630 lines
39 KiB
Plaintext
630 lines
39 KiB
Plaintext
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1 If you are in need of help, you need but ask....
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2 ************************ INSTALLED: 18 JUN 86 ***********************
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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 thepright 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 Deflower...Deflower...Deflower...Deflower...Deflower...Deflower...Deflower..
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21 there - I did it and I'm glad. Do you still respect me?
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22
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23 =======================
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24 Another Vir=
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25 Bites the Dust =
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26 =======================
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27
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28 Dumb...really dumb.
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29
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30 Hell...that's what you get when you've got Enter Only. Nobody takes the
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31 time to put in really well thought out entries. Sheezam.
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32
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33 BHAGWAN WAS HERE.
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34
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35 |_|-|\|-_/|_ OFFICIAL BHAGWAN MARKER |_|-|\|-_/|_|_|-|\|-_/|-_/|/|\-/|_|-
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36 PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
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37 OMIGOD! THE BHAGWAN! YOU`RE HANGING OUT HERE SINCE THEY KICKED YOU OUT OF
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38 EVERY TWO BIT COUNTRY AND MUNINCIPALITY?
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39
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40 YESSS MY CHILDREN, COME REVEL IN THE THE GLORY THAT IS BHAGWAN. TYPING
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41 MESSAGES IS NOT WORK IT IS WORSHIP, BY THE WAY I^M LOOKING FOR ANOTHER FULL
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42 TIME AID ANYONE INTERESTED? GOOD SALARY OF TAX-FREE CHURCH FUNDS AND I`LL
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43 THROW IN A HOUSE WITH IT`^S OWN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL SYSTEM!
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44
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45 SEND APPLICATIONS TO:
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46
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47 ENLIGHTENED ONE
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48 ASHRAM 5
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49 BACKWATER MESSAGE SYSTEM
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50
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51
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52 ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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53
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54 YOU'RE APOSTROPHE REALLY SUCKS!
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55
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56 JoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshua
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57 As I entered the briefing room, I saw I wasn't the first one there. Seated
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58 near the back of the room was a familiar bulk, straining the folding chair he
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59 occupied. "Good afternoon, Joshua," he said. "Greetings, Ian," I replied as I
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60 kicked a chair around to face him. "I'm honored. Being briefed by the high
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61 muckamuck hisself. Is anyone else coming, or am I it?"
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62 Ignoring my sarcasm, Ian rose heavily, moved to the door, and locked it.
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63 "As you say, you're 'it'. The situation is both critical and touchy, so we
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64 can't afford to have it too widely known. Just you and a few other key
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65 operatives, such as parity and Fellows. They're already in the field, checking
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66 out leads. You'll be put in touch with them to coordinate your efforts when we
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67 finish up here."
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68 I was starting to fidget. Ian, as usual, was circling around the subject,
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69 telling me everything I might need to know except what the basic problem was.
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70 I knew by now that it would do no good to interrupt him or try to hurry him
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71 along - in both size and temperment he resembled a glacier - slow but
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72 inexorable. Finally, though, he got to the point. "One of my android doubles,
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73 the ones you take such perverse delight in destroying, has malfunctioned."
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74 Ian's eyes glinted as he said this. "It apparently believes it truly is me.
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75 It has taken documents which would be of value to it on the outside, and it has
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76 effectively disappeared. You can see why we want to keep this as quiet as
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77 possible. Most of our own people aren't aware of the android's existence, and
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78 if word got out to the intelligence community, we would lose much credibility.
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79 Parity is a good all-round agent, and you have several times proven your, ahem,
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80 ability, to deal with the androids. It is imperative that we take care of this
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81 matter as quickly and quietly as possible."
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82 I was stunned. Ian's androids were incredibly capable machines. They were
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83 fully autonomous after being given basic instructions. They were faster and
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84 stronger than human, and could logically outthink us, although we still had the
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85 intuitive edge. They had numerous built-in weapons. The fact that there was a
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86 wild one loose who-knows-where doing god-knows-what scared me. Sure, I had
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87 managed to destroy a few, but those were in contrived setups, where I had had
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88 a chance to lay some groundwork based on known routines. They were also
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89 experimental models. This one was for real, and I didn't like the odds one bit.
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90 Ian continued, "I have had a file prepared detailing all the pertinent
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91 information regarding the android's offensive and defensive capabilities, along
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92 with some engineering data that might provide insight into any potential points
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93 of attack." He handed a folder to me as he sat back down next to me, his chair
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94 groaning protestingly. As I scanned through the sheets, Ian asked, "do you see
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95 anything that might be useful?"
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96 "Nothing offhand that'll make it any easier." The dossier listed the few
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97 differences between Ian and the androids, such as the android's extra weight,
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98 and the fact that the androids actually spoke better than Ian. That last was
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99 humorous, as Ian's speech was littered with 'uh's, 'er's, and long pauses.
