Karall had stared at him for a long ten seconds. Then he stood, walked to the grate, and reported himself for "thought irregularity." That night, N-2C-33A was gone. The slot where his tray used to appear was welded shut.
It was a tiny, absurd, heartbreaking curiosity . Serial Number Karall
He didn't remember his mother. He didn't remember being seven. But as the floor charge built to a scream, he looked down at his own hands—the knuckles split, the fingernails caked with mercenary blood—and for the first time in seventeen years, he felt something. Karall had stared at him for a long ten seconds
He would stand, arms flat at his sides, and walk to the white door. It always opened. That was the cruelest kindness. It was a tiny, absurd, heartbreaking curiosity
"K-4R-11L," she said quietly. "Do you know what that number means?"