Nine-Tenths by Meira Pentermann Read Free Book Online

can visit them in the Day Care Facility but, in effect, CAPERS is rearing the next generation. A lot of people simply detach and stop visiting the DCF. During the first couple of years of the new program, there were an unparalleled number of suicides among new parents.”
    An unpleasant taste burned in Leonard’s throat. “How can they possibly get away with that? Baby snatching. I can’t believe no one protested this madness. Who would turn over their child?”
    “They have no choice.”
    “No protests?”
    “People are afraid.”
    “Of Stehlen?”
    “Of all of them.”
    Leonard’s head began to throb.
    “The whole thing’s been brewing for a decade,” Alina explained. “CAPERS began by opening refuges for abandoned children and foster children. They called them Day Care Facilities even though they operated more like orphanages. CAPERS was very aggressive, taking over private orphanages and eliminating all foster parent programs within a couple of years.”
    “Foster children, fine. I still don’t see how they justified the rest of it.”
    Alina sighed, clearly frustrated. When she resumed, she spoke as if explaining the basics to a young child. “Stehlen called a National Emergency nearly five years ago to deal with the CARS epidemic. A series of absurd laws were drawn up and put into effect immediately. Life as we knew it changed suddenly — completely — almost overnight. Every person had to be tested and registered in a national database. All newborns were taken and assigned to a DCF, and CAPERS has taken every newborn since.”
    “That’s incredible. I don’t believe it.”
    “The excuse is that they need to be monitored for symptoms day and night. But it’s bullshit.”
    “Then resist for God’s sake. Don’t give them any children. How could a woman possibly want to get pregnant if she will have to surrender her baby?”
    “A lot of women believe that any day now the whole CAPERS program will be abolished. That’s what they tell themselves anyway.”
    “What do you think?”
    Alina shrugged listlessly. “The Day Care Facilities aren’t going anywhere. The DOE has poured billions of dollars into the program. The projected plan is for children to live in DCFs until they are thirteen. At that time, CAPERS will transfer them to public housing where they will room with other teenagers. Some teenage housing developments are already in operation for those who—” Alina stopped midsentence. Tears rushed down her face.
    “The housing assignment Garrett referred to.”
    “For those who choose. What kind of mother am I that my son would choose to live in one of those places?”
    “That was the indoctrination talking, not your son.”
    Alina closed her eyes. She wiped her face and took a minute to compose herself. Leonard waited, caressing her shoulder. Finally, she nodded. “You’re right. The newer generation seems to already accept this baby swiping atrocity as the proper order of things. Maybe that’s why I rarely see pregnant adults at the hospital. Mostly teenagers.” She grimaced and looked away, almost with shame. “They’ve been brainwashed. You heard Garrett’s disdain for the concept of family. ”
    “He also used the words father and mother with utter disgust.”
    “Can you imagine then, how the woman who raised him feels when her child disowns her?”
    Leonard kissed his wife on the forehead and stroked her hair. “It’s not fair, and it’s not your fault.” Alina rocked subtly as if bracing for a windstorm. Leonard looked at the floor, unable to spin any further words of comfort. They sat quietly for some time.
    Eventually Leonard broke the silence. “How likely is it that one of us will catch CARS?”
    Alina merely stared, her eyes opaque and lifeless. When she stirred, she mumbled lethargically, “The disease is almost entirely contained now. The Feds built infirmaries as fast as possible. They went up so quickly, it was as if the blueprints were drawn up in