'But consider this quality of portability with respect to, say, a car. Is a car portable? With respect to a car it's more as though I'm portable.'
     'They're portable when they're on one of them semis where they got new cars stacked on with prices in the windows like a good couple dozen on them semis that swing all to fuck over the road when you're wanting to try and pass.'
     The plump one who had been ironic toward Marathe, he was nodding: 'Or, say, too, with respect to a tow truck or wrecker, if you suffer a breakdown. One might be in a position to say that a deactivated car can be quote portable, but that with respect to a functional car it is I who am portable.'
     The girl's nod caused the particular eye to wheel queasily in the socket of it. 'I'll buy that, Day.'
     'If we're jot-and-tittling with all possible precision regarding portable, that is.'

...

...

     'Did you hear what she said?' the ironic man on the divan laughed. 'Potable means drinkable. It's not even the same root. Did you hear what she said?'