He briefly looked at the playground in
the yard and beheld some children who were screaming 24
with shrill voices in an incomprehensible language.
the yard and beheld some children who were screaming 24
with shrill voices in an incomprehensible language.
Orwell - 1984
Perhaps, you still need another
helping hand? ", murmured the young man.
16
For half a minute, Meise just googled at the unemployed
man with his yellowish, bulging eyes. Then he looked
around and tried to give his unpleasant answer as carefully
as possible.
. . Working for me? ", he inquired. . . Thus, Frank, the situation
is. . . eh. . . the times are bad. We all know this, my friend. I
almost run everything alone here and only Ralf helps me
from time to time. This is actually enough. I don't need a
second man, sorry! "
Frank Kohlhaas had never been a good actor and who saw
him now, could feel his disappointment.
„And only for two months? ", he asked.
„l need none here, and I can't afford a second man, Frank! ",
explained the thick, filthy man and turned away. „l'm sorry,
but I have to do some work now. No offense, but there is no
chance for you to find work here. "
Back home, Frank hissed one of his worst curses and
kicked against the kitchen table. He desperately scanned
his brain for other possibilities of employment and checked
all production complexes around Berlin in his mind. But the
problem was, that his boss had given him a negative entry
in his Scanchip register after the conflict with Mr. Sasse,
what made it difficult to get a job in another steel plant.
He still had 246 Globes on his electronic account for this
month. More than 400 Globes he had to pay only for his
apartment in this rotted estate of prefabricated houses.
Time pressed now, with each day a little bit more, and the
dark shadow of despair grew with the passing hours. It
occupied Frank's mind like a malicious ulcer.
After the young man had watched an extremely stupid
sitcom, he switched off the television and tried to sleep. But
it was only 23,00 o'clock and regrettably the exhaustion had
not achieved the necessary level yet, to turn off Frank's
brain and give him some peace of mind.
17
Several hours followed, when Frank was staring at the dark
ceiling, cursing the production complex 42-B with all its
superiors, supervisors and workers.
Then the stench from the hall became noticeable to him
again and the fog of despair in his head swelled so strongly
that the young man thought about killing himself.
He mused about operating the bad thoughts and concerns
under his skullcap with a heavy-calibered shotgun which
would completely spread his brain over the yellowed
wallpaper behind his bedstead. And Frank Kohlhaas still
thought about many other things in this terrible night.
He brooded over his so far senseless life, the isolation, the
monotonousness and the gaping abyss that waited for him
now. Frank came to no solution in this night and not even
the smallest glimmer of hope seemed to shine somewhere.
Nothing. Outside it was dark. In front of the house, Frank
could recognize a few ripped garbage bags, which already
lay there since several weeks. Then he was finally so tired,
that he fell asleep with his head on the window sill.
Up to the end of the week, the search for a new job was
unsuccessful - as he had already expected it. It seemed
that there was no more work at all, in the periphery of
several kilometers. Furthermore, a inquiry at the local
administration had proven that Frank had meanwhile a
negative entry in his Scanchip register, because of
. . disturbance of peace at the workplace".
. . Perhaps, the idea with the shotgun is not too bad at all! But
before that, I will visit this Sasse! ", grumbled Frank on
Friday, when the short weekend for his former colleagues of
the production complex 42-B began.
On Saturday and Sunday, he invested his last Globes in the
cheap liquor from the kiosk at the corner. Alone in his small,
modestly furnished apartment, in the dark block of flats, in a
18
much darker time. His fate and his pain was not noticed by
anyone else. Just like Frank Kohlhaas had never noticed
the pain of the others who lifed their lives in their
honeycombs, behind the shabby, gray walls of this
plattenbau.
If he would drink himself to death or blew his head away, he
would soon smell like the corridor on his floor, and it would
probably not even been noticed by his neighbors. This
thought was somehow so sick that it elecited Frank a
tormented smile.
Hard alcohol had not the best reputation, but one thing was
clear: It had already given millions of desperate people a
good sleep. No concern could be so big, that it couldn't be
drowned in a wave of the good and, above all, cheap booze
from the nearby kiosk. Frank checked this old truth in a
"self-experiment".
„Beep! Beep! Beep! ", it resounded on Monday at 6. 30
o'clock in the morning from the kitchen, where the drunk
man had forgotten his Scanchip. „Beep! Beep! Beep! "
An electronic woman's voice always repeated. . .
„Good morning, citizen 1-564398B-278843! You have a
message of priority level alpha on your Scanchip! "
„Good morning, citizen 1-564398B-278843! You have a
message of priority level alpha on your Scanchip! "
„Good morning, citizen 1-564398B-278843! You have a
message of priority level alpha on your Scanchip! "
„Hmmm. . . ", hummed Frank, still a bit dazed from the night
before.
19
„Damn! What? ", he muttered and rolled out of his bed which
still smelled of alcohol.
„What the hell? Damn! Shut up! ", he grunted and walked
with a bad headache to the kitchen table.
It lasted a little eternity until Frank had remembered the pin
code and had found his way through the message-menu of
the Scanchip.
"What. . . ? "
"Citation? What? ", whispered citizen 1-564398B-278843. He
had to read it twice, in order to believe it. Did somebody try
to kid him?
