My Next Move
the Universe of the Upside-Down Toilet- “Stop playing games with me, David.”
- stand back and let me check
- with the slavish tenacity of a lapdog
- won’t be built with nuts and bolts
Tune in next time part 230 Click Here for Earlier Installments
My next move depended on knowing where Cleopatra really stood regarding my father. I tried another coded message.
“I think my father knows that time is money, even in the Universe of the Upside-Down Toilet, and that’s how those workers set their rates.”
“Stop playing games with me, David.” Esmerelda’s use of the proper countersign startled me. I’d thought I knew her allegiances, but this threw everything out the window. Now I was baffled about both sisters’ true intentions.
“I thought your name was–”
“He knows what I mean,” Esmerelda snapped.
I mulled for a few seconds. Then, “I’ll go talk to him, but I need Cleopatra to come with me.” If they both agreed to that, I’d know enough about their loyalties.
“Is my butt on straight?”
“Good question — stand back and let me check. Yes, you look great.”
“You could just take it off,” Esmerelda growled. “He’ll panic if he discovers a Svenborgian affectation like that.” To me, she said, “I know what you’re up to.”
“Good, can you tell me?”
“Don’t be cute. You’re far too old for cuteness. The coup will happen, though its opponents will act with the slavish tenacity of a lapdog. They will be unable to stop the machine. It’s a machine that won’t be built with nuts and bolts. It will be made of pride and sweat and spider silk. Do you hear me? Do you understand what I am telling you?”
“Sheesh, Ezz,” Cleopatra said. “You take all the fun out of revolution, you know that?”
bonus points for using them in order