The Outcast Ones Read Online Free PDF

safety zone.
    “C482 needs protein capsules every day, but as an example, he needs less cereal cubes than a C on outside duty.”
    We continue to read through his profile. For tomorrow he has a training session planned.
    “On days like that, he gets more vitamins in the evening, also magnesium, calcium and iron. Our program knows that, but you need to check it. Before the person receives his food, you must confirm the selection. So we also work in shifts. Today you have the evening shift. But soon you will also be assigned to the morning shift. Then your workday will begin at 2230 hours.”
    A friendly smile appears briefly on his face. “Do you have any more questions?”
    We both shake our heads. The green spot in his eye shines out at me.
    “Good, then look at your profiles for today and calculate their nutrition. The program will tell you if you make a mistake.”
    With these words he leaves us alone in front of the monitors. D523 continues to stare at me, but I decide to ignore her and turn to my screen. A profile for D592 opens up. It is a woman. She was assigned to the cleaning unit.
    “Impressive, how exemplary you are at doing your work. Guess you still think you’re better than the rest of us.”
    I stop. She is speaking to me for the first time. Her words are strange, quite different from the language of the leaders and commanders. So direct and without keeping to any formula. What does she want from me? I decide to approach an apology.
    “It was stupid of me to question the result. The system doesn’t make mistakes, so we both belong here just the same.”
    She leans towards me and continues quietly. “But you were better than me in two results. Shouldn’t that be rewarded?”
    Her question shakes my resolve. Why is the pointing out now that she was worse? I want to agree with her. But maybe that’s not her point?
    “Our results come from more than two tests. Maybe you were better in the others.”
    “Doubt it,” she says, and shrugs. Confused, I look at her, then let my gaze sweep the room, but nobody is taking any notice of us. All of them are deep in their work. We should get started, too. It would make a bad impression to make trouble right on the first day. But she’s making me curious.
    “How do you know?”
    “Did you answer the test questions?”
    What a strange question. Of course I did. I nod.
    She grins and shows her perfect teeth. “I didn’t.”
    Horrified, I stare at her. Why would she do that? But now she turns away and taps on the monitor as if our conversation never happened.
    A few days later our schedule is interrupted by an announcement. “Exactly 81 years ago today, the Third World War broke out and sent the world crashing to its end.”
    There is solemn silence until the computer’s tinny voice goes on. “On this occasion a documentary will be shown in the Arena. Please stop your work and go there immediately.”
    All the chairs are shoved back as one, and we march like robots towards the Arena. We do not doubt or question any orders—we simply follow them. The documentary we are seeing is certainly not going to be pretty. Even so, I am happy for the distraction from our everyday life that is planned to the smallest detail.
    C515 is standing in front of the Arena in his new blue suit. That’s good, because it means he hasn’t been deployed outside. Not yet, at least.
    When I pass him, I look at him. Our eyes meet for a moment. I’m so happy he is well that I give him a brief smile. His eyes widen in surprise, but then he nods at me politely.
    An elbow digs sharply into my side. Shocked, I spin around. D523 has this strange grin on her face again, that I’ve never seen on anyone else here.
    “You’ve got a crush on him!” she claims, and I have no idea what she’s talking about.
    “I...crushed what?”
    She groans, frustrated, and hits herself playfully in the head. “You think C515 is nice.”
    I am unknowing. What does she mean? “Of course he’s nice.