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Authors: Michelle Muckley
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of his own which was indeed softer, and Leonard took it. A peace offering. Zack
motioned to the television and the familiar theme song that sounded like an old
game show began to play. A hush fell over the Food Hall and all eyes turned
like the point of a compass towards north.
“It’s the Omega Lottery,” Leonard
said, his words stuttering as excitement got the better of him. “It's about to
start.” The screen filled with lights and clapping as the theme tune faded out.
Daley Cartwell's orange face and over white teeth burst onto the screen. His
hair was as shiny as his suit, a pale lemon colour that made him look like a
canary. He smiled and smiled, as if he himself might be the one to win the
prize. As if he himself was awarding it.
“I don't.....” Zack began.
“Sshh,” Leonard hissed, before
turning back to the screen.
Welcome, welcome, welcome, everybody
one and all to the sixth Omega Lottery. Citizens of New Omega, we are about to
open our doors to you once again, and prove to you all how we are rebuilding
the world we have lost. Isn't that great?
He paused for a moment of
appreciation. The crowds in Omega Tower clapped.
Citizens of New Omega, near and far. From
Alpha to Theta. You have your numbers. Some of you have more than one. Some of
you still have time and credit available to get yourself more. The draw will be
broadcast on all television screens. The lucky winner will be contacted without
delay and will be brought here to Omega Tower where he or she will begin their
new life with us. They will take the stepping stone to help in building a
better future for us all, where we can all live in freedom once again. It's a
challenge, right? Are you up to it? We sure hope so. Because your future is our
future. Together we can build it. In time we will live again as one.
The lottery advertisement cut
straight to a treatment for head lice, thirty credits, available now. It seemed
like quite a good deal, or so Zack thought. Leonard was almost bald, save a few
straggly lengths of hair at the back, which in here was probably an advantage.
“Well, I guess you never know,” said
Zack, still aware that the air between them seemed as clear as the air beyond
the walls of Delta Tower. “You just never know. Imagine. Imagine the chance to
leave this place.” He felt it his duty to get excited about the lottery, to
show interest after he had ridiculed the idea of the lights again. He had
promised himself he wouldn't mock Leonard's beliefs, but he had gone and done
it anyway.
“Eh,” Leonard replied dismissively, “whatever.”
The negativity of Leonard's response made Zack consider that even without the
glasses he knew Leonard needed, that he too must have seen the subtitles
scrolling along the screen. No over sixties. Nobody under sixteen. They had no
idea how old they were anymore, but he would bet that Omega knew. Leonard had
been discarded by the only civilisation he had left, and he felt it. He wasn’t
part of the planned future, just a leftover from the past. Something to be
stored and contained until its time was depleted. He was no longer required. No
longer needed. No longer valuable. Zack decided not to push it.
“Yeah, like you say, it’s never going
to be anyone from Delta Tower.” He spooned in the last mouthful of porridge,
gulped it down. “Anyway, if your lights become something, none of us will need
a lottery.”
Bravado aside, Zack couldn’t help but
fantasise that there might only be a few more bell cycles left of living In
Delta Tower. It was an intoxicating feeling, the chance at something new. The prospect
of a second chance, when he could leave the carbon copy days behind. He
imagined a Food Hall that didn’t smell, the pillow that didn’t taste. He
imagined that he might be sitting in a chair rather than at a bench, with
something other than vitamin-enriched porridge and dry unleavened bread to eat.
The thought
of his own which was indeed softer, and Leonard took it. A peace offering. Zack
motioned to the television and the familiar theme song that sounded like an old
game show began to play. A hush fell over the Food Hall and all eyes turned
like the point of a compass towards north.
“It’s the Omega Lottery,” Leonard
said, his words stuttering as excitement got the better of him. “It's about to
start.” The screen filled with lights and clapping as the theme tune faded out.
Daley Cartwell's orange face and over white teeth burst onto the screen. His
hair was as shiny as his suit, a pale lemon colour that made him look like a
canary. He smiled and smiled, as if he himself might be the one to win the
prize. As if he himself was awarding it.
“I don't.....” Zack began.
“Sshh,” Leonard hissed, before
turning back to the screen.
Welcome, welcome, welcome, everybody
one and all to the sixth Omega Lottery. Citizens of New Omega, we are about to
open our doors to you once again, and prove to you all how we are rebuilding
the world we have lost. Isn't that great?
He paused for a moment of
appreciation. The crowds in Omega Tower clapped.
Citizens of New Omega, near and far. From
Alpha to Theta. You have your numbers. Some of you have more than one. Some of
you still have time and credit available to get yourself more. The draw will be
broadcast on all television screens. The lucky winner will be contacted without
delay and will be brought here to Omega Tower where he or she will begin their
new life with us. They will take the stepping stone to help in building a
better future for us all, where we can all live in freedom once again. It's a
challenge, right? Are you up to it? We sure hope so. Because your future is our
future. Together we can build it. In time we will live again as one.
The lottery advertisement cut
straight to a treatment for head lice, thirty credits, available now. It seemed
like quite a good deal, or so Zack thought. Leonard was almost bald, save a few
straggly lengths of hair at the back, which in here was probably an advantage.
“Well, I guess you never know,” said
Zack, still aware that the air between them seemed as clear as the air beyond
the walls of Delta Tower. “You just never know. Imagine. Imagine the chance to
leave this place.” He felt it his duty to get excited about the lottery, to
show interest after he had ridiculed the idea of the lights again. He had
promised himself he wouldn't mock Leonard's beliefs, but he had gone and done
it anyway.
“Eh,” Leonard replied dismissively, “whatever.”
The negativity of Leonard's response made Zack consider that even without the
glasses he knew Leonard needed, that he too must have seen the subtitles
scrolling along the screen. No over sixties. Nobody under sixteen. They had no
idea how old they were anymore, but he would bet that Omega knew. Leonard had
been discarded by the only civilisation he had left, and he felt it. He wasn’t
part of the planned future, just a leftover from the past. Something to be
stored and contained until its time was depleted. He was no longer required. No
longer needed. No longer valuable. Zack decided not to push it.
“Yeah, like you say, it’s never going
to be anyone from Delta Tower.” He spooned in the last mouthful of porridge,
gulped it down. “Anyway, if your lights become something, none of us will need
a lottery.”
Bravado aside, Zack couldn’t help but
fantasise that there might only be a few more bell cycles left of living In
Delta Tower. It was an intoxicating feeling, the chance at something new. The prospect
of a second chance, when he could leave the carbon copy days behind. He
imagined a Food Hall that didn’t smell, the pillow that didn’t taste. He
imagined that he might be sitting in a chair rather than at a bench, with
something other than vitamin-enriched porridge and dry unleavened bread to eat.
The thought
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