574 lines
34 KiB
Plaintext
574 lines
34 KiB
Plaintext
LIST
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FILE ON
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MARGIN IS 96
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STATUS: ENTER ONLY
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NUMBER OF LINES: 566
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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask....
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2 ******************** REMOVED: 17 APR 84 ********************
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3 Welcome to BWMS (BackWater Message System) Mike Day System operator
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4 ************************************************************
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5 GENERAL DISCLAIMER: BWMS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INFORMATION
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6 PLACED ON THIS SYSTEM.
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7 BWMS was created as an electronic bill board. BWMS is a privatly owned
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8 and operated system which is currently open for use by the general public.
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9 No restrictions are placed on the use of the system. As the system is
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10 privatly owned, I retain the right to remove any and all messages which
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11 I may find offensive. Because of the limited size of the system, it will be
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12 periodically purged of messages. (only 629 lines of data can be saved)
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13 To leave a message, type 'ENTER' and use ctrl/C or break to get out of the
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14 ENTER mode. The message is automatically stored. If after entering the
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15 message you find you made a mistake, use the replace command to replace
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16 the line. To exit from the system, type 'OFF' then hang up.
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17 Type 'HELP' to see other commands that are available on the system.
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18 ************************************************************
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19
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20 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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21 made it to the top again................
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22 <sigh>.. it's not the same without PAM. Aaron
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23 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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24 Thank you, Mikey, for the return of the replace and delete.
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25 Much appreciated. - Grand D.
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26 ***********************************************************
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27 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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28 Aaron:so you have decided to attend a PorSFiS meeting after all,good time to
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29 return a set of borrowed books! lest you forget-Joan`Didion-the white albium and
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30 slouching twords bethlehem(sp
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31 Mad Actor-would it be`possible for you to keep a disk or 2 of the next`few days of
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32 BWMS for`me? this`is my last entry for a while.thanks.
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33 The Man in Gray
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34 ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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35
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36 `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `'
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37 The tower gleamed brightly in the sunlight, refracting many
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38 multi-colored patterns along the meadow below. If it were not
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39 for the strange appearance of the base of the tower this might
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40 be just another ancient style of structure built in a quiet
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41 pastoral setting. If one could peek in the high windows, a feat
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42 which was clearly impossible because the base of the tower and
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43 its associated entrance seemed to shift in and out of existence.
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44 Furthermore the top of the tower was obviously of a much greater
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45 diameter than the base. Coupled with the fact that the sides
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46 were made of some shiny unbroken surface made scaling the height
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47 clearly out of the question. If one could have taken a peek they
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48 would have seen an ancient alchemist in the midst of exercising
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49 his skills, which sometimes produced some unexpected turns of
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50 events that even surprised the practitioner himself:
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51
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52 "that's the last time i'm ever going to buy an enhancement
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53 module for my multi-phase transmuter from some cut-rate
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54 tele-portation delivery house!!!", exclaimed the occupant of
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55 room at the top of the tower. With that he struck the shimmering
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56 display a sharp whack with some sort of wand. A sound like a
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57 large gong sounded and the display cleared.
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58
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59 "GREAT GLORIOUS INCANTATIONS", he yelled as he peered into the
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60 device. There in three (or four) dimensions was some sort of
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61 drinking establishment, and gathered around the tables was one
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62 of the most unusual assortments of individuals ever witnessed to
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63 be in one place. One of them had a woven rope wound around his
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64 head, comprised of colors that couldn't possibly exist together.
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65 Another one had something that looked somewhat like an ancient
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66 musical bag tucked under one arm, and the rest defied any
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67 reasonable attempt at description.
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68
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69 The sound was muffled and distorted but he could just make out
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70 that they seemed to know each other to some degree and enjoyed
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71 a good ale and swapping lies. Also there was some talk of a
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72 great adventure of some kind. That sure sounded like his kind
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73 of folks, and if there was anything he liked it was going off
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74 on an adventure rather than working. (Sure he told the ruling
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75 Monarch that he would transform some lead into GOLD but that
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76 was a trivial matter that he had already accomplished...
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77 besides that was just a cover story to keep the authorities off
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78 his back so he could carry on his real experiments.)
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79
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80 At first he thought he might just teleport the one with the
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81 music bag to the tower and question him, but on second thought
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82 he remembered that to these folks such technology might appear
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83 like Magic. Ok, he decided there's no getting around some sort
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84 of strange entrance, besides if he understood this strange
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85 language correctly, these folks would hardly notice among all
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86 the strangeness already in progress.
