Perfect Flaw (7 page)

For a few more days an almost tangible tension hung in the air. In the morning, as Ross went out for his first inspection round, he expected to see people out on the streets, ready to wreak havoc, but everything was as it used to be. The City’s Security Forces had demonstrated they had the power to deal with any crisis. The revolution had been nipped in the bud. The City Council was still the supreme ruler of the city, and would evidently remain in power for a long time.

Several days went by and life in the City returned to normal. Grey clouds dominated the sky, and the rain was at a minimal level. Inspection rounds as a rule did not turn up any “invaders”. The food supplies had been cleared of “undesired contaminants” and the rations had been lifted. The only place which still suffered from a food shortage was the overflowing prison, densely overpopulated since the recent events.

No official statements were given about the living conditions in the prison, but from hastily whispered exchanges from colleagues in the Bureau and rumours spread in the Pub, he could puzzle together how the Council must have solved this delicate problem.

Apparently the Council had decided not to raise the total food supply allocated to the Prison. That meant that as the number of convicts swelled exponentially in a matter of days, the amount of food given to each prisoner diminished accordingly. Consequently, the overpopulation problem had ceased to exist as the majority of the convicts or perhaps even all of them had perished for lack of sufficient food and water. Among the higher levels, this was considered an “elegant solution” that had left the City “purified”.

A week went by, without any disruptions of normal life in the City. A fair number of apartments in his district, and probably all over the City, were now uninhabited, which could only mean that those people had been unmasked as subversive elements and sentenced. In the mess-hall where he went to lunch too, there were fewer people than before. It was clear the revolutionary feelings had penetrated into the higher levels as well, an extremely ominous evolution that had fortunately been stopped short.

One morning Ross got up and noticed that a light rainstorm had left its stamp on his district. It was nothing serious, just bits of sand and dirt swept by the wind into corners. Still, he decided to call the Cleaning Squad. After breakfast, he went out to greet the Squad Leader who had just arrived.

“Good morning. I’m glad you came quickly.”

“Good morning, Inspector. What exactly is the problem?”

“Didn’t you take a look around?”

“Yes, but all I saw is a bit of sand here and there. Honestly, Inspector, that doesn’t look like an emergency situation that requires instant action from an entire Cleaning Squad.”

“Just a bit of sand here and there. It may look harmless at this stage, but if more sand and dirt are blown this way, vegetation may start to take root before we realise what’s happening. We cannot take any chances. You know what troubles we’ve recently been through. And you know the City Council’s stance.”

“Yes, of course, Inspector. This City was built for man and for man only. There can be no other living creatures here. Each intrusion of other life-forms is an infection, a menace for man’s survival that should be stamped out. Man is the crown of creation, and the City is his, and his only. We’ve been taught all that, Inspector, as you well know. But this is just a handful of sand. It’s not as if there’s an immediate threat.”

“You appear not completely convinced of the City Council’s views,” Ross said. “That’s not an attitude expected from a Squad Leader.”

“Come on, Inspector. You know very well that I’m a dedicated City worker. We’ve known each other for how long now? How many frank and open-minded discussions did we have? And have I ever failed you?”

Ross just shot the man a cold, hard look.

“Do you remember the difficult times we had a few weeks ago?” the Squad Leader continued. “Do you remember how my men worked around the clock until the crisis situation had been completely taken care of? How then can you doubt our commitment?”

“I will not doubt your commitment as soon as you’ve cleaned up the sand and dirt soiling my district,” Ross said. Then he turned away his gaze, making it clear the discussion was closed. The Squad Leader returned to his men and gave them their orders. Moments later his district had been cleared and the Squad left.

When he was at the Bureau to file his report, he let his thoughts roam for a few minutes. Should he mention the Squad Leader had shown some reticence in doing his job, had appeared somewhat doubtful of the City Council’s views? It was true that he had known the man for a long time and that he had a flawless track record. At least, until now. Admittedly, the last few weeks had been harrowing and now that the situation was back to normal, it was perhaps understandable that some people loosened up a bit.

