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The Dean usually chose the day of a Tutor's Dinner to review a Tutor's students. 'You
have them and their parents on your mind.' The Dean smiled grimly. He was a humorless,
intimidating man, given to preaching and machine-like in his devotion to the cause and the
Pastor admired him greatly. 'Though I understand we all have other things on our minds
today. If Passareil doesn't come to your little gathering it'll be a good sign, eh? Still, then
you'd be disappointed at not meeting him.' 'I look at it this way,' said Williams awkwardly, trying not to show his ignorance of the subject to which the Dean was referring. 'Whatever happens, I win.' 'You've never met him, have you? 'The Dean rapped the table reflectively, not unhappy to rub in his subordinates deficiency, 'a good man. The best. We could do worse that begin with his daughter, I suppose, that is unless you want to discuss any of the men? Let's see, four at the front, three in Service functions in the Golden Lands.' 'They could almost have come this evening.' Williams vented a pet peeve. 'While the War is on there will be no impression of greater privileges for some while! You know that as well as I, Williams.' 'I am simply concerned for their welfare.' The Pastor shrugged uncomfortably at the Dean's irritation. It took very little to get Dean Wilson going. 'Your primary concern is the welfare of the State,' said the Dean even more irritably. He stood up and gazed out of the window behind his back thus ignoring the Pastor. 'That is the function of a Moral Tutor, is it not? Standards of morality have undergone drastic changes in the last two hundred years. These were the inevitable consequence of the blindness of past ages. The Moral Tutor is in the forefront of the struggle to sustain them. He must be an older, more experienced friend, available to clarify inconsistencies in a young person's thought and resolve difficulties in a manner consistent with the most modern attitudes. And the first priority is to weed out the dissident. Usually they are just cranks, easily detected and removed. But the great danger is that dissidents may appear in the very heart of Society itself - in other words this University. Then, when all seems nearly won, all may yet be lost. We can't afford a single dissident here!' He turned accusingly to face the Pastor, as if his charges were persons seething with dissention. 'They must be rooted out! How do you propose to root them out, Williams?' 'They will betray themselves by their abnormal behavior,' said Williams, who though he had heard this speech often before, never ceased to be terrified by the prospect that one of these dreadful creatures would in fact be detected within his ranks. 'Of course they will!' The Dean smiled triumphantly and sat down, continuing reflectively, ' ours is not a society which condones individualism!. There will always be differences among students of course but we must strive to minimize these as far as possible. It is a fact that people are born with minds and they will use them to conceal their devious ways. Nevertheless, eventually, to be effective, the dissident requires followers. What course of action do you, as these students Moral Tutor, follow to ensure the safety of your flock?' 'I hold regular meetings with the students, I meet with the parents, I...I set and example...' 'How do YOU set them an example, Williams?' 'I invite them to my home, I... ' 'I suppose you consider your home meets all the necessary criteria?' 'Of course it does!' The Pastor grew a trifle flustered. 'I have a healthy, vigorous family life, I have two children..' 'Perhaps, you're getting fat, Williams. Spiritually, I mean. What would you consider to the basis of acceptable moral behavior?' 'A strong religious background, of course.' 'Supposing you uncovered a potential dissident. What course of action would you take?' 'If I suspected there was cause I would discuss the matter with my superiors and they, that is you, Dean, if you felt the case was appropriate would carry the matter further.' 'I take it you don't have any suspected dissidents in your group just now?' 'I do not!' said the Pastor most indignantly. 'Good!' The Dean smiled brightly. 'In that case there's nothing to prevent us from going speedily through your list. Confidentially, I have it unofficially that there will be periods when the War slows down if for no other reason than shortages in supply. We can expect the first of these at Christmas. Then we must remember to keep a watchful eye out for, as you know, our history shows that the most likely source of dissidents is those returning from the War. Now, with respect to the Passareil girl...' |
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