Patchwork Universe

liason · Posted: 31 Jan 2004 09:59 pm Post subject: The Round Eyed Visitor

"Liason, we need your help," reported one of the customer servants.

Rising to his feet, Liason brushed off his doublet and gathered his cloak about him. "With respect to what matter, might I ask ? I was just preparing to set out on a journey of some duration. Am I to be delayed again ?"

"Difficult to say. One of our customers is proving... uncommunicative."

Liason strode through the corridors, his boots squeaking slightly against the checkerboard tiles, until he arrived at the customer lounge in question. This was one of the smallest such rooms and was seldom used. In the centre of the floor squatted a hunched shape with huge, round eyes. Liason sighed.

"It isn't being uncommunicative. It's a statue."

The servant blinked at him in slight puzzlement.

"It's not alive," Liason continued, "it's a piece of artwork. An artifact. A product. Not a customer."

This last revelation seemed to finally stir the servant's mind a little. "So what should we do ?" he asked.

"I don't know," Liason looked at the statue again, "why not put it on sale ? On offer to the highest bidder. That way even if you make next to nothing at least you are rid of the thing."

"But how did it come to be here ?" asked the servant.

He received no reply. Liason was already gone.

Less than one hour later, a neatly engraved sign was placed prominently in the foyer: Unique artifact - for sale to the highest bidder.

At about the same time, Liason himself was striding briskly towards the Western border. This time, he would not be prevented from leaving...

liason · Posted: 04 Feb 2004 11:10 am Post subject:

Two of the customer servants, Assistant and Attendant, stood at the top of the main stairway and peered out across the wilderness.

"It is unusual," Attendant conceded.

"I am concerned. I spoke to the advisors earlier and they were unusually taciturn." Assistant gazed down at his boots as an excuse to take his eyes off the empty wilderness.

"All this time and only one customer," Attendant sighed.

"No," Assistant corrected him irritably, "No customers at all. Liason said it was a statue, not a customer."

"I'm going to go and look for customers !" Attendant declared, setting off briskly down the steps. Assistant caught his collar without difficulty and yanked him back.

"Don't be an idiot. Remember the mist ? Nobody can leave."

After that the two of them sat down on the steps with their arms folded and stared out over the desolate expanse.