PERSONS of INTEREST

library

by Pedro Ponce

I never liked traveling.

Even before?

Even before. What can I get out there that isn't already in here? I

can order food from any continent at the push of a button. I can

browse the world's great museums without ever leaving my desk. I can

walk in the steps of the great explorers with nothing but an atlas and

a calculator.

Do you ever miss the real thing? The smells, the--

See this? This candle here is called Redwood Forest. And that one.

That's Gulf Stream Waters. Two for one if you buy the set.

But you have to admit, it's not the same.

My life is full of discoveries. For instance, did you know that, from

certain windows, the wind through the trees sounds like the ocean?

I would like to report a bear.

Excuse me?

According to the Covenant, this is supposed to be a bear-free community.

That's right, ma'am.

We never wanted a home in the Outskirts. But we were told this zone was safe.

It is.

Then why was there a bear in my garbage last night?

Ma'am, I assure you. Measures are taken.

Well, they're not working.

Our Breach Reports indicate otherwise. The electrification is checked

twice a month and our deterrent barbs are brand new.

Tell that to the bear in my backyard.

Are you sure that's what you saw? Sometimes--

I know what I saw.

--shadows. They play tricks on our eyes. Take a look at these.

Are you crazy? That's--

Ma'am, please keep your voice down.

--a man. In a bear suit. That's not what I saw.

What about...

That's a teddy bear.

Take a good look. Just to be sure.

--son's teddy bear. How did you--

Standard inventory. Required of all residents.

No... No... It was dark, but not that dark.

I can't help but wonder if this is related to...

What?

Studies have shown that extended lack of activity can cause any number

of physical and mental symptoms.

You think--

There's no need for a life of convenience to be unexamined. We offer a

number of activities for the stay-at-home spouse. Book clubs.

Neighborhood botany.

[Response inaudible]

Ma'am?

I was just thinking out loud.

Appearances are deceiving, ma'am. That's all I'm saying.

The dreams again. How this time?

Everything was burning. But no one died. Some people turned into

vampires. The rest grew wings.

Like angels?

Yeah... But there wasn't a heaven. People just went around with wings

on their backs. They kept getting stuck--in doors, cubicles... More

trouble than they were worth. Feathers piled everywhere, mounds of

them spilling from garbage cans into the street.

What about the vampires?

They were better off, free to go wherever.

But not by day.

No, daytime too. All the loose feathers floated up, so thick they

blocked out the sun. It got darker earlier and earlier until pretty

soon, there was nothing but night.

What do you think it means?

I don't know. But maybe we shouldn't--

Do you know why you've been called in today?

There's been a complaint.

I'm afraid so. Are you aware that this is an arbitrative, non-punitive

disciplinary proceeding?

Yeah.

For the purposes of the record, please respond to the last question

with either a yes or a no.

Yes sir, I'm aware.

Thank you. Now, before we begin, I am required to advise you that this

is the second time your complaint levels have warranted an

arbitrative, non-punitive disciplinary proceeding. Are you aware that

if your complaint levels continue as before, this will warrant a

non-arbitrative, non-punitive disciplinary proceeding?

Yes sir.

Very good. Can I have the first slide?... Thank you. Now, as you see

from this chart, your activity levels are well within the range of

typical. No complaints here.

Thank you, sir.

Next slide?... Here we have your activities broken down according to

your age group's skill set. On the whole, good level and variety. But

look what happens when we factor in your extra-parochial play. The

numbers indicate sub-standard to low levels of exuberance. Most

distressing is this very low evaluation filed just yesterday. I've

put this one on its own slide... .Thank you... The handwriting is a bit

hard to make out as the respondent suffers from an age-related

degenerative disorder, but you can clearly see which box has been

marked.

Yes sir.

In the interest of thoroughness, we did a spot supplementary inquiry,

the transcript of which reads in part as follows: Assessor: Very low.

Is that correct? Respondent: Yes. Assessor: Elaborations are voluntary

but very helpful in maintaining quality of service. Would you like to

elaborate, ma'am? Respondent: It just struck me that I smiled more

when I was his age. How do you account for this?

I don't know, sir.

How old are you?

Eleven, sir.

Your hormone levels contraindicate excessive distraction.

I guess.

There are, of course, a number of options available should this continue.

Options? Like--

--just a simple form. Attesting to my compliance--

These are too small.

Those are for your initials. Then sign and date--

Compliance to what?

My agreement. With the state.

"To the best of my knowledge--"

--a formality...

"--bearer has sustained appropriate eye contact during acquaintance

with signatory." How am I supposed to know appropriate from

inappropriate?

Use your best judgment.

I'm not signing something that I don't know what it means.

All it's asking is, have I made you at all uncomfortable during the

encounter we're now having?

What do you think? Shoving a clipboard in my face...

Sorry. But the statute is very clear.

Wait...

All encounters outside private property must be documented--

It was on the news.

--at least one form per city block covered in the course of necessary ambulation--

You're one of those--

I've gone weeks without groceries.

--what d'you call them?

My official status is Recovering.

Recovering?

Of course, that's for you to judge. But we've been talking all this

time, and not once have I been moved by the visible strap of your

bosom bolster. Or the cleavage rimming the throats of your sensible

pumps. Or--

She wants to know how we met.

Pleeease?

But you have to promise that you'll go right to sleep when we're done.

I promise.

Well, when your father and I both turned 18, we filled out a

Compatibility Assessment linked to our profiles on the Active Citizen

Database. We each had to work very hard because the assessment window

only opens for two hours, during which we were required to answer 107

detailed questions corresponding to standard protocols.

Was it 107? I remember 132...

Daddy had some foreign ancestry...

That's right, I did.

When our assessments were completed, they were scored according to a

numerical filter screening for physical fitness, mental acuity,

longevity, and personal hygiene.

Now there are millions of these profiles floating around the Database.

So for mine to be in your father's 99th percentile was very special.

Was Daddy's that high in yours?

If you rounded to the nearest decimal, Daddy was almost a whole

percentage point outside the range for sampling errors.

Your grandparents would have liked at least three, but at my age you

took what you could get.

Yes... Anyway, Mommy and I both got a list of five eligibles, plus two

standbys. Videoconferencing and blood work took care of the rest.

Do I have a coop... coop...

Compatibility Assessment profile? Oh, not for another dozen years. You

haven't even finished your Citizenship Template.

Speaking of which, a certain little girl is ready for nocturnal sonography.

Night-night time. Open your jammies...

Sure this is gonna work?

Pretty sure.

You said this would work.

How are we supposed to know? No one's ever--

If you're wrong--

I'm not wrong.

--seconds to get here.

We went through this. Where's the particle board?

Here. I had trouble cutting it like you said.

It'll do. Hand me the pliers.

I swear someone was following me.

If they were, you would've never made it.

Shit... Does it have to be so tight?

Would you prefer it where everyone can see? Stop tapping your foot.

I can't help it. That's what I do when I'm--

There. Done.

... Well?

I'm still picking up a signal.

Fuck this--

Wait. It takes a while to warm up.

We don't have a while. They could already [response inaudible]

Look.

What?

Did you [response inaudible]

[Response inaudible] plugged in?

[Response inaudible]

So there isn't [response inaudible]

[Response inaudible]

END TAPE

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