"Robert F. Young - Thirty Days Had September" - читать интересную книгу автора (Young Robert F)

the old man push it out of the window and into the store. They stood it by the door
where the light was brightest.
The old man stepped back admiringly. "Maybe I'm old-fashioned," he said, "but I
still say that teleteachers will never compare to the real thing. You went to realschool,
didn't you, sir?"
Danby nodded.
"I thought so. Funny the way you can always tell."
"Turn her on, please," Danby said.
The activator was a tiny button, hidden behind the left ear lobe. The proprietor
fumbled for a moment before he found it; then there was a little click!, followed by a
soft, almost inaudible, purring sound. Presently, color crept into the cheeks, the
breast began to rise and fall; blue eyes opened—
Danby's fingernails were digging into the palms of his hands. "Make her say
something."
"She responds to almost everything, sir," the old man said. "Words, scenes,
situations … If you decide to take her and aren't satisfied, bring her back and I'll be
glad to refund your money." He faced the case "What is your name?" he asked.
"Miss Jones." Her voice was a September wind.
"Your occupation?"
"Specifically, I'm a fourth-grade teacher, sir, but I can substitute for first, second,
third, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, and I'm well-grounded in the
humanities. Also, I'm proficient in household chores, am a qualified cook, and can
perform simple tasks, such as sewing on buttons, darning socks, and repairing rips
and tears in clothing."
"They put a lot of extras in the later models," the old man said in an aside to
Danby. "When they finally realized that teleducation was here to stay, they started
doing everything they could to beat the cereal companies. But it didn't do any
good." Then: "Step outside your case, Miss Jones. Show us how nice you walk."
She walked once around the drab room, her little red sandals twinkling over the
dusty floor, her dress a gay little rainfall of color. Then she returned and stood
waiting by the door.
Danby found it difficult to talk. "All right," he said finally. "Put her back in her
case. I'll take her."




***

"Something for me, Dad?" Billy shouted. "Something for me?"
"Sure thing," Danby said, trundling the case up the walk and lifting it onto the
diminutive front porch. "For your mother, too."
"Whatever it is, it better be good," Laura said, arms folded in the doorway.
"Supper's stone cold."
"You can warm it up," Danby said. "Watch out, Billy!"
He lifted the case over the threshold, breathing a little hard, and shoved it down
the short hall and into the living room. The living room was preempted by a
pink-coated pitchman who had invited himself in via the 120" screen and who was
loudly proclaiming the superiority of the new 2061 Lincolnette convertible.
"Be careful of the rug!" Laura said.