‘We’ve achieved incredible things, sir,’ said Dr Drowse. ‘Incredible things. And humane too.’
His voice was soporifically soft, like butter melting over mashed potatoes, the words loaded like heavy carbs, and suppressing my mind. Hell, I am hungry. Why do they never feed us at these things.
‘Humane, you say?’ I respond in a neutral tone. Trying to maintain my aura of superiority. ‘The work is in full accordance with the Creed of Diminishment?’
‘Oh yes, Inquisitor. We are developing what we call the Long Hour, as a way of attaining Via Tedium.’ He gave me a little rodent-grin, his eyes unnaturally large behind his round glasses.
That annoyed me. Via Tedium, the way of boredom, was the term used by The Ministry of Tranquillity to describe our divine mission, not to be used by some researcher from The Office of Civic Equilibrium, trying to impress me and win over my blessing to fund his ongoing work. My disapproval must have shown in my expression, because Drowse suddenly shifted uncomfortably.
“Please, please, let me demonstrate.’
The man gestured to one of his research assistants, a short, bald, youth dressed in a beige body-glove suit. The boy was no more than fifteen, but clearly augmented given the prodigious amount of technology surgically graft to his snow-white skin. Whether he needed all of the cognitive enhancement to flip the switch on the screen, I don’t know.
An image emerged, a large, forlorn-looking dog sat on garden furniture, set in front of a swimming pool. The colours of the image were drab, suggesting a cold day, or at least a cold climate. It reminded me of the gardens back at the ministry’s field offices in Swindon, officially described as the most deliciously dull place on Earth.
“Lord Inquisitor, I present to you Equilibrium Image 1. This is the cutting edge of Optimally Non-Stimulating Visual Construct.
Unlike previous deterrent media, which relied upon fear, pain or emotional distress, Equilibrium Image 1 reduces cognitive excitation by presenting visual information that consistently fails to reward continued observation.
The image was developed through over 14 million controlled trials measuring eye movement, neural activity, emotional response and voluntary attention. Every element was individually selected for its statistically verified absence of psychological salience. The image components are as stated
Subject – A large domestic dog exhibiting neither alertness nor fatigue. The animal displays no discernible emotional state and directs its gaze, disinteresting, towards the observer. Dogs were selected after extensive testing demonstrated that they attract less sustained curiosity than cats, horses or wild animals when deprived of expressive behaviour.
Setting – Generic plastic garden furniture positioned adjacent to an unoccupied swimming pool. Neither object suggests imminent activity. Neither object carries significant cultural or symbolic association.
Lighting – Diffuse overcast illumination eliminates contrast, shadow and visual hierarchy. The observer’s visual cortex receives insufficient stimulus to establish focal interest.
Colour Palette – Chromatic values were algorithmically compressed towards neutral grey-green. Colours remain recognisable while producing minimal dopamine response. No colour exceeds the Bureau’s Excitation Threshold Index of 0.17.
Composition – The subject occupies precisely 18.4% of the visual field. No strong leading lines are present. The horizon intentionally bisects the frame to eliminate compositional tension. The image contains no identifiable narrative. No event appears imminent. No event appears to have recently occurred.
Research undertaken by the Office demonstrates that the human brain is fundamentally predictive. It remains engaged only while anticipating novelty, meaning or reward. Equilibrium Image 1 systematically frustrates these mechanisms. Every time the observer begins searching for significance:
Why is the dog there?
Whose garden is this?
What happens next?
The visual field supplies no resolution. After prolonged exposure, predictive processing enters a state of metabolic conservation. Neural activity associated with curiosity declines.
Emotional variance approaches baseline. Extended observation results in what researchers term as Progressive Cognitive Flattening.
Equilibrium Image 1 is the perfect approach for the Long Hour. Recipients of the treatment welcome their end, without resistance.’
He smiled at me, clearly proud of his work. In truth how could I argue with him. It was, in all measures, perfect.
‘And how quickly does this work?’
Drowse gave a little shuffle of happiness and gestured to his assistant who pressed another button, replacing the image with a series of graphs.
“Lord, Equilibrium Image 1 forms the centrepiece of the Civic Reflection Protocol, replacing outdated punitive methods. Subjects are housed individually in acoustically neutral chambers. The image occupies the entire forward field of view.
No clocks.
No books.
No speech.
No variation in lighting.
Meals arrive at mathematically irregular intervals insufficient to establish routine while preventing anticipation. The subject is required only to observe.
Average time to ideological compliance is 11.4 days with a recidivism rate of less than 0.003%. However, those exposed to this are not expected to return to society. Instead, we aim for self-deletion, once the process is sufficiently advanced.’
I nodded. In truth even a small exposure to the image had affected me. I would, no doubt, have to re-stimulate my own mind later. Perhaps I would indulge in a carefully managed amount of kaleidoscope exposure use.
‘How long until the subject is fully treated?’ I asked.
Drowse cleared his throat, pointing to a small bar-graph at the bottom of the screen. The text was small, and the colours a series of browns. I was impressed at his commitment to the Creed of Diminishment.
‘Read it to me.’
‘Of course, of course,’ bobbed Drowse. ‘Average time to complete personality collapse is 26.8 days. After which, even the plastic spoons served with their meals become tools for escape.’
‘That seems a rather extended period?’
Drowse nodded. ‘It is important to note that EI-1 is not intended to induce suffering. Suffering stimulates resistance. The objective is the complete evaporation of significance.’
I stood up suddenly.
‘This is excellent work, Doctor. I will certainly be recommending continued funding of your work.’
Drowse beamed.
‘Now, let us find something to eat. I have rather a hankering for mashed potatoes.’