"Dave!" said a feminine voice. "Are you back? Where on Earth have you been?"
"I haven't," said Turnbull. "How come no vision?"
"I was in the hammam, silly. And what do you mean 'I haven't'? You haven't what?"
"You asked me where on Earth I'd been, and I said I haven't."
"Oh! Lucky man! Gallivanting around the starways while us poor humans have to stay home."
"Yeah, great fun. Now look, Dee, get some clothes on and turn on your pickup. I don't like talking to gray screens."
"Half a sec." There was a minute's pause, then the screen came on, showing the girl's face. "Now, what do you have on your purported mind?"
"Simple. I've been off Earth for a year, staring at bearded faces and listening to baritone voices. If it isn't too short notice, I'd like to take you to dinner and a show and whatever else suggests itself afterward."
"Done!" she said. "What time?"
"Twenty hundred? At your place?"