Already there are images of the child from last Thursday circulating on the encrypted sections of TwigPost. The images are shot from multiple angles, so I cannot pin the blame on any one in particular that day.
"This just doesn't make any sense," I mutter. "Hidden cameras?"
No point to fuss. I cannot control all of my Daughters. Ultimately, nor would I want to– how boring would that be. At least, control to the fullest extent.
As in, what joy is there in an experiment where the outcome is already known and guaranteed?
"Mother Elin," Lieutenant Chuji reports through Earworm. Speak of the devil.
"At ease, Lieutenant."
"There is another protest at the southwest corner of the Fence over the leaked images of the deceased child from last week." She sends me a video feed of hundreds of Hedonians, standing and holding signs of crudely drawn cartoons of children with Xs over their eyes.
"Interesting," I mutter.
"Awaiting further instruction, Mother."
I pause to assess.
"None needed. Stand by at distance. Tantrums are quick fires upon scarce tinder, let it burn itself out. There is nothing of value for them to destroy there."
One one hand, they're expressing so called concern about saving children's lives, but aren't bothered to go on charity or relief expeditions outside of the Fence. The Outsider villages sustain themselves for the most part, and only rarely do we see children managing to arrive at the borders of Cauldron.
A number of protestors start banging pots and pans against the wall, seemingly only for the sake of making noise.
"As we've learned from the last protest, what they want is a reaction, and such we shall deny them. There is nothing left we can provide to appease their demands, and nothing we say or do will necessarily improve their attitudes toward us."
"Understood, Mother."
Should you be the whistleblower, Chuji, I hope you're satisfied with the chaos that ensues.
If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
~~
Hedonia's obesity rate skyrocketing to 65%
Is our means of determining "obesity" flawed and morally problematic?
"Horrendous rationing like that of Pre-Ex war stories"-- Scarcity of healthcare services continues to drive discriminatory healthcare provisions
"'The increasing waistline of the average Hedonian has obvious negative consequences, but the causes of this increase may be more complicated than we're willing to acknowledge," Dr. Mikhaila Harine states. 'Simply dismissing it as 'inherent flaws in human nature', 'failures in personal diligence', and other forms of finger-pointing to the individual may not be helpful.'"
Next installment of Jackal Hunter continues in spite of deceased child at southwest end of Fence
Outrage at Hedonia's entertainment sector in spite of civilian casualties outside of showbiz
"Welcome on another fine evening to Hedonia Public News. I am Helen,"
"And I am Ruth. At the southwest bend of the Fence a protest has accumulated, supposedly over the leaked images of a deceased child, found reportedly next to Jackal remains left behind by gunfire from automated Border Defenses."
"The source is none other than leaks from TwigPost, which are being quickly removed from the website as we speak, according to our sources."
"Melanie on the ground tells us more."
"Thank you, Helen, uh –"
A masked protestor bursts into Melanie's frontal area. "We demand answers from Elin! How can we be safe if this child wasn't?!"
"Oh, how silly," I groan. "Little terrorists have no threshold of appeasement. Adorable, really," I walk away from my desk and open the latest plans for Jackal Hunter on my master display, shortly before interruption from the chef scrambling through my office door.
"Mother, your luncheon! Apologies for the delay--"
"At ease, thank you," I smile, accepting the platter. Corsus porridge with another mystery Salisbury loaf, along with sauteéd leeks, peppers, and some reflective red chili sauce.
Tomorrow awaits with a mano a mano between Cynthia and Lorianne. In spite of my permission for her to come to the Compound, Lorianne would still make a fine addition to the show's overall value. Pity to see her go, but she has indeed earned her departure. Cynthia lacks experience and may likely burn too quickly, just like the protests of late. Certainly, tomorrow's installment is to turn heads-- whether met with smiles or frowns-- and even I cannot prognose who will reign.
How odd, the meatloaf is slightly chewy and a bit blander than I anticipated.
~~
The evening breeze combs through the hair and fur of both Diogenes and I as the Sunbird cruises over Cauldron.
"Suzanna must be out here," I mutter to either myself or Diogenes. "It'd be silly to illustrate her when the real thing is present– a much more sophisticated artwork than even what I could produce with the finest of digital medium."
The little Jackal shivers as I fold him in my arms, and engage my thermal coils to warm him back up.
"My mistake, I forgot how brisk evenings can be in Cauldron."
I look again at Diogenes. "What a cruel reality, motherless children face. The best I can do, is be a mere surrogate for you." Then, out to the Cauldron horizon. "Motherless children, we all are."