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87
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88 With that he stepped right into the display and emerged into
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89 the semi-lit drinking establishment.
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90 "My friends", he said, "if i might be so presumptuous to address
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91 you thus, would it be asking too much to join you in this
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92 trans-reality? I understand Adventure is in the offing!"
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93 `' `' `' `' `' -alchemist- `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `'
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94
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95 A whine filled the air on Burnside as a TARDIS materialised. Bums
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96 ran everywhere and threw their bottles in the trash can with a look of
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97 finality.
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98 "Ah, here we are, Portland," said the Doctor as he took a whiff
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99 of the air.
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100 "This is where I leave," replied the Ninja. "Watch the aborigines for
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101 me, would you?"
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102 "I'd be delighted. I need a rest."
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103 "Ok then, my first stop will be the local drinking establishment."
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104
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105
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106 DOES ANYONE HAVE THE VERSIOF
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107 AMODEM MC TERMINAL PROGFR THE A
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108 IF SO CALL ERIC AT 666-xxxx
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109 THIS IS THE VERSION ICRO COEION MODEM
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110
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111
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112 THANKS
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113 +++++++++++++++++++++++
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114 LETS TRY THIS AGAIN
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115
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116 DOES ANYONE HAVE THE VERSION
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117 AMODEM FOR THE MICRO CONNECTION MODEM
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118 FOR THE ATARI COMPUTER
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119 IF SO CONTACT ERIC AT 666-xxxx
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120
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121 THANKYOU VERY MUCH
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122 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
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123 WE'RE OFF TO A SLOW START. ANYONE FOR SOME MILK AND COOKIES? --MOTHER
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124 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
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125 *********************************
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126 *********************************
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127 *
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128
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129 HELLO ALL YOU COMPUTER HACKERS HOW
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130 ARE YOU TODAY.
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131
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132 WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF THERE
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133 WAS SOME REAL INTERESTING
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134 INFO ON THIS CRAZY BULLITIN
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135 BOARD.
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136
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137
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138 MAD MAX.......
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139
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140 *************************************
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141 8888888888888888888888888888888888888
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142 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
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143 {
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144 for all wondering: "{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}" and I are not the related....
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145 }
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146 ===============================================================================
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147 BOY O BOY, THREE HOURS SINCE I LAST CHECKED IN AND NO NEW MESSAGES. TALK ABOUT
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148 SLOW. NEVER SEEN NOTHIN' LIKE IT BEFORE. MAX
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149 ===============================================================================
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150
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151 Has anyone noticed the declining state of bulliten boards of late?
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152 I am not refering to this system, for its' users have always been
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153 the most creative.
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154
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155 What I speak of is the pirate systems. Namely Whispering Pines,
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156 West Side #1, and West Side #2 (Shadow Realm, now). I fear for
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157 the continued operation of all GOOD systems due to the activities
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158 of a few individuals. This is what we have feared for a long time
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159 (actually since the 414 group hit the news). If something is not
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160 done, everything so many have worked for and enjoyed for so long
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161 may be lost.
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162
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163 If you have not checked the above systems, I suggest that you do
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164 just to see what is going on. They trade SPRINT access codes as
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165 well as information on anyother computer they can break into. If
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166 you got a big phone bill because of unmade calls, you can probably
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167 blame these fools.
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168
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169 What are we to do about it fellow tele-computerists? Suggestions
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170 and ideas, anyone?
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171
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172 Signed,
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173 Big Brother
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174 -----------------------------BIG----------------
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175 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
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176 THEIR MOTHER'S SHOULD HEAR! --MOTHER
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177 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
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178 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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179 Noticing the tall bearded stranger appearing out of thin air and the ninja
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180 coming in the front, the piper waved them over. "Alchemist eh? Welcome and
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181 have a glass. Here's the ninja. Hi -- did you manage to dispose of the
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182 dragon's egg, or whatever the name of the gem you and Johnathan Chance were
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183 chasing after?" The piper poured each a glass.
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184 "We have no great plans or quest in mind. We are just trying to find our
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185 way back to Innisfall from this reality. My pipes have become nearly impossible
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186 as the reeds are just getting into shape. I can't shift us where we want to
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187 go. We are preparing to travel up the big river Kulumbia to a point that
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188 the apprentice feels holds enough magic for him to shift us back."
