The road extended past the wire mesh fence. It was a new road, skirting the hill to avoid the village. The car’s headlights were the only light source, because no streetlights had been installed—on purpose. The bare hill had turned into an ocean full of darkness, and it seemed like time had stopped at the moment when a huge wave was about to roll in. The night sky was empty without any stars, and a half-eaten moon looked down on the high wall surrounding the facility. 

Who would die today?

“...”

I stepped on a tattered banner when I got out of the driver’s seat. Several weeks ago, a few villagers used to protest the new facility. Most of them had quieted down after receiving some bribes, but traces of their activities still remained here—leftover banners, containers of cup noodles, and pieces of floorboards. I pushed them away with my feet, then raised my head. The wall looked larger at night, and I brought my walk through memory lane to a stop next to it.

I began to pack up the items I had brought in the trunk. I took out a flashlight from the military backpack, then...