A STATARIAN LOVE STORY PART II - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
by Ken Butler
The bedclothes ruSTled as Ricky's fantaSTic dream STruck deep
into his senses. His breathing became STertorous as he STruggled
to free his sword arm which was STiff and lay twiSTed beneath him
for he saw that Willeke was almoST STraddled by the dragon.
As she STretched her arms toward the STatarian Knight aSTride
his STunningly white STallion his luSTrous armour gleamed as if
it were gold. Her visage portrayed STark terror as the odds
seemed STacked againST her.
Ricky however was made of STerner STuff than the dragon and when
his STately mount reared up on its STrong hind legs in a show of
great majeSTy he STood tall in the STirrups (as any equeSTrian
should do in cimilar circumSTances). The terrible STench of the
dragon's breath STung Ricky's noSTrils but maSTerfully using his
great STrength he gripped the flanks of his horse with his STurdy
legs and caSTing the reins promptly lassooed the monSTer.
The aSTonished dragon STrained to get free (as they always do
when accoSTed by the arcadian STatarians) and quickly drawing his
truSTy sword ricky STruck luSTily at the STricken beaST. As he
did so he made a clean sweep of his bedside cabinet and water
jug, table lamp and alarm clock crashed on the floor.
Ricky awoke in a STartled STate but as his circuits STeadied he
realised that the monSTer and the STallion did not exiST. Only
Willeke was real but she was not here either. His eyes miSTed
over as he thought of her STatuesque beauty and swinging his legs
onto the floor he STood upon the wet carpet. The chill seemed to
STrike at his heart and pessimiSTically he wondered whether
Willeke would become eSTranged.
He applied STringent teSTs as he wreSTled with the STatiSTics of
his chances with her - 50/50? 60/40? 40/60? His STomach was
somersaulting as he considered breakfaST. Strong coffee and toaST
would help but firST he muST SToke up the STove. He had STriven
to impress her - his ST NEWS had been delivered real faST and he
knew that Volume 2 No.6 was a STout effort. She would realise
that the flowers were meant for her and what about those
impressioniSTic curves! They were Willeke in the form that a
computer underSTood beST.
Ricky realised that he had the assiSTance of STaunch friends
such as STefan and now there was Dave STaugas. STrike a light, he
would go from STrength to STrength and No.7 would surely STun the
opposition? His mood changed optimiSTically as he STirred his hot
coffee - surely the worST was over. She had telephoned him and a
STradivarius would not have sounded sweeter in his ears.
His thoughts turned to his aSTronomical phone bill. A new
STrategy was called for as he was STrapped for cash and any bill
was STressful. His ST net was STretching farther afield and a few
donations had arrived. Perhaps they would develop into a conSTant
STream. As his STatus grew at the bank the Manager would become
intereSTed in this cuSTomer of subSTance. He threw out his cheST
as he STrutted like a born again ASTaire (the Fred variety) and
he STepped into the STreet en route to his place of STudy.
DO NOT MISS PART THREE OF THIS EXCITING
STATARIAN ADVENTURE!
Disclaimer
The text of the articles is identical to the originals like they appeared
in old ST NEWS issues. Please take into consideration that the author(s)
was (were) a lot younger and less responsible back then. So bad jokes,
bad English, youthful arrogance, insults, bravura, over-crediting and
tastelessness should be taken with at least a grain of salt. Any contact
and/or payment information, as well as deadlines/release dates of any
kind should be regarded as outdated. Due to the fact that these pages are
not actually contained in an Atari executable here, references to scroll
texts, featured demo screens and hidden articles may also be irrelevant.