Michael was lying on his bed, thinking of his life. Time had passed fast the last few months, and his life had changed in many ways since that fateful Gamma-one rating on his eighteenth birthday. The infamous ‘basic and advanced techniques of courtship sabotage’ book was lying opened next to his head and it had been messing with his head too. ‘You might be the first male to ever read it or even be aware of its existence, be discreet’ Megan had said, so he had hidden it from other men. And wow, it had turned out dark stuff indeed, portraying men in the most unflattering way possible, but not completely unrealistic. There also were a lot of self-defence techniques, but putting all the pieces together it was clear that none of them would really be able to protect a woman against men at their worst. The book also seemed to try to prepare the reader for that. The picture was clear, and it was the opposite of what Robert had been trying to convince him of a while ago: Men were in charge, and while a minority of them would be decent husbands or at least manipulable, a lot of them were evil and violent so the best most women could do was go for damage control when their lives were ripped apart by the decisions of the men in their life, starting with their father as a kid, and then going from officials in wife school to the dreaded fiancees and husbands that most of the book focused on. Because if you were chosen by the wrong man, there was not much you could do except for extreme things like the sabotage the title referred too, which only worked in very early stages and still could end you up as “damaged goods” as a girl anyway.

He had smiled when he had read the tips about ‘making yourself as unattractive as possible’, which might make a fiancée reconsider on the first date. Eliza had clearly been improvising freely in that direction on his first date with Megan, probably just to try it out for once in a playful way. Not that it had made her actually unattractive to him, but he had seen the horror in the poor Rafael’s eyes, so he didn’t doubt the effectiveness of such techniques on men who wanted their actual date to be a trophy woman. Or who just didn't understand Eliza's sense of humour and took her seriously.

It was true that girls had a lot of different effects on boys. William for example seemed to have found a regular table at the unsegrated spot and even made some female friends himself from Angela’s circle of young non-Wives. Rafael had in the end accepted Eliza’s apology, and seemed to have accepted the existence of Eliza and Megan as a part of his friend’s life now without much problems. He hadn’t seen Paul since he had stopped going to church, but he had heard that he completely disapproved of Michaels new and indecent lifestyle, because it was sinful according to the teachings of the Church. Robert was still full of conspiracy theories about the dangers of the female sex, even though Samantha’s disdain for marriage had forced him to rethink some of his narrative. On the other hand it seemed that he had liked Shirley, because everything he’d said about her had been positive. But he seemed to see it as his mission to remind Michael of the dangers of women every time he had the chance, and Henry seemed to have joined him. Michael was glad that Henry hadn’t met any of the girls personally yet. Maybe that a quiet person like Shirley would avoid conflict, and not take his Be-a-Man talk too seriously or even see a proof that the infamous Miss Hunter wasn’t always wrong, but he feared for the effect it could have on the rather vulnerable Angela, and the conflict that would arise after 3 words with Eliza, or even worse Samantha. She still tried to seduce every male she met, although it never really seemed to have any effect. She still boasted she was a good temptress, and that he was just not into women enough for her but he hadn’t seen any other man on whom it had worked either.

He wondered if it would ever work to fit both worlds into one world, one where boys and girls could be friends, and where men and women could just treat each other like fellow human beings without being weird about it. A world where Henry and Samantha could live together without either fearing or abusing each other. But that world would have relationships going beyond friendship, and all he knew about Marriage was abuse and worse, and he didn’t really know how else those relationships could even work. Only the future would tell whether that was just fantasy fiction or a real option… For now it was enough that it worked for him, and that he would be with Megan and the other girls again in 2 days. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, knowing his mother would wake him for supper in an hour.

His life had been tiring too lately. At least she was talking to him a bit every now and then thanks to all the fights he and dad had had lately.

*

‘So, how’s the revolution going? Has the patriarchy already been smashed?’ Karen asked Angela very casually while cooking a vegetarian stew together.

‘Very slowly. At least Michael’s unsegregated spot movement has caught on now. A lot of the cafes and restaurants in Seventh City are having unsegregated sections now, and some say the idea is catching on in other cities too. It’s probably not much, but it’s more than we ever reached with the WAH protests I’d say.’ She cut her purple carrots in small pieces and seemed to think for a while. ’But not everyone is equally enthusiastic. Maybe there are dangers indeed with men in general. But not with all of them, you can say what you want about Michael, but he’s a good person. Pamela can protest all that she wants, but it’s good to have a relatively high male on our side. And people seem to be getting more used to mixed company lately it seems.’

