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collecting leaves and were swinging their rakes over their
an I-140, and eventually, when they turned eighteen,
heads and hitting each other.
they could file an I-130 request to bring their immediate
family to come and live with them.
Haus had looked on as the F.M.U. Handler had
gotten down off the picnic table and tried to break up the
fight. Haus then noticed that two of the F.M.U. women
eventually go crazy; and Haus knew that crazy couldn’t
had dropped their rakes and were running toward him.
process an I-140. So he turned his thoughts back to his
Before Haus had a chance to call out, the two women had
supervisor.
disappeared down an alley. Haus then did what any noble
OA citizen had to do. He had called the police. They had
standing now. “You’re being let go, Randal.” She moved
taken his statement and ensured him that they would be
out from around the desk, her heels clicking on the tile
caught and deported back to Earth where they would be
floor. “Do you know why? Randal did you see the man in
imprisoned without parole for a year and then assigned to
the dark suit who left as you came in? He was some kind
a farm.
of government agent. He had a badge that I’d never seen
before. I even made some calls, Randal. I made calls for
Knowing that the F.M.U. runners would be punished
If Haus thought too much on the subject, he’d
“What are you snarling about?” His supervisor was
did not abate Haus’ anger in the slightest. He knew that
you.”
many runners were never found and that the majority of
the runner-women would be with child, and children born
The Haus was being fired.
in an Orbiting Arcology were given automatic citizenship.
Their mothers were still deported, but a child born in
space must live its entire life in space. Haus didn’t know
the specifics, but he knew it had something to do with
behind her desk. She looked Haus in the eye. “Randal.”
a post-natal syndrome caused by birth outside Earth’s
She straightened up. “Randal, you’re officially being let
gravity. And these syndrome-children didn’t need to file
go because your numbers have dropped and you are
Haus sat there stunned. Fired. He was being fired.
“Randal are you listening to me?” “Fired?” She sat down in her overstuffed office chair
June 2010 eFiction Magazine