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Text File  |  1992-10-07  |  28KB  |  441 lines
  1. 072010302030000144002006004006000
  2. 11
  3. 2CokePage #1
  4. F0110000001
  5. 9[..◆.◆....◆..◆◆◆.◆..◆....◆....◆....◆....◆....◆....◆....◆....◆....◆....◆.]0110
  6. ü"Doyouwantacoke,too?"
  7. ÇbyGardEggesbøAbrahamsen
  8. (dedicatedtoRitaAnneHusøy)
  9.  
  10. Treborlookedupattheradar.Somethingbigwasclosingin,orwasit
  11. theshipthatwasclosinginonsomethingbig?Atleastitwasso
  12. enormouslyhuge,itjusthadtobeasmallplanet.Helookedoutofthe
  13. window.Pressingacoupleofbuttonsresultedinmakingacoupleof
  14. screensflashastheycametolife.
  15.    Theplanetwasquitered.Thesizeofitwasabout42timesthesize
  16. ofearth.ThecomputertoldTreborthattheyhadarrivedattheplanet
  17. Doviov.Theinhabitantswereaveryrareraceofhumanbeings:theywere
  18. pink.Thetechnologylevelwasquitelow,andmanytribesstilllivedas
  19. animalsinthereddeserts.WellknownwastheTedagemtribe.Theyhated
  20. non-pinks.Theywereracists."Doviov'sanswertoKluKluxKlan"they
  21. werecalled,andinamatteroffact,theTedagemtribeenjoyedthe
  22. title.
  23.    AdooropenedbehindTreborandGitssteppedthroughit.Heyawnedas
  24. heenteredtheroomallowingthedoortoclosesilentlybehindhim.He
  25. rushedtothecokematicandgrabbedacoke.Aquicklookatthescreen
  26. madehimdropthecokeonthefloor.Therewasonlyonewordinhismind.
  27. Obliterate.Hewantedtodoitatonce,butsincehedidn'tknowwhatall
  28. thebuttonsdid,hethoughtitwasn'tworththetrouble.Buthehadto
  29. gettoknowthisshiponetimeoranother.
  30.    "Wherearewe?"heaskedcalmlyashegrabbedanothercokeformthe
  31. cokematic.Hiseyeslookedaroundtoseeiftherewasanyonewhocould
  32. answerthequestion."üAndstopsuckingyouthumb,Riegsa!Ç"
  33.    Riegsaquicklypulledhisthumboutofthemouthandputitinthe
  34. pocket."Doviov,sir"hesaidcalmly."Anddon'teventhinkofremoving
  35. theplanetoffthemap,'causewetravelinpeace.Bytheway,wehaveto
  36. stophereforamomenttogetridofanice-cube."Hepointedatthe
  37. fridge.Thefridgecontainedanenormousice-cube.Itwasabitpolluted
  38. asitcontainedlotsofcarbon.Actually,itcontainedacarbon-based
  39. life-formcalledEdorf.Thislife-formwasstillalive,thoughabit
  40. frozenandunabletomove.Theonlythingthatmovedinsidetheice-cube
  41. wassomethoughts.Infact,thesethoughtswouldmakeagreatsongif
  42. Edorfcouldmovehislips,buthecouldn't.
  43. ä   Idon'tknowhowtolivethroughthishellWokenup,I'mstilllocked
  44. inthisshellFrozensoul,frozendowntothecoreBreaktheice,Ican't
  45. takeanymoreFreezingCan'tmoveatallScreamingCan'thearmycallI'm
  46. dyingtoliveCryoutI'mtrappedunderice.
  47.    Crystallized,asIlayhereandrestEyesofglassstaredirectlyat
  48. deathFromdeepsleepIhavebrokenawayNooneknows,noonehearswhat
  49. IsayFreezingCan'tmoveatallScreamingCan'thearmycallIamdying
  50. toliveCryoutI'mtrappedunderice.
  51. Ç   Itwasapettynoonecouldhearthis,'causeitwasagreatMetallica
  52. tune.Butsincethishadnothingtodowiththeactualstoryatall,
  53. everybodyignoredit.
  54.    "Wearenowinorbit,sir"thecomputerinformed.
