<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0070</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0071.txt">Next (Page 71)</A><BR> I say, whatever the motivation, it must be good to result in such a wonder as the place we're sitting in now."<P><P>"I guess. But it's like, Adanden is totally covered and guarded. Under glass. And artificially preserved. I mean, if Toal Tarby does ever return, what would he think?"<P><P>"Well Daptin, if I were him, I'd be very pleased with what was conceived of in my honor."<P><P>"Yeah. I don't think he'll be coming back, though. I mean, people just use him to increase their business. I don't think many people believe in the whole thing at all."<P><P>"No? Let's find out," Granticaine said as the waitress, a pretty young woman with a conservative blond Mohawk, approached the two. <P><P>"You ready?" she asked.<P><P>"Yes, but I have a question for you--do you believe that Toal Tarby will return, and if so, when?" Granticaine asked.<P><P>"What, are you guys from TV?" the waitress asked.<P><P>"No, we're just, eh, foreigners curious as to what you Greatwallers really think about all this Toal Tarby stuff," Granticaine said.<P><P>"Well, I don't live here. I grew up in Ostandon, but out in the suburbs. I'm no Waller. I mean, I work here and everything. But I don't know. It's a nice idea, him returning. I mean, the whole telephone thing is, well, it's interesting, a telephone all those centuries ago. But I don't know. I guess I don't really care either way."<P><P>"See?" Daptin said.<P><P>"It's just one person!" Granticaine replied.<P><P>"Whatta you guys think? And where are you from anyway, Coipte-Cross?"<P><P>"Heh heh, no. But a long ways away, at that," Granticaine said.<P><P>"I just think this whole thing, with Tarby and everything, seems a little silly to an outsider," Daptin said.<P><P>"I guess," the waitress replied. "So what can I get for you?"<P><P>"Okay," Granticaine said. "How about the full fend fruit entree, and several strong teas, hot and cold. Okay Daptin?"<P><P>"Fine."<P><P>"That's it? Okay, it'll be just a few minutes. And try not to worry about our local customs too much, okay?" she said with humor.<P><P>"Okay, Sleap," Daptin said, looking at the waitress's nametag.<P><P>Sleap looked down at her nametag, smiled, and strode back to the kitchen.<P><P>"Rather friendly of you, Daptin old fellow."<P><P>"What can I say? I'm a friendly guy."<P><P>"Yes."<P><P>Granticaine was fiddling with a little card thing on the table announcing a special deal on some sort of potato product.<P><P>"So Grant, you wanna hear the whole--I dunno--the whole deal here, with the thing I need to do and stuff?"<P><P>"Okay."<P><P>"Well, I mean, okay. I think I can trust you. I just wanna, y'know, be clear on like, that this is all in confidence. I mean, you'll see soon enough the nature of what it is I'm gonna tell you, so like, I wanna, I just wanna know that you'll keep it, y'know, in confidence and stuff."<P><P>"Daptin, I am a man of my word, as you well know. And I give you my word that what you tell me now will be in the strictest confidence."<P><P>"Okay good, that's all I needed to hear. Anyway, I guess I'll just spill my guts. Back on Red Alley Earth, where as you know Bavler Bestroystraw began Aconck, there is--how can I put this--there is a place where these gods live. And I'll tell you, if you're familiar with Bavler's writings, you know about Sweptim. Well, I think I may have discovered the remnants of Sweptim. I mean, they claim they've been there for all time, but I have serious doubts. Now, no one else in Aconck knows about this--just me. And now, I guess, you too."<P><P>Granticaine looked very serious as he tried to let the information sink in.<P><P>"Go on."<P><P>"Okay," Daptin said. "There are five cities, connected to each other and to Red Alley, by standing bridges. I mean, they're definitely bridges, but they're permanent, and very stable--none of this 50% stuff--you get through the first time, every time.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0071.txt">Next (Page 71)</A>