2023
Unfinished…
They weave along the foundations, hiding their footsteps and growing from those that came before them.
1
We walk in formation. The women who march around us from all sides are called Both. They lead the lines through the tunnel along Route 4 and oversee our safety.
Rona stayed close behind Barbra. She always moves at the very back of the line on purpose, so that she will not be chosen for the “front gate.”
The “front gate” checks all the lines to make sure they have planted the required number of plants and collected enough fruit. If someone in a line fails to meet the assigned number, everyone from the same line must spend three days burning weeds, and the “front gate” decides what punishment the person who failed to complete their task will receive. The final word in our section belongs to Mrs. Nad.
Both divided themselves into groups and summoned Marie to the “front gate”; she had been standing in front of me. When they led Marie away to the records, I felt Alex slip a scrap of paper into my hand. I immediately tucked it behind the collar of my uniform, where I had cut a small hole specifically for cases like this.
The gate leading to the Connecting Room – ConRoom – was slowly opening. The air was heavier and smelled of the circular fans, which probably needed cleaning again. I turned to Rona to see her first encounter with Spojiště.
As soon as the gate opens, artificial light illuminates our faces, the unpleasant sound of the siren turns into a ten-second loss of hearing, and chaos takes hold of everyone, a quiet internal chaos. Once we open our eyes, all the lines that have been standing in formation move to their stations, where we are searched using a scan. Everything happens in a haze and complete submission.
Those at the very back of the line approach the scanner first. Before everyone had moved away, Barbra noticed Rona, who had begun trembling more intensely, so she quickly grabbed her hand. At that moment, Rona’s face turned to stone and she slowly let go of Barbra. The whole moment lasted only a few seconds, but the two of them would remember it forever.
I would never have recognized that little girl, because I had never seen someone approach the scanner like that for the first time. Actually, none of us had.
I realized that Rona was our next weapon.
It has happened several times that Both discovered an unauthorized object on someone. They are usually matches, nails, forks, or even poisons.
Within one week, they found three. The last one was Sarah from the fifth line. She tried to release modified water into the roots. When Mrs. Nad found out, she immediately made sure that Sarah would be the one to drink it. No one had heard from her for several days, but from what we have heard, we know that she is still here.
With a forgotten gaze, I watch them uncontrollably overtaking one another. Rona looked around in confusion, and together we placed our dirty palms over our faces. We stood upright beside each other. Inhale, exhale, inhale… you would never even notice that we were breathing.
Mrs. Nad approached the first woman. It was Tasha from line 6.
She has been here for a long time. Once, I overheard her in the cleaning room talking to Barbra about the second binding. It was established in the year 2188, which is exactly 46 years ago. I never had the chance to get to know Tasha better, and I don’t think I ever will have the opportu…
“How much today, Tasha?” Mrs. Nad asked. She was breathing about five centimetres from her damp forehead. Tasha began to tremble slightly, trying to suppress it, but we could feel that tension all the way to the other lines. Mrs. Nad grabbed her and, like a weed, constricted both of her wrists with her rough hands.
“I… planted 345 today and collected 812.” Tasha lowered her eyes to the ground.
Rule 7. WE NEVER LOOK AWAY
Everyone’s heartbeat suddenly quickened.
“Look me in the eyes immediately and tell me one more time…” Mrs. Nad’s eye began to twitch.
Tasha lifted her eyelids and looked directly into her brown eyes. They reminded us of the underground tunnels in which we had grown up. Yet no one could find their way through.
“I planted 345 and collected 812,” she said nervously. Mrs. Nad stepped back and hunched over.
“But Tasha, I don’t know why it took you so long… nothing is happening. I know very well that you are very capable and, above all, experienced.” Mrs. Nad smiled.
And like a flash of lightning, Mrs. Nad turned her back on Tasha…
“But I will not tolerate your behaviour. You have insulted me. You looked away,” she said with her head bowed.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize, please…” Tasha dropped to her knees and begged.
“Take her…” Mrs. Nad said, looking at Obě beside her.
“No, no, please, I’ll do whatever you want, it will never happen again!” Tasha screamed.
“Very well, then… do something for me, Tasha…” she challenged her.
We had never seen Tasha so helpless and frightened.
“Choose which eye you want to lose.”
“No, you can’t, you can’t do this, I don’t want to, please…”
Both lifted her and dragged her towards the tunnel.
Silence fell, as it usually did here.
“So, girls, let’s make it clear how many things you have to plant… Alice?” Mrs. Nad asked.
“Yes, Mrs. Nad. Exactly 385 pieces,” she answered confidently.
“Yes, thank you. And how many do I want you to collect, Sunny?” She put her hands into her pockets and waited for the answer.
“Yes, Mrs. Nad. We are to collect 850 fruits.” Sunny grasped the faded fabric of her dress between her fingers and slowly exhaled.
“Yes, thank you. Hopefully you will all remember it now. I would also like line six to proceed to the Incinerator, and that will be all from me today,” she announced in a deep voice and left together with line 6.
Sunny D arrived at the Preparation at the same time as I did, on 14 May 2220. We were five years old at the time. Without her, I would be lost. We grew up in this together, and together we will get out of here too…
