Coincidence or plan? It was hard to know.
One of the mermaids had climbed to the edge of the fountain and balanced her three-inch self precariously. She whistled at Sutton. He turned swiftly at the sound and she dived into the pool, swam in circles, mocking him with obscene signs.
Sutton leaned forward, reached into the visor rack, brought out the INF-JAT directory, flipped the pages swiftly.
INFORMATION-Terrestrial.
And the headings:
Culinary Culture Customs
That would be it. Customs.
He found DUELING, noted the number and put back the book. He reset the dial and snapped the tumbler for direct communication.
A robot's streamlined, modernistic face filled the plate.
"At your service, sir," it said.