<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0068</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0069.txt">Next (Page 69)</A><BR>"<P><P>"Heh. I know what you mean. That's part of the reason I took my leave of absence, I mean, I--I mean, there are things in this universe to do besides worry about Aconck, you know? I mean like, y'know, like friends and family and things. Good friends."<P><P>"Friends, yes, surely. But family, Daptin? In family, I can't say I've had much experience. Personal experience that is. My fellow freedom fighters, my fellow Drampticans, all fine folks, but not real, true family. One thinks of such matters cooped up here on this alien world."<P><P>"Yeah," Daptin said, distracted in thought. "I guess I've been lucky to have such a sort of stable family."<P><P>"Indeed ye have, man."<P><P>Daptin looked down.<P><P>"I like, I mean, like you offered to help me if I needed it. And y'know, this being Overwhelm and all, I mean, if anyone else had said it to me, I think I'd've thought they were, like, having something devious in mind. But, I don't know why, but I think I can trust you. You strike me as someone I can trust."<P><P>Daptin looked up and tried to read Granticaine's expression, but it was the same strong bemused glare as usual.<P><P>"You can trust me, man. I've about had it with these flounders around here, and you know my word is my law. Also, if you have something challenging in mind, I'm more than game!"<P><P>Daptin took a deep breath and held both his hands up.<P><P>"This is like, so fucking intense. I mean, I have this thing I have to do, but I don't know where to begin, like, explaining it. I mean, it's like extremely dense. I mean, like it's so--"<P><P>"--Daptin, I feel you have a worthy challenge in your mind, but let us retreat to a more secure area to discuss it, eh? To whit, someplace far from Aconck tech, if you get my drift."<P><P>Daptin sighed and nodded his head.<P><P>"Yeah."<P><P>Granticaine looked around and then he and Daptin heard a crashing sound, followed by a pudgy little green faery running from around the corner and into Granticaine.<P><P>"Hide me! Hide me!" the little faery yelped in a high-pitched wail.<P><P>"Away with ye!" Granticaine exclaimed as he backed away.<P><P>"The faery problem?" Daptin asked.<P><P>"Aye," Granticaine said. "They can't seem to keep order around here."<P><P>The faery clutched its belly with one hand and let out a delirious and exaggerated laugh while waving its other hand in the air.<P><P>"Shut the fuck up!" Daptin said.<P><P>With this, the faery shot up and through the ceiling near fast as a bullet.<P><P>"And Treyess thinks this is all such a joke," Granticaine said.<P><P>"Dude, that was pretty severe. I mean, c'mon."<P><P>All of a sudden Supple Jake, a woman with black hair and harsh hippie poetry garb, came bounding around the corner.<P><P>"Where is that little bastard!" she said.<P><P>"Through the ceiling," Granticaine said, looking up.<P><P>"Hmph!" Supple Jake said.<P><P>"Hello Jake," Daptin said.<P><P>"Huh? Oh hello there Daptin. Where ya been?"<P><P>"Around."<P><P>"Haven't we all, hey? Now I must kill these faeries. You guys wanna help?"<P><P>Granticaine put his arm around Supple Jake's shoulder and started to lead her away, his massive form making her look like a small child.<P><P>"We'd love to help now, Jake, but we have business. Business, hey? I suggest you check upstairs."<P><P>Jake looked up a Grant with a sort of dreamy smile.<P><P>"Good idea Grant. Good idea."<P><P>"Thank you," Grant said.<P><P>Jake started to walk away, but Daptin called after her.<P><P>"Hey uh, Jake. Don't tell anyone you saw me just yet, okay? Okay?"<P><P>"Okay Daptin! I didn't see ya! Got it!" Jake said as she left the two.<P><P>"Man this place is messed up since I left," Daptin said.<P><P>"Quite so, Daptin. And the thing is, if a few locals see faeries, they'll be disbelieved as loons or liars or indulgerists.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0069.txt">Next (Page 69)</A>