The Moratorium on Brains

           "Wherehaveyoubeenallthistime?"EddieWillersaskedtheworkerintheundergroundcafeteria,andadded,withasmilethatwasanappeal,anapologyandaconfessionofdespair,"Oh,Iknowit’sIwho’vestayedawayfromhereforweeks."Thesmilelookedliketheeffortofacrippledchildgropingforagesturethathecouldnotperformanylonger."Ididcomehereonce,abouttwoweeksago,butyouweren’therethatnight.Iwasafraidyou’dgone...somanypeoplearevanishingwithoutnotice.Ihearthere’shundredsofthemrovingaroundthecountry.Thepolicehavebeenarrestingthemforleavingtheirjobs—they’recalleddeserters—butthere’stoomanyofthemandnofoodtofeedtheminjail,sonobodygivesadamnanymore,onewayoranother.Ihearthedesertersarejustwanderingabout,doingoddjobsorworse—who’sgotanyoddjobstoofferthesedays?...It’sourbestmenthatwe’relosing,thekindwho’vebeenwiththecompanyfortwentyyearsormore.Whydidtheyhavetochainthemtotheirjobs?Thosemenneverintendedtoquit—butnowthey’requittingattheslightestdisagreement,justdroppingtheirtoolsandwalkingoff,anyhourofthedayornight,leavingusinallsortsofjams—themenwhousedtoleapoutofbedandcomerunningiftherailroadneededthem...Youshouldseethekindofhumandriftwoodwe’regettingtofillthevacancies.Someofthemmeanwell,butthey’rescaredoftheirownshadows.