|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- CLOWN CENTAUR ARCHITECT--CUP 12--"STAIN" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Clown Centaur Architect  ||  -------> (Cup SRcc012, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Now then." Finjear said, his voice trembling a bit even though he was trying to sound calm. "Let me tell you--I have no idea where you came from, nor any answers to your personal situation. I am, however, very curious as to how you wound up here." "So you know nothing of Felptash?" Thalrdrad said. Finjear cocked his head in the manner of intense thought. "No," he finally said, "I can honestly say that I've never heard of anything called 'Felptash'." Thalerdrad coughed a mighty cough, then looked up at Finjear through bleary eyes. "Is this the Land of the Dead?" "What!?" "Am I... you know... dead." "You mean, are you a ghost?" "I--I guess so." "I don't know what you are. I certainly never saw anything like you before." "Nor I you. You appear similar to a Kiplaft--a monkey-man--but you--you--" "Monkey man!? That's what I look like to you?" "Yes." Thalerdrad said softly. "I have never seen such as you. Are you a unique mutant, or part of a race?" "What? I am a horned human! And we are NOT mutants! We're a... 'genetic echo', if you like--from a time when horned deities of nature and ribaldry intermated with humanity." Thalerdrad appeared interested, but said nothing. "So--" Finjear said. "How is it you wound up in my house?" "I--do not know. I was on a mission--to the Valley Darthule, in the name of King Drey of Rilnar. But, on the highway that Felptash made, I... I JUMPED OFF... I... I am a coward. I feared death." "Only a fool laughs at death." Thalerdrad smiled and continued. "I fell--falling and falling--until the flames licked me and my body began discorporating. Then--then I awoke in a terrible place..." "Here?" "No, no. It was a land with no features, save for black spheres. I woke up there--on a bed--and voices began assailing me, taunting me." "Oh?" "Yes--they told me that they would save me--bring me to a land called Felptash--the same name as the Highwayist who made our highway. And I--I began to sink into the blackness. Then..." "You came here?" "Yes--I dropped down, from the ceiling." Thalerdrad said, pointing toward the ceiling. They both looked up, seeing a circular purple stain on the white paint of the ceiling. "I say!" Finjear said. "That's where I came from." Just then, the two heard a clattering noise from beyond a door on the far side of the room. Finjear narrowed his already-narrow eyes and made a look of frustration. He held a "hold on" finger up to Thalerdrad, and yelled toward the door. "You may as well come on out, Dailan, like I know you're craving to. Stop your cowering--come out here and greet our visitor." They could hear the doorknob slowly turn, and then the door slowly creaking open. "Finjear, I-- I--I just want to say, I accept your offer, and--" Dailan said as he was poking his head out, but stopped short when he caught sight of Thalerdrad. "Yikes!" "Calm yourself--he means us no harm. Our visitor here is from a different universe. He is lost--and I mean to provide him all my hospitality." Dailan didn't move--he stayed with his head poked out the door, and began shaking in fear. "Oh, for heaven's sake!" Finjear said. Then suddenly, a crackling sound filled the air, and a voice began to speak. "This is Walter Mota, speaking from the body of Mildred, broadcasting from Thatterine College into the great unknown." "The voices!" Thalerdrad moaned. "What?" Finjear Morno exclaimed, looking around wildly for the source of the sound. The crackling voice of Walter Mota in Mildred's body continued. "I hear it. Thalerdrad, is that you? Please let it be you." Thalerdrad stared at the purple stain in the ceiling and replied. "It is me. It is Thalerdrad." "We are VERY lucky. Now PLEASE, keep focused on my voice. I'm paging Wand now. We have to get you full-info-filled as soon as possible." "Where are you?" Finjear demanded. The sound grew loud and staticky and incomprehensible, but then Walter's Mildred voice broke through again. "What, I hear someone else there." "I am somewhere else." Thalerdrad said loudly. Just then, Dailan Fogordy gingerly began to move toward Thalerdrad and Finjear. "What... is... this... madness?" he said. "Shh!" Finjear said tersely, pointing a finger at Dailan as he joined Thalerdrad in staring at the ceiling stain. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----