641 lines
40 KiB
Plaintext
641 lines
40 KiB
Plaintext
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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask....
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2 ************************ INSTALLED: 10 APR 85 ************************************
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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 privately 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 privately 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 It is quiet here in my dorm-room prison
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22 where I contemplate the life we share.
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23 I want to help, be there for you,
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24 let my love shine through - do I dare?
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25
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26 Fear tears at my heart, I am responsible...
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27 the brave words I speak - are they wrong?
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28 Will they end in bitterness and depression
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29 and bring an end to our love song?
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30
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31 I will speak my truth and open my heart...
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32 I believe that with these seeds I sow,
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33 You will discover your truth, open the blinds -
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34 and with this love we will grow.
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35
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36 <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>Juliet<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>
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37 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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38 And bring a disk!
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39 another anti-NET fanatic
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40 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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41 {
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42 Hello! Anyone want to buy a pair of used 5" Micropolis DSDD normal-height
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43 drives? I don't have any idea if they will work with an IBM PC compatible
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44 or not (HEY CISTOP! if I brought them by the USD corporate complex could you
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45 look at them?) but they do come with a Z80-based SBC for a controller. $75
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46 for both if they turn out to odd typed, or $100 if they will work in an IBM.
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47 or BRO. or whatever....
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48 }
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49
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50 ............. ............. ............. .............
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51 behind those of the rest. The situation is being remedied at the present time,
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52 and all things should be contiguious shortly. Thank you for your patience.
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53 ............. ............. ............. .............
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54 The warmth provided by the sun as it jouneyed across the sky was a godsend
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55 welcomed greatly by this impoverished man. The only sign that he was out of
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56 sorts was the gruff of a beard that was now begininning to form on his chin and
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57 the ruffle of his unkept hair. Other than that, his appearance was not on the
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58 whole unpleasing.
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59 The name of the street that he crossed had finally sunk in, it was where
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60 he intended to go. ORCHARD RD was a name he would not soon forget, or so he
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61 wished. Twisting his way through the streets of the city was not an easy task,
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62 but managable. At last, he found himself at the familiar gate to the house of
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63 his old friend. A dog met him at the gate and began to jump and bark gaily as
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64 he pushed his way through to the front door of the house, a short stroll.
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65 "Hello, great Blue. An And how fare you these cruel days?"
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66 Blue just continued to bark and jump all the way to the front door with him.
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67 After a quick rap at the door, it would be just moments before he would find
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68 out whether or not he would be welcome company here any longer. The door began
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69 to open slowly. A woman had answered the door this time.
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70 "Hello?... Lewis, is that you? Why, it is. Lewis!" she exclaimed.
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71 "Hello, Jannet. May I come in to speak with you?"
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72 "Why, yes. Of course. I'm here alone with just my father this evening.
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73 Please, come in."
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74 "Very well, just the people I had wanted to see. I may need his help."
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75 Kosta nudged his way into the livingroom and began to look for Mr. Fields.
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76 KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA
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77
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78 ALL
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79
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80 BREAK
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81 THERE IS A NEW BBS OUT THERE FOR ALL OF YA COMPUTER FANS...
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82 THE NAME IS P C - R B B S / N W
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83 THE NUMBER AND HOURS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
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84 626-xxxx
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85 HOURS ARE FROM 8:00a.m. to 11:00p.m. MON-THUR AND 24h FRI-SUN
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86 PLEASE GIVE THIS SYSTEM A CALL NOW!!!!
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87
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88 KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA
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89 ENTROPY: I have just finished talking on the phone with "Jannet" also known
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90 as "kml.)", and she says "Thank you for the kind words of encouragement."
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91 She will be sending me a package in the mail from Hood River that will contain
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92 some more of her work. So don't be suprised... I hope you are able to see
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93 this before it rotates out of sight. I also hope to see some more of your
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94 material if at all possible. It would really be the pits not being able to
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95 dig into those fine pieces of creation. (Were those hints big enough for you?)
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96 See you on campus?KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA KOSTA
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97
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98 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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99 Grann's progress in the Arts was swift. After a few weeks training, he no
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100 longer stumbled on the words, but allowed them to flow out of him in a smooth
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101 continuous stream as he cast an enchantment or dweomer.
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102 "Fine, Grann, fine," Milchar said. "Soon you'll be up to cantrips."
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103 Grann smiled faintly. He'd worked very hard these last few days on a
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104 particularly tricky spell- a minor transportal.
