"Then I'll go to it," said Marcus, rising. "Keep the food warm. How do I get there?"
"The manager shouldn't be disturbed," said the robot as it placed thermoshields over the food. "It's the small room to the rear, at the right of the kitchen."
Marcus found the place without difficulty. The manager lighted up as he came in. The opposite wall blinked and a chair swung out for him. "Complaint?" said the manager hollowly. The manager was hollow.
"Not exactly," said Marcus, repeating his request.
The manager meditated briefly.
"Are you an Outer?"
"I am."
"I thought so. Only Outers ask that question. I'll have to find out some day."
"Make it today," said Marcus.
"An excellent thought," said the manager. "I'll do it. But this is a chain restaurant and so you'll have to wait. If you don't mind the delay, I'll plug in one of our remote information banks."