|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- QUARREL ORCHARD--CUP 1--"THIFFOR" --------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Quarrel Orchard  ||  -------> (Cup SRqo001, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = It was 2:03 in the afternoon when Quarrel Orchard came back to be again, in the back seat of a sedan. He had seen fit in the midst of defeat to be gone from the world for 4,121 years. Being returned, Reality was forced to wriggle a bit and create a background for him, as if he were there all along. This Quarrel knew as he sat there, barely looking out at a very sunny parking lot. It felt more like 200,000 years to him than 4,121. Quarrel knew of such as cars and parking lots as these had always been a part of the world, and he remembered them from great great pasts. What is the state of the world, he wondered. What ever became of all my defeated compatriots and vile enemies? It's all settled now, as so much time has passed, but what is the state of things? The physics of Reality's reaction to a prime denizen's return is queer. What specifics had been manifested? Damn if Reality didn't seem to think. As Quarrel was soon to find out, he had the car that he was in, a wallet full of identification, an apartment, a job, and even a family. His name remained Quarrel Orchard, but this identity was only 34 years old. A joke, thought Quarrel. But before he found this all out, Quarrel stepped out of the car, a gold-colored sedan, and walked into the mall that was situated near the parking lot. Inside, there was an area where several trees were planted, and in one of them Quarrel immediately recognized a minor tree-spirit he had once known. "Thiffor, this day a prime denizen returns." Quarrel said softly. "How have you fared these four millennia?" "A nice time." Thiffor said. "Very relaxing. Many many trees to sleep in and hear the murmurs of the doings of man." "Have you recollection of the fate of my compatriots in their defeat of The Affeibe Nest?" "I have some recollection of it. Their hold was loosened on power, their cohesion ruined. They scattered, but some are still about, I guess." "I wonder if I did the right thing, to begone." The tree spirit didn't answer. Quarrel looked around and finally said "How is it you came to be here?" "I wandered here maybe 9 months ago and liked it. Did you reappear near here, Orchard?" "Not one-hundred yards." "These are fine trees, but they never taste the rain." "So you had a feeling about this place?" "Yes, Quarrel. And now it makes sense. The area was being prepared for your return." "Huh." Quarrel said, nodding and looking around. The surroundings were pleasant enough. He was glad it was around tech-level Daytha--he liked that part of the civilization cycle. After a long silence, Thiffor spoke. "Quarrel?" the tree spirit said softly. "Yes?" "I would ask a favor." "Name it." "I would be human." "Aww! No you don't. Why would you want that?" "I just do." "Wow. Time really does change things." "I know. Back when you vanished, I would rather have evaporated than even consider becoming human. But you know--I think the seeds of the idea were there all along." Quarrel nodded and Thiffor continued. "Always the little sting of envy every time I saw young human lovers in their way. Always the forbidden desires to breathe and fear death and hurt and blaze so brightly." "I see." Quarrel said. "And you think I can grant you the humanity you so greatly desire?" Some people passed by and stared at Quarrel talking to the tree. He didn't flinch. "I believe you have the Right to do such a thing, Quarrel. Yes." "Well I haven't." Quarrel stood there silent, still groggy from his return. Finally, Thiffor spoke again. "I have information you might desire. You shall have it in return for Calling me human." Quarrel raised an eyebrow. "Deal-making? From a tree spirit? Hah! Times indeed have changed." "Please." Thiffor said after a pause. "I am desperate." Quarrel let out a sigh. "You want to die that much?" "I want to live. I want to feel life. I want to be involved. I want to BREATHE. If I can die after fifty or sixty years of really being alive... I..." "Enough." Quarrel said. "If I can help you, I will. In return for the information you promised, of course." "Yes." "The information first, though. You might not remember when you become human." "I... well I know I can trust you." Quarrel rolled his eyes. "Okay," Thiffor continued. "Bicker Carbon is alive and well. He is currently a pop music star. The kids around here talk about him all the time. It's been this way for about three or four years." "I couldn't have found that out myself?" "Hear me out. Of course you would have discovered that. But there's something else--something known to very few. In his band--they call it 'Carbon'--there is another member, a collaborator on all the songs." "Yeah?" "Yeah. His name is Rovald Ancien." "That name means nothing to me." "No, but it is not his real name." "What is his real name?" "You promise to call me human?" "Yes, you annoying spirit. Now tell me!" -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----