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189 ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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190 Pirate-conscious Big Brother: Do you really want to know...or was that a
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191 question not demanding an answer? If the former--exposure by name and deed is
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192 one answer, I believe. Anonymity supports acts not undertaken when responsi-
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193 lity for consequences is clearly assignable. In words of one syllable: take
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194 names and string the clowns up. Dave
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195 *_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
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196 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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197 A cloak covered man lays beneath the Rowan tree outside the
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198 Inn. He stirs, then opens his eyes, then quickly closes them
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199 again against the glare of the sun. He utters a low moan: "Oooh
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200 whaa? How did I get here? I wish someone would turn down that
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201 light. Uuuhh....ooooohhhh...." Struggling the man finally gets
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202 to his feet. Then quickly grabs his head. Slowly he moves to
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203 the edge of the road, then sits down on an old log laying there.
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204 Thinking back he tries to remember what happened. Slowly his
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205 memory begins to return, or at least parts of it. Some time ago
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206 he had been sitting at his usual place in the Inn worrying about
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207 his dear friend Emer and why she had been gone for so long.
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208 Worrying that something untoward might have happened to her, he
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209 had partaken a bit too much of that heady wine that the Innkeeper
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210 kept. Oh how he regretted doing that now. His head felt like it
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211 was being struck by a thousand hammers all at once. Sitting
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212 there with his head in his hands, he then remembered the
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213 nightmare. It had started simply enough as a normal dream.
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214 Though why he would want to search for the one called PAM he
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215 didn't know, perhaps he was in sympathy with the Innkeeper who
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216 had spoken earlier to him of the missing PAM and his worry over
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217 her disappearance. Perhaps his befudled mind had latched onto
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218 the Innkeepers plight since it was like his own. His mind using
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219 the search as a substitute for his own failing of not being able
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220 to search for himself. This thought appears to be too much for
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221 him as great wracking sobs shake his body. "Oh Emer... Emer...
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222 how I could use your soothing voice and gentle touch now..."
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223 X Tarn X
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224 XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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225
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226 ***************************************************************
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227 SIGH.. HERE WE GO AGAIN... SORRY ABOUT THAT FOLKS, BUT AT LEAST
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228 I CAUGHT IT BEFORE TOO MUCH WAS DESTROYED.
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229 ****************** CISTOP MIKEY ********************************
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230 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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231 WE PEOPLE AT 'THE SURVIVALIST JUNCTION KNOW WHAT TA DO ABOUT DEM PINKO COMMIES
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232 ALL YA HAFTA DO IS GO OVER TO WHISPERIN PINES,AND DEM DER ODERS SHOVA AR15 UP
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233 THEIR NOSE.LETS SEE EM ENTER MAH SPRINT NUMBER DEN,HUH!
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234 DARLIN DAROLD
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235 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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236 ----------------------------------------------
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237 IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE FBI SHOULD BE NOTIFIED. WILEY WILLY.
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238 ----------------------------------------------
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239 >>--------------------------------------------------------------------------<<
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240
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241 Pasted to a wall amongst several posters stood a small flyer
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242
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243 ____________________________________________________
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244 | |
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245 | Inter Reality |
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246 | Properties and Travel Agency |
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247 | ------------------------------ |
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248 | |
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249 | Specializing in Transendental Real Estate |
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250 | and Known Space Tours for the discriminating |
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251 | sentient. ( Psi-Tours available ) |
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252 | -------------------------------------------- |
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253 | |
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254 | Selected listings : |
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255 | |
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256 | Canyon - Spacious 43 floor cliff house |
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257 | stepping discs, full appliances |
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258 | beautiful south Canyon view. |
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259 | |
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260 | Kithrup - Frontier space living at its |
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261 | finest. Enjoy solitude and peace |
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262 | in this unique metallic setting. |
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263 | |
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264 | Procellarum - Gorgeous multi-dimensional |
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265 | habitat. Complete stabilization |
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266 | and continuity for the demanding |
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267 | aquaphile. |
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268 | |
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269 | -------------------------------------- |
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270 | |
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271 | Selected Tours : |
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272 | |
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273 | Inner Space Special - Enjoy 56 shifts and |
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274 | explore the facinating world of |
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275 | discontinuity. |
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276 | |
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277 | Parthisur Celebration - Be a witness to the |
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278 | once-in-a-sun alignment of 19 planets |
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279 | and experience the festival of |
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280 | The Occurance . |
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281 | |
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282 | ---------------------------------------- |
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283 | |
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284 | We offer a full range of Reality tours, |
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285 | Planet tours, System Tours and of course |
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286 | all the recreational facilities the Ywheksx |
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287 | Dimension. |
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288 | |
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289 | For further information on any of the |
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290 | listings seen here or to discuss your next |
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291 | vacation posibilities please contact |
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292 | |
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293 | I.R.P. Inc, |
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294 | Attn: Brendan Wkeep |
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295 | Psi- 1886 Txa :1109 |
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296 | |
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297 | All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence |
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298 | |
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299 ____________________________________________________
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300
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301 from around the corner you could hear the sonorous tones of the pipes
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302 .......
