of the product, let’s say so.
– That’s right, they show and convey to us what our supreme government considers edible.
– Yeah, it is!
– The most important thing is that they support us as labor: they feed us well, give stable work, a roof over our heads, and everything else… everything else is, as it were, aside, it is secondary. Any state, our or neighboring, or even on another continent, needs simple workers who will plow and not think about anything other than work…
– Yeah, here we are.
– Yes, here we are working… It turns out that they keep us on a strict leash so that they could not jerk to the right or left to the side…
– That you hit the very point!
– There is such, I – such, I – well-aimed!
– Indeed it is. Any state needs labor, but here’s the catch – not every system can competently manage its citizens. I think a lot depends on the identity of each individual… As the ancient saying goes correctly: “If there was a neck, there would be a collar!” – the amused Ski slammed on Av’s paw and they fell silent for a while.
Chapter 2
WHITE
While Ave and Ski were talking peacefully about the physical capabilities of burning the bodies of ants – opponents of the system in various countries, Rond, diligently acting as a duty officer, turned around in the kitchen, like a crazy little squirrel in an endless spinning wheel. The young announcer in the “box” with insanely beautiful sky-turquoise eyes was completely monotonous, as if it were not a living individual, but a skillfully straightened doll model, voiced yet another decree of the country’s President Snai to tighten measures against “state criminals”. Each eleven on the streets of large cities after eleven o’clock in the evening went without any legal proceedings for hard work to the east of the country to the city of Dsiterrum-4*, where for more than a dozen years the development and processing of uranium-phosphate ores has been carried out, which meant, in fact, the death penalty, sadly extended for several working years.
Indeed, in the conditions of this distant settlement, not one of the ants could live for more than five years, with the exception of volunteers who went to a uranium plant for at least some small piece of bread, because their working and living conditions were many times better than the forced captives, but at the same time, they were also, in fact, doomed – to the volunteers, at best, the Most High was measured out for ten years. Undoubtedly, one of the attractive privileges of volunteers-uranozavodchikov was freedom of movement: they could travel for free during the blissful annual two-week vacation by electric trains, airplanes or autobuses – anywhere in the continent. This “cosmic-universal privilege”, as Ave ironically called it, they completely used to, as they themselves said, “aerate their clothes from uranium dust, and at the same time completely dispel the monotony of gray everyday life accumulated for the tense working year. “Voluntary choice”, in fact, for many was the only solution to life’s problems, since the unemployed, driven into a corner, were forced to get a job after unsuccessful attempts to find a job.
In conclusion of the usual “Evening Pages”, the announcer, again as in a pattern, reported on the seasonal recruitment of lemongrasses, technical workers from the uranium plant, who received their nickname because of the color of the uniform: protective helmets and raincoats. But now the “talking head” disappeared without a trace in the ocean of rainbow colors and on a flat screen, after a short commercial break of a new honey drink, a field of hundreds of colorful squares grew, which winked and changed color, in addition to everything, the TV a couple of times squealed unpleasantly.
– Rond, listen, let’s go quickly, report! Tv is waiting for you! – Ski shouted, calling a comrade to action.
When Rond, on duty, galloped up from the kitchen, Ave and Ski sat tensely beside the TV, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow.
They energetically extended their left forelegs on which personal tokens flaunted and looked at each other synchronously. “What? The most common nightly on-site cash verification process?” Rond carefully picked up the paws of his comrades and pulled out hard plastic tokens. “Pee-pee-pee”, the television set made matching sounds, it was a quick dial on the front panel of the attendant and winked mischievously at friends, and the cold flat white tokens drowned without a trace in the side wall of the flat monitor. Rond flicked a switch, pressed another three buttons, and the picture on the TV screen from a multi-color was transformed into a monophonic pale pink field – the test was successful.
– Well, that’s it for today! I wanted to tell you something else, literally just wanted to, but forgot… Okay, I remember – I will say then! – with enthusiastic color Rond said and traced with his right paw over his head some incredible greeting.
– Well! That’s it! That’s it! – Ave did not protest and with a smile heartily added. – As you say, my friend…
Named tokens dropped out of the television as further non-worthiness, and freed Ave and Sky rose from their seats.
– Yeah, programm-mmm, we’ll finish-sh-sh. And we have only one thing left – to drink tea. Tea, tea, tea! – said Rond.
– Tea is good! Tea is a healthy drink! – Ave supported him.
– It remains just a little bit, and in less than an hour you should lie in bed and dream! Well, or not to dream, but what to lie – that’s for sure! Although dreams are very important in our lives, so try to see them! – the tired Rond smiled wryly and scratched the mustache, where the tendril of the tendril protruded, and the phrases that had been used for days, weeks, months, years, burst out of his mouth with deserted air. The following words, however, like many others, like ancient pyramids, firmly and completely dusted their being. But it is precisely from scanty droplets that a whole ocean is accumulated, from small words, days, events, and all life consists of… – I hope… – Rond stumbled half a word, but then continued. – I hope that tomorrow morning will not overshadow our happy existence. In a couple of minutes I will set the table, and let’s come.
“Exactly, a ‘happy existence’? Is it really, this is our ‘happy existence’ that can initially be happy? Existence is living, not a full life!” – She whistled through Av’s mind and pierced with painful non-pleasantness into her heart.
– Good, good, – Ave suddenly felt dizzy, everything started to run wild in his head, he carefully adjusted the token on his wrist, twisting his eyes nervously, like a frisky oblique hare on a sunny May lawn, waiting for the mortal danger to arrive, and again approached the window pane, leaning his head against the subtle transparency that separated the world of apartments and the world beyond.
Home broadcaster – television – under a tiny, roasted claw Ski found a well-deserved reassurance and firmly-firmly fell asleep until morning.
A tired, tired, ant sadly approached the uterine bed, sullenly fitting in the right near corner of the room shelter, opposite the window, and quickly having thrown off his shirt, as if being freed from a depressing bridle, gloomy shackles holding the humiliated prisoner, lulled with a moderate pattern of a street hurricane, he fell wearily, flew into the universal world, tasting a sweet dream, the fading antennae swayed preemptively, and only a touching smile adorned the narrow-minded profile
