Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
114
When
Landing
Day
came,
Barrent
felt
a
definite
sense
of
relief.
He
was
heartily
sick
of
day
and
night
cramming.
Any
sort
of
action
would
seem
an
improvement.
Chapter
Twenty-One
Barrent
watched
the
huge
prison
ship
maneuver
into
position
and
sink
noiselessly
to
the
ground.
It
gleamed
dully
in
the
afternoon
sun,
tangible
proof
of
Earth's
long
reach
and
powerful
grasp.
A
hatch
opened,
and
a
landing
stage
was
let
down.
The
prisoners,
flanked
by
guards,
marched
down
and
assembled
in
the
square.
As
usual,
most
of
the
population
of
Tetrahyde
had
gathered
to
watch
and
cheer
the
disembarkation
ceremony.
Barrent
moved
through
the
crowd
and
stationed
himself
behind
the
ranks
of
prisoners
and
guards.
He
touched
his
pocket
to
make
sure
the
needlebeam
was
still
there.
It
had
been
made
for
him
by
Group
Two
fabricators,
completely
of
plastic
to
escape
any
metals
detector.
The
rest
of
his
pockets
were
stuffed
with
equipment.
He
hoped
he
wouldn't
have
to
use
any
of
it.
The
loudspeaker
voice
began
to
read
off
the
prisoners'
numbers,
as
it
had
when
Barrent
had
disembarked.
He
listened,
knees
slightly
bent,
waiting
for
the
beginning
of
the
diversion.
The
loudspeaker
voice
was
coming
to
the
end
of
the
prisoner
list.
There
were
only
ten
left.
Barrent
edged
forward.
The
voice
droned
on.
Four
prisoners
left,
three....
As
the
number
of
the
last
prisoner
was
announced,
the
diversion
began.
A
black
cloud
of
smoke
darkened
the
pale
sky,
and
Barrent
knew
that
the
Group
had
set
fire
to
the
empty
barracks
in
Square
A-2.
He
waited.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