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303
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304 >>--------------------------------------------------------------------------<<
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305 TO ALL USERS
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306 HELLO I AM DICK LARSEN, THE OWNER AND GENERAL MAACE.(206)696-xxxx
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307 THIS IS MY FIRST TIME ON THIS BBS AND SO BEAR WITH ME. ADVANCED COMPUTER
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308 EXCHANGE IS A BROKERAGE SERVICE FOR PRE-OWNED COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS. I AM
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309 ON-LINE 6PM-9AM,MON.-SAT. AND ALL DAY SUNDAY. MY ADDRESS IS: ADVANCED COMPUTER
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310 EXCHANGE, VANCOUVER, WA 98668. PLEASE CALL OR WRITE. THANK YOU.
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311 ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
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312 THE ABOVE WAS QUITE INTERESTING.....BUT ON A LOVELY DAY LIKE TODAY, I
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313 WOULD RATHER BE SKY-DIVING! SO CHEERIO...............
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314 ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?DEBORAH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
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315 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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316
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NOTICE !!! NEW EXPERIMENTAL BULLETIN BOARD !!!! ALL BWMS FANS INVITED TO
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317 CALL AFTER 6PM IN THE EVENING TO 227xxxx AND TRY IT OUT. WANT BWMS USERS
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318 ESPECIALLY TO TRY IT OUT (LIKE WHEN YOU CAN'T GET ON HERE). COURTESY
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319 ADAM TRENT AND CHUCK HUGHES (AKA HROTHGAR) (AND STEVE NEIGHORN SINCE HE WAS
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320 HERE AT THE TIME ).
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321 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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322 MOTHER,
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323 YOU AREN'T MOTHER, I'M MOTHER!
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324 --MOTHER
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325
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326 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
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327 MOTHER IS OFF THE AIR AS STATUS IN ENTER ONLY. --MOTHER(OTHER)
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328 MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
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329 MOTHER KNOWS BEST.
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330 -- MOTHER
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331 HAHAHAAAA! FOOLED THEM AGAIN!
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332 ----------------------------------------------------------------
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333 ----------------------------------------------------------------
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334 DALEN,A FINE SWORD OF STEEL AND DARETITE WAS THE FIRST TO BE
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335 CAST FROM THE DWARVEN MITHAT OR SO I AM TOLD PERISHED JUST
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336 A MONTH AGO AT THE HANDS OF A MASTER OF THER RED FAITHS.IN ANY
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337 CASE DALEN IS A MASTERS FINEST, SHE IS SCORCHED ALONG HER SIDES
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338 BUT HONED,AND SHARP ON HER EDGE SHAEFTER OF THE WHITE FAITH HAS
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339 NOTED IN THE QUAITHMAIT VOLUMES THAT THE MARKS WILL NOT BE REM-
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340 OVED AND CANNOT TILL SUCH THAT HER MASTER BE DEAD.NOTATIONS OF
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341 THIS CAN BE SEARCHED FOR AND
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342 FOUND FROM THE WINTERS OF 567
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343 YEARS AGO. OR IF YOU SEARCH IN THE NORTHWOODS AMONGST THE BLACK
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344 FAITHS 800 SHANT.
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345 HER MAKER WAS A WHITE FAITH DWARF OF THE NAME NLASTIN.IN
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346 SOME REALMS IT IS SAID HE WAS NOT A TRUE WHITE FAITH BUT A SPY
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347 FOR THE RED FAITH AND THAT HIS MASTERWORK WAS TAKEN BY A ROUGUE
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348 AFTER HIS EXECUTION.THIS IS DENIED BY THE SURVIVORS OF TH
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349 MINES BUT NO MATTER.
