers and your mind as Director of the Works. As for the +muscles developed in the gymnasium, those were developed for sport and +not for labour. But that is not the worst of it; you have designed the +new benches so low that the mixers must stoop at their work. It is +very painful."</p> + +<p>"Good God," I cried, "what became of the stools? The mixers are to sit +down--I ordered two thousand stools."</p> + +<p>"That I know, Herr Chief, but the equipment expert consulted me about +the matter and I countermanded the order. It would never do. I did not +consult you, it is true, but that was merely a kindness. I did not wish +to expose your lack of knowledge, if I may call it such."</p> + +<p>"Call it what you please," I snapped, for at the time I thought my +labour psychologist was a fool, "but get those stools, immediately."</p> + +<p>"But it would never do."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because these men have always stood at their work."</p> + +<p>"But why can they not sit down now?"</p> + +<p>"Because they never have sat down."</p> + +<p>"Do they not sit down to eat?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but not to work. It is very different. You do not understand the +psychic immobility of labour. Habits grow stronger as the mentality is +simplified. I have heard that there are animals in the zoological garden +that still perform useless operations that their remote ancestors +required in their jungle life."</p> + +<p>"Then do you infer that these men who must stand at their work inherited +the idea from their ancestors?"</p> + +<p>"That is a matter of eugenics. I do not know, but I do know that we are +preparing for trouble with these changes. Still I hope to work it out +without serious difficulty, if you do not insist on these transfers. +When workmen have already been forced to change their habitual method of +work and then see their fellows being removed to other and still +stranger work it breeds dangerous unrest."</p> + +<p>"One thing is certain," I replied; "we cannot delay the installation of +the new method; as fast as the equipment is ready the new operation must +replace the old."</p> + +<p>"But the effect of that policy will be that there will not be enough +work, and besides the work is, as you say, lighter and that will result +in the cutting down of the food rations."</p> + +<p>"But I have already arranged that," I said triumphantly; "the Rationing +Bureau have adjusted the calorie standards so that the men will get as +much food as they have been used to."</p> + +<p>"What! you have done that?" exclaimed the labour psychologist; "then +there will be trouble. That will destroy the balance of the food supply +and the expenditure of muscular energy and the men will get fat. Then +the other men will accuse them of stealing food and we shall have +bloodshed."</p> + +<p>"A moment ago," I smiled, "you told me I did not know your business. Now +I will tell you that you do not know mine. We ordered special food +bulked up in volume; the scheme is working nicely; you need not worry +about that. As for the other matter, this surplus of men, it seems to me +that the only thing is to cut down the working hours temporarily until +the transfers can be made."</p> + +<p>The psychologist shook his head. "It is dangerous," he said, "and very +unusual. I advise instead that you have the operation engineers go over +the processes and involve the operations, both to make them more nearly +resemble the old ones, and to add to the time and energy consumption of +the tasks."</p> + +<p>"No," I said emphatically, "I invented a more economical process for +this industry and I do not propose to see my invention prostituted in +this fashion. I appreciate your advice, but if we cannot transfer the +workers any faster, then the labour hours must be cut. I will issue the +order tomorrow. This is my final decision."</p> + +<p>I was in authority and that settled the matter. The psychologist was +very decent about it and helped me fix up a speech and that next night +the workers were ordered to assemble in their halls and I made my speech +into a transmitting horn. I told them that they had been especially +honoured by their Emperor, who, appreciating their valuable service, had +granted them a part-time vacation and that until further notice their +six-hour shifts were to be cut to four. I further told them that their +rations would not be reduced and advised them to take enough extra +exercise in the gymnasium to offset their shorter hours so they would +not get fat and be the envy of their fellows.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>For a time the workers seemed greatly pleased with their shorter hours. +And then, from the Listening-in-Service, came the rumour of the strike. +The first report of the strike gave me no clue to the grievance and I +asked for fuller reports. When these came the next day I was shocked +beyond belief. If I had anticipated anything in that interval of terror +it was that my workers were to strike because their communications had +been shut off or that they were to strike in sympathy for their fellows +and demand that all hours be shortened like their own. But the grievance +was not that. My men were to go on strike for the simple reason that +their hours had been shortened!</p> + +<p>The catastrophe once started came with a rush, for when I reached the +office the next day the psychologist was awaiting me and told me that +the strike was on. I rushed out immediately and went down to the works. +The psychologist followed me. As I entered the great industrial +laboratories I saw all the men at their usual places and going through +their usual operations. I turned to my companion who was just coming up, +and said: "What do you mean; I thought you told me the strike was on, +that the men had already walked out?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean by 'walked out'?" he returned, as puzzled as I.</p> + +<p>"Walked out of the works," I explained; "away from their duties, quit +work. Struck!"</p> + +<p>"But they have struck. Perhaps you have never seen a strike before, but +do you not see the strike badges?"</p> + +<p>And then I looked and saw that every workman wore a tiny red flag, and +the flag bore no imperial eagle.</p> + +<p>"It means," I gasped, "that they have renounced the rule of the Royal +House. This is not a strike, this is rebellion, treason!"</p> + +<p>"It is the custom," said the labour psychologist, "and as for rebellion +and treason that you speak of I hardly think you ought to call it that +for rebellion and treason are forbidden."</p> + +<p>"Then just what does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"It means that this particular group of workers have temporarily +withdrawn their allegiance to the Royal House, and they have, in their +own minds, restored the old socialist régime, until they can make +petition to the Emperor and he passes on their grievance. They will do +that in their halls tonight. We, of course, will be connected up and +listen in."</p> + +<p>"Then they are not really on strike?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly they are on strike. All strikes are conducted so."</p> + +<p>"Then why do they not quit work?"</p> + +<p>"But why should they quit work? They are striking because their hours +are already too short--pardon, Herr Chief, but I warned you!</p> + +<p>"I think I know what you mean," he added after a pause; "you have +probably read some fiction of old times when the workers went on strike +by quitting work."</p> + +<p>"Yes, exactly. I suppose that is where I did get my ideas; and that is +now forbidden--by the Emperor?"</p> + +<p>"Not by the Emperor, for you see these men wear the flags without the +eagle. They at present do not acknowledge his authority."</p> + +<p>"Then all this strike is a matter of red badges without eagles and +everything else will go on as usual?"</p> + +<p>"By no means. These men are striking against the descending authority +from the Royal House. They not only refuse to wear the eagle until their +grievance is adjusted but they will refuse to accept further education, +for that is a thing that descends from above. If you will go now to the +picture halls, where the other shift should be, you will find the halls +all empty. The men refuse to go to the moving pictures."</p> + +<p>That night we "listened in." A bull-throated fellow, whom I learned was +the Talking Delegate, addressed the Emperor, and much to my surprise I +thought I heard the Emperor's own voice in reply, stating that he was +ready to hear their grievance.</p> + +<p>Then the bull voice of the Talking Delegate gave the reason for the +strike: "The Director of the Works, speaking for your Majesty, has +granted us a part time vacation, and shortened our hours from six to +four. We thank you for this honour but we have decided we do not like +it. We do not know what to do during those extra two hours. We had our +games and amusements but we had our regular hours for them. If we play +longer we become tired of play. If we sleep longer we cannot sleep as +well. Moreover we are losing our appetite and some of us are afraid to +eat all our portions for fear we will become fat. So we have decided +that we do not like a four-hour day and we have therefore taken the +eagles off our flags and will refuse to replace them or to go to the +educational pictures until our hours are restored to the six-hour day +that we have always had."</p> + +<p>And now the Emperor's voice replied that he would take the matter under +consideration and report his decision in three days and, that meanwhile +he knew he could trust them to conduct themselves as good socialists who +were on strike, and hence needed no king.</p> + +<p>The next day the psychologist brought a representative of the +Information Staff to my office and together we wrote the reply that the +Emperor was to make. It would be necessary to concede them the full six +hours and introduce the system of complicating the labour operations to +make more work. Much chagrined, I gave in, and called in the motion +study engineers and set them to the task. Meanwhile the Royal Voice was +sent for and coached in the Emperor's reply to the striking workmen, and +a picture film of the Emperor, timed to fit the length of the speech, +was ordered from stock.</p> + +<p>The Royal Voice was an actor by birth who had been trained to imitate +His Majesty's speech. This man, who specialized in the Emperor's +speeches to the workers, prided himself that he was the best Royal Voice +in Berlin and I complimented him by telling him that I had been deceived +by him the evening before. But considering that the workers, never +having heard the Emperor's real voice, would have no standard of +comparison, I have never been able to see the necessity of the accuracy +of his imitation, unless it was on the ground of art for art's sake.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>THE DIVINE DESCENDANTS OF WILLIAM THE GREAT GIVE A BENEFIT FOR THE CANINE GARDENS AND PAY TRIBUTE TO THE PIGGERIES</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>The strike that I had feared would be the beginning of a bloody +revolution had ended with an actor shouting into a horn and the shadow +of an Emperor waving his arms. But meanwhile Capt. Grauble, on whom I +staked my hopes of escape from Berlin, had departed to the Arctic and +would not return for many months. That he would return I firmly +believed; statistically the chances were +in his favour as this was his fourth trip, and hope was backing the +favourable odds of the law of chance.</p> + +<p>So I set myself to prepare for that event. My faith was strong that +Grauble could be won over to the cause of saving the Germans by +betraying Germany. I did not even consider searching for another man, +for Grauble was that one rare man in thousands who is rebellious and +fearless by nature, a type of which the world makes heroes when their +cause wins and traitors when it fails--a type that Germany had all but +eliminated from the breed of men.</p> + +<p>But, if I were to escape to the outer world through Grauble's +connivance, there was still the problem of getting permission to board +the submarine, ostensibly to go to the Arctic mines. Even in my exalted +position as head of the protium works I could not learn where the +submarine docks or the passage to them was located. But I did learn +enough to know that the way was impenetrable without authoritative +permission, and that thoughts of escape as a stowaway were not worth +considering. I also learned that Admiral von Kufner had sole authority +to grant permission to make the Arctic trip.</p> + +<p>The Admiral had promptly turned down my first proposal to go to the +Arctic ore fields, and had by his pompous manner rebuffed the attempts I +made to cultivate his friendship through official interviews. I +therefore decided to call on Marguerite and the Countess Luise to see +what chance there was to get a closer approach to the man through social +avenues. The Countess was very obliging in the matter, but she warned me +with lifted finger that the Admiral was a gay bachelor and a worshipper +of feminine charms, and that I might rue the day I suggested his being +invited into the admiring circle that revolved about Marguerite. But I +laughingly disclaimed any fears on that score and von Kufner was bidden +to the next ball given by the Countess.</p> + +<p>Marguerite was particularly gracious to the Admiral and speedily led him +into the inner circle that gathered informally in the salon of the +Countess Luise. I made it a point to absent myself on some of these +occasions, for I did not want the Admiral to guess the purpose that lay +behind this ensnaring of him into our group.</p> + +<p>And yet I saw much of Marguerite, for I spent most of my leisure in the +society of the Royal Level, where thought, if shallow, was comparatively +free. I took particular pleasure in watching the growth of Marguerite's +mind, as the purely intellectual conceptions she had acquired from Dr. +Zimmern and his collection of books adjusted itself to the absurd +realities of the celestial society of the descendants of William +the Great.</p> + +<p>It may be that charity is instinctive in the heart of a good woman, or +perhaps it was because she had read the Christian Bible; but whatever +the origin of the impulse, Marguerite was charitably inclined and wished +to make personal sacrifice for the benefit of other beings less well +situated than herself. While she was still a resident of the Free Level +she had talked to me of this feeling and of her desire to help others. +But the giving of money or valuables by one woman to another was +strictly forbidden, and Marguerite had not at the time possessed more +than she needed for her own subsistence. But now that she was relatively +well off, this charitable feeling struggled to find expression. Hence +when she had learned of the Royal Charity Society she had straightway +begged the Countess to present her name for membership, without stopping +to examine into the detail of the Society's activities.</p> + +<p>The Society was at that time preparing to hold a bazaar and sent out +calls for contributions of cast off clothing and ornaments. Marguerite +as yet possessed no clothes or jewelry of Royal quality except the +minimum which the demands of her position made necessary; and so she +timidly asked the Countess if her clothing which she had worn on the +Free Level would suffice as gifts of charity. The Countess had assured +her that it would do nicely as the destination of all the clothing +contributed was for the women of the Free Level. Thinking that an +opportunity had at last arisen for her to express her compassion for the +ill-favoured girls of her own former level, Marguerite hastened to +bundle up such presentable gowns as she had and sent them to the bazaar +by her maid.</p> + +<p>Later she had attended the meeting of the society when the net results +of the collections were announced. To her dismay she found that the +clothing contributed had been sold for the best price it would bring to +the women of the Free Level and that the purpose of the sacrifices, of +that which was useless to the possessors but valuable to others, was the +defraying of the expense of extending the romping grounds for the dogs +of the charitably maintained canine garden.