  55.    "Good.Readytheteleportforshiptoplanettransportationofhuman
  56. life-formandgetDragandEnirevesuphere."
  57.    "Yourwordismycommand,sir"
  58.    Onlyafewsecondslater,Gitscouldhearthetwocrew-memberswalking
  59. throughthecorridor.Theywere"kindof"fighting.
  60.    "Couldyoupleaseanswerme?"Dragshouted."Youdon'teverreplywhen
  61. Iaskyouaboutanything.Youdon'teversayanythingatall.Don'tyou
  62. evergetboredofallthesilence?"
  63.    Enirevesdidn'tsayanything.
  64.    "WhydoyoukeepignoringeverythingIsay?Ihaven'tignoredanything
  65. you'vesaid,butyoudon'tsayanythinganyway,sothereisn'tmuchto
  66. ignore."
  67.    ThedoorslidopentoallowDragandEnirevestoentertheroombefore
  68. itclosedsilentlybehindthem.DragwasstillbusymakingEnireves
  69. Çreact.Enirevesjuststaredatthescreen."Doviov?"shewhispered.
  70.    "Yuppie!"Dragcried."Shesaidsomething!!!!!"
  71.    Enireveswalkedovertothecomputerandpressedacoupleofbuttons.
  72. Thescreenflashedasitspicturechangedandnowrevealedabusypolice-
  73. office.Ayoungmanturnedtothescreenandpressedabuttononit.
  74. "Yes?"heasked.
  75.    "ThisisGitstheviolentone,captainofNeewolleh.Wehaveonboard
  76. aprisoner.Heisapirate.Weaskforpermissiontoteleporthimtoyou
  77. andatthesametimeteleportourselvestothesurfaceoftheplanetto
  78. doabitshopping."Gitssaidcalmlyashetightenedhisfists.Theglass
  79. ofcokefeltuncomfortable.
  80.    Theyoungmaninthepolice-officelookedthroughacoupleofpapers
  81. onhisdeskbeforehelookedbackuponthescreen."Youmightjusthas
  82. welldoso,"hesuggested.Thescreenflashedandtheplanetonceagain
  83. appearedonit.
  84.    "Enireves,"Gitsordered."You'llstayintheshipandportusupwhen
  85. wecall.Ifyoufindsomethingstrangeabouttheship,contactusonthe
  86. radio."
  87.    Shenodded.
  88.    Andso,Gits,Trebor,RiegsaandDragwentintotheteleportwherean
  89. enormousice-cubewaswaitingforthem."Anddon'tdrinkupallthecoke
  90. whilewearegone!"
  91.    Abrightyellowlightappearedintheteleport.Itseemedasifitwas
  92. examiningthecrewcarefully.Whenthiswasdone,therewasawhiteflash
  93. andtheteleportwasempty.
  94.    Thecrewandtheice-cubewerestandinginthemiddleofthepolice-
  95. office."Hereweare,"Gitsinformedthepolice-officersthatjust
  96. couldn'tstopstaringatthem."theprisonerisinthisice-cube.Whenhe
  97. hasmelted,youshouldputhiminhiscellatonce,orelsehemightrun
  98. away."
  99.    Thenthecrewwalkedoutoftheofficeleavingtheofficerswondering
  100. whatwasgoingon.Theyhadneverseenanythingappearingjustlikethat
  101. before.Theylookedateachotherandrushedovertotheice-cubeto
  102. touchitjusttocheckoutthattheyweren'tdreaming.
  103.    Onceoutoftheoffice,Gitsautomaticallystartedsearchingfora
  104. placetobuyaveryadvancedguncheap.Ittookhimonlythirtyseconds
  105. tofindtheGuns&Barrelsshopping-centre.Hisattentionwasalmost
  106. immediatelydrawntoaguninoneoftheshops.Herushedintoitand
  107. askedhowmuchtheMG-65536fourty-twobarreledsub-machinelaser-rifle
  108. withatomicbatteryautomaticreloadcost.
  109.    "Fourty-twothousand,"theshop-keepersaidcalmly.
