Kronk

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Dr. Slink, seething with outraged womanhood, sat at her desk with a freezair pencil ready to hand and the door electro-locked. She had had no contact with Dr. Perrywit since that unfortunate, unendurable, unthinkable encounter on the carpet. She wished to have no further contact with him ever — except, perhaps, to give evidence at the trial. That such a man — no, such a beast — could brutally knock her down and then, while she was unconscious, work his savage will upon her poor defenceless body…

Dr. Slink shivered, recalling the sudden and cunning trip, the heavy blow upon her head, the torn clothes, the bruised flesh. She shivered and her breasts began to heave as she felt once more the superhuman strength of her pitiless assailant, and the weight of his evil, lusting manhood. Fortunately, oblivion had shielded her from the worst. Heaven alone knew how many times he had possessed her. Perhaps he had even committed other unspeakable indignities…

Dr. Slink sat at her desk shivering, her breasts heaving and with strange sensations passing through those parts of her which she always preferred to call the modest zones. She sat waiting for Sir Joshua Quartz, who had promised to bring news to her as soon as he had talked with the Minister. She sat waiting for justice, those curious aches and spasms to leave her modest zones…

Perhaps, besides possessing her, that beast had done things to her. Perhaps she needed to be examined by a doctor. Or even several doctors. Of course, if they were men it cold be embarrassing. But then men were always better doctors than women. Everybody knew that.

They were so much more objective and skilful. And even if it was necessary for her to completely expose herself and submit to their probings she would nevertheless endure it for the sake of justice, for the sake of the country — and in the hope that the strange irritations in her modest zones could be relieved.

There was a knock at the door. Dr. Slink grabbed the freezair pencil nervously.

“Who is it?”

“Quartz.”

“Forgive me, sir Joshua. Are you alone?”

“Quite alone.”

Dr. Slink released the electro-lock, and Sir Joshua came into her office.

“You have seen the Minister, sir?”

“I have.” Sir Joshua was abrupt. His voice was harsh. He had still not entirely recovered from his interview with the Right Honourable Theodore Flower.

“You laid all the facts before him, sir?” Dr. Slink was beginning to feel uneasy about Sir Joshua’s attitude. Normally he was quite friendly. But, of course, there was an explanation.

He, too, must be suffering from shock. That such bestiality could occur in MicroWar!

“I gave him your account of the — er — incident. And I also gave him the version and the information supplied by — er — Dr. Perrywit.”

Sir Joshua seemed to be floundering. Dr. Slink felt sorry for him. Poor Sir Joshua! How embarrassed he must feel. Dr. Slink felt it was her duty to put him at ease.

“You need not spare my feelings, Sir Joshua,” she said bravely. “Although I am but a woman, I do possess certain inner resources. Please do not feel embarrassed. I assure you, you may speak quite freely to me about this terrible tragedy.”

“Very well, Dr. Slink.” Sir Joshua stroked his nose, cleared his throat and stared through the window. “The Minister and I have considered the entire situation very carefully. Dr.

Perrywit’s account is at variance with yours: yours is at variance with Dr. Perrywit’s. Neither satisfactorily explains what happened. Therefore, always bearing in mind the interests of MicroWar, the Minister and I have formed our conclusions on the slender evidence available.”

He cleared his throat once more and gave her a piercing stare. Dr. Slink stood quite still, returning his gaze, white-faced, suddenly mesmerized like a rabbit.

“In our mature judgement,” went on Sir Joshua, “your provocative behaviour — which, I may say, has been a matter of departmental concern for some time — was largely responsible for the incidents which took place. It is therefore my painful duty, Dr. Slink, to discharge you from service in the Microbiological Warfare Division — effective immediately. I need hardly remind you that the Official Secrets Act covers all that has transpired during your employment. Accordingly I have to request you to vacate this office within one hour, and I bid you a very good day.”

Sir Joshua, the sweat forming on his forehead, turned to the door and made his retreat before the woman could break down. He need not have hurried. Dr. Slink continued to stand there, almost catatonic, without any expression on her face, like a mesmerized rabbit.

Dr. Perrywit was in his own office, idly drawing a series of extravagant female torsos that made the page in his notebook seem like a promising design for club bathroom wallpaper. He did not have a freezair pencil handy, nor had he electro-locked the door. Which omissions, as he later had time to reflect, were grievous ones.

