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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
120
The
control
board
flashed
and
hummed
to
itself,
serene
and
self-sufficient.
Barrent
couldn't
help
feeling
that
the
presence
of
a
human
in
this
temple
of
the
machine
was
sacrilege.
He
checked
the
air
ducts.
They
were
set
for
automatic
feed,
giving
just
enough
air
to
support
the
room's
present
human
population
of
one.
But
where
was
the
crew?
Barrent
could
understand
the
necessity
of
operating
a
starship
largely
on
an
automatic
programming
system.
A
structure
as
huge
and
complex
as
this
had
to
be
self-sufficient.
But
men
had
built
it,
and
men
had
punched
out
the
programs.
Why
weren't
men
present
to
monitor
the
switchboards,
to
modify
the
program
when
necessary?
Suppose
the
guards
had
needed
more
time
on
Omega?
Suppose
it
became
necessary
to
by-pass
the
checkpoint
and
return
directly
to
Earth?
Suppose
it
was
imperative
to
change
destination
altogether?
Who
reset
the
programs,
who
gave
the
ship
its
orders,
who
possessed
the
guiding
intelligence
that
directed
the
entire
operation?
Barrent
looked
around
the
control
room.
He
found
a
storage
bin
filled
with
oxygen
respirators.
He
put
one
on,
tested
it,
and
went
into
the
corridor.
After
a
long
walk,
he
reached
a
door
marked
CREW'S
QUARTERS.
Inside,
the
room
was
neat
and
bare.
The
beds
stood
in
neat
rows,
without
sheets
or
blankets.
There
were
no
clothes
in
the
closets,
no
personal
possessions
of
any
kind.
Barrent
left
and
inspected
the
officers'
and
captain's
quarters.
He
found
no
sign
of
recent
human
habitation.
He
returned
to
the
control
room.
It
was
apparent
now
that
the
ship
had
no
crew.
Perhaps
the
authorities
on
Earth
felt
so
certain
of
their
schedules
and
of
the
reliability
of
their
ship
that
they
had
decided
a
crew
was
superfluous.
Perhaps....
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