[ WP ] The secret to immorality is killing a newborn child . What is the world like ?

Late. Again. But then again, no one ever cares about time anymore. Apparently it was a big thing up to about the twenty first century, but no one from the twenty first century ever talks about it. I was late to my doctor's appointment. The mandatory one, for twenty-five year olds. Some of my friends had already gone to the mandatory appointment, but their descriptions only left me more clueless than before. 
 
 Even though I was going to the same doctor my family had had for the last few centuries, the mandatory appointment was always conducted in a government building on the outskirts of the nearest big city. This meant I had to go to New Los Angeles. 
 
 Traffic had gotten so bad since -- hmm... the twenty first century actually -- that the highways now had multiple levels ( think bridges on top of roads ) and getting a driver's license was a real test of skill and mastery. My friend, Sam, had one, though. It had taken him two years of studying to pass the license test. 
 
 I asked Sam about the mandatory appointment, but he was eighty nine now, and the appointment had been so quick, he did n't even remember it, anymore. Sam was just pulling of the highway. His hands, covered in various scars and marks from his eighty nine years, but otherwise strong and smooth, turned the wheel sharply and his dark brown curls swayed in the vehicle. 
 
 Some time later, they pulled up to the unmarked grey building, about twenty stories high and utterly unremarkable. `` I'll be right here. You should be out in about half an hour,'' said Sam. 
 
 `` Really?'' 
 
 `` Yeah. And if it takes longer, do n't worry about it. We'll have all the time in the world,'' he waved, cheerily. 
 
 I checked in with the receptionist, who had hair down to her knees, and was quickly admitted to the small room in which my doctor was waiting. 
 
 It was completely empty, save for a medium sized box in the middle of the room. An opaque tube that emerged from the wall was connected to a side of the box. 
 
 `` We're just going to be waiting a couple more minutes, the nurses are preparing your package. Now, when the time comes, all you'll need to do is walk up to this box, and pull this lever.'' 
 
 `` That's it?'' 
 
 `` That's right. Oh look! Here it comes.'' 
 
 A moment later, I was walking up to the box. I grabbed the lever and started pulling. Halfway down, I felt some resistance and looked over at the doctor, who nodded reassuringly. I put more force on the lever and, just like that, it went all the way down and the box was taken away for cleaning. 
 
 `` Thank you, Wade. Now, if you'll just go back out to Sandy, she'll give you some paperwork and you can be on your way.'' 
 
... 
 
 `` There you are, Sam! You moved the car!'' 
 
 `` Oh. Yeah. Sorry,'' he apologized, distractedly. 
 
 `` What's wrong?'' 
 
 `` Dude,'' he paused to think before continuing, `` follow me.'' 
 
 We got out of the car and went around the building to the back. There were a row of garages and Sam took me to one that was slightly open. We slipped inside and he led me to a trash receptacle in the corner. `` How did you even end up in here?'' 
 
 `` I was wondering if there was a cigarette vending machine anywhere.'' 
 
 `` Ahh.'' 
 
 `` Yeah. And when I came back here before, this dumpster thing was kinda opened and I saw...'' 
 
 He pulled out a box exactly like the one that had been in the room inside. 
 
 ``... this.'' 
 
 
 He opened the box and inside, there was the horrifically crushed body of a newborn infant. Despite the obvious damage, I could also see that this baby seemed to have been born with a few birth defects. Nothing too severe, but enough to be physically noticeable. I turned and vomited next to a spot in the concrete floor right by the receptacle. There was another fresh pile of vomit right next to mine with the remains of Sam's cucumber salad.