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100 It looked like reality was catching up with fantasy, though, as Ian had been
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101 talking for quite a while now with nary a stammer.
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102 My introspection was broken by Ian, again asking, "do you see anything
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103 significant, or perhaps something missing which *should* be there?"
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104 Hmmm, he seemed to be pressing the point. I read through the material again,
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105 looking for what wasn't there, a difficult task at best. Finally I found what
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106 he was apparently after. "There's no mention of the verbal self-destruct
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107 phrase. Granted it's difficult to use without injuring or killing the speaker,
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108 it should certainly be in here. Why isn't it?"
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109 Ian frowned, paused, then said, "I imagine it's because it IS such a dangerous
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110 tool. It's never written down, in case it's inadvertently read out loud by an
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111 unknowing agent or secretary. It's only passed verbally, and then only in
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112 secure conditions, such as this." Ian leaned closer, his chair squeaking
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113 alarmingly. "Since it's important that you have it right, please say the
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114 phrase for me so I can check your pronunciation." I thought a moment, trying
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115 to remember the correct inflection. As I began to say it, I noticed a crack
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116 slowly working its way across the leg of Ian's chair. The boss about to lose
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117 his dignity? Grinning slightly in anticipation, I opened my mouth. "Deus... "
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118 JoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshuaJoshua
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119 PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP
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120 OH WHERE OH WHERE HAS MY BHAGWAN GONE
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121 OH WHERE OH WHERE CAN HE BEEEEEEEEEEEEE
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122 WITH HIS REIGN CUT SHORT
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123 AND HIS BEARD CUT LOOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG
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124 OH WHERE OH WHERE HAS HE GONE?????????
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125
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126 - LAMB -
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127 ____06/19/86__________________JD 2446601.5607_________18:27:29_____________
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128 ============================================================
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129 is near. The end is dear. Scobie, do, schoobbe do, de
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130 ========================================================
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131
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132 {+|+} <134> 860619^2027
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133 .......................................................
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134 Entropy reduction! I don't like the idea a bit!
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135 By the way, the REAL Entropy, i.e. the furry one,
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136 will doubtless be joining me soon here in Portland
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137 now that we've got a house that will allow her.
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138 BW looks great...it's been a long time. Guardian,
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139 write me at tektronix!reed!suki.
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140 .........................Entropy....................
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141 [O O] 9-something-something. TIME:TIME:TIME :)
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142 ____06/20/86__________________JD 2446602.6854_________21:27:02_____________
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143
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144 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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145 * My Definition of Stress *
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146
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147
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148 The confusion created when one's
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149 mind overrides the body's fundamental
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150 desire to choke the living shit out of
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151 some asshole who is in desperate need
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152 of it.
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153
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154 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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155 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
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156 10 days away. And less than 600 lines. That's less than 60 lines a day! At
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157 ten (very short) lines a message, that is only six people calling a day.
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158 (That's assuming that everyone who calls writes...we all do that, don't we?)
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159 Oh well, I guess I should do something better than complaining about the
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160 lack of messages. Hmm...
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161 Didn't you all hear? All Class 3 Entropy reduction machines have been
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162 recalled! The Techtronix factory has sent off another 50,000 workers, putting
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163 the unemployment average in Oregon6.1 to
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164 4.2%, an new record for the decade.
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165 Also, the Fujitsu factory in Troutdale has swiched over to manufacturing
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166 portable fusion reactors for your coffee makers. This change has added a few
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167 more jobs in the area, which has caused the population grow to 36,000.
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168 Any person who wishes to join the fleet of Delta ships should call the
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169 office right away, or else the applications will be closed. And that is the
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170 only way to get the entropy reducers that work. (You get them after the run is
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171 over...)
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172 *** STARPATH ***
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173 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /
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174
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175 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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176
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177 Good morning, and welcome aboard International Paranoid Airline's flight
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178 number 451 to the Coast of Insignificance ... if you are not travelling
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179 to the Coast of Insignificance, now would be a perfect time to disembark.
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180
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181 Now that we've got rid of half our passengers, we can get on with the flight.
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182 We will be travelling at an average speed of mach 8.9, and our average
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183 cruising altitude depends on your choice of intoxicants.
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184
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185 Hello, this is your <hic> captain speaking... I just wanted to announce
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186 that we will be making a short stop in Portland, Oregon to pick up a case
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187 of <hic> Henry Weinhard's... incidentally, would the stewards please come
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188 forward to the flight deck to collect the several dozen empties we have
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189 lying about up here... thank you, and good luck.