</p> + +<p>Marguerite was vigorously debating the philosophy of charity with the +young Count Rudolph that evening when I called. She was maintaining that +human beings and not animals should be the recipients of charity and the +young Count was expounding to her the doctrine of the evil effects of +charity upon the recipient.</p> + +<p>"Moreover," explained Count Rudolph, "there are no humans in Berlin that +need charity, since every class of our efficiently organized State +receives exactly what it should receive and hence is in need of nothing. +Charity is permissible only when poverty exists."</p> + +<p>"But there is poverty on the Free Level," maintained Marguerite; "many +of the ill-favoured girls suffer from hunger and want better clothes +than they can buy."</p> + +<p>"That may be," said the Count, "but to permit them gifts of charity +would be destructive of their pride; moreover, there are few women on +the Royal Level who would give for such a purpose."</p> + +<p>"But surely," said Marguerite, "there must be somewhere in the city, +other women or children or even men to whom the proceeds of these gifts +would mean more than it does to dogs."</p> + +<p>"If any group needed anything the state would provide it," repeated the +Count.</p> + +<p>"Then why," protested Marguerite, "cannot the state provide also for the +dogs, or if food and space be lacking why are these dogs allowed to +breed and multiply?"</p> + +<p>"Because it would be cruel to suppress their instincts."</p> + +<p>Marguerite was puzzled by this answer, but with my more rational mind I +saw a flaw in the logic of this statement. "But that is absurd," I said, +"for if their number were not checked in some fashion, in a few decades +the dogs would overswarm the city."</p> + +<p>It was now the Count's turn to look puzzled. "You have inferred an +embarrassing question," he stated, "one, in fact, that ought not to be +answered in the presence of a lady, but since the Princess Marguerite +does not seem to be a lover of dogs, I will risk the explanation. The +Medical Level requires dogs for purposes of scientific research. Since +the women are rarely good mathematicians, it is easily possible in this +manner to keep down the population of the Canine Garden."</p> + +<p>"But the dogs required for research," I suggested, "could easily be bred +in kennels maintained for that purpose."</p> + +<p>"So they could," said the Count, "but the present plan serves a double +purpose. It provides the doctors with scalpel practise and it also +amuses the women of the Royal House who are very much in need of +amusement since we men are all so dull."</p> + +<p>"Woman's love," continued Rudolph, waxing eloquent, "should have full +freedom for unfoldment. If it be forcibly confined to her husband and +children it might burst its bounds and express too great an interest in +other humans. The dogs act as a sort of safety valve for this instinct +of charity."</p> + +<p>The facetious young Count saw from Marguerite's horror-stricken face +that he was making a marked impression and he recklessly continued: "The +keepers at the Canine Gardens understand this perfectly. When funds +begin to run low they put the dogs in the outside pens on short rations, +and the brutes do their own begging; then we have another bazaar and +everybody is happy. It is a good system and I would advise you not to +criticize it since the institution is classic. Other schemes have been +tried; at one time women were permitted to knit socks for soldiers--we +always put that in historical pictures--but the socks had to be melted +up again as felted fibre is much more durable; and then, after the women +were forbidden to see the soldiers, they lost interest. But the dog +charity is a proven institution and we should never try to change +anything that women do not want changed since they are the conservative +bulwark of society and our best protection against the danger of +the untried."</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>Blocked in her effort to relieve human poverty by the discovery that its +existence was not recognized, Marguerite's next adventure in doing good +in the world was to take up the battle against ignorance by contributing +to the School for the Education of Servants.</p> + +<p>The Servant problem in Berlin, and particularly on the Royal Level, had +been solved so far as male servants were concerned, for these were a +well recognized strain eugenically bred as a division of the +intellectual caste. I had once taken Dr. Zimmern to task on this +classification of the servant as an intellectual.</p> + +<p>"The servant is not intellectual creatively," the Eugenist replied, "yet +it would never do to class him as Labour since he produces nothing. +Moreover, the servant's mind reveals the most specialized development of +the most highly prized of all German intellectual +characteristics--obedience.</p> + +<p>"It might interest you to know," continued Zimmern, "that we use this +servant strain in outcrossing with other strains when they show a +tendency to decline in the virtue of obedience. If I had not chosen to +exempt you from paternity when your rebellious instincts were reported +to me, and the matter had been turned over to our Remating Board they +might have reassigned you to mothers of the servant class. This practice +of out-crossing, though rare, is occasionally essential in all +scientific breeding."</p> + +<p>"Then do you mean," I asked in amazement, "that the highest intellectual +strains have servant blood in them?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. And why not, since obedience is the crowning glory of the +German mind? Even Royal blood has a dash of the servant strain."</p> + +<p>"You mean, I suppose, from illegitimate children?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all; that sort of illegitimacy is not recognized. I mean from +the admission of servants into Royal Society, just as you have been +admitted."</p> + +<p>"Impossible!"</p> + +<p>"And why impossible, since obedience is our supreme racial virtue? Go +consult your social register. The present Emperor, I believe, has +admitted none, but his father admitted several and gave them princely +incomes. They married well and their children are respected, though I +understand they are not very much invited out for the reason that they +are poor conversationalists. They only speak when spoken to and then +answer, 'Ja, Mein Herr.' I hear they are very miserable; since no one +commands them they must be very bored with life, as they are unable to +think of anything to do to amuse themselves. In time the trait will be +modified, of course, since the Royal blood will soon predominate, and +the strongest inherent trait of Royalty is to seek amusement."</p> + +<p>This specialized class of men servants needed little education, for, as +I took more interest in observing after this talk with Zimmern, they +were the most perfectly fitted to their function of any class in Berlin. +But there was also a much more numerous class of women servants on the +Royal Level. These, as a matter of economy, were not specially bred to +the office, but were selected from the mothers who had been rejected for +further maternity after the birth of one or two children. Be it said to +the credit of the Germans that no women who had once borne a child was +ever permitted to take up the profession of Delilah--a statement which +unfortunately cannot be made of the rest of the world. These mothers +together with those who had passed the child bearing age more than +supplied the need for nurses on the maternity levels and teachers in +girls' schools.</p> + +<p>As a result they swarmed the Royal Level in all capacities of service +for which women are fitted. Originally educated for maternity they had +to be re-educated for service. Not satisfied with the official education +provided by the masculine-ordered state, the women of the Royal Level +maintained a continuation school in the fine art of obedience and the +kindred virtues of the perfect servant.</p> + +<p>So again it was that Marguerite became involved in a movement that in no +wise expressed the needs of her spirit, and from which she +speedily withdrew.</p> + +<p>The next time she came to me for advice. "I want to do something," she +cried. "I want to be of some use in the world. You saved me from that +awful life--for you know what it would have been for me if Dr. Zimmern +had died or his disloyalty had been discovered--and you have brought me +here where I have riches and position but am useless. I tried to be +charitable, to relieve poverty, but they say there is no poverty to be +relieved. I tried to relieve ignorance, but they will not allow that +either. What else is there that needs to be relieved? Is there no good +I can do?"</p> + +<p>"Your problem is not a new one," I replied, thinking of the world-old +experience of the good women yoked to idleness by wealth and position. +"You have tried to relieve poverty and ignorance and find your efforts +futile. There is one thing more I believe that is considered a classic +remedy for your trouble. You can devote yourself to the elimination of +ugliness, to the increase of beauty. Is there no organization devoted to +that work?"</p> + +<p>"There is," returned Marguerite, "and I was about to join it, but I +thought this time I had better ask advice. There is the League to +Beautify Berlin."</p> + +<p>"Then by all means join," I advised. "It is the safest of all such +efforts, for though poverty may not exist and ignorance may not be +relieved, yet surely Berlin can be more beautiful. But of course your +efforts must be confined to the Royal Level as you do not see the rest +of the city."</p> + +<p>So Marguerite joined the League to Beautify Berlin and I became an +auxiliary member much appreciated because of my liberal contributions. +It proved an excellent source of amusement. The League met weekly and +discussed the impersonal aspects of the beauty of the level in open +meetings, while a secret complaint box was maintained into which all +were invited to deposit criticisms of more personal matters. It was +forbidden even in this manner to criticize irremedial ugliness such as +the matter of one's personal form or features, but dress and manners +came within the permitted range and the complaints were regularly mailed +to the offenders. This surprised me a little as I would have thought +that such a practice would have made the League unpopular, but on the +contrary, it was considered the mainstay of the organization, for the +recipient of the complaint, if a non-member, very often joined the +League immediately, hoping thereby to gain sweet revenge.</p> + +<p>But aside from this safety valve for the desire to make personal +criticism, the League was a very creditable institution and it was there +that we met the great critics to whose untiring efforts the rare +development of German art was due.</p> + +<p>Cut off from the opportunity to appropriate by purchase or capture the +works of other peoples, German art had suffered a severe decline in the +first few generations of the isolation, but in time they had developed +an art of their own. A great abundance of cast statues of white crystal +adorned the plazas and gardens and, being unexposed to dust or rain, +they preserved their pristine freshness so that it appeared they had all +been made the day before. Mural paintings also flourished abundantly and +in some sections the endless facade of the apartments was a +continuous pageant.</p> + +<p>But it was in landscape gardening that German art had made its most +wonderful advancement. Having small opportunity for true architecture +because of the narrow engineering limitations of the city's +construction, talent for architecture had been turned to landscape +gardening. I use the term advisedly for the very absence of natural +landscape within a roofed-in city had resulted in greater development of +the artificial product.</p> + +<p>The earlier efforts, few of which remained unaltered, were more inclined +toward imitation of Nature as it exists in the world of sun and rocks +and rain. But, as the original models were forgotten and new generations +of gardeners arose, new sorts of nature were created. Artificial rocks, +artificial soil, artificially bred and cultured plants, were combined in +new designs, unrealistic it is true, but still a very wonderful +development of what might be called synthetic or romantic nature. The +water alone was real and even in some cases that was altered as in the +beautifully dyed rivulets and in the truly remarkable "Fountain of +Blood," dedicated to one of the sons of William the Great--I have +forgotten his name--in honour of his attack upon Verdun in the First +World War.</p> + +<p>In these wondrous gardens, with the Princess Marguerite strolling by my +side, I spent the happiest hours of my sojourn in Berlin. But my joy was +tangled with a thread of sadness for the more I gazed upon this +synthetic nature of German creation the more I hungered to tell her of, +and to take her to see, the real Nature of the outside world--upon +which, in my opinion, with all due respect to their achievements, the +Germans had not been able to improve.</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>While the women of the Royal House were not permitted of their own +volition to stray from the Royal Level, excursions were occasionally +arranged, with proper permits and guards. These were social events of +consequence and the invitations were highly prized. Noteworthy among +them was an excursion to the highest levels of the city and to the +roof itself.</p> + +<p>The affair was planned by Admiral von Kufner in Marguerite's honour; +for, having spent her childhood elsewhere, she had never experienced the +wonder of this roof excursion so highly prized by Royalty, and for ever +forbidden to all other women and to all but a few men of the teeming +millions who swarmed like larvae in this vast concrete cheese.</p> + +<p>The formal invitations set no hour for the excursion as it was +understood that the exact time depended upon weather conditions of which +we would later be notified. When this notice came the hour set was in +the conventional evening of the Royal Level, but corresponding to about +three A.M. by solar time. The party gathered at the suite of the +Countess Luise and numbered some forty people, for whom a half dozen +guides were provided in the form of officers of the Roof Guard. The +journey to our romantic destination took us up some hundred metres in an +elevator, a trip which required but two minutes, but would lead to a +world as different as Mount Olympus from Erebus.</p> + +<p>But we did not go directly to the roof, for the hour preferred for that +visit had not yet arrived and our first stop was at the swine levels, +which had so aroused my curiosity and strained belief when I had first +discovered their existence from the chart of my atlas.</p> + +<p>As the door of the elevator shaft slid open, a vast squealing and +grunting assaulted our ears. The hours of the swine, like those of their +masters, were not reckoned by either solar or sidereal time, but had +been altered, as experiment had demonstrated, to a more efficient cycle. +The time of our trip was chosen so that we might have this earthly music +of the feeding time as a fitting prelude to the visioning of the +silent heavens.</p> + +<p>On the visitors' gangway we walked just above the reach of the jostling +bristly backs, and our own heads all but grazed the low ceiling of the +level. To economize power the lights were dim. Despite the masterful +achievement of German cleanliness and sanitation there was a permeating +odour, a mingling of natural and synthetic smells, which added to the +gloom of semi-darkness and the pandemonium of swinish sound produced a +totality of infernal effect that thwarts description.</p> + +<p>But relief was on the way for the automatic feed conveyors were rapidly +moving across our section. First we heard a diminution of sound from one +direction, then a hasty scuffling and a happy grunting beneath us and, +as the conveyors moved swiftly on, the squealing receded into the +distance like the dying roar of a retreating storm.