the work of your hands is …”
Tell me quickly, I wanted to say.
“Very fine.”
Excitement pumped into my veins. The Manager reached for his rubber stamp. My eyes fixed on a grain of black rice on the floor.
“Take your belongings,” he said, “leave via the door on your left.”
There on my form, was the word EMPLOY. My peasant hands were to be put to work once more.
ID
I was photographed in the central courtyard of the Forwood factory compound. My new fringe fell unevenly across my forehead, the face beneath now flat and featureless after Zhi’s haircut.
A young woman seated at a desk beneath the mei trees copied my details onto an ID badge. “Carry this at all times,” she said. “You are now officially a worker at the Forwood Motor Corporation. Your worker number is 2204, you have been allocated to Electronic Circuitry under the control of Manager He. You are to be monitored by Line Leader Zhen Zhi.”
“Cousin!”
The woman shook her head. “Kin relationships are discouraged at Forwood, Worker 2204. You’ll do well to remember that. Now take this and read it in the waiting room.” She passed me a document several inches thick, entitled
Forwood Motor Corporation: Official Rules and Regulations Manual.
There were no windows in the waiting room and the lighting was poor. The manual began with a list of production regulations covering several sides. Arriving late, leaving the line without permission or punching someone else’s timecard were all punishable offences that carried fines. A second set of rules read,
Daily Behaviour
1. No talking, eating or playing at work.
2. Anyone caught stealing will be dismissed on the spot.
3. Hair must be tied back and overalls cleaned weekly.
4. No spitting.
5. One day’s holiday per month, to be taken on a Sunday.
I was a few pages into reading the resignation regulations when someone called out my number.
“Yes?” I spoke into the gloom.
“Your time is up. Proceed to the door.”
I looked towards the halo of light coming from the small glass panel in the outer door. Figures moved in silhouette.
“Did you not hear me?”
I shifted in my seat, apparently alone in the waiting room. “Yes, but I can’t see you. Where are you?”
“Worker 2204, I’m not here to make idle conversation! To your right, you’ll find a door. Tap in your worker number. The door will open onto a corridor. Follow it.”
“To my dormitory?”
“No, it leads to the workwear room, where you will be provided with overalls.”
“How will I find my dorm?”
The voice cut out.
Where were the other girls? They had already passed through. I was the last, I reasoned. I stumbled towards the machine and entered my worker number. The door clicked open and I followed a dingy passageway leading to a dead end.
“Is there anybody there?” I banged on the far wall.
No-one answered.
I banged again. “Hello. Can you hear me? Did I turn the wrong way?” This was silly. “I need you to direct me,” I called out.
I slumped against the damp wall and closed my eyes. Within seconds a white light filled the room and a jet of icy water fired down on me.
A voice called out from above, “Worker 2204, do not scream in the showers. Do not scream in the showers! Can you hear me? I said do not scream.”
“What’s going on?” I cried, my clothes sopping.
“Calm down Worker 2204. You must get undressed and wash, before receiving your overalls. Can you hear me? Undress immediately.”
I peeled off the layers of wet, smelly clothes. Minutes later, the water cut out. The shower door opened and a familiar figure emerged carrying a towel and a pile of overalls, folded neatly into a square.
“Zhi!”
“Put these on.”
Her face was stripped of warmth. She dropped the pile of clothes and pushed it towards me with her foot. “My name is Line Leader Zhen. Now get dressed, you’re the last one. Bring your wet clothes and follow me.”
“I don’t understand, Zhi. Why aren’t
Tell me quickly, I wanted to say.
“Very fine.”
Excitement pumped into my veins. The Manager reached for his rubber stamp. My eyes fixed on a grain of black rice on the floor.
“Take your belongings,” he said, “leave via the door on your left.”
There on my form, was the word EMPLOY. My peasant hands were to be put to work once more.
ID
I was photographed in the central courtyard of the Forwood factory compound. My new fringe fell unevenly across my forehead, the face beneath now flat and featureless after Zhi’s haircut.
A young woman seated at a desk beneath the mei trees copied my details onto an ID badge. “Carry this at all times,” she said. “You are now officially a worker at the Forwood Motor Corporation. Your worker number is 2204, you have been allocated to Electronic Circuitry under the control of Manager He. You are to be monitored by Line Leader Zhen Zhi.”
“Cousin!”
The woman shook her head. “Kin relationships are discouraged at Forwood, Worker 2204. You’ll do well to remember that. Now take this and read it in the waiting room.” She passed me a document several inches thick, entitled
Forwood Motor Corporation: Official Rules and Regulations Manual.
There were no windows in the waiting room and the lighting was poor. The manual began with a list of production regulations covering several sides. Arriving late, leaving the line without permission or punching someone else’s timecard were all punishable offences that carried fines. A second set of rules read,
Daily Behaviour
1. No talking, eating or playing at work.
2. Anyone caught stealing will be dismissed on the spot.
3. Hair must be tied back and overalls cleaned weekly.
4. No spitting.
5. One day’s holiday per month, to be taken on a Sunday.
I was a few pages into reading the resignation regulations when someone called out my number.
“Yes?” I spoke into the gloom.
“Your time is up. Proceed to the door.”
I looked towards the halo of light coming from the small glass panel in the outer door. Figures moved in silhouette.
“Did you not hear me?”
I shifted in my seat, apparently alone in the waiting room. “Yes, but I can’t see you. Where are you?”
“Worker 2204, I’m not here to make idle conversation! To your right, you’ll find a door. Tap in your worker number. The door will open onto a corridor. Follow it.”
“To my dormitory?”
“No, it leads to the workwear room, where you will be provided with overalls.”
“How will I find my dorm?”
The voice cut out.
Where were the other girls? They had already passed through. I was the last, I reasoned. I stumbled towards the machine and entered my worker number. The door clicked open and I followed a dingy passageway leading to a dead end.
“Is there anybody there?” I banged on the far wall.
No-one answered.
I banged again. “Hello. Can you hear me? Did I turn the wrong way?” This was silly. “I need you to direct me,” I called out.
I slumped against the damp wall and closed my eyes. Within seconds a white light filled the room and a jet of icy water fired down on me.
A voice called out from above, “Worker 2204, do not scream in the showers. Do not scream in the showers! Can you hear me? I said do not scream.”
“What’s going on?” I cried, my clothes sopping.
“Calm down Worker 2204. You must get undressed and wash, before receiving your overalls. Can you hear me? Undress immediately.”
I peeled off the layers of wet, smelly clothes. Minutes later, the water cut out. The shower door opened and a familiar figure emerged carrying a towel and a pile of overalls, folded neatly into a square.
“Zhi!”
“Put these on.”
Her face was stripped of warmth. She dropped the pile of clothes and pushed it towards me with her foot. “My name is Line Leader Zhen. Now get dressed, you’re the last one. Bring your wet clothes and follow me.”
“I don’t understand, Zhi. Why aren’t
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