Free That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis

certainty that she herself in her dream had witnessed a real murder shattered the consoling pretences with which she had begun the morning. It came over her with sickening clarity that the affair of her dreams, far from being ended, was only beginning. It would drive her mad, she thought, to face it alone. The other alternative was to go back to Miss Ironwood. But that seemed to be only a way of going deeper into all this darkness. She didn't want to get drawn in. It was unfair. It wasn't as if she had asked much of life. All she wanted was to be left alone.
         Cosser-the freckle-faced man with the little wisp of black moustache-approached Mark as he was coming away from the committee.
         "You and I have a job to do," he said. "Got to get out a report about Cure Hardy."
         Mark was very relieved to hear of a job. But he was a little on his dignity.
         "Does that mean I am to be in Steele's department after all?"
         "That's right," said Cosser.
         "The reason I ask," said Mark, "is that neither he nor you seemed particularly keen on having me. I don't want to push myself in, you know. I don't need to stay at the N.I.C.E. at all if it comes to that."
         "Well, don't start talking about it here," said Cosser. "Come upstairs."
         They were in the hall and Mark noticed Wither pacing thoughtfully towards them. "Wouldn't it be as well to speak to him?" he suggested. But the Deputy Director, after coming within ten feet of them, had turned in another direction. He was humming to himself under his breath and seemed so deep in thought that Mark felt the moment unsuitable for an interview. Cosser apparently thought the same, and Mark followed him up to an office on the third floor.
         "It's about the village of Cure Hardy," said Cosser, when they were seated. "You see, all that land at Bragdon Wood is going to be little better than a swamp once they get to work. Why the hell we wanted to go there I don't know. Anyway, the latest plan is to divert the Wynd: block up the old channel through Edgestow altogether. Look. It's to be diverted and brought down an artificial channel-here, to the east, where the blue line is-and rejoin the old bed down here."
         "The university will hardly agree to that," said Mark.
         "We've got the university by the short hairs," said Cosser. "The point is that the new Wynd must come right through Cure Hardy in this narrow little valley. The idea is to dam the valley at the southern end and-make a big reservoir."
         "But what happens to Cure Hardy?"
         "That's another advantage. We build a new model village four miles away."
         "I say, there'll be the devil of a stink about this. Cure Hardy is famous. It's a beauty spot."
         "That's where you and I come in. We've got to make a report on Cure Hardy. We'll run out and have a look round to-morrow, but we can write most of the report today. It ought to be pretty easy. If it's a beauty spot, you can bet it's insanitary. Then we've got to get out some facts about the population. I think you'll find it consists chiefly of undesirable elements-small rentiers and agricultural labourers."
         "That's easy enough," said Mark, "but before I get down to it I'd like to be a bit clearer about my position. Oughtn't I to go and see Steele?"
         "I wouldn't do that," said Cosser.
         "Why not?"
         "Well, for one thing, Steele can't prevent you if the D.D. backs you up. For another, Steele is rather a dangerous man. There's another thing, too. I don't think things can go on in this department in the way they are at present."
         Mark understood. Cosser was hoping to get Steele out of the department altogether.
         "I got the impression," said Mark, "that you and Steele hit it off together rather well."
         "The great thing here," said Cosser, "is never to quarrel with anyone."
         "Of course," said Mark. "By the way, if-we go to