Date: Sat, 28 Sep 1996 16:42:39 -0700 From: Shirl Cline The usual disclaimers...all characters in this story are the property of TriStar, no copyright infringement is intended...the story is mine...etc. A big "Thank you!" to all the folks who told me to "POST IT!", and to Margie Gillis for suggesting the title. -------------------- "The High Price of Mortality" by Shirl Cline Nick turned as Nat walked into the loft, "Nat! I'm glad you're here. I've been worried...you've seemed distracted lately." Nat, looking distinctly uncomfortable, replied, "I guess I have been kind of out of it recently." She shifted her weight to her other leg. "Why?" Nat began to fidget. She was twirling one long lock of hair around a finger as she answered, "Er...um...what if I told you I thought I'd found a cure?" Nick's eyes widened, "Really?" She didn't reply. He added, "I'd say that was wonderful!" She still didn't say anything, but now she was tapping the fingers of the hand not involved in the hair-twirling on her leg. Nick was beginning to get nervous. He walked over to her and took her hands in his, "Nat." She was involved in what was apparently an engrossing study of the wall. "Nat. Look at me." She raised her gaze for a second then it darted back to the wall. Nick gave up on getting her to look at him for the moment. "Nat, what is it? Don't you want me to be cured?" he asked gently. That got her attention. "What? Yes, of course!" "Then what's wrong? What's bothering you?" A possible answer finally occurred to him, "Is it the cure itself? Is it dangerous?" Nat frowned thoughtfully. "Not dangerous...at least I don't think it is, but..." She looked away again, then she seemed to make an enormous effort to meet his eyes. "Nick...it's...it's really...unpleasant though. I don't think we should use it." She started to pull away. Nick kept his grip on her hands. "Nat, if it's unpleasant, I can handle it." He added jokingly, "What could be worse than the protein shakes?" "It's worse." she said assuredly. "Worse than that tea you once made me?" Nat nodded, looking solemn. "Worse than the sunbed?" She nodded. Nick was becoming frightened. Still trying to laugh it off, he asked, "Worse than the garlic pills?" "Nick, it's worse than all of those things put together!" She sighed. "I don't know why I even considered it. I'll just go home, destroy it, and try and forget it ever happened!" "No, Nat! You can't!" He took a deep breath and stood up straight. "No one ever said this was going to be easy." "Are you sure, Nick?" "Yes. Let me have it." Nat pulled out a CD case from her purse. Nick suddenly had a very bad feeling about this. "It isn't..." Nat said nothing as she moved over to his stereo and put the CD in. "Nat, it can't be!" "Yes, Nick it is. The cure is...the Macarena!" -------------------- All comments, chuckles and/or thwapping to, * Shirl * Cousin * UF * FoFoD * * SKL * FKWF * Lucius Fanaticus * MLC * VSG * PT * * CousinTwin * CSS * SWS * DirtDevil * Log Lady * * PS * Paste Queen * LC's PVoL * KaDoHOSS *