The Enemy by Susan Bowes (best classic books of all time txt) 📖

when you can't fill the hours with some kind of labor, but I'd refused to aid the enemy in that respect.

I hadn't heard from Florek in days. I still watched Ellie being marched to the factory every morning. She looked more haggard each time she passed. I was afraid she wouldn't last much longer. While watching her today I heard a voice behind me. "I think I've found a way for you to see her if you're still interested."

"How?"

"You're being moved into the factory workers section."

"Moved?"

"Yes. I've arranged it. It is the only way to see her."

"I don't know the layout there. How can I---, er, never mind."

"If you were going to say escape forget it. There's no way out of here except death."

"How can you be sure about that?"

"You don't want to know how I know."

"What do you mean?"

He didn't answer. His face was set like stone and I knew it was useless to question him on the matter further. "When are they moving me?"

"Tomorrow."

"I don't know how I'm going to repay you."

"You may not want to if you learn the truth," he said as he turned and walked away. I wondered what he'd meant by that.

Two guards entered my barracks early the next morning and told me to gather my belongings. I silently thanked Florek and grabbed my ragged clothing and the single blanket that was issued each of us. We headed out of the ramshackle building and I was escorted through the gate. We entered another hovel on the other side. No prisoners looked towards me as I walked in.

"Find yourself a cot and wait," one of the guards said. I did as told. I walked down the length of the building and searched for an empty bed. As I did I looked at the mens faces. They all seemed completely depleted. Not from overexertion, but from a lack of all hope.

The guards came back shortly and ordered us to form into a line outside the barracks. The men slowly rose and staggered out. I joined them. We were marched to the gate of the compound. Women were being prodded from another section. I scanned through the crowd and finally saw Ellie. The men and women were kept separated as the procession moved out the main gate towards the factory beyond the trees.

Once at our destination I noticed that the facility was huge. I was assigned a work space and given instructions. As I stood next to a conveyer belt a loud bell sounded. The belt started moving. There were six in all. There were containers of all shapes and sizes carried along the length. These containers resembled the ones we found in the freezer in that lab so long ago. Apparently the rumors were wrong. There was no secret weapon being assembled.

The guards left the immediate area and climbed a double set of stairs. They entered a glassed enclosure with catwalks sprouting from the center like the spokes of a great wheel. These walkways overlooked the entire floor. As the guards prowled overhead I looked for Ellie. She was assigned to another belt. Not being in close proximity I began inspecting the cans for any dents or imperfections. Thus I started my task at the factory.

We'd been at work for a number of hours when the bell blared and jostled me from my boredom. The workers turned and shuffled towards a door. I followed. We were marched into a cafeteria. We were herded to a counter and a bowl of gruel was shoved at me. I was then pushed towards some tables.

I looked for Ellie and found her sitting at the far end of the room. I went to her and spoke her name. She didn't look up. She wore the same bleak look of hopelessness as all the others. I sat down next to her trying to get her to speak, but she just sat there spooning the horrible sustenance into her mouth. The gruel was running down her chin and she didn't take notice. I leaned over and wiped it from her face with my fingers. She wasn't even aware that I had done it. She continued to shovel the food into her mouth as if in a trance.

I looked across the room at the guards. Some were staring my way with grins on their faces. Our captors were passing currency between themselves. Apparently they'd made bets on my reaction to Ellie's condition. I fought to control my emotions as I grabbed my spoon and started eating. I saw the look of disappointment on a few as money changed hands. I continued to eat and held my rage in check. The bell soon blared again to signal our return to work.

The day ended and all were marched back to the compound. I dragged myself to the cot and flopped down werily. I'd been at the belt for at least ten more hours without another break. My eyes were burning. Not just from the constant inspection of the cans that passed by on the seemingly unending conveyer, but from tears shed for Ellie.

*

The days passed and I did all I could to earn the factory's guards trust. I joined in their laughter when one of my kind dropped to the floor from sheer exhaustion. When they questioned me about my lack of concern I told them I was treated like an outcast. I said I hated others of my kind because of their ire towards me. I stating that I did not care anymore aobut what happened to the others. I soon gained their complete trust and was given a new job. I became what was called a "tasker." Translated to our language it meant supervisor. I was to make sure production was kept at a maximum.

