Carsing read off the names, designating a number and letter for each. Harvey and Ruth Flanders were assigned to area 189D. The numbers for the Luries and the Schweitzers followed closely, but the Braces weren't reached until the 200's. "Hey," growled Red Brace, "don't take me away from my buddies." "All marketing of crops will be handled by our central office," Carsing said. "All your shipments will be listed in a credit account, against which all your charges will be debited. For bookkeeping convenience, settlement will be made once a year." His papers moved restlessly in his hands. "The guides are waiting to take you to your homesteads. You will now return to your luggage and finish loading it on the carts. After that, you are to go to the main door, where you will receive your oxygen packs, and then you are to assemble outside. Are there any questions?" "Yeh!" called out Red Brace, jumping to his feet. "I don't like the location you gave me. How do I get it changed?" Carsing scowled. "How do you know you don't like it before you have even seen it?" "I know. It's not near my friends." "Write an application for a change. If there are no further questions--" "Question!" Harvey was on his feet. "What's this you said about oxygen packs?" "I said they'd be issued at the main door. Anything else?" "Why--why do we need oxygen packs?" "To breathe," Carsing said sourly. "I should think that would be obvious." "You mean ..." Harvey's heart pounded. "You mean there's no oxygen out there?" "The oxygen content of our atmosphere is seven percent," Carsing said, his voice falling to a weary monotone. "Seven percent is equivalent to the oxygen content you find when you travel 27,000 feet above Earth. You know you can't exist at 27,000 feet unless you have an artificial supply of oxygen. Very well. The same condition applies here--on the ground. You will wear your oxygen packs at all times. The only exception is this building. We have oxygen pumped into it." "What's this all about?" shouted Red Brace. "Are you kidding us or something?" Carsing's mouth formed a crumpled smile. "If you think I'm joking you can take a walk outside and see." He turned his eyes away from Brace. "The packs are small and light. The outlet cup covers only the nose. There is no interference with speech. You can thank Colonel Baker for sponsoring the research that produced these lightweight packs." "Thank him for what?" said Harvey hoarsely. "Why didn't he tell us before he signed us up?" A clamor of supporting voices rose around him. Other immigrants leaped to their feet, trying to make themselves heard. Red Brace was bellowing something unintelligible. His wife added her indignant contralto. Carsing shouted, "Quiet!" and then gave up and stood there, scowling. * * * * *