On the other hand, the Council’s views were not open to discussion, and City workers, especially in the higher levels, were supposed to show unswerving support and dedication. This was of utmost importance. Life in the City had been prosperous for as long as most people could remember, and that was largely due to the Council’s uncompromising reign. It was only logical that all the City’s inhabitants, and in particular the higher level workers, would hold the Council in the highest esteem and apply its directives unconditionally. In that respect the Squad Leader had failed. Even if there were extenuating circumstances, there was too much at stake in this post-revolutionary period to allow for any weakness in a higher level worker.

Ross noted in his report that the Squad Leader of his district had turned into a liability, and that the Justice Administrator should take the steps he deemed necessary. Then Ross leaned back in his seat, convinced he had done the right thing. The City’s guaranteed security relied on men like him.

The following days brought nothing special. The weather was quite normal, mostly overcast with an occasional sprinkle of sunshine, no rain, and just a light breeze. He did not spot any intrusions in his district, even if he checked everything with renewed rigour. It appeared this kind of weather indeed rendered living conditions easier and the population more subdued. It was true that there was no trace left anymore of the revolutionary atmosphere of a few weeks ago.

One day there was a small incident after the public lunch in the mess-hall. Since the contamination of the food supplies, their lunch consisted of an indefinable clump of grey material that lacked taste and looked pretty unappetising. Still, most people were glad they were back on regular portions. As a group of workers prepared to go back to their districts, one man held up his hand and said:

“Wait, please. I need to ask something. Does anybody know what we’re eating? Does anybody know what that stuff we’re served is made of?”

“Does it matter?” someone replied. “It’s safe and hygienic. It’s healthy and nutritious. What else do you want?”

“I just need to know what it is made of. It can’t contain meat or vegetables, as there are no animals or plants in the City. So it must be synthetic. But how does synthetic food attract cockroaches, as they said? How do you explain that?”

“It may be synthetic, but it’s edible, right?”

“Are you sure it’s edible? Have you tasted that stuff?”

“This discussion is leading nowhere,” another man said. “We should be happy we have sufficient and adequate food supplies again. No more questions need be asked.”

“I’m not calling for a revolution,” the man said. “I just want to know what we’re getting to eat.”

Nobody bothered to reply, and they all went their separate ways, eager to go back to their jobs. Ross was neither surprised nor unhappy to find out the man was no longer among them the following day. It could only mean one of his colleagues had taken up his responsibility and passed on the information about this case of socially unacceptable criticism to the authorities. As a matter of fact, he had considered doing so himself.

A few days later he spotted a bird at the edge of his district on his early inspection round. The animal was sitting in a portico and did not fly away when he approached. Upon closer inspection he found the bird was injured, perhaps even dying. That explained why the bird had landed here, as in principle there was nothing in the City that might attract birds or any other creatures. This animal must have been too weak to continue its flight, and had come here to die. He called for the Cleaning Squad, adding that this was not an emergency requiring the full Squad.

Shortly afterwards a handful of men arrived, led by his district’s new Squad Leader. It was the first time they met in the field. He had of course been informed of the “replacement” of Thomas, thanks to his report, but his successor had not yet been officially presented.

“Good morning, Inspector. How can we be of service?”

“There’s an animal over there. I’ll show you. It’s a bird, and it’s dying, or maybe already dead. This should not be difficult.”

“A bird.” The Leader’s face had abject horror written all over it. “An animal, in our city. How disgusting. We’ll deal with this, Inspector. Give us a moment and this district will no longer be soiled.”

Ross was satisfied to see the men carry out their duties flawlessly. As they clambered back into their vehicle their Leader walked over to him.

“Mission accomplished, Inspector. Is there anything else we can do?”

