Brave New Worlds

let's not overlook—"
    "Why should we have to make a sacrifice?" Johnnie asked, kneeling down in front of me. "We've been given the option. There wouldn't be a flag if there wasn't a problem. You know that. "
    I tried to speak, but nothing came out of my mouth. He was right. There was something wrong; some kind of difficulty we'd have to face if we had this baby. Difficulties we most likely wouldn't have to face with another baby. But this one was a ten! He could be a great composer or an artist. He could discover medicine that cured the last remaining diseases. He could do anything! I knew That, felt it with every beat of my heart.
    The State knew that too.
    But what was the cost?
    I looked at Johnnie and felt very cold.
    "I can't make this decision," I said. I pulled him in close and rested my cheek against his and whispered in his ear. "You make it. Make it for both of us. "
    He kissed my temple, then my cheek, then my ear. His warm breath caught in his throat. He pulled away, turned to Dr. Jones and said, "We'll take the option. "
    What little air remained in my chest rushed out of me. The room spun.
    "Very well," Dr. Jones said. He removed a gown from a drawer beneath the examination table and handed it me. "I'll give you a moment to get ready," he said, and left the room.
    We didn't talk. I changed into the dressing gown and sat back up on the table. The longer we sat, waiting, the smaller the room seemed to get. I wanted Johnnie to say something; anything, but he just sat there, trying his best to smile when I looked at him.
    After a few minutes, Dr. Jones re-joined us. He wasn't alone.
    Mr. White from Human Services stood in the doorway, flanked by a half dozen Constables. "that will be all, Doctor. "
    Johnnie stepped in front of me. "What are you doing? this is our decision. "
    "And you made it," Mr. White said. He appeared even smaller out from behind his desk.
    Johnnie shook his head and held his arms to the side, trying in vain to shield me from the Constables. "You said you wouldn't interfere. "
    Mr. White smiled. "We didn't. We allowed you to make your decision of your own free will. " He stepped inside the door and removed a stun-gun from behind his back. "No one ever said we'd let you go through with it, though. The flag is an option, not a right. Arrest him. "
    The Constables fell on him them. Johnnie tried to resist, but one kick in the stomach was all it took to end that. Within ten seconds they had him out of the room, leaving only myself and Mr. White. "Go ahead and get changed," he said. "I'll wait for you outside. "
    I dressed slowly. It was as if every memory I had of Johnnie came back to me right then. The dates, our wedding, the fights, the make-ups; all of it. I'd just stood there and let them take him. I wanted to cry, but held it back. Whatever happened to us, I'd be strong. I pulled my shoulders back and opened the door.
    Mr. White was waiting for me. He was still alone. "We understand this wasn't your choice. That's correct, isn't it?"
    My flesh raised with a sudden chill. "that's right. "
    "Good," he said, lips drawn tight and thin with his smile.
    "What's going to happen to Johnnie?"
    Mr. White offered me his hand and helped me step down from the examination table. "He'll be reduced to a one or two, of course. Put to manual labor. If he keeps himself clean, he could even work back up to a four or five. "
    I knew Johnnie wouldn't want me to live that way.
    "Of course your marriage is annulled. You're free to choose whomever you'd like to replace him from the other eights or nines. "
    "Replace him?"
    Mr. White grimaced. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm not terribly good with certain social graces. Please forgive me. Of course you'll want to take some time to yourself. But when you're ready, choose who you will. "
    By the time we walked outside, the Constables had Johnnie packed into a separate transport and were pulling out into traffic. I watched them drive away, wondering if I'd ever see him again. Either way, I knew he'd want me to take care of our baby. "Mr. White?" I asked, my senses beginning to return. "Can you tell me anything about the flag? It seems like I deserve to know something. "
    "What flag, dear?"
    "The flag on my baby, of course. "
    "There is no flag on your baby. You made your sacrifice, just as Central predicted you would. "
    "You mean. . . "
    Mr. White chuckled. "Of course we knew what your husband would do. Central is over ninety-nine percent accurate, remember. We