|| -------- -- -----  A E R I E   O B L I V I A N A . singular book of text wandertainment by Frank Edward Nora ------------------- ----------- WINTER STADIUM THEM--CUP 6--"THE CODE NUMBER FOR THE END OF THE WORLD" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Winter Stadium Them  ||  -------> (Cup SRws006, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Daptin, it was my responsibility to end the world." said Fox. "What?" "Since the Creation--it was on my shoulders to bring That Which Began to an end." "Why?" "Because there is Purpose to it all, Daptin. The phasing of all things. Dawn, Day, Dusk, Night, Midnight. The birth, the life, the death." Daptin said nothing and just stared at Fox. He wasn't sure where he was. It was dark and indistinct. He and Fox were lit by what seemed to be firelight, but no fire could be seen. There was a faint green around them and he was sitting on a comfortable surface. "Listen Daptin, I have failed." "Failed?" "Yes. I cannot end the world." "I thought... didn't you say you were leaving...?" "I said that. But it was a lie. I had to lie, in order to set things in motion--things which would lead to the end of the world." "How?" "Daptin, you were present for the Creation. You witnessed it. Many did." "I don't really remember." "No, you might not. Remember clearly, that is. But you should have... impressions of it." "I do." "I was charged by the Prime Creator with the tasking of the Ending. I was to send all those who remained, all those who were there that First Day, on a false quest, not knowing that I was manipulating them into doing the Final Deed." "Where are we, Fox?" "I have brought you to a place it is my Privilege to use as communication. One of the secret places made by the Prime Creator." "So what do you want with me?" "I want to know what happened." "What do you mean?" "You are the cause of my not being able to end the world." "Me?" "Yes. Everything was going as planned. I had them all but you. I didn't think much of it then. Everything was working according to the plan. But then you came into the picture." "I don't know what I did." Fox's eyes tore into Daptin's being core. "I don't know either." Fox said slowly. The two stared at each other for a time. Daptin felt superior to Fox. He was certain of it. He was Higher than Fox. "Why destroy the world? I assume the Prime Creator has long since departed. Couldn't you simply disobey?" "Daptin, you don't understand. Me destroying the world is as much a part of Creation as the oceans, the rain, plants, the rivers. I could do nothing but follow the course set by Nature." "But the world was just getting interesting." "What's that?" Fox said in a confued tone. "I said the world was just getting good. After so long a time, people were finally starting to discover some cool stuff." "Did you ever consider, Daptin, that this was the reason the world had to end?" "No." They were silent for a time. "I have a problem, Daptin. I am fully the agent of the world's end. It is what I am. Every part of me is aimed at that end. I need to do it. But I cannot." Daptin narrowed his eyes. "The last time I saw you... before my Hizzings Disease was miraculously cured... that time... you seemed like such a happy, mischievous, nice little guy. It never occurred to me that you were..." Fox laughed a very strange laugh. "Were you a student of numerology, you might have guessed it. F is the 6th letter of the alphabet. O is the 15th. And X is the 24th. 1 plus 5 equals 6. 2 plus 4 equals 6. So F-O-X equals 666. The code number for the end of the world." "That never occurred to me." They were again silent for a time. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----