Vol 6 Chapter 5.2 (2/2)
”Let's go, s.h.i.+on.”
”Yeah.”
”Rou. This is good-bye. It's probably the last I'll see of you. This time, I won't come back.”
”That is for the best. You are one who must live above-ground. You are someone who must live in the light and wind. I pray that we will never meet again. Ah, but you are not in need of prayers, perhaps?”
”I'm not.”
”Oh―Rou, I'm going too,” s.h.i.+on said. ”I wish I could have heard more of your story.”
”I trust that the rest will come through your own hands. Thanks to you, I have been able to relive memories of Karan. But you do not need to tell her about me. You should also forget about me yourself. This is farewell, s.h.i.+on.”
”Good-bye. Thank you for everything.”
They started walking.
When s.h.i.+on turned around, the candle had already been extinguished. Darkness shrouded all that was behind him.
* * *
The emergency lamp flashed and the buzzer rang.
The door to the Correctional Facility rolled up slowly in front of Getsuyaku. He set a foot inside. White walls and a white hallway spread before him, the picture of cleanliness itself.
”What in the world is this, eh?” Getsuyaku was met with a torrent of abuse as soon as he entered the monitoring room. ”What's wrong with these cleaning robots? They're spouting odours and strewing trash everywhere instead of cleaning it up. Have you even maintained them properly?” The man was practically a giant, almost one-and-a-half sizes bigger than Getsuyaku in height and berth.
”I'm sorry. They've been acting up. I didn't even imagine something like this would happen.”
”Enough excuses. Clean it up, and quickly.”
”Yes, sir.”
”Oh, it stinks,” said a woman with long hair, grimacing as she pinched her nose. ”I can't work in this stench.” She left the room, her voice congested. She trampled Getsuyaku's toe on her way out, though whether she had meant to do it or not, he didn't know. She gave him no apology, nor did she even spare him a glance.
The room was divided by transparent walls into several sections. The sections were arranged in accordance to priority level, and the higher priority rooms were placed further in. Getsuyaku was in a s.p.a.ce near the door, commonly called the Mannequin. This section dealt mainly with monitoring ventilation. It was a department relatively low on the priority scale, and that was probably another reason why he had been let in without much trouble.
”I'm very sorry.” He went around with a vacuum, sucking up the trash scattered over the floor.
”You're utterly useless. I can find a dozen replacements for janitors like you, you know. Next time you mess up, you're fired on the spot. Ugh, it smells horrible. I can't stand it. Hm? What are you looking at?”
”Nothing, sir.” Getsuyaku lowered his eyes.
”Do you have something to say? A complaint? A Lost Town resident acting high and mighty now, eh?”
Getsuyaku felt a firm kick in the s.h.i.+ns. He staggered, and struck his hip hard on a corner of a desk.
”Well? Don't just stand there. Hurry up and work!”
A wind was dancing inside his head. No, it was whirling fiercely. It was whipping up a tremendous noise.
d.a.m.nit. He was mumbling. d.a.m.nit, d.a.m.nit, d.a.m.nit, d.a.m.nit.
What makes him think he can be so arrogant? What have I done to be insulted by him? I'm just doing my job. I've done my job all this time―honest and hard work. ―Well, I might've done a little smuggling, but still, I haven't caused anyone trouble. You guys would've been buried in trash if it weren't for me. Don't like the smell? Dirty, you say? It's all stuff you guys have produced. Don't give me this s.h.i.+t. Treating me like a dog. It doesn't matter where I live; I'm still a human. I'm no mongrel.
His injured pride swelled into anger, and wiped clean from Getsuyaku's breast any hint of uncertainty that had lodged itself there.
He saw a fleeting image of Inukas.h.i.+'s tan face.
They go around acting c.o.c.ky like that, and they've got no idea how hard your work is, and how much it's worth. They're looking down on you. So? How about you give those c.o.c.ky guys a piece of your mind? Not a bad idea, is it?
