Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
Share image
1
167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
68
"Thank
you,
sir,"
Barrent
said.
"I
wish
you
to
understand,"
the
judge
continued,
"that
success
in
breaking
the
law
once
does
not
imply
that
you
will
succeed
a
second
time.
The
odds
are
increasingly
against
you
each
time
you
try--just
as
the
rewards
are
increasingly
greater
if
you
succeed.
Therefore
I
counsel
you
not
to
act
rashly
upon
your
new
acquisition
of
knowledge."
"I
won't,
sir,"
Barrent
said.
"Very
well.
You
are
hereby
elevated
to
the
status
of
Privileged
Citizen,
with
all
the
rights
and
obligations
which
that
entails.
You
are
allowed
to
keep
your
business,
as
before.
Furthermore,
you
are
granted
a
week's
free
vacation
in
the
Lake
of
Clouds
region;
and
you
may
go
on
that
vacation
with
any
female
of
your
choice."
"I
beg
pardon?"
Barrent
said.
"What
was
that
last?"
"A
week's
vacation,"
the
hidden
judge
repeated,
"with
any
female
of
your
choice.
It
is
a
high
reward,
since
men
outnumber
women
on
Omega
by
six
to
one.
You
may
pick
any
unmarried
woman,
willing
or
unwilling.
I
will
grant
you
three
days
in
which
to
make
a
choice."
"I
don't
need
three
days,"
Barrent
said.
"I
want
the
girl
who
was
sitting
in
the
front
row
of
the
spectators'
gallery.
The
girl
with
black
hair
and
green
eyes.
Do
you
know
which
one
I
mean?"
"Yes,"
the
judge
said
slowly,
"I
know
which
one
you
mean.
Her
name
is
Moera
Ermais.
I
suggest
that
you
choose
someone
else."
"Is
there
any
reason?"
"No.
But
you
would
be
much
better
advised
if
you
selected
someone
else.
My
clerk
will
be
pleased
to
furnish
you
with
a
list
of
suitable
young
ladies.
All
of
them
have
affidavits
of
good
performance.
Several
are
graduates
of
the
Women's
Institute,
which,
as
you
perhaps
know,
gives
a
rigorous
two-year
course
in
the
geishan
arts
and
sciences.
I
can
personally
recommend
your
attention
to--"
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