</p> + +<p>The Chief Swineherd, immaculately dressed and wearing his full quota of +decorations and medals, honoured us with his personal presence. With the +excusable pride that every worthy man takes in his work, he expounded +the scientific achievements and economic efficiency of the swinish world +over which he reigned. The men of the party listened with respect to his +explanations of the accomplishments of sanitation and of the economy of +the cycle of chemical transformation by which these swine were +maintained without decreasing the capacity of the city for human +support. Lastly the Swineherd spoke of the protection that the swine +levels provided against the effects of an occasional penetrating bomb +that chanced to fall in the crater of its predecessor before the damage +could be repaired.</p> + +<p>Pursuant to this fact the uppermost swine level housed those unfortunate +animals that were nearest the sausage stage. On the next lower level, to +which we now descended by a spiral stair through a ventilating opening, +were brutes of less advanced ages. On the lowest of the three levels +where special lights were available for our benefit even the women +ceased to shudder and gave expression to ecstatic cries of rapture, as +all the world has ever done when seeing baby beasts pawing contentedly +at maternal founts.</p> + +<p>"Is it not all wonderful?" effused Admiral von Kufner, with a sweeping +gesture; "so efficient, so sanitary, so automatic, such a fine example +of obedience to system and order. This is what I call real science and +beauty; one might almost say Germanic beauty."</p> + +<p>"But I do not like it," replied Marguerite with her usual candour. "I +wish they would abolish these horrid levels."</p> + +<p>"But surely," said the Countess, "you would not wish to condemn us to a +diet of total mineralism?"</p> + +<p>"But the Herr Chemist here could surely invent for us a synthetic +sausage," remarked Count Rudolph. "I have eaten vegetarian kraut made of +real cabbage from the Botanical Garden, but it was inferior to the +synthetic article."</p> + +<p>"Do not make light, young people," spoke up the most venerable member of +our party, the eminent Herr Dr. von Brausmorganwetter, the historian +laureate of the House of Hohenzollern. "It is not as a producer of +sausages alone that we Germans are indebted to this worthy animal. I am +now engaged in writing a book upon the influence of the swine upon +German Kultur. In the first part I shall treat of the Semitic question. +The Jews were very troublesome among us in the days before the +isolation. They were a conceited race. As capitalists, they amassed +fortunes; as socialists they stirred up rebellion; they objected to war; +they would never have submitted to eugenics; they even insisted that we +Germans had stolen their God!</p> + +<p>"We tried many schemes to be rid of these troublesome people, and all +failed. Therefore I say that Germany owes a great debt to the noble +animal who rid us of the disturbing presence of the Jews, for when pork +was made compulsory in the diet they fled the country of their +own accord.</p> + +<p>"In the second part of my book I shall tell the story of the founding of +the New Berlin, for our noble city was modelled on the fortified +piggeries of the private estates of William III. In those days of the +open war the enemy bombed the stock farms. Synthetic foods were as yet +imperfectly developed. Protein was at a premium; the emperor did not +like fish, so he built a vast concrete structure with a roof heavily +armoured with sand that he might preserve his swine from the murderous +attacks of the enemy planes.</p> + +<p>"It was during the retreat from Peking. The German armies were being +crowded back on every side. The Ray had been invented, but William the +III knew that it could not be used to protect so vast a domain and that +Germany would be penned into narrow borders and be in danger of +extermination by aërial bombardment. In those days he went for rest and +consolation to his estates, for he took great pleasure in his +thoroughbred swine. Some traitorous spy reported his move to the enemy +and a bombing squadron attacked the estates. The Emperor took refuge in +his fortified piggery. And so the great vision came to him.</p> + +<p>"I have read the exact words of this thoughts as recorded in his diary +which is preserved in the archives of the Royal Palace: 'As are these +happy brutes, so shall my people be. In safety from the terrors of the +sky--protected from the vicissitudes of nature and the enmity of men, so +shall I preserve them.'</p> + +<p>"That was the conception of the armoured city of Berlin. But that was +not all. For the bombardment kept up for days and the Emperor could not +escape. On the fourth day came the second idea--two new ideas in less +than a week! William III was a great thinker.</p> + +<p>"Thus he recorded the second inspiration: 'And even as I have bred these +swine, some for bacon and some for lard, so shall the German Blond +Brutes be bred the super-men, some specialized for labour and some +for brains.'</p> + +<p>"These two ideas are the foundation of the kultur of our Imperial +Socialism, the one idea to preserve us and the other to re-create us as +the super-race. And both of these ideas we owe to this noble animal. The +swine should be emblazoned with the eagle upon our flag."</p> + +<p>As the Historian finished his eulogy, I glanced surreptitiously at the +faces of his listeners, and caught a twinkle in Marguerite's eyes; but +the faces of the others were as serious as graven images.</p> + +<p>Finally the Countess spoke: "Do I understand, then, that you consider +the swine the model of the German race?"</p> + +<p>"Only of the lower classes," said the aged historian, "but not the House +of Hohenzollern. We are exalted above the necessities of breeding, for +we are divine."</p> + +<p>Eyes were now turned upon me, for I was the only one of the company not +of Hohenzollern blood. Unrelieved by laughter the situation was painful.</p> + +<p>"But," said Count Rudolph, coming to my rescue, "we also seek safety in +the fortified piggeries."</p> + +<p>"Exactly," said the Historian; "so did our noble ancestor."</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>From the piggeries, we went to the green level where, growing beneath +eye-paining lights, was a matted mass of solid vegetation from which +came those rare sprigs of green which garnished our synthetic dishes. +But this was too monotonous to be interesting and we soon went above to +the Defence Level where were housed vast military and rebuilding +mechanisms and stores. After our guides had shown us briefly about among +these paraphernalia, we were conducted to one of the sloping ramps which +led through a heavily arched tunnel to the roof above.</p> + +<p>Marguerite clung close to my arm, quivering with expectancy and +excitement, as we climbed up the sloping passage-way and felt on our +faces the breath of the crisp air of the May night.</p> + +<p>The sky came into vision with startling suddenness as we walked out upon +the soft sand blanket of the roof. The night was absolutely clear and my +first impression was that every star of the heavens had miraculously +waxed in brilliancy. The moon, in the last quarter, hung midway between +the zenith and the western horizon. The milky way seemed a floating band +of whitish flame. About us, in the form of a wide crescent, for we were +near the eastern edge of the city, swung the encircling band of +searchlights, but the air was so clear that this stockade of artificial +light beams was too pale to dim the points of light in the +blue-black vault.</p> + +<p>In anticipating this visit to the roof I had supposed it would seem +commonplace to me, and had discussed it very little with Marguerite, +lest I might reveal an undue lack of wonder. But now as I thrilled once +more beneath their holy light, the miracle of unnumbered far-flung +flaming suns stifled again the vanity of human conceit and I stood with +soul unbared and worshipful beneath the vista of incommensurate space +wherein the birth and death of worlds marks the unending roll of time. +And at my side a silent gazing woman stood, contrite and humble and the +thrill and quiver of her body filled me with a joy of wordless delight.</p> + +<p>A blundering guide began lecturing on astronomy and pointing out with +pompous gestures the constellations and planets. But Marguerite led me +beyond the sound of his voice. "It is not the time for listening to +talk," she said. "I only want to see."</p> + +<p>When the astronomer had finished his speech-making, our party moved +slowly toward the East, where we could just discern the first faint +light of the coming dawn. When we reached the parapet of the eastern +edge of the city's roof, the stars had faded and pale pink streaked the +eastern sky. The guides brought folding chairs from a nearby tunnel way +and most of the party sat down on a hillock of sand, very much as men +might seat themselves in the grandstand of a race course. But I was so +interested in what the dawn would reveal beneath the changing colours of +the sky, that I led Marguerite to the rail of the parapet where we could +look down into the yawning depths upon the surface of German soil.</p> + +<p>My first vision over the parapet revealed but a mottled grey. But as the +light brightened the grey land took form, and I discerned a few scraggly +patches of green between the torn masses of distorted soil.</p> + +<p>The stars had faded now and only the pale moon remained in the bluing +sky, while below the land disclosed a sad monotony of ruin and waste, +utterly devoid of any constructive work of man.</p> + +<p>Marguerite, her gaze fixed on the dawn, was beginning to complain of the +light paining her eyes, when one of the guides hurried by with an open +satchel swung from his shoulders. "Here are your glasses," he said; "put +them on at once. You must be very careful now, or you will injure +your eyes."</p> + +<p>We accepted the darkened protecting lenses, but I found I did not need +mine until the sun itself had appeared above the horizon.</p> + +<p>"Did you see it so in your vision?" questioned Marguerite, as the first +beams glistened on the surface of the sanded roof.</p> + +<p>"This," I replied, "is a very ordinary sunrise with a perfectly +cloudless sky. Some day, perhaps, when the gates of this prison of +Berlin are opened, we will be able to see all the sunrises of my +visions, and even more wonderful ones."</p> + +<p>"Karl," she whispered, "how do you know of all these things? Sometimes I +believe you are something more than human, that you of a truth possess +the blood of divinity which the House of Hohenzollern claims."</p> + +<p>"No," I answered; "not divinity,--just a little larger humanity, and +some day very soon I am going to tell you more of the source of +my visions."</p> + +<p>She looked at me through her darkened glasses. "I only know," she said, +"that you are wonderful, and very different from other men."</p> + +<p>Had we been alone on the roof of Berlin, I could not have resisted the +temptation to tell her then that stars and sun were familiar friends to +me and that the devastated soil that stretched beneath us was but the +wasted skeleton of a fairer earth I knew and loved. But we were +surrounded by a host of babbling sightseers and so the moment passed and +I remained to Marguerite a man of mystery and a seer of visions.</p> + +<p>The sun fully risen now, we were led to a protruding observation +platform that permitted us to view the wall of the city below. It was +merely one vast grey wall without interruption or opening in the +monotonous surface.</p> + +<p>Amid the more troubled chaos of the ground immediately below we could +see fragments of concrete blown from the parapet of the roof. The wall +beneath us, we were told, was only of sufficient thickness to withstand +fire of the aircraft guns. The havoc that might be wrought, should the +defence mines ever be forced back and permit the walls of Berlin to come +within range of larger field pieces, was easily imagined. But so long as +the Ray defence held, the massive fort of Berlin was quite impervious to +attacks of the world forces of land and air and the stalemate of war +might continue for other centuries.</p> + +<p>With the coming of daylight we had heard the rumbling of trucks as the +roof repairing force emerged to their task. Now that our party had +become tired of gazing through their goggles at the sun, our guides led +us in the direction where this work was in progress. On the way we +passed a single unfilled crater, a deep pit in the flinty quartz sand +that spread a protecting blanket over the solid structure of the roof. +These craters in the sand proved quite harmless except for the labour +involved in their refilling. Further on we came to another, now +half-filled from a spouting pipe with ground quartz blown from some +remote subterranean mine, so to keep up the wastage from wind +and bombing.</p> + +<p>Again we approached the edge of the city and this time found more of +interest, for here an addition to the city was under construction. It +was but a single prism, not a hundred metres across, which when +completed would add but another block to the city's area. Already the +outer pillars reached the full height and supported the temporary roof +that offered at least a partial protection to the work in progress +beneath. Though I watched but a few minutes I was awed with the evident +rapidity of the building. Dimly I could see the forms below being swung +into place with a clock-like regularity and from numerous spouts great +streams of concrete poured like flowing lava.</p> + +<p>It is at these building sections that the bombs were aimed and here +alone that any effectual damage could be done, but the target was a +small one for a plane flying above the reach of the German guns. The +officer who guided our group explained this to us: these bombing raids +were conducted only at times of particular cloud formations, when the +veil of mist hung thick and low in an even stratum above which the air +was clear. When such formation threatened, the roof of Berlin was +cleared and the expected bombs fell and spent their fury blowing up the +sand. It had been a futile warfare, for the means of defence were equal +to the means of offence.</p> + +<p>Our visit to the roof of Berlin was cut short as the sun rose higher, +because the women, though they had donned gloves and veils, were fearful +of sunburn. So we were led back to the covered ramp into the endless +night of the city.</p> + +<p>"Have we seen it all?" sighed Marguerite, as she removed her veil and +glasses and gazed back blinkingly into the last light of day.</p> + +<p>"Hardly," I said; "we have not seen a cloud, nor a drop of rain nor a +flake of snow, nor a flash of lightning, nor heard a peal of thunder."</p> + +<p>Again she looked at me with worshipful adoration. "I forget," she +whispered; "and can you vision those things also?"</p> + +<p>But I only smiled and did not answer, for I saw Admiral von Kufner +glaring at me. I had monopolized Marguerite's company for the entire +occasion, and I was well aware that his only reason for arranging this, +to him a meaningless excursion, had been in the hopes of being with her.</p> + +<h3>~5~</h3> + +<p>But Admiral von Kufner, contending fairly for that share of Marguerite's +time which she deigned to grant him, seemed to bear me no malice; and, +as the months slipped by, I was gratified to find him becoming more +cordial toward me. We frequently met at the informal gatherings in the +salon of the Countess Luise. More rarely Dr. Zimmern came there also, +for by virtue of his office he was permitted the social rights of the +Royal Level. I surmised, however, that this privilege, in his case, had +not included the right to marry on the level, for though the head of the +Eugenic Staff, he had, so far as I could learn, neither wife +nor children.