<meta name="LineWrap" content="true"><TITLE>SR_Bk1 0168</TITLE><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0169.txt">Next (Page 169)</A><BR> The guns released pulse after pulse at the base of the streetlight, and before Ferrajalt knew it, the enormous streetlight was falling right toward the ocean liner!<P><P>"Treyess! Someone shot a streetlight down--it's gonna--"<P><P>With a shudder, the streetlight lurched and collapsed right onto the Repsiridescent. A thunderous noise reverberated throughout the destroyed landscape.<P><P>"What happened?" Treyess asked.<P><P>"Someone--someone shot down the streetlight!"<P><P>Suddenly, a little rectangle opened in the corner of the video screen--it was Nevrippa Den.<P><P>"It's okay everybody--I just shot down one of the streetlights," Den said calmly. "It landed perfectly on the boat--I just couldn't bear to leave this place without getting one of those beauties. Sorry for the inconvenience, but it should be okay, right?"<P><P>Ferrajalt was speechless.<P><P>"She really did that?" Treyess asked.<P><P>"Yeah!" the Prince said, nodding in disbelief.<P><P>Then, on the video screen, Den's face was replaced by that of Ledrant Hate.<P><P>"Okay people," Hate said. "I'm just as dumbfounded as all of you regarding what Nevrippa has apparently just done--but we don't have time to question the repercussions of this event--we will go ahead as planned--Injure will determine if any course changes are called for--everyone at their driver's seat--prepare to begin."<P><P>"Fuck!" Ferrajalt said. "That little weirdo may have just killed us all!"<P><P>"I don't know," Treyess said. "I don't even want to think about it. I just want to get this over with."<P><P>"Yeah," Ferrajalt said. "Let's do it. I'll see you in the air--and back in reality, hopefully."<P><P>Treyess closed her eyes and kissed toward Ferrajalt. He kissed back and shut the screen off, as he zoomed back to his Warhome--the original one he and Treyess first found.<P><P>Soon, back in the Warhome, Ferrajalt got to his driver's seat to find Bodoni on the screen.<P><P>"Okay people," Injure said. "If your motors aren't running, get them so. Also, turn on your flashing lights--if there's anyone or anything on the river, we want to let them know we're coming."<P><P>Ferrajalt revved his engine a little to make sure it was on, then he flicked a switch to activate the red and blue flashing police lights.<P><P>"Now," Injure said, "we'll start off straight, but then we'll have a slight left turn. Everyone please check in, and then we can get started."<P><P>"Ferrajalt here--ready," the Prince said.<P><P>On the screen, Injure was nodding.<P><P>"Don't worry Sleap--you'll do fine," Injure said, apparently to the concerns of Sleap in her Warhome. "Okay? Okay. So this is it. Everyone, straight, and start off slow, on the countdown to zero. Okay? 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1--zero!"<P><P>Ferrajalt gently depressed the accelerator and moved forward a little, picking up the slack in the chain attached to his Warhome. Once the chain was taut, his wheels began to spin, but after a few seconds, he felt a deep thud from somewhere within the vehicle as it dropped a few inches closer to the ground. A high pitched wail could be heard from the engine as he pressed down further on the accelerator.<P><P>"Okay folks," Injure said from the screen. "Looks like the tow function has kicked in--now let's increase the power a little..."<P><P>Ferrajalt did this, and the vehicle started moving forward. As he looked around, he saw that the others were moving too.<P><P>Soon, the ten Warhomes were indeed towing the enormous ocean liner down the frozen river--even with the giant streetlight dragging alongside the boat. The group made a few minor turns with ease, but several sharp turns were coming up.<P><P>"Okay folks, we're doing good," Bodoni said. <P><P>Ferrajalt's heart was beating hard and fast in his chest--he knew there was no turning back.<P><P>"Now," Bodoni said, "get ready for the turn--we have to start well before we get there--coming up...<BR><A HREF="SR_Bk1-0169.txt">Next (Page 169)</A>