The belts moved at a furious pace as I kept after the workers constantly. I wrapped a solid wall around my emotions and ignored the stares of rage that I now received from my kind. Many had died under my watch. One day I asked one of the guards what became of all the dead. He just smiled.

Little by little I gained access to other portions of the facility. I kept my eyes open and noticed exits that weren't under constant supervision or viewed by camera. I'd found there was no other route out of the prision except from here. This then would be where I would make my escape and I wasn't planning on fleeing alone. I vowed that I would take Ellie with me.

Weeks passed as I joined my fellow workers on our daily march to the factory. I noticed new members today. Florek was among this group. I made my way over to him and walked beside him. He asked if I'd found my friend.

"Yes. I found her. At least what's left of her. She's shut down completely. She doesn't recognize me at all and doesn't speak. She goes to her position and works until the bell sounds silently walking back to camp to await the next day."

"I expected as much."

"Why didn't you tell me what to expect?"

"I didn't know for sure."

"I can't understand why she's so withdrawn. I know we're all pushed to the very limit of endurance, but I don't understand the depth of disparity."

"You've never been to the core of the factory I take it."

"No. I'm not allowed access."

"Those who continue to resist have been taken there. They found out what's at the end of the conveyer belts. They were taken there to break them. It's how they broke me."

"What do you mean? How?"

"It's better you don't know. Where do you want me?" he asked as we entered the building.

"Line one," I sighed.

Without another word Florek walked to the belt and immmediately went to work.


- Chapter Five-


While I passed the endless hours away at the factory I planned my escape with Ellie. If I could find her that is. I hadn't seen her in a few days. I asked Florek if they might have transferred her. He looked at me strangely, but just said no. I finally went to the guards and asked them when she'd been taken. No one would tell me. I asked for permission to find her. They wanted to know why since I'd stated I didn't care about my people. I told them she'd been my sexual partner on our home planet. They laughed raucously between themselves, but said I could look. I searched the entire floor as well as all the rooms, but she was nowhere to be found.

A few days later while standing over Florek at the belt pretending to admonish him for lack of speed he asked if I'd found Ellie. I replied that I couldn't find her anywhere and asked if there where other prisons she mihgt have been transferred to?"

"I imagine there's lots of other prisons, but I'd doubt they'd move her from here. If she's not at her work station she's probably dead."

"I refuse to believe that. Ellie is one of the strongest people I know. She's alive somewhere. She just has to be. I'll find her if it's the last thing I do."

"It very well might be the last thing you do."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just drop it my friend. You won't find her."

"You say that like you think she's dead."

"If she's not at her work station she is dead. That's the only way we escape from this prison."

"If that's true I want to see her body. I have to know for sure."

"No. You don't want to see her remains my friend. You wouldn't be able to take that."

"What do you mean?"

"You don't want to know. I keep telling you that. Please don't ask me again."

I continued to pester Florek, but he kept changing the subject. I wouldn't be put off. He finally said," Alright. Have it your way." He told me where they take our dead.

I left Florek's side at the belt and went up to one of the guards. I asked him to check and see if Ellie had died. He sighed, but didn't deny me an answer. He climbed up the stairwell to the glass enclosure at the top. He spoke with another guard and they left the room. I couldn't see where they went, but within a few minutes the man I'd asked came back down the steps.

"I'm afraid you're whore has died, but don't fret. There's more where she came from. How about that one over there." He pointed to one of the newer arrivals. She was a mere child.

"No thanks. At least not today. I kind of got used to the other one. Do you think I could view my friend's body?"

He chuckeled. "You aching one last piece off the stiff?".

"You might say that," I laughed along with him, but was revolted to think that anyone could abuse the dead in such a way.

"Sorry. Can't be done. She's probably already been processed."

"What do you mean - processed?"

He looked me square in the eye and said, "You don't want to know."

"I wish people would stop saying that. I can assure you that I do want to know what happens with our dead."

"You won't find out from