Level 7

SEPTEMBER 23

No, Level 5 does nothing about it. They have not replied at all. Perhaps they cannot. There are no authorities left, maybe, or nobody to receive radio messages.

Somebody on Level 6 or 7 will have to make the decision. But who?

The general loudspeaker system has just announced that Level 7’s three chief administrators have decided to hold a referendum. The peace treaty question is to be decided by a majority vote. A truly democratic answer.

Voters are instructed to press a red button, identify themselves and say whether or not they want peace. Level 6 will be asked to participate, of course, their votes being added to the democratic pool.

I am in favour of peace, and I intend to record my vote as soon as I have finished writing this entry. I am sure most people will feel the same way. Down here on Level 7, at least. I do not know how Level 6 will react. Up there they are defensive button-pushers, and I have no idea what kind of character was looked for when they were selected. They may be very different from ourselves, which makes their views on peace hard to guess. We shall just have to wait and see what they say.