The Status Civilization

"It's self-evident," Eylan said. "Consider the institutions--all centered around legalized murder. The holidays are excuses for mass murders. Even the law, which governs the rate of murder, is beginning to break down. The population lives near the edge of chaos. And rightfully so. There's no longer any security. The only way to live is to kill. The only way to rise in status is to kill. The only safe thing is to kill--more and more, faster and faster." "You exaggerate," Moera said. "I don't think so. I realize that there seems to be a certain permanence to Omegan institutions, a certain inherent conservatism even to murder. But it's an illusion. I have no doubt that all dying societies projected their illusion of permanence--right up to the end. Well, the end of Omegan society is rapidly approaching." "How soon?" Barrent asked. "An explosion point will be reached in about four months," Eylan said. "The only way to change that would be to give the population a new direction, a different cause." "Earth," Barrent said. "Exactly. That's why the attempt must be made immediately." "Well, I don't know much about it," Barrent said. "But I'll go along with you. I'll gladly be a part of any expedition." Eylan looked uncomfortable again. "I suppose I haven't made myself clear," he said. "You are going to be the expedition, Barrent. You and only you.... Forgive me if I've startled you." Chapter Twenty According to Eylan, Group Two had at least one serious flaw: the men who composed it were, for the most part, past their physical prime. There were some younger members, of course; but they had had little contact with violence, and little chance to develop traits of self-sufficiency. Secure in the underground, most of them had never fired a beamer in anger, had never been forced to run for their lives, had never encountered the make-or-break situations through which Barrent had lived. They were brave but unproven. They would willingly undertake the expedition to Earth; but they would have little chance of success.