<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0164</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0165.txt">Next (Page 165)</A><BR> Can't lose my lovely loot! But don't tell the others, they're way too serious."<P><P>"No, no," Treyess said.<P><P>"So look guys. I don't want to take away from the quality time you have together before the big deed. I'm gonna go help V and Vike with their work--I think they need it. So I'll see you soon?"<P><P>"Yup," the Prince said.<P><P>"Yeah," Treyess said, starting to sit up on the side of the bed, but keeping her lower regions covered. "We'll see you in an hour or so."<P><P>"Cool. Nevrippa Den out."<P><P>And the video screen went blank.<P><P>Treyess chuckled.<P><P>"A lot happened while we were having our fun."<P><P>"Yeah," Ferrajalt said, also moving to sit on the side of the bed, and scanning the room for his clothes.<P><P>"Were you embarrassed?" Treyess said with a look.<P><P>"Kind of. That Nevrippa gives me the creeps sometimes."<P><P>"I know what you mean, but she's a good kid."<P><P>"Yeah."<P><P>"So you wanna get dressed and get back up the river to complete this crazy mission?"<P><P>"Yeah I guess," Ferrajalt said. "I think I just have to wake up a little bit more to absorb all this crap."<P><P>"I know what you mean."<P><P>"Come here," Ferrajalt said, and Treyess turned to face him. She was stunning, and she approached the Prince. He embraced her and stroked her cheek, looking into her eyes.<P><P>"What we did here was more than just 'fun' for me. I feel for you. I feel connected to you. And I hope you feel the same."<P><P>"I do," Treyess said, looking away. "It's just... it's been so long since I've had any kind of stable relationship--the thought of it is kind of novel. It's funny. On my Earth, the kind of guys that were turned on by a dashing, independent adventurer like myself always turned out to be losers and nerds. The real men always seemed to stay away from me. But you--you're a real man--I can see that in you. The blood of heroes runs through your veins. Maybe not that many generations past."<P><P>"Maybe not."<P><P>They kissed.<P><P>"This will be our home, this Warhome," Ferrajalt said. "I will make it happen. We will find a way to keep it, maybe the same way Den is planning."<P><P>A tear came to Treyess's eye as she rested her head on Ferrajalt's shoulder. He was so young and innocent in her eyes.<P><P>--------------------------<P>CHAPTER 40<P>--------------------------<P><P>Darnazy Thonc pulled into the enormous parking lot of Marriage Town. He found a spot for the giant Winter Stadium Them truck he was driving way out in the hinterland of the lot.<P><P>He shut off the noisy engine and stepped out. He let out a big sigh as he looked up at the oily reality stains slowly streaking across the sky.<P><P>Out of the corner of his eye, Darnazy spotted something approaching him from across the lot. It was Perkins, a sleazy little lizard, driving in a tiny convertible sports car.<P><P>Darnazy raised an eyebrow and nodded as the lizard approached. He was about a foot tall, with wrinkly white repile skin. He wore a dark gray business suit with a thin red tie. On his head was a wide-brimmed black hat. His eyes looked tired and bloodshot, but that's the way they always looked.<P><P>The little car was just a few feet long, dark green with a white circle on the hood with the number 1 inside it in black. It stopped a few feet from Darnazy.<P><P>"Hello, buddy," Perkins said in his sleazy little voice. "What brings you to Marriage Town parking lot, buddy?"<P><P>"Perkins," Darnazy said. "How are you, my dear little parking lot fijjo? How do you like these reality stains? They are nuptle and sulk, to be sure!"<P><P>"Hey Thonc. I see ya driving a Winter Stadium Them truck. Did you join the team?"<P><P>"Now now, my dear Perkins, my team days are over. Long hence was my dishonorable discharge from the Hosts of Five Ocho Lamp. The RRTA would hear naught of it."<P><P>"Hey man, I've been trying to join a team.<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0165.txt">Next (Page 165)</A>