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190
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191 ===== DON'T PANIC! =====
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192
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193 Cypress Hannel
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194
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195 [][][][][][] 13:49:10 [][][][][][] 21 Jun 86 [][][][][][][][] 112993 [][][]
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196 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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197 ///// /////
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198 ///// **** **** ** ** ********* /////
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199 ///// ** * * * *** ** ** /////
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200 ///// ** * * * ** * ** ** /////
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201 ///// ** * * * ** * ** ** /////
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202 ///// ** * * * ** * ** ** /////
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203 ///// ** * * * ** *** ** /////
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204 ///// ** * * * ** ** ** /////
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205 ///// **** **** ** ** ** /////
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206 ///// /////
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207 ///// ****** **** ** ** ** ***** /////
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208 ///// ** ** * * *** ** ** ** /////
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209 ///// ** * * * ** * ** ** ** /////
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210 ///// ** ** ****** ** * ** ** ** /////
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211 ///// ***** * * ** * ** ** ** /////
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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 ///// ...Deep in the fundamental heart and mind of the /////
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217 ///// Universe, there is a reason... /////
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218 ///// /////
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219 /////////////////////////////////////// Phi Beta Beta ////////////////////
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220
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221 ..........................................................................
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222
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223 THERE IS A REASON FOR THIS? I'M GLAD.....
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224
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225 ..........................................................................
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226 Somewhere around this message base I see the hand of a Keith Pendragon.
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227 You're becoming more active lately eh?
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228 :) -DK-
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229 (Dark Knight)
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230 [O O] -- lurkin (yes, that's my border!)
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231 Silvermere gossip 3
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232 Hello again brave and hardy adventurers! Welcome once again to the Silvermere gossip column. I'm Jong Hines, Prime
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233 editor of this column and I'll be bringing you the top stories today.
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234 Once again the mighty city if Silvermere has had it's share of adventures. Although recently it seems as if they are
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235 all away from the city proper (for which the council is thankful).
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236 Dark tidings abode for our fair land, as is slowly being found. The nation of Bolgokz, in the dark side to the has
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237 been very active lately and much activity of orcs, goblins, and other evil creatures from that nation have been noticed in
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238 the area. Adventurers have been sent to dispatch some of these small tribes, but reports of raids keep coming in. The
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239 city council is worried and fear that the nation of Silvenari will soon be embroiled in a war with Bolgokz.
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240 A few weeks ago, Thalor Hansek, son of Allenor Hansek, military leader of Silvermere, singlehandedly dispatched 30 orcs
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241 in their cave complex to the south. Although that was Thalor's first foray into the world of adventuring, he proved h
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242 self worthy of the title PALADIN. He gained a bit of treasure for himself and then payed for training to improve himself
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243 even more.
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244 Thalor's adventures were far from over though. He went to the Blue Horn tavern to try to turn some drunkards from their
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245 evil ways and lo, he met a group already talking. He joined in and found that they were seeking adventure and fame.
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246 They joined their talents and formed The Crusaders. Mayor Karan heard about this group and contacted them for an a
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247 audience. Upon arrival, they were told that Mayor Karan had a job for them. They followed up on this and found that
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248 a caravan going to the temple of Tyr in the Cliff plains needed protection from bandits. The group readily accepted the
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249 job, especially when they found out it payed 500 gold per protector. Thalor was appointed leader with appropriate pay
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250 increase.
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251 The next morning they set off. The first few days went fine until Thalor, who was scouting ahead on his warhorse
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252 came upon a group of people on the road. The encounter would have been ordinary except that as he passed, they sneere
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253 at him in contempt. He wheeled his horse and leveled his 14' lance. A paladin's wrath is a terrible and dangerous thing.
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254 Thalor slapped his horse and charged. The other group broke their ranks and scattered, but not before one of their number,
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255 a dwarf, was skewered by the charging lance.
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256 It was a full scale combat then and they went into a weird formation. Thalor frowned and tried to analyze this.
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257 The man armored in leather seemed to be the leader. If he could take out him, he could demoralize the others. Once
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258 again the mighty clydesdale warhorse charged. The formation was broken, but not before the leader sent a spell at
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259 Thalor. He groaned in pain as 4 magic missiles hit him. Thalor was confused. How could a wizard cast spells when he
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260 wore armor? He reanalyzed his attack strategy and decided on another plan. He wateched perplexedly as the wizard took
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261 out a great bow. Once again resuming his broken charge, he flew towards the group. The fighters in front scattered at his
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262 approach, but the wizard wasn't so lucky. Thalor's horse kept going, but Thalor leaped from his saddle and landed on the
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263 wizard. In a tumble of arms, legs, and plate mail, they both went down.
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264 By the time they go up, the fighters had come back. With the aid of his warhorse, Thalor dispatched them as well as
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265 the wizard. He searched their bodies and found the normal adventuring equipment. The leader was also carrying a few
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266 items of usefulness.