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350 SHE WAS LAST SEEN IN THE GRIP OF ALLWAST LEADER OF THE D'CHAFT
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351 TRIBES IN USE AGAINST THE CULTS OF CHAEG.WHILE ALLWAST FELL THAT
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352 DAY EVERYONE KNOWS THE CHAEG WERE DEFEATED IN THE NORTHWOODS
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353 AND NO EVIDENCE OF THE CHAEG USING HER HES MANAGED TO REACH
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354 ME AND THUS THE LEGION OF EIGHT.
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355 THIS LEADS ONE TO BELEIVE THAT SHE IS IN THE BOGS INNORTH
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356 WOODS SUNKEN. OR THAT SHE LIES IN THE UNCLAIMED CULTIST OF CHAEG.
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357 SEVERAL HAVE SEAR NORTHWOODS ONLY TO HAVE THEIR
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358 BODIES POSTED IN DEFIANCE OF THOSE WHO WOULDST ENTER THE BLA-
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359 CK FAITHS REALM.
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360 AH IT IS NIGHT AND I MLEAVE BUT I SHALL COME AGAIN AND
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361 TELL YOU OF EYERFONN A DAGGER TOLD TO BE OF GREAT POWER TO SHE
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362 THAT WIELDS HER AND OF DEATH TO HE THAT WEILDS HER.FUNNY STORY
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363 ACTUALLY GOOD DAY.
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364
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365 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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366 What, pray tell, is all that rambling in the preceeding message?
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367 Every once in a while I get the impression that there's a story there,
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368 but then it fades away again. But then, that's the nice thing about
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369 Backwater-anyone is welcome (least common denominater, ibid)
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370 :::::::::::::::::::
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371 TO: I.R.P Inc.
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372 Attn: Brenden Wkeep
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373 as a matter of style, not content--your 'poster' would have
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374 been much more effective if left-justified; my 64 column screen abused
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375 the symmetry something terrible.
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376 :::::::::::::::::::
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377 I am not acquainted with the "Dave" signed earlier on this disk.
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378 :::::::::::::::::::::O O::::::voyeur::::::::O O::::::::::::::::::::::::
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379 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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380 CISTOP, gee, isn't that elven-sword bit above familiar (sorry, "familur")
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381 looking? (stylisticly, that is?) (maybe not so much content-wise...)...
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382 I wonder. Aaron
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383 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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384
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385 `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `'
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386 Ah, kind sir you certainly know how to welcome a thirsty traveler in
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387 this time-space vector. Without a doubt you must be the one referred to
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388 as the piper. On my way here I finally remembered that the unusual sounding
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389 musical instrument, to which you appear to be attached, is called a 'pipe
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390 of the bag' or something like that. Well I can tell you it was indeed
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391 fortunate you happened to be playing it so well a short while ago. My new
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392 dimension enhancement module had set the whole transmuter into sympathetic
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393 vibration. Had it not been for the sound of the pipes resyncronizing it
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394 I might now be scattered over several trans-reality spaces. Oh!, please
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395 excuse me for carrying on so and let me introduce myself. I usually go
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396 by the name of -alchemist- in deference to my primary craft and skills.
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397 Of course you understand in my business one usually does not reveal their
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398 real name, however I'm sometimes a bit loose with the rules.
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399
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400 You might well inquire as to how an ancient alchemist happens to be
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401 in possession of such fancy futuristic hardware. This question like all
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402 those of its type has many answers...one such I saw on the wall of one
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403 of the specialized function rooms that seem to be attached to most
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404 drinking establishments. Let me see if I can remember exactly how it
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405 was phrased:
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406 ------------------------------------------
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407 | Time is the illusion we create to keep |
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408 | everything from happening at once. |
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409 ------------------------------------------
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410 or something like that. In any case I did have the ability to cross space-
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411 time vectors until this recent malfunction. I haven't had time to survey
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412 the damage yet but I may be here for awhile. How fortunate that I should
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413 encounter such a friendly welcome. I did notice however that some of the
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414 natives seem to be a bit restless. In any case I'm still thirsty from the
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415 dusty cosmic road, allow me to buy a round for one and all. Being in the
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416 GOLD business has it's advantages, since it seems to be a medium of
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417 exchange for nearly all time. It is accepted as 'Coin of the Relm' here,
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418 it it not?
