CHAPTER 18

  People in Rags

  Daisy wailed and Myron protested as strongly as he could when their daughters were grabbed, but the Yuzoi who dragged the girls away were big and strong. All of the children, not just theirs, were being taken. The distraught parents followed to an area enclosed by a new high fence. The little ones were shoved in and the gate locked behind them. Cries of despair and moans of pain came from both sides of the fence. The chief Hibbrian stood with his head down as if embarrassed. Then the Yuzoi captain barked something and the Hibbrian translated.

  “Your children will be kept here until work on the building is finished. So long as you work hard and satisfactory progress is made, the children will be fed. If you don’t work hard enough, however, we . . . I mean, the Yuzoi will stop feeding your little ones. Do you understand?”

  The weeping, the sobs, the anguish meant nothing to the Yuzoi. Yes, the people understood the bitter truth.