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267 Soon the caravan caught up and witnessed the remains of the battle. Angela Jax, the beautiful sister of Garet Jax,
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268 commented that it wasn't wise to fuck with a Paladin. Skrewd the barbarian chuckled grimly and the caravan continued.
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269 A few days later, the temple was in sight. All that was left between them was a small village and the crossing of
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270 river. When Thalor arrived at the village, he was appalled by the sheer amount of destruction. Many of the buildings
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271 were still burning and skeletons lay all around. However, the village seemed to be deserted. He went back to the caravan
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272 and reported this. The continued cautiously.
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273 (To be continued later)
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274
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275 ============================================================
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276 IF IT WEREN'T ENTER ONLY WE'D PROBABLY HAVE MORE ENTRIES
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277 ===============================================================
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278 To: the gossip columnist
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279 It's "paid" not "payed". Otherwise not too bad for a transcript of a AD&D
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280 campaign...
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281 As for it being ENTER ONLY, if it was all allowed, there wouldn't *be* any
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282 entries left...
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283 ____06/21/86__________Leonard_JD 2446603.4716_________16:19:13_PDT_________
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284
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285 *=============================================================*
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286 W are the BBS's in such a llump? It doesn't seem like anyone
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287 is calling anymore. Is it the summer slump? Were bulletin
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288 boards merely a fad that is passing away? What is going on
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289 here?
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290
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291 I'm really for a hot adventure. When are you people going to
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292
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293
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294 I'm really for a hot adventure. When are you people going to
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295 get something going. Yea...I know, I should write something
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296 myself. Maybe someday.
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297
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298 Hemmingway
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299
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300 *----========================================================*
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301
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302 ***=======================================================***
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303 ENTER OLNYNLY SUCKS
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304 ANYONE WHO JUST READ THAT, DO YOU KNOW A GOOD BBS ON ADVENTURE GAMES? OR MAY
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305 BE A GOOD ONE ON APPLE II COMPUTERS?
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306 LET ME FIX THAT BOOBOO, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD GO BY THAT ADVENTURE THING IN
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307 THE 200'S SOMEWHERE
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308 BY THE WAY, HEMMINGWAY, DO YOU KNOW ONE?
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309 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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310
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311 NOTE: coming soon to a Backwater DigiTheatre near you...
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312
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313 PIZPOT GARGRAVARR PRODUCTIONS presents...
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314
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315 a Cypress Hennel film...
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316
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317 NEVER TOO EARLY TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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318
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319 A major epic screen adventure where you become the main character(s)!
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320
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321 ...stay tuned...
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322
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323 Cypresssssssssssss
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324
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325 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
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326 ANYONE KNOW A GOOD BULLETIN BOARD FOR APPLE II OR ADVENTURE GAMES?
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327 FROM E.T.
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328 {+|+} <332> 860621^1921
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329 HAVE YOU HEARD OF "RAINFOREST"?
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330 THEY HAVE ON LINE ADVENTURES.
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331 UNFORTUNATLY THE PHONE # ESCAPES
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332 ME AT THE MOMENT
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333 ZARDOZ
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334
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335 THERE. I THINK I FIXED THE BORDER-
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336 NO I GUESS NOT IT BEEPS WHEN I GET
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337 TO HERE--------------------------- >
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338
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339 *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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340 RAIN FOREST ----------> 274-xxxx
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341 *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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342
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343 ::::::::::O O:::::::06/22::::::::voyeur:::::::::::01:16:::::::O O:::::::::::::::
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344 ::::::::::O O:::::::06/22::::::::voyeur:::::::::::12:27:::::::O O:::::::::::::::
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345 ____06/22/86__________________JD 2446604.3343_________13:01:25_PDT_________
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346 ZARDAZ THANKS, I'M GLAD I FOUND SOMETHING GOOD.
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347 WAIT A SEC, I CAN'T FIND THAT PREFIX IN THE PHONEBOOK. WHERE IS THIS LINE?
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348 FROM E.T.
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349
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350
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351
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352 SYSOP, DO YOU HAVE A CHAT OPTION ON THIS? ALSO, DO YOU KNOW ANY GOOD
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353 APPLE II OR ADVENTURE GAME BBS'S? JUST WONDERING.
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354 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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355 NEW URE ,WILL START LLEAVING MESAGGES AS SOON E/ TYPING RUSTY
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356 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
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357 {+|+} <361> 860622^1707
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358 Some people should really learn to type! *sigh*
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359 [O O] -- lurkin' ?-?-? ??:??:??