You're absolutely right, Inukas.h.i.+. It's not bad at all.
He threw a glance at the digital display on the wall. Within No. 6―and this building was no exception―time pa.s.sed by with not so much as a 0.1-second delay.
A capsule lay on the floor at his feet. It had not disintegrated.
d.a.m.n it all to h.e.l.l.
He stepped on it softly with his right foot. There was another one. He did the same―
”What in the world―” The man stood up. His face was contorted. ”What is this horrid smell?”
”I have no idea...” Getsuyaku replied vaguely, ”it smells like rotting meat... I think it must've been mixed in with the garbage...” He was right. The smell was horrid. It wasn't an overpowering odour, but it was enough to grate on his nerves. Even Getsuyaku, who was used to smelling decay, felt ill.
”I can't stand it. Ugh―out of the way!” The man covered his mouth and exited the room. He trampled Getsuyaku's foot on the way out, just like the woman had.
”That hurts, what was that for?”
”Shut up. Move it!”
The man shoved his hand against Getsuyaku's chest. He staggered, and b.u.mped into the control panel.
Stop. It was the designated time.
Getsuyaku pretended to hold his hip and groan in pain, and pressed the green b.u.t.ton on the far right. While he was at it, he pressed the changer switch. Now, this stench would travel through the air ducts and waft into the Facility. Getsuyaku didn't know what the green b.u.t.ton was supposed to do. He had only followed Inukas.h.i.+'s directions. He raised himself unsteadily, and picked up the vacuum. He began to clean.
He was breaking out into a cold sweat.
How had he looked to the surveillance camera positioned in the middle of the ceiling? Did his move seem unnatural?
I've done it.
There was a melting capsule underneath the desk. Fumes rose up thickly.
Getsuyaku strengthened the grip in his trembling fingertips, and kept hold of his vacuum hose.
s.h.i.+on.
I can feel you.
Don't come. Please, don't come.
I really
want to see you.
Another casualty. Over thirty in total, now. Social cla.s.s, wealth, history of illness, residence, s.e.x, age, build, lifestyle, all unrelated. Who was next―?
Fear, uncertainty, and agitation mounted inside No. 6.
”What are the authorities doing?”
”Investigate and disclose the causes.”
”Why aren't you taking any effective measures?”
”Dispatch the medics, hurry.”
”Mayor, your emergency press conference.”
What has happened to our No. 6? Our city, our No. 6, what―
Nezumi's fingers tapped the door connected to the Correctional Facility. Safu was beyond this door.
”It's almost time. We'll be launching the flashy fireworks soon, s.h.i.+on.”
”Yeah.”
”You nervous?”
”No. I've been thinking.”
”What could you possibly think of at a time like this?” Nezumi said incredulously.
”I was thinking about Safu. I want to see her.”
”No need to jump the gun.”
”And―I was wondering, just for a tiny instant.”
”What?”
”Whether it was possible to know everything about you.”
”Idle thoughts, huh.”
”You think so?”
Nezumi's fingers yanked at s.h.i.+on's earlobe. A sharp pain shot through it.
”s.h.i.+on, listen. From here on out is your stage. Once the door opens, we'll be inside the Correctional Facility. Get that brain working full-throttle. I'm gonna be acting on your orders. You're my lifeline. Don't you dare break.”
”Of course I won't. You don't even need to say so.”
Nezumi smiled wryly, and stretched his hand out palm-up. s.h.i.+on placed his own hand on top.
Click.
There was a sound.
Click click click.
The automatic locks were being released.
”Perfect. I need to give Inukas.h.i.+ a reward later.”
Click click click. Creak.
”Let's go, s.h.i.+on.”
”Right.”
The door opened.
A white light stabbed at his eyes.
It was blinding.
The light was overpowering.
The place overflowed with light, and glittered.
It was unmistakable―it was the world of No. 6.
Read Volume 7 Chapter 1.
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