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105 "Well, time for another lecture, I think. As you know by now, I specialize
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106 in the transport and communication fields. I can do other things, but not
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107 with nearly as much skill. I was always facinated with transportation in
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108 particular, ever since I wanted to travel the world as a child. Since then,
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109 I've travelled a great deal farther than about one world, and it all started
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110 when I learned this ritual."
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111 His preamble finished, Milchar carefully enunciated each syllable to Grann,
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112 separating them with enough pause to make their power useless. Repetition
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113 enabled Grann to learn it; he'd always had a knack for sounds. Milchar then
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114 began showing Grann the gestures necessary for the spell- slowly at first, then
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115 with increasing speed until Grann knew the entirety of the spell.
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116 "Well," Milchar said, "With your learning of the past days, and the actual
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117 ritual itself within your knowledge, let us see if you can cast it."
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118 "I...shall try, master," Grann said.
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119 "Is there not a saying among gnomes, that there is no try? Only do?"
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120 Grann nodded slightly, and repeated, "Do".
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121 Pointing to a garden to the left of his tower, Milchar said, "Go there."
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122 Grann nodded, then began. The tones of his recital were light, as if the sun
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123 illuminated the sound itself, somehow. The gestures he made took on a second,
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124 then a third meaning- and then, Grann vanished.
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125 Instantly, Grann appeared over the garden. With a loud "Ummph!", he fell the
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126 last three feet to the ground. A bit sheepishly, he returned to Milchar.
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127 "Fine, Grann, fine. Transporting above ground is infinitely better than
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128 transporting below ground. Usually, though, mages transport about half an
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129 inch above the ground to make sure their feet aren't stuck in it."
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130 Grann, upon hearing this, felt much better. He smiled brightly.
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131 "You do, however," Milchar began (and Grann stopped smiling), "need to work
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132 on it some more. Try again."
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133 Grann muttered to himself, then cast again. A loud "pop" was heard, but the
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134 spell was not miscast- Grann again landed in the garden, with only six inches
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135 to drop from this time.
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136 "Try again, only transport to the walk. By the bye, did you hear a pop?
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137 I felt certain I heard a pop."
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138 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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139 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
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140 It wasent until person had ben watching the elf eat for sometime that a
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141 realization of something unexpected dawned. Glancing at the figure of the
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142 Gaurdian, person realized that the back of his chair was showing through his
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143 rapidly fading form. Quickly drawing the elvin dreamshaper's attention, person
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144 pointed to what was taking place.
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145 Oh well that hapens sometimes', the elf spoke around a mouthful of raw meat
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146 . Wareever he's gone, he's beyond my talents now'.
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147 'I wish he'd let us fallow', person replied.
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148 'Perhaps' spoke the elf 'that is for the best'.
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149 Just then the three felt, rather than heard, an odd poping sensation.
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150 'I wonder what, if anything, that portends', were person'S words.
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151 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*Dreamtoucher*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
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152 ????????????????????????????????????? ???????????? ?????????????????? /
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153 Here we are, two mono-chrome insomniacs, amused by what there is to see in the
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154 wee hours of the morn. Eating peanut butter straight from the jars with our
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155 respective spoons, we can not help but laugh at each others pale jokes. In
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156 a couple of hours, and maybe after a few hours of sleep, it might not be so
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157 funny, but we thought so at the time. <your turn>
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158 Sure, thanks, shove a terminal at me when I have no idea what is going on.
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159 A wee bit of advice, do not EVER drink the punch at a college party attende
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160 d by organic chemistry students. I made such a mistake, then walked 70 or so
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161 blocks and found myself here. only 260 blocks to go...you talk, my fingers
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162 are still numb from the punch.-->
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163 Or/Chem students, eh? I was warned about that sort of thing my first year in
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164 Chem 104... Yes, the peanutbutter *is* spectacularly bad. But I enjoy it.
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165 Picture a vision of a manic depressive: teeth clenched, mouth held open in a
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166 contorted mess. Writer's block, I love it. Enough gibberish for one sitting?
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167 if not, get a bottle of that stuff- it might have marketing possibilities.
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168 <Need I even ask if it is now my chance to releave control of the kbd?>
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169 thats enough, lets call it quits, lets call it anything we want to. hum, lets
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170 end with one of my favorite quotes...
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171 "You are just a dead man that I have to further make that way" PH1985.
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172 ??????????/OGL/MiG/Flick/MiiiiG/jack/BURN/ and too many more????????????