</p> + +<p>But Dr. Zimmern did not seem to relish royal society, for when he +chanced to be caught with me among the members of the Royal House the +flow of his brilliant conversations was checked like a spring in a +drought, and he usually took his departure as soon as it was seemly.</p> + +<p>On one of these occasions Admiral von Kufner came in as Zimmern sat +chatting over cups and incense with Marguerite and me, and the Countess +and her son. The doctor dropped quietly out of the conversation, and for +a time the youthful Count Ulrich entertained us with a technical +elaboration of the importance of the love passion as the dominant appeal +of the picture. Then the Countess broke in with a spirited exposition of +the relation of soul harmony to ardent passion.</p> + +<p>Admiral von Kufner listened with ill-disguised impatience. "But all this +erotic passion," he interrupted, "will soon again be swept away by the +revival of the greater race passion for world rule."</p> + +<p>"My dear Admiral," said the Countess Luise, "your ideas of race passion +are quite proper for the classes who must be denied the free play of the +love element in their psychic life, but your notion of introducing these +ideas into the life of the Royal Level is wholly antiquated."</p> + +<p>"It is you who are antiquated," returned the Admiral, "for now the day +is at hand when we shall again taste of danger. His Majesty has--"</p> + +<p>"Of course His Majesty has told us that the day is at hand," interrupted +the Countess. "Has not His Majesty always preserved this allegorical +fable? It is part of the formal kultur."</p> + +<p>"But His Majesty now speaks the truth," replied the Admiral gravely, +"and I say to you who are so absorbed with the light passions of art and +love that we shall not only taste of danger but will fight again in the +sea and air and on the ground in the outer world. We shall conquer and +rule the world."</p> + +<p>"And do you think, Admiral," inquired Marguerite, "that the German +people will then be free in the outer world?"</p> + +<p>"They will be free to rule the outer world," replied the Admiral.</p> + +<p>"But I mean," said Marguerite calmly, "to ask if they will be free again +to love and marry and rear their own children."</p> + +<p>At this naïve question the others exchanged significant glances.</p> + +<p>"My dear child," said the Countess, blushing with embarrassment, "your +defective training makes it extremely difficult for you to understand +these things."</p> + +<p>"Of course it is all forbidden," spoke up the young Count, "but now, if +it were not, the Princess Marguerite's unique idea would certainly make +capital picture material."</p> + +<p>"How clever!" cried the Countess, beaming on her intellectual son. +"Nothing is forbidden for plot material for the Royal Level. You shall +make a picture showing those great beasts of labour again liberated for +unrestricted love."</p> + +<p>"There is one difficulty," Count Rudolph considered. "How could we get +actors for the parts? Our thoroughbred actors are all too light of bone, +too delicate of motion, and our actresses bred for dainty beauty would +hardly caste well for those great hulking round-faced labour mothers."</p> + +<p>"Then," remarked the Admiral, "if you must make picture plays why not +one of the mating of German soldiers with the women of the +inferior races?"</p> + +<p>"Wonderful!" exclaimed the plot maker; "and practical also. Our +actresses are the exact counterpart of those passionate French beauties. +I often study their portraits in the old galleries. They have had no +Eugenics, hence they would be unchanged. Is it not so, Doctor?"</p> + +<p>"Without Eugenics, a race changes with exceeding slowness," answered +Zimmern in a voice devoid of expression. "I should say that the French +women of today would much resemble their ancestral types."</p> + +<p>"But picturing such matings of military necessity would be very +disgusting," reprimanded the Countess.</p> + +<p>"It will be a very necessary part of the coming day of German dominion," +stated the Admiral. "How else can we expect to rule the world? It is, +indeed, part of the ordained plan."</p> + +<p>"But how," I questioned, "is such a plan to be executed? Would the men +of the World State tolerate it?"</p> + +<p>"We will oblige them to tolerate it; the children of the next generation +of the inferior races must be born of German sires."</p> + +<p>"But the Germans are outnumbered ten to one," I replied.</p> + +<p>"Polygamy will take care of that, among the white races; the coloured +races must be eliminated. All breeding of the coloured races must cease. +That, also, is part of the ordained plan."</p> + +<p>The conversation was getting on rather dangerous ground for me as I +realized that I dare not show too great surprise at this talk, which of +all things I had heard in Germany was the most preposterous.</p> + +<p>But Marguerite made no effort to disguise her astonishment. "I thought," +she said, "that the German rule of the world was only a plan for +military victory and the conquering of the World Government. I supposed +the people would be left free to live their personal lives as +they desired."</p> + +<p>"That was the old idea," replied the Admiral, "in the days of open war, +before the possibilities of eugenic science were fully realized. But the +ordained plan revealed to His Majesty requires not only the military and +political rule by the Germans, but the biologic conquest of the inferior +races by German blood."</p> + +<p>"I think our German system of scientific breeding is very brutal," spoke +up Marguerite with an intensity of feeling quite out of keeping with the +calloused manner in which the older members of the Royal House discussed +the subject.</p> + +<p>The Admiral turned to her with a gracious air. "My lovely maiden," he +said, "your youth quite excuses your idealistic sentiments. You need +only to remember that you are a daughter of the House of Hohenzollern. +The women of this House are privileged always to cultivate and cherish +the beautiful sentiments of romantic love and individual maternity. The +protected seclusion of the Royal Level exists that such love may bloom +untarnished by the grosser affairs of world necessity. It was so +ordained."</p> + +<p>"It was so ordained by men," replied Marguerite defiantly, "and what are +these privileges while the German women are prostituted on the Free +Level or forced to bear children only to lose them--and while you plan +to enforce other women of the world into polygamous union with a +conquering race?"</p> + +<p>"My dear child," said the Countess, "you must not speak in this wild +fashion. We women of the Royal House must fully realize our +privileges--and as for the Admiral's wonderful tale of world +conquest--that is only his latest hobby. It is talked, of course, in +military circles, but the defensive war is so dull, you know, especially +for the Royal officers, that they must have something to occupy +their minds."</p> + +<p>"When the day arrives," snapped the Admiral, "you will find the Royal +officers leading the Germans to victory like Atilla and William the +Great himself."</p> + +<p>"Then why," twitted the Countess, "do you not board one of your +submarines and go forth to battle in the sea?"</p> + +<p>"I am not courting unnecessary danger," retorted the Admiral; "but I am +not dead to the realities of war. My apartments are directly connected +with the roof."</p> + +<p>"So you can hear the bomb explosions," suggested the Countess.</p> + +<p>"And why not?" snapped the Admiral; "we must prepare for danger."</p> + +<p>"But you have not been bred for danger," scoffed the Countess. "Perhaps +you would do well to have your reactions to fear tested out in the +psychic laboratories; if you should pass the test you might be elected +as a father of soldiers; it would surely set a good example to our +impecunious Hohenzollern bachelors for whom there are no wives."</p> + +<p>The young Count evidently did not comprehend his mother's spirit of +raillery. "Has that not been tried?" he asked, turning toward +Dr. Zimmern.</p> + +<p>"It has," stated the Eugenist, "more than a hundred years ago. There was +once an entire regiment of such Hohenzollern soldiers in the +Bavarian mines."</p> + +<p>"And how did they turn out?" I asked, my curiosity tempting me into +indiscretion.</p> + +<p>"They mutinied and murdered their officers and then held an election--" +Zimmern paused and I caught his eye which seemed to say, "We have gone +too far with this."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and what happened?" queried the Countess.</p> + +<p>"They all voted for themselves as Colonel," replied the Doctor drily.</p> + +<p>At this I looked for an outburst of indignation from the orthodox +Admiral, but instead he seemed greatly elated. "Of course," he enthused; +"the blood breeds true. It verily has the quality of true divinity. No +wonder we super-men repudiated that spineless conception of the soft +Christian God and the servile Jewish Jesus."</p> + +<p>"But Jesus was not a coward," spoke up Marguerite. "I have read the +story of his life; it is very wonderful; he was a brave man, who met his +death unflinchingly."</p> + +<p>"But where did you read it?" asked the Countess. "It must be very new. I +try to keep up on the late novels but I never heard of this 'Story +of Jesus.'"</p> + +<p>"What you say is true," said the Admiral, turning to Marguerite, "but +since you like to read so well, you should get Prof. Ohlenslagger's book +and learn the explanation of the fact that you have just stated. We have +long known that all those great men whom the inferior races claim as +their geniuses are of truth of German blood, and that the fighting +quality of the outer races is due to the German blood that was scattered +by our early emigrations.</p> + +<p>"But the distinctive contribution that Prof. Ohlenslagger makes to these +long established facts is in regard to the parentage of this man Jesus. +In the Jewish accounts, which the Christians accepted, the truth was +crudely covered up with a most unscientific fable, which credited the +paternity of Jesus to miraculous interference with the laws of nature.</p> + +<p>"But now the truth comes out by Prof. Ohlenslagger's erudite reasoning. +This unknown father of Jesus was an adventurer from Central Asia, a man +of Teutonic blood. On no other conception can the mixed elements in the +character of Jesus be explained. His was the case of a dual personality +of conflicting inheritance. One day he would say: 'Lay up for yourself +treasures'--that was the Jewish blood speaking. The next day he would +say: 'I come to bring a sword'--that was the noble German blood of a +Teutonic ancestor. It is logical, it must be true, for it was reasoned +out by one of our most rational professors."</p> + +<p>The Countess yawned; Marguerite sat silent with troubled brows; Dr. +Ludwig Zimmern gazed abstractedly toward the cold electric imitation of +a fire, above which on a mantle stood two casts, diminutive +reproductions of the figures beside the door of the Emperor's palace, +the one the likeness of William the Great, the other the Statue of the +German God. But I was thinking of the news I had heard that afternoon +from my Ore Chief--that Captain Grauble's vessel had returned to Berlin.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>IN WHICH A WOMAN ACCUSES ME OF MURDER AND I PLACE A RUBY NECKLACE ABOUT HER THROAT</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>Anxious to renew my acquaintance with Captain Grauble at the earliest +opportunity, I sent my social secretary to invite him to meet me for a +dinner engagement in one of the popular halls of the Free Level.</p> + +<p>When I reached the dining hall I found Captain Grauble awaiting me. But +he was not alone. Seated with him were two girls and so strange a +picture of contrast I had never seen. The girl on his right was an +extreme example of the prevailing blonde type. Her pinkish white skin +seemed transparent, her eyes were the palest blue and her hair was +bright yet pale gold. About her neck was a chain of blue stones linked +with platinum. She was dressed in a mottled gown of light blue and gold, +and so subtly blended were the colours that she and her gown seemed to +be part of the same created thing. But on Grauble's left sat a woman +whose gown was flashing crimson slashed with jetty black. Her skin was +white with a positive whiteness of rare marble and her cheeks and lips +flamed with blood's own red. The sheen of her hair was that of a raven's +wing, and her eyes scintillated with the blackness of polished jade.</p> + +<p>The pale girl, whom Grauble introduced as Elsa, languidly reached up her +pink fingers for me to kiss and then sank back, eyeing me with mild +curiosity. But as I now turned to be presented to the other, I saw the +black-eyed beauty shrink and cower in an uncanny terror. Grauble again +repeated my name and then the name of the girl, and I, too, started in +fear, for the name he pronounced was "Katrina" and there flashed before +my vision the page from the diary that I had first read in the dank +chamber of the potash mine. In my memory's vision the words flamed and +shouted: "In no other woman have I seen such a blackness of hair and +eyes, combined with such a whiteness of skin."</p> + +<p>The girl before me gave no sign of recognition, but only gripped the +table and pierced me with the stare of her beady eyes. Nervously I sank +into a seat. Grauble, standing over the girl, looked down at her in +angry amazement. "What ails you?" he said roughly, shaking her by +the shoulder.</p> + +<p>But the girl did not answer him and annoyed and bewildered, he sat down. +For some moments no one spoke, and even the pale Elsa leaned forward and +seemed to quiver with excitement.</p> + +<p>Then the girl, Katrina, slowly rose from her chair. "Who are you?" she +demanded, in a hoarse, guttural voice, still gazing at me with +terrified eyes.</p> + +<p>I did not answer, and Grauble again reached over and gripped the girl's +arm. "I told you who he was," he said. "He is Herr Karl von Armstadt of +the Chemical Staff."</p> + +<p>But, the girl did not sit down and continued to stare at me. Then she +raised a trembling hand and, pointing an accusing finger at me, she +cried in a piercing voice:</p> + +<p>"You are not Karl Armstadt, but an impostor posing as Karl Armstadt!"</p> + +<p>We were located in a well-filled dancing café, and the tragic voice of +the accuser brought a crowd of curious people about our table. Captain +Grauble waved them back. As they pushed forward again, a street guard +elbowed in, brandishing his aluminum club and asking the cause of the +commotion. The bystanders indicated Katrina and the guard, edging up, +gripped her arm and demanded an explanation.</p> + +<p>Katrina repeated her accusation.</p> + +<p>"Evidently," suggested Grauble, "she has known another man of the same +name, and meeting Herr von Armstadt has recalled some tragic memory."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said the guard politely, "if the gentleman would show the +young lady his identification folder, she would be convinced of +her error."</p> + +<p>For a moment I hesitated, realizing full well what an inquiry might +reveal.</p> + +<p>"No," I said, "I do not feel that it is necessary."</p> + +<p>"He is afraid to show it," screamed the girl. "I tell you he is trying +to pass for Armstadt but he is some one else. He looks like Karl +Armstadt and at first I thought he was Karl Armstadt, but I know he +is not."</p> + +<p>I looked swiftly at the surrounding faces, and saw upon them suspicion +and accusation. "There may be something wrong," said a man in a military +uniform, "otherwise why should the gentleman of the staff hesitate to +show his folder?"</p> + +<p>"Very well," I said, pulling out my folder.</p> + +<p>The guard glanced at it. "It seems to be all right," he said, addressing +the group about the table; "now will you kindly resume your seats and +not embarrass these gentlemen with your idle curiosity?"</p> + +<p>"Let me see the folder!" cried Katrina.</p> + +<p>"Pardon," said the guard to me, "but I see no harm," and he handed her +the folder.</p> + +<p>She glanced over it with feverish haste.</p> + +<p>"Are you satisfied now?" questioned the guard.