"You were expected to worm your way into their circles, to feel them
out. To contact their own underground, if one exists. To ferret out
definite information on how they would react if we began definite
changes in the _status quo_ here."
Joe continued to nod.
Holland was increasingly irritated. "Then why, good heavens, do you
say your mission was unnecessary?"
"Because they had already sent a mission over here to contact us," Joe
told him, evenly.
Had he suddenly got up from his chair, walked up the wall, across the
ceiling, then down the other wall, they could not have stared at him
the more.
The telly-mike on Phil Holland's desk squeaked something, and he took
time enough to snap, "No. I told you, Miss Mikhail, I was not to be
disturbed by _anyone_."
But Joe said, "If that's Colonel Lajos Arpad, I suggest you have him
in. I took the liberty of phoning him and asking that he meet us
here."
Frank Hodgson was the first to recover. "Arpad! That spy! I've just
about gathered enough dope on him to have him declared _persona non
grata_ and ship him back to Budapest."
"As I was shipped back to Greater Washington," Joe said dryly.
"Colonel Arpad and I seem to duplicate each other's activities in
almost everything."
Phil Holland said crisply into the communicator, "Ask the colonel to
come in, Miss Mikhail."
* * * * *
Ever the correct Sov-world officer, Colonel Arpad came to attention
immediately upon entering the room, clicked heels, bowed from the
waist. Except for Joe Mauser, none of them had met him, but he
evidently knew all, greeting them by name.
The men had come to their feet. Joe said, "Meet Colonel Lajos Arpad,
high in the ranks of the Sov-world Party, and at present on secret
mission from the Sov-world underground revolutionary organization."
Joe ended up wryly. "His mission being to determine what action the
West-world might take if the secret group which has determined to make
basic changes in the Sov-world socio-economic system was to take
action."
It was the Hungarian who stared now. His eyes bored into Joe's face.
"I do not, of course, admit that, Major Mauser. But where in the
world did you receive that strange opinion?"
Joe sat down again. The blood he had lost still bothered him, and he
tired easily.
He said, "From Colonel Kossuth, in Budapest. Another high ranking
member of your group." Joe's eyes went back to Holland and Hodgson.
Quick minded these two might be, but they were being asked to
assimilate some shocking information.
Joe brought it all out. "I don't know why it didn't occur to any of us
that the problems of the West-world and those of the Sov-world, at
long last have become similar, almost identical. Both, following
different paths, have achieved the affluent society, so called. But in
doing it, both managed to inflict upon themselves a caste system that
perpetuated itself, eventually to the detriment of progress. In the
past, revolutions used to be accomplished by the masses, pushed beyond
the point of endurance. A starving lower class, trying to change the
rules of society so as to realize a better life. But now, in neither
West nor in the Sov-world are there any starving. The majority of
Lowers and Proletarians are well clothed, fed and housed, and bemused
by fracases and trank pills, or their equivalent over there."
Joe shrugged, the weariness growing. Possibly Nadine had been right,
he shouldn't have traveled so soon. "The best elements in both
countries have finally realized that changes must be made. These
elements, the more capable, more competent, more intelligent, already
_are running_ each country though they are not necessarily Uppers or
Party members. Phil Holland here, supposedly a Middle secretary to the
Foreign Minister, actually has performed that worthy's work for
several administrations. Frank Hodgson is the working head of the
Bureau of Investigation, though only a Middle. I assume a similar
situation prevails in Budapest."