![]() ![]() The dirty dishes were dropped into a hot washer and emerged twinkling dry. An aluminum wedge scraped them down a metal throat which digested and flushed them away to the distant sea. At eight-thirty the eggs were shriveled and the toast was like stone. After a long wait the door swung down again. Outside, the garage chimed and lifted its door to reveal the waiting car. The weather box on the fron door sang quietly: "Rain, rain, go away rubbers, raincoats for today." And the rain tapped on the empty house, echoing. Eight-one, tick-tock, eight-one o'clock, off to school, off to work, run, run, eight-one! But no doors slammed, no carpets took the soft tread of rubber heels. Insurance is payable, as are the water, gas, and light bills." Somewhere in the walls, relays clicked, memory tapes glided under electric eyes. ![]() Today is the anniversary of Tilita's marriage. " It repeated the date three times for memory's sake. ![]() " Today is Aug," said a second voice from the kitchen ceiling., "in the city of Allendale, California. ![]() Seven-nine, breakfast time, seven-nine! In the kitchen the breakfast stove gave a hissing sigh and ejected from its warm interior eight pieces of perfectly browned toast, eight eggs sunnyside up, sixteen slices of bacon, two coffees, and two cool glasses of milk. The clock ticked on, repeating and repeating its sounds into the emptiness. In the living room the voice-clock sang, Tick-tock, seven o'clock, time to get up, time to get up, seven o'clock! as if it were afraid nobody would. ![]()
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