Wolf Block Read Online Free PDF Page B

Really, what is the point of this?”
    “Wouldn’t it be easier to euthanize them?” Jirit asked.
    She stopped and looked at him. “You’re angry at the government for supposedly murdering your family and now you’re suggesting that we euthanize sick people? Sure it would be easier, but that doesn’t make it the right thing to do!”
    Once again speaking in unison, the prisoners asked, “Does the government represent chaos or order?”
    “Order!” Bunierti snapped. “I thought you wanted to give me answers. All you’re doing is asking me questions.”
    “Sometimes questions are answers,” the prisoners responded in unison.
    Bunierti was at a loss for words. As she stood still by the door, the prison block fell into silence once again. Now, instead of feeling weary, Bunierti felt agitated. Her thoughts raced, trying to piece together the meaning of their riddles. After a short while, she saw the prisoners turn slightly away from her to face directly across the corridor. It almost felt like rejection, but Bunierti instantly scolded herself for being so weak as to even entertain that thought. Time began to drag again. She felt as if a weight had been lifted from her when another Upholder finally arrived to relieve her. She left the prison block without a word and returned promptly to her quarters.
Chapter Four
    Her second assignment to Wolf Block ended early enough that Bunierti was able to attend the test she had scheduled later that day, although she had no time for a last-minute review of the topic. Upholder tests varied widely, some being physical, others behavioral, and others academic. This particular test delved into historical trivia about the origins of Upholding. As she worked through it, sitting in a test cubicle under the unceasing gaze of cameras covering multiple angles, Bunierti’s thoughts kept wandering back to the prisoners of Wolf Block. She knew it was hurting her test performance, but the mental discipline she normally enjoyed during tests evaded her. When she reached the end, the low score displayed by the testing interface was no surprise but it heightened her anger.
    “Upholder Kittran reporting as ordered, sir,” she said that evening after entering the office of her Supervisor. She stood at attention in front of his desk, her disciplined gaze directed over his head.
    “You requested this meeting, Upholder Kittran. Be efficient about it,” the man said as he remained seated. He appeared to be at least twenty years older than Bunierti. His gaunt face seemed stretched over his skull and a long, dark scar marred it below his left eye.
    “Sir, I believe I have important information about the prisoners in Sector W84-88D,” she began.
    The man behind the desk held up his hand to stop her. “Do not waste my time with rumors about Wolf Block, Upholder Kittran.”
    Bunierti kept her expression neutral. “This is not about rumors, sir. In my assignments to Sector W84-88D I observed things that I believe need to be reported,” she replied.
    “Keep it to facts you observed and be brief,” he said, frowning.
    “Yes, sir,” she acknowledged. She then related her observations succinctly, avoiding any obvious speculation but trying to work in some subjective analysis where she felt it was necessary. Despite wanting to boldly state that the prisoners needed to be separated, Bunierti knew her Supervisor would not be receptive to that suggestion from her.
    When she was done, he stared at her for a moment and then gave a minimal nod. “Noted. Dismissed.” He pointedly shifted his attention to something on his desk.
    Bunierti did a sharp about-face and departed her Supervisor’s office promptly. She had not expected much, but the encounter was even more disappointing than she anticipated. When she reached her quarters, Bunierti was glad to see that her roommate was absent. She briefly wondered why Nongma was away when it was so close to their lights-out time, but she shrugged it off with a guess