Alongside Night(30)

Elliot’s contract did not discuss what services Elliot was to receive from the Cadre; it was concerned with procedural matters, Cadre security requirements, and limits on liabilities relating to damages Elliot might do the Cadre and vice versa. In essence, Elliot had agreed to “rules of the establishment”

and granted them the right to lock him up for certain specified periods (never over six months) to give them time to reroute should he endanger any Cadre secrets. In return, the Cadre were betting him that he had a fat chance of ever getting his hands on such information in the first place; if he had learned the information unintentionally, they agreed to pay him for the time.

After the contract signing, Elliot’s palm print was recorded, his picture taken, and both were duplicated onto the photo- Alongside Night 103

identification badge he was issued, the palm print as significant data on a magnetic strip embedded inside the card. Then certain signals were recorded by which Elliot could identify himself to the Cadre and other allies from remote locations; he chose QUEEN TAKES PAWN, MATE and DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING FOR

CLOGGED SINUSES?

Finally, he clipped the badge to his jacket and emerged from registration. Mr. Harper was chatting with the two security men in the security alcove when Elliot came out; since Elliot had last seen him, Harper had changed into more casual attire, and his hair was damp. “Ah, there you are.”

“Have I kept you waiting?”

“Not a bit. I was just up to the sauna awhile. Cleansed out the poisons of modern living.

“There’s a sauna here?”

“On the fourth floor,” said Harper. “Also a steam bath—

though I find them uncomfortable—a sun room, swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, and gymnasium.”

“Well. A regular YMCA.”

Harper smiled as if Elliot’s remark had sparked a hilarious memory. “You look tired,” he said. “Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”

They walked past more offices, soon reaching an elevator; the control panel showed ten floors. Harper told Elliot to observe as he unclipped his photo badge, inserting it into a slot on the control panel; Harper then pressed three. After the doors closed, Elliot asked him, “When will I be meeting Merce Rampart?”

Harper looked at Elliot quizzically. “You won’t.”

Elliot started to protest, then changed his mind.

“Any other hoops I have to jump through?” he asked.

“Just enjoy your self and keep out of mischief. You’ll find this complex well designed to both ends.”

After the elevator doors opened, Harper reclaimed his badge, 104

Alongside Night

leading Elliot down a hall to a door marked “316.” He explained that his door had been preset for Elliot’s photo badge only. The room looked like any commercial lodging: double bed, dresser, desk, Picturephone, video wallscreen, and full bath. Its only unusual features, so far as Elliot could see, were its lack of windows and the addition of a stripped-down computer station otherwise identical to the ones in registration. Mr. Harper explained that the station could provide everything from a commodities report to Aurora’s commissary menu, and would be activated by the insertion of a badge.

“You mentioned something about a Grand Tour?” Elliot asked.

Harper smiled. “Oh, that was just my little joke. In any proper utopia you’re always given the Grand Tour. You know: ‘Here is the food-production facility. It produces three times the food of the old, reactionary system, with just one third the effort!”

“I take it this isn’t a proper utopia?”

“I’m afraid not. You’ll have to muddle along on your own. But it’s close to midnight. Aren’t you tired?”

Elliot shook his head. “I’ve been pretty keyed up lately.”

“Well, I am,” said Harper. “Suppose we get together for breakfast. Say nine thirty?”

Elliot nodded.

“Good. If you need me, the commandant will know where to find Ben Goldman.” He paused a moment. “By the way, what alias have you chosen?”

“Joseph Rabinowitz,” Elliot answered puckishly. Harper was amused. “In that case,” he said, leaving, “sha- lom.”

After Harper had gone, Elliot waited a few moments, then tried his door from the inside. It opened. Well, he thought, for the time being I’m a guest, not a prisoner. He decided to find out how far that went, punching Operator on his Picturephone and asking for an outside line.

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105

The commandant informed him that he was not cleared for outside communication.

Well, mostly a guest.

Elliot decided to take the Grand Tour on his own, starting at the bottom and working his way up.