They sat down in a booth in the main dining room and dialed a menu.
"Now, bub," said Alina impatiently, "do I have to wait for food, or do you talk now?"
"I talk now. Do you know the present Chief of Psychological Contact?"
Alina lifted an eyebrow. "No. I never even heard of the department. What is it? Top secret, or something?"
"Not particularly. I'm it."
"That's nice."
Parmay looked at the tips of his fingers. "Nice? Oh, yes. And on the same scale, S Doradus is a comfortable warm star."
"Oh?" Alina lifted both eyebrows this time. "Why did they fire you from your old job? Did you fluff up?"
Parmay glowered. "Do you want to listen to me or not? If you're bored, you can quit paying attention."
Alina's laughter broke out into the open. "But you'll go on talking just the same!"