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prospect of this operation she wanted either, but she was so happy when she told me about it. I didn’t have the heart to crush her hopes.”
    This was news to Holly. “You never mentioned it before. You should have voiced your concerns. It wouldn’t have hurt to tell her what was on your mind.” Sydney turned around to meet her gaze. “Here we go again! Would you stop for a moment and listen to yourself? This is something she wanted badly. How can you tell someone not to try for their dream when it means so much to them?”
    “But what if --”
    “What? If they can’t perform the operation? From what you just told me, the clinic has no record of her visit. She probably changed her mind, and you got your wish after all.”
    “That’s if the Cyrellians can be trusted.”
    “Please, let’s not get into any more of your weird conspiracy theories. Maybe she was so rattled after you tried to talk her out of it that she didn’t go. And this is exactly why she wasn’t going to tell you about the procedure in the first place.” Holly gasped. “Why not?”
    “Because she knew you’d try to talk her out of it -- which it seems you did.”
    “So why did she change her mind and tell me?” Sydney didn’t say, but her silence spoke volumes.
    “You convinced her to tell me?”
     
     
     
    - 35 -
    “Well, it would have been awkward keeping this a secret from you. We both know how mistrustful you are of the Cyrellians, even though they’ve made this society livable again. A hundred years ago Earth was a wasteland. They’ve restored it to something great. Why do you think so badly of them? What happened, because at one time you sang their praises?”
    “When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. Why hasn’t anyone noticed there are no elderly people?”
    Sydney snorted in derision. “Of course there are. There’s a nice couple who live down the hall from me, both in their seventies.” Holly folded her arms across her chest. “Only a couple? I’ve noticed none in the past few months. When was the last time you saw your neighbors?” Sydney furrowed her brows together as though deep in thought. “I’m pretty sure I saw them a few days ago. They were talking about going on a trip to see their grandchildren, so there. I guess that shoots your theories to dust. What do you think the Cyrellians are doing to the older people, sending them to be euthanized when they reach a certain age?” Sydney laughed.
    “This isn’t funny. I’m serious.”
    “And so am I. I think you probably need a vacation.”
    “I have more proof.” Holly refused to be talked down on this subject.
    “And what is it?”
    “The news,” she declared full of conviction.
    Sydney stretched, clearly bored. “What about it?”
    “Haven’t you noticed there’s a lot of Cyrellian propaganda lately? There used to be a public access program that addressed concerns about what was happening to our society, but it’s no longer on the air.”
    “Probably because no one was watching. Anyway, does all this really matter?
    You sound like one of those crazy rebels, hell bent on fighting the system. You know what they said in the old days don’t you? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
     
    - 36 -
    Holly wanted to strangle her. That was the problem with everyone. They were far too complacent with the way things were to open their eyes and see the truth.
    “Maybe those rebels aren’t so crazy at all.” Sydney threw her arms up in the air, as though she’d given up. “Who are you and what did you do to my sane friend Holly?”
    “I wish you wouldn’t make light of my concerns.”
    “I’m not. I don’t know how we’ve gone off on this tangent in the first place. We were talking about Bella, remember?
    Holly groaned, so caught up in her passionate beliefs about Cyrellian rule she’d momentarily forgot Bella. “You’re right, but I don’t have a good feeling about things.
    Something is wrong. I can’t put my finger on