"It is unlikely," Monsieur Laurier told her with a complete lack of interest, "that I shall meet you again." interest, "that I shall meet you again."
Hilary retraced her steps to the ladies" toilet. This time she found the other door unfastened. A few minutes later she had rejoined the the other door unfastened. A few minutes later she had rejoined the guide in the tea room. guide in the tea room.
"I got very nice car waiting," said the guide. "I take you now for very pleasant instructive drive." very pleasant instructive drive."
The expedition proceeded according to plan.
III.
"So you"re leaving for Marrakesh tomorrow," said Miss Miss Hetherington. "You haven"t made a very long stay in Fez, have you?
Wouldn"t it have been much easier to go to Marrakesh first and then to Fez, returning to Casablanca afterwards?" to Fez, returning to Casablanca afterwards?"
"I suppose it would really," said Hilary, "but reservations are rather difficult to obtain. It"s pretty crowded here." difficult to obtain. It"s pretty crowded here."
"Not with English people," said Miss Hetherington, rather disconsolately. "It really seems dreadful nowadays the way one disconsolately. "It really seems dreadful nowadays the way one meets hardly any of one"s fellow countrymen." She looked round meets hardly any of one"s fellow countrymen." She looked round her disparagingly and said, "It"s all the French." her disparagingly and said, "It"s all the French."
Hilary smiled faintly. The fact that Morocco was a French colonial possession did not seem to count much with Miss Hetherington. possession did not seem to count much with Miss Hetherington. Hotels anywhere abroad she regarded as the prerogative of the Hotels anywhere abroad she regarded as the prerogative of the English travelling public. English travelling public.
"The French and the Germans and the Greeks," said Mrs. Calvin Baker, with a little cackle of laughter. "That scruffy little old man is Baker, with a little cackle of laughter. "That scruffy little old man is a Greek, I believe." a Greek, I believe."
"I was told he was Greek," said Hilary.
"Looks like a person of importance," said Mrs. Baker. "You see how the waiters fly about for him." the waiters fly about for him."
"They give the English hardly any attention nowadays," said Miss Hetherington, gloomily. "They always give them the most terrible Hetherington, gloomily. "They always give them the most terrible back bedrooms - the ones maids and valets used to have in the old back bedrooms - the ones maids and valets used to have in the old days." days."
"Well, I can"t say I"ve found any fault with the accommodation I"ve had since I came to Morocco," said Mrs. Calvin Baker. "I"ve had since I came to Morocco," said Mrs. Calvin Baker. "I"ve managed to get a most comfortable room and bath every time." managed to get a most comfortable room and bath every time."
"You"re an American," said Miss Hetherington, sharply, and with some venom in her voice. She clicked her knitting needles some venom in her voice. She clicked her knitting needles furiously. furiously.
"I wish I could persuade you two to come to Marrakesh with me," said Hilary. "It"s been so pleasant meeting you and talking to you said Hilary. "It"s been so pleasant meeting you and talking to you here. Really, it"s very lonely travelling all by oneself." here. Really, it"s very lonely travelling all by oneself."
"I"ve been to Marrakesh," said Miss Hetherington in a shocked voice. voice.
Mrs. Calvin Baker, however, appeared to be somewhat sold on the idea. idea.
"Well, it certainly is an idea," she said. "It"s over a month since I was in Marrakesh. I"d be glad to go there again for a spell, and I was in Marrakesh. I"d be glad to go there again for a spell, and I could show you around, too, Mrs. Betterton and prevent you being could show you around, too, Mrs. Betterton and prevent you being imposed upon. It"s not until you"ve been to a place and looked imposed upon. It"s not until you"ve been to a place and looked around it that you learn the ropes. I wonder now. I"ll go to the office around it that you learn the ropes. I wonder now. I"ll go to the office and see what I can fix up." and see what I can fix up."
Miss Hetherington said acidly, when she had departed, "That"s exactly like these American women. Rushing from place to place, never settling down anywhere. Egypt one day, Palestine the place, never settling down anywhere. Egypt one day, Palestine the next. Sometimes I really don"t think they know what country they"re next. Sometimes I really don"t think they know what country they"re in." in."