„What the fuck is that? ", he could only say.
Official citation:
Citizen 1-564398B-278843,
You are officially cited to an automated trial on
14. 08. 2027 at 8. 00 o'clock.
Accusations:
- Massive disturbation at the workplace
- Theoretical aggravated battery
Appear at the mentioned time in court cell 4/211, at your
local juridical complex. In the case of nonappearance,
you will be punished with the deletion of your Scanchip
or arrest! (*§127b, „Citizen Obligations and theoretical
Sanctions")
Official document code: 257789000-0100567-
2345441 1 1 3-EGN-59900-4/21 1
Culprit number: 319444-556. 77
20
Thank you for your cooperation!
Frank's atomised brain began to hurt and to rotate.
. . Citation? What do you want from me? "
He was totally confused and couldn't remember any crimes
in his past life.
. . Just because I've yelled at this damned Sasse? ", he
thought. . . This can't be true! I finally did not touch him. I
have just lost control for some seconds. I don't understand
this. And what the hell do they mean with . . theoretical
aggravated battery"? "
And there was no doubt. Frank Kohlhaas, the helping out
citizen with the official code 1-564398B-278843, had never
done something bad to another person. Except for the time
in the kindergarten, back then, as he had given this stupid
Kevin a little slap and his parents had been called to the
authorithies. The local education officials had briefly
become anxiously and had explanied that Frank would have
some . . subliminal aggressions" and a . . precarious masculine
behavior". Then they had suggested a therapy with
tranquilizers.
But this was many years ago. Furthermore, the therapy
could be avoided, after the child had repetend its "sins" in
front of a committee of psychologists and social
pedagogues, and his parents had insured, that they would
immediately report Frank's next "crimes", if he would
become noticeable again in this context.
But he never became noticeable again. He always stuck to
the rules until this day; in the kindergarten, the elementary
school and everywhere else. Since his fifth year of life, he
had always been a good boy. No, he was not noticeable at
all. And of course he was no human being with . . subliminal
aggressions". Sometimes in his thoughts or dreams, he beat
up a superior or an administrative coworker, but this was a
21
secret and Frank had never talked about his thought crimes.
He was just "normal", as he meant.
Apart from this, it was also the first time that the otherwise
perfectly inconspicuous plattenbau-inhabitant Frank
Kohlhaas had come in contact with an . . automated trial". The
citizen had already heard about this, once in the news,
since it had been introduced by the World Government
three years ago. But the young man could not imagine, what
this strange process really was. But why should a decent
person like Frank think about such things? He had never
become culpable and had nothing to do with criminality.
Therefore, the accused had not the foggiest notion, what
waited for him now and so he wasn't too much concerned
about this citation.
It was probably nothing but a pure formality, circumstances,
which could be clarified. Frank had not hurt anybody and
therefore he also could not be condemned. The young man
had already lost his job, because of the so called
"disturbation of peace at the workplace". There was no
reason to be worried, thought Kohlhaas.
Now the unemployed man absently hit the button . . Voice
Presentation" so that the message was slowly read out by a
computer-animated woman's voice. This was also a
novelty. The administration had introduced the "Voice
Presentation" some years ago, because more and more
citizens of Berlin were illiterate, above all, the younger
generation. So an important official message had always to
be available in read out form.
The rest of this day wasn't very spectacular and the
"automated trail" was already tomorrow. . . Then I will have a
reason to rise", said Frank to himself and grinned cynically.
Shortly afterwards, Kohlhaas tried to call his father to ask
him for some money, but he didn't reach anybody during
22
the whole day. Nevertheless, there was some more liquor in
the kitchen. Frank decided to get royally drunk once again,
and fell asleep at midnight. He almost forgot to set his
alarm-clock. . .
23
Automated Trial
Although it was August, this morning was very cold and
dark. Frank's neck hurt and he had another headache from
last night's drunkenness. The local juridical complex was
over one hour foot march distant from his apartment block,
but the citizen thought, that it could be a good idea to go
and get some, more or less, fresh air. In addition, he could
fight the aftereffects of his hangover.
He hastily gulped down some toast, swallowed the
dissolvable coffee and examined the label on the plastic can
of the coffee powder.
„Globe Food" was written on it and Frank could see a world
ball. Above the globe was a pyramid with an eye on its top.
At the bottom of the picture was the slogan: „Food for the
people! "
„Amusing symbol! ", murmured Frank into his three-day
beard.
He had never noticed this logo before, although he only
bought his food in the cheap „Globe Food" supermarkets,
which dominated Berlin. Then the thought left his head
again, as fast as it had come.
The unusual cold weather let Frank shiver. A draft of fresh
air blew through the dark stairway and temporary flushed
away even the smell of bad eggs. In front of him, a neighbor
walked down to the exit and Frank considered if he had
seen the face of this man ever before.
The man said something sounding like "Hello! ", but
Kohlhaas wasn't sure. The accused slowly walked forward
and was still dizzy.
He briefly looked at the playground in
the yard and beheld some children who were screaming 24
with shrill voices in an incomprehensible language. Was it
Turkish? Or Arabic?