  110.    Gitspayedandgrabbedthegun.Hethenpointeditattheshop-keeper.
  111. "Andnow,givethemoneybacktome."hesaidevenmorecalmlyashe
  112. pulledthetriggerandshotthemanbetweentheeyes.Quitesoon,the
  113. headwasamissingpieceandthebodyfelltotheground.Gitsgrabbed
  114. themoneyhehadpayedfortherifleandrushedoutoftheshop.
  115.    "Stopthethief,"heheardavoiceshoutbehindhim."Heshotmyrobot
  116. assistant!"
  117.    Gitsranoutoftheshopping-centrewithRiegsa,TreborandDragjust
  118. behindhim.Theydidn'tstopuntiltheyreachedthemountainsoutsidethe
  119. city.Theystartedclimbing,butwereinterruptedbyabuzzfromthe
  120. radio.
  121.    "NeewollehtoGits,"itsaid."Doyoureadme?"
  122.    "OfcourseIreadyou!"Gitssaidabitfrustrated.
  123.    "Ijustnoticedasmallscreenhere.Itsays'SeDe42'andthenumber
  124. keepsdecreasing.Whatdoesthatmean?"
  125.    Gitsthoughtabit."Itmeansthatyouhave42secondstogetthehell
  126. outofthere!"
  127.    "What?ButI..."thentherewasthesoundofsomebodyrunningaway
  128. fromthemicrophoneinahurryandthebeginningofanexplosion.Then
  129. therewassilence.Silenceintheradio,thatis.Theylookedupatthe
  130. skyandtheycouldseeabrightflash.Severalsecondslatertheyheard
  131. theexplosion,butthistime,itseemedabitmorefaraway.
  132. Ç   Somewhereinthecity,amanwastalkingtoacrowdofpeopleashe
  133. wasgoingtoopenabuildingforthepublic."Wehavefinallygathered
  134. allspace-technologyinthisverybuilding.Itisallspace-technology
  135. thatexistsontheentireplanet,gatheredhereforthisspecial
  136. occasion."
  137.    Thecrowedlookedupasanexplosiondisturbedtheirattention.They
  138. couldseeanenormousspace-shiphurlingdownthroughtheatmosphereand
  139. crashinthebuildingthatcontainedallspace-technologyontheplanet.
  140. Thismeantthattherewasnosuchtechnologyleftontheplanet.Inturn,
  141. thismeantthatGits,Riegsa,TreborandDragwasstuckontheplanet.
  142. Gitshadalreadyfiguredthatout,sincehedidn'thaveenoughmoneyto
  143. buyanewspace-ship.Thecrashonlymadeitabitworseforhim.Now,he
  144. wouldhavetowaitforaspace-shiptocometotheplanetandrescuehim.
  145.    Theykeptonclimbingthemountain.Themountainwasquitesteep,but
  146. assoonastheyreachedthetop,theywouldbegreetedwithsomegently
  147. slopingdowns.Theyknewthissincetheyhadlookedabitatthemap
  148. beforetheywereporteddown.However,thiswasalsothelandsofthe
  149. Tedagemtribe.Nowondernobodyfollowedthemfromthecity.ButGitshad
  150. therifle,andthatmadehimfeelsecure.
  151.    "Youdon'tseemtobesorryforwhathappenedwithEnireves,Drag.I
  152. thoughtyouweregoodfriends.Verygoodfriends."RiegsalookedatDrag.
  153.    "Nah!Sheneversaidaword,andweneverdidathingtogether,sowe
  154. didn'thaveanychancetogettoknoweachotheratall.Iain'tsorry
  155. forher."
  156.    GitsreachedthetopofthemountainandRiegsafollowed.Thencame
  157. TreborandDrag.Theylookeddownatthecity.Theshiphadcertainly
  158. donequitealotofdamage.Theyturnedtothedowns.Partsofthe
  159. landscapewascoveredwithforest.Sincethegroupwantedtowalkabout
  160. unnoticed,theystartedtowalktowardstheforest.
  161.    Itwasdarkintheforest.Anditwasabitfrightening.Theyheard
  162. allkindsofanimalsmovearoundbehindtheredtrees.Abirdflewabove
  163. thetreesandlandedinanearbythegroup.Acoupleofleavesfelldown
  164. onRiegsa'shead.Hestoodstillasifhefearedthatsomeonewasgoing
  165. toattackhimifhemoved.
