"No escape,"repeated the Warden,waving him back into his chair;and as the permit was not yet countersigned,Bernard had no choice but to obey."Those who are born in the Reservation-and remember,my dear young lady,"he added,leering obscenely at Lenina,and speaking in an improper whisper,"remember that,in the Reservation,children still are born,yes,actually born,revolting as that may seem……"(He hoped that this reference to a shameful subject would make Lenina blush;but she only smiled with simulated intelligence and said,"You don't say so!"Disappointed,the Warden began again.)"Those,I repeat,who are born in the Reservation are destined to die there."
Destined to die……A decilitre of eau-de-Cologne every minute.Six litres an hour."Perhaps,"Bernard tried again,"we ought……"
Leaning forward,the Director tapped the table with his forefinger."You ask me how many people live in the Reservation.And I reply"-triumphantly-"I reply that we do not know.We can only guess."
"You don't say so."
"My dear young lady,I do say so."
Six times twenty-four-no,it would be nearer six times thirty-six.Bernard was pale and trembling with impatience.But inexorably the booming continued.
"……about sixty thousand Indians and half-breeds……absolute savages……our inspectors occasionally visit……otherwise,no communication whatever with the civilized world……still preserve their repulsive habits and customs……marriage,if you know what that is,my dear young lady;families……no conditioning……monstrous superstitions……Christianity and totemism and ancestor worship……extinct languages,such as Zuai and Spanish and Athapascan……pumas,porcupines and other ferocious animals……infectious diseases……priests……venomous lizards……"
"You don't say so?"
They got away at last.Bernard dashed to the telephone.Quick,quick;but it took him nearly three minutes to get on to Helmholtz Watson."We might be among the savages already,"he complained."Damned incompetence!"
"Have a gramme,"suggested Lenina.
He refused,preferring his anger.And at last,thank Ford,he was through and,yes,it was Helmholtz;Helmholtz,to whom he explained what had happened,and who promised to go round at once,at once,and turn off the tap,yes,at once,but took this opportunity to tell him what the DHC had said,in public,yesterday evening……
"What?He's looking out for someone to take my place?"Bernard's voice was agonized."So it's actually decided?Did he mention Iceland?You say he did?Ford!Iceland……"He hung up the receiver and turned back to Lenina.His face was pale,his expression utterly dejected.
"What's the matter?"she asked.
"The matter?"He dropped heavily into a chair."I'm going to be sent to Iceland."