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360 Silvermere gossip 3 (cont)
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361 Thalor went back to the caravan and alerted them of the upcoming danger
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362 From there, the caravan went slower and more cautiously. Finally, near nightfall, they arrived at the village. Buildings
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363 re still smoking, but the main road was still clear and so was the bridge. They decided to make camp and continue in the
|
||
364 morning. Camp was set up on the Silvermere side of the bridge and a watch was made from the mercenaries brought along.
|
||
365 Near midnight, a shout arose from a watchman. Immediately the camp was awake and torches were lit for the humans.
|
||
366 Eyes peered toward the town. Another shout arose as the dark form of an elf was spotted standing on the bridge. Closer
|
||
367 observation determined that the skin was inky black and the hair white as the moon. All there knew that this was a leg-
|
||
368 endary Drow elf, one of the dark ones who had revolted from the light before the
|
||
369 wars of darkness.
|
||
370 Once again, Thalor took the lead and mounted his horse. He rode toward the drow and yelled out a somewhat suspicious
|
||
371 greeting.
|
||
372 "Ho! Traveller of the night, you are not welcome here. Pass on your way and you will not be harmed. This caravan
|
||
373 has ne need of your kind."
|
||
374 The dark form smiled slightly and replied. "Paladin, it is you who should be warned. The cargo you carry is valuable.
|
||
375 Don't you think there would be bandits who would want it?" The smile turned into a grin and the perfectly white teeth
|
||
376 shone evilly in the moonlight.
|
||
377 Thalor fought down the fear in his stomach at the elf's words. "That is why we accompany this caravan, to protect it
|
||
378 from robbers and bandits. I warn thee, if you have thoughts of evil, you should abandon them or face the consequences!"
|
||
379 The dark elf actually laughed. "Oh Paladin, you make such a fool of yourself, for all your bravado, you are a weak
|
||
380 coward! I sense the fear in you even though I appear to be alone. Behold though, and let your fear be greater! For I
|
||
381 have allies of my own who wish to have the contents of your caravan. If that means going through you and your pitiful
|
||
382 band, then so be it!" As he spoke these words, many orcs appeared as if from nowhere. Out of buildings and seemingly,
|
||
383 even the ground they came and started to go into tight formation and ranks on the bridge in front of the drow.
|
||
384 Thalor turned his horse around and rode back towards camp. As he arrived, he shouted orders for everyone to prepare
|
||
385 for battle. People scrambled everywhere at once and it took all of Thalor7s military and charismatic skill to organize
|
||
386 them into somewhat of a organized fighting force. he hoped they wouldn't break ranks when the fighting started.
|
||
387 The small force consisted of 10 mercenaries (somewhat inexperienced as Thalor had found out recently), 2 clerics of
|
||
388 Tyr, an apprentice magic-user sent on this as experience, and an illusionist.
|
||
389 The other members of the band were his friends who he had either just met or had known all of his life; Angela Jax, the
|
||
390 fighter who he suspected also possesed some wizardly skills, and who was also a VERY beautiful female gray elf, Skrewd
|
||
391 the barbarian, who he had met earlier, Olirin the magic-user, Panthim the fighter, and Kamikaze, a mysterious person whom
|
||
392 he had only known for a short while.
|
||
393 The small group marched toward the upcoming battle with fear in their stomachs, but nonetheless, kept up their courage.
|
||
394 (to be continued)
|
||
395 By the way, to the person who didn't know who the columnist was, it is I, the Dark Knight.
|
||
396 ??????????????????????? ???????? ??????????????????????????????????????????
|
||
397 GADF, HOW I HATE LINE NOISE. (YES, I AM ON AN APPLE.
|
||
398 ?????????????????????????????????? THME DOCTOR ???????????? ???????????????
|
||
399 ____06/22/86__________________JD 2446604.7615_________23:16:38_PDT_________
|
||
400 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
|
||
401
|
||
402 "That should do it Fellows. Send it on, and remember to duck before the
|
||
403 reply from HQ gets here." Parity handed the other agent a piece of hotel
|
||
404 stationary on a message was written. Fellows glanced over the piece of paper,
|
||
405 and looked up at Parity.
|
||
406 "I never thought I'd have to send such a message. We are absolutely sure,
|
||
407 aren't we?" As he spoke he removed the COMLINK from his pack.
|
||
408 "Five minutes with a body? We both got good looks. There is a chance,
|
||
409 but we have both known Ian for some time...."
|
||
410 "Yes, we have known him for some time. Here goes" Fellows turned his
|
||
411 complete attention to the COMLINK. Net's scientists had really outdone
|
||
412 themselves on this device. At half the size of a large metropolitan phone
|
||
413 book, the NET COMSET contained the most advanced communications circuits
|
||
414 that existed at the time. The device had a several thousand mile range,
|
||
415 needed no external power supply, contained a full keyboard and gas plasma
|
||
416 screen not unlike popular portable computers, all on top of high-speed
|
||
417 coder mechanism deemed by NET's cryptology experts as a magnitude harder
|
||
418 to break than DES.
