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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
44
"It's
a
ridiculous
ruling,"
Barrent
said.
"Not
really.
Like
most
of
the
laws
of
Omega,
it
is
designed
to
keep
the
population
down.
Omega
is
an
extremely
barren
planet,
you
know.
The
constant
arrival
of
new
prisoners
keeps
swelling
the
population,
to
the
enormous
disadvantage
of
the
older
inhabitants.
Ways
and
means
must
be
sought
to
dispose
of
the
excess
newcomers."
"It
isn't
fair,"
Barrent
said.
"You'll
change
your
mind
when
you
become
an
older
inhabitant,"
Ingemar
said.
"And
by
your
tenacity,
I'm
sure
you'll
become
one."
"Maybe,"
Barrent
said.
"But
what
happened?
The
temperature
must
have
dropped
nearly
a
hundred
degrees
in
fifteen
minutes."
"A
hundred
and
eight
degrees
to
be
exact,"
Uncle
Ingemar
said.
"It's
really
very
simple.
Omega
is
a
planet
which
revolves
eccentrically
around
a
double
star
system.
Further
instability,
I'm
told,
comes
from
the
planet's
peculiar
physical
make-up--the
placement
of
mountains
and
seas.
The
result
is
a
uniformly
and
dramatically
bad
climate
characterized
by
sudden
violent
temperature
changes."
The
assistant,
a
small,
self-important
fellow,
said,
"It
has
been
calculated
that
Omega
is
at
the
outer
limits
of
the
planets
which
can
support
human
life
without
gross
artificial
aids.
If
the
fluctuations
between
hot
and
cold
were
any
more
violent,
all
human
life
here
would
be
wiped
out."
"It's
the
perfect
punitive
world,"
Uncle
Ingemar
said
proudly.
"Experienced
residents
sense
when
a
temperature
change
is
about
to
take
place
and
get
indoors."
"It's--hellish,"
Barrent
said,
at
a
loss
for
words.
"That
describes
it
perfectly,"
the
priest
said.
"It
is
hellish,
and
therefore
perfect
for
the
worship
of
The
Black
One.
If
you're
feeling
better
now,
Citizen
Barrent,
shall
we
proceed
with
services?"
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