PhoneNos

Phonebook scan, he's a telephone man.
Printed out neatly are addresses, short names and twelve digit phone numbers. Last year there only ten digit numbers. Five years before that they were only seven. There were always more numbers then people. Always.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9.. stacked together. 7 billion people, stacked together produced 8 billion people in four years. He crosses the latest name off the list. He is far behind. He will never catch up with the population. Sometimes, when he calls, they are dead and he gets their children who don't have phonebook entries yet. He stopped writing their names down in the margin -- he trusts the system to enter their details when they are ready for listing. Fingers neatly move to the next line. K. Stanson, 813210056242.

He dials.

A woman. "Hello?"

"Ms. Stanson. I called to tell you the system as you know it is coming to an end. Soon there will be no phone book because there will be no people. Do you understand?"

"What.. ?"

"The government, ma'am. They're going to kill everyone and re-seed the earth with their new genepool, laboratory grown."

"The hell.."

"I would know. I was their top scientist until I was fired two years ago.

They tried to kill me but I escaped.."

He looks around nervously. The white walls are closing in. He hangs up the phone, crosses another name off the list. His fingers move to the next line - another K. Stanson.

He lifts the phone, dials, and screams.

In his cell, they have found him.

"Mr. Kevarsky. We wish to hire you." The suits are wearing glasses, and they smile without grinning.