Page 35 - Unlikely Stories 5

Mix and Match with Max and Mitch

have decided it is the wealthy of the world that should be reduced in
number: they consume and pollute on a vastly greater scale than the
wretched poor, who are being limited by famine, war and disease.
Now let us get down to the matter at hand. If your machinations
were exposed, you would be back in Delhi begging for a civil service
job. That is the basis of my non-negotiable demand.”
“How much?” Mitch groaned.
“Swiss bank account?” Max growled.
She laughed. “Not a cent for me. But what I want will cost you
plenty. Listen: I was married once, in my early twenties. I could not
get pregnant. Rather than bore you with yet one more unpleasant
personal narrative, I will simply say that the marriage dissolved after
the failure was shown not to be mine. I then threw myself into my
career, becoming the top journalist you were pleased to attract. But
my biological alarm clock went off last year. I want a child. Badly. But
legally and genetically mine. And a husband to share the burden. I
cannot afford the time or emotional stress of forming a union with
another sterile man. To save your operation and its expansion into
the West you are going to have to violate your precious principles
and hidden agenda—for me alone. I want you to reprogram Mix and
Match just once, whatever the expense. I want it to find me a man I
will love and who will—within the limits of probability—be able to
father my children. And I need this done quickly. After the first live
birth of a healthy infant I will destroy all copies of my notes and you
will be on your own to continue your work. I’m as selfish as anyone:
not merely do I want a child of my own, I want it to grow up in a
world unthreatened by human overrun. Do you agree to my terms?”
Max and Mitch independently calculated cost-benefit ratios in their
heads. They knew what was involved, and that they had no choice.
“Yes,” said Mitch. “We’ll find your match.”
“And,” said Max, “you can mix.”

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