When the clock indicated 7. 43, he could already recognize
the outlines of the juridical complex from the distance. It was
a large red building with hundreds of windows and over 30
floors. Dozens of court cells were in front of it, one of them
was waiting for him. The chambers, in which people could
get their "automated trial", were made of a gray metal and
about four meters wide, as Frank guessed from his distant
view.
Three other citizens already stood before them, between
them were some police officers. Slowly he became nervous.
Perhaps this hearing was nevertheless more unpleasantly,
than he had imagined at first.
Now it was necessary to pass an electrical gate, which was
protected by a doorman in a small, brown house. The
official gave Frank a sign to come nearer.
„Come here! ", he called.
The young man ran forward and positioned himself in front
of the entrance of the guardroom.
„Scanchip! ", said the doorman, holding a laser scanner in
his hand. Wordlessly he pulled the Scanchip out of Frank's
hand, without looking at him, and said after a short „beep" of
his code reader: „Court cell 4/211! Hurry up! It is nearly 8. 00
o'clock! If you come too late, it will be just more expensive
for you! "
Frank's heart started to pound faster. Fearfully, he started
to search the court cells, in order to find his number. The
other accused examined him with some brief looks.
„Row 4! Shit! I must hurry up. . . 211. . . ", lamented Frank,
becoming more and more nervous. Meanwhile, only two
minutes remained, till his hearing would start. He began to
25
run and with a racing heart and an increasing headache, he
correctly reached his court cell in time.
Gasping for breath, he was welcomed by an electronic
woman's voice: . . Welcome citizen 1-564398B-278843, to
your automated trail! Please enter your culprit number on
the display and press OK! "
Frank pulled the Scanchip out of his trouser pocket, opened
the message menu, and tried to enter his culprit number. A
rarely known panic attacked him now. He looked around,
gasping for breath again.
. . Actually, I don't have to go in this damn metal box,
because I didn't do anything! ", he whispered, but the door
was already open. Frank's hands became sweaty, while he
breathed louder.
In front of him, a weakly lit up metallic hole had opened
itself, which requested him to step forward now.
. . Come in, citizen 1-564398B-278843! Your trial is already
running! ", it resounded from a loudspeaker at the ceiling of
the halfdark chamber. Frank Kohlhaas knew that he had no
chance to refuse the order. It was nevertheless an official
instruction and there was never and in no case room for a
discussion or exception.
He made a step forward and his knees felt more weak with
each passing second. Then a screen flashed. The
"automated trial" against the theoretical delinquent Frank
Kohlhaas took its course.
In large and bright letters, the reproaches could be read on
the screen:
Accusations:
- Massive disturbation at the workplace
- Theoretical aggravated battery
26
Frank swallowed and let out a big gush of air. The terribly
sounding woman's voice, as friendly as an unnoticed virus,
began with some remarks. A detailed description of the
progression of events, the listing of witnesses and additional
"sub-charges" followed, for example . . subversive statements
at work" - and some more.
For several minutes, the young man didn't say anything,
and besides, nobody had asked him for his point of view,
only the computer voice was talking, implementing and
accusing.
Frank's former colleagues, Schmidt, Adiguzel and Nyang,
had confirmed the fact, that the young man had refused the
singing of the "One-World-Song" several times and had
even described the text as "nonsens" on 02. 04. 2027.
Production supervisor Sasse had added that the aggressive
mimic and the use of "strong vocabulary" during the
argument in the factory, would be an evidence for Frank's
tendency of "unnecessary analyzing of absolutely justified
instructions" and "subliminal aggressions".
The boss of the production complex had confirmed this too.
Further details followed: legal regulations and regulations
for extended and deeper instructions in the reference to the
list and redefinition of defaults - and more.
"You can be glad that you are my superior, otherwise I
would break you every bone! "
The intention of striking the superior, was more than clearly
proven, in the eyes of the automated court. The difference
between a (in such a way) formulated intention and an
actually implemented act, was relatively small, according to
the modern understanding of law which was oriented
towards psychology and statistics. Further, the probability to
commit this act one day in reality, had also enormously
27
increased, because the intention had clearly been
formulated. (Compare: „BMI of calibration of actual,
theoretical and probable behavior" from 02. 10. 2020,
document code: V-LUN-36777192934457656-Z, (89) ")
Frank googled at the screen like a stunned cow, which had
walked against an electrical fence. He was not able to think
that fast, how this computer programme made him to a
potential interference factor, a danger for the order of the
worldwide system, basing on freedom and humanitarianism.
After an hour, the lecture finally came to an end. Now a new
menu appeared on the screen. The woman's voice with the
electronic taste kindly read out the sentences, sounding like
sudden frost in Frank's ears:
„lf you deny the charges, please click on NO! "
"If you admit the charges, please klick on YES! "
Citizen 1-564398B-278843 hesitated, perked his eyebrows
up and tried to arrange his thoughts.
„What is this shit? Tve done nothing wrong, nothing at all!
This whole crap is a bad joke! ", yelled Frank through the
court cell. For a second, he thought about crushing this
damn screen with a kick.
„l will choose NO! I'm innocent! No! I click NO! No
question! ", he screamed angrily.
The accused hammered on the keys in front of him and
selected NO. Now he had to wait. The computer hummed.
