The Food Bearer told us we should have names. We already have names, of course, but she doesn’t know them.

‘I will name you!’ she tells us. She doesn’t bother to ask for our names.

‘I will be able to call each of you by name when we have a chat,’ she says. We never have a chat, but we pretend to be pleased. I will photograph each of you and attach your name,’ she says.

We will try to remember these new names but we wonder how long this phase will last. She throws down some food from The Bountiful Supply. The cat is looking disdainfully from his perch.