Brave New Worlds by Ursula K. Le Guin Read Free Book Online Page A

pulled up in front of our building.
    "I requested a downgrade for the evening," Johnnie said. "I felt like driving. "
    I shook my head. "As long as you get us there on time. "
    He held my door open and closed it behind me. I waited until we left the parking lot and slid my hand onto his leg. It was good to be out again. Even though the new apartment had plenty of room, it just felt great to get out from behind the walls, to get back into the world again.
    Once we'd turned onto the surface streets, Johnnie engaged the auto-drive and leaned back in his seat. "I thought you said you wanted to drive?"
    "I lied. I just wanted to talk to you without a speaker. "
    My good mood evaporated. "Do we have to do this now?"
    "Did you know," he asked without acknowledging my question, "that in the four cases where a mother has died in childbirth over the last ten years, the flag option had been available in every case?"
    My stomach turned. "So? that doesn't mean—"
    "No, no, it doesn't mean—"
    "So why are you bringing this up?" I asked. "Don't you think I'm frightened enough already?"
    Johnnie leaned closer to me. "But it doesn't mean it isn't possible, either. We've got to consider it. "
    "It could also mean that our son will have a learning disability, and we'll have to work particularly hard to get him through it. " My cheeks were burning. I understood his concern, but I couldn't believe he was going to ruin our first night out together in ages.
    He crossed his arms. "And it could mean you're in danger. How are we supposed to know? Who's to say the child actually needs us to be a ten?"
    "We can't know. Knowledge of future events can change the outcome. He's a ten. that's all that's important. "
    "Bullshit. "
    My jaw dropped.
    "That's not all that's important by a long-shot. "
    "Of course it is. " Instinct made me look around to see that no one was in the car with us. "You don't interfere with something like that. It's almost treasonous. "
    "Of course it isn't treasonous. The State wouldn't have given us the flag otherwise. It's our right. "
    My eyes filled with tears. "But he's going to be a ten. He's going to be a perfect little boy. "
    "Yes, he will," Johnnie replied, taking my hand in his. He brushed a tear from my cheek and added, "But perfect for who?"

    I knew we weren't going to the opera even before we sped past the turn-off to the Cultural District, but it didn't get any easier once we were sitting inside Dr. Jones' office, waiting for him to finish his examination. "Well," he said, looking down at me from over the edge of his bifocals, "there's no genetic contra indicators, no signs of pre-toxemia, no anemia, nothing that would give me even a moment's hesitation about your health or that of your child. " He seemed tired and his thin, grey hair puffed up more on one side of his head than the other.
    Johnnie ran his fingers through his hair. "I just don't get it. "
    "Maybe it's not for us to get," I offered. "But there's nothing wrong with me. I'm not in any danger so we can stop worrying—"
    "That doesn't mean that something couldn't show up later though, right?"
    "Johnnie, I—"
    "Nothing is certain, sir," Dr. Jones replied.
    "Johnnie!" I grabbed his wrist and clamped down. He whipped his head around to look at me, and that's when I finally saw it: He was terrified. Sweat beaded his upper lip and he couldn't keep his eyes on any one thing.
    "But it's still your choice," Dr. Jones said. "No one is going to stop you from choosing to exercise your option. The flag is there for a purpose. "
    I stared Johnnie in the eye, hoping he'd notice the slight side-to-side shake I was giving him.
    "I think we should use the flag," he said.
    My skin froze. "No," I whispered.
    "There will be other babies," he said. "Ones without a flag. We don't need the raises. I can't stand the thought of losing you. Tell her she can have other babies, Doctor. "
    "Of course you can have other babies," Dr. Jones said, "but let's not overlook—"
    "Why