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167
The Status Civilization
·
Robert Sheckley
92
"Yes?"
"Citizen's
Search
Committee,"
a
bass
voice
answered.
"Kindly
open
the
door.
We
have
reason
to
believe
that
a
Hunted
is
hiding
in
there."
"Nonsense,"
Barrent
said.
"You
can't
come
in.
This
is
a
government
office."
"We
can,"
the
bass
voice
said.
"No
room,
office,
or
building
is
closed
to
a
Citizen
on
Hunt
Day.
Are
you
opening
up?"
Barrent
had
already
moved
to
the
window.
He
opened
it,
and
heard
behind
him
the
sound
of
men
hammering
at
the
door.
He
fired
through
the
door
twice
to
give
them
something
to
think
about;
then
he
climbed
out
through
the
window.
The
rooftops
of
Tetrahyde,
Barrent
saw
at
once,
looked
like
a
perfect
place
for
a
Hunted;
therefore
they
were
the
last
place
a
Hunted
should
be.
The
maze
of
closely
connected
roofs,
chimneys,
and
spires
seemed
made
to
order
for
a
chase;
but
men
were
already
on
the
roofs.
They
shouted
when
they
saw
him.
Barrent
broke
into
a
sprint.
Hunters
were
behind
him,
and
others
were
closing
in
from
the
sides.
He
leaped
a
five-foot
gap
between
buildings,
managed
to
hold
his
balance
on
a
steeply
pitched
roof,
and
scrambled
around
the
side.
Panic
gave
him
speed.
He
was
leaving
the
Hunters
behind.
If
he
could
keep
up
the
pace
for
another
ten
minutes,
he
would
have
a
substantial
lead.
He
might
be
able
to
leave
the
roofs
and
find
a
better
place
for
concealment.
Another
five-foot
gap
between
buildings
came
up.
Barrent
leaped
it
without
hesitation.
He
landed
well.
But
his
right
foot
went
completely
through
rotted
shingles,
burying
itself
to
the
hip.
He
braced
himself
and
pulled,
trying
to
extricate
his
leg,
but
he
couldn't
get
a
purchase
on
the
steep,
crumbling
roof.
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