6h

    It might be supposed that there can only be one of each number in The Village at any one time forgetting The Schizoid Man for the time being, and Number 1 if it comes to that. If there are two of the same number it is subdivided as in the number 113, 113b, and even 113c. 2 is also a subdivided Number as each of the members of the town council are sub-divided 2’s. And yet on the button panel of the electronic Free Information board seen in ‘Arrival’ there are two number 6’s. If one were to press both buttons, would they indicate the same cottage 6 private on the map of the Village? Not to do so would suggest there are two people living in The Village bearing the same number. But just a minute….the Prisoner newly arrived in The Village will become Number 6, they can’t have three Number 6’s if only for administrative purposes. And then in ‘Free For All’ as Number 58 presses the third button 6, yes there are three, above that 6 is another button 6h!!!! Once Number 58 has pressed the number 6 the corresponding number is indicated on The Village map. The Free Information board is something of an enigma, why the need for three 6 buttons which when pressed no doubt indicate the same location on The Village Map, and two number 1’s, why the number 1 at all? Had the Prisoner pressed the number 1 button would 1’s location be indicated on the electronic map? So who is 6h, and is every number in The Village sub-divided, because if there is an 6h is stands to reason that there would also be a 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f, 6g as well possibly 6i, 6j, 6k and so on. The number 2 is sub-dived up to “k” but that’s only due to the number of council members. If the sub-divided 2’s are former Number 2’s who make up the council, perhaps 6h suggests there is already a number 6 in The Village, but then he’s only just arrived and yet to be given that number. That in turn suggests that the Number 6 we know is the new Number 6 replacing the former Number 6. I wonder what happened to him?

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