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173 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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174 The piper's hands passed over a silk-wrapped package, about the size and
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175 shape of a library-sized book. As his palms went over the package, it
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176 faded from view and the piper found himself staring across the table at a
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177 venerable oriental gentleman. The piper's eyes widened as the stranger
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178 pressed both palms together and bowed.
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179 "Return. Success. Going out and coming in without error.
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180 Friends come without blame. To and fro goes the way.
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181 On the seventh day comes return. It furthers one to have somewhere to go."
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182 The stranger pressed his palms together and bowed again, then faded from
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183 sight as the silk-wrapped package reappeared.
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184 The piper's hands passed next over a curious contrivance that seemed to
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185 be two jewels set in gold bezels, connected by a thick gold chain. As
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186 the pipers hands passed over them first one, then the other, lit from
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187 within and sent a deep THRUMMM into the crowded room. First the red,
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188 the color staining the very air, making the table seem to run with blood.
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189 URIMMMM
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190 Then the green, filling the air with the color and feel of corruption.
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191 THURIMMM
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192
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193 The piper recoiled in revulsion. The dark-robed one chuckled in a dry
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194 whisper and asked:
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195 "You don't like my little pretties? We shall em
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196 ch/em/eliminate these, then." The figure swept the linked jewels into an
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197 embroidered apron and removed them from the table.
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198 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
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199 =-----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
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200 == VARIED SHADES OF GRAY ==
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201 Strange things had happened. A new friend had changed into a completely
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202 altered being. Once known to his family, he was now almost unidentifiable.
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203 Could it be that he had met the one that had brought us together? The dark
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204 one thought of it, and was certain of it. For some deranged reason the one
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205 that had been the nexus had this strange charismatic feature that drew others
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206 to him, allowed them to be altered, and did so. What was not known was that
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207 the paler one also had an influence on this new person. Or was it all so simply
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208 the fact that the new one had permitted it all to just happen to him? All
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209 things had to be considered.
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210 Just a passing thought.
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211 == VARIED SHADES OF GRAY ==
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212 =-----------------------------------------------------------------------------=
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213
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214
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215
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216 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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217
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218 the former looked precisely where he was going to sit. bending over a bit, he
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219 could tell there were quite a few twigs, and too many insects. so he stood by
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220 the tree, and silently grumbled and groaned about having to do it.
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221 "if you are ready, we will talk," whispered the one with the red sash.
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222 "if you are not ready, then please reconsider our price," whispered the one
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223 with the blue slash. insistently, and with an older creaking in the voice.
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224
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225 "blast you, all of you," damned the aged companion. silence returned, and
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226 the aged companion fell back against the tree. his face flushed with agony.
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227
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228 "my fellows, tell us where his daughter is, and we will pay your price,"
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229 admitted the former, who worried about the aged companion, but could not take
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230 the liberty of helping.
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231
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232 "our price is petty, compared to the life of your only daughter," the one
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233 with the blue sash, whispered at the old man. his whispers shredded his ill
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234 composure, and the old man fell again, to the roots of the tree. the former
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235 scursed him and kneeled quickly to the old man's side.
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236
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237 the one with the red sash also tried to kneel but was pierced in the chest
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238 with a series of long claws. the one with the red slash fell to the ground. his
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239 knees supported him, and the fall kept him upright, but he would not presume to
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240 get that close again.
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241
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242 the former looked into the eyes of the ancient man, and told the other men
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243 they could have what they wanted. if only they would tell him where his only
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244 daughter might be found. the scorn in his voice did the bargaining and the one
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245 with the red sash whispered the name of an inn. then the one with the red sash
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246 rose to his feet, and looked at his hand in order to see the wound.
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247
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248 the other clothes on the man all wore the same stain of red, the same stain
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249 as his sash. the claws had dug deeply, in a vengeant defense.
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250
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251 the one with the red slash cursed himself, and signaled to run. the other
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252 thieves leaped and ran away, dodging through the forest as if they had made it.
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253
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254 the one with the red sash, stayed behind for the moent. and as he turned,
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255 he dared to slowly and quietly mention the payment of the money. the former
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256 only stared into the eyes of the old man, and whispered to him. the thief stood
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257 quite alone for another moment, and then slid under a fallen trunk, through a
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258 bramble and was out of sight.
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259
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260 the former asked "are you still awake, do you still hear?" and waited.
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261 after a moment, the ancient man lifted his head. the frail neck of the man
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262 looked as if it might snap anytime.
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263 the ancient man spoke "still Breathing and still Thinking, are you?"
