Tommy tried to ease their fear, but his sweet soothing words were less effective than usual because what he was saying wasn't making them feel better about what their eyes were seeing. And they were seeing pretty discouraging things.
Apparently, the large building they went to wasn't actually their accommodation. It was the factory that they would work in for most of their lives.
When they entered the factory, they saw a large central furnace at the center of the floor. They also saw tens of forgers hammering hot, glowing pieces of metal over large anvils.
Everywhere they looked, people were working hard. There was no supervisor to ensure that people were spending their time on productive things. But everyone was still focused on working their hardest.
Their accommodation was behind the factory. Tommy took them there after they toured the first floor.
