The Line Read Online Free PDF Page B

that.”
    Vivian wanted Rachel to attend a private college when the time came, one that didn’t teach what she called “the party line.” But she also told Rachel that with their lack of connections, any college would do. If Rachel could get into a college, she could register for a Profession, and that was all that really mattered to Vivian. Rachel didn’t see where she had much choice; the alternatives to a Profession were pretty grim. Vivian made her study the political and social systems in the Unified States as a part of her home lessons, so she knew what the options were.
    There were limited choices for people in the Unified States: a Profession, Private Enterprise, Gainful Employment, or the Labor Pools. People in the Professions—doctors, attorneys, engineers and other highly skilled occupations—had to pay high taxes, but they were insulated from the worst of the governmental intrusions and lived comfortable lives as long as they conformed to the rules. Her father had been registered in a Profession as an architect. She thought that might be as interesting as anything.
    Private Enterprise, which was what Ms. Moore did in her orchid business, was more and more difficult to succeed at because of all the tariffs and regulations the government enforced. People who couldn’t afford college made a go of Private Enterprise if they could, because the only other choice was Gainful Employment, which was precarious. If a person lost their job, they had a limited time to get another one. If they couldn’t find one fast, they were sent to the Labor Pools. That had been Vivian’s greatest fear before she found Gainful Employment with Ms. Moore. The Labor Pools were not where anyone wanted to find themselves.
    People also ended up in a Pool because they couldn’t come up with the creds to cover a random tax, or sometimes because the government wanted them to disappear, though those people usually disappeared in a more permanent way, if the rumors were accurate.
    Poolers lived in “community residences,” a fancy term for barracks, and worked for room and board. The one perk they had was that they were given generous reproduction licenses, because their children were basically a renewable government resource. Pooler kids were registered into Labor Pools on the day they were born, trained from toddlers to become grid maintenance workers, or highway or computer techs; whatever the projections showed there would be need for in the coming decades.
    Vivian swore that Rachel wouldn’t end up in a Labor Pool no matter what, and college was the only sure way to prevent that from happening. Vivian saved every cred she could toward tuition, and she put together pretty tough course work for Rachel to master in the meantime. Rachel got so tired of the lessons sometimes.
    Still, she knew Vivian was doing it for her own good. She also knew that it all had something to do with her mother’s fears, with the idea that if anything happened to Rachel, life would not be worth living. So Rachel did her best to apply herself to her schoolwork. She didn’t want to add to Vivian’s sadness. And to be truthful, the idea of ending up in a Labor Pool was frightening. She didn’t know much about them; just the way her mother said the words was scary enough.

CHAPTER 4
    O H, RACHEL,” VIVIAN said. “Not again.” She had just come from the main house, finished with work and ready to review Rachel’s homework before dinner.
    Rachel looked up guiltily from where she sat in front of the streamer. She had been reading another article about Away. “What?”
    “You know very well what, young lady.” Vivian shook her head. “If you think I don’t know what your reading habits are when I’m not looking, think again.” Vivian crossed the room and glanced at the streamer screen. “More nonsense about Away, I see.” She flicked off the streamer.
    Rachel said nothing. She knew better than to protest.
    “I think before dinner, it’s quiz