Michael is thirty-nine and gay. Like his little niece, Kim, who has a learning disability, he is considered a non-citizen under the draconian Normalcy Laws. Kim’s parents quietly arrange to flee to New Zealand, where the Normalcy Laws haven’t been implemented. As Michael has a good job and has been careful to hide his homosexuality, he doesn’t consider going with them. Instead, he remains behind and goes about his business as normal until one morning when he is confronted by two Black Guards. Hooded, Michael is taken to what he assumes is the Department of Law. Once people are taken there, they never see the light of day again. Elimination is the only punishment in the New World Order. There he is interrogated by The Man, a handsome officer of the Black Guards. In a desperately hopeless situation, is there any hope of surviving elimination? No one ever has in the past, but Michael discovers something about The Man that hints at his situation not being as bleak as it appears. Can he dare to hope there is a way out? Or is he so delusional that his fantasies of freedom have clouded his judgment? Under the oppressive Normalcy Laws, nothing is certain.

Forbidden

Michael didn’t see him again for many hours. 4


Michael thought it would be impossible to sleep standing up, but he was wrong. He had fallen asleep without a problem. Waking up had been the problem. Even with the icy cold shock of water they had thrown over him.


He expected The Man to step from the shadows, but he didn’t. Instead, two Black Guards appeared, one with a bowl and a spoon. The Black Guard stepped up to Michael and commenced feeding him what appeared to be gruel, although it tasted more savory. There was meat in it and vegetables. Perhaps it had been hot when it left the kitchen. Now it was barely warm. Nevertheless, it tasted good, which was a bonus. By that stage he would have eaten almost anything.


After he had finished his meal, the Black Guard stepped back to the edge of the rim of light and the second Black Guard stepped forward to exchange the bucket Michael had used for a clean one. Then both left.


Chapter 11