Of course, this left me with lots of time on my hands. 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. First I fixed a place for her, and made a brush screen, so that she couldn't be seen by anyone coming to the gates. Then, one night, I sneaked into the forest and got her. It wasn't so lonely after that. Now I had something to talk to. She was small when I got her--it would be too dangerous to go near a full grown one--but she grew rapidly. That was because I caught small animals and brought them to her. Not having to depend on what she could catch, she grew almost twice as fast as usual, and was so sleek and pretty. Really, she was a pet to be proud of. I don't know how I could have stood the four months there alone, if I hadn't her to talk to. I don't think she really understood me, but I pretended she did, and that helped. 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. Finally, he asked me to give him the Key. "I've been sent to get something from the Treasure," he explained. I was unhappy to displease him, but I said, "I can't let you have it. There must be three members. You know that." "Of course, I know it. But something came up suddenly, so they sent me alone. Now, let me have it." I shook my head. That was the one order they had given me--never to give the Key to any one person who came alone. 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. Now, give me that Key!" It's a terrible thing to disobey a council member. But if I obeyed him, I would be disobeying all the others. And that would be worse. "No!" I shouted.