. . Loading" could be seen on the screen in bright letters.
Frank felt relieved for a short moment.
„Now that fucking thing knows that I am innocent. I
expressed myself clearly: NO! ", he said grimly. Then he
smiled, a bit exhausted, while the inner tension started to
28
die down. Shortly afterwards, he got the answer of the
automated court computer, with metallic sound and cruelly
combined letters on the bright screen:
. . Accused, you selected NO! This means, you deny the
reproaches and assume our juridical system, led by
humanistic principles, not to consider these!
Unfortunately, we must tell you that the selection of the
menu option NO leads, in principle, to an increased
measure of punishment, because it shows the
intransigence of the culprit. . . "
The court decision is loaded. . .
The young man paused, gaped at the screen and cursed
quietly, while his mouth became an astonished, shocked
hole. Frank Kohlhaas' understanding seemed to be
blocked, briefly put on „standby". The data were too large
and too terrible, in order to be able to be processed by his
brain. The biological computer under his skullcap just
seemed to fall into chaos and started to collapse.
Then the gleeful shining screen of court cell 4/21 1 struck in
his face with still more malice. The judgement was
announced:
„Citizen 1-564398B-278843! You are condemned to 5
years of detention in a center for reeducation and
resocialization!
To the reason: In your case, the statistic probability for
theoretical aggravated battery is at 78, 11%!
The statistic probability for prospective subversive
behavior is at 53. 59% in your case! Moreover, the
selection of the menu option NO increases the penalty.
But you can be unconcerned. Meanwhile, there are
29
numerous governmental institutions, in which human
beings like you can get modern theraphies on the
highest level of science, in order to begin a happy and
adapted new life in our humanistic society! We thank
you for your understanding! "
Frank's eyes bored into the screen and his ears roared. The
electronic woman's voice resounded in his head like the
echo of an atomic explosion. It became a slimy worm, which
ate its way through his pinna towards his brain.
„5 years of detention? ", stammered the man.
Frank tried to explain himself, that his hearing had deceived
him, but the cruel news were also in front of his eyes.
Unfortunately, both senses could not err. He was
condemned. It was correct.
Still in a condition of shock, the accused hardly noticed,
when the electronic lock engaged behind him, blocking the
court cell automatically. The damnation had been
proclaimed and the trap had sprung. In the first minutes,
Frank was much too perplex to be able to realize this. The
despair in this early moment was far too big that it could
give room to feelings like hate or rage.
For this procedure, 411. 66 Globes were deducted from
Frank's Scanchip account, what was also mentioned by the
computer voice.
He might behave and wait, until the police officers would
come to arrest him. Then he would be brought to a transport
vehicle, as the computer explained. Citizen 1-564398B-
278843 listened to these further instructions without
showing any emotions. The condition of torpidity was too
serious. Half an hour later, he suddenly jumped up in his
despair, in order to cry. But a strange weakness had
30
captured his mind and after a short emotional outburst,
Kohlhaas crept into a dark corner and waited.
. . Perhaps it is just a misunderstanding? It could surely be
cleared up! ", it temporarily flared up in his mind. "I must talk
to the officials. They can. . . can help me, to find a solution.
The computer must have erred. "
When two policemen arrived at the court cell, about one
hour later, they already heard Frank complaing from a
distance.
J think, that is the loudest guy today! ", sneered a
policeman.
"He has a real big mouth! ", said the other.
The steel door of the dark court chamber opened and
offered a sorry sight to the policemen. But it was not a
picture, which was strange to them. Outbreaks of accused
people after automated trials, were nothing new for them.
They brought Frank to one of the vehicles. . .
31
Big eye
The transport to „Big Eye", one of the largest and most
modern high safety prisons in the entire administrative
sector . . Central Europe", did not last for a long time, but it
seemed to go on forever for Frank. Mentally absent, like hit
by an arrow full of narcotic poison, he stared vacantly into
space.
The police officers ignored him and talked most of the time
about a new TV show, called „The Little Whisperer", where
children could win prices if they uncovered "subversive
behavior" among their relatives or neighbors.
Actually, the young man had planned to address the police
officers, to tell them that everything was just a judicial error,
but he did not do it. And they did not seem to have any
interest to make some small talk with him.
After a while, the outlines of an enormous prison complex
appeared on the horizon. This was „Big Eye". Frank had
once seen a report on television about this institute, where
only happy and healed . . patients" (this was the official
designation) were shown to the people. Now he was on the
way there.
The building was surrounded by high concrete walls, which
were provided with barbed wire and watchtowers. It had
several floors and on an outside wall, the prisoner
recognized the strange symbol, he had already seen before
on the label of his coffee powder glass.
A pyramid with an eye on its top. The sign looked somehow
differently than the escutcheon of the "Globe Food" chain of
stores, but nevertheless, the similarity was clear. „Big Eye" -
the great eye. Nobody could escape from its view! ", thought
Frank, driven by fear. He should be right.
32
The patient finally left the transporter and the officers did not
have to become rough this time. He followed them, was
silent and accepted all their instructions like being on drugs.
Dress order, behavioral code, sleeping time. He hardly
heard on all the talk, musing about the rising nightmare
around him.
