Tomorrow Is Too Far Read Free Page B

Pebbles.’
    Savage had been watching Carson’s face while he spoke but suddenly he looked down at his plate. From experience Carson knew that the personnel officer was not avoiding his eyes through embarrassment or guilt or because he was about to tell a lie--Savage was not that kind of man. It was just that when a person or thing offended him he tried not to look at it. Carson, apparently, had become offensive.
    ‘This seems to be my week,’ he said finally, ‘for being asked unofficial questions about Mr Pebbles. What do you want to know, and whose side are you on?’
    ‘I don’t know to both questions,’ Carson replied. ‘I’d just like to know what all the fuss is about.’
    Savage nodded and looked up. He said, ‘His name is John Pebbles. Unmarried. Age about thirty. Medically fit but mentally somewhat retarded. We accepted him because it is company policy to employ a proportion of disabled persons on our work force. For the past three years he has been doing odd jobs, mostly fetching and carrying and sweeping floors in various factories. Now he has applied for a clerical position in another department and unless something happens to mess things up for him the grapevine says he’ll get it.’
    ‘I see,’ said Carson. ‘Is his present job difficult or unpleasant ...?’
    ‘Let’s say it lacks status,’ said Silverman, laughing as he joined them. Savage stared silently at the remains of his steak.
    ‘Seriously, Bill,’ Silverman went on, ‘you really should go a bit easier on your “Opportunities for Advancement” speech when you’re processing new employees--especially an obvious half-wit like Pebbles. Probably you feel sorry for him and would like to see him get on. The feeling does you credit, but let’s face it, Bill, Pebbles is not quite right in the head. You are in danger of making a simple-minded, basically happy man thoroughly discontented and unhappy ...’
    Silverman was fairly radiating sincerity, but he rather spoiled the effect by addressing Carson as if he were a member of a jury, rather than Savage.
    ‘ ... With me he is doing a job well within his capabilities. Now, that is. In the early days he pulled some really stupid stunts like trying to ride an electric truck down two flights of stairs just because some other nitwit dared him to do it. Only I was sorry for him and he had managed to make friends in high places who asked me to let him stay … ‘
    ‘Who,’ said Carson suddenly, ‘asked you to let him stay?’
    Silverman became less genial at being put off his stride. ‘Oh, Tillotson, Reece, a couple of people from the design office--until then I didn’t know they knew he existed. Maybe they were sorry for him, too, or maybe he isn’t as half-witted as he pretends. He certainly isn’t grateful--I gave him the job in the first place, kept him when he didn’t know left from right, trained him until he has become completely dependable and now I’m going to lose one of my best men because you, Bill, are too soft-hearted to treat men the way they should be treated in a big organisation like this, as productive units to be deployed with the greatest possible efficiency.
    ‘You know, Bill,’ Silverman ended with a great, bellowing laugh, ‘I sometimes think you should get a job in the MacNaughton Clinic where you can help handicapped people all the time … What’s wrong, Bill?’
    ‘I think I’ll skip dessert,’ said Savage, throwing his paper napkin at his half-finished lunch.
    When he had gone Silverman laughed and said, ‘I think Bill takes things too seriously. Pebbles isn’t so important that people in our position should quarrel about him. At the same time I don’t think he should move to another department … ‘
    ‘My interest,’ said Carson stiffly, ‘is purely in the security aspect ...’
    Silverman wagged his head in amusement. ‘Joe, now you’re taking things too seriously. You can handle this quietly and unofficially. Pebbles isn’t a Commie or