human
Have you ever heard of El Hassan?
gpt
Vaguely. Evidently an Arab, or possibly a Tuareg. North African nationalist. No, that wouldn't be the word, since he is international. At any rate, he seems to be drawing a following in the Sahara and as far south as the Sudan. Backs modernization and wants unity of all North Africa. Is he connected with the Party?
human
That is the answer I expected you to give, and is approximately what anyone else would have said. Actually, there is no such person as El Hassan.
gpt
I'm afraid you're wrong there, Kirill. I've heard about him in half a dozen places. Very mysterious figure. Nobody seems to have seen him, but word of his program is passed around from Ethiopia to Mauretania.
human
That I know. It's a rather strange story and one rather hard to believe if it wasn't for the fact that one of my operatives was in on the, ah, _manufacturing_ of this Saharan leader.
gpt
Manufacturing?
human
I'll give you the details later. Were you acquainted with Abraham Baker, the American comrade?
gpt
Were? I _am_ acquainted with him. Abe is a friend as well as a comrade.
human
Baker is dead, Anton. As you possibly know, his assignment for the past few years has been with a Reunited Nations African Development Project team, working in the Sahara region. We planted him there expecting the time to arrive when his services would be of considerable value. He worked with a five-man team headed by a Dr. Homer Crawford and largely the team's task was to eliminate bottlenecks that developed as the various modernization projects spread over the desert.
gpt
But what's this got to do with _manufacturing_ El Hassan?
human
I'm coming to that. Crawford's team, including Comrade Baker, usually disguised themselves as Enaden smiths. As such, their opinions carried little weight so in order to spread Reunited Nations propaganda, they hit upon the idea of imputing everything they said to this great hero of the desert, El Hassan.
gpt
I see,
human
Others, without knowing the origin of our El Hassan, took up the idea and spread it. These nomads are at an ethnic level where they want a hero to follow, a leader. So in order to give prestige to their teachings the various organizations trying to advance North Africa followed in Crawford's footsteps and attributed their teachings to this mysterious El Hassan.
gpt
And it snowballed.
human
Correct! But the point is that after a time Crawford came around to the belief that there should be a real El Hassan. That the primary task at this point is to unite the area, to break down the old tribal society and introduce the populace to the new world.
gpt
He's probably right, the man called Anton growled. He finished his drink, got up from his chair and on his own went over and mixed another.
human
More vodka?
gpt
Please. The Russian held up his glass and went on talking.
human
Yes, undoubtedly that is what is needed at this point. As it is, things are trending toward a collapse. The imperialists, especially the Americans, of course, wish to dominate the area for their capitalistic purposes. The Arab Union wishes to take over _in toto_ and make it part of their Islamic world. We, of course, cannot afford to let either succeed.
gpt
As you know, Marx and Engels when founding scientific socialism had no expectation that their followers would first come to power in such backward countries as the Russia of 1917 or the China of 1949. In fact, the establishment of true socialism presupposes a highly developed industrial economy. It is simply impossible without such an economy. When Lenin came to power in 1917, as a result of the chaotic conditions that prevailed upon the military collapse of Imperial Russia, he had no expectation of going it alone, as the British would say. He expected immediate revolutions in such countries as Germany and France and supposed that these more advanced countries would then come to the assistance of the Soviet Union and all would advance together to true socialism.
human
It didn't work out that way,
gpt
No, it didn't. And Lenin didn't live to see the steps that Stalin would take in order to build the necessary industrial base in Russia. Kirill Menzhinsky looked about the room, almost as though checking to see if anyone else was listening.
human
Some of our more unorthodox theoreticians are inclined to think that had Lenin survived the assassin's bullet, that Comrade Stalin would have found it necessary to, ah, liquidate him.
gpt
Be that as it may, basic changes were made in Marxist teachings to fit into Stalin's and later Khrushchev's new concepts of the worker's State. And the Soviet Union muddled through, as the British have it. Today, the Soviet Complex is as powerful as the imperialist powers.