If he listened or not, was quite immaterial. He should remain
here for five long years, according to an official court
decision, and had therefore time enough to internalize the
routine of the day to the smallest detail.
helping hand? ", murmured the young man.
16
For half a minute, Meise just googled at the unemployed
man with his yellowish, bulging eyes. Then he looked
around and tried to give his unpleasant answer as carefully
as possible.
. . Working for me? ", he inquired. . . Thus, Frank, the situation
is. . . eh. . . the times are bad. We all know this, my friend. I
almost run everything alone here and only Ralf helps me
from time to time. This is actually enough. I don't need a
second man, sorry! "
Frank Kohlhaas had never been a good actor and who saw
him now, could feel his disappointment.
„And only for two months? ", he asked.
„l need none here, and I can't afford a second man, Frank! ",
explained the thick, filthy man and turned away. „l'm sorry,
but I have to do some work now. No offense, but there is no
chance for you to find work here. "
Back home, Frank hissed one of his worst curses and
kicked against the kitchen table. He desperately scanned
his brain for other possibilities of employment and checked
all production complexes around Berlin in his mind. But the
problem was, that his boss had given him a negative entry
in his Scanchip register after the conflict with Mr. Sasse,
what made it difficult to get a job in another steel plant.
He still had 246 Globes on his electronic account for this
month. More than 400 Globes he had to pay only for his
apartment in this rotted estate of prefabricated houses.
Time pressed now, with each day a little bit more, and the
dark shadow of despair grew with the passing hours. It
occupied Frank's mind like a malicious ulcer.
After the young man had watched an extremely stupid
sitcom, he switched off the television and tried to sleep. But
it was only 23,00 o'clock and regrettably the exhaustion had
not achieved the necessary level yet, to turn off Frank's
brain and give him some peace of mind.
17
Several hours followed, when Frank was staring at the dark
ceiling, cursing the production complex 42-B with all its
superiors, supervisors and workers.
Then the stench from the hall became noticeable to him
again and the fog of despair in his head swelled so strongly
that the young man thought about killing himself.
He mused about operating the bad thoughts and concerns
under his skullcap with a heavy-calibered shotgun which
would completely spread his brain over the yellowed
wallpaper behind his bedstead. And Frank Kohlhaas still
thought about many other things in this terrible night.
He brooded over his so far senseless life, the isolation, the
monotonousness and the gaping abyss that waited for him
now. Frank came to no solution in this night and not even
the smallest glimmer of hope seemed to shine somewhere.
Nothing. Outside it was dark. In front of the house, Frank
could recognize a few ripped garbage bags, which already
lay there since several weeks. Then he was finally so tired,
that he fell asleep with his head on the window sill.
Up to the end of the week, the search for a new job was
unsuccessful - as he had already expected it. It seemed
that there was no more work at all, in the periphery of
several kilometers. Furthermore, a inquiry at the local
administration had proven that Frank had meanwhile a
negative entry in his Scanchip register, because of
. . disturbance of peace at the workplace".
. . Perhaps, the idea with the shotgun is not too bad at all! But
before that, I will visit this Sasse! ", grumbled Frank on
Friday, when the short weekend for his former colleagues of
the production complex 42-B began.
On Saturday and Sunday, he invested his last Globes in the
cheap liquor from the kiosk at the corner. Alone in his small,
modestly furnished apartment, in the dark block of flats, in a
18
much darker time. His fate and his pain was not noticed by
anyone else. Just like Frank Kohlhaas had never noticed
the pain of the others who lifed their lives in their
honeycombs, behind the shabby, gray walls of this
plattenbau.
If he would drink himself to death or blew his head away, he
would soon smell like the corridor on his floor, and it would
probably not even been noticed by his neighbors. This
thought was somehow so sick that it elecited Frank a
tormented smile.
Hard alcohol had not the best reputation, but one thing was
clear: It had already given millions of desperate people a
good sleep. No concern could be so big, that it couldn't be
drowned in a wave of the good and, above all, cheap booze
from the nearby kiosk. Frank checked this old truth in a
"self-experiment".
„Beep! Beep! Beep! ", it resounded on Monday at 6. 30
o'clock in the morning from the kitchen, where the drunk
man had forgotten his Scanchip. „Beep! Beep! Beep! "
An electronic woman's voice always repeated. . .
„Good morning, citizen 1-564398B-278843! You have a
message of priority level alpha on your Scanchip! "
„Good morning, citizen 1-564398B-278843! You have a
message of priority level alpha on your Scanchip! "
„Good morning, citizen 1-564398B-278843! You have a
message of priority level alpha on your Scanchip! "
„Hmmm. . . ", hummed Frank, still a bit dazed from the night
before.
19
„Damn! What? ", he muttered and rolled out of his bed which
still smelled of alcohol.
„What the hell? Damn! Shut up! ", he grunted and walked
with a bad headache to the kitchen table.
It lasted a little eternity until Frank had remembered the pin
code and had found his way through the message-menu of
the Scanchip.
"What. . . ? "
"Citation? What? ", whispered citizen 1-564398B-278843. He
had to read it twice, in order to believe it. Did somebody try
to kid him?
„What the fuck is that? ", he could only say.