  166.    "Itwasjustahandfulofleaves,Riegsa,"Dragtoldhim,butRiegsa
  167. keptstandingstill.Frightwasinhiseyes.Whatwastheretosee,Drag
  168. thoughandlookedthesamedirectionasRiegsa.Theykeptquietand
  169. listenedcarefully.Ritualmusiccouldbeheardnottoofaraway.In
  170. fact,someflamescouldbeseenaswell.
  171.    "Tedagems,"Riegsawhispered."Weshouldn'thavecomeuphere."
  172.    "Nonsense!I'vegotmyrif..."GitstriedtocalmRiegsadown,buthe
  173. wasinterruptedbyasoundbehindhim.Heturnedaroundandfoundhimself
  174. standingfacetofacewithapinkman.
  175.    "Gimmedat,"thepinkmanorderedashegrabbedGits'rifle.Gitswas
  176. quiteshocked,buttherewaslittlehecoulddoaboutitwithoutthe
  177. rifle.Heputhishandsabovehisheadandsodidtheothers.Theywere
  178. thenledtothecampwhereseveralotherpinkmenwerewaiting."Ifind
  179. diesguysinDenBosch,"themantoldtheothers.
  180.    "Puttedeminkagees,antwelldecaidewhaddotowittemlate."the
  181. menreplied,andsoGits,Drag,TreborandRiegsawereputinfour
  182. separatecages.Thecagesweresosmall,theyhadtostand.
  183.    "Thisistheend,"Riegsasuggested.
  184.    "IfIwasletoutofhere,I'drunlikecrazy,"Treborreplied.
  185.    "Agunwoulddonow,"Gitssaidashetightenedhisfists.
  186.    Dragdidn'tsayanything.HewaswatchingtheTedagemsastheystudied
  187. therifle."Itmustbeaweepond,"oneofthemsaid."deywasquit
  188. freightenwhenIpointitattem."
  189.    "Buthowdossitwoork,smatass?"
  190.    "Idonnoknow.Ifweopeneit,wemayfindoot."
  191.    Andsothemenopenedthegunandtheystilldidn'tunderstandhowit
  192. worked.Dragnoticedthattheyallhadswords.Themensplitandwent
  193. intotheirtents.Alonelymanwasleftbythefire.Hesnored.Darkness
  194. descendedovertheforestandthefourstartedfreezing,eventhoughthey
  195. Çhadtheirspace-suitson.Itwasdifficulttosleepinastanding
  196. position,butsomehow,Dragmanaged.
  197.  
  198. ---------
  199.  
  200.    "Wedonnohafanykageeslef.Puterintogetterwitttisonne,"Drag
  201. openedhiseyestodiscoverthataguardhadcaughtawhitegirland
  202. becauseofproblemswiththenumberofcages,shewasputinDrag'scage,
  203. makingitverytightinthere.ButDragrecognisedthegirl.
  204.    "Atir?"heasked."Isthatyou,Atir?"
  205.    "Drag?Butitmusthavebeenages!"
  206.    Riegsa,TreborandGitsdidn'tunderstandwhatwasgoingon,butthey
  207. understoodthatDragandAtirkneweachother."Nevermind,"Gitssaid.
  208. "Wehavetogetoutofhere.Doyouhaveaknife?"
  209.    "No.TheytookallIhad,butcalmdown.Theywon'tactuallykillus,
  210. youknow."
  211.    DraglookedatAtir."Howdoyouknow?"
  212.    "Ihavebeencaughtlikethisbefore.Theywilljustdigusdownabit
  213. leavingtheheadoutoftheground.Wewon'tbeabletomove."
  214.    Andwhenmorningcame,ithappenedasAtirhadtold.Thenthewaiting
  215. started.42secondspassedby.Nothinghappened.42minutespassedby.
  216. Still,nothinghappened.42hourspassedandthefivegotquitehungry.
  217. However,amancame.
  218.    "Whathareyoudoingdownthere?"heasked.
  219.    "Waitingforyoutodigusup,"Gitssuggested.
