n."

"It would depend on the size of the colloidal particles, and on the
frequency of the wave, wouldn't it? Perhaps we _could_ find a frequency
that would precipitate the dust, but I wonder if we wouldn't have the
same problem as with mechanical treatment of the Earth's atmosphere.
Even if we succeeded on a laboratory scale, how could it be applied on a
practical, worldwide scale?"

"I don't know," said Ken. "It may not work out, but I think it's worth
trying."

"Yes, I agree. I don't think we'll give up the chemical research, but a
group of you can begin work on this supersonic approach tomorrow."

The losses of food at the warehouse were enormous. Less than 5 percent
of the contents could be removed in usable form. Most of the canned
goods had burst from internal pressure. Grain and other dried products
were burned, for the most part. The food supply of the community was now
reduced to six-tenths of what it had been.

The population had been reduced by one-tenth, in men killed by the
nomads.

Mayor Hilliard and his councilmen struggled to work out a reasonable
ration plan, based upon the ratio of supplies to number of consumers.
There was no arithmetical magic by which they could stretch the food
supply to satisfy minimum needs until next harvest.

There was going to be death by starvation in Mayfield before spring.

Hilliard fought through an agreement in the Council that the researchers
on College Hill, and all their families, were to have first priority,
and that they were to get full rations at all times in order to keep on
with their work.

There were grumblings among the councilmen, but they finally agreed to
the wisdom of this. They agreed there were babies and small children who
needed a somewhat normal ration, at least. There were over four hundred
wounded who had to be cared for as a result of the battle. There were
also the aged, like Granny Wicks, and her companions.

"Well try to give the little ones a chance," said Mayor Hilliard, "but
the old ones don't need it. Perhaps we can spare a little extra for the
wounded who have a chance of survival, but not much. We're going to see
that College Hill survives."

Before spring, however, a choice would still have to be made--who was to
have the remaining share of food, and who was not?

Privately, Hilliard wondered if any of them had a chance to see another
spring.

The decision to support the scientists at the expense of the other
inhabitants