Excerpt: Soul Echo

Clearing his throat, Dr. Hunter began his presentation.
“We would like to bring to your attention to what we believe is an upcoming population crisis.”
At this cue, Dr. Cole pushed a button on his laptop and the projector screen was filled with the words: OVER POPULATION CRISIS PENDING.

As Dr. Hunter started talking again, the slide show moved to another screen. This time filled with a bar chart.
“Our research shows that in the last 50 years alone the worlds population has increased by almost fifty percent. Based on the current growth trend, we predict that the population will rise to a staggering six billion, four hundred million by the year two thousand and four. And that by the year two thousand and fifty the global population will be at the breaking point of eight billion, nine hundred million people.
We believe that this is going to be more than the earth can handle. And we should start taking the appropriate measures now to ensure the safe future of the earth and the human race.”

Governor Johnson looked from the presentation to his two consults and back to Dr. Hunter.
“And what measures do you think should be taken?” He asked, his voice spiked with disbelief.

“I believe that we should take control of the reproduction rates as soon as possible. Implement a system where couples can only have a certain amount of children at a certain time in their lives. Perhaps issue a licence to people that wish to try. This will dramatically reduce the amount of teenage and accidental pregnancies. Especially if it was made a punishable offence.”

“Wait. So you want to effectively put a cap on who can have sex and when?” Dr. Ashbury asked. He had a gravelly voice – probably a smoker. “Isn't that akin to trying to take away their rights? You can't do this to people, there will be riots.”

“No, no. It's nothing like that. I'm not trying to stop people having sex. They can do that whenever they want. What I am saying is that pregnancies should be controlled.”

“But what about the thousands of women every year that fall pregnant by accident. What are you going to about them? Force an abortion?”
Dr. Hunter opened his mouth to speak, but Dr. Ashbury continued. “I suppose that next month you will be in here telling us that we need to start culling our old folks? Anyone over a certain age should be put out of their misery, eh? What about the terminally ill? Should we just give up on them and put them down like dogs?” Ashbury was starting to go red in the face and Governor Johnson put a hand on his arm to silence him.

“I think I've heard enough.” He announced, looking from Dr. Hunter to Dr. Ashbury. “From both parties. This is obviously something that will take a lot of thinking about. Very careful thinking at that. This meeting is adjourned for today, Dr. Hunter thank you for coming. Someone will contact you with more information by the end of next week.”

With that, Governor Johnson rose from his chair, paused at the end of the table to shake hands with Dr. Hunter once again and swept from the room with his two consultants at his heels.

“Well that went well.”
“Shut up Cole.”
“Yes Dr. Hunter.”

- - -

The ride back from the governor's office was a long one. Not because of the distance they had to cover, but rather the fact that it was so uncomfortable quiet. Dr. Hunter had scarcely said three words to Dr. Cole since they had gotten into the car. From the look on his face, he was deep in thought and would be for the next couple of hours.
Dr. Cole gave up trying to make conversation and instead focussed on the drive back to their lab. It didn't take too much longer, and he gave a sigh of relief as they pulled into the car park. The silence would be over soon.

“Maybe Ashbury was on to something.” Dr. Hunter mumbled.
Dr. Cole turned to him. “Pardon?”
Dr. Hunter looked up at him. “Controlling sex. What if we could do it? What if could program people to only be receptive to one partner? Complete Human Monogamy.”

“You mean like Animal Monogamy?”
“Not quite. This would have to be different. Even Monogamous animals will have a fling every now and then. I'm talking about only being able to be sexually active with one partner, and non-receptive to anyone else.”
“But that's impossible, right?”

“Cole, my dear boy. Nothing is impossible. Science will find a way. Come, I'll share my ideas with you and the rest of the team.”
Dr. Cole smiled, Dr. Hunter had an idea and he couldn't wait to hear it. Grabbing all of the equipment from the boot of the car, he hurried after his mentor. Maybe this would be the experiment that would raise him above the level of apprentice.