He had been greatly tempted to try to make his pace with Dr. Slink; but discretion had triumphed over temptation. The woman was clearly unbalanced; and though Dr. Perrywit was utterly mortified by his treatment of her he believed that the blame did not entirely lie upon him. In the first instance she should never have provoked him with those deliciously palpitating mountains of flesh; in the second instance she should never have been so stupid as to fall flat on her black; and in the third instance she should not have made those nonsensical accusations in the first instance.

Nevertheless, he was relieved that she had accused him of multiple rape. It was, at least, better than being accused of failing to rape. Despite the inevitable high price, one still had one’s image and one’s self-respect to consider.

But there were more important matters on Dr. Perrywit’s mind than the recent fiasco with Dr. Slink. There was the protection of MicroWar’s activities in the cause of peace. Dr.

Perrywit felt moderately proud that he had had the courage and the integrity to tell Sir Joshua all he knew of the Greylaw matter. Perhaps his honesty — even at the cost of his career — would be taken into account when the Slink thing came to be settled. Perhaps, if in some way he could be instrumental in recovering the stolen evidence of Professor Greylaw’s success on the Tranquillity project, it might even still be possible for him to remain in MicroWar.

Downgraded, of course.

Sir Joshua had promised to send for Dr. Perrywit as soon as the head of MicroWar had consulted the Minister. Dr. Perrywit waited anxiously for the summons. Apart from natural anxiety about his own fate, he wanted to give Sir Joshua a significant item of information that had filled the joke spot in a recent newsflash. The significant item was that a tiger had been killed by a spaniel in North Yorkshire. Clearly, it was one of the missing animals, and had somehow escaped from its abductors. Clearly, their temporary hide-out would be nearby.

Clearly, if Security set up a massive hunt in North Yorkshire…

There was a knock at the door, and Sir Joshua Quartz came into the office. He was followed by three men in white — meds, no doubt. Dr. Perrywit was puzzled. Sir Joshua said nothing and remained in the background. The meds approached the desk.

“You Dr. Peregrine Perrywit?” asked one.

“Yes.”

“You’re quite sure?”

“Certainly, I’m Dr. Peregrine Perrywit.” He looked helplessly at the head of MicroWar. “Sir Joshua will confirm that I am me. What does this mean?”

The med did not answer. He produced a large sheet of paper and turned to his colleagues.

“We have now examined him. Are we agreed on our conclusions, gentlemen?”

“We are indeed,” said the second med.

“Unanimously,” said the third.

The first fumbled in his pockets. “Damn! Anybody got a ball-point?”

“Allow me,” said Dr. Perrywit, offering his own.

“Thanks, buster.”

One after another, the meds signed the paper. Dr. Perrywit looked at Sir Joshua. Sir Joshua stroked his nose and stared through the window.

Then the first med began to read the paper aloud.

“From Charles, Defender of Romaprot, Governor of NaTel and liege sovereign of this realm,” said the med, “to Peregrine Perrywit, citizen — Greetings. Whereas it has been brought to our notice that you, Peregrine Perrywit, are a person lately engaged in most secret and confidential work at an establishment sanctioned and authorized by our loyal Government; and whereas it has been further brought to our notice that you have lately conducted yourself in a manner indicating diminished responsibility; and whereas said diminished responsibility constitutes a threat to the King’s Peace and the welfare of our peoples; and whereas on this account we have required three qualified medical and psychiatric practitioners to examine your mental condition; and whereas said medical and psychiatric practitioners have appended their signatures to this document certifying that you are unsound of mind; we now therefore direct and command you to go peaceably to a designated House of Restraint, there to remain during our royal pleasure. This command and committal to be effected under the direction of Theodore Flower, Minister of the Crown and our loyal servant, whose signature is appended herewith. God Save The King. Charles Rex.”

Dr. Perrywit was momentarily petrified. Then his mouth opened and closed convulsively several times. He gurgled somewhat.

The med folded the paper and put it in his pocket. “That’s it, buster. Now you know you’ve flipped.”

“But — but — but…” Dr. Perrywit found his voice. He looked at Sir Joshua. Sir Joshua continued to look out of the window as if he were unaware of Dr. Perrywit’s presence.

“No buts, buster,” said one of the meds. “The order said peaceably. Do you come that way or our way?”

“But, Sir Joshua, Sir Joshua, Sir Joshua!” shrieked Dr. Perrywit. “I have something important to tell you. One of my tigers has been killed by a spaniel!”

At that point a med dexterously squirted freezair. Dr. Perrywit froze. For the first time, Sir Joshua looked at him.

“Sad,” observed the first med. “Sad how they always go to pieces.”

“Sad,” agreed Sir Joshua Quartz, inspecting a rigid Dr. Perrywit. “Very sad.”