— Jack, tell me a story.
— Fuck you!
— That's one of my favourites.
— This is the Dream World. You've been here many times before in your dreams, but this time, you have been called here for a purpose. Several days travel from here is a beautiful princess who has been cruelly imprisoned within a dark and terrifying castle. She is held captive by one of the most vicious beasts of the Dream World. The Guardian who wields the world-destroying power of the Staff of Dreams. Sadly, the princess has no hope of rescue from anyone. Except for you, Tak. And if you should save her from her plight, happiness will be restored to her kingdom and the powers of darkness will be forever diminished. What say you, great and mighty warrior of the Pupanunu people? Will you bring your wits, your strength and your courage to bear on this sacred mission?
— Nah. Don't think so.
Fairy tales build churches.
You ever hear the story about The Little Engine That Could? Let me tell you that story. Once upon a time, deep, deep in the jungle, there was a little engine that could. He was chuggin' his way across the enemy line. Chugga, chugga, chugga. Chugga, chugga. Toot, toot! This little engine's mission... was to take some AK-47s and a nuclear payload over the mountain to the 2063 Battalion. Needless to say, there was plenty opposition. You think that stopped the little engine that could? No, siree, Bob. He just kept chuggin' along. Chugga, chugga, chugga. Chugga, chugga. Toot, toot! Not even when they climbed aboard the train and popped out the eyes of the conductor, and blood and snot was drippin' out his eye sockets. You think that stopped the little engine that could? Damn skippy. He just kept chuggin' along. Chugga, chugga, chugga. Chugga, chugga. Toot, toot!
It wasn't until... Charlie rigged a bridge with plastic explosives... just as the little engine was makin' his way across the trestle. Boom! An explosion happened. And blood and guts and spit and ass was everywhere! And Bubba come crawlin' out the back door, both legs missin'. Lula May's baby boy! He look up at me. He said, "Payne! I can't feel my legs." I said, "Bubba, they ain't there." And I looked down, and them little bloody nubs was kickin' real fast, like this here. And I said, "Bubba, it's 'Less you can flip upside down and walk on your hands, you ain't gonna make it." All of a sudden, Charlie was all over the place! It was just me and my sidearm. And I had no other alternative... but to blast my way out. "Die, pig! Die! You'll never take Major Benson Winifred Payne alive!" Bam! "I saw what you did to my friend!"
Bam!
— Just because you believe something doesn't make it true.
— That's exactly what makes it true.
You write such pretty word,
But life's no story book.
— Stories. Stories? What's a story? When you were in high school, did you learn about the civil war?
— Yeah, of course.
— How? Did you read about it, perchance, in a book? How is that any less real than any other book?
— History books are based on history.
— And storybooks are based on what, imagination? Where does that come from? It has to come from somewhere.
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