Evening star., 1939-01-21
BY III. G. WELLS.
CHAPTER XIII.
Trial and Error

CHAPTER XIII.
Trial and Error.
Now there came an event which
sent very perceptible quiver
through the quickening conscience
of the reborn world community
This was the sudden death of Bodi-
sham at the age of So. He was
taking summer holiday with his
wife, married son and daughter
in-law and four grandchildren in
the Aland Isles. He was taken Ill
In the night after boating picnic
and, in spite of an Immediate con-
centration of medical skill from all
parts of the world, he died in six
days. His seizure threw Rud into
the greatest perturbation. His first
words when he heard the news were
They've poisoned him." He leaped
to that idea He flew straight to his
older colleague and became a great
nuisance to every one in attendance
upon the sick man, demanding long
interviews with the doctors and in
sisting upon repeated visits to the
sick room.
Thirp, with one or two discreet
looking investigators, followed hot
upon his masters heels and imme-
diately began checking up on the
procedure of the experts in attend
ance. The situation became irritat-
ing for everybody and unfortunately
certain disagreements about dag
nosis and treatment broke out
among the physicians. They quar-
relied among themselves. and in
their desire to discredit each other
upon minor points of procedure they
did something to diScredit them
selves in public opinion.
Dependent on Decisions.
For the first time Rud admitted
to himself and those about him
how much he had been dependent
for his decisions upon Bodisham's S
shrewd advice and how helpless he
would feel without him. He wanted
10 have stimulantS administered so
that he could discuss matters OF
primary Importance that could not
wait" he insisted on talking to the
sinking man.
He must be left in peace" said
the doctors.
But what shall I do?" he de-
manded. He is my right hand.
Right hand do I say? He is the
half of my brain
He commanded the doctor to save
Bodisham at any cost; he was i'm
operative, he would hear of no al
tentative to recovery, and menace
began to mingle with his urgency.
With a gathering dismay they real
lied they were going to be held
responsible if the patient did not
recover. They decided that nothing
should be neglected, disputed there
fore about the minor details OF his
treatment and amidst their indeci-
6ions he died.
Their public trial followed, and it
amazed the new world. The hand
OF the World Director became only
too perceptible in the proceedings.
The dominance of Thirp, he shone
in organizing the evidence, and the
remarkable way in which minor
differences and trivialities were
woven into a charge of malignant
conspiracy, ran entirely contrary to
the spirit of balance and candor
which Norvel's vast system OF adult
education was disseminating through
the new community colleges and the
swelling literature of information
and discussion. The prosecution
was reactionary in temper, albeit it
was undertaken by the Ministry for
the Protection of the Revolution,
and the constitution and procedure
of the court aimed at conviction
from the outset.
His Hatred Flares.
That secret distruSt and hatred OF
doctors common to all mankind had
evidently existed in Rud in an eXag-
Rerated form, and now f1ared out
plainly and conspicuously. These
unfortunate men, gathered from the
most varied sources and having little
in common but their scientific pres
tige, were sentenced, four of them
to death and the rest to indefinite
terms of imprisonment. And being
so sentenced they vanished abruptly
from the public eye.
That sudden black. silent shutter
was even more disconcerting than
the trial and the sentences.
Intelligent men and women all
over the world found themselves
asking: when were they killed?'
How were they killed?" Were
they shot?" And where?" "And
what has become of the others?
There was no answer to any of these
questions. The condemned men had
disappeared. And with curious
discomfort people began to realize
that in this exhilarating, renascent
world Of theirs there existed some
where the organization, the ma
chiner for an invisible, voiceless in
carceration and for the hidden exc
cution of suspected men.
Bodisham's wife appeared transi-
torily in the background of the case
"A very kindly woman" the official
reporters had it then, "a Jewess-
the mother of five admirable chill.
dren." Her intervention availec
1lOGIlulS. 0lic SecLlleu W play III
ambiguous part in the drama be.
cause of her evident pity for the in.
eliminated doctors and her indigna.
ton at the methods of the court.
Two Strands to Every Revolution.
The death of Bodisham marked
q definite change of phase in tht
history of the World Revolution. Ur
to the date of that event it hae
seemed to be one whole process
complex in detail but homogeneou.
in form. Now it began to be plair
that the World Revolution, like all it!
less universal precursors, like ever,
revolution, was woven of two essen.
TALLY distinct strands There was
L. aA..s 49, Il.