The GOD Box by Melissa Horan Read Free Book Online

that would hinder your future prosperity, according to the path of history we’ve seen – in multiple cultures, mind you – we’ll accept it and move forward.” Gabe bargained.
    They didn’t ask ‘but i f not’ even though they probably wanted to.
    The meds must have been working because Jonathan asked, in his calmest tone yet, “Have you experienced any war?”
    What they then asked was, “What is war?”
    “ Did I mumble?” He accused and refused to repeat himself.
    They hesitated still as if they didn’t understand something, but then trying to work with the context May said, “The contentions with politics, cities breaking off, public disagreements… is that what you’re asking?”
    They looked between each other quizzically.
    “No wars?” Gabe clarified the question.
    “No what?” May asked.
    “Wars”
    “What does that mean?” Dane repeated with a little heat in his tone.
    Gabe figured he’d better explain before Jonathan got the chance to confuse them. “People kill other people because they’re trying to prove something or take over a spot of land, with armies and weapons like knives and guns, and explosives…?” His statement turned uncomfortably into a question again.
    “ What?” May started incredulously, then changed her focus, “And no. But we’re getting off subject. We’ve gotta stop doing this. Answer our question, please.” May said, still with more firmness in her tone.
    Gabe’s mind was spiraling. No war? No oppressive Government regulations? No disagreeable social rules? Had it worked? Looking over he knew Jonathan felt the same way. His eyes were bright and energy was building up from his toes on up to his head like a chemistry beaker of baking soda and water. Did they have any idea what that meant? Gabe was happy, but was trying to avoid making too many assumptions just yet. Maybe they just called it something different. Though, he couldn’t really help his joy. So… what was it, from the first time till now? Had they reached a healthy level of tolerance? Mutual respect? Ignorance? Or were they mostly agreed? Was it impractical to think it could continue even longer than one century? Was any change needed or should they just settle down, do some research and finish out their liv-
    “Hey!” May called out, “Focus!”
    She was right, Gabe was getting ahead of himself.
    Jonathan leveled with them and explained with unforgiving tone the way the world was. People were unhappy, not free, and they didn’t realize it until it was nigh impossible to get out of. America was a great nation, allowing freedoms of religion, speech, political affiliation - but there’s a burden that comes with freedom. Everyone’s free, not just you. It became impossible to draw any lines. The pair asked how they knew people weren’t happy.
    “We asked” Jonathan said. It came to everyone being honest with themselves and realizing nothing was the way they wanted it, or some people would say, the way it “should” have been (whatever that means). Research went on for years that he and Gabe were a part of the only conclusion of which was that something needed to be done. Society needed to be fixed… or… started over.
    Numb and heartless though the researchers were, humanity had to be reconciled with when talking to other people and instead of this as simply a project they were working on together, they get a glimpse of what others must think of them and the clearly wrong side of the coin turns up. Gabe and Jonathan felt squirmy now. Guilt kills.
    Gabe became intensely distracted by the failing terrain again. They were all stopped on a patch of soft ground with ten feet of cliff as the backdrop. May and Dane had faces that were astonishingly less astonished and instead were firm, hateful; daring them to say more and undoubtedly staying put until more was said. Gabe couldn’t help feeling they were more mature than he and Jonathan. Only Jonathan’s drugs were keeping him calm. Gabe