Blind Date by Jerzy Kosinski Read Free Book Online Page A

the Court. Free ofthe religious restraints of the palace, the men were exuberantly dancing and drinking with dozens of beautiful young women. Everyone spoke openly, and it was here that Levanter learned about the Deputy Minister’s annual skiing vacations in ValPina. During the party Levanter took several snapshots of the guests, who were delighted to pose for him with their evening’s companions on their laps.
    At another party a week later, Levanter showed them the contact proofs of the photographs. All the officials were anxious to have enlargements, and one member of the Court’s Advisory Council offered to pay Levanter well for all the pictures of himself.
    Levanter thought for a moment. “The only payment I want is for you to promise to release the intellectuals jailed by PERSAUD,” he said half-jokingly.
    â€œWhy such an interest in intellectuals?” the dignitary asked jovially. “I was told you are the head of Investors International. What would an association of investors care about the release of some intellectuals?”
    â€œIntellectuals are our best allies,” Levanter explained. “They invest all their energy and resources in ideas that change man’s condition. It’s a long-range investment, which seldom pays off during their lifetime. That’s why we want to support them.”
    Smiling, the dignitary took Levanter by the arm. “How about a small deal then?” he said softly. “For each color photograph of me with one of these beauties, I will secure the release of one intellectual.”
    Levanter thought the man was making fun of him. “Release?” he asked in disbelief.
    The dignitary nodded, chuckling at Levanter’s astonishment.
    â€œBut these people have been arrested by PERSAUD as enemies of the Court,” Levanter said.
    â€œSo they have. But they have no influence. The rich don’t fear them, workers mistrust them, peasants don’t know about them.”
    â€œYet they’ve been in prison for months, even years, deprived of contact with their families —”
    The dignitary looked at Levanter amused. “What do you expect?Once they’re arrested as enemies, they must be treated as such.”
    Levanter delivered five photographs with a list of prominent intellectuals who were known to have been in PERSAUD prisons and camps. The dignitary put the list aside and eagerly reached for the enlargements.
    â€œWhat about our deal?” Levanter asked.
    â€œGive me two weeks,” the man said, without taking his eyes from the pictures.
    In less than a month, five intellectuals were released and two of them who needed medical treatment not available in their country were allowed to immigrate to the United States. One, a middle-aged writer, came to Levanter. He was pale and emaciated; his jaw and nose had been broken.
    The writer said he assumed that his sudden freedom was the result of a long campaign carried out on his behalf by writers and editors from P.E.N., members of the International League for Human Rights, Amnesty International, and other such powerful organizations. When Levanter told him what had actually brought about his release, the writer was visibly upset.
    â€œThat’s humiliating,” he said. “I thought that PERSAUD was torturing me for my beliefs, that they believed my ideas would spread to the masses.”
    â€œDoes it make any difference why PERSAUD tortured you?” asked Levanter.
    â€œIt does,” he answered. “I saw myself as a political prisoner. I endured my prison ordeal convinced that PERSAUD feared us more than we feared them. If it is true that they persecuted us merely because we are weak, maybe we are too weak to fight them. After all, what can a few intellectuals do? We have no means,” he said.
    â€œBut we have,” said Levanter. “We have the means because we have each other.”
    â€œBut what can we do together that they will