trusts to conceal their true source. And they financed Billie's work.'
'How did she feel about that?'
'We fought about it I said it was wrong, the CIA was planning to brainwash people. She said that all scientific knowledge could be used for good or evil, she was doing invaluable research and she didn't care who paid the bill.'
'Is that why you divorced?'
'Sort of. I was writing a radio show called Detective Story, but I wanted to get into movies. In 1952 I wrote a screenplay about a secret government agency that brainwashed unsuspecting citizens. Jack Warner bought it. But I didn't tell Billie.'
'Why not?'
'I knew the CIA would get the film cancelled.'
'They can do that''
You bet your goddamn life.'
'So what happened?'
'The movie came out in 1953. Frank Sinatra played the nightclub singer who witnesses a political murder, then has his memory wiped by a secret process. Joan Crawford played his manager. It was a huge hit my career was made 'I was deluged with big-money offers from the studios.'
'And Billie?'
'I took her to the premiere.'
'I guess she was angry.'
He smiled ruefully. 'She went ape. She said I'd used confidential information that I got from her. She was sure the CIA would withdraw her funding, ruin her research. It was the end of our marriage.'
'That's what Billie meant when she said you had a conflict of values.'
'She's right She should have married you 'I never really understood why she didn't'
Luke's heart missed a beat. He was curious to know why Bern had said that But he postponed the question. 'Anyway, to return to 1953,I assume the CIA didn't cut off her funding.'
'No.' Bern looked bitterly angry. 'They destroyed my career instead.'
'How?'
'I was subjected to a loyalty investigation. Of course, I had been a communist, right up until the end of the war, so I made an easy target. I was blacklisted in Hollywood, and I couldn't even get back my old job in radio.'
'What was Anthony's role in that''
'He did his best to protect me, Billie said, but he was overruled.' Bern frowned. 'After what you've just told me, I wonder if that was true.'
'What did you do?'
'I had a couple of bad years, then I thought of The Terrible Twins.'
Luke raised an eyebrow.
'It's a series of children's books.' He pointed to a bookcase. The bright jackets made a splash of colour. You've read them, as it happens - to your sister's kid.'
Luke was pleased he had a nephew or niece - or maybe several. He liked the idea of reading aloud to them.
There was so much he had to learn about himself He waved a hand at the expensive apartment. 'The books must be successful.'
Bern nodded. 'I wrote the first story under a pseudonym, and used an agent who was sympathetic to the victims of the McCarthy witch-hunt. The book was a big bestseller, and I've written two a year ever since.'
Luke got up and took a book from the shelf. He read:
Which is stickier, honey or melted chocolate? The twins had to know. That was why they did the experiment that made Mom so mad.
He smiled. He could imagine children loving this stuff. Then he felt sad. 'Elspeth and I don't have any kids.'
'I don't know why,' Bern said. 'You always-wanted a family so badly.'
'We tried, but it didn't happen.' Luke closed the book. 'Am I happily married?'
Bern sighed. 'Since you ask, no.'
'Why?
'Something was wrong, but you didn't know what you called me one time, to ask my advice, but I couldn't help you.'
'A few minutes ago, you said Billie should have married me.'
You two used to be nuts about each other.'
'So what happened?'
'I don't really know. After the war, you had a big quarrel. I'm not too sure what it was about.'
I'll have to ask Billie.'
'I guess.'
Luke put the book back on the shelf. 'Anyway, now I understand why you didn't react with total incredulity to my story.'
Yes,' Bern said. 'I believe Anthony did this.'
'But can you imagine why?'
'I don't have the slightest idea.'
.
8 P. M.
If temperature variations are higher than expected, it is possible that the germanium transistors will overheat, the mercury batteries will freeze, and the satellite will fail to transmit data back to Earth.
Billie sat at her dressing-table, freshening her make-up. She thought her eyes were her best feature, and she always did them carefully, with black eyeliner, grey eye shadow, and a little mascara. She left the bedroom door open, and she could hear television gunfire downstairs: Larry and Becky-Ma were watching Wagon Tram.
She did not feel like a date tonight The events of the day had stirred up strong passions. She was angry about not getting the job she wanted, bewildered by what Anthony had done, and confused and threatened to find that the old chemistry between herself and Luke was as powerful and dangerous as ever. She found herself reviewing her relationships with Anthony, Luke, Bern and Harold, wondering whether she had made the right decisions in life. After all that had happened, the prospect of spending the evening watching the Kraft Theater on TV with Harold seemed insipid, fond of him though she was.
The phone rang.
She jumped up from her stool and crossed the room to the extension by the bed, but Larry had already picked up in the hallway. She heard Anthony's voice say: 'This is the CIA, Washington is about to be invaded by an army of bouncing cabbages.'
Larry giggled. 'Uncle Anthony, it's you!'
'If you are approached by a cabbage do riot, repeat, do not attempt to reason with it'
'A cabbage can't talk!'
'The only way to deal with them is to beat them to death with sliced bread.'
You're making this up!' Larry laughed.
Billie said: Anthony, I'm on the extension.'
Anthony said: 'Get your jammies on, Larry, okay?'
'Okay,' said Larry. He hung up.
Anthony's voice changed. 'Billie?'
'Here.'
You wanted me to call urgently. I gather you chewed out the duty officer.'
Yeah. Anthony, what the hell are you up to?'
You'll have to ask me a more specific question-'
'Don't screw around for Christ's sake. I could tell you were lying last time we spoke, but I didn't know what the truth was then. Now I do. I know what you did to Luke at my hospital last night'