Official citation:
Citizen 1-564398B-278843,
You are officially cited to an automated trial on
14. 08. 2027 at 8. 00 o'clock.
Accusations:
- Massive disturbation at the workplace
- Theoretical aggravated battery
Appear at the mentioned time in court cell 4/211, at your
local juridical complex. In the case of nonappearance,
you will be punished with the deletion of your Scanchip
or arrest! (*§127b, „Citizen Obligations and theoretical
Sanctions")
Official document code: 257789000-0100567-
2345441 1 1 3-EGN-59900-4/21 1
Culprit number: 319444-556. 77
20
Thank you for your cooperation!
Frank's atomised brain began to hurt and to rotate.
. . Citation? What do you want from me? "
He was totally confused and couldn't remember any crimes
in his past life.
. . Just because I've yelled at this damned Sasse? ", he
thought. . . This can't be true! I finally did not touch him. I
have just lost control for some seconds. I don't understand
this. And what the hell do they mean with . . theoretical
aggravated battery"? "
And there was no doubt. Frank Kohlhaas, the helping out
citizen with the official code 1-564398B-278843, had never
done something bad to another person. Except for the time
in the kindergarten, back then, as he had given this stupid
Kevin a little slap and his parents had been called to the
authorithies. The local education officials had briefly
become anxiously and had explanied that Frank would have
some . . subliminal aggressions" and a . . precarious masculine
behavior". Then they had suggested a therapy with
tranquilizers.
But this was many years ago. Furthermore, the therapy
could be avoided, after the child had repetend its "sins" in
front of a committee of psychologists and social
pedagogues, and his parents had insured, that they would
immediately report Frank's next "crimes", if he would
become noticeable again in this context.
But he never became noticeable again. He always stuck to
the rules until this day; in the kindergarten, the elementary
school and everywhere else. Since his fifth year of life, he
had always been a good boy. No, he was not noticeable at
all. And of course he was no human being with . . subliminal
aggressions". Sometimes in his thoughts or dreams, he beat
up a superior or an administrative coworker, but this was a
21
secret and Frank had never talked about his thought crimes.
He was just "normal", as he meant.
Apart from this, it was also the first time that the otherwise
perfectly inconspicuous plattenbau-inhabitant Frank
Kohlhaas had come in contact with an . . automated trial". The
citizen had already heard about this, once in the news,
since it had been introduced by the World Government
three years ago. But the young man could not imagine, what
this strange process really was. But why should a decent
person like Frank think about such things? He had never
become culpable and had nothing to do with criminality.
Therefore, the accused had not the foggiest notion, what
waited for him now and so he wasn't too much concerned
about this citation.
It was probably nothing but a pure formality, circumstances,
which could be clarified. Frank had not hurt anybody and
therefore he also could not be condemned. The young man
had already lost his job, because of the so called
"disturbation of peace at the workplace". There was no
reason to be worried, thought Kohlhaas.
Now the unemployed man absently hit the button . . Voice
Presentation" so that the message was slowly read out by a
computer-animated woman's voice. This was also a
novelty. The administration had introduced the "Voice
Presentation" some years ago, because more and more
citizens of Berlin were illiterate, above all, the younger
generation. So an important official message had always to
be available in read out form.
The rest of this day wasn't very spectacular and the
"automated trail" was already tomorrow. . . Then I will have a
reason to rise", said Frank to himself and grinned cynically.
Shortly afterwards, Kohlhaas tried to call his father to ask
him for some money, but he didn't reach anybody during
22
the whole day. Nevertheless, there was some more liquor in
the kitchen. Frank decided to get royally drunk once again,
and fell asleep at midnight. He almost forgot to set his
alarm-clock. . .
23
Automated Trial
Although it was August, this morning was very cold and
dark. Frank's neck hurt and he had another headache from
last night's drunkenness. The local juridical complex was
over one hour foot march distant from his apartment block,
but the citizen thought, that it could be a good idea to go
and get some, more or less, fresh air. In addition, he could
fight the aftereffects of his hangover.
He hastily gulped down some toast, swallowed the
dissolvable coffee and examined the label on the plastic can
of the coffee powder.
„Globe Food" was written on it and Frank could see a world
ball. Above the globe was a pyramid with an eye on its top.
At the bottom of the picture was the slogan: „Food for the
people! "
„Amusing symbol! ", murmured Frank into his three-day
beard.
He had never noticed this logo before, although he only
bought his food in the cheap „Globe Food" supermarkets,
which dominated Berlin. Then the thought left his head
again, as fast as it had come.
The unusual cold weather let Frank shiver. A draft of fresh
air blew through the dark stairway and temporary flushed
away even the smell of bad eggs. In front of him, a neighbor
walked down to the exit and Frank considered if he had
seen the face of this man ever before.
The man said something sounding like "Hello! ", but
Kohlhaas wasn't sure. The accused slowly walked forward
and was still dizzy.
He briefly looked at the playground in
the yard and beheld some children who were screaming 24
with shrill voices in an incomprehensible language. Was it
Turkish? Or Arabic?
When the clock indicated 7. 43, he could already recognize
the outlines of the juridical complex from the distance. It was
a large red building with hundreds of windows and over 30
floors. Dozens of court cells were in front of it, one of them
was waiting for him. The chambers, in which people could
get their "automated trial", were made of a gray metal and
about four meters wide, as Frank guessed from his distant
view.
