The Seed of Evil

“It is now an established fact that an individual conceived in an atmosphere of perfect love is born with harmonious mental qualities irrespective of upbringing. Such an individual is also less wayward in his sexual desires. Gradually it came to be realised that the obsessive, indiscriminate and turbulent sexuality which was a feature of pre-revolutionary times need not be a normative state for humanity, but is more properly a perversion of the sexual function brought about by wrong social conditions. Not only did these impulses lead to unhappiness, but it was shown that they seriously interfered with the development of creative ability by reason of the constant mental distraction they caused.

“Before this disease of the natural feelings was eradicated it became the practice, when a citizen wished his mind to remain undisturbed, for him to take a sex suppressant drug. This measure proved particularly popular among those engaged on projects requiring sustained intellectual effort, and it was often adopted continuously between the ages of twenty to twenty-five, when the mind is at its most vigorous and most inventive. A vast increase in the incidence of genius resulted from this practice. Today, it is unnecessary. The modern person does not think of sexual activity at all except in the context of perfect and mutual love. Any other kind of sexual activity would strike him as coarse and unattractive. At the age of twenty-six he is introduced to a perfectly compatible partner and a deep love affair invariably develops between the two, wholly fulfilling and nearly always lifelong.

“The present-day member of the commonalty is a full inheritor of life’s gifts, by reason both of inborn qualities and of social influences, and the perfect society has now been established. The modern person is naturally loving and compassionate towards others—his children, his colleagues, and all with whom he has dealings—and therefore does not spread unhappiness among his fellows. Alongside this, we are in the midst of an upsurge in creative endeavour unparalleled at any time in history, and which we can be confident will continue indefinitely; there seems no limit to what can be achieved.

“A related feature of the perfect society is that the gap between individual and social goals which was apt to dislocate the accord of former eras has closed. The individual now makes very little distinction between group goals and his own aspirations; to him they are identical, and he is able to express his creative powers in true liberated fashion, without any inner contradictions.”

Lian Li found he could not concentrate on the text he was studying, which was a handbook on conditions at the bottom of the Atlantic. Like fish in a murky pond, uncontrolled thoughts and feelings flitted through his mind, forming unexpected associations.

Feeling disturbed and restless, he abandoned the struggle. For a while he watched the afterglow of the sunset through the broad window of his living room, until he was aroused by a gentle ringing tone from the wall telset.

Swivelling his seat, he touched a silver tab. A friendly young face, male, fair-haired and blue-eyed, greeted him. The caller was, he said, a serving member of the Number Five District Community Committee. It was imperative that representatives of the Committee visit Lian Li as soon as possible. When would be the earliest occasion convenient for Lian Li?

“It is convenient now,” Lian Li answered. He paused, and forced himself to say: “Is it about what happened last week?”

“In part, yes.”

Lian Li’s heart beat a trifle faster, but he kept his voice level. “All right. I’ll expect you.”

He switched off the screen and swivelled back to face the window. Vaguely he had hoped that Won Muong would not report his behaviour, even while knowing it was inevitable that she should. It was, after all, only citizenship.

He did not move until the door tone sounded twenty minutes later. Rising, he admitted his visitors: a youth and two girls, all of his own age group. The face on the telset had belonged, he learned, to Chairman Christian of the 5 DCC 25 subgroup, into whose jurisdiction the Stellar College fell. Chairman Christian politely introduced his colleagues: Ching Rowena and Pam Elkend.

In his apprehension Lian Li scarcely retained their names. He invited them to be seated but only the girls did so, taking themselves to the far end of the room.

“We are here to deal in facts, Lian Li,” Chairman Christian began cordially as Lian Li replaced himself in his swivel chair. “One week ago you visited the apartment of Won Muong. While there you laid hands on her, first on the knee, and then on the breast, and then you kissed her on the lips. She tells us that this kiss could not be interpreted as merely a brotherly or friendly kiss. You then made advances to her of an even more improper nature, attempting to initiate genital intercourse before she made her displeasure plain. Can we first of all agree on the truth of this?”