|| -------- -- -----  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 4--"THE ABILITY TO CROSS OVER INTO AN ALTERNATE EARTH" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Goodbye Popcorn  ||  -------> (Cup SRgp004, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Um. I, uh, I'm around, y'know, around the Alley, the general Red Alley area kind of place, y'know." "You sound like you're calling from right next door." "I, uh, wouldn't go that far, Eb." "Heh heh. So what do you have to say for yourself? You're in violation of about a baker's dozen company policies. You're not working for Thewsike, are you? Please tell me you're not." "No, I'm definitely not like anywhere near working for the Sixty-Four." "So what are you up to?" "I, uh, I've just been hanging out on the Alley. I've been pretty fed up with Overwhelm lately. I mean, I know scheduling's a thing, but almost twenty months and I still don't have bridging? I mean, huh, I'm convinced you guys just didn't want to see me able to bridge. And I mean, if you don't want to, fine, but just come out and say it. And all the bullshit coming out of Greatwall is just, like, really weird. No one believes you guys anymore. What the hell is Fife's problem? We all know Overwhelm is military, so why's he trying to hide it so much, from his own warriors?" "Daptin, I know where you're coming from, but you know I don't make the decisions around here. You could learn to bridge anytime if you took the initiative. Now, let's cut to the chase, now. Are you coming back or not? And are you working for anyone else? Bestroystraw? Rogues?" "No no no, none of that. I'm just taking a break, whether you guys like it or not." "Will you be back?" "Yes! Yes, I will be back. Just, it won't be for a while. That's why I called. I don't know if I'll be welcome, but I will be back, but not for a while." "Like how long a while?" "Like, I don't know. Like a few more weeks, a month. I don't know." "Okay Daptin. We don't want any trouble. Our main concern is loyalty. We understand if you need a break, but you could have called sooner. But if you have had another offer or any contact from another company, I advise you to tell me now, since I'll find out sooner or later anyway." "No Eb, it is just a break, and I haven't called cuz I've been pretty pissed-off, that's all. I will be back, but I don't know exactly when. But it might be like a month or at most like two. Okay?" "Alright Daptin. You know where I stand. I hope to see you back here soon. You're not the only one feeling the strain around here. And Daptin, do you have a number where I can reach you?" "Um... I'm not sure if I can give you this number--hold on." "Well do you have a number of someone who can then get in touch with you? In case of emergency, you know." "I know, I know. Um, I guess I can give you this number. It's the switchboard at a hotel I'm staying at. I uh..." "Which hotel on the Alley is it?" "Um, it's like not exactly on the Alley, but real near it, um." "Which Earth is it on?" "Look, I better not give the number out. You have the number at my apartment and I have a machine there. Just call there if you have to." "Okay Daptin. I hope to see you soon. You are okay, aren't you?" "Yes! I'm fine. No problem." "Well, take care." "Bye bye." Daptin said as he hung up the phone and looked over the buildingtops at the distant Agoopi hinterland. Eb wasn't such a bad guy, but Overwhelm Associates was a really annoying company to work for. Daptin totally wanted to quit, but he had the legitimate fear of losing contact with all the friends he had in Aconck. Maybe this was why they never taught him bridging--to keep up the pressure to remain loyal, to keep him needing the bridging services the company could provide. It made some kind of sense, that the ability to cross over into an alternate Earth was not something they'd be overly eager to share. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----