"Paul Di Filippo - Two CC's of Bestseller, Stat" - читать интересную книгу автора (Di Filippo Paul)

тАЬSir,тАЭ said one, тАЬIтАЩm afraid our instruments reveal that youтАЩre carrying a
communicable disease.тАЭ

All the other nearby patrons were looking at me and shying away. I felt
immediately like a leper.

тАЬWell, perhaps a touch of flu. My throatтАЩs a bit raspy....тАЭ

тАЬSir, are you actually unaware of the new Schwarzenegger-Clinton
Public Safety Act of 2007, which mandates that anyone wishing to utilize a
commonly shared public space must possess a clean bill of health, as
determined biometrically? Mutant tuberculosis alone last year accounted for
ten fatalities among Harry W. Schwartz customers. If we permit you to
infect your fellow booklovers, the annual bottom line of Harry W. Schwartz
could be severely impacted.тАЭ

тАЬIтАФI hadnтАЩt heard anything....тАЭ

One nurse handed me a pamphlet. тАЬHere are the details, sir.тАЭ

I studied the materialтАФinside an invisible bubble of contempt
maintained by my fellow book-browsersтАФbefore speaking.

тАЬIt seems I have only two choices. I can proceed straight homeтАФтАЭ

тАЬYour license plate has already been registered,тАЭ one of the nurses
stipulated, тАЬand youтАЩll be under constant automated satellite monitoring by
GoogleEarth.тАЭ

тАЬтАФor I can submit to treatment immediately.тАЭ

тАЬSo long as you have adequate healthcare insurance.тАЭ

тАЬI do.тАЭ

тАЬAnd do you wish to undergo treatment?тАЭ
 тАЬWell, sure, why not? I wouldтАЩve seen my own doctor sooner or later if
I didnтАЩt get better, you know.тАЭ

The eyes of the nurses managed to convey deep skepticism.

тАЬIтАЩm not a bad person, just a little out of touch.тАЭ

тАЬWe make no moral judgments, sir. Our concern is merely guarding
the publicтАЩs health. Now, if youтАЩll come with us....тАЭ

The nurses conducted me behind the sales counter and through a
door.