Paula spoke next. "My field is child welfare. Well, I'm going to show
you an audio-visual of an interesting ceremony in a Hindu village,
derived from the ancient custom of the suttee. It is the Hindu method of
conforming to The Guide's demand that only beautiful children be allowed
to grow to maturity."

The film was mercifully brief. Even in spite of the drums and gongs, and
the chanting of the crowd, Benson found out how loudly a newborn infant
can scream in a fire. The others looked as though they were going to be
sick; he doubted if he looked much better.

"Of course, we are a more practical and mechanical-minded people, here
and in Europe," Paula added, holding down her gorge by main strength.
"We have lethal-gas chambers that even Hitler would have envied."

"I am a musician," Anthony said. "A composer. If Gregory thinks that the
sciences are controlled, he should try to write even the simplest piece
of music. The extent of censorship and control over all the arts, and
especially music, is incredible." He coughed slightly. "And I have
another motive, a more selfish one. I am approaching the compulsory
retirement age; I will soon be invited to go to one of the Havens. Even
though these Havens are located in the most barren places, they are
beauty-spots, verdant beyond belief. It is of only passing interest
that, while large numbers of the aged go there yearly, their populations
remain constant, and, to judge from the quantities of supplies shipped
to them, extremely small."

* * * * *