  220.    "Soyouharewaitingformetodigyouhup,doyou.Whatmakesyou
  221. thinkthatI'mgoingtodigyouhup?"
  222.    Gitslookedattheman'sclothes.Theyweren'tmuch.Infact,theman
  223. hadfivesetsofclothesthatwerejustenoughtocovervitalpartsof
  224. thebody.
  225.    "Because,"Gitssaid."Youwantourclothes."
  226.    Andthemanstarteddigging.Thewholedaywentandthemandiscovered
  227. thathereallywantedthoseclothes,andsincehethoughtitwouldn'tbe
  228. nicetoletthenicepeoplegotherenude,hefiguredoutthatheshould
  229. givethemhisoldclothes.Atirevengotabra.Sonowtheystoodthere.
  230. Abitdirty.Inclothesthatbarelycoveredthemostimportantpartsof
  231. thebody.Noweaponscouldbeseenatall.
  232.    "There'ssandinmycoke,"Gitssaidanddroppedtheglasshehadbeen
  233. holdinginthehandallthetime."It'stimeforrevenge.Andfirstof
  234. all,we'llneedsomeweapons.We'llhavetostealthemfromtheTedagem
  235. tribe.We'lldoittonight."
  236.    Thenightwasthere42minuteslater.Gitssneakedintothecampof
  237. thepinkKluKluxKlantribe.RiegsaandTreborfollowedandafterthem
  238. cameAtirandDrag.Gitsgrabbedhisgunandtriedashot.
  239.    Zaclick.
  240.    Hethrewthegunaway.Thosebastardshadruinedit.Hegrabbeda
  241. nearbylyingswordandrushedintothefirsttenthecouldsee.The
  242. othersheardsomeshoutsandsoonGitsrushedoutofthetentwith
  243. fifteenTedagemmenbehindhimshouting"Geddim!Geddim!"
  244.    TheyallranintothebushandlaydownsothattheTedagemmenran
  245. pastthemwithoutnoticingthem.Gitsstoodup.Hisclothes-thelittle
  246. hehadofit-werealldirtynow.Luckily,thereweren'tanyholein
  247. them."Well,"hesaid."Sincethetribeisoutlookingforus,wehave
  248. thechancetoseewhattheyhave."Andthepartywantbacktothecamp.
  249. Oneofthetents,theynoticed,wasincrediblyhuge,sotheyenteredit,
  250. hopingtofindlotsofweapons.Instead,theyfoundasmallspace-ship.
  251. Itsdoorswereopen,sotheycouldeasilyenterit.Thecontrolsseemed
  252. veryold,andallthelabelswerewritteninalanguagetheydidn't
  253. understand.Gitsgrabbedacokefromthecokematic.
  254.    Slowly,Dragslippedintothechairinfrontofthecontrols.Gits
  255. lookedabitworriedwhenhesawDragpressingbuttonsandswitching
  256. switches.
  257.    "Doyouknowhowtousethisship?"heasked.
  258. Ç   "Whocaresaboutthataslongaswegetoffthisplanet..."
  259.    Theshipliftedofftheground.Riegsaslippedintothechairbesides
  260. Drag."Takearest,Drag.I'llfindoutthecontrols."
  261.    DragsatdownonanearbychairandlookedintoAtir'seyes,movedhis
  262. lipsasifhewasgoingtosaysomething.Hetookagoodbreathandsaid:
  263. "Atir,"Hesmiledabit."Cuddlyone."Hethenlookedabitwitty."Will
  264. youmarrymesomeday?"Hisfacechangedtoabeggingone.
  265.    Atirlookedabitsorryassheanswered."Nah!Sorrytoletyoudown,
  266. butI'malreadymarried..."
  267.    Draghadneverbeensounhappyinhislife.Infact,hesuddenly
  268. lookeddeadserious,whichrarelyhappenstosomebodythatusuallylooks
  269. aswittyasDragdid.Atearappearedinhiseye."I..."hetriedtosay,
  270. buthehaddifficultiespronouncingitright."Ihoped..."hetried
  271. again,butstillhehadadifficulttimehandlinghimselfandhis
  272. emotionalfeelings."I'lljustgoandfindaroomwhereIcansitfor
  273. myselfandcatchupwithmyself.OK?"
