The Articulum
Part 7
 By: Lance Holloway


	The fog lifted as the mob of roomen hopped farther inland.  The
terrain leveled off, becoming a vast flat area.  Now, Jamk could actually
see what everybody looked like.  The native roomen all had green and brown
uniforms, and they all had spears.  The other roomen, Jamk's friends, were
easy to spot.  The former humans were wearing the same clothing they had
as a human, but it had been altered to fit their kangarooish bodies.  The
former horses, however, had leather clothing.  Their saddles were reshaped
into clothes when they became these kangaroo people.

	Jamk missed his old body.  His horse body, that is.  It had only
been a week since he was turned into a horse, but he had grown fond of it.
It was much better than his human body.  Except the fact that he didn't
have hands as a horse.  He loved playing video games, but he couldn't as a
horse.  But, now, he had hands again.  He could play games.  That is if
there were any video games on this island.

	Arna was near the front of the mob talking with the leader.
Supposedly they were heading for a village.  Maybe they have an arcade.

	"Jamk, I'm scared," Vulla said as she hopped up beside him.  "This
is so strange."

	"I know," he said trying to hop in sync with Vulla.  "I don't
think I'll ever get used to hopping around all the time."

	"It's not that we're kangaroos.  It's....  I don't know.
Something doesn't feel right."  She scanned the horizon.

	"Don't worry.  I'm sure nothing will happen," he said putting his
arm around her shoulders.  That was something they couldn't do as horses.
But, nuzzling was just a good.

	They continued hopping.  Eventually the leader stopped.  "We are
almost there.  You can see the village on the horizon," he said and
started hopping again.

	Jamk looked and saw a small village spread out in the distance.
But he didn't see any windmills or turbines.  "No power.  No video games,"
he mumbled to himself.  "I get hands, and there aren't any games."

	When the group arrived in the village, most of the roomen
dispersed and went their own way.  The leader and only a few remained with
the ten new roomen.  The village was more than a village.  It looked like
a city.  It wasn't as big as Yummmak, but it was still big.

	Jamk noticed that there were lights lining the streets.  They
weren't on at the moment since it was daytime, but they were definitely
electric lights.  "How could they have electric lights without windmills
or turbines?" Jamk thought.

	The leader lead them to a building.  It looked to be the city hall
or something.  They all followed him in and hopped into a conference room
with a large table.  The leader sat down at the head of the table and
motioned for the others to sit.

	Jamk took a seat between Vulla and Peten.  It felt strange for
Jamk to sit again.  The chairs were comfortable even with his thick tail.

	"I welcome you to the village of Room on the island of Room.  Your
leader has told me that you have journeyed from across the sea," the
leader said.  Everyone glared at Arna.  "I am Laufmer, the head of the
guards and mayor of Room.  The whole village will be thrilled that
visitors from across the sea have arrived.  We haven't had any visitors in
one hundred years.  None of us were even born then.  So, how are you
roomen in other parts of the world doing?"

	"Roomen?" Peten asked.

	Arna quickly cut him off.  "We roomen are doing fine.  Although we
are on a very important journey.  We need to complete it, or the world is
doomed."

	"Interesting," Laufmer said.  "I wish you luck on your journey.
But for now, please rest in our village."

	"We will be honored," Arna said.

	"I am pleased.  Now, let us catch up on one hundred years," the
leader said.

	They talked for hours.  Arna had reviewed most of the history that
she knew of, but she kept the fact that the rest of the world wasn't
populated with roomen secret.  Jamk had learned that the village is
supplied electricity by something called generators.  He planned to see
those generators sometime.

	After the long visit, the leader opened the door and summoned two
roomen.  "If you don't mind, would you show our guests to the guest
quarters?" he asked the two kangaroos.

	"Follow us," one of the roomen said to the group.  Everybody stood
and followed the two roomen out of the room and out the building.  They
lead them to a hotel down the road.  It was night now, and the street
lights were on.  Jamk couldn't wait to see those generators.

	On the second floor of the hotel, the roomen stopped at one of the
room doors.  "The guest room are large enough for eight people.  The
ladies may use this one," the rooman said opening the door.  "The men's
room is the door down the hall.  These are the only two rooms on this
floor.  I hope it meets your tastes."

	"I'm sure they will," Arna said.  "Thank you."

	"My pleasure," the rooman said.  The two escorts left.

	"Now, everyone come in," Arna said as the two roomen walked down
the stairs.  It was a huge room.  "Big enough for eight people" was an
understatement.  Arna closed the door after everyone was in.  "I don't
want any of you to say what you were.  You are roomen now and have always
been roomen.  Do not let on that the people in the rest of the world are
not roomen.  Do you understand?"

	Everyone nodded their heads.

	"But, I don't like being a rooman," Dabb said.  "These are weak
bodies.  I want to leave now."

	"We will leave shortly," Arna said.  "But, for now, you are a
rooman, and you are going to act like one."

	"I will only so Turlon can complete his quest," Dabb said.

	"Very well.  Now, we need to sail around the island.  Wilm, how
easy will that be?" Arna asked.

	"It shouldn't be to difficult," Wilm said.  "That is if the fog
has lifted.  Then there's the fact that I would be that seal creature
again...."

	"You'll manage.  Turlon, how much farther do we have to go?" Arna
said.

	"I don't know.  I just know it is west," Turlon answered.

	Arna nodded.  "Ok, do whatever you want tonight, but tomorrow we
must prepare to leave."

	The six men left the room and hopped down the hall to theirs.  It
was a huge room also.  Not as big as the other room, but it was big enough
for the six of them.  They each tested out their beds.  It was strange for
Jamk.  It had been a week since he could do what he used to as a human.
But being mostly kangaroo put a twist on things.

	"I think I'm going for a walk.  Or is it hop?" Turlon said hopping
to the door.  "I want to see this city."

	"I think I'll go, too," Dabb said.  "I want to see how fit this
body is."

	"What do you mean by that?" Rarguf asked.  "You better not go
looking for a fight."

	"Don't worry.  I won't," Dabb said and hopped down the hall.

	"I'll keep an eye on him," Turlon said and hopped after him.

	"Well, I think I'm going to catch some Z's," Rarguf said.  "Flying
over the sea is tiring."  He hit the pillow and was out like a light.

	"I think that's a great idea," Wilm said getting comfortable in
his bed.

	"Well, Peten, what do you want to do?" Jamk asked.

	"I don't know.  I think I saw an arcade down the street," Peten
replied.

	Jamk's eyes lit up.  "Arcade?  Let's go."  He quickly hopped out
of the room.  Peten followed.

	When they reached the bottom of the stairs, they noticed something
going on in the back room.  They hopped over to see what.  It was a party.
Lots of roomen were dancing and eating snacks.

	"It looks like they are having lots of fun," Peten said.

	"Sure does," Jamk said.

	"Want to join them?" Peten asked.

	"I don't know about that," Jamk said.  "We weren't invited."

	"Oh, don't worry.  We are guests of the village, remember?  And as
they always say, 'When in Room, do as the roomen do,'" Peten said.

	"Who always says that?" Jamk asked.

	"I'm sure someone does," Peten said and pushed Jamk into the room.

To be continued.....