Vol 4 Chapter 3.2 (2/2)
Tap, tap, tap, ta-ta-tap, tap, tap, ta-ta―
Is it some kind of musical piece? An unsightly switchboard, no matter how many times I look at it. It looks like a misshapen toy. Couldn't he have made it something more appealing to―
”What now, Fennec?”
”What are you talking about?”
”As mayor, will you declare this man's sentence?”
”No, there's no need.”
”The woeful criminal doesn't even understand what kind of situation he's in. Look how terrified he is, the pitiful man. Won't you save him?”
”Save? What do you mean?”
”Give him a chance to acknowledge his crime, and beg G.o.d for forgiveness.”
The mayor gave a hearty scowl.
There he goes again, spouting strange things out of the blue. Has he always had these odd tendencies?
”Do you believe in G.o.d?”
”Of course not. But aren't there people who wish to obtain mercy from G.o.d before taking their journey, peaceful at heart?”
”There might be. But those people don't exist in No. 6.”
”I see. I haven't said anything offensive, I hope?”
”You wouldn't normally make that kind of joke.”
”My apologies. Then let us begin.”
His fingers, which had been tapping out a light rhythm only moments before, moved almost carelessly this time to push a b.u.t.ton. A part of the wall turned into a white screen, where various numbers and lines mapped themselves out.
”It's current data about the criminal on hand. His heart rate, brain waves, stiffening in muscle tissue―various measurements of each body part are recorded here.”
”I see...”
”In that room right now, there are waves being emitted at a frequency beyond the level of human hearing. Sounds are essentially air vibrations. For humans, those vibrations are transmitted through the eardrum, malleus, incus, and stapes before they reach the cochlea. You know that, right? And the range of frequencies that humans can perceive―”
”Nothing is changing.” Fennec stepped forward, and surveyed the scene in the next room intently. There was no change. The man bound to the chair, who had been gazing about uneasily, had just cast his eyes to his feet.
”There's nothing to fret about. It's starting. But this will take a little time. Will you have a seat?”
”No.”
”Then shall I treat you to a cup of coffee? I have the best blend of beans.”
”You're offering me to drink coffee? Here?”
”Would you prefer wine instead?”
”No―that's quite alright.”
”It seems you're not in the mood to listen to my lecture.”
”I'm sorry to disappoint, but I don't have much of an interest in organs of the auditory system.”
The man in the lab coat shrugged, and lapsed into silence. Nothing happened.
”Are you sure there hasn't been some failure?” the mayor muttered in a low voice.
”Me? Allow a failure to happen? A rather flat joke yourself, Fennec.”
”But...”
The lab coat's face stiffened. His bloodless face turned even paler, and a vein in his temple twitched.
Ah yes―he remembered that the man hated the word ”failure” more than anything else. He detested the word as if it had the power to physically harm him.
He changed the subject.
”So about the incidents that have been happening lately―they appear to be quieting down for the time being. There have been no other reports.”
”There will probably be no more of them in the future.”
”Can I count on your word?”
”Of course.”
”I'm counting on you. If those things keep continuing their activities in the city, things will get out of hand.”
”Those were outlier cases.”
”But why are outliers even occurring? And they're all occurring in people who aren't registered to be samples.”
”There must have been instances of carelessness in the preliminary stages of the project. But it's nothing to be upset about. Outliers are nothing more than outliers. ―Ah―”
”Hm?”
”It's happening.” The man in the lab coat pointed.
The so-called criminal had grown rigid in his chair, his chest thrown out and his head flung back. He was shaking his head from side to side, screaming something.
”Would you like to hear the audio?” The lab coat asked him with a finger poised over a green b.u.t.ton.
”No, that's quite fine,” Fennec replied hastily, shaking his head, yet taking care not to make his agitation visible.
If he could, he would not have wanted to see something like this. He wanted to leave this barren room and return to his office. My room, on the top floor of the Moondrop. Exquisite furniture and a magnificent view―indeed, a place most suited for me.
”See, take a closer look. It is coming out.” The lab coat's voice was trembling. His face wore a dreamy expression. The man in the chair was no longer moving. How easily defeated he was. The man's hair had grown white. The snowy strands fell softly to the floor, as if they had lost the strength to hold on. Senile plaque was starting to dot his translucent skin. Fennec could tell even from where he was standing.
”Let's zoom in. See,” the man in the lab coat jerked his chin at the monitor. A larger image of the man, his head bowed, filled the screen. His eyes were wide open, and his mouth twisted; he had the face of one who had lost his life even before he could decipher what was happening to him. Brown spots were scattered all over his face, which was lined with deep creases. His teeth, peeking out from his half-open mouth, looked like they were about to fall out any minute. He looked like he was nearing a hundred in age. And the base of his neck―there was a darker stain there, swollen and stirring. All sound was blocked out in this room. But for some reason, Fennec felt like he could hear the sounds of human flesh being eaten through.
It came out.
