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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
22
"I
knew
that
just
by
looking
at
you,"
Frendlyer
said,
smiling
warmly.
"You
have
a
certain
victim
look;
a
mixture
of
fear
and
uncertainty
with
just
a
suggestion
of
vulnerability
thrown
in.
It's
quite
unmistakable."
"That's
very
interesting,"
Barrent
said,
glancing
toward
the
door
and
wondering
how
long
his
sanctuary
would
be
respected.
"Mr.
Frendlyer,
I'm
not
a
member
of
your
organization--"
"That
doesn't
matter,"
Frendlyer
said.
"Membership
in
our
group
is
necessarily
spontaneous.
One
joins
when
the
occasion
arises.
Our
intention
is
to
protect
the
inalienable
rights
of
all
victims."
"Yes,
sir.
Well,
there
are
three
men
outside
trying
to
kill
me."
"I
see,"
Mr.
Frendlyer
said.
He
opened
a
drawer
and
took
out
a
large
book.
He
flipped
through
it
quickly
and
found
the
reference
he
wanted.
"Tell
me,
did
you
ascertain
the
status
of
these
men?"
"I
believe
they
were
Hadjis,"
Barrent
said.
"Each
of
them
had
a
little
gold
earring
in
his
left
ear."
"Quite
right,"
Mr.
Frendlyer
said.
"And
today
is
Landing
Day.
You
came
off
the
ship
that
landed
today,
and
have
been
classified
a
peon.
Is
that
correct?"
"Yes,
it
is,"
Barrent
said.
"Then
I'm
happy
to
say
that
everything
is
in
order.
The
Landing
Day
Hunt
ends
at
sundown.
You
can
leave
here
with
knowledge
that
everything
is
correct
and
that
your
rights
are
in
no
way
being
violated."
"Leave
here?
After
sundown,
you
mean."
Mr.
Frendlyer
shook
his
head
and
smiled
sadly.
"I'm
afraid
not.
According
to
the
law,
you
must
leave
here
at
once."
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