Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
65
The
contest
had
lasted
no
more
than
five
minutes,
but
Barrent
was
exhausted.
He
forced
himself
to
retreat
from
the
machine,
which
was
coming
at
him
now
with
a
broad,
gleaming
hatchet.
As
the
hatchet-arm
swung,
Barrent
threw
himself
at
it
instead
of
away.
He
caught
the
arm
in
both
hands
and
bent
it
back.
Metal
creaked,
and
Barrent
thought
he
could
hear
the
joint
beginning
to
give
way.
If
he
could
break
off
the
metal
arm,
he
might
disable
the
machine;
at
the
very
least,
the
arm
would
be
a
weapon....
Max
suddenly
went
into
reverse.
Barrent
tried
to
keep
his
grip
on
the
arm,
but
it
was
yanked
away.
He
fell
on
his
face.
The
hatchet
swung,
gouging
his
shoulder.
Barrent
rolled
over
and
looked
at
the
gallery.
He
was
finished.
He
might
as
well
accept
the
machine's
next
attempt
gracefully
and
have
it
over
with.
The
spectators
were
cheering,
watching
Max
begin
its
transformation
into
another
killing
mode.
And
the
girl
was
motioning
to
him.
Barrent
stared,
trying
to
make
some
sense
out
of
it.
She
gestured
at
him
to
turn
something
over,
turn
it
over
and
destroy.
He
had
no
more
time
to
watch.
Dizzy
from
loss
of
blood,
he
staggered
to
his
feet
and
watched
the
machine
charge.
He
didn't
bother
to
see
what
weapon
it
had
extruded;
his
entire
attention
was
concentrated
on
its
wheels.
As
it
came
at
him,
Barrent
threw
himself
under
the
wheels.
The
machine
tried
to
brake
and
swerve,
but
not
in
time.
The
wheels
rolled
onto
Barrent's
body,
tilting
the
machine
sharply
upward.
Barrent
grunted
under
the
impact.
With
his
back
under
the
machine,
he
put
his
remaining
strength
in
an
attempt
to
stand
up.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
