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They were also conscious； but this was never mentioned； that if they didn't cooperate； they would never again get another chance to 〃get cured〃 at Relax Island。 Also…although this； too； was never even hinted at…if they weren't agreeable； somebody might forget to renew their free supply of pot。
What was discussed amongst themselves and to others quite freely was that； as members of high society； they had a positive duty to use their positions…and their husbands…to do good。 It didn't have a spoken name but they were all members of a very exclusive club made up entirely of those fortunate enough to have been 〃enlightened〃 at Relax Island。
Madison had had a little trouble with Crobe。 He had sneaked an extra dose of LSD into himself outside his rationing and two roustabouts had had to stand him up in alternate hot and cold showers to bring him around。
He stood now on the lecture platform； aware that he would get a small jolt through his hidden electric collar if he goofed up； and steadied himself against the desk。
〃Ladies；〃 he said； repeating what the ear speaker told him to； 〃you are aware that as the chosen inner circle of the enlightened few； your。。。 your social。。。 social position has responsibilities。 The society we live in is。。。 is unfortunately a cesspool of unrestrained insanity and monstrous abuses。 Lurking； hidden； out of sight。。。 out of sight from mon and unenlightened view； the brains of men。。。 seethe with lusts and ferocity unimagined。 It frightens me to see the dangers to which this society is exposed and how ill it。。。 it。。。 it handles them。 It requires stern measures louder it requires STERN MEASURES！〃 He took a deep breath and steadied himself with his fingers against the desk top。
〃Lean forward。 There is a case so monstrous； would you know it； that I do not even describe it to you lean back and stop。 You are； after all； gently nurtured ladies and I must not speak of it lest I offend your ears don't go on。〃
〃No； no；〃 cried Lady Arthrite Stuffy in the front row； well aware of her position as the leader of this select group。 〃Go on； go on！ Do not be afraid to offend our ears。〃
〃Oh； yes； go on！〃 came others' calls。
〃Look as though you need coaxing；〃 said Crobe。
〃We don't need coaxing！〃 cried a woman。 〃Tell us！〃
〃Go ahead。 Well； this case； ladies； is so shout it vile that you will cringe。 It is a singular and notable case。 It is so notable that it falls totally outside the Freudian band of psychosexual pathology！〃
〃No！〃 came several cries。
〃The case；〃 said Crobe； 〃is not anal。 It is not oral。 It is not genital！ It is not even latent！ Shout a monster。〃
The women looked appalled。
Crobe sat down suddenly in a chair。 〃A woman has e forward to describe this case as an eyewitness。 Introduce her。〃
Meeley came forward timidly to the platform。 Then took confidence from the expectant female faces。 〃What he says；〃 said Meeley； 〃is true。 I was his landlady。 He never had women in his room。 He closed the door when he went to the bathroom。 He never spoke properly to anyone。 When he wasn't sneaking in and out； he was lurking in the dirt and filth of his room。 There is no describing his obscene and awful thoughts。 He also plotted day and night to get me executed just because I used to smile at him and wish him good day。 When he skipped out we could find no one to occupy his room。 It had such an awful reputation that it is empty yet！〃 She broke down sobbing and an usher led her off。
Then came Ske。 〃I was；〃 he said； 〃his long…suffering driver。 The deprivations I experienced during that unhappy period of my life have left a brand upon me so deep that my very soul is seared。 He used to sit in the airbus trying to hide the grinding of his teeth。 And for my faithful service he tried to get me executed。 I cannot describe the obscenities that surrounded him！〃 He broke down as coached and fled the platform。
Old Bawtch came forward。 〃I was his chief clerk and it ruined my life。 The murders and crimes of this man； strung end to end； would reach half across the universe。
The insane things he did culminated in orders to take my life。〃
He left the platform。 Crobe； somewhat revived； stood up。 〃Now； ladies； you can plainly see that insanity rages。 The diagnosis of this case is so monstrous that in all the annals of psychiatry there has never been one like it。 I have simply look calm and professorial brought up the case to show you how the claws of insanity have dug into the very depths of our culture look like that's the end。〃
〃Wait！〃 cried Lady Arthrite。 〃Who is this case and where is he？〃
〃Look toward the door。 Is the man who informed me of this case still here？〃
〃Yes；〃 said an usher promptly。
An actor dressed as a warder of the Royal prison came in reluctantly。 He was wearing a mask。 〃Doctor Crobe；〃 he said； 〃I told you about this case for the good of the society。 If it got out that I had informed you of what the government is doing； it could cause me to lose my job。〃
〃Tell them tell them they will all regard your identity as inviolate。〃
The actor turned。 〃The man is being held in the Royal prison to avoid his being brought to trial。 He sits in his cell； protected。 What is feared is that if he ever was put before a judge； the things he would divulge would shake the government to its very foundations。 Even if they tried him； it would be done in secret。 What we warders fear is that he will be released upon the society through a back door and strew the streets with the gruesomely mangled bodies of the poor and innocent。 While I know naught of your psychiatry； from just viewing him in his cell； I would say that； in a long career of handling malefactors； he is easily the worst I have ever seen。 He defies all descriptions！ Yet THEY are hiding and defending him。〃
〃What is his name？〃 said Lady Arthrite Stuffy in an enraged voice。
〃His name；〃 said the actor； 〃is Soltan Gris！〃
Chapter 6
Like a maestro conducting a vast orchestra； J。 Walter Madison went to work on Soltan Gris。
The highest social circles of Voltar were buzzing about the scandal and； quite in addition to demands from their wives； publishers and editors could not turn anywhere without colliding with the outrage。
The first headlines read：
MYSTERIOUS PRISONER
HIDDEN BY AUTHORITIES
And this was quickly followed up with：
WHO IS THE
GOVERNMENT REFUSING
TO BRING TO TRIAL？
And then：
IDENTITY REVEALED！
PRISONER IS
APPARATUS OFFICER
SOLTAN GRIS！
Quickly then； edition after edition and day after day； the documented catalogue of the crimes of Apparatus Officer Soltan Gris began to appear； each one juicier than the last。
They began with：
APPARATUS OFFICER
GRIS ILLEGALLY
EXPORTED METALS
Immediately after that：
APPARATUS OFFICER
GRIS ORDERED MURDER
OF OWN OFFICE HEAD
AND CLERKS
And then：
APPARATUS OFFICER
ORDERS MURDER OF
MOTHER OF
DEFENSELESS BOY
And a picture of the sobbing Twolah and faked photos of his mother's body and funeral began to send ripples of rage through the population。
It was at this time that Lord Turn received a viewer…phone call from no less a social leader than Lady Arthrite Stuffy。
〃Lord Turn；〃 said Lady Arthrite； 〃I do not think you realize that public opinion is growing。 WHEN are you going to bring that pr