"'Men,' he said owlishly, 'le's fix it show see--I mean so she--won't
like it here an' maybe she'll go 'way. Le's set the puffs on her.'

"'On her what?' someone wanted to know.

"'On her nuthin'. Just on _her_!' the Kid said.

"'Oh.'

"There was another mass assault on the speedily diminishing supply of
illicit brandy while the committee prayed to the gods of the spacemen
for guidance. The committee decided to consider the motion.

"'Wunnerful idea,' Akermann beamed at his protege, 'but how you gonna
get 'em to bite through that protective goo she dunks herself in every
mornin'. Just how you gonna, huh?'"

* * * * *

I nodded. "How about that?" I asked Lee.

"The Kid was ready with an answer. 'Do y' know why we wear clothes
made only of vegetable or synthetic fibers and not any animal wool,
hide or fur?'

"'Sure, any fool knows that,' Akermann said. 'The cotton lobby had a
law passed.'

"'I'm serious,' the Kid told him disgustedly.

"'Howdy,' our learned chemist said happily, sticking out his hand.
'I'm Akermann.'

"The Kid must have finally decided that his boss was even more
advanced in brandy shock than he was if it was possible--and it was.
He picked another chemist, Harry North, as his new straight man and,
squinting one eye a bit in an effort to keep him in focus, said,
'Harry, do _you_ know why we don't wear wool 'n stuff like that?'

"'Sure,' Harry answered. 'The _Handbook_ says animal fibers are
protein an' if the puffs get a foothold on any article of clothing
made of 'em, then their rootlets c'n penetrate most any kind of goo
an' fasten into the guy that happens to be so stupid. Then someone has
to give him the treatment to keep him from scratching right down to
the liver an' lights.'

"The Kid's punch line was trying to get out so bad that he was about
to blow a tube. 'That's right, Harry,' he smiled patronizingly. 'Now
if Prunella was to wear somethin' like that, do y' spose the puffs
would get 'er?'

"Harry was still puzzled. 'Sure they would, but she's not gonna do it.
_Handbook_ says not to, n' even gives a long list of stuff _not_ to
wear. Nope, she won't.'

"'I know there's a list, but one nitrogenous fiber didn't get on it.
Silk is a protein--fibroin--but it's not on the list.'

"'Silk? Why should silk be on the list?' Martin, a big, beefy
physicist, was red-faced and indignant. 'It's too expensive and
fragile for ordinary wear an' besides, no