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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
85
Barrent
stopped
a
moment
to
consider
the
situation.
It
was
not
a
pleasing
prospect.
In
a
man-to-man
duel
he
had
an
excellent
chance
of
survival.
But
the
yearly
Hunt,
in
which
the
entire
population
of
Tetrahyde
took
part,
gave
him
no
chance
at
all.
He
should
have
been
ready
for
a
possibility
like
this.
"How
was
I
picked?"
he
asked.
"By
random
selection,"
said
Norins
Jay.
"No
other
method
would
be
fair
to
the
Hunteds,
who
give
up
their
lives
for
Omega's
greater
glory."
"I
can't
believe
I
was
picked
purely
by
chance."
"The
selection
was
random,"
Jay
said.
"It
was
made,
of
course,
from
a
list
of
suitable
victims.
Not
everyone
can
be
a
Quarry
in
a
Hunt.
A
man
must
have
demonstrated
a
considerable
degree
of
tenacity
and
skill
before
the
Games
Committee
would
think
of
considering
him
for
selection.
Being
Hunted
is
an
honor;
it
is
not
one
which
we
confer
lightly."
"I
don't
believe
it,"
Barrent
said.
"You
people
in
the
government
were
out
to
get
me.
Now,
it
seems,
you've
succeeded.
It's
as
simple
as
that."
"Not
at
all.
I
can
assure
you
that
none
of
us
in
the
government
bear
you
the
slightest
ill
will.
You
may
have
heard
foolish
stories
about
vindictive
officials,
but
they
simply
aren't
true.
You
have
broken
the
law,
but
that
is
no
longer
the
government's
concern.
Now
it
is
entirely
a
matter
between
you
and
the
law."
Jay's
frosty
blue
eyes
flashed
when
he
spoke
of
the
law.
His
back
stiffened,
and
his
mouth
grew
firm.
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