|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- PECULIAR LATHER--CUP 3--"MELTER PLUTO" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Peculiar Lather  ||  -------> (Cup SRpl003, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = At first Tanner thought he was having a fantasy of some sort, as anyone might have, of being cool and hanging out with rock stars and visiting godly cities. But he WAS a god! No--this was a real memory--and he recalled that Minion and Martin were not rock stars back then, a year ago. He was wondering where this memory had come from, considering that as far as he could remember, two years earlier he was Payjaych, and not Tanner Loblolly. He recalled that around that time as Payjaych he was concerned with designing a very complex board game called "Derelict". But--this memory of Agoopish was as real as any other. He paused and considered--and suspected--that an alternate past was growing from his current present state--that a past was sprouting forth like a seedling, taking root and moving upward and outward, backwards. He immediately realized the danger in this phenomenon--and though he knew not the exact cause, he knew that this alternate past might soon bulge to obfuscate his real past--and that he must stem the tide so as to retain his identity as Payjaych, Lord of Neckties and Vinegar. He applied his will toward concreting his real past, and then, assured that it was safe, he continued to remember the events of the alternate past, specifically the events he had been relating to Cudworth, straining at points to recall... ...it was in the same Area Thatterine College was in, Gullia Fair, in the Confederen Areas of Baskonontana. It was him and the two future members of Melter Pluto, standing at a service station in the light rain, in a heavily industrialo area. Minion Van Hall was wearing a black Murder Pkotocks T-shirt (Murder Pkotocks being a legendary slaughterist and marauder of several centuries earlier), and vertically-striped green and brown trousers. He had long, dark blond hair, and a bemused expression on his face. Martin was wearing an off-white short-sleeve button-up shirt and dark gray pants. He was of average height, but very thin, even slight. His hair was light brown and short. Tanner was wearing the same stuff he would have on later at the hotel. Apparently, they were waiting for Lee Frockweary, who was fixing Minion's car. They had been dropped off at the service station by Martin's mother, and they were depending on Lee to show up with the keys to Minion's car, so they could drive home. But time was dragging on and the three began to fear they might be stranded there. "This really sucks! Where the hell is that frickin Frockweary? I'm a fuckin' kill 'im!" Minion said, pacing. "Well ya better hope he shows up--I'm not gonna freeze out here on account of your stupid car." Martin said, looking cold, his hands shoved into his pants pockets. "My car is the coolest--don't you fuckin' berate my car, pal." Minion said smiling. "Looks like more rain's comin'." Tanner observed. "Yeah, and we're standing out here getting wet. Can't we try and see if the doors to the garage are open?" Martin said, bending down on his knees and looking under the garage doors. "I told ya--even if they are, Lee'd be fuckin' pissed to find us hanging around in the garage--and you know that prick'd tell his dad." Minion said. "Well I'm not gonna stand around here and get wet." Martin said. "Oh no? What're you gonna do, then?" Minion said, grabbing a rusty old chair and swinging it around in front of him. "I'll think of something." Martin muttered. "Yeah, sure." Minion muttered back, dropping the chair and then sitting astride it. The three waited in silence as a tractor trailer passed by noisily. Tanner was looking around the area and breathing in the cold, now diesel-scented air, which was surprisingly refreshing. Then he saw it. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----