“And when they get sick?” Sean asked.
“If our veterinarians determine the health problem is short term, they’re given appropriate treatments and some recovery time,” Althea replied. “If, however, the health issue is chronic and results in frequent absences from work, they’re taken to a termination facility—and in their deaths they continue working as fertilizer.”
Frowning, Egan said, “We estimated the aliens’ average lifespan on Froitas is about thirty-six annum. They begin working at around age ten. So they only have about twenty-six annum of productivity, it is a high turnover workforce.”
“The whole system is monstrous!” Althea’s exclamation dripped with anger. “A monster that requires continuous feeding.” She made eye contact with her husband, and something passed between them. “And
