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

They easily found the galley, and the cook, and were soon eating steak and salad, and washing it all down with percolated coffee. After dinner they returned to the deck and found a quiet place where they could view the vast, deep blue ocean, lit by a full moon that left a silvery trail across the ocean.


“We made it,” said Bevan before kissing Michael’s cheek.


Michael smiled and lifted his face to the breeze. He inhaled, enjoying the slightly salty, but fresh scent of the sea breeze.


“You do love me, don’t you?” he asked, turning to Bevan, almost ashamed for feeling insecure enough to have to ask.


“Of course, I do,” said Bevan. “Haven’t I proved that to you?”


“It’s just…” He shook his head and turned his face back to the breeze.


“Earlier, in the bathroom, with that man. I saw your cock.”


Chapter 32