Monette Cummings

“ Gremm became quite angry.
"You idiot," he shouted. "Why do you think I had you put out here? It was so I could get in there and help myself to the Treasure."
"But that would be dishonest. And there are no dishonest people in the State."
"For three thousand years. I know." His usually kind face had an ugly look I had never seen before. "But I'm going to get part of that Treasure. And it won't do you any good to report it, because no one is going to take the word of a fool like you, against a respected council member. They'll think you are the dishonest one. ”

“ Every three or four weeks, three of the council members came to take a part of the Treasure, or to add to it. Always three of them.
That's why I was so surprised one day, to see one man coming by himself. It was Gremm, the little old member, who had recommended that I be given this job. I was happy to see him, and we talked for a while, mostly about my work, and how I liked it. I almost told him about my pet, but I didn't, because he might be angry at me for breaking the Law. ”

“ That's how I happened to get her in the first place. I'd always wanted one, but pets were forbidden. Busy people didn't have time for them. So I knew I was breaking the Law. But I figured that no one would ever find out. ”