|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- DEER EXPRESS--CUP 2--"FRICTION EACHO" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Deer Express  ||  -------> (Cup SRde002, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "That goddamn woman bowler Paith Paper." said Yophappen Dan. "Who?" asked Friction Eacho. "That Paith Paper. That bowler." "Oh." Yophappen Dan and Friction Eacho looked out the glass elevator onto the vast parking lot below. "This building's gonna blow." Dan said. "I guess." said Eacho. The elevator didn't move. "Did you press the button?" Dan asked. "I thought I did." Dan pressed the button himself. The elevator remained not in motion. Dan pressed the button fiercely several more times. "What the fuck's with this piece a shit?" Dan said. "Busted." Eacho said. "I hope it's not you Fric, increasing the friction in the elevator's vertical induction system." "No. I'm not eachoing the elevator shaft's friction. I know I'm not." "So why don'tcha eacho the friction of the air particles hitting the main cable, melting it, so we'll fall to the lobby. We can't die." "Well, that'd have to be some intense eachoing, to melt it." "Yeah I know, but we're late. We're very late. If we don't get outta here soon, we'll be screwed." "This is highly irregular. Couldn't we take the stairs?" "Do it. This building's gonna blow anyway. Just do it." "Okay. I'll try." Friction Eacho glanced upward and concentrated. "I'm eachoing the whole area directly above us." Eacho said. "But I don't think I can generate enough eachoing through the ceiling, especially since I can't see it." "Do it, Fric, man." Dan said. Eacho continued to concentrate, but finally he let out a sigh and relaxed. "Can't do it, Dan." he said. "Fuck." "Why not punch out the glass--then we could jump out." Each suggested. "Are you crazy?" "We can't die." Dan looked at Eacho and then at the glass. He kicked the glass. It didn't shatter. He kicked it again, harder. It didn't shatter. Then, he kicked it again, but he slipped, and it didn't shatter. Then he regained his poise and kicked it again and it shattered. Warm outside air came in. Then the elevator started to move, but very slowly. "The elevator's working so we don't hafta jump." Eacho said. "Oh come on. We're late as it is and I already kicked the glass." Dan said. "So jump." Dan went over to the opening, looked back at Eacho, then jumped out. Eacho looked down and then jumped himself, making sure to launch himself farther out so as not to hit Dan. Dan would have been pissed-off if Eacho landed on him. He might even yophappen him, and Eacho didn't like being yophappened. So Dan and Eacho crashed into the parking lot below, ripping their clothes a little but otherwise none the worse. Some bystanders were looking on with concerned stares. "It's the only way to travel." Eacho commented to a woman. Dan got up, lit a cigarette, and strolled over to his car. Eacho followed. They got in. "Well." Eacho said. They left the parking lot just as the building exploded, and headed for the bowling alley to see Paith Paper. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----