|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- IRREGULAR SHIRT--CUP 12--"WRIGGLING INKY NAKED CHICK" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Irregular Shirt  ||  -------> (Cup SRis012, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Sally carefully pulled the books into the room and looked out into the library. Not much of an ink trail out there--Doug must have been careful. There were a few student feet to be seen though, and nearby. She regarded the Hider curve around her--would it really hide a wriggling, inky naked chick from roaming eyes? The curve seemed rock solid, so she wriggled. Soon she was back in the library, kneeling before the entrance to the secret rooms, holding Hider like a staff. There were several student in plain eye view, but they didn't look at her. She even cleared her throat lowly, but still, no response. She considered more drastic tests of the Hider effect, but she became aware that certain actions on her part would ruin the Hider curve. Like, if she walked up to someone and shoved and yelled at them. Hider couldn't hide something like that. Sally then replaced the books to their right position, stood up, and took a deep breath. It felt good to be naked in public. She realized that anybody could do this--walk around naked--so long as no one noticed them. But without Hider (or dark of night, or a college for the blind) they'd undoubtedly be spotted. So she strode through the stacks, and made her way down to the main lobby that had been visible from the secret room. Soon she faced a big staircase with a lot of student traffic on it. She hesitated--common sense told her there was no way she could avoid detection. She grasped Hider tighter, though, and set forth. Indeed, no one happened to look her way. A lot of the folks were distracted--a group of friends imitating cartoon character voices, another few doing some heavy horseplay. It was glorious to be able to do this, she thought. But the fact that no one could see her took the fun out of it a little. But only a little. Soon she was on the floor of the main lobby. She walked across the marble floor, cold to her bare feet. She stopped in the middle and looked around. A crowd. And none of them noticing the nude woman with the speed limit sign. Looking up, she sought the location of the secret room, and felt it with her Hider senses. And also... there were other secret areas, all around. She sensed an intricate mazework of tunnels and rooms, pulsating throughout Big Building. Places to explore. Places for her alone. She turned her thoughts to Doug. Was he a friend or an enemy? She wasn't sure. At first, she was upset with what he had done to her--but like she realized, it really wasn't his fault. It was the Shirt's fault. Hider was stable, but the Irregular Shirt was wild and uncontrollable. Sally smiled as an idea struck her. What if she tried to hide the lobby? Her Hider senses responded with the impression that it'd be just about impossible--the surface seemed too slippery to apply a curve to. Oh well. She crossed the lobby and headed for the outside. Almost to the door, she looked to her left and could have sworn she saw a guy looking right at her. A guy she recognized from around campus. He had long, wavy blond hair and a green leather jacket. She just looked away and stepped out into the chilly night. No way could he have seen her. Somewhere within her, though, she wished he had. Made it more exciting. Outside, the Hider curve around her eased its tension a great deal. Less work to do out here, she supposed. What now? Finding Doug seemed a good course of action, but she didn't sense him anywhere, nor did she know if she had the ability to sense him. Back to Spoin, she supposed. Maybe a shower? Hopefully it wasn't permanent ink. Then--homework, boyfriend Trad, call Mom, laundry--no. The mundane was shot. Sally couldn't go back. She'd pursue this trail with her ultimate tool, Hider. But first, a little naked stroll around campus... -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----