Karen threw her cubes of celery in the pot. ‘I agree that he’s okay, and those few other young dudes around him too probably, but that won’t change that most men are still dangerous. And just a single brainie Gamma-1 is not enough to defend a woman against a gang of assaulters. Plus if he ever defends a girl that isn’t his own partner against a higher-ranked man he’s in trouble anyway, even more than her. The law’s still the law, and the whole hierarchy system is still there and it can screw us all. A few nice boys and mixed tables are not gonna change that. And even if the rules changed, it would be very hard to change the mentality of this Nation. So with all their good intentions I’ll remain sceptical about how much they will be able to accomplish. And I advise you to keep practising your self-defence techniques and avoid every dangerous situation, young lady.’

‘I will do that, for sure.’ Angela said.

‘Oh, and by the way, Pamela has been talking to the people of the Ghost Town farm again about job offers. They still need some people to work there. They said they still have houses too. But I don’t find it a good idea to go living in a squat community. It’s better not to burn all our bridges with The Nation as rated citizens.’

‘They have a good farm, their food is much better than the normal stores. And they seem to be well-guarded against any danger. But I’m not really ready for living outside of society like that. I’m An E-non-Wife with a job, it’s not much, but I do have some place in society.’ Angela said.

‘You and I still have our rating. Most Ghost Town women on the other hand don’t even have an official identity. And they don’t use any money. It’s dangerous to live like that. Plus they probably wouldn’t like you fraternising with men.’ Karen remarked.

‘They’ll have to one day if the black markets are going to stay mixed. And there’s at least one person now who’s personally in contact with both the Male World and our Seventh City Ghost town leaders. Only one degree of separation is left between them.’ Angela said.

‘That Wife School girl Eliza you mean?’

Angela nodded. ‘She’s more of a revolutionary even than that boy… As if the age-old barriers don’t exist for her. Both of them will be an interesting team in the future to keep an eye on.’ She looked at the boiling vegetables.

‘Good infiltration work, Angela. Our woman house might stay safe with more powerful friends.’ She winked.

‘I was only handing out pamphlets. He was the one who approached you.’

‘And you were the one who kept talking to him. To a man. You...’

‘His questions were weird, and I felt he was safe somehow.’

‘But you kept talking. You’re the only one here who’d have done that.’

‘So I’m naive?’

‘No, against all odds, you were right. Even though Pamela still isn’t happy with it. Men can be human as well as women…’

‘Most of his male friends that I’ve seen were sort of okay too. And they’re quite awkward and shy too most of the time.’

'Maybe they keep so much distance because otherwise we'll notice that they're just like us, with all our insecurities and problems?'

'That' would be super childish, but I'm starting to believe it, yes...'

*

It was only a few days later that Angela, Michael and Eliza met again. The unsegregated spot had existed for 3 months now, first only outside on the summer terrace and now inside too, where it was bigger than ever with four whole tables, although there were only 5 people at the moment.

The third table had an unknown older couple who seemed very interesting in a Women are Human pamphlet, but the other was populated by Angela, Michael and Eliza, who mysteriously claimed she had a free afternoon today while Megan was still in school.

‘Are you sure they didn’t mind you taking a free afternoon outside, Lizzie?’ Michael asked, worried about her school career.

‘Whatever, they almost kicked me out several times already. And I’m skipping all the ‘how to please your husband’ lessons anyway now since my last fight with Miss Hunter. Everything went downhill after you. She still hasn’t forgiven me quoting your remark that only a half-baked swine with less brain cells than testicles would ever want the things she’s teaching us I think. Five minutes here with you is enough to know that all the things they tell us about men are nonsense, at least when it comes to the men that matter.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

And it’s not that I’ll ever get a diploma there, or a husband. It’s just the place I live for now because I have friends there and connections that can come in handy. I am a Free Girl now, or no, make that a Free Woman.’

Angela looked up from her Nation-Coke. ‘What does that mean? A Free Woman? It sounds good, but it’s radical in a world where freedom is only supposed to be for the men.’

‘I don’t know yet, but let’s find out. If women are human, and this glorious nation gives all people freedom and liberty then there must be a place for a Free Woman too.’

‘Eh, the pledge of our Nation says that all men get that freedom, and not all people.’ Angela reminded her.