|
||
419 TO: NET HQ
|
||
420 FM: PARITY,FELLOWS
|
||
421 LC: LAS VEGAS
|
||
422 SB: IAN M.
|
||
423 MC: FOUND BODY OF C. MALE, LARGE BUILD, BLACK HAIR, IN LAS VEGAS
|
||
424 AIRPORT LUGGAGE DISPENSER. BODY RESEMBLES IAN MACHINERY. F & P
|
||
425 THINK BODY IS I.M. NO VISIBLE WOUNDS. IDENT IS I.M. OR VERY
|
||
426 ACCURATE FASC. NO EQUIPMENT HERE TO CHECK. USED SIGHT ONLY. ALSO
|
||
427 FOUND NET ISSURE CD/ROM CASE. LOCKED AND PROBABLY ARMED. WILL
|
||
428 PROCEED ACCORDINGLY. BODY LEFT AT AIRPORT DUE TO ARRIVAL OF LOCAL
|
||
429 LAW ENFORCEMENT. MOST LIKELY TAKEN TO MORGUE. ALL ID MARKS
|
||
430 REMOVED BEFORE ABANDON. LOCATION WESTWARD HO MOTEL, ROOM 713.
|
||
431 WILL REPORT ON BODY ID UPDATE AND CD FILE PROGRESS. REQUEST
|
||
432 SCIENCE PACKAGE 11A BE SENT IMMEDIATELY. REQUEST DO NOT REMOVE
|
||
433 OTHER AGENTS FROM CASE DUE TO LACK OF ABSOLUTE ID ON BODY, BUT
|
||
434 INFORM THEM OF OUR STATUS. INQUIRE: AGENT JOSHUA. STATUS. LOC.
|
||
435 AVAILABLE FOR LAS VEGAS? BACKUP NOT IMPERATIVE BUT QUICK ACTIVE
|
||
436 STATUS WANTED.
|
||
437 "There, that does it. Look OK, Parity?"
|
||
438 "Yes, fine Fellows. Send it on its way and wait for confirmation
|
||
439 signal." Fellows pressed a sequence of buttons. The COMSET beeped twice,
|
||
440 paused, then a LED next to the display lit. Next to the LED was a tap
|
||
441 labeled 'RCVD'.
|
||
442 "They have it. Leave the COMSET in instant notify mode?"
|
||
443 "Yes. Now, let's take a closer look at this case."
|
||
444 "Fine Parity, but no loud bangs, please?"
|
||
445 "No bangs, Fellows, as you request."
|
||
446
|
||
447 TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
|
||
448 1:11:11 6/23/86
|
||
449 I'm not sure exactly where the prefix
|
||
450 "274" is, but according to my phone
|
||
451 book, it is somewhere in Portland. Try
|
||
452 the number, it does work. (If it's not
|
||
453 busy...)
|
||
454 ZARDOZ
|
||
455 (Not "ZARDAZ")
|
||
456
|
||
457
|
||
458 {+|+} <462> 860623^0825
|
||
459 *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
|
||
460 ZARDOZ
|
||
461 DONT TRY TO TAKE THE CREDIT FOR
|
||
462 SOMETHING YOU DIDNT LEAVE ON THE
|
||
463 BOARD I LEFT THE NUMBER
|
||
464 TO RAIN FOREST.. & I GOT IT FROM
|
||
465 GIFREY`S BBS LISTINGS.....
|
||
466 *** *** THE KEEPER *** *** *** ***
|
||
467
|
||
468 You people are pittiful...can't get
|
||
469 organized huh? Well, I got a }odem
|
||
470 1 week ago and I've already set up
|
||
471 my own bulletin board. I'm no CPU
|
||
472 genius, either. Don't complain about
|
||
473 things...actn them (Neccesity is the
|
||
474 mother of inve~tion. Remember?)
|
||
475 I love D&D and anything close to it...
|
||
476 I think I'll try to convert my board
|
||
477 to an Adventure board...I'll get back
|
||
478 I'm t goino to leave my number here
|
||
479 until the board is done...ok?
|
||
480 This is the Count!!!
|
||
481
|
||
482
|
||
483
|
||
484
|
||
485
|
||
486
|
||
487
|
||
488
|
||
489
|
||
490
|
||
491
|
||
492
|
||
493
|
||
494 *************************************************************************:
|
||
495 L'homme: Did you ever get that disk I sent via net courier?
|
||
496 ************************** CISTOP MIKEY *********************************
|
||
497 SILVERMERE GOSSIP 3(CONT.)
|
||
498 Thalor designated 4 of the mercenaries, a cleric and the magic-us
|
||
499 er to stay with the caravan to make sure that the attack on he bridge was not a diversion. There was some grumbling, but
|
||
500 they obeyed orders. Thalor couldn't understand why they would WANT to throw themselves into battle, but did his best
|
||
501 to try.
