Beyond Bedlam

conscious lives.

'In this normal sleep the critical faculties of the cortex

are paralysed. Meanwhile, the infantile unconscious mind

expands misinterpreted experience into the toxic patterns

of neurosis and psychosis. The conscious mind takes over

at morning, unaware that these infantile motivations have

been cleverly woven into its very structure.

'Sleeping Compound will stop this. There is no uncon-

scious activity after taking this harmless drug. We believe

the Medicorps should at once initiate measures to acclima-

tize every child to its use. In these children, as the

years go by, infantile patterns unable to work during sleep

will fight a losing battle during waking hours with con-

scious patterns accumulating in the direction of adulthood.'

That was all there wasmostly the Medicorps patting its

own back for saving humanity. But if you were in trouble

and called a medicop, you'd risk getting into real trouble.

Conrad became aware of Clara standing in the doorway.

The flush of her disturbed emotions and the pallor of her

fatigue mixed in ragged banners on her cheeks.

Conrad waved the Family Pharmacy with a foolish gesture

of embarrassment.

'Young lady, have you been neglecting to take your sleep-

ing compound?'

Clara turned utterly pale. 'I1 don't understand.'

'You were talking in your sleep.'

'Iwas?'

She came forward so unsteadily that he helped her to a

seat. She stared at him. He asked jovially, 'Who is this 'Bill'

you were so desperately involved with? Have you been having

an affair I don't know about? Aren't my friends good enough

for you?'

The result of this banter was that she alarmingly began to

cry, clutching her robe about her and dropping her blonde

head on her knees and sobbing.

Children cried before they were acclimatized to the drugs,

but Conrad Manz had never in his life seen an adult cry.

Though he had taken his morning drugs and certain disrupt-

ing emotions were already impossible, nevertheless this sight

was completely unnerving.

In gasps between her sobs, Clara was saying, 'Oh, I can't

go back to taking them! But I can't keep this up! I just

can't!'

'Clara, darling, I don't know what to say or do. I think

we ought to call the Medicorps.'

Intensely frightened, she rose and clung to him, begging,

'Oh, no, Conrad, that isn't necessary! It isn't necessary at

all. I've only neglected to take my sleeping compound and it

won't happen again. All I need is a sleeping compound.