'Just a couple of games?' suggested Captain Bill.
'No thanks,' replied Horace.
'You could be noughts this time,' continued Captain Bill, 'I wouldn't mind.'
'No really,' replied Horace, 'I'm fine.'
'Soooooooooooooooooo, what are you writing?'
'It's a poem,' replied Horace. 'It's the same one that I was writing 10 minutes ago...when you last asked me.'
'Not finished it yet then?' asked Captain Bill.
'No!' replied Horace.
'..................................................................................................Need any help?'
'I'm fine!'
'Sure?'
'Yes!'
'...........................................What's it about?'
'The futility of the individual's struggle against inevitable death,' replied Horace.
'Right,' mooed Captain Bill. '...................................You don't think a game of Noughts and Crosses might be more....uplifting?'
'I don't think I'm trying to be uplifted,' replied Horace.
'You should be,' said Captain Bill. 'A positive mental attitude, that's what you need. We can't let them see that they've got the better of us.'
'You don't think they might have realised that already,' suggested Horace, 'when you fainted.'
'Lulling them into a false sense of security,' replied Captain Bill. 'But, as I was saying, you have to stay focused. It's important when you're being held against your will. We could be here for years. Just you and me together in this small room......with no hope of rescue. Under such circumstances, as your Captain, I can't let you slide off into depression...................................Which is why a game of Noughts and Crosses......'
'I DON'T WANT A GAME OF NOUGHTS AND CROSSES!' shouted Horace.
'OK!' replied Captain Bill.
'....................Sorry!' said Horace. 'But I'd really rather like to concentrate on with this poem.'
'Fine!' replied Captain Bill. 'Fine! I'll let you get on.............................................................................It's just there's not much to do really, there isn't much here. Just a few tins and some copies of the first edition of Rope Monthly magazine.'
'Perhaps you could read one?' suggested Horace.
So Captain Bill did.
And as he did he noticed something...........and an idea suddenly struck him!
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