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264 the former nervously laughed for a moment, then resumed to stare. he began
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265 to say something, but the old man interrupted quickly, and cleared his throat.
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266 "find my daughter, and protect her from whatever took her. if it is the
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267 dead that you find, then i release you your binds. you may do whatever you may
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268 want, please find her though."
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269
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270 "i will find her, we will find her, my friend, stay awake, aid me," the
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271 former rose his tone and it seemed so much like a question.
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272 "i will aid you, but first, i think i am going to die, soon now,"
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273
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274 "blast, will you not try to stay awake, please stay awake my friend,"
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275 "i will aid you, and we will play chess again, and mind you, i know how
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276 good you really are, we will play again, although i now sleep," the old man was
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277 now asleep and the former laid his head on the twigs and insects.
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278
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279 the former lifted his hands and slipped the under the robes, in the fashion
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280 of the knowledgible and the ancient.
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281
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282 and so the former stepped away, and after the sound of him stepping faded
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283 away, the robes and body of theis truly ancient man, simply dissapeared.
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284
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285 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
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286
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287 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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288 The Dragon looked at Rhian proudly, happy at the man's fear. May have been
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289 here for hundreds of years, it told itself, but we can still cut a rather
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290 imposing figure.
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291 " Can you see us now, thief?" The beast rumbled, it's ugly head reared up
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292 high enough for a really good, conde- cending look.
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293 Rhian nodded dully. He got himself into some of the weirdest things...
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294 "Good. Now, we must arrange your trial."
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295 "I didn't come here to thieve..er, Lord Dragon?"
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296 The Dragon drew itself up to an impressive height.
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297 "We are Starfire Dracon Aesthian Rex" "Starfire..Dracon..Aesthia..."Rhian
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298 began, only to be stopped by a low growland an abrupt wave of the Beast's paw.
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299 "No, No, NO! You murder the vowels!" A steady stream of black smoke trickled
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300 from it's nostrils. "If you haven't the intelligence for a simple phrase.."
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301 The Drposure. It had forgotten haggravating these things could be.
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302 " You may call me Dragon, Dolt."
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303 Rhian felt an overwhaelming urge to call it more than that, but he held in
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304 mind his personal saftey. "It is a
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305 very, very nice name, Dragon. I could never do it justice with the voice of
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306 a human."
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307 The Dragon looked duly pleased. But suddenly it's ugly face twisted.
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308 "It seems that you have been trying to lead us from the subject of the most
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309 importance.. Your trial and execution."
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310 "No...Really.. I am a wanderer.." Rhian's voice took a shade of panic at
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311 the mentioning of death, and his hands began to long for the grip of a sword.
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312 "From what part of the world do you come." The Dragon shot the question at
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313 him with stinging rapidity.
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314 "The south.."Rhian started.. "Lies!" The dragon interupted
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315 fiercely. "County!" "Daton.."
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316 "Fabrications of the highest order. Village?"
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317 "Devonham.." Rhian's face grew moist with a clammy sweat, and his heart
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318 raced with the speed of a frightened rabbit.
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319 The Dragon sensed this, and a cruel smile played on it's lips.
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320 "We are not at all convinced." It said slowly, staring at the shaking human.
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321 Rhian tried his best to remain still,but his nervousness could not
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322 contained. Dammit.. The Thing was just sitting there, staring..After what
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323 seemed an eternety, the Dragon spo.
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324 "We remember the South.."it said softly, toying with some treasure.
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325 "It is still the same?"
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326 "Oh, yes." Rhian welcomed the safe subject.
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327 "The sunrises come late, ripening intohot summer days.. The warm winters
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328 the warm and golden sun, arid plains.." The dragon sighed dreamily at it's
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329 remenices, It's mouth twisting in a grotesque mockery of a smile.Rhian's
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330 attention riveted immediatly on it's massive front camnines, each large enoug
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331 for the creature to wear a golden diademon it as ornamentation.
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332 "And the fields are lush, and green wand great fat flocks of sheep graze
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333 with horses, and cows.. everything teemswith life.. and growth..and Game.."The
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334 dragon growled happily "Ah, the game.. Burghers, Mayors, Town officials, Maidens.."
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335 Rhian's senses sprung back to alert, hearing the Dragon rattle off that last
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336 list..
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337 "And so, we live here."The touch of danger returned to the Animal's voice.
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338 "In a Hell forsaken wilderness, no game but for the tiny, scrawny deer that
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339 don't happen to die from the damn COLD!