Three other citizens already stood before them, between
them were some police officers. Slowly he became nervous.
Perhaps this hearing was nevertheless more unpleasantly,
than he had imagined at first.
Now it was necessary to pass an electrical gate, which was
protected by a doorman in a small, brown house. The
official gave Frank a sign to come nearer.
„Come here! ", he called.
The young man ran forward and positioned himself in front
of the entrance of the guardroom.
„Scanchip! ", said the doorman, holding a laser scanner in
his hand. Wordlessly he pulled the Scanchip out of Frank's
hand, without looking at him, and said after a short „beep" of
his code reader: „Court cell 4/211! Hurry up! It is nearly 8. 00
o'clock! If you come too late, it will be just more expensive
for you! "
Frank's heart started to pound faster. Fearfully, he started
to search the court cells, in order to find his number. The
other accused examined him with some brief looks.
„Row 4! Shit! I must hurry up. . . 211. . . ", lamented Frank,
becoming more and more nervous. Meanwhile, only two
minutes remained, till his hearing would start. He began to
25
run and with a racing heart and an increasing headache, he
correctly reached his court cell in time.
Gasping for breath, he was welcomed by an electronic
woman's voice: . . Welcome citizen 1-564398B-278843, to
your automated trail! Please enter your culprit number on
the display and press OK! "
Frank pulled the Scanchip out of his trouser pocket, opened
the message menu, and tried to enter his culprit number. A
rarely known panic attacked him now. He looked around,
gasping for breath again.
. . Actually, I don't have to go in this damn metal box,
because I didn't do anything! ", he whispered, but the door
was already open. Frank's hands became sweaty, while he
breathed louder.
In front of him, a weakly lit up metallic hole had opened
itself, which requested him to step forward now.
. . Come in, citizen 1-564398B-278843! Your trial is already
running! ", it resounded from a loudspeaker at the ceiling of
the halfdark chamber. Frank Kohlhaas knew that he had no
chance to refuse the order. It was nevertheless an official
instruction and there was never and in no case room for a
discussion or exception.
He made a step forward and his knees felt more weak with
each passing second. Then a screen flashed. The
"automated trial" against the theoretical delinquent Frank
Kohlhaas took its course.
In large and bright letters, the reproaches could be read on
the screen:
Accusations:
- Massive disturbation at the workplace
- Theoretical aggravated battery
26
Frank swallowed and let out a big gush of air. The terribly
sounding woman's voice, as friendly as an unnoticed virus,
began with some remarks. A detailed description of the
progression of events, the listing of witnesses and additional
"sub-charges" followed, for example . . subversive statements
at work" - and some more.
For several minutes, the young man didn't say anything,
and besides, nobody had asked him for his point of view,
only the computer voice was talking, implementing and
accusing.
Frank's former colleagues, Schmidt, Adiguzel and Nyang,
had confirmed the fact, that the young man had refused the
singing of the "One-World-Song" several times and had
even described the text as "nonsens" on 02. 04. 2027.
Production supervisor Sasse had added that the aggressive
mimic and the use of "strong vocabulary" during the
argument in the factory, would be an evidence for Frank's
tendency of "unnecessary analyzing of absolutely justified
instructions" and "subliminal aggressions".
The boss of the production complex had confirmed this too.
Further details followed: legal regulations and regulations
for extended and deeper instructions in the reference to the
list and redefinition of defaults - and more.
"You can be glad that you are my superior, otherwise I
would break you every bone! "
The intention of striking the superior, was more than clearly
proven, in the eyes of the automated court. The difference
between a (in such a way) formulated intention and an
actually implemented act, was relatively small, according to
the modern understanding of law which was oriented
towards psychology and statistics. Further, the probability to
commit this act one day in reality, had also enormously
27
increased, because the intention had clearly been
formulated. (Compare: „BMI of calibration of actual,
theoretical and probable behavior" from 02. 10. 2020,
document code: V-LUN-36777192934457656-Z, (89) ")
Frank googled at the screen like a stunned cow, which had
walked against an electrical fence. He was not able to think
that fast, how this computer programme made him to a
potential interference factor, a danger for the order of the
worldwide system, basing on freedom and humanitarianism.
After an hour, the lecture finally came to an end. Now a new
menu appeared on the screen. The woman's voice with the
electronic taste kindly read out the sentences, sounding like
sudden frost in Frank's ears:
„lf you deny the charges, please click on NO! "
"If you admit the charges, please klick on YES! "
Citizen 1-564398B-278843 hesitated, perked his eyebrows
up and tried to arrange his thoughts.
„What is this shit? Tve done nothing wrong, nothing at all!
This whole crap is a bad joke! ", yelled Frank through the
court cell. For a second, he thought about crushing this
damn screen with a kick.
„l will choose NO! I'm innocent! No! I click NO! No
question! ", he screamed angrily.
The accused hammered on the keys in front of him and
selected NO. Now he had to wait. The computer hummed.
. . Loading" could be seen on the screen in bright letters.
Frank felt relieved for a short moment.