She shut her lips with a snap and rising and gathering up her knitting carefully, she left the Turkish room with a little nod to Hilary knitting carefully, she left the Turkish room with a little nod to Hilary as she went. Hilary glanced down at her watch. She felt inclined not as she went. Hilary glanced down at her watch. She felt inclined not to change this evening for dinner, as she usually did. She sat on to change this evening for dinner, as she usually did. She sat on there alone in the low, rather dark room with its Oriental hangings. there alone in the low, rather dark room with its Oriental hangings. A waiter looked in, then went away after turning on two lamps. They A waiter looked in, then went away after turning on two lamps. They did not give out very much light and the room seemed pleasantly did not give out very much light and the room seemed pleasantly dim. It had an Eastern sort of serenity. Hilary sat back on the low dim. It had an Eastern sort of serenity. Hilary sat back on the low divan, thinking of the future. divan, thinking of the future.
Only yesterday she had been wondering if the whole business upon which she had been engaged was a mare"s nest. And now - now she which she had been engaged was a mare"s nest. And now - now she was on the point of starting on her real journey. She must be was on the point of starting on her real journey. She must be careful, very careful. She must make no slip. She must be Olive careful, very careful. She must make no slip. She must be Olive Betterton, moderately well educated, inartistic, conventional but Betterton, moderately well educated, inartistic, conventional but with definite Left Wing sympathies, and a woman who was devoted with definite Left Wing sympathies, and a woman who was devoted to her husband. to her husband.
"I must make no mistake," said Hilary to herself, under her breath.
How strange it felt to be sitting here alone in Morocco. She felt as though she had got into a land of mystery and enchantment. That though she had got into a land of mystery and enchantment. That dim lamp beside her! If she were to take the carved bra.s.s between dim lamp beside her! If she were to take the carved bra.s.s between her hands and rub, would a Djin of the Lamp appear? As the her hands and rub, would a Djin of the Lamp appear? As the thought came to her, she started. Materialising quite suddenly from thought came to her, she started. Materialising quite suddenly from beyond the lamp, she saw the small wrinkled face and pointed beyond the lamp, she saw the small wrinkled face and pointed beard of M. Aristides. He bowed politely before sitting down beside beard of M. Aristides. He bowed politely before sitting down beside her, saying; her, saying; "You permit, Madame?"
Hilary responded politely.
Taking out his cigarette case he offered her a cigarette. She accepted and he lit one himself also. accepted and he lit one himself also.
"It pleases you, this country, Madame?" he asked after a moment or two. two.
"I have been here only a very short time," said Hilary. "I find it so far quite enchanting." quite enchanting."
"Ah. And you have been into the old city? You liked it?"
"I think it is wonderful."
"Yes, it is wonderful. It is the past there - the past of commerce, of intrigue, of whispering voices, shuttered activities, all the mystery intrigue, of whispering voices, shuttered activities, all the mystery and pa.s.sion of a city enclosed in its narrow streets and walls. Do and pa.s.sion of a city enclosed in its narrow streets and walls. Do you know what I think of, Madame, when I walk through the streets you know what I think of, Madame, when I walk through the streets of Fez?" of Fez?"
"No?"
"I think of your Great West Road in London. I think of your great factory buildings on each side of the road. I think of those buildings factory buildings on each side of the road. I think of those buildings lit throughout with their neon lighting and the people inside, that lit throughout with their neon lighting and the people inside, that you see so clearly from the road as you drive along in your car. you see so clearly from the road as you drive along in your car. There is nothing hidden, there is nothing mysterious. There are not There is nothing hidden, there is nothing mysterious. There are not even curtains to the windows. No, they do their work there with the even curtains to the windows. No, they do their work there with the whole world observing them if it wants to do so. It is like slicing off whole world observing them if it wants to do so. It is like slicing off the top of an anthill." the top of an anthill."
"You mean," said Hilary, interested, "that it is the contrast that interests you?" interests you?"
M. Aristides nodded his elderly, tortoise like head.
"Yes," he said. "There everything is in the open and in the old streets of Fez nothing is a jour. Everything is hidden, dark... But -" streets of Fez nothing is a jour. Everything is hidden, dark... But -" he leant forward and tapped a finger on the little bra.s.s coffee table he leant forward and tapped a finger on the little bra.s.s coffee table "-but the same things go on. The same cruelties, the same oppressions, the same wish for power, the same bargaining and oppressions, the same wish for power, the same bargaining and haggling." haggling."
