separately. Perhaps that was a symptom of weariness, and perhaps it indicated that he was on the way to giving up – but after Yellinek and his three pale slaves, what could one expect?
He located the right place on the tape, and started it running.
VV:
Would you like to tell me your names – speak loudly so that you can be heard on the tape.
BM:
Belle Moulder.
CH:
Clarissa Heerenmacht.
VV:
Do you know why I want to speak to you?
[Silence. Van Veeteren remembered that the girls had exchanged glances before they both shook their heads in unison.]
VV:
I’m from the police. It’s about that girl who’s disappeared from the camp. Can you tell me what happened?
BM:
Nobody’s disappeared.
CH:
Everybody’s been here all the time.
VV:
How many of you are there?
CH:
Twelve.
VV:
But there were thirteen to start with, weren’t there?
[Short pause.]
BM:
There’s been twelve of us all the time. Stop trying to trick us.
VV:
All right, if you say so. Can you tell me a bit about what you do here during the day?
CH:
We do all sorts of things.
VV:
Such as?
BM:
We go swimming, play games. We have discussion classes and group work and so on.
VV:
You like being here?
BM:
Yes.
CH:
It’s a really fab camp.
BM:
Lots of people think we do lots of strange things here at Waldingen, but we don’t in fact.
VV:
What do people think you do?
BM:
I’ve no idea. But we have a great time anyway. We learn lots of terrific things.
VV:
Really. Can you give me a few examples?
BM:
Well, we learn what’s important in life, how to live together with others, and things like that.
CH:
How to be a good person, and have a pure soul.
VV:
And how do you get a pure soul?
CH:
You get rid of all wicked thoughts.
VV:
How do you do that?
CH:
There are lots of ways. You have to be really, really careful – there’s evil everywhere.
BM:
We’re not supposed to talk about things like this.
CH:
No…
VV:
But I’m interested in learning.
BM:
Then you should talk to Yellinek.
VV:
Why?
BM:
It’s not good for us to talk about these things. We are learning important things, and you come from the Other World.
VV:
The Other World?
BM:
Yes.
VV:
What’s that?
BM:
The Other World is everything that isn’t the Pure Life.
VV:
You don’t say. And how long have you been members of this church?
CH:
How long? Er, forever.
BM:
Since we were very little, at least.
VV:
So your parents are also members, are they?
BM:
Of course. Our brothers and sisters as well. We’re sort of chosen.
VV:
I see. How old are you?
BM:
