Leo – what are you mad about?

 

Ice – mad?  What am I mad about?  Damn!  I’m mad about everything; I’m mad because we get old, I’m mad because we all die.  Crap! 

 

Leo – well, no need to get totally bent out of joint.  Have you ever heard the saying ‘ lord grant me the –

 

Ice – Oh yeah, I’ve heard it, and I’m not in the mood to hear it again.

 

Leo – ok

 

Ice – Look Leo – I don’t mean to be a complete ass, even if I am, but damn! – what kind of fricking place are we living in anyway?

 

Leo – I’ve got some good news for you.

 

Ice – you’ve got some answers finally, perhaps?

 

Leo – as a matter of fact I do.

 

Ice – great! Lay them on me.

 

Leo – first off – you’ve been called back.

 

Ice – called back?  What does that mean?

 

Leo – they’re killing you off, calling you back.

 

Ice – really?  What pray tell – is going to happen to me?  am I going to get run over by a bus, or perhaps shot?

 

Leo – no, we’re taking you out with a runaway train.

 

Ice – are you serious?

 

Leo – as a heart attack - as they say.

 

Ice -  why?

 

Leo – you’ve been asking too many questions, riling up the natives so to speak.

 

Ice – so you run me over with a train?

 

Leo – yeah, but you’ll enjoy the ride.

 

Ice – what ride are you talking about?

 

Leo – the ride into eternity – of course.

 

Ice – I knew it!  I'm going out on a fucking train!

 

Leo – of course you did; you knew something big was getting ready to happen – even before you saw me, but especially after I arrived.

 

Ice – of course, cause you told me last time – that when I saw you again, it would be because something big was going on.

 

Leo – excellent memory you have there Iceman.

 

Ice – so when am I to get run over by this train?

 

Leo – in about 3 minutes or so, give or take a half minute either side of eternity.

 

Ice – will it hurt?

 

Leo – no you won’t feel a thing; it’ll be as Lennon said, - like getting out of one car into another.

 

Ice – ah, John Lennon, will I be seeing him soon?

 

Leo – you’ll have tea and crumpets with him if you like.

 

Ice – and this is not a dream, it’s really happening?

 

Leo – of course, what makes you think you’re dreaming anyway?

 

Ice – well you must admit, this is stretching the imagination a little.

 

Leo – no, not really, for you aren’t really dieing, you’re just stepping into a parallel world – one of many I might add.

 

Ice – ‘parallel world?’  wow!! Sounds really science fiction!

 

Leo – but it’s not my friend.

 

Ice – you say not, but let me tell you – getting run over by a fucking train and thrown into a ‘parallel world’ sounds more than a little crazy to me.

 

Leo – one-man’s craziness is another’s normalcy my friend.

 

Ice – so after knowing you all these years, and asking you questions over and over without ever getting a straight answer – why now?

 

Leo – simple; it’s time.

 

Ice – that makes so much sense -  it’s scary.

 

Leo -  such is life Iceman

 

Ice – you know Pupster - and the rest of the Bloggers - think you’re not real?

 

Leo – yeah, and I wonder about the bloggers too?

 

Ice – in what way?

 

Leo – oh, that they might not be real either?

 

Ice – are you serious?

 

Leo – yeah.  they could be Pioneer’s creations entirely.

 

Ice – so… Pioneer is ghost writing all of the bloggers?  Man that is wild.

 

Leo – not so wild as you might think.

 

Ice – I’ve heard that rumor before; hell, back in the beginning of the ‘Stream’ there was talk like that – but I never bought into it.

 

Leo – whatever.

 

Ice – has it been three minutes yet?

 

Leo – done came and past; told you – that you’d not feel a thing – didn’t I?

 

Ice – yes you did, and no I didn’t.  So, now what?

 

Leo – your call.

 

Ice – I think I want a beer.

 

Leo – well let’s go find a bar that’s open in this world.

 

Ice – guess I can smoke here if I like?

 

Leo – if you like.

 

Ice - there's a silver lining in every thunderstorm, eh?

 

Leo - you really don't want to take up smoking again do you?

 

Ice - no, not really, but then again I really didn't want to get run over by a train either.

 

Leo - could of been worse, you could of got run over by a bus.

 

Ice - since I didn't feel it anyway, I don't think it matters.

 

Leo - whatever.

 

Ice - you know, I'm beginning to wonder if you're real.

 

Leo - as real as your friends on the stream I imagine.

 

Ice - do you really think they are the imagination of Pioneer?

 

Leo - could be.  why don't you ask them?

 

Ice - maybe I will.... maybe I will