"You think that human nature is the same everywhere?" Hilary asked. asked.
"In every country. In the past as in the present there are always the two things that rule. Cruelty and benevolence! One or the other. two things that rule. Cruelty and benevolence! One or the other. Sometimes both." He continued with hardly a change of manner, Sometimes both." He continued with hardly a change of manner, "They have told me, Madame, that you were in a very bad airplane accident the other day at Casablanca?" accident the other day at Casablanca?"
"Yes, that is true."
"I envy you," M. Aristides said unexpectedly.
Hilary looked at him in an astonished manner. Again he waggled his head in vehement a.s.sertion. head in vehement a.s.sertion.
"Yes," he added, "you are to be envied. You have had an experience. I should like the experience of having come so near to experience. I should like the experience of having come so near to death. To have that, yet survive - do you not feel yourself different death. To have that, yet survive - do you not feel yourself different since then, Madame?" since then, Madame?"
"In a rather unfortunate way," said Hilary. "I had concussion and that gives me very bad headaches, and it also affects my memory." that gives me very bad headaches, and it also affects my memory."
"Those are mere inconveniences," said M. Aristides with a wave of the hand, "but it is an adventure of the spirit you have pa.s.sed the hand, "but it is an adventure of the spirit you have pa.s.sed through, is it not?" through, is it not?"
"It is true," said Hilary slowly, "that I have pa.s.sed through an adventure of the spirit." adventure of the spirit."
She was thinking of a bottle of Vichy water and a little heap of sleeping pills. sleeping pills.
"I have never had that experience," said M. Aristides in his dissatisfied voice. "So many other things, but not that." dissatisfied voice. "So many other things, but not that."
He rose, bowed, said, "Mes homages, Madame," and left her.
Chapter 8.
How alike, Hilary thought to herself, all airports were! They had a strange anonymity about them. They were all at some distance from strange anonymity about them. They were all at some distance from the town or city they served, and in consequence you had a queer, the town or city they served, and in consequence you had a queer, stateless feeling of existing nowhere. You could fly from London to stateless feeling of existing nowhere. You could fly from London to Madrid, to Rome, to Istanbul, to Cairo, to anywhere you liked and if Madrid, to Rome, to Istanbul, to Cairo, to anywhere you liked and if your journey was a through one by air, you would never have the your journey was a through one by air, you would never have the faintest idea of what any of these cities looked like! If you caught a faintest idea of what any of these cities looked like! If you caught a glimpse of them from the air, they were only a kind of glorified map, glimpse of them from the air, they were only a kind of glorified map, something built with a child"s box of bricks. something built with a child"s box of bricks.
And why, she thought vexedly, looking round her, does one always have to be at these places so much too early? have to be at these places so much too early?
They had spent nearly half an hour in the waiting room. Mrs. Calvin Baker, who had decided to accompany Hilary to Marrakesh had Baker, who had decided to accompany Hilary to Marrakesh had been talking non-stop ever since their arrival. Hilary had answered been talking non-stop ever since their arrival. Hilary had answered almost mechanically. But now she realised that the flow had been almost mechanically. But now she realised that the flow had been diverted. Mrs. Baker had now switched her attention to two other diverted. Mrs. Baker had now switched her attention to two other travellers who were sitting near her. They were both tall, fair young travellers who were sitting near her. They were both tall, fair young men. One an American with a broad, friendly grin, the other a men. One an American with a broad, friendly grin, the other a rather solemn looking Dane or Norwegian. The Dane talked heavily, rather solemn looking Dane or Norwegian. The Dane talked heavily, slowly, and rather pedantically in careful English. The American slowly, and rather pedantically in careful English. The American was clearly delighted to find another American traveller. Presently, was clearly delighted to find another American traveller. Presently, in conscientious fashion, Mrs. Calvin Baker turned to Hilary. in conscientious fashion, Mrs. Calvin Baker turned to Hilary.
"Mr -? I"d like to have you know my friend, Mrs. Betterton."
"Andrew Peters - Andy to my friends."
