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1
167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
83
Joe
stared
at
him.
"Are
you
out
of
your
mind?"
"No.
I
found
the
man
who
actually
did
it.
He's
a
Second
Class
Resident
named
Illiardi."
"Why
spread
it
around?"
Joe
asked.
"No
sense
in
losing
credit
for
the
kill."
"I
didn't
murder
the
man,"
Barrent
said.
"I
want
you
to
tell
Moera.
Will
you?"
"I'll
tell
her,"
Joe
said.
"If
I
can
locate
her.
Look,
will
you
remember
what
I've
said?
Maybe
you
still
have
time
to
do
something
about
it.
Go
to
Black
Mass
or
something.
It
might
help."
"Maybe
I'll
do
that,"
Barrent
said.
"You'll
be
sure
to
tell
her?"
"I'll
tell
her,"
Joe
said.
He
left
the
Antidote
Shop
shaking
his
head
sadly.
Chapter
Fifteen
Three
days
later,
Barrent
received
a
visit
from
a
tall,
dignified
man
who
stood
as
rigidly
erect
as
the
ceremonial
sword
that
hung
by
his
side.
The
old
man
wore
a
high-collared
coat,
black
pants,
and
gleaming
black
boots.
From
his
clothing,
Barrent
knew
he
was
a
high
government
official.
"The
government
of
Omega
sends
you
greetings,"
said
the
official.
"I
am
Norins
Jay,
Sub-Minister
of
Games.
I
am
here,
as
required
by
law,
to
inform
you
personally
of
your
good
fortune."
Barrent
nodded
warily
and
invited
the
old
man
into
his
apartment.
But
Jay,
erect
and
proper,
preferred
to
stay
in
the
store.
"The
yearly
Lottery
drawing
was
held
last
night,"
Jay
said.
"You,
Citizen
Barrent,
are
one
of
the
prize
winners.
I
congratulate
you."
"What
is
the
prize?"
Barrent
asked.
He
had
heard
of
the
yearly
Lottery,
but
had
only
a
vague
idea
of
its
significance.
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