</p> + +<p>"Yes," hissed the black-eyed girl; "I am satisfied that this is Karl +Armstadt's folder. I know every word of it, but I tell you that the man +who carries it now is not the real Karl Armstadt." And then she wheeled +upon me and screamed, "You are not Karl Armstadt, Karl Armstadt is dead, +and you have murdered him!"</p> + +<p>In an instant the café was in an uproar. Men in a hundred types of +uniform crowded forward; small women, rainbow-garbed, stood on the +chairs and peered over taller heads of ponderous sisters of the labour +caste. Grauble again waved back the crowd and the guard brandished his +club threateningly toward some of the more inquisitive daughters +of labour.</p> + +<p>When the crowd had fallen back to a more respectful distance, the guard +recovered my identification folder from Katrina and returned it to me. +"Perhaps," he said, "you have known the young lady and do not again care +to renew the acquaintance? If so, with your permission, I shall take her +where she will not trouble you again this evening."</p> + +<p>"That may be best," I replied, wondering how I could explain the affair +to Captain Grauble.</p> + +<p>"The incident is most unfortunate," said the Captain, evidently a little +nettled, "but I think this rude force unnecessary. I know Katrina well, +but I did not know she had previously known Herr von Armstadt. This +being the case, and he seeming not to wish to renew the acquaintance, I +suggest that she leave of her own accord."</p> + +<p>But Katrina was not to be so easily dismissed. "No," she retorted, "I +will not leave until this man tells me how he came by that +identification folder and what became of the man I loved, whom he now +represents himself to be."</p> + +<p>At these words the guard, who had been about to leave, turned back.</p> + +<p>I glanced apprehensively at Grauble who, seeing that I was grievously +wrought up over the affair, said quietly to the officer, "You had best +take her away."</p> + +<p>Katrina, with a black look of hatred at Grauble, went without further +words, and the curious crowd quickly melted away. The three of us who +remained at the table resumed our seats and I ordered dinner.</p> + +<p>"My, how Katrina frightened me!" exclaimed the fragile Elsa.</p> + +<p>"She does have temper," admitted Grauble. "Odd, though, that she would +conceive that idea that you were some one else. I have heard of all +sorts of plans of revenge for disappointments in love, but that is a +new one."</p> + +<p>"You really know her?" questioned Elsa, turning her pale eyes upon me.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I once knew her," I replied, trying to seem unconcerned; "but +I did not recognize her at first."</p> + +<p>"You mean you didn't care to," smiled Grauble. "Once a man had known +that woman he would hardly forget her."</p> + +<p>"But you must have had a very emotional affair with her," said Elsa, "to +make her take on like that. Do tell us about it."</p> + +<p>"I would rather not; there are some things one wishes to forget."</p> + +<p>Grauble chided his dainty companion for her prying curiosity and tried +to turn the conversation into less personal channels. But Elsa's +appetite for romance had been whetted and she kept reverting to the +subject while I worried along trying to dismiss the matter. But the +ending of the affair was not to be left in my hands; as we were sitting +about our empty cups, we saw Katrina re-enter the café in company with a +high official of the level and the guard who had taken her away.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to disturb you," said the official, addressing me +courteously, "but this girl is very insistent in her accusation, and +perhaps, if you will aid us in the matter, it may prevent her making +further charges that might annoy you."</p> + +<p>"And what do you wish me to do?"</p> + +<p>"I suggest only that you should come to my office. I have telephoned to +have the records looked up and that should satisfy all and so end +the matter."</p> + +<p>"You might come also," added the official, turning to Grauble, but he +waved back the curious Elsa who was eager to follow.</p> + +<p>When we reached his office in the Place of Records, the official who had +brought us thither turned to a man at a desk. "You have received the +data on missing men?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>The other handed him a sheet of paper.</p> + +<p>The official turned to Katrina. "Will you state again, please, the time +that you say the Karl Armstadt you knew disappeared?"</p> + +<p>Katrina quite accurately named the date at which the man whose identity +I had assumed had been called to the potash mines.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said the official, taking up the sheet of paper, "here we +have the list of missing men for four years compiled from the weighers' +records. There is not recorded here the disappearance of a single +chemist during the whole period. If another man than a chemist should +try to step into a chemist's shoes, he would have a rather difficult +time of it." The official laughed as if he thought himself very clever.</p> + +<p>"But that man is not Karl Armstadt," cried Katrina in a wavering voice. +"Do you think I would not know him when every night for--"</p> + +<p>"Shut up," said the official, "and get out of here, and if I hear +anything more of this matter I shall subtract your credit."</p> + +<p>Katrina, now whimpering, was led from the room. The official beamed upon +Capt. Grauble and myself. "Do you see," he said, "how perfectly our +records take care of these crazy accusations? The black haired one is +evidently touched in the head with jealousy, and now that she has +chanced upon you, she makes up this preposterous story, which might +cause you no end of annoyance, but here we have the absolute refutation +of the charge. Before a man can step into another's shoes, he must step +out of his own. Murdered bodies can be destroyed, although that is +difficult, but one man cannot be two men!"</p> + +<p>We left the official chuckling over his cleverness.</p> + +<p>"The Keeper of Records was wise after his kind," mused Grauble, "but it +never occurred to him that there might be chemists in the world who are +not registered in the card files of Berlin."</p> + +<p>Grauble's voice sounded a note of aloofness and suspicion. Had he +penetrated my secret? Did I dare make full confession? Had Grauble given +me the least encouragement I should have done so, but he seemed to wish +to avoid further discussion and I feared to risk it.</p> + +<p>My hope of a fuller understanding with Grauble seemed destroyed, and we +soon separated without further confidences.</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>When I returned home from my offices one evening some days later, my +secretary announced that a visitor was awaiting me.</p> + +<p>I entered the reception-room and found Holknecht, who had been my +chemical assistant in the early days of my work in Berlin. Holknecht had +seemed to me a servile fawning fellow and when I received my first +promotion I had deserted him quite brutally for the very excellent +reason that he had known the other Armstadt and I feared that his dulled +intelligence might at any time be aroused to penetrate my disguise. That +he should look me up in my advancement and prosperity, doubtless to beg +some favour, seemed plausible enough, and therefore with an air of +condescending patronage, I asked what I could do for him.</p> + +<p>"It is about Katrina," he said haltingly, as he eyed me curiously.</p> + +<p>"Well, what about her?"</p> + +<p>"She wants me to bring you to her."</p> + +<p>"But suppose I do not choose to go?"</p> + +<p>"Then there may be trouble."</p> + +<p>"She has already tried to make trouble," I said, "but nothing came of +it."</p> + +<p>"But that," said Holknecht, "was before she saw me."</p> + +<p>"And what have you told her?"</p> + +<p>"I told her about Armstadt's going to the mines and you coming back to +the hospital wearing his clothes and possessed of his folder and of your +being out of your memory."</p> + +<p>"You mean," I replied, determined not to acknowledge his assumption of +my other identity, "that you explained to her how the illness had +changed me; and did that not make clear to her why she did not recognize +me at first?"</p> + +<p>"There is no use," insisted Holknecht, "of your talking like that. I +never could quite make up my mind about you, though I always knew there +was something wrong. At first I believed the doctor's story, and that +you were really Armstadt, though it did seem like a sort of magic, the +way you were changed. But when you came to the laboratory and I saw you +work, I decided that you were somebody else and that the Chemical Staff +was working on some great secret and had a reason for putting some one +else in Armstadt's place. And now, of course, I know very well that that +was so, for the other Karl Armstadt would never have become a von of the +Royal Level. He didn't have that much brains."</p> + +<p>As Holknecht was speaking I had been thinking rapidly. The thing I +feared was that the affair of the mine and hospital should be +investigated by some one with intelligence and authority. Since Katrina +had learned of that, and this Holknecht was also aware that I was a man +of unknown identity, it was very evident that they might set some +serious investigation going. But the man's own remarks suggested a +way out.</p> + +<p>"You are quite right, Holknecht," I said; "I am not Karl Armstadt; and, +just as you have surmised, there were grave reasons why I should have +been put into his place under those peculiar circumstances. But this +matter is a state secret of the Chemical Staff and you will do well to +say nothing about it. Now is there anything I can do for you? A +promotion, perhaps, to a good position in the Protium Works?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Holknecht, "I would rather stay where I am, but I could use a +little extra money."</p> + +<p>"Of course; a check, perhaps; a little gift from an old friend who has +risen to power; there would be no difficulty in that, would there?"</p> + +<p>"I think it would go through all right."</p> + +<p>"I will make it now; say five thousand marks, and if nothing more is +said of this matter by you or Katrina, there will be another one like it +a year later."</p> + +<p>The young man's eyes gloated as I wrote the check, which he pocketed +with greedy satisfaction. "Now," I said, "will this end the affair for +the present?"</p> + +<p>"This makes it all right with me," replied Holknecht, "but what about +Katrina?"</p> + +<p>"But you are to take care of her. She can only accept two hundred marks +a month and I have given you enough for that four times over."</p> + +<p>"But she doesn't want money; she already has a full list."</p> + +<p>"Then what does she want?"</p> + +<p>"Jewels, of course; they all want them; jewels from the Royal Level, and +she knows you can get them for her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see. Well, what would please her?"</p> + +<p>"A necklace of rubies, the best they have, one that will cost at least +twenty thousand marks."</p> + +<p>"That's rather expensive, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"But her favourite lover disappeared," fenced Holknecht, "and his death +was never entered on the records. It may be the Chemical Staff knows +what became of him and maybe they do not; whatever happened, you seem to +want it kept still, so you had best get the necklace."</p> + +<p>After a little further arguing that revealed nothing, I went to the +Royal Level, and searching out a jewelry shop, I purchased a necklace of +very beautiful synthetic rubies, for which I gave my check for twenty +thousand marks.</p> + +<p>Returning to my apartment, I found Holknecht still waiting. He insisted +on taking the necklace to Katrina, but I feared to trust a man who +accepted bribes so shamelessly, and decided to go with him and deliver +it in person.</p> + +<p>Sullenly, Holknecht led the way to her apartment.</p> + +<p>Katrina sensuously gowned in flaming red was awaiting the outcome of her +blackmailing venture. She motioned me to a chair near her, while +Holknecht, utterly ignored, sank obscurely into a corner.</p> + +<p>"So you came," said the lady of black and scarlet, leaning back among +her pillows and gazing at me through half closed eyes.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I said, "since you have looked up Holknecht and he has explained +to you the reason for the disappearance of the man you knew, I thought +best to see you and have an understanding."</p> + +<p>"But that dumb fellow explained nothing," declared Katrina, "except that +he told me that Armstadt went to the mines and you came back and took +his place. He wasn't even sure you were not the other Karl Armstadt +until I convinced him, and then he claimed that he had known it all the +time; and yet he had never told it. Some men are as dull as books."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary, Holknecht is very sensible," I replied. "It is a grave +affair of state and one that it is best not to probe into."</p> + +<p>"And just what did become of the other Armstadt?" asked Katrina, and in +her voice was only a curiosity, with no real concern.</p> + +<p>"To tell you the truth, your lover was killed in the mine explosion," I +replied, for I thought it unwise to state that he was still alive lest +she pursue her inquiries for him and so make further trouble.</p> + +<p>"That is too bad," said Katrina. "You see, when I knew him he was only a +chemical captain. And when he deserted me I didn't really care much. But +when the Royal Captain Grauble asked me to meet a Karl von Armstadt of +the Chemical Staff, at first I could not believe that it was the same +man I had known, but I made inquiries and learned of your rapid rise and +traced it back and I thought you really were my old Karl. And when I saw +you, you seemed to be he, but when I looked again I knew that you were +another and I was so disappointed and angry that I lost control of my +temper. I am sorry I made a scene, and that official was so stupid--as +if I would not know one man from another! How I should like to tell him +that I knew more than his stupid records."</p> + +<p>"But that is not best," I said; "your former lover is dead and there are +grave reasons why that death should not be investigated further--" The +argument was becoming a little difficult for me and I hastened to add: +"Since you were so discourteously treated by the official, I feel that I +owe you some little token of reparation."</p> + +<p>I now drew out the necklace and held it out to the girl.</p> + +<p>Her black eyes gleamed with triumph at the sight of the bauble. Greedily +she grasped it and held it up between her and the light, turning it +about and watching the red rays gleaming through the stones. "And now," +she gloated, "that faded Elsa will cease to lord it over me--and to +think that another Karl Armstadt has brought me this--why that stingy +fellow would never have bought me a blue-stone ring, if he had been made +the Emperor's Minister."</p> + +<p>Katrina now rose and preened before her mirror. "Won't you place it +round my neck?" she asked, holding out the necklace.</p> + +<p>Nor daring to give offence, I took the chain of rubies and attempted to +fasten it round her neck. The mechanism of the fastening was strange to +me and I was some time in getting the thing adjusted. Just as I had +succeeded in hooking the clasp, I heard a curdled oath and the neglected +Holknecht hurled himself upon us, striking me on the temple with one +fist and clutching at the throat of the girl with the other hand.</p> + +<p>The blow sent me reeling to the floor but in another instant I was up +and had collared him and dragged him away.</p> + +<p>"Damn you both," he whimpered; "where do I come in?"</p> + +<p>"Put him out," said Katrina, with a glance of disdain at the cowering +man.</p> + +<p>"I will go," snarled Holknecht, and he wrenched from my grasp and darted +toward the door. I followed, but he was fairly running down the passage +and pursuit was too undignified a thing to consider.