It had been three months since I was unemployed when my phone rang at last. It was a company called Humbert Institute surname given by its creator in 1951. I had not applied for the job but they got wind of my profile thanks to a person who had advised them. I never knew that. The following Tuesday I had an appointment for an interview over there, I had to leave very early because the institute was far from the city, he was even in the middle of nowhere, only one small road led to it, but parking many cars were parked, I am somewhat reassured. The director, whose name was also Humbert, greeted me with smiles and attention.
"Dearest Placide, you've made a good road, did you find easy? It is true that the Institute is a bit far from everything, but you'll soon understand why." We went upstairs to his office and I did my usual presentation, trembling slightly but without making mistakes. I applied here to a place of a cleaner and caretaker, it was my business for 20 years. The director seemed very happy.
"Dear Placide, I've read your file before you arrive and I'm not disappointed at all. You seem to quite match what we want, but still before you accept, I must explain some things. Of course we could say that as you are "THAT" cleaning man you do not need to know what we make here, but I always thought that the mystery brought the curiosity that brought problems, Placide's why I wants to be totally transparent with you. Contrary to what we preach, we are here psychological experiments on humans. Basically, we consider our peers and our results to sell brands, government etc ... There are 13 rooms throughout the building (I do not count the self, toilet and reception room and rest) in these 13 rooms there about every day, 3 / 4 to activate or experience takes place. Each morning a bus came to the city with people on board, willing and paid for, we call in the jargon, "witnesses" followed by their numbers, there are sometimes ten, sometimes only one per room.
- What kind of experience do you do? I dared
- All that we control and that is humanly possible. "He said no more and made me visit the building while the ground floor was reserved for the" relaxation ": sink, self, room rest ... at first, the 13 rooms in the wake of each other, and the top floor offices of the director and any employees who needed one.
"There are just 26 employees (without as you and me) as you will understand there are two per room, it's always good to have two opinions on an issue, when they can not decide, they ask me. These are all great scientists and selfless to boot. One might think that studying makes people bitter, but not them, oh no not them, Placide. Perhaps you work they ignore you, but they have no right to talk to people outside the experience, understand. What we do is very sensitive and must be discreet. So there is a constraint if you join us: not to mention the institute to anyone, it's very important to follow this rule, because otherwise we would have to separate us from you ... So what do you Placide, you join the institute Humbert?
- when I start? "Humbert party in a roar of laughter and conversation was finished.
My job over there was simple, I started at 6:30, cleaned the rooms of tests and everything was there until 8am-9am, before the witnesses arrived. Then in the evening when everyone was leaving, I was the common rooms and offices. I slept on the spot in a room especially for me. I went home the day (or I was walking around the institute according to my mood) and on weekends. This work, though a bit tiring, suited me perfectly, I was well paid, the manager was welcoming and my faith, the employees leave me alone. I hired some conversation with some "witnesses" even though researchers were still very angry "It is forbidden to speak with witnesses and certainly not experiments" they said. I realized that all this came a bit unconventional. I saw the witnesses arrive but I was never there to see them again. And then the experimental rooms still emitted sounds funny, I imagined that incessant buzzing still hear the night so my head was full. Oh and talking into the night, the first time not sleeping. There was nobody else but me in this establishment, although only for a few hours, but that was enough to make me hair stand on my head, I'm not scared yet, but this void, these rumors and who knows what experiences he was going up there, imagination was in full swing. And then I'm used to. One month is well past without major problems. But the mood changed a Tuesday surreptitiously, the director and staff seemed more stressed. "We're on a big experiment, Humbert explained without his usual smile, I can tell you more, but most do not send the word to any witnesses and do not enter the room 13. A few more weeks passed when everything was a little heavier each day, then one evening, while I resumed work, I heard a noise at first, obviously I got see all world is supposed to be gone. I saw nobody but then pulled my arm. I jumped but the young man asked me not to shout: "You're caught, do not shout, I'd do no harm, help me, we must leave here as soon as possible." But before I could say more or I could respond to his supplication, one of the researcher and the director came running: "YOU," thundered the latter, you're not supposed to leave the room 13! ". They ceinturèrent and brought him back inside. "You saw nothing" you it gave me before closing the door locked.
The next morning early, I abandoned all hope of being able to sleep a little and got ready for work. All night I thought this room 13 and the man all night I turned over and the only sentence I've ever known. This distressed me so much already that the atmosphere here has changed a lot ... I tell myself it was better that I resign, but before I had to know what was happening in Room 13. Although we have banned me, I had to check. The director had removed the key to the 13 but he did not think of a bunch of parts. Febrile and household products with my hand (to give me an excuse in case) I entered the room. She was plunged into black but there was left a dozen screens on, I did not hit right away but as I approached I realized that all those surveillance videos, watching my own room and all the places where I used to go. The light flashed so surprised I did turn around and discovered with horror the man attached to the wall opposite. He slowly looked at me. "You? ... You should not be here.
- And what do you here?
- Placide, yes I know your name, I'm tied here and I need to watch the screens night and day I'm YOU observed. The experience is this: Can we kill a man after sharing her intimacy and have identified him. I confess that during all these days you see I'm attached to you, I too am lonely, crazy job, I also like dipping my cookies in milk ...
- You mean you're there to kill me? "
's voice suddenly rang director behind me
- Right Placide. Temoin194 Here, or if you like Eric, he lives with you, so to speak , for nearly a month. Our experience is whether a person who has committed to another and had it for a while can still kill if his life depends on it.
- But but it's horrible Director! You're crazy! I do not want to be part of this stupid experiment!
- Hmmm, that is unfortunate, I'm embarrassed. I'll tell you a secret Placide, I love you very much, you make me think of my father but there are a lot of money involved, people who employ us are very powerful, I can cancel the experience ... However, now that you know ... Hear Placide, I can for you falsify the experience but we can not let the témoin194 tell them the truth, because he'll say the only solution, they want a death is that you kill Placide . We will say that the experience went wrong, as sometimes.
- But you're really crazy, there will be other solutions!
- Placide Really, I'm sorry, but there is none, if you do not I would have to release the témoin194 and order him to kill you. It's your only chance, I can not take other risks to you. My life and work are also at play here.
- But, but finally it will not kill me!
- If the man spat, you or me, even if it disgusts me, the choice is quickly made, I do not want to die, my wife and kids waiting for me!
- You see, "said the manager, you or him, will not hesitate."
While he said that, all researchers had gathered around me and Eric, quiet, behind their little glasses and grinning mouths. One of them handed me a pistol. I felt completely cornered, I will not justify my actions, but I could not think properly, the buzz still ringing in my head and it seemed there be only one solution. I was going crazy. This situation was too far from my reality. The gun was in my hand, the heart of man still in his chest. But suddenly I collapsed, I could not do that.
"I can not kill me." A heavy silence and then someone had himself applauded, the others followed him, another whistled, the man heaved a deep sigh attached.
"Bravo, the director gave me, Placide bravo!" Seeing my puzzled air and my eyes misted over, he continued.
"Fear not and be proud of you, you passed the experience Placide, or should I say témoin193! You do not understand? Since the early experience was you!" He held out his hand, smiling broadly, to help me out, they took off the man and one researcher told me with tears in his eyes: "Again, congratulations sir, you're the first to pass the experience, then he added, one on 99. "
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