<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0051</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0052.txt">Next (Page 52)</A><BR>"<P><P>"Okay," Fake said, looking out the window. "This is Boltpike, alright. Hear that Tavmatey? We're here."<P><P>"Goody," Tavmatey said.<P><P>"It's always dark here, right?" Daptin asked.<P><P>"More or less," Fake said.<P><P>"Sort of reminds me of home," Daptin said.<P><P>"Daptin," Tavmatey said from within the Cup, "I think we should talk."<P><P>"Here," Fake said, handing Daptin the Cup.<P><P>"Well?" Daptin asked.<P><P>"Well. How about telling the truth?" Tavmatey said.<P><P>"The truth is, I never met anyone named Tavmatey, and I never went to Shirt University. Ask Fake."<P><P>"What?" Fake asked.<P><P>"Tell Tavmatey where I went to college all four years," Daptin said.<P><P>"Um, you went to Thatterine as far as I know. I mean, I knew you there. I'm pretty sure you never went to Shirt," Fake said.<P><P>"I'm not crazy," Tavmatey said. "I know you. I've--y'know--been with you, in that way. I know you."<P><P>"This isn't true," Daptin said, shaking his head.<P><P>"I'll prove it. Shall I do that? How about your birthmark? You have a birthmark on your scrotum--in the shape of a pine tree. How would I know this?" Tavmatey said.<P><P>"Come on! That's getting personal," Daptin said.<P><P>"You really have a birthmark like that?" Fake asked.<P><P>"If you have to know, yes. Nothing I can help. I mean, I was born with it. It's not a tattoo or anything."<P><P>"So how does Tavmatey know?" Fake asked.<P><P>"Who cares?" Jerald said from across the room.<P><P>"Well?" Fake asked.<P><P>"I don't know. Maybe someone who knew me told her."<P><P>"Who would tell me that?" Tavmatey said. "And I can tell you more things. Your personal number, your parents' address in Arctica, both your grandmothers' maiden names, your favorite foods, your deepest secrets."<P><P>"Okay. Okay, enough. Let's be reasonable here. You're probably from an Earth alternate to ours. Although I've never encountered two Earths with duplicate people living on them, I suppose it's possible. Whatever, I'm not the Daptin you knew."<P><P>"Fair enough," Tavmatey said.<P><P>"Earths?" Fake asked.<P><P>Daptin shook his head and swatted his hand at Fake and said "Forget it. Later. Later."<P><P>Fake raised her eyebrows.<P><P>"And uh, Tavmatey," Daptin said, "while we're on the subject of secrets, just how did you go from being a Shirt coed to getting trapped inside a 40,000-year-old cup of coffee?"<P><P>"It's a long story."<P><P>"What year do you think it is?" Daptin asked.<P><P>"1692, as far as I know."<P><P>"It's 1687 to us," Daptin said, staring at the Cup. "I was a Junior about three years ago, in 1684. Are you saying you met me eight years ago, in your experience?"<P><P>"Um--yeah, that's about right," Tavmatey said.<P><P>"It is 1687," Fake said. "There's no denying that."<P><P>"Is she from the future?" Jerald asked.<P><P>"I guess she is," Daptin responded. "An alternate future, if anything."<P><P>"Anyway," Tavmatey said, "I'm sorry. I guess you're not my Daptin. But you're similar enough to have the same pine tree birthmark."<P><P>"It doesn't look all that much like a pine tree."<P><P>"Oh yes it does. I've seen it close up. Closer than you could ever have seen it."<P><P>"Okay, fine. Very cute. That's great."<P><P>"It's true."<P><P>"Great."<P><P>"So are you gonna get me outta here soon? I think I like you a lot better now, knowing that you're not the same Daptin I knew."<P><P>"Why? What did he do wrong?"<P><P>"Plenty. But you're not him."<P><P>"Well, you can tell me all about it when we finally meet."<P><P>Jerald walked over to Daptin and talked into the Cup.<P><P>"Watch out Miss Tavmatey--Daptin's girlfriend is a goddess named Spanking New Sarah. She's a very--"<P><P>"--cut the shit," Daptin said. "Come on, let's get on with it."<P><P>Daptin tried to open the door, but found it locked.<P><P>"Damn!" Daptin said.<P><P>"May I?" Jerald said, pointing his gun toward the large window.<<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0052.txt">Next (Page 52)</A>