"bud sparhawk - the suit" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sparhawk Bud)

тАЬWe have some excellent GTC coats in your preferred color range,тАЭ
the robot continued smoothly as it displayed a selection of coats fabricated
by the General Threads Consortium. I watched with some excitement as it
paged through the selections just slowly enough for me to appreciate the
details of cut and fabric.

I spotted a nice Harris Tweed with cinched belt. тАЬIt comes with the
latest Apple suitware,тАЭ the robot whispered when it detected my interest.
тАЬThe fabric is completely waterproof, stain resistant, and temperature
compliant. In addition, the suitware can handle up to sixteen suit-to-suit
interactions simultaneously. WhatтАЩs more,тАЭ it added softly, as if to convey a
great secret, тАЬit is on sale at a price you can afford.тАЭ

For the tenth time in as many days, I regretted not restricting
disclosure of my account balances to commercial inquiries. Sure, making
my financial health available to authorized stores made shopping more
convenient and efficient, but still, it rankled that my finances should be so
transparent.
 тАЬIтАЩll take it,тАЭ I said, deciding after a momentтАЩs consideration that the
price was eminently affordable. тАЬIтАЩd like a new pair of shoes as well,тАЭ I
added, hoping that I could find a pair that wouldnтАЩt be so critical about my
weight.

тАЬOf course, sir. Would you like them in brown, cordovan, or black?
Would you like loafer, or laced, boot or moccasin style, leather or ...?тАЭ

I stopped the robot, not wanting to hear every option the store might
offer. тАЬI think a pair of leather loafers would be nice.тАЭ A simple, understated
pair would go well with the tweed jacket.

The robot blinked again. тАЬWe have two hundred and fifty-three
possible variations of leather loafers in our inventory,тАЭ it said. тАЬShall I
display them?тАЭ

I knew that the only way to find a pair I liked was to plow through the
list. тАЬLetтАЩs begin,тАЭ I said with a sigh.

The robot brought a dozen pair of shoes into its display. I admired the
handsome leathers, the fine stitching, and the exquisite polish that seemed
inches deep. The pair with a lustrous pearl color and pink highlights was
particularly beautiful. There was only one problem. тАЬThese are all womenтАЩs
pumps,тАЭ I exclaimed.

The robot blinked again. тАЬBut you requested...тАЭ it began and then
switched to тАЬOf course, sir. My mistake,тАЭ and displayed a selection of more
appropriate loafers.

тАЬNo tassels, please,тАЭ I insisted, which dropped the number of
possible styles to a mere one hundred. We proceeded merrily along until a