"Then he did not have one. You attempted to bribe him."
"Well, it was just a friendly offer," said Maria, straightening her skirt. "It didn't amount to anything."
"On the contrary, it amounted to bribery, immorality, and economic subversion. Procedures such as purchase and merchandising must be strictly regulated for the good of the community. We cannot permit chaos to intrude upon the peace of Greenhaven."
"You know, honey," she remarked, studying him with her head cocked to one side, "you talk like a book. A very old book."
The guard rolled his eyes toward the hall. He relaxed for the first time, in order to lean back and listen to something in the corridor.
"I must caution you to cease addressing me as 'honey,'" he said in a lower voice. "I hear the steps of my superior."
Maria laughed, a silvery ripple that made the young man grit his teeth.
"Maybe he's jealous," she suggested. "Or bored. What do you fellows have to do, anyway, except go around handing out cell work and picking it up?"
"There is no place on Greenhaven for idle hands," said the young man, eyeing the untouched sewing with disapproval.
"Isn't there ever any excitement? How often does someone try to escape?"