— How do you mean, who said that? I do think your husband is peculiar, Lilly. It’s not part of an epic poem if that’s what you want to know. Though I suppose it might well be. Come to that, perhaps it is. It did sound sort of gnomic didn’t it? Yes well you’re quite right, Denton said it, in one of his speeches in the House, and I remembered it, as I’d helped him a bit, oh yes, I do now and again you know, though he has a secretary of course and a ghost, still he trusts my judgment absolutely, well, my inspiration, he calls it, my Colourless collective unconscious. These things are important, you know, in an interracial society. It’s nice to feel we’re still useful in more ways than one, and ancient wisdom isn’t to be despised, even if it did make mistakes.
— Of course the past exists. Whatever next? We must face facts you know. Lilly, is he all right? Would you like me to use my influence and get him another psychoscopy? I’m sure I could, certainly when I get back to the capital, all I have to do is to ask my own psychoscopist. What did you say this one’s name was? Lukulwe. I must jot that down. Lu-kul-we.
— What did he say? I can’t hear him. An answer. What do you mean, an answer? Don’t be so metaphysical. Do you mean an explanation of the origin? Or do you mean a cure? Surely you know that diagnosis only prognosticates aetiology. Well. I should have thought everyone understood that by now. It’s a short way of saying that they don’t claim to find either the ultimate cause or the ultimate cure, but they do know exactly how it functions, and can prescribe accordingly. I mean every neurosis has its mechanics, which are absolutely predictable, they can tell exactly what anyone will do next, it’s marvellous. And it’s true of everything, medicine, for instance, well, look at the malady, and of course social science, and demography, and politics, the lot. That’s why the principle is so important. I can’t stand not knowing how a thing functions. I mean one must know the rules. That’s why psychoscopy’s been so invaluable to me, it really does provide one with a technique for living, especially the biograms, and they really are amazingly accurate, I’ve found. I can’t stand not knowing where I stand, if you know what I mean. That’s why I never liked artists much. Or diplomats. But they’re a thing of the past, which proves of course there must have been a past. Oh, they’re still recognised, they have a vestigial function that is useful in its way. But you only have to meet them a few minutes, or read an old document or an old book, or see an old film at the film museum, and you get that sort of crushed feeling, at least I do, and I know Denton does, and all the friends I’ve ever talked to about it do, and their reactions are very similar, and they boil down to this, what view are we being urged to take? Well, it’s impossible to tell, I mean, it’s unnerving, isn’t it. No. I like to know where I stand. I’ve chosen my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My children are healthy and have a fairer chance of survival than if — than otherwise. I love being in the swim of things, I take an interest in world affairs and local government and everything that Denton does in fact. I travel with him a good deal. I see all sorts and conditions of people and their circumstances, their activities, their projects and their hopes, and I love having a hand in helping, however indirectly, the Government and world schemes for their furtherment and betterment. I love people you see.
— Lilly it was simply splendid seeing you. I’m so glad I was able to come, and thank you for a perfectly delicious lunch. I’m sorry to see you’re on a diet, I hope it’s nothing serious? Oh, good. I go on a temporary diet too sometimes, it’s a wise thing to do now and again. Well we must keep in touch. And if there’s anything I can do please don’t hesitate. I mean none of this false shame business between us. We’re old friends you know and I’ll always stand by you. A friend in need. And of course that goes for you too. I hope you find work soon, it’s very demoralising, I know. You are taking the pills, aren’t you? Would you like me to have a word with Denise? Why not? It was your health, after all, and she sent you there. She’s very odd at times, is Denise. Still, come to think of it, perhaps you’re right. At least for the moment. She may have her reasons. I mean I haven’t seen your biogram or anything. Never meddle is my motto. Well, be patient, renew your prescription, and don’t you neglect the dole-pills, they’re better than people think, you know, I’ve seen them being manufactured and the director of the biochemical industry’s a personal friend of mine. I hope you’ll feel better soon. Lilly, my dear, goodbye, it was lovely to see you. Oh of course I may catch a glimpse of you up at the house, but we won’t be able to have a nice long chat like now. I did so enjoy it. Goodbye.
Behind the trellis the gesture is one of helplessness, palms flat and briefly facing upwards, paler, almost pink, and heavily lined, with unacknowledged pasts perhaps, and present prospects. The gesture would be the same if the helplessness were faked. The back of the man to whom the gesture is made slouches. His neck creases into his shoulders and he has thin pale hair.
— How do you expect us to help you if you don’t take your dole-pills? Don’t you understand that you are unemployable in your present state? Even if there were jobs available.
The man with the slouching shoulders and the thin pale hair shifts to the right and leans sideways on the counter, as if to make the conversation less private. Nevertheless it is not possible to measure or even roughly to estimate the degree of sincerity in the sympathetic eyes behind the trellis, for the metal grid splinters the bland Bahuko face, which also shines with curved oblongs and blobs of white light from the heat of the day, and the voice too seems encased by the barrier.
— What did you say?
— I think the pills are slowly poisoning us.
The whites of the eyes are brownish with a tinge of pink. The blacks of the eyes are brown, and for a moment stray away from the pasty face and the slouching shoulder of the man leaning on the counter, but the meeting is not compulsory and the dark lids immediately half shield them.
— Oh come now, man, you don’t want to go believing that sort of thing. What was your occupation?
Through the slanted slits under the lowered brown lids the eyes just visible follow the dark hand as it moves across the pink card, holding a golden pen, and neatly braceleted at the wrist by the spotless white cuff-edge.
— I don’t mean on purpose.
— What? Oh. Well, I should hope you do not. It is a very serious accusation. We have courts in which to make that kind of statement, backed with suitable evidence. Now then, are you going to take it, I haven’t got all day.
— You can’t force me to take the pills. They’re poisoning the blood-stream. I’ve analysed them, I know, under pretext of building us up and protecting us from radioactive minerals you’re over-filling us with potassium and carbohydrate complexes, you’re multiplying our leucocyte count, you’re slowly debilitating us so that –
— Now that’s enough. If you have any complaints you can take them to the proper quarter. As far as I am concerned you must take this pill, and I am entitled to insist that you take it here in front of me. We’re only trying to prevent unemployment apathy and frustration, you know, which are the seeds of crime. But it’s for your own good mainly. Don’t you see that you must keep yourself fit and cheerful just in case a job does turn up? I mean if it did you just wouldn’t get it. Or keep it. You’re in a bad way you know.