Have you had a look around? Then I’ll take you to your workplace and show you the ropes.
George HemnitzHave you had a look around? Then I’ll take you to your workplace and show you the ropes.
Do you already know what your job involves?
Responses
Listen to briefing
Tell me about my job.
George HemnitzSo, right now we're in the general hall. The people working in these booths send visitors to ministries and offices.
This place is the front line of our bureaucratic defense. Only the chosen few are allowed through.
Are you talking about us?
George HemnitzDo you feel like you've been chosen? Everyone always thinks that they’re special, different. But in fact, we're all the same...
Two square meters of skin, two hundred and six bones, five liters of blood - well, as long as you eat right and you’re not a decorated blood donor, that is.
And, sooner or later, we all die. Except for the Wise Leader, of course. But before we get to die, we have to work hard.
You'll be dealing with visitors. Listen to their appeals, figure out which forms they need, decide which ministry they have to see and then send them to an available office. You need to press the right buttons in your terminal, print out the forms and give them to the visitors.
Responses
Ask about the forms
What kind of forms are there?
George HemnitzWe have four types of forms: requests, complaints, denunciations and information. Choose the most suitable type based on the appeal. You can find some useful information about the different types of forms in your terminal if you’re having a hard time choosing the right one.
Ask about the ministries
How many ministries are there?
George HemnitzIn actual fact, a great many ministries are established and abolished every single day, and we never have enough time to keep the register up to date. Fortunately for you, the Big Six never change: the Ministries of Order, Patriotism, Social Care, Labor, Culture and Sports, and Science and Technology.
So just listen to the visitors carefully and decide which of these six ministries to send them to.
Ask about offices
You mentioned offices?
George HemnitzEach ministry has several offices here. You’ll see their weekly timetable in the terminal.
If there are no available offices, reject the appeal.
Finish briefing
Everything’s clear so far. In theory, anyway...
George HemnitzNow let's see how much theory differs from practice.
Don't listen to briefing
I think it's pretty straightforward.
George HemnitzGood!
George HemnitzSo, let's start with the basics: the forms. Your task for today is to process five visitors. You'll earn Authority for meeting your quota.
Authority? I'd rather have money.
George HemnitzEvan, in our Ministry, Authority is much more valuable than money! Anyone can steal or find money, but Authority has to be earned.
Without it, you can forget about promotions, rewards and your whole career. If you don't have enough influence in the Ministry, your colleagues won't even talk to you.
George HemnitzWhat a lovely day.
Responses
Report back
I've fulfilled the quota. What's next?
George HemnitzGreat, keep it up! Actually, I have nothing more to tell you about your job - you're on your own now. Get settled in, meet your coworkers, and earn Authority.
If you roll up your sleeves and work hard eight hours a day, sooner or later you’ll be promoted to manager and get to work twelve hours a day! Isn't that an exciting thought?
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, George.
George HemnitzI'll make a note in the journal that you’ve had your briefing. All the necessary documents are in that over there. Take them to Magda Rakovich, the boss’s secretary.
I'll wait for you by the statue. We still have more to talk about.
George HemnitzEvan, try not to make mistakes on the job. Listen carefully to the visitors and direct them to available offices.
The work you do here is of the utmost importance to our country! I have nothing else to tell you about your job - you're on your own now. Get settled in, meet your colleagues, earn Authority.
If you roll up your sleeves and work hard eight hours a day, sooner or later you’ll be promoted to manager and get to work twelve hours a day! Isn't that an exciting thought?
I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, George.
George HemnitzI'll make a note in the journal that you’ve had your briefing. All the necessary documents are in that over there. Take them to Magda Rakovich, the boss’s secretary.
I'll wait for you by the statue. We still have more to talk about.
Ask about what to do
How do I process the forms?
George HemnitzTake your seat, get a set of forms, and start talking to visitors and filling in information. And try not to mess up too badly!
Ask about Authority
How can I earn Authority?
George HemnitzYou earn it by meeting your quota for processed appeals. Don't let me down!
Ask about visitors
Who are all these people?
George HemnitzThe visitors? They're... just people! Not people like you and me, of course - we work for the Ministry. These are ordinary people with ordinary problems.
When they can't solve these problems themselves, they come to us. We are their last hope, Evan. Remember, if we don't help them, no one else will!
They might cry, swear, laugh and even threaten you. They can be unpleasant, rude, mean and cruel.
But always remember that they came here to get help. And your job is...
To help them. I understand.
George HemnitzNo! Your job is to process their requests correctly. Whether or not that helps them has nothing to do with us.
You won't go helping people at your own expense now, will you? I'm the only one here who actually cares about strangers and I stick out like a sore thumb because of it.
Talk about work
Responses
Ask about father
Did you know my father?
George HemnitzYes, I was familiar with Redgrave Senior. Isn't it strange? That such a respected man at the very top of the Ministry would deign to talk grunts like me. Why did the two of you not keep in touch?
Responses
Reply honestly
After my mother died years ago, he withdrew, buried himself in his work, and sent me to the most remote university in the country.
George HemnitzThat must have been tough.
The most hurtful thing was that he didn't even try to find out her cause of death.
Like she meant nothing to him.
George HemnitzI'm sorry to hear that, Evan. But maybe you’re just not aware of the whole story.
Well he's dead now, so there's no way to find out.
Reply evasively
I think fathers and sons will always inevitably come into conflict with each other. Don’t you?
George HemnitzI can't say for sure. I didn't know my father.
Reply rudely
Do you know how many citizens live in this city right now?
George HemnitzAccording to the latest census, 3,678,000 - excluding suburban areas and unregistered citizens. Why?
