Island - Aldous Huxley [29]
“Does Interisland Co-ordination and Co-operation mean that Standard has to be granted a monopoly?”
“Only if Standard’s terms were more advantageous than those of its competitors.”
“In other words,” said the Rani, “only if there’s nobody who will pay us more.”
“Before you came,” Will told her, “I was discussing this subject with Murugan. Southeast Asia Petroleum, I said, will give Pala whatever Standard gives Rendang plus a little more.”
“Fifteen percent more?”
“Let’s say ten.”
“Make it twelve and a half.”
Will looked at her admiringly. For someone who had taken the Fourth Initiation she was doing pretty well.
“Joe Aldehyde will scream with agony,” he said. “But in the end, I feel certain, you’ll get your twelve and a half.”
“It would certainly be a most attractive proposition,” said Mr. Bahu.
“The only trouble is that the Palanese government won’t accept it.”
“The Palanese government,” said the Rani, “will soon be changing its policy.”
“You think so?”
“I KNOW it,” the Rani answered in a tone that made it quite clear that the information had come straight from the Master’s mouth.
“When the change of policy comes, would it help,” Will asked, “if Colonel Dipa were to put in a good word for Southeast Asia Petroleum?”
“Undoubtedly.”
Will turned to Mr. Bahu. “And would you be prepared, Mr. Ambassador, to put in a good word with Colonel Dipa?”
In polysyllables, as though he were addressing a plenary session of some international organization, Mr. Bahu hedged diplomatically. On the one hand, yes; but on the other hand, no. From one point of view, white; but from a different angle, distinctly black.
Will listened in polite silence. Behind the mask of Savonarola, behind the aristocratic monocle, behind the ambassadorial verbiage he could see and hear the Levantine broker in quest of his commission, the petty official cadging for a gratuity. And for her enthusiastic sponsorship of Southeast Asia Petroleum, how much had the royal initiate been promised? Something, he was prepared to bet, pretty substantial. Not for herself, of course, no no! For the Crusade of the Spirit, needless to say, for the greater glory of Koot Hoomi.
Mr. Bahu had reached the peroration of his speech to the international organization. “It must therefore be understood,” he was saying, “that any positive action on my part must remain contingent upon circumstances as, when, and if these circumstances arise. Do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly,” Will assured him. “And now,” he went on with deliberately indecent frankness, “let me explain my position in this matter. All I’m interested in is money. Two thousand pounds without having to do a hand’s turn of work. A year of freedom just for helping Joe Aldehyde to get his hands on Pala.”
“Lord Aldehyde,” said the Rani, “is remarkably generous.”
“Remarkably,” Will agreed, “considering how little I can do in this matter. Needless to say, he’d be still more generous to anyone who could be of greater help.”
There was a long silence. In the distance a mynah bird was calling monotonously for attention. Attention to avarice, attention to hypocrisy, attention to vulgar cynicism…There was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Will called out and, turning to Mr. Bahu, “Let’s continue this conversation some other time,” he said.
Mr. Bahu nodded.
“Come in,” Will repeated.
Dressed in a blue skirt and a short buttonless jacket that left her midriff bare and only sometimes covered a pair of apple-round breasts, a girl in her late teens walked briskly into the room. On her smooth brown face a smile of friendliest greeting was punctuated at either end by dimples. “I’m Nurse Appu,” she began. “Radhu Appu.” Then, catching sight of Will’s visitors, she broke off. “Oh, excuse me, I didn’t know…”
She made a perfunctory knicks to the Rani.
Mr. Bahu, meanwhile, had courteously risen to his feet. “Nurse Appu,” he cried enthusiastically. “My little ministering angel from the Shivapuram hospital. What a delightful surprise!”
For the girl, it was evident