"None," she said.
"You are eligible for exclusion from the slave classification in what way?" That part of the recording seemed a bit worn. At least she did not hear it very well.
"In no way," she replied.
"You will wait," said the machine, "until we have a report on the availability petition which you have filed. Please take a seat."
There were no seats. This was an older machine which they had not bothered to replace, or even to correct. She stood in horror as the long minutes passed.
Her number was finally called.
"I am here," she said as the machine hummed, and she gave her number.
"Your availability petition has been taken up," said the machine. "You are however to receive twenty-eight demerits for disposing of 6300 credit after having been abandoned. Do you accept?"
"I accept," she said. She was so dizzy that she could hardly stand. The machine whirred and produced a reception-area card. She read it, and walked as in a daze to the indicated reception area. Yan waited for her there.