|
||
502 Thalor organized the group into a small, tight formation and went to the bridge. The orcs were there waiting. Thalor
|
||
503 wondered why they hadn't already attacked, but was thankful for the reprieve it had given him. He deployed the mercenaries
|
||
504 in the front line as shock troops, his three melee fighters, including himself, in the middle row, his three archers in
|
||
505 the back row, and the cleric and illusionist
|
||
506 in the far back row.
|
||
507 Somehow, as if on signal, the battle began. Thalor was dismayed as he scanned the enemy formation. 3 units of orcs
|
||
508 firing bows were deployed behind two more units of orcs. The front orcs were probably shock troops, thought Thalor.
|
||
509 behind all the orcs stood the drow, grinning. Quickly, Thalor formed his attack plan. He shouted his orders and charged
|
||
510 at the front troops, trying to break through to the back. This disrupted the orcs, and he hoped would make himself a
|
||
511 harder target. The orc archers fired and scores of arrows flew towards the group. 5 of the mercenaries went down,
|
||
512 thrashing and bleeding, and several others of the group were injured. Thalors charge had a demoralizing effect on the
|
||
513 orcs and he broke through to the archers. However, he realized he was completely surrounded and knew it was time for
|
||
514 heavy melee fighting. drawing his bastard sword, he hacked and slashed at any orcs who were foolish enough to come near
|
||
515 him.
|
||
516 As the archers from the caravan fired, six orcs went down. Kamikaze charged into the front orcs, but unlike Thalor,
|
||
517 didn't break through. The remaining people all had oil ready. Vial after vial was thrown into the midst of the front
|
||
518 troops, most missing, but enough hit to drench the orcs. Then flaming arrows were shot and soon the whole area of the
|
||
519 bridge where the shock troops were was in flaming ruin. Some orcs made it out alive by diving into the river, but most
|
||
520 died in the first blast.
|
||
521 Seeing nearly a third of his forces "go up in smoke" (I know...arrgh! :) made the drow furious. He decided it was
|
||
522 time to call upon the aid of wizardry. He made strange gestures and chantings. A few seconds later, a web stretched from
|
||
523 his fingers. It flew over the orcs and landed on Skrewd, Angela, and Panthim, actually using them as the anchoring points.
|
||
524 He smiled in satisfaction, but frowned as Angela's struggles got her out in less than a minute.
|
||
525 Meanwhile, the remaining orc archers were in dire trouble. Thalor was taking his toll and those who he wasn't near
|
||
526 were busy trying to put out the fire. From the group flew two more vials of oil. One splattered on an orc, who immediately
|
||
527 dived into the river, but the other directly hit the drow. More flaming arrows were shot and one caught the drow on fire.
|
||
528 He writhed in pain, but then recovered as the fire mysteriously went out. He didn7t have much time to think though, as
|
||
529 Angela Jax shot her bow and hit him. He fell with an arrow sticking in his throat.
|
||
530 The remaining orcs, when they saw this scattered and ran. Efforts were made to stop them, but few were caught.
|
||
531 Skrewd examined the drow's equipment and frowned. With a cry of rage, he shredded the cloak and broke the spiked
|
||
532 buckler. He looked up and grinned.
|
||
533 "Don't like magic." He said simply. The others grimly agreed, and the illusionist quietly slipped away back to the
|
||
534 caravan. The rest of the orcs had little treasure or anything of use and so they were left.
|
||
535 What little distance remained to the temple was small, and no more problems occured. When they arrived back in S
|
||
536 vermere, they reported the village and their story. Mayor Karan granted them their award, and told them of another ad-
|
||
537 venture they might be interested in.
|
||
538 "To the North about 200 miles or so, on Mt. Carnage, was some old abandoned caves which drow used to inhabit until
|
||
539 about 300 years ago. Then the dark side came into existence and they abandoned them. There might still be treasure an
|
||
540 items of usefulness there, but it won't be easy I'm sure. I have a map here which will show you the way to the entrance.
|
||
541 If you can find out anything about the drow, it would be greatly appreciated, as they are quite a mysterious race. Also
|
||
542 very dangerous. Good luck."
|
||
543 He handed them a map and they were ushered out of the throne room.
|
||
544 (to be continued)
|
||
545 [O O] -- lurkin' date. Time.
|
||
546 Hey Keeper, don't get flamed,
|
||
547 I was just telling the man that 274 is
|
||
548 a Portland Prefix. I was NOT taking
|
||
549 credit!!! Even though I WAS the firt
|
||
550 first one to mention RAINFOREST.
|
||
551 But I did not have the number handy
|
||
552 at the time.
