As Six descended the ramp the blue light found him. It followed him faithfully to the desk. He was greeted by the round back of Two's chair.
"You wanted to see me?" He waited for an impatient moment drumming his fingers on the desk.
The chair's back continued to face him like a big, black egg.
"You aught to be ready to hatch." He said. "Why don't you peck your way out of there."
The chair spun slowly. Two looked out at him. "Still in a bad temper, I see."
Six noted the dull red mark between Two's eyes. "What do you want?"
"To show you something." Two activated the view on the screen.
The camera showed a young woman laying on a bed. Sleeping or unconscious. It was impossible to say.
"You may find this interesting, Number Six."
"Unlikely. I'm not the voyeur you are."
The only response was a slight twitch in the man's left eye. "She's a new arrival. Been having a some difficulty adjusting."
"Would you like me to give her some tips?"
"That won't be necessary my good man," now an almost good hearted laugh. "We have the matter well in hand."
"Then why am I here?"
"To observe. Perhaps to be enlightened."
"Oh, in what way?"
"The futility of your continued resistance."
A new game. Always interesting.
On the screen the girl was stirring. Coming out of it slowly. She looked round as if tying to remember. Then bolted out of the bed. Her hands went to her head. Explored it with panicked fingers, searching for something. Then she sagged back onto the bed and sat, dazed.
She was dressed in the usual Village attire, slacks and a stripped shirt. Cheerful as a candy cane. Her feet were bare and her hair disheveled. Her pail face was drawn tight with the stress of her current situation. She was unremarkable. Just a frightened young girl. Not at all uncommon here. What matter of manipulation would they use to make this one special?
"Why was she drugged?" Six asked.
"Yesterday, during her interview, she became violent." Something that might be interpenetrated as concern crossed Two's face. "We were forced to sedate her for her own safety."
"Of course." So he was meant to believe she was a fighter. He was to feel a common bond, no doubt.
Two picked up the yellow phone."We are hoping this experience alone will be enough to convince her that hostility is not the answer."
The phone in the girl's room rang. She rose, a bit unsteady on her feet and picked it up.
"How are you feeling this morning, Number Seven?" Number Two asked. "More reasonable, I trust." A smile twisted the corner of his lips.
On the screen the girl was silent. The fear Six had seen early was gone, replaced by something unreadable.
"No reason to be angry with me, my dear." Two scolded. "The only one you have to blame for this unfortunate business, is yourself."
She tapped her head. "What changed your mind about changing my mind?"
From her accent she was most probably American.
"You've been shown mercy." Two said. "Don't squander it."
"You have no mercy."
"Impertinence will not help you. Cooperation is the key to a happy life. Except your circumstances and submit to them."
"Never." She slammed the phone down.
Six said. "She appears to be unconvinced."
"She will come round. All in good time."
The button pinned to her shirt caught her attention. She tore it off and threw it. She had a good arm. It sailed across the room and smacked into a lamp. Oh yes, a girl after his own heart. How could he resist?
He glanced at Two, the man watched the defiant girl on the screen with displeasure. He spoke into the phone again, "Proceed."
The door to the room opened and three men came in. Number Seven met them half way. Brave, foolish or a consummate performer. She took a swing at one, connecting. They grabbed her without ceremony. She put up an admirable struggle. Giving them more than a little trouble as they dragged her from the room.
The scene, real or fabricated, angered Six. "What are you going to do with her?"
"Exile." Two said. "A little time out in the cold will teach her the value of fitting in."
The camera switched to an exterior view. The three men were now blocking the door and the girl was walking away. Slowly the people she passed fell in behind her. She glanced back at them. They moved faster, crowding her. As she passed through the Village, more joined the colorful parade.
At the stone boat she stopped, deciding it seemed to make a stand against her persecutors. The crowd was shouting now. They raised their fist and pressed in on her. The violence of their anger pushed her back. She spun away from them and broke into a run.
The cameras switched, following the mob as they drove her down to the beach and pursued her onto the sand. She tripped and fell. It appeared for a moment that they might catch her. Tension rose in Six as she scrambled for her feet and fled.
Involuntarily he responded to scene playing out before him. "What am I watching?" he demanded.
"I thought you should have recognized it, Number Six. It's public discipline. Number Seven's behavior has made her a social outcast. She won't be tolerated."
"She's only just arrived. How is it the sheep know that she isn't to be tolerated?"
"The sense of community is very strong."
"The community brainwashing." Six said angrily.
"You make no effort to understand us."
"It's not understanding I lack, but acceptance."
"One day, my dear man, you will."
Two's accretion needled him. "Is this being done for my benefit?"
"I was warned about your over developed sense of self importance." Two laughed without feeling."But really, must everything be about you? This is to benefit, Number Seven. Encourage her to come willingly into the fold."
"Yet you hope it might enlighten me as to the futility of my continued resistance."
Irritation glittered in Two's eyes.
On the screen the mob stopped as one. The girl turned to face them. Briefly they rearguard each other like players in a Mexican stand off. Then the mob moved back towards the village, leaving her alone on the sand.
"Poor thing." Two said. "Still, better she learns the hard lessons now."
"How long do you intend to leave her out there?"
"That is entirely up to her. I'm always ready to extend the hand of friendship to those willing to except it."
"And if she refuses?"
He shrugged. "Nature, as they say, will take it's course."
On the screen the girl was a small figure standing alone, looking out at the ocean.
"You would let her die?"
"She's hardly important."
"She's a human being." his anger was now unchecked.
"I'm warning you Number Six, don't interfere with this girl's rehabilitation," Two said forcibly, "We find complete isolation is most effective. Premature contact may delay or even prevent her from reaching the necessary mental and emotional state."
"You mean breaking point."
"Everyone has one," Number Two looked at him. "I trust that I will find yours soon enough."
"And this charade is how you intend to do it?"
"Such a suspicious mind."
Number Six headed for the door.
"I didn't you permission to leave." Two said.
Six stopped at the top of the ramp and looked back. "I didn't ask."
"You believe you are above us." Two snapped "Don't you?"
"In every way."
"Unbelievable insolence."
"In every way." Six smiled. "Aren't you going to open up?"
Two opened the door.
Six saluted him. "Be seeing you."
The cameras followed Six as his left the building. He went through the square heading for the clock tower.
From the tower Six could see the beach below. Number Seven was there. She walked slowly. From time to time she bent and picked something up. Beach combing. Strange under the circumstances. He watched until she was lost from view.
And now to sweat a rat. He climbed back down and headed for home.
The cameras followed Six, keeping him on Two's screen. As he mounted the steps to his door he smiled back before going inside. Such an arrogant man. Always taunting.
The interior camera revealed Six as he fixed himself a cup of tea giving every indication he was settling in. He was far too casual. No sense of urgency.
"What are you playing at now?" Two asked the face on the screen.
He paced as Six casually dropped himself into his chair, leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Play hard to get if you like. But you will go, old man. You have to. Your sense of nobility will force it upon you."
Number Two changed the view to the beach, flicking through until he found the girl. She was still walking, her hands full of bits of rubbish. Such odd behavior. Perhaps she was insane. That wouldn't do at all. After a time she found a place among the rocks and made herself comfortable. He'd expected desperation. Yet, she seemed at home. Cold and hunger would soon change her mind about that.