</p> + +<p>"You should have paid him," said Katrina, "for delivering my message."</p> + +<p>"I have paid him," I replied. "I paid him very well."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if he thought," she laughed, "that I would pay any attention +to a man of his petty rank. Why, I snubbed him unmercifully years ago +when the other Armstadt had the audacity to introduce me."</p> + +<p>"Of course," I replied, "he does not understand."</p> + +<p>And now, as I resumed my seat, I began puzzling my brain as to how I +could get away without giving offence to the second member of my pair of +blackmailers. But a little later I managed it, as it has been managed +for centuries, by looking suddenly at my watch and recalling a forgotten +appointment.</p> + +<p>"You will come again?" purred Katrina.</p> + +<p>"Of course," I said, "I must come again, for you are very charming, but +I am afraid it will not be for some time as I have very important duties +and just at present my leisure is exceedingly limited."</p> + +<p>And so I made my escape, and hastened home. After debating the question +pro and con I typed a note to Holknecht in which I assured him that I +had not the least interest in Katrina. "Perhaps," I wrote, "when she has +tired a bit of the necklace, she would appreciate something else. But it +would not be wise to hurry this; but if you will call around in a month +or so, I think I can arrange for you to get her something and present it +yourself, as I do not care to see her again."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>THE BLACK SPOT IS ERASED FROM THE MAP OF THE WORLD AND THERE IS DANCING IN THE SUNLIGHT ON THE ROOF OF BERLIN</h3> + +<h3>~1~</h3> + +<p>The relative ease with which I had so long passed for the real Karl +Armstadt had lulled me into a feeling of security. But now that my +disguise had been penetrated, my old fears were renewed. True, the +weigher's records had seemingly cleared me, but I knew that Grauble had +seen the weak spot in the German logic of the stupid official, who had +so lightly dismissed Katrina's accusations. Moreover, I fancied that +Grauble had guessed the full truth and connected this uncertainty of my +identity with the seditious tenor of the suggestions I had made to him. +Even though he might be willing to discuss rebellious plans with a +German, could I count on him to consider the treasonable urging coming +from a man of another and an enemy race?</p> + +<p>So fearing either to confess to him my identity or to proceed without +confessing, I postponed doing anything. The sailing date of his fifth +trip to the Arctic was fast approaching; if I was ever to board a vessel +leaving Berlin I would need von Kufner's permission. Marguerite reported +the growing cordiality of the Admiral. Although I realized that his +infatuation for her was becoming rather serious, with the confidence of +an accepted lover, I never imagined that he could really come between +Marguerite and myself.</p> + +<p>But one evening when I went to call upon Marguerite she was "not at +home." I repeated the call with the same result. When I called her up by +telephone, her secretary bluntly told me that the Princess Marguerite +did not care to speak to me. I hastened to write an impassioned note, +pleading to see her at once, for the days were passing and there was now +but a week before Grauble's vessel was due to depart.</p> + +<p>In desperation I waited two more days, and still no word came. My +letters of pleading, like my calls and telephone efforts, were +still ignored.</p> + +<p>Then a messenger came bearing a note from Admiral von Kufner, asking me +to call upon him at once.</p> + +<p>"I have been considering," began von Kufner, when I entered his office, +"the request you made of me some time ago to be permitted to go in +person to make a survey of the ore deposits. At first I opposed this, as +the trip is dangerous, but more recently I have reconsidered the +importance of it. As others are now fully able to continue your work +here, I can quite conceive that your risking the trip to the mines in +person would be a very courageous and noble sacrifice. So I have taken +the matter up with His Majesty."</p> + +<p>With mocking politeness von Kufner now handed me a document bearing the +imperial seal.</p> + +<p>I held it with a trembling hand as I glanced over the fateful words that +commissioned me to go at once to the Arctic.</p> + +<p>My smouldering jealousy of the oily von Kufner now flamed into +expression. "You have done this thing from personal motives," I cried. +"You have revoked your previous decision because you want me out of your +way. You know I will be gone for six months at least. You hope in your +cowardly heart that I will never come back."</p> + +<p>Von Kufner's lips curled. "You see fit," he answered, "to impugn my +motives in suggesting that the order be issued, although it is the +granting of your own request. But the commission you hold in your hand +bears the Imperial signature, and the Emperor of the Germans never +revokes his orders."</p> + +<p>"Very well," I said, controlling my rage, "I will go."</p> + +<h3>~2~</h3> + +<p>Upon leaving the Admiral's office my first thought was to go at once to +Marguerite. Whatever might be the nature of her quarrel with me I was +now sure that von Kufner was at the bottom of it, and that it was in +some way connected with this sudden determination of his to send me to +the Arctic, hoping that I would never return.</p> + +<p>But before I had gone far I began to consider other matters. I was +commissioned to leave Berlin by submarine and that too by the vessel in +command of Captain Grauble, whom I knew to be nursing rebellion and +mutiny in his heart. If deliverance from Berlin was ever to come, it had +come now. To refuse to embrace it would mean to lose for ever this +fortunate chance to escape from this sunless Babylon.</p> + +<p>I would therefore go first to Grauble and determine without delay if he +could be relied on to make the attempt to reach the outer world. Once I +knew that, I could go then to Marguerite with an invitation for her to +join me in flight--if such a thing were humanly possible.</p> + +<p>But recalling the men who had done so much to fill me with hope and +faith in the righteousness of my mission, I again changed my plan and +sought out Dr. Zimmern and Col. Hellar and arranged for them to meet me +that evening at Grauble's quarters.</p> + +<p>At the hour appointed I, who had first arrived at +the apartment, sat waiting for the arrival of Zimmern. When he came, to +my surprise and bewildered joy he was not alone, for Marguerite was +with him.</p> + +<p>She greeted me with distress and penitence in her eyes and I exulted in +the belief that whatever her quarrel with me might be it meant no +irretrievable loss of her devotion and love.</p> + +<p>We sat about the room, a very solemn conclave, for I had already +informed Grauble of my commission to go to the Arctic, and he had sensed +at once the revolutionary nature of the meeting. I now gave him a brief +statement of the faith of the older men, who from the fulness of their +lives had reached the belief that the true patriotism for their race was +to be expressed in an effort to regain for the Germans the citizenship +of the world.</p> + +<p>The young Captain gravely nodded. "I have not lived so long," he said, +"but my life has been bitter and full of fear. I am not out of sympathy +with your argument, but before we go further," and he turned to +Marguerite, "may I not ask why a Princess of the House of Hohenzollern +is included in such a meeting as this?"</p> + +<p>I turned expectantly to Zimmern, who now gave Grauble an account of the +tragedy and romance of Marguerite's life.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Grauble; "she has earned her place with us; now that I +understand her part, let us proceed."</p> + +<p>For some hours Hellar and Zimmern explained their reasons for believing +the life of the isolated German race was evil and defended their faith +in the hope of salvation through an appeal to the mercy and justice of +the World State.</p> + +<p>"Of all this I am easily convinced," said Grauble, "for it is but a +logically thought-out conclusion of the feeling I have nourished in my +blind rebellion. I am ready to go with Herr von Armstadt and surrender +my vessel to the enemy; but the practical question is, will our risk +avail anything? What hope can we have that we will even be able to +deliver the message you wish to send? How are we to know that we will +not immediately be killed?"</p> + +<p>The hour had come. "I will answer that question," I said, and there was +a tenseness in my tone that caused my hearers to look at me with eager, +questioning eyes.</p> + +<p>"Barring," I said, "the possibility of destruction before I can gain +opportunity to speak to some one in authority, there is nothing to fear +in the way of our ungracious reception in the outer world--" As I paused +and looked about me I saw Marguerite's eyes shining with the same +worshipful wonder as when I had visioned for her the sunlight and the +storms of the world outside Berlin--"because I am of that world. I speak +their language. I know their people. I never saw the inside of Berlin +until I was brought here from the potash mines of Stassfurt, wearing the +clothes and carrying the identification papers of one Karl Armstadt who +was killed by gas bombs which I myself had ordered dropped into +those mines."</p> + +<p>At these startling statements the older men could only gasp in +incredulous astonishment, but Captain Grauble nodded wisely--"I half +expected as much," he said.</p> + +<p>I turned to Marguerite. Her eyes were swimming in a mist of tears.</p> + +<p>"Then your visions were real memories," she cried,--"and not miracles. I +knew you had seen other worlds, but I thought it was in some spirit +life." She reached out a trembling hand toward me and then shrinkingly +drew it back. "But you are not Karl Armstadt," she stammered, as she +realized that I was a nameless stranger.</p> + +<p>"No," I said, going to her and placing a reassuring arm about her +shoulder, "I am not Karl Armstadt. My name is Lyman de Forrest. I am an +American, a chemical engineer from the city of Chicago, and if Captain +Grauble does not alter his purpose, I am going back there and will take +you with me."</p> + +<p>Zimmern and Hellar were listening in consternation. "How is it," asked +Hellar, "that you speak German?"</p> + +<p>By way of answer I addressed him in English and in French, while he and +Zimmern glanced at each other as do men who see a miracle and strive to +hold their reason while their senses contradict their logic.</p> + +<p>I now sketched the story of my life and adventures with a fulness of +convincing detail. One incident only I omitted and that was of the near +discovery of my identity by Armstadt's former mistress. Of that I did +not speak for I felt that Marguerite, at least in the presence of the +others, would not relish that part of the story. Nor did I wish to worry +them with the fear that was still upon me that I had not seen the last +of that affair.</p> + +<p>After answering many questions and satisfying all doubts as to the truth +of my story, I again turned the conversation to the practical problem of +the escape from Berlin. "You can now see," I declared, "that I deserve +no credit for genius or courage. I am merely a prisoner in an enemy city +where my life is in constant danger. If any one of you should speak the +word, I would be promptly disposed of as a spy. But if you are sincere +in your desire to send a message to my Government, I am here to take +that message."</p> + +<p>"It almost makes one believe that there is a God," cried Hellar, "and +that he has sent us a deliverer."</p> + +<p>"As for me," spoke up Captain Grauble, "I shall deliver your messenger +into the hands of his friends, and trust that he can persuade them to +deal graciously with me and my men. I should have made this break for +liberty before had I not believed it would be fleeing from one death +to another."</p> + +<p>"Then you will surely leave us," said Zimmern. "It is more than we have +wished and prayed for, but," he added, turning a compassionate glance +toward Marguerite, "it will be hard for her."</p> + +<p>"But she is going with us," I affirmed. "I will not leave her behind. As +for you and Col Hellar, I shall see you again when Berlin is free. But +the risks are great and the time may be long, and if Marguerite will go +I will take her with me as a pledge that I shall not prove false in my +mission for you, her people."</p> + +<p>I read Marguerite's answer in the joy of her eyes, as I heard Col. +Hellar say: "That would be fine, if it were possible."</p> + +<p>But Zimmern shook his head. "No," he said, as if commanding. "Marguerite +must not go now even if it were possible. You may come back for her if +you succeed in your mission, but we cannot lose her now; she must not go +now,--" and his voice trembled with deep emotion. At his words of +authority concerning the girl I loved I felt a resurge of the old +suspicion and jealousy.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," spoke up Captain Grauble, "but your desire to take the +Princess Marguerite with you is one that I fear cannot be realized. I +would be perfectly willing for her to go if we could once get her +aboard, but the approach of the submarine docks are very elaborately +guarded. To smuggle a man aboard without a proper permit would be +exceedingly difficult, but to get a woman to the vessel is quite +impossible."</p> + +<p>"I suppose that it cannot be," I said, for I saw the futility of arguing +the matter further at the time, especially as Zimmern was opposed to it.</p> + +<p>The night was now far spent and but four days remained in which to +complete my preparations for departure. In this labour Zimmern and +Hellar could be of no service and I therefore took my leave of them, +lest I should not see them again. "Within a year at most," I said, "we +may meet again, for Berlin will be open to the world. Once the passage +is revealed and the protium traffic stopped, the food stores cannot last +longer. When these facts are +realized by His Majesty and the Advisory Council, let us hope they will +see the futility of resisting. The knowledge that Germany possesses will +increase the world's food supply far more than her population will add +to the consumptive demands, hence if reason and sanity prevail on both +sides there will be no excuse for war and suffering."</p> + +<h3>~3~</h3> + +<p>And so I took my leave of the two men from whose noble souls I had +achieved my aspirations to bring the century-old siege of Berlin to a +sane and peaceful end without the needless waste of life that all the +world outside had always believed would be an inevitable part of the +capitulation of the armoured city.</p> + +<p>I now walked with Marguerite through the deserted tree-lined avenues of +the Royal Level.</p> + +<p>"And why, dear," I asked, "have you refused to see me these five days +past?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Karl," she cried, "you must forgive me, for nothing matters now--I +have been crazed with jealousy. I was so hurt that I could see no one, +for I could only fight it out alone."</p> + +<p>"And what do you mean?" I questioned. "Jealous? And of whom could you be +jealous, since there is no other woman in this unhappy city for whom I +have ever cared?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I believe that. I haven't doubted that you loved me with a nobler +love than the others, but you told me there were no others, and I +believed you. So it was hard, so very hard. The Doctor--I saw Dr. +Zimmern this morning and poured out my heart to him--insisted that I +should accept the fact that until marriage all men were like that, and +it could not be helped. But I never asked you, Karl, about other women; +you yourself volunteered to tell me there were no others, and what you +told me was not true. I must forgive you, for now I may lose you, but +why does a man ever need to lie to a woman? I somehow feel that love +means truth--"</p> + +<p>"But," I insisted, "it was the truth. I bear no personal relation to any +other woman."