I shrugged. I was suddenly relieved as the restraint of three furious years went in a rush. “I am as devoted to Cave as anyone,” I said (and I was, I think, honest). “I don’t want him to die but all of you in your madness have made it impossible for him to live. He’s gone now to the limit, to the last boundary: he is the son of death and each of you supports him. I don’t, for it was only my wish to make life better, not death desirable. I never really believed it would come to this: that you, Cave, would speak out for death, against life.” I raised my eyes to his. To my astonishment he had lowered his lids as though to hide from me, to shut me out. His head was shaking oddly from left to right and his lips were pressed tight together. I struck again, without mercy. “But don’t stop now. You’ve got your wish. By all means, build palaces if you like for those who choose to die in your name. But remember that you will be their victim, too. The victim of their passionate trust. They will force you to lead the way and _you_ must be death’s lover, Cave.” He opened his eyes and I was shocked to see them full of tears. “I’m not afraid,” he said. NINE 1 A few days after our disastrous dinner, Clarissa came to me in my office. It was our first real meeting since her return from Europe. It was also my first meeting with any one of the directors for, since the scene on the penthouse terrace, none had come near me, not even Paul whom I usually saw at least once a day. Clarissa seemed tired but fashionable in summer lace. She sat down heavily in the chair beside my desk and looked at me oddly. “Recriminations?” I asked cheerfully: the recent outburst had restored me to perfect health and equanimity. I was prepared for anything, especially battle. “You’re an absolute fool and you know it,” she said at last. “I suppose there are wires in here, recording everything we say.” “I shouldn’t be surprised. Fortunately, I have no secrets.” “There’s no doubt of that,” she glared at me. “There was no need to rush things.” “You mean you anticipated this?” “What else? Where else could it lead? The same thing happened to Christ, you know. They kept pushing him to claim the kingdom. Finally, they pushed too hard and he was killed. It was the killing which perpetuated the legend.” “And a number of other things.” “In any case, it’s all gone too far. Also, I don’t think you even begin to see what you’ve done.” “Done? I’ve merely brought the whole thing into the open ... as well as put myself on record as being opposed to this ... this passion for death.” “That of course is nonsense. Just because a few nitwits....” “A few? Have you seen the statistics? Every month there are a few hundred more and as soon as Stokharin gets his damned roadhouses for would-be suicides going we may find that....”