  274.    Hepressedthewellknownbuttonbythedoorwhichmadethedoorslide
  275. opentoallowDragtogothroughitandintothecorridorbeforeit
  276. closedsilentlybehindhim.Itdidn'ttakehimlongtofindanotherroom.
  277. Theroomlookedabitstrange,butthat'swhatoneshouldexpectwhenyou
  278. stealaspace-shipfromaworldyouknownothingabout.
  279.    Dragstrippedandgotintobed.Thebedwasquitecomfy,eventhough
  280. itwasn'tmadeforaman."Itwasmadefortwohumans,"Dragthought.
  281. "Onemaleandonefemale,"Heturnedover,closedhiseyes.Heheardthe
  282. bedroomdoorslideopen.Waitingforsome-bodytocuddlehimandshare
  283. thebedwithhim,hedidn'tmove.Hedidn'tevenopenhiseyesashe
  284. didn'twanttobedisappointedtofindoutthatitwasn'tAtirbut
  285. someoneelse.
  286.    "Atir?"heaskedwhennothinghappened.
  287.    Silence.
  288.    "Atir?"heaskedagainasheturnedoverandopenedhiseyes.Hiseyes
  289. didn'tseeAtir.TherewasnoTreborinsight.NoRiegsa.NoGits.There
  290. wasanotherperson.Apersonherecognised...
  291.  
  292. ---------
  293.  
  294. "Coursesetforhome,ViolentOne,"Riegsareported.Thestarspassedby
  295. inanenormousspeed.Eventhoughtheytravelledataspeedof42000SL,
  296. theywouldhavetowaitacoupleofhourstoreachtheirplanet.He
  297. reachedbacktothecokematicandgrabbedacoke.Atirgrabbedacokeas
  298. well.
  299.    "I'llbeofftoseehowDragisdoing,"shesaid,wanderingoffdown
  300. thecorridortotheroomDraghadgoneto.Shepressedthebuttonbythe
  301. door,forcingittoopen.Shepeekedin.Shecouldseenobody.
  302.    Ifshehadbeensmartenoughtothinkthatsomethingwaswronghere,
  303. shewouldn'thaveenteredtheroom,butbecausewewantsomethingsilly
  304. tohappeninthisstory,andsinceshedidn'tthinkofthisfact,she
  305. enteredtheroomanyway.Thedoorclosedbehindher.Shewasaloneinan
  306. emptyroomshedidn'texactlylike.Afterall,itwaskindofalien-like.
  307. Shefeltthatsomebodystaredather.
  308.    "Drag,"shegiggled."Don'tplaygameswithme,"shetookastep
  309. forward,heardasoundbehindher,sosheturnedaroundandwasquite
  310. surprisednottofindDragthere.Shegaspedabitjustbeforeshe
  311. fainted.
  312.  
  313. ---------
  314.  
  315. Riegsasatbackinthechair.Itwasquiterelaxing.HelookedatGits
  316. whowasstandingbythewindowlookingout.HelookedatTreborwhowas
  317. sittinginanearbychair.Helookedatthecontrolsinfrontofhim.He
  318. stretchedouthisrighthandandfeltthebuttons.Accidentallyhepushed
  319. oneofthebuttons."Sheepcaagoanalaisees,"avoicesaidinaverybad
  320. English."Desheepcontæins40toonsowweeponsandsiixcrewmembeers."
  321. Ç   Gitsturnedquicklyaround."SIX?"heaskedlookingseriouslyasking.
  322. "Letmesee.Meisone,Riegsaistwo,Treboristhree,Dragisfour,
  323. Atirisfive.Weareonlyfivecrewmembersonboard.Trebor,willyou
  324. pleasecheckthecomputer?Ithinkitdoesn'tworkproperly."
  325.    "'doorfiissiix,"thecomputerreplied,andadded"undhi'm
  326. pøørfectleefaine,dænkyou."Gitslookedseriouslyseriousashegrabbed
  327. anothercokefromthecokematicandtriedtothinkofafancy$50word
  328. fromthedictionary,buthejustcouldn'tthinkofany.
  329.    "SwiftOne!RunswiftlyandwarntheWittyOneandtheCuddlyOne!"
