still a deep sense of dread, and people wondered if being clustered in a singular community didn’t pose greater risk if the outbreak saw a resurgence. Factions developed and many questioned whether Robert was really doing what was best for the community. Was his holy truth really the answer, and could they trust in its ways?
In March of 2114, the first rebellion group tried to leave the city. They called Carson’s methods into question, disregarded all that he had done for them and the rest of the community. Led by Phillip Watts, the group planned to leave and take resources with them. Carson understood that the community’s greatest strength was in its numbers and that, according to the Veritas , it was necessary that obedience and order be maintained. He urged the group to stay and tried to reason with them, but they were determined to leave.
Compliance with the system and the holy message wasessential to keep the peace within the community. As founder and leader, Carson knew that he couldn’t let this group go or others would follow, and he wouldn’t be able to protect them physically from what they might encounter; nor could their souls be saved. He refused to let them leave. When they tried anyway, he had Phillip Watts executed in front of the rest of the group for treason.
Some called him Robert the Fearless, others Robert the Terror, but most referred to him as Robert the Holy, and he continued to lead them into a place of righteousness. Some continued to rebel and met the same fate as Phillip Watts, but in general, people came to believe there was a greater good. Robert the Holy taught that righteousness demands sacrifice and that those who do not believe in the holy way will, like bad fruit, poison the entire harvest. Though there was resistance in the beginning to what some characterized as tyranny, the people soon came to see that this structure and law, governed by the Authority, would ensure survival, ushering them into a new age of existence.
8
“Food production is the sole purpose of Sector Four,” the Lint Leader explained. Carrington followed behind her as she stepped through a set of enormous steel doors. She’d been given a pair of protective goggles and a thick rubber apron as they prepared to enter this sector. The goggles were too tight for Carrington’s head, and they pinched the skin on the sides of her face. They had an adjustable strap, but she couldn’t fix them and follow at the speed the Lint was moving.
“You will start out here in processed waste. Everyone does,” the Lint Leader said.
Carrington continued to scurry after the tall woman as she marched through the humid room filled with conveyor belts, loud churning machines, and Lints in apparel similar to her own.
Her tour guide stepped through another, much smaller set of doors, and the stench bulldozed over Carrington. She coughed and held her breath as she stepped inside and prayed this wasn’t what she thought.
“Welcome to the processed waste room. This is where we dispose of all food waste.” The Lint stepped forward and pointed to a large square box that was nearly the size of Carrington’s entire room.
“This is Alfred Stock,” she said, banging the tin monster. “He processes the discarded material and determines whether it can be repurposed or if it is purely waste. At that point, he sends the refuse to its final destination. Your job is seeing to his continual maintenance, cleanliness, and any other operational needs. The entire food production system in Sector Four depends on his ability to function properly.”
Carrington couldn’t hold her breath any longer and was forced to inhale a combination of rotten eggs, toxic fruit, sweet sugary syrup, turned milk, strong spices, chocolate —all of it rushing at her at once as she fought for control of her gag reflex.
The Lint Leader chuckled and walked across the room to Carrington. She placed a firm hand on her shoulder and grinned knowingly.
In March of 2114, the first rebellion group tried to leave the city. They called Carson’s methods into question, disregarded all that he had done for them and the rest of the community. Led by Phillip Watts, the group planned to leave and take resources with them. Carson understood that the community’s greatest strength was in its numbers and that, according to the Veritas , it was necessary that obedience and order be maintained. He urged the group to stay and tried to reason with them, but they were determined to leave.
Compliance with the system and the holy message wasessential to keep the peace within the community. As founder and leader, Carson knew that he couldn’t let this group go or others would follow, and he wouldn’t be able to protect them physically from what they might encounter; nor could their souls be saved. He refused to let them leave. When they tried anyway, he had Phillip Watts executed in front of the rest of the group for treason.
Some called him Robert the Fearless, others Robert the Terror, but most referred to him as Robert the Holy, and he continued to lead them into a place of righteousness. Some continued to rebel and met the same fate as Phillip Watts, but in general, people came to believe there was a greater good. Robert the Holy taught that righteousness demands sacrifice and that those who do not believe in the holy way will, like bad fruit, poison the entire harvest. Though there was resistance in the beginning to what some characterized as tyranny, the people soon came to see that this structure and law, governed by the Authority, would ensure survival, ushering them into a new age of existence.
8
“Food production is the sole purpose of Sector Four,” the Lint Leader explained. Carrington followed behind her as she stepped through a set of enormous steel doors. She’d been given a pair of protective goggles and a thick rubber apron as they prepared to enter this sector. The goggles were too tight for Carrington’s head, and they pinched the skin on the sides of her face. They had an adjustable strap, but she couldn’t fix them and follow at the speed the Lint was moving.
“You will start out here in processed waste. Everyone does,” the Lint Leader said.
Carrington continued to scurry after the tall woman as she marched through the humid room filled with conveyor belts, loud churning machines, and Lints in apparel similar to her own.
Her tour guide stepped through another, much smaller set of doors, and the stench bulldozed over Carrington. She coughed and held her breath as she stepped inside and prayed this wasn’t what she thought.
“Welcome to the processed waste room. This is where we dispose of all food waste.” The Lint stepped forward and pointed to a large square box that was nearly the size of Carrington’s entire room.
“This is Alfred Stock,” she said, banging the tin monster. “He processes the discarded material and determines whether it can be repurposed or if it is purely waste. At that point, he sends the refuse to its final destination. Your job is seeing to his continual maintenance, cleanliness, and any other operational needs. The entire food production system in Sector Four depends on his ability to function properly.”
Carrington couldn’t hold her breath any longer and was forced to inhale a combination of rotten eggs, toxic fruit, sweet sugary syrup, turned milk, strong spices, chocolate —all of it rushing at her at once as she fought for control of her gag reflex.
The Lint Leader chuckled and walked across the room to Carrington. She placed a firm hand on her shoulder and grinned knowingly.
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