do, he gives me a wink. I scowl back at him.
A big woman toward the back asks a question to her talker, and the words are sent down to the front. When her question finally reaches us, the rest of the crowd has already heard it, and there are murmurs spreading.
I straighten up in my seat, wondering what the woman has asked.
“Elected,” says the closest talker, “Why can’t the doctors use artificial insemination to help aid the process of increasing our population?”
This is a complicated question. I already know what my father is going to say because this question is raised at least once a year.
Apa looks back at me and then at my mother. She gives a slight nod.
“I’m going to let our son, Aloy, answer this.” Apa nods encouragingly at me, but I’m completely shocked. They’ve never asked me to speak at the town halls until now. However, I realize I shouldn’t be too surprised. My parents believe in trial by fire. I’m sure they’ve discussed this beforehand and were planning to have me answer one of the questions for the crowd.
I slowly get up from my seat and stand at the front of the stage. I know what I’ll say, but I still feel swirls of anxiety rippling through my stomach. Without much food in there, the acid seems like it’ll burn a hole through my insides.
I need to sound strong. I need to sound like I’m ready to take over my father’s position in two weeks’ time. And most of all, I need to sound like a man. I clear my throat and start talking with as low and gruff a voice as I can muster.
“Did that question come from Zet in the back?” Like my parents, I know the names of most of our people too.
The talker nods affirmation and then passes my question backward so everyone can hear what I’ve asked.
“Zet. Countrymen. We’ve discussed this many times before. While the creation of human life is our country’s number one objective, and we will do almost anything to aid in this endeavor, we cannot bend the Accords even for this noble goal. To conduct artificial insemination would require us to not only use machinery but electricity and refrigeration as well. The use of machinery and technology is a slippery slope. If we started here, where else might we find ways to use tools to help our daily lives? Have we learned nothing from our past?”
I pause and let the crowd digest what I’ve said. A moment passes, and then the talker in the middle of the people returns with a follow-up question.
“Xavier agrees and requests you remind others in the audience, such as the hidden Technology Faction members, how our people were almost wiped out by such uses of technology.”
I wipe my brow, which is now dripping miniscule beads of sweat. I pray no one notices, but as I look down into the crowd, I see Griffin’s face. He’s looking straight back at me and grimacing. No matter, I think. If he doesn’t think I’m strong enough to answer the question, he’s wrong. I am more than just a girl pretending to be a man. I am this country’s next leader.
I stand straighter at the thought and gather my words.
“Xavier, yes, I can. You all know the story of our almost-extinction. However, it’s necessary to repeat it as much as possible so we don’t forget what caused the demise of so many people and the devastation of our planet.”
I clear my throat and proceed.
“Because of human pollution and carbon dioxide emissions from our many machines, climate change crept up on our world a degree at a time. At first, the warmest areas of our planet became almost too hot to sustain life. Temperatures of one hundred thirty degrees Fahrenheit were reported on a daily basis. The arctics partially melted, sending massive floods. The lands of East Country, for example, which used to be inland, became coastal. After the floods came planet-wide earthquakes. The tremors damaged our extensive network of undersea oil pipelines, spewing black tar through the water. Sea life across the world was annihilated
A big woman toward the back asks a question to her talker, and the words are sent down to the front. When her question finally reaches us, the rest of the crowd has already heard it, and there are murmurs spreading.
I straighten up in my seat, wondering what the woman has asked.
“Elected,” says the closest talker, “Why can’t the doctors use artificial insemination to help aid the process of increasing our population?”
This is a complicated question. I already know what my father is going to say because this question is raised at least once a year.
Apa looks back at me and then at my mother. She gives a slight nod.
“I’m going to let our son, Aloy, answer this.” Apa nods encouragingly at me, but I’m completely shocked. They’ve never asked me to speak at the town halls until now. However, I realize I shouldn’t be too surprised. My parents believe in trial by fire. I’m sure they’ve discussed this beforehand and were planning to have me answer one of the questions for the crowd.
I slowly get up from my seat and stand at the front of the stage. I know what I’ll say, but I still feel swirls of anxiety rippling through my stomach. Without much food in there, the acid seems like it’ll burn a hole through my insides.
I need to sound strong. I need to sound like I’m ready to take over my father’s position in two weeks’ time. And most of all, I need to sound like a man. I clear my throat and start talking with as low and gruff a voice as I can muster.
“Did that question come from Zet in the back?” Like my parents, I know the names of most of our people too.
The talker nods affirmation and then passes my question backward so everyone can hear what I’ve asked.
“Zet. Countrymen. We’ve discussed this many times before. While the creation of human life is our country’s number one objective, and we will do almost anything to aid in this endeavor, we cannot bend the Accords even for this noble goal. To conduct artificial insemination would require us to not only use machinery but electricity and refrigeration as well. The use of machinery and technology is a slippery slope. If we started here, where else might we find ways to use tools to help our daily lives? Have we learned nothing from our past?”
I pause and let the crowd digest what I’ve said. A moment passes, and then the talker in the middle of the people returns with a follow-up question.
“Xavier agrees and requests you remind others in the audience, such as the hidden Technology Faction members, how our people were almost wiped out by such uses of technology.”
I wipe my brow, which is now dripping miniscule beads of sweat. I pray no one notices, but as I look down into the crowd, I see Griffin’s face. He’s looking straight back at me and grimacing. No matter, I think. If he doesn’t think I’m strong enough to answer the question, he’s wrong. I am more than just a girl pretending to be a man. I am this country’s next leader.
I stand straighter at the thought and gather my words.
“Xavier, yes, I can. You all know the story of our almost-extinction. However, it’s necessary to repeat it as much as possible so we don’t forget what caused the demise of so many people and the devastation of our planet.”
I clear my throat and proceed.
“Because of human pollution and carbon dioxide emissions from our many machines, climate change crept up on our world a degree at a time. At first, the warmest areas of our planet became almost too hot to sustain life. Temperatures of one hundred thirty degrees Fahrenheit were reported on a daily basis. The arctics partially melted, sending massive floods. The lands of East Country, for example, which used to be inland, became coastal. After the floods came planet-wide earthquakes. The tremors damaged our extensive network of undersea oil pipelines, spewing black tar through the water. Sea life across the world was annihilated
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