demand. To tell you the truth, Gerhardt, your credibility just went up the scale.. .. But why the mask, Greta? We're not operating."
"My husband will answer you, sir. These things are beyond me, no matter how often he explains them."
"The ROM, Hans, the Read-Only Memory. With this patient we don't care to have too many images of identifiable faces, and yours could-fall into that category."
"Way past me too, Nurse Frisch. Very well, let us proceed." The trio walked through the doors, entering a long, wide, pale green corridor with succeeding large, square glass windows on either side. Beyond the windows were pleasantly appointed rooms, each having a bed, a desk, a couch, and such items as a television set, a radio, and a door that led to a bathroom with shower. Also, there were other windows on the outside walls that looked over the meadows, profuse with weaving high grass and springtime flowers.
"if these are the patients' hospital rooms," continued Traupman, "they're among the most pleasant I've seen. ""The radios and the television sets are preprogrammed, naturally," said Gerhardt.
"It's all innocuous fare, except for the radios at night, when we transmit information as it pertains to the individual patients."
"Tell me what I'm to expect," said the neurosurgeon from Nuremberg.
"You'll find an outwardly normal Harry Latham who still believes he's fooled us. He answers to his cover name, Alexander Lassiter, and he's extremely grateful to us."
"Why?" interrupted Traupman.
"Why is he grateful?"
"Because he believes he was in an accident and barely escaped with his life. We used one of our huge mountain vehicles and staged the event most convincingly, overturning the truck, 'pinning' him under it and employing surrounding bursts of fire.. .. Here I did permit the use of drugs and hypnosis-immediately, so as to erase his first minutes here in our valley."
"Are you sure they're erased?" They stopped in the corridor, the Nuremberger's gaze fixed on Kroeger.
"Completely. The trauma of the 'accident," along with the violent images, as well as the pain we induced, superseded any memories of his arrival. They're blocked out. Naturally, we reemployed hypnosis to make certain. All he remembers are the screams, the excruciating pain, and the fires he was dragged through while being rescued."
"The stimuli are psychologically consistent," noted the neurosurgeon, nodding his head.
"What about the time factor? If he's aware of it, how did you explain the passage of time?"
"The least difficult. When he awoke, his upper skull was heavily bandaged, and while under mild sedation he was told-over and over again-that he'd been severely injured, that he had gone through three separate operations while in a prolonged coma during which he, remained completely silent. It was explained to him that had his vital signs not remained remarkably strong, I would have given up on him."
"Well phrased. I'm certain he's grateful.. .. Does he know where he is?"
"Oh, yes, we withhold nothing from him."
"Then how can you send him out? My God, he'll disclose the whereabouts of the valley! They'll send in planes; you'll be bombed out of existence!"
"It will not matter, for as von Schnabe will undoubtedly tell you, we won't exist."
"Please, Gerhardt, one thing at a time. I will not take another step until you explain yourself."
"Later, Hans. Greet our patient first, then you'll understand."
"My dear Greta," said Traupman, turning to the wife.
"Is this husband of yours the same logical human being I knew before?"
"Yes, Doctor. This part, the part he will explain to you, I do understand. It's brilliant, sir, you'll see."
"But first see our patient; he's the next window, the next door on the right. Remember, his name is Lassiter, not Latham."
"What should I say to him?"
Chapter Four
"Whatever you like. I'd suggest congratulating him on his recovery. Come along."
"I'll wait by the desk," said Greta Frisch Kroeger.
The two physicians walked into the room where Harry Latham, his head bandaged around his temples, stood by the large outside window. He turned and smiled; he was dressed in shirtsleeves and gray flannel trousers.
"Hi there, Gerhardt. Lovely day, isn't it?"
"Have you been for a walk, Alex?"
"Not yet. You can damage a businessman, but you can't take the business out of the man. I've been playing with figures; there are fortunes to be made in the Chinese mainland. I can't wait to fly over."
"May I present Dr.. .. Schmidt from Berlin?"
"Glad to meet you, Doctor." Latham walked over, his hand extended.
"Also glad to see another doctor in our amazing complex here, just in case Gerhardt louses me up.
"I gather he hasn't so far,"