Book 07.022: Unexpected News
Before Silvia had realize it, 2 whole years of work had gone by. It was curious notion. The day’s were so long but the weeks were so short. This made the month short and the seasons, brief. So it was only expected that the years would be so short.
But that fact that the day was so long in comparison. One day was longer that a week, so so that how it felt.
It was the second day of the week. Like always the sun had yet to rise. Like always she fellow the stream of worker to the factory. Line and lines of workers funneled their way toward the factory were they ate, worked and lived. Today, however things were different.
Outside of the factory a group of workers stood, congregated outside the factory. Most of the workers looked absentminded- as if they did not know what was going to happen to them. Some of the them were whispering to one another, trying to figure out what was going on.
“The factory’s closed”
“Why.”
“I don’t know the door aren’t open.”
“They can close the doors? I never knew that was possible!”
“Well they are today?”
“Did one of the machines finally break down.”
“Since when did get the day off because the factory wasn’t working? I swear we work harder than the machines.”
The herd of worker stood outside the factory still. The few that managed to get to work early enough to see the door were standing blankly, screwing up their eyes balls so they could see what beyond the dank window of the factory. Silvia made her way toward the door.
In front there was a sign, cheaply made like everything that was in Armington Steel Factory. It read clearly.
“All workers have the week off.
Everyone is to receive paid Vacation for the week.
Smith Armington is Dead.”
Silvia stared at the sign. She unlike most of the worker could read but something in the back of her mind told her that she was reading the sign incorrectly. It was possible she had not read many things int he last two or more years.
But that is what the sign read. A week worth of paid vacation and the news of Armignton’s death. Every one the of the three lines posted seemed incredible, unbelievable.
The group began to split in half. A brown, wooden carriage was making it’s way toward the front of the herd. Most to the workers were so enthralled with their conversation that they barely noticed the slowly moving vehicle as it threatened to mow the workers out if its way. Slowly heads turn to follow the vehicle movements. The Ball of wheels continued to roll until it stopped at the factory doors.
Oddly and slowly a man got out of the carriage and climbed awkwardly to the top of the carriage. He stood up reading a scroll. He was dress in a blue General’s uniform with a yellow “x” aross the front of his chest. He look unconformable, hot, and mildly sweaty. upon a raising from the carriage a bell rang. It sounded four good times before the mass started to quiet.
“Hearye, Hearme,” The Awkward little man in the carriage stated. “As of last night two minutes after midnight, Smith Armington Has been pronounce dead–”
A couple of workers cheered. It did not last long. Neighboring laborers made sure to hush their fellow workers mouths for fear that they would lose hard earned pay.
“As a result fo this, All workers are to receive 1 week of paid vacation. No one will be working for the next week. Instead, all worker do not have to report to the factory until the second day fo the following week.” The little gray haired man flick though his pages, looking for more things to read but he was unable. He look up into the crowd, shrugged and then retreated back toward the inside of the carriage…
“What’s paid vacation?” One worker cried out. The carriage driver did not answer them. He seemed think that the workers were not worth his time.
“Who’s taking over the factory?”
“Will our pay stay the same?”
“Are we working today?”
The crowd broke into chaos. The announce meant had had the the opposite affect that it should have. Instead of understanding and acceptance, confusion and cries brought out. Many of the workers surrounded the carriage, trying to pray answer from the gray haired man. Silvia watch the sight from afar.
“How did he die?”
“Why won’t you answer our questions? are you deaf?”
The carriage wiggle from side to side as if riding a wave. Worker were trying to open the carriage doors, to Follow it. The Horses driving the carriage grew frighten and began to panic. The workers pounded on the carriage doors. Instead of trying to relax the crowd, the man in the carriage continued to ignore them. It took 30 minutes but after that, the carriage had broken free and headed for Armington Manor. Only a few of the Steel workers tried to follow the Gray Haired man.
Silvia stared absent-minded into the now fiery pink sky. She would have a free week. She
had time.