The Diamond Dilemma
Marvin looked down at the sedimentary rock sample and ran his fingers over it, feeling its texture and inspecting it. Satisfied, he took out his clipboard and jotted down some notes. Another day, another rock sample, he thought. He put down the tray of samples and stood up, straightening his stiff back. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he looked up into the sky and raised a fist, shaking it as if to curse the sun as it baked down on him. He looked down again at the rock sample and saw something twinkle in the sunlight. He kneeled down next to it and, taking a small chisel from his pocket, chipped away at the rock. Then he saw what it was: a diamond, at least three carats by his reckoning. Marvin looked around him. All his colleagues were busy at work, no one had taken any notice of him. He picked up the diamond and thought about what to do next. If he turned it in to the company, they might give him a promotion. He could become a supervisor and finally get out of the sun, away from this tedious and backbreaking work. Or, he could keep the diamond. There might be more to find. Marvin gripped the diamond tightly and an impious grin spread across his face. That diamond was his.
Marvin did not go home after work that evening. Instead, he hid behind a large boulder and, when the last worker had left, he emerged from his hiding place and set to work. Manning the drill, he extracted a rock sample. He took out his chisel and etched away at the rock. Finding nothing, he repeated this process; drilling, extraction, chiseling, sample after sample, all through the night.
Marvin looked at his watch. Five forty-four am. The sun would soon be rising, and everyone would be arriving to work. He couldn’t let them find him like this and most importantly, he couldn’t let them know that he had found a diamond. He turned off the drill and hurriedly scampered back to his place behind the boulder. He leaned back against the rock and closed his eyes. That felt good. He had worked so furiously through the night; it was only now that he realised how terribly exhausted he was. Almost immediately, he drifted into a deep sleep.
Marvin awoke suddenly to the sound of machinery. He momentarily forgot where he was, but, looking around him, he remembered why he was there. It must be time for work, he thought. He stood up, ran his fingers through hair and slapped his cheek, trying to make himself alert. He casually walked out from behind the boulder.
“Morning, Marvin,” said Gus.
“Morning,” Marvin replied.
“Say, can you get on the drill this morning?” he asked. That was the last thing that Marvin wanted to do. His arms ached from the previous night’s work.
“No problem,” he said, and he stepped onto the drill. He turned it on and felt the vibrations running through his entire body. This was going to be a long day.
“Marvin! Marvin, stop!” Marvin jolted up abruptly. What was going on? The drill in front of him was bent to the side and there was a burning smell. Then Marvin realised, he had fallen asleep and now the drill was damaged. What would he do? He stepped off the drill and put his hand in his pocket. Feeling the diamond, a thought occurred to him. The diamond could pay for the drill to repaired, and he could keep his job. Or… slowly, he backed away from the drill.
“Marvin, where are you going?” Gus called out. Marvin didn’t answer. Continuing to back away, he turned, gripping the diamond in his hand, and ran, like he had never run before.