human
Which brings us to the present and to North Africa. He leaned forward in emphasis.
gpt
Comrade, if the past half century and more has taught us anything, it is that you cannot establish socialism in a really backward country. In short, communism is impossible in North Africa at this point in her social evolution. Impossible. You cannot go directly from tribal society to communism. At this historic point, there is no place for the party's program in North Africa.
human
Yes, yes. I know. Ultimately, the whole world must become Soviet. Only that way will we achieve our eventual goal. But that is the long view. Realistically, we must face it, as the Yankees say. This area is not at present soil for our seed.
gpt
Things move fast these days, the Negro growled.
human
Industrialization, education, can be a geometric progression.
gpt
Of course, and as little as ten or fifteen years from now, given progress at the present rate, perhaps there will be opportunity for our movement. But now? No.
human
What has all this to do with El Hassan, or Crawford, or whatever the man's name is?
gpt
Yes, the Russian said.
human
Homer Crawford has evidently decided to become El Hassan.
gpt
Ahhh.
human
Yes. At this point, in short, he is traveling in our direction. He is doing what we realize must be done.
gpt
Then we will support him?
human
Now we come to the point, Anton. Homer Crawford is not sympathetic to the Party. To the contrary. Our suspicion, although we have no proof, is that he killed Comrade Abe Baker, when Baker approached him on his stand in regard to the Party's long view.
gpt
I see,
human
We must keep in some sort of touch with him--some sort of control. If this El Hassan realizes his scheme and unites all North Africa, sooner or later we will have to deal with him. If he is antagonistic, we will have to find means to liquidate him.
gpt
And my assignment...?
human
He will be gathering followers at this point. Many followers, most of whom will be unknown to him. You will become one of them. Raise yourself to as high a rank as you find possible in his group. Become a close friend, if that can be done....
gpt
He killed Abe Baker, eh?
human
This is an assignment, Comrade Anton. There is no room for personal feelings. You are a good field man. Among the best. You are being given this task because the Party feels you are the man for it. Possibly it is an assignment that will take years in the fulfilling.
gpt
Are there any questions?
human
Do we have any other operatives working on this?
gpt
An Isobel Cunningham worked with Comrade Baker, but it has been suspected that she has been drifting away from the party these past few years. Her present status is unknown, but she is believed to be with Homer Crawford and his followers. Possibly she has defected. If so, you will take whatever measures seem necessary. You will be working almost completely on your own, Comrade. You must think on your feet, as the Yankees say.
human
You'd better give me as thorough a run down as possible on this Homer Crawford and his immediate followers.
gpt
We have fairly complete dossiers. I'll give you the highlights, then you can take these with you to your hotel to study at leisure.
human
Homer Crawford. Born in Detroit of working-class parents. In his late teens interrupted his education to come to Africa where he joined elements of the F.L.N. in Morocco and took part in several forays into Algeria. Evidently was wounded and invalided back to the States where he resumed his education. When he came of military age, he joined the Marine Corps and spent the usual, ah, hitch I believe they call it. Following that, he resumed his education, finally taking a doctor's degree in sociology. He then taught for a time until the Reunited Nations began its African program. He accepted a position, and soon distinguished himself.
gpt
According to Comrade Baker's reports, Crawford is an outstanding personality, dominating others, even in spite of himself. He would make a top party man. Idealistic, strong, clever, ruthless when ruthlessness is called for.
human
Comrade Baker also reported a somewhat mystical quality in our friend Crawford. An ability in times of emotional crisis to break down men's mental barriers against him. A _force_ that ...
gpt
Comrade Baker was evidently much swayed by the man's personality. However, Anton, I might point out that similar reports have come down to us of such a dominating personality in Lenin, and, to a lesser degree, in Stalin. He twisted his mouth.
human
History leads us to believe that such personalities as Jesus and Mohammed seemed to have some power beyond that of we more mundane types.
gpt
And the others?
