st simultaneously be broken
and not broken. Those who never break a law never rise in status. They
are usually killed off in one way or another, since they lack the
necessary initiative to survive. For those who, like yourself, break
laws, the situation is somewhat different. The law punishes them with
absolute severity--_unless they can get away with it_."

The judge paused. In a thoughtful voice he continued, "The highest type
of man on Omega is the individual who understands the laws, appreciates
their necessity, knows the penalties for infraction, then breaks
them--and succeeds! That, sir, is your ideal criminal and your ideal
Omegan. And that is what you have succeeded in doing, Will Barrent, by
winning the Trial by Ordeal."

"Thank you, sir," Barrent said.

"I wish you to understand," the judge continued, "that success in
breaking the law once does not imply that you will succeed a second
time. The odds are increasingly against you each time you try--just as
the rewards are increasingly greater if you succeed. Therefore I counsel
you not to act rashly upon your new acquisition of knowledge."

"I won't, sir," Barrent said.

"Very well. You are hereby elevated to the status of Privileged Citizen,
with all the rights and obligations which that entails. You are allowed
to keep your business, as before. Furthermore, you are granted a week's
free vacation in the Lake of Clouds region; and you may go on that
vacation with any female of your choice."

"I beg pardon?" Barrent said. "What was that last?"

"A week's vacation," the hidden judge repeated, "with any female of your
choice. It is a high reward, since men outnumber women on Omega by six
to one. You may pick any unmarried woman, willing or unwilling. I will
grant you three days in which to make a choice."

"I don't need three days," Barrent said. "I want the girl who was
sitting in the front row of the spectators' gallery. The girl with black
hair and green eyes. Do you know which one I mean?"

"Yes," the judge said slowly, "I know which one you mean. Her name is
Moera Ermais. I suggest that you choose someone else."

"Is there any reason?"

"No. But you would be much better advised if you selected someone else.
My clerk will be pleased to furnish you with a list of suitable young
ladies. All of them have affidavits of good performance. Several are
graduates of the Women's Institute, which, as you perhaps know, gives a
rigorous two-year course in the g