  330. Gitssaidashedrankupthecoke.Hetightenedhisfists,tryingto
  331. thinkofafancywaytogetridofEdorf,buthejustcouldn'tthinkof
  332. it.
  333.    Treborpushedthebuttonbythedoorthatisgettingquitefamousnow
  334. whenitisbeingopenedallthetime."Nah,let'srestabit,"thedoor
  335. thoughtanddidn'tmove.Treborpressedthebuttonimpatiently."What's
  336. thehurry?"thedoorthoughtandcontinuedstandingstill.Treborstarted
  337. hittingthebutton."Hey,takeiteasy,boy,"thedoorthought.Ityawned
  338. abit.Treborstartedkickingthefuckingdoor."What'sthematterwith
  339. you,mister?Can'tIsleepwhenIwantto?Iwanttosleepnow."thedoor
  340. thoughtanddidn'tbudge.
  341.    "Itwon'topen,"Treborsaid.
  342.    "That'sright,"thedoorthought.
  343.    "Givememyblaster,"Gitssaid.
  344.    "Hey,OK!OK!OK!I'llopen,"thedoorthoughtandopenedtolet
  345. Treborthrough,butthistimeitclosed3millimetresbehindTrebor.
  346. "Now,rememberthattillnexttime,"thedoorthoughtandwentbackto
  347. sleep.
  348.    Treborranswiftlydownthecorridor.HeknockedonDrag'sdoorand
  349. listenedifhecouldhearany"unusual"sounds.
  350.    Nothing.
  351.    Heknockedagain.
  352.    Stillnothing.
  353.    "Hey,"heshouted."Drag?Atir?Areyouinthere?"Hepressedthe
  354. buttonbythedoor.ThedooropenedandTreborpeekedin.
  355.    Nothing.
  356.    Hesteppedinside.Thedoorclosedautomaticallybehindhim.Looking
  357. atthebedgavehimtheinformationthatsomebodyHADBEENthere.He
  358. lookedaroundtofindthebathroom.Hewalkedslowlyintoit.
  359.    Nothingthere.
  360.    Heturnedaroundandlookedstraightintoapairoffrighteningeyes.
  361. "Shit,"hesaid.
  362.  
  363. ---------
  364.  
  365. TimepassedandTrebordidn'treturn.Gitsstartedworryingaboutwhat
  366. could'vehappened."Riegsa,"Gitsbegan."Couldyouaskthecomputerto
  367. findoutwhathashappenedtotheothers?Imean,doyouthinkyoucando
  368. it?"
  369.    "Idoubtthat.Thecomputeristoostupid."
  370.    "Then,goandseeforyourself,willyou?Please?"
  371.    Riegsagotupfromthechair,wentovertothedoorandstaredatit.
  372. Thedoorstartedshaking.Riegsapressedthebutton.Thedoorfalteredas
  373. itopenedtoletRiegsathroughsothathecouldcontinuedownthe
  374. corridortoDrag'sbedroom.
  375.    Gitslistenedcarefully.Inasudden,heheardwildlaughterfollowed
  376. byRiegsa'sscream."Don'tyouwant$42?Heeeeeee..."thescreamwas
  377. choked.Hewentquietlyovertothecupboard,openeditandtookoutthe
  378. Erifa42barreledmegablasterenergy-boltgenerationatomicbasedrifle
  379. andworeit.Helookedatthedoorandthedooropenedwithoutwaiting
  380. forGitstopressthebutton.
  381.    Hewalkedslowlydownthecorridor."Rightnow,"hesangcalmly,"Iam
  382. anAnti-Christ,andIamananarchist.Don'tknowwhatIwant,butIknow
  383. howtogetit.Iwanttodestroy,possibly?"Hestoodinfrontofthebed
  384. Çroomdoorandpressedthebutton."CauseIwanttobeAnarchy.Nodog's
  385. body."ThedooropenedandGitsenteredtheroom.Helookedaround.No
  386. onewasthere."Anarchyformyspace-ship."Thedoorclosedbehindhim.