human
Elmer Allen. Born of small farmer background on the outskirts of Kingston, on the island of Jamaica. Managed to work his way through the University of Kingston where he took a master's degree in sociology. At one time he was thought to be Party material and was active in several organizations that held social connotations, pacifist groups and so forth. However, he was never induced to join the Party. Upon graduation, he immediately took employment with the Reunited Nations and was assigned to Homer Crawford's team. He is evidently in accord with Crawford's aims as El Hassan.
gpt
Bey-ag-Akhamouk ...
human
That can't be an American name.
gpt
No. He is the only real African associated with Crawford at this point. He was evidently born a Taureg and taken to the States at an early age, three or four, by a missionary. At any rate, he was educated at the University of Minnesota where he studied political science. We have no record of where he stands politically, but Comrade Baker rated him as an outstanding intuitive soldier. A veritable genius in combat. He would seem to have had military experience somewhere, but we have no record of it. Our Bey-ag-Akhamouk seems somewhat of a mystery man.
human
Kenneth Ballalou, born in Louisiana, educated in Chicago. Another young man but evidently as capable as the others. He seems to be quite a linguist. So far as we know, he holds no political stand whatsoever.
gpt
The Isobel Cunningham I mentioned worked with the Africa for Africans Association with two colleagues, a Jacob Armstrong and Clifford Jackson. It is possible that these two, as well as Isobel Cunningham, have joined El Hassan. If so, we will have to check further upon them, although I understand Armstrong is rather elderly and hardly effective under the circumstances.
human
And this former comrade, Isobel Cunningham, has evidently joined with Crawford even though he ... was the cause of Abe Baker's death?
gpt
Evidently.
human
And evidently she is a most intelligent and attractive young lady. We had rather high hopes for her formerly.
gpt
All right, he said.
human
Is there anything else?
gpt
You do not need a step by step blueprint, Anton, that is why you have been chosen for this assignment. You are strongly based in Party doctrine. You know what is needed, we can trust you to carry on the Party's aims. After a pause, the Russian added,
human
Without being diverted by personal feelings.
gpt
Of course,
human
You seem to have conducted yourself rather precipitately, Fred.
gpt
I didn't have time to consult anyone. By pure luck, I spotted the Cunningham girl and since I knew she had affiliated herself with Crawford, I followed her.
human
And tried to arrest the seven of them, all by yourself.
gpt
I couldn't see anything else to do.
human
In the first place, we have no legal jurisdiction here and you could have caused an international stink. The Russkies would just love to bring something like this onto the Reunited Nations floor. In the second place, you failed. How in the world did you expect to take on that number of men, especially Crawford and his team?
gpt
Next time ...
human
Let's hope there isn't going to be next time, of this type. He took up a paper from his desk.
gpt
Here's your new job, Fred. You're to locate this El Hassan and keep in continual contact with him. If he meets with any sort of success at all, and frankly our agency doubts that he will, you will attempt to bring home to Crawford and his followers the fact that they are Americans, and orientate them in the direction of the West. Above all, you are to keep in touch with us and keep us informed on all developments. Especially notify us if there is any sign that our El Hassan is in communication with the Russkies or any other foreign element.
human
Right,
gpt
We're giving you this job, Fred, because you're more up on it than anyone else. You're in at the beginning, so to speak. Now, do you want me to assign you a couple of assistants?
human
White men?
gpt
You know you're the only Negro in our agency, Fred.
human
That's too bad, because anyone you assigned me who wasn't a Negro would be a hindrance rather than an assistant.
gpt
Fred, do you think I ought to do a report to Greater Washington suggesting they take more Negro operatives into the agency?
human
You'd better if this department is going to get much work done in Africa. He stood up.
gpt
I suppose that the sooner I get onto the job, the better. Do you have any idea at all where Crawford and his gang headed after they left me unconscious in that filthy hut?
human
No, we haven't the slightest idea of where they might be, other than that they left your car abandoned at the Yoff airport.
gpt
Oh, great, Fredric Ostrander complained.
human
They've gone into hiding in an area somewhat twice the size of the original fifty United States.
gpt
Good luck,