Waiting in Line

Seeing nothing better to do, she joined the end of the line, and spoke to the girl in front of her, a striking brunette who was wearing a baby doll nightie. "Hello. I'm Astra. What are we lined up for?"

"Hello, Astra. I'm Helen. I don't know what we're waiting for, to tell you the truth. Presumably we'll find out when we reach the head of the line. I like your dog, by the way."

"I call him Fred, in memory of a late colleague of mine, though his real name is Velus." Velus barked, either in protest or as a greeting to Helen.

Astra went on: "I'm contracted for six months of mercenary duties, but I've just had a worrying thought. Apparently that period will only commence once I've completed my training. What if they deliberately spin out the training? I don't know whether the contract that I signed put any time limit on it."

"That is worrying. You're better off than me, though, as I never even found out how long I've committed myself to after my training finishes."

1. The line is moving quite quickly.
2. The line is moving extremely slowly.
3. Another girl appears and joins the line after Astra.
4. A man comes round the corner and hands each of the girls in the line an orientation leaflet.

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