Читать книгу The Science Fiction Anthology онлайн

24 страница из 776

Rhadampsicus scanned. He was an ardent and sentimental husband. If his new little wife was distressed about anything at all, Rhadampsicus was splendidly ready to do something about it.

Lon Simpson looked at his kitchen locker. The big deep-freezer was repaired now. Once a season, a truck came out from Cetopolis and filled it. The food was costly. A season’s supply was kept in deep-freeze. Once in one or two weeks, one refilled the kitchen locker. It was best to leave the deep-freeze locker closed as much as possible. But now the big deep-freeze was empty. He’d cleaned out the ghastly mess in it, and he had it running again, but he had nothing to put in it. To have it refilled would put him hopelessly at the Company’s mercy, but there was nothing else to do.

Bitterly, he called the Trading Company office, and Carson answered.

“This is Simpson,” Lon told him. “How much—”

“The price for a generator,” said Carson, bored, “is the same as before. Do you want it sent out?”

“No! My food locker broke down. My food store spoiled. I need more.”