There she could faintly hear them entering compartments, demanding names, and saying, “ Out⁠—out! ” Once she heard a Gern say, “Acceptables will remain inside until further notice. Do not open your doors after the Rejects have been taken out.”

Billy touched her on the hand. “Isn’t Daddy going to come?”

“He⁠—he can’t right now. We’ll see him pretty soon.”

She remembered what the Gern commander had said about the Rejects being permitted to take their personal possessions. She had very little time in which to get together what she could carry.⁠ ⁠…