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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
59
Barrent
dressed.
He
was
taken
to
a
room
in
the
sprawling
Department
of
Justice.
The
room
was
called
the
Kangaroo
Court,
in
honor
of
ancient
Anglo-Saxon
judicial
proceeding.
Across
the
hall
from
it,
also
of
antique
derivation,
was
the
Star
Chamber.
Just
past
that
was
the
Court
of
Last
Appeal.
The
Kangaroo
Court
was
divided
in
half
by
a
high
wooden
screen,
for
it
was
fundamental
to
Omegan
justice
that
the
accused
should
not
see
his
judge
nor
any
of
the
witnesses
against
him.
"Let
the
prisoner
rise,"
a
voice
said
from
behind
the
screen.
The
voice,
thin,
flat
and
emotionless,
came
through
a
small
amplifier.
Barrent
could
barely
understand
the
words;
tone
and
inflection
were
lost,
as
had
been
planned
for.
Even
in
speaking,
the
judge
remained
anonymous.
"Will
Barrent,"
the
judge
said,
"you
have
been
brought
before
this
court
on
a
major
charge
of
non-drug
addiction
and
a
minor
charge
of
religious
impiety.
On
the
minor
count
we
have
the
sworn
statement
of
a
priest.
On
the
major
count
we
have
the
testimony
of
the
Dream
Shop.
Can
you
refute
either
of
these
charges?"
Barrent
thought
for
a
moment,
then
answered,
"No,
sir,
I
can't."
"For
the
present,"
the
judge
said,
"your
religious
impiety
can
be
waived,
since
it
is
a
first
offense.
But
non-drug
addiction
is
a
major
crime
against
the
state
of
Omega.
The
uninterrupted
use
of
drugs
is
an
enforced
privilege
of
every
citizen.
It
is
well
known
that
privileges
must
be
exercised,
otherwise
they
will
be
lost.
To
lose
our
privileges
would
be
to
lose
the
very
cornerstone
of
our
liberty.
Therefore
to
reject
or
otherwise
fail
to
perform
a
privilege
is
tantamount
to
high
treason."
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