The Children Who Time Lost Read Online Free PDF Page B

there was never a cure, not one the people of the future have figured out, anyway. I guess women just started giving birth again, just like that.”
    Jake laughed. “I don’t believe that for a second. If you ask me, I think it’s the government messing with us. They’re holding us to ransom, so we keep playing their stupid Lotto. It’s just another form of control.”
    Suzanna waved her right hand in a dismissive manner, and Jake stopped speaking. “We’ll never know what the government are doing in 2108,” Suzanna said. “All we know is that people are giving their children up for money. I guess that’s what it’s all about in the future.”
    “Look,” Jake said, “whether we’re talking about the people who give them away in 2108 or us here, twenty million dollars is a lot of money, regardless. Maybe some people just don’t want children.”
    “That couple in Australia took the money,” Kevin said, “the ones who won two years ago. You should see how they’re living now.”
    Suzanna gulped her drink. “I still think that’s terrible. How could you say no to having a child? If anyone deserves one, it’s Rachel, and yet these idiots get the chance to have one and don’t take it.”
    “But the government won’t allow Rachel to win,” Jake said. “I tell you, it’s fixed.”
    I shook my head in frustration. They did that a lot—speaking about me as if I weren’t there. Making me a discussion topic whenever they spoke about the government or morality. I placed a cherry tomato in my mouth and continued listening.
    “So, if you think it’s all one big setup, why are you still playing it?” Suzanna said to Jake.
    Jake paused between chewing and shrugged. “I seriously doubt you’ll be complaining if we win.”
    Suzanna glared at him and chewed on some lettuce.
    “But what would you do if you won and got a kid from a different race?” Kevin asked Suzanna.
    I couldn’t believe Kevin had asked that. A baby was a baby, and he knew I didn’t care about race or color. I wanted to yell at him, but I was already enough of a basket case. The last thing I needed was more attention.
    “I don’t care,” Suzanna said. “A kid’s a kid. Just look at the Russells. They got a black kid and they love him so much.”
    I felt like going over and hugging Suzanna. It was as if she’d read my mind. I glared at Kevin for a moment, still angry that he’d even asked the question. He met my gaze and then looked away. He knew he’d get a piece of my mind at home.
    A few seconds later, Jake nearly spit his food out, as if he’d just realized what Suzanna had said. “You’re kidding, right? The Russells?”
    “What’s wrong with that?” I asked. “It doesn’t matter what color the child is. Love is love. Color or background shouldn’t come into it.”
    “I’m not …” Jake looked at all three of us. We stared at him intently. “Look, I’m not racist or anything. I just can’t imagine the Russells with a colored kid, is all.”
    Silence returned to the table. Jake shifted nervously, avoiding our gazes. It wasn’t until dessert arrived that Suzanna asked me the question I didn’t want to hear.
    “So, what would you do if you won, Rachel?”
    I swallowed and a lump formed in my throat. I looked out at the water and fought back tears. All sorts of thoughts entered my head. I recalled brief moments with my daughter. Her face when she came to visit me in the hospital, days before her accident. I’d always been adamant I wanted no part of the Lotto, but hearing them talk about it made me start to question myself. Perhaps I would be willing to play it every week, hoping that my numbers came up, regardless of how crazy it drove me. Or maybe I was just letting silly thoughts cloud my mind. There was no way I’d win. So many other mothers deserved winning more than I did.
    My thoughts shifted to one of the nightmares I had been having about Madeline. The truly horrific nightmare, the one Jarrod didn’t