"I have a plan. The way I have it worked out, they'll never bring either one of us back."
That wasn't exactly true. One of them would have to come back. Marquis hoped that 4901 wouldn't catch on to the fact that he would have to be resurrected, but that Marquis never would. He hoped that 4901's mind was too foggy and dull to see through the complex plan. And that was the way it worked.
Marquis explained. 4901 listened and smiled. It was the first time Marquis had ever seen a prisoner smile.
He left what remained of the capsule of poison where 4901 could get it. During one of the next four eating periods, 4901 was to slip the poison into Marquis' food can. Marquis wouldn't know what meal, or what can. He had to eat. The bells had conditioned him that much. And not to eat would be an overt act of self-destruction.
He wasn't conditioned not to accept death administered by another.
And then, after an eating period, 4901 whispered to him. "You're poisoned. It was in one of the cans you just ate."
"Great!" almost shouted Marquis. "All right. Now I'll die by the end of the next work period. That gives us this sleep period and all the next work period. During that time I'll dispose of you as I've said."
4901 went to his bed and the bells rang and the dark came and both of them slept.
Number 4901 resisted the conditioners enough to follow Marquis past his regular work room into the food-mart. As planned, 4901 marched on and stood in the steaming shadows behind the hydroponic beds.