Wings that shone silver. Antennae. Numerous, constantly moving legs. A single bee had been born from a human body.
”We're going to capture you,” the man in the lab coat muttered. His face still wore a dreamy look. A clear bubble emerged from somewhere below the chair. It was ball-shaped entrapment robot about ten centimetres in diameter. Like a soap bubble, it floated up. It enveloped the bee just as it took flight, and trapped it inside its spherical body.
”Success!” The lab coat cried. His eyes were bright with tears of joy. ”We've finally succeeded. Ah, I mean―no, this is just the first step to success. But we've made certain progress, Fennec.”
”Indeed. Congratulations.”
”It's still not perfect―no, not near perfect. But success is still success. A little more―just a little more, and they will be completely under our control. Hatching, acceleration of development, eclosion, and the laying of eggs. We'll control it all. We'll be able to move them however we want. Brilliant. Finally, we've finally come this far.”
The man in the lab coat clenched his hand into a fist, and paced restlessly about the room. His cheeks flushed in excitement, while his lips lost their colour.
”With our last sample, we couldn't control the eclosion phase. With the male index case, and the male Park Administration worker, the best we could do was predict the period of eclosion. It's been how many months since then? In a mere few months, we've been able to get this far. Ah, it's as if all those long hours were but a dream. Once we've come this far, it's only a little more. A little more―”
Some say there is a but a thin line that divides a genius and a madman. I couldn't have said it any better.
Fennec took his gaze off the man who was pacing and muttering to himself, and glanced beyond the wall, inside Experiment Chamber I. He thought ”Execution Chamber” might be a better name for it.
The body was gone. It had been carted off to the autopsy room. The chair had been stored away automatically as well, and the room was now a barren, empty s.p.a.ce. There were no remnants of death. It was a void.
”No, no, I mustn't overindulge in my happiness. Just because we can perfectly control eclosion doesn't mean that it's free of any problems. Of course―it's not like we have not had any problems. Ah, yes, we still have one very large problem. Now, as for what to do with it―Fennec!”
The man's voice cracked in excitement as he barked the mayor's nickname. Displeasure became little jabs that p.r.i.c.ked at his skin irritatingly.
”What is it?”
”I need people.”
”For samples?”
”I need those too.”
”What type? How many?”
”This time, type doesn't matter. I want numbers.”
”Do they have to be people from inside the city?”
”That doesn't matter. I want quant.i.ty, not quality. Numbers, Fennec.”
”Perfect. I've scheduled a Clean-up.”
”Brilliant! I'd like one soon, please. And manpower.”
”Manpower...”
”A capable workforce. I need staff that can be extensions of my own limbs, but also have the highest levels of intelligence.”
”Are the people you have at present not enough?”
”Far from enough. I need more intelligent individuals.”
”That would be hard,” the mayor said hesitantly. ”There's a shortage of elites as it is. If I transfer any more of them here, we would be severely deficient overall.”
”I want you to give this top priority,” yelled the man in the lab coat. At the same time, the lamp on the wall flashed.
”The preparations are complete in the autopsy room. I must go. What will you do?”
”I'll go back to the Moondrop.”
That is my proper place, after all.
”I see. I'm counting on you, then. For both samples and manpower.”
A section of the wall slid soundlessly open, and the man in the lab coat walked out.
Do we really need him?
A suspicion suddenly surfaced in his mind. It was so sudden, he had to clutch his chest to calm his jagged breaths.
Do I really need him here? Is this project itself even needed? Can I not rule this land without relying on him or his project?
He took a few deep breaths to resume his normal breathing pattern. He stared at the empty s.p.a.ce before him.
How to dispose of the executed man?
He thought.
Instead of publicizing it as an illness-related death, what would happen if he announced that he had been executed? He would let it be seen and known far and wide, what happened to those who broke the rules of the Holy City of No. 6; those who tried to trick it; those who retaliated and refused to submit obediently. He would not allow so much as a strand of hair to rebel against him. He would make that att.i.tude clear. He would strengthen its enforcement. He would strengthen it enough so that everyone would know. All suspicious individuals were to be arrested and escorted away. If circ.u.mstances called for it, he could close the congress.
What would happen? Would the citizens rebel? These were people who had lived their lives devoid of anything like retaliation or objection: did they still possess any mind or method to object? Would my beloved citizens, as loyal as dogs, as powerless as kittens, dare to post a rejection against my name?
His lips curled, and a chuckle escaped them.
Impossible.
There's no way that would happen. They will all cower in the face of power, grovel, and obey me.
”Mayor, your scheduled meeting is approaching,” his secretary's voice informed him from a speaker embedded in the city emblem.
”Very well.”
”We have a car waiting for you.”
”I'm coming.”
But I can't get ahead of myself. We've come this far. There's nothing to be over-excited about. I will make things proceed discreetly and artfully.
He walked towards the wall. The door opened, and he could see the dimly-lit hallway beyond. It, too, was silver.
-- END OF CHAPTER 3 --
Read Chapter 4.
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