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    Cost of Living
    Cost of Living
    Cost of Living
    Ebook35 pages23 minutes

    Cost of Living

    By Ed Emshwiller and Robert Sheckley

    ()

    Read preview
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateNov 25, 2013
    Cost of Living

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      Book preview

      Cost of Living - Ed Emshwiller

      The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cost of Living, by Robert Sheckley

      This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

      almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or

      re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

      with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

      Title: Cost of Living

      Author: Robert Sheckley

      Illustrator: Ed Emshwiller

      Release Date: July 19, 2009 [EBook #29458]

      Language: English

      *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COST OF LIVING ***

      Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online

      Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

      Cost

      of

      Living

      If easy payment plans were

      to be really efficient, patrons'

      lifetimes had to be extended!

      By ROBERT SHECKLEY

      Illustrated by EMSH

      Carrin decided that he could trace his present mood to Miller's suicide last week. But the knowledge didn't help him get rid of the vague, formless fear in the back of his mind. It was foolish. Miller's suicide didn't concern him.

      But why had that fat, jovial man killed himself? Miller had had everything to live for—wife, kids, good job, and all the marvelous luxuries of the age. Why had he done it?

      Good morning, dear, Carrin's wife said as he sat down at the breakfast table.

      Morning, honey. Morning, Billy.

      His son grunted something.

      You just couldn't tell about people, Carrin decided, and dialed his breakfast. The meal was gracefully prepared and served by the new Avignon Electric Auto-cook.

      His mood persisted, annoyingly enough since Carrin wanted to be in top form this morning. It was his day off, and the Avignon Electric finance man was coming. This was an important day.

      He walked to the door with his son.

      Have a good day, Billy.

      His son nodded, shifted his books and started to school without answering. Carrin wondered if something was bothering him, too. He hoped not. One worrier in the family was

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