Chapter 5

Donna's appointment at the local hospital was now just a week away. As she sat at the dining table with a hearty dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding in front of her, her mind raced. She just couldn't get the operation out of her head. Not only was it the indignation that the country's voters had chosen for her body and mind to be violated in the name of crime prevention, but now there was the added fear that she might actually feel the whole process thanks to Will's stupid idea of a joke. Donna sat staring at the slices of meat which were slightly pink in the middle. 'That's all we are,' she thought to herself, 'Just meat. And the knife slicing into my brain means nothing more to society than my knife slicing into this piece of beef.'

'Are you not eating?' the girl's mother inquired, 'That's a lovely bit of meat.'

Donna just shrugged, with her eyes fixed on the plate of beef, vegetables and gravy.

'Donna, you have to eat,' remonstrated Chloe, as Steve scooped a huge dollop of horseradish sauce from the jar and smothered it onto his dinner. 'Steve, make her eat!'

Steve looked up. 'I can't make her eat any more than you can,' he declared as he put a heaped forkful of food into his mouth.

'She's wasting away,' reiterated Chloe.

'I am still here,' muttered Donna without lifting her head, 'Why are you talking about me?'

'It's this operation, right?' said Steve, realising that the situation required a bit more concern.

'Of course it is. I don't want it. You call this freedom, but where is my choice? If you lot vote for me to be cut to ribbons then it happens.'

'Well, I didn't vote for this government,' said Chloe emphatically, 'That day I vote for them is the day you call the men in white coats and get me sectioned.'

'It's democracy,' said Steve pragmatically, 'If the majority of people vote for something it happens. We all have to put up with certain things we don't like but it's the only system we've got. The other option is dictatorship. You've learned about Hitler and Stalin, right?'

'Of course I have,' said Donna, 'I'm not a child.'

Donna picked up her fork and began pushing a piece of carrot around on her plate, creating waves with the gravy. Then she looked up.

'Why did people vote for it?' she stabbed in aggressively. But before either of her parents could answer she continued, indicating that the question was rhetorical, 'Because the papers said it's a good idea. “Oh yeah, we can keep an eye on the young people. We'll know where they are at any time.” But are their readers intelligent enough to know why the government really wants to do that? No they're not, because they don't question anything they're told. The government wants it because it's cheaper to put silicon chips in the brains of people before they've had a chance to vote than it is to put police on the street, or to educate people properly so they don't turn to crime in the first place. And why do they need to save so much? So those thieving scumbag tax dodgers can carry on hiding in the Bahamas or whatever island they skulk about on these days.'

Donna's mother couldn't help but agree with every word of this rant, but as ever, Steve paused before making a measured response. 'Those are interesting ideas, Donna. Have you been talking to Will again?'

'Oh, get stuffed!' said Donna, 'I can think for myself.'

'Donna,' interjected Chloe, 'Don't talk to your father like that.'

'Any why not?' Donna dug in deeper, 'If you lot can vote to have my brain mutilated then surely I can get angry now and again?'

Donna's father then put his knife and fork down on the plate to try a more reassuring approach, 'Look, on Saturday we will drive you to the hospital. You will be given a bed and we will sit with you. You will be given a pre-med to drink and you will probably be asleep before they even wheel you down to the theatre. They will make sure you are completely unconscious, perform a quick and simple operation and the next thing you know you'll be waking up in bed on the ward. After a few hours we will take take you home. And that's really all there is to it.'

Donna opened her mouth but Steve cut her off, 'After that you will forget about it in time. You're not a criminal and you've got nothing to hide so the chip won't even be active. It will be no different to having a filling in your tooth. How often do you think about fillings not being part of you and being unnatural?'

'Fillings aren't wired up to the government,' Donna fired back, 'And fillings aren't just for those who can't vote.'

Steve was already munching on a succulent piece of beef. 'Next year there will be a general election and you will be eighteen. You can vote then,' he mumbled.

'It will be too late by then,' came the riposte. Steve decided to let it go and Donna finally took her first mouthful of dinner. Chloe smiled subtly to herself.