Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 130317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130317 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 652(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“Not at all—women and men simply have different caloric needs,” Brother Jonash denied stiffly. “And husbands have a duty to be certain that their wives aren’t overindulging—that is why only the husband has the right to program the food prep assembly.”
“So you’re saying I should be the one who decides how much Mia gets to eat?” Sev demanded. “Her body is her own—I don’t know how hungry she is.”
“No, no, no…” Brother Jonash sighed and shook his head theatrically. “I can see the two of you have much to learn. It is our belief in the PPP that a wife belongs to her husband. But that doesn’t mean he can neglect her,” he went on, now lecturing Sev who was staring down at him with obvious disbelief. “A husband must tend to his wife—he must nourish her physically and spiritually and guide her in all things. If she needs comfort, he must give it. But likewise, if she errs, he must discipline her. She must be Taken in Hand and led in the right direction.”
“Like a child?” Mia demanded angrily.
Brother Jonash didn’t even acknowledge her this time.
“We will teach you our ways, Brother Severith,” he said, still talking to Sev. “And you’ll come to see that the way of the Prophet is the best way. He teaches us all how to care for our wives so that they can live happy, healthy productive lives of service and domesticity. For only through service and servitude to her husband can a wife truly fulfill her destiny.”
Mia felt her cheeks get hot with anger. She wanted to punch Brother Jonash in his priggish, pale blue face! But she knew that would only get them into trouble—and possibly thrown out of the PPP Dome before they had even started their investigation. So with extreme difficulty, she swallowed her rage and turned to look at the middle tube—the long skinny one that hung straight down from the ceiling above.
“What does this one do?” she asked, tapping the shiny brass surface.
“Ah—that one is something I think you will come to appreciate,” Brother Jonash said—actually deigning to answer a direct question from her for once. “It dispenses the Nutrient Crème that each wife is required to drinks.”
Mia frowned.
“Nutrient Crème? What ‘s in it?”
“Let me show you.” Without exactly answering her question, Brother Jonash went to one of the smoked glass panels on the wall and tapped smartly with one finger. “One Crème glass please,” he said clearly.
The smoked glass panel slid to one side and a gleaming golden cup about the size of a shot glass was revealed, sitting on the spotless shelf. Brother Jonash took it out and brought it to the countertop with the three brass tubes. He held the glass under the skinny middle tube and pressed a button on the side of it.
At once, a thick stream of pale purple liquid began to pour from the mouth of the tube. It dispensed just enough to fill the golden shot glass and then stopped.
“Ah—here you go, my dear,” Brother Jonash said cordially, handing the glass to Mia. “Go on—drink up! You can’t start your Nutrient Crème too early. It’s so good for you!”
“What’s in it?” Mia repeated. She definitely wasn’t drinking any weird concoction given to her by a cult leader. Hello—Jonestown anyone?
“Yes, what are you trying to give my wife?” Sev echoed. There was a protective growl in his voice and he glared at Brother Jonash, who turned a paler shade of blue.
“Why, there’s nothing to get excited about!” he exclaimed. “It’s just that living within the Dome can be hard on females—the light from our artificial star leaches nutrients from the female body that need to be replaced. The Nutrient Crème was developed by our scientists to keep our women healthy!”
“Well…” Mia sniffed the pale purple cream uncertainly. To her surprise, it actually smelled good. Sweet and light with a faint hint of candied violets—it reminded her of the special candy her grandma used to give her when she was little. She wondered if it would taste the same way it smelled.
“You don’t have to drink that if you don’t want to, Mia,” Sev said, still glaring at Brother Jonash.
“Actually, she does if the two of you want to live here within the Dome,” Brother Jonash countered. “Otherwise she’ll get terribly depleted and be unable to do her duties!”
“It’s probably just some kind of vitamin drink,” Mia murmured. For some reason, now that she had sniffed the Nutrient Crème, she really wanted to try it. The scent was calling to her, telling her to take just one tiny sip…
She brought the golden shot glass to her lips and sipped the Crème. It tasted even better than it smelled! The creamy consistency reminded her of high-end eggnog which was something people either loved or hated. As it turned out, Mia loved it and she also liked the sweet, candied violets flavor that spread over her tongue. It had a soothing, slightly alcoholic finish that warmed her throat pleasantly going down. Before she knew it, she had finished the entire glass.