Level 7

“If you would like to marry somebody but do not feel, for any reason, like proposing directly, or if you have no opportunity to do so, you may make use of the marriage mediation service. You simply have to press the red button, identify yourself, and say: ‘I should like to marry So-and-so. Please mediate.’ Your proposal will be transmitted to the appropriate person, and you will receive his or her answer by private loudspeaker.

“You may send either sort of message at any time around the clock, for it will be automatically tape-recorded before being transferred to the appropriate section. Thank you.”

This repeated announcement was followed up this evening by a short ‘special’ talk in the ‘Know Thy Level’ series. The speaker explained the great significance of marriage as a social institution from time immemorial. Then came a eulogy on the psychological benefits enjoyed by married couples. Finally—and this was the climax of her argument for marriage—she reminded us of our duty (our ‘obligation to humanity’, she called it) to carry on the existence of the human race in the safe living-conditions of Level 7.

While these stirring thoughts were sinking in she added a few practical details. The number of men on Level 7 was exactly the same as the number of women—250 of each; everybody therefore stood a fair chance of finding a partner. Marriages had been taken into consideration when Level 7 was planned. All the men and women were very healthy and stood the best possible chance of having healthy offspring. Moreover, as their ages were all between twenty and thirty, their children would reach adulthood in time to take over the running of Level 7.

“Necessarily, it will not be possible for married couples to have their own living-quarters,” the speaker went on. “The lack of space, as well as the performance of duties, requires the continuation of the present system of living-rooms attached to working-rooms. However, special rooms for married couples have been provided, and will be allotted to each couple for a certain period each day. There are ten such rooms, which means that if everybody is married there will be approximately one hour of privacy for each couple every day.”

The speaker ended by wishing all prospective couples good luck. “Don’t be shy,” she said. “Choose your mate and push the nearest red button.”

APRIL 18

The announcement about marriage facilities has created quite a stir on Level 7. At meals, when about a third of the crew meets at one time along the long table (we eat in three shifts), people do not take the nearest place on the bench as they used to, but wander around trying to find an attractive partner of the opposite sex. This results in some disorder, but ‘promotes the interests of humanity’.

Nobody seems to be in love, as far as I can tell: probably we are incapable of feeling a strong social emotion like that, with the exception of X-117 and perhaps some other people who have come here by mistake. But at least things are a bit livelier than they were. Somebody who did not know what it was all about might think we had just enjoyed a glass of brandy. If this keeps up, it will not be long before the 500 bachelors and spinsters on Level 7 have become 250 married couples.

This evening I discussed the marriage business with X-107. He thought it all quite reasonable. I asked where space could be found for the new generations to live. He replied that if ten rooms had been set aside in advance for the convenience of married couples, space for children must have been thought of as well. This argument seemed sound enough to me.

“Of course,” he added, “they must have fixed on an optimum number of people for Level 7, and if too many children are born then birth control will have to be introduced. But this problem isn’t likely to arise for two or three years.”

APRIL 19

Today the loudspeaker announced the engagement of TN-237 to AS-167, one of the air-supply officers. ‘TN’ stands for Teacher and Nurse—a new designation, somebody told me: previously she was known as R-237, ‘R’ meaning Reserve. This reserve of officers will eventually fill a variety of posts.

I do not know AS-167, but when his fiancée was pointed out to me at lunch today I recognised her as one of the women who regularly eat on my meal shift. She was congratulated by everybody sitting near her, myself included. She is a girl of about twenty, she looks nice, and today—though I would not say she was as radiant as a young bride could be—she certainly seemed more satisfied that the people around her.

The marriage ceremony, being the first one on Level 7, was broadcast over the general loudspeaker system. It was scheduled for ‘7 p.m.’. Perhaps this time was chosen—and announced thus, instead of in the more usual form of 19.00 hours—to make a symbolic link between the ceremony and Level 7.