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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
60
There
was
a
pause.
The
guards
shuffled
their
feet
restlessly.
Barrent,
who
considered
his
situation
hopeless,
stood
at
attention
and
waited.
"Drugs
serve
many
purposes,"
the
hidden
judge
went
on.
"I
need
not
enumerate
their
desirable
qualities
for
the
user.
But
speaking
from
the
viewpoint
of
the
state,
I
will
tell
you
that
an
addicted
populace
is
a
loyal
populace;
that
drugs
are
a
major
source
of
tax
revenue;
that
drugs
exemplify
our
entire
way
of
life.
Furthermore,
I
say
to
you
that
the
nonaddicted
minorities
have
invariably
proven
hostile
to
native
Omegan
institutions.
I
give
you
this
lengthy
explanation,
Will
Barrent,
in
order
that
you
may
better
understand
the
sentence
which
is
to
be
passed
upon
you."
"Sir,"
Barrent
said,
"I
was
wrong
in
avoiding
addiction.
I
won't
plead
ignorance,
because
I
know
the
law
doesn't
recognize
that
excuse.
But
I
will
ask
you
most
humbly
for
another
chance.
I
ask
you
to
remember,
sir,
that
addiction
and
rehabilitation
are
still
possible
for
me."
"The
court
recognizes
that,"
the
judge
said.
"For
that
reason,
the
court
is
pleased
to
exercise
its
fullest
powers
of
judicial
mercy.
Instead
of
summary
execution,
you
may
choose
between
two
lesser
decrees.
The
first
is
punitive;
that
you
shall
suffer
the
loss
of
your
right
hand
and
left
leg
in
atonement
for
your
crime
against
the
State;
but
that
you
shall
not
lose
your
life."
Barrent
gulped
and
asked,
"What
is
the
other
decree,
sir?"
"The
other
decree,
which
is
nonpunitive,
is
that
you
shall
undergo
a
Trial
by
Ordeal.
And
that,
if
you
survive
such
a
trial,
you
shall
be
returned
to
appropriate
rank
and
position
in
society."
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