#103

"Another Dig"

By #

• The morning was grey and overcast. It could quite easily turn to drizzle at any time. No.6 walked across the Green and into the Village Stores. "Have you a spade?" asked No.6.

  "Yes, and we have hearts and clubs, but no diamonds."
  "And you are the Joker, are you?"
  "A spade you said."
  

  Under No.6's glare the man shrank a little and then disappeared into the back of the store leaving No.6 to cast his eyes around the array of articles in the shop. "Will this do you?" The shop keeper swung a spade on the counter for apraisal. "How much?" "145 Work Units, and cheap at the price."

  "I'll take it," responded No.6. and handed over the necessary payment.
  As No.6 took the spade and left the store the shopkeeper darted to the back of the shop and lifted the phone.
  "No.6 has just bought a spade."
  "What did he say he wanted it for?"
  "He said he wanted to bury something, or it might have been someone."
  A spluttering noise came back out of the phone.

  No.6 walked slowly back across the Green carrying the spade across his shoulder. Half way across he stopped. He appeared to line up a bearing and when he was satisfied with the position he placed the spade on the ground. He walked away a few paces and appeared again to be lining up a cross bearing, using his outstreched arm to line up with some point. After some moments he appeared to be satisfied with an exact position. No.6 picked up the spade and thrust it into the turf. After three further stabs at different angles he thrust the spade underneath and raised a section of green turf.
  

  Every camera in Control that could reach the Green was trained on this unusual activity. The Supervisor was scanning the lines of monitors, with the phone to his ear.
  "....but he's digging up the Green." said the Supervisor.
  "Let him carry on, but keep the cameras on him." ordered No.2
  "Very good."
  

  After twenty minutes of digging a hole about three feet square and a lttle more than that in depth had appeared and No.6 was fast disappearing inside it. At regular intervals shovel loads of dirt were thrown up, adding to the sizable pile of dirt at the side of the hole. When the depth of the hole brought the ground level with No.6's chest, the digging stopped. No.6 bent his knees causing him to almost disappear. Only the back of his head could be seen. He stayed like this for more than a minute. Movement of the back of his head suggested that he was doing something at the foot of the hole. Then suddenly he straightened up and climbed out onto the grass. Taking up the spade again he rapidly shovelled all the dirt back into the hole and patted down the pieces of turf on top. This done he strode off in the direction of his apartment.
  "You had it on the screens. All I want to know is, what was he doing at the bottom of the hole?"
  "I didn't see it, No.2. Nobody could see the bottom of the hole." said the Supervisor.
  "Then find out." shouted No.2.
  

  Fifteen minutes later two hefty men in overalls walked up to the filled-in hole and began removing the dirt again. They worked slowly, and were searching for something. Eventually one of the workmen found a folded piece of paper which was immediately taken to the Green Dome.
  No.2 read what was written on the paper and scowled. It said: "I'm trying out a new express postal system."

  (c) # 1996

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