<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0071</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0072.txt">Next (Page 72)</A><BR> And apparently, they're concealed by advanced situation claying, far more advanced than anything we have in Aconck. And their tech is also far beyond ours, although it might all be old stuff from Sweptim, I don't know. Anyway, Grant, see, I was, when I was visiting my friends at Thatterine College, where I graduated from, they told me about this place called Agoopish, and then they just, like, took me out to this abandoned area and then like, we were just in this weird city."<P><P>"And these friends of yours--they know nothing of Aconck?" Granticaine asked.<P><P>"No. At first I thought it was related to Aconck, but then I realized it wasn't. I was thinking of telling a few people, but I didn't. I mean, it was weird. They were expecting me to like totally flip out, but really, I was like, big deal guys, I've been to tons of other worlds. But like, I tried to make like I was totally shocked and stuff. But this is a definite thing, that the two worlds, I mean The Avert Cities and Aconck, are separate. I mean, think about what the companies would do if they knew about it? All sorts of new armaments and tech, and a lot of potential operatives in the Avert mortals. And the potential for reopening Sweptim--y'know--it could destroy all of everything we know. So like, you can see where I'm coming from."<P><P>Granticaine took a deep breath and rubbed his chin in deep thought. Sleap the waitress came out with a tray full of strong teas and fend fruit. <P><P>"Here y'all go," she said, setting the stuff down.<P><P>"Thanks," Daptin said.<P><P>"Still contemplating the absurdities of Greatwall?" she asked.<P><P>"Yeah," Daptin said. "It's a strange world out there. A lot to see. A lot to see."<P><P>"I know what you mean," she said. "I've always wanted to travel more. It seems like so many people ignore the world outside of Greatwall. It's like, let's go to Porbe, let's go to Goal, it's all the same. There's a whole world out there! But who'll listen?"<P><P>"Yeah. Travel's great," Daptin said, a little impatient as he could see Granticaine chomping at the bit to ask him more questions.<P><P>"Yeah," Sleap said, "I don't know. People here are just so used to Tarby and the Return of Tarby. I mean, just look at this place, 'Hello Tarby'. It's like there's so much else out there besides all this, but..."<P><P>"I know what you mean," Daptin said. "So much out there, and like, so little time and stuff to do it."<P><P>"Yeah. Well, gotta get the register. Enjoy!" Sleap said as she brightly walked away.<P><P>"Ah, strong tea. My favorite thing about Mate Pavement Earth," Granticaine said.<P><P>"This weird fruit ain't bad either."<P><P>"Not bad at all," Granticaine said, taking a bite out of an oblong, peeled blue citrus. "Now Daptin, I must tell you. I read a lot and I've become quite conversant with Bestroystraw's works and related materials, and I have to say that if you're right, we're faced with a dilemma."<P><P>Granticaine finished off the fruit with a loud slurp.<P><P>"I'm just telling you what I know. I could be wrong," Daptin said.<P><P>"I realize that, but from what you're saying, I think you may have something. But tell me, beyond all this, what is the mission you referred to before?"<P><P>"Okay. I had become what in Avert they term a 'mortal', which means I can handle their bridges and use their tech. The gods can't go through bridges themselves. Anyway, they had sent me on my first official mission, they being The Caxopy Group, a small mortal organization. Anyway, they had us, me and my friend Fake Cerquaine, go on this mission with this Cup of Coffee to rescue this girl who was like trapped inside the Cup. Anyway, to make a long story short, they lied to us and we wound up in this totally fucked-up place, and we were attacked by this gang, and I ate some goodbye popcorn, a piece of their tech, which makes you not exist for awhile.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0072.txt">Next (Page 72)</A>