~The Orchards Aren't Safe Anymore~

Einkorn had nearly finished his rounds for the day, slashing the wheat with his usual intensity, leaving large bushels in many places as he continued on. It was such a methodical, wondrous thing for him; He felt as though he had some power in these hands, with that sickle, cutting across the large field. This was an obvious delusion, for the Capitol holds power over everything. Almost everything. The heart of a man was still in his hands, and so was his mind. Of course, they sought to change that, perhaps, but it made little difference to Einkorn. He had faith, and they could not touch him. Just as he finished the last bundle and placed it in the large bucket where one would dump the wheat, and taking the small amount that was his as decreed by the Capitol, he heard a cracking that woke him from his metaphorical sleep. It came nearby, from the Orchard near where he was putting the food away.An unfortunate girl, clinging desperately to a branch where an Overseer whips her senseless, taunting her. He seemed to be incredibly furious, like some sort of rabid dog, and his whip became a wicked extension of his arm, continuing to hit the poor girl. He had to do something; God would frown upon him turning away from such an occasion. Yet what could he do? He had learnt that to volunteer yourself for them is foolish: Most overseers will whip you and whip them, and no one wins. To defeat an overseer, you need logic, some sort of impetus for them to stop. It hit him them, and a grin crosses his face as he walks over to the Orchard.

"I'm going to fuckin' kill you, Sticke!" He(The Overseer) yells. "How dare you do this to me! How dare you run away from a punishment!" The Overseer, drugged on his sense of self-importance and inflated assumptions, whips her again. Einkorn winces at the thought of the whip; it brings back terrifying memories. Nevertheless, he continues on, and raises his voice to a calm, but projected, query for the Overseer.

Before he speaks, he calculates what the Girl has done wrong. It seems as though she is not fast enough in her harvesting. It truly is unfortunate; these days the people are worked to death, and she seems to be no exception. Her Olive skin is covered with scratches, and she is like a skeleton with a tight skin leotard. He must give her some food another day. Yet he comes back to the topic which he had hoped to raise with the wicked Overseer.

The Overseer likes efficiency. The more efficient one is, the less likely an overseer is to whip you or taunt you. Some simply can't take the heat; Einkorn has taught himself to, since if he didn't, his family would starve. He is much taller than many, so often he is utilized for Orchard work, but it is in the fields, where the Overseers refer to him as the 'Combine', where he is best. Nevertheless, he is good at any farming job this district can give him. Just as he is about to speak., he remembers this particular Overseer. One day he whipped a little girl to death in fury of her tripping in the field. He must be careful in his words.

"If the Girl has not done enough work fast enough, I will do it for her, and she can go," Einkorn announces to the surprised Overseer. Both the Overseer and him know it; Einkorn can do the work quick, and he does not stop. He truly hopes the Overseer will allow this young girl to go.

"Or, if not that, I will work with her, and we will finish the work twice as quickly." This is a backup plan in case the first goes wrong; when times were better Einkorn played chess with his Father, out of old pieces of wheat shells, and he calculates his moves carefully. Some sweat develops on his hairy brow, as he worries for the safety of this girl, if not his own safety.

Einkorn frowned a bit as he heard the Overseer's reply. His logic was not entirely sound; many of the branches of the nearby trees were low enough for him to reach, and he could reach them quickly. Sure, he couldn't reach for the highest branches without it all snapping, but he could still pick them.

As he thought it over, hoping to stall for the poor Girl, an idea hit him. It was incredibly dangerous, but it could work well. To assault an overseer with logic and reason were daring things, but he had managed to become good friends with the Head overseer in the area. He could get away with this, if he measured his words extremely carefully. He would make an enemy, but would at least give the Girl some respite.

He examined the furious Overseer up and down. He could pull this off; an Overseer like this will hinge on force only if he had no other choice, and only is there are few to no consequences. This could work, certainly. He begins to speak in a calm, controlled voice. It could soothe most, though whether or not it would calm the Overseer was yet to be seen.

