MRS. COVENTRY'S little grandson has climbed onto the table, the better to drown out the ceiling speakers with his bellowing trombone.

"These poor dupes all around us are just as irritated as we are," he squawks. "But they're not well-to-do, and they can't bring themselves to leave till they've done justice to the paltry tab. They're in agony in the meantime. And here's the most diabolical bit of all... Are you ready?

"Ready?" says Spencer, who's just barely keeping up.

"The agony is the biggest draw of all! They wouldn't come near this place without it!"

This is a great revelation to Spencer. In his mind, he sees himself at various times throughout his busboy career, getting twitchy and angry, even on break time, teeth gritting, knuckles whitening on the edges of trays in unconscious rhythm, and not knowing why.

But now that he knows it's all the fault of the Muziq Company, instead of being resentful, Spencer is fascinated. Leaving the intended victim stomping around on the table and tooting full blast, he infiltrates his nondescript self into the back of the restaurant.

As violet and yellow-clad employees scurry all around him, Spencer inspects a wall console full of knobs and dials, and starts to sound out a label which reads:

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM IRRITANT TUNES
FOR RAPID HIGH-VOLUME CUSTOMER TURNOVER