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340 The dragon slammed it's fist into the treasure, flattening several works of
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341 irreplaceable art. "And, Oh Diablo, the COLD! It's unbearable!"
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342 "Then why don't you leave?" Rhian said carefully, surprised by the sudden
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343 force with which anger gripped this thing.
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344 "Ehtain Rhiatinbok, Of course!" the Dragon thundered, annoyed by the
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345 obvious stupidity of the question. "The wizard?"
|
||
346 "Yes, the Damnable wizard, no doubt know to you only for the persecution of
|
||
347 Dragons." An uncomfortable silence ensued. "Does he still live?"
|
||
348 Rhian shrugged. "I much doubt that.. All the stories I heard were hundreds
|
||
349 of years old, at least."
|
||
350 "He's the Main reason We..Retreated to this place. To escape his wrath.."
|
||
351 it resumed blowing smoke into air already thick with the stuff. "ONly human we
|
||
352 ever respected, though.. Were spelled tostay here until some smart,enterprising
|
||
353 young human decides to save his own neckand free me. Of his own descision, of
|
||
354 course."
|
||
355 Rh suddenly realized what had been going on. The dragon was not going to
|
||
356 kill him, unless he refused to help. He had been had.
|
||
357 The dragon nearly read his mind. "Now, Human, don't get the idea that I
|
||
358 hesitate to kill you if you refuse..My last human meal was got that way."
|
||
359 Rhian swallowed hard.
|
||
360 "And if I don't decide to help you?"
|
||
361 The Dragon was cruelly silent as, with one swipe of it's massive paw,
|
||
362 slashed deep score marks into the virginrock of the wall.
|
||
363
|
||
364 "You die, of course."
|
||
365
|
||
366
|
||
367 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
368 The Ballad of Apollo XIII (words: William Warren,
|
||
369 music: "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" by Gordon Lightfoot)
|
||
370 Ther's legends galore in the pulp SF lore
|
||
371 'Bout shipwrecks of spacers a-spacin',
|
||
372 When meteor holes come 'tween men and their goals
|
||
373 By demolishing ships that they're racin'.
|
||
374 Painting pictures with words like none you've ever heard,
|
||
375 SF writers made frightening predictions.
|
||
376 But the terrors txey tell cannot equal the hell
|
||
377 Faced by three men in fact, and not fiction.
|
||
378 To April 11, 1970, now,
|
||
379 We must let our narrative carry us.
|
||
380 Three men in a C-S-M named Odyssey;
|
||
381 Beneath them, the LM named Aquarius.
|
||
382 With a furious roar, Saturn leapt for the sky
|
||
383 With Jack Swiggart, Fred Haise, and Jim Lovell,
|
||
384 Toward a planned rendezvous that would never come true
|
||
385 With the gray lunar gravel and rubble.
|
||
386 Still, they set up housekeeping in orbit 'round Earth,
|
||
387 Then translunar insertion was kindled,
|
||
388 But the public just yawned, for their landing was third,
|
||
389 And behind them old Terra slow dwindled.
|
||
390 Apollo XIII travelled on down the track
|
||
391 Laid down by the three laws of Newton.
|
||
392 At fifty-six hours into lunar bound coast,
|
||
393 Lovell said, "Houston, we have a problem."
|
||
394 Now they may have been struck by a meteorite.
|
||
395 Maybe something had just overloaded.
|
||
396 But their panels went red with their malfunction lights
|
||
397 And in Odyssey something exploded.
|
||
398 That blast blocked or ruptured their fuel cell lines;
|
||
399 Their electrical energy faltered.
|
||
400 With no hope at all of a rescue in time
|
||
401 Thirteen's mission profile had altered.
|
||
402 To physics and God they commended their lives,
|
||
403 For no power on earth could have saved 'em.
|
||
404 Although NASA let the men talk with their wives,
|
||
405 Of goodbyes there was never a mention.
|
||
406 Three men in a C-S-M bound for the Moon
|
||
407 Reached two hundred and six thousand miles.
|
||
408 Did they have enough air to get all the way there?
|
||
409 Could they trust what they read on their dials?
|
||
410 And when they reached Luna, could they change course for home?
|
||
411 Would she trap them, or loose them at random?
|
||
412 Untested advice and contigency plans
|
||
413 Were the only things NASA could hand 'em.
|
||
414 When Apollo XIII crossed the limb of the Moon
|
||
415 And death came from the receivers
|
||
416 We knew the next signal would speak of their doom
|
||
417 Or answer the faith of believers.
|
||
418 "Apollo Thirteen, this is Houston. Do you read?"
