"Just said the Council was Dreamtown's protector, provider and producer. Said the same thing twenty times in twenty different ways; but didn't answer any of the real questions about the Council." "No one asks any questions, Brant. Who cares how many men are on the Council or how they operate? So long as we have our flip food and parties--who cares? You worry too much." Brant laughed and patted Lisa's hand. "You're right. Jennings worried too much and look what happened to him!" They continued down the street, standing aside once as a group of Watchers in semi-military formation passed them. As they turned a corner they saw the solid red wall that surrounded the Playground rising in the distance. "Will you be able to get the information you want here, Brant?" Lisa asked. "If they let us in," he replied. "I've never been in the Playground before, have you?" Lisa asked. "Once. A long time ago when it was first put into operation, but they say things have changed a lot since then," Brant replied. A Watcher halted them as they approached the gate. Brant explained about coming to gather material for the forthcoming Playground Festival show and displayed his official Sensory Communications card. The Watcher directed them to wait and stepped into a booth at one side of the gate. Brant and Lisa saw him talking to someone on the video phone. A moment later he returned, unlocked the gate, and motioned them inside. Once in, they were met by another Watcher who led them down a long hall to a door at the far end. The silence of the hall was in direct contrast to the cacophony that met their ears as they stepped through the door into the Playground. Children of both sexes and of every age and size filled the Playground. Nearly all were shouting at the tops of their voices. Scattered among the group were men and women dressed in the briefest of costumes. Some participated in the children's games, but most stood and watched, in rather stony silence, the activity before them. From one of the small buildings within the Playground, a young man walked toward Lisa and Brant. The Watcher stepped aside as he approached. "I am Kirk Rodson," the man said to Brant and Lisa. "Director of the Playground. Can I help you?" Brant introduced himself and Lisa to the man, and explained their purpose in coming to the Playground. "I see," Rodson said. "There's not much to tell. Children are brought here immediately after birth and are cared for in our laboratories. Their instruction in walking and talking is accelerated by specially trained personnel. As soon as an infant learns to walk he is released into the Playground with the others for a specified time each day. He is fed a specially prepared diet. As he grows older, he is left in the Playground for increasingly longer periods of time in order that he may adjust to its demands." "When do the children leave here?" Brant asked.