Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:10:54 GMT
Nate had left for a little while, had come back with a desert-rodent-shaped bulge somewhere in his middle, and was now wrapped back around the lever, his tongue flicking out into the desert night's air the only sign that he was still awake.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:01 GMT
Occasionally Jack, with his toes absentmindedly digging in the sand while he thought, would ask Nate a question without turning around.
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Santa Shikiba
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Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:08 GMT
"Nate, do accidents count?"
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:13 GMT
Nate lifted his head a little bit. "What do you mean, Jack?"
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:18 GMT
Jack tilted his head back like he was looking at the stars. "You know, accidents. If I accidentally fall on the lever, without meaning to, does that still wipe out humanity?"
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:23 GMT
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it does, Jack. I'd suggest you be careful about that if you start feeling wobbly," said Nate with some amusement.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:36 GMT
A little later - "Does it have to be me that pulls the lever?" asked Jack.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:41 GMT
"That's the rule, Jack. Nobody else can pull it," answered Nate.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:49 GMT
"No," Jack shook his head, "I meant does it have to be my hand? Could I pull the lever with a rope tied around it? Or push it with a stick? Or throw a rock?"
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Santa Shikiba
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Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:11:55 GMT
"Yes, those should work," replied Nate. "Though I'm not sure how complicated you could get. Samuel thought about trying to build some kind of remote control for it once, but gave it up. Everything he'd build would be gone by the next sunrise, if it was touching the stone, or over it. I told him that in the past others that had been bound had tried to bury the lever so they wouldn't be tempted to pull it, but every time the stones or sand or whatever had disappeared."
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:00 GMT
"Wow," said Jack, "Cool." Jack leaned back until only his elbows kept him off of the stone and looked up into the sky.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:06 GMT
"Nate, how long did Samuel live? One of his wishes was for health too, right?" asked Jack.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:12 GMT
"Yes," replied Nate, "it was. He lived 167 years, Jack."
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:18 GMT
"Wow, 167 years. That's almost 140 more years I'll live if I live as long. Do you know what he died of, Nate?"
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:24 GMT
"He died of getting tired of living, Jack," Nate said, sounding somewhat sad.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:30 GMT
Jack turned his head to look at Nate in the starlight.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:36 GMT
Nate looked back. "Samuel knew he wasn't going to be able to stay in society. He figured that they'd eventually see him still alive and start questioning it, so he decided that he'd have to disappear after a while. He faked his death once, but changed his mind - he decided it was too early and he could stay for a little longer. He wasn't very fond of mankind, but he liked the attention. Most of the time, anyway.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:46 GMT
"His daughter and then his wife dying almost did him in though. He didn't stay in society much longer after that. He eventually came out here to spend time talking to me and thinking about pulling the lever. A few months ago he told me he'd had enough. It was his time."
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:12:53 GMT
"And then he just died?" asked Jack.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:13:03 GMT
Nate shook his head a little. "He made his forth request, Jack. There's only one thing you can ask for the fourth request. The last bite.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:13:08 GMT
After a bit Nate continued, "He told me that he was tired, that it was his time. He reassured me that someone new would show up soon, like they always had.
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Santa Shikiba
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:13:13 GMT
After another pause, Nate finished, "Samuel's body disappeared off the stone with the sunrise."
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:13:19 GMT
Jack lay back down and looked at the sky, leaving Nate alone with his memories. It was a long time until Jack's breathing evened out into sleep.
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Santa Shikiba
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Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:13:25 GMT
Jack woke with the sunrise the next morning. He was a little chilled with the morning desert air, but overall was feeling pretty good. Well, except that his stomach was grumbling and he wasn't willing to eat raw desert rat.
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Santa Shikiba
Headmaster
Your glower power is no match for my flower power.
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Post by Santa Shikiba on Sept 3, 2018 1:13:32 GMT
So, after getting directions to town from Nate, making sure he knew how to get back, and reassuring Nate that he'd be back soon, Jack started the long walk back to town. With his new health and Nate's good directions, he made it back easily.
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