And equal chances

Chantelle could see the doubt and disbelief plain on Lucy’s face. She knew some further explanation was going to be needed… though whether she was really qualified to provide it, she wasn’t sure.

“Look… Saint Silvia was some kind of scientist, right, before the church ordained her or whatever. She was one of the millions of 'em always trying to come up with new ways to get us pregnant more reliably. Only… she wasn’t interested in fiddling with genes or implanting eggs or whatever. She just wanted to find a way of increasing the chances it would happen naturally, as much as she could.”

The twenty-something year old drenched in spunk settled back on her haunches in the pool, ready to tell the whole story in comfort.

“So what she did instead… was figure out a way of keeping sperm alive and happy for as long as possible. Apparently she was one of those girls who are a little obsessed with the stuff, you know… the type who are always playing with it between their fingers or swilling some around their cheeks for hours.”

She looked up at Lucy knowingly… but didn’t actually meet the acknowledgement she’d been expecting.

“Anyway, that was her big breakthrough… by mixing in some magic mix of lube and chemicals and keeping it all warm and hydrated.” The speaker nodded towards a hissing cloud of steam sprayed out of some hidden nozzle in the side of the pool, just at the right moment. “Then you can keep a whole tank of those little wrigglers alive and active almost near indefinitely.”

Lucy was beginning to see the logic that tied all this together, but let Chantelle carry on her divulging. It was oddly soothing, actually… to sit on the tiles of this warm and humid place and listen to her new friend’s echoey voice. There was a distinctly strong and heady smell that suffused the air… but it was unsurprisingly similar to how Diane smelt, after a long day out on the streets, so she didn’t mind so much.

“The rich folk that fund all those sort of studies weren’t interested… it doesn’t speed things along or cheat your chances. You need enough space and money to keep a great big tub full of the right mix of slimy gunk, and do need to keep adding more man-cream to the pot because some does die off each day. But this special branch of the church… they had everything needed to build a place like this under every city they could. And they keep it fair! Anyone who wants can sign up to be on the list, then you just get picked at random. Rich or Poor, old or young. Whether your parents had three kids and twins or just little ol’ me… if your name gets called you get to wade on in here and wait.”

Another only child, among many. Lucy looked out over the stinking, creamy lake with new-found reverence. An option for everyday people, rather than just those who could afford to privately set up dates with other well connected and well-bred families. A method that was still just rolling the dice… but a whole lot more dice at once, all day and all night.

“How long does it take?” She asked, already beginning to guess at the answer.

Chantelle sighed. “That’s the thing, of course… nobody knows. You have to go through this whole week of ‘cleansing’ with the sisters. Inside and out… body and soul… To make sure no contaminants get in.” Her slight shudder in remembrance said everything that was needed about how… invasive… that procedure might have been.

“Then you’re in here… from dawn until dusk, whether it takes weeks, months or years. We’re allowed out once in the morning and once in the evening, to ‘relieve’ ourselves. But, apart from that it’s just spunk, spunk, spunk all day long. Swimming in it, washing with it, drinking it…”

“You drink it?!” Lucy butted in, shocked.

“Of course! That’s the whole point: total immersion, in every way. The stuff they pump into it gives it enough vitamins and nutrients to keep you going. You just glug some down whenever you feel peckish… It seems weird at first, but you get used to it.”