"Shut up."
The android stared at Raymond and asked, "What fiendish, diabolical,
sure-fire scheme have you devised in that tiny, inadequate human brain
of yours now, sir?"
Raymond leered at the android. Perspiration was breaking out all over
his body. His lower lip began to tremble and his cheek twitched.
Raymond tapped his forehead. "When science fails," he said in a hoarse
whisper, "there it but one method left for a poor, ignorant savage with
a primitive brain."
Moving forward swiftly, Raymond bent over, and seized the floating
ebony end-table in both hands.
"Come here, oh, modest, unassuming, subservient one. I want to bend
your ear."
Raymond lunged forward and swung. The android dodged awkwardly, and the
table top glanced off the side of its head.
For a long moment the android remained quiet and motionless. Finally it
said, "Did you ring, sir?"
The ebony slab slipped from Raymond's hands. He squinted at the android
from under drooping, red-rimmed eyelids.
The android's head remained perfectly still. Its eyes did not follow
him.
Raymond stepped over to the bar, made tinkling noises with the bottles,
and waited tensely.
Silence. Pure silence.
The stillness of the room was suddenly warm and friendly. Astonishment
swept over Raymond in a dizzy wave. He asked in an excited whisper,
"Who are you?"