Divvy Up by Stephen Marlowe (1949)

Name: Divvy Up
Author: Stephen Marlowe

"Divvy Up" by Stephen Marlowe is a dystopian short story set in a post-war world where societal norms have inverted, and inhumanity and cruelty are commonplace. The protagonist, Hardesty, is part of a firing squad tasked with executing a condemned man. However, before the official command to fire is given, a shot rings out, killing the man prematurely. This act of "jumping the gun" is a profitable but dangerous game, as it allows the shooter and their accomplice to loot the victim's belongings before others can. Hardesty is in cahoots with a blonde woman who fires the premature shot, allowing him to search the dead man's pockets. However, their plan is complicated when another woman, claiming to be the widow of the executed man, confronts Hardesty at gunpoint. As they negotiate over the dead man's possessions, an air raid forces them to take cover, and Hardesty ultimately kills the widow to secure his loot. The story continues with Hardesty navigating the bombed-out city, evading capture by a digging crew and a block captain who catches him stealing a wristwatch from a corpse. Hardesty's survival depends on his ability to outwit others in this dog-eat-dog world, where personal politics and betrayal are the norms. Eventually, Hardesty meets up with the blonde woman at a prearranged location, only to be betrayed. She is working for the government, using her position to catch gun-jumpers like Hardesty. Captured and sentenced to death, Hardesty finds himself tied to a firing post, facing execution by a firing squad. In a final twist of irony, he is killed by a premature shot, just as he had done to others, realizing too late the blonde woman's true allegiance. The story ends with the squad leader's frustrated demand to know who jumped the gun, highlighting the cycle of betrayal and survival in this harsh world.

By Stephen Marlowe · First published 1949 · Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Noir Fiction, Crime Fiction · 5,783 words

First lines

_Here's a fine, hard story of the inverted ethical system of the post-war world, where inhumanity is the norm and cruelty pays dividends._

Hardesty fondled the sight picture with his right eye, squinting shut his left eye, caressing the trigger of his rifle with the index finger of his right hand and waiting for the squad leader to issue his commands.

What this Textopian page supports

Divvy Up is listed on Textopian as a short story by Stephen Marlowe, dated 1949 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Stephen Marlowe
Date: 1949 CE
Language: English
Genres: Dystopian Fiction, Noir Fiction, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Pulp Fiction
Length: 5,783 words
Structure: 1 section, 124 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles

Genres

Dystopian Fiction — The narrative centers on a post-war, decaying urban landscape marked by societal collapse and moral ambiguity.
Noir Fiction — Gritty, hard-edged characters, cynicism, and a pervasive sense of fatalism define the narrative's style and themes.
Crime Fiction — The story’s focus on criminal opportunism, betrayal, and life on the fringes of society underscores its crime elements.
Thriller — High tension, sustained suspense, and unpredictable twists drive the narrative forward.