Conley looked at him. "If you feel that way about it, there won't be any trouble at all. You did go over, so I can take you in too."
"In where?" Penelope demanded.
"A certain number of persons is required to keep Central going, as I said—actually to be the government. But most of the population today is so apathetic they wouldn't be of any use at all, so years ago some of us who were in Central got an idea. We discovered that whenever any citizen rebels against the monotony of life today, he or she eventually winds up trying to gather a lot of points, because that is the only outlet for energy and ambition. That is the kind of person we need, so when anybody gets over a hundred thousand, the machine warns us. We go after them." Conley picked up his type N hat. "Well, see you in the morning. Punch in your cards at window 1000. We'll do the rest. And by the way—" He was at the door. "We start work at eight o'clock."
Mark brightened. "Did you say work?"
"Oh, it's only four hours a day, five days a week. The rest of the time is your own, only of course you can't come Outside. It would upset things if the general public learned about us. Yes, it's a regular job; not hard work, but steady work. Gives you something to aim for; there are promotions, you know, and extra bonuses for those who show promise."
"Work!" Mark said. "Steady work? You mean there'll be something to do all the time?"
"Five days a week," said Conley.
Mark said, "This is so sudden. Why don't you sit down a minute while we let it soak in? We have plenty of enzymes and stuff for a guest, don't we, Miss Penelope? Why not stay for supper, Conley?"
"No, thanks," said Conley. "We have beefsteak and hot biscuits for supper in Central."
Penelope shrieked with joy. "Beef!"