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Something Hugh Rustic had told her.
Think of an answer, and then look for a problem that
fits.
Euripides was up to his ears with problems. Everyone wanted to do everything at once.
Maybe she should start there . . .
* * *
A half-hour later, Laurie was back in the Office of Records. She didn't shout, or shove, or cut
in front of anyone. She waited. Eventually one of the topics became completely free. Laurie
walked over to it and drew a line on the floor.
A woman came over to write in the topic. Laurie stepped aside and let her work. A few mo-
ments later, a man came up to read from the topic.
“New policy, sir,” said Laurie. “You have to stand on the line until the first customer is fin-
ished.”
“But I have to look up something on page 1728!”
“I'm sorry,” she said. “General's Orders. But you're next.”
“Oh. All right, then.” The man stood carefully on the line. Another person came to read from
page 1024.
“General's Orders,” said 1728, pointing to the line. “Don't worry. You're right after me.”
Laurie held the line until the pattern looked like it would keep going on its own. Each new
person would be told to wait by the others already in line. Then she waited for the next topic
to open up.
As the idea spread, people started drawing lines of their own in front of other topics. Soon
the whole Records Office was calm and organized. After all, it was General's Orders.
Euripides almost couldn't believe what he was seeing. The readers and writers were follow-
ing a simple rule and taking turns! He was glad to have a rest, and he signed Laurie's Pass
without a second thought.
* * *
“General Darius?”
“You again. I don't want to hear about anything else until we've sorted out the Broccoli Situ-
ation.”
“I think the mandelbroccoli doesn't matter, sir,” said Laurie.
“What? You want the goat to eat it all?”
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