 What is the Trial?
I The horses and packs were loaded before we went aboard the scoutship. They don't let us grow for fourteen years and then kick us out to die. They do figure, though, that if you can't keep yourself alive by the time you're fourteen, you're too stupid, foolish or unlucky to be any use to the Ship. Considering how short a time it was in which the colonies were established, there was not time to set up industry, so they had to have draft animals. One of the eight, as well as the two that were being built then, went up with everything else in the Solar System in 2041. The hard man said to the others, "This boy will be riding along with us to Forton for protection."
 proving your ability to survive on your own
 your chance to find a suitable partner  your first flight away from Earth  proving your ability to survive on your own  defending your right to have children