</p> + +<p>She drew back from me, breathing quickly, faith and doubt fighting a +battle royal in her eyes. "But the checks, Karl?" she stammered; "those +checks the girl on the Free Level cashes each month, and worse than that +the check at the Jeweller's where you bought a necklace for twenty +thousand marks?"</p> + +<p>"Quite right, there are such checks, and I shall explain them. But +before I begin, may I ask just how you came to know about those checks? +Not that I care; I am glad you do know; but the fact of your knowledge +puzzles me, for I thought the privacy of a man's checking account was +one of the unfair privileges that man has usurped for himself and not +granted to women."</p> + +<p>"But I did not pry into the matter. I would never have thought of such a +thing until he forced the facts upon me."</p> + +<p>"He? You mean von Kufner?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it was five days ago. I was out walking with him and he insisted +on my going into a jewellery store we were passing. I at first refused +to go as I thought he wished to buy me something. But he insisted that +he merely wanted me to look at things and I went in. You see, I was +trying not to offend him."</p> + +<p>"Of course," I said, "there was no harm in that. And--"</p> + +<p>"The Admiral winked at the Jeweller. I saw him do that; and the jeweller +set out a tray of ruby necklaces and began to talk about them, and then +von Kufner remarked that since they were so expensive he must not sell +many. 'Oh, yes,' said the Jeweller, 'I sell a great number to young men +who have just come into money. I sold one the other day to Herr von +Armstadt of the Chemical Staff,' and he reached for his sales book and +opened it to the page with a record of the sale. He had the place +marked, for I saw him remove a slip as he opened the book."</p> + +<p>"Rather clever of von Kufner," I commented; "how do you suppose he got +trail of it?"</p> + +<p>"He admitted his trailing quite frankly," said Marguerite, "for as soon +as we were out of the shop, I accused him of preparing the scene. 'Of +course,' he said, 'but I had to convince you that your chemist was not +so saintly as you thought him. His banker is a friend of mine, and I +asked him about von Armstadt's account. He is keeping a girl on the Free +Level and evidently also making love to one of better caste, or he would +hardly be buying ruby necklaces.' I told von Kufner that he was a +miserable spy, but he only laughed at me and said that all men were +alike and that I ought to find it out while I was young--and then he +asked if I would like him to have the young woman's record sent up from +the Free Level for my inspection. I ordered him to leave me at once and +I have not seen or heard from him since, until I received a note from +him today telling me of the Royal order for you to go to the Arctic."</p> + +<p>I first set Marguerite's mind at ease about the checks to Bertha by +explaining the incident of the geography, and then told the story of +Katrina and the meeting in the café, and the later affair of Holknecht +and the necklace.</p> + +<p>"And you will promise me never to see her again?"</p> + +<p>"But you have forgotten," I said, "that I am leaving Berlin in four +days."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Karl," she cried, "I have forgotten everything--I cannot even +remember that new name you gave us--I believe I must be dreaming--or +that it is all a wild story you have told us to see how much we in our +simplicity and ignorance will believe."</p> + +<p>"No," I said gently, "it is not a dream, though I could wish that it +were, for Grauble says that there is no hope of taking you with me; and +yet I must go, for the Emperor has ordered me to the Arctic and von +Kufner will see to it that I make no excuses. If I once leave Berlin by +submarine with Grauble I do not see how I can refuse to carry out my +part of this project to which I am pledged, and make the effort to reach +the free world outside."</p> + +<p>Marguerite turned on me with a bitter laugh. "The free world," she +cried, "your world. You are going back to it and leave me here. You are +going back to your own people--you will not save Germany at all--you +will never come back for me!"</p> + +<p>"You are very wrong," I said gently. "It is because I have known you and +known such men as Dr. Zimmern and Col. Hellar that I do want to carry +the message that will for ever end this sunless life of your +imprisoned race."</p> + +<p>"But," cried Marguerite, "you do not want to take me; you could find a +way if you would--you made the Emperor do your bidding once--you could +do it again if you wanted to."</p> + +<p>"I very much want to take you; to go without you would be but a bitter +success."</p> + +<p>"But have you no wife, or no girl you love among your own people?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"But if I should go with you, the people of your world would welcome you +but they would imprison me or kill me as a spy."</p> + +<p>"No," and I smiled as I answered, "they do not kill women."</p> + +<h3>~4~</h3> + +<p>During four brief days that remained until Capt. Grauble's vessel was +due to depart my every hour was full of hurried preparations for my +survey of the Arctic mines. Clothing for the rigours and rough labour of +that fearful region had to be obtained and I had to get together the +reports of previous surveys and the instruments for the ore analyses +that would be needed. Nor was I altogether faithless in these +preparations for at times I felt that my first duty might be thus to aid +in the further provisioning of the imprisoned race, for how was I to +know that I would be able to end the state of war that had prevailed in +spite of the generations of pacifist efforts? At times I even doubted +that this break for the outer world would ever be made. I doubted that +Capt. Grauble, though he solemnly assured us that he was ready for the +venture, was acting in good faith. Could he, I asked, persuade his men +to their part of the adventure? Would not our traitorous design be +discovered and we both be returned as prisoners to Berlin? Granted even +that Grauble could carry out his part and that the submarine proceeded +as planned to rise to the surface or attempt to make some port, with the +best of intentions of surrendering to the World State authorities, might +not we be destroyed before we could make clear our peaceful and friendly +intentions? Could I, coming out of Germany with Germans prove my +identity? Would my story be believed? Would I have believed such a story +before the days of my sojourn among the Germans? Might I not be +consigned to languish in prison as a merely clever German spy, or be +consigned to an insanity ward?</p> + +<p>At times I doubted even my own desire to escape from Berlin if it meant +the desertion of Marguerite, for there could be no joy in escape for me +without her. Yet I found small relish in looking forward to life as a +member of that futile clan of parasitical Royalty. Had Germany been a +free society where we might hope to live in peace and freedom perhaps I +could have looked forward to a marriage with Marguerite and considered +life among the Germans a tolerable thing. But for such a life as we must +needs live, albeit the most decent Berlin had to offer, I could find no +relish--and the thought of escape and call of duty beyond the bomb proof +walls and poisoned soil called more strongly than could any thought of +love and domesticity within the accursed circle of fraudulent divinity.</p> + +<p>There was also the danger that lurked for me in Holknecht's knowledge of +my identity and the bitterness of his anger born of his insane and +stupid jealousy.</p> + +<p>Rather than remain longer in Berlin I would take any chance and risk any +danger if only Marguerite were not to be left behind. And yet she must +be left behind, for such a thing as getting a woman aboard a submarine +or even to the submarine docks had never been heard of. I thought of all +the usual tricks of disguising her as a man, of smuggling her as a +stowaway amidst the cargo, but Grauble's insistence upon the +impossibility of such plans had made it all too clear that any such wild +attempt would lead to the undoing of us all.</p> + +<p>If escape were possible with Marguerite--! But cold reason said that +escape was improbable enough for me alone. For a woman of the House of +Hohenzollern the prison of Berlin had walls of granite and locks +of steel.</p> + +<p>The time of departure drew nearer. I had already been passed down by the +stealthy guards and through the numerous locked and barred gates to the +subterranean docks where Grauble's vessel, the <i>Eitel 3</i>, rested on the +heavy trucks that would bear her away through the tunnel to the +pneumatic lock that would float her into the passage that led to +the open sea.</p> + +<p>My supplies and apparatus were stored on board and the crew were making +ready to be off. But three hours were left until the time of our +departure and these hours I had set aside for my final leave-taking of +Marguerite. I hastened back through the guarded gates to the elevator +and was quickly lifted to the Royal Level where Marguerite was to be +waiting for me.</p> + +<p>With fast beating and rebellious heart I rang the bell of the Countess' +apartment. I could scarcely believe I heard aright when the servant +informed me that the Princess Marguerite had gone out.</p> + +<p>I demanded to see the Countess and was ushered into the reception-room +and suffered unbearably during the few minutes till she appeared. To my +excited question she replied with a teasing smile that Marguerite had +gone out a half hour before with Admiral von Kufner. "I warned you," +said the Countess as she saw the tortured expression of my face, "but +you would not believe me, when I told you the Admiral would prove a +dangerous man."</p> + +<p>"But it is impossible," I cried. "I am leaving for the Arctic mines. I +have only a couple of hours; surely you are hiding something. Did you +see her go? Did she leave no word? Do you know where they have gone or +when they will return?"</p> + +<p>The Countess shook her head. "I only know," she replied more +sympathetically, "that Marguerite seemed very excited all morning. She +talked with me of your leaving and seemed very wrought up over it, and +then but an hour or so ago she rushed into her room and telephoned--it +must have been to the Admiral, for he came shortly afterwards. They +talked together for a little while and then, without a word to me they +went out, seeming to be in a great hurry. Perhaps she felt so upset over +your leaving that she thought it kinder not to risk a parting scene. She +is so honest, poor child, that she probably did not wish to send you +away with any false hopes."</p> + +<p>"But do you mean," I cried, "that you think she has gone out with von +Kufner to avoid seeing me?"</p> + +<p>"I am sorry," consoled the Countess, "but it looks that way. It was +cruel of her, for she might have sent you away with hope to live on till +your return, even if she felt she could not wait for you."</p> + +<p>I strove not to show my anger to the Countess, for, considering her +ignorance of the true significance of the occasion, I could not expect a +full understanding.</p> + +<p>Miserably I waited for two hours as the Countess tried to entertain me +with her misplaced efforts at sympathy while I battled to keep my faith +in Marguerite alive despite the damaging evidence that she had deserted +me at the last hour.</p> + +<p>I telephoned to von Kufner's office and to his residence but could get +no word as to his whereabouts, and Marguerite did not return.</p> + +<p>I dared not wait any longer--asking for envelope and paper, I penned a +hasty note to Marguerite: "I shall go on to the Arctic and come back to +you. The salvation of Berlin must wait till you can go with me. I +cannot, will not, lose you."</p> + +<p>And then I tore myself away and hastened to the elevator and was dropped +to a subterranean level and passed again through the locked and +guarded gates.</p> + +<h3>~5~</h3> + +<p>As I came to the vessel no one was in sight but the regular guards +pacing along the loading docks. I mounted the ladder to the deck. The +second officer stood by the open trap. "They are waiting for you," he +said. "The Admiral himself is below. He came with his lady to see +you off."</p> + +<p>I hastened to descend and saw von Kufner and Marguerite chatting with +Captain Grauble.</p> + +<p>"Why the delay?" asked von Kufner. "It is nearly the hour of departure, +and I have brought the Princess to bid you farewell. We have been +showing her the vessel."</p> + +<p>"It is all very wonderful," said Marguerite with a calm voice, but her +eyes spoke the feverish excitement of a great adventure.</p> + +<p>"The Princess Marguerite," said von Kufner, "is the only woman who has +ever seen a submarine since the open sea traffic was closed. But she has +seen it all and now we must take our leave for it is time that you +should be off."</p> + +<p>As he finished speaking the Admiral politely stepped away to give me +opportunity for a farewell word with Marguerite. Grauble followed him +and, as he passed me, he gave me a look of gloating triumph and then +opened the door of his cabin, which the Admiral entered.</p> + +<p>"I am going with you," whispered Marguerite. "Grauble understands."</p> + +<p>There was the sound of a scuffle and a strangled oath. Grauble's head +appeared at the cabin door. "Here, Armstadt; be quick, and keep +him quiet."</p> + +<p>I plunged into the cabin and saw von Kufner crumpled against the bunk; +his hands were manacled behind him and his mouth stuffed with a cloth.</p> + +<p>With an exulting joy I threw myself upon the man as he struggled to +rise. I easily held him down, and whipping out my own kerchief I bound +it tightly across his mouth to more effectively gag him.</p> + +<p>Then rolling him over I planted my knee on his back while I ripped a +sheet from the bunk and bound his feet.</p> + +<p>From without I heard Grauble's voice in command: "Close the hatch." Then +I felt the vessel quiver with machinery in motion and I knew that we +were moving along the tunnel toward the sea.</p> + +<p>Grauble appeared again in the door of the cabin. "The mate understands," +he said, "and the crew will obey. I told them that the Admiral was going +out with us to inspect the lock. But the presence of a woman aboard will +puzzle them. I have placed the Princess in the mate's cabin so no one +can molest her. We have other things to keep us occupied."</p> + +<p>With Grauble's help I now bound von Kufner to the staunch metal leg of +the bunk and we left him alone in the narrow room to ponder on the +meaning of what he had heard.</p> + +<p>Outside Grauble led me over to the instrument board where the mate was +stationed.</p> + +<p>"Any unusual message?" asked Grauble.</p> + +<p>"None," said the mate. "I think we will go through without interruption +at least until we reach the lock; if anything is suspicioned we will be +held up there for examination."</p> + +<p>"Do you think the guards at the dock suspected anything?" questioned +Grauble.</p> + +<p>"It is not likely," replied the mate. "They saw him come aboard, but he +spoke to none of them. They will presume he is going out to the lock. +The presence of a woman will puzzle them; but, as she was with the +Admiral, they will not dare interfere or even report the fact."</p> + +<p>"Then what do you think we have to fear?" asked Grauble.</p> + +<p>"Only the chance that the Admiral's absence may be noted at his office +and inquiry be made."</p> + +<p>"Of that the Princess could tell us something," said Grauble. "We will +talk with her."</p> + +<p>Grauble now led me to the mate's snug cabin, where we found Marguerite +seated on the bunk, looking very pale and anxious.</p> + +<p>"Everything is going nicely, so far," the Captain assured her. "We have +only one thing to fear, and that is that inquiry from the Administration +Office for the Admiral may be addressed to the Commander of the Lock."</p> + +<p>"But how will they know that he is with us?" asked Marguerite. "Will the +guards report it?"