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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
115
Then
it
came.
There
was
a
stupendous
explosion,
blasting
through
two
rows
of
empty
buildings.
The
shock
wave
was
staggering.
Even
before
debris
began
to
fall,
Barrent
was
running
toward
the
ship.
The
second
and
third
explosions
went
off
as
he
came
into
the
ship's
shadow.
Quickly
he
stripped
off
his
Omegan
outer
garments.
Under
them,
he
wore
a
facsimile
of
guard's
uniform.
Now
he
ran
toward
the
landing
stage.
The
loudspeaker
voice
was
calling
loudly
for
order.
The
guards
were
still
bewildered.
The
fourth
explosion
threw
Barrent
to
the
ground.
He
got
to
his
feet
instantly
and
sprinted
up
the
landing
stage.
He
was
inside
the
ship.
Outside,
he
could
hear
the
guard
captain
shouting
orders.
The
guards
were
beginning
to
form
into
ranks,
their
weapons
ready
to
use
against
the
restive
crowd.
They
were
retreating
to
the
ship
in
good
order.
Barrent
had
no
more
time
to
listen.
He
was
standing
in
a
long,
narrow
corridor.
He
turned
to
the
right
and
raced
toward
the
bow
of
the
ship.
Far
behind
him,
he
could
hear
the
heavy
marching
tread
of
the
guards.
Now,
he
thought,
the
information
he
had
been
given
about
the
ship
had
better
be
right,
or
the
expedition
was
finished
before
it
began.
He
sprinted
past
rows
of
empty
cells,
and
came
to
a
door
marked
GUARD
ASSEMBLY
ROOM.
A
lighted
green
bulb
above
the
door
showed
that
the
air
system
was
on.
He
went
by
it,
and
came
to
another
door.
Barrent
tried
it
now,
and
found
it
unlocked.
Within
was
a
room
stacked
high
with
spare
engine
parts.
He
entered
and
closed
the
door.
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