A Golden man tells a crowd of young people—including the narrator, Darrow—that their race was born stronger than others. The man commands the Gold people to exert their dominance over other people and prove they deserve their privileged positions. 

Darrow declares that he is of the Red people and was denied the luxuries of Golden children. Darrow predicts that contrary to the Golden man’s words, this race will die. 

Darrow remembers his father’s death on their home planet, Mars. Darrow’s father was tried in public and killed by hanging.

Darrow operates a clawDrill inside a mine. He reacts to the stench from inside his protective frysuit and watches for treacherous pitvipers. Darrow, quick and effective, is a Helldiver, while his coworkers operate smaller drills as they all mine for helium-3. Darrow remembers his lovely wife Eo, whom he has known since childhood. 

From Darrow’s comm device he hears his Uncle Narol and Old Barlow warn him not to continue drilling, as a gas pocket lies beneath the drill. Darrow dismisses them and feels annoyed at the delay. Darrow’s brother Kieran cautions him as well. Darrow wants to win the Society’s reward for mining,

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