«You are welcome,» replied Daniel. «Now, if you will come with me.»
Outside the office, Malcolm, the priest figure, was talking quietly with Jeanine. At the sight of Daniel, both fell silent. Jeanine blocked Daniel’s path and spoke.
«There is news from the Martha Brae.»
Alex looked at the minister and then back at the girl. «Martha Brae» had to mean the survey’s campsite. He started to speak, but was cut off by Daniel.
«Whatever it is, tell us both.»
«It concerns two men. The young man, Ferguson, and the ore specialist, Peter Jensen.»
Alex breathed again.
«What happened?» asked Daniel. «The young man first.»
«A runner came into camp bringing him a letter from Arthur Craft Senior. In it Craft made promises, instructing Ferguson to leave the survey, come up to Port Antonio, to the Foundation. Our scouts followed and intercepted them several miles down the river. They are being held there, south of Weston Favel.»
«Craft found out about his son,» said Alex. «He’s trying to buy off Ferguson.»
«The purchase might well be to Jamaica’s advantage, and Ferguson is not a hostage high on your scale of values.»
«I brought him to the island. He is valuable to me,» answered Alex coldly.
«We shall see.» Daniel turned to the girl. «Tell the scouts to stay where they are. Hold Ferguson and the runner; instructions will follow. What about the Jensen man?»
«He is all right. The scouts are tracking him.»
«He left camp?»
«He’s pretending to be lost, our men think. Early this morning, soon after Dr. McAuliff left, he had his carrier stretch what is called an … azimuth line. He had the man walk quite a distance while he reeled out the nylon string. The signals were by tugs, apparently—»
«And Jensen cut the line and tied his end to a sapling,» interrupted Alex in a rapid monotone. «With a loop around a nearby limb.»
«How do you know this?» Daniel seemed fascinated.
«It’s a very old, unfunny trick in the field. A distasteful joke. It’s played on green recruits.»
Daniel turned again to the girl. «So his carrier could not find him. Where is Jensen now?»
«He tried to pick up Malcolm’s trail,» replied the secretary. «The scouts say he came very close. He gave up and circled back to the west hill. From there he can watch the entire campsite. All means of entrance.»
«He will wait the full three days, starving and trapped by cats, if he thinks it will help him. He does not dare go back to Warfield without something.» Daniel looked at Alex. «Did you know you were his choice to direct the survey?»
«I was his …» McAuliff did not finish the statement. There was no point, he thought.
«Tell our people to stay with him,» ordered the minister. «Get close, but don’t take him … unless he uses a radio that could reach the coast. If he does, kill him.»
«What the hell are you saying?» demanded McAuliff angrily. «Goddammit, you have no right!»
«We have every right, Doctor. You adventurers come to this land. Soil it with your filth. Don’t speak to me of rights, McAuliff!» And then as suddenly as he had raised his voice, he lowered it. He spoke to the girl. «Convene the Council.»
29
Daniel led McAuliff down the steps into the matted grass on the left bank of the miniature channel of rushing water. Neither man spoke. Alex looked at his watch; it was nearly eight o’clock. The rays of the twilight of sun shot up from behind the western mountains in spectral shafts of orange; the intercepting hills were silhouetted in brownish black, emphasizing their incredible height, their fortress-immensity. The lake was a huge sheet of very dark glass, polished beyond the ability of man, reflecting the massive shadows of the mountains and the streaks of the orange sun.
They walked down the slope of the clearing to the stone fence bordering the grazing fields. At the far left was a gate; Daniel approached it, unlatched the large single bolt, and swung it open. He gestured McAuliff to go through.
«I apologize for my outburst,» said the minister as they walked into the field. «It was misdirected. You are a victim, not an aggressor. We realize that.»
«And what are you? Are you a victim? Or an aggressor?»
«I am the Minister of Council. And we are neither. I explained that.»
«You explained a lot of things, but I still don’t know anything about you,» said McAuliff, his eyes on a lone animal approaching them in the darkening field. It was a young horse, and it whinnied and pranced hesitantly as it drew near.
«This colt is forever breaking out,» laughed Daniel as he patted the neck of the nervous animal. «He will be difficult to train, this one. Hyee! Hyee!» cried the Halidonite as he slapped the colt’s flank, sending it kicking and prancing and snorting toward the center of the field.
«Maybe that’s what I mean,» said Alex. «How do you train … people? Keep them from breaking out?»
Daniel stopped and looked at McAuliff. They were alone in the large pasture, awash with the vivid colors of the dying Jamaican sun. The light silhouetted the minister and caused McAuliff to shield his face. He could not see Daniel’s eyes, but he could feel them.
«We are an uncomplicated people in many ways,» said the Halidonite. «What technology we require is brought in, along with our medical supplies, basic farm machinery, and the like. Always by our own members, using untraceable mountain routes. Other than these, we are self-sufficient on our lands. Our training—as you call it—is a result of understanding the immense riches we possess. Our isolation is hardly absolute. As you will see.»
From childhood, Daniel explained, the Halidonite was told he was privileged and must justify his birthright by his life’s actions. The ethic of contribution we imbued in him early in his education; the need to use his potential to the fullest. The outside world was shown in all its detail—its simplicities, its complications; its peace and its violence; its good and its evil. Nothing was concealed; exaggeration was not left to young imaginations. Realistic temptation was balanced—perhaps a bit strongly, admitted Daniel—with realistic punishment.
As near to his or her twelfth birthday as possible, the Halidonite was tested extensively by teachers, the elders of the Council, and finally by the minister himself. On the basis of these examinations, individuals were selected for training for the outside world. There followed three years of preparation, concentrating on specific skills or professions.
When he or she reached sixteen, the Halidonite was taken from the community and brought to a family residence on the outside, where the father and mother were members of the tribe. Except for infrequent returns to the community and reunions with his own parents, the outside family would be the Haldonite’s guardians for a number of years to come.
«Don’t you have defections?» asked Alex.
«Rarely,» replied Daniel. «The screening process is most thorough.»
«What happens if it isn’t thorough enough? If there are—»
«That is an answer I will not give you,» interrupted the minister. «Except to say the Maze of Acquaba is a threat no prison can compete with. It keeps offenders—within and without—to a minimum. Defections are extremely rare.»
From the tone of Daniel’s voice, Alex had no desire to pursue the subject. «They’re brought back?»
Daniel nodded.
The population of the Halidon was voluntarily controlled. Daniel claimed that for every couple that wanted more children, there invariably was a couple that wanted fewer or none. And, to McAuliff’s astonishment, the minister added: «Marriages take place between ourselves and those of the outside. It is, of course, unavoidable and, by necessity, desirable. But it is a complicated procedure taking place over many months and with stringent regulations.»