Chapter 351
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Eve paced nervously. It was only an hour until midnight. Pacing wouldn't change the results, whatever they were. But she couldn't sit still. She wasn't sure she wanted in the Arks, she wasn't sure she didn't want in. Eve didn't want to die, but was the price worth it? Most likely the rumors spread by those who left the Arks were at least a little bit exxagerated. The question of whether she wanted in or not would soon be irrelevant. In less than one hour the choice would be made for her. Zoey tried to be a good friend to Eve right now. Eve knew she had her faults, but who was she to judge? The two girlfriends were rolling their own ciggarettes right now. Eve remembered way back when Zoey had her silver ciggarette case, when the first lady wore elegant jewelery to charity balls. Those things were long gone by now.
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Eve: Do you agree with the president's choice, to not automatically let his own family go into the Arks?
Zoey: He knew that people were less likely to panic if their leader and his family were in the same danger as them. Besides, even if we go in, we'd be resented, in danger from those who'd lost family members. As for whether I agree, I don't know. But I will say I understand why he did it.
Eve: So he decides death is better, for his own family?
Zoey: Yeah. Also, I don't think he wanted to be part of the new world. Trapped inside there, probably going from democracy to dictatorship. The Arks will each become it's own country, with it's own culture, probably with it's own language. They're important to the survival of our species, but I wouldn't want to be a part of it. I know Mason seems harsh, but he's just doing what he thinks is right.
Eve: No offense, but that's what every dictator since the beginning of time has in common. They think they know what's best for everyone.
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In the minutes leading up to midnight Eve looked up her name on the website. It had an asterix next to it. That essentially meant she was one of the people chosen, but rejected during the coup. There had been deals made to get Gardner's soldiers to surrender, allowing some to stay, and kicking others off, mostly collective veterans like Eve. Some of them might stay, if they could retrieve others during the final retrievals, and survive. At midnight, either the asterix would dissapear, or Eve's name would dissapear completely. Eve looked during the final countdown. She couldn't watch, she was too nervous. Then, finally, she summonned the courage to look. Her name was gone.