He received a letter.
It was from the PC Section of the Motor Vehicle Division within the Department of Transport. It said that he was required to attend their offices for a brief appointment owing to an administrative issue regarding his motor vehicle licence. He was asked to take documentation to confirm vehicle ownership, his current licence and three forms of personal identification. He knew only too well how ‘Johnny Public’ was being hit with this kind of irritating bureaucratic red tape. He felt that there seemed to be a lot of this sort of thing going on of late. Anyway, regardless of how he actually felt about it, he presented himself at the nominated time. First, his paperwork was checked and after refusing the offer of tea or coffee, he was ushered into a small waiting room. He was the only one there. The appointment would indeed be brief.
After a few minutes he couldn’t help noticing that the building’s heating system must be playing up, as he was beginning to sweat. It was at this point that he got up and used the cool water dispenser in the corner of the room to fill a small plastic cup. Checking the time and muttering to himself, he sat back down, drinking it. He quickly fell asleep.
What actually happened after this, within the confines of the PC Section, was a threefold series of activities. First, the body bag, followed by the unmarked delivery van at the rear loading bay, and finally the missing persons notice being issued a few days later.
It was only a few who knew that PC actually stood for population control…