Print as a hatchway swung open. Men, women, and children began shuffling out of the baskets, and lined up on the wooden causeway. They were tired looking, barely able to hold up their heads. Lucian looked hard, but could not find one person among them who looked even remotely healthy. To a one, they were all emaciated and about to fall over.

Mr. Quimby stepped forward and yelled to the workers. "Today we have two visitors from the High House of Parliament. They come to say congratulations on a job well done! Show your appreciation for these gentlemen."

The group clapped half-heartedly. They then shuffled out single file through the corridor to the lift. Another group of workers entered the same way. The two groups passed each other in a slow shamble. The new shift walked to the spheres and climbed in. The grabbed onto handles on the wall and waited as the hatches closed behind them.

"Now, if you'll follow me, sirs," Mr. Quimby turned to go back down the stairs.

"What was that?" Lucian was aghast at what he had just witnessed.

"That, Mr. DeYarrick, is how you are able to make the lights work in your house," said Mr. Lavender.  He obviously sensed his junior colleague's dismay. "That's how the trains run. That's how the navy propels its ships across the oceans. How we move goods, people...civilization all over the globe. That is the backbone of the Loop'd Empire."

"But, children, women..." Lucian struggled to get his words out. "How long do they keep that up?"

"Every shift is twelve hours long," said Mr. Quimby.

"And they're in their for the whole time?"

"No," said Mr. Quimby, "They've a ten minute break to eat and recharge midway through their shifts."

Ten minutes.

"Quimby, Lavender, thank you for this experience," said Lucian. He pushed past the two men and went down the staircase. "I'm afraid I've got to go now."

"The tour's just started," said Mr. Quimby. "Where are you going?"

Lucian turned around, one foot on the bottommost stair. "Why, I am going out to hire some secretaries," he said. "Thank you Mr. Lavender, I've found what interests me beyond all reason."

#

Lucian shook himself from his reverie. Morris was standing next to him, papers in hand.

"What do I do now, sir?" he asked.

"Do what I told you to do before you collided with that fellow, pass them out to the people walking around," said Lucian. He stalked off, leaving Morris standing there.

He approached the group near the fountain. A few more stragglers had joined the group, bringing the number of people up to ten. This isn't a bad turnout, overall. Lucian was not looking to start a revolution today -- he was trying to deliver a message.

"I want to thank you all for coming to help with this demonration today," he said. "It's hard to make a stand against a way of life that is all you've ever known. As dynamos, you have always been downtrodden by the masses. They keep you and your brethren destitute as a means to their own ignoble ends. If we're able to sway the hearts and minds of the populous today, even just a little bit, it would be a small step down the long pathway of true equity."

He jabbed a finger at two of his volunteers. "You and you, come with me."

They went over to his carriage. It was an old-fashioned arrangement, drawn by horses rather than propelled by the modern steam engine that was manipulated by a dynamo driver. Lucian opened up the passenger section and pulled out three overloaded gunny sacks. Metal chinked together as he gave a bag to each of the others. He hefted the last bag over his own shoulder.

They headed back over to the rest of the group. Lucian dumped his bag onto the cobblestones. They were filled with manacles. The insides of the manacles were lined with cork, so as to prevent any unwanted conduction of electricity. The collected dynamos began to