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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
52
"Is
this
likely
to
be
dangerous?"
Barrent
asked.
"It
shouldn't
be,"
Doctor
Wayn
said.
"You
appear
healthy
enough.
Quite
healthy,
in
fact,
and
with
a
low
suggestibility
rating.
Of
course,
epileptic
fits
do
occur,
probably
because
of
cumulative
allergic
reactions.
Can't
help
that
sort
of
thing.
And
then
there
are
the
traumas,
which
sometimes
result
in
insanity
and
death.
They
form
an
interesting
study
in
themselves.
And
some
people
get
stuck
in
their
dreams
and
are
unable
to
be
extricated.
I
suppose
that
could
be
classified
as
a
form
of
insanity,
although
actually
it
isn't."
The
doctor
had
finished
mixing
his
drugs.
He
was
loading
a
hypodermic
with
the
mixture.
Barrent
was
having
serious
doubts
about
the
advisability
of
the
whole
thing.
"Perhaps
I
should
postpone
this
visit,"
he
said.
"I'm
not
sure
that
I--"
"Don't
worry
about
a
thing,"
the
doctor
said.
"This
is
the
finest
Dream
Shop
on
Omega.
Try
to
relax.
Tight
muscles
can
result
in
tetanic
convulsions."
"I
think
Mr.
Arkdragen
was
right,"
Barrent
said.
"Maybe
I
shouldn't
have
a
dream
about
Earth
for
my
first
visit.
He
said
it
was
dangerous."
"Well,
after
all,"
the
doctor
said,
"what's
life
without
a
little
risk?
Besides,
the
most
common
damage
is
brain
lesions
and
burst
blood
vessels.
And
we
have
full
facilities
for
taking
care
of
that
sort
of
thing."
He
poised
the
hypodermic
over
Barrent's
left
arm.
"I've
changed
my
mind,"
Barrent
said,
and
started
to
get
off
the
bed.
Doctor
Wayn
deftly
slid
the
needle
into
Barrent's
arm.
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