|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- GOODBYE POPCORN--CUP 2--"HERE IS CANYON" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Goodbye Popcorn  ||  -------> (Cup SRgp002, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Instantly, Daptin was standing in a room with a window looking out onto Canyon. He was back in his regular clothes, and healthy again, as he has been with Fox. He looked around the room, which was carved out of rock, and saw a number of comfortable-looking chairs and tables, along with an opening in one wall leading into another room. From outside, which was sunny and beautiful, he heard a distant "Yahoo!". Daptin moved to the window, looked out, and saw a form approaching from below. Soon, he saw it was a young woman flying up toward his window. He backed away, but a moment later she approached the window and hovered there for a moment. "Yes!" she exclaimed, and did several backflips in midair. Daptin stood still as the pretty girl flew into the room, landed, and stood before him. She was short, with long, full blond hair, and a wonderful, whimsical, blue-and-white outfit on. "You're the one who didn't make it. Did you see Fox, then?" "I did." Daptin said. "Cool! What do you think about it?" "Um, I think, uh, it's pretty good, I guess." Daptin managed. "Good. Do you remember me?" She did look familiar, but Daptin couldn't place her. "Sort of." "Well, you seem familiar, but likewise, I don't quite remember. My Lifename now is The Tracy Taciturn. What's yours?" "Daptin. Daptin Gone." "Pleased to see you again, Daptin." "Uh, same to you, Tracy." Tracy looked out the window. "I love flying. It feels so good to be doing it again. Can you believe we're all that's left? Well, except for Fox. But he's leaving. That means we have a chance to make up for our rotten lot in Creation." "Is anyone else here?" Tracy turned to face him. "Oh, just one other. The rest are off in search of the it, I suppose. They must know what they're doing, unlike us." "Yeah." "Assuming you came here like me to get a handle on what's going on." "That's a reason." "Cool. So how much do you remember?" "Not much." "Well, that's alright. Deskerhilm seems to know everything. He should be up in a while--doesn't fly you know. Do you?" "I'm not sure." "Wanna try? It's great. Please, you must." "Okay, what do I do?" "Well, I guess, you could just jump out the window, but that wouldn't do if you're not a flyer." "I'd fly, but only in one direction--down." "True. So why don't I carry you along, and you can let go if you feel your Flight." Tracy approached Daptin, and put her arms around his waist. Before he could react, she flew out the window upside down, holding Daptin on top of her. They soared out over Canyon and Daptin took in the majesty of the place for the first time. "What do you think, Daptin?" Daptin wasn't at all apprehensive. In fact, he began to feel his own Flight. "I think I can do it." he said. "Shall I let go?" "No, not yet. Let me get a good hold on it." They flew for a few more minutes, swooping and speeding all around Canyon. Then Daptin made fists and felt his Flight fully. Without a word, Tracy let go, and Daptin felt an amazing rush through his entire body as he took over and was himself flying. He soared all over Canyon and frolicked with Tracy for a long time, laughing and yahooing all the way. Flying next to Tracy back toward the Palace in the Wall from far down Canyon where they'd flown, Daptin was struck with the irony of it all. "I tell you, I spent so much time coming to terms with death, from the first diagnosis to my present state. So much denial, so much agony. For everyone, my family, my friends, my girlfriend. And I didn't even know. Well, I hardly knew, about all this. And now, flying... with you and everything... in this Highworld, it seems so..." "Sounds like a pretty nasty disease, that one you have." Daptin laughed. "Hizzings Disease. Yeah. Still don't know how I can cure it." "Deskerhilm will have the answer. Fox knew Deskerhilm was beyond most of us, that he wouldn't want to get involved in it. Knew he'd help those of us who needed it." "And out of the 24 left, or 23 I guess, we're the only one's who need help? The 21 others know what they're doing?" Tracy shrugged as best one can while flying. "Maybe they don't, but also don't want to seem too anxious for help." "What were they like, the others?" "Oh, a mixed lot. Most were human. Some were--well, some were beyond description. 44 Times is a long time, especially for those prone to mischief and wandering from the Path." "Yeah." Tracy picked up speed and Daptin matched her easily. They were going so fast that they couldn't hear each other when they tried to speak, so they didn't. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----