"Just the thing," she said enthusiastically, reaching out of his field
of vision. The hand came back with a package. "Tear off a capsule, crush
it, and apply to your face. It removes whiskers permanently for two
days, and leaves your face as soft and smooth as Martian down."
Jadiver shuddered. "I'd rather be a man than a bird. Do you have
anything that leaves a face feeling like skin?"
The robot harem girl stabbed out frantically, but nothing came to hand.
She turned around and went off to search. Jadiver sighed with relief and
started to scan the shelves. The robot returned before he could make a
selection.
"We have nothing like that," she said, crestfallen. "Asteroid alabaster
or hydroponic grapes and several other things, but no whiskoff that will
leave your face feeling like skin."
"Then order something that will," said Jadiver. "Meanwhile I'll settle
for a face of hydroponic grapes. Two weeks supply will be enough."