Nora followed the throng of young women as they headed down the corridor to a classroom. As she entered, someone handed her a pamphlet. Between Us Girls and the Gatepost. She sat at the front of the classroom and opened to the first page.

She needn’t have bothered, as the woman from the auditorium read them the entire pamphlet out loud, word for word.

“Women must be well-groomed at all times. No midriffs, no shorts, no short skirts. Be industrious on the job and do not take advantage of those times of the month. Above all else, conduct yourselves with proper decorum and do not flirt with the men and distract them from their very important jobs.”

Nora arched an eyebrow at the last. What about the men distracting the women from doing their jobs? She glanced around her. All of the girls seemed to be taking everything very seriously. Well, almost all of the girls.

One young girl—Nora gauged her to be barely out of high school—raised her hand.

“Yes?”

“Is it okay to flirt with the boys when we’re not working and they’re not working?”

The room erupted in titters.

“You all are dismissed.”

As they were filing out, Nora noticed that young girl being led in the opposite direction. She wasn’t laughing anymore.

“Dr. Lindstrom?”

“Yes?” Nora was startled by the appearance out of nowhere of an impeccably dressed woman carrying an official-looking folder. The woman seemed familiar, but she’d met so many since her arrival, she couldn’t quite place her.

“Colonel Marshall would like to see you.” The woman must’ve registered Nora’s blank stare, because she added, “I’m Barbara. You met me yesterday when you checked in at the Castle. I’m Colonel Marshall’s assistant.”

“Oh, yes. Of course.” Recognition dawned.

“Come with me, please.”

When they arrived, Barbara knocked on a partially opened door. “Come.”

“Dr. Lindstrom is here as requested, sir.”

She stepped aside to allow Nora to pass.

“Come in and have a seat.” He indicated one of the guest chairs across from the desk.

The office wasn’t anything fancy. In fact, it seemed almost like a converted supply room.

“I’m glad I happened to be here when you arrived. Are you settling in okay?”

Although she realized it was most likely a rhetorical question, Nora was eager to take advantage of the opening. Who better to talk to than the man in charge? “Actually, sir, I think there might have been a mix-up with my accommodations.”

“Is that so?”

“I was placed in the women’s dormitory, but I understand that I qualify for something called a Cemesto.”

“Really?” The colonel rocked back in his chair.

“Yes, sir.”

“Are you married with children, Dr. Lindstrom?”

“N-no, sir.”

“Are you married at all?”

“No, sir.”

“Cemestos are reserved for married couples with families.”

“But I was led to believe that Cemestos were also for those with a higher clearance.”