Summary
By nightfall, the new prisoner has made an enemy of everyone
in the cell. He threatens to take Alex’s bed, but Alex’s cellmates
rally to his side and overrule the man. That night, Alex wakes to
find the new prisoner lying next to him, running his hand over his
body. Alex lashes out reflexively, punching the prisoner in the
face. A fight ensues in the cell, and the other prisoners join in
on Alex’s side. The noise soon causes a riot, and the guards arrive
to find the new prisoner bloodied. They restore order, but as soon
as they leave, the new prisoner incites another brawl, and Alex’s
cellmates decide to teach him a lesson. Excited by the violence
in front of him, Alex kicks the prisoner a few times in the head
before they all go to sleep.
In the morning, Alex and his cellmates find the prisoner
dead. It isn’t long before the cellmates agree that Alex is chiefly
responsible, and report the story to the guards, which reminds Alex
of the treatment he received from his old, traitorous droogs. At
this point, the prison goes into a lockdown. The prisoners sit silently
in their cell for hours, until the Governor returns with the Head
Warden and an unfamiliar, impeccably dressed man. These three men
pace the hallways. When the new, important-looking gentleman finally
speaks, Alex understands very little of what he says. The man, whom
Alex later learns is the Minister of the Interior, criticizes the
current “penological theories” and advocates treatments on a “purely
curative basis” that kills “the criminal reflex.” In his speech,
the Minister makes special mention of political prisoners. He then
selects Alex to be the first in a new criminal correction program.
The guards roughly transport Alex to the Governor’s office, where
the Governor briefs him on his status. To his delight, Alex learns
that the Minister has selected him for Reclamation Treatment, a
two-week program which will culminate in the State releasing Alex.
Alex pays little attention to the Governor, who doesn’t support
the procedure, and eagerly signs a form granting the State permission
to treat him.
Before Alex leaves Staja 84F, he’s brought to see the
chaplain, who is very drunk. The chaplain laments Alex’s fate and
wants Alex to know that he had no part in the decision. The chaplain
goes on to question the ethics of a program that removes the desire
to hurt and offend others. Alex, who knows nothing about his treatment
other than it lasts two weeks, doesn’t quite understand the chaplain
and finds the notion that he is “to be made into a good boy” laughable.
The next day, the guards bring Alex across the prison
yard to a new, hospital-like building. There he meets Dr. Branom,
whom he instantly likes. Alex can’t believe his good luck as he’s
given new clothes, slippers, his own room, magazines, and a cigarette
with his lunch. When Branom describes the treatment, Alex feels
even luckier. All Alex has to do is watch a series of “special films.”
Branom also mentions a needle after every meal, which Alex assumes
will contain a nutritional supplement.
The first of these shots comes that same day, before his
afternoon film session. Alex notices that he feels weak going into
the session, but attributes his fatigue to the malnourishment he
suffered in prison, and is confident that the hypodermic vitamin
supplement will set him right.
