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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
106
The
dot
became
a
red
and
yellow
globe
about
twenty
feet
in
diameter,
its
lowest
curve
not
quite
touching
the
ground.
It
grew
again.
The
center
of
the
globe
became
thinner;
a
waist
appeared,
and
above
the
waist
the
globe
turned
an
impenetrable
black.
It
was
two
globes
now,
one
brilliant,
one
dark,
joined
by
a
narrow
waist.
As
Barrent
watched,
the
dark
globe
lengthened
and
changed
into
the
unforgettable
horn-headed
shape
of
The
Dark
One.
Barrent
tried
to
run,
but
the
huge
black-headed
figure
swept
forward
and
engulfed
him.
He
was
trapped
in
a
blinding
swirl
of
radiance,
with
darkness
above
it.
The
light
bored
into
his
head,
and
he
tried
to
scream.
Then
he
passed
out.
Chapter
Nineteen
Barrent
recovered
consciousness
in
a
dim,
high-ceilinged
room.
He
was
lying
on
a
bed.
Two
people
were
standing
near
by.
They
seemed
to
be
arguing.
"There
simply
isn't
any
more
time
to
wait,"
a
man
was
saying.
"You
fail
to
appreciate
the
urgency
of
the
situation."
"The
doctor
said
he
needs
at
least
another
three
days
of
rest."
It
was
a
woman's
voice.
After
a
moment,
Barrent
realized
that
Moera
was
speaking.
"He
can
have
three
days."
"And
he
needs
time
for
indoctrination."
"You
told
me
he
was
bright.
The
indoctrination
shouldn't
take
long."
"It
might
take
weeks."
"Impossible.
The
ship
lands
in
six
days."
"Eylan,"
Moera
said,
"you're
trying
to
move
too
fast.
We
can't
do
it
this
time.
On
the
next
Landing
Day
we
will
be
much
better
prepared--"
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