|| -------- -- -----  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 9--"SOOT MARY" <-------  ||  Severe Repair  ||  Winter Stadium Them  ||  -------> (Cup SRws009, Created v2 (6/7/99), Copyright 1999) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = "Who was she?" the Marrier Ball asked. "Her name's Bolt Cutter America. But she's in Gnoboslast." Snoppy replied. "Are you sure?" the Marrier Ball said after a pause. "Sure I'm sure." "Would you marry her if she were available now?" "Of course." "So why don't you wait for her?" "What!?--you know the chances of getting out of Gnoboslast?" "Not exactly." "Well--let me tell you, my spherical friend--not too good at all." "So you've decided to find another." "Yes! A man has needs. Emotional needs. He needs a wife. For many, many reasons." "Do you think you'd be a good husband?" "Sure. I'm intelligent, kind, caring, understanding. And I don't expect marriage to be fun. I view it as a challenge." "Well Snoppy, I'm searching the group mind for a match now. The Town is saturated today--no doubt we'll find a good match." "Brilliant." "While we're waiting, I wonder if you'd mind me asking you some questions of an altogether different nature." "Shoot." "I... I have come to question my existence. While I am supposed to be but one segment of a group mind, I have a consciousness of my own. In the realm of marriage, we focus on a variety of topics, such as personality, history, status, goals, etc. And I can't help but notice that... there's this trend... it paints a picture... a picture of a place very unlike Rillekon's Road." "Yeah?" "People come here and tell us many things--about the worlds they came from. But in all their words, there is something missing. Some kind of subtext, some kind of hidden meaning." "How do you mean?" "I mean places. What are they? Rillekon's Road is for all practical purposes the center of the universe. I know there are endless side roads, but... is it these side roads that all these people are coming from?" "You want the short answer? No." "Where then?" "You ask a pretty mean question, uh, Ball. What should I call you by the way--'Ball'? Or something else?" "That is discouraged. Group mind, you know. But you might call me Soot Mary." "Why?" "Because it is a story. And it is the only thing I seem to recall from... in my mind... it's there, but I don't know of its origin." "What's it supposed to be about?" "About a girl of noble birth who is terribly mistreated, but who is eventually saved." Snoppy paused to think. "Is it common for you to speak to visitors like this?" "No. I am certain to face repercussions, but I don't care." "Why not?" "Because to be an individual in a group mind is an unbearable thing, and I want to end it one way or another. Expulsion, assimilation, destruction--whichever way they desire." "That's a queer take on things." "I know it is." "How long have you felt this way... Soot Mary?" Soot Mary let out a jolt of that might have been a gasp--a gasp of pleasure and surprise at hearing her name pronounced by a human being. "H-how long? I don't know how to describe my understanding of time to you." "Days?" Snoppy asked. "Days. Let me think. Millions?" "That's thousands of years." "Yeah." "Hmm." "I don't know what to do. I thought that since... you're part of Winter Stadium Them... that you might be able to help me." "It's possible. But I know so little about the nature of your... species... that I'm afraid I wouldn't know where to begin." "I have heard people talk about the transference of consciousness from body to body. Have you?" "Why, yes. I've heard of that happening." "I want more than anything to be human." Snoppy sighed, absorbing the words of the Marrier Ball. "A lofty aim." "Yes." They both paused for a little while. "Well Soot Mary," Snoppy finally said, "I'll focus my attention on your problem." "Thank you. I'm--oh!--we've found a match. Been here for a few days. Good match! 92%!" "Yeah?" "Yes. Her name is Dizappacha. She only came to Rillekon's Road recently. But I am going to be honest." "Huh?" "I want to be honest with you. I'm putting everything on the line here. I want to BE her. More than anything else, I want to be the human woman who'll marry you. Can you IMAGINE the contrast between that and my existence here? I NEED TO BREAK FREE OF THIS PRISON!!!" The surge of energy from the glass box was so strong that Snoppy reflexively pulled his hand away. "Calgareaux's mind!" Snoppy exclaimed as he gingerly placed his hand back on the box. "Sorry." came Soot Mary's energy voice, in a much gentler tone. "It's okay. It's okay." "Snoppy Parser--what should I do?" "Well uh--I don't know. You say you want to BE this girl?" "Yes. I want to be human and to marry you. The glamour! I mean, you're one of Winter Stadium Them! Oh please... please, whoever's out there, whoever can hear me... MAKE THIS HAPPEN!" Snoppy frowned. "This isn't what I expected." "I'm sorry. I--" The flow of energy from the box suddenly stopped. -------> ------------------- ----------- -------- -- -----