Carver rolled his eyes -- a feature he would probably never stop enjoying -- and said, "They don't have shark teeth or jaundice yellow skin, either, but [i]you[/i] manage just fine. Humans will believe almost any excuse you give them. I once told a guy in a robotic voice that I was a prototype patrol scarecrow, and he believed me."

He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Though, if we go to Portland, nobody would even expect an excuse, anyway..."