|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- CARDBOARD RISING--CUP 1--"EXIT ESCALATOR" --------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Cardboard Rising  ||  -------> (Cup SRcr001, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Monarch Friendly Times," Fry Friend said weakly, "my fries are so cold and soggy... you know what this means... I need new fries... I have so few left." Fry Friend was so exhausted that he couldn't even stand up straight--he was kneeling forward on the marble floor of the Monarch's throne room. His body was a cardboard french fry container, with wide vertical stripes, light blue and white. Arms and legs extended from the box, and his eyes and mouth were on the box itself. Inside of him were eight old and ruined french fries. "Fry Friend, these are difficult times indeed." said Monarch Friendly Times. His light blue and white striped royal garb was tattered and dirty, and he stared at Fry Friend with emptiness in his eyes. "We are all suffering. Yet you come to me... As if you believe I don't know the pain you're in..." Monarch Friendly Times was an old man, his hair long and white, but with a few wisps of blond. His beard was likewise colored and unkempt. The crown on his head was cracked and held together with masking tape. "Monarch... I have always strived to follow and obey you...and I've always trusted you... but it's been so song since I've had fresh fries... the past two years are like a blur..." "You think I'm not aware of this?" "No... but I have to tell you... please, I need new fries... we all know you have... your magic powers... that you're saving them..." "For myself? Is that what you think?" Fry Friend paused--so this was it--he was finally going to be able to bring himself to challenge the Monarch openly. "That is what I think--what we all think!" Fry Friend yelled, followed by a wave of dizziness. So weak... "After all I've done for you..." the Monarch said after a long pause. "You take and take and take from me--with little gratitude--and now, that times are bad, you turn on me." "I never wanted it to get to this point." Fry Friend whispered, hoping the Monarch could hear him. "But I'm afraid... that I just can't go on." "What alternative is there, Fry Friend?" "Just give me new... new fries..." "That is not going to happen." The two were silent for several minutes. It was a terrible silence, a silence which Fry Friend could feel bearing down on him like a dead weight. "If you can't help me..." Fry Friend finally said, "I'm going to follow Onion Ring Friend down the Exit Escalator." The Monarch's narrowed his eyes. "I thought you had more sense than that poor idiot Onion Ring Friend." "He knew... he had theories... he thought... that his onion rings were just holding him back from his true potential..." "Onion Ring Friend is dead! He left all his onion rings behind! Do you want to end up like him? Don't kill yourself... I'll get you some new fries... it's just a matter of time." "I... don't believe you. There is no magic in the kingdom anymore. You have the only magic that's left. Maybe you... maybe you're just waiting for us all to die, then you can... then you can have all the magic for yourself..." "Get out of here." the Monarch said. "Your words... you have no more loyalty... go and kill yourself if you want. Go and follow that damn fool Onion Ring Friend. I always knew you two would be traitors. From the time of the beginning--you two were always too free in your thoughts. Burger Friend, Shake Friend, Cookie Friend--they would never speak to me thus." "Only because they fear you. But privately, they hate you. Them, and all the rest. I once feared you... but now, I'm too tired... my being is too weak to support such a stressful feeling as fear..." "Get out of my sight, Fry Friend. And when I next pass by the Exit Escalator, I truly hope to see those eight wretched fries at its mouth... and I'll know I am finally rid of both you AND Onion Ring Friend, who have been banes in my side for too long." Tears came to Fry Friend's eyes. They ran down the cardboard of his box, as he stood up with great difficulty. "I never knew you hated me. I... I always thought you loved me, like you love all the others." The Monarch didn't reply, but glowered at Fry Friend with an evil look. Fry Friend breathed heavily as he waited in vain for the Monarch to speak. "I have only one thing to say to you..." Fry Friend finally said. "If I discover that there is life beyond the Kingdom... that my french fries have been holding me back all these years... that you knew all about it, but let me go on suffering... I... I will find a way... I'll find a way... to exact my revenge upon you." The Monarch raised one eyebrow. "If that day ever comes, I will take great pleasure in tearing you apart." the Monarch said. Then, through gritted teeth "Now get out or I'll demolish you right here, right now." Fry Friend frowned but did not reply, truly fearing for his life. He turned and left the throne room, half-expecting the Monarch to strike him from behind. But he got out safely. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----