“No, thanks. I’m sure we’ll have a long and fruitful professional relationship,” Ross said. “The City needs more men like you.”

“Thank you, Inspector. I’m proud to live and work here. In a city built for man, and for man only. Freed of the presence of lower life-forms. Unsoiled by vegetation. This is where we belong, where we can live without fear of infection. Where no cracks in the concrete are overlooked, and each sign of wear or tear is spotted, reported and repaired. A City of bricks and mortar, a landscape of unspoiled concrete, without a strip of the colour green to be seen. It’s a dream come true, and we’ll do whatever is in our power to keep that dream going.”

“I’m glad to see you’re a firm supporter of the City Council’s views,” Ross commended him. “It will be a pleasure to work with you.”

“I will never fail you or the City,” the Squad Leader assured him. “I believe we will see each other regularly. The City Council has issued this new directive, as I’m sure you know.”

“Yes. It’s part of their programme to raise the security measures in the City. They learned their lessons from the recent upheavals. Of course I’m fully behind them.”

“So am I, Inspector. Goodbye.”

The City Council had indeed decided to reschedule and intensify all security measures. He was glad that the Cleaning Squads had been given new responsibilities. Especially with a Squad Leader like this new guy in his district, things would move in the right direction. The Units that sprayed all the City’s streets and squares with disinfectant every fortnight had been disbanded, and their personnel added to the various Cleaning Squads active all over town. From now on the enhanced Squads would spray the City twice a week, so as to make sure not even the tiniest life-forms, including those too small for the eye to see, would stand a chance at surviving in the City.

This City was built for man, and for man only, Ross thought. We’ll do everything we can to ensure our survival. There would be zero tolerance for any other life-forms that might threaten the City’s security, and for any citizen not fully in line with the City Council’s doctrine. Too much was at stake. No crack in the concrete would be overlooked, as the official slogan had it.

One of the following days he ran into the Squad Leader as his men were spraying the streets.

“Good afternoon, Inspector,” the man greeted him. “You should forgive me for not having a complete Squad right now. A few of my men have been sent to prison and no replacements have been appointed yet. I’m sure we’ll be back in full force soon.”

“Fine,” Ross said. “What was the problem?”

“They questioned the City Council’s food policy,” he explained. “They complained they were getting unpalatable stuff, wondered in public what it was made of, and accused the Council of needlessly going to extremes regarding the food supplies. It goes without saying that such views cannot be tolerated from men directly involved with the City’s security. I’m happy to say they were removed from my Squad and duly sentenced.”

Ross nodded approvingly. “I must say I witnessed a comparable case recently,” he said. “A fellow level D worker voiced similar complaints after lunch in the mess-hall. He wasn’t seen again.”

“You denounced him as you filed your report?”

“A colleague of mine must have done so. It’s good to see people take up their responsibilities and commit themselves to maintaining the City’s security.”

“You’re absolutely right, Inspector. Now, I must return to my duties. Good afternoon.”

Later that evening, as Ross had finished his inspection round, he considered going to the Level D Pub after supper. He had just taken out the food tablets he was entitled to as the door of his place was brutally shattered and a group of Security Forces stormed inside.

“What is this supposed to mean?” he exclaimed, totally taken by surprise.

“You are relieved of your duties,” the Forces’ Leader replied. “You must come along. You will be imprisoned according to City Council decree. There will be no public trial, as the Council still applies its swift crisis procedure.”

Ross could hardly believe what he heard. “This must be a mistake,” he stammered. “I’m a loyal level D City worker. I’m fully behind the Council’s views and committed to carrying out my duties to the best of my capacities.”

The men paid no attention to his words. He was handcuffed and led away. As he was dragged along on the street, the Forces’ Leader said to him:

“This district’s Cleaning Squad Leader denounced you in his report. Apparently you confessed to him having witnessed a case of unacceptable behaviour. A colleague voicing protest against the City Council’s food policy. You admitted not having mentioned this incident in your report.”