Page 12 of Defective

worked, producing a benefit to the community. It was a ruthless solution but it kept the small population alive and able to fend for itself.

  "Eventually," his Pappy had told him, and many of the reference books confirmed it, "people became isolated and drifted away from each other. They'd interact in town, for business but nothing else. The law hasn't changed that much since then. The law's only mission is to make sure that enough people stay alive to produce enough food for everyone. Everything's tied to property."

  When he asked him what happened to the people who were exiled his Pappy had shaken his head.

  "A lot of 'em died in the bush I suspect. I'm sure a few survived. A lot of 'em weren't defectives at all, not true defectives."

  PC Pierre read late into the night. It started to rain at one point but as always happened when he delved deep into history, he was too engrossed to hear it.

 
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