<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0092</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0093.txt">Next (Page 93)</A><BR><P><P>"I have been seeking the Cup of Coffee for an extremely long time. I have the ability to walk toward the Cup. There have been several false Cups, but I believe the one you folks had was the true one. We just have to--"<P><P>All of a sudden, a musical beeping noise could be heard. Instantly, Mallie looked down at his duffel bag.<P><P>"What is that noise?" Kesh asked, a tone of alarm and threat in his voice.<P><P>"Uh--it's, uh--it's my gun--" Mallie stuttered, nervous.<P><P>"Gun?" Coabler bellowed, standing up.<P><P>"Relax!" Granticaine roared in a tone of supreme authority. Pattern Integrity smiled at him intensely. "It's nothing more than a communication device built into his gun."<P><P>"Probably just his girlfriend calling," Iterator of Rail Avenue said.<P><P>"But I don't think--" Daptin began.<P><P>"Okay, take it out," Coabler said, still standing, but somewhat calmer.<P><P>"Okay," Mallie said, as he unzipped his bag, shaking in nervousness, and carefully picking up the gun in an unthreatening manner.<P><P>Kesh looked at Coabler, saying "I would thoon safe."<P><P>Coabler nodded.<P><P>"Should I answer it?" Mallie asked, trembling.<P><P>"I don't think--" Daptin said, but was cut off by Coabler raising his hand.<P><P>"Okay sir," Coabler said, "now answer that call on the count of three. Understood? When the count reaches three, answer it."<P><P>Daptin looked helplessly at Mallie, then at Granticaine.<P><P>"One," Coabler said.<P><P>"Hold on a second!" Daptin yelled, standing up. The musical beep chimed yet again. "I don't like this! This place is totally fucked up! Things don't work right. My popcorn sure fucking didn't!"<P><P>"What are you trying to say?" Coabler asked.<P><P>"Look fella--we're dealing with two totally different worlds here. Stuff designed for one place does weird stuff--maybe bad stuff in the other."<P><P>"Fine. Settle down green-hair," Coabler said. "You know more about this than us. We'll just wait and hope the call stops."<P><P>Just then, the warbling chime was replaced by a continuous tone. Mallie looked up, and said simply, "Shit."<P><P>"What!" Daptin said.<P><P>"Answering machine," Mallie said.<P><P>A click could be heard, and Mallie looked at the base of the handle of the gun, where there was a little video screen. A little image of a young woman with gold-and-brown-striped skin came onto the screen. Her voice could be heard tinnily through the gun's speaker. <P><P>"Hi Mallie, just wondering where the andle you are. Looks like you forgot our date again. Well, I guess I'll just have to go to Mompobla by myself tonight. And I didn't tell you before, but..."<P><P>"Goddamn!" Mallie yelled, looking at Daptin. "I have to answer it! She's in danger! For real!"<P><P>Daptin inhaled sharply. "Do you absolutely have to, Mallie?"<P><P>The woman sounded like she was finishing up her message.<P><P>"Yes Daptin! There are people there who'll--come on man!" Mallie pleaded.<P><P>"Okay! Answer it!" Daptin yelled.<P><P>But just as Mallie was fiddling with the controls, the screen went blank.<P><P>"Fucking goddamn bastard!" Mallie said. "I gotta call her back right damn now!"<P><P>Daptin looked down, sat on a log, and said, "Fine. Go ahead."<P><P>"Just be nice and easy with that firearm," Coabler cautioned.<P><P>"I will. I will," Mallie said, fiddling with some buttons. The screen filled with text.<P><P>"Okay. It's going through," Mallie said.<P><P>Muffled beeping noises could be heard from the gun, and soon the clicking noise was heard again and the woman's face came up.<P><P>"Yes?" the striped woman said.<P><P>"Hi Phazzy. It's me," Mallie said.<P><P>The lighting around the group changed. Everything got just a little bit darker.<P><P>"Barenfa! Where are you, baby?" Phazzy asked.<P><P>Suddenly, things got brighter. A lot brighter.<P><P>"I'm on a mission with Grant and the gang.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0093.txt">Next (Page 93)</A>