„Now that fucking thing knows that I am innocent. I
expressed myself clearly: NO! ", he said grimly. Then he
smiled, a bit exhausted, while the inner tension started to
28
die down. Shortly afterwards, he got the answer of the
automated court computer, with metallic sound and cruelly
combined letters on the bright screen:
. . Accused, you selected NO! This means, you deny the
reproaches and assume our juridical system, led by
humanistic principles, not to consider these!
Unfortunately, we must tell you that the selection of the
menu option NO leads, in principle, to an increased
measure of punishment, because it shows the
intransigence of the culprit. . . "
The court decision is loaded. . .
The young man paused, gaped at the screen and cursed
quietly, while his mouth became an astonished, shocked
hole. Frank Kohlhaas' understanding seemed to be
blocked, briefly put on „standby". The data were too large
and too terrible, in order to be able to be processed by his
brain. The biological computer under his skullcap just
seemed to fall into chaos and started to collapse.
Then the gleeful shining screen of court cell 4/21 1 struck in
his face with still more malice. The judgement was
announced:
„Citizen 1-564398B-278843! You are condemned to 5
years of detention in a center for reeducation and
resocialization!
To the reason: In your case, the statistic probability for
theoretical aggravated battery is at 78, 11%!
The statistic probability for prospective subversive
behavior is at 53. 59% in your case! Moreover, the
selection of the menu option NO increases the penalty.
But you can be unconcerned. Meanwhile, there are
29
numerous governmental institutions, in which human
beings like you can get modern theraphies on the
highest level of science, in order to begin a happy and
adapted new life in our humanistic society! We thank
you for your understanding! "
Frank's eyes bored into the screen and his ears roared. The
electronic woman's voice resounded in his head like the
echo of an atomic explosion. It became a slimy worm, which
ate its way through his pinna towards his brain.
„5 years of detention? ", stammered the man.
Frank tried to explain himself, that his hearing had deceived
him, but the cruel news were also in front of his eyes.
Unfortunately, both senses could not err. He was
condemned. It was correct.
Still in a condition of shock, the accused hardly noticed,
when the electronic lock engaged behind him, blocking the
court cell automatically. The damnation had been
proclaimed and the trap had sprung. In the first minutes,
Frank was much too perplex to be able to realize this. The
despair in this early moment was far too big that it could
give room to feelings like hate or rage.
For this procedure, 411. 66 Globes were deducted from
Frank's Scanchip account, what was also mentioned by the
computer voice.
He might behave and wait, until the police officers would
come to arrest him. Then he would be brought to a transport
vehicle, as the computer explained. Citizen 1-564398B-
278843 listened to these further instructions without
showing any emotions. The condition of torpidity was too
serious. Half an hour later, he suddenly jumped up in his
despair, in order to cry. But a strange weakness had
30
captured his mind and after a short emotional outburst,
Kohlhaas crept into a dark corner and waited.
. . Perhaps it is just a misunderstanding? It could surely be
cleared up! ", it temporarily flared up in his mind. "I must talk
to the officials. They can. . . can help me, to find a solution.
The computer must have erred. "
When two policemen arrived at the court cell, about one
hour later, they already heard Frank complaing from a
distance.
J think, that is the loudest guy today! ", sneered a
policeman.
"He has a real big mouth! ", said the other.
The steel door of the dark court chamber opened and
offered a sorry sight to the policemen. But it was not a
picture, which was strange to them. Outbreaks of accused
people after automated trials, were nothing new for them.
They brought Frank to one of the vehicles. . .
31
Big eye
The transport to „Big Eye", one of the largest and most
modern high safety prisons in the entire administrative
sector . . Central Europe", did not last for a long time, but it
seemed to go on forever for Frank. Mentally absent, like hit
by an arrow full of narcotic poison, he stared vacantly into
space.
The police officers ignored him and talked most of the time
about a new TV show, called „The Little Whisperer", where
children could win prices if they uncovered "subversive
behavior" among their relatives or neighbors.
Actually, the young man had planned to address the police
officers, to tell them that everything was just a judicial error,
but he did not do it. And they did not seem to have any
interest to make some small talk with him.
After a while, the outlines of an enormous prison complex
appeared on the horizon. This was „Big Eye". Frank had
once seen a report on television about this institute, where
only happy and healed . . patients" (this was the official
designation) were shown to the people. Now he was on the
way there.
The building was surrounded by high concrete walls, which
were provided with barbed wire and watchtowers. It had
several floors and on an outside wall, the prisoner
recognized the strange symbol, he had already seen before
on the label of his coffee powder glass.
A pyramid with an eye on its top. The sign looked somehow
differently than the escutcheon of the "Globe Food" chain of
stores, but nevertheless, the similarity was clear. „Big Eye" -
the great eye. Nobody could escape from its view! ", thought
Frank, driven by fear. He should be right.
32
The patient finally left the transporter and the officers did not
have to become rough this time. He followed them, was
silent and accepted all their instructions like being on drugs.
Dress order, behavioral code, sleeping time. He hardly
heard on all the talk, musing about the rising nightmare
around him.
If he listened or not, was quite immaterial. He should remain
here for five long years, according to an official court
decision, and had therefore time enough to internalize the
routine of the day to the smallest detail.
