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She jerks her aruests in my home," he says "But this is still ulations that all, even honored guests, must abide by I’m sorry you chose to run afoul of these rules But that was your choice"

He gazes at the girls with a look of fondness Their heads downturn as his eyes fall on therass touched "These bylaws and precepts that you have such narrow opinions on? They are nothing more than the blanket that bestoarmth and coziness to this community"

"I’m sorry, but I don’t feel a lot of warmth or coziness here," Sissy retorts

"My,coirl approaches with tumblers of whisky on a tray He downs a shot, wipes hisa trail of whisky on his cheek "Let h a lot, okay You look tired Why don’t you just relax over the next few hours? Make the Mission your own veritable Shangri-la retreat Until tomorrohen you--all of you--depart on this train for the Civilization So in thepesky questions, and simply enjoy the rest of your time here in this happy place"

"You say the Civilization is a paradise?" I say, stepping in front of Sissy Krugain I’ less optimistic by the second

"Very much so," he says

I pause "Then I’"

"How so?"

"If the Civilization is such a wonderful place…"

"Yes?"

"Then I’o there Why he chose never to board the train"

The leer on Krug toward h this already He was a disturbed estion but as a threat daringhim back to the Civilization The man needed professional treatment He needed to be institutionalized"

"Really?"

"And besides, who can bla to stay here at the Mission? Granted, it’s not the Civilization, but it’s not exactly the dumps, either, now is it? A close second, if I old at the end of the rainbow, a ray of buttery sunshine Where singing and sueur"

"Well, that begs another question," I say

"Go ahead"

"If this village is such a ray of sunshine…"

"Yes?"

"Then why did the Scientist kill himself here?"

Silence

"Careful, boy," one of the elders warns

"No, I old at the end of the rainbow That’s exactly how you put it So why do you think he decided to hang himan’s words snap out quickly "Like I said, who can explain the actions of a madman? But he was the exception Everyone is happy here Look around for yourself and tell "

"You mean the faces tattooed into their ar to those ones But we can go there The girls wear their tattoos proudly; in fact, they love to flaunt their Marks of Merit They’re like trophies It really feels like that for the their dream-come-true ticket to the Civilization"

"Seems like everyone wants out of here," Sissy says

A cow in the last train car moos loudly

"Seems like nobody particularly cares for this place For its rules For--"

"Enough" Krught, an elder taking one step forward, his finger pointing at Sissy "She’s gone too far! We should just feed her to the dus--"