Read Online The Living by Anna Starobinets - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anna Starobinets
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the Living. A three-billion-headed monster, eternally young and strong. Killing its old so that the young can grow up in their place…’
She sniggered again and I noticed that there was something wrong with her eyes. Her pupils narrowed and then widened – not simultaneously, but one after the other.
‘…And insects?’ She raised her voice. ‘Bees, wasps, ants and termites – why aren’t they afraid of us?’
‘Because ancient man did not exterminate insects…’
‘No, that’s not why…!’ Her pupils suddenly froze, with one big and the other small, and she calmly and gently said, ‘It looks like you are trying to do something slightly incorrect. Do you want to switch to sleep mode? Yes. No… Automatic transfer to sleep mode is underway…’
I watched her sleeping peacefully, her head lolling to one side. Then Hanna came and took me away, saying ‘Teacher’s just tired.’
I remembered that lesson well. Animals are afraid of the Living.
There, at the Farm, the dog licked my hand, but I wasn’t happy about it. I had gone up so close to the cage because I wanted them to be scared of me. I wanted them all to be scared of me. Because animals are afraid of the Living.
Report
(Transcript of conversation between correctee Foxcub and SPO officer, dated 17.07.471 A.V.; extract)
SPO officer:
You were a witness to a very serious incident. You must tell us everything that you saw and heard that day on the Green Terrace. In as much detail as possible.
Foxcub:
I haven’t done anything wrong. Smin, it wasn’t me! I’ve got nothing to do with it.
SPO officer:
No one is accusing you of being an accomplice. You’re just a witness. For now. But the harmony and stability of the Living depends on your answers. Do you want to help the Living?
Foxcub:
Yes. I really love the Living and would do anything for it. Smin.
SPO officer:
I’m glad you say so. You’re right. You’re a good correctee and I’m sure that soon you’ll be entirely corrected. Plus, I see we’ve got a celebrity here today! I saw your performance on FreakTube.
Foxcub:
Really?
SPO officer:
Of course. And the other planetmen saw it too. Your singing was great… So, tell us what happened!
Foxcub:
I heard shouting from the Available Terrace. And… I got a bit scared, but I was curious and I asked my friends what was going on up there…
SPO officer:
Could you be a bit more precise there. Which friends did you ask? How did you ask them?
Foxcub:
I asked in
socio
, you know, in second layer, I mass-mailed our whole group.
SPO officer:
Did you get any replies?
Foxcub:
Yeah, Triton and Gerda replied.
SPO officer:
The text of the replies?
Foxcub:
Shall I look in my memory?
SPO officer:
Yes.
Foxcub:
Triton: ‘that psycho 0 is planning on destroying himself and looks like he’s also planning on burning down our termite mound freak’. And Gerda… Gerda said… Sorry, I’ve wiped her reply.
SPO officer:
Why?
Foxcub:
We had a row yesterday. Because she said that the Planetman off of The Eternal Murderer is acting like an idiot and can’t even find the crim when he’s right under his nose, but I really like the Planetman, I reckon he’s great… So me and Gerda were fighting and I got mad and
deleted forever
our whole chat history. Is that really bad?
SPO officer:
Never mind, it’s your personal cell, you have the right to delete whatever you want from it. Just tell us what Gerda said.
Foxcub:
I don’t remember.
SPO officer:
In your own words.
Foxcub:
I, honestly, don’t remember… Fofs! I don’t know how to put it in my own words. I never remember messages, they’re all in my memory anyway… I haven’t done anything wrong, have I? I’m not the only person who doesn’t remember them.
SPO officer:
Don’t worry, you haven’t done anything wrong. Just tell us what happened next.
Zero
‘…Because there are no criminals in the world of the Living!’
‘…Because they keep us in a House of
She sniggered again and I noticed that there was something wrong with her eyes. Her pupils narrowed and then widened – not simultaneously, but one after the other.
‘…And insects?’ She raised her voice. ‘Bees, wasps, ants and termites – why aren’t they afraid of us?’
‘Because ancient man did not exterminate insects…’
‘No, that’s not why…!’ Her pupils suddenly froze, with one big and the other small, and she calmly and gently said, ‘It looks like you are trying to do something slightly incorrect. Do you want to switch to sleep mode? Yes. No… Automatic transfer to sleep mode is underway…’
I watched her sleeping peacefully, her head lolling to one side. Then Hanna came and took me away, saying ‘Teacher’s just tired.’
I remembered that lesson well. Animals are afraid of the Living.
There, at the Farm, the dog licked my hand, but I wasn’t happy about it. I had gone up so close to the cage because I wanted them to be scared of me. I wanted them all to be scared of me. Because animals are afraid of the Living.
Report
(Transcript of conversation between correctee Foxcub and SPO officer, dated 17.07.471 A.V.; extract)
SPO officer:
You were a witness to a very serious incident. You must tell us everything that you saw and heard that day on the Green Terrace. In as much detail as possible.
Foxcub:
I haven’t done anything wrong. Smin, it wasn’t me! I’ve got nothing to do with it.
SPO officer:
No one is accusing you of being an accomplice. You’re just a witness. For now. But the harmony and stability of the Living depends on your answers. Do you want to help the Living?
Foxcub:
Yes. I really love the Living and would do anything for it. Smin.
SPO officer:
I’m glad you say so. You’re right. You’re a good correctee and I’m sure that soon you’ll be entirely corrected. Plus, I see we’ve got a celebrity here today! I saw your performance on FreakTube.
Foxcub:
Really?
SPO officer:
Of course. And the other planetmen saw it too. Your singing was great… So, tell us what happened!
Foxcub:
I heard shouting from the Available Terrace. And… I got a bit scared, but I was curious and I asked my friends what was going on up there…
SPO officer:
Could you be a bit more precise there. Which friends did you ask? How did you ask them?
Foxcub:
I asked in
socio
, you know, in second layer, I mass-mailed our whole group.
SPO officer:
Did you get any replies?
Foxcub:
Yeah, Triton and Gerda replied.
SPO officer:
The text of the replies?
Foxcub:
Shall I look in my memory?
SPO officer:
Yes.
Foxcub:
Triton: ‘that psycho 0 is planning on destroying himself and looks like he’s also planning on burning down our termite mound freak’. And Gerda… Gerda said… Sorry, I’ve wiped her reply.
SPO officer:
Why?
Foxcub:
We had a row yesterday. Because she said that the Planetman off of The Eternal Murderer is acting like an idiot and can’t even find the crim when he’s right under his nose, but I really like the Planetman, I reckon he’s great… So me and Gerda were fighting and I got mad and
deleted forever
our whole chat history. Is that really bad?
SPO officer:
Never mind, it’s your personal cell, you have the right to delete whatever you want from it. Just tell us what Gerda said.
Foxcub:
I don’t remember.
SPO officer:
In your own words.
Foxcub:
I, honestly, don’t remember… Fofs! I don’t know how to put it in my own words. I never remember messages, they’re all in my memory anyway… I haven’t done anything wrong, have I? I’m not the only person who doesn’t remember them.
SPO officer:
Don’t worry, you haven’t done anything wrong. Just tell us what happened next.
Zero
‘…Because there are no criminals in the world of the Living!’
‘…Because they keep us in a House of
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