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

“Yep,” he said pulling out a wig and a fake moustache. “We haven’t come this far to stuff it all up now. They’ll have descriptions of us. Tomorrow, we’ll get new disguises.”


Michael didn’t like the idea of wearing a wig.


“Here, try this on,” said Bevan, thrusting a dark brown wig at Michael. “And these.”


Michael took the glasses and wig and put them on. He leaned through the gap between the front seats and examined himself in the rear view mirror, which Brenda adjusted so he could see himself better.


Rosemary brushed the bangs into place. “I don’t know. It definitely changes your appearance.”


“I look like I should have a row of pens in my top pocket,” said Michael sitting back, although when he saw Bevan with his black wig and fake moustache, he laughed. “Although, if you can wear all that, I’m sure I can manage a wig and glasses.”


“Thanks for the support,” Bevan replied.


Chapter 26