|
||
419 Dear God, let them answer us quickly.
|
||
420 The world held it's breath, and in Mission Control
|
||
421 Every screen lit a face pale and sickly.
|
||
422 "Apollo Thirteen, this is Houston. Do you read?"
|
||
423
|
||
424 That empty sound stretched on for years.
|
||
425 "Houston... This is Thirteen... We're coming home!" said a voice,
|
||
426 And the world found relief in its tears.
|
||
427
|
||
428
|
||
429 At T plus one hundred and thirty-eight hours
|
||
430 They jettisoned Odyssey's wreckage.
|
||
431 That module was shattered and blasted apart --
|
||
432 A symbol of death in the space age.
|
||
433 Aquarius served as their lifeboat to shore,
|
||
434 Til they knew they would no longer need her.
|
||
435 At T plus one hundred and forty-one hours,
|
||
436 With a deep prayer of "Thank you!" they freed her.
|
||
437 Ed, Roger, and Gus must have smiled on those days,
|
||
438 Knowing theirs was the path tnot to follow.
|
||
439 But their souls were with Swiggart and Lovell and Haise
|
||
440 Riding home on the thirteenth Apollo.
|
||
441 At T plus one hundred forty-three, fifty-four
|
||
442 Apollo XIII hit the waters.
|
||
443 Three men returned home, shaken up, but alive,
|
||
444 To txheir wives and their sons and their daughters!
|
||
445 Ther's legends galore in the pulp SF lore,
|
||
446 But all of them now do cause men to reflect
|
||
447 On three days when the world's hearts went racing.
|
||
448 Painting pictures with words all too few people heard,
|
||
449 SF writers could make their predictions,
|
||
450 But always recall that, in spite of them all,
|
||
451 The truth was much greater than fiction.
|
||
452
|
||
453 Yes, always recall that, in spite of them all,
|
||
454 The truth w must be greater than fiction.
|
||
455 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BARD~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
456 c
|
||
457 dg
|
||
458 gkyekufkeuf
|
||
459
|
||
460 e
|
||
461 f
|
||
462 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
463 PaPa Smurf is still here (now and then)
|
||
464 Peanut butter at 20 paces yall......
|
||
465 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PaPa Smurf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
466 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
|
||
467 :::::: :Hmmmm quite a tale indeed
|
||
468 pppppp :Strange times at hand?
|
||
469 shades :(of 'grey' (?)) Get well soon.
|
||
470 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
|
||
471 'Must be immagining things' person spoke. Shure a good bunch of stories
|
||
472 around here being told. Is it always like this?
|
||
473 'Well it comes and goes' was Dreamtoucher's reply. It sorta dries up in an
|
||
474 election year, whatever that is. You hear some of the most off the wall assum-
|
||
475 ptions and quasi-logick arguments then. No, this has to be just about the best
|
||
476 I've ever seen it. I can rember a time when a bunch of us were wondering to-
|
||
477 gather accross alternate tau's in a gray mechine called shadow. Thats how I
|
||
478 ended up here in the first place.
|
||
479 I'm not sure how it happened, dreamtoucher went on, but there's a spot by
|
||
480 the roman bath ware some kind of pequilarity of time happened to me. A few
|
||
481 minuets of my time ago you werent here yet and NET was only using its level-2
|
||
482 code. Thair was someone named Themnax running around here. He was another non-
|
||
483 human like you and me. He had 16 fingers and green skin.
|
||
484 Oh and I did feal that poping sensation, a bit unpleasent, the way a glass
|
||
485 of beer must feel when it is being drunk. Now that reminds me of something else
|
||
486 , you didnt happen to bring a towel with you by any chance? And whose that over
|
||
487 there with the hammer? He wouldnt happen to be half elf and half troll would
|
||
488 he? Sorta reminds me of somebody like that, nuttier than a tree but one heck
|
||
489 of a metalformer. But no, the resemblance is more appearent than real. There
|
||
490 IS a strong feel of magic about him though, I wonder why?
|
||
491 *=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*Dreamtoucher*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*
|
||
492 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
493 As rapidly as they had appeared, the various instruments of divination
|
||
494 disappeared within the dark robe across the table fron the piper. Watching
|
||
495 the flicker of those thin hands caught and held the piper's attention like the
|
||
496 moving head of a snake can mersmerize its prey.
|
||
497 "I think," came the labored whisper, "that we should use either the Tarot or
|
||
498 the I Ching."
