Page 89 of The Lottery

I look to Marek, who stands by the stage, and give him as much silent encouragement as I can.

He glances down, adjusts the cuffs on his suit, then steps forward toward the microphone, face hard, eyes filled with gravitas.

“Today, we are faced with our first interpersonal challenge of importance. No one in our community should ever feel threatened or unsafe. It is vital we create an environment where all are able to thrive. Our original tenants were clear. Do no harm to others. Aid in community building.” He pauses, his hands balling into fists for a moment before he releases them. “Buddy Fischer has broken this most basic principle. He has caused harm to a member of our community and now he must endure the consequences.”

“This is bullshit!” Buddy says, spittle flying from his lips. “She broke the rules by fucking half the men on this planet. Maybe I hit her too hard after she clawed my face, but only one of us broke the law.”

Lana stays quiet, her lips pressed tight, hands clutching her chair so hard her knuckles are white. I take her fingers in mine, offering as much comfort as possible.

Whispers begin to break out amongst the crowd…

Idiot.

Fool.

I think he’s right.

Didn’t she break the rules?

More and more voices join the chorus, but they are all silenced when Silas stands and steps forward, acting with a much more calm demeanor than moments before. He wears the same black leather jacket and jeans he did the first time I met him, his silver cross hanging low from his neck. Buddy grows quiet, a cocky grin on his face as Lana’s partner addresses the room.

He moves with confidence, hands swaying lightly at his side, chains dangling from his belt, clinking in the silence. When he speaks, his voice is smooth, but I can see the strain on his face to keep it so. “It is true that Lana and I are not… we are not the match I had hoped for when I won The Lottery. I had hoped the promises of the algorithm would hold true for us. But…”

Lana looks at him with glistening eyes, nodding along with his words.

He gestures to everyone, holding his arms out wide. “But whatever happens in my relationship with Lana, no one should ever be punished for not wanting to be romantically involved with someone. She… she should not be punished.”

He glances at Lana, and tears swell in both their eyes.

Buddy’s mouth gapes open like a fish as his face turns red. “She broke the rules first. I’m innocent. She’s the criminal”

A few others in the crowd offer agreement, though they are too cowardly to do so loudly.

Marek sighs. “You beat a woman for not doing your bidding.” He looks so tired. So worn down by what is happening that my heart breaks for him. “You…” He pauses, his words fading into nothing.

When he speaks next, it is to himself, so quiet I can hardly make it out. “Blyat. I have been a fool.” He looks to me and I nod, and somehow, I know what he is about to do. I feel it in my core. My heart beats frantically in my chest for what is to come. Everything is about to change. It needs to change.

Marek twists the mic in his hands. “I had hoped we could rely on science, on algorithms and artificial intelligence to solve the problems that so often confuse our species. But I was wrong.”

No one utters a word in response. Not even a murmur.

He looks at me, his eyes so full of longing. Of desire. I feel as if I’m wearing a scarlet letter, broadcasting my feelings–my relationship–with this man to everyone. Of course this is foolish. Likely no one even notices our unspoken interaction.

Then I see Elspeth glancing from me to him with a knowing smile and amend my internal declaration.

“As you know, Metis matched each Lottery winner with one of our billionaire financiers. But the program did not match our crew.” He looks around the group, holding eye contact with many of them. Wielding his power so organically he doesn’t even realize what he’s doing. He’s mesmerizing. Hypnotic.

“We had a small pool of applicants. A short period of time in which to coordinate our trip when the situation on Earth declined. Thus, your match may not be perfect. It is feasible, perhaps even probable, that better pairings are possible.” He pauses. Swallows. “Look at me. Even now I speak of logic. Of pairings. In reality… in reality, no algorithm can know the truth of the heart. It is inhumane to hold anyone to the unfeeling whims of a computer. We have a chance to start anew. We must make better choices than we have before, but those choices must be ours alone. And there is nothing more intimate than who you choose to spend your life with. It was my intention to give you the perfect match. Now I realize my mistake. I realize that choice was never mine to make.”

He takes a breath. “You are all free to choose your own partners.”

There is an eruption of voices, but I ignore it all. All I can see, all I can feel is Marek.

He smiles. “Lana will not be punished for whoever she chooses to be with. No one will.”

An outright cheer this time. Someone whistles.

Marek holds up a hand. “But there must be consequences for violence.”

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