The Begum's Millions

7. The Central Block

 The Central Block A detailed report from Dr. Echternach, head physician of the Albrecht shaft area, established that the death of Carl Bauer, no. ,, age thirteen, “trapper” in gallery , was due to asphyxia resulting from the absorption through the respiratory organs of a strong dose of carbon dioxide.1 Another report no less detailed from engineer Maulesmühle had shown the need to include a ventilation system in zone B of Plan XIV, as its galleries were producing this deleterious gas by a kind of slow and unnoticeable distillation. Finally, a note from the same official brought to the attention of the authorities the devotion of foreman Rayer and of the first-class caster Johann Schwartz. A week or ten days later, the young worker, arriving to pick up his identity card in the concierge’s box, found on a hook an order addressed to him, which said: “The worker named Schwartz will present himself today at ten o’clock at the office of the director general, Central Block, gate and route A. Outdoor attire required.” “Finally! . . .” thought Marcel. “They took their time, but we’re getting there!” Through his conversations with friends and from his Sunday walks around the City of Steel, he had acquired enough general knowledge about the organization of the city to know that authorization to penetrate into the Central Block was not commonly given. In fact, legends were widespread about it. It was said that some indiscreet individuals, who had tried to sneak their way into this private precinct, had not been seen again. There were rumors that workers and employees who were admitted entry were first submitted to all sorts of Masonic ceremonies, obliged to avow under the most solemn of oaths to reveal nothing of what they saw, and 7  were mercilessly executed by a secret tribunal if they violated their vow. An underground train connected this sanctuary with the outer line. Night trains brought in unknown visitors. Sometimes supreme counsels were held there with mysterious personages who came to sit in on and to participate in the discussions. Without putting too much faith in these tales, Marcel knew that they were in general the popular expression of a perfectly real fact: the extreme difficulty of penetrating into the central sector. Of all the workers he knew—and he had friends among the miners as well those as in the coal field, among the metal refiners and among the employees in blast furnaces, among the sergeants and carpenters as well as among the ironsmiths—not a single one had ever crossed the threshold of Gate A. So it was with great curiosity and a secret pleasure that he appeared at the indicated hour. He could soon see that the precautions and penalties were extremely strict. First of all, Marcel was expected. Two men dressed in gray uniforms , saber at the side and revolver in the belt, were standing in the concierge’s office. This office, like that of the extern sister of a cloistered convent, had two doorways, one on the outside, the other on the inside, which were never both opened at the same time. The pass was examined and stamped, and Marcel, without evincing any surprise, was then given a white handkerchief which the two acolytes in uniform used to carefully blindfold him.2 Then, taking him by the arms, they marched him away without saying a word. After two or three thousand steps, they went up a flight of stairs, a door opened and closed, and Marcel was authorized to remove his blindfold. He found himself in a very simple room, furnished with a few chairs, a blackboard and a drafting board equipped with all the necessary instruments for linear designs. Light came in through tall windows with frosted glass panes. Almost immediately, two people who looked as if they were from a university entered the room. “You have been singled out as a dis-  tinguished subject,” said one of them. “We are going to examine you to see if there is sufficient reason to admit you to the models division. Are you ready to answer our questions?” Marcel modestly declared himself ready for the test. The two examiners then asked a series of questions on chemistry , geometry, and algebra. The young worker satisfied them in all areas by the clarity and precision of his answers. The figures he traced with chalk on the board were neat, distinct...