|
||
499 The piper made a mental effort to recapture his wandering attention.
|
||
500 "What?"
|
||
501 "The Tarot or the I Ching." The dry whisper rustled. "To use as the primary
|
||
502 augury to fortell your future."
|
||
503 "Yes, of course." The piper replied. "I am not expert in those matters."
|
||
504 The figure's chuckle was small but perceptible. "Let us go for the cards,
|
||
505 then," came the whisper. "The lesson book of the illiterate."
|
||
506 Feeling slightly insulted, the piper held his silence as the dark figure
|
||
507 brought forth the deck of cards.
|
||
508 pppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp
|
||
509 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
510 Ian: those old NET communicators are rusty, but quite within the realm of
|
||
511 workablity. Their range is much greater than your information files
|
||
512 stated. EACK EOT
|
||
513 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
514 (ch/EACK/ACK, damn one sided echo...)
|
||
515 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
||
516 ================================================================================
|
||
517 Finally fixed the modem today, so where else should I go but here? Any body
|
||
518 have anything to say to me?
|
||
519 ======================================================= Sudden Death ===========
|
||
520
|
||
521 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
522
|
||
The city this time of year is at its best. The air is still fresh
|
||
523 from winter's cold clensing, the streets are clear, and even the people
|
||
524 treat the world around them with a fresh sense of renewal. Walking through
|
||
525 downtown, admiring the compact organization of the city's blocks, I'm once
|
||
526 again astonished at the delightful combination of small town and urban
|
||
527 metropolis that this city exibits.
|
||
|
||
528 And this city has so much more to offer than the casual observer might
|
||
529 think at first glance. A distinctly urban area, small but complete;
|
||
530 surrounding bedroom communities, also small but with industries of their
|
||
531 own; and land verging upon wilderness within thirty minutes drive of the
|
||
532 city's core! Even though I've lived here for almost four years now, I still
|
||
533 find myself surprised and invigorated at new discoveries, and I still
|
||
534 marvel at the way the long-time inhabitants of this land have been able to
|
||
535 make peace between the conflicting needs of technological progress and
|
||
536 natural balance. And of course, it is only here in this land that I can
|
||
537 cross the threshold into Inisfal. To me this is perhaps the most important
|
||
538 thing I've found. Yes, I think, to me it is almost certainly the most
|
||
539 important.
|
||
|
||
540 Indulging myself, I wander throughout downtown glancing in windows and
|
||
541 wishing, watching people and wondering, and absorbing the sunshine. But I
|
||
542 soon realize that it is late, the light of the setting sun is reflecting on
|
||
543 the upper windows of the taller buildings, and my stomach begins to sing a
|
||
544 chorus of hosannahs for deliverance from a less than spiritual hunger. I
|
||
545 suppose that I should begin the trek home, so I start off in the direction
|
||
546 of one of the less pleasant areas of downtown: the so-called Transit Mall.
|
||
|
||
547 I have only a few more blocks to go when a car pulls quickly to the
|
||
548 curb just in front of me. The back door opens, and a distinguished looking
|
||
549 gentleman steps smartly onto the sidewalk and faces me. He's a very good
|
||
550 looking man and he has a distinct bearing of authority, the look of a
|
||
551 retired military officer, someone used to giving orders that are quickly
|
||
552 obeyed. Looking him over I think to myself, "Boxer shorts; children in a
|
||
553 military school; his wife has never seen him naked", and attempt to walk
|
||
554 past. I'm stopped forcefully by his hand on my arm, and I'm levitated off
|
||
555 the ground and into the back seat of the car. The door slams shut and the
|
||
556 car accelerates swiftly away from the curb.
|
||
|
||
557 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]PAM.[][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
|
||
|
||
558 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
|
||
559 NET 67: you failed to use your border on tyour message. Since this is a
|
||
560 first offense, you'll only be docked a day's pay.
|
||
561 RYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRYRY
|
||
562 oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
|
||
563 Bard: Thanks for your entry...it's nice to know that someone these days still
|
||
564 cares about the Apollo program! It often depresses me to see how rarely the
|
||
565 anniversaries of crucial steps in humankind's greatest advance are remembered.
|
||
566 Is it because people fail to recognize how significant expansion into space
|
||
567 really is--or do they now consider space travel too common to be exciting?
