"What"s ... uh ... how do you spell the name of this town?" Brett asked.
"I was never much of a one for spelling, sir," the waiter said.
"Try it."
"Gravy, sir?"
"Sure. Try to spell the name."
"Perhaps I"d better call the headwaiter, sir," the golem said stiffly.
From the corner of an eye Brett caught a flicker of motion. He whirled, saw nothing. Had it been a Gel?
"Never mind," he said. The waiter served potatoes, peas, refilled the wine gla.s.s, moved off silently. The question had been a little too unorthodox, Brett decided. Perhaps if he led up to the subject more obliquely ...
When the waiter returned Brett said, "Nice day."
"Very nice, sir."
"Better than yesterday."
"Yes indeed, sir."
"I wonder what tomorrow"ll be like."
"Perhaps we"ll have a bit of rain, sir."
Brett nodded toward the dance floor. "Nice orchestra."
"They"re very popular, sir."
"From here in town?"
"I wouldn"t know as to that, sir."
"Lived here long yourself?"
"Oh, yes, sir." The waiter"s expression showed disapproval. "Would there be anything else, sir?"
"I"m a newcomer here," Brett said. "I wonder if you could tell me--"
"Excuse me, sir." The waiter was gone. Brett poked at the mashed potatoes. Quizzing golems was hopeless. He would have to find out for himself. He turned to look at the fat man. As Brett watched he took a large handkerchief from a pocket, blew his nose loudly. No one turned to look. The orchestra played softly. The couples danced. Now was as good a time as any ...
Brett rose, crossed to the other"s table. The man looked up.
"Mind if I sit down?" Brett said. "I"d like to talk to you."
The fat man blinked, motioned to a chair. Brett sat down, leaned across the table. "Maybe I"m wrong," he said quietly, "but I think you"re real."
The fat man blinked again. "What"s that?" he snapped. He had a high petulant voice.
"You"re not like the rest of them. I think I can talk to you. I think you"re another outsider."
The fat man looked down at his rumpled suit. "I ... ah ... was caught a little short today. Didn"t have time to change. I"m a busy man. And what business is it of yours?" He clamped his jaw shut, eyed Brett warily.
"I"m a stranger here," Brett said. "I want to find out what"s going on in this place--"
"Buy an amus.e.m.e.nt guide. Lists all the shows--"
"I don"t mean that. I mean these dummies all over the place, and the Gels--"
"What dummies? Jells? Jello? You don"t like Jello?"
"I love Jello. I don"t--"
"Just ask the waiter. He"ll bring you your Jello. Any flavor you like.
Now if you"ll excuse me ..."
"I"m talking about the brown things; they look like muddy water. They come around if you interfere with a scene."
The fat man looked nervous. "Please. Go away."
"If I make a disturbance, the Gels will come. Is that what you"re afraid of?"
"Now, now. Be calm. No need for you to get excited."
"I won"t make a scene," Brett said. "Just talk to me. How long have you been here?"
"I dislike scenes. I dislike them intensely."
"When did you come here?"
"Just ten minutes ago. I just sat down. I haven"t had my dinner yet.
Please, young man. Go back to your table." The fat man watched Brett warily. Sweat glistened on his bald head.
"I mean this town. How long have you been here? Where did you come from?"
"Why, I was born here. Where did I come from? What sort of question is that? Just consider that the stork brought me."
"You were born here?"
"Certainly."
"What"s the name of the town?"