"But how? It is not apparent."
"Not to you. It is one of those things that you miss because you are
too close to it. It is like your adage: 'Cannot see the forest for the
trees.' It will come out."
"Come out?"
"Grow out," smiled the neuro-surgeon. "Your ... beard. You notice that
I used the Terran name. That is because we have no comparable term
in Ertinian. That is because no Ertinian ever grew hair on his face.
Daily, you ... shave ... with an edged tool we furnished you upon your
request. You were robotlike in those days, Guy. You performed certain
duties instinctively and the lack of ... shaving equipment ... caused
you no end of mental concern. Thomakein studied your books and had
a ... razor ... fashioned for you."
"Whiskers. I never noticed that."
"No, it is one of those things. Save for that, Guy, you could lose
yourself among us. The ... mustache ... you wear marks you on Ertene as
an alien."
"I could shave that off."
"No. Do not. It is a mark of distinction. Everyone on Ertene has seen
your picture with it and therefore you will be accorded the deference
we show an alien when people see it. Otherwise you would be expected to
behave as we do in all things."
"That I can do."
"We know that. But there is another reason for our request. One day you
will know about it. It has to do with our decision concerning alliance
with Sol's family."