City Without Suns Read Online Free PDF

individual.  He swiftly dashed into the hallway demonstrating freakish strength and agility for somebody that age and tenure in space.  He pounded Eon with an unexpected blow to the eye.  Eon endured several kicks while clenching his injured face.  Through the fury, Eon managed to see that the old man was wearing a tattered uniform – with an emblem.  The number of stripes suggested he was a very high level officer.
    With a violent kick, Eon jumped up and raced away with superior speed, able to drop back down the next tunnel in his path.  The distraught weirdo remained behind and for some reason did not pursue.  Eon’s rush of adrenaline allowed him to get back to the room where he collapsed in my arms.
    He told me the story only a short time ago. The execution he witnessed was atypical but not completely unusual.  More humane planned killings, however, are typical.  Every month, a census is taken of the commoners.  Six of our friends have been taken away in the last year, never to return.  We believe they have been eliminated.  The rumor is that it is done painlessly, but we do not know.  The rationalization provided is that the resources available cannot support unlimited population growth, and the population has to be periodically purged of noncritical personnel.  At least this notion has some logic, however frustrating and depressing it may seem.  The brutal executions are far more disturbing. 
    The stray lunatic did not surprise me.  Even before the segregation of the lower levels by Commander Leonidas Verga, I watched passengers and crew deteriorate as if an unseen force has permeated the vessel and corroded their minds. On occasion, thoughts of violence enter my own head, but I stay vigilant. It requires conscious effort to ward off whatever evil spirit tempts me with giving up my good nature and fighting for resources like some of the others.  I have heard of bands of youngsters down here in the lower levels who have formed alliances and fend for themselves quite well.  Not everybody is as resourceful.  In the meantime, we still have access to rations, and as long as we obey the rules, that should continue for as long as we are allowed to live.
    With the General in charge many years ago, we always knew what was happening all around the ship.  Everyone had a job they felt was contributing to the mission, the first interstellar voyage to find new and necessary homes.  I don’t see how everything that needs to be done to sustain life in this completely unnatural place can be accomplished without every individual being put to work.  The fact that I know nothing about what is going on in the upper levels, and the fact that there is any notion of segregation among such a small community, suggests that something is wrong.  The oppressive actions of the patrol can be explained by nothing other than corruption, but I feel helpless to do anything about it.  I write this realizing that the words might even be intercepted and read, but the possible consequences seem no worse than what I am enduring already.  I will continue to write to you with hope of influencing someone, either onboard or elsewhere, who will hear our plight.

Chapter 6
     
    September 30, 2829
     
    The air was really bad today.  Sometimes it is so cold that I worry we will freeze, and on other rare occasions like today, the heat is intolerable.  There was obviously something wrong with the regulation of thermal energy coming from the reactor sections.  Eon and I stayed in our perimeter room for an extended time where a portion of the excess heat radiated through the window to the outside.
    To my surprise, Salazar appeared at our door again.  I had not seen him for nearly three weeks.  He came under the guise of checking on my safety and explained there were repairs underway, but when he stayed for an extended time, I could see he was in need of my friendship. Salazar was the most physically adept of anyone I knew, and