The other young man rose to his feet, bowed rather stiffly and said, "Torquil Ericsson."
"So now we"re all acquainted," said Mrs. Baker happily. "Are we all going to Marrakesh? It"s my friend"s first visit there -" going to Marrakesh? It"s my friend"s first visit there -"
"I, too," said Ericsson. "I, too, for the first time go."
"That goes for me too," said Peters.
The loud speaker was suddenly switched on and a hoa.r.s.e announcement in French was made. The words were barely announcement in French was made. The words were barely distinguishable but it appeared to be their summons to the plane.
There were four pa.s.sengers besides Mrs. Baker and Hilary. Besides Peters and Ericsson, there was a thin, tall Frenchman, and Besides Peters and Ericsson, there was a thin, tall Frenchman, and a severe-looking nun. a severe-looking nun.
It was a clear, sunny day and flying conditions were good. Leaning back in her seat with half closed eyes, Hilary studied her fellow back in her seat with half closed eyes, Hilary studied her fellow pa.s.sengers, seeking to distract herself that way from the anxious pa.s.sengers, seeking to distract herself that way from the anxious questionings which were going on in her mind. questionings which were going on in her mind.
One seat ahead of her, on the other side of the aisle, Mrs. Calvin Baker in her grey travelling costume looked like a plump and Baker in her grey travelling costume looked like a plump and contented duck. A small hat with wings was perched on her blue contented duck. A small hat with wings was perched on her blue hair and she was turning the pages of a glossy magazine. hair and she was turning the pages of a glossy magazine. Occasionally she leaned forward to tap the shoulder of the man Occasionally she leaned forward to tap the shoulder of the man sitting in front of her, who was the cheerful-looking fair young sitting in front of her, who was the cheerful-looking fair young American, Peters. When she did so he turned round, displaying his American, Peters. When she did so he turned round, displaying his good-humoured grin, and responding energetically to her remarks. good-humoured grin, and responding energetically to her remarks. How very good natured and friendly Americans were, Hilary How very good natured and friendly Americans were, Hilary thought to herself. So different from the stiff travelling English. She thought to herself. So different from the stiff travelling English. She could not imagine Miss Hetherington, for instance, falling into easy could not imagine Miss Hetherington, for instance, falling into easy conversation with a young man even of her own nation, on a plane, conversation with a young man even of her own nation, on a plane, and she doubted if the latter would have responded as good- and she doubted if the latter would have responded as good- naturedly as this young American was doing. naturedly as this young American was doing.
Across the aisle from her was the Norwegian, Ericsson.
As she caught his eye, he made her a stiff little bow and leaning across offered her his magazine, which he was just closing. She across offered her his magazine, which he was just closing. She thanked him and took it. In the seat behind him was the thin, dark thanked him and took it. In the seat behind him was the thin, dark Frenchman. His legs were stretched out and he seemed to be Frenchman. His legs were stretched out and he seemed to be asleep. asleep.
Hilary turned her head over her shoulder. The severe-faced nun was sitting behind her, and the nun"s eyes, impersonal, incurious, was sitting behind her, and the nun"s eyes, impersonal, incurious, met Hilary"s with no expression in them. She sat immovable, her met Hilary"s with no expression in them. She sat immovable, her hands clasped. It seemed to Hilary an odd trick of time that a hands clasped. It seemed to Hilary an odd trick of time that a woman in traditional medieval costume should be travelling by air woman in traditional medieval costume should be travelling by air in the twentieth century. in the twentieth century.
Six people, thought Hilary, travelling together for a few hours, travelling to different places with different aims, scattering perhaps travelling to different places with different aims, scattering perhaps at the end of that few hours and never meeting again. She had read at the end of that few hours and never meeting again. She had read a novel which had hinged on a similar theme and where the lives of a novel which had hinged on a similar theme and where the lives of those six people were followed up. The Frenchman, she thought, those six people were followed up. The Frenchman, she thought, must be on a holiday. He seemed so tired. The young American was must be on a holiday. He seemed so tired. The young American was perhaps a student of some kind. Ericsson was perhaps going to perhaps a student of some kind. Ericsson was perhaps going to take up a job. The nun was doubtless bound for her convent. take up a job. The nun was doubtless bound for her convent.
