The Status Civilization

Barrent saw that the man's hand was dangling near his gun. He stopped and said, "What's the matter?" "It's Landing Day," the man said. He looked at his friends. "Well, who gets him first?" "We'll choose." "Here's a coin." "No, a show of fingers." "Ready? One, two, three!" "He's mine," said the Hadji on the left. His friends moved back as he drew his sidearm. "Wait!" Barrent called out. "What are you doing?" "I'm going to shoot you," the man said. "But why?" The man smiled. "Because it's a Hadji privilege. On every Landing Day, we have the right to shoot down any new peon who leaves his barracks area." "But I wasn't told!" "Of course not," the man said. "If you new men were told, none of you would leave your barracks on Landing Day. And that would spoil all the fun." He took aim. Barrent reacted instantaneously. He threw himself to the ground as the Hadji fired, heard a hiss, and saw a jagged heatburn score the brick building next to which he had been standing. "My turn now," one of the men said. "Sorry, old man, I believe it's mine." "Seniority, dear friend, has its privileges. Stand clear." Before the next man could take aim, Barrent was on his feet and running. The sharply winding street protected him for the moment, but he could hear the sounds of his pursuers behind him. They were running at an easy stride, almost a fast walk, as if they were completely sure of their prey. Barrent put on a burst of speed, turned down a side street, and knew immediately he had made a mistake. He was facing a dead end. The Hadjis, moving at an easy pace, were coming up behind him.