<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0069</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0070.txt">Next (Page 70)</A><BR> But if a lot get out, then there'll be no denying it, and I don't think Overwhelm Associates wants to get into anything that would draw attention like that here on Mate P."<P><P>"That's right," Daptin said.<P><P>"Now come along, we can take the superway down to Ostandon and get some strong tea and fend fruit and talk all about this problem of yours."<P><P>"Um, sounds good to me."<P><P>"But let's cool any serious conversation till we're there--the tech here gets up exponentially these days. You gotta see the new fabric reactor they got--it's hot."<P><P>After a twenty-minute ride in light rain on the superway, a monorail-like train which runs parallel to Greatwall, Daptin and Granticaine got to Greatwall at Ostandon and went inside. On the way, Granticaine told Daptin a story about how the press virtually ravished him after the end of the war. <P><P>"Let's just go here," Granticaine said, walking toward a Hello Tarby (a chain restaurant popular along Greatwall).<P><P>"Fine by me, Grant."<P><P>As the two entered, they looked around. <P><P>"I think we can just take the table over there," Granticaine said.<P><P>They went over and sat at the table. It was midday, and the place wasn't very busy.<P><P>"I always feel so uncomfortable just hanging out at the Wall," Daptin said. "They don't have Arcticans here, and with this green hair of mine, everyone must think I'm some sort of radical student protester or something."<P><P>"Oh come now, Daptin. You're probably just imagining it. You don't have it near as bad as some of the hairies, like Vladimir Bonk or Caffeine. And poor Pantry Lurkin, he sticks out like a sore thumb. We try to dress him up as a little kid, but it's never easy."<P><P>"I guess. It's just that, y'know, being Arctican in Baskonontana is tough enough. All the jokes and stuff. But travelling to so many different Earths, I guess it's just that green hair isn't so popular anywhere."<P><P>"I wouldn't worry about it Daptin. And, if I'm not mistaken, isn't there a green-haired character in The Essex of Toal Tarby? I see representations of her around quite a bit."<P><P>"I think so, Grant, but it's a woman and stuff, and wasn't it like in a vision or something? I don't know. I could hardly get through his book. I mean, I know it's, whatever, these people's Bible, but it seems a little silly to me."<P><P>"Personally, I found it a fun work, but hardly something to build a civilization upon. This is a damn fine Earth though, compared to the multitude I've visited myself. Nice and peaceful, and that's what matters, I'd say."<P><P>"Uh-huh."<P><P>"Actually, there's a book on my Earth that's somewhat similar, called The Dalcoyn Hightime. I've been reading it on and off for awhile."<P><P>Daptin nodded.<P><P>Grant took a deep breath and looked around.<P><P>They were silent for a time, then Grant spotted the waitress.<P><P>"Hey! Hostess! May we order?" Grant yelled.<P><P>A waitress carrying a tray full of empty plates and glasses turned to the two.<P><P>"Uh, be with you guys in a minute. Okay?" she said as she went into the kitchen.<P><P>"Hey, she's a hot one now, hey pal?" Granticaine said.<P><P>"Damn nice," Daptin said, thinking of Spanking New Sarah and whether or not he'd ever be in her bed with her again. He also thought of Fluffy Netherfuck, his friend Tanner's goddessfriend, and wondered what she was like in romance.<P><P>Granticaine put on a neutral smile and looked out the window into the main corridor of Greatwall at Ostandon. In the distance, a band began playing a Toal Tarby-based folk song.<P><P>"Man, these folks are so obsessed with Toal Tarby," Daptin said.<P><P>"Well, that is the whole basis of all of Greatwall. I see it as an interesting impetus to construction. Greatwall is undeniably one of the most fabulous structures in all of known Aconck. Every inch of his mythical trek now one enormous building.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0070.txt">Next (Page 70)</A>