<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0136</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0137.txt">Next (Page 137)</A><BR> Now--Prince Ferrajalt pointed out to Injure that he hadn't put a time factor into his computer model--the one that verified the Office Complex theory. So Injure--first of all, could you make a model, specifically using the boat, and putting in a time factor?"<P><P>"Yeah, no problem," Injure said, looking over his equipment.<P><P>"Okay--how long do you think that will take?" Hate asked.<P><P>"Um--well, it'll take a little longer than normal, but--um--I'd say definitely within a timeframe of 90 minutes."<P><P>Hate nodded, obviously not happy with such a timeframe, but accepting it.<P><P>"Okay," Hate said. "Now we need a team to go to that yard with the giant police cars, try and get one going, and then try and drive it down the river to the waterfall, and then see if Office Complex at Gumhanshire is still there, even."<P><P>"Um, I'll do that, I guess," Ferrajalt said.<P><P>"We're also going to need someone to head over to Citydock and see if that boat is still okay, and whether or not the transit mechanism is functioning."<P><P>"I know the most about that boat," Vike said. "You know I went down there Havdays, had big cider with the boys, rode that sucker, just about every Havday."<P><P>"Okay," Hate said. "Um--Ann--I don't know much about you, but can you help us?"<P><P>"Certainly," the cat lady said.<P><P>"Okay. Go over to the boat with Vike. Now how are you going to get there?" Hate said.<P><P>"We can use the truck--the same one me and Treyess used to try and find those kooks," Vike said.<P><P>Treyess looked at Hate.<P><P>"Treyess--I want you to go with the Prince, if you don't mind," Hate said.<P><P>"Good," Treyess said. "I've always wanted to drive a giant police car down a frozen river with a prince."<P><P>"Okay," Hate said. "Normal communications are out. We don't have any portable kemigs here--V has the only one. I think we should wait for them to get back, and then, Prince, you and Treyess can use it on your mission. Unless--Ann, do you have any communication devices on you?"<P><P>"Well sir," Ann said, "I don't have any hardware, but I should be able to mentally transit a kemig signal."<P><P>Bodoni's mouth gaped open in wonder.<P><P>"Y--you can... what?" the scientist asked.<P><P>"I can do that, my friend," she said.<P><P>"I--I--I--that's fabulous! I can't believe it! I mean--"<P><P>"--okay Injure, enough," Hate said. "Ann--why not try and call our central kemig right now--I would very much like to keep in contact with the away teams."<P><P>"Okay sir, here goes," Ann said. She closed her eyes and then licked her lips with her cat tongue for a moment.<P><P>The lighting around the furry lady seemed to get a shade darker as she concentrated, and after a few seconds, the central kemig began to ring and beep wildly.<P><P>"Well, answer it!" Hate yelled at Bodoni, who jumped over to the console and switched it on.<P><P>A strange, almost cartoony image of Ann was on the screen, with an expectant look on her face. Across the room, Ann was lying down, curled up a little.<P><P>"Hello?" Bodoni said.<P><P>"Hi Injure," Ann's image said. "See, I told you I could do it, hon."<P><P>"Incredible--how long could you maintain contact?" Bodoni asked.<P><P>"As long as I like, but it's not easy," she said.<P><P>"Haha! Incredible! I've never seen anything like it. How does--" Bodoni said.<P><P>"--okay, enough Injure, the test is a success. Thank you Ann," Hate said.<P><P>"Glad to be of service," Ann's image said, then the screen shut off and, across the room, Ann opened her eyes.<P><P>"Haven't done that in a while," Ann said, her voice hoarse and groggy. Then she coughed a little cat cough.<P><P>"Now--does anybody know what happened to Amnifaoz?" Hate asked.<P><P>"He probably," Ann said, pausing to cough, her voice getting back to normal, "he's probably abandoned us. His word is worth little.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0137.txt">Next (Page 137)</A>