Silence that hurts
Trees fall in the forest—and so do people. Prisoners who don’t meet the work quota don’t eat. Heavy labour in the snow, with a frozen axe in hand—without strength, but knowing that stopping means failure. Work is punishment, a fight for survival.
This scene highlights exhaustion, the cruelty of quotas, and the harshness of conditions. Players witness logging, log cutting, and the apathy of broken prisoners. The work brigade is held collectively responsible—the weak threaten the rations of the entire group.
The labour was grueling, often resulting in frostbite, injuries, and permanent damage. The suffering and misery of the inmates starkly contrast with the idyllic beauty of the snowy taiga. Primitive tools and deep snow make every step a physical and psychological battle.
“It’s not what you do that matters. What matters is that it’s never enough.”
Scene Objectives
- Reach the cutting area and use a saw to cut a prepared log
- Sawing is deliberately strenuous—simulating real physical strain and primitive equipment
Message
The scene begins as the player walks past a massive pile of logs—representing the daily quota for this brigade. The overwhelming workload and absurdity of the expectations are visually apparent.
Some prisoners can no longer work—the goners stand by the fire, trying to warm themselves. This increases the burden on the remaining inmates. The quota is calculated for the entire group—it’s a trap: if the quota isn’t met, rations are reduced, lowering the chance of success and leading to collapse.
Historical Context
Red flags mark the permitted work area—stepping outside it leads to being shot by guards. It mirrors the fenced perimeter of the camp. Brigades often included both the strongest and the weakest: dochodjaks, minors, and the elderly. Being assigned to work with weak or incapacitated prisoners was itself a form of punishment—a likely death sentence.
Before the work even began, prisoners would march several kilometers through snowdrifts. At day’s end, they had to return the same way.
Regulations allowed work to be paused only if temperatures dropped below –40°C. To prevent this, thermometers were placed high on poles—up to four meters—and always in the warmest spots.
For Educators – Discussion Questions
- Why was prisoners’ performance so closely monitored?
- How did that affect relationships among inmates?
- What kind of labour were the prisoners forced to do?
- What did it mean to “fail to meet the quota”?
- Why did the system use labour as a tool of punishment?
- How does physical exhaustion impact mental resilience?
- Would you help a weaker person—even if it put you at risk?