How come that out of such a huge number of people, I end up stuck talking to the one damn person who wants to ask that question?
George HemnitzSorry, I didn't mean pry.
Ask about his work
How long have you been working here?
George HemnitzI spent exactly three years and twelve days processing visitors on this very spot.
Then I got promoted to floor inspector for my ability recite all 769 rules and 242 amendments by heart. Not too shabby, eh?
It was a useless achievement, but still! I just have to work another two years, five months and eight days and then I'll be moved up to Floor 17, the Control and Supervision department.
How do you like it here?
George HemnitzIt's nice! I help our employees solve their problems and I take care of people. Even though they never thank me, I know I'm doing a good job!
Ask about colleagues
Who will I be working with?
George HemnitzThe people here are nice - when they need something from you. Do them a couple of favors, smile, and chat when you have a break.
I do not recommend trusting them or sharing any secrets you might have. I've seen how many denunciations there are in the Ministry of Internal Control.
I love statistics and numbers, and even I couldn't figure out how many of them there were. There were mountains and mountains of forms awaiting processing.
So I doubt your secrets would stay secret for any longer than the time it takes to write up a report.
Ask about Magda Rakovich
Tell me about Magda Rakovich.
George HemnitzShe’s Ferguson's secretary.
They say she used to be drop-dead gorgeous. But something happened to her... Now everyone just calls her “The Gorgon”.
Pay no mind if she yells at you. She always does that. Money is the only thing that can get through that thick hide of hers.
Back
Talk about family
The atmosphere here is pretty intense. If you don’t mind my asking, do you have a family?
George HemnitzYes I do! I have a wife, two children, a dog, and a Class D apartment like everyone else. What about you?
My wife and daughter. They're moving here to join me a little later.
Responses
Ask about his wife
Does your wife mind you working so much?
George HemnitzI'm doing important work, and Rose knows that. All loyal citizens owe a debt to society, and that trumps everything else! Sometimes she puzzles at how my particular debt seems to have gotten so large, but that's just a little joke of hers.
Ask about the apartment
Class D?
George HemnitzAlmost all officials who've served more than five years are awarded a place in line for Class D housing.
We spent years and years on the waiting list before we got our apartment. It's a dream come true! We have our own bathroom!
I heard that you were allocated a Class D apartment right away. You're incredibly lucky. I suppose having the surname Redgrave has its advantages.
Ask about his children
How many children do you have?
George HemnitzTwo. Aster is my pride and joy. She already knows all of last year's directives by heart - at the age of five!
Adam is two years younger...
Aren't you proud of your son, too?
George HemnitzThe thing is, that... he is... special...
What happened?
George HemnitzAspergillus niger.
What's that?
George HemnitzIt's a fairly common black mold. Class J buildings are full of it, and it's very hard to get rid of. And the consequences of spending too much time around it are... Well...
Meningitis is not the best thing for a three-year-old.
That's terrible!
George HemnitzNot really. We've gotten used to it. Anyway, he's our son and we love him. Sometimes he even recognizes who we are.
Ask about his dog
I heard it isn’t easy to get a dog these days.
George HemnitzIt's not too difficult - it just takes a while. You have to submit all seven types of application, pass a medical examination, undergo psychological and narcotics screenings, provide excerpts from your bank statements and the tenants’ register...
...As well as your employment certificate and copies of all your papers: from your passport to the deed of ownership for your fridge.
And permission from the neighbors. Nothing that any seasoned bureaucrat can’t handle.
And that dog makes the kids so happy!
Back
George HemnitzYou and your family should come over for dinner some time. My wife would be happy to have you over, and I'm sure our children would get on well!
What did you want to talk about?
George HemnitzIt's about your father, Evan. What happened to him was just awful. There’s something I have to tell you.
Go on.
George HemnitzAt most, twenty people in the whole country know what I’m about to tell you. I'm taking a huge risk by divulging these details to you. So I have to ask you: don’t say a word to anyone! Okay?
Let's hear it.
George HemnitzAs you know, I was appointed to the position of floor inspector several years ago. But at the same time, I was enlisted to work in Department 6.
Department 6? That's a myth! No sane person actually believes in it.
George HemnitzThe greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. Department 6 is considered to be a myth because that's how the person in charge wanted it. More precisely, that's how your father wanted it.
My father was the head of Department 6?! What went on there?
George HemnitzWork on “Heimdall”, a secret project helmed by your father, began at that time. That's how we met.
I’ve always been good with numbers, so I was invited on board to... assess statistical errors and their potential consequences...
He didn't talk much about himself, but mentioned having a son a few times.
And his eyes lit up every time he did! He was proud of you, believe me.
Responses
What else did my father say about me?
We didn't keep in contact for the last ten years...
George HemnitzHe did mention that he was no longer in touch with you, but he always hoped that someday you'd come and join him.
Why do you think so?
George HemnitzHe wrote you a letter a few days before his death. It seems he knew what was going to happen to him.
A letter? Do you have it with you?
George HemnitzNo, I keep it at home. I didn't expect you to turn up so soon. I'll give it to you tomorrow and tell you everything I know... Somewhere quiet. And there’s also a biometric safe. I don’t know what's inside, but it must be something valuable.
Thank you, George. I don't know how to thank you...
George HemnitzDon't mention it, Evan. Your father was good to me. This is the least I can do for you.
Ask about the project
What was this Heimdall project?
George HemnitzNot here, not now! It's too dangerous. We have to find a quiet place and the right time. How about tomorrow?
I'll tell you everything, and you can decide what to do with the information.
Say goodbye
Thanks for telling me about my father, George.
George HemnitzWe'll have time to talk some more. See you tomorrow.
End conversation
I don't have time to talk about this.
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