"Robert Sheckley. Pilgrimage to Earth" - читать интересную книгу автора

Beneath that it read, Up One Flight.

Simon frowned, for a terrible suspicion had just crossed his mind.
Still, he climbed the stairs and entered a small, tastefully furnished
reception room. >From there he was sent down a long corridor to a numbered
room.

Within the room was a handsome gray-haired man who rose from behind an
impressive desk and shook his hand, saying, "Well! How are things on
Kazanga?"

"How did you know I was from Kazanga?"

"That shirt. I always look at the shirt. I'm Mr. Tate, and I'm here to
serve you to the best of my ability. You are - "

"Simon, Alfred Simon."

"Please be seated, Mr. Simon. Cigarette? Drink? You won't regret coming
to us, sir. We're the oldest love-dispensing firm in the business, and much
larger than our closest competitor, Passion Unlimited. Moreover, our fees
are far more reasonable, and bring you an improved product. Might I ask how
you heard of us? Did you see our full page ad in the Times? Or - "

"Joe sent me," Simon said.

"Ah, he's an active one," Mr. Tate said, shaking his head playfully.
"Well, sir, there's no reason to delay. You've come a long way for love,
and love you shall have." He reached for a button on his desk, but Simon
stopped him.

Simon said, "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but..."

"Yes?" Mr. Tate said, with an encouraging smile.

"I don't understand this," Simon blurted out, flushing deeply, beads of
perspiration standing out on his forehead. "I think I'm in the wrong place.
I didn't come all the way to Earth just for ... I mean, you can't really
sell love, can you? Not love! I mean, then it isn't really love, is it?"

"But of course!" Mr. Tate said, half rising from his chair in
astonishment. "That's the whole point! Anyone can buy sex. Good lord, it's
the cheapest thing in the universe, next to human life. But love is rare,
love is special, love is found only on Earth. Have you read our brochure?"

"Bodies on a dark sea-beach?" Simon asked.

"Yes, that one. I wrote it. Gives something of the feeling, doesn't it?
You can't get that feeling from just anyone, Mr. Simon. You can get that