The judge was leaving the bench, but he turned back.
"Appeal bond is $2000."
"No appeal," Perry said glumly.
He walked home. The 2087 Serve-All was there waiting for him, in the middle of his living room floor.
Marlboro had tied a gay red ribbon around it to cheer him.
He wasn't cheered. The thing must have been delivered even while he was in court. There had never been a doubt that he would lose the case. Rage began to crawl its acid path through his stomach again.
The Serve-All was tuned to him now. It removed his hat and coat and put them in the closet. It loosened his tie, patted a sofa cushion to his shape and brought him a drink.
Perry might just possibly have adjusted to the situation, but the Serve-All was over anxious.
He liked to sip a drink. But when he lifted the glass to his lips, an invisible finger of energy pushed helpfully on the bottom.