|
||
568 ooooooooooooooooooooooooo OBSERVER FROM ANOTHER GALAXY ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
|
||
569
|
||
570 TTTTTTTTTHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRTTTTTHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRR
|
||
571 The tankard was almost finished and THOR was thinking to himself of his trip
|
||
572 home from the INN. But before he could pull himself to his feet, a group of
|
||
573 three approached his table. They were dressed in fine clothes and each was armed
|
||
574 with a blade or saber. It was obvious that they had all been drinking heavily
|
||
575 this night and their attention seemed to be focused on the hammer that was in
|
||
576 its tether on THOR's belt.
|
||
577 "Oh-ho!!! What have we here my fine comrades? Perhaps an old dinosaur who still
|
||
578 remembers when the hills were but large mole hills?" Their laughter was overly
|
||
579 loud and the ale had released their inhibitions and obviously their good sense.
|
||
580 "Theold dog probably can't handle a blade1" spoke the smallest of the three and
|
||
581 also the loudest. THOR looked beyond the troubleson trio for the shortest and
|
||
582 quickest route to the door of the INN but the mercenaries had spread out now
|
||
583 making a half circle towords his table. There was no way he could leave without having to pass one of the three men.
|
||
584 THOR kept his eyes fixed upon the oak table in front of him and pretended not to
|
||
585 hear the mockings that were being made of him and his weapon.
|
||
586 "See Ramas, he is so old his hearing has left him?"
|
||
587 "Most likely it gave up and went off to Valhala to wait for the rest of the old
|
||
588 badger." Spoke the largest and most jeering of the three. Still THOR did not
|
||
589 raise his head nor his eyes from the top of the table. He did not want to
|
||
590 bring more antagonizing ridicule by causing a face off between himself and these
|
||
591 three fighters. THOR could tell from their weapons that they were obviously
|
||
592 three mercenaries who had become bored between assignments and were looking for
|
||
593 a reason to use their weapons since the times had been slow in their need.
|
||
594 "I think he is asleep RAMAS, perhaps too much grog, what do you think?"
|
||
595 With that statement the larger mercenary drew his saber and placed the point of
|
||
596 the glistening weapon directly in front of THOR's face, a mere half an inch from
|
||
597 his nose. "Is my friend correct old man, did the grog put you in this stupor or
|
||
598 is it that you are afraid to look me in the eye, man to man?"
|
||
599 Before an answer could be given and before the mercenary could bring his saber
|
||
600 away from THOR's face, the terrible hammer came thundering down upon the back of
|
||
601 the mercenaries hand forcing the bones of the hand to become one with the handle
|
||
602 of his saber. The sabers handle could be seen from the top of the injured mans
|
||
603 hand by the other two mercenaries and as they vainly attempted to reach for their own weapons the hammer found its mark
|
||
604 again. Only it was not the hands of the other two that were destroyed.
|
||
605 No....it was their eternal soul that was sent from the INN as the hammer slammed
|
||
606 one fighters brains to his neck and the others head from its shoulders.
|
||
607 THOR turned his attention back to the first mercenary who had pried apart the
|
||
608 remains of his hand from the sabers handle
|
||
609 and said in a slow and precise voice,
|
||
610 "Beware of old dinosaurs....for they can sometimes crush you to death!"
|
||
611 *****************************************************
|
||
612 PLEASE EXCUSE, I JUST HAD TO RECOPY THIS DISK, IT SEEMS THAT THE OXIDE
|
||
613 WAS FLAKING OFF AND GIVING DISK ERRORS. WHAT FUN! TIME TO RETIRE IT.
|
||
614 ONE OF THOSE WONDERFUL VERBATEM DISKS. (I GUESS YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK
|
||
615 OF THEM. YES, IT IS ONE OF THE 5 YEAR DATA LIFE DISKS. NO CHANGE, THEY
|
||
616 STILL FALL APART AFTER A YEARS WORTH OF USE. THE GENERICS DO BETTER THEN
|
||
617 THAT FOR HEVENS SAKE!
|
||
618 ************************* CISTOP MIKEY **********************************
|
||
619 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
|
||
620 You are safe tonight my pretties, for I am a captive.
|
||
621 The cars are circling my hiding place, I see their
|
||
622 spot lights searching for me, a light catches my tail;
|
||
623 I hear the crackle of two way radio's. More men come
|
||
624 with firesticks to try and aprehend me. Little do they
|
||
625 know of my terrible power. I close my eyes and concentrate
|
||
626 I feel my body begin to change, it's working quite well.
|
||
627 By the time the men reach me they find a young man who
|
||
628 has no name or story. They shackle me with cheap metal
|
||
629 bracelets and put me in the car. Ill be out by nightfall.
|
||
|
||
TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 629
|