The Society (A Broken World Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

most benign areas. Maybe there is some validity to the argument that the activities in the other zones are harmless. I've heard people say that the stresses put on our society as a result of those activities are so minor as to be insignificant, but if my training has taught me nothing else, it's taught me that under times of emergency even very small stresses can mean the difference between success and failure. I will not be a cause of a failure for our Society."
    He cocked his head to the side. "Our Society is not under stress. The grubber cities are no threat in the face of our technology and military. There is no need to forgo pleasures and diversions when there is no emergency."
    "With all due respect, Citizen-Administrator, emergencies by their very nature cannot be predicted with perfect accuracy. I stand by my words."
    He looked down at his terminal and then nodded once as though acknowledging an order. A second later he'd levered his bulk up out of his chair and I was scrambling to my feet so as to show the proper respect to a Citizen-Administrator.
    It was unprecedented. I'd never seen him standing. Every other time we'd met I'd been ushered into his office while he was seated, and then dismissed without him ever seeing me to the door.
    I thought for sure that I'd offended him. I hurried to the door, hoping to get out of the office before he worked himself up to yelling at me, but he barked for me to hold my position. A second later the door opened and a slim, muscular man walked into the room.
    "That will be all, Beck. Leave us—I'll let you know when you can have your office back."
    I started to drop to my knees, but the new arrival grabbed my arm, easily supporting my weight.
    "There's no need for any of that. The last thing you should be doing is kneeling before me."
    "Mr. Citizen-President, I don't understand. Whatever I did wrong, please let me assure you that I will correct the failing immediately. I never meant to let down our people."
    "Skye, you've got everything backwards. I'm not here because you've committed some kind of capital offense. I'm here because you are a very unique individual. Out of the two thousand young people born in your year, only two of you have demonstrated such a high level of loyalty to our Society."
    "I've only done what was asked of me, sir. Surely there are dozens—hundreds even—of others who have done just as well as I have…"
    "No, I'm afraid there aren't. I'm not just talking about the starvation-level rations or the extensive physical conditioning. I've got dozens of people in the military doing that specifically because they want access to the benefits given only to our brave armed forces personnel. I'm not even talking about your steadfast refusal to ask when you'll get a chance to earn your franchise, Skye.
    "Out of everyone else born at the same time as you, there are only two of you who've done all of that and also refused to go into the zones that have been deemed less than socially desirable. A dozen trips into the blue zones would have been hardly remarkable given the predilections of your peers. Even those slated to join the military are allowed unrestricted access to zones that are much more habit-forming than that, but your competition has ventured out of the green cordon only once, and you've never strayed even a single time."
    "I still don't understand, sir. The Citizen-Administrator was just telling me that the social desirability index was a relic."
    "It was a test, Skye. Everything that's happened to you since you were born has been a test. You knew you were being tested back before you were released from the juvenile housing, but there was no way for you to know for sure that your tests went on for another five years after that. This was a test to see just how loyal to our people you are, and you succeeded magnificently. I've looked back through the archives from before my election and the last time someone passed the tests with such perfection was nearly