He raced across the floor and caught her hand just before the acid-laden brush touched Brenner's skin. "Norma," he said quietly. "Don't."
She looked up at him reproachfully. "You promised me—"
"Later."
"That's what you're always saying," she complained. "Then all you do is talk a lot of guff with that female over there."
"Okay. I forgot." He turned to Brenner. "Next question: how do we navigate that ka-dodie of yours?"
Brenner laughed harshly. "You know so much, why don't you go ahead and try it?"
"Now, Farradyne?" pleaded Norma.
"Not yet. I'm going to try his suggestion." Farradyne inspected the tapings and satisfied himself. Then he turned toward the stairway.
"Wait," said Brenner testily. "Take her with you, dammit. I don't want my face lettered with words found in washrooms."
"Somehow it seems appropriate."