‘Women are human. That’s what you’ve been telling the world. Do you believe that yourself?’

Angela shook her head. ‘It’s hard to really believe that even after everything. Theory and real life are not the same, are they? I’ve never been treated as a person by any man in my life except for Michael here and some of the boys he brings, and lately those bartenders here seem to be doing their best too. But how can I change a whole lifetime of always being less than men just like that?’

‘We'll find out how to be Free Women. And the only men that matter are those who appreciate that!’ Eliza said with a fire in her eyes. Michael thought she was looking at him but didn’t dare to look at her.

‘So where are those Women are Human people today? Weren’t they supposed to be here? I thought you had invited them over here to talk about the Pen Pal project, but I haven’t even seen one of them lately except for you and Sam.’ Michael asked.

‘Ah, well… They seem to think it’s a bit too radical. And don’t take it personally, but, well, you’re a man, and a privileged one at that. They might be a bit afraid of you. Afraid of your power. Most of them have been non-wives for a long time. They only know men who bossed them around, or worse. And…’

She stopped and looked at something behind Michael. A man with a big camera had entered the bar and seemed to be approaching them. Angela froze up completely, but the man naturally addressed Michael.

‘You are Michael Adams, I suppose? The person behind this so-called Unsegregated spot movement?’ Michael nodded.

‘David Moors, journalist, Daily Nation. Can I have a little chat with you?’

His thoughts ran around in his head very fast now. The press? For him? He looked from a very fierce Eliza to a frozen Angela. What should he do? If there was interest from the Daily Nation the story would get out anyway, and it would be easier if he and Eliza had some say in it.

‘Sure, what do you want to know?’

‘We are writing a story about the idea of Unsegregated spots, that have been popping up in Seventh City since this summer, and since some weeks even in Third and Tenth City and another one in Lake Village. And every track traces back to this place and its summer terrace, and to your name.’

Michael held his breath. He really didn’t want this kind of attention.

‘I’m honoured, but I don’t think I’ve done anything special. I just needed a place to talk to my friends, who happen to be female, and then one thing led to another.’

The man looked very curiously at him.

‘Friends who happen to be female? You know that what you’re saying sounds very weird, don’t you? Men and women aren’t supposed to meet as friends.’

‘Probably. But since other people are doing it too now I don’t think everyone is against it. It feels very natural once you get used to it.’

The journalist scribbled some things on his paper.

‘So, Mister Adams. They say that this idea of unsegregation comes from the Women are Human activist group, and yet you are a man. No man has ever joined them, and we know you are not a member of their organisation. Could you explain that?’ ‘I became friends with one of the Women are Human girls, and took their pamphlet more literally than they did, and to make conversation easier I unsegregated this place, and it seems to have caught on elsewhere too.’

‘So you are not personally connected to the WAH leaders?’

‘Never been in contact with any leaders. They seem to avoid me even. I just thought they had some good points and then befriended some of their activists. Angela is sitting here with us.’

He pointed at Angela, but the journalist seemed to ignore her.

‘But you know that what you’re doing is controversial, and a lot of people will see a mixed space as extremely indecent and wrong.’

‘That’s their problem. There always have been women in mens sections, for much more indecent reasons than friendship and family gatherings. If that is de facto allowed, then hanging out with friends and family should be possible too.’ ‘Interesting logic. So you are serious when you say that you are friends with the women here? That men and women can be friends?’

‘Sure. If you don’t treat women as sex-slaves and domestic workers then they turn out to be humans, just like men are. So there’s no need to hang on to this stupid war between the sexes that makes no-one better, is it?’

The man frantically scribbled on.

‘You are quite young, and you sound rather naive. I suppose you aren’t married yet?’

‘No, I have a Wife School fiancée, but she’s at school now.’

The man gave him a weird look.

‘And she doesn’t mind you hanging out with other women? She isn’t jealous?’

‘why should she be? She knows that if I’m able to be just friends with girls I’ll be able to be a teamwork partner in a marriage. And those are her friends too anyway. Plus our usual chaperone is here to spy on me if she wants.’

He pointed at Eliza who waved with three fingers and made an innocent face, and the reporter looked at him, unbelieving.

Michael decided to turn the conversation himself. ‘But why don’t you listen to the girls. They’re people too. They can talk for themselves. A man like you surely wouldn’t be afraid to ask a few young women some questions too?’

