Free Return from the Stars by Stanislaw Lem Page B

have not been in use for almost four hundred years. Interesting excursions on walkways underground. Convenient ulder and gleeder connections. Rest homes with medical care, villas to rent, with gardens, swimming pools, climate conditioning; our local office organizes all kinds of activities, excursions, games, social gatherings. Also available—real, moot, and stereon."
    "Yes, that might suit me," I said. "A villa with a garden. And there has to be water. A swimming pool, you said?"
    "Naturally, sir. A swimming pool with diving boards. There are also artificial lakes with underwater caves, a well-equipped facility for divers, underwater shows…"
    "Never mind about the shows. What does it cost?"
    "A hundred and twenty ets a month. But if you share with another party, only forty."
    "Share?"
    "The villas are very spacious, sir. From twelve to eighteen rooms—automatic service, cooking done on the premises, local or exotic, whichever you prefer…"
    "Yes. I just might … all right. My name is Bregg. I'll take it. What is the name of the place? Clavestra? Do I pay now?"
    "As you wish."
    I handed it my calster.
    It turned out that only I could operate the calster, but the robot was not in the least surprised by my ignorance. More and more I was beginning to like them. It showed me what I had to do so that only one disc, with the correct number stamped on it, came out. The numbers in the windows at the top were reduced by the same amount, showing the balance of the account.
    "When can I go there?"
    "Whenever you wish. At any moment."
    "But—with whom am I sharing the villa?"
    "The Margers. He and she."
    "Can you tell me what sort of people they are?"
    "Only that they are a young married couple."
    "Hm. And I won't disturb them?"
    "No. Half of the villa is up for rent, and you will have an entire floor to yourself."
    "Good. How do I get there?"
    "By ulder would be best."
    "How do I do that?"
    "I will have the ulder for you on the day and hour you designate."
    "I'll phone from my hotel. Is that possible?"
    "Certainly, sir. The payment will be reckoned from the moment you enter the villa."
    When I left, I already had the vague outline of a plan. I would buy books and some sports equipment. Most important were the books. I should also subscribe to some specialized journals. Sociology, physics. No doubt a mass of things had been done in the past hundred years. And yes, I had to buy myself some clothes.
    But again I was sidetracked. Turning a corner, I saw—I didn't believe my eyes—a car. A real car. Perhaps not exactly as I remembered it: the body was designed all in sharp angles. It was, however, a genuine automobile, with tires, doors, a steering wheel, and behind it stood others. Behind a large window; on it, in big letters: ANTIQUES . I went inside. The owner, or salesman, was a human. A pity, I thought.
    "May I buy a car?"
    "Of course. Which one would you like?"
    "Do they cost much?"
    "From four hundred to eight hundred ets."
    Stiff, I thought. Well, antiques weren't cheap.
    "And can one travel in it?" I asked.
    "Naturally. Not everywhere, true—there are local restrictions—but in general it's possible."
    "And what about fuel?" I asked cautiously, for I had no idea what lay beneath the hood.
    "No problem there. One charge will last you for the life of the car. Including, of course, the parastats."
    "All right," I said. "I would like something strong, durable. It doesn't have to be big, just fast."
    "In that case I would suggest this giabile or that model there…"
    He led me down a big hall, along a row of machines, which shone as if they were really new.
    "Of course," the salesman continued, "they can't compare with gleeders, but, then, the automobile today is no longer a means of transportation…"
    What is it, then? I wanted to ask, but said nothing.
    "All right," I said, "how much does this one cost?" I pointed to a pale blue limousine with silver recessed headlights.
    "Four hundred and eighty ets."
    "But I want to have