  387. "It'scomingsometimeitmaybe.Igiveawrongtime,stopatraffic
  388. light.Yourfuturedreamisashoppingspree.CauseIwanttobeAnarchy,
  389. inthespace-ship."
  390.    Helookedatthebathroomdoor.Helistenedabit.Theshowerwason.
  391. "Ofmanywaystogetwhatyouwant,Iusethebest,Iusetherest.Iuse
  392. theenemy,Iuseanarchy.CauseIwanttobeAnarchy,it'stheonlyway
  393. tobe."Helookedintothebathroom.Noonethere.Justtheshower.He
  394. turneditoff.Andwentfortheexit."IsthistheM.P.L.A.?Isthisthe
  395. U.D.A.?IsthistheI.R.A.?Ithoughtitwasthemilkyway,orjust
  396. anothergalaxy,andothergal-liketendencies."Helefttheroomand
  397. headedforthestoragerooms."CauseIwanttobeAnarchy,causeIwant
  398. tobeAnarchy,youknowwhatImean?"Helookedaroundacoupleofboxes.
  399. Lookedatthemcarefully."CauseIwanttobeanAnarchist,againI'm
  400. pissed,Destroy!!!"Heblastedoneoftheboxesintotinysmallpieces.
  401. Nothingwasinit.Andespeciallynotanybody.
  402.    Hewentovertotheotherbox.Shotitopen.Dragwasinit."Take
  403. this,"GitssaidashegaveDragasmallgun."andreleasetheothers
  404. whileIfindEdorf."Dragtookthegunandstartedtoopentheother
  405. boxed.Helookedabitworried.
  406.    "But,Gits,"hesaid."Don'tdoitsanguinary,please."
  407.    "Ofcoursenot.Idon'twanttomessupmyship,doI?"
  408.    "Well,"DraglookedattheboxGitshadblowntopiecesandkeptin
  409. mindhowGitshadmesseduphismicrowaveovenonce.Gitsdisappeared
  410. outofthestorageroom.Thefirstboxwasopen.ItwasAtir.Dragsmiled
  411. toher.
  412.    Shelookedabitunhappydownthere."Whowasthatguyanyway?"she
  413. asked.Dragdidn'tanswer.Hejustcontinuedopeningtheotherboxes.
  414. Evenhelookedabitunhappy.
  415.    Itdidn'ttakemuchtimetoreleaseRiegsaandTrebor.Eachonegot
  416. theirowngunbeforetheyfollowedGits'footstepsbacktothebridge.
  417. Thedoorclosedbehindthem.Afamiliarlandscapecouldbeseenthrough
  418. thewindow."Trae?"Dragasked."Home?"
  419.    "Yeah,"Gitssaidandlookedabitunhappy."I'vealreadycontacted
  420. thespace-port.Wehaveaclearancetoland."
  421.    "AndEdorf?"
  422.    "Iwastolate.Wewereflyingat12feet,sohejumpedout."
  423.    "Oh."
  424.    Thespace-portclosedinandsoontheshiphadlanded.Riegsaclosed
  425. offtheengineswhileDragfoundouthowtoopentheouterdoor.Aftera
  426. coupleofrandombuttons,hefinallymanagedtofindtherightone,and
  427. thedooropened.Theywentoutofthespace-shipandfoundacoupleof
  428. taxistodrivethemhome.
  429.    "That'slife,"Dragthoughtlookingoutofthewindowofthecabas
  430. theypassedstreetafterstreet.Allthetimeanewstreet.Thestreet
  431. namesonTraewerespecial.Theywerenameslike"CarbonStreet","Space
  432. Street","MoneyStreet","LittleColourRoad","TeenwolfRd.","Thrash
  433. Street","HetfieldStreet"and"MustainStreet".Draglivedin"Irata
  434. Street",oratleastheusedtolivetherewhenhewasn'tinouterspace.
  435.    Hepulledthekeyoutofhispocket,inserteditinthekeyhole,
  436. turneditandthenopenedthedoor.Thedustwhirledupintotheairas
  437. Dragenteredtheroomcausingittodoso.Hewipedsomedustoffthe
  438. chairandsatdown.Thenheclosedhiseyesandwenttosleep...
  439.  
  440. üPERHAPSTOBECONTINUED...Ç
  441.