It was almost pathetic how easy it was to convince the poor man with that kind of silly antimale insult. He knew he couldn’t lose face now and looked uneasily at Eliza. It took him a while to find his voice back and address her.

‘So you are one of the Women are Human’ activists?’ He asked.

‘Nope,’ Eliza said, and she pointed at Angela. ‘She is, but we seem to be too radical for most of them. I’m only a simple Wife School student, keeping an eye on him for his fiancée today apparently.’

‘So this unsegregated terrace is not actually a project from the WAH activists?’ Eliza started laughing.

‘Do you see any of them here today? I’ve seen a lot of people on these mixed tables, but few of them. They chickened out again I think.’

‘You can’t say it like that, Eliza, they have their reasons to be afraid of men, and to distrust the unsegregation. You don’t know what men have done to some of us. And the life of a non-Wife can be quite hard anyway.’ Angela said shyly.

‘So if you’re not the WAH, what are you then?’

The reporter scribbled more sentences on his paper.

‘I am just a Free Woman.’ Eliza said.

‘Is that another radical group?’ The reporter asked, hungry for some new information now.

‘No, it’s just what I am. If women are human, and this glorious nation gives all people freedom and liberty then there must be a place for a Free Woman too. And I demand that role for myself, and for every woman who can’t live in this oppressing system.’

‘That sounds radical to me. Are there more free women, or are you the only one?’

‘I am the first one today, of many more to come when others hear about it. Women shouldn’t need a man to get somewhere in life. We’re indeed human, and people that need to have access to all the freedom that the Constitution talks about!’ Eliza said, fiercely, while the reporter wrote down her words.

‘Make that two free women.’ Angela said with a light voice.

‘But there isn’t any organisation around the idea of Free Women? It’s not a new revolutionary movement?’

‘Not yet. You’re a bit too early for that I think.’ Eliza said.

The reporter looked at her, and started scribbling. His eyes gleamed, as if he had found the greatest story of his life.

He turned to Michael again.

‘And you are really okay with this, eh, Mister Adams? You don’t think it indecent at all to hang around with these Free Women who have wild ambitions?’

‘Why not? If I am to marry a woman one day it’s better to learn how to be natural with girls, not? And to get to know them as persons.’

‘That’s weird logic.’

‘Not for me. The logic of segregation has always been weird to me. And it’s destructive to both women and men, making people a worse version of themselves. Time for new logic I’d say.’

‘Are there no rules then? I mean, men and women together is a dangerous thing, and it gets indecent easily.’

‘The rule is that we all are human. And that we need to treat each other with respect and dignity. As the preachers in church say, love your neighbour. And it doesn’t matter whether your neighbour is male or female. That’s from the Holy Book.’

‘It is, but I mean, when you put men and women together without someone in charge, then…’

‘If they’re decent people then nothing will happen. If they’re not then rules don’t work either. Sexual harassment and anything like that is evidently completely taboo, and by definition against the rule of respect. Men have to respect women as women have to respect men, and only then it will work out.’

The reporter wrote down those words and Eliza whispered. ‘Not bad, I must remember that.’

The reporter kept asking questions for over an hour, and when he was gone Michael and Eliza were exhausted.

‘I need a beer now’ He said.

‘Wow, I’m crossing my fingers for that piece.’ Eliza said.

‘You did your best, but I fear that he didn’t really understand everything.’

‘He’s a journalist who needs to be open to new ideas. I hope he brings it as something sensational and weird, and doesn’t write a piece about how wrong it is and how evil and indecent the unsegregation is.’

‘Let’s hope.’

‘I’m glad Samantha has the late shift today though. She would have made it weird.’ Angela said.

‘I hate hate hate that they only now take things seriously because I’m a man. It’s so unfair. The Women are Human activists have been spreading their message for years, and no-one ever wrote about them.’ He looked at Angela, ashamed.

‘It’s how it is, Michael. And what matters is that the message gets spread I suppose.’

‘And now, Eliza, it’s time for you to go back to school. Almost evening meal in the Wife Factory, and I don’t want you to get in more trouble than you already are. Come, I walk you home now.’

‘Samantha is right about one thing, Michael: You’re no fun.’ She said.

‘Ah, well, be glad that you don’t have to marry me.’

‘No comment on that.’ She said.

They got up and walked slowly to SCWF together without saying much. Today had been a weird day.