SAFE AND PRODUCTIVE
Today was Tax Day.
The Unmarked gathered all the crops and butchered their fattest animals – they were prepared to pay their taxes. Soon, the caravan would arrive, escorted by the selfless servants of the Just Central Authority. Then, those who kept them alive by making the air safe to breath and water clean, would enter through the Second Gate.
They would greet agents of the JCA with smiles on their faces and appropriate amount of Tax Day cheer!
Even though the tax was raised again last rotation, luckily, this growing season was a bountiful one. The Unmarked worked hard and some of them, the sick and the old, those who were Productive no longer, ended themselves so as to not burden their kin. Those who were left gave more than a few extra hours each day, suffered injuries and some even died.
It was all good since they worked for themselves and felt pride in their achievements.
The fruits of their labor were needed for the continuous, smooth operation of all the JCA Ministries. Without paying taxes, their benevolent government wouldn’t be able to keep things running and terrorists would take over. Then the air and water would turn into poison, the soil crumble, the trees and plants rot in the ground. Taxes ensured that their environment was clean, and above all else, ensured their Safety.
Because, how could one be Productive, unless they were kept Safe?
Gathered all, old and young, the Unmarked stood near the gates, waiting. Soon they picked up the sounds of transport machines and the voices of cheerful government agents. They all raised their hands and shouted JCA approved joyful slogans.
“Air, Water, Bread!”
“Taxes Are Life!”
“Safe And Productive!”
Slowly, the Second Gate opened and before them, the Unmarked saw their protectors. Walking calmly, the appropriately dressed government officials approached, their cargo vehicles lined up outside. Two of the men carried a tall sign which stated the painfully obvious.
“Do not leave the Safe Area!”
All Unmarked were taught and since early childhood, that air and water were poisonous beyond the protective walls of their enclosure. Only within these precious few and supremely hard to protect Safe Areas, was their survival guaranteed.
Government agents drove their machines close and, after receiving commands, came to a complete stop. Most of them exited the control cabins; transparent Safety Veils still covered their faces, even though they were no longer outside.
Protection was everything! It was the most benevolent mission of their government and all JCA agents dutifully followed every order given, embraced every safety regulation, enforced every health mandate. Because of their sacrifice Myrrankind survived, society prospered and the survival of civilization was ensured for eons to come!
Because the Unmarked of this Safe Area were supremely productive, no government official was here on post. The JCA trusted them. They left the regulation of all health and work mandates to the people themselves. Yet, all knew and were taught since early age, that the Government was everywhere, the Government heard and saw everything. One had to be faithful; self-regulate, self-mandate, and comply with all orders of the JCA.
Only terrorists refused to obey and the unmarked didn’t want to be branded as such...
This Tax Day promised to be a momentous occasion. The sun (again thanks to their benevolent and ever gracious government) shone brightly, air tasted sweet and they were left with plenty of leftovers. Enough to survive and toil, overcome with pride, till the next cycle and Tax Day came.
Instead, something unfeasible in the minds of the Unmarked, occurred.
***
This is an excerpt from my seventh Starshatter book, titled Princes Of The Stars. Originally, it was a short, dystopian story, with the work titles "Safe and Productive" and "Numbers of Society." It was the very first scifi story of mine, which I later incorporated into the Starshatter universe.