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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
147
"I
don't
mind."
"What
happens,
then?"
"I
don't
remember."
"Come
now,
Willis."
"Really,
Mr.
Opinioner.
We
all
go
into
this
classroom,
and
we
come
out
two
hours
later
for
recess.
But
that's
all.
I
can't
remember
anything
else.
I've
talked
with
the
other
kids.
They
can't
remember
either."
"Strange...."
"No,
sir.
If
we
were
supposed
to
remember,
it
wouldn't
be
closed."
"Perhaps
so.
Do
you
remember
what
the
room
looks
like,
or
who
your
teacher
is
for
the
closed
class?"
"No,
sir.
I
really
don't
remember
anything
at
all
about
it."
"Thank
you.
Willis."
(Citizen
Cuchulain
Dent,
age
37,
occupation
inventor.
A
prematurely
bald
man
with
ironic,
heavy-lidded
eyes.)
"Yep,
that's
right.
I'm
an
inventor
specializing
in
games.
I
brought
out
Triangulate--Or
Else!
last
year.
It's
been
pretty
popular.
Have
you
seen
it?"
"I'm
afraid
not."
"Sort
of
a
cute
game.
It's
a
simulated
lost-in-space
thing.
The
players
are
given
incomplete
data
for
their
miniature
computers,
additional
information
as
they
win
it.
Space
hazards
for
penalties.
Lots
of
flashing
lights
and
stuff
like
that.
Very
big
seller."
"Do
you
invent
anything
else,
Citizen
Dent?"
"When
I
was
a
kid,
I
worked
up
an
improved
seeder
harvester.
Designed
to
be
approximately
three
times
as
efficient
as
the
present
models.
And
would
you
believe
it,
I
really
thought
I
had
a
chance
of
selling
it."
"Did
you
sell
it?"
"Of
course
not.
At
that
time
I
didn't
realize
that
the
patent
office
was
closed
permanently
except
for
the
games
section."
"Were
you
angry
about
that?"
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