‘It’s not about them. It’s about Nattalia.’
‘Why can’t Earth be spared and its population transported here over time?’
‘Because people who are free to come and go would go. No Earth and they have to stay.’
It is all true, just as Odell and Cillian had explained. He needs a dependent people to put to work. He wants slaves.
My fury peaks. ‘You would leave eight billion to die…’ I say, my horror apparent.
‘I would not,’ he shouts at my accusation. ‘Many chose to stay! Many couldn’t come. They were too sick, too young to travel, too weak! You have to understand, we’ve rescued the most able to adapt and that has had its consequences. We took the bulk of Earth’s workforce—the growers, the labourers, the medics, the educators. Those left behind are struggling to survive. We’ve already had ne
