Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
1
167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
25
"Well,
if
you
ask
me,
it's
a
very
good
object
lesson.
One
mustn't
get
out
of
practice."
"And,"
the
other
man
said,
"one
mustn't
underestimate
even
a
peon."
He
looked
at
Barrent.
"Nice
shooting,
fellow."
"Yes,
very
nice
indeed,"
the
other
man
said.
"It's
difficult
to
fire
a
handgun
accurately
while
in
motion."
Barrent
got
to
his
feet
shakily,
still
holding
the
girl's
weapon,
prepared
to
fire
at
the
first
suspicious
movement
from
the
Hadjis.
But
they
weren't
moving
suspiciously.
They
seemed
to
regard
the
entire
incident
as
closed.
"What
happens
now?"
Barrent
asked.
"Nothing,"
one
of
the
Hadjis
said.
"On
Landing
Day,
one
kill
is
all
that
any
man
or
hunting
party
is
allowed.
After
that,
you're
out
of
the
hunt."
"It's
really
a
very
unimportant
holiday,"
the
other
man
said.
"Not
like
the
Games
or
the
Lottery."
"All
that
remains
for
you
to
do,"
the
first
man
said,
"is
to
go
to
the
Registration
Office
and
collect
your
inheritance."
"My
what?"
"Your
inheritance,"
the
Hadji
said
patiently.
"You're
entitled
to
the
entire
estate
of
your
victim.
In
Draken's
case,
I'm
sorry
to
say,
it
doesn't
amount
to
very
much."
"He
never
was
a
good
businessman,"
the
other
said
sadly.
"Still,
it'll
give
you
a
little
something
to
start
life
with.
And
since
you've
made
an
authorized
kill--even
though
a
highly
unusual
one--you
move
upward
in
status.
You
become
a
Free
Citizen."
People
had
come
back
into
the
streets,
and
shopkeepers
were
unlocking
their
steel
shutters.
A
truck
marked
BODY
DISPOSAL
UNIT
5
drove
up,
and
four
uniformed
men
took
away
Draken's
body.
The
normal
life
of
Tetrahyde
had
begun
again.
This,
more
than
any
assurances
from
the
Hadjis,
told
Barrent
that
the
moment
for
murder
was
over.
He
put
the
girl's
weapon
in
his
pocket.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
