"I gave it all to the ones who were here," she answered carefully. She felt quick panic because she remembered that she had not so instructed her account. She had merely dictated it to the children. If he didn't find out, though, that would be all right. The dictation was proof enough. But while she was still in this house, the credits were still in her control.
"My credit indicator is here," she said, holding it out. He didn't take it.
"Thanks for the refreshment," he said, getting up. "Make yourself comfortable. The others will be here shortly."
She had nothing to do to make herself ready. She could not take anything from this house. Sometimes they let you wear what you were wearing, if it did not look as though you had put on your best things. They did not always allow it, but they did sometimes. She remembered that she had expressed strong disapproval of that to Yan, when they were newly married. Then they both felt the same way about Abandoneds.
She indicated to her account how she wanted the 1300 disposed. Then she waited. After a while, the Protection People came and led her out of the house. They did not touch her or speak to her, they merely formed a square in the center of which she walked. They led her to a records room where an interview apparatus prepared a report on her.
"You have filed availability papers?" it asked.
"Yes," she said, and gave the file number.
"This is being checked," the apparatus said. "Have you any claims upon the State?"
She came very close to mentioning the children. "None," she said in a very small voice. It was difficult to remember that the interview apparatus was not at all sensitive.
"Have you credits in your possession?" the machine asked.