The Power

by Naomi Alderman

It follows that there are two ways for the nature and use of human power to change. One is that an order might issue from the palace, a command unto the people saying “It is thus.” But the other, the more certain, the more inevitable, is that those thousand thousand points of light should each send a new message. When the people change, the palace cannot hold. As it is written: “She cuppeth the lightning in her hand. She commandeth it to strike.” from the Book of Eve, 13–17

Already there are parents telling their boys not to go out alone, not to stray too far.

“A wave of spray from the ocean feels powerful, but it is only there for a moment, the sun dries the puddles and the water is gone. Then you feel maybe it never happened. That is how it was with us. The only wave that changes anything is a tsunami. You have to tear down the houses and destroy the land if you want to be sure no one will forget you.”

He feels himself yearning for it, repulsed by it. He reads online forums where men say that if all the men in the world had one everything would be back the way it ought to be. They’re angry and afraid. He understands that. Since Delhi, he’s been afraid, too.

Tunde learns fear! Bow down

“That’s how it starts,” says UrbanDox. “That’s how they soften us up, make us weak and afraid. That’s how they have us where they want us. It’s all part of a plan. They’re doing it because they’ve been told to.” Tunde thinks, No, that’s not the reason. The reason is because they can.

“I still think we can find some help for you. If we could find someone to help you…well, you’d just be able to like normal boys.” Jos puts her cup down on the table slowly. She says, “Do you really think so?” And Margot says, “I know it, honey. I know it. You can be just like all the other girls. I know we can fix it for you.”

I only ever worked for Bernie, only ever did jobs for Bernie; it was Bernie who told me that I should pretend to sell Primrose information, tell him when to find your mum alone. You was never supposed to see it. Bernie wanted your mum dead and I don’t ask questions. I helped him out. It was fucking Bernie. Your dad. Bernie.”

There—although she protested—is Mother Eve, the symbolic tree behind her, receiving the message from the Heavens and extending her hand filled with lightning. In the center of the cupola is the hand with the all-seeing eye at its heart. That is the symbol of God, Who watches over each of us, and Whose mighty hand is outstretched to both the powerful and the enslaved.

“At first we did not speak our hurt because it was not manly. Now we do not speak it because we are afraid and ashamed and alone without hope, each of us alone. It is hard to know when the first became the second.”

curdle inside her when she realized her mom might have deliberately lied to her. Ryan says, “She hated that I love you just how you are.” Jos says, “I want you to love me in spite of my problem, not because of it.” Ryan says, “I just love you, though. All the pieces of you.” Jos says, “You like me because I’m weak. I hate that you think I’m weak.” Ryan says, “You’re not weak. You’re not. Not to anyone who knows you, not to anyone who cares. And what would it matter if you were? People are allowed to be weak.” But that’s the question, really. There are advertisements on hoardings now, with sassy young women showing off their