The Culling by Charles Ray

Author:Charles Ray
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Uhuru Press
Published: 2013-11-25T22:00:00+00:00

20.

The others had long since filed from the room, confused looks on their faces. None of them more so than the monitor commander, who he had ordered to resume the search for the two missing proles. That had given him a certain amount of pleasure, knowing that Gravius had wanted to refuse, but dared not.

Cruz sat staring at the empty chairs, his mind in turmoil. The others might not understand why a single prole boy could be so important, but he did. He should have had the child killed with his parents. But, he had allowed his spiritual advisor, Elder Robertson, to talk him into putting the boy in a crèche. Robertson and his damned book, and his rules and restrictions. He would be among the first to go, right after the monitor commander, as soon as Cruz had his hands on those missing books.

His last encounter with Ulysses Jackson still rankled. He’d handled it badly by allowing his emotions to rule.

It had been eleven years earlier, and in this very room.

When the monitors brought Ulysses and Junko to him, it was clear that they’d been beaten, and beaten badly. Junko Jackson’s left eye was swollen shut, and Ulysses’ right ear was hanging from his skull by a thread of tissue. Despite their injuries, both looked at Cruz with derision as they were shoved toward him.

“You’re probably wondering why I had you brought here,” Cruz said.

Ulysses’ lips were swollen, making it difficult for him to speak, but he was able to spit a glob of bloody sputum in Cruz’s direction.

“Iss proly ‘cause you want to wash us die, you bastard,” he muttered through his misshapened lips.

Cruz laughed; a sound completely without mirth.

“Hardly, Ulysses,” he said. “After all, we grew up together. You were like a brother to me.” He looked at Junko. “And, you know how I felt about you.”

She turned her head away, refusing to meet his gaze.

“If he’s like a brother, and you care so much about me,” she said with venom in her voice. “Why did you have us beaten like this?”

“I’m afraid the monitors were perhaps a bit over zealous. But, you were in violation of the law. You know that all births are supposed to be registered and the children delivered to a crèche for orientation. You kept that brat of yours hidden for seven years.”

Junko stood erect with her shoulders back, and turned to face Cruz directly. The look of hatred that clouded her beautiful features gave him a hollow feeling in his chest. His cheeks felt hot.

“Hector Cruz,” she said coldly. “I was not about to turn my child over to the state to be raised as a mindless, docile worker in the factory. What The Committee is doing to the prole community is nothing less than slavery to allow a few citizens to live in idle comfort.”

“Ah, my beautiful Junko. You always were the fiery one. But, you can’t put yourself above the community. The will of the individual must always be subordinate to that of the collective.

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