Hilary closed her eyes and forgot her fellow travellers. She puzzled, as she had done all last night, over the instructions that had been as she had done all last night, over the instructions that had been given her. She was to return to England! It seemed crazy! Or could given her. She was to return to England! It seemed crazy! Or could it be that in some way she had been found wanting, was not trusted: it be that in some way she had been found wanting, was not trusted: had failed to supply certain words or credentials that the real Olive had failed to supply certain words or credentials that the real Olive would have supplied. She sighed and moved restlessly. "Well," she would have supplied. She sighed and moved restlessly. "Well," she thought, "I can do no more than I am doing. If I"ve failed - I"ve failed. thought, "I can do no more than I am doing. If I"ve failed - I"ve failed. At any rate, I"ve done my best." At any rate, I"ve done my best."
Then another thought struck her. Henri Laurier had accepted it as natural and inevitable that a close watch was being kept upon her natural and inevitable that a close watch was being kept upon her in Morocco - was this a means of disarming suspicion? With the in Morocco - was this a means of disarming suspicion? With the abrupt return of Mrs. Betterton to England it would surely be abrupt return of Mrs. Betterton to England it would surely be a.s.sumed that she had not come to Morocco in order to "disappear" a.s.sumed that she had not come to Morocco in order to "disappear" like her husband. Suspicion would relax - she would be regarded as like her husband. Suspicion would relax - she would be regarded as a bona fide traveller. a bona fide traveller.
She would leave for England, going by Air France via Paris - and perhaps in Paris - perhaps in Paris - Yes, of course - in Paris. In Paris where Tom Betterton had disappeared. How much easier to stage a disappearance there. disappeared. How much easier to stage a disappearance there. Perhaps Tom Betterton had never left Paris. Perhaps - tired of Perhaps Tom Betterton had never left Paris. Perhaps - tired of profitless speculation Hilary went to sleep. She woke - dozed again, profitless speculation Hilary went to sleep. She woke - dozed again, occasionally glancing without interest, at the magazine she held. occasionally glancing without interest, at the magazine she held. Awakening suddenly from a deeper sleep, she noticed that the Awakening suddenly from a deeper sleep, she noticed that the plane was rapidly losing height and circling round. She glanced at plane was rapidly losing height and circling round. She glanced at her watch, but it was still some time earlier than the estimated time her watch, but it was still some time earlier than the estimated time of arrival. Moreover, looking down through the window, she could of arrival. Moreover, looking down through the window, she could not see any signs of an aerodrome beneath. not see any signs of an aerodrome beneath.
For a moment a faint qualm of apprehension struck her. The thin, dark Frenchman rose, yawned, stretched his arms and looked out dark Frenchman rose, yawned, stretched his arms and looked out and said something in French which she did not catch. But Ericsson and said something in French which she did not catch. But Ericsson leant across the aisle and said, leant across the aisle and said, "We are coming down here, it seems - but why?"
Mrs. Calvin Baker, leaning out of her seat, turned her head and nodded brightly as Hilary said, nodded brightly as Hilary said, "We seem to be landing."
The plane swooped round in ever lower circles. The country beneath them seemed to be practically desert. There were no signs beneath them seemed to be practically desert. There were no signs of houses or villages. The wheels touched with a decided b.u.mp, of houses or villages. The wheels touched with a decided b.u.mp, bouncing along and taxiing until they finally stopped. It had been a bouncing along and taxiing until they finally stopped. It had been a somewhat rough landing, but it was a landing in the middle of somewhat rough landing, but it was a landing in the middle of nowhere. nowhere.
Had something gone wrong with the engine, Hilary wondered, or had they run out of petrol? The pilot, a dark-skinned, handsome had they run out of petrol? The pilot, a dark-skinned, handsome young man, came through the forward door and along the plane. young man, came through the forward door and along the plane.
"If you please," he said, "you will all get out."
