<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0093</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0094.txt">Next (Page 94)</A><BR> But I can't--what the hell?"<P><P>As the light had been getting brighter, it suddenly stopped, and the sky, which has been a very dull gray, became a gloriously bright green. <P><P>Everyone looked up at the changed sky.<P><P>"This is a really weird place," Mallie said, sighing. "But look honey, I'm not gonna be around tonight, but do not go to Mompobla. Kanvin is out."<P><P>"Crap!" Phazzy said. "Nice of you to tell me."<P><P>"I'm telling you now."<P><P>"Fine. Guess I'll do some education tonight instead. But will you be back soon?"<P><P>"Yeah," Mallie said, looking at Granticaine. "Yeah, I should be back for tomorrow."<P><P>"Okay baby," Phazzy said. "Take care of yourself--I don't want you to pull a Cueria on me!"<P><P>"No I won't," Mallie said, scratching his head. "So I gotta go now. Love you honey."<P><P>"I love you too, baby. See ya."<P><P>Mallie ended the call. Just before Phazzy's image left the screen, Mallie thought he saw the room behind her shimmering weirdly, but he figured it was just static in the signal.<P><P>"That was important?" Daptin asked.<P><P>"Yes. Very. She could have been killed."<P><P>"Fine," Daptin said, looking up. "What the fuck was that that just happened? The sky?"<P><P>"Who knows?" Fake said. "This place is so bizarre who cares if weird stuff happens? I mean--are you even surprised?"<P><P>"First of all," Coabler said, "you turn that gun off. I don't want any more calls. And the rest of you, no more calls, hear me? And look at the sky--I've been in these cupworlds for years, and I've never seen anything like that. Now you folks gave me your word--can you tell me now that you didn't cause that?"<P><P>"We didn't cause it, friend," Granticaine said.<P><P>"Clearly," Kesh said, "we are in a highly unstable situation. I felt something when the sky changed--something that has me very worried. I think Daptin was right about these two worlds not mixing well. We must be careful."<P><P>"I agree," Daptin said. "These kemig communicators use a very iffy and mysterious wave. Those idiots at Overwhelm shouldn't be issuing them without further testing."<P><P>"Well, let us put such issues aside for now, and conclude this discussion," Coabler said. "And let me cut to the chase--am I right in believing, Daptin, that you will now take us all back to wherever the Cup is?"<P><P>"Well, yes," Daptin said. "It's just, there's a time factor."<P><P>"A time factor?" Coabler asked.<P><P>"Yes. It will take some time, maybe like eight or twelve hours, before we can return."<P><P>"And this is because the Coffee you drank will seek to reunite with the Cup?" Coabler asked.<P><P>"Yes. I believe so," Daptin said.<P><P>"Come over here," Coabler said to Daptin, who hesitated. Coabler narrowed his eyes. "I have the ability to feel the true Cup. If you have its Coffee in you, I should be able to feel it and verify your story."<P><P>"I--I guess that should be okay," Daptin said, approaching Coabler.<P><P>"Just hold out your hand," Coabler said.<P><P>Daptin complied, and the Sawman took hold. After a few moments of concentration, he released Daptin. "That's an affirmative. Let's get going."<P><P>"How do we know that we'll all be brought along?" Bith asked.<P><P>Everyone looked at him.<P><P>"I don't know," Daptin said. "It seems that if people are travelling together, they're all pulled along."<P><P>"Quite right," Coabler said. "That's how my power works. But we have to be moving, walking. So let's get up and get a move on right now--we can't risk any of us being left behind."<P><P>"Fine by me," Daptin said, getting up. "But what about Jerald?"<P><P>"No problem for me to carry him, with my vectors," Kesh said quietly.<P><P>Soon, the whole group had gathered everything together, and began walking in an arbitrary direction under that disturbingly brilliant green sky. The huge tin clock still wobbled in the sky behind them.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0094.txt">Next (Page 94)</A>