</p> + +<p>"I do not think so," said Grauble, "but does any one at his office know +that he came to the docks?"</p> + +<p>"I do not see how they could," replied Marguerite; "he was at his +apartment when I called him. He came to me at once, not knowing why I +wished to see him. I begged him to take me to see you off. I swore that +if he did not I should never speak to him again, and he agreed to do so. +He seemed to think himself very generous and talked much of the +distinctive privilege he was conferring upon me by acceding to my +request. But he told no one where we were going. He communicated with no +one from the time he came to me until we arrived at the vessel. The +guards and gate-keepers let us pass without question."</p> + +<p>"That is fine," cried Grauble; "von Kufner often stays away from his +office for days at a time. Unless some chance information leaks back +from the guards, he will not be missed. Our chance of being passed +speedily out the lock is good--there is a vessel due to lock in this +very day and we could not be held back to block the tunnel. That is why +the Admiral was impatient when Armstadt failed to appear; he knew our +departure ought not be delayed."</p> + +<p>"And what," I asked, "do you propose to do with the Admiral?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose we must take him with us as a prisoner," replied the Captain. +"Your World State Government would appreciate a prisoner of the House of +Hohenzollern."</p> + +<p>At this suggestion Marguerite shook her head emphatically. "I do not +like that," she said. "Is there not some way to leave him behind?"</p> + +<p>"I do not like it either," said Grauble, "because I fear his presence +aboard may make trouble among my men. I do not think they will object to +deserting with us to the free world. Their life in this service is +hopeless enough and this is my fifth trip; they have a belief that the +Captain's fifth trip is an ill-fated one; not a man aboard but trembles +in the dire fear that he will never see Berlin again. They will welcome +with joy a proposal to escape with us, but to ask them to make the +attempt with the Admiral himself on board as a prisoner is a different +thing. These men are cowed by authority and I know not what notions they +might have of their fate if they are to kidnap the Admiral."</p> + +<p>"But," I questioned, "is there no possible way to leave him behind?"</p> + +<p>Grauble sat thinking for a moment. "Yes," he said, "there is one way we +might do it. We could shave his beard and clip his hair, dress him in a +machinist's garb and smear his hands and face with grease. Then I could +drug him and we could carry him off at the lock and put him in a cell. I +would report that one of my men had gone raving mad, and I had drugged +him to keep him from doing injury to himself and others. It would create +no great surprise. Men in this service frequently go mad; and I am +provided with a sleep producing drug for just such emergencies."</p> + +<p>"Then go ahead," I said.</p> + +<p>"But you will lose the satisfaction of delivering him prisoner to your +government," smiled Grauble.</p> + +<p>"I have no love for the Admiral," I replied, "but I think his punishment +will be more appropriately attended to in Berlin. When our escape is +known he will indeed have a rather difficult time explaining to +His Majesty."</p> + +<p>This suggestion of the pompous Admiral's predicament if thus left behind +seemed to amuse Grauble and he at once led the way back to his +own cabin.</p> + +<p>Von Kufner was lying very quietly in his bonds and glared up at us with +a weak and futile rage. Grauble smiled cynically at his prostrate chief. +"I had thought to take you along with us," he said, "but I am afraid the +excitement of the voyage would be unpleasant for you so I have decided +to leave you at the lock to take our farewell back to His Majesty."</p> + +<p>Von Kufner, helpless and gagged was given no opportunity to reply, for +Grauble, unlocking his medicine case took out a small hypodermic syringe +and plunged the needle into the prisoner's thigh.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the Admiral was unconscious. The Captain now brought a +suit of soiled mechanic's clothes and a clipper and razor, and in a half +hour the prim Admiral in his fancy uniform had been reduced to the +likeness of an oiler. His face roughly shaved, but pale and sallow, gave +a very good simulation of illness of mind and body.</p> + +<p>"He will remain like that for at least twelve hours," said Grauble. "I +gave him a heavy dose."</p> + +<p>Again we went out, locking the unconscious Admiral in the cabin. "You +may go and keep the Princess company," said Grauble, "while I talk with +my men and give them an inkling of what we are planning. If there is any +trouble at the lock it is better that they comprehend that hope of +freedom is in store for them."</p> + +<p>Amid tears of joy Marguerite now told me of her belated conception of +the desperate plan to induce von Kufner to bring her to the docks to see +us depart, and how she had pretended to disbelieve that I was really +going and bargained to marry him within sixty days if she could be +assured by her own eyes that I had really departed for the Arctic.</p> + +<p>As we waited feverishly for the first nerve-racking part of the journey +to be over, we spoke of the hopes and dangers of the great adventure +upon which we were finally embarked. And so the hours passed.</p> + +<p>At last we felt the rumble of the motors die and knew that the movement +of the vessel had ceased.</p> + +<h3>~6~</h3> + +<p>The voice of the mate spoke at the door: "Remain quiet inside," he said, +and a key turned and clicked the bolt of the lock. The tense minutes +passed. Again the key turned in the door and the mate stuck his head +inside. "Come quick," he said to me.</p> + +<p>I followed him into Capt. Grauble's cabin, but saw Grauble nowhere.</p> + +<p>"Remove your clothing," said the mate, as he seized a sponge and soap +and began washing the blackened oil from the hands and face of the +unconscious Admiral. "We must dress him in your uniform. The Commander +of the Lock has orders to take you off the vessel. We must pass the +Admiral off for you. He will never be recognized. The Commander has +never seen you."</p> + +<p>Obeying, without fully comprehending, I helped to quickly dress the +unconscious man in my own clothing. We had barely finished when we heard +voices outside.</p> + +<p>"Quick, under the bunk," whispered the mate. As I obediently crawled +into the hiding place, the mate kicked in after me the remainder of the +oiler's clothing which I had been trying to put on and pulled the +disarranged bedding half off the bunk the better to hide me. Then he +opened the door and several men entered.</p> + +<p>"I had to drug him," said Grauble's voice, "because he was so violent +with fear when I had him manacled that I thought he might attempt to +beat out his brains."</p> + +<p>"Let me see his papers," said a strange voice.</p> + +<p>After a brief interval the same voice spoke again--"These are identical +with the description given by His Majesty's secretary. There can be no +doubt that this is the man they want, but I do not see how an enemy spy +could ever pass for a German, even if he had the clothing and +identification. He does not even look like the description in the +folder. The chemists must be very stupid to have accepted him as one +of them."</p> + +<p>"It is strange," replied the voice of Capt. Grauble, "but this man was +very clever."</p> + +<p>"It is only that most men are very dull," replied the other voice. "Now +I should have suspected at once that the man was not a German. But he +shall answer for his cleverness. Let him be removed at once. We have +word from the vessel outside that they are short of oxygen, and you must +be locked out and clear the passage."</p> + +<p>With a shuffling of many feet the form of the third bearer of Karl +Armstadt's pedigree was carried from the cabin, and the door was +kicked shut.</p> + +<p>I was still lying cramped in my hiding place when I felt the vessel +moving again. Then a sailor came, bringing a case from which I took +fresh clothing. As I was dressing I felt my ear drums pain from the +increased air pressure, and I heard, as from a great distance, the roar +of the water being let into the lock. From the quiet swaying of the +floor beneath me I soon sensed that we were afloat. I waited in the +cabin until I felt the quiver of motors, now distinguished by the lesser +throb and smoother running, from the drive on the wheeled trucks through +the tunnel.</p> + +<p>I opened the cabin door and went out. Grauble was at the instrument +board. The mate stood aft among the motor controls; all men were at +their posts, for we were navigating the difficult subterranean passage +that led to the open sea.</p> + +<p>As I approached Grauble he spoke without lifting his eyes from his +instruments. "Go bring the Princess out of her hiding; I want my men to +see her now. It will help to give them faith."</p> + +<p>Marguerite came with me and stood trembling at my side as we watched +Grauble, whose eyes still riveted upon the many dials and indicators +before him.</p> + +<p>"Watch the chart," said Grauble. "The red hand shows our position."</p> + +<p>The chart before him was slowly passing over rolls. For a time we could +only see a straight line thereon bordered by many signs and figures. +Then slowly over the topmost roll came the wavy outlines of a shore, and +the parallel lines marking the depths of the bordering sea. Tensely we +watched the chart roll slowly down till the end of the channel passed +the indicator.</p> + +<p>Grauble breathed a great sigh of relief and for the first time turned +his face towards us. "We are in the open sea," he said, "at a depth of +160 metres. I shall turn north at once and parallel the coast. You had +better get some rest; for the present nothing can happen. It is night +above now but in six more hours will be the dawn, then we shall rise and +take our bearings through the periscope."</p> + +<p>I led Marguerite into the Captain's cabin and insisted that she lie down +on the narrow berth. Seated in the only chair, I related what I knew of +the affair at the locks. "It must have been," I concluded, after much +speculation, "that Holknecht finally got the attention of the Chemical +Staff and related what he knew of the incident of the potash mines. They +had enough data about me to have arrived at the correct conclusion long +ago. It was a question of getting the facts together."</p> + +<p>"It was that," said Marguerite, "or else I am to blame."</p> + +<p>"And what do you mean?" I asked.</p> + +<p>"I mean," she said, "that I took a great risk about which I must tell +you, for it troubles my conscience. After I had sent for the Admiral and +he had promised to come, I telephoned to Dr. Zimmern of my intention to +get von Kufner to take me to the docks and my hope that I could come +with you. And it may be that some one listened in on our conversation."</p> + +<p>"I do not see," I said, "how such a conversation should lead to the +discovery of my identity--the Holknecht theory is more reasonable--but +you did take a risk. Why did you do it?"</p> + +<p>"I wanted to tell him good-bye," said Marguerite. "It was hard enough +that I could not see him." And she turned her face to the pillow and +began to weep.</p> + +<p>"What is it, my dear?" I pleaded, as I knelt beside her. "It was all +right, of course. Why are you crying--you do not think, do you, that Dr. +Zimmern betrayed us?"</p> + +<p>Marguerite raised herself upon her elbow and looked at me with hurt +surprise. "Do you think that?" she demanded, almost fiercely.</p> + +<p>"By no means," I hastened to assure her, "but I do not understand your +grief and I only thought that perhaps when you told him he was +angered--I never understood why he seemed so anxious not to have you +go with me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear," sobbed Marguerite. "Of course you never understood, +because we too had a secret that has been kept from you, and you have +been so apologetic because you feared so long to confide in me and I +have been even slower to confide in you."</p> + +<p>For a moment black rebellion rose in my heart, for though with my +reasoning I had accepted the explanation that Zimmern had given for his +interest in Marguerite, I had never quite accepted it in my unreasoning +heart. And in the depths of me the battle between love and reason and +the dark forces of jealous unreason and suspicion had smouldered, to +break out afresh on the least provocation.</p> + +<p>I fought again to conquer these dark forces, for I had many times +forgiven her even the thing which suspicion charged. And as I struggled +now the sound of Marguerite's words came sweeping through my soul like a +great cleansing wind, for she said--"The secret that I have kept back +from you and that I have wanted so often to tell you is that Dr. Zimmern +is my father!"</p> + +<h3>~7~</h3> + +<p>In the early dawn of a foggy morning we beached the <i>Eitel 3</i> on a sandy +stretch of Danish shore within a few kilometres of an airdome of the +World Patrol. A native fisherman took Grauble, Marguerite and myself in +his hydroplane to the post, where we found the commander at his +breakfast. He was a man of quick intelligence. Our strange garb was +sufficient to prove us Germans, while a brief and accurate account of +the attempted rescue of the mines of Stassfurt, given in perfect +English, sufficed to credit my reappearance in the affairs of the free +world as a matter of grave and urgent importance.</p> + +<p>A squad of men were sent at once to guard the vessel that had been left +in charge of the mate. Within a few hours we three were at the seat of +the World Government at Geneva.</p> + +<p>Grauble surrendered his charts of the secret passage and was made a +formal prisoner of state, until the line of the passage could be +explored by borings and the reality of its existence verified.</p> + +<p>I was in daily conference with the Council in regard to momentous +actions that were set speedily a-going. The submarine tunnel was located +and the passage blocked. A fleet of ice crushers and exploring planes +were sent to locate the protium mines of the Arctic. The proclamation of +these calamities to the continued isolated existence of Germany and the +terms of peace and amnesty were sent showering down through the clouds +to the roof of Berlin.</p> + +<p>Marguerite and I had taken up our residence in a cottage on the lake +shore, and there as I slept late into the sunlit hours of a July +morning, I heard the clatter of a telephone annunciator. I sat bolt +upright listening to the words of the instrument--</p> + +<p>"Berlin has shut off the Ray generators of the defence mines--all over +the desert of German soil men are pouring forth from the ventilating +shafts--the roof of Berlin is a-swarm with a mass of men frolicking in +the sunlight--the planes of the World Patrol have alighted on the roof +and have received and flashed back the news of the abdication of the +Emperor and the capitulation of Berlin--the world armies of the mines +are out and marching forth to police the city--"</p> + +<p>The voice of the instrument ceased.</p> + +<p>I looked about for Marguerite and saw her not. I was up and running +through the rooms of the cottage. I reached the outer door and saw her +in the garden, robed in a gown of gossamer white, her hair streaming +loose about her shoulders and gleaming golden brown in the quivering +light. She was holding out her hands to the East, where o'er the +far-flung mountain craigs the God of Day beamed down upon his +worshipper.</p> + +<p>In a frenzy of wild joy I called to her--"Babylon is fallen--is fallen! +The black spot is erased from the map of the world!"</p> +<br> +<br> +<hr> +<br> +<br> +<pre> +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CITY OF ENDLESS NIGHT *** + +This file should be named 8cndn10h.htm or 8cndn10h.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, 8cndn11h.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, 8cndn10ah.htm + + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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