|| -------- -- -----  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 17--"MALL" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Goodbye Popcorn  ||  -------> (Cup SRgp017, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Excuse me." came Tavmatey's voice from the Cup, much fainter now than at The Caxopy Group. "Excuse me, Daptin?" "Hold on--yes?" Daptin said, holding the Cup near his ear. "Now that we're away from Elaine and Cursive I can tell you a few things." Tavmatey said. "First of all, as they said, the mission is time-sensitive. But I didn't tell them everything. If I don't get out of here soon, I don't know if I'll last. So please, for goodness sakes, stop bickering and save my sorry ass!" "Jerald?" Daptin said. Jerald pause, and then relaxed. "Okay. I'll try to handle the unfairness internally. I do want a coin, though, and I hope you two will back me up when we get back." Jerald said. "You only have to touch it." Fake said. "You don't get to keep it." "Oh." Jerald said. "Okay--I think I see the record store." Daptin said. "Now let's walk over there calmly. Chances are, if we act normal, any security folks who see us'll be confused enough that we can get over the bridge before they react. Okay?" "Well I thought I was the leader here, but okay." Fake said. "Sorry--it's just that you heard what Tavmatey said--we're in a hurry." Daptin said. "No harm done. Let's go. Cinder block--follow close behind us." Fake said. Daptin opened the door and the three of them stepped out into the mall. They walked briskly, one after the other. "Break it up!" Daptin said. "Don't walk right behind me--it looks suspicious." "Like your vest isn't the most suspicious thing ever!" Jerald said. "I'm keeping it as low as I can." Daptin said through clenched teeth. "The cinder block's not helping either." Jerald said. Fake didn't respond. Then Fake and Jerald came up beside Daptin as they headed for an escalator. Though the mall was crowded, few people noticed the three with their guns and grenades and such. "Daptin." Tavmatey's tiny voice came. "Daptin, we can talk freely now. How've you been?" "Huh?" Daptin said, holding the cup up to his ear, looking around to make sure this wasn't attracting attention. "You can stop pretending you don't know me." Tavmatey said. "I don't know you. I mean, I just met you today." Daptin said as they started walking up the escalator. "Daptin, are you afraid they're still monitoring you somehow?" Tavmatey asked. "No!" Daptin said. "I just don't know what you're talking about. Did I know you in school or something?" "Daptin! We were going out--don't you remember?" Tavmatey said. "Hold on." Daptin said. They got to the top of the escalator and spotted a few mall security guards nearby, looking in their direction. Though the guards glanced at the three, they didn't react. "Daptin--I'm serious." Tavmatey said. "Remember, when you transferred to Shirt University as a Junior? That's when we met." "Listen--I never went to Shirt University. I went to Thatterine College all four years--Fake will attest to that." Daptin said. "Huh?" Fake said, as they approached the record store, Bithopa Rocken. "Nothing." Daptin replied. "This is it--Bithopa Rocken." "Let's just hope we can find the bridge." Jerald said. "Shut up!" Fake yelled. "Keep it down! Keep it down." Daptin said. They entered the store and looked around. "Where's the balcony?" Jerald said loudly. "Will you keep it down?" Daptin said. "There is no balcony here." Fake said. "I'm gonna ask the cashier what's going on." "Don't--" Daptin said, but she was already cutting into the line of customers at the register. "Excuse me!" Fake yelled. "Excuse me!" The cashier, who had been talking with a customer, looked over. "Where is the balcony?" Fake yelled over the loud music. The cashier, a scrawny little guy, eyed Fake's gun and said "We have one at the other store downstairs. Why do you ask?" Fake didn't answer, but motioned for the other two to follow her out of the store. Once out, she noticed a few guards in the distance pointing toward the three, apparently concerned at the floating cinder block. "Shit! We have to go to the Bithopa Rocken downstairs, wherever the hell it might be." Fake said, jogging back to the escalator. "Wait!" Daptin said. "Not so fast--it looks suspicious!" The three got to the escalator and bounded down it, Daptin matching the pace of the other two. The cinder block zoomed along behind them. "Daptin!" Tavmatey yelled from the cup. "Not now, Tavmatey. We have some trouble!" said Daptin. "I think I see a map over there." Fake said as she began jogging toward one of the mall's several atriums. "Goddammit slow down!" Daptin yelled, following Fake and Jerald. "Here it is. It's here." Fake said, finding a large mall map. "So where's our store?" Daptin asked, looking around for guards. "Hmmm--let's see." Fake said, examining the map. "Women's apparel. Jewelry. Sporting goods. Children's--" Jerald said. "Shut up man!" Daptin said. "Just find the damn store, how hard can it--" "--here it is--Haxelbong's wing on the right--over this way!" Fake said, pointing. "Okay, but slow down!" Daptin said. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----