"Robert Sheckley. The Day The Aliens Came (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

"I'll think about it," Simon said.
"Why delay? Leading psychologists say that real love is a fortifier and a
restorer of sanity, a balm for damaged egoes, a restorer of hormone balance, and
an improver of the complexion. The love we supply you has everything: deep and
abiding affection, unrestrained passion, complete faithfulness, an almost mystic
affection for your defects as well as your virtues, a pitiful desire to please,
and, as a plus that only Love, Inc. can supply: that uncontrollable first spark,
that blinding moment of love at first sight!"
Mr. Tate pressed a button. Simon frowned undecisively. The door opened, a girl
stepped in, and Simon stopped thinking.
She was tall and slender, and her hair was brown with a sheen of red. Simon
could have told you nothing about her face, except that it brought tears to his
eyes. And if you asked him about her figure, he might have killed you.
"Miss Penny Bright", said Tate, "meet Mr. Alfred Simon." The girl tried to speak
but no words came, and Simon was equally dumbstruck. He looked at her and knew.
Nothing else mattered. To the depths of his heart he knew that he was truly and
completely loved.
They left at once, hand in hand, and were taken by jet to a small cottage in a
pine grove, overlooking the sea, and there they talked and laughed and loved,
and later Simon saw his beloved wrapped in the sunset flame like a goddess of
fire. And in blue twilight she looked at him with eyes enormous and dark, her
known body mysterious again. The moon came up, bright and lunatic, changing
flesh to shadow, and she wept and beat his chest with her small fists and Simon
wept too, although he did not know why. And at last dawn came, faint and
disturbed, glimmering upon their parched lips and locked lips, and nearby the
booming surf deafened, inflamed, and maddened them.

At noon they were back in the offices of Love, Inc. Penny clutched his hand for
a moment, then disappeared through an inner door.
"Was it real love?" Mr. Tate asked.
"Yes!"
"And was everything satisfactory?"
"Yes! It was love, it was the real thing! But why did she insist on returning?"
"Post-hypnotic command," Mr. Tate said.
"What?"
"What did you expect? Everyone wants love, but few wish to pay for it. Here's
your bill, sir."
Simon paid, fuming. "This wasn't necessary," he said. "Of course I would pay you
for bringing us together. Where is she now? What have you done with her?"
"Please," Mr. Tate said soothingly. "Try to calm yourself."
"I don't want to be calm!" Simon shouted. "I want Penny!"
"That will be impossible," Mr. Tate said, with the barest hint of frost in his
voice. "Kindly stop making a spectacle of yourself."
"Are you trying to get more money out of me?" Simon shrieked. "All right, I'll
pay. How much do I have to pay you to get her out of your clutches?" And Simon
yanked out his wallet and slammed it on the desk.
Mr. Tate poked the wallet with a stiffened forefinger. "Put that back in your
pocket," he said. "We are an old and respectable firm. If you raise your voice
again, I shall be forced to have you ejected."
Simon calmed himself with and effort, put the wallet back in his pocket and sat