"I've finished my work for the day, and I'm tall enough to reach most of the low branches. Shall you whip me, and I shall not be able to complete my usual load of double the quota per day? The Head Overseer would be quite mad at that. Quite mad. The Day is almost done, and perhaps your whip could be relaxed. A whipped worker is an inefficient worker, and the Capitol loves efficiency." He explained to the Overseer in the calmest way possible, with just a hint that he was attempting to persuade him.

Einkorn's muscles relaxed as he heard the Overseer agreeing to his suggestion. After nodding to the Overseer, he immediately went to work in the orchard, working furiously on each branch, taking a small basket and beginning his harvest. He used his quick wits to grab the apples quickly; those that were incredibly spotted were put in another basket he had picked up, to be used as animal feed or fertilizer. He had learned this as a child, when he could grab apples from the higher branches. As he did this, he pondered his actions and why he helped this girl.

One branch done. Is there perhaps another meaning to why he has been able to convince this Overseer? Two branches done. Why did he help this girl in such a way, knowing how risky it is? Three branches done. Why does he ponder these things, while all his friends finish their work and then congregate, enjoying what little fun they have? The Tree is done. He moves on to the next one.

In fact, why does he do this at all? What lies beyond death; surely there is something more than emptiness and silence? What of the whispers of a God so long ago, that he has heard in passing from more learned peoples? What does it all mean?

Einkorn shakes himself from such thoughts, waving away some fruit flies as he continues to pick from the trees. Compassion is good, and one must be compassionate in every way, or they are not righteous. What is righteousness? To do the right thing. His father spoke of a word - 'Morality'. To tell right from wrong. Yet what use would these be in places such as the Hunger Games, where he must kill fellow children for the entertainment of the pampered?

He has gone on another mental tangent, and his mind races. His body still works furiously, but he has taught himself to lose his mind in another world, one where he can ponder such things, while also working. He continues to work, but as he turns to another tree, he shoots a slight wink to the Girl. She can at least relax; he will be the object of the Overseer's attention. He will need to explain it to his mother, but she will understand. She always does.

Yet what of this Girl - 'Stickie'? What a peculiar name, even for a district where 'Barley' or 'Maize' are considered absolutely fine names for children. He must take her to his house one day. His Mother can spare the food for her, and he does not wish to stare at the distraught, hungry faces, any longer. If he has plenty, but others have none then he is destitute. If all have some, and can fill up their bellies, he is richer than the most lavish Capitol Resident.

Einkorn shrugged as he watched the Collapsed girl being taken away to another Orchard. The other lad would take care of her, and it would be easy for him to rest, finally. He completed his rounds, and placed the apples by the Overseer, informing him he is done. The apples have been picked clean, and soon it will be time for winter. He pockets the few he is allowed, and begins to go home.

As he walks, he contemplates what has happened here. It is good for others to do good deeds, but what is the true reward from God? When his father still lived in the village, he taught him of something known as 'heaven', but he did not remember the details.

What if one is wicked or malignant? Where do they get sent? Is this truly what happens after one dies? Why should a wicked person not be allowed to recant for their sins in a way which can please the Holy God? And what if there are more Gods? Does God control all through micromanaging, or does he allowed us to control our fate? What is fate, truly?

In this all is a tendency towards cruelty and hatred among Humans. There is the murder of the Hunger games, the stealing, the robbery, the collapse of an old civilization and the new learning nothing from their forefathers. The land holds secrets much older than Panem, but they will barely cock their heads to such an idea. Panem sees nothing but pleasure in this world, and the Capitol residents indulge at the expense of others. District 11, District 12, District 7..

A girl must work in the field for 12 hours until her poor body gives out and she collapses, and then she is whipped by an Overseer. It is dastardly, devious, dubious. The word springs into his mind as if the dust off an old book is cleared off and suddenly the answer shows itself: It is a sin. To sin is to commit grievances of horror. You must not sin. Sinning is evil. Evil? Morality is whether you choose whether or not to sin. If you are good, you will live a healthy life. Those that torture and kill their cousins, they will leave a life of misery. Yet why do the good suffer and the Evil live in opulence?

This statement gives Einkorn pause. Why must a girl like Stickie work herself to death, and the Capitol citizens relax on their comfy couches? It is in injustice. Justice; another word worth remembering. He must remember these words.