The Company Clerk called me back. "You know the Regs so good, Ruxt," he
said. "How come you didn't ask me for permission to leave? I'm cadre,
you know." He leaned back in his chair and grinned at me. "Just to
help you remember the correct Haldorian deportment I'm putting you on
kitchen duty for the next three nights. That way," he grinned again,
"you can divide up your five hours of sleep over three nights instead
of crowding them all into one."
Poor deluded Company Clerk! I actually averaged three hours of sleep
every one of those three nights--after I found out that the mess
Trontar would accept my smoking ration.
I felt that I was beginning to understand the system, a little and at
long last, particularly after I saw my co-workers in the kitchen doing
what should have been my work.