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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
105
He
hacked
at
it,
and
other
vines
coiled
around
his
waist.
He
dug
his
heels
into
the
sand
and
clashed
the
swords
together,
trying
to
produce
a
spark.
On
his
first
try,
the
sword
in
his
right
hand
broke
in
half.
Barrent
picked
up
the
halves
and
kept
on
trying
as
the
vines
dragged
him
closer
to
the
feeding
mouths.
A
shower
of
sparks
flew
from
the
clanging
steel.
One
of
them
touched
a
vine.
With
incredible
suddenness
the
vine
burst
into
flame.
The
flame
spurted
down
the
length
of
the
vine
to
the
main
tree
system.
The
five
mouths
moaned
as
the
fire
leaped
toward
them.
If
matters
had
been
left
to
continue,
Barrent
would
have
been
burned
to
death,
for
the
Arena
was
nearly
filled
with
the
highly
combustible
vines.
But
the
flames
were
endangering
the
wooden
walls
of
the
Arena.
The
Tetrahyde
guard
detachment
put
the
fire
out
in
time
to
save
both
Barrent
and
the
spectators.
Swaying
with
exhaustion,
Barrent
stood
in
the
center
of
the
Arena,
wondering
what
would
be
used
next
against
him.
But
nothing
happened.
After
a
moment,
a
signal
was
made
from
the
President's
box,
and
the
crowd
roared
in
applause.
The
Games
were
over.
Barrent
had
survived.
Still
no
one
left
his
seat.
The
audience
was
waiting
to
see
the
final
disposition
of
Barrent,
who
had
passed
beyond
the
law.
He
heard
a
low,
reverent
gasp
from
the
crowd.
Turning
quickly,
Barrent
saw
a
fiery
dot
of
light
appear
in
mid-air.
It
swelled,
threw
out
streamers
of
light,
and
gathered
them
in
again.
It
grew
rapidly,
too
brilliant
to
look
upon.
And
Barrent
remembered
Uncle
Ingemar
saying
to
him,
"Sometimes,
The
Black
One
rewards
us
by
appearing
in
the
awful
beauty
of
his
fiery
flesh.
Yes,
Nephew,
I
have
actually
been
privileged
to
see
him.
Two
years
ago
he
appeared
at
the
Games,
and
he
also
appeared
the
year
before
that...."
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