|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- OFFICE COMPLEX--CUP 11--"I AM HUMAN" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Office Complex  ||  -------> (Cup SRoc011, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = There in the dark making out with Emily, though Has and Am were nearby, was very delightful to Dolthethmen. But all during it he had a terrible feeling that this bliss would be all-too-short and that disaster would certainly soon strike. After a few minutes of smooching and erotic body interpositioning, he heard Emily whisper in his ear: "Oh, Dolthethmen, I was too shy to tell you at work, but I really had a big crush on you. I've thought of you often since you left. Right now, I'm as happy as I can be. Let's get outta here and go to my place. I think you'll like it." Dolthethmen wasn't quite sure what she was referring to about liking--her place or the things they might do together. But, he figured, the way she was talking and acting, they'd be having sex most surely. But the yells from outside were now really worrying Dolthethmen. If it were some kind of major catastrophe, things would be pretty shook up, and he might miss out on the evening of indulgence lying ahead. He considered trying to alter reality, but he was in utterly the wrong mind for it, and couldn't muster an iota of reality expression. It seemed that the raging lust throughout his physical form occluded his more obtuse realityish capabilities. But at this point, they could either wait or brave the dark and try to get out of the Noyage Parlour. "Uh," Dolthethmen said aloud, "hey guys--you think maybe we oughtta try'n get out now? It has been a long time--and it seems certain that someone--a manager or worker or someone--would have come by now--and I know there were a couple of other people in the rooms around us." "Yeah," said Hasnafter, "that's a good idea. let's get going. Uh..." "How're we gonna work this?" Am asked. "Well..." Hasnafter said. "I think we should all get up and move over to the door, then move down the hall and up the stairs, hand in hand, against the wall. When we get to the stairs we should see the light from the street." said Dolthethmen. "What if the lights are all out on the street too?" Am asked. "Well," Dolthethmen answered, "I don't know. I guess there should be some cars or something out there. I dunno." "What we really need is a light source." Hasnafter commented. "I know, but we haven't any." Dolthethmen said. "And anyway, even if it's pitch black outside, we should still be able to find our way to our cars and get the hell outta here." "But I sure wonder what's going on." Am said. "Me too." Hasnafter said. "Well, let's go and find out." said Dolthethmen. "Ooh, my hero." Emily said softly. "But," Am began "like, what if it's just normal outside and we all just suddenly went blind or something?" "Oh that's silly." Hasnafter said, "the TV went off the same time the lights did. At least--the sound went off. How can you explain that?" "I dunno--some kind of wave or something--knocking out the TV and our vision at the same time?" Am said. "Okay, we don't need to have this conversation any longer." Dolthethmen said, "I have a little light on my watch--here," he turned the light on his watch on, "now I'm sure we can all see this, so we're not blind. Not that it wasn't a possibility." "Yeah," Am said, "It was just an idea." "Whatever," Dolthethmen said, "I say lets all grab hands now and move out the door." "In what order?" Am asked. "Well," Dolthethmen said, "It doesn't matter. But if you think we're gonna face some sort of threat, I suppose me and Has should go first, since we're physically stronger than you girls." "Hey!" Emily said. "Physically stronger, dear. Now that's a fact." Dolthethmen said. "I'm stronger than Has." Emily said. "Well okay, if that's so, then I suppose you and me should go first." Dolthethmen said. "How do you know I'm not stronger than you?" Emily asked of Dolthethmen. "Well I don't know--but if you're a normal human girl with the build you've got--there's really no way you're stronger than me--or Hasnafter for that matter. It's just a matter of nature and genetics and all that shit." "Well I am stronger, and I am human." Emily said. "Look guys, let's just get going, huh? I'll go first since I'm obviously the weakest one--you strong people should guard the rear, since in the dark, fiends usually sneak up on you and don't come from the front." Am said. "Okay," Dolthethmen said, "you go first, then Has, then me, and then Emily, since she's the strongest." "I am." said Emily. With this they fumbled around in the dark, and Dolthethmen found Hasnafter's hand and they stumbled together off the couch and to the door. "Well, at least the door's still here." Am said. "Great. Now open it." Dolthethmen said. Am slowly rotated the doorknob and then opened the door a crack. "Hello?" she inquired of the hallway. There was no response. "Let's go and face that which awaits us." Dolthethmen said. I used to not know what happened after that, but now I do. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----