<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0081</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0082.txt">Next (Page 82)</A><BR>"<P><P>"To coin a phrase?" Granticaine asked, referring to a popular song on his and Mallie's home Earth, 'Bad Taste in My Mind'.<P><P>Just then, Bobby Murph and Kell Weaner came up a ladder onto the roof.<P><P>"This the new coffee break hangout?" Bobby asked.<P><P>"Coffee break?" Daptin asked, slightly shocked.<P><P>"Boss's lookin' for y'all," Kell said. "Says he's got a munity on his hands."<P><P>Bobby and Kell laughed.<P><P>Granticaine, Daptin, Pantry, Iterator of Rail Avenue, and Mallie also started laughing--it just seemed funny.<P><P>"Y'got that new in-line farbin intake, Iterator of Rail Avenue?" Bobby asked.<P><P>"Yeah, we were supposed to get it Tuesday, but the jerks at Moppis sent it to Hoom!" Iterator of Rail Avenue said.<P><P>"Well, we could really use it," Kell said.<P><P>"Isn't that the truth!" Granticaine said.<P><P>"Very many truthful, you do know!" Pantry said, walking toward Bobby and Kell. "I like work and good work is the best, Kell."<P><P>"If anyone likes work, it's you Pantry," Kell said.<P><P>Daptin looked out over the landscape and called out.<P><P>"Hey, you guys all go back to work, but like, like me and Grant, we have to talk a little. In private."<P><P>Grant looked at Daptin, puzzled.<P><P>"Guy stuff," Daptin said, nodding and looking over at the others.<P><P>"Okay, I know when a woman isn't wanted," Iterator of Rail Avenue said. "Let's go guys. If we're lucky the two of 'em will get fired and we'll all be happier."<P><P>"Ha ha ha ha! Fire them all, the man said! The man is good, the man fires them all! Ha ha!" Pantry Lurkin said as he descended the ladder.<P><P>"See you two later," Mallie said, and in a few moments Daptin and Grant were alone.<P><P>"What do you want to talk about, my friend? You don't have a 'floppy disk', do you?"<P><P>"No, Grant!" Daptin said through clenched teeth, "We have to talk about this mission thing."<P><P>"What about it?"<P><P>"Just look at me! My vest is on fire! I have a fucking machinegun!" Daptin said, shaking his gun. "And I have no memories of this place."<P><P>"It's interesting you say that. I mean, I'm aware of what you're saying, yet the situation is undeniable. We work here, and live nearby."<P><P>Daptin got more agitated.<P><P>"Yes, yes, yes! The situation does exist, and I know it seems to outshadow all the other issues, but you are Granticaine Chug Perion, war hero and Aconck traveller. Why would you be working at a place like this? We were going to help my friend! We were on our way, and now this."<P><P>Grant exhaled loudly and shook his head. <P><P>"Okay--so you're saying this is some sort of--I don't know--psychic attack--messing with our minds?"<P><P>"I don't know. But Obfuser did tell me the Cup of Coffee affects situation. He said--he said it wraps situation around you, that's what he said. He said it happened to Tavmatey."<P><P>Daptin then felt a weird vibration throughout his whole body. With a look of horror on his face, it took him several seconds to realize the vibration formed the words "Daptin, where are you now?"<P><P>"Grant," Daptin said, "this is getting out of control. That girl Tavmatey, who I talked to in the Cup, I just heard her, inside me."<P><P>"I didn't--" Granticaine said.<P><P>Daptin held his hand up.<P><P>"I was at school," the vibration came, barely understandable.<P><P>"What?" Daptin said angrily.<P><P>"I was at school, that's why I couldn't talk," the vibration came.<P><P>"Can you--can you hear me?" Daptin asked.<P><P>"Yeah, but it's sort of muddled. I lost you right after you said something about 'communing the Cup' or something. I had to go to school so I just went, and now I'm back, and I'm so glad I can hear you, Daptin who's not my Daptin."<P><P>Daptin closed his eyes, cringed, and shook his index finger back and forth trying to remember something.<P><P>The vibration came yet again.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0082.txt">Next (Page 82)</A>