"Welcome, welcome, sir or madam," the table candle said as its wick flickered and lit up.

"Sir, not madam." "How can we be of service… sir not madam?"

The world was full of moronic robots and computers tonight. "Bring beer. Big, cold."

"Delighted to be of service, sir not madam."

The table vibrated, then a hatch slid back and the beer emerged. I reached for it but could not lift it. "Two kropotniks, fifty," a colder mechanical voice said. I pushed three coins into the slot and the clamp on the glass was released. "Thank you for the tip," the voice said, keeping my change. I drowned my incipient growl with a swig of beer.

The rain lashed down on the square, thunder rumbled in the distance. An occasional car swished by; the door to the Church of the Seekers of the Way remained closed. The beer was flat.

I waited.

Time passed. I finished the first beer and ordered another one.

"Two kropotniks, seventy," the table said.

"Why? The last beer was two fifty."

"That was during the happy hour. Pay." I fed in the exact amount this time and the glass was released. "Cheapskate," the computer muttered and emitted an electronicraspberry

The rain finally slackened, stopped, and one of Vulkann's three moons appeared briefly through a gap in the clouds. Then there was flicker of movement across the way and three women emerged from the church. They talked together for a moment before separating. Sybil came towards me and I felt a certain relaxation; at least she was safe. She did not look at me but must have been aware of my presence because she turned and entered the cafe. I took a few minutes to sip my beer. She did not appear to have been followed. I finished my drink, put the glass down and went inside. She was in one of the rear booths with a cocktail glass before her; she nodded slightly and I went to join her.