No.6 seems so wrong. But the village is prepared to handle No.6 with care, because he has a future with them. Doctors are reluctant to try unproven or dangerous drugs on No.6, as in the case of the doctors-No.14 and 86 of ‘A B and C’ and ‘A Change of Mind’ respectably. The new No.2 of Arrival states that the subject is proving exceptionally difficult, but in view of his importance no extreme measures are to be used yet. The conversation between No.2 and his assistant No.14 during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben:’
No.14 "There are methods which we haven't used yet."
No.2 "I want him with a whole heart, body and soul."
No.14 "He'll crack."
No.2 " Perhaps, one tiny piece at time. I don't want a man of fragments.
No.14 "He doesn't even bend a little."
No.2" That's why he'll break."
During the election period of ‘Free For All,’ No.2 is careful to remind his subordinates not to damage the tissue! And at the beginning of ‘Dance of the Dead’ No.2 orders the doctor-No.40 to "Get that man back to the hospital" referring to Dutton of course, not No.6, who the doctor thought was about to talk. But No.2 doesn't believe it. No.6 would have died first! The good doctor would have made No.6 talk, or so he ways "Everyman has his breaking point." Another doctor was obsessed with No.6's breaking point.... oh yes, the doctor in ‘Checkmate,’ No.22. But this almost elfin like No.2 of ‘Dance of the Dead’ doesn't want No.6 broken, she sees No.6 as having a future with the village and must be 'won over.'
Back to the doctor-No.22, she like her male counterpart would see harm done to No.6, to curve his aggressive tendencies, by performing a Leucotomy, to knock out the aggressive centres of the brain. But No.2 soon puts a stop to any such ideas the doctor might hold, as being too risky "No, he's far too valuable to us." So No.6 is not only seen to have a future with the Village, he is also have a value to them. And the fact that the operation known as Instant Social Conversion was not actually carried out on No.6 is suggestive wouldn't you say?
But despite such caution being demonstrated against No.6, there are times when the information inside the subjects head, the reason behind his resignation, outweighs the risks. Well that's what No.2 of ‘A B and C’ thought, and if he gets it wrong, well he'll worry about that later! What is it Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra wrote in Don Quixote? Oh yes, "Hay mas al en el aldea que se suena" - "There is more harm in the village than is dreamt." The various doctors who No.6 encounters might have little or no regard for him, his value, or possible future with the village. And the same can be said of a handful of No.2's. "The man's as strong as a bull!" No.2 bellowed to No.86 during A Change of Mind, this at urging her to use another dose of the tranquilliser Mytol on the subject. Whether dangerous or not to the patient!
And was it not a risk for the village in ‘Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling,’ to use No.6 in such a way, where is the caution here? Was it really so important for them to find Seltzman? If the experiment had gone pear-shaped, and they had lost No.6 - there would have been hell to pay! And of ‘Living In Harmony’ the use of hallucinatory drugs against No.6, which had the effect of tripping No.6 out back to the American Wild West. Again, No.2, or rather No.8 in this case, has no regard for caution against No.6. His method has always worked, and would have worked if No.2 had not developed the crisis too soon! They've all got an excuse, haven't they, those who fail but not necessarily have to pay the price.
Be seeing you
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