|
||
553
|
||
554 off
|
||
555
|
||
556 %*@#)_*%)_%*!)_%*!)*(%_)%*@_#)*%)_*%!)_*%!)*%!_)*%_)@%*_)!*_)!*)_@#^&*_)$&^_)@
|
||
557 Mikey: Sigh, special net disk messenger has not given me the disk yet. It
|
||
558 resides at Frye, where I seldom visit. I hope he'll bring it home one
|
||
559 of these days. Because of the delay, the big emergency need for it was
|
||
560 scrubbed. Some emergency eh? Oh well. I thank you for the quick
|
||
561 delivery. The vital need has passed, but I am still very interested in
|
||
562 seeing what exactly is on the disk.
|
||
563 %*#@_%*_@)#*%@_)#%*@_#%*@#_) L'homme sans Parity *%)@#*%@_#*)@_!#*%)_!#*%_!)#
|
||
564 Hey! Guess What? There is a new BBS
|
||
565 out. I just started it...Be the first
|
||
566 enter your own personal message
|
||
567 that you would like...Anything
|
||
568 goes. I don't care as long as it's
|
||
569 nothing too dirty. Here's the
|
||
570 number: 668-xxxx. It is open from
|
||
571 5pm to 6:30 pm today (6-23)
|
||
572 regular hours will be asigned soon.
|
||
573 See you there! The Count
|
||
574 *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
|
||
575 OK ZARDOZ APOLOGIZE IS ACCEPTED
|
||
576 IF IT IS ONE ?
|
||
577 *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
|
||
578
|
||
579 ____06/23/86__________________JD 2446605.6249_________19:59:58_PDT_________
|
||
580 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
|
||
581 Doctor: You simply *must* write a better terminal program for that computer
|
||
582 (term used loosely) of yours. At the very least, it should support lower case
|
||
583 (that 80 column card of yours should be good for something, too). Hope you
|
||
584 are enjoying your return to familiar surroundings.... :-)
|
||
585 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Milchar ++++++ 10:36pm, June 23, 1986 ++++++
|
||
586 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$#
|
||
587 "I think we're wasting our time, Farley. Let's get outta here."
|
||
588 Farley was just finishing with "...Afterburner, Eliminator, Tres Hombres..."
|
||
589 muttered softly as the final few CDs were examined. He sighed, and rubbed
|
||
590 his eyes which, at the moment, felt like peeled onions. "Okay, let's go."
|
||
591 Once back in the NET vehicle, they saw the COMLINK's "Msg Waiting" LED wink
|
||
592 on and off demandingly. Garret typed in his sequence.
|
||
593 Nothing happened. Farley tried his.
|
||
594 A page of scrambled ciphertext scrolled by their eyes. Before it, all alone on
|
||
595 a line, were the letters "RBOTS ECTNT OFRLY".
|
||
596 Eugene stared at it for a moment. "Of course! 'Robot Section to Farley.'
|
||
597 Something big's up. They're not supposed to use this unless they..." Farley
|
||
598 frowned. "Garret, I'm not sure the RD has NET's permission to send this, not
|
||
599 when they sent cipher-within-cipher. Ever been a stickler for rules?"
|
||
600 Farley hoped he knew the answer; James confirmed his hope. "I follow whenever,
|
||
601 and break 'em otherwise. So what's it say, already?"
|
||
602 Farley pulled a small violet device from his pocket and connected it into
|
||
603 the slot in his COMSET made for the purpose. In a few more moments, the
|
||
604 gibberish formed words of meaning...
|
||
605 <Farley: Ian still lives. One of his androids believes it's Ian and has
|
||
606 taken the ROMs. Only RD, Ian, and
|
||
607 Joshua know this, now you. Droid is extremely dangerous, but will likely not
|
||
608 use built-in weaponry as it does not know of its existence when it is 'Ian'.
|
||
609 If it becomes aware of its true nature again, all things are possible. Note it
|
||
610 will still use superior strength, information processing, and defense modes
|
||
611 that do not require active support by the p-brain (bulletproof, for example).
|
||
612 Ian wants it stopped, any means possible. The RD wishes it to remain intact
|
||
613 for study, and hopes you will help.
|
||
614 As far as we can discern, the ROMs are still missing. Parity & Fellows are
|
||
615 following some kind of lead in Las Vegas. Joshua has been dispatched to
|
||
616 neutralize the android. No other elite agents on this assignment.
|
||
617 Lastly: To deactivate the android without destroying, say the words...>
|
||
618 "Tall order, Eugene. If you goof up, though, I'm killing it. Should be a
|
||
619 challenge for once."
|
||
620 "Yeah. Right." Farley wasn't listening. He was memorizing the phrase.
|
||
621 "So let's go, already. How far can a heap of junk go, anyway?"
|
||
622 #$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$##$# Farley #$##$##$## 86:06:23:23:14:25 #$##$#
|
||
623 Especially when it acts/looks/thinks like Ian. Hey, will it try to build
|
||
624 androids of itself? :-)
|
||
|
||
TOTAL NUMBER OF LINES = 624
|