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419
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420 Indeed I will be ready for some adventure soon. Perhaps I saw the place
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421 called Innisfall on my way here, but I fear the navigation module may be
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422 out-of-whack. One landmark I did notice was someone lying under a tree;
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423 a Rowan tree to be exact. Whoever it was seemed to be somewhat agitated;
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424 creating a number of waves on several psychic channels. Maybe we could
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425 home in on them. Perhaps that travel agency that has the poster over
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426 there on the wall could be contacted and an inquiry made concerning
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427 some sort of package deal for the lot of us.
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428
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429 In any event there is time a plenty... with a sigh the alchemist
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430 brushed a fleck of foam from his beard and sat down, happy to have
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431 found some friends here and anxious to get acquainted better and
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432 share a few grins.
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433 `' `' `' `' `' `' `' -alchemist- `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `'
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434
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435 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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436 The piper sat relaxed and waiting. The day had been interesting and product-
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437 ive. The evening had brought several new compaions. The new reeds were
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438 breaking in well, and soon the pipes would be controllable again. What we
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439 need more than anything else, he mused, Is someone to take charge and direct
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440 this expedition. We, as a group, tend to be dedicated anarchists, or at the
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441 least barbarians. No sense of orginazation, coherence, or unity. Oh well,
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442 better warn our new friend.
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443 "Say, alchemist--" he searched for the right words. "Use your smallest
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444 gold coins. These people do not use gold for coinage, and place an inordanate
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445 value on it. You might leave one small coin for the barkeep and he will
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446 keep you in this stuff all night." The piper spurned the glass and drained a
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447 full pitcher of beer.
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448 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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449
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450
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451 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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452
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453 I have been working for ages it seems, and the projects ahead only
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454 seem to grow in direct proportion to the speed with which I finish them.
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455 The work is invigorating, its challenge bringing a response from me that is
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456 both welcome and at the same time irritating. I have traveled much of
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457 late, worked many long hours, and received schooling in subjects that
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458 previously only grazed the periphery of my consciousness. But the
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459 challenges, the travel, the new and fascinating knowlege only serve to
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460 prevent me from traveling a road to a land I once spent so much time in.
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461 Though the sky is clear and the weather warm, my mood is melancholy.
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462
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463 I must have more control over the little time is my own! Here I find
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464 myself in an office above the streets of the city, and my thoughts are
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465 focused not on my work, but on my home nestled in the wood, and the Inn I
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466 had once frequented with so much regularity. So many dear friends! Such
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467 good times! Why am I here in this flourescently lit cage when I could be
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468 running through the forest, sitting in my favorite sun-lit glen, or perhaps
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469 pulling the beard of some young swain?
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470
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471 My thoughts seem to have taken on a will of their own, for I now
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472 imagine that I can hear the pipes that frequently resound through the halls
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473 of the good Backwater. No, it is not the result of an overworked
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474 imagination, I do indeed hear pipes echoing through the concrete and
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475 granite canyon without! My papers and notes fly from the desk as I rush to
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476 the never-to-be-opened window and peer downward. Is it.... Yes! There!
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477 By the corner he stands, and the music is joyous to me in its reminders of
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478 elder days!
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479
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480 I hastely straighten the disaster that once was my desk, grab my coat,
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481 lock the door, and am down the hall in a flash. C'mon elevator..... C'mon,
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482 dammit! The bell finally rings on the row of elevators behind me, and I
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483 turn to see that the mechanism is going up and not down. Though it is
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484 still lit, I press the down button in my frustration, and curse my luck.
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485 The elevators doors shut, the red light goes out, the white one above it
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486 comes on, and the doors re-open. Stepping inside, I wonder why these
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487 infernal devices can't be just a bit smarter.
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488
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489 The street at last! But the piper has gone, and only a few coins on
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490 the ground mark his passage. My luck continues to run true to form, it
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491 seems. Ah, well, I can be assured of finding him at the Inn at one time or
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492 another, and though my visits can only be fewer in number than before, I
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493 think that I will again be found there as well. Turning a corner that
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494 isn't there, I am once again in the wood near the water. It is good to be
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495 back.