He opened the rear door, let down a short ladder and stood there waiting for them all to pa.s.s out. They stood in a little group on the waiting for them all to pa.s.s out. They stood in a little group on the ground, shivering a little. It was chilly here, with the wind blowing ground, shivering a little. It was chilly here, with the wind blowing sharply from the mountains in the distance. The mountains, Hilary sharply from the mountains in the distance. The mountains, Hilary noticed, were covered with snow and singularly beautiful. The air noticed, were covered with snow and singularly beautiful. The air was crisply cold and intoxicating. The pilot descended too, and was crisply cold and intoxicating. The pilot descended too, and addressed them, speaking French: addressed them, speaking French: "You are all here? Yes? Excuse, please, you will have to wait a little minute, perhaps. Ah, no, I see it is arriving." minute, perhaps. Ah, no, I see it is arriving."
He pointed to where a small dot on the horizon was gradually growing nearer. Hilary said in a slightly bewildered voice: growing nearer. Hilary said in a slightly bewildered voice: "But why have we come down here? What is the matter? How long shall we have to be here?" shall we have to be here?"
The French traveller said, "There is, I understand, a station wagon arriving. We shall go on in that." that."
"Did the engine fail?" asked Hilary.
Andy Peters smiled cheerfully.
"Why no, I shouldn"t say so." he said, "the engine sounded all right to me. However, they"ll fix up something of that kind, no doubt." to me. However, they"ll fix up something of that kind, no doubt."
She stared, puzzled. Mrs. Calvin Baker murmured, "My, but it"s chilly, standing about here. That"s the worst of this climate. It seems so sunny but it"s cold the moment you get near climate. It seems so sunny but it"s cold the moment you get near sunset." sunset."
The pilot was murmuring under his breath, swearing, Hilary thought. He was saying something like: thought. He was saying something like: "Toujours des r.e.t.a.r.ds insupportables."
The station wagon came towards them at a break-neck pace. The Berber driver drew up with a grinding of brakes. He sprang down Berber driver drew up with a grinding of brakes. He sprang down and was immediately engaged by the pilot in angry conversation. and was immediately engaged by the pilot in angry conversation. Rather to Hilary"s surprise, Mrs. Baker intervened in the dispute - Rather to Hilary"s surprise, Mrs. Baker intervened in the dispute - speaking in French. speaking in French.
"Don"t waste time," she said peremptorily. "What"s the good of arguing? We want to get out of here." arguing? We want to get out of here."
The driver shrugged his shoulders, and going to the station wagon, he unhitched the back part of it which let down. Inside was a large he unhitched the back part of it which let down. Inside was a large packing case. Together with the pilot and with help from Ericsson packing case. Together with the pilot and with help from Ericsson and Peters, they got it down on to the ground. From the effort it and Peters, they got it down on to the ground. From the effort it took, it seemed to be heavy. Mrs. Calvin Baker put her hand on took, it seemed to be heavy. Mrs. Calvin Baker put her hand on Hilary"s arm and said, as the man began to raise the lid of the case, Hilary"s arm and said, as the man began to raise the lid of the case, "I shouldn"t watch, my dear. It"s never a pretty sight."
She led Hilary a little way away, on the other side of the wagon. The Frenchman and Peters came with them. The Frenchman said in his Frenchman and Peters came with them. The Frenchman said in his own language, "What is it then, this manoeuvre there that they do?"
Mrs. Baker said, "You are Dr. Barron?"
The Frenchman bowed.
"Pleased to meet you," said Mrs. Baker. She stretched out her hand, rather like a hostess welcoming him to a party. Hilary said in hand, rather like a hostess welcoming him to a party. Hilary said in a bewildered tone, a bewildered tone, "But I don"t understand. What is in that case? Why is it better not to look?" look?"
Andy Peters looked down on her consideringly. He had a nice face, Hilary thought. Something square and dependable about it. He Hilary thought. Something square and dependable about it. He said, said, "I know what it is. The pilot told me. It"s not very pretty perhaps, but I guess it"s necessary." He added quietly, "There are bodies in I guess it"s necessary." He added quietly, "There are bodies in there." there."
"Bodies!" She stared at him.
"Oh, they haven"t been murdered or anything," he grinned rea.s.suringly. "They were obtained in a perfectly legitimate way for rea.s.suringly. "They were obtained in a perfectly legitimate way for research - medical research, you know." research - medical research, you know."
But Hilary still stared.
"I don"t understand."
"Ah. You see, Mrs. Betterton, this is where the journey ends. One journey, that is." journey, that is."
"Ends?"