14

An idea upon which Rud laid great stress in these pregnant days was what he called parallel independent co–operation. It was doubtful whether he himself originated the phrase or Bodisham. Probably neither of them could have answered that question with precision. But even if it was not originally Rud's, he made it his.

A world revolution, he insisted, must advance on a wide front. You could no more standardise the men in a world revolutionary movement than you could make all the parts of a machine alike. Every factor had its own set of functions, and all conscious functions necessitate their own distinctive mentality. The newspaper man had one set of behaviour patterns, and the man in the physical power organisation, soldier or policeman or what not, had another. Research and direction needed a third set; and so on. One big mistake of the Communist movement had been the attempt to stereotype the Party member. What was a natural expression for a transport man, say, became mere cant if you forced it on an agricultural worker. The idea of some sort of central omniscience was the fallacy of autocracy. "Don't think of centralisation; think of balance."

"But you must have a centralising body, a nuclear fact, the touchstone, the ultimate reference, the quintessence of the idea," said Rogers.

"I am the quintessence of the idea," said Rud. "I am the uncomplicated, uncovenanted, unrestricted common man. Stalin thought he was, but I know I am. I am the sufficient sample."

"For the time being," said Chiffan softly.

"For the time being," said Rud, without extreme conviction and after a moment's pause.