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496
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497 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM.[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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498
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499
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500 `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `'
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501 The practitioner of the fine art of transformation mused to himself
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502 as he sipped his latest ale and made a more thorough survey of the diverse
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503 group assembled here. Things were beginning to make more sense, or less,
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504 as the case may be. Maybe he could even distinguish when he was thinking
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505 and when he was talking aloud. Perhaps the fact that there was a phase
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506 shift on one channel of a few pico parsecs was of small consequence. Sure
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507 the remote control for the multi-phase transmuter was beginning to get a
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508 bit warm but he probably wouldn't need it for awhile and could do a poly-
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509 dimensional fold and put it away in his 'bag-of-tricks'. He knew that the
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510 piper wasn't accustomed to this urban setting and he certainly was more
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511 inclined toward a place where the natural course of events was more in
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512 evidence. A river cruise sounded like a splendid idea, he could sharpen
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513 up his nautical skills in the process... "EIGHT BELLS AND ALL IS WELL",
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514 now that certainly had a pleasant ring to it.
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515
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516 "A cruise up a big river named Kulumbia, you say! It sounds as if it
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517 were named my some ancient sea privateer. Well, no matter. I'm not sure
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518 if you folks have any sort of floating conveyance in mind, if not might
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519 I propose a suggestion? On the way here I noticed that moored to the
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520 banks of both rivers (I think the other one is named 'Will-A-Mutt') were
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521 some strange and diverse floating structures. They appeared to be houses
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522 built on log floats. Perhaps if we could obtain one of these we could
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523 alter it to fit our purposes. With someone on the stern with a 'yuloh'
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524 to steer the giant beast and of course a full load of ale and other
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525 refreshments we could make the trip in style. (Maybe even rig a sail or
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526 two if the wind is right.) If we were to choose one with enough style
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527 and character maybe PAM could be persuaded to go with us."
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528
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529 He had picked up the name PAM from the conversation and had surmised
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530 that she was a person whose company was greatly missed by several of
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531 the patrons. If the rumors were correct it would be a great pleasure to
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532 have her company on this adventure up the river. (Better than being up
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533 the creek, so to speak.) Only time will tell...
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534 "I do have some small skills with water craft and would be happy to lend
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535 a hand in whatever way possible. If memory serves me correctly this great
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536 river Kulumbia flows to the sea and on occasion the turn of the tide
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537 causes the water to flow up stream. By timing or movements to correspond
|
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538 to that there would be very little effort involved in propelling the craft
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539 up river to the destination that the apprentice has in mind. When the wind
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540 and the current are against us we could anchor the craft or tie it along
|
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541 the bank for a spell. Does such a conveyance have appeal? If there is
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542 a local brewery around maybe a detour by there to stock up on drinking
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543 stock with some substance to it would be called for."
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544
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545 With that the bearded traveler of eons stretched out his long
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546 frame and called for another draft. He thought to himself, I believe it's
|
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547 time to stop rambling on so and get down to some quiet thirst quenching.
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548 `' `' `' `' `' `' -alchemist- `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `'
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549 P.S. "piper, thanks for the warning I shall be more careful in the
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550 future. It's just that I never did put much value in such things as GOLD.
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551 I see PAM is among us but perhaps it would not be appropriate for me
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552 as a stranger to address her so soon. Piper I shall look for your
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553 guidance in this matter.
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554 `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `' `'
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555 DEAREST PAM, WELCOME BACK. - - COLONEL BATGUANO
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556 ============================================================================
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557 P.S. FORGIVE ME ALL FOR SPEAKING EN CLARE BUT IT SO HAPPENS ONE OF US IN
|
|
558 THIS BATTY CLUB HAS SOME SORT OF BOAT (OH ALEX!!) MAYBE THERE ARE OTHERS
|
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559 AS WELL? P.P.S. ALEX HI TO YOUR WIFE.
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|
560 ===========================================================================
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561 ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?WELL........I SEE
|
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562 THAT DISC IS FULL SO PERHAPS I'LL TAKE A LITTLE ROOM HERE. I AM QUITE
|
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563 BUSY AT THIS POINT IN HISTORY. COULD I GET ONE OF YOU TO LET MR BBE KNOW
|
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564 IF THERE IS A TOPIC OUT THERE BEING DISCUDSSED?....OR IS IT ALL STORY
|
|
565 AGAIN? LEAVE MESSAGE FOR ME, PLEZE, IN ALL CAPS. THANX
|
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566 ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!DEBORAH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
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> |