Brave New Worlds

Ten With A Flag by JOSEPH PAUL HAINES

Joseph Paul Haines is the author of several stories, which have appeared in magazines such as Interzone, Aeon Magazine, and Abyss & Apex. He is also the editor, with Samantha Henderson, of the anthology From the Trenches, and his short story collection, Ten With a Flag and Other Playthings, came out in November. This story first appeared in Interzone and was adapted to audio on the Transmissions From Beyond podcast.

Newly pregnant women face a great deal of difficult decisions, and modern medical procedures have only made those decisions more complex. Once, women expected to struggle through forty uncomfortable weeks, drive to the hospital, and go through the rigors of labor with their babies' entire future being a mystery. Boy or girl, no one knew. Healthy or ailing, no one could guess.

But today, a woman is confronted with medical technology almost from her first obstetric appointment. Should she have an ultrasound? What kinds of blood tests should she take? Should she ask for maternal serum screening? Is amniocentesis in order?

These are the questions facing today's pregnant woman. What about the mothers of the future? What kind of tests will be offered to them? What kind of choices will they need to make?

Our next story takes us into that future. Here is a world where it is possible to know too much about your baby's potential — or at least, a place where the government knows too much.

* * *

Johnnie didn't talk while he was driving. Normally it would drive me a little crazy, sitting there in traffic and not saying a word, but this time it didn't bother me. There was too much on my mind. Truth was, I hoped he wouldn't talk so that I could have some time to think. But when he pulled onto the freeway, I knew I wasn't going to get that lucky.

It only took him a couple of seconds to connect to the traffic web. Johnnie didn't like being out of control, it was one of the things I'd found endearing in him; quaint even. This time though, he didn't even double check the connection. The steering wheel folded and collapsed into the dash, and he turned to face me. 'What does that mean, exactly?' he asked. 'Did the doctor say anything else?'

I shook my head. 'He said he'd have to check, but he'd never heard of the combination coming up before. '

'He'd have to check?'

'Yeah. '

'Did he say anything else?'

'I told you, he said he'd have to check. ' I didn't know what to say. It was still sinking in.

Johnnie leaned back in his seat and stared out his window. I could tell he was getting ready to turn around and go back. We'd only been married three years, but I could read some of his expressions like a book. 'How's that even possible?' he asked. 'I mean, is the baby okay?'

'The baby is fine. '

'Now I wish we didn't know. '

I turned away from him. 'You agreed we should get the test done. '

'I know, but. damn. '

'Don't you think it's better knowing?'

'How do you get a ten and a flag?' he asked.

'He said he'd have to check,' I repeated.

'But the baby's fine?'

'Yes. '

'Are you sure he said ten?'

I nodded. 'Ten. '

Johnnie crossed his arms and chewed on his bottom lip. I think he mumbled something, but at that point I didn't want to hear it.

We didn't talk for a while after that. I was contented to sit and watch the other transports as we cut in and out of traffic. It was like watching a school of fish swimming together, weaving at the same time. We rushed along at speeds of over two hundred kilometers with no more than a meter separating our vehicles, our safety in the control of the central traffic computer. Sometimes it was easier to let something bigger than yourself take control. It had a plan, and although you couldn't always see it, you knew you'd never wreck.

It wasn't until we sped past our off-ramp that I began to get concerned.

'Where we going?' I asked.

Johnnie didn't answer. He punched up the navigation screen and sighed. 'What the hell?'

'What?'

'We've been redirected. We have an appointment with Human Services. Now. '

'Now?'

'Yeah, they've even rescheduled my work-shift for this afternoon and notified the office. '

'Do you think it's about the test results?' I had expected some reaction from Human Services, just not this quick. I folded my hands in my lap to keep from tapping my fingers. Johnnie didn't like to see me get nervous.

'It doesn't say. '

'Great. ' there was nothing else to do but sit back and enjoy the ride. We were just passengers.

Central had control.

'I understand you must be apprehensive,' the agent said. He was a small man, this Mr. White, and the huge, empty desk he sat behind made him look even smaller. 'Results like these can cause a great deal of confusion. '

Johnnie started to say something. I squeezed his hand before he could. The last thing we needed was to anger a government official, particularly one as high up as Mr. White seemed to be. It was best to remain compliant until he finished.

'The important thing to remember is that your baby rated a ten. Your child will be an asset to the Nation. Only one in fifty thousand couples who go through the procedure come up with these results. It's a credit to the two of you as citizens.

'As such, the state has raised both your rating to eight, effective immediately. Congratulations. '

Johnnie and I stared at each other. Eights? that was two levels higher than our current rating. Eight meant ten hours of work as opposed to forty. Eight meant no more scraping by between allowance periods. Eight meant a much bigger apartment. Eight meant no more late nights while Johnnie stayed at work to improve his production numbers.

Eight meant no more looking over our shoulders.

'Thank you, Mr. White. ' But of course, Johnnie couldn't keep his mouth shut. 'I've just one question, though. The flag? How can there be a flag with a rating of ten?'

Mr. White pursed his lips. It was quite an odd gesture, almost feminine and I had to keep myself from giggling.

Eight didn't mean you could just randomly disrespect government officials.

'Well,' he said, 'there is that question. To be perfectly honest, I've never seen it come up before. But in your case, I don't think it's something to worry about. Your child rated a ten and you are now eights. I don't see how there could be a problem. The government won't, of course, stand in the way if you decide to invoke your option. '

'What if we do?' Johnnie asked. I squeezed his hand tighter but he just pulled his away from my grasp and continued, 'What would happen to us?'

Mr. White smiled. There was little humor in it. 'Happen, sir?'