The Book And The Brotherhood

`Mention an essential point.'

`Well, do you believe in parliamentary democracy?'

`No’

`What do you think about terrorism?'

Crimond continued to stare. Then he said, 'My dear Hernshaw, if we are to have a discussion it can't go ^on like this.'

‘Perhaps it need not go on any further,' said Gerard. 'You say you don't believe in democracy and don't answer about terrorism. That's enough to make clear -'

' That you can not be reassured.'

‘Look, I'm sorry I asked you to come like this. Of course there^'s nothing to be argued about. We said we'd support you and we will, and you are quite right to point out that we can hardly complain now! I won't keep you. I'm very sorry.'

Gerard made a movement as to rise, but as Crimond did not move he sat back in his chair. Crimond said, 'You want to know what the book's about. I'm prepared to say something about it, why not. We could have some discussion.'

Gerard hesitated. He had composed a reasonably peaceful face – saving end to this uncomfortable scene. Did he really want to talk to Crimond? `Yes, all right.'

Crimond settled back. 'Well, you start then, ask questions, to get things going.'

'You said you didn't believe in parliamentary democracy. Why not?'

Crimond had opened his notebook and was leaning forward. He said after a moment, 'That's not the right question. I can’t answer that now, later perhaps. It needs more background. Try again.'

' Do you belong to any political party?'

'No.'

'To any section, pressure group, secret society, militant movement, that kind of thing?'

‘If it was secret I would be unlikely to tell you – but no, I don't belong to any group of that sort.'

‘You're a lone wolf?'

'Yes – now.'

'You did belong-? Why did you leave?'

'Because of the book. I didn't want to waste time arguing with people who understood nothing.'

Gerard was beginning to relax. He thought, it's all right after all, it is a philosophical book, it's a harmless theoretical work. We've been making a fuss about nothing. 'So it's a theoretical book?'

'Of course.'

'Would you still call yourself a Marxist?'

'Yes. But that doesn't give much information these days.'

`You're a revisionist?'

'I'm not a Stalinist if that's what that question means I’m not a Leninist either. I don't like the term revisionist. I'm in the Marxist stream.'

'Whom do you follow?'

'Follow?'

'Well, whose views do you discuss in the book, whom do you endorse?'

'No one.'

'You mean it's detached, it's a sort of history of ideas? I'm glad to hear that -'

'Any book about politics mentions past ideas, Hegel, Marx and Lenin mention past ideas.'

'You'd call it a political book?'

'Yes, of course!'

'But whose politics?'

'My politics!'

'You mean it's an original book of political philosophy,

'It's an original book,' said Crimond in an exasperated tone. 'Do you imagine I'd work like a demon for years and years just to mull over somebody else's thoughts? These are my thoughts, my analyses, my prophecies, my programme.'

'So it's not a philosophy book?'

'How weird your categories are! It's philosophy, if you like-but what does that mean – it's thinking, and it's a programme of action. That's its point.'

'So it's like a very long pamphlet?'

'No. It's not a long simplification. It's about everything.'

'Everything?'

'Everything except Aristotle. I regard him as an unfortunate interlude, now happily over.'

'We can agree on that.' Gerard ventured a faint smile, but Crimond was glaring at the surface of the table which he was beginning to scratch intently with his finger nail. Gerard decided not to stop him. 'But, Crimond, if, as you say, you've cut yourself ofrfrom ordinary practical politics and become a lone wolf, how can you talk about a programme of action? You claim to be a Marxist, so you know that politics is very fine work, you've got to be inside it all the time, pushing and pulling, to get anything done at all. Or do you imagine that you can institute a revolution by propounding a theory?'

Crimond stopped scratching the table and stared at Gerard with his blue eyes wide open and his thin mouth thrust forward. His long nose, his whole face, pointed fiercely at Gerard. Perhaps he's really a bit mad, Gerard wondered, I never seriously thought that before. As Crimond did not answer his question Gerard went on, speaking quietly and paciently. 'A reflective book can be very valuable and can do more good. So if what you call your 'programme' is all wrapped up in ideas, so much the better.'

'Hernshaw,' said Crimond, 'I am not, as you seem to imagine, mad, I am not a megalomaniac -'

'All right!'

'I just happen to believe that I am writing a very important book.’

The door of the dining room opened abruptly and Patricia put her head in, then entered. 'Hello, you two, would you like some coffee?'

'No, thanks,' said Gerard, then to Crimond, 'would you? No? Pat, you remember Crimond, you met ages ago I think. My sister Patricia.'

Crimond, who had risen, and clearly did not remember her, bowed slightly.

‘Or tea, or some sherry? Or biscuits?'

'No. Pat dear, do leave us alone!'

The door closed. Crimond sat down. Gerard was wondering what thread to pick up when Crimond, who had returned to inspecting the table, threw back his head and ruffled up his reddish hair and said, 'I gather you've retired, what are you going to do?'

'Write,' said Gerard, irritated by Crimond's brusque tone.

‘What about?'

‘Plotinus.'

'Why? You're not a historian, and you can hardly call youself a philosopher. You probably stopped thinking long ago. What you did in the civil service wasn't thinking, you could do that job in your sleep. Thinking is agony. Your book on Plotinus will turn out to be an article on Porphyry.'

`We'll see,' said Gerard, determined to keep his temper. Was there going to be a row after all?

'Do you believe in God?'

'Of course not!' said Gerard.

`You do, you know. You've felt superior all your life. You think you're saved by the Idea of the Good just because you know about it. The planet goes down in flames but you and your friends feel secure. You attach too much importance to friendship.'

'If this is to become a slanging match it had better end here. I wanted to get an impression of you and your book, and I've got it.'