The Seventh Golden Age of Science Fiction Megapack by H. B. Fyfe
Author:H. B. Fyfe [Fyfe, H. B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction;sci-fi;pulp fiction;classic;short stories
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2014-08-11T16:46:19+00:00
MANNERS OF THE AGE
The red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court, its four wide-set wheels squealing. For a moment, Robertâs hard-hit passing shot seemed to have scored. Then, at the last instant, the robot whipped around its single racket-equipped arm. Robert sprawled headlong in a futile lunge at the return.
âGame and set to Red Three,â announced the referee box from its high station above the net.
âAh, shut up!â growled Robert, and flung down his racket for one of the white serving robots to retrieve.
âYes, Robert,â agreed the voice. âWill Robert continue to play?â Interpreting the manâs savage mumble as a negative, it told his opponent, âReturn to your stall, Red Three!â
Robert strode off wordlessly toward the house. Reaching the hundred-foot-square swimming pool, he hesitated uncertainly.
âWeatherâs so damned hot,â he muttered. âWhy didnât the old-time scientists find out how to do something about that while there were still enough people on Earth to manage it?â
He stripped off his damp clothing and dropped it on the âbeachâ of white sand. Behind him sounded the steps of a humanoid serving robot, hastening to pick it up. Robert plunged deep into the cooling water and let himself float lazily to the surface.
Maybe they did, he thought. I could send a robot over to the old city library for information. Still, actually doing anything would probably take the resources of a good many personsâand it isnât so easy to find people now that Earth is practically deserted.
He rolled sideward for a breath and began to swim slowly for the opposite side of the pool, reflecting upon the curious culture of the planet. Although he had accepted this all his life, it really was remarkable how the original home of the human race had been forsaken for fresher worlds among the stars. Or was it more remarkable that a few individuals had asserted their independence by remaining?
Robert was aware that the decision involved few difficulties, considering the wealth of robots and other automatic machines. He regretted knowing so few humans, though they were really not necessary. If not for his hobby of televising, he would probably not know any at all.
âWonder how far past the old city Iâd have to go to meet someone in person,â he murmured as he pulled himself from the pool. âMaybe I ought to try accepting that televised invitation of the other night.â
* * * *
Several dark usuform robots were smoothing the sand on this beach under the direction of a blue humanoid supervisor. Watching them idly, Robert estimated that it must be ten years since he had seen another human face to face. His parents were dim memories. He got along very well, however, with robots to serve him or to obtain occasional information from the automatic scanners of the city library that had long ago been equipped to serve such a purpose.
âMuch better than things were in the old days,â he told himself as he crossed the lawn to his sprawling white mansion. âMust have been awful before the population declined.
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