Level 7

SEPTEMBER 21

Broadcasts from the civilian levels are few and far between. They do not care whether we are fully informed or not. Or else it is hard to find anyone to operate the transmitter. Whatever the reason, they are mostly silent.

It is curious how this radioactive death silences people even before the life actually leaves their bodies. Though perhaps death usually works that way.

But what is the difference? They are fated to die. Some went yesterday, some are going today. More will go tomorrow and the day after. Supposing some survive for another week or two? That will not be life. Just an extended agony.

So the world is shrinking once again. Our part of it used to have about 622,500 inhabitants. Soon the number will be down to 2,500.

Death works fast. In a second it can kill a man, a thousand men, a million men. A thousand millions it can kill in one second. The pushing of a button can do it.

Perhaps I exaggerate: in the deep caves, radioactive death comes more slowly. But it comes just as surely.